"As the apostles were brought before Roman authorities, they said nothing about how Jesus had helped them put their marrages back together or how they found the gospel helpful and useful in daily living. There may well have been stories like that to report. However, that was not their gospel.
"Rather, they testified to datable events, which they assumed to have been well-known to their judges. It was not a 'religious story,' but an international headline of immense world historical significance. (People aren't persecuted for having an invisible friend who helps them through personal crises.)
"They referrred the secular rulers to eyewitnesses who were still living to back up their claim. If the witnesses only offered good advice, spiritual and moral therapy, or defended their 'product' for its pragmatic usefulness, Rome would have had no trouble adding another cult to the soup of imperial religion.
"However the claim was that Jesus alone is Lord of the cosmos and Savior of the world (both titles that Caesar claimed for himself)."
-- Michael Horton, "The Gospel-Driven Life" p.69 (Baker Books 2009)
No comments:
Post a Comment