Category Archives: DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY

Why did Jesus say to throw the net on the “right” side?

07/25/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

**WHY DID JESUS SAY TO THROW THE NET ON THE “RIGHT” SIDE?**

by Shawn Brasseaux

Have you ever questioned why the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to throw their net on the right side of the ship? Why not the left side? Why not both sides? What doctrine was He communicating to them in catching these fish? We will search the Scriptures for the answers. Prepare for God’s Word to amaze you! (By the way, rather than share the answer with you from the start, let us take “the long way round” and first explain why the apostles are “fishing” at all. Then, you will better appreciate why they are fishing on the “right” side.)

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

The Bible book we call “The Gospel According to John” is the fourth and final record of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. John’s Gospel is starkly different from the so-called “Synoptic Gospels” (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). That is, the Apostle John emphasizes aspects and events of Christ’s earthly ministry that Matthew, Mark, and Luke usually disregard entirely. The Gospel of John particularly stresses the deity of Jesus Christ.

John 1:11-13 introduces the theme of the Gospel of John: “[11] He [Jesus Christ] came unto his own, and his own received him not. [12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 20:30-31 elaborates: “[30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: [31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

When moving the Apostle John to write his Gospel record, the Holy Ghost selected specific events of Christ’s earthly ministry, eight unique miraculous demonstrations through which Jesus taught Israel various doctrines (our King James Bible calls these miracles “signs”). These signs communicated to Israel that Jesus Christ was their Messiah, the Son of God, and that He had the ability, the power, to equip them to function as “the sons of God,” men and women who could work with God and delight in accomplishing His earthly purpose and program.

The question currently under discussion involves the eighth and final sign of Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel record. This sign, noted in John 21:1-14, is the key to understanding God’s purpose and plan in forming the nation Israel.

“CAST THE NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHIP”

“And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes” (John 21:6). This verse, which we will now expound, foretells the greatest fishing trip Israel’s apostles will ever enjoy!

To get the thought flow, let us read verses 1-3 of John chapter 21: “[1] After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. [2] There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. [3] Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.”

Post-resurrection, seven of Israel’s 12 apostles—Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee (James and John; Matthew 4:21), and two unknown persons—are assembled in Galilee (possibly an allusion to Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 28:16). Evidently, the four remaining apostles (Judas the fifth had expired days earlier) were late, so when Peter says he wishes to go fishing, the apostles with him agree to accompany him (John 21:3, quoted above).

Israel’s apostles go fishing on “the Sea of Tiberias,” the Gentile name for “the Sea of Galilee” (see John 6:1). Jesus Christ began His ministry there some three years earlier (Matthew 4:12; Luke 4:14). Just three short years prior to John chapter 21, and at the same seaside, Christ had selected brothers Simon Peter and Andrew, fishermen, telling them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18). Christ had also selected James and John sons of Zebedee, fishing partners of Peter and Andrew, and they too forsook their fishing business and followed Him (Matthew 4:21,22; Mark 1:19,20). (Later, Luke’s account of their calling will help us better understand John 21:6.)

When Israel’s apostles returned to their fishing businesses in John chapter 21, and without Christ, that night of fishing “they caught nothing.” They returned to their old life (human wisdom and will, fleshly living), and in their own strength, they were unable to accomplish God’s will for them. John 21:3-5 continues: “[3] They [the apostles] went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. [4] But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. [5] Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.”

Israel’s apostles returned with empty nets after a night of “fishing in the flesh.” The Bible student will immediately recall a similar event that occurred three years prior… when Jesus Christ had first called these men from their fishing businesses. John chapter 21, when Jesus restores and re-commissions His apostles who had fled at His arrest (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50), loops back to their calling (Luke’s account alone provides details).

Jesus Christ, just beginning His earthly ministry, is teaching and preaching God’s Word near the Lake of Gennesaret (another name for the Sea of Galilee). He meets fisherman Simon Peter and tells him, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught [catch of fish]” (Luke 5:4). Simon answers, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (verse 5). Verses 6 and 7 explain: “And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.” When Jesus gave the word, the apostles caught enough fish to sink their boats!

Flash-forward three years to John chapter 21, the throwing of the net on the right side of the ship. Israel’s apostles did not recognize Christ standing on the shore (John 21:4), but when He gave the word for them to fish, and the miracle of the enormous draught occurred, they remembered what happened when He originally called them.

Remember, when Jesus Christ had first called brothers Peter and Andrew and brothers James and John, fishermen, they had just fished all night and caught nothing. Discouraged Peter confessed to Jesus, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). Verses 6 and 7 explain that once they obeyed Christ’s words, their net broke because of the many fishes! In Christ’s absence, the apostles caught nothing; when He arrived, their two boats literally began to sink with fish! Jesus told Peter, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (verse 10). Three years later, in the context of John chapter 21, the apostles have been fishing again in the same Sea of Galilee. Jesus Christ is absent, and after toiling all night, the apostles “caught nothing” (verse 4). (No surprise!)

Luke 5:8-11 reminds us of what happened three years earlier: “[8] When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. [9] For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: [10] And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. [11] And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” Before Peter even became an apostle, he already learned from Jesus Christ that God’s Word was the key to catching multitudes of fishes. In the case of his apostleship, God’s Word, not fleshly efforts, was the key to catching multitudes of souls! He and the other apostles had forgotten that in those three years, and they learned it again in John chapter 21, casting the net on the right side.

We will now reread John 21:6-8: “[6] And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. [7] Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. [8] And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.”

“That disciple whom Jesus loved” (John?), upon seeing the miracle, surely recalled what happened in Luke chapter 5 three years prior. At first He did not know who was standing on shore, but, after the miracle, he knew it could only be the Lord Jesus Christ!

We will continue reading in John 21:9-13: “[9] As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. [10] Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. [11] Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. [12] Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. [13] Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.”

Earlier, Jesus Christ assured His apostles that they would be “fishers of men,” but they would not catch anyone until He gave the word (see Matthew 28:19,20; “at thy word I will let down the net,” Luke 5:5; John 21:6; Acts 1:8). The power would be in His Word, not in their ability. If they relied on Him, they would catch multitudes of souls, a number they could not even begin to fathom, and they would bring those souls to Him.

As the apostles drag to shore the nets of fish that Jesus Christ told them to catch in His power, He invites them to eat with Him—He has already cooked fish and bread for them! “[12] Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. [13] Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.”

Remember, as fishers of men, Israel’s apostles still have more “catching” to do. After our dispensation, after the seven-year Tribulation, and just before Christ’s earthly kingdom is established, Israel’s apostles will be bodily resurrected (see Matthew 19:27-30 and Luke 22:28-30, for example), and they will fulfill Matthew 28:19-20. They—yea, all of believing Israel—will evangelize the nations. (This is why the Gentile name for the Sea of Galilee, “the Sea of Tiberias,” was used in John 21:1).

Now, dear friends, thank you for your patience. We come to our original question! Why did Jesus tell them to throw their net on the right side (John 21:6)? Matthew 25:31-46 says when Christ returns to earth (His Second Coming), He will set on His right hand believing Gentiles who blessed Israel during the seven-year Tribulation and He will set unbelieving Gentiles on His left hand (verses 32,33). Only believing Gentiles—those on His right hand—will be allowed to enter His earthly kingdom (verses 34,46); all of redeemed Israel will then minister to them. The unbelieving Gentiles—those on His left hand—are cast into everlasting hellfire (verses 41,46).

In accordance with John’s theme, Christ’s final miracle is Him empowering Israel’s believing remnant, particularly her apostles, to catch the souls of Gentiles. They will “bring them to shore to Him” so that they too dine with Him (see Isaiah 2:1-5; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 8:11; cf. Matthew 26:29), and enjoy the salvation that He offers them through Israel! The miracle of John 21:6 symbolizes the climax of God’s prophetic program, when Israel’s believing remnant becomes fishers of men.

When Christ first commissioned His 12 apostles, Scripture says in Matthew chapter 10: “[5] These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: [6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Most church members are never taught that Israel’s apostles had no ministry to Gentiles.

Jesus told these apostles post-resurrection: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). He repeated in Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The 12 apostles were to convert all of Israel first. Then, and only then, redeemed Israel was to evangelize all nations (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15). In the prophetic program, Gentiles would be blessed through Israel’s rise to kingdom glory: Israel had to be saved first so Gentiles could be saved next (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23; Acts 3:25-26; Romans 15:8-12; et al.). But, (unbelieving, rebellious) Israel was never fully converted. Through Paul’s ministry, we Gentiles learn that salvation is currently coming to us through Israel’s temporary fall, the mystery program (Romans 11:11-13).

When Jesus Christ returns to establish His earthly kingdom through Israel, Isaiah 2:1-3 says that all the nations shall flow unto it. When the apostles caught 153 fishes in John 21:11, this evidently symbolizes how many Gentile nations Israel will “catch” (evangelize). The net broke in Luke chapter 5 but it did not break in John chapter 21—Israel’s apostles will be prepared and equipped to catch all the fish, and none will be lost.

Rest assured, Israel’s apostles will be resurrected one day, and their greatest fishing trip will be underway! 🙂

Also see:
» What does John 3:16 really mean? (COMING SOON!)
» Should we use the book of John to evangelize? (COMING SOON!)
» How were Gentiles saved before our Dispensation of Grace?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, What does Matthew 18:19-20 really mean?, What does Matthew 18:19-20 really mean?

What does Matthew 18:19-20 really mean?

07/23/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

WHAT DOES MATTHEW 18:19-20 REALLY MEAN?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” This verse, Matthew 18:19, is commonly used to teach that where two Christians pray in agreement, their prayer request will be answered without exception. They can pray for anything and have the assurance that God will hear them and grant their request. Is this really what this verse teaches?

Interestingly, the next verse is also used in a bizarre manner: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). How should we take this verse? Today, it is taught that where two or three Christians are gathered, God mysteriously manifests Himself. When these two or three Christians disband, God allegedly leaves too. (And just where does He go?! Is that an implication of loss of salvation?!)

Verses 15 through 20 are one unit, so the key to understanding Matthew 18:19-20 is to get the thought flow of all six verses: “[15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Firstly, we note the context—the local assembly of Jewish believers, Israel’s little flock. Please note that, contrary to popular belief, the “church” of verse 17 is not the Church the Body of Christ or a local assembly of Christians today. It refers to Israel’s believing remnant, her kingdom saints, those who have accepted Jesus as Messiah. In verse 18, the Bible talks about whatever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever is loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven. Of what phrase is this reminiscent? Jesus had uttered similar words in Matthew 16:19 when discussing the divine authority He had given to Peter and the other 11 apostles of the Jerusalem Church.

We read in Matthew 16:16-19 about the Messianic Church: “[16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

With this fresh in our minds, we return to Matthew 18:15-20 to expound. Re-scanning the text, we understand that it is how rebellious believing kingdom Jews were to be corrected from their error. In short, the passage describes authority in the Messianic Church. If a believing Jew is disorderly, he or she should be reprimanded before the leaders of the kingdom church, particularly the 12 apostles. Remember, once Jesus Christ leaves planet earth in Acts chapter 1, He leaves the 12 apostles to function in His absence. On the day of Pentecost, Acts chapter 2, He will send the Holy Spirit on them. The Spirit of God will empower them to continue preaching and doing what He had preached and done for the previous three years in Matthew through John. To take official action in Jesus Christ’s absence, two or three kingdom Jews in the leadership position had to agree. These verses have nothing to do with Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace and members of the Church the body of Christ claiming prayer promises and spiritual breakthroughs. But, those verses did have a fascinating impact on us!

SUPPLMENTAL: THE QUORUM THAT AFFECTED US

Oddly, people who enjoy stressing Matthew 18:19-20 in the context of prayer promises, usually never bother to study and learn how that passage sheds great light on the famous Acts-15 Jerusalem Conference that Paul described in Galatians chapter 2: “[6] But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: [7] But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; [8] (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) [9] And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. [10] Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.”

