11-05-2006, 10:14 PM
|
 | El Tirano | | Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 3,956
Thanks: 130
Thanked 836 Times in 548 Posts
| |
From: AN INTRODUCTION to the OLD TESTAMENT
By: Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III Quote:
The New Testament shares Amos’s concern with issues of social justice and the abuse of the poor. In the church there should be no differentiation in the treatment of the rich and the poor (1 Cor. 11:22; James 2:1-10). True religion requires caring for those in need, not oppressing them (James 1:27, 5:1-6). Those who are poor are the particular objects of God’s care (James 2:5). Among the gospels, it is Luke who shows particular interest in demonstrating Jesus’ concern for those in need (Luke 4:18; 6:20; 7:22; 11:41; 14:13, 21; 18:22; 19:8; 21:2-3; cf. Acts 9:36; 10:4; 10:31; 24:17).
Amos is specifically cited in several New Testament passages. Paul’s exhortation to “hate evil and love good” may have been drawn from Amos 5:15 (Rom. 12:9). Stephen cites the prophet to recall Israel’s national idolatry during the wilderness wandering (Amos 5:25; Acts 7:42). Perhaps of greatest interest is the citation of Amos 9:11-12 in Acts 15:16-17. Although the source for the actual text cited in Acts is difficult to establish, at the council of Jerusalem James appears to argue that the incorporation of the Gentiles into the church fulfills God’s promise to reunify Israel. Rebuilding David’s fallen tent, repairing its breeches (the break up of the united kingdom), does not apply to the physical nation of Israel alone; it includes the ingathering of the nations.
| |