Family of God: Re: [Church_of_Christ] Re: The Melting Pot

Greetings

Scott here

Ray wrote:

>Once again.....the OT were the only SCRIPTURES they had to teach from. >The apostles USED the OT for all doctrine they taught

Hi Ray,

By the late 60's when Paul wrote 1 Tim, based on the things already written by Paul over the prior years, I suggest that Paul knew that he was writing scripture. Particularly in view of Paul's intent that his earlier letters were to be circulated throughout the churches.

1 Thess 2:13 not the word of men... but the word of God

Did Paul know that he was writing scripture? Consider 1 Cor 2: 13 & 14:37.

Paul denies that the words he uses are his own, but rather are the words given him by divine revelation. He did not come up with them himself, they are inspired (God-breathed).

McGuiggan (p 46, _1 Corinthians_) writes:

"He had been a blind rabbi. He missed the Message a million miles. Now he is Christ's. Now he claims that the Spirit of God revealed to him what he knows about the Gospel Now he denies the words he uses in the proclamation are the words his own human wisdom can come up with."

The Apostle Peter acknowledges Paul's writings as scripture (2 Pet 3:15-16):

"... Just as our beloved Brother Paul according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters in which are some things hard to understand which the untaught and unstable distort, ~as they do also the rest of the Scriptures,~ to their own destruction."

Paul makes frequent references to his own authority as given him by God as Apostle. He also consistently denies that his gospel is his own, but that he received it from God. 2 Pet 1:20-21 emphasizes that the source of scripture is not found in man, but that "men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."

Recognizing his own God-given authority, the source of his words being God, and expecting that men would obey the message that he gives them from God. It seems pretty clear that Paul did know that he was writing God-breathed scripture.

1 Cor 14:37 Paul writes:

"If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized."

Robertson (p. 21 WPNT) notes:

"Paul has not a doubt that he was proclaiming God's message. Should any preacher preach his doubts if he has any? God's message can be found and Paul found it."

Ladd (p. 429 Systematic Theology) again sums things up nicely:

"The kerygmatic-pneumatic character of the tradition is reflected most vividly in the fact that although it is the words of human beings mediated through the act of preaching, it is also the word of God (1 Thess 2:13). This word of God, which is received as tradition is also the gospel (Eph 1:13; Col 1:5), the keryma (1 Cor 1:18, 21), the mystery (Col 1:25), which is not only proclaimed by the Apostles but sounded forth from the churches unto all the surrounding region (1 Thess 1:8). While it is a word that can be taught and learned (Gal 6:6), it is also a divine trust committed to humanity (2 Cor 5:19). While it is dependent upon human utterance for its propagation (Phil 1:14), it is God's word, which cannot be fettered (2 Tim 2:9) and must speed on to triumph (2 Thess 3:1) The word of God is a word about a crucifixition (1 Cor 1:18); but the cross, seen not as an isolated event in history but understood as the disclosure of the age-long redemptive purpose of God (Col 1:25-26). This word is the subject of preaching (2 Tim 2:19), which is to be received by its hearers (1 Thess 1:6) and indwell them (Col 3:16), bringing salvation (Eph 1:13; Phil 2:16)"

In the context of the letter to Timothy he does mention the early writings to which Tim learned as child, but by saying "All (every) scripture" Paul expands the view from just the OT scriptures to those of being written in the NT period, as well.

Paul, as noted earlier, points out that his words are not really his but God's. They are God-breathed words.

Yours in the Great Hope,
Scott P. Wiley
a sinner saved by grace,
Clay City, IN
swileyusa@yahoo.com
Blog: http://scotthere.preachersfiles.com

A new Decalogue has been adopted by the neo-Christians of our day, the first word of which reads,"Thou shalt not disagree"; and a new set of Beatitudes too,which begins "Blessed are they that tolerate everything, for they shall not be made accountable for anything." - A.W. Tozer

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