Introduction
Most of Christendom believes the significance of Pentecost was that it was the birth of the Church, the day the body of Christ came into existence (Acts 2). The basic argument is that since the Church is composed of believers indwelt with the Holy Spirit and that occurred at Pentecost, the Church began at Pentecost.1 Superficially, such an argument seems to have merit. But upon closer examination the argument fails. The Biblical evidence forbids such an interpretation.
If Pentecost was not the birth of the Church, what was it? This study will examine what occurred at Pentecost, explain the significance of that day, and hopefully, end confusion surrounding it.
Preparation For Pentecost: God’s Prophetic Plan
God’s prophetic program governed Israel. That program operated under two great themes which defined Jewish theology. Those themes were the Day of the Lord and the Kingdom of God. The Day of the Lord was that period of time when God would pour His wrath upon the world in judgment (Zephaniah 1). The Kingdom of God on earth meant that the Messiah would rule Israel as King as well as the entire world and Israel would be the preeminent nation (Matthew 6.10; Psalm 2.6, 8; Zechariah 14.9). Israel’s repentance was required for the Kingdom of God to come upon the earth (Matthew 23.37-39; Romans 11.25-26). The Day of the Lord will be the required catalyst for this event.
The Beginning of God’s Prophetic Program
Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned God revealed a plan to redeem mankind and restore his lost position (Genesis 3.15). God provided no details about how or when He would accomplish this. For 2,000 years, from Adam to Abraham, God disclosed Himself to all of mankind. That program ended in disappointment. Man continued to reject God and became so evil that God had to destroy almost the entire human race and restart civilization with Noah. Despite this new beginning, after only a couple hundred years, mankind against demonstrated contempt of God’s revelation. In rebellion, man tried to access God and heaven through the building of the Tower of Babel. God had destroyed false religion in the Flood, but man restarted it and consolidated it at Babel (Babylon). Babel became the font of all false religion. Babel was also man’s attempt to establish world government.2 To thwart this evil, God confused man’s language. This divided mankind with the result that men established nation states. Nations serve as a check on unlimited power. Thus, nationalism is a divine institution that restrains the absolute power that can be exercised under globalism and world government.
In about 2,000 B.C., God initiated a new program. By means of this program God no longer would reveal Himself to all mankind. Instead, He would reveal Himself to and through a special people, a new race. God began this new program with Abram (Abraham). God called Abram and established a covenant with him (Genesis 12.1-3). The provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant went through Isaac (Genesis 17.9) and Jacob (Genesis 28.13-15), the father of the Twelve tribes of Israel (the Jews). The covenant stated God would bless those who blessed the covenanted line (the Jews) and curse the one who cursed that line.3 The result of this covenant was that God’s revelation of Himself and His blessing of the nations (Gentiles) would be mediated through Israel. All Gentile blessing from this time forward would come through Israel.
God made additional covenantal promises to Israel which expanded upon the foundational Abrahamic covenant. These were the Land, Mosaic, Sabbatic, Davidic, and New covenants.4 In sum, they stated God would bless the world through Israel (the Jews), give the Jews most of the land in the Middle East, govern the Jews through the Law (written on tablets of stone but later upon the heart), and provide them with an eternal King from the line of King David. Also included in this program were promises that every Jew (not just a Jew of the tribe of Levi) would be a priest (Exodus 19.4-6; Zechariah 8.20-23) and that Israel would become the preeminent nation among the nations of the world (Deuteronomy 28.1-2, 13).
Everything in this program depended upon the Messiah. The prophetic literature revealed the Messiah would deliver Israel from its enemies (Luke 1.67-74) and reign as King. This was the Jew’s great hope. Shrouded in much greater secrecy (a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma in Churchill’s phraseology) was how the Messiah would deliver Israel from sin. Indeed, only one passage in the Old Testament indicated how this would be accomplished (Isaiah 53). In hindsight, this passage is clear. Christ took upon Himself mankind’s sins and paid for them, satisfying the justice of God. But the Jews had no understanding of this passage. Even today, 2,000 years later, national Israel does not understand this passage (Romans 11.25). One day they will (Romans 11.26).
God’s Prophetic Plan Concerning the Holy Spirit
What is outlined above is Jewish theology. Particularly relevant in this study is how God would bring about Israel’s obedience. God revealed it would be done through the promise of the New Covenant: God promised He would place His Spirit within them and write His Law upon their hearts (Ezekiel 36.22-32; Jeremiah 31.31-34).
God had commissioned John the Baptist as the herald of the Messiah-King. He proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3.2). The kingdom of God was near because the King was present. God was ready to establish His kingdom on earth if the Jewish nation would repent. Jesus echoed this same message (Matthew 4.17). But the Jews refused. Instead, they delivered Him to Pilate and demanded His death (Mark 15.13-14).
The Jews got what they wanted. Jesus was executed. But after three days in the earth He rose from the dead (Matthew 12.40, 28.5-9). The significance of His resurrection for His disciples was that since He was alive He could establish His kingdom. The establishment of God’s earthly kingdom was their primary focus (Matthew 6.9-10). And why not? For three years, since the Lord had called them, He has spoken of little else. In anticipation, they questioned Him about it. Luke wrote:
4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1.4-6)?
Jesus had instructed them to remain in Jerusalem to await the Holy Spirit. But foremost of their mind was the kingdom. They expected Him to establish it soon. When they returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, their first action was to fill Judas’ vacant position (Acts 1.15-26). They knew twelve apostles had to be in place for the kingdom of God to come. They remembered the Lord’s promise that they would sit upon twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19.28). One did not forget such a promise.
The Feast of Pentecost
Pentecost was a Jewish feast day which occurred fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits. On the Feast of First Fruits, Jesus arose from the dead. So Pentecost occurred fifty days after our Lord’s resurrection.
John the Baptist had baptized Israel with water. He had prophesied the Messiah would baptize the nation with the Holy Spirit (John 1.33) and with fire (Matthew 3.11; Luke 3.16).5 Jesus told his disciples He would give them another Comforter (John 14.16-18, 26, 15.26-27, 16.7-15) and to remain in Jerusalem to await His coming. He declared:
44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24.44-53).
The Day of Pentecost
The apostles, all twelve now, obeyed the Lord’s command. They waited in Jerusalem. This took patience and faith. The Lord told them He would send another Comforter and to remain in Jerusalem. He did not tell them when this would occur. “When” is God’s great secret. He has told us what He will do. He has not told us when He will do it. The lesson for believers is to obey and remain faithful. We may die before God’s promises are fulfilled but we will live to see them fulfilled. This is faith and hope.
On the day of Pentecost, the Twelve and the 120 were gathered (Acts 2). They heard a sound like a great wind. Cloven tongues like fire appeared upon each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages. Jews who had come from other nations to celebrate the festival heard these local Jewish believers miraculously speaking their languages. They were stunned. They could not understand what was happening (Acts 2.12). Some said they were drunk. Alcohol can have a number of effects but learning and speaking a foreign language is not one of them. Peter responded that it was only 9 a.m. and they were not drunk. He provided the answer to what had happened (Acts 2.16) quoting Joel:
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy.19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. 21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (Acts 2.17-21).
Peter quoted Joel to reveal the meaning of Pentecost. Joel’s prophecy dealt with the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord included God’s sending forth His Holy Spirit, judging the earth in His wrath, establishing the Lord Jesus Christ upon the throne of David as the King of Israel and the world, and creating a new heavens and new earth. Joel’s prophecy dealt with two of these aspects: the New Covenant in which God would give His Holy Spirit to Israel and His wrath upon earth.
God had revealed He would give His Holy Spirit to Israel in two other key passages in addition to Joel: Ezekiel 36 and Jeremiah 31. Ezekiel wrote:
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.24 For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. 30 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”
Jeremiah wrote:
27 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast.28 As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord. 29 “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ 30 But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge. 31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
These passages proclaimed God’s promise of the New Covenant to the Jews. God spoke through Ezekiel to the house of Israel (Ezekiel 36.22) and through Jeremiah to Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 31.27, 31).6 Thus, God addressed all twelve tribes of the Jewish nation. God told the Jews He would fulfill His promise not because of any merit in them but because of His name, which they had profaned among the Gentiles. The manner in which God expressed His promise indicated its sovereign nature: it would come about solely on the basis of His character and integrity. The purpose and effect of the indwelling Holy Spirit would be that the Jews would keep His Law. Notice that Gentiles were not addressed. God gave no promise that Gentiles would be filled with His Holy Spirit.
