Saturday, October 13, 2012

Acts 2:32-37 / Acts 2:44-45


Acts 2:32-37
I believe some parts of this passage are transferable, and some are not. Verse 33 is transferable (Cat 1) in that, today we can expect to receive an outpour of the Holy Spirit, and through Him, live our lives in power, strength, and confidence. Verse 41 is transferable too (Cat 1); sharing what we know about these events and others (as learned in the Word), people that hear it may want to know what to do about it (we should always be ready to give an answer as to why we believe and hope in what we do, 1 Pet. 3:15) The passage as a whole however, falls into category 2 – not transferable. The events Peter, the people who were affected by, and the people that witnessed the manifestation of the Holy Spirit (tongues of fire over head), as well as, what they saw take place with Jesus (the crucifixion and resurrection) is something we will not be privy to. It is historically particular.

Acts 2:44-45
The believers having everything in common, selling off all their possessions, and giving to those as they had need, is not something the Church as a whole does, or even promotes; however, there are equivalents to this. So I believe the verses fall into category 3. The Church or “body” at the time of this writing was still very young, it was easier to teach many hundreds and thousands to live by the same set of instructions giving by just a few of God’s chosen leaders, ergo commonality. Selling off possessions and giving to those – in the body – as they had need, sought to grow the “way”. Today, living it out that way doesn’t seem to make sense. Notwithstanding, we do share a whole lot in common as Christians, but we also have so many different doctrines and theologies, it is impossible to say All the believers were together and had everything in common” V44. Today we may not sell all of our possessions (although, it would probably show a great degree of faith to do so, and trust God to provide for us. We have become so accustomed to the social norms created for us via secular thinking; we feel we deserve the things we’ve worked so hard to attain. Nothing wrong with having things, don’t get me wrong, but if we were called to unite and do what the believers did back then, could you do it?). Today we give to charities, we give a little extra for the building fund, or even bake a few cookies and cupcakes to send our youth groups on local missions, but we don’t give it all away. Shoot, half the time we don’t even know what our money is going to; just saying.
With love and respect, God bless. 

What kinds of tongues were being spoken at Pentecost? Were any of them unknown (so-called "heavenly") languages?

            Acts 2:6 reads, “When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.”[4] In the Greek, Strong’s number 1258, the word language is translated dialektos, διαλεκτος, which means conversation, speech, discourse, language, the tongue or language peculiar to any people.[5] These were not unknown “heavenly” languages. The Bible is clear; those that were filled with the Holy Spirit spoke in tongues, or languages, understandable to the crowd. Bock states, “They hear the message “in their own language” as the disciples speak to them in tongues.”[6]He goes on to say, “This direct communication bewilders or perplexes them.”[7]
This bewilderment comes from the idea that Galileans are uneducated and can’t possibly speak all these different languages; it is obviously the power of the Holy Spirit and clearly His filling the believers on the Day of Pentecost. There is an interesting parallel with the speaking in tongues issue on the Day of Pentecost and the Scripture regarding Babel – God confusing language, and here, God causing language to be understood. God is looking for all cultures to experience the gospel message of Jesus Christ. I like what an article I read states,
St. Luke's Pentecost story from the Acts of the Apostles, which puts the issue of the multiculturalism of the Gospel firmly before us with its reversal of the lower of Babel story and its resulting confusion of languages (Genesis 11:1-9) to the new reality of everyone hearing "them speaking in the native language of each" (Acts 2:6).[8]
It is our “new reality, ”e  God wants everyone everywhere to hear the gospel, and He wants it done where everyone gets it. 


[4] Holy Bible, New English Translation, Bible.org, Internet, available from https://net.bible.org/#!bible/Acts+2:5, accessed 18 July 2012.
[5] Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Dialektos". "The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon",  http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/dialektos.html (accessed 19 July 2012).
[6] Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 100.
[7] Bock, 100
[8] "The Day of Pentecost May 27, 2012." Currents in Theology and Mission 39.1 (2012): 103+. Academic OneFile. Web. 20 July 2012.http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA280625507&v=2.1&u=vic_liberty&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w(accessed 19 July 2012).

What is the significance of Acts 1:8?


