Description

We are now in our second-to-last episode in this 24-part theology class, covering the major biblical doctrines as well as various counterarguments.  Today we will focus our time on the New Covenant.  We’ll make our way through biblical history in order to understand the grand sweep of the bible, paying special attention to the old and new covenants.  Of special note for this lecture is what happened when Gentiles started entering Jewish Christianity.  We’ll briefly touch upon the first Jerusalem council, Judaizers, and Paul’s capitulation to Jame’s request.  Lastly, we’ll see how Paul’s epistles as well as Hebrews make it clear that neither Jewish nor Gentile Christians need to keep the law in order to be saved.

—— Notes ——

• testamentum: covenant, testament, will
• your bible has one main division between Malachi and Matthew
• Old Testament relates to the old covenant and NT to the new that came through Christ
• Jer 31.31-34 is the origin for all talk about the new covenant
• Jesus’ ministry
  • new wine into new wine skins
  • antitheses in Sermon on the Mount
• Last supper is when Jesus talks about his death as ratifying the new covenant in his blood
• nothing happens until the Gentiles start to come in

Gentiles begin entering the church

1. Samaritans?
2. Ethiopian treasurer (he’s the first!)

3. Cornelius, the Italian soldier
   • Peter confronted for entering the house of “uncircumcised men” and eating with them (Acts 11.3)
   • Peter defends his actions by telling them God accepted them so how could he stand in the way?
   • speaking in tongues => God granted them spirit => God accepts them => Peter baptized them, accepting them into the family (Acts 11.15-18)
4. The Antioch Church (lots of Gentiles enter)
   • some Christians preached in Antioch to Greeks (Acts 11.19-21)
   • The Jerusalem leadership sent Barnabas (Acts 11.22)
   • Barnabas “saw the grace of God” and “he was glad” and lived there (Acts 11.23-24)
   • Barnabas went to get Paul and ministered together in Antioch for a year (Acts 11.25-26)
   • Antioch was B&P’s home base before going on missionary trips

Paul’s Influence

1. Cyprus: proconsul Sergius Paulus believed (Acts 13.6-12)
2. Pisidian Antioch: B&P turn to Gentiles (Acts 13.45-47)
3. other cities: Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, then reverse order and go back to Antioch
4. Controversy Breaks Out
   • read Acts 14.27-15.5
   • Paul confronts Peter:  “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews” (Gal 2.14)

Jerusalem Council

• first council meets: council called to deal with controversy over Gentiles coming in
• Peter talks about Cornelius
• Barnabas & Paul tell about what God has done among the Gentiles
• James speaks
• they pen an official letter (Acts 15.23-29)
  1. double standard
  2. allows for table fellowship

Some “Judaizers” teach Gentiles need to keep the Law, especially in Galatian churches Paul started

• Paul writes to congregations, strongly arguing against Law-keeping
• Gal 2.19-21 righteousness does not come through the law
• Gal 3.10-29 no one is justified by the law; Christ redeemed us from the law’s curse for disobedience by becoming a curse; Abrahamic promises before law; God gave law to deal with transgressions until the offspring of Ab. came; law was guardian until Christ came; now that faith