Tag: hellenists

2 Peter – Introduction to a Second Apostolic Letter
We begin our SERIES from the Epistles of three Apostles with Simon Peter.

Peter – a Foundation of Apostolic Faith

Our best impressions of Simon Peter from the Gospels and the early ACTS of the Apostles cannot fully convey the heart of this ROCK whom JESUS had claimed for building His Church..

We tend to recall moments from back in the AD 30’s with Peter in Jerusalem.. Yet even then the Apostle was sent to surrounding towns with the Gospel.

33 Years – Journeys from Capernaum to Rome

C

Capernaum

Jesus had appeared to Peter and others as they fished near the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Lord instructed Simon Peter and the Apostles to go into all the world with the Gospel — Good News that they had all seen and touched, and had heard and obeyed the Lord – the risen Christ JESUS.

Now it is Simon Peter who will build not one church in Jerusalem, Capernaum or even Rome, but a living Church throughout the world (of Rome) — connected by the love of Christ and the Holy Spirit into a fellowship of saints sanctified and separated to the faith of eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter’s gospel is an apostolic gospel; Simon Peter’s faith is a Christian faith

ACTS 9-12 Miraculous Missionary Acts of Peter

So now after Jesus’ ascension, the Apostle will sojourn between Capernaum, Jerusalem and other Jewish communities of Galilee, eventually meeting Jewish believers from every corner of the world who will come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Simon Peter, sought out as a criminal by leading Jews opposing their own Messiah, would eventually be brought to Rome. Christ’s leading Apostle would also eventually be crucified there, but not until an appointed time after many years proclaiming the Gospel.

Like Paul and other Apostles, Peter wrote epistles and instructions for many years to those he had encouraged in the churches throughout Asia.

2 Peter

The World into which the Apostles Preached
- ~ AD 30’s – AD 60’s
We cannot fully appreciate the magnitude of Jesus’ great commission with only the Gospel accounts or even all Scripture of the Old Testament.

This is due a historic extended silence of God during a post-exilic gap which includes the powerful reign of Alexander the Great (of Macedonia) prior to the dominance of Rome.

a ROMAN world

The Messiah of Israel was given into a Roman world, not a Judaic land.

This Jewish fisherman, Simon Peter of Capernaum on the Sea of Tiberius (so renamed by Rome), though not a Roman, lived a daily existence dependent on Rome, This same dependence had also Romanized the half-Jewish Herod’s, adopted into an all-inclusive culture of the Caesar’s.

Without stepping into the Jewish controversies into which Jesus sometimes ventured about the state of Abrahamic or Mosaic of Semitic faith, let’s just say that Simon Peter’s faith, both before meeting the Messiah and after Jesus’ resurrection until now, is not specifically tied to either the Jewish sects returned from Medo-Persia or those Jews left in a devastated Israel and Judah.

Simon Peter sought to preach the Gospel to his fellow Jews, many who were local proselytes. Rome frequently rejected Jews, often sent on their way at any sign of controversy in distant provinces.

The Apostle writes to churches in lands once dominated by Alexander. And thousands of Jews had remigrated into a European world from an ancient Asia, once dominated by the Babylonians, Medes and Persians. [See your Old Testament.]

Greek culture prevails long after the return of the Jews into a Herodian re-built Roman Jerusalem.

The Twelve Apostles (and I include Matthias) led by Simon Peter were all Jews. And the scattered Jews throughout a world now dominated by Rome wanted to hear from these Apostolic witnesses of the risen Son of David, the Messiah Jesus.

a Second Epistle of Simon Peter
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In case you missed the definition of Epistle, you may read it HERE from our introduction. 
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Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2 Peter 1:1 NIV

Who is Peter writing to?

We’ll get back to that in the context of this second letter, but let’s take a quick glance at his first epistle for an introductory clue.

παρεπίδημος Aliens of the Diaspora

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

Anatolian peninsula

1 Peter 1:1-2a ESV

We can suppose that both epistles of Peter were sent to all of these churches on the Anatolian peninsula — all Roman provinces throughout modern-day Turkie.

some scholars date the Second Epistle of Peter in AD 64

These Jewish Christians, members of the Diaspora, are addressed here as pilgrims or sojourners… Jews expelled.. and living in a pagan environment.

1&2 Peter An Expositional Commentary, R.C. Sproul

Simon Peter: To the pilgrims

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the pilgrims of the Dispersion..

1 Peter 1:1a New King James Version
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"But WAIT.." as the old late-night TV ad suggested.. 
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You probably have the WRONG PICTURE of PILGRIMS with an implanted prejudice of clashing cultures.

