His post in red, my refute in green. --Eli "Hoss" Caldwell
Questions:
1.) Was the "gospel of God" that Paul preached equivalent to the Mystery hid from ages and generations?
HOSS: No, they were different. The gospel of God is this: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (Romans 1:1-4) The gospel is not a mystery, we find it in the OT. (like Isaiah 53, Ps. 22, etc.)
(Paul says that he preached the gospel of God to the Corinthians freely 2Cor. 11:7, to the Thessalonians with much contention 1Th.2:2 and that he ministered the gospel of God to make the Gentiles acceptable to God Rom 15:16, indeed he was separated unto this gospel Rom. 1:1.)
HOSS: True.
ANSWER: NO, it was based on the OT scriptures.
HOSS: That's what I just said.
PROOF: ROM.1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,). This is NO MYSTERY HID IN GOD -- QUITE THE REVERSE!
HOSS: Agreed.
2.) Was the hope Paul preached to the Gentiles in the Acts period something new and outside the prophets?
HOSS: YES!!!!!
1 Corinthians 15:
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
[57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
This hope was a "mystery.....by the word of the Lord". It is never found in the OT.
ANSWER: NO, The hope presented was declared by Isaiah
PROOF: Rom. 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
13 ¶ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
HOSS: Ummmmm......was that suppose to prove something? That is not the hope of the Acts believers. There hope was a mystery by the word of the Lord. They were to bare the image of the heavenly and have Christ-like bodies.....they were not going to go into the millineum with an earthly hope and have to eat of the tree (1 Cor. 15, 2 Cor. 5).
3.) Is the mystery of Rom.16:25 the same as that of Col. 1:26?
HOSS:
THE MYSTERY OF EPHESIANS/Colossinas: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.....For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.......This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Gentiles "fellowheirs", Acts 26:17-20
Gentiles "of the same body" 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:27-28
Gentiles "partakers of his promise in Christ" Galatians 3:7-29
Gentiles "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, 10:17, 12:12-27
"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," (Romans 16:25)
Also note that Paul says that the mystery of the gospel (Eph. 3:1-9) is why he is in bonds in the prison epistles.
Ephesians 6:
[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
[20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
[20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Paul was put in bonds in Acts 22, how could he be in bonds for a mystery that was not yet revealed to him as the Acts 28 position suggests?
ANSWER: NO
PROOF: Compare Col. 1:25-27 and Eph. 3:9 with Rom. 16:25-26
Col. 1:25 (AV) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
25 (TR) ης εγενομην εγω διακονος κατα την οικονομιαν του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι εις υμας πληρωσαι τον λογον του θεου
26 (AV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
26 (TR) το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου
27 (AV) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
27 (TR) οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τις ο πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης
Eph. 3:9 (AV) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
9 (TR) και φωτισαι παντας τις η κοινωνια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου
Rom. 16:25 ¶ (AV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
25 (TR) τω δε δυναμενω υμας στηριξαι κατα το ευαγγελιον μου και το κηρυγμα ιησου χριστου κατα αποκαλυψιν μυστηριου χρονοις αιωνιοις σεσιγημενου
26 (AV) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
26 (TR) φανερωθεντος δε νυν δια τε γραφων προφητικων κατ επιταγην του αιωνιου θεου εις υπακοην πιστεως εις παντα τα εθνη γνωρισθεντος
Note the following: Colossians and Ephesians are "prison epistles", Romans is NOT!
HOSS: What did you prove?
4.) Did Paul preach the new covenant in the Acts period?
HOSS: He taught the New Testament. There is a difference between a covenant and a testament (KJB).
Dr. Dave Reese states,
"1. A testament requires both death and blood. A covenant requires neither one.
Both New Testament and Old Testament had blood and death as the basis of the
Testaments.
"How much more shall the blood of Christ..." "For this cause he is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death..." (Hebrews 9:14-
15).
"For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no
strength at all while the testator liveth." (Hebrews 9:17)
"Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood."
