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Topic: THE CHURCH THAT PAUL PERSECUTED
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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posted
Paul explained different spiritual gifts in terms of members of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NASB)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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The original post states:
quote:
Saul of Tarsus persecuted the church of Matthew 16:18--Messiah's "Little Flock" (Luke 12:32)--and those "added" to that church in early Acts (Acts 2:47; 5:11; 8:1,3)
"The Little Flock," were those belonging to the nation of Israel to whom the kingdom was given because they believed in Jesus as their Messiah.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
"The Body of Christ" was an expression explicitly used by the Apostle Paul, and included both Jew and Gentile believers.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
It was "The Little Flock" that Saul persecuted. Today all Christians are said to be the Body of Christ.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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becauseHElives
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Member # 87
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Eden ![[thumbsup2]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif) quote:
The premise of this article is a bit silly. At Pentecost, the first members of the "the church, the body of Christ" were born; thereafter the church, the body of Christ, simply increased its members. It never once ceased to be "the church, the body of Christ".
The only thing that can be said about Paul persecuting the church is that Paul persecuted the first part of the church, before Paul was saved. But to say that Paul somehow did not persecute "the church, the body of Christ (Eph.1:22,23)" is meaningless. The church that Paul persecuted never changed; only Paul changed.
I totally agree Eden....
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Eden
unregistered
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posted
The article by Russell S. Miller, as posted by WildB, said quote:
Some are teaching that Paul persecuted "the Church, which is the Body of Christ" (Eph.1:22,23).
The premise of this article is a bit silly. At Pentecost, the first members of "the church, the body of Christ" were born; thereafter the church, the body of Christ, simply increased its members. It never once ceased to be "the church, the body of Christ".
The only thing that can be said about Paul persecuting the church is that Paul persecuted the first part of the church, before Paul was saved. But to say that Paul somehow did not persecute "the church, the body of Christ (Eph.1:22,23)" is meaningless. The church that Paul persecuted never changed; only Paul changed.
love, Eden
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Brother Paul
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Member # 7959
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posted
Please pardon the spelling errors, my mother board tok a fry dive and I am using a Netbook which is really tiny.
Brother Paul
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Brother Paul
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Member # 7959
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Yes, the original Church that Christ built...if there was ever a mother Church, this was it! Does anyone know the original Church for the first two hundred years never heard of Easter and only practiced the Pascha? 200 years!!! What happened? Hoe did we vary from what Chrsdit commanded and the Apostles taught and passed on?
Hmmm!
Brother Paul
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
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posted
by Russell S. Miller
"For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
"And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers" (Galatians 1:13,14).
"And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
"But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
"And they glorified God in me" (Galatians 1:22-24).
These are the words of the Apostle Paul concerning his former lifestyle in the religion of the Jews. However there is much that is misunderstood these days concerning "the church of God" that Paul persecuted. Some are teaching that Paul persecuted "the Church, which is the Body of Christ" (Eph.1:22,23).
The word "church" simply means a "called-out assembly," not the local building in which many attend Sunday services. God has always had His "called-out ones", His saints. In Acts 7:38, for instances, there is "the church in the wilderness" that great congregation that Moses lead out of Egypt. The "church" of Matthew 16:18 refers to His prophesied "congregation" (Psa.22:22). However, the Greek word for church--"ekklesia"--is translated "assembly" in Acts 19:32,39,41 and refers to those who worship idols. So, just because "church" appears in our Bibles it does not mean that it is the "Body of Christ."
If we say that "the Body of Christ" was not in existence until Paul's conversion, then which "church" did he persecute? The solution to this is found in Paul's epistles.
Colossians 1:24,25 states that Paul was "made a minister" of the Church, which is "the Body of Christ." He surely did not persecute members of this Church. Paul ministered God's love and grace and peace to these saints. This is the Church which, historically, began when God, in grace, saved Saul, "the chief of sinners," on the road to Damascus and made him its charter member (ITim.1:13-16).
Saul of Tarsus persecuted the church of Matthew 16:18--Messiah's "Little Flock" (Luke 12:32)--and those "added" to that church in early Acts (Acts 2:47; 5:11; 8:1,3). It was this Pentecostal church, these are the believers that Paul refers to in Acts 22:19,20:
"And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee:
"And when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him."
And Luke adds these words: "At that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem" and "the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen..." (Acts 7:58; 8:1). This Messianic Church is the church that Paul had persecuted.
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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