RE: Charity Never Fails
Hello Brother
1 Corinthians uses a unique rendering of agape. It is agapeo. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that this word is not found in any Greek literature prior to 1 Corinthians 8 and is believed to be coined by the Apostle Paul to speak specifically of the Christians love for his church.
The common understanding of the church is an invisible, universal body of Christ. But that understanding is derived from Catholic doctrine. The word Catholic literally means universal. Almost every time the word church is found in the New Testament, it is in reference to a local, visible congregation of baptized believers. The very few times it does not specifically reference a local congregation, it could easily be interpreted according to the common usage throughout the New Testament.
Sure appreciate your thoughts.
God bless
Wow, that is very interesting. I am surprised that teaching crept into our local Baptist Church when I was a kid. Thank you very much for clarifying it for me :)
I reckon that is why I assumed it had different meanings for different folks, I guess it does.... So much false teaching in this world..
Blessings.
An interesting study is made by comparing the Baptist statement of faith composed around 1640 with the one composed around 1680. Many of the Baptists in England changed their doctrines to make them more tolerable with the Protestant theology that was accepted in their day.