The Biblical Faith Requires Authoritative Creeds

[Arthur81]

The word "Creed" is from the Latin credo, "I believe"; so don't let anyone mislead you with the pious sounding "No Creed but the Bible"! A creed is a " system of belief", and the Bible is not written in systematic form as a systematic theology textbook, so "No Creed but the Bible" is somewhat contradictory in itself. Every man has a creed, self-consistent or not, and it is whether he will confess it or not. The Campbellite Church of Christ claims no creed, but they are hardcore Arminian and teach there is NO salvation without water baptism. Some of the independent, fundamentalist Baptists say no creed but the Bible, yet recommend a particular dispensationalist study Bible. Everyone has a creed, but is it a creed or confession of faith based solidly on orderly statements of Scripture. Merriam-Webster defines it "faith, 3 especially: a system of religious beliefs", in other words a confession of faith or creed. Of course some will quibble over wording that does not effect the main teaching of the creed, or going off on a tangent over the various editions of a creed. You'll always have nitpickers.

(Jud 1:3 NRSVue) "Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once and for all handed on to the saints." *What is "the faith" but the confession of faith handed on. Note, "saints" plural are to contend, it is not an individual's faith, but that given to the saints.

Eph 4:11-14 NRSVue He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; *Pastors and teachers build up "body of Christ" believers, to "the unity of the faith" to protect against every wind of doctrine by tricksters! What is the unity of the faith, but a confession of faith?

In the apostolic age, the immediate, in person teaching of the Apostles themselves was the confession, "the unity of the faith", which was authenticated by miracles. Paul warned of those teaching a gospel contrary to what he had delivered. He commended those maintaining the traditions, 1 Cor. 11:2; stand fast and hold to the traditions taught, 2 Thess. 2:15, etc. Some examples of "confession" used in a way of a confession of faith:

"Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others," (2Cor 9:13 NRSV)

"Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession." (Heb 3:1 RSV)

"Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you" (1Tim 6:12-13 NRSV)

In Jude 3 it was clear the faith once for all delivered, was to the "saints" plural. Paul warned about splitting up the faith into factions led by individuals, 1 Cor. 4:6. Individuals by name are said to have wrecked their faith: Hymenaeus and Alexander in 1 Tim. 1:19; and Philetus in 2 Tim. 2:17-18 where false eschatology is listed as undermining the faith.

Gal 1:23 NRSVue they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.”

1Ti 4:1-2 NRSVue Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

1Ti 6:20-21 NRSVue Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; 21 by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.

2Ti 3:8 NRSVue As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.

Tit 1:10-14 NRSVue There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, “Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth.

The very purpose of the creeds was to formulate and declare true biblical doctrine, the faith, to provide defense against heresies.

The Council of Nicea in 325 was called to bring unity to the faith in the Roman Empire, which faith was being attacked by the heretic Arius, and his teaching that the Son of God was a created being. The Nicene usually used today is the 381 version.

 

[SavedInHim]

Creeds aren't necessary; this is baloney in my opinion.

 

[Behold]

Isn't it a good thing that that all the Church Fathers showed up to explain to God what He needs to understand about "theology".????

No doubt the Almighty was sweating bullets, confused, not understanding why Jesus died on the Cross, and water baptism didnt.

And was there any real Need for Jesus to send Paul to write all the Church doctrine, and most of the NT Epistles.... when the church Fathers, have their own? (Traditions)?

How dare Jesus do that....... What was Jesus thinking......

So....Thank you to all the Heretics and the Church Fathers for revealing to God the Theology that He needed to know so that He could understand who is the "Church", and why.

 

[Randy Kluth]

The word "Creed" is from the Latin credo, "I believe"; so don't let anyone mislead you with the pious sounding "No Creed but the Bible"! A creed is a " system of belief", and the Bible is not written in systematic form as a systematic theology textbook, so "No Creed but the Bible" is somewhat contradictory in itself. Every man has a creed, self-consistent or not, and it is whether he will confess it or not. The Campbellite Church of Christ claims no creed, but they are hardcore Arminian and teach there is NO salvation without water baptism. Some of the independent, fundamentalist Baptists say no creed but the Bible, yet recommend a particular dispensationalist study Bible. Everyone has a creed, but is it a creed or confession of faith based solidly on orderly statements of Scripture. Merriam-Webster defines it "faith, 3 especially: a system of religious beliefs", in other words a confession of faith or creed. Of course some will quibble over wording that does not effect the main teaching of the creed, or going off on a tangent over the various editions of a creed. You'll always have nitpickers.

