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NASB | Hebrews 11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 11:40 because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us. |
Subject: Superior Hope |
Bible Note: Steve, Thank you so much for responding. I considered your statement, and I think that this passage you are citing, while you are likely correct in your estimation, is not conclusive. I can punch holes in the credibility of it being an absolute statement good for doctrine. For example: Does Acts 20:7 say that they did not meet on the second day of the week? Or the third? Or the fourth? Does Acts 20:7 say that they only met on that day of the week? Is it possible they met on the other days as well, but we are not informed here because it is not immediately relevent to the story being told? Is it also possible they met the other days, since we are lacking an address of the issue in this passage, and especially in comparison with Acts 2:46? Is it possible that they were at the tail end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, seeing that Paul and some of the others had gone ahead of the rest of the group, and the group that stayed behind didn't leave Phillipi until after said holiday? Could it be that the first day of the week was the last convocation of the holiday? The holiday lasts from the 14th through the 21st [Exodus 12:18]. It starts at evening on the 14th, and it ends at evening on the 21st. If the holiday started on a Sunday at evening, that would have it ending on a Sunday at evening. Could this be why they were gathered? We know from 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 that a door was opened up for Paul to preach the Gospel in Troas. But we know also from 2 Timothy 4:13-17 that in Troas, Alexander the coppersmith vigorously opposed his teaching, and everyone deserted Paul. So what kind of disciples were these men in Acts 20:7? We're talking about the same place. Are we talking about the same time? Is this the same occurrence? Did these "disiciples" we're wont to take example from the same "disciples" that abandoned Paul? It is my opinion that Acts 20:7 is a weak example, and I find it by no means a conclusive example as to the regular habits of the disciples. Acts 2:46 is a better and far more defined example of the habits of the disciples in my opinion. Now, I do agree that they met on Sundays, but as you will note in my previous posts, the veracity behind this is stated by Pliny the Younger, who said that the Christians met on the first day of the week before sunrise. These are the words of a historian that plainly recorded the event and was specific about it. In short, I don't disagree that Sunday was the day they met, only that Acts 20:7 is a weak example that can be argued. I would also point out from my previous posts, that I am of the opinion that when or where we meet is not relevent. They did what they did for whatever reason they did it. I find that "They did this, so we must do this," is an inferior teaching to, "They did this, and this is why, so let's apply the "why" to our lives." Thanks for your response. I wasn't hasty in responding. I've had this debate with someone before over Acts 20:7. I don't think it's a discussion worth having. And to those that are misunderstanding my posts, let me say one more time that I am an advocate of going to church. While I don't believe it is commanded, only advised for the sake of upholding one another, I still think it is a good thing, and I definitely would recommend anyone not currently attending to attend. Thank you again, Ancient |