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Eventually, the Christians left in Jerusalem were destitute and deprived. Hence, Paul takes up a collection from the Gentile churches to help the mother church. One is left thinking that the ones who stayed to the last (70AD) were either die-hards: "we'll witness to the end," or else had to remain for the sake of old relatives. They abandoned the place when the Romans rolled in. They knew this was the end.
In any case, there is no compelling evidence that the Jerusalem church served as a social model for earthly mixed-people groups or nations. Nor do we see Paul establishing communes of separatist governments, i.e. nations-within-nations, where he planted churches.
__________________ Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI Made both Lord and Christ--Jesus, the Destroyer
Acts 2:36 - 1 Cor. 10:9-10 & 15:22-26 - Hebrews 2:9-15 - 1 John 3:8 - James 4:12
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