The significance of Acts 1:8 is expressed twofold (1) power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, (2) witness Jesus to the end of the earth. Power from, or associated with, the Holy Spirit here refers to “being empowered to speak boldly by testifying to the message of God’s work through Jesus” (δύναμιν, dynamin)[1]. Believers in the book of Acts will find themselves against great opposition, such that their very lives were at stake, some of whom lost it. Boldness was a mighty commodity, for without the Holy Spirit providing it, the word would not have gone out. Remember that the great commission was to “go therefore and make disciples…” Matt 28:19, the Holy Spirit helps make this happen.
Witnessing Jesus unto the end of the earth has been a topic of debate as many scholars have varying opinions regarding its meaning. Is it Rome? Is it all over the world, even unto the remotest parts? Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Scholars can debate all they want; I believe the witness of Jesus Christ is to go to the entire world, literally. Paul would have loved that mission adventure. Bertram L. Melbourne, in expressing his position on what “to the end of the earth” means, concludes that, “The argument presented here shows that Luke may have understood the phrase from both the Greek and Jewish perspectives. The Gospel was to be preached to the whole world, including the most distant lands…”[2]  


[1] Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 63
[2] Melbourne, Bertram L. "Acts 1:8 Re-Examined: Is Acts 8 its Fulfillment?" Journal of Religious Thought57/58, no. 1-2 (2001): 1-III, http://search.proquest.com/docview/222075053?accountid=12085.

What is the significance of Jesus' resurrection for Christians? And, what does it mean that Jesus is "sitting at God's 'right hand'"?


           Unlike many other world religious figures, Jesus is alive! We as Christians serve a real, true, and alive Savior. No other major religion in the world can say that their figure head is still alive; Muhammad – dead; Russell – dead; Smith – dead; Gautama – dead; other world religions don’t even have founders, they were created in the minds of man to find within themselves the thing only God can give them through Jesus Christ – freedom. In addition, Bock says the resurrection shows Jesus is alive, but more importantly, it shows where He is positioned (at the right hand of God) and what He is doing from there (giving the gift of the Spirit)[1].
I would add, in Romans 8:34b it says, “Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Christ is alive, pouring out His Spirit on His beloved sheep, and He makes intercession for us – making sure that we, the Father’s children, are constantly in the right because of Christ’s blood. He sits at the Father’s right Hand, pleased, satisfied; waiting for the time of His triumphant return.



[1] Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament (Baker: Baker Publishing Group, 2007), 133.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS


