1) Jesus stated that he would send the holy spirit (a gift that his Father promised) after he ascended to heaven (Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:5-8). Once the spirit was poured out on Christ's first-century disciples, it empowered them to be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth. That same spirit of holiness gives us the boldness to preach today (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
2) By means of the holy spirit, Jehovah God gives us the necessary strength to fulfill our assignment as ministers (Zechariah 4:6). 2 Corinthians 4:7 speaks of the "power beyond what is normal" and the apostle Paul wrote that when he was weak, then he was powerful (2 Corinthians 12:10). He could be powerful although weak due to the working of God's holy spirit in him through Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9).
3) The Bible indicates that heavenly angels share in directing the preaching work (Revelation 14:6-7). They are powerful spirit creatures, going forth to accomplish God's bidding (Psalm 103:20-21), and these angels are captivated by the accomplishment of Jehovah's eternal purpose: into such things, they desire to peer (1 Peter 1:10-12).
4) Christ Jesus directs the preaching work. The Risen Lord proclaimed in Matthew 28:18 that he was given all authority in heaven and on earth. Given all authority by whom? Why, by his Father. Then at Matthew 28:19-20, he commanded his disciples in this way:
SBL: πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος, διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μεθ’ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος.
The Greek word οὖν sometimes implies causal sequence; it is a conjunctive particle.
See https://www.wordsense.eu/%CE%BF%E1%BD%96%CE%BD/
Why does Jesus say, πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε? It is because Jehovah gave Jesus universal authority and made him head of the Christian congregation (Ephesians 5:23-24). He is leader, Savior, and Lord of the Christian body/ecclesia. Knowing that Jesus has all authority and power in heaven and earth should give us confidence to undertake our preaching and teaching commission, but this confidence is not rooted in self--it is rooted in Jehovah God and the Son of his love (Colossians 1:13).
For more concerning the grammar of Matthew 28:19, see https://danielbwallace.com/tag/matthew-2819-20/
Tuesday, August 09, 2022
Reasons Why the Good News of God's Kingdom Can Be Preached With Confidence
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6 comments:
Revelation 8:13 is very interesting for comparison with 14:6-7.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/craig-blomberg/does-an-angel-or-eagle-fly-in-revelation-8-13.html
I agree that the verses are interesting to compare, but I'm glad Blomberg set the record straight that one should read "eagle," at Rev 8:13, not "angel."
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
"The eagle was the symbol of the Romans, and was always on their ensigns. The three woes which are here expressed were probably to be executed by this people, and upon the Jews and their commonwealth. Taken in this sense the symbols appear consistent and appropriate; and the reading eagle instead of angel is undoubtedly genuine, and Griesbach has received it into the text."
STEP Bible Apparatus:
ἀετοῦ] p115 א A 046 Byz itgig ith vg syrph syrh copsa copbo eth WH NR CEI Riv TILC Nv NM
ἀγγέλου] P 680 2059 2060 2081 2186 2286 2302 2814 al arm ς ND Dio
ἀγγέλου ὡς ἀετοῦ] 42
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