The New Testament Church (Standard Reference Library New Testament, Vol. 2)
Overview
The New Testament Church comes to life in this look at its history and the letters written to address specific needs. This volume provides a series of studies drawn from the remaining books of the New Testament (Acts through Revelation). Douglas Redford compiles the most insightful, most helpful portions of commentary on certain key passages that have been covered on different occasions throughout the history of the Standard Lesson Commentary. The format for each chapter has been kept purposefully simple. Under the title of each chapter is a list of the passages to be examined within that chapter. Each passage is then studied under two main headings: “Establishing the Groundwork” and “Examining the Text.” The “Groundwork” section aims to place a passage in its proper context, providing background information about the significant people, places, and events. For example, in the first volume dealing with Christ’s life, the “Groundwork” portion explains where in Jesus’ life and ministry the passage occurred, and it also seeks to provide a smooth transition between passages so that the flow of thought is maintained. The “Examining the Text” portion presents a verse-by-verse explanation of the Biblical text being considered. In some cases, two or more verses will be grouped together (for example, verses that describe something that took place within one of Jesus’ parables).
Top Highlights
“The two promises attached to faith in Jesus Christ, expressed in repentance and baptism, are the forgiveness of … sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We should not think that God forgives our sins as a ‘reward’ for our faith, repentance, and baptism. We are saved by the grace of what Jesus did for us, not by any goodness of anything that we do for him. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and renew us so that we may grow daily to become more like Christ. As forgiveness removes the condemnation of our sin, so the Holy Spirit breaks our slavery to sin.” (Page 19)
“Instead of giving the apostles a timetable, Jesus gave them a task:” (Page 13)
“Jesus’ ascension marked the beginning of something very special” (Page 5)
“One power that the Spirit gave the apostles was the ability to accurately recall and proclaim all that Jesus taught them during his three and a half years of public ministry. Furthermore, the Spirit would reveal to them any additional truths as they would need them (John 14:26; 15:26, 27; 16:13–15). A second witness power given to the apostles was the ability to perform signs and wonders to confirm that their message came from God and was true (Acts 2:43; 5:12; 2 Corinthians 12:12). The third power that accompanied the apostles’ preaching was the working of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the hearers of the gospel to convict them of their sin and of their need for a Savior (John 16:7–11). This power is still at work whenever we share the gospel with others.” (Page 13)
“Thus the baptism in the Spirit is historically connected with just two events—the filling of the apostles at Pentecost and the filling of Cornelius’s household. These two events are pivotal, for they mark the first gospel presentations to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.” (Page 11)
- Title: The New Testament Church (Standard Reference Library New Testament, Vol. 2)
- Author: Douglas Redford
- Series: Standard Reference Library Through-the-Bible Commentary
- Volume: 2
- Publisher: Standard
- Print Publication Date: 2007
- Logos Release Date: 2007
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Church history › Primitive and early church, ca. 30-100; Bible. N.T. Acts › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Romans › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Corinthians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Corinthians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Galatians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Ephesians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Philippians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Colossians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Thessalonians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Thessalonians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Hebrews › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Peter › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Peter › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 John › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Revelation › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. James › Commentaries
- Resource ID: LLS:SRLNT2
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-12T08:47:37Z