Biblical Illustrator – Summer 2015

100 Pages·2015·9.65 MB·English

B I B L I C A L
Your Guide to the Practices, Peoples, and Places of Scripture
FIRST-CENTURY JEWISH WEDDINGS
First Church, Antioch
Scrolls, Books and Seals
summer 2015
volume 41 number 4
Eric Geiger
Vice President, Church Resources
N
UMEROUS TIMES I
G. B. Howell, Jr.
have been unpleasantly Content Editor
surprised at how cre-
ative human beings have been Philip Nation
Director, Adult Ministry Publishing
throughout history in developing
ways to hurt, maim, or kill other Faith Whatley
humans. Bullets and bombs for Director, Adult Ministry
battles. Stones and steel for weap-
Send questions/comments to:
ons. Chariots for chasing. Horses.
Content Editor, Biblical Illustrator
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Arrows and axes. A cross and a crown of thorns. Indeed,
@B_Illustrator
murder and mayhem have helped define much of history. visit www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator
Although I didn’t realize it when planning this issue,
many of the included articles deal with topics related to Biblical Illustrator (ISSN 0195-1351, Item 005075109) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One
death and dying. The most obvious is the article on Cain, LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2015 LifeWay.
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Domitian persecuted early Christians. Jonah (eventually) Biblical Illustrator is designed to support the Bible study lessons in the student and adult
Bible Studies for Life curriculum, The Gospel Project curriculum, and the Explore the Bible
went to preach to the Assyrians in Nineveh, a people infa- series. Bible background articles and accompanying illustrative material are based on the
passages studied in these curriculum series.
mous for torturing their enemies. And of course, many died We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without
any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To
during Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline.
Scripture quotations marked (HCSB) are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®,
One hundred years ago, many nations were in the throes
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permis-
of World War I, which was also known as “the War to End sion. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered
trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
All Wars.” This war saw a huge shift in military capabilities. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from English Standard Version® (The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good
For the last time in history, a “successful” cavalry charge News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are from the New American Standard Bible®, Copy-
was used, by the way, at Beersheba, in what is now southern right © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman
Israel. And this war saw the first aerial combat. Looking Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org)
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Ver-
back makes me wonder what people will say of our day 100 sion®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc® Used by permission
of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New
years from now. International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office by Biblica, Inc.(R).
The good news, though, is that battle and bloodshed do Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version. Copyright ©
1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.
not last forever. Because of the One who carried the cross

and wore the crown of thorns, a day will come when, “they
Printed in the United States of America 1105
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, BIBLICAL Your Guide to the Practices, Peoples, and Places of Scripture About the Cover:
fcbCPcnuhreeroyr iiiuntult dhehpnca eeoeisrrsr neno lb spfelhho orsPiorartse,lnpl yasl,h T,hc t uee“hohnc”Eueey tyv(l o d9e mt le:unhe6ris aa,:gs trkaaoh n njI tsv Lsyodwa)o n i.harG a Wdriihss o a Jdgnasenti,tasy vcaumTh etsmenie,hns : co e sgapo hr neermeaov”vdlm elee (t nbrhIqiletssaeus aes ci g.sutca i:ok2nl nlv:“lf4egyeFod, !r ol” FkndWrajm mvtuoh)ennae.n tkdrAot,ee ssnruTh fmdsuah llaeael, ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ GB HOWELL/ NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART/ RALEIGH (68/0248)IIJEWISH WEDDINGS CHURCH AT ANTIOCH SCROLLS AND SEALS BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR SUMMER 2015 FIRST-CSEcFNroirTsllUts ,CR BYhou JorEckhsW,, aAISnnHdti oWScehEaDlsDINGS volusmuem 41m enrum 2b0e1r 54 AddwwbpgEagtttwrhiricaeorrrroa aiooeooocofttpgunnummho ecoturie gsne cemdfpimaaia nootestsa ,nntpsei 2’d srrnosta ’ s aia s5wesa dobinnlr hng’e5 nl nsyd oiboiyadnpt-df t 2hr iuedtiveNrahntfi5o os,dasahyn a ie0 matsmkteiet ttne.eh tseh h Baagac. . ee j.-rm oAC - r- .
