Theological Term of the Week: Amanuensis

amanuensis
A scribe or secretary employed to assist an author of the Bible or other texts by writing down what is dictated and sometimes helping with syntax and grammar.

• From scripture:

I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. (Romans 15:22 ESV)

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. (1 Peter 5:12)

• From The Pocket Dictionary of Biblical Studies by Arthur G. Patzia and Anthony J. Petrotta:

Tertius is named the “writer” of Romans (16:22). Paul also employed other individuals, and he draws attention to the fact by commenting that he is closing the letter in his own hand. (cf. 1 Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2 Thess 3:17). Silvanus is identified as Peter’s amanuensis (1 Pet 5:12). This practice of using secretaries (Jer 36:4) may account for some differences in style and language in some NT letters attributed to Paul and Peter. 

Learn more:

1. Blue Letter Bible: Were Some of the Biblical Books Actually Written by a Scribe Rather than by the Named Author? (An Amanuensis)

Related terms:

• autographs
• inspiration of scripture

Filed under Scripture

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Sunday Hymn: Jesus, I Come

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to thee;
Out of my sickness into thy health,
Out of my want and into thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into thyself,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of thy cross,
Jesus, I come to thee;
Out of earth’s sorrows into thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to thee;
Out of myself to dwell in thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of thy home,
Jesus, I come to thee;
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of thy sheltering fold,
Ever thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to thee.

—Will­iam T. Sleep­er

Theological Term of the Week: Reconciliation

reconciliation
The restoration of peaceful relations between parties who are in conflict with each other. Used in regards to of the work of Christ on the cross, it points to the removal God’s enmity toward the sinner and the sinner’s enmity toward God and the establishment of blessed and abundant fellowship through the death of Christ

• From scripture:

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 ESV)

• From The 1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 8, Of Christ the Mediator :

The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.

• From The Atonement: It’s Meaning and Significance by Leon Morris, page 148-149:

There is never the slightest hint in the New Testament that reconciliation can be brought about by what we do. We created the barrier that separates us from God (and from one another), but we cannot break it down. There are theologians who stress the element of human responsibility in such a way as to indicate that man brought about the alienation from God and that man can and should end it. On this view God’s attitude was always the same. He has always loved us and he is simply waiting for us to return to him. As soon as we do, reconciliation is effected. 

But this is not what the New Testament is saying. The New Testament insists that something must be done about sin. It is not possible simply to ignore it, to count it as something that never happened. It did happen. Its results are with us. It has established a continuing enmity. For reconciliation to take place that enmity must be dealt with. And Paul emphasizes that this is what Christ did. Under this figure it is not said how the death of Christ put away sin, but it is said emphatically that is does. In redemption this is seen by way of paying the price, in justification by the bearing of penalty, and so on. There is no equivalent in reconciliation. But this way of looking at the atonement takes it that whatever had to be done was done. The important thing was the removal of the cause of the enmity and when Christ died on the cross he removed it.  

This is something that he alone could do. Man is so immersed in sin that he does not even make the motion of wanting to leave it, let alone to do away with it. And even if he wanted to it is so big a task that it is more than he can accomplish. It is beyond him. But it is not beyond Christ. It is the measure of his greatness that he was able to accomplish this great task and he did. ‘He is our peace.’

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: What is Christian reconciliation?
2. Sinclair Ferguson: Reconciliation in Christ
3. Sinclair Ferguson: The Ministry of Reconciliation
4. Herman Ridderbos: Reconciliation

Related terms:

• propitiation
• redemption
• salvation
• sacrifice
• union with Christ

Filed under Salvation

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.