tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.comments2024-03-18T23:04:33.374-07:00Foster's Theological ReflectionsEdgar Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comBlogger18642125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-78633402035158509382024-03-18T18:12:00.191-07:002024-03-18T18:12:00.191-07:00Admittedly, I don't follow the literature on T...Admittedly, I don't follow the literature on Tertulluan closely like I used to do, and to be clear, I acknowledge that Tertullian used trinitarian language. However, what did he mean by it? There is also the question of how Montanism affected his theology.<br />I think these Trinitarians overlook Tertullian's subordinationism.Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-3628887487612058102024-03-18T16:55:44.678-07:002024-03-18T16:55:44.678-07:00I’ve always understood it that way, that Tertullia...I’ve always understood it that way, that Tertullians view was that the ‘Son’ was just a portion of substance of the father. It’s disappointing that trinitarians just assume that you’re wrong because you’re a Jehovah Witnesses. But let me ask you, how’s the scholarship now about Tertullian now? It seems like the people in the video make it seem that the consensus is with tertullian being trinitarian and your view is fringe Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-703744347602686552024-03-18T13:49:30.985-07:002024-03-18T13:49:30.985-07:00I've noticed this tendency as well, but the Fa...I've noticed this tendency as well, but the Fathers were more subtle and diverse than non-historians think they were. See https://fosterheologicalreflections.blogspot.com/2017/08/hippolytus-contra-noetum-8-10-11.html<br /><br />Sydney H. Mellone on Tertullian's Subordinationist Christology:<br /><br />"He [Tertullian] has not avoided a subordination not only in the order of revelation to mankind but in essential being. Even if we set aside his purely metaphorical illustrations, we find it clearly stated that the Father is the originating principle of the Son and the Spirit, and therefore holds in relation to them a certain superiority: 'The Father is wholly essential being (SUBSTANTIA): the Son is derived from the Whole as part thereof (PORTIO TOTIUS): the Father is greater than the Son, as One who begets, who sends, who acts, is greater than the One is begotten, who is sent, through whom He acts," (Leaders of Early Christian Thought, London: The Lindsey Press, 1954, Page 178).Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-44763097740802519552024-03-18T13:40:49.371-07:002024-03-18T13:40:49.371-07:00From what I’ve been noticing from online trinitari...From what I’ve been noticing from online trinitarian apologetics they want to affirm that all church fathers were trinitarian. Most I’ve notice fall into the word concept fallacy. They’ll see a statement “Jesus is God” or “Jesus is eternal” without really knowing what those words mean in their own context. They assume it’s the same meaning as nicea Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-83315497657957216512024-03-18T13:22:40.837-07:002024-03-18T13:22:40.837-07:00I also pointed out some of the videos incorrect st...I also pointed out some of the videos incorrect statements where they assert things without documentation.Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-32750718456375114422024-03-18T13:21:55.537-07:002024-03-18T13:21:55.537-07:00I was surprised since my book based on the thesis ...I was surprised since my book based on the thesis was published in 2006 and I finished that part of my graduate work before then. It was an odd use of my bookk by IP: the Muslim was more accurate than IP was: my exact view is that while Tertullian uses Trinitarian language, he subordinates the Son essentially to the Father. I listened to their criticisms, but feel they were way off. Hence, my reply.Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-30984008924574526322024-03-18T12:58:50.543-07:002024-03-18T12:58:50.543-07:00Those issues you mentioned does " the church&...Those issues you mentioned does " the church" speak with one voice on any of those issues. For instance gay marriage it seems at times that your pontiff is talking out of both corners of his mouth on that topic. Likely you could rattle off the "Official position" on that topic, but in his local church what is the average catholic likely to hear. If he is going to church in Uganda is he going here the same version of the matter as a parishioner in Germany. Once you get involved involved in politics contamination with the divisions that characterize the present world is inevitable. We belong to JEHOVAH and his Messiah,not to the politicians/princes of the present age. That is why I never have to worry about my brother from any part of the globe turning up at my doorstep with an assault rifle " nothing personal brother just following orders" I am confident that he would sooner go to his death than betray JEHOVAH and his brothers in this way, and may grant me the strength to likewise prove faithful to him and my brothers under test.aservantofJEHOVAHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139986930474302181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-35705614164132501682024-03-18T12:37:23.522-07:002024-03-18T12:37:23.522-07:00I am amazed that you don't see the obvious con...I am amazed that you don't see the obvious connection between the nation's apostasy and their inability to identify the true Messiah. John Ch.5:45NIV"“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set." Their setting unscriptural tradition over the Torah caused a dulling of their senses. Christendom has the same problem they are seeking a political/national Christ instead of the spiritual/ universal Christ of the Bible.