Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
And I believe that possibly John, sitting on Patmos, looked back and saw this emergent trend, and the Spirit told him to take a scroll and write down what he saw and send it to the assemblies, to Ephesus and Smyrna and Pergamos...
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In complete accord with my earlier speculations concerning why "all those in Asia" may have left Paul.
The Gentiles likely were never very kindly disposed towards the ways of the Jews, and not just with regard to the matter of circumcision upon which topic it is more than clear that Paul sided with them over against the Judaizers.
Hierarchy did not spring full grown from the throne of Constantine. The witnesses are much earlier than this, regardless of how you read "Nicolaitans."
Hierarchy is a creeping thing among those who bear some seeming preeminence or there is no explanation for the course of Christian history.
It was not possible then for interlopers to dominate any more than it is possible now for someone like me to walk up and lay claim to the legacy of Lee's ministry. Such a claim is surely laughable for those in the continuum.
Only those who appear as legitimate successors have a chance to uplift themselves and subjugate others.
It is critical that all the saints recognize this.