Evidence of an early proto-church?

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I’m been giving some thought to the subject of ‘undesigned coincidences’ in the Bible.  One of the pioneers of this field of exploration was J.J. Blunt, in his book Undesigned Coincidences in the Writings both of the Old and New Testaments. (published 1847; enlarged edition 1869)

Blunt presented evidence that suggested to him the possibility of a gathered people of God before the time of Moses.

Calum Miller summarises:-

Suggestion that there was an early proto-church [Blunt calls it a ‘Patriarchal church’] despite this never being mentioned:

a.…

Discussion Starters, Acts 9:1-19a

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(a) Many of us tend to view our own conversion to Christ in contrast to Paul’s: ‘Of course,’ we say, ‘I never had a Damascus Road experience.’ What aspects of Paul’s experience as recorded here are unusual, and what aspects would be true of any genuine conversion to Christ?

(b) In the light of what you know about Paul generally from the New Testament, what would you say he was converted from, and converted to? And what would you say about yourself in this regard?…

‘A better story’ – 17

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And so to the final chapter of this excellent book outlining a Christian response to the sexual revolution.

Too often, the Christian response to the sexual revolution has been harsh and uncaring.  We need, writes Glynn Harrison, better storytellers to tell our great story.

Listen to those who differ from you.  It is folly to answer before we have listened (Proverbs 18:13).  Criticising from a distance feels safe.  spending time in the company of those we may disagree with can feel uncomfortable. …

‘A better story’ – 16

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Let’s begin by acknowledging that the better story that Christians tell will not be welcomed in public square.  No matter how sensitively well tell our story, many will be offended by it.  But we cannot remain silent.

Our story begins with the hall-marks of the sexual revolution: radical individualism, a redemptive trajectory and a moral vision.  Our story must connect with these distinctives.  We need to show how the individual thrives when we safeguard the many, and how our narrative engages with concerns about equality, justice and freedom from oppression.…

‘A better story’ – 15

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To flourish is ‘to realize the full potential of what it means to be created and redeemed in the image of God.’  It is to follow our Creator in being creative.  It is to make more of the world in which he has placed us.

There is also a relational element to human flourishing.  Because relationship is central to God’s being as Trinity, love belongs to his very nature.  And, as God image-bearers, we ourselves are incomplete without God and without one another. …

‘A better story’ – 14

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C.S. Lewis invited us to consider that our appreciation of everyday objects of desire bring ‘news from a far country’.  They bid us come and behold that great reality of which they are faint reflections.

Indeed, writes Glynn Harrison, the gospel rescues all our desires – including sexual desire.  Our worship should include all legitimate expressions of love – and not just platonic love and agape love.

Sexual love teaches us about the intensity of divine love.…

A note on ‘aion’ in the LXX

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Does the Greek root ‘aion*’ always entail infinite duration?

One relevant set of evidence is provided by Douglas Jacoby, who notes that in not a few instances, the Greek aion* is used in the Septuagint in ways in which ‘everlasting’ (i.e. infinite duration) cannot be the meaning:-

  • Genesis 6:4—“Men of old” (giants/ungodly persons/fallen ones/sons of Cain) did not live infinitely
  • Jeremiah 25:12—Destruction of Babylon (though not literally destroyed)
  • Genesis 9:12—Perpetual generations
  • Exodus 21:6—The man or woman would become one’s servant “forever” (!)
…

‘A better story’ – 13

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Compared with the sensuous and graphic promises of Islam, the biblical vision of heaven seems positively chaste.  See, for example, Matthew 22:30.  But there is, perhaps, more to be said.

Sex as both a picture and a taster of divine love.  Although people will not marry each other in heaven, marriage itself will be by no means absent: there will be the one marriage between Christ and his church.  And this picture of heaven, although not the only one, is remarkable deep and powerful. …

‘A better story’ – 12

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Our ‘better story’ for sex and marriage begins as we are welcomed into God’s reality.

Five truths underpin this.

1. God has spoken.  We no longer have to strive to construct our our ‘reality’.  God has spoken in his Son and in his Scriptures.

2. We are God’s creatures.  This is his reality, not ours.  Our nature and purpose need to be understood in the light of our creaturely dependence on him.

3. We flourish when we work with the grain of God’s reality. …

‘I believe in me’ – the gospel of expressive individualism

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‘Just be yourself’
‘Follow your heart’
‘Learn to love yourself’
‘I am strong, I am beautiful, I am me.’

Slogans such as these – which can be found in countless magazines, pop songs, movies and web sites – reflect a certain kind of individualism that has become today’s dominant creed.

One of the most blatant examples is found in this article from the BBC web site, entitled, ‘How to make 2019 the year you learn to love yourself.’ …