<br />The brothers have always believed from Russel onward that faithful truthseeking individuals Who have been judged by the true head of the church as faithful belong to his true church. The church in that sense has never ended. There is no new covenant with present day servants of JEHOVAH individually. However the scriptures foretell that during the "syntelia" of the present age there is an ongoing unifying of all sincere truthseekers which is occurring through Christ and his holy angels. So no longer will the approved truthssekers be scattered ,but by divine decree they will be united and of this union of sincere truthseekers will be identified by its fruit. John ch.13"34,35NIV"“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”<br />This love spoken of here precludes the mass- murder of fellow Christians (or anyone else for that matter) regardless of which politician/politicians demand(s) it<br />Acts ch.5:29ESV"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men"<br /> This is why we cannot be involved in politics and nationalism. We are not here to facilitate the political ambitions of the princes of the present age but to advocate for the universal and undivided kingdom of JEHOVAH. We are not so chauvinistic as to expect all to believe in this coming Kingdom but we think that if we are going to persuade any to at least investigate directly and not be content to have their impression of our beliefs filtered through propagandists , it should at least be clear that we believe in the coming millennium.<br /> The present civilization is passing away by divine decree any attempt to save it from itself is a fool's errand.<br />1John ch.2:17ESV,"And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."<br /> we do pray that JEHOVAH'S Providence causes this world's rulers to not pay attention to the false accusations of opposers to the effect that our work is of a seditious nature. Or that we are any menace to the public order or will short change the the sovereign's treasury of what he deems due for his services or whatever other false accusations our very imaginative enemies get up to. But the fact of the matter is that the present nation states have no place in JEHOVAH'S Purpose.<br />1Corinthians ch.2:6NIV,"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing."<br /> aservantofJEHOVAHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139986930474302181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-71368263386575747632024-03-18T12:25:43.527-07:002024-03-18T12:25:43.527-07:00Also, the Father will choose among the flock of tr...Also, the Father will choose among the flock of true sheep who will be brothers with Christ and sons of God in the sense that they will rule with Christ as Kings and priests and be heirs to the Kingdom. He will anoint these individuals. <br /><br />2 Cor. 1:21, 22 (NAB):<br />"But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment." <br /><br /><br /><br />2 Corinthians 5:5<br />5 Now the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the spirit as a token of what is to come. <br /><br />1 Peter 1:3, 4<br />3 Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you,<br /><br /><br />These individuals are adopted as sons in a sense to share with Christ as being heirs and rule as kings and priests, similar to how David and Solomon were anointed or adopted as sons to rule as kings out of the Israelites. <br /><br />Romans 8:15-17<br />15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 If, then, we are children, we are also heirs—heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ—provided we suffer together so that we may also be glorified together. <br /><br />Romans 8:23<br />"Not only that, but we ourselves also who have the firstfruits, namely, the spirit, yes, we ourselves groan within ourselves while we are earnestly waiting for adoption as sons, the release from our bodies by ransom." <br /><br />In Galatians 4:24-30, Hagar figured in a symbolic drama in which she represented the nation of fleshly Israel, bound to Jehovah by the Law covenant inaugurated at Mount Sinai, which covenant brought forth “children for slavery.” But the children of the “Jerusalem above,” are children of a promise, not of natural descent. This shows that the Jerusalem above or the 144,000 would not just be just natural Jews as Paul stated in Romans 2:29, "But he is a Jew who is one on the inside,and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit and not by a written code.That person’s praise comes from God, not from people." <br /><br />Hebrews 12:22-23 <br />But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads* of angels 23 in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, <br /><br />The Jerusalem above is the congregation of the firstborn enrolled in heaven. <br /><br />Those of the other sheep do not receive the adoption as sons to rule in heaven. And just like the Jerusalem above is made up of individuals that are natural Jews and Gentiles, so the other sheep are made up of Gentiles and natural Jews.