Behind history (Discovery books)

By Ray C. Stedman

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0876808798
• ISBN13: 9780876808795
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Word Books
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Why evil in the Church & is an earthly utopia possible?

Behind History does not concern itself with particular historical events but a general understanding of the nature of God's work in the world since the beginning of the Church. This is explained though the parables found in Mathew 13: the sower and the seeds, wheat & weeds in the field, mustard seed, leavened bread, hidden treasure, valuable pearl, and the fish caught in the net.There are two widely accepted views concerning these parables. One view sees the mustard seed and leavened bread parables demonstrating the expansion of Christianity. Stedman shows that this view is not consistent linguistically or structurally with the imagery of the rest of the parables or the rest of Scripture. Rather, he shows that they illustrate the evil that infiltrates the Church and remains there until the end of the age (when Christ returns to establish His kingdom on Earth). Likewise, the parables of the hidden treasure and valuable pearl, which have been understood by some as the seeker discovering Christ and giving up all to obtain Him, Stedman shows to be inconsistent with the rest of the imagery in this parable cluster. He demonstrates that the man finding the treasure and the pearl is Christ and the treasure and the valuable pearl represent the believers.The book is useful to those interested in understanding why there is evil in the Christian Church or are wondering if a Christian utopia on earth can ever be established. Stedman illustrates through these parables that until Christ returns evil men will always be associated with the Church and that a Christian utopia on earth will not occur. I disagree with his assessment that the treasure and valuable pearl in the parable of the hidden treasure and valuable pearl represent Israel and the Church, respectively. The treasure and valuable pearl as different depictions of the same thing - all believers - seems more consistent with the rest of the parable cluster. This is a minor criticism and overall I found the book to be a good commentary on Matthew 13.