I disagree with you, in general, because not every assumption is wrong…
But the point here is that in this case we can never know whether or not our assumptions are right or wrong. I have nothing against speculation, clearly labeled, but in the end we have to admit the blank spaces on our maps.
…but feel free to explore fruits, products, the effects; and why don’t we compare The Acts and The Revelation in that context?
Unfortunately these are two of my least favorite NT texts but I’ll give it a go.
Acts functions as an “origin story” for Gentile Christian communities who want to connect back to the original apostolic Jewish Jesus community. That is the use to which the text has been put by subsequent generations of believers. Whereas the hero of the original Jewish community was Peter, the hero of the gentile community was Paul.
Revelation functions like all apocalypses. It puts the struggles of a community that perceives itself as besieged into a cosmic perspective. The suffering of the community has a spiritual cosmic significance. This is how it has been used historically. Unfortunately the “end times” crowd has used it as a screen on which to project their own complexes and obsessions (and fantasies).
I’m primarily a gMark guy. If you through some of the older threads you’ll quickly determine that I can go on and on about that one.
Thank you for the whole reply. My favorite is the Gospel by the ‘Beloved Disciple.’ He was a genius even greater than Paul, waiting for the Revelator to be the first to “publish” his book. What I meant asking you about the fruits, and to compare – is this – look how I packed verses:
- Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Acts 20:29-31(From verse 20:17 to the end of the chapter, Paul is speaking to the Ephesian elders—the presbyters): “For I know this, that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among your own selves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years, night and day, I did not cease to warn everyone with tears.” (Paul shed tears for, and towards, the Corinthians as well.)
- Matthew 7:16 “You will know them by their fruits…
You called out “end times” “crowd”, and I positioned myself opposite to them.
Revelation functions like all apocalypses.
I disagree with even the attempt to pigeonhole it into a specific genre.
BDEhrman
FreedomBen
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Robert
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