| Author | Message | ||
| Spokenfor Registered user Username: Spokenfor Post Number: 18 Registered: 12-2003 |
Would some of you please give me your thoughts on Acts 15:21 (council at Jerusalem) that says "For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." I don't understand what the purpose of that verse is in light of the context and haven't been able to find any satisfactory answers. I appreciate your input - thanks! | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 163 Registered: 5-2002 |
It seems to me Peter is saying that if someone wants to know about the old Jewish covenant system with its rules and regulations and rituals, all of that is available for them to hear in the Jewish synagogue every sabbath day. Peter is saying that the new covenant system is based instead on the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and that is what should be taught by the church. What do you think? | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 203 Registered: 7-2003 |
Spokenfor, I think the larger context is the debate regarding whether or not Gentile Christians should be required to observe the Mosaic Law. Closely tied to this debate was the method of operation for spreading the Gospel, to the Jew first then to the Greek. The council finally decided under the inspiration of the Spirit that gentile Christians were not required to keep the Mosaic law. However, the problem of taking the message to the Jews remained. Certain practices would be incredibly offensive to all Jews and would hurt the witness of the gentile Christians when interacting with Jews. So, the gentile Christians were asked not to engage in certain practices that would offend the Jews in their city becasue nearly every city had a synagogue where the mosaic law was taught every Sabbath. The Gospel was to go to these Jews first and that couldn't happen if they were repulsed by what they would consider to be pagan behaviours. To put this all in a modern context, it would be a little like saying, "New Covenant Christians are not bound by Mosaic rituals, however you should not serve ham to your visiting in-laws becasue they still hear Ellen White taught in Adventist churces every Sabbath". The thing to note is that this text says absolutely nothing about Sabbath observance whatsoever. It merely observes that *JEWS* (i.e. non Christians) still met in the synagoge on the Jewish Sabbath. It should be further noted that Sabbath observance is no where mentioned as one of the "essentials" that gentile Christians should observe. If they had wanted gentiles to become Sabbath-keepers they surely would have had to mention it.......they didn't. Chris | ||
| Sabra Registered user Username: Sabra Post Number: 21 Registered: 10-2001 |
I think he was just stating fact, that the law had been taught in every Synagogue every Sabbath. Like I would say the law has been taught in every SDA church every Sabbath. He was making a statement read on and you see the point of the statement. | ||
| Spokenfor Registered user Username: Spokenfor Post Number: 20 Registered: 12-2003 |
Yes, it is clear to me now. Thank you all for your thoughts. I think my leftover 'adventist' brain cells are still trying to read something into certain texts that is NOT there. I liked your analogy Chris, about not serving ham to your in-laws cause Ellen White is still taught in the Adventist church. | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 270 Registered: 1-2003 |
I too grappled with that text...I couldn't understand why he would talk about what Christians should do under the NC and then add that Moses was taught every Sabbath. Maybe because the people were being confused as to what God expected by attending the Jewish synagogue? I wonder why Christians would attend the Jewish synagogue...seems like they would separate from the Old System of sacrificing, etc. I guess it was a hard transition from bondage to freedom...we all have experienced that first hand. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 48 Registered: 12-2003 |
I grappled with it, too. I also see it as Chris and Freeatlast see it; the Judaizers were insisting that the Gentiles had to keep the Jewish laws in addition to being born again in order to be considered truly God's people. (After all, conversion to Judaism had been the means by which Gentiles could become God's covenant people for centuries.) The apostles decided, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that none of the Jewish laws were necessary for Gentile Christians. The only things necessary was for them to abstain from blood, immorality, and ritualistically-blessed food. Moses being preached in the synagogue every Sabbath was a way of saying that the law of Moses was avilable to everyone as it had been for centuries. Gentile converts to Judaism had had the law available, and it was still avialable. Now, however, those things were not part of belonging to God. Praise God for freedom in Jesus! Colleen |
