jeremiah1five
Active Member
Other people's bible studies, works like theology books, sermons, devotionals, commentaries, and the like hold a dangerous precedent. Is there anything in these studies by others that you find contradicting Scripture? And what do you do when that happens? Can you give me an example of a long-held understanding of a particular doctrine in these books that they got wrong, by your own understanding of the same doctrine supplanting theirs? What do you think of an overarching position that millions of born-again Christians in the end must see the same Jesus (of the Bible), and in the end we must all say the same thing as God? Is this even possible? I have this passage from Acts by Luke who said:
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42.
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine" seems to me to imply that their teaching was unified (they all saw the same things that Jesus taught of the Law and the Prophets), and that because of this they were able to fellowship, to sit at a table peacefully and eat and their prayers were unhindered in their seeking the same things - at least, publicly. What form did their corporate prayers take? Was the Shema part of their prayers? They were Jews, right? The conflict that arose between Jesus' teaching and the teaching of the religious leaders was that the religious leaders could only teach the letter of the Law while Jesus' teaching explored the spirit of the Law, did it not? After all, in Matthew 5 Jesus mentions something said in the Law and then He proceeds to explain the spiritual aspect of the Law, which the religious leaders saw as Jesus teaching things contrary to the Law, but the contention was that they were not 'spiritually discerned' and could not without the Holy Spirit understand what was written in the Law as only the letter of the Law? Everything Jesus taught was from the Law and the Prophets - sometimes the Psalms - and on this point, if Jesus only taught the spirit of the Law and the Prophets then the "apostles' doctrine" would also be along these same lines? If Jesus taught only (the spirit of) the Law and the Prophets, then these apostles who were now spiritually enlightened were now equipped in the same way as Jesus to present the spirit of the Law and the Prophets as Jesus?
The point I am making here is that the "apostles' doctrine" was only the Law and the Prophets presented from a spirit of the Law and the Prophets 'angle', and if true - and it is - then where does this teaching that the Law (and the Prophets) were "abolished" or made "obsolete" by the death (and/or resurrection) of Jesus Christ? The apostles continued to teach daily the spirit of the Law and the Prophets just as Jesus did and the same contention that the religious leaders had with Jesus over letter of the Law and spirit of the Law was now realized between both groups going forward.
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:23–31.
The "Word of God" they spoke (to the people) was the spirit of the Law and the Prophets, was it not?
