First, I'm interested in how Israel is connected in Reformed Theology. I live in an area where Christian Zionism is the air you breathe and every single policy has to benefit Israel or else God will be against us. I doubt this for many reasons. How do we talk to folks like this? How do we work to change this kind of attitude? What do the Scriptures really say about Israel?
Secondly, I'm really wondering about the apostles. Not just their history, but the theology behind them. What did it take to be an apostle? If Peter was greater, then why does it appear that James had more authority in Acts 15 or we have more of Paul's letters? Was Paul counted as one of the 12? If so, who did he replace? If 12 wasn't too significant to the overall picture, then why start with 12 and add more later? Was an apostle always someone who had divine authourity? Then shouldn't we have their writings? Why does Paul say one of the ways you can know he's an apostle is by his suffering? And how would the Jews at that time have seen the role of apostle? Was it analogous to any priestly or prophetic duty?
Lastly, what were the early church views on the Sabbath? I recently read an article that was a summary of a book on the Sabbath's history.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/a-brief-history-of-sunday/?amp
I'm wondering if there are any other works on the Sabbath history? How did the first 8 centuries of the church handle this question? How do our cultural trends affect how we worship on the Lord's Day. How does Sabbatarianism deal with the Sabbath usually starting on the sundown of the "day" before? How practically should we handle this day?
Thanks in advance for all your help!
Secondly, I'm really wondering about the apostles. Not just their history, but the theology behind them. What did it take to be an apostle? If Peter was greater, then why does it appear that James had more authority in Acts 15 or we have more of Paul's letters? Was Paul counted as one of the 12? If so, who did he replace? If 12 wasn't too significant to the overall picture, then why start with 12 and add more later? Was an apostle always someone who had divine authourity? Then shouldn't we have their writings? Why does Paul say one of the ways you can know he's an apostle is by his suffering? And how would the Jews at that time have seen the role of apostle? Was it analogous to any priestly or prophetic duty?
Lastly, what were the early church views on the Sabbath? I recently read an article that was a summary of a book on the Sabbath's history.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/a-brief-history-of-sunday/?amp
I'm wondering if there are any other works on the Sabbath history? How did the first 8 centuries of the church handle this question? How do our cultural trends affect how we worship on the Lord's Day. How does Sabbatarianism deal with the Sabbath usually starting on the sundown of the "day" before? How practically should we handle this day?
Thanks in advance for all your help!