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-55412723640365565682024-03-18T12:25:28.542-07:002024-03-18T12:25:28.542-07:00So, if you notice the context of these scriptures ...So, if you notice the context of these scriptures dealing with sonship to King David and Solomon, it was dealing with them receiving Kingship and authority from God. They were always God's sons because they were Israelites but now David and Solomon entered into a special relationship with God in that they received kingship from God that no other Israelites was given. These statements by God were a unique way of anointing them so that they would receive Kingship. <br /><br />It's the same with Jesus. He has always been God's Son. Colossians 1:15 shows Jesus as the firstborn of all creation. <br /><br />Notice how Hebrew 1:5 parallels the angels and Jesus just as 1 Chronicles 28:6 parallels David's other sons and Solomon. <br /><br />The scripture dealing with Jesus in Hebrew 1:5 (ISV), which says, "For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?"; is dealing with kingship and authority given to Jesus just like it was given to David and Solomon in a very similar way. <br /><br />In Job 1:6, Job 2:1, Job 38:7, and Psalm 89:6, angels are called sons of God or sons of the mighty, but none of the angels are given a kingdom and kingship like Jesus. Jesus was exalted over the angels and was given a position far greater than he had before he became flesh or human. While he was a man, he told his apostles that his Father made a covenant with him for a kingdom. This Kingdom was given to him sometime after his resurrection. <br /><br />2 Peter 1:17<br />17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory when words such as these* were conveyed to him by the magnificent glory: “This is my Son, my beloved, whom I myself have approved.” <br /><br />The exalted Jesus receives homage, obeisance, and some would claim worship, but it is never to the highest degree of the One who gave him this authority. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28) <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-47633392417499484412024-03-18T12:23:56.439-07:002024-03-18T12:23:56.439-07:00Those of the other sheep are not just Gentiles.
...Those of the other sheep are not just Gentiles. <br /><br />And those of the anointed are not just Jews or Israelites. <br /><br />Romans 2:29<br />29 But he is a Jew who is one on the inside,and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit and not by a written code.That person’s praise comes from God, not from people. <br /><br />Romans 9:6<br />6 However, it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who descend from Israel are really “Israel.” <br /><br />Paul, under inspiration, was given the understanding that the Israel of God was now spirit-anointed natural Israelites and spirit-anointed Gentiles or people of the nations. <br /><br />The prophet Hosea foretold that God, in rejecting the nation of natural Israel in favor of this spiritual nation, which includes Gentiles, would say “to those, not my people: ‘You are my people.’” (Ho 2:23; Ro 9:22-25) <br /><br />Romans 9:27-29 Moreover, Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved. 28 For Jehovah will make an accounting on the earth, concluding it and cutting it short.” 29 Also, just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless Jehovah of armies had left an offspring to us, we should have become just like Sodʹom, and we should have resembled Go·morʹrah.” <br /><br />This remnant that will be saved is what Paul addressed in Romans 11 because most of natural Israel is rejected by God. In Romans 11:13-24 Paul speaks of natural branches being cut off and wild ones being grateful on the root which is Christ. These two groups now become one in Christ. God anoints these individuals and become Israel regardless of whether they are a natural Israelites or Gentiles. <br /><br />There is one flock, and all are children of God, but some in that flock would be anointed for a special privilege. This similar to how all ancient Israelites were considered sons of God. But among the Israelites some were exalted or anointed for a special purpose. <br /><br />In the Scriptures it's shows David and Solomon being exalted over Israel and put on the throne of Jehovah per the Scriptures. (1 Chronicles 29:23) <br /><br />Deuteronomy 14:1 says, “You are sons of Jehovah your God." The Israelites could say, as recorded by the prophet Isaiah: “You, O Jehovah, are our Father.” (Isaiah 63:16) <br /><br />But notice what God says to David. <br /><br />Psalm 2:7,8<br />"Let me proclaim the decree of Jehovah;<br />He said to me: “You are my son;<br />TODAY I have become your father.<br />8 Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance<br />And the ends of the earth as your possession." <br /><br />Question: If the Israelites were sons of God, why would God tell David TODAY I have become your Father if Israelites were always his sons? <br /><br />Something similar was said of Solomon. <br /><br />2 Samuel 7:12-14<br />"12 When your days come to an end and you are laid to rest with your forefathers, then I will raise up your offspring(seed)*after you, your own son (Lit., “one who will come out of your inward parts),* and I will firmly establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will firmly establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I WILL BECOME HIS FATHER, AND HE WILL BECOME MY SON. When he does wrong, I will reprove him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the sons of men(Or possibly, “Adam.”)