Christians, Who are we? I want to discuss a little history, a little tradition, and some Greek. Christ started His ministry with a simple gospel. He spoke to the people about their salvation. But, what did He say? Mat 4:17 Repent For the Kingdom Of heaven is at hand. OR Change your mind come near for the power of God. This is an interesting study, It has it basis in the formation of the formal church (referring to the Church form 325 ad to 1350 ad from Constantine to the reformation), and the fact that the church wanted to control the masses, The development of the early Church combined ideas from many people and many sources. The only true commentary on Scripture is Scripture, Any understanding we have of a verse MUST agree with the rest of the Bible. That Holy Spirit was guiding Matthew when he wrote the gospel that is Christ as King, promised Son of David, the savior of Israel. The references in this passage are very Jewish. The Jews did not speak the name of God. They felt His name was to HOLY and they were not worthy, so at times they used the place where He dwells in place of his name. Thus we have Kingdom of Heaven, it is the same as Kingdom of God. Matthew recorded John the Baptist and Jesus using a play on words. He did not want to start out in this new message in a way that would offend or not be understood by his audience, and he spoke in Jewish terms. The Jewish People since Moses Looked for a King A Messiah to set up a kingdom and rule them in victory. You cannot just tell someone, “What you have always looked for is here and not at all what you thought”. They will shut you out and think you are a false prophet. Matthew used a play on words that said something very new, very different, but the Jews had to be taught to understand it. Let me put this the other way to I hope help you see my point. What if John and Jesus preached, “ Change the way you think and come near for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit”. I not only think they would not listen, they may have stoned them. They did not have the next 2000 years to look back on, the Gospel was brand new. Matthew spoke in Jewish terms to a Jewish audience and he made a play on what they knew to teach them more. The word translated kingdom is an abstract term and means the royal power of the king, it is very rare that the Greeks used it of Kingdom. (Alford GNT). If we did not have other NT references and 2000 years of discussion we might have to imply The material kingdom from this word. But, that is not what it means nor what Matthew was recording. If Jesus had taught “a Kingdom” we would only be subjects of that kingdom and not have the power of God unto salvation. A word for word translation of this verse is "change your mind and draw near for the royal power of heaven" or “the royal power of God”. Note in this verse the “draw near” is in reference to the one changing their mind not the “kingdom or power”. There is no grammatical reason the move the “draw near” to the kingdom of Heaven. Change your mind is “You” second person plural, Draw near “the ones changing” is third person plural. Power of God is the object of the preposition “for” and first person singular. "You change your mind the ones changing draw near for the royal power of God" We will look at why it was changed to "kingdom of heaven". There are lot of church practices that will come into question here and I pose the reformation of Luther and Calvin did not go far enough. When We are saved, we stop disobeying God and Yield to His position as Lord, we are indwelled by God the Holy Spirit. We are adopted into the family of God. We have the "Power Of Heaven". So why did the translators change the wording? The formations of the early Church blended ideas form sources new and ancient. The leaders of the Church took ever increasing positions of power. When Constantine made Christianity legal and called the Nicene council. He recognized the Clergy's position of representing the masses in religious matters. (This may be the most important outcome of the council.) Over time the clergy usurped authority of the individual Christians. Eventually including the "Priesthood of the believer" and the ability to go to God directly. If only the clergy were "priest" only the priest could approach the throne of God. For over 1000 years the Church would not allow the masses outside the clergy to have or read the scriptures, having the scriptures was punishable by death, only the clergy could tell people what the bible said then only in agreement with the dogma and theology of the Church; Any group that questioned or taught other than the Church Dogma and Theology were excommunicated and called heretics. Over so many years the ideas just became accepted. "The Church" was the Kingdom of Heaven guided and ruled by the clergy. The masses were to be Shepherded by the clergy and guided to heaven. The clergy usurped "salvation by grace" and made salvation by belief and the sacraments taken at the hand of the priest. There was the kingdom, its rulers, and the common man. It sounds like some of the ideas which were on the surface condemned were in some parts included in the Church teachings. The Church clearly adopted a position that there were elect having greater knowledge and higher understanding, this Gnostic idea is not the only one that was to be included in the development of the church. The clergy were exposed to many ideas and they adapted or adopted many of them for their use in controlling the masses. Total depravity is one