Paul's New Testament understanding by Alan Martin

sermonindex Dec 25, 2015

Paul's New Testament understanding had its roots in Old Testament revelation. For example, he explains the basis for the righteous judgment of God in Romans 1 and 2 by drawing directly from Old Testament revelation.

In Romans 2:8, Paul makes this statement - "but to those who are contentious and resisting persuasion to the truth on the one hand, and on the other hand are being persuaded in/by unrighteousness, wrath and anger."

Where did Paul get his understanding to have such confidence to declare that wrath and anger would be upon the "unpersuaded and contentious?" He got it directly from the authority of Old Covenant revelation! Precisely, this particular passage: Deut 21:18 -"and if anyone should have a son unpersuaded and contentious, not obeying the voice of his father and the voice of his mother, and they should correct him and he should not listen to them; then seizing him they shall lead him to the council of elders of his city and unto the gate of his place and they shall say to the men of their city - this son of ours refuses persuasion and is contentious, not obeying our voice..... and they shall stone him, the men of his city."

This underscores the truth that Jesus did not come to destroy the revelation contained in the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill the righteousness of the Law.

Stubborn defiance of authority was a capital offense in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant upholds this righteous decree.

Refusing to be persuaded and becoming contentious with authority will result in an even greater eternal judgment in the New Covenant than the capital punishment decreed in the Old Covenant.

Faith does not nullify the Law - it establishes it!

O

Oracio Dec 25, 2015

Amen. Some believers want to completely do away with the Old Testament when it comes to their faith and practice, but that's unbiblical. The New Testament writers quoted extensively from the Old Testament and derived much of their teaching from the OT. When Paul says in 2 Tim. 3:16-17 that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction in righteousness, he is referring directly and explicitly to the Old Testament (and implicitly to the NT) since the NT was not completed and compiled yet. The early church relied heavily on the OT for their instruction in God's ways. Yes, there was new revelation in the NT, which changed how to apply much of the OT, but still, the OT was still to be in use for faith and practice.

sermonindex Dec 25, 2015

Finally! With the coming of Christ and the Holy Spirit, men could now understand the spiritual truths in the Old Testament, heretofore hidden from the natural mind and seen as foolish. The only other alternative (other than foolishmness) for naturally minded people were to understand the Old Testament through temporal and earthly explanations and that is why the nation of Israel missed Christ when He first came on the scene. They were looking for an earthly Deliverer and an earthly kingdom, which is a mistake being played out all over again.

The Spirit of God in NT believers opens their eyes to the Old Testament. The OT should be read now through the filter of the New Testament AND with the Holy Spirit.

If you read the OT and try to understand it without the Holy Spirit then you will continue to be earthly bound and not understand spiritual things for the OT is full of types and shadows and prefiguring of heavenly realities and spiritual truths that we are to walk in now.

"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (1 Cor 2:13)

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14)

"It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6:45)

"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isa 2:3)

The spiritually discerning know Isa 2:3, is speaking of Zion above and heavenly Jerusalem.

"The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." (Psa 110:2)

Psalm 110:2 has been fulfilled in Christ as we rule in the midst of our enemies, today through "the rod of thy strength out of Zion" which is Jesus. Our enemies are spiritual, they are not men and they don't rule over us.

"And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Mic 4:2)

Micah 4:2, companion scripture of Isa 2:3. We are taught today of HIS ways and thus we walk in His paths. The Law of Christ is going forth from "heavenly Zion" every day and the word of the Lord from "Jerusalem above."

The "mockers" and the spiritually undiscerning do not understand.

"How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." (Jude 1:18-19)

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1Jn 2:27)

Exalting the Old Testament to the detriment of New Testament and Holy Spirit truths revealed has led to all manner of idolatry and destruction throughout the history of God's heavenly people.

sermonindex Dec 25, 2015

Brethren respectfully I disagree with the OP. Paul's New Testament understanding is that we are under a New Covenant where Christ is the greater revelation over Moses. Also Paul's understanding would be that we are governed by the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant. Thus we live out the life of the New Covenant by the the Spirit of Jesus Christ residing in our hearts. Paul taught this extensively in his letters. This was the revelation that he got from Jesus Christ.

Consider Romans 7:6... But now we have been released from the law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Or consider Galatians 5:18... But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law...Thus these and other verses suggest that Paul's understanding is that the believer is governed by the dynamic of the indwelling Spirit. And not by the external written code of Moses.

Paul clearly teaches the contrast of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in 2nd Corinthians 3. Consider 2nd Corinthians 3:5-6...Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but are adequacy is from God, who has made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life... Paul understood that the dynamic of a new covenant was the Holy Spirit and not the law of Moses.

Each time I read or listen to the New Testament I come to the conclusion the believer needs only the New Testament and the Holy Spirit to live out the life of the New Covenant.

My thoughts.