The prophetic timetable was sketchy. Peter quoted Joel because he believed fulfillment of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah had begun and that fulfillment of the rest of the prophecies was near. The prophets had revealed God would exercise His wrath, restore Israel to their land with the boundaries He had promised Abraham (Genesis 15.18 cf. Exodus 23.31; Deuteronomy 11.24), establish His kingdom in which the Messiah would reign, and give the Jews the indwelling Holy Spirit. The order of the fulfillment of these promises was impossible to discern clearly. Peter understood the events of God’s program but not their timing. Since the Holy Spirit had come, he assumed the rest of the prophecy would be fulfilled soon. Thus, he quoted the rest of Joel’s prophecy about the sun being turned to darkness and the moon to blood. He understood Israel had to repent, for the Lord had stated He would not return until every Jew declared, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23.37-39). Because of this, when the Jews asked Peter on the Day of Pentecost what they must do in light of having crucified their Messiah, he told “all the house of Israel,” “every one of you” to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2.36-39, 21).
What Pentecost Was Not
Peter only addressed Jews at Pentecost. For him to have addressed Gentiles was unthinkable. The Lord had no ministry to Gentiles in the three years He spent with His disciples and neither had they (Matthew 10.5-7). After His resurrection, He had told them to go to the nations (Matthew 28.19-20) but instructed them to go to Jews first (Acts 1.8). This was in accordance with the prophetic program. God had revealed Israel would bless the Gentiles as early as the Abrahamic covenant. This promise anticipated Jews being established in their kingdom (Zechariah 8.20-23; cf. Psalm 2.6-8; Isaiah 49.5-6, 60.1-3; Jeremiah 4.1-2). For this to happen, the entire nation had to repent (Matthew 23.37-39).
The definition of the Church, the body of Christ, is that organism composed of Jew and Gentile, who are equal in Christ (Galatians 3.26-28). If Pentecost was the birth of the Church, why did Peter not include Gentiles in his message? Why did Peter not mention the cross, salvation through the blood of Christ, or forgiveness of sins based upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? Why did he not offer salvation by faith alone, apart from works? Why did he not say a word about the body of Christ? To press further, why did Peter or any of the Twelve or James never mention the body of Christ?
Such questions reveal the sandy foundation of the argument that the Church began at Pentecost. The reason Peter proclaimed none of those things was because he did not know them. Peter knew nothing about God’s salvation based upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, of salvation by faith alone apart from works, of the significance of the blood of Christ, or of the one body of Jew and Gentile equal in Christ. Peter knew nothing of the Church or the teachings associated with it. Peter knew God’s prophetic, kingdom program. He knew the prophecies of the prophets which Jesus had proclaimed throughout His earthly ministry (Romans 15.8). The reason the prophets revealed nothing about the Church, the body of Christ, was they knew nothing of it. God had kept this revelation a secret until He revealed it to Paul (Ephesians 3.1-7). The prophets had revealed Gentiles would be blessed through Israel in the kingdom. But the kingdom had not come. The kingdom did not come and could not come because Israel refused to repent.
Great confusion has resulted from failure to understand that the events of Pentecost happened to believing Jews, not to Gentiles, not to the Church, the body of Christ. One area of confusion has been the speaking in tongues. Some denominations and churches teach believers are supposed to speak in tongues because that was the evidence of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But what happened at Pentecost had nothing to do with the Church. Everything that happened at Pentecost involved Jews. The advent of the Holy Spirit was a fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jewish people, not the Church. There were no Gentiles (except possibly a few proselytes) among the Jerusalem believers. No Gentile evangelism existed. Indeed, even several years after Pentecost, Jewish believers in Jerusalem berated Peter when they learned he had gone to the house of the Gentile Cornelius (Acts 11.1-3). This should convince any but the most recalcitrant of the impossibility that the Church began at Pentecost.
But that’s not all. Other problems exist. John declared Jesus would baptize Jewish believers with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3.11; Mark 1.8; Luke 3.16; John 1.33), a fact Jesus confirmed (John 15.26, 16.7). These declarations indicated Jesus was the baptizer, the agent of baptism. However, Paul taught that members of the Church, the body of Christ, are not baptized by Christ but are baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the agent who baptizes one into the body of Christ. Thus, Paul wrote:
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.12-13).
Thus, at Pentecost, Jewish believers were baptized by Christ. Believers of Paul’s gospel, however, are not baptized by Christ but by the Holy Spirit. These are two separate baptisms. Furthermore, Luke did not write that Jewish believers at Pentecost were baptized into the body of Christ. Those who believed the gospel of the kingdom were baptized by Christ so they could fulfill the promises of Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Those who have believed the gospel of the grace of God, Paul’s gospel, have been baptized by the Holy Spirit in order to become members of the Church, the body of Christ. The Church is not under the administration of the Mosaic Law but under the administration of grace (Romans 6.14).7 These baptisms indicate two separate and distinct programs in God’s salvific plan.
Another thing to note is that all believers were not indwelt with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. According to the Biblical record, some were indwelt later. Luke recorded:
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men (Acts 19.1-7).
These were Jews who had believed John’s gospel. They were saved. But they had not received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Indeed, they had heard nothing about the Holy Spirit. When Paul heard their testimony, he laid his hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit.8 We should note a few things here. Acts is a transitional book. For a period of time both God’s prophetic, kingdom program and the Church program overlapped. For example the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God (Paul’s gospel) operated from the time Paul received it (probably when he was in Arabia) until the Council of Jerusalem. After the Council of Jerusalem, only Paul’s gospel was valid (Acts 15.11; Galatians 1.6-9). Thus, because of Israel’s rejection of her Messiah, God’s prophetic program to Israel began to be replaced by God’s program for the Church, which He had revealed to Paul. That they received the Holy Spirit through Paul is an indicator of this transition. They spoke in tongues for this was what had happened when the Holy Spirit that had occurred at Pentecost. Since they were saved under that program it was fitting they should have the same experience as the believers at Pentecost.
Lastly, we should note that when one is saved by believing Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) he is immediately indwelt, baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12.12-13). This baptism has no sign (such as speaking in tongues). Tongues no longer exist in the Church, having ceased long ago (1 Corinthians 13.8). But even when they operated in the Church, they were not a sign for believers but for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14.22).
Conclusion
The Scriptures indicate clearly that the Church, the body of Christ, did not began at Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish feast and God’s program for Israel was still in fill effect. God had revealed nothing about a body of Jew and Gentiles being equal in Christ. What He had revealed was that Gentiles would be blessed through Israel. The Church was a secret God revealed to the apostle Paul alone (Ephesians 2.11-13, 3.1-9).
1 The formal argument that the Church began at Pentecost is essentially as follows: 1. The Church is the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1.22-23; 1 Corinthians 12.12-13; Colossians 1.24), 2. Membership into the Body of Christ is through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.13; Galatians 3.27), 3. The Church was future from Christ’s pre-cross ministry (Matthew 16.18), 4. The Church was future from Christ pre-ascension ministry (Acts 1.4-5), 5. The Church was born on the day of Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2.1-4 cf. Acts 11.16-17), 6. After Pentecost, the term ἐκκλησία, which had occurred previously only in Matthew 16.18 and 18.17, becomes common, e.g. Acts 5.11, 8.1, 8.3, 9.31, etc.–23 times in Acts and 115 times outside of the Matthew passages. See the author’s study, The Church (The Body of Christ) for analysis of this subject.
2 During the seven years of the Antichrist’ rule (Tribulation), the Beast and False Prophet, will establish world government and world religion. Theocracy is the normal form of government. It encompasses man’s body, soul, and spirit. Satan will create the ultimate perversion of this form of government into terrifying totalitarian rule in which he will seek to control every aspect of man’s will to include the worship of himself.
