Search — Theology Explorer

Acts 6:7 Jerusalem Acts 6:7 priestly converts

Acts 6:7 -- many priests become believers. The church's Jerusalem base and Jewish composition is further underscored.

Survey of Acts 6:7

Acts 8:1 Acts 1:8 Acts 8:1 Acts 1:8 progressive revelation

Acts 8:1 -- Saul's persecution scatters the church throughout Judea and Samaria, fulfilling the Acts 1:8 progression

Survey of Acts chapter 8

Acts 11:19 Acts 8:5 Gentile mission Acts 11:19 Acts 8:5

Acts 11:19 reveals that scattered believers preached only to Jews -- the assumption was still that the gospel was exclusively for Jews

Survey of Acts 8 and 11:19

Acts 8:5 Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 8:5 Deuteronomy 18:15 Samaritans

Samaritans are described as 'Jewish-ish' -- half-Jew, half-Gentile in Jewish eyes -- still not the full Gentile mission of Acts 1:8

Analysis of Philip's Samaritan mission

Acts 8 John (Apostle) Acts 8 Holy Spirit Peter (Apostle)

The Holy Spirit did not fall on the Samaritan believers until Peter and John came and laid hands on them -- the Apostles were required to officially open the gospel to the Samaritans

Analysis of Holy Spirit delay in Samaria

Acts 8:27-40 proselytes Philip (Evangelist) Acts 8:27-40

The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 appears to be Jewish or a proselyte (he was in Jerusalem to worship and had Isaiah), so this is still not a full Gentile conversion

Survey of Acts 8, Ethiopian eunuch

Acts 9:31 Jewish believers early church Acts 9:31

Acts 9:31 summary: the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria is at peace and growing -- still entirely Jewish in composition

Survey of Acts 9:31, state of the early church

argument from silence Torah observance Jewish believers

Key principle: those already observing the law simply continued; there was no teaching to stop -- and no teaching to start for those who were not observing it

Summary principle from Acts 1-9

Acts 10:1-2 Craig Keener Cornelius Josephus

Acts 10: Cornelius is introduced -- the first non-proselyte Gentile to receive the gospel. He is a God-fearer but not circumcised and not under the law.

Survey of Acts chapter 10, Cornelius

dietary laws Jewish believers Peter (Apostle)

Peter did not violate food laws even years after the resurrection -- an important concession: there was no requirement for Jewish believers to stop Torah observance after coming to Jesus

Analysis of Peter's behavior regarding food laws

salvation by grace Law of Moses dietary laws

The gospel alone makes Gentiles clean -- the law was not a prerequisite for salvation, and Acts 10-11 establishes this clearly

Summary argument from Acts 10-11

Acts 11:20 Luke (author) Gentile mission Acts 11:20 Antioch (Syria)

Acts 11:20 -- some men of Cyprus and Cyrene begin speaking to Greeks (Gentiles) in Antioch, preaching the Lord Jesus. Luke narrates this only after establishing how Gentiles can be saved.

Survey of Acts 11:20, first Gentile outreach from scattered believers

Acts 13:14 Paul the Apostle fulfillment theology Acts 13:14

Paul preaches in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14) -- his standard method is synagogue first, then the broader city. His message presents Jesus as fulfillment of the law and prophets.

Survey of Acts 13:14, Paul's first missionary journey

Acts 13:38-39 Paul the Apostle justification Law of Moses

Acts 13:38-39 -- Paul: forgiveness is proclaimed through Jesus, and through him everyone who believes is freed from all things from which they could not be freed through the law of Moses

Paul's synagogue sermon in Pisidian Antioch

Acts 14:8-11 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Acts 14:8-11

Acts 14 -- Paul in Iconium and Lystra heals a lame man; Gentiles try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul corrects their polytheism but never mentions the Law of Moses.

Survey of Acts 14, Paul's ministry in Lystra

Law of Moses dietary laws feast days

Preaching against idolatry is not the same as imposing the law of Moses -- idolatry is condemned universally, not only in the law. Specific Mosaic laws (Sabbath, tithe to Levites, feast attendance) are never mentioned to Gentiles.

Response to Hebrew Roots claim that preaching against idolatry equals teaching Torah

Acts 14:21-23 discipleship Barnabas Paul the Apostle

Paul appoints elders from Gentile churches (Acts 14:21-23) with no mention of Torah. These are advanced disciples who had Paul with them multiple times and a full year of discipleship.

