RGacky3
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Acts 2:
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds[j] to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[k] and ate their food with glad and generous[l] hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Acts 4:
32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). 37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Where does the holding all Things in common come from. In Ch4 vrs 34 in the begining it's a Reference to Deuteronomy 15:4, especially if you read the septuagent.
Deuteronomy 15:
15 Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts. 2 And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you. 4 There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy,
The purpose was to rid poverty from the community of Gods People, the way this was done was not philanthropy, it wasn't market forces, it was systematic and Institutional.
In the Sabbatical year, everything goes back to the begining, in a sense all was in common, since debts were forgiven, property claims became secondary to community, this became even more evident in the jubilee year.
So why were the early christians taking this scripture and applying it to their own community by setting up a communal system?
Well, the same reason they did everything they did, Jesus.
Luke 4:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
THe release to the captives, let the oppressed gofree(often indebted People were talked about as being oppressed) all of these Things had to do With the sabbatical or Jubilee year, and then we have vrs 19, the year of the lords favor, the Direct referance to the jubilee.
When Jesus talks about the good News to the poor, this is what he's refering to, he isn't talking metaphorically, he's saying what he means, this is a large part of what is coming means.
The Law was a forshadow of the Things to come, When Jesus came and declared the year of the lords favor, the first christians took it seriously.
This is why any Christian that is serious about the bible has to seriously consider what the implications are for social justice, and make sure they oppose systems that put profit over People.
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds[j] to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[k] and ate their food with glad and generous[l] hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Acts 4:
32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). 37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Where does the holding all Things in common come from. In Ch4 vrs 34 in the begining it's a Reference to Deuteronomy 15:4, especially if you read the septuagent.
Deuteronomy 15:
15 Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts. 2 And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you. 4 There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy,
The purpose was to rid poverty from the community of Gods People, the way this was done was not philanthropy, it wasn't market forces, it was systematic and Institutional.
In the Sabbatical year, everything goes back to the begining, in a sense all was in common, since debts were forgiven, property claims became secondary to community, this became even more evident in the jubilee year.
So why were the early christians taking this scripture and applying it to their own community by setting up a communal system?
Well, the same reason they did everything they did, Jesus.
Luke 4:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
THe release to the captives, let the oppressed gofree(often indebted People were talked about as being oppressed) all of these Things had to do With the sabbatical or Jubilee year, and then we have vrs 19, the year of the lords favor, the Direct referance to the jubilee.
When Jesus talks about the good News to the poor, this is what he's refering to, he isn't talking metaphorically, he's saying what he means, this is a large part of what is coming means.
The Law was a forshadow of the Things to come, When Jesus came and declared the year of the lords favor, the first christians took it seriously.
This is why any Christian that is serious about the bible has to seriously consider what the implications are for social justice, and make sure they oppose systems that put profit over People.