(Jud 1:3 NRSVue) "Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once and for all handed on to the saints." *What is "the faith" but the confession of faith handed on. Note, "saints" plural are to contend, it is not an individual's faith, but that given to the saints.

Eph 4:11-14 NRSVue He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; *Pastors and teachers build up "body of Christ" believers, to "the unity of the faith" to protect against every wind of doctrine by tricksters! What is the unity of the faith, but a confession of faith?

In the apostolic age, the immediate, in person teaching of the Apostles themselves was the confession, "the unity of the faith", which was authenticated by miracles. Paul warned of those teaching a gospel contrary to what he had delivered. He commended those maintaining the traditions, 1 Cor. 11:2; stand fast and hold to the traditions taught, 2 Thess. 2:15, etc. Some examples of "confession" used in a way of a confession of faith:

"Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others," (2Cor 9:13 NRSV)

"Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession." (Heb 3:1 RSV)

"Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you" (1Tim 6:12-13 NRSV)

In Jude 3 it was clear the faith once for all delivered, was to the "saints" plural. Paul warned about splitting up the faith into factions led by individuals, 1 Cor. 4:6. Individuals by name are said to have wrecked their faith: Hymenaeus and Alexander in 1 Tim. 1:19; and Philetus in 2 Tim. 2:17-18 where false eschatology is listed as undermining the faith.

Gal 1:23 NRSVue they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.”

1Ti 4:1-2 NRSVue Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

1Ti 6:20-21 NRSVue Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; 21 by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.

2Ti 3:8 NRSVue As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.

Tit 1:10-14 NRSVue There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, “Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth.

The very purpose of the creeds was to formulate and declare true biblical doctrine, the faith, to provide defense against heresies.

The Council of Nicea in 325 was called to bring unity to the faith in the Roman Empire, which faith was being attacked by the heretic Arius, and his teaching that the Son of God was a created being. The Nicene usually used today is the 381 version.

Very well done! Some people wish to avoid "intellectual argument" for a number of reasons. They wish to "dumb things down" to where they can claim their experience trumps anybody's intellectual argument, claiming that some, like Pharisees, wish to hide behind a facade of religious doctrine.

But as you note, all belief requires intellectual belief. Those who wish to separate intellectual argument from the experience of faith do so at their peril. The Scriptures are a rule, and they warn us about ignorance, foolishness, and rebellion against sound doctrine.

Yes, Christianity must always be an experience of God by faith. But it is intellectual argument that prevents the corruption of this experience by those who have a warped judgment and wish all people to be so warped.

 

[Behold]

Those who wish to separate intellectual argument from the experience of faith

-
Intellectual argument is the black throne of Atheism.

Also, it can be argued that a creator exists, as everything that exists was created.
Some would discount GOD as creator and would argue that time causes change that makes changes within the preexisting, and springs forth, something new, every few million years, obo.

You know.. "Science says"...

"""An amoeba became a fish that became a lizard that became a dinosaur that became a chicken monkey that fell out of a tree as a man wearing a Rolex, given enough time.., say, about 2 billion years..

So, now getting back to reality.........

= "First Cause", is a great argument for the principle idea of a Creator..
Ive used it a lot, over the years.

But where and why "intellectual studies" can't find God's Salvation, is because God created Salvation to bypass high IQ skills, and that is why God created Salvation, as the offer to save everyone in the world, for the last 2000 yrs......based on a Tree, and a Dead Jew's Shed Blood, and giving God faith in this Dead Jew.

See that?
That can't be argued "intellectually", as it wont "fly in the realm of the Intellectuals". .... and that is because it just has to be received by Faith.
And GOD Created Salvation to exist exactly like that,.... so that it can only be attained by a BELIEVER's FAITH.

 

[Arthur81]

Very well done! Some people wish to avoid "intellectual argument" for a number of reasons. They wish to "dumb things down" to where they can claim their experience trumps anybody's intellectual argument, claiming that some, like Pharisees, wish to hide behind a facade of religious doctrine.

But as you note, all belief requires intellectual belief. Those who wish to separate intellectual argument from the experience of faith do so at their peril. The Scriptures are a rule, and they warn us about ignorance, foolishness, and rebellion against sound doctrine.

Yes, Christianity must always be an experience of God by faith. But it is intellectual argument that prevents the corruption of this experience by those who have a warped judgment and wish all people to be so warped.

Randy, also the various creeds declare they are based on Scripture and most creeds and confessions you can find the various proof texts used.

The 39 Articles of the Church of England
VI. "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church."

