David: The temple grounds were divided into four courts. There was the inner court, where only the priests could go (the temple proper). There was a court for Jewish men, a court for Jewish women, and a Gentile court, for those who were not born Jews but who wanted to worship the true God. The money changers were set up in the Gentile court, exchanging foriegn currency for local currency so that those making a trip from other countries could pay the temple tax. Since some of these people also came from great distances, they found it easier to purchase a lamb to sacrifice from local sources than say to drive one from Egypt. The money changers were in collusion with the priests, paying them for the use of the court and selling animals that the priests would find to be spotless when offered for sacrifice. If there were any Gentile Christians in the Jerusalem Church gathering, they would have had to meet in the Gentile court, as they would not qualify to enter the other courts.
We have a building with a roof and no walls on our land, as do many people around here. It is called a pole barn. A rectangle of poles, set eight to ten feet apart, with a metal roof, under which tractors and peanut wagons are parked. I meant what I said. If you think that would be rather interesting, drive through north Florida and south Georgia and you will see lots of them. Personally, I find them a little boring. The early Christians were bold because they were filled with the Spirit, but they were not suicidal. If they had tried to enter the inner court, they would have been killed by the temple guards, who were there to do exactly that to anyone but a priest who attempted to enter. This next is pure speculation on my part, and something to consider as a possibility, but certainly not verified. In Jerusalem, you paid a high price for becoming a Christian. In many cases people were rejected by their families, their friends, and their employers. You could become a Christian today, and have no home tomorrow. Additionally, many of these new Christians were slaves, and had no home to begin with. They needed a place to meet , to encourage one another, and to share Christ. If they had chosen to do it on the temple roof or at the town dump, I would still admire them. They met where they could. I am the wimp. I like to meet in a house. Let me know when you start your book. I will proof read it for you. :-) Terry ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 11:45 PM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] differences > Terry wrote: > > The Jerusalem Christians met on temple grounds, > > but never inside the temple. > > I'm not sure what you mean by "never inside the temple." Wasn't Jesus "in > the Temple" when he cast out the money changers? When the angel of the Lord > freed the apostles from prison, didn't he tell them to go speak "in the > temple" (Acts 5:20)? > > Terry wrote: > > As I understand it, they met in an area > > that had a roof but no walls. > > I think you mean "walls but no roof"? It would be rather interesting to see > a building with a roof but no walls, wouldn't it. :-) > > Yes, the bulk of the Temple were courts, meaning, walled areas without a > roof. I'm not sure what distinction this makes in your mind. It was still > a building that demarcated an area for religious worship. Jesus certainly > considered it as such when he cast out the money changers, and the New > Testament indicates that the early Christians used the Temple for this > purpose, to praise and worship God, to pray, and to read and teach God's > Word. One day, perhaps after I retire, I hope to write a book about the way > the first century Christians participated in the religious institutions of > their society and its implication for believers who meet in home churches > today. > > Terry wrote: > > I would assume that the Christians stayed away > > from the temple proper in order not to incur > > the wrath of the Priests and Pharisees. > > I think you underestimate the early Christians. They were not wimpy sissies > like so many Christians in our society. They went into the Temple and > preached, and yes, they did incur the wrath of priests and Pharisees. See > Acts 5, Luke 24:53, Acts 2:46, etc. Also see how they followed the example > of Jesus from John 7:28, Luke 21:37-38, Luke 22:53, Mat. 21:14-15. > > Terry wrote: > > As to synagogues, I was under the impression that > > they could only be such if they had ten Jewish men > > meeting, and it was the group, not the building, > > that bore the title in that time. > > Most of the apostles were Jewish men, and there were thousands upon > thousands of Jewish men who believed in the Lord. The term synagogue is > much like the word "church," which first has application to the assembly > (and still does), then comes to refer also to the place where the assembly > meets. We have excavated religious buildings that go back to the 3rd > century B.C. and believe that they existed even before that time. > > Terry wrote: > > The new KJV uses the word "assembly" rather > > than Synagogue > > The old KJV translates it as "assembly" also, but look at the Greek and you > will see that the word is synagogue. The synagogues were established > hundreds of years before Christ. > > Terry wrote: > > ... and that could well imply a group too large > > for our dining room, but I doubt that it was > > anything near what you find assembled in church > > buildings today, but I thank you for the input. > > How then do you explain thousands being added to the church when Peter > preached in the Temple? Many of these synagogues have been excavated and I > have visited them in Israel. They were very much like our church buildings > today, some of them with mikvahs (baptismal bathtubs). > > Terry wrote: > > We just aren't in total agreement on this one. > > Why not? Is it because Frank Viola wrote that the first church building > started with Constantine? Or is it because your view of first century > Christianity is one where believers huddled secretly in homes for fear of > persecution from unbelieving Jews? > > Peace be with you. > David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida USA > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. > ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
