The Snake / Justin on Baptism / Workaholism

The backyard incident reminded me of another case involving a snake and deception—Genesis 3. The serpent’s aim was to make us distrust God’s Word. And he is a sly one (2 Cor 11:3)! Yet it will not turn out well for him (Gen 3:15; Rom 16:20; Rev 12:12; 20:10).

The purpose of the International Bible Teaching Ministry is to build faith in nonbelievers and believers alike. It’s an effort to counterbalance the impact of the evil one, by helping us to think constructively, in faithful ways, about God’s world and God’s Word.

Today: Justin Martyr on baptism, pacifism, and more; three new Q&As; and a stimulating quotation from a superb book (promised last week to all of my fellow-recovering-workaholics).

EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITINGS (11) 

Justin’s First Apology (160 AD)

The excerpts I’ve taken and the observations I’ve made in this series are not intended to be comprehensive, and not even systematic. These are what has struck me on this reading of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. While the comments aim for accuracy, I am not an expert in church history, just an interested outsider—and I may be “leaving out” a number of important things. Please take this into account.

• Greek copies of the Old Testament, translated in Alexandria in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, are still in Egypt (chap. xxxi).

• The leader of the second Jewish revolt (AD 132-135) ordered Christians to be tortured (chap. xxxi). Christianity was gradually separating—and being rejected by—its Jewish base.

• “Now there is a village [Bethlehem], 35 stadia from Jerusalem, in which Jesus Christ was born, as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing made under Cyrenius, your first procurator in Judaea” (chap. xxxiv).

• “We who formerly used to murder one another do not only now refrain from making war upon our enemies, but also, that we may not lie or deceive our examiners, willingly die confessing Christ” (chap. xxxix). In fact, the early church forbade fighting and killing for about three centuries! Things would change with the alliance of church and state in the 4th century.

• The cross was shaped not as commonly depicted, but like a capital T (chap. lv).

• Beware of Marcion of Pontus, the leader who rejected the OT and “the OT God,” as well as the entire NT apart from (his heavily edited versions of) Luke and 10 of Paul’s letters (chap lviii).

• Plato borrowed from Moses (chap. lx), a common charge made by the early apologists. Older is better—and biblical religion is at a disadvantage if it came more recently on the scene. See also Justin’s 2 Apology, chap. x.

• Finally, on baptism: “As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, “Unless you are born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven… [We] may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed… And this washing is called illumination…” (chap lxi). In fact, all ancient Christian writers locate the waters of baptism as the context of the new birth. For more on this, see the Ross-Jacoby baptism debate (2 parts + 16 Q&As).

Any surprises in Justin's words? More from Justin Martyr next week…

QUESTION & ANSWER

1675. Can Christians Take Oaths (government jobs)?

What do you think about Christians swearing oaths, in particular to obtain a U.S. government job? I am required to take a written oath in become a substitute teacher, and I’ve hesitated… Should I sign? — K.C.

I appreciate your sensitive conscience and desire to do what’s right. As I see it, your integrity is the fundamental issue. Jesus is saying we shouldn’t need to take oaths—to swear on anything (a Bible included!)—when we’re men and women of truth. Love of country is one thing, but pledging total allegiance to any government is a form of idolatry, isn’t it? (Think of totalitarian states, where governments feel threatened by (and imprison) those who acknowledge an even higher power. KEEP READING

1676. Is the soul created at birth? Does it die after death?

What are your thoughts on soul—is it created at birth? Does it die after death? — P. C.

Most Christians, at least since the 2nd century, have considered the soul to be immortal, or at the very least to receive immortality at the time of the general resurrection. (Log in with your website credentials for the talk on The General Resurrection.) I believe this is due to the influence of Plato and other philosophers. Yet passages like 1 Timothy 6:16 insist that only God is immortal. KEEP READING

1677.  Seasoned with Salt?

I was looking at Colossians 4:6 and wondering if you can provide some insight about the Greek. Does the phrase "seasoned with salt" refer to grace or conversation? I've always read it as applying to conversation, but now I wonder if it's grace that we're seasoning with salt. The first interpretation makes it sound like our conversation should be interesting. Read the other way, it sounds like our conversation should be gracious— with a grace that is preserved, never lost. I'm no Greek expert. Can you say whether that works in the Greek? — F.I.

Most English versions render the Greek well, so this is more of an interpretation matter than a translation matter. The passage speaks of gracious conversation, if I’m reading it correctly. But of course there is a connection: just as we have received grace from the Lord, we show grace to others. Good question!

QUOTABLE 

This is an excellent read, and will be of special interest to those middle-aged and older as they contemplate how to "retire" or transition in the third or fourth quarter of life. I found it enormously helpful.

Q4 EVENTS

• 5 Oct: AIM-Pacific (Honolulu, online): Ancient Churches Outside the Roman Empire

• 6 Oct-29 Dec: Online communion services—guest speakers from UK, US, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Jamaica

• 25-26 Oct: Christians in Science 80th Anniversary Conference, Birmingham, UK

• 27 Oct: The Birmingham Church: "What Gifts Does the Spirit Give to the Church Today?"

• 8-11 Nov: Retreat: Friends of the International Bible Teaching Ministry, Bowness-on-Windermere

• 16 Nov: conclusion of RMSMT Apologetics course (master's students, distance learning)

• 19-21 Nov: Evangelical Theological Society, San Diego, CA

• 20-22 Nov: Evangelical Philosopical Society, San Diego, CA

• 22 Nov: Stone Campbell Journal session, San Diego CA

• 22-25 Nov: Institute for Biblical Research, San Diego, CA

• 23 Nov: Tyndale House breakfast, San Diego, CA

• 24 Nov: Tutku Education Travel annual dinner, San Diego CA

• 23-26 Nov: Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego, CA

• 4 Dec: Special teaching event: Atlanta Braves Senior Staff