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Author
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Topic: "THE APOSTLE OF THE NATIONS"
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scythewieldor
unregistered
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posted
Dear WildB,
This is very good stuff. I, especially, appreciated the point Paul made about "CHRIST SPEAKING IN ME."
This means that Christ, not Paul, came up with the decree that all should make it their ambition to work with their hands producing good works for necessary uses following Paul's example as a self-supporting tent maker rather than a congregationally supported word arranger.
Supporting one's self does not preclude, also, partaking of the offering of material support from those who partake of the spiritual provision made by good teachers of the words of Jesus. Sharing with the teachers remains as a means of "sowing to the Spirit".
Since Jesus Christ NEVER changes, our obedience to the decrees delivered by Paul, whether in personal oratory to those of his day or by epistle to us, remain the measure of our love for Jesus.
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WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
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posted
by Cornelius R. Stam
Not Matthew, Mark, or Luke; nor Peter, James, or John, but Paul alone wrote Romans 11:13 by divine inspiration:
"FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES [or OF THE NATIONS] INASMUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES [NATIONS]: I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE" (Rom.11:13).
Note well that Paul did not magnify himself, but his office, to which he had been appointed by the glorified Lord Himself. In defending his apostleship before the Galatians he wrote:
"But 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" (Gal. 1:11,12).
In many other passages the apostle claims to speak as a direct representative of Christ (See I Corinthians 11:23; 15:3; Ephesians 3:2,3; I Thessalonians 4:15; etc.).
To Timothy, Paul wrote concerning his own writings: "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing..." (ITim. 6:3,4). This could not indicate more emphatically Paul's claim that his words were "the words of the Lord Jesus Christ", received from Him by direct revelation.
To the Corinthians, who questioned this, the Apostle wrote:
"...IF I COME AGAIN I WILL NOT SPARE, SINCE YE SEEK A PROOF OF CHRIST SPEAKING IN ME" (IICor.13:2,3).
The proof of this claim? This was overwhelming indeed, for Paul was used more than any other apostle to found churches and lead men into the knowledge and joy of salvation. To the believers at Corinth he wrote what he could have written to many thousands of others: "The seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord" (ICor.9:2).
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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