            Jesus Christ’s work of redemption on the Cross established the foundation for freedom from the penalty of sin and death, it also facilitated in allowing for Jew and Gentile to enter into the household of God, Christ is the cornerstone.[1] With this freedom however comes responsibility, and the book of Acts, as documented by Luke, expresses the Holy Spirit’s role in making available everything that would be necessary to put this responsibility into action.
The Holy Spirit would be the conduit by which a revolution was sparked that would lead the work of Christ on to worldwide reach using early believer’s triumphs, sufferings, and persecution to see it through and ultimately begin building His church. Marguerat concludes, “…the Spirit in Luke is an inaugurating Spirit, the agent of beginnings, of the creation of communities, and the impulse that gives birth to Churches.” [2]
The Holy Spirit will fill new believers with boldness to preach Jesus. He would speak to and direct a course of action to prevent disaster for many believers. He would empower Apostles to heal the sick and lame in Jesus Name. He would move the very foundation of the earth to unify the cause of Christ and use those who would dare proclaim the truth, even unto death.
The Coming / Filling of the Holy Spirit
            In Acts chapter one, we find Jesus about to ascend into heaven, just before doing so, He tells His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until the promised Holy Spirit comes. Once the Spirit comes, the disciples are told they will be given power, and they will be witnesses to Jesus even unto the ends of the earth.[3] What kind of power would the Holy Spirit give them? Is this power only for Jesus’ disciples or would it be given to all believers from that moment on? The book of Acts quickly reveals the power and work of the Holy Spirit in and through believers is for all believers[4].
This power and witness begins on the Day of Pentecost where the Holy Spirit will fill one hundred and twenty believers gathered in one place.[5] Here we find the first audible/visible account of the Holy Spirit’s presence as, “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” and “they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” Acts 2:2-3[6]. Bock states, “Luke pictures the event in a way that has an element of “visibility” to it, as verses 2 – 4 make clear.” [7] Faw writes, “That this is not an actual wind but the sound of one. It is the mighty outpouring of God's presence, told in a language in which the word for wind also means spirit (Greek: pneuma; Hebrew: ruakh). [8]
It seems God wants to make His presence known by sight and sound to ensure that all the believers (witnesses) at this event would be certain that it is Him as promised.  Many from this point on will be filled with the Holy Spirit; three thousand after Peter’s speech, Stephen, Cornelius and his family, and others.  
The Holy Spirit Speaks through Believers
An external phenomenon takes place, but so does an internal one. The Holy Spirit will enable the believers to speak in diver tongues, ones that many people from different parts of the land[9] will understand but not know how it is possible. The Holy Spirit has the authority to cause a person to do the unimaginable, He is God. Haenchen says, “The Spirit causes the Christians it pervades to discourse[10] in other tongues.”[11]
He speaks through Peter in defense of the gift of tongues when some of those present regard what is happening as drunkenness; as a result, three thousand souls are lead to Christ. He speaks through Stephen who faces those that belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedman (Acts 6:9); they are in total opposition of Stephen and his speaking the resurrected Christ. The Bible says in Acts 6:10, “But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.[12] He He speaks through Paul. On very many occasions the Spirit is speaking through Paul and reaching Jews for the cause of Christ. Many are coming to know Jesus because of the boldness the Spirit has imparted to him and others like him. Clear evidence of the Holy Spirit manifesting His power through believers is Paul’s preaching in Damascus. Not soon after being converted, he has fully delved into preaching the word of Christ, knowing that he would face great opposition.  
The Holy Spirit Speaks to Believers
        The Holy Spirit speaks directly to believers in order to guide and protect them.
The Holy Spirit spoke to Peter in Acts 10:19 telling him three[13] men are looking for him. [14] In Acts 11:12 Peter affirms that the Holy Spirit spoke to him. Peter is so confident in what he is hearing from the Spirit that he goes without hesitating. Bock says, “…with the description of going without doubting.” [15]
The Holy Spirit speaks to Philip to engage the Ethiopian Eunuch, he tells Philip in Acts 8:29 “go to that chariot and stay near it.” Conzelmann says, “The intervention of the Spirit cannot be distinguished from that of the angel...”[16] he is referring to the angel in verse 26. Bock states, “The Spirit, not the angel of verse 26, now directs Philip to go…”[17] The latter correctly speaks to the Holy Spirit’s ability to speak audibly to a believer.[18] The Holy Spirit speaks to Paul. In Acts 20:23, Paul speaks to how the Spirit warns him that nothing but bad times is ahead. Bock writes that, “Acts 20:23 makes clearer that the Holy Spirit has told Paul that imprisonment and afflictions (note the plural) await him there[19].”[20] Paul, in the very next verse, counts his life nothing; all he wants to do is finish the race begun for Christ. The Holy Spirit has influence over believers and what there are capable of doing with His empowerment. The unbeliever witnesses this marvelous undertaking and cannot be but moved to decide to for Christ. Even still, there are many who would not believe.
The Holy Spirit Works Miracles through Believers
        The Spirit not only fills, speaks through, and speaks to believers; He also enables the work of miracles, such as healings and raising people from dead. Peter and Paul would carry out most of the miracles written in Acts. Interestingly enough, a couple of miracles they would perform parallel one another. Peter heals a lame man (Acts 3:6). Paul heals a cripple (Acts 14:10). Peter raises Tabatha from dead (Acts 9:40). Paul raises Eutychus from dead (Acts 20:10). In any event, it was the power bestowed on them through the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ[21] that enabled them to these things. Therefore, all that have performed a healing, or rising from dead or any other miracle, did so at the hand of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Builds a Church
        The Holy Spirit plays an integral role in building and moving forward the church of Jesus Christ. Acts 9:31 tells us, “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. Haenchen states, “The concluding words imply the Holy Spirit’s protection when the persecution was over.”[22]
Conclusion
        The Holy Spirit in the book of Acts plays a vital role in accomplishing very specific and pointed tasks. He is the one to fill believers with his glory and really for the purpose of worship and loyalty. He is the one to speak through believers and grant them boldness to present the gospel message of Jesus Christ, without whom none would have dared face persecution for a man who died on a cross.
The Holy Spirit speaks to believers in such a fashion that they are confident of his presence and no without a doubt that he can be trusted. He has given power to heal and raise the dead in Jesus name; he has given disciples the means to prove they are with the Christ as they replicate what he did in his earthly ministry. And lastly, he built a church, moving believer to act in accordance to God’s providence and live what Christ preached – love.
The Holy Spirit is the worker of the Triune God, but nonetheless to be loved, revered, and worshiped.  