3 The reader should note the change of pronouns in Genesis 12.3. One would expect the passage to read, “And I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you.” Instead, it reads “him,” not “them” in the latter part of the verse. The reason for this change is that behind all cursing of Israel is Satan. Thus, the Abrahamic covenant is God’s specific warning that antisemitism is Satanic.
4 See the author’s study on Israel’s covenants.
5 The “fire” was not the cloven tongues of fire at Pentecost but God’s judgment on the earth (2 Thessalonians 1.8). Peter’s quote of Joel of the “sun being turned to darkness and the moon to blood” referenced this judgment (Acts 2.19-20).
6 Gentiles were not in view in the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Neither was the Church, the body of Christ, since it did not exist until God revealed it to the apostle Paul. It was through a new revelation which the ascended Lord gave to Paul that the Church enjoys the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit which was part of the New Covenant. The New Covenant was an essential element of God’s prophetic program to Israel. The Old Testament prophets knew nothing of the Church, the body of Christ, much less that the Holy Spirit would indwell its members. Jesus taught nothing of the Church in His earthly ministry. The ascended, glorified Lord revealed that truth later, to Paul, after He saved and commissioned him as the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11.13).
7 See the author’s study, Paul and the Law.
8 Verse 5 continues verse 4 in Acts 19. There was one water baptism. These men were not rebaptized as some have taught. Luke’s point was that they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus when they believed John’s gospel. Paul did not baptism them again. Their deficiency was not that they had not been baptized but that they did not have the Holy Spirit. To accomplish this, Paul laid his hands on them and “baptized” them (v.6). This “baptism” was waterless even as had been the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. What occurred here occurred earlier with Peter and John (Acts 8.14-17) before Paul was saved.
©2015 Don Samdahl. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold.
Hi Don
Thank you for this excellent article.
Does no 5 in your conclusion follow with your argument.
( it’s probably my misunderstanding)
Thanks
Sue,
Thank you. I do not understand your question. Are you referring to no. 5 in footnote no.1? If so, that is the argument my article rejects.
What is your opinion on the work of Charles Baker? If you feel comfortable giving it.
http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/dispen/baker12.htm
My group of bible study friends have totally rejected me now that I am (in their words) a ultra dispensational heretic. It has been a very devastating time for me in the last few days. I’ve know one woman for almost 40 years and thought she was a friend. They refuse to even consider the facts that people like you present. And they are not very nice about it.
Dawn,
I have not read Baker but think he is sound. I’m sorry to hear about your situation. The one abiding comfort is that you know the truth. It’s truly sad when some refuse to hear the truth. The Lord knows all this and will reward faithfulness in His time.
Dawn,
Just know that you are not alone! I, too, have been told that what I believe is heretical. Not sure why brothers and sisters in Christ feel they have the right to do that.
Hi Dawn I just read of your situation and I’m finding the same …..tradition has been aceppted and biblical facts rejected.
Also peer pressure plays a big part look what happened to you when you stood for revealed truth..you got shunned ..others don’t want that to happen to them so they will just follow like sheep.
Silly thing it is so much more rewarding to understand the truth about pentecost and what transpired after …and then years later Paul receiving revelation of tge church the body of christ…
Praise God for Don and Les Feldick and others who proclaim tge truth of God’s revealed word.
God Bless
G’Day Don,
Another very well put together article Don. Thank you for your continued faithfulness in presenting these truths and rightly dividing the a Word of God. I have learnt so much since I discovered doctrine.org and have begun a small closed group on FB where I link to your articles, Les Feldick, Grace Ambassadors and more. It is called “Sound Doctrine” and it’s purpose is for encouraging discussions on the clear differences between Paul’s teaching to us the Church, the Body of Christ and what is for our learning in the OT, Gospels, Peter, James and John’s epistles. If any visiting your site are interested in being part of this group they can apply at https://www.facebook.com/groups/529352137218115/?ref=browser
Grace and Peace,
RonG
Don, this is wonderfull and thank you so much.
Hi Don,
How do you explain 1 Corinthians 12:10 where speakin in tongues and the interpretation thereof is given to the church as a gift as well as 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul teaches on how it should be practised when the congregation meets?
C Jooste,
Speaking in tongues was valid for a time. Sign gifts ceased with the completion of the Word of God. Paul alluded to their cessation in 1 Corinthians 13. One whould also note that tongues is only mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians. Please see my article, Sign Gifts: Valid Today?
Sorry but this is totally unconvincing.
1. 1 Corinthians 13:10 is very clear about when prophesies, tongues and knowledge will vanish. If you argue that according to 1 Corinthians 13:8 tongues has already ceased then all knowledge has ceased as well?
2. And 1 Corinthians 14 is our model for how church gatherings should be and what it should include.
3. Are you implying that we should discard/value less the manifestations of the gifts because Paul only teaches about them in Corinthians?
CJooste,
Paul was writing about gifts. It was the gift of knowledge, not knowledge that ceased. Tongues have ceased, the gift of knowledge has ceased, the gift of healing has ceased. We have something far better: the Word of God.
Don: I appreciate your passion and commitment to teaching. I am struggling to understand why, doctrinally, it is important to distinguish the first Pentecost, solely a Jewish event according to your thesis, and the later identification of a church body.
Is not the seminal event the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers after Christ’s resurrection ? What doctrine prevails by your proposition that Pentecost was isolated to Jews ?
As I understand the kingdom discussions, particularly distinguished in the Book of Matthew. There are two kingdoms: the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. Both kingdoms are present in the person of Jesus. These are different kingdoms, one physical one spiritual. The kingdom of heaven is on earth and is visible (when the Messiah was present on earth). The kingdom of God is invisible, it is within the born again believer. It is presently in “mystery form” after the first Pentecost.
What is the difference between the indwelt Jew at Pentecost and the indwelt Gentile or Jew under Paul’s teaching ? Why the fuss over “the Church” ? Why is that important.
Are not all, after the first Pentecost, “one new man”, neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free ? Are not all a new creation in Christ after the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ?
It appears to me that Paul teaches that there are three orders to the first resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28. Christ raised at First Fruits during the Feast of Unleavened bread, Christ’s own at His coming (at Pentecost) and then the end (at Tabernacles). The apparent three orders appear to follow the pattern of the pilgrimage feasts. (chag, not moedim)
If the rapture is a Pentecost event, as inferred by Paul, I am inclined to believe that the important event alone is the first Pentecost, not this Church birth event.
The kingdom did not arrive for the Jew because of the national rejection of Messiah Jesus. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven promises were suspended until Israel repents and recognizes their Messiah. However, Jesus gave away the Kingdom of God to a people who would produce fruit. This is the spiritual aspect of the Abrahamic promises to the seed, that is Christ. It is a partial (not physical) and spiritual fulfillment of the New Covenant.
Prior to Christ’s death and resurrection, Jesus was appealing to the nation of Israel. After Christ’s death, is He not appealing to individuals toward salvation ? During Jacob’s trouble He will once again be dealing with Israel on a national level.
I simply do not understand the doctrinal impact of treating those indwelt at the first Pentecost (about 3,000) as Jews only, and the indwelling of Gentiles and Jews later under Paul’s ministry. So, are Jews saved at Pentecost different that Gentiles and Jews saved later ? If so, what does this mean ?
Greg,
What is important is clear interpretation. Most of Christendom states Pentecost was the birth of the Church, the body of Christ. This is impossible. Peter addressed only Jews. Only Jews were at Pentecost. We have no indication of equality or evangelism of Gentiles. As late as Acts 10-11, probably 7 years after Pentecost there was no evangelism of Gentiles. Read Acts 11.19. The important thing to understand is that the Church began with Paul. He was the apostle of the Gentiles. All Church doctrine comes from the pen of this apostle. God established a new program with this apostle. Get this strait and everything will sort itself out–from salvation to the Rapture. What happened at Pentecost was a Jewish promise. This is why Peter quoted Joel. It was the beginning of Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36. Unfortunately, it never was fulfilled because the nation refused to repent. Paul’s doctrine of our identification with Christ was unknown in the OT or by the Twelve. Most of what Paul taught was unknown by the prophets, by what Jesus taught in His earthly ministry, and what the Twelve taught. So if we are to understand Church doctrine, we must go to Paul and understand him. Everything else pertains to Israel.
