Luke 2:1 KJV
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Scofield's Notes say,
(Greek, "oikoumenē", means "inhabited earth"). This passage is noteworthy as defining the usual New Testament use of oikoumene as the sphere of Roman rule at its greatest extent, that is, of the great Gentile world-monarchies (Dan 2:7). That part of the earth is therefore peculiarly the sphere of prophecy.
I am interested in the phrase "all the world." Obviously the census and tax had no authority in places like Russia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. The term is target specific to that part of the world that was under Roman rule. That God chose to use it does two things;
First, it sets the definition through the rest of the Word and defines prophecy as relating primarily to that portion of the inhabited earth.
Secondly, it gives insight into the heart of God for that part of the world
God loves all mankind and seeks to rescue souls of any language tongue and part of the earth. But God has a peculiar interest in the part of the world that was under that Roman rule.
• It is where mankind began
• It is where He chose to focus the activity of the Word
• It is where He grew the people from which the Saviour came
• It is where He chose to dwell among men
• It is where the salvation of every soul who will accept it comes
The history of the Middle East to this very day impacts the rest of the world. At one time it was primarily through Catholicism and its influences (mostly negative and highly political.) Today it might be mostly through Islam, (still mostly negative and, becoming more political) but that part of the world never gets far away from our thoughts.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Scofield's Notes say,
(Greek, "oikoumenē", means "inhabited earth"). This passage is noteworthy as defining the usual New Testament use of oikoumene as the sphere of Roman rule at its greatest extent, that is, of the great Gentile world-monarchies (Dan 2:7). That part of the earth is therefore peculiarly the sphere of prophecy.
I am interested in the phrase "all the world." Obviously the census and tax had no authority in places like Russia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. The term is target specific to that part of the world that was under Roman rule. That God chose to use it does two things;
First, it sets the definition through the rest of the Word and defines prophecy as relating primarily to that portion of the inhabited earth.
Secondly, it gives insight into the heart of God for that part of the world
God loves all mankind and seeks to rescue souls of any language tongue and part of the earth. But God has a peculiar interest in the part of the world that was under that Roman rule.
• It is where mankind began
• It is where He chose to focus the activity of the Word
• It is where He grew the people from which the Saviour came
• It is where He chose to dwell among men
• It is where the salvation of every soul who will accept it comes
The history of the Middle East to this very day impacts the rest of the world. At one time it was primarily through Catholicism and its influences (mostly negative and highly political.) Today it might be mostly through Islam, (still mostly negative and, becoming more political) but that part of the world never gets far away from our thoughts.
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