1646 First London Confession of Faith, Particular Baptists
VIII. "The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship of God, in which is contained the whole duty of man, is (not men’s laws, or unwritten traditions, but) only the word of God contained [viz., written] in the holy Scriptures; in which is plainly recorded whatsoever is needful for us to know, believe, and practice; which are the only rule of holiness and obedience for all saints, at all times, in all places to be observed."

First London Confession of 1646 | Reformed Theology at A Puritan's Mind

(This web site has the proof texts linked to the KJV, just put the cursor over each reference. May depend on browser used.)

Westminster Confession of Faith, Presbyterians
VI. "The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed."
*This paragraph lays out what is called "The Regulative Principle of Worship"

Book of Concord, Comprehensive Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, Lutheran
1. "Since for thorough, permanent unity in the Church it is, above all things, necessary that we have a comprehensive, unanimously approved summary and form wherein is brought together from God’s Word the common doctrine, reduced to a brief compass, which the churches that are of the true Christian religion confess, just as the ancient Church always had for this use its fixed symbols"
3. "First, then, we receive and embrace with our whole heart] the Prophetic and Apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the pure, clear fountain of Israel, which is the only true standard by which all teachers and doctrines are to be judged."

Those who claim the name of Christ, yet do not embrace a Christian confession of faith, are like the greased pigs at the county fair. When they cannot evade the statement of a verse, they merely hop to another verse that superficially seems to contradict the verse in question. They deny what the verse states but cannot give a logical reason how it is being misinterpreted or how they can give reason to deny it.

 

[Behold]

Those who claim the name of Christ, yet do not embrace a Christian confession of faith,

Your "confession of faith'" is Calvinism's doctrine., according to many of your Threads.

However.....That's not "Christianity", that's Calvinism., .. and You dont seem to realize this, @Arthur81 , as you continue to teach "Calvinism". "TULIP".

See, Calvinism : TULIP.....is a "doctrine of Devils", and nothing more, and nothing less.

Calvinists and TULIP people.... confuse Calvinism and TULIP with Christianity, constantly, .......as that is what CALVIN created HIS Calvinism to accomplish.

He's certainly got you HOOKED. @Arthur81

 

[Eternally Grateful]

why does it require creeds?

Creeds are words of men. Where as scripture is the inspired word of God.

should we not base our faith in the trustyworthy words of God and not the fallible words of men?

 

[Arthur81]

Your "confession of faith'" is Calvinism's doctrine., according to many of your Threads.

However.....That's not "Christianity", that's Calvinism., .. and You dont seem to realize this, @Arthur81 , as you continue to teach "Calvinism". "TULIP".

See, Calvinism : TULIP.....is a "doctrine of Devils", and nothing more, and nothing less.

Calvinists and TULIP people.... confuse Calvinism and TULIP with Christianity, constantly, .......as that is what CALVIN created HIS Calvinism to accomplish.

He's certainly got you HOOKED. @Arthur81

Explain why these 2 verses don't mean what they clearly state! Your constant attacks on the gospel are going come back on you one day.

"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48 KJV)

"The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (Rev 17:8 KJV)

 

[Randy Kluth]

Randy, also the various creeds declare they are based on Scripture and most creeds and confessions you can find the various proof texts used.

The 39 Articles of the Church of England
VI. "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church."

1646 First London Confession of Faith, Particular Baptists
VIII. "The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship of God, in which is contained the whole duty of man, is (not men’s laws, or unwritten traditions, but) only the word of God contained [viz., written] in the holy Scriptures; in which is plainly recorded whatsoever is needful for us to know, believe, and practice; which are the only rule of holiness and obedience for all saints, at all times, in all places to be observed."

First London Confession of 1646 | Reformed Theology at A Puritan's Mind

(This web site has the proof texts linked to the KJV, just put the cursor over each reference. May depend on browser used.)

Westminster Confession of Faith, Presbyterians
VI. "The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed."
*This paragraph lays out what is called "The Regulative Principle of Worship"

Book of Concord, Comprehensive Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm, Lutheran
1. "Since for thorough, permanent unity in the Church it is, above all things, necessary that we have a comprehensive, unanimously approved summary and form wherein is brought together from God’s Word the common doctrine, reduced to a brief compass, which the churches that are of the true Christian religion confess, just as the ancient Church always had for this use its fixed symbols"
3. "First, then, we receive and embrace with our whole heart] the Prophetic and Apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the pure, clear fountain of Israel, which is the only true standard by which all teachers and doctrines are to be judged."