*: <br /><br />1 Chronicles 28:6<br />"5 And of all my sons—for Jehovah has given me many sons—he chose my son Solʹo·mon to sit on the throne of the kingship of Jehovah over Israel.<br />6 “He said to me, ‘Your son Solʹo·mon is the one who will build my house and my courtyards, for I have CHOSEN HIM AS MY SON, and I WILL BECOME HIS FATHER." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-9988369374837900442024-03-18T11:30:52.558-07:002024-03-18T11:30:52.558-07:00Again you keep ignoring what I actually said the t...Again you keep ignoring what I actually said the true church is made up of individuals who have been judged by God as producing fruit befitting an encounter with the risen Christ. So JWs have never claimed that the true church in that sense has never ceased but a larger apostate church identified by its bloodstained fruit was to dominate the world and mislead many into accepting its false version of christianity. So your stawmanning is not a rebuttal. They who went out were more popular than those who remained faithful.1John ch.4:5NIV"They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them."<br />They flatter the supporters of the present civilization into thinking that they have some role in JEHOVAH'S Designs. We of course are honor bound to be truthful . Matthew ch.15:13NIV"He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. "<br /> the the world prefers flattery to the bitter truth.<br /> The lampstand represents the church not just an individual if the church knowing tolerates wrongdoing in its midst in loses its standing with the true head of the Christian church I.e Christ.<br />1Corinthians ch.5:6-8NIV"6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."<br />Hades is as you know is the grave so we may have a different understanding of this. John ch.6:44NIV"“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."<br />Or Revelation.Ch.2:10NIV"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown."<br />I Don't know about your church's loyalty to the scriptures. People who are openly flouting the Bible's moral standards are being allowed not merely to receive sacraments but hold teaching office. That seems the opposite of the Bible's instructions at 1Corinthians ch.5:6-13.aservantofJEHOVAHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139986930474302181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-26589187481485275952024-03-18T11:25:58.746-07:002024-03-18T11:25:58.746-07:00Are you surprised by the video? I’m sure your thes...Are you surprised by the video? I’m sure your thesis was written a while ago and now they’re taking about it. From what I know, there’s this Muslim who wants to argue that tertulian was not trinitarian, and I think IP was saying he was, so obviously he responded and cited your book. The Muslims called him out saying that (you) thought the opposite. That lead I think to the video you’re talking about now, where they kinda criticize you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-10650217232095549242024-03-18T10:36:17.799-07:002024-03-18T10:36:17.799-07:00JLM, I agree basically with what Meyer writes here...JLM, I agree basically with what Meyer writes here: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/7-3.htm<br /><br />Strictly sppeaking, the words at 7:3 apply to Melchiedek and only secondarily to Jesus, who is a king-priest in the manner of Melchizedek. People read way too much into the text while ignoring the word ἀγενεαλόγητος<br /><br />Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-10440177202131486162024-03-18T10:02:33.438-07:002024-03-18T10:02:33.438-07:00They said I called Tertullian an Arian in my thesi...They said I called Tertullian an Arian in my thesis. Where did I do that? I might have said he posits a subordination of essence between the Father and Son, and I hold to that position now.<br /><br />Most people also don't understand what Tertullian means by substantia or the Stoic overtones the term has in Tertullian.<br /><br />Where did I say that Tertullian views the Son as Michael the archangel? Answer: nowhere.Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-2658867943146968382024-03-18T07:36:56.113-07:002024-03-18T07:36:56.113-07:00https://probe.org/scripture-and-tradition-in-the-e...https://probe.org/scripture-and-tradition-in-the-early-church/Nincsnevemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06888282878602282770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-13518144702920989472024-03-18T07:30:40.056-07:002024-03-18T07:30:40.056-07:00The secular state is indeed different from the Chu...The secular state is indeed different from the Church, and the secular state is indeed "autonomous"; however, this statement by itself is incomplete and ambiguous, which has provided an opportunity for numerous liberal politicians and "progressive" theologians to consider the state as absolutely autonomous. This viewpoint underlies the usual liberal interpretation of the separation of "the state and the Church," which implies a demand from the state that the Church completely withdraw from public life, not to express its views, regardless of any measures the state implements (for example, not to protest against liberal abortion policies, not to raise its voice against state television programs that are anti-religious or morally destructive, etc.), and preferably not to express its views outside the church, not to interfere with how citizens vote for political parties, and all this is briefly and demagogically summed up as: "The Church should not politicize." This is again an ambiguous slogan. If it means that the Church should not interfere in the technical details of politics (i.e., daily politics), then this is a legitimate demand and means nothing more than that the Church should not want to be the positive norm of state politics. But if it means that the Church should not proclaim those Christian moral principles which are mandatory norms for everyone, including politicians, then this is an illegitimate interference by the state in the Church's mission ordained by Christ. The Church cannot renounce its teaching, apostolic-prophetic mission, because this is not only its right but also its duty!