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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | jlhetrick | 169128 | ||
Greetings Kalos, This is certainly a question worthy of consideration for all Christians. Exactly what is called for and expected of us regarding what many consider our greatest responsibility toward men. Personally, I have always heard it preached and taught to mean that EVERY individual will hear and have the opportunity to believe. That the “great commission” in fact is the command to go and tell every individual the good new of Christ. Not my understanding at all however, and not, I believe, consistent within the context of scripture as a whole. Some points to ponder: 1. While it is true that today’s technology offers significant opportunity to reach the masses in a way never imagined in biblical times, it falls far short of being able to speak to every individual. Hundreds of thousands of people live without the most simple means of communication such as telephone, radio, television. Many of those are also unable to read and write even in their own language. In spite of the advances of technology, we continue to be unable to locate some individuals, even ones that we know by name and are seeking (e.g., Osama Bin Laden). One may argue, he does not want to be found. The same is true for many individuals concerning the gospel. 2. Consider the conversion of Paul (Saul). It was a very dramatic event. He was not alone. Yet in the company of men, he was the only one to hear the “voice” and “words” of Christ and be called. Why did the Lord not give all who were there the opportunity to hear and believe on that dusty road to Damascus? We can wonder, but it is not our place to question who and why God calls this one and that one He does not. 3. One more point. Consider the words of Jesus spoken to the twelve when he sent them out to the people: Mat 10:12 As you enter the house, greet it. Mat 10:13 If the house is receptive, let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isn't receptive, let your blessing of peace return to you. Mat 10:14 If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. Mat 10:15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!" Jesus doesn’t tell them to make personal contact with each and every person in the towns, or even in the specific houses for that matter. Quite the contrary. When asking the question: “what does ‘This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations...”, what is the best answer supported by scripture? Simply, that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the WHOLE WORLD, and to ALL NATIONS. Since it doesn’t say -to every person- then we shouldn’t attempt to make it say that. This should not, of course, keep us from the effort of reaching as many as each of us INDIVIDUALLY can however. It has not been given to us to know that this one has been called and empowered to believe and that one has not. My once and a half cents worth, Jeff |
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2 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | humbledbyhisgrace | 169149 | ||
Greetings brother Jeff and God bless! You said "Consider the conversion of Paul (Saul). It was a very dramatic event. He was not alone. Yet in the company of men, he was the only one to hear the “voice” and “words” of Christ and be called. Why did the Lord not give all who were there the opportunity to hear and believe on that dusty road to Damascus? We can wonder, but it is not our place to question who and why God calls this one and that one He does not. " Acts 9:7 says "The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one." I'm assuming by your statement that you mean Paul is the only one that Christ called. Is that correct? Also, the scriptures do not say the others were not called but it doesn't say they were either. So, does that mean the others were not given the opportunity to hear and believe? According to Acts 9:7 they did hear. God bless! Steve |
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3 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | jlhetrick | 169150 | ||
Hello brother Steve, Thanks for reading my post and responding. This is one of those passages (like so many others) that require some word study and context to really get a grip on. In Acts 9:7 we might have a common use of language that is misinterpreted (according to which version you are reading). The KJV for example, agrees with you in using the word "voice" to describe what those with Saul heard. The NIV, on the other hand, translates the word "sound". this would not necessarily be inaccurate on either translation nor a contradiction. For example. If we were in a room togther and you heard a knock on the door and recognized it as a knock, yet I heard it but did not recognize it as a knock at the door; you might later explain that we both heard the knock at the door. I maight report that I heard a "sound". In any case, here is how Strong's explains the word in question here. NT:5456 NT:5456 phone (fo-nay'); probably akin to NT:5316 through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language: KJV - noise, sound, voice. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.) So the word might rightly be interpreted in the English as "noise", "sound", or "voice". As for biblical context: We have a clue why voice may not be the best choice of interpretation. Acts 22:9 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. KJV So when considering this event in light of what else scripture (and Paul himself) has to say about it specifically, we find that, in fact, those with Paul did not hear what Saul heard. They did hear a sound, whether it was recognizable as a "voice" is not what is important regarding the essence of my previous post. What we do know, is that whatever they heard, there was no communication to them in the hearing. They did not understand it. This should sufficiently answer your last question regarding whether these others were called or not. They were not, at least at that time, as Paul articulates in Acts 22:9. We might note, however, that these same men escorted Paul to Damascus and very likely continued with him for a time. It's possible that some or all of them were eventually called and saved (this may be referred to in scripture but I am unaware of it). Hope this helps clarify my understanding. Jeff |
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4 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | humbledbyhisgrace | 169154 | ||
Maybe I'm wrong but I would say voice was the best interpretation. After all, Jesus was speaking to Saul. That's a voice regardless if it's understood or not. :-) However, Acts 22:9 does help explain the whole thing to me if you use the NASB, ESV, etc... The KJV is a bit misleading to the uneducated reader in that it sounds as if they did not hear the voice according to Acts 22:9 KJV yet Acts 9:7 KJV says just the opposite. Acts 9:7 KJV "And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man." Acts 22:9 KJV "And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me." Take note! I am not blaming the KJV for my inability to wrestle the truth from it's wording. I accept my own inadequacies and simply press on :-) A quick look at the NIV. Acts 9:7 NIV "The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone." Acts 22:9 NIV "My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me." Hummm.... Thank God for the NASB, ESV, and Godly men called to be teachers! Thanks for the guidance! Steve |
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5 | Every NATION or every PERSON? | Matt 24:14 | jlhetrick | 169156 | ||
Yea, what you said. This is a good example of how we can become focused on something that is not really the essense of what the apparent point, or message is. As I hoped my previous post pointed out. It is of no consequence whether what was heard was a voice, sound, or whatever. What we now know after looking a little deeper here, is that they were not communicated with as Saul was. And as for opinion as to which English word is best for the translation, we are safe to disagree there too. After all, the translators of the various bible versions chose different words, and they are/were all far more capable of translating the Greek than the both of us. Keep up the good work and always helpful contributions to the forum. In Christs Love, Jeff |
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