The Acts Period, Twenty-Nine Continuing Years - CCS, Misunderstood and Mistaught by Arlen L Chitwood and published by Classics Publishing.
An individual’s interpretation and understanding of the Book of Acts will invariably be governed by his interpretation and understanding of the four introductory gospels. Go right in the gospels and a correct transition into Acts would naturally follow. BUT, go wrong in the gospels, and the error can only continue in Acts. And the whole of the matter doesn’t end in Acts but continues into the epistles as well - both correct and incorrect interpretation and understanding, depending on how an individual begins in the gospels. Then, matters in this respect can only be moved back behind the gospels, for the gospels are simply an outgrowth and continuation of previous revelation, going all the way back to Moses. The gospels have to do with the offer of the kingdom of the heavens to Israel - a kingdom introduced in the first chapter of Genesis (vv. 26-28), seen after different fashions throughout the Old Testament, re-offered to Israel in Acts, offered to Christians during the Acts period and beyond, and realized in the Book of Revelation (11:15), as foreshadowed at the beginning in the foundational type (Gen. 2:1-3).
Understand this in the Old Testament, and it can be easily understood in the gospels; understand this in the gospels, and it can be easily understood in Acts; understand this in Acts, and it can be easilyunderstood in the epistles; understand this in the epistles, and the goal toward which ALL previous Scripture moves can be easily understood. BUT, go wrong at the beginning, in Genesis, and… Another way of stating the preceding has to do with foundations and building on these foundations. ALL of the foundations have been laid in the Old Testament, particularly in Genesis, and more particularly early in Genesis. And ALL subsequent Scripture MUST be dealt with in complete accord with the foundation upon which it rests.
Thus, beginning in the gospels, Acts, or the epistles is beginning in the middle of the Book. And, when this is done, there is ONLY one proper way to handle matters. Data in later revelation MUST be dealt with in complete accord with data in earlier revelation, particularly taking matters back to Moses, back to the foundations.
