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  • Epistle from the Council of Jerusalem – Acts 15:20

    Epistle from the Council of Jerusalem – Acts 15:20

    The Council of Jerusalem has come to a decision. They will write an epistle of instruction to the gentile churches.

    Let's focus for a moment on a HOT TOPIC of A.D. 50 on which future missions of the apostles hinged.

(HOW will JEWS worship with other CULTURES?)

Church leaders ANSWERED with an EPISTLE from their Council in Jerusalem.

    ἐπιστολή – a written message: — epistle, letter

    So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: G1992

    Acts of the Apostles 15:30, King James Version

    WHAT DO WE DO WHEN AS SOON AS WE MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION IMPACTING EVERYONE?

    We send out an epistle or letter or message or broadcast.

    AND like any council with authority this council of Church leaders in Jerusalem go back to their followers personally as well. These apostles of the gospel will also send their epistle or letter of instruction with other trusted messengers to churches they cannot encourage personally.

    We're getting a little ahead of today's work of the Jerusalem Council, but I thought it important to DEFINE our term and impact of today's meeting of the Apostles in Jerusalem.

    Lexicon :: Strong’s G1992 – epistolē

    – From ἐπιστέλλω (G1989) epistellō –

    Outline of Biblical Usage

    • to send one a message, command
    • to write a letter
    • to enjoin by letter, to write instructions

    Christians familiar with traditional readings of Scripture from the King James Version recognize an introduction like:

    “A reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.”

    The cover letter pictured is an actual parchment of Romans 1:1-7

    Acts of the Apostles 15:30 [above] reads ‘epistle‘ in the KJV.

    But most Bibles simply translate it ‘letter.’

    You may have seen a similar epistle in Acts 9 where Luke records a previous ‘official letter’ also sent with Paul (aka at that time Saul of Tarsus) from Jerusalem.

    Damascus Road: Witness into all the World
    But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
    – Acts of the Apostles 9:1-2 ESV

    Christians familiar with the epistles or letters of the New Testament (after Acts) see epistles addressed to an individual church, i.e. Corinth, Ephesus, where these letters were also circulated to churches throughout and beyond those regions.

    However this important earlier letter from the Council at Jerusalem was sent to as many churches as possible. And the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem specifically address Gentiles as participants and members.

    SO It could have, but was not, named:

    The Epistle of the Council of Jerusalem,

    TO the Church at Antioch Syria (where it is to be sent) OR due to apostles sent out into all the world:

    ‘TO the churches of the Gentile Nations.’

    Leaders of the Christians in Antioch had requested clarification from the Apostles and leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Most Hellenist or Greek church members were Gentiles rather than Jews of the Diaspora.

    Acts 15 – Conclusion of Pastor James

    Truth for Gentiles who turn to God
    Previously, from ACTS 15:6-19

    Do not trouble those turning to God

    .. we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
    but should write to them
    to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

    Acts 15:19b-20 ESV

    Don’t cause trouble. Do not annoy. Do not harass. 

    You get the idea; this is what Saul of Tarsus had planned to do in Damascus with the authority of the Jewish Council to persecute the converted.

    ἐπιστρέφω – Lexicon :: Strong’s G1994 – epistrephō

    transitively, a. to turn to the worship of the true God, 
b. to cause to return, to bring back; figuratively, to the love and obedience of God ..

    Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God [theos] from among the Gentiles ἔθνος [ethnos].

    YES, God chose the Jews

    BUT why would we want to keep those Gentiles whom the Lord our God has drawn through Christ?

    AND WHY add requirements which would hinder Gentiles from turning to God?

    SO James adjudicates the matter also addressing the concerns of the Jews.

    EXCEPT these practices of Jewish Law

    Here, James adds a requirement for the Gentiles but it is NOT circumcision.
    • abstain from 
      • the things polluted by idols
      • sexual immorality
      • what has been strangled
      • [from] blood

    21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

    Epistle of James greeting of 1:1 map major Jewish cities of Roman Empire - Rome Antioch Damascas Jerusalem Alexandria
    James .. To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.

    A Map [above] shows first century Jewish cities of the Roman Empire to which James refers in an epistle he authored most likely during Paul’s first missionary journey just prior to the Council at Jerusalem.

    As you can see, much more communication will be required to cover so many Hellenist cities with Jewish and Christian worshipers.

    Acts 15:20 King James Version — But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

    Scriptural (Old Testament) Reasons for James’ exceptions

    Pollutions of idols

    – Gen 35:2; Exo 20:3-5,23; Exo 34:15,16; Num 25:2; Psa 106:37-39; Eze 20:30,31;

    “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I *be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not *be inquired of by you.

