Article: Who were the Bereans in the Bible?

Starman3000m

Starman3000m

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Article
Question: "Who were the Bereans in the Bible?"

Answer: The Bereans were residents of the city of Berea in the New Testament. Paul and Silas preached to them during Paul’s second missionary journey. The account of Paul and Silas in this location is recorded in Acts 17:10-15. It reads,

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

These Bereans exhibited several positive characteristics that marked their response to the gospel message. First and foremost, the Bereans were “more noble” because of their willing reception of the Word of God. Unlike the unbelieving Thessalonian Jews, these hearers were eager to hear the teaching of Paul and Silas.

Second, the Bereans examined what they heard by comparing it to the Old Testament Scriptures. The fact that they honestly listened and conducted further personal research led many Bereans to faith in Jesus as the Messiah. This expansion of Christianity was not limited to those within the synagogue, but also extended to many Greek men and women in Berea.

Third, the Bereans guarded Paul’s safety. When Paul’s enemies arrived from nearby Thessalonica, the Berean believers protected Paul by getting him out of the region. They did not turn him over to his enemies or disassociate from him as the Jews from Thessalonica might have expected.

Fourth, the Bereans continued to grow in their faith. After Paul’s departure, Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. Why? The Bible does not explicitly say, but one reason was probably to give the Berean Christians a chance to obtain further instruction in the Christian faith.

Later in the book of Acts, we are given further insight into the faithfulness of at least one Berean man. When Paul decides to return for additional ministry in Macedonia despite the tremendous persecution he had recently faced, one of the men who chose to accompany him was from Berea: “There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him” (Acts 20:3-4). Sopater, likely a Gentile Christian, continued to assist Paul (and Timothy) in ministry long after Paul’s first visit to Berea.

In summary, the Bereans have long been seen as a positive example of how a person or community should respond to biblical teaching. We are called to eagerly learn from God’s Word and, no matter who the teacher is, to investigate new teaching in comparison with the Bible. The practice of the ancient Bereans is a model for all who desire to grow spiritually today.

Bible Questions Answered
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T

thatguy

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Wirelessly posted

So sola scripture man is going to quote his favorite prophet, S. Michael Houdmann.
Talk about extra biblical :bigwhoop:
 
Starman3000m

Starman3000m

New Member
thatguy said:
Wirelessly posted

So sola scripture man is going to quote his favorite prophet, S. Michael Houdmann.
Talk about extra biblical :bigwhoop:
Click to expand...

Commentaries in support of Ot & NT Bible Scripture as being the sole reference for Doctrinal Truths are not "extra-Biblical".

Commentaries that change the meaning of Scripture or add "revelations" not included in the original writings of the OT Prophets and New Testament Apostles and teachings of Christ are extra-Biblical.

Any so-called Christian denomination that uses supplemental books, literature and guidelines that add new "revelations" and introduce teachings that are contrary to Scripture from the Holy Bible would be considered a pseudo-Christian cult.
 
L

libby

New Member
Starman3000m said:
Commentaries in support of Ot & NT Bible Scripture as being the sole reference for Doctrinal Truths are not "extra-Biblical".

Commentaries that change the meaning of Scripture or add "revelations" not included in the original writings of the OT Prophets and New Testament Apostles and teachings of Christ are extra-Biblical.

Any so-called Christian denomination that uses supplemental books, literature and guidelines that add new "revelations" and introduce teachings that are contrary to Scripture from the Holy Bible would be considered a pseudo-Christian cult.
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The amount of tap-dancing you do rivals Gene Kelly.
 
Zguy28

Zguy28

New Member
libby said:
The amount of tap-dancing you do rivals Gene Kelly.
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Now now.

We all use commentaries, books, etc. from within the church to learn what the Bible says and means. Protestants don't add new revelation, that's all.
 
T

thatguy

New Member
Wirelessly posted

Zguy28 said:
libby said:
The amount of tap-dancing you do rivals Gene Kelly.
Click to expand...
Now now.

We all use commentaries, books, etc. from within the church to learn what the Bible says and means. Protestants don't add new revelation, that's all.
Click to expand...

So S Michael Houdmann's website is now biblical or even from within the church?

Sorry, but he draws all kinds of conclusions and then paints them as being biblical. The reality is these are just his interpretations, no different than the many others that the sola scripture crowd criticize.
 
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