W
OULD PAUL APPROVE Third, Quarles provides in nine
of the accolades Christians chapters a narrative-theological discus-
have ascribed to him sion of Paul’s life from his early years to
throughout history? According to his martyrdom. As the author recounts
Quarles, Paul would blush with anger Paul’s life, he provides excellent back-
at the esteem in which Christians ground information from Jewish,
have exalted him (p. 268). What Greek, and Roman history that assists
value then does yet another book on the reader in understanding the histori-
Paul’s life provide for twenty-first cal context of Paul’s ministry. Quarles
century readers? interspersed brief discussions of Paul’s
First, readers benefit from the letters highlighting the purposes and
research of a fine New Testament theological themes within his historical
scholar. Quarles is well qualified to reconstruction. One of the highlights
author a book on Paul’s life. After of the book is the author’s proposal of
serving as a missionary in Romania, Paul’s life between his first and second
Quarles served on the faculty of New Roman imprisonment. Quarles postu-
Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary lates that after Paul’s release from his
and Louisiana College. He currently first imprisonment, he immediately
On a scale of 1-10, this book
serves as professor at Southeastern traveled to Colossae to visit Philemon;
receives a rating of 9 camels.
Baptist Theological Seminary in subsequently journeyed to Spain and
Wake Forest, North Carolina. established churches; and journeyed
Second, the book beautifully fulfills back West for ministry to Crete,
the title “Illustrated” with the type of Achaia, and Macedonia before Roman
quality photos and maps readers of authorities arrested him in Ephesus.
Illustrated Life of Paul, Charles L. Quarles, Biblical Illustrator expect. Illustrated Life A final benefit of the book is the
B&H Academic; 2014; 300 pages; soft- of Paul serves as a companion volume author’s ability to communicate
back; ISBN: 978-0-8054-9453-2
to Illustrated Life of Jesus by well-know through academic research in a man-
Book reviews are limited to those the pastor-theologian Herschel Hobbs. ner winsome and understandable to
Illustrator staff feels confident to recom-
The volume contains at least 130 pho- Bible study leaders and laypeople. I
mend, based on ease of reading, quality
tos, artistic portrayals, sculptural busts
of content, and doctrinal viewpoint. Each
book is reviewed within the parameters of key leaders, maps, and charts illus- Mark A. Rathel is professor of theol-
LifeWay’s doctrinal guidelines. The 1 to 10 trating the cities, cultural artifacts, and ogy at the Baptist College of Florida
scale reflects overall quality and usefulness.
everyday life of the first century. in Graceville, Florida.