Don: I am looking for clear understanding of your interpretation. But I cannot understand why you think there is an important distinction between the Jews indwelt at Pentecost and the Jews and Gentiles later indwelt under Paul’s gospel.
Equality of evangelism??? I see it as the equality of Holy Spirit indwelling ?
If there is a distinction tell me what it is. From my perspective, both groups got the Holy Spirit. God’s truth prevailed in Acts regardless of the disciples misunderstanding. Peter had the food dream. The Eunch got saved before he was baptized. Everyone was learning something new. Paul had to teach the church in Jerusalem and correct them. There lack of understand did not affect the truth of the new dispensation.
I believe there is a perfect continuity from Abraham to the Millennium. Continuity of testaments and covenants. Every piece of the puzzle must fit together perfectly. Many aspects are dual in nature, spiritual and physical.
Was Pentecost a Jewish promise alone ? If you and I had been there, as Gentiles, and believed that Jesus was the Messiah, would God have treated us differently ? We would have gotten the Holy Spirit. Is there more ? It is the deposit against the promised redemption of this body of sin.
Jesus said, he was going to give away the Kingdom of righteousness to a nation who would produce fruit. Is not that Kingdom represented by the indwelling of the Spirit of the Living God. Would he have treated us differently ? He did not reject the Samaritan women at the well or the Gentile woman at the supper table who likened herself to the sweet doggie under the table getting crumbs. No His heart swelled in joy !
I understand that you are saying that those saved from Pentecost to Paul’s salvation on the road to Damascus, represent the “house of Israel” of Jeremiah 31:34 ? if so, there was a group of Israelites walking around who had the law written on their hearts. So they were perfect law keepers until they died ? Ezekiel 36:24 looks like a “last days” event, not a first advent event. If not, how are they different ? If different, how does it fit into the promises of God for Israel.
The law represented the covenant of death. (Isaiah 28). The prince of the covenant died until Jesus. He was resurrected. He is a priest forever, after the order of Mel. The rules all changed at the resurrection. He is the King of Righteousness, the King of Peace.
I hope I have properly expressed myself here. My intentions are with a view to His truth. I am teachable….I hope.
I also do not understand the “church birth” importance. The defining event of the age is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That event birthed the “body of Christ” whether or not anyone knew it or had been taught it.
Surely church doctrine is solely sourced from Paul who was directly taught by Jesus.
In Christ.
Greg,
What one must see is that God began a new program, the Church, with Paul, just as he began a new program with Abraham. From whom do we learn of the Church the body of Christ? From whom do we learn of equality of Jew and Gentile in Christ? From whom do we learn of salvation by faith alone? From whom do we learn of identification with Christ? From whom do we learn we are under grace not Law? From whom do we learn of the gospel that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead? From whom do we learn of the Rapture? From whom do we learn of heavenly citizenship? We learn these things from Paul. Peter, James, John, Jude, no other writer wrote of these things. The Church is a new program, which began with Paul, with new doctrines and new operations.
Don: So, what should I make of all the saved between Pentecost and Paul’s conversion ? What is the doctrinal teaching to this group of indwelt Jews ?
I agree with all of your questions above with the exception of your first sentence. God did begin a new program with Abraham, and Christ, his seed, at the resurrection, began a new program. The most significant event of the Age is the indwelling of the H.S in believers.
I agree that Paul’s epistles teach all of the mysteries concerning the body of Christ. I just cannot understand why “church birth” is a necessary doctrine. Paul says that the church is the body of Christ. Is not the body of Christ represented by the indwelt believer ? Did that not begin on Pentecost ?
Tell me what is the distinguishing doctrinal difference between those indwelt at the first Pentecost and all subsequent Pauline converts who were indwelt by the H.S. ?
I cannot imagine the doctrinal differences. Christ indwelt, the hope of glory.
Greg,
The saved between Pentecost and Paul were part of the kingdom prophetic program. They believed Jesus was the Messiah, not that He died for their sins. The indwelling Holy Spirit was a Jewish, prophetic promise (the New Covenant). In God’s prophetic program, no revelation is provided of the Church, the body of Christ. There is no revelation of Jew and Gentile being equal in Christ. Peter only addressed Jews at Pentecost. None of the Twelve had a ministry to Gentiles. For the Church to have begun at Pentecost, Peter would have had to address Gentiles and tell them that they were equal in Christ with Jews. Both groups, Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah, and Gentiles and Jews who believed Paul’s gospel were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. However, Acts indicates the Holy Spirit did not indwell every believer saved under the gospel of the kingdom (read Acts 19). But the Holy Spirit immediately indwelt anyone who believed Paul’s gospel. The distinguishing doctrinal difference is those indwelt at Pentecost and those who believed the gospel of the kingdom were part of God’s prophetic program (Israel). Those indwelt who believed Paul’s gospel are part of God’s program the Church. Massive differences in operations.
My understanding of Israel’s prophetic kingdom plan is that it was postponed upon Messiah’s rejection. Israel’s kingdom plan is the physical kingdom (Kingdom of Heaven), not the spiritual kingdom (Kingdom of God). Remember Jesus gave away the Kingdom of God. It is spiritual and invisible. It is represented by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the body of Christ. Jesus did not give away the Kingdom of Heaven. That comes later. Israel’s plan will come after Tribulation commencing with the Millennium. At that time, God will operate on Israel, ie new heart, new spirit. That is future. That is Israel’s prophetic plan as I understand scripture.
What happened at Pentecost was a mystery, even though it took years for Paul to reveal the mystery. Nevertheless it was the reality. The mystery was the indwelling of God’s spirit. It happened at Pentecost. 3,000 were saved. (Acts 2:41) They repented their sins and were baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sins. The last verse of Acts 2 says the “Lord added to the church daily”. (Acts 2:47) I imagine you would suggest that this was exclusively a Jewish assembly and not the Pauline church. Paul does refer to the church which he persecuted prior to his salvation. (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal.1:13) The literal reading would suggest it was the church of Acts 2. This plain language does not seem to distinguish these 3,000 and later converts as you suggest.
I am unable to arrive at your conclusions because I cannot fit the proposition into my doctrinal understanding of the Abrahamic covenant or the New Covenant written in the blood of Jesus. I imagine we must agree to disagree.
It is a pleasure to dialogue with you Don.
Greg,
Your understanding of Israel’s prophetic plan being postponed due to Israel’s failure to repent is correct. However, we know from the Scriptures the Church did not begin due to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 3. Elsewhere, Paul wrote he was the first and the master-builder of the Church. He declared he laid its foundation, not Peter at Pentecost. See my article, Paul: Chief of Sinners? Peter declared nothing about Jew and Gentile being equal in Christ, the body of Christ, and believers being baptized into that body (1 Corinthians 12.13) when he spoke at Pentecost. So it is impossible, Scripturally, for the Church to have begun at Pentecost. Grace and peace.
We know the Holy spirit came upon them at Pentecost but it did with specific purpose. If this can be attributed to the Birth of the Church, then why not attribute to the Time when John the Baptist was filled with it while in his mothers Womb? Luke 1:15
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.? Or perhaps it began when Jesus appeared to the disciples after the Resurrection? John 20:22
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” People Believe the church began at Pentecost because of Church Tradition.
Hi Don, Not a question but more of an observation. I use to ask why did those in Acts have tongues of fire, and a rushing wind though the many times I had been in church I never once witnessed that. Nobody could answer me till I came to understand the Gospel of Paul. The Holy Spirit came upon them. With us the Holy Spirit is indwelling and we dont need to get refilled every so often. For me that is a huge difference. Perhaps during the 7 year tribulation this will again apply where the Holy Spirit comes upon them as the indwelt body of Christ is raptured. Take care.
Don,
First of all I would like to express my appreciation for your site. Your articles have opened me up to interpreting the Bible in a clearer way. Before, I had much difficulty corroborating teachings between the Gospels, Paul’s epistles and the rest of the New Testament.