When James, Cephas (Peter) and John—note three individuals leading the Jerusalem Church—were deliberating how to address Paul’s ministry amongst the Gentiles, they agreed to loose themselves from their Gentile commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). These three apostles turned Gentiles over to Paul and Barnabas. Jesus Christ Himself by the Holy Ghost—in the apostles/persons of James, Peter, and John—further validated Paul’s ministry as being a part of God’s plan. Thus, the expression is fulfilled, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Also see:
» What is “the Lord’s house?”
» Is the Church the Body of Christ the “church” spoken of in Matthew 16:18?
» Who was Judas’ replacement—Matthias or Paul?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Is there “healing in the Atonement?”, Is there “healing in the Atonement?”

Is there “healing in the Atonement?”

06/28/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

IS THERE “HEALING IN THE ATONEMENT?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

Pentecostals and other Charismatics hold to the doctrine of “healing in the Atonement.” Predicated upon Isaiah 53:5, the basic idea is that Jesus Christ purchased physical healing for us at Calvary (the word “Atonement” obviously being Christ’s sacrificial death). Is this really what the Prophet Isaiah was saying in that famous passage? We will look at God’s Word and see what it actually says.

Indeed, Isaiah 53:5 says of Messiah’s crosswork, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” But, before we just grab the part of the verse we like and make it say something we want it to say, we need to let the Bible interpret itself. We do not need a lexicon, Dr. “So-and-So’s” commentary, or some denominational handbook to explain Isaiah. The Holy Spirit Himself will teach us. Will we be willing to hear Him and conclude that just maybe He might be right?

It is supposed that, through Jesus’ shed blood, we have the authority to declare healing and recovery from every disease and illness. If we are Christians, we should not be sick or dying. According to these “healing-in-the-Atonement” adherents, Calvary’s cross is the means whereby Father God has guaranteed us Christians physical healing. We just have to claim that deliverance in “Jesus’ name.” We are told not to believe the diagnoses from medical professionals. While they see cancer in us, heart disease in us, or some other verifiable medical condition, we are told to ignore that reality and live in a delusional world. We are urged to declare, “I have Jesus not cancer! I have Jesus not a knee injury or back pain! I have Jesus, Jesus, Jesus….” Surely, dear friends, this assumption is extremely dangerous, spiritually and physically. In fact, it is not faith at all. It is unbelief!

The Apostle Peter quoted Isaiah 53:5 in 1 Peter 2:24. We will look at this verse in context: “[21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: [24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” Through Peter, the Holy Spirit interpreted Isaiah 53:5 for us. The healing is not physical healing. It is a spiritual healing, a healing of the soul, forgiveness of sins, the spirit given life. He “bare our sins in his own body on the tree” is indicative of spiritual healing rather than physical healing.

By the way, the verse before Isaiah 53:5, verse 4 of Isaiah chapter 53, is a reference to physical healing under special circumstances: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” The Holy Spirit interpreted this verse for us in Matthew 8:16-17: “[16] When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: [17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Isaiah 53:4 predicted Messiah’s healing ministry, the miraculous demonstrations that validated the Gospel of the Kingdom that He and His apostles preached. The sicknesses that brought Israel sorrow, Jesus came and healed them. Their infirmities that brought them grief, Jesus came and healed them. Please make special note that Jesus’ earthly ministry of healing miracles occurred before the cross, not at the cross or through the cross.

Interestingly, when James wrote about physical healing (James 5:13-15), He did not quote Isaiah 53:5, “with his stripes we are healed.” Is that not a demonstration that the “healing” of Isaiah 53:5 is a different type of healing than that of James 5:13-15? The Apostle, and the Holy Spirit guiding him, knew this to be true, and thus did not quote the verse. Another fascinating tidbit is that James 5:13-15 is a passage of Scripture commonly appealed to in order to support modern-day healing crusades. Evidently, unlike those who like to quote him, James did not believe there was physical healing in the Atonement.

Those physical healing verses referenced above were not written to or about us in this the Dispensation of the Grace of God. When advising sick Timothy, Paul never told him, “Claim your healing in the Atonement, Timothy! God has promised you deliverance from those sicknesses! You are a Christian and you are not supposed to be ill!” Yea, on the contrary, Paul instructed Timothy to use wine—medicine—for his stomach problems and his frequent sicknesses (1 Timothy 5:23). The Apostle also admitted that, in his last epistle, he had to leave a brother in Christ sick at Miletum: there was no miraculous healing for Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. Moreover, there was no physical healing for Paul himself in Acts 16:22-23,33 (when he was beaten with “many stripes”); 2 Corinthians 11:22-28 (his various health risks and injuries sustained in the ministry); 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (which included his “infirmities”); and Galatians 4:13-15 (his “infirmity of the flesh,” possibly a reference to partial blindness in light of Galatians 6:11).

The danger in claiming physical healing through Calvary’s cross is that well-meaning and desperate people often overlook the spiritual healing available through Calvary. It is a focus on the temporary healing of a body that will go to the grave and rot and decay, rather than an emphasis on the salvation of the spiritual body that will last forever. One day, we who have relied exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ, His perfect sacrifice at Calvary for our sins, will receive glorified bodies fashioned like His body (Philippians 3:20-21). The fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians goes into great detail about that resurrection of Christians at the Rapture, when Jesus Christ comes to take His Body into the heavenly places. You can read more about that in your own personal Bible study.

We read in Romans 8:18,22-24: “[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”

In the above verses, Paul talked about how we suffer under the curse of sin. Even as Christians, our bodies grow sick and eventually die. Being a child of God does not insulate us from illness and it does not guarantee us good health. As long as God continues to operate our program, Israel’s program will be postponed, and as long as Israel’s program is postponed, the curse of sin being lifted (in Israel’s kingdom) is also delayed. Anyone who says otherwise is not sound in his or her theology.

Hence, we read Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “[16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

While known for his “faith-healing testimonies,” his “miracle water,” and other religious trinkets, a television preacher had to admit recently that he was growing older and weaker, his head was balding, and he and his wife were getting more and more wrinkles on their skin. He read 2 Corinthians 4:16 on-air, and then commented, “Our outward bodies are perishing [decaying and dying].” Brethren, talk about religious tomfoolery, talk about dishonesty! As a dear brother in Christ always says, “All the healing claims aside, the death rate is still one-a-piece!”

Beloved, all the religious nonsense aside, and in contradistinction to the “healing-in-the-Atonement” doctrine, the Bible view is, we are subject to sickness, we can and do have sickness, and whether well or sick, we still have Jesus. It is not that we ignore our sickness and refuse medical treatment. We have sickness and we also have Jesus Christ. It is not “We have Jesus not sickness.” Whether or not we live with a sickness for the rest of our earthly lives is irrelevant. God’s grace is still sufficient in all troubles, as Paul learned about his own trials, tribulations, and illnesses (2 Corinthians 12:7-12). We can glory in our tribulations (Romans 5:1-5), find value in those trials and troubles. Whether or not that sickness is terminal (takes our life) is irrelevant. God has given us the grace to endure all of life’s troubles (Philippians 4:13). We can use the eyes of faith to see that these problems are only temporary. Thank God that they are not forever. Compared to eternity, they are a simple blink of the eye, a fraction of a second, nothing. The Lord Jesus Christ is with us, in health or in sickness!

CONCLUSION

Research into the history of the “healing-in-the-Atonement” tenant yields proof that it has left many deceived, disappointed, and dead people in its wake. Innumerable souls disregarded medical advice because they did not understand God’s Word rightly divided. Until the day that their lives were taken by the various diseases that religion said they did not suffer from, they kept quoting God’s healing verses to Israel as though those verses were given to them in the current dispensation. They found false hope and pseudo-peace in divine words given to others. Not only were they deceived by others, they deceived others with their own actions, and wrested God’s Word in the process.

There is spiritual healing available through Jesus Christ’s work at Calvary’s cross. In Christ, there is forgiveness of sins, abounding grace, unparalleled peace, everlasting love, and eternal life in heaven. All that we need is ours in Jesus Christ. We have not been promised miraculous bodily healing in this the Dispensation of Grace. God has given us medical professionals, medicine, and immune systems, and if they cannot help us, all the more reason to move on into heaven and get that new body, one that will never grow sick or old but will last forever! 🙂

Also see:
» What about “modern-day faith healing?”
» Does God chasten us when we sin?
» Did the 12 preach the Gospel of the Kingdom after Christ ascended?

DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE NATION ISRAEL, What is the difference between “the Kingdom of God” and “the Kingdom of Heaven?”, What is the difference between “the Kingdom of God” and “the Kingdom of Heaven?”, What is the difference between “the Kingdom of God” and “the Kingdom of Heaven?”

What is the difference between “the Kingdom of God” and “the Kingdom of Heaven?”

06/24/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “THE KINGDOM OF GOD” AND “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

“Can you please tell me to the best of your ability about the differences between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven?”

My friend, I would be delighted to help you better understand these two biblical concepts. First, we will introduce some general information, and then we will delve into the details. A survey of scores of verses is necessary, but we will try to keep it simple for sake of clarity and brevity. Since this can be an intricate topic, you may want to read the conclusion first, and then read the study to see the logic behind the conclusion. To the Scriptures we go!

GENERAL OVERVIEW

When the term “the kingdom of God” appears in the Bible, it is a general reference to God’s domain, the realm of His influence (the righteous world system, Christians, and heaven). This term can apply both to redeemed Israel and the Church the Body of Christ. The phrase “the kingdom of God” is in contradistinction to the realm in which Satan and his cohorts operate (the evil world system, lost [unregenerate] mankind, hell, the lake of fire, fallen angels, et cetera). A person enters “the kingdom of God” when God rescues/saves him or her from Satan’s realm—having sins forgiven, being declared righteous before God, fellowship with God, able to participate in His will, not going to hell anymore, and so on. You can refer to Matthew 21:31, Luke 17:21, and Colossians 1:13.

Now, the other term, “the kingdom of heaven,” goes back to a concept first introduced when Moses wrote about “the days of heaven upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 11:21). Moses referred to the day when God’s earthly kingdom would be established through Israel. Companion passages are Job 19:25-27, Isaiah chapter 11, Isaiah chapter 33, Isaiah chapter 35, Isaiah chapter 61, et cetera. There would be no sickness and the curse of sin would be lifted. It would literally be heaven on Earth! All of God’s saints would be bodily resurrected to enter that kingdom. In that day, the God of Heaven would have His kingdom present on Earth for all to see. It would be a literal, physical, visible earthly kingdom, modeled after the reigns of King David and King Solomon. The Prophet Daniel, when interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, said in Daniel 2:44: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” This is yet future, dear friend. Jesus Christ is coming again to destroy all of this world’s evil governments and He will establish His righteous kingdom on this planet!

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (cf. Luke 12:31). Before Israel could receive her material blessings from God (food, drink, clothing, shelter, et cetera), she first needed to have spiritual blessings from God (her sins forgiven and a right standing before God, or justification). Israel, entangled with an apostate religious system at Christ’s time, needed to first seek salvation in and through the Lord Jesus, her citizens needed to become saints (citizens of the kingdom of God), she needed to be delivered from the power of darkness (Satan and sin), before she could enjoy material prosperity in that earthly kingdom that Jesus Christ would establish. Israel needed to be redeemed (spiritually cleansed) before going into a cleansed land, the Promised Land. Otherwise, she would pollute that purified land.

With these few introductory comments, we can get into the “meat.”

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD”

The phrase “the kingdom of God” appears 69 times in our King James Bible: Matthew 6:33, Matthew 12:28, Matthew 19:24, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:43, Mark 1:14, Mark 1:15, Mark 4:11, Mark 4:26, Mark 4:30, Mark 9:1, Mark 9:47, Mark 10:14, Mark 10:15, Mark 10:23, Mark 10:24, Mark 10:25, Mark 12:34, Mark 14:25, Mark 15:43, Luke 4:43, Luke 6:20, Luke 7:28, Luke 8:1, Luke 8:10, Luke 9:2, Luke 9:11, Luke 9:27, Luke 9:60, Luke 9:62, Luke 10:9, Luke 10:11, Luke 11:20, Luke 12:31, Luke 13:18, Luke 13:20, Luke 13:28, Luke 13:29, Luke 14:15, Luke 16:16, Luke 17:20, Luke 17:21, Luke 18:16, Luke 18:17, Luke 18:24, Luke 18:25, Luke 18:29, Luke 19:11, Luke 21:31, Luke 22:16, Luke 22:18, Luke 23:51, John 3:3, John 3:5, Acts 1:3, Acts 8:12, Acts 14:22, Acts 19:8, Acts 20:25, Acts 28:23, Acts 28:31, Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 4:20, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10, 1 Corinthians 15:50, Galatians 5:21, Colossians 4:11, and 2 Thessalonians 1:5. In your personal study, you can look at all of these references. We will look at only some of them here.

