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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does Matt 28: 18 infer to do what Europe | Matt 28:18 | Jesusman | 192169 | ||
Greetings, I'm not sure if this is what you are wanting, but I will provide the insight I can. One difference between the European settlers and Jesus Christ is divine authority. In this passage, Jesus is not only saying that he has the authority to do anything he feels should be done, but that he has the capability also. The word here for "power" is the same word that we get our word "dynomite" from. Meaning the raw capacity to be able to accomplish a task. Jesus is claiming that God the Father granted the authority and the ability, not just on earth .. but basically everywhere. Now .. there is a parrallel passage in Acts chapter 1:1-8. There, Jesus is giving the Disciples the "power" or ability to accomplish what he wants them to. In this case it's to spread the teachings of Jesus around the world. Now .. notice he didn't give them any "authority" .. just "power". He told them what to do. Go and teach, and he gave them the ability to do so. Now .. with the European settlers, my american history is a little weak back that far, but I do know how harshly the native americans were treated. Much of it done in "the Name of God". This is a perversion of what Jesus commanded. No where does he say for his followers to go and "beat the daylights out of everyone and shove the gospel down their throats." He says to go .. teach .. and baptize. There is no hostile intent in the commands of Jesus in these passages. Such hostile actions in "the name of God" are the perversions of the true intent of the Word, and done so by selfish peoples, not true christians. History is filled with such examples. Jesus Loves You! Jesusman |
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2 | Does Matt 28: 18 infer to do what Europe | Matt 28:18 | jlhetrick | 192181 | ||
Jesusman, Can I get clarification from something you wrote? In your previous post you wrote: "Now .. notice he didn't give them any "authority" .. just "power". He told them what to do. Go and teach, and he gave them the ability to do so." My understanding is that when Christ commissioned the disciples it was in fact with "authority" that He did so. It's not possible to separate out the authority by which He gave from the authority by which they proceded. Otherwise, it would be by their (and our) own authority that the good news was/is preached. Your reference to Acts was a good one. It shows in fact that it is the Holy Spirit from whom the "power" is received. The Scripture is clear that the "authority" was and is given and from Christ who had received in Heaven and on earth from the Father. It's the reason why Christ clearly established that the "authority" was the foundation for going out. "Go therefore..." vs. 19. Therefore referring back to "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" vs 18. As I understand it, the disciples were absolutely given the authority to go out and as we see from the appropriately referenced passage in Acts, it is the "power" given by the Holy Spirit that enabled them (and us) to do so. So the disciples were sent out with the authority given by Christ and accomplished their work through the power given by the Holy Spirit. You wrote that He gave them the "...ability to accomplish what He wants them to." My point is that the ability was a result of having been given both the authority and the power. Illustration: When I was a soldier I was sent on countless missions. In each case, as with the disciples, I was given clear orders. In each case I went out (by virtue of my orders) with the authority of my government and my commanders. I was able to accomplish those missions as a result of the training and equipment (power if you will) I had also been provided with. Mine was simply to be obedient in fulfilling my mission. The authority and power had been given. Was this helpful? Jeff |
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3 | Does Matt 28: 18 infer to do what Europe | Matt 28:18 | Jesusman | 192186 | ||
In the greek, there are two separate words for authority and power. In these passages, Jesus uses both for himself, but when in reference to his followers, only the word for Power is used. To use your example of a soldier, you were granted by your government the power needed to accomplish the mission. Be that power in the form of credentials, or equipment, or personnell to aid you. However, were you ever to exceed your scope of power in order to abuse it, or attempt to, your government would have repremanded you appropriately, yes? So .. you did not have "authority" only "power". When it comes to the christian duties, we are to go .. teach .. baptize .. and also make disciples. The power granted to christians by Jesus does not include bringing down a form of religious martial law .. or declaring holy wars .. or even eradicating what is believed to be pagans. We're supposed to be teachers .. not warriors. Jesusman |
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4 | Does Matt 28: 18 infer to do what Europe | Matt 28:18 | jlhetrick | 192187 | ||
Jesusman- You make some excellent points friend; but I'm afraid you draw conclusions far from the biblical context. Certainly a person (to include a military soldier) can behave in a way that is outside the scope of his/her authority (to include legal authority). That's not at all a problem when discussing authority. If we act in any way contrary to or in addition/beyond the authority given us, like I said before, it becomes our own authority that we act on. In that case, we only have our own power by which to carry out our action. No offense is intended, but your argument is not logical. Perhapse another illustration. I was once a police officer. When I arrested a citizen and took him/her into custody (sometimes by force) I did not do that on my own authority. I did that by the authority of the established law as that authority was imparted to me through the governor of the land. If I were to act on my own authority, in anway outside of the system of law and parameters of my given authority I would be wrong. This fact has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I was given authority by the states governor, city mayor, police chief. Make sense now? So certainly, I had authority- yes indeed. In the context of this thread, the question has not been posed as to whether some might act outside of the authority given them. History shows us that some do, even in the name of God. Not at all the theme or question of this thread. I might suggest to you also that logic and common sense be applied to the whole issue of "going...teaching.. baptizing... etc. etc." Without the AUTHORITY to do so, the power has no substance. The milkman might go... he might teach... and he might even baptize... But if he's not a man of God acting within the AUTHORITY that Christ has given, none of his activities will produce fruit. Power without authority is nothing more than a dangerous reality. Like a young teen who drives a large truck. He has the power, but has not been granted the authority. I hope I'm not on the same roadway. Perhapse this will be helpful. "Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them AUTHORITY over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness" Matthew 10:1 NASB(emphasis added). "And He called the twelve together, and gave them POWER and AUTHORITY over all demons and to heal diseases. Luke 9:1 NASB (emphasis added). "And He appointed twelve , so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have AUTHORITY to cast out demons." Mark 3:14-15 NASB(emphasis added) My hope is that this emphasizes the importance of always considering the text within both immediate and wider context of other Scripture. We should never rest our conclusion on a generic and brief lookup of a word or two in the original language. This happens all too often on the forum. With today's point and click technology I'm afraid it's often tempting to attempt the short road to the answer. So when we look up one or two words in a passage, we do well; but we do better to consider all else that is written on the topic. I trust that this has been helpful, God bless, Jeff |
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5 | Does Matt 28: 18 infer to do what Europe | Matt 28:18 | humbledbyhisgrace | 192191 | ||
Excellent post Brother! | ||||||
6 | Does Matt 28: 18 infer to do what Europe | Matt 28:18 | jlhetrick | 192196 | ||
Thank you sir. I had hoped that it would rest on the AUTHORITY of Scripture :-) | ||||||