John,
Thanks for the new translation! What else can I say!
I am curious, in the passage below from your 2Corinthians translation (below), was Paul be referring to what would be classified as the Institutionalized false religion of his time?
14. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what is there in common between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15. What harmony exists between Christ and Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you yourselves are the temple of the living God, as God said: “I will live and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17. Wherefore, “Come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing, and then I will receive you;”
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Yes, Wendell. He was talking about the commonly accepted form of idolatry that was the norm of his day.
By the way, the term “superstition” came from a Latin term for any religion not recognized by the state/society as normal. State-sanctioned religion was granted the title, religio, but all other religions were called superstitio, and were frowned upon by polite society. The way people now use the word, “cult”, the Romans used the term, “superstitio”.
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During this period, confusion among believers as to whom belonged to Christ didn’t exist, correct?
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Yes, that is correct.
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If these Gentile believers really understood the new birth how could they be convinced to receive circumcision?
Wendell
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Because of the example of Jesus and the apostles. They were all circumcised, weren’t they?
But, of course, you are right. If they had REALLY understood the new birth, they would never have added such things as circumcision, holy days, water baptism, etc., to their faith.
jdc