Back to Basics I

I think I want to get back to some basics of my faith. And one from a long time ago, one which stuck with me, always in the back of my mind, throughout those years when I pretended it wasn't true.

What is that one? It is that dead people are dead. No, they're not alive in some other form in some other realm, but dead. Dead. Truly and actually dead.

Here's how this knowledge came to me. It's from another blog entry I posted a few years ago.

Dead People Are Dead

There are numerous scriptures referring to the resurrection of the dead. There's even a complete chapter, I Cor. 15. If people went to heaven when they died, why isn't there a going to heaven chapter?

Once I accepted this as absolute truth, other things, other Bible truths, became coming clear to me. One by one believed misconceptions have disappeared. But I believe this came first, and likely had to come first.

More About Synagogues and the First Century Church Congregations

The entry from last week showed how the structure of the first century Christian congregations were based upon the synagogues of the Jews. There's one more way in which they were similar I want to go into.

First, Jesus is never recorded speaking against the synagogue system in general. Synagogues were a phenomenom which came into being between testaments, during the Babylonian captivity, after the destruction of the first temple. It appears fully developed in the gospels. However, he did comment on the hypocrisy of some of those who ran them, that is, Pharisees and scribes. Since Pharisees generally were over synagogues as the Sadduccees were the temple. For instance:

Luke 12:1
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
KJV

Matt 23:1-3
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
KJV
(A prominent seat in each synagogue, occupied by a "ruler," was referred to as "Moses' seat.")

Matt 23:15
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
KJV

In fact, Jesus' custom was to attend regularly.

Mark 1:21
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
KJV

Luke 4:16
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
KJV

John 18:19-21
19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
KJV

And Paul was pretty much the same. Paul's sermon in one of my favorite chapters, Acts 13, took place in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia. Here it is, the entire passage. Partly because I believe he has put the entire Gospel into a very concise form. Then, the verse in Acts 18 is during a long stay in Corinth.

Acts 13:14-42
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

30 But God raised him from the dead:

31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
KJV

Acts 18:4
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
KJV

And, to reiterate, the structure of the early church modeled the synagogue.

So, what's my primary point today? The individual synagogues were autonomous. Each was independent. And, so, do doubt the churches were too.

This interests me very much because I spent over twenty years in a top-down, hierarchical structure church which they claimed to be "God's government." Really? That evidently wasn't the case in the first century church.

No, the Worldwide Church of God, of which I was a member, ridiculed the Baptists for not following "God's government." Little did they really know.

Since then I've heard from multiple unrelated sources that top-down, hierarchical government was the "doctrine of the Nicolaitans" that Jesus hated. True? I don't know. But I am convinced that it's wrong.

Functions in the Early Church and the Synagogue

As the body of believers was entirely Jewish for about the first ten years (until the conversion of Cornelius), there was no immediate split from the synagogue. And when Christian congregations were later formed, their organization was quite similar to that of the synagogue. Indeed, both were patterned after the same plan. The correlating of the primary functions of each shows this.

What I have here comes in large part from three courses taught by Dr. Ron Moseley. The functions of the early church are taken from Paul’s writing. Much is known of the synagogue, primarily, I imagine, from the Talmud.
　
Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pastors

I Cor 12:28-30
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
KJV

Eph 4:11-12
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
KJV

Apostle = Shaliach. The Shaliach was the public announcer, the one sent forth to announce. As Pharisees ran the synagogues, by and large, and Pharisees were Judaism’s proselytizing sect, these men would be sent out by the synagogue for a specific purpose and were to report back. Paul and Barnabus’s relationship with the Antioch church would fit right in.

Evangelist = Maggid. The Maggid was an individual who operated within the framework of the synagogue, but outside the local congregation. The word itself means "to tell", and he would travel from place to place speaking in the various synagogues. He was not tied to any congregation by office or position. Perhaps in Romans 15 Paul was commenting on the difference between Apostle and Evangelist.
　
Rom 15:20
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
KJV
　
Prophet = Rabbi (or Roz). This was not the foretelling prophet of the Old Testament, but one who merely read and spoke the Word of God. His responsibility was to know the scriptures (and since they were generally Pharisees, the so-called Oral Law as well) and interpret them correctly. The Rabbi may have operated within several synagogues.

Teachers = Batlanim. These were men who had to have the financial means to devote a great deal of time to study. Any congregation with 120 members or more was expected to have at least ten of these.

Pastor. This word means "shepherd." Pastor has become a blend of various functions. More on this later.
　
Elders, Bishops, and Deacons

Titus 1:5-9
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
KJV

1 Tim 3:1-3
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
KJV

1 Tim 3:8-13
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
KJV

Elder = Zakin. The word means "old," but refers not just to age but to maturity. The elder’s role was to "feed the flock," by example, though, not by exercising authority. Originally Pastor and Elder were synonymous.

Bishop = Chazan. Apparently, considering the wording in Titus 1, Bishop and Elder were also synonymous at first. (Though, maybe not.) But the Greek word for Bishop actually means "overseer," and that’s the way it’s been commonly used for quite a while. But the synagogue had an overseer, the Chazan. He was called the overseer because he stood beside the one reading and oversaw things. As well, one of his duties was to select the seven men to read during the service.

Deacon = Parnas (or Gabbay Tzedikah). These men were responsible for distributing alms within the congregation as well as performing other duties that we associate with deacons.

