Atos 13

Atos 13

Morris explains Paul's intended meaning in the present context in quoting Psalm 2:7 - There are several senses in which Christ is the only begotten Son of God (cf Heb 1:5+), but the emphasis here is on His resurrection from the dead, as evident from the quotation of this verse in Acts 13:33. He was "declared to be the Son of God with power,...by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4+). He was also called the "firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18) and the "first begotten of the dead" (Revelation 1:5+; Hebrews 5:5KJV). (Defender's Study Bible Notes) Norman Geisler on how the cults misinterpret Psalm 2:7 MISINTERPRETATION: Psalm 2:7 says, "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee'" (NASB). Mormons think this verse supports the idea that Jesus was born as a spirit child (by procreation), the offspring of heavenly parents (Gospel Principles, 1986, 9). CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: The Mormon view on this text is not supported by it or the rest of Scripture. Two things should be kept in mind. First, the context here is not speaking about a spirit being born in the spirit world but of the "kings of the earth" who "plot" against God's "Anointed" (the Messiah) to rid themselves of him (i.e., kill him). Hence, the most natural sense of his being "begotten" of God to reign over the nations (vv. 7-8) is that he was resurrected from the dead. Second, a basic principle of biblical interpretation is that the Old Testament should be interpreted according to the greater light of the New Testament. Acts 13:33-34 indicates that the Father's resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a fulfillment of the statement in Psalm 2:7, "Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee." The verse thus has nothing to do with the alleged procreation of Christ. Other Scriptures make it clear that Christ never came into existence at a point in time but is rather an eternal being. Jesus is as eternal as God the Father (John 1:1) and existed as the eternal "I AM" (cf. Exod. 3:14) before Abraham (John 8:58). He was not "born" as a spirit being at any time. He was only born as a man in Bethlehem, even though he had been eternal (cf. Micah 5:2). (Correcting the Cults) Does "only begotten Son" indicate that Jesus Christ is a created being? John 3:16 MISINTERPRETATION: This verse refers to Jesus as God's "only begotten Son." The Jehovah's Witnesses tell us that Jesus is God's only begotten son in the sense that he was directly created by the hand of God (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, 918). He is thus a lesser god than God the Father. CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: The words only begotten do not mean that Christ was created but rather mean "unique" or "one of a kind" (Greek: monogenēs). Jesus was uniquely God's son by nature—meaning that he has the very nature of God. It is significant that when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, his Jewish contemporaries understood him to be claiming deity in an unqualified sense and sought to stone him: "We have a law, and according to that law he [Jesus] ought to die, because he made himself out to be the Son of God" (John 19:7 NASB, insert added). They thought Jesus was committing blasphemy because he was claiming deity for himself. Many evangelicals believe that Christ's sonship is an eternal sonship. Evidence for Christ's eternal sonship is found in the fact that he is represented as already the Son of God before his human birth in Bethlehem (John 3:16-17; cf. Prov. 30:4). Hebrews 1:2 says God created the universe through his "Son"—implying that Christ was the Son of God prior to the Creation. Moreover, Christ as the Son is explicitly said to have existed "before all things" (Col. 1:17; compare with Col 1:13-14). As well, Jesus, speaking as the Son of God (John 8:54-56), asserts his eternal preexistence before Abraham (Jn 8:58). Seen in this light, Christ's identity as the Son of God does not connote inferiority or subordination either of essence or position. (Correcting the Cults) Related Resources: What does it mean that Jesus is God's only begotten son? What is the doctrine of eternal Sonship and is it biblical? What does it mean that Jesus is the 'first-born' over Creation? What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God? What does it mean that Jesus is the son of David? Was Jesus created? Acts 13:34 "As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.' (NASB95) KJV Acts 13:34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY 2 Sa 7:14-16; 23:5; Ps 89:2-4,19-37; Jer 33:15-17,26; Ezek 34:23,24; Ezek 37:24,25; Hos 3:5; Amos 9:11; Zech 12:8 Acts 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CHRIST'S RESURRECTION PROPHESIED IN ISAIAH 55 As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay - Paul continues his description of the resurrection of Jesus using Scripture to buttress his claim. Raised (450)(anistemi. from ana = up, again + histemi = stand, to cause to stand) means literally to get up, to stand up, to stand again, Anistemi is used to describe the resurrection of Jesus - Mt. 17:9; Mk 9:9, 10; Jn 20:9; Acts 17:3, Mt. 20:19; Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; Lk 18:33. Paul uses the other NT verb for resurrect (egeiro) in Acts 13:30 and Acts 13:37. Decay (corruption)(1312)(see diaphthora below) He has spoken in this way: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE [blessings] OF DAVID - Literally it reads "the holy, sure of David." The word "blessings" is not in the original Greek and is added by the translators of the NAS, ESV, CSB. What are the holy and sure (blessings or mercies) of David? Paul is referring to God's promise to David that from him the Messiah would come (2 Sa 7:12–17), a promise which was an “everlasting covenant” that included the promise of a throne to be established forever (2 Sa 7:13, 16). Paul's logic is if Jesus is truly the Messiah, and He died and remained in the grave, than this covenant would never have been fulfilled. It follows that Jesus had to be resurrected or the covenant would have proven to be false. But we know from Titus 1:2 that "God...cannot lie!" In fact as Paul would later write "For all the promises of God in Him (JESUS) [are] yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Cor 1:20KJV). In other words, all the promises of God find their certain fulfillment, their Yea, in Christ. In Jesus all Old Testament promises find their fulfillment! Amen and Amen! Paul is quoting in from the last part of Isaiah 55:3 which translated from the Hebrew reads "the faithful mercies shown to David." Note that Paul quotes not from the original Hebrew translation but from the Greek, the Septuagint. "the holy (hósios) sure (pistos) [blessings] of David." As alluded to above, although the prophecy in Isaiah 55:3 is a not a direct statement that Jesus would be resurrected, it is clear that a dead Messiah could hardly be named as the recipient of these blessings God had promised to David and his descendants. And so by simple logic, this promise is an indirect or implicit promise of the resurrection of Christ, the Son of David. Holy (3741)(hósios) generally speaks of what is sanctioned by the law of God and describes persons (being without fault relative to deity = devout - Titus 1:8), holy hands lifted in prayer (1 Ti 2:8), the inherent nature of God (Heb 7:26), and in this present context to promises which are holy or divine. Paul uses this same word hosios in the following verse describing Jesus as the "Holy One." The "holy and sure blessings of David" are the promises contained in the Davidic Covenant. In short, holy promises are given by God to His Holy One. Sure (trustworthy)(4103)(pistos) means that these blessings promised to David and his posterity are dependable and worthy of one's trust. What is the Davidic covenant? The Davidic Covenant refers to God’s promises to David through Nathan the prophet and is found in 2 Samuel 7 and later summarized in 1 Chronicles 17:11–14and 2 Chronicles 6:16. This is an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever. The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God’s faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel’s obedience. The Davidic Covenant centers on several key promises that are made to David. First, God reaffirms the promise of the land that He made in the first two covenants with Israel (the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants). This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:10, “I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore.” God then promises that David’s son will succeed him as king of Israel and that this son (Solomon) would build the temple. This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:12–13, " I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name.” But then the promise continues and expands: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (verse 13), and “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (verse 16). What began as a promise that David’s son Solomon would be blessed and build the temple turns into something different—the promise of an everlasting kingdom. Another Son of David would rule forever and build a lasting House. This is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, called the Son of David in Matthew 21:9. The promise that David’s “house,” “kingdom,” and “throne” will be established forever is significant because it shows that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David and that He will establish a kingdom from which He will reign. The covenant is summarized by the words “house,” promising a dynasty in the lineage of David; “kingdom,” referring to a people who are governed by a king; “throne,” emphasizing the authority of the king’s rule; and “forever,” emphasizing the eternal and unconditional nature of this promise to David and Israel. Other references to the Davidic Covenant are found in Jeremiah 23:5; 30:9; Isaiah 9:7; 11:1; Luke 1:32, 69; Acts 13:34; and Revelation 3:7. D L Moody - God's Promises Fulfilled Acts 13:32-34 And we declare to you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made to the fathers,… God is always true to what He promises to do. He will fulfil every word of what He has promised; yet how few take Him at His word! When I was a young man I was clerk in the establishment of a man in Chicago, whom I observed frequently occupied sorting and marking bills. He explained to me what he had been doing; on some notes he had marked B, on some D, and on others G; those marked B he told me were bad, those marked D meant they were doubtful, and those with G on them meant they were good. "And," said he "you must treat all of them accordingly." And thus people endorse God's promises, by marking some as bad, and others as doubtful; whereas we ought to take all of them as good, for He has never once broken His word, and all that He says He will do will be done in the fulness of time.