#ignorance_winked_at
Acts 17
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge
the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath
given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
The last round didn't get me any nearer the truth.
So, let me ask a few more from a different angle.
1. Is there any relationship between the "all men" in verses 30 and verse
31?
2. Who are the "all men" commanded to repent of?
3. Who are the "all men" unto whom God has given
assurance concerning the glorification of the man Christ Jesus, i.e. His
resurrection from the dead and appointment to judge the world in righteousness?
Thank you.
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15 Comments
Rayburn Brooks
I would have used the word ignorant in place of a fool.
sing
A fool in the eyes of the wise who knows all and have no
questions.
Titus Chan
The "all men" in questions 1 and 3 are the same people
in the context ie the superstitious men of Athens that were assembling at Mars
Hill discussing and listening to whatever that was trending that day (Acts 17:21).
To answer question 2, these men were commanded by Paul to repent
of their superstition (Acts 17:22) as Jesus Christ will judge them one day for
that sin. And they have no excuses now as the gospel (thru Paul at that time)
was preached to them at Mars Hill against that sin.
Question for you: Why are you asking these theological questions
on Facebook? Haven't Spurgeon, Gill, Calvin, Clarke, Barnes, Henry, Poole etc
already addressed these verses thoroughly enough? It astounds me that you
prefer to ask Zuckerberg and the geniuses on social media instead.
sing
>> Question for you: Why are you asking these theological
questions on Facebook? Haven't Spurgeon, Gill, Calvin, Clarke, Barnes, Henry,
Poole etc already addressed these verses thoroughly enough? It astounds me that
you prefer to ask Zuckerberg and the geniuses on social media instead.
==========
Good question, Titus.
My answer is simple, it’s to hear from geniuses like you, and
other students of God’s word.
Thank you for the string of impressive names of God’s servants
of old. You are sure that they have addressed these verses thoroughly enough. Your
words indicate much confidence in them.
Tell me, which of them understood the distinct facets of
salvation, and the distinction between eternal salvation and temporal
salvation? But I have questions; I surely can’t ask them to the dead
theologians, can I? So, I ask on this platform, hoping some living geniuses
like you will give your thoughts.
No, you are quite mistaken that I prefer to ask Zuckerberg; I’m
absolutely certain he has no interest in my questions; I’m glad that you do.
Perhaps a genius like you can help me answer my questions on their behalf.
Thank you, most kindly.
I’m thankful for any helpful sounding boards.
sing
>> The "all men" in questions 1 and 3 are the
same people in the context ie the superstitious men of Athens that were
assembling at Mars Hill discussing and listening to whatever that was trending
that day (Acts 17:21).
Acts 17 – KJV: the last paragraph of Acts 17:
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the
which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with
them.
Acts 17:17 speaks of “the devout persons” among the Athenians.
The last paragraph of Acts 17 also speaks of these:
- those who desire to hear further on the matter of the
resurrection of the dead;
- those who clave to Apostle Paul and believed his preaching of
the man God has ordained to judge the world in righteousness;
- and others with them.
Concerning the above people, where and how does this group of
people fit into your understanding of all men"? Were they also altogether
idolaters or superstitious?
Perhaps, Apostle Paul's ministry was intended for folks like
these among the "all men"?
Apostle Paul did affirm that in his ministry in this manner,
“Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain
the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2Tim 2:10.
Just thinking, and asking questions.
The Bible does affirm that Christ has His redeemed among
"all men" -
Rev 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,
which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white
robes, and palms in their hands."
Titus Chan
Thank you for the kind comments. Let's stick to the topic, please. These verses have nothing to do with eternal salvation, thus your
comments about the Gill and others do not apply. Paul was referring to the
Greek superstition only and their need to repent of that sin. It's all in the
context. Why do you need to ask dead theologians again when they have existing
commentaries on the verses?
From one genius to another. Thank you.
sing
>> To answer question 2, these men were commanded by Paul
to repent of their superstition (Acts 17:22) as Jesus Christ will judge them
one day for that sin. And they have no excuses now as the gospel (thru Paul at
that time) was preached to them at Mars Hill against that sin.
=============
So, the gospel was indeed preached to those at Mars Hills; “because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.” 17:18
In Acts 17:22, Apostle Paul makes an observation that the
Athenians are superstitious; it wasn’t a command to repent of their
superstition.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but
now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Apostle Paul said God had winked at the ignorance of times past.
The call to repentance is related to their ignorance; the gospel ministry has
dispelled the ignorance spoken of, but now all men every where are commanded to
believe the truth that has been proclaimed by the Apostle Paul and the other
Apostles.
- What is this ignorance?
- How does gospel ministry dispel this ignorance?
- Whose ignorance can be dispelled by gospel ministry?
- To whom was the gospel ministry intended to dispel that
ignorance?
