Dispensationalism vs. Christian Identity Theology - Part 2
Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore
February 5, 2023
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:16
The questions are: who is the “Jew” and who is the “Greek” mentioned in this verse of Scripture? There are several possibilities that interpreters of the Bible have come up with:
- The Jews are really anyone who is a Jew (be it an Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi, Ethiopian, Hassidic, conservative, orthodox, reformed, etc.) and the Greeks are all the rest of the people or Gentiles. That means everyone who is alive, i.e. universalism. NIV has translated “Gentile” instead of Greek for this verse.
- The Jews are really Judeans and the Greeks are the Greek speaking people; no blacks, Orientals, Pacific islanders or others are categorized in either group.
- The Jews are really the House of Judah and the Greeks are the House of Israel.
- The Jews are really the Edomites or Idumeans and the Greeks are the people of Alexander the Great’s empire who spoke Greek.
The Bible can only be understood if the Holy Spirit reveals the correct interpretation to His chosen people. Without the Holy Spirit, you can get all kinds of different views and ministries based on the Bible. You can find almost any church that has the beliefs that any person may hold, no matter how much they are filled with heresies or weak doctrine.