From Wikipedia:Like many writers in the first few centuries of the early church, Lactantius took a premillennialist view, holding that the second coming of Christ will precede a millennium or a thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. According to Charles E. Hill, "With Lactantius in the early fourth century we see a determined attempt to revive a more “genuine” form of chiliasm."
interesting, Its like when the bible says "god of gods" who are the gods? The idols? but Jehovah is a god of the living not of the dead.. surely he doesn't want idols to "bow down" So who are these "gods"? - my bet is the angels
side note: What rendering do you think is correct for: (Matthew 22:32) "He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living”
(Luke 20:38) “. . .He is a God, not of the dead, but of the living, for they are all living to him.. . .”
I think the NWT is wrong as JW understand "God" to mean "Jehovah" and use them interchangeably - I more agree with beduhn, its a catergory therefore indefinite therefore should be "a god"
Matthew ch.22:32KJV"I am the God(Ho Theos) of Abraham, and the God(Ho Theos) of Isaac, and the God(Ho theos) of Jacob? God is not the God(Ho Theos) of the dead, but of the living. " Matthew ch.22:32 NIV"‘I am the God(Ho Theos) of Abraham, the God(Ho Theos) of Isaac, and the God(Ho Theos) of Jacob’ b ? He is not the God(,Ho Theos) of the dead but of the living.” Matthew ch.22:32 New Living Translation "‘I am the God( Ho Theos)of Abraham, the God(Ho Theos) of Isaac, and the God(Ho Theos) of Jacob.’d So he is the God(Ho Theos) of the living, not the dead.”" Matthew ch.22:32English Standard Version'‘I am The God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and The God of Jacob’d? He is not The God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew ch.22:32Berean Standard Bible"‘I am The God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and The God of Jacob’d? He is not The God of the dead, but of the living.”" Matthew ch.22:32New American Standard Bible"‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not The God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew ch.22:32Christian Standard Bible"I am The God of Abraham and The God of Isaac and The God of Jacob?a b HeA is not The God of the dead, but of the living.”" Matthew ch.22:32Contemporary English Version"“I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”+ He isn't the God of the dead, but of the living." The context is the resurrection as far as Jesus would have been concerned there was only One God in that category. Luke ch.20:38NIV"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”"
From New World Encyclopedia's article on Millennialism"Perhaps the first Christian leader to express the premillennial faith was Papias (c.60-130), bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor, who described the millennial rule of Christ upon earth as characterized by miracles and natural blessings. Other premillennialists during that period include Justin Martyr (c.100-165), Melito of Sardis (d.c.180), Irenaeus (c.120-c.200), Tertullian (c.155-230), Hippolytus (c.170-235), Methodius (d.c.311), and Lactantius (c.240-c.320). Justin Martyr, discussing his own premillennial beliefs in his Dialogue with Trypho (chap. 110), observed that such beliefs were apparently prevalent among Christian adherents:
I admitted to you formerly, that I and many others are of this opinion, and [believe] that such will take place, as you assuredly are aware; but, on the other hand, I signified to you that many who belong to the pure and pious faith, and are true Christians, think otherwise.[3]"
Aservant, thanks. Millennialism aka chiliasm used to be popular in the early church, but it fell out of favor and Christendom began to reinterpret passages about Christ's thousand year reign.
I haven't spent a lot of time studying the rejection of millennialism, but Origen rejected it (he died circa 253 CE) and Augustine reinterpreted the 1000 year references in Revelation. He died in 430 CE and had a huge influence on the western church. The WT even contained an article about Augustine's view of the 1000 years: that article was written in the 50s or 60s. Very interesting how he understood the abyssing of Satan.
James ch.1:12 NWT 2013 Edition "Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial,+ because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life,+ which JEHOVAH* promised to those who continue loving Him.+" May the the Lord JEHOVAH Continue to be mindful of his loyal servants .
From Wikipedia:Like many writers in the first few centuries of the early church, Lactantius took a premillennialist view, holding that the second coming of Christ will precede a millennium or a thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. According to Charles E. Hill, "With Lactantius in the early fourth century we see a determined attempt to revive a more “genuine” form of chiliasm."
