Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the thought being expressed is that, even before the beginning of all God's creative work (that is, from eternity past), God, in His omniscience, knew that, in time, not only would Abraham's descendants be regarded as His "chosen" people, but that that same title or distinction would come to apply to others who were not from Abraham's physical lineage. This is reflected in passages such as the following:

Genesis 12:3
Psalm 22:27
Isaiah 42:4
Isaiah 49:6
Isaiah 56:3-7
Isaiah 60:1-3
Jeremiah 16:19-21
Zechariah 2:11
Malachi 1:11 

The eventual fulfillment of that purpose (as reflected in Peter's account, as well as previously by Jesus Himself (John 10:16)) reflected the steadfast and unchanging nature of God's purposes.

1 day ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

Firstly, the term "eternity" is a mistranslation. Or perhaps more accurately, it is only one potential connotation of the Greek αἰών/aion, which more properly refers to an age or long period of time, or the characteristic and spiritual nature of an age of time. "Eternity" is not the best translation that could be used, as it's a connotation brought in from the Latin Vulgate, not the Greek itself. Most modern translations now opt for "long ago," which fits the term better, than the NKJV "eternity." A few opt for "from the beginning (of the world,) but the Greek merely implies that the coming in of the Gentiles has been known from long ago/from some point in a distant era.
https://biblehub.com/acts/15-18.htm

For some examples:
"He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David. He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past." Luke 1:69-70

"Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets." Acts 3:21

"Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me." Isa 45:21

Contextually, the thing "known from long ago," is that the Gentiles would be brought into the people of God through Christ. However, though there were prophesies alluding to this, for the most part the Jewish people did not understand that this would happen. 

Paul even later calls the Gentiles being brought in as a "mystery hidden" in past ages:

"....By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel," Eph 3:4-6

A second translation issue is that some manuscripts have "all His work" is "known by God" from long ago, which would change the focus from prophesies of ages past to the fact God knew what He would do for the Gentiles from long ago.

In Acts 15:1, some Jewish believers are demanding that the Gentiles "must" be circumcised to be saved! That is, they thought that the Gentiles must "become Jews," and only then could they be part of the people of God. They didn't understand the mystery of Christ, that the Gentiles were to be made one body with them. They didn't have to join the Jews, but rather both Jewish and Gentile believers would be joined to Christ, the True Vine.

Whether one favors the wording of this being God knowing His redemptive plan for the Gentiles from long ago, or God declaring His plan for the Gentiles from long ago, both are true. There are many OT references to the Gentiles being brought in, even if the Israelites didn't fully understand those promises yet.

"“On that day I will raise up the fallen shelter of David,
And wall up its gaps;
I will also raise up its ruins
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
So that they may possess the remnant of Edom
And all the nations who are called by My name,”
Declares the LORD who does this." Amos 9:11-12

"...It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” - Isa 49:6

"“Behold, you will call a nation you do not know,
And a nation which knows you not will run to you,
Because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.” - Isa 55:5

"“I will sow her for Myself in the land.
I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion,
And I will say to those who were not My people,
‘You are My people!’
And they will say, ‘You are my God!’” Hosea 2:23

Etc.

1 day ago • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report