“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”

The term “the kingdom of heaven” appears 32 times in our King James Bible, it only appears in the book of Matthew, and it is always a reference to God’s earthly kingdom (commonly called “The Millennium” or “The 1000-Year Reign of Jesus Christ”): Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:10, Matthew 5:19, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:1, Matthew 8:11, Matthew 10:7, Matthew 11:11, Matthew 11:12, Matthew 13:11, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 13:52, Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:1, Matthew 18:3, Matthew 18:4, Matthew 18:23, Matthew 19:12, Matthew 19:14, Matthew 19:23, Matthew 20:1, Matthew 22:2, Matthew 23:13, Matthew 25:1, and Matthew 25:14. Again, in your own personal study, you can look at these references. We will look at only some of them here.

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD” AND “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” CAN BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY IN ISRAEL’S PROGRAM

Mark 1:14-15 says that Jesus Christ went around preaching “the gospel of the kingdom of God,” saying, “The time is fulfilled, And the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Luke 9:2, “And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick,” is similar usage of the term. Luke 9:11 says, “And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.” Luke 9:60,62 and Luke 16:16 are other examples. Again, “the kingdom of God” would here refer to both the realm of God’s influence and its visible manifestation (God’s earthly kingdom was on the verge of being established when Jesus Christ showed up). “The kingdom of God” and “the kingdom of heaven” are so closely connected that it is difficult to separate them in Israel’s program.

Matthew 19:23-24 shows how the terms “the kingdom of heaven” and “the kingdom of God” can be used interchangeably in Israel’s program (please note this substitution is only valid in Israel’s program, not in our mystery program). After all, in Israel’s program, the visible manifestation of the kingdom of God is the literal and physical earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ. “[23] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. [24] And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Parallel Mark 10:23-25 and Luke 18:24-25.)

“The kingdom of God” and “the kingdom of Heaven” (God’s influence and God’s earthly kingdom) are interchangeable in other verses such as:

When Jesus said to the unbelieving Pharisees in Matthew 12:28: “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” God’s influence, in the form of that coming earthly kingdom of Christ, was the means whereby God would cleanse Earth of Satan’s influence. The prophet Zechariah said there would be no unclean spirits on Earth and in Israel’s land when God would establish His earthly kingdom (Zechariah 13:1-2). Here, “the kingdom of God” could apply to both God’s influence and that literal, physical, visible earthly kingdom—parallel verse, Luke 11:20, says “the kingdom of God.”
“Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matthew 13:11)—parallel verse, Luke 8:10, says “the kingdom of God,” meaning they are interchangeable here.
“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field” (Matthew 13:31)—parallel verse, Luke 13:18, says “the kingdom of God,” meaning they are interchangeable here.
“Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matthew 13:33)—parallel verse, Luke 13:20, says “the kingdom of God,” meaning they are interchangeable here.
“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:” (Mark 4:11).
“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;” (Mark 4:26).
“And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?” (Mark 4:30).
“Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1)—parallel verse, Luke 9:27, says “the kingdom of God.”—and other parallel verse, Matthew 16:28, says “the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” That would be a reference to Jesus Christ returning to establish that earthly kingdom.
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14)—parallel verse, Luke 18:16.
“Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (Mark 10:15)—parallel verse, Luke 18:17.
“Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).
“I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also” (Luke 4:43).
“Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20)—parallel verse, Matthew 5:3, says “the kingdom of heaven,” meaning they are interchangeable here.
“But he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than [John the Baptist]” (Luke 7:28).
“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,” (Luke 8:1).
“And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Luke 10:9).
“Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Luke 10:11).
“And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,” (Luke 18:29).
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” (Acts 1:3).
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD” IS SOMETIMES ONLY THE EARTHLY-KINGDOM ASPECT OF GOD’S KINGDOM

In some verses, “the kingdom of God” stresses only the earthly kingdom of God’s influence since the language of these verses is restricted to the physical realm:

“The kingdom of God” would refer to the earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ in Matthew 21:43—the Pharisees wanted that kingdom but they did not want the King or His righteousness, so they would not be allowed to enter that kingdom. Remember our opening comments how that Israel must be redeemed before she can enter the Promised Land.
Mark 9:47 (“it is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire”)—the establishment of the visible kingdom on earth.
Mark 14:25 (“I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God”)—the establishment of the visible kingdom on earth—parallel Luke 22:16-18.
Mark 15:43 (Joseph of Arimathaea waited for “the kingdom of God”)—the establishment of the visible kingdom on earth—parallel Luke 23:51.
“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out” (Luke 13:28).
“And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29).
“And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15).
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:” (Luke 17:20).
“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear” (Luke 19:11).
“So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (Luke 21:31).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD” AND PAUL’S MINISTRY

This following section documents how the Body of Christ is associated with “the kingdom of God,” the heavenly aspect, the kingdom God has for us in the heavens (Ephesians 2:6-7; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 3:21). On 13 occasions, the phrase “the kingdom of God” is connected with Paul’s ministry and epistles, and us the Church the Body of Christ:

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). This would be the Body of Christ participating in “the kingdom of God,” experiencing much trouble (persecution) before going to heaven forever.
“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8). Seeing as to Paul ministered to Jews here, he spoke about how Israel’s Messiah came according to the Old Testament prophets. He preached of how they rejected and crucified Him just as the Old Testament prophets had also predicted. He was now ministering through Paul’s ministry and offering salvation to them (lost Israel) through a new program (our program, the Dispensation of the Grace of God).
“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more” (Acts 20:25). This was spoken to the Ephesian church leaders, members of the Body of Christ, so the Body of Christ is our role/part in “the kingdom of God,” just as “the kingdom of heaven” is Israel’s part of the “kingdom of God.”
“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23). Again, seeing as to Paul ministered to Jews here, he spoke about how Israel’s Messiah came according to the Old Testament prophets. He preached of how they rejected and crucified Him just as the Old Testament prophets had also predicted. He was now ministering through Paul’s ministry and offering salvation to them (lost Israel) through a new program (our program, the Dispensation of the Grace of God).
“Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:31). Once more, seeing as to Paul ministered to Jews here, he spoke about how Israel’s Messiah came according to the Old Testament prophets. He preached of how they rejected and crucified Him just as the Old Testament prophets had also predicted. He was now ministering through Paul’s ministry and offering salvation to them (lost Israel) through a new program (our program, the Dispensation of the Grace of God).
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).
“For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10).
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:50).
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).
“And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me” (Colossians 4:11).
“Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:” (2 Thessalonians 1:5). This would be how the Body of Christ is associated with “the kingdom of God,” suffering persecution before being caught up and glorified in heaven.

CONCLUSION

This study involved scores upon scores of verses, but we can reduce them all to the following five brief points:

The term “the kingdom of God” includes all of God’s workings. It is divided into two realms: “the kingdom of heaven” (redeemed nation Israel) and the Church the Body of Christ (Christians from our Dispensation of Grace). The context of the verse determines which of the two spheres is being referenced. In “the kingdom of God,” the God of the Bible is worshipped and served as King. This would immediately rule out lost people (unbelievers) and Satan and his angels. Satan is called “a king over all the children of pride” (Job 41:34).
The phrase “the kingdom of heaven” refers strictly to the literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom of Israel’s program, when heaven is brought down to Earth. Paul never uses the term “kingdom of heaven” to apply to us, the Church the Body of Christ. We have no inheritance in Israel’s earthly kingdom. We are God’s heavenly people, with an inheritance in the heavenly places. The Church the Body of Christ has a role in the government of heaven, as Israel has a role in the government of earth.
Paul applies the term “the kingdom of God” to us, the Church the Body of Christ. Remember, opposite to redeemed Israel, the Church the Body of Christ is the other half of “the kingdom of God.” As the God of the Bible is glorified in redeemed Israel (Earth), so He is glorified in the Body of Christ (Heaven). He works in and through both of them. He is King (Ruler) in respect to both.
In Israel’s program only, “the kingdom of God” and “the kingdom of heaven” are sometimes used interchangeably. Remember, for Israel, “the kingdom of heaven” is the literal, physical, visible representation of “the kingdom of God.” In the form of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, Father God will be with Israel, physically, literally, and visibly.
The only aspect of “the kingdom of God” operating today is the Church the Body of Christ. There is no redeemed Israel today (yet future). Israel is currently fallen, and she will be restored after our dispensation. Today, there is no “kingdom of heaven” being preached, no earthly kingdom about to established, et cetera. Hence, Paul never used “kingdom of heaven” with reference to us in his epistles.

Also see:
» Is God finished with the nation Israel?
» What does “My kingdom is not of this world” mean?
» Did the 12 preach the Gospel of the Kingdom after Christ ascended?

DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Was Saul a pastor a prophet or an evangelist?

Was Saul a pastor, a prophet, or an evangelist?

06/22/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

WAS SAUL A PASTOR, A PROPHET, OR AN EVANGELIST?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Saul/Paul exercised numerous spiritual gifts, not just one or a few.

APOSTLE. When Paul wrote his 13 epistles, Romans through Philemon, he wrote as “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” See Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:6, 1 Timothy 1:1, 2 Timothy 1:1, and Titus 1:1. The God of the Bible, Jesus Christ, directly sent Paul to us Gentiles (Acts 9:15-16; Acts 26:15-18; Romans 1:5; Romans 11:13; Romans 15:16; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Timothy 1:11-16; 1 Timothy 2:5-7; Titus 1:1-3; et al.).

PROPHET AND TEACHER. Acts 13:1-2 calls Paul a “prophet” and a “teacher.” He was a prophet in that he spoke on behalf of the God of the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 13:2, he claimed to have “the gift of prophecy.” Paul was one of the “prophets” and one of the “teachers” referenced in Ephesians 4:11. He was one of the “prophets” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 2:20.

PREACHER, APOSTLE, AND TEACHER. In 1 Timothy 2:7, Paul calls himself, “a preacher,” “an apostle,” and “a teacher of the Gentiles.” He was a preacher in that he proclaimed the Gospel of the Grace of God to all nations. As noted earlier, he was an apostle in the sense of being directly commissioned by the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was one of the “apostles” referenced in 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 2:20, and Ephesians 4:11. For over 30 years, Paul traveled throughout the then-known world, with signs and wonders often accompanying the Word he preached (2 Corinthians 12:12). Paul was a teacher in that he instructed Gentiles in the doctrine of this the Dispensation of the Grace of God. Paul was one of the “teachers” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11.

PASTOR. Paul was one of the “pastors” referenced in Ephesians 4:11. He was a “pastor” in the sense that he would feed God’s flock. As a shepherd would guide his sheep, the Holy Spirit worked in and through Paul to guide the members of the Church the Body of Christ into the doctrines of grace.

EVANGELIST. Paul also was an evangelist because he shared the Gospel of the Grace of God with others. He was one of the “evangelists” referenced in Ephesians 4:11.

CONCLUSION

Paul had a number of spiritual gifts rather than one or a couple. Chiefly, he was an apostle, but he was also a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, and a teacher. It is important to remember that Paul did not write as an evangelist or a preacher or a teacher. He wrote as an apostle, the highest authority that God gave to the Church the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:28).

It is quite a shock to most that God’s spokesman to us Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace is not Jesus in His earthly ministry, or Peter or John or Jude. They did not have ministries in our mystery program—their ministry was to Israel first (Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24; Acts 1:8; Acts 3:24-26). The Apostle Paul had an all-men message and ministry (Romans 1:5,14; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-7). Paul was not sent to Israel first. As Israel would turn primarily to Moses, Genesis through Deuteronomy, to learn God’s Word for her, so we turn to Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, to learn God’s information for us. We do not exalt Paul, but rather we magnify the ministry that the ascended Lord Jesus Christ gave him (Romans 11:13). By honoring what Jesus Christ honors, we honor Jesus Christ.

