David Miller wrote: >> Yet Paul continued to be a Pharisee. Judy wrote: > Not so ... after his conversion Paul was > no longer the Pharisee of the Pharisees > and one who persecuted the Church.
Check again, Judy. Paul certainly stopped persecuting the church, but many Pharisees believed on Christ (Nicodemus, etc.) and Paul was one of them. In Acts 23:6, Paul took a distinctly Pharisaical doctrine and expressed agreement with it, causing a schism with the Sadducees. In this he specifically says, "I AM A PHARISEE" not "I was a Pharisee." "But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." (Acts 23:6 KJV) Rumors abounded in Jerusalem that Paul forsook his Pharisaical traditions because he taught Gentiles not to observe them. The elders of the church in Jerusalem asked Paul to prove that he was still a Jew, still a Pharisee, and he obliged them and proved that he was by entering into the temple with a Nazarite vow to offer animal sacrifice according to the law. This ought to prove to everyone that Paul was still a Pharisee even though he believed upon Jesus Christ and preached the gospel unto others as a messenger of Jesus Christ. "And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them." (Acts 21:20-26 KJV) Judy wrote: > Paul spent up to 14yrs in the desert being > retrained and when he returned to Jerusalem > and checked his gospel with the other apostles > he stated that he had not been taught by flesh > and blood and his Pharisaical training would > have been given by flesh and blood ie: > "I certify you brethren that the gospel which was > preached of me IS NOT after man. For I neither > received it of man, neither was I taught it, but > by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11,12) Paul received the gospel by revelation, but he did not learn Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew by revelation, he did not learn to write by revelation, and he did not learn the Hebrew Scriptures and the writings of the Greeks by revelation. Paul studied and utilized his studies to help others. When Paul wrote the Scriptures, I do not believe that he used some kind of channeling technique like Joseph Smith did. He utilized his learning of the language to express that which the Holy Spirit put within his heart. I do not believe that it was some kind of automatic writing experience whereby some unseen force guides his hand across the paper and then when he looks, behold it was all legible and understandable. How do you think of it? Judy wrote: > Noone is saying it's a sin to study and learn. Good! I thought you would say this. It sure is nice to agree. :-) Judy wrote: > The sin is in some of the attitudes here. > It's a sin to allow the wrong kind of wisdom > to pre empt Christ and when he loses pre eminence > among those who claim to belong to Him - something > is very wrong. Hmmm. Is this coming from envy? How does Christ lose preeminence by our appreciation for how a brother in Christ expresses some bit of knowledge that he has? Judy wrote: > I have no philosophy - no system of thought people > spend hours and hours trying to interpret. Noone > listens to me on MP3, DVD, and tape player - what > would make you say such a thing? More envy here? It does not matter how many people follow you versus Polanyi (or whatever his name is). We are a small group here and I guarantee you that your words and your teaching have had far more prominence in this forum than Polanyi. Judy wrote: > Why am I not surprised to find myself among > the ignorant ones on your sliding scale DavidM. LOL. Judy, I did not yet list you among the ignorant, but I guess you force me to say something now. For the record, I consider you very intelligent, but both you and I are very ignorant of Polanyi. I hope to gain some knowledge of him. From the little bit I have heard so far, I think we might have some commonality in Christ. So, yes, I do consider you ignorant of Polanyi, but not anymore ignorant than I am. Maybe I can fix that in the time ahead, and also concerning Thomas Torrance (I have not forgotten Mr. Torrance). The Mediation of Christ is next on my reading list... book report to come soon. :-) Judy wrote: > I'm so glad that God does not choose the > wise and prudent.... he gives us all a > level playing field. Read the Word of God a little more closely. He did not choose the wise and prudent to be rich in faith. He did choose them to be rich in wisdom and knowledge! If we had to choose between wisdom / knowledge and faith, I would definitely choose faith. Nevertheless, I thank God that he did choose a few who are rich in knowledge also to be rich in faith. "... the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8 KJV) Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "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.