Survey of Acts 14:21-23, appointment of elders

Acts 15:3-5 Law of Moses Jerusalem Council Pharisees

Acts 15:3-5 -- the Jerusalem Council convenes; Pharisee believers argue it is necessary to circumcise Gentile believers and direct them to observe the whole law of Moses

Survey of Acts 15:3-5, Jerusalem Council opening

Acts 15:6-11 Cornelius Holy Spirit salvation by grace

Acts 15:6-11 -- Peter's speech at the Jerusalem Council: God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, cleansing their hearts by faith; why put on them a yoke their fathers could not bear? Salvation is by grace alone.

Peter's speech at Jerusalem Council

Acts 15 Acts 15 Torah observance salvation vs. sanctification

Three arguments that Acts 15 addresses sanctification, not just salvation: (1) text never limits it to salvation; (2) if future Torah teaching was expected, why not clarify here; (3) they gave four specific sanctification commands, not the whole law

Winger's three-part argument that Acts 15 covers sanctification as well

Acts 15:20-21 table fellowship dietary laws Acts 15:20-21

Two interpretations of the four commands: (1) universal moral standards for all Gentile believers, or (2) specifically for Jewish-Gentile table fellowship. Winger favors table fellowship.

Competing interpretations of the Apostolic Decree

Acts 15 Acts 13 discipleship Acts 15 Torah observance

Hebrew Roots response to Acts 15: it was only temporary, with full Torah teaching coming later. Winger demolishes this by pointing to the years of prior discipleship at Antioch.

Response to the Hebrew Roots 'temporary decree' argument for Acts 15

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:22-29 Holy Spirit James (brother of Jesus) salvation vs. sanctification

Acts 15:22-29 -- The Apostolic letter: the Holy Spirit and the Apostles together impose no greater burden than four essentials. These four are explicitly for sanctification ('you will do well'), not salvation.

Survey of the Apostolic letter text

Matthew 5 Matthew 28 argument from silence Great Commission Matthew 5

Challenge to Hebrew Roots movement: if Matthew 5 and 28 teach Torah for all, why does Acts never once tell Gentiles to obey the law? The silence disproves the interpretation.

Summary challenge to Hebrew Roots reading of Acts

Acts 16:1-3 Timothy Paul the Apostle circumcision

Acts 16:1-3 -- Timothy is circumcised by Paul, despite delivering the decree that Gentiles need not be circumcised. His circumcision is for missionary effectiveness among Jews.

Survey of Acts 16, Timothy's circumcision

Torah observance Jewish believers fulfillment theology

Summary: Gentiles who get saved in Acts never receive Torah instructions; Jews are never asked to stop. Both groups are united by Jesus, not by the law.

Summary of Acts survey to this point

Acts 18:13 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Acts 18:13 -- Paul accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Again just an accusation, paralleling the pattern with Jesus: fulfillment misread as abolishment.

Survey of Acts 18:13

1 Corinthians 9 Acts 18:18 Nazirite vow Paul the Apostle 1 Corinthians 9

Acts 18:18 -- Paul keeps a Nazirite vow (hair cut) years after the resurrection. Consistent with Jewish believers continuing optional Torah practices.

Survey of Acts 18:18, Paul's Nazirite vow

Acts 20:17 Ephesian elders Paul the Apostle feast days

Key observation: the Ephesian elders are not going to Jerusalem for Pentecost -- Paul is the exception, not the rule. Gentile believers are not flocking to Jerusalem for feasts.

Analysis of Acts 20:17, Paul's address to Ephesian elders

Acts 15 Acts 21 Acts 15 Torah observance Acts 21

Acts 21 addresses the opposite error: not telling Jews to stop obeying the law. Acts 15 covered Gentiles; Acts 21 covers Jews. Both errors must be avoided.

Introduction to Acts 21 analysis

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 21:20-21 Paul the Apostle James (brother of Jesus) Law of Moses

Acts 21:20-21 -- thousands of Jewish believers are zealous for the law; there is a rumor that Paul teaches Jews to forsake Moses and stop circumcising their children

Survey of Acts 21:20-21

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 21:25 James (brother of Jesus) Apostolic Decree Acts 21:25

Acts 21:25 -- James reminds Paul of the Acts 15 Apostolic Decree: the Gentiles only need the four abstentions. The Jew/Gentile distinction in the decree is explicitly restated.