Notice what the Lord Jesus Christ said in John 13:20: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” Now, notice Paul’s testimony in Acts 26:15-18: “[15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. [16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; [17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee [Paul is the “apostle,” the sent one, of the Gentiles; Romans 11:13], [18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Finally, note what the Holy Spirit moved Paul to write in 1 Corinthians 14:37: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” If we reject the Apostle Paul, then we reject what the Lord Jesus Christ had to say through Paul. What Paul wrote are the Lord Jesus Christ’s words to us Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace. Dear friends, if we cannot believe these simple truths, or we cannot see these simple truths, we would do well to remove our denominational eyeglasses and toss them out!

Also see:
» Why was Saul’s name changed to Paul?
» Could you please clarify Ephesians 2:18-22?
» Who was Judas’ replacement—Matthias or Paul?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Does not Acts 11:15 prove the Body of Christ began in Acts 2?, Does not Acts 11:15 prove the Body of Christ began in Acts 2?

Does not Acts 11:15 prove the Body of Christ began in Acts 2?

06/16/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

DOES NOT ACTS 11:15 PROVE THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST BEGAN IN ACTS 2?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Acts 11:15 says, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” What was that “beginning” found in Acts chapter 2, the day of Pentecost? Is this verse saying that Acts chapter 2 was the beginning of the Church the Body of Christ? While some have used this argument to force us into Pentecost, we will see what the Bible really says. Unless we have a denominational bias to hinder our understanding, this verse is amazingly simple. There are one-dozen reasons why the Church the Body of Christ did not begin in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost. (Please see our study linked at the end of this article.) To use one verse—Acts 11:15—to argue against dozens of verses is absolutely ridiculous. In fact, for someone to use Acts 11:15 in that manner is to demonstrate a desperate attempt to hang on to Pentecost with whatever it takes. Tradition is awfully difficult to abandon!

Acts 2:41 reads: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” If the Body of Christ really began at Pentecost, and the 12 apostles were saved before Pentecost, of what body of believers were they members? Obviously, there was “church” that existed prior to Acts chapter 2. That group was the “little flock” of Luke 12:32, the Messianic Church of Matthew 16:16-18. After Peter preached his famous sermon on Pentecost, the Bible says other disciples were “added unto them.” Again, on Pentecost, there was a preexisting group of believers. There is nothing, nothing, nothing new in Acts chapter 2, but rather it is a continuation of something already there.

Now, regarding Peter’s words in Acts 11:15, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” This certainly refers to Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit came down from heaven and filled the apostles. (In chapter 11, Peter is saying that a similar event occurred with Cornelius in chapter 10.) That “beginning” refers to the beginning of the “last days” of Israel’s program (see Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:17-18). Peter, led by the Holy Ghost, says that the events of Pentecost are the “last days,” not the first days of anything. They are a further development of Israel’s prophetic program. Israel has just rejected and crucified Messiah Jesus (just as the Old Testament prophets predicted), the Holy Spirit has come (as the Old Testament prophets foretold), and now the wrath of God is coming (just as the Old Testament prophets predicted). Everything the prophets spoke of in the Old Testament is being fulfilled, and Peter is warning in Acts chapter 2 that the worst is yet to come! The “beginning of the final days of Israel’s program” is the only beginning that would make sense in Acts 11:15 and Acts chapter 2, considering the Body of Christ and our Dispensation of Grace are not spoken of in the Old Testament.

Also see:
» Did the Church the Body of Christ begin in Acts 2?
» When did the Church the Body of Christ begin?
» What is the “church” spoken of in Matthew 16:18?

DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, THE NATION ISRAEL, Who were the people who followed Jesus before Paul?, Who were the people who followed Jesus before Paul?

Who were the people who followed Jesus before Paul?

05/29/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

WHO WERE THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED JESUS BEFORE PAUL?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“Who were the people who followed Jesus before Paul?”

Thank you for this question. The Apostle Paul (then known as Saul of Tarsus) was saved in Acts chapter 9, one year after Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Those who followed Jesus Christ prior to Paul are found between Matthew chapter 1 and Acts chapter 8. We will examine some of those passages here.

The Holy Bible knows this group of believers by various and sundry names:

“them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38);
“the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16);
“the little flock” (Luke 12:32);
“a foolish nation” (Romans 10:19; cf. Deuteronomy 32:21);
“the strangers scattered throughout…” (1 Peter 1:1);
“a kingdom of priests” and “an holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9);
“the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1);
“the church which was at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1);
“[those] waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25);
“[those who] waited for the kingdom of God” (Mark 15:43);
and “the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; cf. Matthew 16:18).

Personally, I often call them “Israel’s little flock” (see Luke 12:32), “Israel’s believing remnant” (Romans 9:27; not every single Jew will be saved), or “Messianic Jews” (in light of their profession that Jesus is Messiah/Christ). Technically, the name “Christians” was not used until Acts 11:26. Later, in 1 Peter 4:16, the Messianic Jews were called “Christians.”

These believers during the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are “Messianic believers.” They knew nothing of Calvary’s cross until after it happened (see Matthew 16:21-23; Luke 18:31-34; Luke 24:44-46; John 20:9). Even in the early Acts period, God did not let them see the full picture, the full merits of Christ’s finished crosswork. Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, people simply believed that He was the King of Israel, the Messiah/Christ, the Son of God. Jesus Christ told His 12 apostles to preach, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7). At that point in the program of God, there was nothing in the Gospel message about Calvary. God had not yet revealed the Gospel of Grace that we preach today; Jesus had not even died yet.

Notice the confessions of these Messianic Jews:

Andrew told his brother Simon Peter, “We have found Messias, which is, being interpreted, Christ” (John 1:41).
Nathanael said to Jesus, “Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49).
Peter said to Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Martha said to Jesus, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (John 11:27).
The Samaritans of John 4:42 said of Jesus, “we… know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
In Acts 2:36-38, Peter stressed Jesus’ Lordship and Christship and urged Israel to repent and be water baptized in Jesus Christ’s
name.
Even as late as Acts 8:37, a year after Calvary, the Gospel was still “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Modern Bible versions and their underlying manuscripts omit this important verse!)

The Gospel message that highlighted who Jesus was—that He was Israel’s Messiah-King—is called “the Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:14-15; et al.) It was around this Gospel message that God formed Israel’s believing remnant, the little flock. Note that Calvary’s crosswork is absent from the professions of faith listed above. God had not yet revealed that information. That mystery would not be revealed until Paul’s ministry (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

The little flock of Jewish believers would include people such as:

Zacharias and Elisabeth, parents of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25, 57-79);
Joseph and Mary, Jesus’ mother (Luke 1:26-56);
Simeon (Luke 2:25);
Anna (Luke 2:36-38);
John the Baptist (John 1:6-34);
the 12 apostles (Matthew 10:1-4);
Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (Matthew 27:61);
Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha (John 11:1-2,22-28);
Joseph of Arimathaea (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; John 19:38); and various others.
There were 120 disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem in Acts 1:15-16.
Over 500 believers saw Jesus Christ post-resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6).
There were about 3,000 Jews saved on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) and about 5,000 Jews saved in Acts 4:4.
We read about various other believers throughout the first eight chapters of Acts. Stephen and Philip are the primary examples of Messianic Jews in Acts chapters 6-8.
These were all people who followed Jesus Christ prior to Paul, people whom Paul (or at that time, known as Saul of Tarsus) persecuted when he was a lost man (Acts 8:1-4; Acts 26:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:13).

On the basis of Isaiah chapter 11, or Daniel 9:24-26, or Isaiah chapter 53, or Psalm chapter 22, or Micah 5:2, or Isaiah 9:6-7, or Isaiah 35:4-6, or 300 other Old Testament prophecies, the Jews were able to identify Jesus as Messiah when He showed up in Israel 2,000 years ago. Furthermore, they had John the Baptist’s ministry to bear record that Jesus of Nazareth undoubtedly was the Messiah promised throughout the Old Testament economy. They were anticipating Him to come and establish an earthly kingdom (yet future beyond our day). In that kingdom, there will be no curse of sin or sickness or death. Israel will inherit all of God’s promises and blessings (forgiveness of sins, deliverance from Satan, the land, the New Covenant, the David kingdom, their national priesthood, et cetera). When we come to Paul’s ministry in the Bible, we learn about the Church the Body of Christ, a group of believers who will inherit an heavenly kingdom. (Beyond the scope of this study.)

CONCLUSION

We need to always distinguish between the nation Israel and the Church the Body of Christ. Your question is helpful in accentuating that difference. When we see the Gospel that Paul preached to form the Church the Body of Christ, and the Gospel that Peter and 11 preached to form the nation Israel’s believing remnant, they were obviously two different messages, two different programs, two different sets of believers, two different hopes. Prior to our Gospel being revealed through Paul, the good news that God wanted Israel to believe was that Jesus was His Son, the King, Messiah/Christ. However, when we come to Paul’s ministry, the good news that God wants us to believe is that Jesus Christ paid for our sins by dying on Calvary’s cross, and that we appropriate those merits by simple faith in that finished crosswork. While we could carry this study much, much, much further, we will conclude it and refer you to the three associated Bible studies linked below. They expand on topics we have only briefly introduced here. Also, they cover material we omitted here for brevity’s sake.

Also see:
» Can you compare and contrast Peter’s ministry and Paul’s ministry?
» Were there people “in Christ” before Paul?
» Is the Body of Christ the “church” spoken of in Matthew 16:18?

Did Paul quote verses out of context in 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1?, Did Paul quote verses out of context in 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1?, Did Paul quote verses out of context in 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1?, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, SATAN AND HIS POLICY OF EVIL, THE NATION ISRAEL

Did Paul quote verses out of context in 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1?

05/27/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

DID PAUL QUOTE VERSES OUT OF CONTEXT IN 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14–7:1?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“I would like to hear your thoughts on a passage of Scripture. As you know, in the church today it is the norm to take Scripture out of context and apply it wherever you wish to make your point. In 2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1 it almost seems that Paul is doing this very thing. We know that the passages he is quoting are about Israel and yet in 7:1 he says that they are our promises as well. I know that there is an explanation to this that I am missing. I would appreciate your help, Brother.”

Yes, Brother, the verses that Paul quoted in that passage were originally to and about Israel. Yet, the Holy Spirit through Paul selected them to apply to us. When you take the time to study those Old Testament references and then recognize the extensive spiritual troubles in the Corinthian assembly, you see why these verses from Israel’s program were used in the second epistle to apply to the Corinthians (and to us). I believe that the following study is the “explanation that you are missing.” 🙂

There are various parallels between Israel and the Church the Body of Christ. While these groups should certainly never be confused with each other (different gospels, different apostles, different operating systems, different hopes, et cetera), there are similarities between these two agencies of believers. Whether the nation Israel or the Church the Body of Christ, Jesus Christ is the Saviour of both, the Son of God in both, and the resurrected Lord in both. Another similarity is that Satan uses false religion to seduce members of the Body of Christ today just as he did with the nation Israel in time past (or will do with Israel yet future). Whether in prophecy or mystery, Satan’s policy of evil is designed to distract God’s people from God’s current program. As long as Satan can entice God’s people to think about something else, they will be ignorant of God’s will for them and His Word to them. If Satan can pollute God’s people with garbage teaching, they cannot be productive vessels of His grace.

THE CORINTHIANS AND DOCTRINAL ERROR

Without going into too much detail, suffice it to say that Satan was using a lot of erroneous doctrine to distract the Corinthian believers. (The same is true today with believers!) We will briefly look at some examples of how Satan was actively opposing and greatly upsetting God’s purpose and plan for the Corinthians.

Firstly, according to the first three chapters of the first epistle to Corinth, human philosophy was being used as a means to try to discover Father God’s will. Paul had to correct such thinking in those passages, warning the Corinthians that they were polluting themselves with doctrine that would amount to nothing at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They needed God’s wisdom instead of human wisdom (note particularly 1 Corinthians 2:1-16). In light of eternity, they needed the Scriptures, especially Paul’s writings, instead of the writings of the Greek poets, the speeches of the Greek orators, and so on.