παρεπίδημος – parepidēmos

properly, “one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives; hence, stranger; sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner“

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee,

Genesis 26:3a KJV – Oath of the LORD to Isaac, son of Abraham in Garar, a location south of Gaza – Source BLB
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Alien, migrant, immigrant, foreigner — all have subtle prejudicial meaning.
 
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These Christians to whom the Apostle’s write are rejected by former friends, neighbors and in workplaces. This sect of Jews following the way of the Messiah [or Christos] were also deported along with their families from their homes and Hellenist hometowns.

Therefore Christ-followers must sojourn to distant towns throughout the world of Roman citizens and pagans, those who rejected Jews anyway for the intolerance of their ONE GOD.

Why do they want to hear from Simon Peter?

Place yourself into any of the varied cities or towns in the Roman provinces addressed by the Apostle in ~ AD 64.

RC. Sproul in his PREFACE to 1-2 Peter offers one of the best descriptions of the heart of the saints receiving Simon Peter’s letter in the context of their situation:

Imagine what it would be like to receive a letter from someone who was a personal friend of Jesus during his earthly ministry?
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Referring specifically to Peter, James and John, eyewitnesses to the glory of the transfigured Christ, Dr. Sproul continues:
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A letter from a man such as this is a treasure for the church. His letter, beyond the value of his own eyewitness testimony and his intimate friendship with Jesus carries with it the weight of the divine inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.

ibid. R.C, Sproul

Why does Peter write a SECOND Epistle to them?

Remembering our AD 1st century cultural setting of the Church, as we discovered in Paul’s missionary journeys, the people living here are Hellenists.

Hellenists worshiped the tree of knowledge — towering temples of their gods — where philosophers plucked the forbidden fruit of wisdom.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble

2 Peter 1:10 NKJV
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Again, quoting R.C. SPROUL from: BE ALL THE MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE, concerning the recipiants of 1 Peter (likely the same churches): 
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The gnostics took a variety of religions and philosophies and thought to blend them to produce a new religion or philosophy… They targeted the early Christian community.. The only way the Gnostics could seduce Christians to believe their heresy was to undermine the authority of the Apostles.

ibid. p.6

Therefore,

Simon Peter, doulos and Apostle of Jesus Christ

2 Peter 1:1

writes an epistle —
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(Remember the one definition emphasizing its impact as a letter of written command?) —
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to encourage Elders ‘ (and those saints willingly obedient to their teaching [doctrine] and authority)

in the (precise and correct) KNOWLEDGE of God [epignōsis theos] and of Jesus our Lord..

NEXT .. 2 PETER 1:

His precious and magnificent promises

Partakers of the Divine Nature
October 18, 2025
An Apostolic Model: Administration of a Growing Church
Now that we have defined some key terms of the church (including ‘church’ – ἐκκλησία), we can proceed to examine the administration of disciples following the Lord Jesus Christ (‘Christians).
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If you missed this defining first post about ACTS 6, you may want to visit some of the secure links included in Ministering to a Growing Church (BELOW).
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An Apostolic Model: Ministering to a Growing Church

Who would lead change after hearing their murmurings?

Last time we only got to one verse, Acts 6:1, then encountered a roadblock before I could address how the Twelve ran their administration of the multitudes.

..when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews,
Acts 6:1 excerpt KJV

Does that sound like YOUR Church?

Let’s address my next question from our previous post about ministering to the personalities in this initial Church of the Apostles.

How can WE help relieve so many PERSONAL problems for hundreds of families belonging to our growing church?
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Filling in a four-hundred year gap between the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS:

(The Apostles, of course, understood their church family history better than we do.)
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Mapping out traditions of our pasts

I suppose you have wondered about my FIRST CENTURY CHURCH MOSAIC attached to this post. So let’s take a look at the diverse ethnic gathering of the lost sheep of Israel (along with some NON-JEWS as well).

First Jerusalem Church of the Apostles

Here’s an unspoken issue of ethnos underpinning their recent ‘murmurings.’
Israel did not exist!

In the time of the Apostles, a divided Greek-speaking Roman empire changed administrations frequently.

