Greg Boyd: Constantine's Pagan Influence on Christianity

In his July 4, 2010 sermon, pastor Greg Boyd explains how the Roman emperor Constantine radically changed, for the worse, the behavior of many Christians in the world. The entire sermon can be viewed or downloaded at this link: http://whchurch.org/sermons-media/sermons/2010-sermons

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• Greg Boyd
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• Constantine

[AIRNSWORDZ]

If this message is true then how do you explain away Jesus' words when he said "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke 22:36)?

[deepcoffee]

@AIRNSWORDZ In an online Q&A Greg writes: Immediately after telling them to buy a sword (Lk 22:36) Jesus says, “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”(vs. 37). To fulfill prophecy, Jesus had to be viewed as a transgressor. He had to at least appear to be a political revolutionary to the Jewish authorities for them to feel justified in arresting him.

[deepcoffee]

@AIRNSWORDZ Greg continues II: His cleansing of the temple a few days earlier was probably calculated for the same effect. So, to fulfill the prophecy and to provoke the Jewish authorities, he had to have enough weaponry to justify being viewed as a law breaking revolutionary. This is why, in the next verse, when the disciples say they have two swords, Jesus says “That is enough.” (vs. 38).

[deepcoffee]

@AIRNSWORDZ Greg continues III: Obviously, if Jesus ever intended for the disciples to use the swords, that wouldn’t be nearly enough. But it’s enough to fulfill the prophecy by making Jesus look like a transgressor.

When Peter used the sword to cut off the guard’s ear, Jesus rebuked him and then demonstrated the kind of power the Kingdom of God uses to advance its cause by healing the guards ear.

[deepcoffee]

@AIRNSWORDZ Greg continues IV: When Jesus later appeared before Pilate and was asked if he was the King of the Jews, Jesus responded that his kingdom is not of this world, and he points to the fact that his followers are not fighting as proof of this fact (Jn. 18:36). So, a distinguishing characteristic that a person belongs to Jesus’ Kingdom is that they refuse to fight their enemies.

[flashgm41]

It is TUFF to fight against cultural conditioning. I am 70 and find myself doing this every day.

[KingDcome11]

@GahdeMalprigi1488x jesus loves you

[MegaVenom777]

If you look closely of the solider of Jesus its actually Constantine making Jesus a roman emperor because he is a the roman emperor so in since Constantine thought he was the 2nd coming of Jesus he also thought he was Apollo, but most of all Constantine thought he was a god.

[N1k1mon]

@AIRNSWORDZ So the most probable reason for Jesus wanting the disciples to have swords was for protection against wild animals and bandits, not to break the law or cut the ears off of guards. If that incident had never happened there wouldnt be this insane theory. "Live by the sword die by the sword", well they were obviously carrying around swords all the time, but to use one as one did in Peter's case was to "Live BY the sword", thus he was rebuked. They were to use them for proper purposes.

[N1k1mon]

@deepcoffee And one might ask, why did Jesus even allow them to have swords in the first place? Why were these men carrying around swords if it was "wrong" in Jesus' eyes? It doesnt make any sense, they obviously had reason and right to carry them and Jesus permitted it the entire time. This is the same God who led armies into battle, the Lord of Hosts, the one who trained David's hands to fight..I never read of Jesus telling anybody to quit the ARMY either, Cornelius anyone? Jesus was hardcore.

[N1k1mon]

@deepcoffee The end many were martyred but it seems to be common sense that these men would need to protect themselves once the master was physically gone from their presence. He could no longer create free food day and night and they were going to have to have money on them and provisions for travel. At the very least the swords were their protection from wild animals on their pilgrimages and treks, of course he wasnt saying to battle the guards or to go out maiming people, simply protection.

[N1k1mon]

@deepcoffee For having the sword, first "Greg" claims hes to look like a revolutionary with a platoon of armed soldiers by telling them to have swords, then points out that they dont fight for him?? That is a major contradiction. And what about the purse and scrip, purses are very badass!! Ok thats a joke but seriously, the whole statement must be taken into context, not a cleverly woven tale of the swords. This must be based on the whole "Everybody is to be a martyr" conditioning. And yes, in

[N1k1mon]

@deepcoffee That the council was held in secret and at night trying to hide it from the other leaders was proof enough that they were going to convict him anyways. Having a sword in Judea back then was like carrying a buck knife these days and these men had been carrying them around for 3 years without any militia activity. When he pointed to his followers not fighting the Roman authorities, I guarantee you he wasnt talking about the 11 disciples alone, thats laughable and contradicts the reason

[N1k1mon]

@deepcoffee Some of that explanation seems OK but theres holes. Jesus was never charged with being a "revolutionary" by the Jews, he was charged with Blasphemy for calling himself equal with God and violating Jewish traditions. And the fact that they were already coming to arrest him when Judas gave him away makes the sword theory pointless. They were already justified in arresting him, thats why they were on their way. He Rebuked Peter because being ARRESTED was fulfilling prophecy. The fact..

[GahdeMalprigi1488x]

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