Jonathan,

I found your and Greg’s thoughts on the article very insightful and helpful. I thought your initial “corrections” to my overstatements were entirely correct. Thank you. I am still learning a lot about this subject.

Re: that we see much of serving our community in Jesus and the OT but it does not seem to be on the mind of the Apostles, I would note:

• The Jewish roots of hospitality centered on kindness to the “stranger.” To make hospitality primarily for fellow believers would seem quite a dramatic development in the nature of that service.
• Pursuing “justice” and showing “kindness” are essential characteristics of the believer in both the OT and in the teaching of Jesus. This would seem to me to make the frequency of their appearance in the Epistles almost irrelevant. Christians are told in Matthew 6:33 to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness (or “justice”). The Old Testament context of that word for the Jewish hearers had massive social ramifications. (Isaiah 1:11–17; Jeremiah 7:3–11; Amos 5:11–15, 21–24; Zechariah  7:4–12). Being new covenant Christians does not release us from the moral imperatives of the Old Testament, which consisted largely in fighting for justice in society and showing kindness to outsiders. Micah 6:8 lists social ministry as one of the essential characteristics of true believers. It may be taken for granted in the Epistles.
• The Apostles consistently define Christian witness in the Epistles as being a model of practical love in a world full of hatred. In the tiny book of Titus alone Paul exhorts the believers to “do good” 7 times.
• We also see in Acts early Christians living with social concern.
  1. We see Tabitha’s ministry to community widows in Acts 9. It was said of Tabitha that she was “full of good works and charitable deeds.” (9:36).
  2. Philip did many “signs” in Samaria and for that reason there was much rejoicing (Acts 8:7) While Philip’s signs were miraculous, couldn’t a changed life and aggressive charitable deeds also be signs of the Gospel? Isn’t that what we see in Tabitha in Acts 9?

This is helpful, guys. Thanks for dialoguing with me about it.