Those who claim the name of Christ, yet do not embrace a Christian confession of faith, are like the greased pigs at the county fair. When they cannot evade the statement of a verse, they merely hop to another verse that superficially seems to contradict the verse in question. They deny what the verse states but cannot give a logical reason how it is being misinterpreted or how they can give reason to deny it.

Perfect! I like County Fairs, but I'm not sure I like greased pigs that well...

 

[Randy Kluth]

-
Intellectual argument is the black throne of Atheism.

Also, it can be argued that a creator exists, as everything that exists was created.
Some would discount GOD as creator and would argue that time causes change that makes changes within the preexisting, and springs forth, something new, every few million years, obo.

You know.. "Science says"...

"""An amoeba became a fish that became a lizard that became a dinosaur that became a chicken monkey that fell out of a tree as a man wearing a Rolex, given enough time.., say, about 2 billion years..

So, now getting back to reality.........

= "First Cause", is a great argument for the principle idea of a Creator..
Ive used it a lot, over the years.

But where and why "intellectual studies" can't find God's Salvation, is because God created Salvation to bypass high IQ skills, and that is why God created Salvation, as the offer to save everyone in the world, for the last 2000 yrs......based on a Tree, and a Dead Jew's Shed Blood, and giving God faith in this Dead Jew.

See that?
That can't be argued "intellectually", as it wont "fly in the realm of the Intellectuals". .... and that is because it just has to be received by Faith.
And GOD Created Salvation to exist exactly like that,.... so that it can only be attained by a BELIEVER's FAITH.

I agree. However, I could say that even Christ's Cross and Death on the Tree is a rational way of dealing with human sin. To forgive sin one must 1st experience sin, or be the victim of sin.

So the Gospel is not anti-intellectual--it's just that intellectual assent does not insure Salvation, and yes--men with a high IQ use rational argument and intellect to disprove the Christian faith.

I think that God intentionally exposed the foolishness of the wise by doing things that appears unseemly to them--things like putting mud in a blind man's eyes before healing his blindness, things like marching around Jericho and then expecting the walls to fall down.

Obedience is greater than cause and effect in science. God transcends science, and only wants our obedience. I think we're pretty much on the same page?

I like the "1st Cause" argument too. The only "Uncaused Cause" I can conceive of would be God. We can choose to either believe in Him or not. Either way, we still have to *obey Him!*

And one thing I know we can agree on. To obey Him is to *have faith.* It is faith that saves, and it is faith that leads to obedience.

 

[Behold]

I agree. However, I could say that even Christ's Cross and Death on the Tree is a rational way of dealing with human sin.

A God you can't see, sent a JEWISH Virgin born Son you've never seen, to be nailed to a tree,...... to bleed and die, for "sin",..... which The God you've never seen said was separating you from Him,= because of Adam, whom you've never seen, caused the fall of us all into sin.

C'mon Randy

ALL THAT... is exactly the TRUTH, but is not intellectual truth, its not human- rational truth, and that it is very unusual is to say the least.

That God the Creator, can't be connected to a HUMAN, without blood and death and OUR Faith. is a "say what".. when the intellect tries to figure it out.

Even the fact that "sin" exists....... having to understand that we have to understand that.. .and that God requires BLOOD to purge sin...

ALL of this, is not found as rational thought or intellectual content, because All of this has to do with Spiritual Realm, yet its grounded in the Physical-Natural realm.. that is regarding the Human Race.

Its MYSTICAL, is what it is, and that is beyond Human IQ, because that is GOD STUFF, and we are just humans with a bit of knowledge, at best.

Even God knows all this is going to be foolish to the intellectual and rational and LOGICAL thought process.

Notice......"It pleased God by the FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING, to save those who BELIEVE".

And so, You have to BELIEVE IT by FAITH, and FAITH is not "how to figure it out, logically".

So the Gospel is not anti-intellectual--

A 2000 Yr old DEAD JEW, shed His blood and died, so that you can go to Heaven.

Once again, this is not related to the intellectual realm, or Logical Thought Process.

 

[Arthur81]

View attachment 46866

"Were ordained" is a Passive voice verb, they did this for themselves.


"not written" is the Perfect Tense, meaning that these names did not remain written. The Saved remain written, the others are removed.

Much love!