Blaine

sermonindex Dec 25, 2015

Good posts from everyone. Yes we should first clarify what we are discussing. When we talk about the "New Testament " we mean the last 27 books of the Bible. The NT was not complete when Paul preached.
Alan Martin's article talks about the "Law " the "Old Covenant " and the "New Covenant". For clarification we should use those terms, so we all mean the same thing.
The New Covenant was foretold and Jesus finally introduced it (Luke 22:20)

We might only "need" the NT, the 27 books, BUT God has given us all the 66 books, they are all "inspired" and "useful".
Might share a few more thoughts, still working on my Christmas posts ;)

sermonindex Dec 25, 2015

"Stubborn defiance of authority was a capital offense in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant upholds this righteous decree."

Totally unbiblical statement. This was however why Jesus Himself was killed for defying religious men who had twisted the law into a means of control. They tried again to shut the mouths of the Apostles by telling them not to preach in the name of Jesus, and with a stubborn defiance of authority, the Apostles asked them " who should we listen to, men or God?."

The saints have been stubbornly defying authority for the last 2000 years, praise God. Of course they paid the ultimate price but were very willing to do it for they testified by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death. I thank the Lord for the bravery of those who were willing to defy the Catholic Church. I thank the Lord for the Ana-Baptists and Moravians who were willing to defy the authority of the Puritans, with a beautiful Godly stubborn defiance of religious authority devoid of the Holy Spirit............bro Frank

PS I must not forget the Covenanters :)

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

Good catch, Apollus. I did not see that. We are bound by the authority of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, not what men pretend the authority of God is.

M

makrothumia Dec 26, 2015

Honestly, the ONLY authority I had in mind was the authority of God's Himself.

Mak

Ps - the context of defiance was Romans 2 - how did that get overlooked?

And did not Paul instruct Titus to remind the saints to be subject, fully persuaded, non-contentious, not blaspheming any man, and to demonstrate meekness towards all men.

Encouraging brethren to be subject is simply following sound counsel from the apostle of grace himself. ðŸ˜„

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

Then Alan I ask respectfully what is your understanding of this verse found in Acts 5:29... We must obey God rather than men.

M

makrothumia Dec 26, 2015

The answer found in scripture, the simple answer that they were under obligation to obey God because they had been given a direct command to do what they were doing.

They joyfully submitted to threatenings and even punishment. I believe they sought to bless those religious leaders and pray for them even as Jesus instructed them. They did not seek to have them removed from their position, nor blaspheme them by exposing them before all the people. They simply obeyed their Lord and then voluntarily submitted even to being abused.

Much like many of the persecuted saints you pray for continually.
Mak

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

""Stubborn defiance of authority was a capital offense in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant upholds this righteous decree."

Not sure what we are missing there Alan, perhaps you could explain what you meant, for the simple reading of your words plainly state that " stubborn defiance of authority," was a capital offense, and that somehow this carries forward to the New Covenant. This of course, is simply not true.....bro Frank

M

makrothumia Dec 26, 2015

The two passages from Deutetonomy 21 and Romans 2 use the same two Greek words "apethia" (refusal to be persuaded) and "erithia" (contentious).

Paul stated that the wrath of God would be poured out upon all those who have the same type of heart attitude that the young man had in the passage from Deuteronomy.

Paul did not qualify it further than a heart matter and neither did I, God looks upon the heart, and every man with a heart that refuses to be persuaded and is contentious in His eyes (not men's) will receive wrath and anger.

This upholds the righteousness of God's judgment. Men are not judged for their stumbling or error. Christ even died for the ungodly, which all of us were at one time. We too were all disobedient, deceived, and very contentious, hating and being hated, but God's philanthropy appeared in Christ Jesus and we were saved not by our righteousness but through His mercy and grace.

This is the good news, that God is willing to pardon ALL MEN. He has always been longsuffering, and willing to forgive wickedness, rebellion, and sin, while holding the liable fully guilty.

Men who hear the good news, and persistently refuse to be persuaded and instead become contentious towards the truth will be held liable in the same way such men were judged without mercy in the Old Covenant.

Stubborn defiance of God's word has always and will always continue to be judged for what it is - an evil heart of unbelief! This is what Paul was saying and what I was saying.

I was writing about a heart attitude worthy of judgment, because that's what Paul was writing about.

I hope that helps

Thanks for asking

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

"I hope that helps."

Yes it does, I had no idea you were talking about people who are not saved. I agree, all people who are not saved shall certainly face an eternal judgement. Perhaps an easier way to express this would simply be to quote Jesus " Unless a man is born again he cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven." .............bro Frank

M

makrothumia Dec 26, 2015

Yes, perhaps it would, but I simply felt I was understanding the connection Paul was making and helping others see the way he reasoned at times.

I guess this just proves what Peter wrote about Paul's letters, ðŸ˜

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

It seems the word "authority " caused a bit confusion.
In Romans 13:1 we also read "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. "

In Daniel 3:5 we read: " that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6"But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire."
Here i believe Acts 5:29... would apply "We must obey God rather than men...." Bear hope this might help a bit

Alan, the way you explained it helps ;) and you researched it carefully. But when you look at all of the above then you might have to replace the word "authority " somehow. We are not such careful students and we can miss your point .

