"No Fences: Pharisees, Philosophers, Legalists, and Jesus" Closing Remarks
Updated: Oct 9
Appendix:
Advice for believers, new and old: Praying is talking to Dad. If you care about it, He cares about it. You can be as honest with Him as the psalmists were; God’s tough. Other believers are your siblings. He cares about them, so you care about them. He knows what we need before we even ask, but we pray for each other’s struggles because He chooses to involve us in the family business. Don’t wreck your car “praying without ceasing”, just be consistently in conversation with Him throughout the day. “Help!” and “Thanks, God!” are great prayers. He knows your mind, so silent prayer is fine. He knows your heart. He even installed a new one. The Holy Spirit lives in you and fills in the blanks in your prayers for you. If you can help anyone, especially another believer, in a practical manner in addition to praying for them, it will feel nice because that is how you are wired now. Giving to advance the spread of the Gospel is fun, too. Don’t feel pressured or obligated; just go with what the Spirit says to do. We are all collectively the hands and feet of Jesus in this world, and we all have different gifts and abilities. Not everyone has to be a missionary in foreign countries; we’re all in this together. Most of us are to live quiet, decent, and productive lives (2 Thessalonians 3:12) in support of the spread of the Good News. Not every tool in the toolbox is useful for every job or gets used every day, just be available and attentive to the Spirit. The apostles and the Body of Christ as a whole were given a worldwide mission of evangelism; you just have 1 Peter 3:15 (if someone asks you, tell them what Jesus did for you in a gentle and respectful way). God is molding you into who He wants you to be, and you can choose to enjoy this process. A dog on a leash can happily choose to walk toward the destination or choose to be miserable and pull against it. You will prove God right by living the fulfilling life He saved you for (Ephesians 2:10), or by sinning and being a miserable (Galatians 5:17) yet still forgiven person. God has given us a great gift in the Bible. A great place to start is the Gospel of John. Get really familiar with the Epistles (the letters the apostles wrote to early churches), especially the works of Paul. He wrote to a Gentile audience, but his message was for everyone. The other letter writers addressed Jewish Christians that still tried to keep the Law of Moses (which explains a few odd verses), but the Jewish Temple was destroyed by the Romans almost 2000 years ago, so Paul’s message of salvation by grace through faith is the only deal in town. Jesus told the apostles to teach us everything He commanded them to teach, and the letters are the fruit of that obedience. The New Testament really begins at Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection (Hebrews 9:15-28). Remember Paul’s teaching in Romans that the Law was meant to silence everyone before God and make us all aware of our need for His grace. Remember Paul’s teaching in Galatians that Jesus preached Law to those born under Law as part of His earthly ministry; these facts place the hard words Jesus had for His Jewish audience back into the context of proving that He is the Messiah (Isaiah 51:4). When the Bible warns not to quit gathering together (Hebrews 10:25), remember the only way people heard any Christian teaching back then was at public readings. Now, you can connect with the rest of the Body of Christ any time via the Internet, your car radio, etc. We are a gathering of two as you read this book, and Jesus promised to be there where even two are gathered. Joining with local believers in person to praise God, help others, and be helped is a wonderful thing that we get to do, not a chore we have to do.
Still don’t know “what to do”? The Bible and the Holy Spirit will be your best guides. This isn’t exhaustive, but here’s some more for anyone that’s interested. See Romans 12. To paraphrase it: Be open to whatever God has lined up for you today (Ephesians 2:10); it will be a perfect fit for you (you are custom-made, after all), and will therefore probably seem easy if you ask for His help. Be ready to learn new ways to approach life as a saint (and probably un-learn some ill-fitting old patterns and unbiblical notions). Don’t take the weight of the whole world on your shoulders; again, not every tool in the box is used for every job or gets used every day. Love others, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for people, and help in practical ways. Live as an ambassador for Christ (which includes being nice to and taking care of your earthly family per Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3, since even the pagans mostly manage that). Instead of giving Christians a black eye publicly by fighting nearly everyone over everything, live like someone that quietly knows that God has got this handled and will fix it in the end. God is tough and does not need human defenders; gently correcting misconceptions will suffice. Here are a few more ideas: Let’s throw in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 for good measure – do a job well without making much of a fuss (although Paul was mostly trying to keep them from being bums waiting for the world to end) and support the advance of the Gospel. Don’t be a bad citizen (Romans 13). Look to Christ within you to do the next right thing. Know you are a saint and behave accordingly. You don’t have to always rejoice about all your circumstances, but you can rejoice about your Savior in all circumstances, keep praying, and keep thanking Him for what He has done and is doing for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
I hear things like this from fellow Christian friends all the time: “I want to figure out God’s will for my life.” God’s will for your life is not primarily at the level of picking the right house, spouse, job, etc., to stay on script with His plan. God’s will won’t get you stuck between all the choices; God’s will for you is Jesus, and He sets you free. God wants people to be saved (2 Peter 3:9) through faith in Jesus Christ, God wants you to find your joy in Him among whatever life throws at you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), and God wants you to live like the saint He made you to be (Ephesians 2:10). God’s will is Jesus living in you and living through you (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:4). If, say, picking a job comes down to an honest job behind Door #1 and an honest job behind Door #2, God is behind all of those doors; you’re free in Christ. Believe, Love, avoid some things that Sin is trying to trick you with, and live like a fully loved and totally forgiven child of God.
