It is not enough that Christ has lived and died, V 3, p 710 and that He is risen. These saving facts must be proclaimed in order that they may become saving reality for individuals. Hence the NT speaks not only of the cross in 1 Cor. 1:18, but also of the λόγος τοῦ σταυÏοῦ which is the δÏναμις θεοῦ. It speaks not only of reconciliation in 2 Cor. 5:19, but also of the λόγος τῆς καταλλαγῆς57 Sinful men are commissioned by God to declare this message to men. These men are neither miracle-workers nor philosophers. They are neither profound scholars who can convince all by their learning nor skilled orators who can bind men by their powerful speech. They are heralds–no more (1 Cor. 1:22 f.; 1 Cor. 2:4). It is not their moral blamelessness nor their Christianity which decides the worth or efficacy of their preaching. Otherwise the Word of God would be dependent on men. Even through preaching inspired by impure motives (Phil. 1:15) the attention of men can be drawn to Christ. Christ is greater than the one who proclaims Him. We do not preach ourselves, our ethical qualities or our experiences, but Christ (2 Cor. 4:5). Nevertheless, the life of the preacher is not negligible. There should not be a discrepancy between the message and the conduct of the preacher, as there was in the case of Jewish missionaries who taught: “Thou shalt not steal,” and yet who stole themselves (Rom. 2:21). Rather, “I keep under my body, and make it a slave, in order that I should not preach to others and myself be rejected” (1 Cor. 9:27). The messenger does not act for himself or in his own interests. He does not attach men to himself, but to Christ. Christ is the Lord. He proclaims Christ, not himself (2 Cor. 4:5).
f. An Angel. At Rev. 5:2 the κηÏÏσσειν of the angel is a question to the whole world. In a loud voice, so that he may be heard in heaven, on the earth and under the earth, the herald asks who is worthy to open the book.
Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
…Sinful men are commissioned by God to declare this message to men. These men are neither miracle-workers nor philosophers. They are neither profound scholars who can convince all by their learning nor skilled orators who can bind men by their powerful speech. They are heralds–no more (1 Cor. 1:22 f.; 1 Cor. 2:4).
…Christ is the Lord. He proclaims Christ, not himself (2 Cor. 4:5).
#Commission, #Gospel, #Preaching, #Power, #Proclaim, #Herald
On this day...
- Numbers 1 - 2024
- Leviticus 10 - 2024
- Lord Jesus Christ - 2012
- One instance of the Holy Trinity - 2012
- God, the Infinitely Greatest Being - 2012
- Inductive Reasoning - 2012
- Inductive reasoning - 2012
- Deduction and Induction - 2012
- The resurrection of believers is based on the Power of God in Christ - 2012
- The Gospel of Christ is threatened when supplemented and burdened by additional requirements - 2012
January 29, 2012