So I was reviewing my notes from my Church in the New Testiment class with Richard Beaton. Below are some of the bigger points, and questions we are asking.
How did their understanding of themselves change as their size changed, 20-100-1000-10,000? (this is synonymous with time, 32 A.D. to 100 A.D.)
On any number of subjects there is more than one model in the NT. What does that say to us?
Why do we follow the NT examples, and if so, which one?
Up until 40 B.C. they did not consider themselves Christians, they were Jewish followers of the Messiah.
Did Jesus intend to found a new communal entity separate from Judaism?
When you say, "we had a 'word of knowledge' this morning," how do you know that what you are experiencing is the same experience that they had?
The message of the Bible is not: Jesus died for you so you can go to heaven, it is: the story of God reconciling the world to him.
5 comments:
"Did Jesus intend to found a new communal entity separate from Judaism?"
Now, there is a good question. I would loved to have heard the discussion. The answer will certainly depend on your eschatological view.
My reading of the Biblical account leads me to see one continues story of God working to redeem a people and what we now call Christianity (this is a term man has applied, not God) is just part of the ongoing story. It is a straight line continuum from the beginning of history to the end of history. “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”
We would have less confusion on this point if we had a better understanding of the Kingdom of God and the "church."
I agree (I think) with Blind Begger's thoughts...
Yah, I'm with you guys too.
Hey dave!
So I've been searching the internet for your blog for a while now and have finaly found it!!!! :0) I can't call you due to a lack of a phone card. My email is: rwhitman@moody.edu
How are things going?
RANDY
Wow david after further review I think we might agree on something. No this can't be right. We must be misunderstanding each others views. :)
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