eschaton
July 27th 2007, 12:12 PM
Please read, pray and meditate on all scripture references.
Antinomianism is the exact opposite of legalism. Christ criticized the Jews for their legalism (Luke 14:5, Mark 3:2-6). On the other hand the Jews accuse Jesus of not following the law.
Paul warns of lawless men who will come. They are likened to those who rebelled against Moses (2 Tim 3, Rom 1). And yet Paul himself was accused of encouraging believers to rebel against the law (Acts 18:12-16, 21:21). Paul taught that Christians have freedom in Christ (Gal 2:4, 3:23-26). Christ has blotted out the hand written code against us with the cross (Col 2:13-14). Christ is the end of the law for everyone who believes (Rom 10:4). He abolished the law in His flesh (Eph 2:15).
Perhaps it is easy to see where the confusion came in. Some teachings are difficult to grasp (Heb 5:12-14, 1 Cor 3:2). And perhaps some concepts are hidden below the literal surface of scripture (1 Cor 9:7-11). How well were these difficult concepts absorbed by the early church? How well do we understand them today?
In the Epistle of Barnabas, in a section concerning Jewish error (chapter 4), Barnabas writes:
And the prophet also speaks thus: “Ten kingdoms shall reign upon the earth, and a little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue under one three of the kings.” In like manner Daniel says concerning the same, “And I beheld the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more savage than all the beasts of the earth, and how from it sprang up ten horns, and out of them a little budding horn, and how it subdued under one three of the great horns.” Ye ought therefore to understand. And this also I further beg of you, as being one of you, and loving you both individually and collectively more than my own soul, to take heed now to yourselves, and not to be like some, adding largely to your sins, and saying, “The covenant is both theirs and ours.” But they thus finally lost it, after Moses had already received it. For the Scripture saith, “And Moses was fasting in the mount forty days and forty nights, and received the covenant from the Lord, tables of stone written with the finger of the hand of the Lord;” but turning away to idols, they lost it. For the Lord speaks thus to Moses: “Moses go down quickly; for the people whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt have transgressed.” And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.
At first it might seem that symbolism from an apocalyptic book like Daniel is supposed to represent earthly kings, but instead Barnabas seems to be indicating it has something to do with Jewish error. However, he doesn’t indicate that it’s the error of legalism, but instead he refers to the error of rebelling against Moses, at which time the tablets containing the Ten Commandments were broken. He says that the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written were broken so that the covenant of Jesus could be written on their hearts. Then instead of proclaiming freedom in Christ, Barnabas calls for obedience.
Let us be spiritually-minded: let us be a perfect temple to God. As much as in us lies, let us meditate upon the fear of God, and let us keep His commandments, that we may rejoice in His ordinances.
Pre-Christian Jews interpreted Daniel’s symbols on a somewhat literal level. The author of Maccabees and the historian Josephus believed Daniel’s beasts with horns and heads along with the statue in chapter two represented earthly kings and kingdoms. Barnabas seems to break with that tradition. Perhaps that isn’t too unusual since Jesus Himself spoke of the abomination of desolation as a future event while earlier interpreters believed it represented Antiochus Epiphanes.
Here are same things Daniel said about a future ruler:
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (7:12)
11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Compare this to what Paul said about a future “man of sin.”
2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Both the man of sin and Daniel’s ruler seem to be guilty of Antinomianism. They are much like Jude’s ungodly men, and the angels that rebelled.
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. (Ro 6:1,2 2Pe 2 Mat 25:41)
It is said that the Jews seek miracles and the Greeks wisdom (1 Cor 1:22), but Christ came to both Jew and Greek with the power and wisdom of God (v24). Scripture sometimes calls for wisdom (Rev 13:18, 17:9). Paul spoke wisdom to the mature, but not about the rulers of this world (1 Cor 2:6).
Wisdom is called for in identifying the beasts in Revelation (13:18, 17:9). The traditional interpretation uses the literal level of the pre-Christian Jews. The idea is that the beasts represent earthly kingdoms and rulers, but according to Paul the wisdom of God is not about earthly rulers or the literal level of scripture (1 Cor2:6,7). This would seem to rule out the traditional interpretation of the horns and heads. The fact is Jesus and the apostles never directly confirmed the traditional Jewish interpretation of Daniel’s prophecies. Indeed, Jesus seemed to contradict it (Mat 24:15, Mk 13:14).