    Ezra 20:30-31 KJV – *note: Lexicon :: Strong’s H1875 – dāraš
    Fornication – πορνεία – Lexicon :: Strong’s G4202 – porneia –
    • illicit sexual intercourse
      • adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
      • sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
      • sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11-12
    • metaph. the worship of idols
      • of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols

    The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of *whoredoms and children of *whoredoms: for the land hath committed great *whoredom, departing from the LORD.

    Hosea 1:2 KJV note: *Lexicon :: Strong’s H2183 – zᵊnûnîm
    from Lexicon :: Strong’s H2181 – zānâ – A primitive root [highly-fed and therefore wanton]
    Things Strangled – πνικτός pniktós, pnik-tos’

    from G4155; throttled, i.e. (neuter concretely) an animal choked to death (not bled):—strangled.

    and Blood – αἵματος – αἷμα Lexicon :: Strong’s G129 – haima of man or animals
     καὶ τοῦ αἵματος - "from what has been strangled, and from blood." - ESV is best understood in the context of Leviticus, Book of the Priests, which provides some detail about Sacrifices to God, which Christ became by His own Blood, the flesh of our Lord Jesus pierced for our transgressions.
    The Sacrifice of Blood
    Leviticus 17: ESV

    וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus) 17 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

    וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

    1. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

    10 “If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.

    For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls,
    for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

    Leviticus 17:11 ESV

    12 Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.

    13 “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.

    For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.

    Leviticus 17:14 ESV

    Letter from the Council

    Acts 15:

    22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas…

    To Be Continued… 

    .. with the text of their Epistle authorizing apostles for another mission to the Gentiles.

  • The Christ Child bound in the womb of eternity

    The Christ Child bound in the womb of eternity

    A human life is bound in the womb of eternity. In one sense a child is not fully born by its mother into the fullness of life — but only into a helpless and limited mortal life — where babe may become child, child may become man or woman — this quick-passing human life bound in the confines of mortal time followed inevitably by death and judgment.

    Born once in a human womb

    And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Gospel of John 1:14

    adam bore both sin and death conceived in a womb of measured time, incomplete and nourished in the blood of our mother — growing to burst forth into a glory beyond the bounds of this place to which we have clung for such a brief time — measured time ended beyond the bounds of our dark inner existence.

    What once was death separated from our mortal time within these bounds inevitably becomes life beyond humanity’s brief prison lifted into a glory of the everlasting Light beyond.

    And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

    Hebrews 9:27

    So Christ was born a son of man

    to bear the sins of many, AND JESUS the SON of GOD, who IS and was God,

    will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. 

    See Hebrews 9:

    Ἐμμανουήλ

    Lexicon :: Strong's G1694  [click for pronunciation of the Greek word above- emmanouēl ]

    “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL G1694,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”

    Christians (and even many unbelievers who have witnessed an annual Christmas pageant) know the Scripture well. But think of its implication as well as the impact of Almighty God entering measured time and mortal flesh.

    An anointed Virgin of the Eternal God will have a son by the Holy Spirit of God!

    This Son of the Everlasting One IS actually GOD [theos] WITH US [in mortal flesh and blood], BORN — as are all mankind AND who must suffer DEATH as is appointed to EVERY son of man.

    Emanu–el – Hebrew Gospel announced in Matthew’s manger

    Matthew addresses the genealogy of JESUS EMMANUEL as he would any line of adam.

    The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

    Gospel of Matthew 1:1

    I will not detail this linage of the promise of God through Abraham (who was childless) and David (whose Kingdom ended in defeat by Babylon) or that in his Gospel lineage Matthew designates Joseph as the husband of Mary. Matthew then adds that before she conceived JESUS, that is GOD WITH US, by the HOLY SPIRIT [v.18], however note that by these important names Matthew introduces of the LORD GOD in a fragile frame of a HUMAN CHILD.

    1:1 βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ

    Ἰησοῦ – iēsous –

    JESUS, in the now common language of the Roman Empire – JESUS, in Greek.

    [pronounced]

    JESUS Of Hebrew origin יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (H3091)

    You should recognize the name of an earlier savior who the LORD sent into the land promised to Abraham after the death of Moses.

    Joshua or Jehoshua = “Jehovah is salvation”

    From יְהֹוָה (H3068) and יָשַׁע (H3467)

    Joshua, almost literally Jesus IS Salvation from the Hebrew of Jacob [Israel], descendants of the promise of Yᵊhōvâ to save.

