Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Who is God talking to? | Acts 2:17 | John Reformed | 61027 | ||
Dear Charis, I agree with Searcher. It is absolutely necessary to identify who is being addressed. The subject may be "universal" and apply to all readers, but it may also be "specific" and apply to the immediate audience only. You stated that "Honestly, who cares who Peter was talking to? Regarding the Bible, who is God talking to? I am of the opinion that the Lord is addressing me (and YOU!), and all that call upon His name!" Is it not of paramount impotance to identify to whom Jesus is speaking in John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father." A less obvious example is Luke 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Those to whom Jesus is speaking to is often misinterpeted as being the jews in general. But if carefull attention is paid to the context, we will find that Jesus is actually addressing the religious leaders. It was the leaders who were attempting to prevent the children from hearing the teachings of Christ. Eventually, in order to silence Him they resorted to murder. So, knowing the audience can radically affect our interpretation of Scripture. John |
||||||
2 | Who is God talking to? | Acts 2:17 | charis | 61064 | ||
Dear John, Greetings in the name of Jesus! Indeed, we must identify the participants in any communication to discern the context. Yes, to whom something is said allows us to understand what was said. But, my friend, we cannot contextualize ourselves out of ANY portion of Scripture in an absolute sense. The entire Bible was written for the benefit of God's people, and the entire New Testament is for the benefit of those that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. I will use the two examples you used: John 8:44 Can we honestly say that we, body, soul and spirit, are completely of the Father? That we never do the will of Satan? This would be at odds with the confession of Paul, who said, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." 2 Corinthians 12:7 NASB. As to Luke 13:34, the history of the church has shown time and again the religious leaders of Christianity have continued to murder pious men who spoke the word of God boldly. "Only," "never," "always," etc. are words that can get us into trouble with the Spirit of God, because we limit our understanding with 'present' (or more often, 'past') revelation of God, negating ongoing communication with the individual. Truly, the Bible canon is finished, but the Spirit continues to speak to His servants. Well, I must go now. Love and blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
||||||