Quote:
Originally Posted by TGBTG
Even your statement PROVES that Paul was interacting with them as BELIEVERS. His interaction with them led to the question.
On the other hand, how many "apostolics" today would interact with baptists as believers and then ask if they have received the Holy Ghost?...
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He did not interact with them 'as believers' in the sense you seem to be suggesting. Luke says they were 'certain disciples'. Paul asks if they had received the Spirit when they believed.
(Obviously, Paul wasn't sure if they had the Spirit, otherwise the question is meaningless.)
They said no. Paul then seems to be somewhat incredulous. 'Unto what then were you baptised?' he asks. OBVIOUSLY, Paul expects people baptised unto JESUS CHRIST to have the HOLY SPIRIT.
IN ANY EVENT, they didn't have the Spirit, so Paul PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THEM, and they were baptised in JESUS' NAME, and they got the Holy Spirit.
Modern day Baptists, by the way, are MORE SO 'believers' than those Ephesian disciples were, apparently, because modern day Baptists DO believe Jesus is the son of God, the resurrected Christ, the atonement for our sins, etc.
And yes, I DO often ask people 'have you received the Holy Ghost?' if I find out they believe in Jesus as Saviour and Messiah.
The only thing that can be established with certainty about those Ephesian 'Baptists' is that they were NOT CHRISTIANS and DID NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT until after meeting the apostle Paul and company.
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