The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit will be with you always.
Special thanks to my editor, whose keen eye and thoughtful feedback vastly improved this book. Your dedication and expertise are truly appreciated!
Further Reading
The Holy Bible.
Even Further Reading
The Holy Bible, again. Seriously, keep reading it and reading it before even considering the rest of the works cited.
Works Cited
Attridge, Harold W. 1989. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Balch, David L. 1981. Let Wives Be Submissive: The Domestic Code in 1 Peter. SBL Monograph Series 26. Chico, CA: Scholars Press.
Baldwin, H. Scott. 1995. "A Difficult Word: authenteō in 1 Timothy 2:12." In Women in the Church: A Fresh Analysis of 1 Timothy 2:9–15, edited by Andreas J. Köstenberger, Thomas R. Schreiner, and H. Scott Baldwin. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Banister, Jamie A. 2009. "Homoiōs and the Use of Parallelism in Romans 1:26–27." Journal of Biblical Literature 128, no. 3: 569–90.
Bauckham, Richard. 1995. "James and the Gentiles (Acts 15.13–21)." In History, Literature, and Society in the Book of Acts, edited by Ben Witherington III, 154–84. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bauckham, Richard. 2002. Gospel Women: Studies of the Named Women in the Gospels. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Block, Daniel I. 1998. The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25–48. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Block, Daniel I. 1999. Judges, Ruth. New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.
Brown, Candy Gunther. 2019. Debating Yoga and Mindfulness in Public Schools: Reforming Secular Education or Reestablishing Religion? Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
Bock, Darrell L. 2007. Acts. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Bockmuehl, Markus. 1995. "The Noachide Commandments and New Testament Ethics: With Special Reference to Acts 15 and Pauline Halakhah." Revue Biblique 102: 72–101.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. [1937] 1959. The Cost of Discipleship. Translated by R. H. Fuller. London: SCM Press.
Brooten, Bernadette J. 1985. "Patristic Interpretations of Romans 1:26." In Studia Patristica XVIII, vol. 1, 287–91. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications.
Brooten, Bernadette J. 1996. Love Between Women: Early Christian Responses to Female Homoeroticism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Brownson, James V. 2013. Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex Relationships. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Burer, Michael H., and Daniel B. Wallace. 2001. "Was Junia Really an Apostle? A Re-examination of Rom 16.7." New Testament Studies 47, no. 1: 76–91.
Campbell, Constantine R. 2012. Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic.
Cockerill, Gareth Lee. 2012. The Epistle to the Hebrews. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Croteau, David A. 2005. "A Biblical and Theological Analysis of Tithing: Toward a Theology of Giving in the New Covenant Era." PhD diss., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Croteau, David A. 2010. You Mean I Don't Have to Tithe? A Deconstruction of Tithing and a Reconstruction of Post-Tithe Giving. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.
Croteau, David A., ed. 2011. Perspectives on Tithing: Four Views. Nashville: B&H Academic.
Creach, Jerome F. D. 2013. Violence in Scripture. Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison. 1988–1997. The Gospel According to Saint Matthew. 3 vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Dunn, James D. G. 1993. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians. Black's New Testament Commentaries. London: A & C Black.
