Transforming: The Church as Agent of Change in the Story of Zacchaeus
3 See sukomorea in DBAG Lexicon, 955.
4 Thanks goes to my colleague and Academic Dean at the AG Theological Seminary, Joseph Castleberry, for this illuminating metaphor.
5 This undoubtedly they regarded as a gross social and religious indiscretion.
6 Whether this happened on the way to Zacchaeus’ house, or in the house some time during their visit is not certain, although the latter is more probable.
7 The Greek syntax indicates that what is described in the “if” clause of this conditional sentence is assumed to be “true.”
8 The author is not endorsing “friendship” evangelism over all other modes of evangelism, only pointing out the validity and effectiveness of this model to combine the aims of evangelism and discipleship. Recently, a friend of mine shared with me his joy over a friend who had come to Christ, after several years of meeting regularly for coffee and conversation. His friend is now a brother in Christ, attends church and continues to be mentored and discipled. As far as I know, their weekly coffee meetings continue.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2004 issue of Encounter. Used with permission. http://www.agts.edu/encounter
Category: Biblical Studies, Fall 2008