Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

Lesson 3

"UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN"

This subject is based on the scripture of Acts 4:13: "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they

had been with Jesus." Does this mean education for Theocratic ministers is of no value? or what is the sense of "unlearned" and "ignorant" as above used?

The Pharisees knew that Peter and John's ministerial vocation was not obtained because of study in the seat of higher learning such as they occupied. Peter and John took a course of action altogether different from that of the Pharisees. They practiced what they preached. They were not like professional theologians. Peter and John had gone to no college of higher learning, but as fishermen they knew the simple truths that lead to Christ. Therefore they forsook their fishing profession and took up a new vocation, that of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.

In Parkhurst's Greek and English Lexicon it is shown that the Greek word for "unlearned" is agrámmatos, which literally means illiterate or unlearned and is applied to mean they were ignorant of the Hebrew Scriptures. Peter and John had been fishermen. Undoubtedly they could read and write, and they spoke the Aramaic language well, which was the common language of that day. They were unlearned, however, in the Hebrew tongue. But this would not mean that they were ignorant of the Word of God. One recalls that Andrew, Peter's brother, who would probably have the same education as Peter and John, said: "We have found the Messias [Messiah]." (John 1:41) This shows that he must have been sufficiently acquainted with the prophecies to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, even though unlearned in the Hebrew tongue. Those scribes and Pharisees who had the learning of Hebrew and were professional theologians did not recognize the Messiah. It is not the worldly-wise that are chosen: "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." —1 Cor. 1:27.

In John 7:15, the record states, "The Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" Here Jesus had been preaching to the Jews and he showed his familiarity with the Hebrew Scriptures, but

they knew that he had not taken a course under the Pharisees; he was a carpenter's son. Luke 4:16,17 clearly shows that Jesus was fully acquainted with the Hebrew language, but there is no record that he went to a school of higher learning to gain this knowledge.

As to the expression "ignorant" in Acts 4:13. This word comes from the Greek word idiótes. The English word "idiot" comes from this Greek word, but in the apostles' day the word idiótes had a meaning very different from "idiot" in the English language of today. The real meaning of the word, according to Parkhurst, is "a common man" as opposed to a man either of power or of education or learning; "a person in a private station." It has the meaning further of "being uninstructed, unskilled, unlearned". The apostle Paul admits that he may not have used the very best of speech in his expression, of the Lord's Word, although he was not an "ignorant" man. "But though I be rude [idiótes] in speech, yet not in knowledge." (2 Cor. 11:6) Here it is shown that Paul's speech may not have been the classical Greek, and therefore to those of much higher learning in the Greek it may have appeared rude, but he does say that he was not ignorant in knowledge, for this he had from God.

Hence Peter and John, though unlearned in Hebrew and classical Greek and just ordinary "common men", did know the prophecies, recognized their fulfillment by the Messiah, and walked with Jesus and learned from him. In their talks among the people they accurately quoted the prophets and the words of Jesus. Because Peter and John did this the scribes and Pharisees marveled.

The obligation to preach the gospel of the Kingdom falls upon all creatures who have made a covenant to serve God. These are not the learned men, the all-wise, and men of high station, but the poor of this world, the "common man". It makes no difference whether the individual speaks English, Greek or Spanish well; it is his knowledge of God's Word that is all important. He can improve his language

if he will try, and he should, but one who is well versed in the Scriptures can fulfill his covenant with Jehovah God and comfort those that mourn. One should not be ashamed to represent the Lord because he does not have a better education, which education the world offers. Rather he should now study and improve his speech, and let his light shine. It will not be the gracious words that flow from one's lips or the smooth speech that will attract the people of good-will, but it will be his knowledge of the Scriptures, not his knowledge of the things of this world, for in all the latter one may be ignorant, unlearned, just the common man. One may be classed as an "idiot" because of his ignorance in mathematics, science and many other things of higher learning. But it will be noted of the Theocratic minister in the courts, in house-to-house witnessing, and in the home book studies, that he has walked with Jesus, in that he knows God's Word and follows in Jesus' footsteps. The wise of this world marvel, even as they speak of Jehovah's witnesses as "unlearned and ignorant men".