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Contents
SUMMER 2015 VOLUME 41 NUMBER 4
DEPARTMENTS InSites: Ships of the Biblical Era
July 19 // Session 1
2 BI Lines
46 The Nicolaitans
3 BI the Book: Illustrated Life of Paul by Michael Priest
By Charles L. Quarles July 26 // Session 2
Book review by Mark A. Rathel
InSites: Patmos
July 26 // Session 2
InSites (between pages 66-67)
Patmos
33 Life After the Exile
Ships of the Biblical Era
by T. Van McClain
August 2 // Session 3
98 Issues Gone BI
6 First Church, Antioch
BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE
by Jeff Iorg
August 23 // Session 6
22 Joshua: Leader of the Conquest
by Bryan E. Beyer 74 Dinners and Feasts in the First
June 7 // Session 1
Century
by Dale “Geno” Robinson
94 The Jordan River August 30 // Session 1
by David L. Jenkins
June 14 // Session 2
EXPLORE THE BIBLE
60 Reuben: His Land and His Legacy
82 Fellowship: A Word Study
by Robert A. Street
by Gary Hardin
July 5 // Session 5
June 7 // Session 1
67 Jonah: A Prophet for His Time
27 “Children” in John’s Letters
by Robert C. Dunston
by C. Mack Roark
July 19 // Session 1
June 14 // Session 2
90
15
4 BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR / SUMMER 2015
SEE RELATED BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES: www.GospelProject.com • www.BibleStudiesForLife.com • www.lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible
19 Cain: The First Unrepentant Sinner 42 First-Century Jewish Weddings
by Leon Hyatt, Jr. by Sharon H. Gritz
June 28 // Session 4 June 21 // Session 3
63 Domitian: Emperor of Rome 15 Along the Nile
by Timothy N. Boyd by Daniel P. Caldwell
July 19 // Session 7 June 28 // Session 4
InSites: Patmos 78 Elijah and Messianic Expectations
July 19 // Session 7 by Steve W. Lemke
July 5 // Session 5
39 The Church at Philadelphia: Pillars of the Faith
by Timothy Faber 52 Houses in Jesus’ Day
July 26 // Session 8 by Paul E. Kullman
July 26 // Session 2
90 Scrolls, Books & Seals
by E. Randolph Richards 30 The Jewish Tradition of Fasting
August 9 // Session 10 by Lynn O. Traylor
August 9 // Session 4
56 Megiddo: A Crucial Locale
by Jeff S. Anderson 67 Jonah: A Prophet for His Time
August 23 // Session 12 by Robert C. Dunston
August 9 // Session 4
49 Alpha and Omega
by Bobby Kelly 85 The Churches of Macedonia
August 30 // Session 13 by Rudy González
August 23 // Session 6
THE GOSPEL PROJECT
71 Glory: A Hebrew Understanding
10 Why These 66 Books?
by Stephen J. Andrews
by Terry L. Wilder
August 30 // Session 7
June 7 // Session 1
22 74
SUMMER 2015 / BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR 5
BSFL: Acts 13:1-3
FIRST
CHURCH,
First Church, Antioch
An ioch
BY JEFF IORG
Antioch is a model of facing and solving
problems in real church life—warts and all.
HE STORY OF THE
church at Antioch is
an inspiring drama.
A healthy first-century
church, Antioch is a model
for the church in the twenty-first
century. The New Testament
provides an extensive biblical
record of the church’s beginning
and early years of growth, along
with examples of how it handled
doctrinal debates, personality con-
flicts, and practical matters of church
life, Christian devotion, and mission-
ary outreach. Antioch was one of the
most significant churches in history, if
not the most significant church. Why
is such a bold claim possible?
Antioch was unique because it
was a church of “firsts.” While many
churches carry labels like First Baptist
or First Methodist—these labels usu-
ally refer to chronology, being the first
church of their denomination in an
area. Antioch was that, and so much
more. It was the first church where
several events occurred which have
marked the church for two millennia.
In Evangelizing Gentiles
Some preachers, fleeing the perse-
cution resulting from Stephen’s
martyrdom, arrived in Antioch
O
OT
ISTOCK PH (inAgc ttsh e1 1g:1o9s-p2e0l) .a mTohnegy Gsteanrttieldes .p Wreahcihle-
6 BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR / SUMMER 2015
Right: The Orontes
River runs through
the modern city of
Antakya, Turkey,
which was Antioch
of Syria in the New
Testament Era.
Below: Marble stat-
ue of the god of
the Orontes River.
The river flows
through Antioch
of Syria; found
at Magaracik-
Smandagi; dates to
the 1st cent. A.D.
OUVRE/ PARIS (248/21A) ratchiea lg oasnpde lc. uTlthuarta tl hbeayr raireer su nrensatmricetdi ning pTahret oAf nhtiiso cchon cvheurrsciohn r etoje Ccthedri stthISiTiaOsCn Ka iPtHsyO Ta?O
GERS/ L Scripture is noteworthy. One of the requirement for new believers.
