Old Texts Through New Eyes Reexamination of Misunderstood Scriptures by Dallas R. Burdette 1 Copyright © 2008 by Dallas R. Burdette Updated: © 2020 by Dallas R. Burdette Old Texts through New Eyes: Reexamination of Misunderstood Scriptures By Dallas Burdette Printed in the United States of America ISBN All rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the author. The views expressed in this book are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from the New International Version. Copyright © 1986, 1992 by Zondervan. www.xulonpress.com 2 Dedication to First, I dedicate this book to my wife of fifty-two years, and to my children, Rachael Evans, Regina Burdette, Lavone Burdette, Allen Newton, and Donnie Newton. Also, I dedicate this book to my daughters-in- law—Debra Newton (1958-2013), Tara Newton, and Mindy Burdette. Second, I also dedicate this book to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bobby and Darlene Violette; my son-in-law and daughter, Doug and Rachael Evans; Marvin and Faith Wilson (1946-2014), my brother-in- law and sister; James (1941-2017) and Betty Hagan, and the New Covenant Fellowship (Montgomery, AL.) for their financial sacrifices, without which I could not have published this book. Third, I also dedicate this book to Dr. Jimmy Crabtree, Dr James Albert, David Richardson (1928- 2019), Shoney Taylor, and Katrina Burdette (1945-2020) who proofread and made suggestions in order to make this book more readable and understandable. Fourth, I also dedicate this book to the members of the New Covenant Fellowship who encouraged me to put my writings into book form, and who, as mentioned above, also contributed financially for the publication. Fifth, I also dedicate this book to Dr. Leroy Garrett (1918-2015) and Carl Ketcherside (1908-1989) who assisted me in my development of how to read the Word of God more accurately. They taught me that traditional opinions are not sacrosanct. Leroy and Carl prepared me to do justice to the biblical text in spite of long-held traditions. They challenged me to rethink and reinterpret what had been handed down to me from my forefathers. Prior to my encounter with these two men, the traditions of the church made it difficult for me to read the Word of God correctly. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the rich blessings that the Lord Jesus has bestowed upon my life. Since becoming a Christian in 1949, I have been guided by God through many changes that have led to personal growth and development. God in His mercy allowed me to enter Southern Christian University (now Amridge University) to begin in-depth studies that eventually concluded with the Doctor of Ministry degree from Erskine Theological Seminary. Even though it is impossible to list all who have contributed to my spiritual growth, I am especially thankful to the late Dr. Rex Turner, Jr. (1945-2008), president of Amridge University until his death, who made available the opportunity for me to complete my B.A., M.S, M.Div., and D.Min. I also express my appreciation to Dr. Randall Bailey and Dr. Floyd Parker, professors at Faulkner University, for their efforts to prepare me toward earning my various degrees. Also, I am appreciative to Dr. Jimmy Crabtree, Dr. James Albert, David Richardson, Shoney Taylor, and my wife, Katrina Burdette (1945-2020), for their encouragement and suggestions about writing this book. They have worked with me on the preparation of this book through reading every chapter and making suggestions. My wife encouraged me through the years to continue my studies for the glory of God. She supported me spiritually in order that I might share with others the things that I have learned so that I might help to lead others into a greater understanding of the awe and wonder of God’s scheme of redemption in and through the finished work of Christ upon Calvary. I thank God that He has blessed me with one who truly loved God and desired the advancement of His kingdom. 4 Table of Contents DEDICATION 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 FOREWORD 14 INTRODUCTION 15 CHAPTER 1 RELEVANCE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 16 ALEXANDER CAMPBELL 16 NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS AND THE OLD TESTAMENT 18 MORAL, CEREMONIAL, CIVIL 20 SERMON ON THE MOUNT 22 Not to Abolish but to Fulfill 23 PAUL’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LAW 25 JAMES’ ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LAW 28 PETER’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LAW 28 JOHN’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LAW 29 CONCLUSION 29 CHAPTER 2 A LITERARY ANALYSIS OF THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 31 LITERARY CRITICISM 31 The Implied Reader 32 Plot 33 Point of View 34 THE STRUCTURE OF MATTHEW’S HISTORY OF SALVATION 35 Three Major divisions in Matthew 35 FIRST MAJOR SECTION 36 1:1-4:16 