<br /><br />"If your church is OK with pride flags or national flags being erected in its sanctuaries"<br /><br />A Pride flag is indeed not acceptable, as the LGBT agenda is inherently unacceptable to Christianity, but I have never seen a Pride flag in a Catholic church. I do not rule out that it may have happened at some time, and I do strictly condemn liberal theology. There is no problem with the national flag, as long as it does not signify extreme nationalism (chauvinism) but merely good-sense patriotism. Christianity does not require the renunciation of national-ethnic affiliation, identity, and a sort of internationalist-cosmopolitan concept of world citizenship. Neither Christ nor the apostles ever denied that they belonged to the Jewish nation by birth and ethnicity; the Apostle Paul also proudly referred to his Roman citizenship. The national flag itself is not an idol but a symbol of national belonging, identity, which is indeed secondary for a believer compared to fidelity to God; however, this secondary nature does not mean it is without significance.Nincsnevemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06888282878602282770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-88611934104790836322024-03-18T07:21:43.224-07:002024-03-18T07:21:43.224-07:00"You do realize that the Hebrew nation was di..."You do realize that the Hebrew nation was disciplined and ultimately rejected for its apostasy."<br /><br />The Israel of the Old Testament was rejected not because of sins or the introduction of false theology, but because of the rejection of the prophesied savior, Christ. This was replaced by "the new and ETERNAL covenant", so there will be no third one. Or do you think the New Testament was only for 67 years (33-100 AD) because according to JWs Christianity was only "good" so far and a new covenant was made with late 19th century so-called "Bible students" (Russel and his circle) based on new revelation? Because this is already heavily sounds similar to what Mormonism asserts. But they are at least consistent that such a bold claim that "true" Christianity has disappeared for nearly two thousand years and must be restored from scratch later, at least requires a new revelation.<br /><br />It would hardly be possible to "prove" from the Bible that involvement in secular politics is generally considered "fornication." For example, Scripture does not speak about secular power in such a pessimistic, condemning manner, see John 17:15, 19:11, Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Peter 2:13-14; why should I assume as a default that the Church's cooperation with secular power is condemned by Scripture? Because the Bible speaks condemnatorily of certain rulers, or state powers' specific condemnable actions, but nowhere have I read that the state power itself, as such, and engagement with public affairs would be judged as a condemnable act. The essence is this: our task is not to live according to this world, but in this world, and to influence our environment (Mt 5:13-14, Jn 17:15, Phil 2:15). As for the attitude towards power, all power is from God (Rom 13:1-7, 1Pt 2:13-14), and - in the optimal case - those performing the tasks of public administration serve a God-given function with God-given talent. In subordination to God, for the public good, and the people give thanks to God for good governance. (This is not a naive fantasy; there were times when kings were "by the grace of God," and whom simple preachers could rebuke if they forgot about the King of kings.) Nowadays, many people in leadership serve not God, not their country, but themselves with their talent and position. Although we are also citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20, Eph 2:19), it is our duty to pray for social order and justice, and to fight for it with our way of life as well (1 Tim 2:1-2, Titus 3:1-2). If the apostle demanded this attitude during the time of the pagan Roman Empire, then our approach cannot be different in the era of today's democracies. If our worldly task and talent call us into public administration, and the existing system is not an anti-Christian dictatorship, then in the name of God and clinging to the purity of our conscience (Acts 5:29), we can do our job, exerting a benevolent influence on our world (Rom 16:23).<br /><br />Nincsnevemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06888282878602282770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-75940008605174946032024-03-18T07:13:22.851-07:002024-03-18T07:13:22.851-07:00@aservantofJEHOVAH