(Hebrews 9:18). Covenants do not require blood or death to place them in force. The Noahic
Covenant was established with Noah, and rather than blood, a rainbow was the
token or guarantee of the covenant's continual force.
"And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the
bow shall be seen in the cloud:
And I will remember my covenant..." (Genesis 9:14-15).
"And in that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the
field..." (Hosea 2:18).
Here God promises Israel a future day in the land (the kingdom) when the name
of Baalim will be taken out of their mouth and they will be "betrothed" to Him in
righteousness. God will make a covenant with even the beasts of the field to do
Israel no harm.
"I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shall know the
Lord." (Hosea 2:20).
2. A testament is made by one party. A covenant requires two or more parties.
A testament is not "made with" another. It is not an "agreement between" two
parties. A testament is "His testament." It is not a testament "with" any person or
group such as the Abrahamic, Noahic, Davidic, or New Covenants. There is no
such thing as "Israel's Testament" or the "Church's Testament."
"...the ark of his testament." (Revelation 11:19).
"...the testament which God hath enjoined unto you." (Hebrews 9:20).
"...he is the mediator of the new testament." (Hebrews 9:15).
Since a testament is an action solely by the Godhead, there are no other people
required to make it effective.
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3. A testament has no interaction of parties stated to effect its existence. A
covenant always requires interaction of parties for it to exist.
Covenants require an interaction between the two parties. Abraham did leave his
father's house as he was told in Genesis 11. Had he not, there could have been
no Abrahamic Covenant.
"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country...So Abram
departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him..." (Genesis 12:1-3)
"And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Si'chem, unto the
plain of Mo'reh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this
land." (Genesis 12:6-7).
The testaments were determined by God in heaven, not between man and God
on earth.
"Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will O God. He taketh away the first, that
he may establish the second." (Hebrews 10:9).
4. A testament is never dependent upon a covenant. A covenant may receive the
benefit of a testament.
Israel receives covenants under both Testaments. Without the Old Testament
Israel could not have received a portion of the blessings under the Abrahamic
Covenant, for the testament provided a temporary forgiveness of sins. The same
is true of the Mosaic Covenant. Without the New Testament, the Davidic
Covenant and the New Covenant to Israel would not be possible to enjoy, since
the blood of bulls and goats can not take away (remit) sins. (Hebrews 10:4). Most
covenants impart blessings because of the forgiveness made available by the
Testaments. Neither one of the two Testaments are based upon, or dependent to
the covenants.
The body of Christ exists because of the New Testament. The body of Christ
does not have any covenant. No place in the word of God does it say the body of
Christ is under the New Covenant. The Book of Hebrews is exactly that--the
Book of Hebrews; it is not written to the body of Christ. When Hebrews 9:1 says,
"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service...," the
covenant is the Mosaic Covenant. It is the FIRST covenant made with the nation
of Israel. The Abrahamic Covenant was not made with a nation, it was made with
one man. Therefore, first covenant, when found in Hebrews, refers to the Mosaic
Covenant (the Law). The "new" is a reference to the New Covenant, not the New
Testament." --Dr. Dave Reese
ANSWER: YES
PROOF: Read 2Cor. 3:6, Jer 31:31 and Heb 8
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2Co 3:6 (TR) ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτεινει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει
Is the new covenant the same as the mystery?
ANSWER: NO
PROOF: See Eph. 2:11,12 and Rom 9 This was given to Israel!!
12 (AV) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
12 (TR) οτι ητε εν τω καιρω εκεινω χωρις χριστου απηλλοτριωμενοι της πολιτειας του ισραηλ και ξενοι των διαθηκων της επαγγελιας ελπιδα μη εχοντες και αθεοι εν τω κοσμω
13 (AV) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
13 (TR) νυνι δε εν χριστω ιησου υμεις οι ποτε οντες μακραν εγγυς εγενηθητε εν τω αιματι του χριστου
HOSS: Here is an excerpt from my post "28 problems with Acts 28".