36 THE IDENTITY OF JESUS 36 God’s Evaluative Point of View 36 Matthew’s Evaluative Point of View 37 The Magi’s Evaluative Point of View about Jesus 38 Herod and the Religious Leaders’ Point of View 38 John the Baptist’s Evaluative Point of View 39 Satan’s Evaluative Point of View 39 5 Peter’s Evaluative Point of View 39 SECOND MAJOR SECTION 40 4:17-16:20 40 JESUS’ MINISTRY TO ISRAEL 40 4:17-11:1 40 Jesus’ Teaching Ministry to Israel 40 Jesus’ Healing Ministry to Israel 42 Jesus’ Preaching Ministry to Israel 42 THE ELEMENT OF CONFLICT IN 4:17- 43 11:1 ESCALATION OF CONFLICT BETWEEN JESUS AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN 11:1-16-20 44 Development of the Conflict 46 CONFLICTING VIEWS ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF JESUS 46 Towns in Galilee 47 Herod Antipas 47 Disciples of Jesus 47 THIRD MAJOR SECTION 48 16:21-28:20 48 The Journey to Jerusalem 48 CONCLUSION 50 CHAPTER 3 FALSE TEACHERS 52 PRESENT CRISIS WITHIN THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST 52 Country-wide Dissension 53 LOCAL DISSENSION IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 56 CONCLUSION 58 CHAPTER 4 POLITICAL POWER OF THE PHARISEES 60 JOSEPHUS 61 NEW TESTAMENT 62 POST-AD 70 AND THE PHARISEES 65 JAMNIA 66 CHAPTER 5 GRADED ABSOLUTISM 69 PHRASEOLOGY 70 Gay Individuals 70 Freedom of Choice 70 Illegal Use of Words in Hitler’s Germany 70 6 SITUATION ETHICS 71 GRADED ABSOLUTISM 72 God and Civil Government 72 Truth Telling versus False Telling 73 Rahab the Harlot 73 The Hebrews Midwives 74 MATTHEW 12: GRADED ABSOLUTISM 75 THE HERMENEUTICAL APPROACH FROM THEN TO NOW 76 Monetary Assistance to Unbelievers 76 Sunday Morning Assembly 77 Divorce for Other Causes than Adultery 77 David and the Bread of the Presence 79 Hezekiah and the Passover 80 Two Brothers: Eleazar and Ithamar 80 CONCLUSION 81 FULL CITATION OF SCRIPTURES 82 ALLUDED TO ON PAGE 113 CHAPTER 6 UNITY IN DIVERSITY 84 FIRST CORINTHIANS 8 84 ROMANS 14 AND 15 86 WHO IS A FALSE PROPHET? 87 CONCLUSION 88 CHAPTER 7 WATCH OUT FOR FALSE PROPHETS 90 EXPOSITION OF THE PHRASE FALSE PROPHETS IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 91 THE FIRST MAJOR CONTROVERSY 93 THE LAST MAJOR CONTROVERSY 94 THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS 95 THE PARABLE OF THE TENANTS 95 THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET 96 THE CONSPIRACY OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS 96 Pharisees and Herodians 96 Sadducees 97 Pharisees 97 SEVEN WOES AGAINST THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL 98 7 CONCLUSION 99 CHAPTER 8 THE DIVORCE SAYINGS IN THE SYNOPTICS AND PAULINE ACCOUNTS 101 EXAGGERATION 101 Overstatement and Hyperbole 103 Overstatement in the Divorce Sayings 107 MERCY VERSUS LAW 108 David and the Bread of the Presence 109 Principles Applied to Marriage Bond 110 Legalistic Approach to this Dilemma 114 SCENARIO OF JESUS AND THE PHARISEES 115 CONTEXT AND ITS INTENDED MEANING 116 Peace in the Messianic Age 116 Swallowing Camels 116 Sawdust in the Eyes 117 Peace on Earth 117 Praying in the Closet 117 Swearing 118 Hating parents 118 CONCLUSION 120 Woman Struck by Vehicle 121 City Woman Badly Beaten 122 CHAPTER 9 JUDGE NOT 123 OVERALL VIEW OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 128 Matthew Chapter 5 128 Matthew Chapter 6 129 Matthew Chapter 7 129 CONCLUSION 131 CHAPTER 10 THE NARROW GATE 133 THE NARROW ROAD VERSUS THE BROAD ROAD 134 CONCLUSION 136 CHAPTER 11 DOCTRINE OF CHRIST: 2 JOHN 9 138 SUBJECTIVE GENITIVE 139 Imperfection in Knowledge 139 Holiness of Life 140 Subjective Genitive: Noun in the Genitive Produces the Action 140 8 Objective Genitive: Noun in the Genitive Receives the Action 141 SCHOLARSHIP: OBJECTIVE GENITIVE 141 Rudolph Bultmann 142 David Smith 142 Kenneth Wuest 142 Leon Morris 142 George Johnston 142 Lehman Strauss 143 Donald Burdick 143 E. M. Blaiklock 143 SCHOLARSHIP: SUBJECTIVE GENITIVE 144 John R. W. Stott 144 Kenneth Grayston 144 A. T. Robertson 144 Marvin R. Vincent 144 CHURCHES OF CHRIST: SUBJECTIVE GENITIVE 144 J. Noel Meredith 145 C A. Smith 145 Carl M. Johnson 146 INSTRUCTIVE PARALLEL OF 1 JOHN 2:22-23 AND 2 JOHN 9 146 GNOSTICISM 147 CONCLUSION 147 CHAPTER 12 THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE GREAT COMMISSION 149 THE ROLE OF WOMEN AND CHURCH DIVISION 150 Women Included in the Great Commission 153 Luke 24 153 One Hundred and Twenty: Men and Women 153 Acts 1 153 Women Who Followed Jesus from Galilee 155 Acts 13:31 155 CHAPTER 13 LITERALISM AND ISOLATIONISM OF SCRIPTURE 158 BASIC RULES OF INTERPRETATION 159 History and Culture 159 9 Isolation of Context 160 APPLYING SOUND PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION 160 Contextual Interpretation 163 View of the Whole versus the Particular 164 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE MISUSE OF SCRIPTURE 165 Eufame MacLayne 165 Sir James Simpson 165 Boyer 166 Dr.