Acts 21:25, restatement of the Acts 15 decree

Acts 21 Torah observance Acts 21 Jewish believers

Three conclusions from Acts 21: (1) Jews may continue obeying the law (beware Pharisaical additions); (2) Gentiles still have only the four commands; (3) Jewish believers in Jerusalem years later are still Torah-observant -- and that is fine.

Summary of Acts 21 analysis

Acts 15 Acts 13 Acts 15 Hebrew Roots movement apologetics

Q&A: strategy for reaching those deeply in Hebrew Roots movement -- speak truth in love, handle one issue at a time, use Acts 13-15 in Bible study format

Q&A response about evangelizing Hebrew Roots adherents

Sabbath observance Gentile believers Lord's Day (Sunday worship)

Q&A: Gentiles and Sabbath/Sunday worship -- Winger says the day of worship does not matter; the Sabbath has not shifted from Saturday to Sunday

Q&A on Sabbath observance for Gentiles

resurrection Gentile evangelism Messiah (title)

Q&A: difference between preaching Jesus as Christ to Jews vs. as Lord to Gentiles -- connects to what the audience already knows from Scripture

Q&A on Jewish vs. Gentile evangelism vocabulary

Law of Moses Ten Commandments law of Christ

Q&A: the Ten Commandments are not selectively binding because they are in the Ten Commandments -- believers are not under the law, but follow the heart of God as fulfilled in Christ

Q&A on Ten Commandments and Sabbath

New Covenant Law of Moses Levites

Q&A: tithing -- the tithe is a Mosaic law (10% to Levites/temple) and is not required for believers; Christians should give freely as the Lord directs to the poor, persecuted, and ministers

Q&A on tithing

Hebrew Roots movement Messianic Judaism Jewish believers

Q&A: difference between Hebrew Roots movement (HRM) and Messianic Judaism -- HRM is predominantly Gentiles taking on Torah; Messianic Judaism is Jews who believe Jesus is Messiah

Q&A distinguishing HRM from Messianic Judaism

Romans 7:8 law and sin connection Romans 7:8 power of sin

Romans 7:8 — sin uses the commandment as an opportunity; apart from the law sin is dead

Scriptural support for law-sin connection

Galatians 3:21-22 law and sin connection Galatians 3:21-22 imprisoned under sin

Galatians 3:21-22 — the law imprisons everything under sin so that promise comes by faith

Scriptural support for law-sin connection

false teaching 119 Ministries charitable interpretation

Are Hebrew Roots teachers false teachers? Winger extends charity, attributing error to wrong assumptions not bad faith

Q&A: question about false teaching

logical fallacy grace under the law

Responding to syllogism: judgment for sin requires being under the law

Q&A: Timmy Pine presents a logical argument

Acts circumcision Acts Jewish believers

Jewish believers who come to faith in Jesus should expect to continue being very Jewish

Q&A: Rachel asks about present-day Jews and circumcision/law observance

1 Corinthians Romans 14 1 Corinthians Romans 14 Christian liberty

Voluntarily keeping feast days or eating kosher for conscience's sake is acceptable; mandating it for others is wrong

Q&A: lularoe asks if observing feasts/clean eating condemns him

Calvinism limited atonement TULIP

Definition of limited atonement: Jesus's death only paid for the sins of the elect

Winger defines limited atonement as the doctrine that God only provided payment for the sins of certain people (the elect), not for all humanity.

limited atonement TULIP extent of atonement

Comparison chart: limited atonement vs. universal atonement vs. universalism on extent and application

Winger presents a visual chart distinguishing three views based on extent and application of the atonement.

2 Corinthians 5 evangelism limited atonement universal atonement

Universal atonement motivates evangelism; limited atonement undermines the sincere gospel call

Winger argues that Paul's evangelistic appeal in 2 Corinthians 5 flows directly from universal atonement and is inconsistent with limited atonement.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 evangelism limited atonement 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Paul's application of the theology confirms the universal-extent, limited-application reading: the missions mandate

How Paul applies his theology tells us what his real theology is; his application is the missions mandate.