Secondly, chapters 8, 10, and 11 of 1 Corinthians are the Holy Spirit’s reminder to the Corinthians that they should not participate in heathen religion. The Holy Spirit reminded them in chapter 10 to not repeat Israel’s mistakes and go the way of apostasy. Paul retold how Israel started off right by coming out of Egypt in faith but then they abandoned God’s Word to them (Law of Moses) and participated in idol worship. Satan was using a similar tactic to defile the Corinthians, except he was drawing the Corinthians away from Paul. False apostles had come to Corinth and encouraged these believers to defile their Christian lives with doctrinal error. This “fellowship with devils” and “table of devils” is frequently referenced throughout chapters 10 and 11 of 1 Corinthians. The Holy Spirit screamed against such madness!

Thirdly, in chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians, we learn that some of these believers had begun to deny Christ’s bodily resurrection (verse 12). After Paul had come and preached to them, someone teaching pagan philosophy misled the Corinthians to reject the doctrine of bodily resurrection. That entire chapter was aimed at correcting their error and defending the veracity of the doctrine of bodily resurrection.

Lastly, by the time Paul and Timothy wrote 2 Corinthians, the saints there had reformed in some areas but still had other major problems. The Corinthians only acknowledged Paul and Timothy “in part” (2 Corinthians 1:14). Some Corinthians refused to submit to Paul’s apostleship (does that sound familiar?). A portion of those believers accepted him as a legitimate apostle of Jesus Christ but the rest rejected him (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:10-12; 2 Corinthians 11:1-33). Throughout chapters 10 through 13 of his second epistle to Corinth, Paul answered his detractors and defended his apostleship. As mentioned earlier, false teachers had infiltrated Corinth and had made these believers turn away from Paul. Again, as Satan turned Israel away from God’s spokesman to them, Moses (1 Corinthians chapter 10), Satan turned the Corinthians away from God’s spokesman to them, Paul. Another passage in 2 Corinthians that identifies their spiritual wickedness involves your question. It is 2 Corinthians chapter 6 which lists verses that God told Israel so that they would remain pure doctrinally (or to encourage them to return to pure Bible doctrine when they abandoned it).

With the above as background, now we can look at your question. It becomes very clear why Paul wrote what he did and quoted what he did in that passage.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:14–7:1 AND ITS OLD TESTAMENT PARALLELS

We will read 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1: “[6:14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [6:15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [6:16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [6:17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [6:18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. [7:1] Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

By the way, as you are probably aware, verse 14 is often used to teach that Christians are not to marry lost people. However, Paul’s comments about marriage are in 1 Corinthians chapter 7—verse 39 of that chapter says Christians should marry only Christians. In verse 14 of 2 Corinthians chapter 6, the passage currently under discussion, being “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” is a reference to associating with idol worship and false religion (remember our earlier comments). The next several verses amplify this enjoining to avoid doctrinal error.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” The Old Testament book of Amos sheds light on this expression. Just as the fifth course of judgment was about to come upon Judah, God sent prophets to warn the Jews of His impending wrath. For centuries, they had committed spiritual adultery. They had worshipped and served other gods long enough. Now there was divine chastisement on the way! To highlight their spiritual error and cause them to think of that error, God asked them in Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The Jews were not worshiping JEHOVAH God. They were not walking with Him. Instead they were fellowshipping with false religion and pagan idols. They were walking in foolishness and vanity. The Jews were “unequally yoked” to Satan’s lie program, false religion. Similarly, the Corinthians, as Paul will proceed to demonstrate, were “unequally yoked together” with devil worship.

There are five rhetorical questions in verses 14-16 of 2 Corinthians chapter 6, queries that Paul asked to prompt the Corinthians to think about what they were doing. “Does it make sense for that which is right (you) to fellowship with that which is wrong (heathen worship)? Does it make sense for spiritual light (you) to mix with spiritual darkness (false religion)? Does it make sense for Jesus Christ (you) to be harmonious with Belial (Satan)? Does it make sense for Christians (you) to have a part with non-Christians (lost people)? Does it make sense for the temple of God (you) to agree with idols (devil worship)?” (The answer to all five questions is, “NO!”)

From verses 16-18, Paul quotes several Old Testament verses to strengthen his argument (the previous five questions). We Christians are the temple of the living God—or temples of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; 2 Timothy 1:14). Therefore, we should have nothing to do with dead idols. As we stated in our opening remarks, Satan uses false religion to trick us just as he utilized false religion to confuse Israel. In fact, if you study the dozens upon dozens of verses that delineate that false religion that misled Israel, you will see that the same religious system is all around us in the form of Roman Catholicism. That false religion that damned Israel featured the wafers/cakes, the goddess called “the queen of heaven,” the priests called “father,” the images and idols, incense, candles, the bowing to and kissing of statues, golden cups of wine, vestments/clothing/robes, purple and scarlet colors, et cetera.

We want to briefly analyze the three Old Testament quotes about which you are asking:

2 Corinthians 6:16: “…as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This would be a loose quotation of Exodus 29:45, Leviticus 26:12, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 32:38, Ezekiel 11:20, Ezekiel 36:28, Ezekiel 37:26, Zechariah 8:8, and Zechariah 13:9. You should check these verses in your Bible. Some of these references are actually going to be fulfilled one day after our Dispensation of Grace is over, when God redeems Israel and lives in and with her in the Millennial Kingdom (as He lives in us Christians now in this the Dispensation of Grace). Since some of the Corinthians were Jews (Acts 18:1-11), they would have been familiar with these Old Testament prophecies. God can only live in us practically if we are submissive to His Word and will. If we are distracted by error, we cannot know His Word and will.
2 Corinthians 6:17: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” This is quoting Isaiah 52:11, which admonishes Israel to be spiritually pure so she can be ready to accept her Messiah and enter His earthly kingdom (the Millennium). She needs to turn away from her pagan ways and turn to JEHOVAH God. If we want to fully experience the eternal life that God gave us in Jesus Christ, we need to get rid of that which will smother that life. We need to abandon false apostles, false prophets, cults, et cetera, and we need to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ’s heavenly ministry found in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon.
2 Corinthians 6:18: “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Taken loosely from Jeremiah 31:1, which in its context is a description of Israel’s New Covenant and her redemption from Satan worship and spiritual bondage. We are God’s children by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-28). But, if we want to enjoy that spiritual relationship to the fullest extent, we need to understand and believe His Word to us. We need to turn from our idols (denominationalism, philosophy, et cetera) and turn to God’s Word through Paul. That way, we can cooperate with Father God in accomplishing His will (just as sons or daughters would assist their biological father).

When the above points are all taken into consideration, you can appreciate why Paul opened chapter 7 with, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” God did not want Israel polluted with false teaching and He does not want us polluted with false teaching. He is our God. We have His indwelling Holy Spirit in us. Does it make sense for us to ignore His Word through Paul and act as though the Lord Jesus Christ according to “the revelation of the mystery,” is not our God? (No.) Does it make sense for us to ignore our God’s instructions and do whatever we want in religion? (No.) Does it make sense for us to partake in a false religious system when God repeatedly told Israel not to do it? (No.) (In fact, whether the false religion of Israel’s time or the false religion of our time, they are equally repulsive to God because they are all the work of Satan.) Does it make sense for us as sons and daughters of God to behave like we are not His sons and daughters? (No.) Since all of these questions are answered in the negative, we should (therefore, consequently) “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The “filthiness of the spirit” refers to spiritual sins (false religion, human “goodness,” rites, rituals, ceremonies, statues/images, et cetera). The “filthiness of the flesh” refers to the loose living of the world (stealing, pride, killing, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, illegal drugs, lying, et cetera). False religion is associated with the sins of the spirit and the sins of the flesh, so our behavior should be cleansed of both. We should revere the God of the Bible, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. We should have respect for Him. Israel did not, and so, she went the way of idolatry.

The way we worship God is by studying, believing, and maturing in sound Bible doctrine, rightly divided Bible study, teaching that purifies us from Satan’s polluted teaching (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-32; Ephesians 5:1-27; Colossians 3:1–4:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 2 Timothy 2:14-26; et al.). Israel has to wait until our program finishes to see the fulfillment of those verses quoted in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, but those verses are true of us now. We members of the Body of Christ are God’s people now. We have His indwelling Holy Spirit now. He has received us now. We have fellowship with Him now. He is our Father now. We are His children now. The same salvation from and forgiveness of sins that we enjoy now in the Body of Christ, redeemed Israel must wait until Jesus Christ’s Second Coming to get it (cf. Acts 3:19-21 and Romans 5:11).

CONCLUSION

In summation, Paul quoting some verses from Israel’s program and applying them to us is acceptable because of the similar contexts. The verses he quoted are transdispensational. In other words, no matter the dispensation, God always wants His people to be doctrinally pure. Regardless of the dispensation or age, Satan’s policy of evil always counterfeits God’s purpose, plan, and Word. Whether Adam and Abel, or Noah, or Abraham and Moses, or Israel’s believing remnant in the Four Gospel Records and Hebrews through Revelation, or us in the Church the Body of Christ, the Devil is always trying to sidetrack. God’s people need to always guard against doctrinal error… especially against non-rightly-divided Bible!

In 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1, Paul quoted those Old Testament verses to remind the Corinthians (and all members of the Body of Christ) that we have the same relationship with God that Israel once enjoyed (and will yet enjoy). Israel was in ruins every which way after she failed to maintain sound Bible doctrine. She did not faithfully memorize, believe, and obey the divine doctrine given her. She threw those precious words of God away to hold to idolatry, that which was profitless, worthless, useless. When we look at the Church the Body of Christ during these last 2,000 years of church history, we can see how it too continues to ruin itself. The Body of Christ has not been faithful to God’s Word to it (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon). We need not wonder why or blame God for the abounding confusion and division. As someone once said, the remedy is to go back to Paul’s epistles and apostleship… or we will continue into further apostasy and unbelief!

(* For more information about this topic of “Be Ye Separate” as it relates to us, you may refer to our Bible study here. There, you will learn how we as Grace Believers should separate ourselves from denominationalism and all the other errors in “Christendom.”)

Also see:
» Which Bible version should I use?
» Are we all God’s children?
» Should we observe the Lord’s Supper?

BIBLE VERSIONS AND MANUSCRIPTS, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Who wrote the book of Hebrews?, Who wrote the book of Hebrews?

Who wrote the book of Hebrews?

05/19/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF HEBREWS?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Various church fathers and theologians down through the ages have speculated as to the writer of the book of Hebrews. Tertullian thought Barnabas wrote Hebrews. Martin Luther believed it was Apollos. Some have suggested that Luke was its writer. Certain Bibles have titled the book “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.” Many believe Paul wrote Hebrews. Is there any way to definitively identify (or exclude) Paul as the writer of the book of Hebrews? Does it really matter whether or not Paul wrote Hebrews?

In this, our special edition 150^th Bible Q&A study, we will consider the above questions. We aim to survey the book of Hebrews in order to shed some light on its writer’s identity. The following treatise is the fruit of several years of prayerful and thoughtful Bible study. It is a very in-depth, and yet, a very enlightening, study. Dear reader, may you use this article to learn what most Bible readers never grasp in their whole lives. The information contained therein is so greatly needed about a topic so many have confused. It is with great urgency that we send it out to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! May you, dear reader, search and see the Bible for yourself, and not take my word for anything.

SECTION I. PAUL AND “UNLUCKY” NUMBER THIRTEEN?

To begin, I think it important to point out that, a famous preacher, a sufferer of triskaidekaphobia, once claimed that it was “unlucky” for Paul to have written only 13 Bible books. Hence, this superstitious “brother” believed that Paul wrote a fourteenth book, the book of Hebrews. Dear friends, an espousal to such a belief is not done in faith. It is superstition, plain and simple, and we are not superstitious. We are Bible believers. We need to appeal to the internal evidence of Hebrews, not some external fantasy, as to identify the book’s human writer. Verses believed in order to validate or nullify an idea, provide a much better foundation for our Christian life than opinions and hunches.

SECTION II. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS FOCUSED ON “THE WORLD TO COME”

We read in Hebrews 2:3-5: “[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? [5] For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.”

