The Gentile Question (Part 5 - Again)

 

I have written a discussion on the Gentile question, but have had some technical difficulties with the posting, which I hope are resolved.  Bryan had to renew the Dusty Disciple account, which I guess expires periodically.  I noticed a number of posts were returning to my email address as undeliverable.  Please visit the blog to read parts 4 and 5 if you are interested.  The question is fascinating to me because I think the understanding of the church is incorrectly bent toward a "faith verses works" mentality, when the real question was whether or not a Gentile needed to become a proselyte to participate in the promises given to Abraham.  Up to this point the discussion sub-headings have been:

 
+ The Gentile Question
+ Go to All the Nations
+ Paul's Gospel for the Gentiles...In Christ
+ Paul's Gospel in the Jewish World
+ Paul's Gospel in the Early Church
  
The remaining chapters are:
  
+ The Determination of the Elders In Jerusalem
+ A Continuing Dispute for the Sake of Heaven



 THE DETERMINATION OF THE ELDERS IN JERUSALEM
   

As a direct consequence of the dispute between Paul and Peter, “the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas…should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue,” (Acts 15:2), and speak with those of “high reputation” (Gal 2:6). Along with Barnabas, Paul brought Titus (Gal 2:3), to the elders to press the question of circumcision for Gentile believers. Either Paul needed someone to watch the suitcases while he and Barnabas went into the temple, or Paul had an ulterior motive. If the elders were going to require circumcision of Gentile believers, they were going to begin by telling Titus face to face.

 

When Paul and Barnabas stood before the Jerusalem Council they related the signs and wonders God had done through them. However, and largely overlooked, it was the words of Peter, not Paul, that carried the day and formed the basis for James’ decision. “Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. With this the words of the Prophets agree…Therefore it is my judgement that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,” (Acts 15:13-19).

 

Peter does not receive the credit he deserves for listening to Paul. Peter heard Paul criticism, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentles and not like the Jews” (Gal 2:14), and reformulated it to tell the elders not to place the Gentiles under “A yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10). We can only surmise what would have happened if Peter’s anger had kept him from hearing the message behind Paul criticism.

 

The Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 determined that Gentile believers would not be under the same obligation to the commandments as their Jewish brethren. Further, The council recognized that Paul “had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised…and recognizing the grace that had been give to me, James and Peter and John…gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles,” (Gal 2:6-9).

 

Paul received a “commission” from the elders to the Gentiles and would hereafter, refer to himself as “the apostle to the Gentiles,” (Rom 11:13). Further, the decision of Acts 15 forever determined, in the words of Paul, that “Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called,” (1 Cor 7:20). Paul and Barnabas, took the letter written by James and the elders back to a group of Gentile believers in Antioch who anxiously waited to find out their fate in the faith.

“When they had read it, they (the congregation) rejoiced because of its encouragement,” (Acts 15:31).

(Scott)