They were expected to be scholars, able to explain questions about the Torah.
　
Presidents, Rulers, and Other Leaders

President = Nasi (or, perhaps, Hanasi). This was an office in the first century synagogue that is not specifically mentioned in the New Testament. This man was the head of the synagogue and was in full charge of the services. He was generally not a Rabbi, but, most likely, a skilled administrator. Today, in the church, this position would be called Pastor. However, as late as 150 AD, the head of a Christian congregation was still referred to as President by Justin Martyr. James, the brother of Jesus, was the Nasi or President of the Jerusalem congregation. After he was martyred, Simon, son of Cleophas and a cousin of Jesus, succeeded him.

Judges.

In synagogues the Nasi and two other trusted leaders were ordained to judge civil matters. (Stripes were one possible judgment these men were able to order. And when they did, the actual scourging was carried out by one called the Nassan,) Did the congregation in Corinth have something like set up that was being ignored?

1 Cor 6:1-6
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
KJV

Rulers. These same three men were most likely the ones referred to as the "rulers" of the synagogue in the New Testament. Jairus was one. In Acts 18 Crispus and Sosthenes were each identified as "the chief ruler" of their respective synagogues. No doubt each .was the Nasi.

Luke 8:41-42
And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
KJV
　
Mark 5:22
22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
KJV

Acts 18:8
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
KJV

Acts 18:17
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
KJV

Acts 13:15
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
KJV

Interpreters = Maturzanim. These would stand near the speaker during the readings to translate for those present who did not speak Hebrew. They were available to translate literature, history, and anything considered to be to the wellbeing of the congregation.

1 Cor 14:27-28
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
KJV

Song Leader = Cantor. Actually the Cantor had more responsibilities, but was always in charge of the music. And churches have almost always had assigned song leaders.

"Let the Bible Interpret the Bible"

"Let the Bible interpret the Bible." During my years in the Worldwide Church of God I heard this often both from Pastor General and self-appointed apostle Herbert W. Armstrong and his minions in the ministry. While Armstrong, a master manipulator, could well have been using the expression to further his own ends, it does make sense.

However, care is needed. I heard this that follows very recently in this manner. The scripture first, though.

Gen 6:1-3, 4-5
6 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
KJV

This can be a difficult scripture to understand. The TV preacher I heard, in letting the Bible interpret the Bible, said the answer was in Job 1, as follows:

Job 1:6
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
KJV

Thus, the preacher said, Job 1 was obviously speaking of angels and it follows that the same wording in Genesis 6 has to be referring to angels as well. And the Bible interpreted the Bible. Or did it?

After all Jesus, speaking to the Sadducees of the resurrection, said plainly that angels didn't marry.

Matt 22:29-30
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
KJV

Indeed, Job 1 was refering to angels. But was Genesis? Mostly it's Christians who have a lot of trouble with this passage. Jews understand that "sons of God" here refer to the male descendants of Seth, while "daughters of men," to the female descendants of Cain. Seth is the Godly line, Cain the ungodly. Remember the story of Solomon, how he was drawn into idolatry by the pagan women in his life. Perhaps an unbelieving wife is more likely to pull away a believing husband than an unbelieving husband is a believing wife. Anyway, verse five shows the result.

So, the very same wording can have more than one meaning. In this case a non-Biblical understanding clears up the problem where trying to force a particular meaning from the Bible doesn't.

Here's another example. Jesus often referred to himself as the "Son of man," something God called the prophet Ezekiel over and over. Daniel wrote of a vision he'd had this way:

Dan 7:13-14
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
KJV

This messianic figure is "like the Son of man." Jesus or Ezekiel? Christians have no trouble with this one. But, again, two meanings for the same phrase.

And now we come to the verse that got me thinking along these lines this morning. What is the meaning of the "wrath to come?"

1 Thess 1:10
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
KJV

As my wife and I were discussing some things in I Thessalonians this morning, my first thought in reading this verse was "wrath to come" means the lake of fire, the second death. But to those who believe in a pre-trib rapture, it apparently means the great tribulation. My wife told me this is what the Ryrie Study Bible says about it; it means the "judgment to come." Indeed, the NIV Study Bible allows both. "Some see a reference here to the final judgment, while others think it refers to a period of future tribulation."

The only other places in the New Testament "wrath to come" appears occur in Matthew 3 and Luke 3. These are two reportings of the same event. John is baptizing in the Jordan River.

Matt 3:4-8
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
KJV

Luke 3:3-7
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
KJV

So, what did John mean by "wrath to come?" Luke merely says he spoke these words to the multitude who came out from Jerusalem, but Matthew is more specific. It's the Pharisees and the Sadducees whom he calls "a generation of vipers" trying to escape the wrath to come. While the Pharisees believed in a resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees believed in no afterlife whatsoever. One was judged, rewarded or punished by God in this life alone. That was, to them, all there was. What "wrath to come," then, were the Sadducees fleeing? Even though they would apply it only to this life, they feared the wrath of God. John the Baptist, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were all thinking God's wrath. John, though, spells it out:

Matt 3:10-12
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
KJV

Luke 3:9-18
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
KJV

John knew. Two groups of people, figuratively spoken of as "wheat" and "chaff", baptized either with the Holy Spirit(wheat) or fire(chaff), "Fire unquenchable" he says. Final judgment and fire for the chaff, but the wheat have a completely different future. They are delivered from that.

It seems then that "wrath to come" in I Thes 1:10, Mat3:7 and Luke 3:7 are all referring to the same event. There doesn't seem to be need of taking this any further. I'd say the Bible has interpreted the Bible.