As we can clearly see, the book of Hebrews says that it describes the “world to come” (verse 5). It involves Israel’s future redemption and restoration. Hebrews does not involve “but now” (Ephesians 2:13)—“but now” is our dispensation, the age in which we live. Hebrews focuses on the early Acts period (during which Paul/Saul was still lost), early Acts involving the beginning of the last days of Israel’s program (see Acts 2:17; cf. Hebrews 1:2). The teachings in the book of Hebrews are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew through John). Paul, however, did not know Jesus Christ after the flesh: “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Corinthians 5:16). Paul did not base his ministry on Christ’s earthly ministry. Paul’s apostleship and ministry were in no way connected with Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew through John) or Peter and the 11’s ministries (the early part of the book of Acts). Paul’s ministry is Jesus Christ’s heavenly ministry (see Acts 26:19).

SECTION III. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS HAD BEEN TAUGHT DOCTRINE SECOND-HAND

As we saw in Hebrews 2:3 just moments earlier, the writer of Hebrews received second-hand information from the apostles: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” Paul never received second-hand information from the 12. According to Galatians 1:11-12, the Lord Jesus taught Paul directly: “[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Notice what Paul wrote when he discussed how he met with Israel’s apostles in Jerusalem: “But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me” (Galatians 2:6). The 12 apostles did not teach Paul anything. In fact, if you further study Galatians chapter 2, you will learn that Paul taught them something. He taught them the further revelation and advancement of God’s purpose and plan. You can also see Acts chapter 15.

SECTION IV. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WAS OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL’S APOSTLESHIP

Hebrews 2:3-5 helps us one more to rule out individuals who did not write Hebrews: “[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

Notice how the writer of Hebrews refers to people who heard Jesus in His earthly ministry as “them that heard him.” The writer of Hebrews says that what “they” heard “we” heard from them. In other words, the writer of Hebrews is someone who was not present in Matthew through John. Someone present during Christ’s earthly ministry taught doctrine to the writer of the book of Hebrews. Concerning the penning of the book of Hebrews, we can rule out Peter, James, John, et cetera. All of Israel’s 12 apostles can be eliminated as possible writers of Hebrews. The 12 continued throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry. They would not need to hear that information secondhand because they had heard Him firsthand. They had witnessed all those miracles firsthand.

SECTION V. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS DID NOT SIGN HIS NAME

Some have stated that Paul wrote Hebrews without including his name. They say that Paul did not sign his name to Hebrews because the Jews did not like him. It is their contention that, had Paul added his name to the epistle, the Jews would have been thus “turned off” to reading Hebrews. Is this plausible? Could Paul have written Hebrews and just intentionally left off his name so that the Jews would be more accepting of the epistle? This scenario is impossible for two reasons.

Firstly, Paul concluded 2 Thessalonians 3:17: “The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.” And he closed Colossians 4:18 with: “The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.” Paul never wrote anything without signing his name to it, either before or after. Romans, the two Corinthian epistles, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, the two Thessalonian epistles, the two epistles to Timothy, the epistle to Titus, and the epistle to Philemon—all of these epistles begin with the name, “Paul.” Unlike the books of Romans through Philemon, the book of Hebrews neither begins nor ends with Paul’s name. If Paul claimed that he signed every epistle he wrote, and there is no name signed to the book of Hebrews, we have to conclude Paul did not write Hebrews. Would Paul say he signed every epistle he wrote, but then break his word and write an epistle without signing his name? That would be duplicitous, and certainly not characteristic of an apostle of Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews simply begins with the name “God.” Ultimately, the author of Hebrews was God the Holy Ghost; the human writer is anonymous. God purposefully withheld the name of the human instrument He used.

Secondly, regardless of who wrote it or spoke it, an unbelieving Jew wanted nothing to do with God’s Word. The unbelieving nation of Israel refused to hear from Apostles James, Peter, John, et cetera, in early Acts. Apostate Israel did not like Jesus Christ, either in His earthly ministry or in His apostles’ ministries in early Acts. Unbelieving Israel considered Jesus a fraud. Period. Just look at how violently Israel’s leadership reacted when Stephen rebuked them for killing Jesus (Acts chapter 7). After his great sermon documenting their history of unbelief, the Jews mercilessly stoned their fellow Jew, Stephen, to death! Paul leaving his name off Hebrews because the Jews would reject it, is not persuasive. Its writer aside, the contents alone of the book of Hebrews is unpleasant to someone who refuses to accept Jesus as Messiah. The book of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the fulfillment of the Old Testament economy. If the omission of Paul’s name from Hebrews was done in an effort to make the epistle more acceptable to Jews, should not God have also avoided mentioning Jesus as Christ in the epistle, too? Again, anyone who wrote Hebrews was offensive to apostate Israel because Hebrews itself contains offensive doctrine about Jesus Christ.

See, dear friends, the “incognito-Paul-wrote-Hebrews” idea is unfounded and actually fallacious. When someone says that Paul wrote Hebrews but that he deliberately wrote it anonymously so Israel would accept it, this person (however sincere) has an agenda. They will go to great lengths to hold to Paul’s writing of the book of Hebrews. They refuse to break away from a church tradition, and will grab at anything to prove their preconceived ideas. It should be pointed out that I used to hold to the idea that Paul wrote Hebrews but that he withheld his name to avoid Jewish opposition. Then, I took the time to study my Bible and prayerfully consider those verses. I came to a crossroads—I had to choose between traditions and Scripture. What did I do? I believed the Bible and I tossed out the rest! My church tradition was wrong and the Bible was right. It was a happy day in my Christian life when I came to that realization!

SECTION VI. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WROTE WITH SOME PAULINE UNDERSTANDING

Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Prior to Paul’s ministry and message, the merits of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork being available to “every man”—that is, to both Jew and Gentile—was a secret. Until Paul, God had only been offering Jews salvation through Jesus Christ (Israel is the “my people” of Isaiah 53:8, the “thy [that is, Daniel’s] people” of Daniel 9:24, the “many” of Matthew 20:28 and Matthew 26:28, and the “you” of Luke 22:20). “Salvation is of the Jews,” the Lord Jesus Himself said in John 4:22.

Since the above is true, the book of Hebrews could not have been written until after Acts chapter 15 (circa A.D. 49-51), where Paul shared with James, Peter, and John, the doctrines that Jesus Christ had taught him post-resurrection and post-ascension (see Galatians 2:1-10). After the Apostle John learned it from Paul, John wrote, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Because Hebrews contains snippets of Pauline theology, some have erroneously concluded that Paul wrote Hebrews. In reality, 99 percent of the book of Hebrews is non-Pauline in its content. This observation leads us to understand that Paul did not write Hebrews. Still, we do admit that the writer of Hebrews had learned a portion of Paul’s doctrine from someone (like the writer of Hebrews, that person is also anonymous). The book of Hebrews thus adjusts Israel’s program in light of the Dispensation of Grace that God used to temporarily interrupt Israel’s program. After we pass through Paul’s epistles in the Bible’s canon, Hebrews follows. Hebrews is the first of the Bible’s final nine books to Israel, books whose doctrine will be valid after our Dispensation of Grace.

SECTION VII. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WROTE PRE-A.D. 70

The Temple in Jerusalem was still operating when the book of Hebrews was written. Israel was still under the Law when Hebrews was written. Notice Hebrews 8:4: “For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:” And Hebrews 8:13: “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” And Hebrews 10:11: “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:” These are present tense verbs, meaning the Levitical priests were still offering sacrifices according to Moses. The armies of Rome destroyed Jerusalem’s Temple in A.D. 70., thus showing us that the book of Hebrews was written prior to A.D. 70.

SECTION VIII. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS KNEW TIMOTHY

The antepenultimate verse of Hebrews says: “Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you” (13:23). Since Paul and Timothy were together quite often on apostolic journeys (Acts chapter 16 and onward), some use this verse as another proof to say Paul wrote Hebrews. While Timothy was most definitely a helpful coworker of the Apostle Paul, Paul had many other ministry companions as well. It could have been one of these friends of Paul who wrote Hebrews. At that time, many believers called Timothy “brother.” In fact, Paul considered Timothy as a “son” (1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 2:19-23; 1 Timothy 1:2,18; 2 Timothy 1:2) more often than he considered him a “brother” (2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philemon 1). Therefore, Hebrews 13:23 is not definitive proof Paul wrote Hebrews.

SECTION IX. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAYS JESUS CHRIST IS HIS “APOSTLE”

The Bible says in Hebrews, chapter 3, verse 1: “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” Jesus Christ is whose Apostle? The Lord Jesus Himself said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). The word “apostle” means “sent one.” The Greek word translated “sent” in Matthew 15:24 is apostello. Jesus Christ (in His earthly ministry) was sent to Israel (cf. Romans 9:5).

By the time Paul was saved, he was no longer a part of Israel. In fact, Paul himself said, “And last of all [the resurrected Jesus] was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:8). This is further explained in Galatians 1:15: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,” In order to save Paul, God had to separate him from that apostate nation Israel and its vain religious system that he was advocating. As a saved man, saved apart from Israel’s program, Paul could no longer write that Jesus Christ was his Apostle (one sent to him). When Jesus Christ was sent to Israel, Paul was lost, and he was influential in killing Him and His followers. In other words, the writer of Hebrews was a member of the nation Israel. Upon salvation, Paul became a member of the Body of Christ, thus again excluding Paul as writer of Hebrews.

SECTION X. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WROTE FROM ITALY

The penultimate verse in Hebrews says: “Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you” (13:24). Since Paul was under house arrest in Rome, Italy at the close of the book of Acts (28:16,30), Paul would have most definitely been in Italy circa A.D. 60-62. But, does that mean Paul was the only one in Italy who could have written the book of Hebrews? Again, this does not conclusively prove that Paul wrote Hebrews. In fact, the writer of Hebrews may have been visiting Paul in his Roman prison. The writer of Hebrews may have actually been a prisoner with Paul (see Hebrews 13:19).

SECTION XI. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS TAUGHT WORKS-RELIGION

Hebrews 5:9 is a verse that greatly helped me out years ago regarding whether or not Paul wrote Hebrews: “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Paul never preached such a message. The Apostle Paul preached and wrote that we receive the Holy Spirit by believing the Gospel not by “obeying God”/legalism/Acts 2:38’s repentance and water baptism (Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; et cetera).

Hebrews 5:9 fits perfectly with what Peter and the 11 said in Acts 5:32: “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Hebrews 5:9 agrees with what Peter preached in Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Hebrews 5:9 agrees perfectly with what Jesus taught in Mark 16:16: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” This is all in perfect agreement with the words of James in the second chapter of his famous “faith and works” treatise. Hebrews 5:9 in no way belongs in this the Dispensation of Grace.

Had Paul wrote Hebrews 5:9, he would have been preaching one Gospel message to lost Israel and another Gospel message to Gentiles (us). In Paul’s ministry, there was one Gospel message, and whether Jew or Gentile, all were saved the same way in his ministry. There is no way Paul could have been an honest man and written Hebrews when he had already written opposing doctrine in epistles.

SECTION XII. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS STRESSED JESUS CHRIST’S HIGH PRIESTHOOD

Throughout the book of Hebrews, the high priesthood of Jesus Christ is stressed. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). Hebrews 4:14-15: “[14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Also Hebrews 7:26: “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” And Hebrews 8:1: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” Finally, Hebrews 10:21: “And having an high priest over the house of God;”

Never once did Paul write about Jesus’ priesthood in Romans through Philemon. Nowhere in Paul’s epistles do we read about Jesus Christ being our High Priest. The terminology of “High Priest” was something a Jewish person would understand and appreciate, knowing full well that the Mosaic Law appointed high priests. Hebrews teaches how Jesus Christ’s priesthood is better than the Levitical priesthood. Would Gentiles—who did not have the Levitical priesthood—need to hear such information? Of course not. Again, the doctrine of Hebrews does not belong in our Dispensation of Grace.

SECTION XIII. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS CALLED JESUS CHRIST A “SHEPHERD”

Hebrews 13:20 says, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,….” Never once, however, did Paul ever call Jesus Christ our “Shepherd.” The writer of Hebrews used language similar to Peter’s writing: “[1] The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: [2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; [3] Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. [4] And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:1-4). These verses are a continuation of what Jesus Christ said in John chapter 10 about Him being Israel’s Shepherd. The “Old Testament” Scriptures, which are undoubtedly Jewish, make reference to JEHOVAH God (whose human form is Jesus Christ) as Israel’s “Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1; Psalm 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; Zechariah 13:7; et cetera).