of these Gnostic ideas, If I can teach people are too sinful to know god without the church I can control the masses, they need the church to get to heaven. Wycliffe and Tyndale just quoted church dogma and translated the verse the way the church taught it for a thousand years, but, is that what the verse says? Mat 4:17 απο τοτε ηρξατο ο ιησους κηρυσσειν from then began Jesus to herald και λεγειν μετανοειτε ηγγικεν and say think differently come near γαρ η βασιλεία των ουρανων for the royal power of heaven βασιλεία basileia Thayer Definition: 1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule 1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom 1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah 1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom The royal power of heaven is the power of the King of Kings, God's authority to rule over eternity. When changed by grace, children of God, we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ. He is the King there is only one King, Yet as heirs we have the power (βασιλεία) of God. When Christ said Mat 16:28 Truly I say to you, There are some standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. The word βασιλεία is used that is "Coming in His Royal Power." The ones saved by Grace and obeying Christ Lordship share and have that power. This is not some distant eventual result it is a present possession. How do you tell someone "you are a child of the king, heir to the throne of God, member of the heavenly family, Priest under the High Priest Jesus Christ. You may go directly to the Fathers side with your petitions." Then tell them, “I am in charge and will tell you what you need to know and do for the church. I will tell you what the scripture says and how to live.” The failure to teach the truth about the Adoption of Sons and Priesthood of the believer is a choice of the leaders in the church to control people and the same grasp for power that lead to both the Reformation and the Enlightenment. The twenty first century Christian needs some first century Living Reality of Christian Life. Mr. Wesley was accused of ”experiential theology”, the educated of the day made fun of him basing any part of his “theology” on having lived it. Yet the only way to know it is to live in Christ. The problem in the Church today is “we are so busy we fail to stop to worship, pray, or just be still and let Him speak to us.” To know Him is to understand His word. To know Him is to hear Him speak. If you have studied scripture long I am sure you have read a familiar passage only to have some new truth pour over your soul and thrill you with God’s meaning. This is God speaking to you through scripture. But, we have to listen, be quiet and listen. Steven Randall Eubanks , δουλος
Christians, Who are we? I want to discuss a little history, a little tradition, and some Greek. Christ started His ministry with a simple gospel. He spoke to the people about their salvation. But, what did He say? Mat 4:17 Repent For the Kingdom Of heaven is at hand. OR Change your mind come near for the power of God. This is an interesting study, It has it basis in the formation of the formal church (referring to the Church form 325 ad to 1350 ad from Constantine to the reformation), and the fact that the church wanted to control the masses, The development of the early Church combined ideas from many people and many sources. The only true commentary on Scripture is Scripture, Any understanding we have of a verse MUST agree with the rest of the Bible. That Holy Spirit was guiding Matthew when he wrote the gospel that is Christ as King, promised Son of David, the savior of Israel. The references in this passage are very Jewish. The Jews did not speak the name of God. They felt His name was to HOLY and they were not worthy, so at times they used the place where He dwells in place of his name. Thus we have Kingdom of Heaven, it is the same as Kingdom of God. Matthew recorded John the Baptist and Jesus using a play on words. He did not want to start out in this new message in a way that would offend or not be understood by his audience, and he spoke in Jewish terms. The Jewish People since Moses Looked for a King A Messiah to set up a kingdom and rule them in victory. You cannot just tell someone, “What you have always looked for is here and not at all what you thought”. They will shut you out and think you are a false prophet. Matthew used a play on words that said something very new, very different, but the Jews had to be taught to understand it. Let me put this the other way to I hope help you see my point. What if John and Jesus preached, “ Change the way you think and come near for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit”. I not only think they would not listen, they may have stoned them. They did not have the next 2000 years to look back on, the Gospel was brand new. Matthew spoke in Jewish terms to a Jewish audience and he made a play on what they knew to teach them more. The word translated kingdom is an abstract term and means the royal power of the king, it is very rare that the Greeks used it of Kingdom. (Alford GNT). If we did not have other NT references and 2000 years of discussion we might have to imply The material kingdom from this word. But, that is not what it means nor what Matthew was recording. If Jesus had taught “a Kingdom” we would only be subjects of that kingdom and not have the power of God unto salvation. A word for word translation of this verse is "change your mind and draw near for