The Greeks used many ideas and symbols similar to those in the Bible
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=78609
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=91087
In Plato’s Republic a mythical many-headed beast is used to represent the image of a man’s soul. The rulers of Plato’s Republic are referred to as philosopher kings. At one point in Book IX he says:
I understand; you mean that he will be a ruler in the city of which we are the founders, and which exists in idea only; for I do not believe that there is such an one anywhere on earth?
In heaven, I replied, there is laid up a pattern of it, methinks, which he who desires may behold, and beholding, may set his own house in order. But whether such an one exists, or ever will exist in fact, is no matter; for he will live after the manner of that city, having nothing to do with any other.
(Compare to Gal 4:26, Heb 8:5)
The symbolism in the book of Revelation is often said to be about the Roman persecution of Christians in the first century. If you look at the themes of the epistles in the NT you see that they are about correct behavior and belief, not about Roman persecution. If Revelation is a Christian document why would it be any different?
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=93247
In Revelation the beast has seven heads and ten horns. The seven goes all the way back to the first week of creation. . Several church fathers believed seven represented a summary of the Gospel. Those include Polycarp, Apringius of Beja and Andrew of Caesarea. That also matches my own study.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=51960
The lamb in Revelation symbolizing Christ has seven horns and seven eyes (5:6) representing the spirits of God (2Ch 16:9 Zec 3:9 4:10). Anyone in Christ is considered a new creature
2 Cor 2:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (Gal 6:15 Heb 8:9-13 2Pe 3:10-13 Rev 21:1-5)
Therefore the seven also represents the new creation in Christ The ten represents the Ten Commandments, the law and the Old Testament.
So once again we have symbolism for behavior and doctrine. As Barnabas said:
And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.
The little horn changes the times and seasons by declaring himself above God and everything that is worshipped. He does away with any need for moral rules with a false claim of freedom in Christ. The ten horns are changed into seven. But he puts himself above everything so that he is an incarnate doctrine of scripture. He is an eighth horn (Rev 17:11). I think this is the true meaning of the prophetic symbolism.
Antinomianism is the exact opposite of legalism. Christ criticized the Jews for their legalism (Luke 14:5, Mark 3:2-6). On the other hand the Jews accuse Jesus of not following the law.
Paul warns of lawless men who will come. They are likened to those who rebelled against Moses (2 Tim 3, Rom 1). And yet Paul himself was accused of encouraging believers to rebel against the law (Acts 18:12-16, 21:21). Paul taught that Christians have freedom in Christ (Gal 2:4, 3:23-26). Christ has blotted out the hand written code against us with the cross (Col 2:13-14). Christ is the end of the law for everyone who believes (Rom 10:4). He abolished the law in His flesh (Eph 2:15).
Perhaps it is easy to see where the confusion came in. Some teachings are difficult to grasp (Heb 5:12-14, 1 Cor 3:2). And perhaps some concepts are hidden below the literal surface of scripture (1 Cor 9:7-11). How well were these difficult concepts absorbed by the early church? How well do we understand them today?
In the Epistle of Barnabas, in a section concerning Jewish error (chapter 4), Barnabas writes:
And the prophet also speaks thus: “Ten kingdoms shall reign upon the earth, and a little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue under one three of the kings.” In like manner Daniel says concerning the same, “And I beheld the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more savage than all the beasts of the earth, and how from it sprang up ten horns, and out of them a little budding horn, and how it subdued under one three of the great horns.” Ye ought therefore to understand. And this also I further beg of you, as being one of you, and loving you both individually and collectively more than my own soul, to take heed now to yourselves, and not to be like some, adding largely to your sins, and saying, “The covenant is both theirs and ours.” But they thus finally lost it, after Moses had already received it. For the Scripture saith, “And Moses was fasting in the mount forty days and forty nights, and received the covenant from the Lord, tables of stone written with the finger of the hand of the Lord;” but turning away to idols, they lost it. For the Lord speaks thus to Moses: “Moses go down quickly; for the people whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt have transgressed.” And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.