[1] Ephesians 2:11-22 speaks to Christ and His work in aligning Jew and Gentile into the household of God as one entity. He broke down the “walls” of separation and with it the laws that kept them apart. The Apostles would be the foundation in keeping Christ’s work moving forward and Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone (a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls; an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based).  
[2] Marguerat, Daniel, The First Christian Historian: Writing the ‘Acts of the Apostles’. Translated by Ken McKinney, Gregory J. Laughery, Richard Bauckham. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/nlebk_112682_AN?sid=8eabeacb-8f34-43ce-9d48-69879eb29425@sessionmgr113&vid=1. (accessed August 2, 2012)  
[3] Acts 1:1-9
[4] Peter, in Acts 2:39, says, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." (NIV)
[5] Acts 2:1, A Temple may have been considered here but Luke has made it very clear when he is referring to a Temple by using the term to hieron, which he does 22 times (Haenchen, 1987:168n1), so the consensus is a house not a Temple.
[6] Holy Bible, New International Version, Biblos.com, Internet, http://bible.cc/acts/2-2.htm, (accessed 16 August 2012).
[7] Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 96.
[9] “The Jewish Day of Pentecost, one of the three major festivals of Judaism at which every adult male Jew was commanded by the Law to appear in Jerusalem (Exod. 23:14-17; 34:18-23). Attendance at the festival has been estimated at 180,000, with some 120,000 of them from foreign lands (Jeremias: 5884).” Faw, 1993.
[10] To speak in a solemn or inspired way, but not  ecstatic speech (Haenchen 168n3).
[11] Haenchen, Ernst, The Acts of the Apostles: a Commentary. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1971.
[12] Holy Bible, New International Version, YouVersion.com, Internet, http://www.youversion.com/bible/Acts.6.10.niv, (accessed 01 August 2012). 
[13] Haenchen states that “two men” are looking for Peter. In his notes he writes, “Ropes considers the number two correct; the soldier sent as an escort is not a messenger (Haenchen, 1987: 349n1)
[14]While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Holy Bible, New International Version, YouVersion.com, Internet, http://www.youversion.com/bible/Acts.10.19.niv, (accessed 01 August 2012).
[15] Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 407. Bock also states that Peter moved without showing any partiality even though those that came were Gentile (Bock, 407), just another expression the Holy Spirit’s influence.
[16] Conzelmann, Hans, A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. Translated by James Limburg, A. Thomas Kraabel, Donald H. Juel. Edited by Eldon Jay Epp, Christopher R. Matthews. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987.
[17] Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 342.
[18] Throughout the Bible there are many references to God speaking audibly to His creation; Adam in the garden, Moses at the burning bush, the Prophets, and countless others. It is not unseemly to believe that if God the Father can speak directly to His children, why is it unseemly to believe God the Holy Spirit could not?
[19] Jerusalem
[20] Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 628. 
[21] Bock states, “It is in the name of Jesus Christ, that is, in the authority of his still active messianic person, that this man can have his legs healed and walk. Peter is replicating the kind of work Jesus performed in his ministry, but only as one who mediates what Jesus has the authority to do.” (Bock, 161, 162) The Holy Spirit then is the conduit to this authority as it is He who is called upon to be about the work of the Word (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30)
[22] Haenchen, Ernst, The Acts of the Apostles: a Commentary. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1971, 333.


Bibliography
Marguerat, Daniel, The First Christian Historian: Writing the ‘Acts of the Apostles’. Translated by Ken McKinney, Gregory J. Laughery, Richard Bauckham. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/nlebk_112682_AN?sid=8eabeacb-8f34-43ce-9d48-69879eb29425@sessionmgr113&vid=1. (accessed August 2, 2012) 

Holy Bible, New International Version, Biblos.com, Internet, http://bible.cc/acts/2-2.htm, (accessed 16 August 2012).

Darrell L. Bock, Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007)


Haenchen, Ernst, The Acts of the Apostles: a Commentary. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1971.