    [yeh-ho-shoo’-ah] יְהוֹשׁוּעַ

    יָשַׁע

    Χριστός

    Lexicon :: Strong’s G5547 – christos

    Christ (from the Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew)

    • The KJV translates Strong’s G5547 in the following manner: Christ (569x).
    • Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
      • Christ = “anointed”
        • Christ was [and is]1 the Messiah, the Son of God
        • anointed from χρίω
          • to anoint
          • consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration
          • enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit

    And Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called [Messiah] Christ G5547.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:16 LSB

    Jesus’ Apostles witness Jesus as the Christ – Matthew 16 times in his Gospel and John 19 times in his Gospel plus 11 times in two brief letters and 7 times in Revelation.

    Χριστός Christós, khris-tos’;
    from G5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:—Christ. – BLUELETTERBIBLE.ORG

    The Christ child

    NO other term in the New Testament is used more than CHRIST [500+x] to characterize JESUS. ‘Christians‘ should not take lightly any replacement of CHRIST in Scripture with some less characteristic human title.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    The Good News of Matthew:

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:

    when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

    And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly [divorcing his betrothed {with whom they ‘had not come together’}]. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

    “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the One who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name

    Jesus,

    for He will save His people from their sins.”

    • Did you catch that?

    The angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream as commands his to call the child, JESUS.

    JESUS, unlike Joshua of the same name before, “Jehovah is salvation,” not only is not born of an earthly father but is NOT sent to SAVE the sons of Abraham from earthly enemies or lay claim to an earthly land as a king.

    NO, Jesus, a son of man ONLY by the virgin Mary, “will save His people from their sins,” a mercy ONLY God can grant to a condemned son of adam.

    The Good News of John

    We began consideration of the Apostle’s Christian logic behind the birth of Jesus into time and human flesh. Today I end with his explanation of what also seems convincingly logical from the Savior who John calls ‘The Word‘ (λόγος – logos).

    Thirty years later -- from the Gospel of John 3:

    “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

    “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born [from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

    “How can a man be born when he is old? ..

    Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

    “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

    Will you be born again (though we are old)?

    “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words [logos] will not pass away.

    A word of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Matthew 24:25

    Here is the significance of the Christ child in a manger and the Son of Man Jesus on the cross who was born to save His people from their sins.

    manger with shadow of cross falling across

    Pilate said to them,

    “Then, what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

    Gospel of Matthew 27:22a LSB

  • Blood on the night in which He was betrayed

    Blood on the night in which He was betrayed

    For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you,

    that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread,

    first Letter of Paul to the church at Corinth 11:23 New English Translation Click here for other translations

    Hear, O Isra-el

    And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.

    שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃

    We suppose here (though possibly not specifically in celebrating this Last Seder) that JESUS at various times during His three-year leading of the Apostles routinely recited Scripture from their Jewish Bible to these Jewish disciples of the Messiah.

Excerpts to Bible Translations linked below from: NASB; Somali Bible; Orthodox Jewish Bible;The Westminster Leningrad Codex

    Exodus 12:

    Now the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt.. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are, each one, to take a lamb for themselves, according to the fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.. Your lamb shall be an unblemished male.. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month,

    then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to slaughter it at twilight.

    lamb bound on the altar of sacrifice

    Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

    They shall eat the flesh that same night.. and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

    Now you shall eat it in this way: with your garment belted around your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in a hurry—it is the Lord’s Passover.

    For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and fatally strike all the firstborn…

    The Lord’s Supper (Blood of a New Covenant)

    and after he had given thanks he broke it and said,

    “This is my body, which is for you.

    Do this in remembrance of me.”

    first Letter of Paul to the church at Corinth 11:24 NLT + Click here for other translations

    The Gospel of Matthew

    “How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

    Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

    Matthew 16:11-12 NKJV

    The New Covenant of Matthew 26: KJV

    And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

    And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

    For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

    Christ on the Cross from movie The Passion of the Christ

    “This cup

    is the new covenant

    in my blood.

    Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:25 NET

    διαθήκη + a covenant

    Roman soldier spears the body of Jesus on the cross

    the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will

    “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”

    And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood. Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and

    וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הַדָּם וַיִּזְרֹק עַל־הָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה דַֽם־הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם עַל כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

    Shmot (Exodus) 24:8

    בְּרִית

    covenant, alliance, pledge

    • between men
    • between God and man

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant H1285 which I have made with them.

    Deuteronomy 31:16 KJV

    Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.

    Amen.

    Letter to the Hebrews of the Church, redeemed saints of the Messiah, 13:20-21 NASB20