ReplyDeleteinteresting, Its like when the bible says "god of gods" who are the gods? The idols? but Jehovah is a god of the living not of the dead.. surely he doesn't want idols to "bow down" So who are these "gods"? - my bet is the angels
ReplyDeleteside note:
What rendering do you think is correct for:
(Matthew 22:32)
"He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living”
(Luke 20:38)
“. . .He is a God, not of the dead, but of the living, for they are all living to him.. . .”
I think the NWT is wrong as JW understand "God" to mean "Jehovah" and use them interchangeably - I more agree with beduhn, its a catergory therefore indefinite therefore should be "a god"
Matthew ch.22:32KJV"I am the God(Ho Theos) of Abraham, and the God(Ho Theos) of Isaac, and the God(Ho theos) of Jacob? God is not the God(Ho Theos) of the dead, but of the living. "
DeleteMatthew ch.22:32 NIV"‘I am the God(Ho Theos) of Abraham, the God(Ho Theos) of Isaac, and the God(Ho Theos) of Jacob’ b ? He is not the God(,Ho Theos) of the dead but of the living.”
Matthew ch.22:32 New Living Translation "‘I am the God( Ho Theos)of Abraham, the God(Ho Theos) of Isaac, and the God(Ho Theos) of Jacob.’d So he is the God(Ho Theos) of the living, not the dead.”"
Matthew ch.22:32English Standard Version'‘I am The God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and The God of Jacob’d? He is not The God of the dead, but of the living.”
Matthew ch.22:32Berean Standard Bible"‘I am The God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and The God of Jacob’d? He is not The God of the dead, but of the living.”"
Matthew ch.22:32New American Standard Bible"‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not The God of the dead, but of the living.”
Matthew ch.22:32Christian Standard Bible"I am The God of Abraham and The God of Isaac and The God of Jacob?a b HeA is not The God of the dead, but of the living.”"
Matthew ch.22:32Contemporary English Version"“I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”+ He isn't the God of the dead, but of the living."
The context is the resurrection as far as Jesus would have been concerned there was only One God in that category.
Luke ch.20:38NIV"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”"
From New World Encyclopedia's article on Millennialism"Perhaps the first Christian leader to express the premillennial faith was Papias (c.60-130), bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor, who described the millennial rule of Christ upon earth as characterized by miracles and natural blessings. Other premillennialists during that period include Justin Martyr (c.100-165), Melito of Sardis (d.c.180), Irenaeus (c.120-c.200), Tertullian (c.155-230), Hippolytus (c.170-235), Methodius (d.c.311), and Lactantius (c.240-c.320). Justin Martyr, discussing his own premillennial beliefs in his Dialogue with Trypho (chap. 110), observed that such beliefs were apparently prevalent among Christian adherents:
ReplyDeleteI admitted to you formerly, that I and many others are of this opinion, and [believe] that such will take place, as you assuredly are aware; but, on the other hand, I signified to you that many who belong to the pure and pious faith, and are true Christians, think otherwise.[3]"
Aservant, thanks. Millennialism aka chiliasm used to be popular in the early church, but it fell out of favor and Christendom began to reinterpret passages about Christ's thousand year reign.
ReplyDeleteAny comments on post millennialism and or its leading advocates from this period?
DeleteI haven't spent a lot of time studying the rejection of millennialism, but Origen rejected it (he died circa 253 CE) and Augustine reinterpreted the 1000 year references in Revelation. He died in 430 CE and had a huge influence on the western church. The WT even contained an article about Augustine's view of the 1000 years: that article was written in the 50s or 60s. Very interesting how he understood the abyssing of Satan.
ReplyDeleteJames ch.1:12 NWT 2013 Edition "Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial,+ because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life,+ which JEHOVAH* promised to those who continue loving Him.+"
ReplyDeleteMay the the Lord JEHOVAH Continue to be mindful of his loyal servants .