SECTION XIV. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS EXPECTED TO BE SAVED ACCORDING TO “THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT”

We read in Hebrews 13:20-21: “[20] Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, [21] Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” The writer of the book of Hebrews says that Israel would be saved according to the New Covenant (ratified by Jesus Christ’s shed blood; see Hebrews 10:1-22). Never once did Paul minister to any Jews on the basis of the New Covenant. Israel’s program had already fallen by Acts chapter 7, before Paul had even begun his ministry. We can check the book of Acts and all of Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, to learn there were no covenants associated with Paul’s ministry (note Ephesians 2:11-22). Salvation in Paul’s ministry was always dependent upon the non-prophesied Gospel of the Grace of God (see Paul’s sermon in Acts 13:38-41, which is totally silent about any covenant salvation). The prophetic program involved covenants; our mystery program involves no such covenants.

SECTION XV. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS EXPECTED TO BE “RESTORED” TO ISRAEL

Hebrews 13:18-19 says: “[18] Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. [19] But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.” The latter clause appears to be the words of someone writing from prison (cf. Hebrews 10:34). (It should be remembered there were many believers in prison at that time, so imprisonment does not automatically make Paul the writer.) For the writer to be expecting to be restored to Israel, to be released from prison so that he could return to ministering to Israel, does not sound like Paul’s writings. Paul had a ministry to all people, all nations, from the very beginning of his ministry (Acts 9:15-16; Acts 26:15-18). From Acts chapter 15 (cf. Galatians chapter 2) onward, Paul agreed not to minister to Israel’s little flock. In light of that, Paul certainly would not have been writing Hebrews. Again, someone in Israel’s program, someone who was also a member of the nation Israel, wrote the book of Hebrews. It could not have been Paul.

SECTION XVI. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WAITED FOR GOD’S KINGDOM TO COME

Hebrews 13:14 says, “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” This is reminiscent of the petition uttered in the “Our Father” Prayer: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Paul was not waiting for the New Jerusalem to come. That would be a believing Jew’s hope in Israel’s program. As a member of the Body of Christ, Paul would be waiting to go up to heaven (see 2 Timothy 4:18). Members of the Body of Christ have a hope to enter God’s heavenly kingdom. Members of Israel’s little flock have a hope of having God’s kingdom come down to them on Earth! See Revelation 21:1ff.

SECTION XVII. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS HAD EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE JEWISH RELIGION

Hebrews is strictly a Jewish book. So much so that it has been commonly called the “New Testament Leviticus.” The book of Hebrews makes many references to the Covenant of Law—its Levitical priesthood, its Tabernacle, its animal sacrifices, et cetera. There is great detail regarding Old Testament events and many direct and indirect quotes from the Old Testament passages. The book of Hebrews highlights for Israel the superiority of Jesus Christ to Moses, the New Covenant to the Old Covenant, the Melchisedecian priesthood to the Levitical priesthood, Jesus Christ to angels, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary to the Law’s animal sacrifices, on and on we could go. What the book of Romans is to us, the book of Hebrews is to Israel. Hebrews explains the meaning of Calvary’s finished crosswork as it relates to the nation Israel. The book of Hebrews explains how God will do away with Israel’s old system and usher in a brand new way of dealing with His earthly people. Again, the book of Hebrews is in no way to or about the Church the Body of Christ. It is in no way a reference to anything occurring in this the Dispensation of Grace.

SECTION XVIII. NO SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT PAUL WROTE HEBREWS

There is no evidence in Scripture that Paul wrote Hebrews. It is a common view supported by church tradition but no Scripture substantiates the claim. Various suggestions have been made as to the writer of Hebrews—Apollos, John Mark, Luke, Barnabas, to name a few. As we pointed out earlier, what is important is that “God” wrote Hebrews (1:1).

SECTION XIX. WHAT ABOUT 2 PETER 3:15-16?

I have heard some teach that Paul wrote Hebrews because of what the Apostle Peter penned in 2 Peter 3:15-16. We will look at the passage in question: “[15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

Indeed, Peter says Paul wrote to Jews. Still, this passage could not be a reference to Hebrews because nothing in Hebrews is too hard for Peter to understand. Whatever Paul was writing, Peter admitted he did not understand it. Peter understood Jewish religion. He knew the “Old Testament” Scriptures. Peter knew those passages about the New Covenant, the Messiah’s earthly ministry and priesthood, the Old Testament accounts of Abraham, Noah, Abel, Isaac, et cetera. Jesus Christ, post-resurrection, took His apostles aside and taught the Old Testament prophecies concerning Him (Luke 24:44-48; Acts 1:3). Surely, Peter understood the contents of the book of Hebrews. The Holy Spirit came in Acts chapter 2 and guided Israel’s apostles “into all truth” (John 16:13). Nothing concerning Israel’s purpose and program was hidden from her apostles. However, the information about our purpose and program, that mystery doctrine was hidden from them. They had to learn that secret information from Paul once God revealed it to him. Note that Peter wrote that the wisdom under discussion was given to Paul, not to Peter (2 Peter 3:15).

Second Peter 3:15-16 is likely a reference to the contents of the book of Romans, which talks about the “longsuffering of God” in chapters 9-11. Moreover, Paul wrote letters that were not Scripture. We read of one such letter in 1 Corinthians 5:9. Peter may have been making reference to a non-canonical letter of Paul in 2 Peter 3:15, but according to Peter, the information was roughly the same as what is found in Romans chapters 9-11. These three chapters of Romans deal with Israel’s past, present, and future statuses before God. God is postponing Israel’s program so that more people can be saved into the Church the Body of Christ. God is not pouring out His wrath (the next event on Israel’s timeline) so that more people can escape it. Our Dispensation of Grace is withholding Israel’s program from continuing. It was this that Peter and the scoffers of his day could not understand (see 2 Peter 3:1-16).

SECTION XX. THE DANGERS IN BELIEVING AND TEACHING PAUL WROTE HEBREWS

Does it really matter whether or not we believe Paul wrote Hebrews? Are we “splitting hairs” in bringing up the matter? Must we be dogmatic about it? Certainly, it is a serious matter. I have come to understand that it does matter what we believe about the book of Hebrews. Let me explain.

People who claim that Paul wrote Hebrews often urge us to claim Israel’s blessings and promises. They teach that we are “spiritual Israel” (whatever that means!). If they believe that Acts chapter 2 is the beginning of the Church the Body of Christ, they usually believe Paul wrote Hebrews. If they want us to replace Israel, they usually believe Paul wrote Hebrews. Unfortunately for them, there is evidence to the contrary that Paul wrote Hebrews. Supposing there was no such evidence, Paul writing the book of Hebrews would not make it applicable to us anyway. The promises in Hebrews are to still to Jews and not to the Church the Body of Christ. It is the book of Hebrews, is it not? (See Galatians 3:28, which says the Body of Christ is composed of neither Jews nor Gentiles!) Those promises in Hebrews still apply to “the world to come,” not to the present-day. This has already been stated before, so the point will be belabored no more.

One of the most damaging results of accepting the notion that Paul wrote Hebrews, is when you begin to wonder if your troubles in life are the fulfillment of Hebrews 12:5-11. If our Apostle wrote this passage about divine chastisement, then it is our pattern, and we are destined to have a most miserable and insecure Christian life. However, if Paul did not write Hebrews, then it is not our pattern, and we would be foolish to relinquish our joy and peace in Christ in order to claim something God never gave us. Time and time again, Christians through the years have assumed that Hebrews 12:5-11 applied to them. They believed that their difficult circumstances were “God’s chastising hand” upon them. They believed God was getting even with them for unconfessed sin, unbelief, disobedience, et cetera. These poor people never had any peace. Religion robbed them of the clarity of God’s Word rightly divided. Many Christians today have been deceived in that regard.

My dear friends, let me give you some peace of mind. The “chastisement” of Hebrews 12:5-11 has a context. Hebrews 12:5-11 is not describing daily troubles in this the Dispensation of Grace. The quote is of Proverbs 3:11-12, an end-time passage designed to comfort believing Israel during the seven-year Tribulation period. Before Israel can be delivered from satanic bondage, the fifth course of chastisement prophesied in Leviticus chapter 26 must finish. It started back with the Babylonian captivity (606 B.C.), it paused when Saul of Tarsus was converted in Acts chapter 9, and it will resume and conclude after our dispensation ends. The last seven years of the fifth course of judgment will end with Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. Various verses in James (1:1-11; 4:1-16; 5:1-12) and 1 Peter (1:3-13; 3:13-16; 4:1-19; 5:6-10) and other passages talk about Israel being chastened during Daniel’s 70^th week. For more about chastening and our Dispensation of Grace, see our study linked at the end of this article.

CONCLUSION

In light of the above verses, Paul could not have written the book of Hebrews. (Even if he did write it, Hebrews—note the name—is still Jewish in nature, and is in no way to or about the Church the Body of Christ and is in no way about anything God is doing in our Dispensation of Grace.)

The writer of Hebrews included himself with the nation Israel. After his conversion, Paul did not consider himself a member of Israel (1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:15). The writer of Hebrews anticipated Israel’s coming Messiah to establish God’s earthly kingdom. Paul anticipated a heavenly kingdom to which he would go.

Furthermore, the writer of Hebrews was not an apostle of Israel. He claimed to be someone who had heard information from Israel’s apostles (Hebrews 2:3-5). This would again eliminate Paul as a possible writer of the book of Hebrews. Galatians chapter 2 (cf. Acts chapter 15) is very clear that Israel’s apostles taught Paul nothing. On the contrary, Paul taught them doctrine. He brought them up-to-date to God’s current program. Someone in Israel’s program learned this doctrine from Paul, and then wrote it down, which is why some verses in the book of Hebrews exhibit Pauline influence.

Paul did not promote works-religion. The writer of the book of Hebrews taught works as part of salvation (see Hebrews 5:9). Hebrews uses terms to describe Jesus Christ that Paul never used to describe Jesus Christ in his epistles of Romans through Philemon. No one could reconcile these two people (Paul and the writer of Hebrews) as the same person—unless of course they have a tradition they refuse to abandon!

We have no way of precisely identifying the writer of Hebrews, but we can eliminate several individuals. We can say with certainty that Paul did not write Hebrews. There are too many verses in Hebrews that simply do not reflect Pauline theology and phraseology. In some places, Hebrews directly opposes what Paul wrote in the epistles definitively attributed to him. We can say with certainty that Timothy did not write Hebrews (cf. Hebrews 13:23). We can say with certainty that Peter and the 11 did not write Hebrews (Hebrews 2:3-5).

It is very dangerous to believe Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. You introduce abounding confusion into your Christian life. You confuse yourself with the nation Israel. You destroy the clarity of the rightly divided Word of God. It is best to simply acknowledge that Hebrews is a Jewish book to and about the nation Israel in the end-times portion of her program. Hebrews does not apply to us in the Dispensation of Grace. It is not to or about the Church the Body of Christ. The confusion concerning the writer of Hebrews is certainly another tactic of Satan to rob Christians of the knowledge of who they are in Jesus Christ. Hebrews is a most fascinating book, and we should study it to learn how Israel’s program will restart after our Dispensation of Grace, but we should not confuse ourselves with the book or its people.

Also see:
» Does God chasten us when we sin?
» When was the book of the Revelation written?
» Did the Apostle John write “the Gospel of John?”

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, Could you explain Acts 19:1-7?, Could you explain Acts 19:1-7?, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY

Could you explain Acts 19:1-7?

05/15/2015 Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN ACTS 19:1-7?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“Hi Shawn, could you comment on Acts 19:1-7? Thanks.”

Yes, I would be glad to comment on it. You are welcome. This passage can be quite tricky and cryptic if we fail to remember the context of the latter two-thirds of the book of Acts. The book of Acts is the most difficult book in the New Testament Scriptures because people do not understand—or they refuse to understand—its transitional nature. Here, we will “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We will make the distinction between Israel’s prophetic program (Acts 3:21) and our mystery program (Romans 16:25). In doing so, we will avoid the confusion that most people experience concerning Acts chapter 19.

We will begin reading Acts chapter 19: “[1] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. [7] And all the men were about twelve.”

