Continuing in the Grace of God
Acts 13:43
Excerpt
The expression rendered keep on living in the grace of God may be variously interpreted. Keep on living, for example, may also represent in Greek the meaning of “rely upon,” “to continue reliance upon,” or “to hold fast to.” The emphasis is on their continuing their relationship to the goodness of God, “urged them to continue to rely on the goodness of God.” One might even say “to continue to trust in the goodness of God.” If come is to preserve the concept of living one may translate “keep on living in dependence on the goodness of God.” In this verse, the term grace is not be understood in any special technical sense in contrast with the Law but is simply a reference to the nature of the Good News which comes to man as an expression of God’s grace of goodness. However, the term “goodness” must be understood not as a particular inherent quality of God but as the way in which he manifests himself toward men, that is, in showing favor and goodness to them even though they do not deserve it.
Newman, Barclay Moon, and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on the Acts of the Apostles. New York: United Bible Societies, 1972. Print. UBS Handbook Series.
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