1 John 2:18-29 hardly proves y...@aservantofJEHOVAH<br /><br />1 John 2:18-29 hardly proves your theory of the "great apostasy" and the disappearance of the "true" Christianity for nearly two thousand years, it does not write that these false teachers, called "antichrists," would take over the whole 'ekklesia', but only that they "would come," so there will be such individuals. Furthermore, verse 19 exactly says that these individuals "went out," meaning those individuals who apostatize from the true faith DO NOT remain in the Church but move out of it, thus allowing the Church to preserve its dogmatic teaching unadulterated. Therefore, the individuals predicted here cannot be identified with the proto-orthodox Christians after the apostolic era, who formed the mainstream of the Church, whose theological opponents were not some kind of proto-JW remnant Christians, but heretics like the Gnostics, Manicheans, Marcionites, Ebionites, etc.<br /><br /><br />"Christ chastised the presbytery of these congregations warning them that if they continued to tolerate loose conduct and sectarianism they would lose their status as his representatives."<br /><br />However, this is about the rebuke and punishment of these INDIVIDUALS, not the prediction that they would bring the entire Church under their influence and control to such an extent that true Christianity, the 'kerygma' proclaimed by the apostles, would practically disappear from the scene for nearly two thousand years, only to be restored from scratch.<br /><br />The Revelation 2:5 you quoted also calls for repentance, not for the attitude that it doesn't matter anyway because in 4 years the bazaar will close, and the proto-orthodox will soon take over power and introduce the "apostate" (trinitarian) Christianity.<br /><br />I believe that Christ's promise that even the gates of Hades SHALL NOT prevail against the 'ekklesia' (Matthew 16:18), is an explicit promise that the true teaching and the 'ekklesia' representing the true teaching cannot disappear. There will be problems, sinners, scandals, etc., but the Church and the 'kerygma', the apostolic deposit of faith will continuously and visibly persist.Nincsnevemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06888282878602282770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-75337359141054320842024-03-18T06:43:01.941-07:002024-03-18T06:43:01.941-07:00Terence, https://www.youtube.com/live/af-JaeZ6aTo?...Terence, https://www.youtube.com/live/af-JaeZ6aTo?si=ORG0fd8YNmAWf9MQEdgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-50194175100726402742024-03-18T06:36:47.795-07:002024-03-18T06:36:47.795-07:001John Ch.2:18NIV"Dear children, this is the l...1John Ch.2:18NIV"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour."<br />John ch.2:19NIV"They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."<br />You mentioned the letters of revelation Christ chastised the presbytery of these congregations warning them that if they continued to tolerate loose conduct and sectarianism they would loose their status as his representatives.<br />Revelation ch.2:5NIV"Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." There is NO evidence that Christendom is learning from her mistakes.aservantofJEHOVAHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139986930474302181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-13063878972186034552024-03-18T05:53:12.316-07:002024-03-18T05:53:12.316-07:00https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10706...https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10706777/Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14509064648619505383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-5268222129375319802024-03-18T04:33:31.548-07:002024-03-18T04:33:31.548-07:00You do realize that the Hebrew nation was discipli...You do realize that the Hebrew nation was disciplined and ultimately rejected for its apostasy.<br />Matthew ch.23:37NIV" Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."There was a reason that they were under the boot heel of pagan Gentiles but like the churches of christendom Presently they sought a political rather than a spiritual solution. There must be a disconnecting with politics before there can be any reconnecting with JEHOVAH. Revelation ch.2:5 NIV"Consider how far you have fallen! REPENT and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."There is no evidence of any repentance on the part of christendom she continues to be neck deep in the corrupt politics and bloodstained warring of the present age more seriously she has been a cheerleader for the trampling of the rights of JEHOVAH'S People.<br />1John ch.4:5NIV"They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them." Being "mainstream" is argument against authenticity where Christianity is concerned. If Your church is O.K with pride flags or national flags being erected in its sanctuaries its gone rogue if it ever was on the narrow road.<br />Mathew ch.7:13,14NIV"3“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."aservantofJEHOVAHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139986930474302181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-86549897107431227182024-03-18T04:17:05.115-07:002024-03-18T04:17:05.115-07:00https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sET4vkkDL0Mhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sET4vkkDL0MDuncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14509064648619505383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-21861899028930674432024-03-18T02:33:30.795-07:002024-03-18T02:33:30.795-07:00People need to stop calling out Jehovah’s witnesse...People need to stop calling out Jehovah’s witnesses for misquoted- they are just embarrassing themselves at this point Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com