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Tag: Nero

  • 2 Peter 1 – Last Will and Testament of Simon Peter

    2 Peter 1 – Last Will and Testament of Simon Peter

    For where there is a legal ‘will,’ there must also be a death brought forward in evidence—the death of him who made it.

    Hebrews 9:16 Weymouth New Testament

    Last Will and Testament

    In the year of our Lord, 54

    The New and convincing Testament of the Apostle Peter

    The Apostle writes his final testimony from Rome, providing convincing truth of Christ which many of us have sought as a new testament of good news.

    Hearing now a second Epistle read in our church from Simon Peter, the saints consider assurance of their salvation.

    Even the Jews will agree that Jesus had died some thirty years ago now. But among them many also maintained their faithful testimony of the Lord’s resurrection on the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion.

    Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the day the tomb of Jesus is found empty and when the risen Messiah appears risen after His crucifixion on a Corss

    Furthermore hundreds of Jews, Gentiles and Romans alike had reported numerous appearances of the risen Christ Jesus during a time of forty days after the Cross and His burial in Jerusalem.

    Jews see a fulfillment of prophetic Scripture and Greeks amazingly now seem included in a New Covenant as elect in the fellowship of the church — chosen and elect to eternal life by God the Father of all creation in the Sacrifice of His Only Son Jesus Christ for our sins.

    And Peter has confirmed this!

    Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Simon Peter

    The Last Will of Peter – Remember His Teaching

    Simon Peter, a prisoner for the Gospel in Rome, has good reason to believe that this second epistle may be the Apostle’s last letter to the church.

    Historical context of Peter’s Second Epistle

    Recent AD First Century Historical Events (all dates approximate)
    • ~ AD 30-33 – Resurrection of Jesus Christ witnessed by Simon Peter and the Apostles and more than 500 witnesses (some still living at the time of Peter’s two Epistles).
      • Peter & John jailed in Jerusalem for their testimony of Christ as the risen Messiah of Israel
    • ~ AD 37 – Caligua Caesar declares himself a god
    • ~ AD 40 Peter proclaims the Gospel to the Gentiles in Joppa and other towns
    • ~AD 41-54 – Claudius Caesar rules the Roman Empire
    • ~AD 44 – the Apostle James, brother of John also of Jesus’ inner circle, is martyred
    • ~ AD 49 – Jews (including followers of “the Way”) expelled from Rome
    • ~ AD 54-68 – Nero Caesar rules the Roman Empire
    • AD 50’s – John Mark, a scribe to Peter who had previously accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, writes his GOSPEL which is read in churches as testimony primarily of the Apostle Peter.
    • ~ AD 60 – Paul is brought to Rome, placed under house arrest and later released.
    • AD 60’s – The Apostle Matthew records his GOSPEL.
    • AD 60’s – Luke, an esteemed gentile physician to Paul, records his GOSPEL followed by a second volume detailing the ACTS of the Apostles.
    • ~AD 62 – James, leader of the Jerusalem church, author of his own epistle and half-brother of Jesus is martyred.
    • AD 64 – Peter and Paul remain diligent in sending several epistles (from Rome)to the church

    19 JULY, 64 AD – a great fire burns for six days, consuming many structures in Rome.

    2 Peter 1:

    Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ,

    To those who have received the same kind of faith as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

    Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been strengthened in the truth which is present with you.

    I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated to me.

    And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

    2 Peter 1:12-15 LSB

    meta emos exodos

    .. ‘after my decease,’ translates the King James.

    ‘to have these things always in remembrance.’

    v.15 KJV

    What this Apostle of Christ Jesus is about to tell those chosen for eternal life reminds us of the Apostolic faith we must remember. Peter’s witness stands against those like the Caesar’s — Caligula and Nero — idolatrous men who declare that they have become gods.

    Peter’s testament here In his second epistle stands firmly against a false gospel and philosophies seeping into the churches.

    One false gospel seeking to undermine the Way and Truth will later claim to be a “Gospel of Peter,” introducing heresies opposed to the true faith of the Apostles.

    So Peter reminds of of his unique witness of the Divine Jesus of Nazareth.

    Peter’s Testimony of Christ’s Divine Nature

    For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths,

    but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.

    Peter testifies to his EYEWITNESS of the GOOD NEWS previously recorded in THREE GOSPELS.

    For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory:

    “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

    2 Peyer 1:17 NKJV

    and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

    v. 18 LSB

    Apostolic testimony or idios interpretation?

    And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

    2 Peter 1:19 NASB20

    Know this first of all,
    that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation [idios epilysis].

