01/06/2022
THREE CLASSES OF PEOPLE THE BIBLE ADDRESSES
[Jews, Gentiles and the Church]
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
~1 Corinthians 10:32
In basic bible interpretation, it's often advised when studying scriptures to identify at least
three facts namely; Who said it, what did he say and to who did he say it to
I) WHO SAID IT
[I want to state here plainly that ALL scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching (doctrine), for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness ~ ref 2 Tim 3:16]
On identifying who said it, it will help you understand the position of the person at the time in light of understanding God's full communication of His Will, Plan and Purpose.
There are words that the author brings to our attention addressed by God or Jesus Himself .
In certain instances authors cited other characters, or the personal experience in the narration and the list goes on.
For instance most people will recite a phrase especially on funerals that Job said in error to comfort bereaved families. This is it below
"......the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;...." ( Reference Job 1:21)
Now reading only the same book of Job alone which should not take you more than 5 days, you will understand that God did not take anything from Job. Satan did.
Otherwise, when you get to the epistles, you will learn that death is the last enemy that will be destroyed and God does not subcontract an enemy to fulfil His Will, Plan and Purpose.
If it seemed so, He was not just involved.
II) WHAT DID HE SAY
Pay attention to what was said. This should be done when studying the text in respect to the context or setting.
You can't conclude an matter on one verse alone. Understand that author's idea of communication in the passage.
Use scriptures to interpret scriptures. This takes more than reading but STUDYING.
I see how some lazy religious folks will just lock themselves up and quote this scripture and end there.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" ~ Romans 3:10
After reading just this verse alone, they then go out making noise telling everyone on their way that presently there is no one who is righteous no not one.
They never read not even the whole chapter and were quick to make your conclusion.
How sad.
Stay on this verse, at least if you know how to read then you must have some form of education I believe.
You can't read a statement that starts with "as it is written" without asking where is it written or taken from.
It's clear that the author is making a reference to somewhere this was said.
So the most fair thing to do is begin by reading the whole chapter otherwise I advise the whole book then if you have a margin bible (reference bible) it will show you where that passage verse 10-18) was recorded in the old testament on several places in the Psalms, Eccl, and Isaiah.
III) TO WHO IS IT ADDRESSED
When studying ask "who is the bible addressing here?".
This is the reason I wrote this article. There are three classes of people the bible will address namely; Jews, Gentiles and the Church.
This makes it easy to clear basic confusions in some people's minds when receiving or studying the word.
For instance, I gave you an example above in Romans 3: 10-18.
The question is..., who was it addressed to in the references made?
( Ps 14:2-3, 52:2-4, Eccl 7:20, Isaiah 59:7-8).
See verse 19 on Romans 3.
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, IT SAITH TO THEM WHO ARE UNDER THE LAW: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God".
Oh there you have it!
He tells us the ones addressed from Romans 3:10-18.
Remember this passage is picked from potions of scriptures in the old testament.
Another question is "who are they that are under the law?".
Well, the law was only given to the Jews. The non Jews that lived with them as servants or slaves were made to follow the law by virtue of their location but it was never addressed to them.
LET ME BRIEFLY CLOSE BY OUTLINING TO YOU THESE THREE
1. JEWS
These are God's covenant people. These are the ones who were given the law to keep and non did so successfully.
When studying identify if the writer addressed the covenant people or someone else.
2. GENTILES
Gentiles are those who are neither Jews or the church. They are referred to as sinners.
A perfect description is in Ephesians 2:11 & 12
"Wherefore remember, that YE BEING IN TIME PAST GENTILES IN THE FLESH, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"
This right here brothers and sisters is a perfect description of gentiles. This is where we are coming from as long as you are not a Jew.
He doesn't refer us as gentiles still but says YE BEING IN TIME PAST GENTILES IN THE FLESH.
The source is that gentiles were aliens from the commonwealth of Isreal and STRANGERS from the covenants of promise. Simply put no hope and without God in the world.
This is what we were before we got saved.
3. THE CHURCH
This is God's own family! Praise God forever.
It's everyone who is born again. They may be from the Jewish or Gentile background but made one in Christ.
There is NEITHER JEW NOR GENTILE, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.
~Galatians 3:28 (NIV )
This is collectively called the Church of God or the Church of Jesus Christ.
This is NOT a continuation of the Jewish system.
The Church is a NEW CREATURE in Christ. Never existed before!
The church started with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Church doesn't follow the Law of the old testament.
That law was fulfilled in Christ and abolished.(Heb 8:13)
The church lives by the law of LOVE.
Even if we said the law is in effect today, it was not given to the Church. Clearly the church never existed then.
When you want to understand what God says to the church look into the epistles.
These are letters addressed to the church.
I can go on and on but this is the responsibility God has given us to preach to the whole world till rapture.
For today take in these few dosages (:
God bless you
Pastor Irad