Conzelmann, Hans, A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. Translated by James Limburg, A. Thomas Kraabel, Donald H. Juel. Edited by Eldon Jay Epp, Christopher R. Matthews. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987.

What is the “desire of woman”? Genesis 3:16


John J. Davis, in Paradise to Prison tells us the desire of woman is a “deep natural attraction to her husband.” He goes on to say that, “some commentators have felt this is not so much a curse as a compensation for the sorrow of childbirth.” And he seems to agree.[1] The desire of woman being a deep natural attraction to her husband and that it is compensation for the sorrow of childbirth seems contradictory to what took place in the garden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and His subsequent judgment against them. Why would God compensate Eve for the sorrow of childbirth with a deep natural attraction to her husband Adam? She already had that.
Busenitz states Eve’s desire is for “procreation and the continuation of life…”[2] Now he is arguing against some camps that believe “desire” is rendered a wanting to rule the man, to overtake him as such. Susan T. Foh in What is the Woman’s Desire says, a woman’s “desire is to contend with him [man] for leadership in their relationship.”[3] Both these authors offer keen insight into comparing Gen. 4:7, and Song of Solomon [Canticles] 7:10 [11] with v. 16b. Both agree in some fashion that using 4:7 does not seem to fit with woman overtaking or ruling over man, but 7:10 may offer some insight into her genuine desire for him.
I gather that “desire” as expressed in Gen. 3:16 is quite the heady topic. All three authors made very convincing arguments as to why they are correct in their interpretation; I however, am not quite convinced. It seems this is one of those verses that require a great deal of research and consensus before I will give a go at agreeing with either of them.


[1] John J. Davis. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis  (Salem: Sheffield Publishing Company, 1975), 94.
[2] Irvin A. Busenitz, “Women’s Desire for Man:Genesis 3:16 Reconsidered.” Grace Theological Journal 7.2 (1986) 203-12, http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/OTeSources/01-Genesis/Text/Articles-Books/Busenitz-Gen3-GTJ.pdf (accessed September 13, 2012).
[3] Susan T. Foh, “What is the Woman’s Desire.” The Westminster Theological Journal 37, no. 3 (Spring, 1975) 376-383, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c2c4c669-1cd6-4c59-a518-9b47310c3be9%40sessionmgr15&vid=5&hid=11 (accessed September 13, 2012).

What was the nakedness of Noah? What exactly was Ham’s sin?


That Noah was drunk seems to be the consensus from many commentators. Not that he was tipsy, he was flat out drunk. This drunkenness caused him to be relieved of his clothing while in his tent. But does the nakedness of Noah simply mean his clothing? I found the comments by Leon R. Kass quite poignant; he says, “His drunkenness robs Noah of his dignity, paternal authority, and humanity. It leaves him prostrate rather than upright; stripped of his clothing, naked, exposed, and vulnerable to disgrace, he appears merely as a male, not as a father--not even as a humanized, rational animal.” John Davis writes of Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is indeed a mocker.”
It was in this vulnerability that Ham “uncovered his father’s nakedness.” There are many speculations as to what exactly is Ham’s sin. Some camps believe, “Ham’s sin to be homosexuality…” or some act of sexual depravity. Others, Kass included speak to Ham gossiping about seeing his father naked and thus bringing shame on Noah. Kass writes that “Ham looks upon his father's shame and traffics in it.” Was Ham’s sin more that he chose to promote his father’s time of weakness rather than see to it that he was protected from it?
The Bible is clear that Ham did go and tell his brothers about what he saw. He was certainly able to cover his father up, gently put him to sleep and leave with none being the wiser. Why he did not do so, well, why do any of us do some of the things we do that are offensive? And as far as Noah, whatever his reason for getting drunk was, it surely left him exposed to the manipulation of Satan. We would be reminded that none of us are exempt from his rage against God’s children. No matter what heights God allows us to attain, we must allows be on guard and ever in His presence.


Bibliography
Leon R. Kass. 1992. Seeing the Nakedness of his Father. Commentary, vol. 93, no. 6:41, http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/195868738/abstract?accountid=12085 (accessed October 1, 2012).

John J. Davis. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis  (Salem: Sheffield Publishing Company, 1975), 128.

The New Encylopedia of Judaism, s.v. Noah, http://www.credoreference.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/entry/8446987 (accessed October 1, 2012).