    2 Peter 1:20 LSB

    For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

    The Stage is set for the Debate of False Prophets

    As I have pointed out from this current historical context of Peter’s second epistle to the Church, not only do Rome and local communities oppose the true gospel, but in fact, many Christians trained in Jewish culture have an agenda of their own to convert Christ’s church to more palatable heresies desired by many.

    The Greeks and Romans did not care whether their gods really existed. They were myths and they knew they were myths. 

    (May I interject that the same applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Universalists and many other compromising polytheistic or atheistic religions of this century.)

    [Referring to vs.16-18]

    Peter was not ready to put off his mortal tent for a myth but for that which he had witnessed.

    RC Sproul 1-2 Peter – An Expositional Commentary, p.203

    NEXT: Accepting Apostolic Testimony OR Following False Prophets

    APOSTOLIC FAITH 2 Peter 2 Timothy from Paul 2 John & 3 John

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    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • Commandments of Relationships in the Church 1 Corinthians 7

    Commandments of Relationships in the Church 1 Corinthians 7

    The Apostle clearly states both his authoritative advice AND commandments from the risen Christ Jesus.

    I say this to give you permission. It is not a command.

    1 Corinthians 7:6 ICB

    Commandments for Christians from the Lord

    Now I give this command for the married people. (The command is not from me; it is from the Lord.)
    A wife should not leave her husband.

    1 Corinthians 7:10 International Children’s Bible

    Paul previously has already conceded to those who are single, ‘..because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.’ – 1 Corinthians 7:2 NKJV

    The New King James Version HEADS this section of Paul's Epistle: Keep Your Marriage Vows

    NOW Paul must address how a corinthianized saint of Christ’s Church in Corinth ought to apply such commands of the Lord.

    ‘Do NOT be unequally yoked’ is good pre-marital advice from the Bible.

    Roger@talkofJesus.com

    – referring to Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthians 6:14

    Divorce

    A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.

    And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

    Let’s be clear on this command:

    • For most of history ONLY the HUSBAND could sign a certificate of divorce.
    • In this Common Era a WIFE is JUST AS LIKELY to sue her husband for divorce.

    OR a ‘liberated‘ woman may simply leave (or evict) the husband of her vows, rather than seeking to reconcile their marital relationship as commandments of the Lord and scripture clearly state.

    Any Exceptions or Advice?

    (In deference to our own vows before the Lord, sometimes the hardness of a heart is that of our spouse.)

    12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.

    13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.

    The Apostle also makes clear his desire for fidelity in marriage between a CHURCH MEMBER and an unbeliever.

    Scripture is clear: DO NOT commit adultery applies to HUSBAND and WIFE alike.

    What about the kids?

    The husband who is not a believer is made holy through his believing wife.

    And the wife who is not a believer is made holy through her believing husband.

    If this were not true, then your children would not be clean. But now your children are holy.

    1 Corinthians 7:14 International Children’s Bible

    Sanctified, the King James Version instructs.

    ἁγιάζω – Strong’s G37 – hagiazō – From ἅγιος (G40) the same word scripture uses for ‘Holy’ and for ‘saint,’ the name identifying members of Christ’s church.

    • to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
    • to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
    • to purify internally by renewing of the soul

    MARRIAGE is HOLY, ITS TWO SAINTS ONE with each other and with CHRIST.

    The saints of the church are Christ's SANCTIFIED ones, yet are our christian MARRIAGES a HOLY witness of CHRIST?

    The Good News About Marriage also reveals the divorce rate among those active in their church is 27 to 50 percent lower than among non-churchgoers.

    Jeff Feldhahn, husband of Shaunti Feldhahn, marriage researcher in 2019 CBN interview

    Which spouse claiming to be christian while embracing adultery is NOT ACTIVE in worship in their local church?

    So they divorce, often calling themselves, ‘single mom’ or ‘single dad,’ as if they had never been bound to any vow.

    And they witness falsely to the world that they are ‘christians‘ (though in name only) who DIVORCE as FREELY and frequently as the rest of the world, those who vilify Christ our Lord, His Church and every Christian family.

    but IF the ..

    ἄπιστος apistos – (note some meaning from various translations)

    [departs, insists on leaving, leaves, separates, wants a divorce],

    χωρίζω chōrizō – let him depart

    .. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

    1 Corinthians 7:15b KJV

    ἄπιστος apistos 

    And what does the Bible call this person breaking their vows of marriage by divorce?
    • unbelieving or unbeliever, KJV & NKJV
    • the husband or wife who isn’t a believer, NLT
    • unbelieving one, LSB
    • unbelieving partner, AMP & RSV
    • infidelis, VUL
    In fact, since 
    they trouble Christ, 
    divide the saints and
    cast chaos into the world of witness in Jesus Christ, 
    those church members who DIVORCE become anti-Christs in the eyes of the world.

