The The Jew First

Dr. Couch, I understand you are completing a new book entitled "To The Jew First ..." When do you expect it out? ANSWER:  Probably in about six weeks or so. Some have objected to the fact that we are to witness to the Jews first, after all, did not Christ die for the entire world? Of course! But the Jews are to be the first recipients of the gospel according to Paul. He writes: The gospel is to be given to "everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). Likewise, for those who do evil there is a judgment, "to the Jew first and also of the Greek" (2:9), and as well, "glory and honor to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (v. 10).    God made the Abrahamic covenant with "your fathers" when He said "And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Acts 3:25), "For you [Jews] first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you ..." (v. 26).    John the apostle adds, "Christ came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). Too, "He walked among us [the Jewish people], and we beheld His glory ..." (v. 14).    When Christ appeared before His disciples, following His resurrection, those on the Emmaus road said "We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel, ..." (Luke 24:21). Jesus responded and called them foolish and slow of heart not believing "in all the prophets [of Israel who] had spoken ..." (v. 25). So He began with Moses and "with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the [Jewish] Scriptures" (v. 27).    When He was with the eleven disciples He told them "all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms [that] must be fulfilled" (v. 44). He added that they were to learn of the repentance and forgiveness of sins that "should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning FROM JERUSALEM" (v. 47). Jerusalem was ground zero for the nation of Israel! Jerusalem was to be the starting point of the proclamation of the gospel! This is where the gospel message was to begin. The Jews were to be the first recipients of the gospel, and then it was to go to the far corners of the world as a witness!    The nations were also to be told; but to the Jews first, was the gospel to be sent! This is punctuated in the Luke 24 passage: "He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures" (v. 27); "He was explaining the Scriptures to US" (v. 32); "My words which I spoke to YOU ... must be fulfilled" (v. 44); "Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (v. 45); "That repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed ... beginning in Jerusalem" (v. 47); and finally "I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you [the Jewish disciples] ..." (v. 49).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (September 2009)

Acts 17: A Model for Witnessing

Dr. Couch, I have a question on Acts 17: 16-34 and Paul's sermon to the Epicureans and Stoics. Why did he not mention the fact of Christ dying on the cross? (However, he did mention the resurrection.) I thought Acts 17 was a model message as to how we are to witness? ANSWER:  I do not believe there is one model message for witnessing. Paul adjusted his message to those he was speaking with. He considered their understanding, the context of what he was saying, the argument he was having with the audience, etc.    You said Paul did not mention the crucifixion of Christ, but I believe he did. Note verse 18. Paul was "preaching Jesus and the resurrection." More than likely "preaching Jesus" would be a reference to His death on the cross, followed by the resurrection. Paul probably had limited time in his speech and that is why he focused on the resurrection. This is the greatest of all miracles—that one would come back from the dead! This really got their attention, and I believe Paul knew that it would! "When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, 'We shall hear you again concerning this'" (v. 32). Some got the message and "joined with him and believed" (v. 34).    By the way, you can't have the doctrine of Christ's resurrection without the teaching about His death, i.e., the death on the cross. It also must be remembered that Paul used the doctrine of the resurrection in order to capture their attention. There is no more powerful argument than that one came back from the dead! He then continued teaching the full account of Christ, "preaching Jesus" and all that He came to do.    You referred to 1 Corinthians 2:2 where Paul said that he "determined to know nothing among you [Corinthians] except Jesus, and Him crucified." Notice, that this was his message when he went to Corinth! I am sure he adjusted his messages to the audience, the time of his message, with an understanding of what they could absorb! It is wrong to assume that he left the crucifixion out of his sermons. I'm sure Paul knew what he was doing!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (September 2009)

Door to Door Witnessing?

Dr. Couch, how would you interpret 2 John 10 about not receiving into your house, and greeting one who does not hold to "the teaching"? And, should Evangelical Christians do door to door witnessing? Is this today seen as "pressure" tactics? 

 

    Any method of spreading the gospel is legitimate, however any method may not always work, in every occasion, at all times. Times and culture change. It used to be that street evangelism would be effective but today this is not so. Some years back I was constantly begged to hold home Bible classes that were used for evangelism. They worked! I probably did over twenty years time about 200 classes in homes, with a total of many thousands who came, and with hundreds accepting Christ as their Savior. But today, you could not get ten neighbors to come to your house to hear God’s Word. I think personally the problem is a hardening of heart of our population. God is closing down America to the sound presentation of the truth. 

    I believe 2 John 10 is indeed about those who attempt to come to your house and present a "religious" message that is not about "the teaching of Christ" (v. 9). This would certainly include the cults. The point about not receiving them into your home and not giving them a greeting needs to be explained. I do not allow the cult folks into my house. The "greeting" idea is about giving one who comes to your door a warm welcome/greeting as a fellow brother. You can certainly say "hello"—that is not what John is talking about. But I then send the cult guy on his way and do not give him a hearing.

    I have tried in the past to use the moment to witness to cultic folks, but this rarely works. They come on the offensive and block out what you have to say. 

    Thanks for asking. 

    Dr. Mal Couch