"First of all, I have already demonstrated that Paul COULD NOT have taught the "new covenant" of Israel EXACTLY. Nobody is EXACTLY under the New Covenant until the 2nd coming. That is when Christ comes and takes away the sins of the kingdom gospel believers and CAUSES them to walk in His statues by putting His Spirit in them and a new heart. Read it Jeremiah 31 and 32, Ezekiel 36, Joel 2, and Rom. 11:26-27, Acts 3:19-26. NOBODY is under that EXACTLY. However, since Acts 2, believers have had a foretaste of the new covenant in that we receive the Holy Spirit and receive redemption through Christ's sacrificial death. In that sense we are minsters of the New Testament and there is not a problem with that (dispensationally).
My question to the Acts 28ers, HAD YOU RATHER BE UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT?
The way the Old Testament was set up, the Jews in Israel were the only one who could serve God through the Law and the Temple. Salvation was of the Jews and Gentiles had to come to Israel if they wanted in God's program.
The church, Christ's body, was made possible by the shedding of the blood of the New Testament.
"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." (Eph. 2:11-17)
1 Corinthians 10:
[16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
[17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
[18] Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter?
[19] What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
[20] But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
[21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
[17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
[18] Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter?
[19] What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
[20] But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
[21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
1 Corinthians 11:
[23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
The only problem with 2 Corinthians 3:6 is one that the Acts 28ers created themselves. "
5.) When Paul says that he magnifies his office, was this an unqualified reference to his apostleship to the gentiles during the Acts period?
ANSWER: NO!
PROOF: See Rom. 11:13,14
13 (AV) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
13 (TR) υμιν γαρ λεγω τοις εθνεσιν εφ οσον μεν ειμι εγω εθνων αποστολος την διακονιαν μου δοξαζω
14 (AV) If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
14 (TR) ει πως παραζηλωσω μου την σαρκα και σωσω τινας εξ αυτων
HOSS: Not sure what you mean by that.
6.) Did Paul baptize after mid-Acts and before Acts 28?
ANSWER: YES!
PROOF:
Ac 18:8 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.
1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
HOSS: But Christ didn't tell him to do it (1 Cor. 1:17).
6.) Did Paul remain faithful to the law and the prophets up to Acts 28?
ANSWER: YES!
PROOF:
Acts 18:18 ¶ And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
Ac 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles
HOSS: Did that prove something? He was still preaching the mystery (Rom. 16:25, 1 Cor. 15:51, etc.)
7.) Paul preached to Festus (Acts 26) recounting what the Lord had done and the good news (gospel) that "Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" was this content contrary to the Prophets and Moses?
ANSWER: NO
HOSS: Yes he did.
PROOF: Ac 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles
Was this gospel (the one above) the same as the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ that PAul discusses in Eph. 3:8?
HOSS: No. But Paul did teach that the cross was what made the Acts believers one body (1 Cor. 10:16-17) just like in EPhesians 2.
ANSWER: NO
PROOF:
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:8 (TR) εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων των αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του χριστου
8.) If signs and wonders are removed from the body mentioned in 1Cor. 12:12 -- would it (the body) survive?
ANSWER: NO! It would have no members!!!!
PROOF: 1Cor 12
1 ¶ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 ¶ For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
HOSS: Here is my debate with Dr. Wayne Stewart.
"Hoss critiques Dr. Wayne Stewart, Mid-Acts vs Acts 28
I received a forwarded message from a friend that is and Acts 28 dispensationalist. The words in red are the forwarded message I got that Dr. Wayne Stewart of rightdivision.com wrote. Pasted is my reply to the friend that forwarded me Dr. Stewart's message. (my words in green, Dr. Stewart's in red)
LOL. Are you sure he is a real "Dr."? 
I hope this finds you well.
I am also making up some blogs on the mid-acts position which may be of help as well.
Now to your question with regard to the head. This whole passage is interesting to me, and is also
challenging to interpret in places. The first thing is to note the differences to the passages in Ephesians and Colossians where “head” or “kephale” is used.
