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Originally Posted by Archlute  Quote:
Originally Posted by puritan lad Many Postmills, including myself, apply this passage to the Jewish nation prior to it's destruction.
In fact, the entire chapter seems to have been written to encourage Timothy to remain steadfast in spite of persecution. Events of 2008 and beyond were hardly Timothy's concern. | That is an outstanding hermeneutical approach to cutting out just about every passage in Scripture as having any relevance/applicatory value to the church today. Not to mention the assumption that is being made that Paul was only intending to address Timothy's immediate circumstances, and not give an apostolic description of that which the church would run up against throughout its duration preceding the second advent of Christ.
It is also a classic case (along with Aaron's following post) of having to provide an unnatural reading of a passage(s) to conform to one's eschatalogical presupposition. |
I guess you're not a fan of Kenneth Gentry
. This is a common charge, but with all due respect, my approach does not cut
"out just about every passage in Scripture as having any relevance/applicatory value to the church today". My "approach" respects the historical context and original audience. Understanding this has great value for the church today.
In contrast, the idea that Paul was addressing modern apostasy is the only "assumption" here, not to mention the resulting vague interpretation (every Christian has thought they were living in the last days.) It is your approach that makes the passage irrelevant to Timothy, and to every other Christian for the past 1,900 years.
I also hold that my view can consistently define the phrase "last days", whereas your approach causes great confusion regarding what the last days actually are.