I'll just rebut your ignorance of the Greek on Acts 13:48 by true scholars. Even in English, Merriam-Webster defines it thus: "passive - acted upon by an external agency"

I certainly do not give any credence to unknowns on the Internet for their knowledge of NT Greek. But, for the real scholars -

Heinrich Meyer Greek Scholar
Acts 13:48 ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον] as many of them as were ordained to eternal (Messianic) life. Luke regards, in accordance with the Pauline conception (Romans 9; Eph 1:4-5; Eph 1:11; Eph 3:11; 2Th 2:13, al.), the believing of those Gentiles as ensuing in conformity to their destination, ordered by God already (namely, from of old), to partake of eternal life. Not all in general became believers, but all those who were divinely destined to this ζωή; and not the rest.

Abbott-Smith's Manual Greek Lexicon
primarily, in military sense, then generally, to draw up in order, arrange in place, assign, appoint, order: c. dat. (acc) et inf. (Bl., § 72, 5), Act 15:2; Act 18:2 (διατ-, WH) Act 22:10; ἑαυτούς, 1Co 16:15; pass., Mat 8:9 (T [WH], R, txt., om.), Luk 7:8, Rom 13:1; ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον (perh. in mid. sense; v. EGT and Page, in l), Act 13:48; mid.,, to appoint for oneself or by one's own authority, Mat 28:16, Act 28:23.†

BDAG
D. 126, 5 ὑπὸ τῷ πατρί).—τάσσειν τινά εἰς assign someone to a (certain) classification, used also w. an abstract noun (Pla., Rep. 2, 371c, Polit. 289e), pass. belong to, be classed among those possessing ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον Ac 13:48

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
εἰς τήν δουλείαν, Xenophon, mem. 2, 1, 11); ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωήν αἰώνιον, as many as were appointed (A.V. ordained) (by God) to obtain eternal life, or to whom God had decreed eternal life, Act 13:48

Also, you can use www.biblegateway.com and look at many translations and you'll have a hard time trying to find a translation following your idea for a translation.

 

[marks]

"passive - acted upon by an external agency"

You are right. Stupid mistake! I'm not having a good day! Sorry! I mixed it with reflexive/middle voice!

Much love!

 

[Behold]

"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48 KJV)

What your verse is explaining... is the "foreknowledge of God", = revealing them to be : "in Christ".

They are "pre-known" by God, as those who will believe..
In other words, God knows before we are born, WHO is going to give God their Faith in Christ, and who isn't.

HE Fore-knows this, about us all..

What Calvin did, was redefine "fore-knows", "foreknowledge"..= as "pre-destined" "pre-chosen"... and then created a hyper false theology that tries to pre-destine everything, ......yet the Bible does not. Its just Fore-Knows it, as REVELATION.,

Simplified...

God has eternal revelation about everything....... He always Knows what is going to happen next about everything....as that is God's eternal Fore-Knowing power. = God's FORE-Knowledge". (Knowledge of all that will happen next, before it happens next)

Calvin redefined God's foreknowing... as "God causes it all".... And that falsely redefines "Foreknowledge" as "fore-causing" or "predestining".. '"pre-choosing".

And That is John Calvin's LIE that is the Core Satanic ROT that misinforms all the other parts of His Cross Rejecting Theology, that is a "doctrine of Devils". Hebrews 13:9

 

[Arthur81]

A God you can't see, sent a JEWISH Virgin born Son you've never seen, to be nailed to a tree,...... to bleed and die, for "sin",..... which The God you've never seen said was separating you from Him,= because of Adam, whom you've never seen, caused the fall of us all into sin.

C'mon Randy

ALL THAT... is exactly the TRUTH, but is not intellectual truth, its not human- rational truth, and that it is very unusual is to say the least.

That God the Creator, can't be connected to a HUMAN, without blood and death and OUR Faith. is a "say what".. when the intellect tries to figure it out.

Even the fact that "sin" exists....... having to understand that we have to understand that.. .and that God requires BLOOD to purge sin...

ALL of this, is not found as rational thought or intellectual content, because All of this has to do with Spiritual Realm, yet its grounded in the Physical-Natural realm.. that is regarding the Human Race.

Its MYSTICAL, is what it is, and that is beyond Human IQ, because that is GOD STUFF, and we are just humans with a bit of knowledge, at best.

Even God knows all this is going to be foolish to the intellectual and rational and LOGICAL thought process.

Notice......"It pleased God by the FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING, to save those who BELIEVE".

And so, You have to BELIEVE IT by FAITH, and FAITH is not "how to figure it out, logically".



A 2000 Yr old DEAD JEW, shed His blood and died, so that you can go to Heaven.

Once again, this is not related to the intellectual realm, or Logical Thought Process.