Do you know any resources that provide an interpretation/ commentary on the rest of the epistles after Paul’s? Berean Bible Society has some podcasts, but I am wondering if anyone has done an in depth study of those letters in relation to the Gospel of Grace we are currently under.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Blessings,
-Linden
Linden,
Thank you for your kind words. The BBS has books in their store which have commentaries on various books. Les Feldick also has verse by verse studies on his site.
Doctrine, I Love your work and your articles have cleared up much confusion for me regarding context of dispensations. I am going to propose something and i am hoping you can extrapolate on it and correct if i am not understanding this correctly. You say Pentecost was when the Disciples received the Holy Spirit. I believe they already had it but at the time Pentecost had come around their cups were running empty so instead of Giving them what they already had, he not only Filled them to overflowing he gave them the gift of tongues to verify what they were experiencing was from him. He poored out his grace upon them and their cups were overflowing. Unless you have a better way of explaining this. (John 20:21,22) 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Michael,
Thank you. The main point of the article was to reveal that Pentecost was a Jewish feast day and that it had nothing to do with the birth of the Church or Gentiles. The coming of the Holy Spirit was one more indicator that the New Covenant was beginning and that the nation could have its kingdom if it repented. That was why Peter quoted Joel. The coming of the Holy Spirit was progressive. The disciples clearly received Him in John 20. But as late as Acts 19 there were believers saved under John’s gospel who knew nothing of the Holy Spirit. However, all of Paul’s converts saved under his gospel received the Holy Spirit immediately and were baptized into the Church, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12.13).
Thanks Doctrine, makes sense, as it has been Progressive for myself as well. I Can’t thank you enough for the work you have done on this site! I’m going on a Pilgrim Tour to Israel in June and now so much of my confusion has been cleared up from your work here. I know it will make that trip all the Better! Bless you and looking forward to more of your work!!
Michael,
Thank you. Here’s wishing you a wonderful and enlightening tour.
Don you have said that the mystery started with Paul?? And also the church the body of Christ during the time of Paul?
Paul was our Apostle , but the Mystery did not start with him it was hid within the cross.
Peter was preaching a Kingdom gospel to corporate Israel. The nation rejected it but individuals that did accept it were saved put into the body.
After Paul was persecuting the Church /Jesus Christ He saved him and opened his mind to what he was doing.
Paul was a walking OT and Christ open it up to him.
Jhed,
A secret is something unknown and unrevealed. The risen Christ revealed to Paul truths He had kept secret. The prophets did not know them, the Twelve did not, and Jesus did not reveal them in His earthly ministry. No one taught salvation by faith alone before Paul. Nor the Church, the body of Christ, nor that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead for our salvation, nor the blinding of Israel, nor the Rapture. These were all kept secret by God until the risen Christ revealed them the Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles.
I have come to believe that Christ fulfilled the first three feasts only. The fourth feast, as described in Leviticus did not mirror what happened during the upper room event in Acts. The upper room event mirrored Exodus 19. God gave the Jews the Law on that day and in Acts He gave the Jews the new Law of Grace in their hearts. I see Revelation 14:1-5 as the fulfillment of the fourth feast described in Leviticus. Christ on Mt Sion the heavenly temple on earth with the 144000 Jews who are the first fruits of the wheat harvest redeemed from men. Two leavened wheat loaves, one waved to God and one to the Lamb. I also noted that Christ left the earth ten days before the upper room event, meaning He wasn’t on earth to fulfill anything which He must do while on earth.
If I understand correctly;
Spring Feasts:
– Jesus was crucified on Passover
– Rested in the grave on the Sabbath
– Rose on First Fruits
– The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost
Fall Feasts (speculated meanings)
– Jesus is to return on the Feast of Trumpets
– National Israel will accept Jesus on the Day of Atonement
– God will dwell with mankind on the Feast of Tabernacles
What I don’t understand is why Christianity would throw off these Feasts under the guise of legalism when they all point to Jesus the Messiah?
10th man,
The Feasts belong to Israel, not the Church. They are part of God’s covenant, prophetic program with Israel. The Church is a creation of God’s grace. Paul is the founder of the Church by virtue of the Abrahamic Covenant of which Paul was proxy Israel. All Church doctrine comes from Paul’s letters.
Matt 16:14-15
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
I am confused what was Jesus talking about here, who he is and what is he going to do
Matt 16:16-19
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
You made the statement that these Jews did not know anything about the church. ?
Billy,
The word ἐκκλησία “church” is only used twice in the Gospels: Matthew 16.18, 18.17. The word ἐκκλησία means an assembly of people. The particular meaning of the word depends upon context. For example, see Acts 19.32, 39, 41. Each of these verses uses the word ἐκκλησία and would be better translated “mob,” “court,” “crowd.” The Church, the body of Christ, is that organism in which there is no Jew or Gentile and both are equal in Christ. This was not the “church” Jesus spoke of the Peter. This is clearly seen in Matthew 18.17. The idea of Jew and Gentile being equal in Christ was unknown until the risen Christ revealed this truth to Paul. This is why Peter did not address Gentiles at Pentecost. The “church” Jesus spoke of to Peter was all Jewish. See my article, Paul: Chief of Sinners? The Church, the body of Christ, was a secret revealed to Paul.
Hi Don,
I have a question regarding salvation. God’s heart is to restore all to Himself. ‘ For God so Loved the world …’
At present it would seem so few are actually saved. Surely Christ’s death on the cross for the remission of sins should have been a huge success.
God knew man’s heart was wicked and each were dead in their trespasses and sins. So why did Adam’s grievous action affect all mankind and Christ’s has not?
Any thoughts on why there is only remnants saved and why the way is narrow.
Surely no man would choose God without having his eyes opened?
Many thanks
Sue,
God desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2.3-7). The only reason all are not saved is because they do not wish to be. The essential nature of love is free will. Love can be commanded but not forced. We inherit a fallen nature from Adam based on the choice he made. We inherit a new nature from Christ based upon the choice we make. Christ’s death for our sins and His resurrection satisfied God’s justice. But for Christ’s work to be effective for the individual, the individual has to choose to depend upon Christ’s work. The Biblical record is that the vast majority do not want God. Most wish to remain separated from God (Romans 1.18-32, John 1.9, Titus 2.11). My article, For Whom Did Christ Die? might be helpful.
Don,
In foot-note 8, the fifth sentence should probably read, “Paul did not baptize them again.” Charles Baker deals with the questions about these disciples in his commentary on Acts, pg. 119-121 and gives more detail on them; that these disciples saying that they did know whether there was a Holy Spirit is an absurd statement, being disciples of John, they could not have been ignorant of the Holy Spirit. (He also points out that most modern translations have followed the mistaken translation of the KJV here.)
Going back to the paragraph that foot-note 8 was taken from: I agree with you that during the transition God saved people under both the prophetic and mystery programs at the same time, but I think God could have continued saving men and women under the prophetic program through the Acts period – and possibly up until the destruction of the Temple – when Judiastic type of Christianity had to cease. So from the Council in Acts 15, when a determination was made, it could have taken a few years for the full implementation. Otherwise why would Paul still appeal to the Jews to accept Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) in both Acts 18 & 28?
Finally, in the paragraph
Rob,
These believers were ignorant of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They had been water baptized by John. The gospel question was settled at the Council of Jerusalem. Prior to this there were two gospels, the gospel of the kingdom and Paul’s gospel by which one could be saved. After the Council, only Paul’s gospel remained. See my article, The Great Hinge. The problem for the Jews was that they would not recognize Jesus as the Christ. This was Paul’s thrust with them. They first had to understand this before believing He died for their sins and rose from the dead (for sin) made sense.
