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Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 1:8 establishes the progressive geographic expansion of the gospel: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, uttermost parts of the earth

Survey of Acts chapter 1

Acts 1:8 Judea Great Commission Acts 1:8 progressive revelation
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 2 Pentecost crowd is entirely Jewish or proselytes -- the question of Gentiles obeying the law never arises because all present already observed it

Survey of Acts chapter 2

Acts 2:5 Acts 2:9-10 Pentecost Jewish believers Acts 2:5
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 3:1 -- Peter and John regularly attend the temple at the hour of prayer during a sacrifice, showing Jewish believers continued temple participation after believing in Jesus

Survey of Acts chapter 3

Acts 3:1 John (Apostle) Hebrews (book) temple worship Jewish believers Peter (Apostle)
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Church grows to ~5,000 in Acts 3-4, still entirely Jewish or proselyte. The default assumption is: continue doing what you were already doing regarding the law.

Summary observation from Acts 3-4

Torah observance Jewish believers early church
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 5:12 -- Apostles gather at Solomon's Portico (temple area), reinforcing the entirely Jewish character of the early church. No abandonment of the law is visible.

Survey of Acts chapter 5

Acts 5:12 progressive revelation temple worship early church
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

The seven deacons chosen in Acts 6 all have Greek names; one (Nicholas) is explicitly a proselyte. The Jerusalem church remains predominantly Jewish.

Acts 6:5 analysis

Acts 6:5 proselytes early church Acts 6:5
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Survey of Acts 6:7

Acts 6:7 Jerusalem Acts 6:7 priestly converts
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 8:1 Acts 1:8 Acts 8:1 Acts 1:8 progressive revelation
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 11:19 Acts 8:5 Gentile mission Acts 11:19 Acts 8:5
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 John (Apostle) Acts 8 Holy Spirit Peter (Apostle)
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 8:27-40 proselytes Philip (Evangelist) Acts 8:27-40
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Acts 9:31 Jewish believers early church Acts 9:31
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

argument from silence Torah observance Jewish believers
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

dietary laws Jewish believers Peter (Apostle)
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Neither extreme interpretation of Acts 10 is correct: neither 'all food is now clean for everyone' nor 'all food is still unclean' -- the vision primarily establishes Gentile access to the gospel

Balanced interpretation of Acts 10 vision

Acts 10 hermeneutics Acts 10 Gentile inclusion
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Mark 7:19 -- Jesus declared all foods clean. Winger defers full treatment but flags it as part of a progressive revelation from Jesus through Paul to Hebrews.

Cross-reference to Mark 7:19

Mark 7:19 progressive revelation dietary laws fulfillment theology
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 11:20 Luke (author) Gentile mission Acts 11:20 Antioch (Syria)
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 13:38-39 Paul the Apostle justification Law of Moses
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Acts 14:8-11 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Acts 14:8-11
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Law of Moses dietary laws feast days
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 14:21-23 discipleship Barnabas Paul the Apostle
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 15:3-5 Law of Moses Jerusalem Council Pharisees
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 15:19-21 -- James decrees four abstentions for Gentiles: things contaminated by idols, fornication, what is strangled, and blood. The reason given: Moses has been preached in every city.

James's four-fold decree for Gentiles

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:20-21 table fellowship James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:20-21
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Hebrew Roots claim: Acts 15 is only about salvation, not sanctification. Winger argues the meeting appears to address both and that the claim is artificially restrictive.

Critique of Hebrew Roots interpretation of Acts 15

Acts 15 Acts 15 Hebrew Roots movement 119 Ministries
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 Acts 15 Torah observance salvation vs. sanctification
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

The four Apostolic Decree commands correspond to Leviticus 17-18, which lists things God judges Gentile nations for -- suggesting these were universal moral standards applicable even outside the law

Analysis of the four commands and their OT background

Leviticus 17-18 Acts 15:20 John Polhill table fellowship Apostolic Decree Leviticus 17-18
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 15:20-21 table fellowship dietary laws Acts 15:20-21
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Acts 15 Acts 13 discipleship Acts 15 Torah observance
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Matthew 5 Matthew 28 argument from silence Great Commission Matthew 5
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Timothy was not circumcised because he was Jewish -- he was circumcised for ministry effectiveness. This distinction is critical: it is fulfillment theology, not law-keeping.

Clarification on Timothy's circumcision motivation

Timothy Jewish identity fulfillment theology
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Torah observance Jewish believers fulfillment theology
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

1 Corinthians 9 Acts 18:18 Nazirite vow Paul the Apostle 1 Corinthians 9
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 20:17 Ephesian elders Paul the Apostle feast days
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 20:27 -- Paul declares he gave the Ephesians the whole counsel of God. If Torah observance was required, he would have included it -- but he did not.

Paul's claim to have given the whole counsel of God

Acts 20:27 Torah observance Ephesus Paul the Apostle
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Acts 15 Acts 21 Acts 15 Torah observance Acts 21
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 21:20-21 Paul the Apostle James (brother of Jesus) Law of Moses
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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 21 Torah observance Acts 21 Jewish believers
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Sabbath observance Gentile believers Lord's Day (Sunday worship)
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Law of Moses Ten Commandments law of Christ
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

New Covenant Law of Moses Levites
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Q&A: Revelation 20-21 as the end of the Mosaic law -- Winger is uncertain; notes a real transition happens in new heavens/new earth but declines to definitively call it the end of the law

Q&A on eschatology and the law

Revelation 20-21 eschatology Law of Moses new heavens and new earth
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

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

Hebrew Roots movement Messianic Judaism Jewish believers
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Romans 3:20 establishes a connection between the law and the knowledge of sin

Scriptural support for the law-sin connection

Romans 3:20 knowledge of sin Law of Moses law and sin connection
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

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

Scriptural support for law-sin connection

Galatians 3:21-22 law and sin connection Galatians 3:21-22 imprisoned under sin
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Greek word analysis: kyrieuō (dominion) vs. hypo (under) in Romans 6:14

Greek word-level critique of 119 Ministries' interpretation

Romans 6:14 dominion Greek exegesis Romans 6:14
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

The unqualified "the law" appears 35+ times in Romans before 6:14 and always refers to the Law of Moses

Argument from Pauline usage in Romans

Romans Romans exegesis Law of Moses
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Romans 3:19 — the law speaks to those under it; clearly Jewish people

Surveying Pauline uses — second instance

Romans 3:19 accountability Law of Moses under the law
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Galatians 3:23 — before faith we were held captive "under the law," referring to the Law of Moses for Jews

Surveying Pauline uses — fourth instance

Galatians 3:23 Law of Moses under the law Galatians 3:23
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Galatians 3:21-28 read in full: no Jew or Greek distinction in Christ undermines Hebrew Roots' position

Extended scriptural reading to demonstrate freedom from the law

Galatians 3:21-28 in Christ covenant Hebrew Roots Movement
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Galatians 4:21 — "you who want to be under the law" addresses those seeking circumcision and Mosaic obedience

Surveying Pauline uses — seventh instance

Galatians 4:21 circumcision Law of Moses fulfillment theology