Introduction to the Sermon

Part 2: The Jerusalem Council

 

Change was afoot, fueled by the rapid growth of the Gentile church based in Antioch, where converts were first called Christian. Jerusalem had not planned for such a division; and when they heard of it they sent Barnabas, the son of encouragement, to investigate. Impressed by what he found, he stayed on as their leader.

 

Following the success of their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas and the Antioch church were frustrated when certain people came from Jerusalem demanding that Gentiles must first become Jews (including circumcision) as the prerequisite to becoming a Christian. To settle the issue, Paul and Barnabas were sent by the Antioch leaders to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for a resolution.

 

It is easy to discuss the issues and the Council in isolation, but that would be a mistake. Luke in his record of the work of the Holy Spirit has been preparing for this point in the narrative from as far back as ch. 10 and the story of Cornelius; and in fact even further back with the selection of Stephen and the other 6 Hellenistic Jews, and Stephen’s sermon in ch. 7. And the underlying issue is how to present the everlasting Gospel to widely divergent cultures. Must the norms and mores of one culture be imposed on another? Or can it be adapted?

 

In preparation, take the time to read the story of Peter and Cornelius (chaps. 10, 11) all the way through. Note how much more time and attention is devoted to this fascinating chain of events than to the call of Saul, for instance. Count how many times the story of Peter and Cornelius is recounted, and the chain of events that unfolds until the point of checkmate at the Jerusalem Council.

 

Change is inevitable, even in the face of the demands of Torah. In the twenty-first century, change is afoot wherever we turn. As Adventism interfaces with non-Christian cultures, how are we to relate? What are the essentials that need to be transferred between diverse cultures?

 

Bernard Taylor

Scholar in Residence

 

Meditations

 

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. – Anatole France

 

There is no excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. . . . We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. – E. G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, 35, 37