In an acceptable time.

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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#21
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians is quoting Isaiah 49:8 and applying it to his ministry:

2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Isa 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
When reading the OT prophets, we need to be cognizant that they blended many disparate prophecies together, so it would almost appear that there is no separation between events. And that is what we need to notice here. So we need to taken verse 8 and divide it into two segments:

1. Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee... (applicable from Pentecost to the second coming of Christ).

2. ...and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; (applicable from the second coming of Christ to the end of the Millennium and beyond)

Therefore Paul could legitimately apply the first segment to his time, and it is still applicable to Jews during the Church Age. Now is indeed the day of salvation for the whole world.

But we are to take the second segment literally in that Christ will establish the earth in righteousness during the Millennium, with redeemed and restored Israel given "for a covenant of the people", and all the "desolate places" of the earth will be renewed and restored to become fruitful. The prophecy of Ezekiel will throw more light on this.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
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#22
When reading the OT prophets, we need to be cognizant that they blended many disparate prophecies together, so it would almost appear that there is no separation between events.
So yer saying the inspired apostle "blended" prophecies ad hoc/willy nilly to establish his doctrine?

That makes sense - not.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
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#23
So yer saying the inspired apostle "blended" prophecies ad hoc/willy nilly to establish his doctrine?

That makes sense - not.
That is NOT what I am saying. The apostle Paul -- by Divine inspiration -- used only the first segment of that Scripture from Isa 49:8. This was done deliberately and selectively, since the second segment would only go into effect after the second coming of Christ (still future). But NOW is the day of salvation for Jew and Gentile ever since Pentecost.

There are many prophecies which have different time lines but are stated as though they are indivisible. That is why we are required to "rightly divide (interpret) the Word of Truth". Another example of such a prophecy is Joel 2 which presents the Day of the LORD and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the same prophecy. But there is a huge time gap between those two events.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
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#24
No - he used Isa 48:6, and 8 Paul is not cherry picking scripture, he is drawing attention that those prophecies are coming true in his ministry.

Paul rightly brings out the prophecies - you are the one not rightly dividing because what Paul is stating does not fit in with your "theology"

You are cherry picking Paul and Isaiah.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
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#25
There are many prophecies which have different time lines but are stated as though they are indivisible. That is why we are required to "rightly divide (interpret) the Word of Truth". Another example of such a prophecy is Joel 2 which presents the Day of the LORD and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the same prophecy. But there is a huge time gap between those two events.
I suggest you stick to the topic at hand, as you are now cherry picking what Peter said from Joel as you do other prophecies.
 
Jun 1, 2016
5,032
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#26
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians is quoting Isaiah 49:8 and applying it to his ministry:

2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Isa 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Isa 49:8 (NASB) Thus says the LORD, “In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped you; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;

In acts he also states his ministry and the apostles is in fulfillment of Isa 49:6:

Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

It should be noted that Isaiah's "In an acceptable time" and "in a day of salvation" is the time "to restore the land".

So if these things were happening in the days of the apostles and Paul's ministry which "land" is being restored?

It can't be argued that is physical dirt land but the spiritual land/country of Hebrews:

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that
they seek a country.

Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

While most translations translate the Greek "patris" as country - it is better understood as land or father land:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strongs

G3968 patris pat-rece'

from G3902;

a father-land, i.e. native town; (figuratively) heavenly home.


KJV: (own) country.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

When we parallel this with Christ's statement regarding John the Baptist is surely all fits:

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come,
and restore all things.

Mat 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

The restoration of all things included the "land" and continued under Paul's and the apostles ministty


Isa 49:8 (NASB) Thus says the LORD, “In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped you; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;

In acts he also states his ministry and the apostles is in fulfillment of Isa 49:6:



not at all, that prophecy is about Jesus, Jesus then sent paul. the Light of the Gentiles is not paul and His partners, but Jesus. thier Job was to witness about the Light, thats How thier ministry was fulfilling it. all along prophets were saying " the messiah will not be exclusive for israel, he will also be for the gentiles to offer salvation to all people, pauls place is that Jesus sent Him and made Him a steward as He did the other apostles. he tols them " you are the light of the world, after they understood He is the light of the world. they reflect His light to others, as we are suposed to do.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.2And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
3
And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
4Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
5
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

6
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

7
Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.



luke 2 "
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."


paul was a witness to the light, thus was fulfilling His ordination and ministry .
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
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#27
You just contradicted Paul's statement:


Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Jesus did not "go into all the world" - the apostles did.