At first it might seem that symbolism from an apocalyptic book like Daniel is supposed to represent earthly kings, but instead Barnabas seems to be indicating it has something to do with Jewish error. However, he doesn’t indicate that it’s the error of legalism, but instead he refers to the error of rebelling against Moses, at which time the tablets containing the Ten Commandments were broken. He says that the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written were broken so that the covenant of Jesus could be written on their hearts. Then instead of proclaiming freedom in Christ, Barnabas calls for obedience.
Let us be spiritually-minded: let us be a perfect temple to God. As much as in us lies, let us meditate upon the fear of God, and let us keep His commandments, that we may rejoice in His ordinances.
Pre-Christian Jews interpreted Daniel’s symbols on a somewhat literal level. The author of Maccabees and the historian Josephus believed Daniel’s beasts with horns and heads along with the statue in chapter two represented earthly kings and kingdoms. Barnabas seems to break with that tradition. Perhaps that isn’t too unusual since Jesus Himself spoke of the abomination of desolation as a future event while earlier interpreters believed it represented Antiochus Epiphanes.
Here are same things Daniel said about a future ruler:
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (7:12)
11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Compare this to what Paul said about a future “man of sin.”
2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Both the man of sin and Daniel’s ruler seem to be guilty of Antinomianism. They are much like Jude’s ungodly men, and the angels that rebelled.
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. (Ro 6:1,2 2Pe 2 Mat 25:41)
It is said that the Jews seek miracles and the Greeks wisdom (1 Cor 1:22), but Christ came to both Jew and Greek with the power and wisdom of God (v24). Scripture sometimes calls for wisdom (Rev 13:18, 17:9). Paul spoke wisdom to the mature, but not about the rulers of this world (1 Cor 2:6).
Wisdom is called for in identifying the beasts in Revelation (13:18, 17:9). The traditional interpretation uses the literal level of the pre-Christian Jews. The idea is that the beasts represent earthly kingdoms and rulers, but according to Paul the wisdom of God is not about earthly rulers or the literal level of scripture (1 Cor2:6,7). This would seem to rule out the traditional interpretation of the horns and heads. The fact is Jesus and the apostles never directly confirmed the traditional Jewish interpretation of Daniel’s prophecies. Indeed, Jesus seemed to contradict it (Mat 24:15, Mk 13:14).
The Greeks used many ideas and symbols similar to those in the Bible
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=78609
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=91087
In Plato’s Republic a mythical many-headed beast is used to represent the image of a man’s soul. The rulers of Plato’s Republic are referred to as philosopher kings. At one point in Book IX he says:
I understand; you mean that he will be a ruler in the city of which we are the founders, and which exists in idea only; for I do not believe that there is such an one anywhere on earth?
In heaven, I replied, there is laid up a pattern of it, methinks, which he who desires may behold, and beholding, may set his own house in order. But whether such an one exists, or ever will exist in fact, is no matter; for he will live after the manner of that city, having nothing to do with any other.
(Compare to Gal 4:26, Heb 8:5)
The symbolism in the book of Revelation is often said to be about the Roman persecution of Christians in the first century. If you look at the themes of the epistles in the NT you see that they are about correct behavior and belief, not about Roman persecution. If Revelation is a Christian document why would it be any different?
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=93247
In Revelation the beast has seven heads and ten horns. The seven goes all the way back to the first week of creation. . Several church fathers believed seven represented a summary of the Gospel. Those include Polycarp, Apringius of Beja and Andrew of Caesarea. That also matches my own study.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=51960
The lamb in Revelation symbolizing Christ has seven horns and seven eyes (5:6) representing the spirits of God (2Ch 16:9 Zec 3:9 4:10). Anyone in Christ is considered a new creature
2 Cor 2:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (Gal 6:15 Heb 8:9-13 2Pe 3:10-13 Rev 21:1-5)
Therefore the seven also represents the new creation in Christ The ten represents the Ten Commandments, the law and the Old Testament.
So once again we have symbolism for behavior and doctrine. As Barnabas said:
And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.
The little horn changes the times and seasons by declaring himself above God and everything that is worshipped. He does away with any need for moral rules with a false claim of freedom in Christ. The ten horns are changed into seven. But he puts himself above everything so that he is an incarnate doctrine of scripture. He is an eighth horn (Rev 17:11). I think this is the true meaning of the prophetic symbolism.