Before the Herod’s

JEWS exiled to the EAST to Babylon, some returning to Jerusalem AFTER Persia defeats Babylon.
Many JEWS remained in cities WEST of Jewish influence in cities of the Greek and Roman world.
BEFORE HEROD – Kingdom of Alexander the Great 336-323 B.C.
- 323 BC, Alexander died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II, in Babylon
  - Alexander had conquered cities, kingdoms & empires from Greece to Asia and to Egypt, Babylon, Persia and beyond.
  - These ‘Hellenized‘ cultures then embraced or tolerated Greek customs and language as a universalist ethnos applied to trading and communication between cultures.
    (Compare to a contemporary founding culture three centuries ago in North America.)
- 200’s BC, The Ptolemy’s of Egypt (who had also been Hellenized by Alexander’s conquests) ruled Jerusalem and the eastern Mediterranean coast to Syria beyond Tyre and Sidon.
- 100’s BC, Seleucia (modern-day Bagdad) was the Hellenized capital of the Seleucid Empire which survived until 63 BC
  - As you can see on the top-left of my map mosaic, much of this massive empire lies east of Rome’s later reach.
  - 167-134 BC, Maccabean revolt and resistance against Seleucid rule in Judah
- 63 BC, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus or Pompey the Great, captured Jerusalem for Rome
- 37 BC, Herod the Great (of Edomite ancestry, born in Idumea) aligned himself with Rome.
Rome divides its client kingdom into:

Bashan
Lower Galilee
Samaria
Mishor
Judea &
Idumea

In the time of Jesus and the Apostles into:

Samaria, Judea & Idumea
Perea & Galilee
Batania (Caesarea Philippi) & Auranitis
Syria, including Phoenicia & Ituraea
(with Antioch, Roman city of 500,000+ residents, residence of its Governor)

source
Apostolic ACTS of Administration

6:2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said,
“It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
NIV

WHEN will we ever have time to minister to our church family?

NOT OUR PROBLEM? NO! That’s not what the Apostles leading the growing church are saying.

In fact, the Apostles lead other servants of God to solve the church’s own ministry ‘challenge.’

Waiting tables is just one of our many ministries

“Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
Acts of the Apostles 6:3 NASB20
- Together this first church in Jerusalem, saints ministering to each other (though having common petty differences),
  - must address the administration of their own servant duties to the community
  - without intervention of the their masters (and teachers) the Apostles.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry^G1248 of the word.

ACTS 6:5 This proposal pleased the whole group.
- Select seven (for administration of a church of 500+ saints now)
- These seven men must be μαρτυρέω [of good reputation]
  - (NOT as we might think, but i.e. ‘to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration.’
  - Seven men from the
- .. full of the [Holy] Spirit
- .. and of wisdom σοφία [sophia] who we should put in charge [administrators] of this task.
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These laymen disciples will choose those who will administer the daily tasks of the church.
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An Administration by More Servant Leaders

And they chose:
1. Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and
2. Philip,
3. Prochorus, [Greek, probably a Hellenist]
4. Nicanor, [a Greek name]
5. Timon,
6. Parmenas, [may have been from Asia minor] and
7. Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch [a pagan converted to Judaism from the city in Syria where he will soon to minister to the gentiles]
What must we do for each and every saint of our Lord Christ Jesus?

Administration of our designated authority

And they brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
ACTS of BLESSING the seven men in Jerusalem given authority by the Apostles 6:6

Prayer (inquiring of the LORD) followed by Blessing

We see such acts as this throughout Scripture.

Moses chooses seventy to help. Israel blesses each of his grown sons before his death. (Isaac had blessed Jacob and not Esau.) Moses blesses Joshua. David blesses Solomon.

Conversation with the LORD followed by the Lord’s blessing of continued authority of administration of His work through another.
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They laid their hands … - Among the Jews it was customary to lay hands on the head of a person who was set apart to any particular office, Numbers 27:18; Compare Acts 8:19. This was done, not to impart any power or ability, but to "designate" that they received their authority or commission from those who thus laid their hands on them, as the act of laying hands on the sick by the Saviour was an act signifying that the power of healing came from him, Matthew 9:18; compare Mark 16:18. In such cases the laying on of the hands conveyed of itself no healing power, but was a sign or token that the power came from the Lord Jesus. Ordination has been uniformly performed in this way. See 1 Timothy 5:22. 
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Though the seven deacons had been chosen by the church to this work, yet they derived their immediate commission and authority from the apostles.
Barnes’ Notes on the Bible – Source of this & extended quote above: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/6-6.htm

The Great Commission

(Mat 28:16–20; Luk 24:44–49; Act 1:6–8 )

Later he [Jesus] appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Gospel of Mark 16:15 CSB

.. but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
ACTS of the risen Christ 1:8

Pentecost – a narrative of the fifty days fulfilled

And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them.
Acts 2:3

The Day of Pentecost had been a laying on of hands by the Holy Spirit such as man had never seen!
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

Recalling a caution of Gamaliel

But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

Acts of the Apostles 5:39 NLT

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts of the Apostles 6:7 NIV
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ACTS of the Apostles - To be continued...
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December 28, 2021