What a strange passage, huh? The Apostle Paul had to lay hands on some “disciples” who did not have the Holy Ghost? How was that possible for believers not to have the Holy Spirit?! They had received John’s baptism but they did not even know there was such a Person as the Holy Ghost? What?! My dear friends, like I said in our opening remarks, if we do not recognize the transitional nature of the book of Acts, we do not have a prayer in the world to understand the Bible. We must approach this passage dispensationally. If we are to make sense of these verses, we have to go back and review some basics of dispensational Bible study. Once we do that, we will return to the passage in question and it will become much clearer.

In the Bible, until we come to the ministry of the Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus was saved in Acts chapter 9), God is dealing with the nation Israel. Hence, John the Baptist’s ministry was limited to Israel (Luke 1:16-17,80; Acts 13:24), Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew through John) was restricted to Israel (Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24; Luke 19:9; John 1:11; Romans 9:5; Romans 15:8), and Peter and the 11 other apostles’ ministry were limited to Israel during early Acts (Acts 2:36; Acts 3:13,25; Acts 4:8; Acts 5:30-31; Acts 7:2).

During a total of four years (Matthew chapter 3 through Acts chapter 7), Israel refused to listen to the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, the other 11 apostles of Israel, and other men but especially the prophet Stephen. The Jews refused to acknowledge and trust Jesus as Messiah, and they refused to accept the water baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. So, in Acts chapter 7, when Israel stoned Stephen, her prophetic program fell through. That Israeli prophetic program was fully diminished by the end of the book of Acts. Once national Israel stoned God’s prophet Stephen (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; Matthew 12:31-32), the ascended and glorified Lord Jesus Christ raised up Saul/Paul, a new apostle. He gave Paul a new message and began a new program (that would be Acts chapter 9 onward). Our Dispensation of Grace started with Paul and it will end beyond our present-day. As long as our program is operating, Israel’s program will remain suspended.

The latter two-thirds of the book of Acts (chapters 9-28) can be very confusing unless we keep Romans 11:11-14 in mind. The first step in understanding Acts 19:1-7 is to consider Romans 11:11-14: “[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”

According to the Old Testament prophetic program, Israel should have arisen to her kingdom glory. She should have accepted and trusted her Messiah-King Jesus, and in the kingdom He would then establish on the earth, Israel would be a kingdom of priests who would evangelize the Gentiles (see Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 59:21-60:3; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23; et cetera). When national Israel refused to accept Jesus but rather crucified Him, and then rejected a renewed opportunity of repentance in early Acts, God caused her program to fall away for a time. That is what Paul is saying in Romans 11:11-12. Israel stumbled at Christ’s earthly ministry (and ultimately at Calvary’s cross) but they did not fall (Romans 9:32-33). Israel later stumbled in early Acts by rejecting God the Holy Spirit who was speaking through Stephen (Acts 7:51,55). It was there in Acts chapter 7 that Israel finally fell before God.

Today, national Israel is “fallen” (Romans 11:11-12). Now, God sees no difference between Jew and Gentile (Romans 3:22; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11). God only sees sinners (lost) and saints (saved). Throughout the book of Acts, from Acts chapter 7 to the end of the book of Acts (chapter 28), Israel’s program is “diminishing.” Paul wrote the book of Romans during the Acts period (circa Acts chapter 20). One day, after God is finished dealing with the Church the Body of Christ, it will be raptured and brought into Heaven, and then He will resume Israel’s program (see Romans 11:25-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

Romans 11:13 quoted above says that Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles.” Unlike John the Baptist, or Jesus in His earthly ministry, or the Apostles Peter and the 11, or Stephen, the Apostle Paul has a ministry that is not limited to Israel. Paul is God’s spokesman to Gentiles. This term “Gentiles” would include lost Jews, since Israel fell before God years earlier in Acts chapter 7. In order to validate Paul’s ministry and show Israel that her program was diminishing, God temporarily granted Paul the power to perform miraculous demonstrations and exhibit other “Jewish-related behavior” (Acts chapters 9 through 28). Throughout Acts, we read how Paul healed the sick (Acts chapter 14), he circumcised Timothy (Acts chapter 16), he water baptized (Acts chapter 16; Acts chapter 18), he raised the dead (Acts chapter 20), he offered sacrifices in the Temple (Acts chapter 21), he spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians chapter 14), and he survived a snake bite (Acts chapter 28). The miraculous demonstrations and other behaviors that Jesus and His 12 apostles performed in Matthew through John and early Acts, Paul was now doing them. This “strange” behavior of Paul was communicating to Israel that her God was now amongst the Gentiles through Paul’s ministry and message. Acts chapters 9 through 28 is a major transitional section of the Bible. It is the record of God being just (fair) in setting Israel aside for a time and going to the Gentiles through Paul’s ministry. Eventually, Paul quit water baptizing (1 Corinthians 1:14-17), he could no longer heal himself or other Christians who were sick (Galatians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20), and so on.

Let us re-read Romans 11:14: “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” The way Paul would “provoke to emulation them which are my flesh”—that is, the way Paul would encourage his lost Jewish brethren to behave like Gentiles and trust Jesus Christ—was by performing Israel’s signs, miracles, and wonders. Although unbelieving Israel did not like Paul, and desperately tried to hinder his ministry throughout Acts, they were fully aware that the God of their fathers was working in him. Their miracles were now evident amongst the Gentiles (Paul’s ministry).

Okay, with this information as background, Acts 19:1-7 will make more sense. Let us re-read that passage: “[1] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. [7] And all the men were about twelve.”

While Apollos was in Corinth (Acts 18:27), Paul traveled to Ephesus (on the western shore of modern-day Turkey). Paul encountered some disciples, and he asked them, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” They replied, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” Paul then responded, “Unto what then were ye baptized?” They replied, “Unto John’s baptism.” Like Apollos (Acts 18:25-26), these Jews were ignorant of further revelations from God. They too are fixated on John the Baptist’s ministry and message. John’s ministry was 20 years earlier, and these disciples were unaware of the progression of God’s program since John’s ministry. They did not know about Jesus’ earthly ministry, His death, His resurrection, His ascension into heaven, the coming of the Holy Ghost on the day Pentecost, Paul’s salvation, et cetera. Note how these 12 Jews in Acts chapter 19 admitted that they did not even know about the Holy Spirit. (How strange, huh?! What in the world is going on here? How do we make sense of all of this?!)

Remember, Jesus had told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2 (see Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5; cf. John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7). These disciples whom Paul met in Acts 19:1-7 were evidently not in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came in Acts chapter 2 some 20 years earlier. Furthermore, the 12 apostles of Israel had never laid hands on these 12 Jews in order for them to receive the Holy Ghost (see Acts 8:14-17). Hence, they did not have the Holy Ghost and this is why they were not even aware of His presence on Earth. By the way, we know Acts 19:1-7 has nothing to do with us because no man needs to lay hands on us in order for us to receive the Holy Ghost. We receive the Holy Spirit when we trust the Gospel of Grace, Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (see Ephesians 1:12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). See, again, dispensational Bible study helps us come to terms with the various verses in the Bible that are meant to be separated.

Paul informed these 12 men in Acts 19:1-7 that John the Baptist did water baptize via the baptism of repentance, but John also preached that the people of Israel should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who would come after him (Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16-17; John 1:29-31). Once these Jews heard Paul’s preaching, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul then laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. The gift of speaking in tongues (intelligent human languages never formally learned) is given to them, and they preach God’s Word. The Bible says these Jews were about 12 in number. This may refer back to Israel’s 12 apostles, men who had received the gift of tongues back in Acts chapter 2. Israel’s apostles, once they received the Holy Spirit, would then lay hands on believers in Israel’s program so they could receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17; cf. Acts 9:17). Again, none of Israel’s apostles had visited these 12 Jews, nor were these 12 Jews present in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Ghost in Acts chapter 2, which Jesus had instructed His believers to do in Acts 1:4-5.

In this passage of Acts 19:1-7, God was demonstrating to Israel that He was working through Paul, for Paul was doing the same things Israel’s apostles did. This odd and often controversial and confusing passage is actually God validating Paul’s apostleship. It has nothing to do with us because it occurred during the transitional Acts period, while God was moving from Israel to the Gentiles. Paul, when teaching the Church the Body of Christ in his epistles of Romans through Philemon, never instructs us to be water baptized, or to lay hands on people to heal them, or to give the Holy Ghost to others, et cetera. Acts 19:1-7 is not a pattern for us to follow. It was simply something God wanted Paul to do in order to teach Israel doctrine. God wanted Paul to teach Israel that his ministry was replacing Peter and the 11’s, and if any lost Jews wanted salvation, they would have to come to his ministry and Gospel message.

As one final note, you might have seen that the Holy Spirit thought it noteworthy to tell us that these Jews in Acts 19:7 “were about twelve.” We briefly mentioned earlier that 12 in Bible numerics is a reference to the nation Israel. God was saying that if lost Israel wanted to receive the Holy Spirit, they should not go to the 12 apostles (for their ministry and program was fallen). Even today, if a lost Jew wants to receive the Holy Spirit, they will have to come to God through the ministry and message that Jesus Christ gave to the Apostle Paul. They will have to come to Father God the same way a Gentile comes!

SUPPLEMENTAL: SHOULD ACTS 19:2 READ “SINCE” OR “WHEN?”

“He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”

Since the average English Bible translator—like the average English Bible reader—does not recognize the dispensational nature of the Holy Bible, he or she tries to make every Bible verse agree with every other Bible verse. After all, denominations have drilled into most people’s minds that everything in the Bible is all the same thing. It will not be surprising then to learn that translators change the wording of verses that are at variance with each other. They introduce their theological biases into the Bible instead of letting the Bible passages highlight the changes in God’s dealings with man through time. They smooth over the distinct verses that differentiate the dispensations from each other. The tampering with of Acts 19:2 in modern English versions is a perfect example of this mishandling of God’s Word. Acts 19:2 is a rather troublesome verse because it, as found in the King James, opposes the widely held belief that there is only one Gospel in the Bible and that all salvation messages in the Bible are the same.

Again, we read in our King James Bible: “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” This is a very difficult reading for most to accept because they do not understand how Israel’s salvation worked in her program and how our salvation works in this the Dispensation of Grace. Why did Paul ask them, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Why did Paul not ask, as modern versions read, “Did you receive the Holy Ghost when you believed?” We know when one believes on the finished crosswork of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for their sins, they instantly receive the Holy Spirit in this the Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 1:13-14). They receive the Holy Spirit instantly: they receive Him when they believe on Jesus Christ. Yet, why did Paul ask these Jews in Acts 19:2, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”

Friends, please pay very close attention to these next several lines. You will avoid much confusion by just listening to these simple truths. In Israel’s program, salvation in Israel’s believing remnant had phases. Jews were to accept and participate in John’s water baptism during Jesus’ earthly ministry, but there was no indwelling Holy Spirit until Acts chapter 2. The Holy Spirit would not come upon an individual believing Jew until the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. The Jews of Acts 19:1-7 had participated in John’s water baptism (Matthew through John), but they did not receive the Holy Ghost because they were not in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 2. The 12 apostles had not imparted to them the Holy Spirit. Hence, our King James Bible says “since.” “Since” was a reference to Acts chapter 2—Acts chapter 2 being the passage “since” (or, following) John the Baptist’s ministry. That is why our King James Bible does not say “when.” “When” would be a reference to how salvation operates today—“when” we believe the Gospel we instantly receive the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). The King James Bible has the correct reading in Acts 19:2 (“since”); the modern versions are in error.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” is the erroneous retranslation of Acts 19:2 in the Amplified Bible, Darby Translation, English Standard Version, Good News Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible, J. B. Phillip’s New Testament, The Message, New American Standard Version, New Century Version, New English Translation, New International Reader’s Version, New International Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witness Bible), and The Voice. In other words, the popular Bibles people use today keep the glorious truths of Acts 19:2 hidden. They destroy the clarity of God’s Word rightly divided. All the more reason to keep our King James Bible! By the way, the Roman Catholic Douay-Rheims 1899 American edition has “since” (the correct reading in Acts 19:2, agreeing with the King James Bible)!

Also see:
» Why did Paul water baptize?
» Can you explain Paul’s “Acts” ministry?
» Why was Saul of Tarsus’ name changed to Paul?

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