The perennial Acts 2.38 confusion .

[Runningman]

Show me a message to a gentile thats the same as Acts 2.38 ? Then show me where it is after Acts also . The most crucial teaching to the body of Christ and what we find is Eph 1.13 .

1. Repent (2 Corinthians 7:10)
2. Be baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14-17)
3. They believed (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

 

[throughfaith]

I don't think it's as black and white as you say. What can we gather from the context? Let's look at it:

Acts 2:37-41, 44
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

While you are correct that the audience he was addressing were Jewish people, whether proselytes or ethnic Jews. The things Peter tells them to do are actually repeated elsewhere for Gentiles.

So what did he tell them to do?
1. Repent (2 Corinthians 7:10)
2. Be baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14-17)
3. They believed (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

So what I'm getting at is that the message surrounding Acts 2:38 not only applies to Jews, but to Gentiles as well. I just showed you the evidence.

I do not think it is necessary to attempt to separate this message from the context of the New Testament message to Gentiles. Why are you doing this?

You don't point out the context . They ask " What must we DO " . Not " what must I do to be saved " . They have crucified their messiah ,that's specific . I don't tell unbelievers this today . There's no ' believe ' , There's no ' faith ' , no Rom 10.9 . There's barely anything in What Peter says that I would share with a lost person today. All people are doing with Acts 2.38 is post hoc rationalization, because of what we read later in Paul's letter s. So they go back to Acts with this in mind and twist the text to fit .

 

[throughfaith]

Actually, that's exactly how the Bible works. There are messages spread out over many different writings, rarely every concisely stated in a singular place. This is called studying the scriptures and it's necessary.

BUT , the discoverable meaning of the chapter/book in question should be sought first with the text / verse in question . This is to avoid exactly what happens to verses such as Acts 2.38 . People do this all over place . Reading later books / revelation back into early books . Peter has no Gentile in mind until 10 years after Acts 2 .

 

[Runningman]

You don't point out the context . They ask " What must we DO " . Not " what must I do to be saved " . They have crucified their messiah ,that's specific . I don't tell unbelievers this today . There's no ' believe ' , There's no ' faith ' , no Rom 10.9 . There's barely anything in What Peter says that I would share with a lost person today. All people are doing with Acts 2.38 is post hoc rationalization, because of what we read later in Paul's letter s. So they go back to Acts with this in mind and twist the text to fit .

Verses in the Bible do not have to contain the question "What must we do to be saved?" in order to make them authoritative. Because very few verses in the Bible actually ask that specific question.

Do you toss out the whole body of scripture because the question "What must be do to be saved?" isn't asked? I hope not.

 

[Runningman]

BUT , the discoverable meaning of the chapter/book in question should be sought first with the text / verse in question . This is to avoid exactly what happens to verses such as Acts 2.38 . People do this all over place . Reading later books / revelation back into early books .

The same things that Jews were doing in Acts 2:38 are done by Gentiles. That's the bottom line.

 

[throughfaith]

Verses in the Bible do not have to contain the question "What must we do to be saved?" in order to make them authoritative. Because very few verses in the Bible actually ask that specific question.

Do you toss out the whole body of scripture because the question "What must be do to be saved?" isn't asked? I hope not.

Then Gods word specifically has no weight with you ? Just so long as general sweeping ,over arching, stringing together of verses match church doctrine and tradition, that's what really matters?

 

[throughfaith]

Verses in the Bible do not have to contain the question "What must we do to be saved?" in order to make them authoritative. Because very few verses in the Bible actually ask that specific question.

Do you toss out the whole body of scripture because the question "What must be do to be saved?" isn't asked? I hope not.

I'm not 'tossing out ' scripture. But rather believing scripture verse by verse in its immediate context first. Then I move forward assuming the writer intended each verse to be understood within context every time . I don't read Acts 2 and Acts 28 as if nothing changed ,no transitions happened and no time past by . I do the same with the Gospels . I notice key events such as the cross . I read verses before and after such events with that in mind .

 

[Runningman]

Then Gods word specifically has no weight with you ? Just so long as general sweeping ,over arching, stringing together of verses match church doctrine and tradition, that's what really matters?

Actually, I would ask that same question to you seeing as how you made this thread without regard to the fact that the same elements from Acts 2 are also taught to Gentiles.

