Today is

RIGHTDIVISION.COM DISCUSSION FORUM Login as administrator
 Subject: RE: Acts 13 and The Body
 
Author: John Clemens
Date:   8/9/2003 5:48 am CDT
Just found your response. Will have to read what you have written several times to try and figure out the point you are trying to make in your questions.

I'll address the first two main paragraph questions now that are more straight-forward and easier to comprehend.

You said, "Now, if the body of Christ had begun, then God would certainly put Cornelias in it with a content of faith that doest not violate its doctrine. But what Peter preaches to Cornelias is the hope of Israel, Isn't it?"

At the instant in time of Acts 10:10-15, Peter is in Joppa, and Paul is in Arabia. Peter did not get the revelation of Paul's "my gospel" at that point in time, it was given to Paul by the Lord in Arabia. There was no simultaneous communication of what was being revealed or given to Paul in Arabia to Peter in Joppa. Peter and Paul were separated by miles without any e-mail or telephone connections. In fact, Peter never did accept Paul's gospel of grace, nor did the other 11 apostles ever receive Paul's "my gospel." Peter preaches "the hope of Israel" to Cornelius, as you realize, he did just that.

What Peter was preaching to Cornelius in Acts was the same thing he preached to everyone else to whom Peter preached his circumcision gospel. The gospel Paul got in Arabia was not revealed or preached openly by Paul until Acts 13:38-39, so even if you contend that God would have "certainly put" Cornelius into His body just because Paul got that gospel personally in Arabia, at the same time Peter was in Joppa, ignores the fact that Peter had nothing to do with Paul's "my gospel." He had no idea whatsoever what was going on with Paul in Arabia, and even Paul did not immediately understand all of what was presented or given to him by the Lord in Arabia.

Nothing Paul does takes anything away from Peter and vice versa. There is no contradiction present whatsoever.

Obviously if Paul was given a gospel, "my gospel," and that gospel differed from Peter's gospel of the circumcision, putting believers of Paul's gospel into the position of being "bones" and "flesh" of the Lord, then since Paul was the first to get that revelation, he had to be the "first" into whatever such gospel put him into. Thus, 1 Timothy 1:16 explains the fact of what is going on with Paul's "my gospel" and why Paul was the "first" as the pattern to those believing the new gospel hereinafter it was given to Paul. Peter was never, and forever will never be, a part of what was given to Paul in Arabia.

When you read Acts, holding the Bible in front of you, you still have to realize, acknowledge, and visualize, the fact that Joppa is nowhere near Arabia geographically. And the Lord did not give Peter what he gave to Paul in Arabia. You have to observe and acknowledge the differences of time and location when you are reading scripture. It can't be lumped all together to fit some pre-conceived teaching or idea that may have come from a pulpit somewhere.

Paul received the same gospel Peter preached in Acts 9:18. It was the only gospel around at that chronological point in time. Then, Paul did not get his "my gospel" until the chronological instant in time of Acts 10:10-15 where Peter was in Joppa. The actual amount of real time between Acts 9:18 and Acts 10:10-15, is some total of weeks, months, and years - "much time passing."


Reply To This Message

 Topics Author  Date      
 Acts 13 and The Body   new  
Paul Kooyers 9/24/2002 7:39 am CDT
 RE: Acts 13 and The Body   new  
Mike Holt 4/11/2003 9:18 am CDT
 RE: Acts 13 and The Body   new  
Mike Holt 4/11/2003 9:23 am CDT
 RE: Acts 13 and The Body   new  
John Clemens 6/3/2003 2:55 pm CDT
 RE: Acts 13 and The Body   new  
Mike Holt 7/12/2003 8:48 pm CDT
 RE: Acts 13 and The Body    
John Clemens 8/9/2003 5:48 am CDT
 RE: Acts 13 and The Body   new  
Dan p 9/18/2008 2:46 pm CDT
 Reply To This Message
 Your Name:  
 Your Email:  
 Subject:  
  Submission Validation Question: What is 45 + 61? *  
* indicates required field