I will appreciate some thoughts from living geniuses, and
students of God’s word.
Thank you, Brother Titus.
sing
>> Thank you for the kind comments. Let's stick to the
topic please. These verses have nothing to do with eternal salvation, thus your
comments about the Gill and others do not apply.
========
I'm sticking to the topic.
No, I did not even hint that the passage has anything to do with
eternal salvation. You are quite mistaken.
You expressed such confidence in those servants of God - that
they have already addressed these verses thoroughly enough.
I did say something about those great men you quoted; not about
the passage. You have confused the two.
Please, don't embarrass me; I'm no genius.
Good night; it's midnight here.
Titus Chan
For the record, ignorance in verse 30 equals the superstition in
verses 21 and 22. That was the characteristic of Paul's audience in Athens so
that's why he preached to them about it.
I am glad that out of the crowd there on Mars Hill, we got to
see at least two souls saved from their ignorance and superstition ie
Dionysius, Damaris and others. So Paul's preaching worked 😁.
The indirect lesson is for us to not be superstitious and
idolatrous.
Hope this helps, thank you.
sing
Titus Chan @ For the record, ignorance in verse 30 equals the
superstition in verses 21 and 22. That was the characteristic of Paul's audience
in Athens so that's why he preached to them about it.
-----------
While it's true that Athenians are generally described as
superstitious, to equate ignorance and superstition is a plain error. There are
many Scriptures to the contrary...
Romans 10:3 KJV — For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Were they superstitious/idolatrous also?
Romans 11:25 KJV — For I would not, brethren, that ye should be
ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that
blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be
come in.
Were they superstitious/idolatrous?
Before Apostle Peter came to Cornelius, Cornelius was ignorant
but hardly superstitious nor idolatrous. Peter was sent to dispel his ignorance
through the gospel ministry.
A direct lesson: there is no need to double down on such an
obvious error.
Paul's preaching worked because there were God's children -
regenerated elect - among the superstitious Athenians; their ignorance can be
dispelled by the gospel ministry. Hope this helps a little. Thanks, Titus.
Titus Chan
Thank you for the kind response. I'm glad you agree with me that
the Athenians were generally superstitious.
Titus Chan
How is ignorance and superstition related? Superstition comes
from ignorance of who the true God is and how to worship him. That's why they
had so many idols in Athens. One leads to another, just like temptation leads
to sin. I hope you understand. This was characteristic of the general audience
that Paul was preaching to, not of the exceptions i.e. Dionysius, Damaris and
others. By the way Cornelius was an exception as well to the generally
idolatrous Roman society. Paul's and Peter's churches were also filled with
former idolaters. The epistles speak of those things plainly. You know about
some of the backgrounds of church members in Malaysia as well, so this
shouldn't be too difficult.
Titus Chan
Anyway, I'm done commenting. Acts 17 is not difficult or
complicated to understand. Hopefully, this discussion was helpful. Thank you.
sing
Titus Chan, It's geniuses like you who say Cornelius was an
exception.
Apostle Peter said this,
34 ¶Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth, I perceive
that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him.
Cornelius was one among many of God's children in every nation, who, though ignorant concerning the things of God, fear Him and work righteousness. He was not superstitious as your carelessly assumed. Some of such were enlightened and converted through the ministry of Paul in Athen.
sing
I am glad to hear your ideas.
===========
Let me give my answers to these questions:
Acts 17
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Please read some answers to the related questions on the same passage...
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2022/07/ignorance-winked-at-1.html
1. Is there any relationship between the "all men" in verses 30 and verse 31?
Answer: The "all men" of verse 30 are directly related to those whose past ignorance God winked at but now the same "all men" are commanded, through the gospel ministry, to repent of their ignorance, and and know the truth of their redemption in and by Jesus Christ.
The "all men" in verse 31 are those to whom God has given assurance that He has raised Jesus Christ, their Redeemer and Lord, calling them to believe on their risen Lord.
2. What are the "all men" commanded to repent of?
Answer: The "all men" who were/are ignorant of their redemption in and by Jesus Christ, are commanded to repent of their ignorance, to cease being ignorant of the truth, i.e. to receive and believe the truth of their redemption proclaimed to them in the gospel ministry.
3. Who are the "all men" unto whom God has given assurance concerning the glorification of the man Christ Jesus, i.e. His resurrection from the dead and appointment to judge the world in righteousness?
Answer: The "all men" unto whom God has given assurance concerning the glorification of the man Christ Jesus are God's children who remain ignorant of their redemption in and by Jesus Christ.
The "all men" in verse 30 and the "all men" in verse 31 refer to the same group of people.
It's an absurdity to imagine that God would give that assurance of the risen Lord to all men without distinction, even those who are not partakers in the redemption of Christ?
