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Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Disparaging the Chosen Apostles of Christ

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

-Acts 1:6 


I have come across yet another site accusing the enlightened Apostles (Luke 24:44-45) of being less informed than its 21st Century staff.


 "Jesus has spent forty days since being raised from the dead giving the disciples information on the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Now, He is about to ascend into heaven so the Holy Spirit can come (John 16:7). The disciples are still confused." -BibleRef . com


Yeah, the Apostles are the ones who are confused. This is terribly arrogant.


 "He opened their [the apostles'] understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures."

-Luke 24:45 


In Acts 1:6, they understand after 40 days of being taught by the risen Lord the things concerning the Kingdom, that the Kingdom would be restored "to Israel." Their only question is in regard to the timing of the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, and the Lord does not correct them. Forty days... being taught about the Kingdom... by the risen Lord... with their understanding of scripture opened.

But, again, somehow we know better. Again, this is modern arrogance

And these same ministries will try to tell us that the "second and third century" Christians and the "early church fathers" understand scripture better than we can because they're closer to the Lord's time. So, I'm supposed to submit my mind and theology to some 3rd century theologian (or 13th Century in the case of Aquinas), but I'm free to correct the doctrines of the chosen Apostles? In fact, from what these sites propose, they're all pretty much incompetent and ignorant for most of the Book of Acts. 

Do we dare do the same with Paul?

Paul's epistles (in the Acts and after) are essentially for the purpose of correcting error among believers. And in his last epistle, he notes that all in Asia had abandoned him. Yet somehow ALL errors were gone by the third century? 


This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 


Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.


This is the Demas of whom Paul wrote not too long before he penned 2 Timothy:


For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. [Colossians]


All is Asia had abandoned Paul. His trusted friend, Demas, had forsaken him. This is all during the lifetime of the great Apostle. Paul was surrounded by departures from the faith, most notably late in his Apostleship. 


having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.


 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.


First century, contemporary with the Apostles, former students of Paul, who spreading false doctrines "like cancer." Yet we today feel free to insult the chosen apostles of Christ as they exalt men who wrote years later. 


  • Men, for the record, who contradicted each other on a number of doctrines. 
  • Men who were not the chosen Apostles of Christ. 
  • Men about whom we are never told "had their understanding opened" by the risen Lord. 
  • Men who were not taught for 40 days by the Lord himself concerning the things of the Kingdom. Men who were not promised to sit on thrones (12) judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 


Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes OF ISRAEL.


They make the Lord out to be a deceiver.


Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

We answer to Him alone. We can read the ECF, but they have no authority over us.

Sola Scriptura.