Here is a concordance of the word as used in 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and Colossians
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head .
1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head : for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head , forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head , even Christ:
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head , from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Looking at the passages in 1 Corinthians it becomes fairly clear that if we were to compare the usage of the word “head” with a like usage in Ephesians and Colossians we should not take 1 Cor 11 but 1 cor 12.
(In other words, he is going to ignore the literal usage of Christ being the head of the Corinthians members of Christ (1 Cor. 6:15, 11:3) and rather go straight to the figurative passage in 1 Corinthians 12 that likens the spiritual body of Christ with the human body and Dr. Stewart is already apologizing for it)
Notice that the metaphor of the head is in relation to the whole Corinthian assembly and the head in Ephesians 1,2 and Col 1,2 is to the universal (dare I say “catholic”) church. The members of the Corinthian assembly could be a part of the head (1 Cor 12:21) whereas the head in Ephesians and Colossians is Christ and the church is strictly the body.
(I laugh every time I read people say this. I laughed when brother Kelson first told it to me. I was seriously considering Acts 28 until brother Kelson told me this.
[11] But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
That is the point of the passage. Though these Corinthians had different gifts they are still all in the body of Christ and have all drunk of the same Spirit.
[14] For the body is not one member, but many.
[15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
[18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Okay Mrs. Collins, I have a brain, and you have a brain. Now, do you really think these Corinthians are literally eye balls, ears, noses, etc.? Or do you believe that Paul is likening the spiritual body of Christ (that the Spirit baptized them into) to the human body? Let me know, because if you take Dr. Stewarts approach than that means some of these Corinthians were armpits....who was the armpit? Crispus and Gaius perhaps? No I bet it was ol' Stephanas, he has always seemed like a real stinker to me! Perhaps even an intestine....
Also, wouldn't they run out of body parts to be if there were too many converts?)
The usage of head in 1 Cor 11 is more to do with logical relationship in terms of “source” 1Cor. 11:7 not in terms of creation but origin in purpose. The woman has a purpose in relation to man (mimicking her source) and the man has an origin in relation to Christ and Christ to God.
The passages in 1Cor.11 are apples and those in Eph and Colossians are oranges. The joint body of Ephesians is nowhere assumed in the Acts epistles it is created at the conclusion of Acts. If mid-Acts people are in the body of 1Cor 12 then some of them are also in the head! If the body of 1Cor 12 is extant then so are the gifts and we should ask the mid-Acts people to supply us with the gifts that enable the body of 1Cor 12 to even exist.
(Strange. After proving nothing Dr, Stewart states "The passages in 1Cor.11 are apples and those in Eph and Colossians are oranges" as if he had just proved it. There is only ONE body (1 Cor. 12:12, Eph. 4:4) no matter what section of epistles you look at. Christ is only "one body". I irrefutably have proven that the spiritual body of Christ with Him as the head existed during Acts. That proves Paul was teaching the mystery, Eph. 3:6.
"If the body of 1Cor 12 is extant then so are the gifts and we should ask the mid-Acts people to supply us with the gifts that enable the body of 1Cor 12 to even exist." Dr. Stewart told several mistruths. What his logic for saying that the gifts must be around today just because the spiritual body of Christ does? Why would MADs have to have gifts, not everyone in the Acts period had them. Why did Dr. Stewart say the gifts allowed the body to exist? He made that up. The first time the Corinthians are called "members of Christ" it is in the context of being joined unto the Lord as one spirit and being the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 6:15). The second reference to the Corinthians being "one body" is by partaking of Christ's death (1 Cor. 10:17, see Rom. 6:3-4, Gal. 2:20). But some how the gifts are the cause of the body? The body in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 is Christ and the Spirit has baptized the converts into it. Dr. Stewart made no sense the entire message. )
But I had a lot of fun responding to this!!! Thank you very much! --bro. Eli
P.S. Can I be the bicep on the body?
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