Page 155 - Bible Writers Theology Original

obtained through the use of pure human thoughts and assumptions. We should seek those premises and concepts taught by the Spirit of God. Apparently, the so-called church fathers disagree with Paul. They state specifically they will attempt to create a Christian philosophic system by applying materialistic and naturalistic terms and premises used by previous
Hebrew and Greek philosophers.
Paul states more than once that the words he writes are not his own, but are the direct result of the indwelling of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Likewise he states: "God hath revealed them unto us, by his
Spirit..." (I Corinthians 2:10); "But we have the mind of Christ," (I
Corinthians 2:16); "ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the
truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:20,21); "Let this mind be in you, which was
also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). John reminds us that "...the same anointing teacheth you of all things" (IJohn 2:27).
7.4 What then were the religious people's view concerning Christ while He was on earth, and in the early Christian era?
The Bible tells us that the Jews in the synagogues, astonished by His wis
dom and mighty works, stumbled over Christ, saying, "Is not this the car penter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and
Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things,...And they were offended in
him" (Matthew 13:54-57). Rumors about His identity were circulating: ''Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias,
or one of the prophets" (Matthew 16:14).
Tracing the genealogy of Jesus, Luke wrote, "And Jesus himself began to
lye about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph"
(Luke3:23). Havingusedthewords"aswassupposed",itisclearthatto
Luke, the long genealogy connecting Christ to Adam, was no more than pre vailing Jewish tradition of his day.
No doubt there was much dissension among those who watched him: "And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said. He is a good man" (John 7:12). On one occasion Christ inquired, "Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of these vvorks do ye stone me?" The answer of the Jews was, "...For a good work we
stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, mak- est thyself God" (John 10:32,33).
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