Heresy. Sounds deep, but very false. Theological error at its best. Concerning first Cor 13:8, anybody can go to the middle of the bible, to the middle of a book, to the middle of a chapter, to the middle of a verse and take scripture out of context. That is what you have done. If the Tongues have ceased, then Knowledge has to all so be passed away; non-existent. Anyone can see that knowledge has not passed away. You cannot be serious. As a matter of fact Knowledge has increased dramatically in this age like never before. Therefore, neither has the Gift of Tongues ceased nor has prophesy been done away with, because knowledge has not ceased. See how dumb your theory is? . You are in error. All these things will eventually cease when we are reunited with Jesus Christ in the Millennial Kingdom and eventually into eternity, but not yet. Stop teaching people these lies and stop taking scripture out of context. 1Cor 13 is a chapter about love, it is not about not the Gift of Tongues or Prophesy. If you are going to teach people, keep scripture within the context of its intended meaning. What you have done is committed heresy.
Mona,
Paul was writing about gifts. Thus, Paul wrote the gift of knowledge, the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues would cease. All have. No one exercises the gifts of tongues, prophecy, or knowledge today. The Scripture does not err.
1. If we have then seen people who practice these gifts, would it then mean that they haven’t ceased yet?
2. This is unrelated but, what do we make of a passage like Mal 2:1&2?
We should obviously thank God always, but the reason why we should in this passage is very harsh
Tomi,
1. If the Scriptures say these gifts have ceased, then their exercise is not from the power of God. 2. Basically, what God meant here was that if the priests did not do their jobs that He would curse them. The threat of judgment to the nation throughout the Old Testament was of foreign invasion, whereby the people would be conquered by Gentiles and become subservient to them.
Thank-you..
The thing is, the people I know that exercise these gifts, especially prophecy, preach the gospel. They proclaim the gospel in sincerity. They win souls for Christ by these “gifts”. They stand with Christ and are even persecuted for their stance. It’s puzzling
The Bible said they will cease, yes, but didn’t specify when.. Paul said when the perfect comes. Why can’t that be interpreted as when Jesus comes back for His church?
Tomi,
Paul wrote sign gifts would cease when “the perfect” (τὸ τέλειον) came. The adjective means something that has reached its intended goal. The the time Paul wrote Corinthians he saw “through a glass darkly” that is, he had not yet received all the secrets God was going to reveal to him. When that occurred the sign gifts would cease. In his prison epistles, Paul began using the word ἐπίγνωσις “full knowledge” differently than he had before, indicating that God’s revelation of secrets was complete. Paul also wrote that God’s purpose for him was to complete the Scriptures (Colossians 1.25). So the Bible specifies when these gifts ceased. The gift of healing ceased with the Twelve before it did with Paul because James says so. And the last time Paul exercised this gift was on Malta before he got to Rome. I cover this subject in some detail in my book on Paul. Those who “practice” these “gifts” deceive themselves and deceive others.
Mona,
Only speaking of context here … Chapter breaks in the Bible were put there by men… Have you read the verses directly prior to chapter 13?
1 Corinthians 12:30 KJV — Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 — But covet earnestly the best gifts: AND YET SHEW I UNTO YOU A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.
1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV — Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal….
1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV — And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
In the context Paul is and has been discussing “gifts” for the entirety of chapter 12.
So…what is the more excellent way Paul is discussing?
Philippians 1:9 KJV — And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 — That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
11— Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
The scriptures define themselves.
1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV — Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Thank you for your thought provoking rticles which encourage us to search the Scriptures. You comment that “Peter knew nothing about God’s salvation based upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, of salvation by faith alone apart from works, of the significance of the blood of Christ,” However in Luke 24:44-46. The disciples were given understanding of the work of the Cross -The Scriptures Opened:
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, [l]and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Scripture clearly states that the disciples were given understanding of the necessity of Christs death on the Cross? Should we say that they didnt fully understand if Scripture clearly states they did?
Denise,
Thank you. Read the passage again. Where does Jesus say salvation is based upon believing in His death and resurrection for salvation? Jesus told them it was necessary for Him to suffer and then rise from the dead. He told them repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached to all nations. The gospel of the kingdom required one to believe Jesus was the Christ. The fact He had risen from the dead meant He was alive and was the true Messiah. Read Acts 2.36-38. Did Peter tell the Jews that to have their sins forgiven they must believe Christ died on the cross for them and rose from the dead? No, Peter told the Jews that they had crucified the Christ not that He had died for them. When they asked what they should do, he told them to repent of this crime and be baptized to receive the forgiveness of sins. If you read Acts 3, you’ll see the same thing. The good news that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead and that by believing this one has forgiveness of sins is Paul’s gospel. This is not what Peter or the other Eleven proclaimed. They continued to preach the gospel of the kingdom—until the Council of Jerusalem. This is the subject of my article, The Great Hinge.
Don, don’t know if you have heard this, but there are Christians who believe we will soon have another Pentecost. Thoughts?
Craig,
Haven’t hear this. Is any Biblical evidence given for this idea?
This is what some are teaching concerning Pentecost: The Feast of Pentecost arrived this year on June 9th and provides a perfect picture of the Rapture of the Church in so many different ways. The Church was birthed on a Pentecost. The Jewish people believe that Pentecost is the day the fruit of the trees is judged. King David was born and died on Pentecost. According to tradition, Enoch was born and then raptured on Pentecost. The Law was given at Mt Sinai on Pentecost and 3,000 people died. Peter preached the Gospel on Pentecost and 3,000 people were saved! A perfect picture of Law and Grace. The rapture will take place on a future Pentecost.
Craig,
Such teaching is just one more example of mixing Israel with the Church. Paul stated the Rapture was a secret. The feasts, covenants, etc. were not secrets. Unless one recognizes the Church was a secret which began with Paul, one will remain hopelessly confused. The idea the Church began at Pentecost has no Scriptural basis. What occurred at Pentecost was the advent of the Holy Spirit. That was a promise God gave to Israel with the New Covenant. That was not a promise to the Church. Peter addressed Jews, not Gentiles at Pentecost. He had no understanding of Gentiles salvation. His focus was upon having Israel repent from the crime of murdering their Messiah. One can only wonder if those who maintain the Church began at Pentecost have ever read Acts 2. There’s no Church language in the account.
Don can we say that “the new testament” (man made terminology) is actually “The New Covenant” and that began with the infilling of the Holy Spirit’s advent in the upper room? Or did it begin 1 Corinthuans 15:11 when Peter confirmed Paul’s gospel? Is Revelations a continuation of the old testament and the new testament ends with the rapture or am I splitting hairs? Your thoughts
Donna,
New Testament is an unfortunate title since God only gave covenants. Technically, the New covenant began at Pentecost but will not be fulfilled until the earthly kingdom. Revelation continues God’s covenant and prophetic program. The New covenant belongs to God’s covenant and prophetic program. Interestingly, James, Peter, John, and Jude never mention it. Members of the Church experience its chief provisions, forgiveness of sins and indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul declared he was a minister of it for he was proxy Israel.
Don, who were the Proselytes in Acts 2? Can’t be gentiles.
Craig,
Yes, they were Gentiles. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4339&t=KJV.
Excellent article thank you Don ( from one who has received much harassment to speak in tongues)
One question:
You said “Lastly, we should note that when one is saved by believing Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) he is immediately indwelt, baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ”
How would one know (again from one who has answered multiple alter calls) exactly when one “believes”?.
For me “belief” has been a long gradual process – so how would I pinpoint the critical moment?
Annie,
Belief or unbelief is binary. One either believers or one does not. If one places his trust for salvation in Christ’s death for his sins and His resurrection, one “believes” and one is saved. Satan will cast doubt on this—did I believe enough?, did I believe right?, etc. But this is a deceit. It is the work of Christ that saves. It is not belief that saves. So, the question is, do you believe Christ paid for your sins and rose from the dead? If so, rest in that work. I may tremble on the rock but the rock never trembles under me.
The Gospel of grace is true whether we believe it or not. We can place our faith in it because it IS true. Our faith does not MAKE it true. God sent his Son into the world to save it, not to condemn it. If the truth of the Gospel is dependent upon our faith, then we are all stuck in various “stages” of salvation and can never have the full assurance of sonship.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Our job is to tell people what he did – to spread the good news.
God has said that he saved us. Do we believe him? People who believe this truth are “saved” and those who don’t are “lost.” We need to re-examine those terms in light of the cross.