O
O/ DAVID R hmisotsotr yi mwpaosr taacncto madpvliasnhceeds biny acnhounrcyh- to inTvhees tJiegrautsea tlheme m cohvuermche snetn int B Aanrntiaobcahs.
OT
OR PH mous heroes who were more con- While he later developed a reputa-
ILLUSTRAT cJeesrunse dth aabno bueti nsgp rreeamdeinmgb ethreed nfoamr teh eoirf tBioarnn aabs aasn wenasc omuroargee ro, fi na tnh iisn iqnusitsaintocre.
contribution. The Book of Acts names He went to Antioch to evaluate what
dozens of individuals, so Luke was not was happening. He concluded that
averse to including personal details. the gospel was expanding to include
The omission here is striking and the Gentiles, apart from circumcision.
instructive. God sometimes uses Barnabas became the Antioch church’s
anonymous leaders to accomplish advocate and leader. His stature in the
His most significant actions. early church was a significant asset in
the gospel had previously reached affirming the gospel’s expansion, vali-
a few Gentiles (like the Ethiopian In Involving Barnabas dating the Antioch church, and later
eunuch, 8:27-38), believers had not yet When the Jerusalem church learned of winning the theological conflict over
strongly evangelized non-Jews. The the gospel’s breakout in Antioch, they the nature of salvation (ch. 15).
Jerusalem church had not fulfilled were agitated. Acts 15 recounts the Why is this significant? The
Jesus’ mandate to be witnesses “in confrontation between the Jerusalem Antioch conviction—the gospel is for
Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and Antioch churches over the nature everyone, apart from any human inven-
1
and to the ends of the earth” (1:8). of the gospel. The crucial question was tion or addition—is orthodox doctrine
These anonymous preachers at this: Must a person become a Jew (evi- today. Without the successful resolu-
Antioch, though, broke through the denced by circumcision) prior to or as tion of this issue, the early church’s
SUMMER 2015 / BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR 7
growth would have been truncated; and
a multi-cultural, multi-national, multi- Inside Church
of St. Peter’s at
lingual global church would not have
Antioch; many
been possible. believe this to be
one of the oldest
Christian churches;
In Engaging Paul
it may have been
After Barnabas concluded the in use in the 1st
cent.
Antioch church was legitimate, he
understood it needed to be stabilized
through a capable teaching ministry.
He knew just the man to translate
the gospel from a Jewish perspective
into the Gentile mindset. Barnabas
summoned Paul and added him to
the teaching team, thus marking his
emergence into public ministry.
Paul taught the Antioch church
“for a whole year” (11:26) and remark-
able growth occurred—both numerical
and spiritual. An interesting question
is “what was the curriculum?” While
the text does not specify an answer, it
might have been embryonic insights
of what later emerged in the Pauline
letters that form much of the New
Testament. Perhaps Paul hammered
out his theology by field-testing his
Bideeloaws : wHohuislee teachintgh ea st ouAthnetrino ch. If OB SCHATZ (25/3/13)
at Beit Gurvin Shephelah to Gaza. O/ B
(joMuarrneesyhead). oPnh itlihpe Amleotn tgh teh Eet whiaoyp ihaen OR PHOT
rBoeaitd Gthuarvt irna nth proaustg h ahnimd tshhea rgeods wpeitlh. ILLUSTRAT
OTO/ BRENT BRUCE (60/8981) iitussmlonet,r d pbydeo,yer r svttetahemanleno tbdp Ari ranontchgltiensio o ugict gnhhPh a athtcus he lt’luashp nreitcned haHg ct hhpothlleiaynoey gl eoS amdgpp iioicarnasin--tl
OR PH would later inspire Paul to put into
ILLUSTRAT wNreiwtt eTne fsotarmm,e rnets.ulting in much of the
In Using “Christians”
At Antioch, early believers were first
called “Christians.” Some speculate
about the nature of this designation.
