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List,
I recently noticed a posting that began to broach the subject for pretrib.
rapture. A quagmire indeed! However, coincidentally I came across the
ref. in Matthew 25:31-32 with regards to Christ's return and the separating
of the sheep from the goats.
The phrasing "...KAI SUNACHQHSONTAI EMPROSQEN AUTOU PANTA TA EQNH, KAI
AFORISEI AUTOUS AP' ALLHLWN,..."
I am interested in the the later part "...PANTA TA EQNH, KAI AFORISEI
AUTOUS AP' ALLHLWN,..." The PANTA TA EQNH is surely the standard
designation of the Jews for Gentiles? if so doesn't this represent a
collective concept of TA EQNH and not a concept of gathering distinct
nations; rather all nations as a whole? The reason I ask is to detemine if
the separating implies that of individuals, with in the nations viewed as a
whole, or whether separating involves national blocks. To me the crux is
the force AP' ALLHLWN, which seems to favour a ref. to the national blocks,
meaning that TA EQNH is used a little differently than in the typical
Jewish designation of "Gentiles," more along the lines "the separate
nations."
It would seem more biblically consistent to view the first alternative,
that individuals are separated on the basis of faith in Christ, since it is
hard to reconcile how one national block could be construed as "better"
than another. I know traditionally theologians have argued the assessment
will be made on the basis of how each treats Israel, but the context says
nothing about this and I find it unconvincing. However, I am more
concerned with the force of the prep. phrase!
Paul F. Evans
Pastor
Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church
MT. Olive NC
"Endeavouring to make use of NT Greek in a real life ministry!"
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List,
I recently noticed a =
posting that began to broach the subject for pretrib. rapture. A =
quagmire indeed! However, coincidentally I came across the ref. in =
Matthew 25:31-32 with regards to Christ's return and the separating of =
the sheep from the goats.
The phrasing "...KAI =
SUNACHQHSONTAI EMPROSQEN AUTOU PANTA TA EQNH, KAI AFORISEI AUTOUS AP' =
ALLHLWN,..."
I am interested in the the later part =
"...PANTA TA EQNH, KAI AFORISEI AUTOUS AP' ALLHLWN,..." =
The PANTA TA EQNH is surely the standard designation of the Jews =
for Gentiles? if so doesn't this represent a collective concept of =
TA EQNH and not a concept of gathering distinct nations; rather all =
nations as a whole? The reason I ask is to detemine if the =
separating implies that of individuals, with in the nations viewed as a =
whole, or whether separating involves national blocks. To me the crux is =
the force AP' ALLHLWN, which seems to favour a ref. to the national =
blocks, meaning that TA EQNH is used a little differently than in the =
typical Jewish designation of "Gentiles," more along the lines =
"the separate nations."
It would seem more biblically =
consistent to view the first alternative, that individuals are separated =
on the basis of faith in Christ, since it is hard to reconcile how one =
national block could be construed as "better" than another. =
I know traditionally theologians have argued the assessment will =
be made on the basis of how each treats Israel, but the context says =
nothing about this and I find it unconvincing. However, I am more =
concerned with the force of the prep. phrase!
Paul F. =
Evans
Pastor
Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church
MT. =
Olive NC
"Endeavouring to make use of NT Greek in a =
real life ministry!"