Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Subject: Non-denominational theology? |
Bible Note: FTimA, The combination of Scripture , which is not always absolutely clear on all points and the witness of the early history of the Church as written by the apostolic fathers, such as Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of John the Apostle, whom we can presume passed on the Gospel accurately to Ignatius, make it clear that the early Church had bishops, priests (presbuteri, elders) and deacons. We do not see the laying on of hands with Matthias, but we do see it in the case of Saul after the laying on of hands at his baptism in Acts 9:17-19 in Acts 13:2-3 which was clearly a form of ordination just as was the ordination of the deacons in Acts 6:6. Paul refers to the laying of hands on Timothy by the presbyteriate in I Timothy 4:14, an obvious reference to his ordination. Paul also warns Timothy to be careful whom he ordains by the laying on of hands, I Timothy 5:22. In various places you see the office of bishop, priest (presbyter/elder) and deacon mentioned. 1 Timothy 3, 1 Timothy 5:17-22, Titus 1 and so on. The main point I am making is that the three levels of ordained offices found some Christian Communions comprising the majority of Christianity : Catholic, Eastern Orthodox , Protestant (Anglican, Episcalal, Methodist, Lutheran) are not unbiblical, but are easily found in scripture and supported by 2000 years of history, during 1500 of which they were universally acknowledged by all Christians. Structural offices of authority within the Church does not deny the headship of Christ but shows the practical application of the authority He conferred on the apostles in Matt 16: 18-20; 28:18-20; Luke 9:6; Luke 10; John 20:19-23; 21:15-17. Emmaus |