Behold, you preach anything you wish, because you do not base it on the word of God. About the logical thought process in the faith -

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable/logikos service. (Rom 12:1 KJV)

The Greek logikos means "rational". The word is used only twice in the other is:

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word/logikos, that ye may grow thereby: (1Pet 2:2 KJV)

As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation: (1Pet 2:2 DRC)

Check the etymology of "logic" and you'll find logikos in that listing.

 

[Behold]

Behold, you preach anything you wish, because you do not base it on the word of God.

You obsessively preach and teach and Idolize John Calvinism + TULIP, so you are already disqualified as you try to parade yourself about as a NT authority, @Arthur81


Also...I was not "preaching", so, again you are confused.

I was explaining to Randy K that this message ...."God sending a virgin born Jew to be nailed to a tree, and bleed and die and be raised from the DEAD, so that God can rejoin himself spiritually to the human race"......... is not an intellectual concept.

And that GOSPEL, is called "foolishness" in the NT.

Let me show you ..

"it pleased GOD.... that by the FOOLISHNESS of PREACHING (The Cross, The Gospel).. .(the dead Jew, virgin born, + Cross slain story)... To SAVE everyone who will BELIEVE">.

 

[Arthur81]

What your verse is explaining... is the "foreknowledge of God", = revealing them to be : "in Christ".

They are "pre-known" by God, as those who will believe..
In other words, God knows before we are born, WHO is going to give God their Faith in Christ, and who isn't.

HE Fore-knows this, about us all..

What Calvin did, was redefine "fore-knows", "foreknowledge"..= as "pre-destined" "pre-chosen"... and then created a hyper false theology that tries to pre-destine everything, ......yet the Bible does not. Its just Fore-Knows it, as REVELATION.,

Simplified...

God has eternal revelation about everything....... He always Knows what is going to happen next about everything....as that is God's eternal Fore-Knowing power. = God's FORE-Knowledge". (Knowledge of all that will happen next, before it happens next)

Calvin redefined God's foreknowing... as "God causes it all".... And that falsely redefines "Foreknowledge" as "fore-causing" or "predestining".. '"pre-choosing".

And That is John Calvin's LIE that is the Core Satanic ROT that misinforms all the other parts of His Cross Rejecting Theology, that is a "doctrine of Devils". Hebrews 13:9

Your exegesis of Acts 13:48 is pure nonsense. Foreknowledge is not in this context at all. Even one of the best Methodist/Arminian writers, Adam Clarke does not try to evade the verse using "foreknowledge". In Rom. 8:29 it is "whom he foreknew", NOT "what he foreknew". Remember Jesus' words, "I never knew you: depart from me", Matt. 7:23.

The BDAG says the "foreknew" means: "choose beforehand τινά someone Ro 8:29"

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Your exegesis of Acts 13:48 is pure nonsense. Foreknowledge is not in this context at all. Even one of the best Methodist/Arminian writers, Adam Clarke does not try to evade the verse using "foreknowledge". In Rom. 8:29 it is "whom he foreknew", NOT "what he foreknew". Remember Jesus' words, "I never knew you: depart from me", Matt. 7:23.

The BDAG says the "foreknew" means: "choose beforehand τινά someone Ro 8:29"

who did he know before hand and why?

scripture has to not contradict itself.

 

[Arthur81]

You obsessively preach and teach and Idolize John Calvinism + TULIP, so you are already disqualified as you try to parade yourself about as a NT authority, @Arthur81


Also...I was not "preaching", so, again you are confused.

I was explaining to Randy K that this message ...."God sending a virgin born Jew to be nailed to a tree, and bleed and die and be raised from the DEAD, so that God can rejoin himself spiritually to the human race"......... is not an intellectual concept.

And that GOSPEL, is called "foolishness" in the NT.

Let me show you ..

"it pleased GOD.... that by the FOOLISHNESS of PREACHING (The Cross, The Gospel).. .(the dead Jew, virgin born, + Cross slain story)... To SAVE everyone who will BELIEVE">.

"As God in his wisdom ordained, the world failed to find him by its wisdom, and he chose by the folly of the gospel to save those who have faith." (1Cor 1:21 REB)

"for, seeing in the wisdom of God the world through the wisdom knew not God, it did please God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those believing." (1Cor 1:21 YLT)

Who is that is believing? Those who received the GIFT of faith, of believing. Those are those chosen by God.

"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;" (Phil 1:29 KJV)

Who are those who do not believe?

"But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (John 10:26-27 KJV)