Quote from J.W. Pentecost regarding Acts 2:16
Clwinbery at aol.com
Clwinbery at aol.com
Tue Jun 25 17:53:32 EDT 2002
In a message dated 6/25/02 11:57:20 AM, jferguson at tabernacleministries.org
writes:
>Here is the quote I promised (sorry for the delay): "Peter's introduction
>to the quotation of Joel in Acts 2:16, "This is that which was spoken by the
>prophet Joel [touto estin to eiremenon]," does not necessarily indicate
>a fulfillment, as is clear from a careful look at Peter's style. In 1 Peter
>1:23-25, Peter uses the same formula, "This is the word [touto de estin
>to rhema] that was preached to you," in regard to a quotation from Isaiah
>that is clearly not a literal fulfillment. Peter is indicating a comparison,
>this is the kind of word (an everlasting word) that was preached to you.
> On the other hand, contrast his clear introductory formula declaring
>fulfillment of a prophecy in Acts 1:16." (gen. ed. Couch, _Dictionary of
>Premillennial Theology_, p.34). Pentecost then goes on to list some reasons
>why Joel's prophecy was not fulfilled in Acts 2:16.
>
> My question was basically, Is what he said a valid statment regarding
>Acts 2:16 and TOUTO ESTIN etc?
>
>in Christ,
>
>Jonathan B. Ferguson
I would say that there is a lot more at work in Pentecost's statement than
the meaning of Greek words or grammar. It reminds me of a certain president's
quibble about the meaning of "is."
I doubt if many English speaking people come close to the meaning of
"fulfillment" among the early Christians when we think of fulfillment in
relation to the idea of "prediction." Certainly Matthew's use of fulfillment
in relating Jesus being taken to Egypt to Hosea 11:1 does not match up to out
idea of an event predicted and coming true.
On the other hand the of ALLA TOUTO ESTIN TO EIRHMENON DIA TOU PROFHTOU IWHL:
seems as clearly to relate Joel's words to events happening in the early
church as any other such use of prophecy in Luke/Acts. If we forget the needs
to support a particular millenial scheme and focus on Acts, it is clear that
Luke is relating what God is doing in the church to the work of God in Hebrew
Scriptures. Joel clearly explains what God is doing (what I call "prophecy").
Carlton Winbery
Louisiana College
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