It may have been a term of derision
to describe people who talked inces-
santly about the same subject—the
Christ, the Christ, the Christ! Early
8 BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR / SUMMER 2015
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ DAVID ROGERS (5/15/1)
Above: Dating attempt to save
to the 3rd cent. the city below
B.C., a colossal from a plague
Charonian carving afflicting persons
in the mountain- in the area.
side overlooking
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ DAVID ROGERS/ ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM/ ANTAKYA, TURKEY (5/15/17)
Antioch. Ancient Right: Mosaic at
was a bold action, considering the Much of the second half of Acts is the
records indicate Antioch depicting
the figure was three male magi- tension between these two churches. record of the missionaries’ work. The
carved in an cians.
The Jerusalem church had retained Antioch church is the mother church
believers spoke of “the Christ” in the the gospel as a Jewish movement of the modern missionary movement,
market, in the workplace, and in their for years. When the message finally establishing a new paradigm for how
homes. Their persistent evangelism spread rapidly among the Gentiles churches extend themselves to found
and preoccupation with Jesus—talk- in Antioch, the Jerusalem church new congregations in new places.
ing about Him all the time, every- was suspicious of the legitimacy of
where—earned them a new nick- both the conversions and the result- In a Forced Termination
name. They were the Christ-ones, ing church. The Jerusalem church Paul and Barnabas ended their mis-
or “Christians.” had a major confrontation with Paul, sionary partnership after a conflict
This new name underscores the Barnabas, and a delegation from over John Mark (15:36-41). This conflict
nature of early Christianity. It was Antioch over the nature of salvation. was intense (v. 39), spilled over into the
2
infectious. The gospel spread by word In that context, the Antioch Antioch church (vv. 39-40), and took a
of mouth, with many believers gladly church demonstrated grace to those long time to resolve (2 Tim. 4:11). The
speaking openly and often about Jesus. at the Jerusalem church—in spite of good news is that the sides involved
Modern believers are often intimidat- the Jerusalem church being much did find an amicable solution. Antioch
ed, unconcerned, or otherwise too dis- larger and more fully developed. The is a model of facing and solving prob-
tracted with worldly interests to talk Antioch believers could have declined lems in real church life—warts and all.
about Jesus with friends and family to offer assistance, citing the doctri- Many church practices today are
members. The nickname the Antioch nal and personal tension between the rooted in the church at Antioch. It
believers earned is a reminder about the churches. But they did not. Instead, was—and is—a model church for min-
true nature of evangelism—being so they gave generously and proportion- istry in any time and place. The “firsts”
enamored with Jesus that one cannot ally to feed hungry believers. Human at Antioch reveal the paradigm-chang-
help but talk about Him. need trumped church conflict. ing nature of this remarkable group
of early believers. They changed their
In Relief Offering In Dispatching Missionaries world and are still shaping ours by pro-
Soon after its founding, a prophet Paul and Barnabas were commis- viding a timeless model of ministerial
from Jerusalem named Agabus sioned as the first missionary team effectiveness and missional advance. I
spoke to the Antioch church. Part intentionally sent out by a church
of his message was about a famine (13:1-3). The preachers who started 1. Scripture quotations are from the Holman Christian
Standard Bible (HCSB).
coming to Jerusalem. In all likeli- the Antioch church were fleeing per- 2. David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand
hood, Agabus may have even asked secution, not extending themselves Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009), 448-49.
the Antioch church for assistance. as missionaries. Antioch was the first
Regardless, upon hearing the news, church to select a missionary team, Jeff Iorg is president of Golden Gate
believers at Antioch gave money to pray for them, commission them, Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill
help those suffering (11:27-29). This and provide their financial support. Valley, California.
SUMMER 2015 / BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR 9
TGP: Psalm 119:1-16
Why These 66 Books?
NEED SOURCES FROM WRITER-TJL
WHY THESE
66
BOOKS?
10 BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR / SUMMER 2015