Subject: What about so-called revelation knowledg |
Bible Note: graceful, I'd like to offer comment on your "Authority OF BELIEVER PART 2". The Ephesians 6 passage is one of my favorite portions of scripture and a significant one at that. While you are correct to say that YOU is the implied subject of these verses, nowhere is it claimed or implied that WE are in authority. Where does that leave the sovereignty of God? We are "commanded" via the use of imperatives in Eph. 6, five times to do something. This is not an "authority" we are given, rather this is our expected action.These are: 1. To BE STRONG in the Lord and the power of His might; 2. PUT ON the whole armour of God; 3. TAKE UNTO you the whole armour of God; 4. STAND therefore, having your loins girt about with truth; 5. TAKE the helmet of salvation What I see is the initial focus on the Lord in vs. 10 to "be strong IN THE LORD and the power of HIS MIGHT!" I don't see these verses implying that WE have any authority outside of Him. To force this type of interpretation is to go beyond the intended meaning and focus of this passage! Further, the only "offensive" weapon indicated is in vs. 17 where we are commanded to TAKE the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is THE WORD OF GOD-not "authority". The Word of God is our weapon for doing battle with Satan along with prayer as indicated in vs. 18. It is not my attempt to "nit-pick" your interpretation given our obvious disagreements on this matter. Rather, it is an appeal to sound exegesis and fundamental principles of Biblical interpretation which I see sorely lacking here. This amounts to "eisegesis"- the reading into of scripture. Of this passage, Oswald Chambers has said "Paul takes the illustration of battle and applies it at once to what goes on in a saint's life; the whole meaning of taking the armour of God is for prayer. Prayer is the position the devil is struggling for; the struggle is around the position of prayer and the simplicity of prayer." May we be "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Speaking the truth In Love, BradK |