Historical Assumptions

“But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” Acts 28:22

Sect – Paul arrives in Rome.  He is under house arrest.  He calls the Jewish elders to meet with him.  They come, anticipating dialogue.  They want to know what Paul’s thinking is on the matter of the Messiah.  But unless we read the Greek passage here, we will miss an important assumption.  The Greek word translated “sect” is the word hairesis, the same word that is the basis of our word “heresy.”  Notice what this implies.  Hairesis is a form of religious worship not aligned with the truth.  It is contrasted with the Greek word schisma.  Schisma is tearing apart.  It is a complete break, a separation.  But hairesis is a matter of differing opinion or interpretation.  A “heretic” can maintain divergent views and still remain part of the body, but one described as schisma cannot.

Why is this differentiation important?  Because it tells us that the Jews did not consider Paul’s beliefs a break from orthodoxy. They considered Paul’s beliefs a difference of opinion.  So they came to find out why Paul believed his interpretation of Scripture was the correct one.  In other words, the Jews did not consider Paul a member of a separate religion called “Christianity.”  Paul was still within the Jewish camp.  He was just a potential heretic – a dissenter with a different view on things.  If the Jews had been convinced that Paul was a convert to another religion, they would have described his beliefs as schisma.  In fact, they probably would not have come to speak with him.

If you read the rest of this story, nearly the last event recorded in Acts, you will discover that Paul attempts to convince these Jewish elders that his interpretation is the correct one and he bases his argument on two things:  The Tanakh (the Law and the Prophets) and his steadfast claim that he “did nothing contrary to the people or the ancestral customs.”  In other words, Paul claims Torah obedience and bases his interpretation of the role of Yeshua on the same – Torah.

We learn two important lessons from Paul’s encounter with the Jewish elders.  First, we learn that a difference of opinion does not exclude us from the Body of believers.  It is perfectly appropriate to think otherwise.  In fact, it is essential if our dialogue is going to produce growth.  Of course, there will be arguments, but arguments are good because they lead to deeper understanding.  No one is excluded on the basis of hairesis.  They are only excluded when they initiate complete separation.  The question we must ask is this:  Who have I excluded simply because we had a difference of opinion?

The second lesson is perhaps an even bigger one.  Jewish elders did not reject Paul  simply because He claimed Yeshua was the Messiah.  They went to investigate.  In fact, Acts tells us that some were convinced Paul was correct.  As Christians, do we act the same way toward our Jewish brothers and sisters?  Have we investigated?  Are we willing to go to them and ask?  Or have we removed ourselves because we are right?

Topical Index:  hairesis, heresy, schisma, Acts 28:22