Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
I have to believe ....
I have to believe ....
It's hard to place this responsibility on the "whole body." Would that be the "whole body" in Ephesus, or the "whole body" of Christ? It's not possible to simply answer your true/false question. The first part is somewhat true, though misleading. The second part is only true with caveats and clarifications.
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Ohio,
You began both of your first two paragraphs with “I have to believe ….” I would like to make it plain that my purpose in posting was this: “What does the Bible say?” That was and is my only concern in these posts.
You stated that it’s not possible to answer my true/false question. I will assume, looking at the context, that you were referring to this question: “Rev 2:2 does not give only church leaders such a responsibility; the whole body has the responsibility. True or false?”
I would say that it is possible to answer the question in the affirmative, because that is what Rev 2:2 indicates when you consider the passage in which it occurs:
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false ... He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.” (Rev 2:1–2, 7 NASB)
Further, you asked me if I was referring to the whole body in Ephesus or of Christ. I hope that the context of Rev 2:2 quoted above makes it clear. In the Revelation passage, we can see that the writing is addressed to the angel of the church in Ephesus and ends with the plea to any who has an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The passage, then, applies to all believers, not just leaders, since leaders are not even mentioned and whoever will is given the opportunity to overcome. As anyone can see, the passage does not even mention leaders, much less limit itself to them; therefore, it cannot support a claim about leaders as a separate class.
It’s one thing to state what one thinks, feels, or believes, which you are free to do; it’s quite another to state that the Bible supports a statement, or to give a reference as if it supports a statement, when the reference doesn’t fully address the statement or is taken out of context. All I am bringing out is what the Bible says and what it does not say.