So what did he tell them to do?
1. Repent (2 Corinthians 7:10)
2. Be baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14-17)
3. They believed (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

 

[Runningman]

I'm not 'tossing out ' scripture. But rather believing scripture verse by verse in its immediate context first. Then I move forward assuming the writer intended each verse to be understood within context every time . I don't read Acts 2 and Acts 28 as if nothing changed ,no transitions happened and no time past by . I do the same with the Gospels . I notice key events such as the cross . I read verses before and after such events with that in mind .

What transition are you referring to? The same message that is taught in Acts 2 is also taught to Gentiles in other parts of the New Testament. You're imagining a transition from something to something else where one doesn't exist.

 

[throughfaith]

Verses in the Bible do not have to contain the question "What must we do to be saved?" in order to make them authoritative. Because very few verses in the Bible actually ask that specific question.

Do you toss out the whole body of scripture because the question "What must be do to be saved?" isn't asked? I hope not.

Details matter with God ,and man . Imagine preaching Water is necessary to recieve the Holy Spirit because I didn't pay attention to each exact word as was written ? Crazy right ?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Romans 6

There's two problems with that . Aside from this being the mental gymnastics/ The greek game ,I was referring to . This ignores the context . There's absolutely nothing wrong with how its translated . What's wrong is how its applied .

yet you have no response only than to just say it’s wrong
I will Stick to the fact.

 

[Runningman]

Details matter with God ,and man . Imagine preaching Water is necessary to recieve the Holy Spirit because I didn't pay attention to each exact word as was written ? Crazy right ?

I think you have tunnel vision of Acts 2:38. You read it removed from all context and think that's how you receive the Holy Spirit. The body of scriptures teaches otherwise.

 

[throughfaith]

Actually, I would ask that same question to you seeing as how you made this thread without regard to the fact that the same elements from Acts 2 are also taught to Gentiles.

So what did he tell them to do?
1. Repent (2 Corinthians 7:10)
2. Be baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14-17)
3. They believed (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

1) Repented from what ?
2) Be baptised, when ?
3) They believed, what ?
Do you see the problem with 'patchwork' hermanutics?

 

[throughfaith]

I think you have tunnel vision of Acts 2:38. You read it removed from all context and think that's how you receive the Holy Spirit. The body of scriptures teaches otherwise.

Acts 2.38 is to be understood within its context ( first ) Otherwise your twisting what it means ,because your bringing in outside bias to the text . Which is eiesegesis.

 

[Runningman]

1) Repented from what ?
2) Be baptised, when ?
3) They believed, what ?
Do you see the problem with 'patchwork' hermanutics?

1. Repent of sin
2. Be water baptized
3. Believe the gospel of Christ

Do you see the problem with ignoring other scriptures to Gentiles that teach the same things as Acts 2?

 

[throughfaith]

yet you have no response only than to just say it’s wrong
I will Stick to the fact.

Erm I've written the Op and responding at great length here .

 

[Runningman]

Acts 2.38 is to be understood within its context ( first ) Otherwise your twisting what it means ,because your bringing in outside bias to the text . Which is eiesegesis.

What's in Acts 2:38 is taught to Gentiles elsewhere in scripture. Do you deny that?

 

[throughfaith]

1. Repent of sin
2. Be water baptized
3. Believe the gospel of Christ

Do you see the problem with ignoring other scriptures to Gentiles that teach the same things as Acts 2?

You didn't answer any of my points .
1) What sin ? These are law abiding, Pork abstaining, Sabbath observing, Jews . Stealing , Fornication? Or Does Peter specifically tell them exactly what they need to repent of ( The clue is in the immediate verses )
2) Baptised SO THAT you are able to recieve the Holy Spirit? or is it Just believing first then water baptised as a figure ?
3) Believe what about Jesus ? They say " what must WE DO? " Which is corporate ? Any hints there ?

 

[throughfaith]

What's in Acts 2:38 is taught to Gentiles elsewhere in scripture. Do you deny that?

" Pah ! so long as it says words that are loosely connected to what I already know and understand, I'm going to read this back into Acts 2 , because it has these familiar, similar words and terminology. Like repent , baptised, and such. Oh yes I'm going to believe something other than what it says because I already have my doctrine over here ,thankyou . Please don't mess with my ducks in a row "

 

[throughfaith]

What's in Acts 2:38 is taught to Gentiles elsewhere in scripture. Do you deny that?

In the sense that it refers to similar things . What I mean is that Acts 2 is not referring to something other than Jesus and how God was transitioning with Israel and such .