Epp, Eldon Jay. 2005. Junia: The First Woman Apostle. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Fee, Gordon D. 1987. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Fotopoulos, John. 2003. Food Offered to Idols in Roman Corinth: A Social-Rhetorical Reconsideration of 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.
France, R. T. 2007. The Gospel of Matthew. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Furnish, Victor Paul. 1968. Theology and Ethics in Paul. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
Furnish, Victor Paul. 1972. The Love Command in the New Testament. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
Gagnon, Robert A. J. 2001. The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
Gathercole, Simon J. 2002. Where Is Boasting? Early Jewish Soteriology and Paul's Response in Romans 1–5. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Geisler, Norman L. 1989. Christian Ethics: Options and Issues. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Gill, David W. J. 1992. "The Meat-Market at Corinth (1 Corinthians 10:25)." Tyndale Bulletin 43, no. 2: 389–93.
Glancy, Jennifer A. 2014. "The Sexual Use of Slaves: A Response to Kyle Harper on Jewish and Christian Porneia." Journal of Biblical Literature 133, no. 1: 215–29.
Gombis, Timothy G. 2007. "The 'Transgressor' and the 'Curse of the Law': The Logic of Paul's Argument in Galatians 2–3." New Testament Studies 53.
Gray, Sherman W. 1989. The Least of My Brothers: Matthew 25:31–46 — A History of Interpretation. SBL Dissertation Series 114. Atlanta: Scholars Press.
Habel, Norman C. 1985. The Book of Job: A Commentary. Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster Press.
Harris, Murray J. 2005. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Harper, Kyle. 2012. "Porneia: The Making of a Christian Sexual Norm." Journal of Biblical Literature 131, no. 2: 363–83.
Harper, Kyle. 2013. From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality in Late Antiquity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Hays, Richard B. 1996. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.
Heth, William A., and Gordon J. Wenham. 1984. Jesus and Divorce: The Problem with the Evangelical Consensus. London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Hoehner, Harold W. 2002. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Howell, Brian M. 2020. "Symposia, Skolia, and the Cult of Dionysus: Backgrounds to Ephesians 5:18–19." International Journal of Frontier Missiology 37, nos. 3–4.
Instone-Brewer, David. 2002. Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: The Social and Literary Context. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Jennings, Theodore W., Jr. 2005. Jacob’s Wound: Homoerotic Narrative in the Literature of Ancient Israel. New York: Continuum.
Josephus. 1926. Against Apion. In The Life; Against Apion, translated by H. St. J. Thackeray. Loeb Classical Library 186. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Kloha, Jeffrey. 2006. "1 Corinthians 14.34–35: Text and Context." Conference paper, subsequently incorporated into Kloha's textual commentary on 1 Corinthians.
Köstenberger, Andreas J. 1995. "A Complex Sentence Structure in 1 Timothy 2:12." In Women in the Church, edited by Köstenberger, Schreiner, and Baldwin. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Köstenberger, Andreas J., and David A. Croteau. 2006. "'Will a Man Rob God?' (Malachi 3:8): A Study of Tithing in the Old and New Testaments." Bulletin for Biblical Research 16, no. 1: 53–77.
Köstenberger, Andreas J., and Thomas R. Schreiner, eds. 2016. Women in the Church: An Interpretation and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9–15. 3rd ed. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
Lincoln, Andrew T. 1990. Ephesians. Word Biblical Commentary 42. Dallas: Word Books.
Loader, William. 2005. Sexuality and the Jesus Tradition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Loader, William. 2012. Making Sense of Sex: Attitudes towards Sexuality in Early Jewish and Christian Literature. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Maimonides. Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Issurei Bi’ah (Laws of Forbidden Intercourse). Sefaria online edition, sefaria.org.
Malherbe, Abraham J. 2000. The Letters to the Thessalonians. Anchor Bible 32B. New York: Doubleday.
Milgrom, Jacob. 2000. Leviticus 17–22: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible 3A. New York: Doubleday.
Mohler, R. Albert, Jr. 2010. "The Subtle Body — Should Christians Practice Yoga?" AlbertMohler.com, September 20, 2010.
Martin, Dale B. 1996. "Arsenokoités and Malakos: Meanings and Consequences." In Biblical Ethics and Homosexuality: Listening to Scripture, edited by Robert L. Brawley, 117–36. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
McKnight, Scot. 1992. "The Warning Passages of Hebrews: A Formal Analysis and Theological Conclusions." Trinity Journal 13, no. 1: 21–59.
