![]() Yes, there is certainly something we can learn about from this passage. I think Greg's example with losing money gambling is a very good clarification of what he's talking about here. However, that doesn't mean we can't glean knowledge from the Old Testament - we just have to realize that the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus and the establishment of His kingdom are now past to us. We are now living in the New Covenant age, a present reality. If you were reading these words at the time, then you indeed were in that group that would see the physical destruction of Old Covenant Israel. It is a past event, culminating in the destruction of Israel in 70 A.D. Paul IS speaking to his contemporaries ("us"), since Jesus' coming was a fulfillment of the Old Covenant "age " hence the "fulfillment of the ages" did come upon them. I believe this is a GREAT example of where context is important. You can see how this can get us into trouble if we press it too far.)" "Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that certain things that happened to Israel in the Old Testament "happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (Unless Paul is only speaking to the Corinthians in this passage and not to us. God bless, and thanks for a thoughtful and thought-provoking post! But, yes, we must first set the verse in its context before we can begin the process of applying. And so as I follow Christ in my life I can trust that God's plans for me are indeed good and are meant for my welfare, even if it means going through some heavy duty trials along the way.īy comparing Scripture to Scripture, we may apply the Scriptural principle we find in the promise to ourselves. We also know that God works all things in this life together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. I think rather than dismiss a passage like Jeremiah 29:11 as not applicable to believers, we should look at the verse carefully within its context and then ask in what way does this passage apply to believers? Certainly as believers God has a glorious future in store for us after the resurrection. You can see how this can get us into trouble if we press it too far.) We also need to take into account what Paul says in Romans 15:4: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that certain things that happened to Israel in the Old Testament "happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (Unless Paul is only speaking to the Corinthians in this passage and not to us. As with Jeremiah 29:11, these were specific letters written to specific people at a specific time, but we understand that many of the promises and commands also apply to us. ![]() The same could be said about various promises or commands found in Paul's epistles to various churches. Do these words not apply to pastors today? If not, then we lose some valuable instruction for pastors (not to mention Richard Baxter's classic work The Reformed Pastor which was built around this passage). I appreciate your emphasis on reading Scripture in context and agree with much of what you are saying here, but I think we have to be careful not to press this too far.įor example, in Acts 20:28 we find words from Paul directed specifically to the Ephesian elders.
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