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

Alan thanks for clarifying. I see where you're coming from now. Would certainly be in agreement.

Blaine

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

Why was Paul beheaded if he was being obedient to Caesar?

Paul in Romans 13:1-7 is referring to the spiritual leaders of the Body of Christ, not the civil authorities of this world.

If Paul was promoting obedience to the secular authorities then Caesar would have no problem with him.

The truth is that Paul was promoting a rival government called the kingdom of God.

The "powers ordained of God", are the spiritual leaders in the body of Christ.

Paul was not telling the church to obey the state, he was reminding them to "obey them that have the rule over them" which is found in Hebrews 13:7.

I prefer KJV
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Unlike worldly rulers, God's ministers are "not a terror to good works but to the evil."

Hosea 8:4
They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not

Secular governments use Romans 13 to beat Christians into obedience.

Paul has a real conflict here if he is promoting allegiance to Caesar because you cannot serve two masters. And, if the interpretation of the religious system is correct that Paul was speaking of secular authorities, then his other conflict is that he was persecuted many times for not obeying the secular authorities. Was Paul speaking out of both sides of his mouth? Saying one thing to the saints yet acting altogether differently?

There are many powers not ordained of God as we have seen in Hosea, that will not allow you to be faithful in promoting the kingdom of God and pledging allegiance only to Jesus Christ. Sorry, but I have to disobey them.

M

makrothumia Dec 26, 2015

We all approach subjects from our own vantage point. My focus for this thread was from the vantage point of seeing how Paul and other New Testament writers understood God's righteousness found within the Scriptures and drew from it to express New Covenant truths.

Paul set forth the righteousness of faith within the context of the wrath of God being revealed from heaven. He understood that God's wrath is not arbitrary, but justly and wisely directed at stubborn refusal to be persuaded by the truth. He used "Apethia" (refusal to be persuaded) because he understood how it was used in the Septuagint.

The evil heart of the "apethetic" and "contentious" son in the passage from Deuteronomy was the same heart that Yahweh judged His own people for having. "Apethia" was a summary term that God Himself used to classify the heart condition of the people of Israel who refused His continual attempts to turn them away from their corruption and back towards Himself.

Here are some examples - "All day long I have held out my hands to an "apethetic" and "disputing" people."

Another is found in Isaiah 30:9 - "for this is an apethetic people, false or lying sons, who were not willing to hear the law of God."

Jeremiah 5:23 - "but to this people there became a heart unhearing and apethetic, they turned aside and departed."

This is why Paul knowing the fear of the Lord sought to "persuade" men. Persuade comes from the positive form of "peitho" (to persuade) from which the negative "a" + "peitho" (refusal to be persuaded comes.

He knew that men who were persuaded would be saved. In fact, so did John who wrote - "the one believing in the Son has eternal life, but the one refusing to be persuaded by the Son shall not see life, the wrath of God abides upon him."

I hope this helps to underscore that the writers of the New Testament chose specific words because they understood how they were used in the Old Covenant scriptures.

"Apethia" (refusal to be persuaded) brought the judgment of God upon the individual and the nation who refused the mercy of God and chose to walk in their own stubborn defiance. It is amazing that we are even offered forgiveness, because at one time we too have all walked in this "apethia".
However, like Paul, we did so in ignorance and unbelief. Those who persistently refuse to be persuaded by the good news and die in that state will receive wrath and anger because persistent "apethia" is a sin unto death. It was then and still is now.

Paul twice used "apethia" to classify those upon whom the wrath of God was coming - Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6 -
....the wrath of God comes upon the sons who refuse to be persuaded."

Mak

sermonindex Dec 26, 2015

Very good explaination.

Thank you, Mak.

R

rookie Dec 26, 2015

Mak wrote:

"However, like Paul, we did so in ignorance and unbelief. Those who persistently refuse to be persuaded by the good news and die in that state will receive wrath and anger because persistent "apethia" is a sin unto death. It was then and still is now."

This reminds me of this precept found in the book of Job.

Job 33:14
For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.

Job 33:15
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,

Job 33:16
Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.

Job 33:17
In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,

Job 33:18
He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from perishing by the sword.

Job 33:19
"Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,

Job 33:20
So that his life abhors bread,
And his soul succulent food.

Job 33:21
His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.

Job 33:22
Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.

Job 33:23
"If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,

Job 33:24
Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom’;

Job 33:25
His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.

Job 33:26
He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.

Job 33:27
Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it did not profit me.’

Job 33:28
He will redeem hisfn soul from going down to the Pit,
And hisfn life shall see the light.

Job 33:29
"Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,

Job 33:30
To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

Would you consider this Scripture as commentary on how God works to 'persuade" men? And if man's pride brings about "apethia" man is already condemned by the notion in the Scripture above as man's destiny is the Pit?