McFall, Leslie. 2006. "Critique of Divorce and Remarriage." Unpublished critical review.
Miller, James E. 1995. "The Practices of Romans 1:26: Homosexual or Heterosexual?" Novum Testamentum 37, no. 1: 1–11.
Miller, Stephen G. 2004. Ancient Greek Athletics. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Moo, Douglas J. 2018. The Epistle to the Romans. 2nd ed. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Naselli, Andrew David. 2018. "Idol Food." Southeastern Theological Review 9, no. 1: 23–45.
Niccum, Curt. 1997. "The Voice of the Manuscripts on the Silence of Women: The External Evidence for 1 Cor 14.34–35." New Testament Studies 43, no. 2: 242–55.
Payne, Clifton. 2013. "On 'Blood' in the Apostolic Decree (Acts 15:19–20)." Jerusalem Perspective, discussing Flusser, David, and Shmuel Safrai, "The Apostolic Decree and the Noahide Commandments."
Payne, Philip B. 1995. "Fuldensis, Sigla for Variants in Vaticanus, and 1 Cor 14.34–5." New Testament Studies 41, no. 2: 240–62.
Payne, Philip B. 2009. Man and Woman, One in Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Paul's Letters. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Payne, Philip B. 2017. Vaticanus Distigme-Obelos Symbols Marking Added Text, Including 1 Corinthians 14.34–35. Wipf & Stock.
Philo. 1937. On the Special Laws, Books 1–3. In Philo, vol. 7, translated by F. H. Colson. Loeb Classical Library 320. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Provan, Iain W. 1995. 1 and 2 Kings. New International Biblical Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
Pseudo-Phocylides. 1985. Translated by P. W. van der Horst. In The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 2, edited by James H. Charlesworth, 565–82. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Ridderbos, Herman. [1966] 1975. Paul: An Outline of His Theology. Translated by John Richard de Witt. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Rogers, Cleon L., Jr. 1979. "The Dionysian Background of Ephesians 5:18." Bibliotheca Sacra 136: 249–57.
Sanders, E. P. 1977. Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Schreiner, Thomas R., and Ardel B. Caneday. 2001. The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance and Assurance. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Schreiner, Thomas R. 2018. Romans. 2nd ed. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Scroggs, Robin. 1983. The New Testament and Homosexuality: Contextual Background for Contemporary Debate. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Sifra. Aḥare Mot. Sefaria online edition, sefaria.org.
Thielman, Frank. 1994. Paul and the Law: A Contextual Approach. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Thiselton, Anthony C. 2000. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Urbach, Ephraim E. 1975. The Sages: Their Concepts and Beliefs. Translated by Israel Abrahams. Jerusalem: Magnes Press.
Wedderburn, A. J. M. 1993. "The 'Apostolic Decree': Tradition and Redaction." Novum Testamentum 35: 362–89.
Wenham, Gordon J. 1979. The Book of Leviticus. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Wenham, Gordon J. 1987. Genesis 1–15. Word Biblical Commentary 1. Waco, TX: Word Books.
Westerholm, Stephen. 2004. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The "Lutheran" Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Westfall, Cynthia Long. 2016. Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle's Vision for Men and Women in Christ. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Willis, Wendell Lee. 1985. Idol Meat in Corinth: The Pauline Argument in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. SBL Dissertation Series 68. Chico, CA: Scholars Press.
Wilson, Stephen G. 1983. Luke and the Law. Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 50. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Winter, Bruce W. 1994. Seek the Welfare of the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Witherington, Ben, III. 1993. "Not So Idle Thoughts about Eidolothuton." Tyndale Bulletin 44, no. 2: 237–54.
Witherington, Ben, III. 1995. Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Witherington, Ben, III. 1998. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Wolters, Al. 2000. "A Semantic Study of authentēs and Its Derivatives." Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 1: 145–75.
Wright, David F. 1984. "Homosexuals or Prostitutes? The Meaning of arsenokoitai (1 Cor. 6:9, 1 Tim. 1:10)." Vigiliae Christianae 38, no. 2: 125–53.
Wright, N. T. 1992. The Climax of the Covenant: Christ and the Law in Pauline Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Wright, N. T. 2013. Paul and the Faithfulness of God. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Comments