CPB,
Yes. Faith is a preceptor and receptor. It perceives that which cannot be reasoned or sensed and accepts what God has revealed.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. To say that there is a baptism by Christ at Pentecost and a baptism by the Spirit later is not true. Jesus also told Peter, “Upon this rock (Peter’s saying that Jesus is Messiah/Christ) I will build my church.” Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 brought saving knowledge and repentance to those 3000 saved that day.
Bill,
Ephesians 4.5 was true when Paul wrote Ephesians. Before this, there was water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism was required for salvation under the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus was not speaking of the Church, the body of Christ, in Matthew 16.18. Why? Because Paul wrote that the Church was a secret the risen Lord revealed to him and that the Church began with him. See my articles, The Church (the Body of Christ) and Paul: Chief of Sinners?
The scriptures plainly say “‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out my spirit on ALL MANKIND…” This reference to ALL MANKIND means both Jew and Gentile. John the Baptist had likewise said “And all humanity will see God’s salvation.” (Luke 3:6)
Some time later we find the conversion of the gentile Cornelius (Acts 10).
It seems clear to me that the Outpouring of the Spirit began at Jerusalem, and to the Jews….soon spread to the Gentiles…and to the very ends of the earth.
Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify of Him, that THROUGH HIS NAME EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM RECEIVES FORGIVENESS OF SINS. 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit JUST AS WE DID, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Peter at this point understood the Gospel of Salvation, and I am quite sure that this was not the first time that Peter understood it. I guess you may say this is still a transition from Gods Kingdom plan to the Church age, but I see no reason to believe it. Jesus from the beginning was ‘to save His people from their sins’. He was/is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus forgave people of their sins on at least 3 occasions before Pentecost. I do not believe that there was a Jewish Messiah and a then a Gentile Savior. He was and is…both. God Bless you in Christ.
ARC,
These were Old Testament prophetic promises. Throughout the OT, God promised Gentiles would be blessed by Jews. But nothing in the OT declared God would create an organism composed of Jew and Gentile, equal in Christ, saved by faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Peter had no idea what had happened at the house of Cornelius. He and all with him were shocked. And when they got back to Jerusalem those there berated him for going. It is clear that Peter and the rest were not proclaiming salvation by faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for salvation for just a few chapters later, in Acts 15, Paul had to go to Jerusalem and defend his ministry. If they were all preaching the same thing, no council would have been necessary. See my article, The Great Hinge.
Acts 2:16 “No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel”. Surely it is plain that Acts 2 is the FULFILLMENT of the Old Testament promise of the Spirit. That is exactly what Peter says.
While Peter did not anticipate the inclusion of the gentiles in this ‘new covenant’, he had been prepared for it and he is cautious that he does not demand circumcision of these new gentile ‘Christians’. That controversy does come along a bit later at the Jerusalem council. What else did Peter demand of the Cornelius and the gentiles, other than belief and baptism? Peter preaches the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord….and the resultant forgiveness of sins. His theology was evolving, but God was bringing him along in due season.
The beginning of the ‘church’ is synchronized with Daniel’s 69/70 week ‘gap’. While there is a transitionary aspect ongoing even until the destruction of the Temple circa 70 AD, it was primarily to do with how the Jews misunderstood the ‘new covenant’ as a ‘dual covenant’. Your theology would lead to believe that the Jews were/are ‘saved’ differently in the ‘church age’. Cornelius was proof that Jews and Gentiles were ‘saved’ in the exact same way….and that ‘way’ began at Pentecost according to Peter’s quote of the prophet Joel that ‘ALL FLESH’ would receive the Spirit.
Could it be that the theology that you espouse is a way to justify the doctrine that ‘signs and wonders’ ceased with the Apostles and that the Spiritual Gifts ceased with the completion of the ‘Canon’? Paul explicitly instructed the gentile church at Corinth to desire to prophesy and to ‘not forbid tongues’. 1 Cor. 14:39 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” We STILL ‘see through a glass darkly’, and this very dialogue is proof of it. Unity will not come through study of the scriptures without the Spirit leading those who will hear.
ARC,
The New Covenant was a promise God gave Jews. It was the “new covenant” for it would replace the “old covenant,” the Mosaic Law. All the covenants were Jewish. Gentiles were not under them. None of the apostles were evangelizing Gentiles. Peter addressed only Jews at Pentecost. Peter did not proclaim Jesus’ death and resurrection for salvation. Read the account. What did he tell the Jews in Acts 2.36-38? What I have written has nothing to do with “signs.” What I have written comes from what the Scriptures reveal. Paul explicitly declared that the Church, the body of Christ, began with him. To deny this is to deny the Bible. Members of the Church receive the Spirit for Paul became proxy Israel. Paul wrote that he was a minister of the New Covenant. Do your realize Peter, James, John, and Jude never mention the New Covenant? Only Paul. Why? Why did God choose Paul when He had 12 good apostles? If one does not understand this, one cannot begin to understand Church theology.
Hi Don,
I don’t understand your reply here to ARC.
You said the New Covenant was a promise God gave to Jews. So then, why was Paul, a minister to the uncircumcision, a minister of the New Covenant?
Many thx for your patient help.
Annette,
When God established the Abrahamic Covenant, it meant that all Gentile blessing must come through Israel. Israel was supposed to fulfill this (Isaiah 42.6, 49.6; Zechariah 8.20-23). But this required the entire nation to repent, which is what Peter told the Jews at Pentecost. But they refused and later stoned Stephen. Right after this, God saved Paul to be the apostle of the Gentiles. God knew they would not repent and rather than bring on the Tribulation, extended His grace to the Gentiles. The Twelve, therefore, never had a ministry to Gentiles. Paul thus became proxy Israel and served in the three roles Israel was supposed to occupy. Paul became the light to the Gentiles (Acts 13), the minister of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3), and the priest of the Gentiles (Romans 15.16). We become partakers of the New Covenant, the indwelling Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins through Paul’s gospel. Thus, all blessing to the Church and all doctrine of the Church comes through the revelation the risen Lord gave to Paul.
Jesus mentioned the new covenant before Paul ever did. Luke 22:20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out FOR YOU is the new covenant in my blood”.
Was Jesus talking to Jews or Gentiles in Luke 22:20?
As a side note, I’m sure that you are aware that Jewish teachers almost unanimously believe and teach that national Israel was ‘born’ on Pentecost. The vast majority of fundamentalist Christians likewise believe that the church was born on Pentecost. While this does not ‘make’ it true, it is a compelling point. The parallels between Sinai and Pentecost (Acts 2) are substantial. In fact, if this were the ONLY evidence, it would still be compelling. But the evidences are many besides these.
* Both events happened to a newly redeemed people. The Exodus marked the birth of the Israelite nation while the Pentecost events recorded in Acts 2 marked the birth of Christianity.
* Both events involved God’s people receiving a gift-Torah and Spirit.
*In both events the gift was given by God settling on a mountain with the fire of His Spirit
*Both events took place at the same time on the same month
*The Israelites left Egypt on Passover and 40 days later arrived at Sinai. Then Moses went up on a mountain to see God (Mt. Sinai). Ten days later Moses came down with the Torah and the Israelites broke the covenant and 3000 people died as a result. Jesus died on Passover and 40 days later went up on a mountain to see God (Mt. Of Olives). Ten days after Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit came down and 3000 people were saved!
*Fifty days after sacrificing Passover Lamb, the Israelites received a covenant from God. 50 days after sacrificing Jesus, Our Passover Lamb, believers received a new covenant from God.
*Both events had similar sounds and symbols-wind, fire, smoke, voices-the Hebrew word translated thunder in Exodus is “kolot” (Strong’s H6963), which means voices or languages. Think about this in light of the Acts 2 events.
*The fire at Sinai was one fire visible by all; the fire at Pentecost was individual fires on every person. In the event at Mt. Sinai, the people were kept away from the fire, but in Acts, the fire came to the people.
*In both events God gave His Torah (Law) to His People and in both cases He sealed the covenant that He had made with them. At Sinai He gave the Law written by His finger on tablets of stone. At Pentecost, He gave the Law written on Tablets of the Heart.