    Let it be so. – 7:15b NIV

    Concerning Change of Status

    Marital Status form Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced. hand checking Married box - Abide

    When this happens, the brother or sister in Christ is free. God called us to a life of peace. 16 Wives, maybe you will save your husband; and husbands, maybe you will save your wife. You do not know now what will happen later.

    1 Corinthians 7:15c International Children’s Bible

    This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

    Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

    1 Corinthians 7:17 New Living Translation

    Paul addresses the men - Jewish saints of the church as well as Greek or Roman converts to Judaism, now also saints adopted into Christ.

    Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain [abide] in the situation they were in when God called them.

    This, of course, opens another relational question for women, as well as questions of status of Jews the circumcision, Greek Corinthians and Roman Corinthians, both the uncircumcision.
    Slaves – δοῦλος –doulos

    Rome had slaves.

    (Most Bible translations prefer the less-offensive word, servants), but even employee labor is bought by your employer.) Some are slaves to their work. Others, slaves to

    Lose a war, as the Greeks had to the Romans, and your citizens become subject to a government over which you have no control. Jews, whether in Corinth or Jerusalem were also either Roman citizens, free aliens or slaves to a Roman, Greek or other master, their lord.

    doulos

    1. a slave
    2. metaph., one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
    3. devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests

    For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord.

    Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.

    So note here Paul's all-important metaphor:

    You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants [doulos] of men.

    So, brothers, [v.29 meaning ‘brothers and sisters’] in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

    1 Corinthians 7:23 ESV

    The Apostle uses ABIDE once again in v.23, his fourth of five times in 1 Corinthians 7.

    Marital Status form Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced. hand checking Married box - Abide
    Situation of the unmarried and widowed

    25 Now I write about people who are not married. I have no command from the Lord about this, but I give my opinion. And I can be trusted, because the Lord has given me mercy.

    Remedies for this present distress

    I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—

    Paul's advice is both personal AND circumstantial: to the single (virgins and unmarried men), engaged (betrothed), married, widowed (no longer bound to a spouse), divorced (once again single and unbound to another).
    • 27 Are you pledged to a woman?
      • Do not seek to be released.
    • 28 Are you free from such a commitment?
      • Do not look for a wife.
    • 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;
    • and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.
      • But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
    The time is short
    We do not have much time left. So starting now... 1 Corinthians 7:29b International Children's Bible

    What’s the historical context of which Paul speaks? (This seems somewhat prophetic, but certainly the handwriting on the wall is whispered in every province of the Empire.)

    AD 55 – Six years ago Caesar Claudius had expelled some of the Jews from Rome. And now Nero has succeeded him as Emperor.

    • ‘Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus was self-indulgent, cruel, and violent as well as a cross-dressing exhibitionist.’
    • Nero planned his mother’s death with great care
    • After Nero and [his second wife] argued late one night (Nero liked to stay out late), he supposedly kicked her in the stomach, killing both her and the unborn child.

    And, of course we know Nero’s evil reputation best from an incident about to take place in the burning of most of Rome just nine years from now [AD 64] and more malicious persecutions of Christ followers, including Paul, who viewed Nero as an anti-Christ.

    The Apostle writes twice to the Corinthians during turbulent times.

    ..the time is short, so that from now on

    even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

    • those who weep as though they did not weep,
    • those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice,
    • those who buy as though they did not possess,
    • and those who use this world as not misusing it.

    For the form of this world is passing away.

    Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians 7:29-31 NKJV

    Free from earthly cares

    Again, a list from Paul confirming motivations of men and women in their relationships - freedom apart from the commandments of the Law and rules concerning marriage.
    tablet of the 10 Commands from the Pentateuch or Law of Moses received from the LORD in Exodus

    A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives;

    1 Corinthians 1:39a NKJV
    • The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord. – 1 Cor 7:32b BSB
      • But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife, – v.33
    • The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit:
      • but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. – v. 34b KJV

    cautions for your profit and not restraint

    to promote propriety and undistracted devotion to the Lord.

    If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. – v.36 ESV

    But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. – v.37 NLT

    So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.

    1 Corinthians 7:38 NIV – Paul’s advice for uncertain times

    .. but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

    1 Corinthians 7:39b NKJV

    Once again, from the KJV, Paul's fatherly Apostolic opinion:

    40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

    NEXT: a Corinthian Culinary Conscience