11-28-2013, 06:19 PM
Distazo stated:
"Brother I agree with you, but how must we understand the witness of Acts 6:1?"
Acts 6: (RSV):
[1] Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
[2] And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
[3] Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.
[4] But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
[5] And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch.
1. What is being said of the "Hellenists" in verse 1? They are against the Hebrews because their WIDOWS are being neglected. In short, something has caused a lot of deaths and the deaths are laid at the feet of the "Hebrews". Also, there is that phrase "Now in those days...". This is looking back to some event or events. What event?
2. Look at verse 5. Is there a way to identify who was a "proselyte of Antioch"? Was there a person who championed Antioch or who was hailed by Antioch? There was. Who?
3. Thirdwoe and I got into it a little a while back and I regret that. All of us here have texts that we approve and disapprove. I know who was the Acolyte of Antioch but my interpretation may not find any traction with anyone else.
Mebbe we ought to back off the invective a bit.
4. Josephus may or may not be reliable. He certainly hides a lot. He calls the Romans the "Superior Lords" at one point and that wouldn't be a part of a "Jewish Priest". He won't even tell who it is who performs Sacrifices in the Temple. All we have are versions that we can weigh and use as propositions for use in a logical scaffolding.
Gregory (Scotland Yard detective): "Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"
Holmes: "To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
Gregory: "The dog did nothing in the night-time."
Holmes: "That was the curious incident."
There's a lot of that in Josephus.
CW
"Brother I agree with you, but how must we understand the witness of Acts 6:1?"
Acts 6: (RSV):
[1] Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
[2] And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
[3] Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.
[4] But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
[5] And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch.
1. What is being said of the "Hellenists" in verse 1? They are against the Hebrews because their WIDOWS are being neglected. In short, something has caused a lot of deaths and the deaths are laid at the feet of the "Hebrews". Also, there is that phrase "Now in those days...". This is looking back to some event or events. What event?
2. Look at verse 5. Is there a way to identify who was a "proselyte of Antioch"? Was there a person who championed Antioch or who was hailed by Antioch? There was. Who?
3. Thirdwoe and I got into it a little a while back and I regret that. All of us here have texts that we approve and disapprove. I know who was the Acolyte of Antioch but my interpretation may not find any traction with anyone else.
Mebbe we ought to back off the invective a bit.
4. Josephus may or may not be reliable. He certainly hides a lot. He calls the Romans the "Superior Lords" at one point and that wouldn't be a part of a "Jewish Priest". He won't even tell who it is who performs Sacrifices in the Temple. All we have are versions that we can weigh and use as propositions for use in a logical scaffolding.
Gregory (Scotland Yard detective): "Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"
Holmes: "To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
Gregory: "The dog did nothing in the night-time."
Holmes: "That was the curious incident."
There's a lot of that in Josephus.
CW