In both events a mixed multitude of people were represented (Exodus 12:38 & Acts 2:5)13)
*The Torah attempted to change people from the outside (without). The Holy Spirit changes from within. The word “Torah” means teaching and in John 14:26 the Holy Spirit is called the teacher.
I do not hold a bad spirit about this dialogue, but I do find the entire premise that you are promoting to be very, very weak. I cannot but help to believe that this faulty dispensational view that you espouse has the primary purpose of supporting a cessationist brand of theology which is common among fundamental Baptists (of which I was for many years).
ARC,
Your response is long so I’ll make a couple points. Jesus was speaking to Jews in Luke 22.20. It is impossible (and I say this with no exaggeration) for the Church to have begun at Pentecost. Peter addressed only Jews at Pentecost. He did not proclaim Christ’s death and resurrection for salvation. He told the Jews that Christ’s death was a crime they needed to repent of and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Christ’s resurrection meant that He was alive and could be their king. Peter knew nothing of salvation by faith alone or the message of salvation that is necessary to be saved today, i.e., 1 Corinthians 15.1-4. I could give (and have elsewhere) many more more reasons to prove Pentecost was not the beginning of the Church but this should be sufficient. My arguments are weak if you regard the Scriptures as weak. Perhaps that is your view? If you believe the Scriptures mean what they say, then the Church did not begin at Pentecost but with Paul. Until one understands this, one cannot understand Church theology. It is foundational.
While the ‘birthday’ of the Church may seem to be a relatively unimportant ecclesiastical doctrine, it does have bearing on several other issues.
I have posed several facts that clearly show that Peter did preach the Gospel to Corneilus. A baby is not born fully grown, and the Church was not born fully grown either. If a tsunami reaches one coast and then continues to others, it is the same tsunami. The fact that Pentecost fell ‘first’ on the 120 does not separate them from the 3000 saved shortly thereafter.
The Holy Spirit absolutely fell (potentially) on ALL FLESH at Pentecost, and anyone who denies it disregards the plain teaching of scriptures. (I only speak this way because it seems to be something that you use and understand)
For some, particularly the Gentiles, it took a short while for the ‘tsunami’ to reach them. The Spirit convicts, draws and indwells. These are works of the Spirit. Corneilus was convicted and drawn at some point in time before his conversion. He was indwelt and baptized in the Spirit on the day that Peter visited him.
The Gospel ‘tsunami’ began at Jerusalem but it spread to Judea (Corneilus was in Caesaera which is in Judea), and then on to the very ends of the earth. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” – these are the last documented words Jesus spoke to his disciples before he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:8).
1 Cor 12:28 “And God has appointed in the church, FIRST APOSTLES, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues.” Note that this does not say “Apostle” in the singular. Do you believe that there are apostles, like the first apostles, in the church? Do you really believe that Paul was the only ‘church’ apostle?
Your position here is totally untenable IMO. The more I study the scriptures, the weaker your position becomes. Some say that the church was born at the cross. Some say that the church was born during the ministry of John the Baptist (the Landmark Baptist sect that I was once a member of teaches this). A few say that the church began with Paul. The overwhelming majority of New Testament scholars and believers are sure that the church began at Pentecost. I am considered a Pentecostal. The Pentecostal church began at Pentecost.
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For we were all baptized in one spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free, and were all made to drink of one spirit.”
Perhaps whatever church you are a member did began with Paul. God Bless and I’m out of here.
ARC,
It is obvious you have missed everything I have written. And it is also clear that you refuse to read the Scriptures. Of course Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius. But it was the gospel of the kingdom. This was 5-7 years after Pentecost. You write the Holy Spirit fell on everyone. Really? Nero? What about the Jews of Acts 19? They said they didn’t even know about the Holy Spirit. Why do you reject the Scriptures that explicitly state the Church began with Paul? Do you just accept the Scriptures you like and reject the ones you do not like?
Hi Don (and ARC)
Thx for your excellent reply Don.
Without this website my husband & I would still be hopelessly in the dark confusion that is generated by not dividing the scriptures rightly.
And I would still be in the tormenting mindset of Pentecostalism where apparently God decides randomly who will receive the baptism of the H.S. with the evidence of speaking in tongues and who won’t.
That thinking divides the Body of Christ into the haves & have nots – a hideous concept that doesn’t seem to concern those who “have it” because they become, in their minds, superior.
I know people who have nearly gone mad seeking the baptism (of the HS) when instead they could have been seeking a more productive level of faith.
ARC, your comments demonstrate that you don’t appear to understand the earth shaking content of Paul’s unique gospel. It is impossible to found a Christian Church based on an experience.
Only the gospel delivered to Paul by revelation (the Gospel of Grace) can form the platform of Truth necessary for the stable building of a true ecclesia. Hence, Don is correct, no Christian church began at Pentecost.
Where can the ‘gospel’ be found in the OT? By OT I mean before Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Paul in Galatians 1 infers there were at least two at the time of it’s writing. What could the other gospel(s) be? Jesus Christ and the 12 speak of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Paul speaks of ‘My gospel’. Did Peter know Paul’s gospel at the time? No. Not until Acts 15. Belief in Christ’s resurrection for salvation in M,M,L & J was yet unknown so the Gospel of Grace (1 Cor. 15:1-4) did not exist in Peter’s mind. (Luke 18: 30-35 +/-). Did Peter preach the resurrection to Cornelius? Cornelius was a Gentile and Peter was forbidden to approach Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-10 +/-)…..forbidden until this moment. Can a person enter into the Body of Christ (Church) if he is unaware of the mechanics of 1 Cor 15:1-4? We often hear about new families of Amazon natives being found in the jungles of South America….I’m familiar with Romans 1: 18-21. If they look to the sky and understand there is a God but have no bible do they become members of the BOC?
Joe,
Salvation in the OT is somewhat murky. We know that a blood sacrifice was required after Adam’s sin. When God gave Israel the Law, they too were required to offer a blood sacrifice to God. This seems to have be the primary revelation of salvation in the OT. Naaman came to believe in the the God of Israel by his healing. Nebuchadnezzar did too through events in Daniel. The Ninevites heard Jonah’s message and believed it and were saved. Anyone who wishes to be saved will be. God will make it happen. He is not impeded by language, borders, culture, or anything else. Everyone has an equal chance.
Don,
this is how I see it.
Prophecies concerning Gentile salvation through the glorification of Israel would be through the kingdom gospel. But Israel failed their assignment so God arranged another way for the Gentile world…( arranged at a time before the world)… This ‘other way’ is for a given period of time…”until the Gentiles be brou…ght in” (Mystery of the Church age) These modes of salvation could not be the same. One required a robust Israel and the other God’s grace. To Israel a promise is a promise so this suggests there is a time in the future when these prophesies for Israel toward Gentiles will be fulfilled but only after the current dispensation (Church age/Body of Christ) ends. The question is when did this dispensation begin and who was the first (Chief) to present it? Your ‘Why Paul” answers that question. Thank you
Don,
What act by God determined the beginning event for the Church? So many proclaim Pentecost but Paul had not presented “Paul’s” gospel at that time. If Pentecost is the birthday for the Church are there members of the BOC saved by different gospels?
Joe,
See my article, Paul: Chief of Sinners?
Hi Don,
Since the disciples received the Holly Spirit in John 20, does that mean; they received the Holly Spirit twice (John 20 and on the day of pentecost) ?
Gideon,
I can’t be dogmatic about this, but it would seem they did not receive the Spirit twice, i.e., not again at Pentecost.
So, it is clear that you are a cult. You teach much that is contrary to the ‘Doctrine of Christ”.
Vern,
Do you know what the “Doctrine of Christ” is? If so, how is this article contrary to it?
Don,
There was a time in Christ’s adult years when even his brothers didn’t accept him as who he claimed to be. John 7:1-5. Is this why Christ on the cross directed John (non-family) to take care of his (Christ’s) mother? Seems inconceivable that Jesus’s own family didn’t believe…James did become a strong believer. Obviously, it was the resurrection that did it for James. The resurrection is Paul’s message. It’s sad that many, even on this site, desire to only live by the teachings found in Mattthew, Mark, Luke and John and the other non-Pauline letters.