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SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIANITY IS CORPORATE

SPECIAL TOPIC: BIBLICAL FAITH IS CORPORATE

  1. Old Testament Concept
    1. Hebrew corporality can be defined as “one affects the whole”
      1. Adam (Genesis 3)
      2. Achan (Joshua 7)
      3. Jesus (i.e., Rom. 5:12-21)

    2. The OT had both an individual aspect (i.e., Ezekiel 18), but mostly a corporate focus.
      Israel was a chosen people.

    3. This sense of corporality is hard for western, individualists to comprehend. Moderns
      express the value on the individual person, where the eastern ancients focus on the
      health of the group
       The goal of the believer is the health and growth of the Body!

  2. New Testament Concept
    1. Paul’s and Peter’s use of PLURAL imagery for the people of God
      1. body (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-20)
      2. field (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9)
      3. building (cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-5)

    2. The term “saint” is always PLURAL (except Phil. 4:21, but even
      there it is also corporate)

    3. The Reformation emphasis of Martin Luther on the “priesthood of the believer”
      (i.e., soul competency) is a biblical assumption. In reality the Bible speaks of “the
      priesthood of believers” (cf. Exod. 19:6; 1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6).

    4. Each believer is gifted for the common good (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7)
    5. Only in cooperation can the people of God be effective. Ministry is corporate (cf. Eph. 4:11-12).

 

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