Stephen became the first Christian martyr because of a Jewish congregational dispute over interpretation of scripture (See Acts 6 and 7). They accused Stephen of speaking against the temple and the customs of the law of Moses. Before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, Stephen defended his teaching on the basis of the scriptures. Yet they did not want to understand Stephen; otherwise they would not have falsely accused him. Stephen did not speak against the temple or the law, for he only showed how the scriptures prophesied of fulfillment in the person of the Righteous One whom they had rejected and killed. Why did they not correctly interpret and see the truth?
First, I think of what kept Peter from understanding the significance of the transfiguration of Jesus, when he offered to build an altar for Moses, Elijah and Jesus. God unveiled the glory of His immortal and eternal Son on the mountain; and Peter witnessed it, but he failed to really see and understand it. He failed even though God had already revealed the truth of his confession that Jesus is the Messiah of God (See Matthew 16:13-17:8). And so Christians may see the glory of Christ as he is revealed in scripture, and authentically confess his glory. Nevertheless, they still need time, like Peter, to really see the glory of Christ with greater understanding and assurance in their heart. What difference does it make?
Until Pentecost, Peter was like most Jews, not comprehending a suffering Messiah. The numerous followers of John 6 turned away from Jesus because his teaching did not fit their messianic agenda. How could the suffering and crucifixion of the Messiah fit into the plan of God. Yet the most significant truth of the gospel for Christian living is that all of Christ’s disciples must embrace, internalize and imitate in their lives the cross of Christ. Paul knew this to be the essence of worship of God by the Spirit and what he desired to experience most of all in his Christian life, so that somehow he might attain to the resurrection of the dead (Philippians 3).
After Pentecost, Peter did learn this way or pattern in Christ, later encouraging Christians with his own example of suffering for Christ. He could assure them that the Spirit of Christ’s glory would rest upon them (1 Peter 4). Peter wanted all Christians to arrive at a place of greater understanding and assurance of the glory of Christ as the rising of the morning star in their hearts (2 Peter 1). Beware lest the church of your generation loses the anticipation of the dawning of a new day through a fuller realization of the presence and glory of Christ.
Third, Stephen came to understand through the scriptures that the glory of God could never be contained on the earth, and certainly not in the law of Moses or the temple built by the hands of men. This offended the Jews because the law and the temple were the defining institutions of their religious identity. In contrast, Stephen’s identity was grounded on the confession of Jesus as the Messiah. He saw the fullness of the glory of God in the face of the risen Christ who revealed himself to Stephen. Jesus manifested his glory to Stephen through the Holy Spirit who filled him with wisdom and confidence. Jesus manifested his glory to Stephen by a vision of his exalted place in heaven at the right hand of God. In this instance Jesus stood as he witnessed his devoted servant being viciously attacked by men who would not let go of the fading glory of the law and the temple. Jesus manifested his glory to Stephen as Stephen embraced the cross for himself, and understood by experience what Christ had understood, the power of forgiving those who persecute and even kill you. Is your interpretation of the church’s identity relying on the institutional marks defined by influential teachers of your religious heritage, or upon the revelation of the glory of Christ within his church and in your heart?
Finally, to truly understand the scriptures and the things of God the church needs God’s miracle. Only God can enlighten our hearts to what we must receive and embrace by faith in Jesus; and only God can convict and transform our hearts so that we boldly enter into the experience of his kingdom, power and glory in Christ Jesus. My prayer is that you will embrace the prophetic word made more certain in the word about Christ, and through your faith in the word the morning star will dawn in your hearts. What if your reading, interpretation, teaching and practice of the scriptures should fail to bring you into this promise and experience of the living, present and reigning Jesus Christ? Then reexamine your hermeneutic or method of interpretation, because God’s promise and truth in Christ is not fitting your pattern – and the scriptures are not the problem.
Buttram, Bryan. Hermeneutics: In Search of Pattern or Reality? (Part V). Bryanbuttram.wordpress.com: 2008/03/10.
2 Comments
March 10, 2008 at Monday, March 10, 2008
Context Context Context. The biggest problem of Biblical misinterpretation is almost laways becasue of taking a passage out of context. On another point. I enjoyed your poetry brother. I have a page of poetry as well if you would like to check it out here is the link: http://anuncommongrace.wordpress.com/darians-poems-songs/
March 14, 2008 at Friday, March 14, 2008
Thanks for your comment. Also, I like your poetry; it’s very thoughtful.