The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Luke 13

Evangelical Universalism Arguments for Evangelical Universalism
#1

If anyone who can offer some exegetical or other insight into Luke 13 from an EU perspective, particularly this section:

22 And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29 And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

It would be appreciated.
I think I have an idea of what’s going on here, but I always welcome other insights and input.

#2

I believe this was exactly what it seemed to be at the time – a warning to Jesus’ listeners (that is, his contemporary Jewish brethren) that many of the covenant people would be missing the big party they had all been looking forward to for their whole lifetimes – the Messianic reign. We always think everything is about US! :laughing:

I’m not saying it doesn’t apply to us on another level, but this was spoken to the Jews and primarily meant for those to whom Jesus was speaking.

(Sorry about the “ginger” post – must have been confusing and I deleted it. It belonged in the pre-Raphaelite thread – I’ll go back there now . . . . :blush: :laughing: )

#3

, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?”

I think Jesus meant at that time and by extension in this age , few are really saved. Even as Jesus spoke those words 99.9% of the population of the world never heard him so the overwhelming mass of people will be saved after this age through the lake of fire.

#4

As I understand it… the modernistic glasses of evangelicalism have skewed the focus of what “being saved” really meant in NT terms, typically reading it as “going to heaven when WE die”. I would agree with Cindy about the context being Jesus’ more immediate audience, and add that the coming salvation they were in need of was from the coming wrath of Ad70. And the “entering” was NOT into heaven after death but entering the service of God now in this life… it had costs, and particularly so in those “last days”.

#5

I think the passage harmonizes nicely with the following:

Go in by the narrow gate; for broad and roomy is the road that leads to destruction, and many are going in by it. But narrow is the gate and hard is the road that leads to life, and few are they that find it. (Matt 7:13,14 Williams)

We have all noticed how few people in this life have become disciples of Christ. Very few. I suspect fewer than 1 in a 1000 of all people from the time of Christ to the present. If my guess is correct, that means that over 99.9% of all people have been (or presently are) on the broad, easy road to destruction.

This passage, as well as the one in the original post, say nothing about what happens to the saved and the lost after the resurrection. Some think of “destruction” as annihilation. But it could mean, as Origen put it, that one’s hostile will is destroyed. Also Paul spoke of gold being destroyed by fire. But gold cannot is not destroyed in the usual sense by fire, but refined. The original form of the gold is destroyed so that the gold itself is purified and refined.

The verbal form of the word is translated as “destroy” 19 times in the NT, “perish” 29 times, “lose” 10 times and “lost” 14 times. Recall that in the loving father said that his son “was lost” and “is found.” This is the word that was used. The son was not lost permanently.

Also, Jesus said (Matt 18:11) that “The son of man has come to save that which is lost.” So the lost can be saved.

In conclusion, I suggest that the vast majority of people are lost in this life, being on the broad road. But God’s intention is to restore and reconcile all people to Himself. The previous two sentences do not conflict but are consistent.

#6

:laughing: Ok, I wondered about that.

#7

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Much of it confirmed my suspicion, but there have been some helpful insights added also.