Subject: Divine intervention? |
Bible Note: Greetings Vintage68! Please, just call me 'Tim'! :-) Sorry for the delay in responding, but like many, I have a very full schedule. You make many points. I may not be able to address them all, but I should be able to touch on several. 1) You wrote: "In the New Testament there is only (one) time where this same definition can be used. Every other place it is only used in relation to the person dealing with the spiritual things of God." This is not factually accurate. The word 'steward' occurs 10 times in the New Testament. In six of it's occurrences, it has the same meaning as in the OT: Luke 12:42, 16:1, 3, 8, Rom. 16:23, and Gal. 4:2. The other four definitely have more of a spiritual stewardship in mind: 1 Cor. 4:1, 2, Titus 1:7, and 1 Pet. 4:10. 2) Interpretation of parables: I am not sure I followed your reasoning on this issue. Yes, Luke 16 is a parable, but the 'meaning' of the parable cannot be divorced from the context of the parable. The summation (16:11-13) makes it clear that the context is the stewardship of material things like wealth or money. 3) Finally, we seem to differ on our understanding of possessions. You seem to view your material goods as yours, while I view them as things that God has entrusted to me to manage. Well, I need to run! Have a great day my friend! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |