The Bereans

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by LittleLambofJesus

What are you grinning at?
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I was just wondering what the heck you're doing here.

Why would you wonder that?


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[Knee V]

In Acts 16 and 17 a very specific point was being made. Paul traveled to one city and told the Jews of that city, "If you read the Scriptures, you will see Christ all over the place, and here is specifically where." Those people were unwilling to test Paul's words and see that Christ actually is all over the Scriptures. But when Paul went to Berea and made the same claim, the Bereans were willing to test Paul's words and confirm whether or not Christ is actually all over the Scriptures.

That context is usually overlooked. The Bereans did not read the Scriptures to make sure that Paul's messaged "checks out". They were going to the Scriptures because of a very specific claim that Paul made, something that others were not willing to do. That is why they were considered "more noble". This passage has nothing to do with the "authority of Scripture".

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Oh that I myself was so noble

Search for 'Genesis 1:1' in the version

Young) Acts 17:11 and these were more noble/eugenesteroi <2104> than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so;

Textus Rec.) Acts 17:11 outoi de hsan eugenesteroi twn en qessalonikh oitineV edexanto ton logon meta pashV proqumiaV to kaq hmeran anakrinonteV taV grafaV ei ecoi tauta outwV

Rotherham) 1 Corinthians 1:26 For be looking at the calling of you, brethren,--that [there were] not many wise, according to flesh.
Not many powerful, not many high-born/eugeneiV <2104>


Strong's Number G2104 matches the Greek &#949;&#8016;&#947;&#949;&#957;&#8053;&#962; (eugen&#275;s), which occurs 3 times in 3 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV [Luke 19:12, Acts 17:11, 1 Corin 1:26]

2104. eugenes yoog-en'-ace from 2095 and 1096; well born, i.e. (literally) high in rank, or (figuratively) generous:--more noble, nobleman.

In Acts 16 and 17 a very specific point was being made. Paul traveled to one city and told the Jews of that city, "If you read the Scriptures, you will see Christ all over the place, and here is specifically where." Those people were unwilling to test Paul's words and see that Christ actually is all over the Scriptures.
But when Paul went to Berea and made the same claim, the Bereans were willing to test Paul's words and confirm whether or not Christ is actually all over the Scriptures.

That context is usually overlooked. The Bereans did not read the Scriptures to make sure that Paul's messaged "checks out". They were going to the Scriptures because of a very specific claim that Paul made, something that others were not willing to do. That is why they were considered "more noble". This passage has nothing to do with the "authority of Scripture".

Very insightful post. Thanks



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[LittleLambofJesus]

You can read it in the same place you find hitting your thumb with a hammer is a bad idea. Experience has a way of illustrating things our intellect refuses to acknowlege.

The experience of the Bereans was that being teachable, they were able to verify new testimony by correlating it with old testimony.

We can all learn a lot from them



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[brinny]

Acts 17:11:

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

This passage proves that Scripture is to be held the ultimate authority, certainly more so than "oral testimony". The Bible goes so far as to commend the Bereans as "more noble" than another group, for checking what was testified against Scripture.

This DOESN'T mean that "oral testimony" isn't important; so nobody needs to cry about how the Bereans wouldn't have know Jesus came if not for testimony; it simply means that Scripture is the ultimate authority, not "oral tradition". Oral tradition is good, only if it is in light of Scripture. The Bereans wouldn't have accepted Paul's testimony if it didn't line up with Scripture.

Peace.

That is interesting, what is written about the Bereans.....would make an excellent study...thank you for posting this.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by shinbits

Acts 17:11:

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

This passage proves that Scripture is to be held the ultimate authority, certainly more so than "oral testimony". The Bible goes so far as to commend the Bereans as "more noble" than another group, for checking what was testified against Scripture.

This DOESN'T mean that "oral testimony" isn't important; so nobody needs to cry about how the Bereans wouldn't have know Jesus came if not for testimony; it simply means that Scripture is the ultimate authority, not "oral tradition". Oral tradition is good, only if it is in light of Scripture. The Bereans wouldn't have accepted Paul's testimony if it didn't line up with Scripture.

Peace.
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That is interesting, what is written about the Bereans.....would make an excellent study...thank you for posting this.

Yes it would, as not much is really known about them, as said by a member on another thread:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7800233/

Originally Posted by MoreCoffee

Well, nothing one can do about the Bereans because they were Jews but quite a few of them converted to Christ. With the Thessalonians they were Jews too and some of them converted to Christ. The letters to the Thessalonians tell us that those who did convert formed a church and remained faithful to the gospel. But we hear no more of Berea either in the bible or in history.
If a church ever formed there it left no records that I've been able to find.
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[brinny]

Yes it would, as not much is really known about them, as said by a member on another thread:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7800233/




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perhaps, yet what is said about them in the Bible, is quite profoundly to their credit. And yes, it would be an excellent study.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Acts 17:11:

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

This passage proves that Scripture is to be held the ultimate authority, certainly more so than "oral testimony". The Bible goes so far as to commend the Bereans as "more noble" than another group, for checking what was testified against Scripture.

This DOESN'T mean that "oral testimony" isn't important; so nobody needs to cry about how the Bereans wouldn't have know Jesus came if not for testimony; it simply means that Scripture is the ultimate authority, not "oral tradition". Oral tradition is good, only if it is in light of Scripture. The Bereans wouldn't have accepted Paul's testimony if it didn't line up with Scripture.

Peace.

perhaps, yet what is said about them in the Bible, is quite profoundly to their credit. And yes, it would be an excellent study.

I actually have a thread with a study on the greek of that verse......

http://www.christianforums.com/threads/acts-17-11-greek-verse-study-only.7585054/

#2104 used 3 times in 3 verses. Luke 19:12, 1 Corin 1:26 and here. It is formed by the prefix #2095 and root word #1074 literally meaning "well-bred/born", which most versions render as "noble".

The word appears in Luke 19:12 about the story of a certain nobleman going out to look for a kingdom.

ISA) Acts 17:11 These yet were more well-bred/noble/eu-genesteroi <2104> of the ones in Thessalonica, who-any receive the word with all passion/eagerness the according to day, examining the Writings if it may be having these thusly.

NKJV) Luke 19:12 Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman/eu-genhV <2104> went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

I decided to put up the wiki definition and it indeed appears to closely resemble the english meaning of that greek word. Thoughts?

Nobility - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary.

The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be largely honorary (e.g. precedence), and vary from country to country and era to era. Traditionally membership in the nobility has been regulated or acknowledged by the government.

 

[Berean777]

The Jews from Berea in their conversion to Christ reverted to the scriptures, mainly the Torah to ascertain that Paul's claims were true about the messiah. You have to presume that the New Testament writings were not the authoritative writings as far as these Jews were concerned. They would need to search the Torah to reveal to them that Jesus Christ was in fact the Jewish Messiah.

In their conversion they were able to establish that he fit the bill as far as the identity of the messiah and his role would be, that is, to suffer for humanity. Once they received the truth revealed in the Torah, they believed Paul's oral testimony.

After they believed that Jesus is the messiah they then were baptised and received the gift of the Spirit who then became the Living Word inside of them.

Scriptures were required as a witness in the conversion, yet after their conversion the Living Word became their advocate inside of them in their day to day sanctification.

 

[brinny]

I actually have a thread with a study on the greek of that verse......

http://www.christianforums.com/threads/acts-17-11-greek-verse-study-only.7585054/

EXCELLENT amigo, thanks!!!!