shadmans Musings  

I have written 18 blogs in this series to finally get to what the early church fathers meant when they used the word, ‘tradition.’ Not because it was being put off, but because there was so much ground to cover to get to this point. Although it is important to look at the early church fathers to gain a window into what they believed and taught, first and foremost, one must remember that it is what Scripture says, over and above what the early church fathers said, that matters the most. So, as we saw in Tradition: Oral and Written, 2 Th 2:15, Pt 3 , 2 Th 2:15 does NOT refer to an unknowable set of unwritten extrabiblical ‘traditions’ and supposedly handed down from the Apostles for the last 2000 yrs. Likewise, we also saw in New Testament Meaning of Tradition, Pt 11 , Jesus did not speak favorably towards the ‘traditions’ of the Jews, so it makes little sense that He would institute a new set of ‘traditions’ that were only allowed to be handed down orally, traditions that were never men...

(24) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. (25) Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, (26) that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, (27) to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (28) We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. (29) For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (Col 1:24-29)  Verses 15 through 23 of Colossians 1 concl...

(21) And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, (22) yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — (23) if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. (1:21-23) While the gospel message guarantees eternal life to believers, it is not without ramifications and responsibilities for believers here in this life. God’s purpose is not just to bring us into an eternal relationship with Himself in the eternal future, but into a vital, life transforming fellowship in this life. God is interested in producing a ‘holy people’ who represent Him to the world as ambassadors who live as aliens or sojourners in our present world. However, as with the promise of eternal life, this life-...