the royal power of heaven" or “the royal power of God”. Note in this verse the “draw near” is in reference to the one changing their mind not the “kingdom or power”. There is no grammatical reason the move the “draw near” to the kingdom of Heaven. Change your mind is “You” second person plural, Draw near “the ones changing” is third person plural. Power of God is the object of the preposition “for” and first person singular. "You change your mind the ones changing draw near for the royal power of God" We will look at why it was changed to "kingdom of heaven". There are lot of church practices that will come into question here and I pose the reformation of Luther and Calvin did not go far enough. When We are saved, we stop disobeying God and Yield to His position as Lord, we are indwelled by God the Holy Spirit. We are adopted into the family of God. We have the "Power Of Heaven". So why did the translators change the wording? The formations of the early Church blended ideas form sources new and ancient. The leaders of the Church took ever increasing positions of power. When Constantine made Christianity legal and called the Nicene council. He recognized the Clergy's position of representing the masses in religious matters. (This may be the most important outcome of the council.) Over time the clergy usurped authority of the individual Christians. Eventually including the "Priesthood of the believer" and the ability to go to God directly. If only the clergy were "priest" only the priest could approach the throne of God. For over 1000 years the Church would not allow the masses outside the clergy to have or read the scriptures, having the scriptures was punishable by death, only the clergy could tell people what the bible said then only in agreement with the dogma and theology of the Church; Any group that questioned or taught other than the Church Dogma and Theology were excommunicated and called heretics. Over so many years the ideas just became accepted. "The Church" was the Kingdom of Heaven guided and ruled by the clergy. The masses were to be Shepherded by the clergy and guided to heaven. The clergy usurped "salvation by grace" and made salvation by belief and the sacraments taken at the hand of the priest. There was the kingdom, its rulers, and the common man. It sounds like some of the ideas which were on the surface condemned were in some parts included in the Church teachings. The Church clearly adopted a position that there were elect having greater knowledge and higher understanding, this Gnostic idea is not the only one that was to be included in the development of the church. The clergy were exposed to many ideas and they adapted or adopted many of them for their use in controlling the masses. Total depravity is one of these Gnostic ideas, If I can teach people are too sinful to know god without the church I can control the masses, they need the church to get to heaven. Wycliffe and Tyndale just quoted church dogma and translated the verse the way the church taught it for a thousand years, but, is that what the verse says? Mat 4:17 απο τοτε ηρξατο ο ιησους κηρυσσειν from then began Jesus to herald και λεγειν μετανοειτε ηγγικεν and say think differently come near γαρ η βασιλεία των ουρανων for the royal power of heaven βασιλεία basileia Thayer Definition: 1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule 1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom 1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah 1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom The royal power of heaven is the power of the King of Kings, God's authority to rule over eternity. When changed by grace, children of God, we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ. He is the King there is only one King, Yet as heirs we have the power (βασιλεία) of God. When Christ said Mat 16:28 Truly I say to you, There are some standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. The word βασιλεία is used that is "Coming in His Royal Power." The ones saved by Grace and obeying Christ Lordship share and have that power. This is not some distant eventual result it is a present possession. How do you tell someone "you are a child of the king, heir to the throne of God, member of the heavenly family, Priest under the High Priest Jesus Christ. You may go directly to the Fathers side with your petitions." Then tell them, “I am in charge and will tell you what you need to know and do for the church. I will tell you what the scripture says and how to live.” The failure to teach the truth about the Adoption of Sons and Priesthood of the believer is a choice of the leaders in the church to control people and the same grasp for power that lead to both the Reformation and the Enlightenment. The twenty first century Christian needs some first century Living Reality of Christian Life. Mr. Wesley was accused of ”experiential theology”, the educated of the day made fun of him basing any part of his “theology” on having lived it. Yet the only way to know it is to live in Christ. The problem in the Church today is “we are so busy we fail to stop to worship, pray, or just be still and let Him speak to us.” To know Him is to understand His word. To know Him is to hear Him speak. If you have studied scripture long I am sure you have read a familiar passage only to have some new truth pour over your soul and thrill you with God’s meaning. This is God speaking to you through scripture. But, we have to listen, be quiet and listen. Steven Randall Eubanks , δουλος