Acts 15:6

2. Session of the Council , Acts 15:6 .

6. Came together We have not here an example of what has in Church history been called “ a General Council,” that is, an assemblage of delegates and representatives from the various parts of Christendom to consult and decide the affairs of the universal Church. We have simply a respectful delegation from one Church to another Church possessed of superior special advantages for agreeing upon a great question.

The so-called General Councils receive from the Romish and Greek Churches profound deference, as of binding authority over their faith. The Seven General Councils are a final appeal for all members of the Greek communion. But none of them could show the inspired authority of this apostolic assembly, who could truly say, It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us.

On the question discussed at this council there still remained a variety of shades and opinions. 1. The views of Paul, which were at first unknown to the Church, became the true central doctrine of the Apostolic Church. He consented to the indulgence of all who insisted upon it, in the performance of all those rites of Judaism which were in themselves solemn and devout, though not obligatory performances; PROVIDED, it was not claimed or granted that they were a necessary part of Christianity, or necessary to salvation, and provided they became not a real impediment to the salvation of souls by Christ. 2. But there afterward came the celebrated Marcion, of Pontus, who was an ultra Paulist, discarding not only circumcision and the ritual, but discarding the Old Testament and the very Jehovah of the Old Testament. 3. On the other hand, James, the Bishop (presiding Presbyter) of Jerusalem, rigidly persisted probably in keeping the whole law so far as himself was concerned, and perhaps counselled the same of all Jewish Christians. He with his section of thinkers probably attended through life the prayers, sacrifices, and solemn services of the temple. 4. The Judaists who figured at Antioch went much further than James, and held forth to Gentiles as well as Jews, Ye cannot be saved without the deeds of the Mosaic ritual law. (See notes on Acts 10:1; Acts 11:19; Acts 21:40.)

A significant fruit of the triumph of Paul and Gentilism was (as adduced by Paul, Galatians 2:3) that Titus, though a Gentile, was not required by the Council to be circumcised. He was doubtless brought there by Paul as a test case. On the one hand, even if Paul were willing himself to circumcise him in Asia Minor to secure him access to Jews, he would refuse all consent to his circumcision when the requirement of circumcision was the point of controversy at Jerusalem. On the other hand, for the Council to yield the point that this young Gentile could be an uncircumcised Christian, was to surrender the whole matter to Paul. Titus was a living monument of pure Gentile Christianity.