Lydia and Immediate Regeneration?

[classicalkev]

If we define regeneration in its extremely narrow sense, would the case of Lydia prove that it is immediate and without gospel means?

"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14).

Can I understand it as 'the Lord opened the heart APART from the Word, that she ATTENDED unto the Word'? Regeneration followed by conversion logically?

Although I have met with some who claim the opening of her heart was not her regeneration, but preparatory work to it.

Thanks brethren for your thoughts.

 

[Jack K]

It seems to me the opening of Lydia's heart may have taken place before Paul began to speak or may have happened at some point during his speaking. We can't really say for sure based on the text. And anyway, as wonderful as the example of God opening Lydia's heart is, we must be careful not to take any case study and try to prove from it a normative pattern.

 

[Reformation Monk]

It's interesting for me that it is stated that she "worshiped God" before she heard and was baptized.

I would interpret this as her being a true believer/worshiper but yet unenlightened until the gospel was spoke unto her. So she was regenerate and ready to hear and accept the gospel preached to her.

Makes me think of the road to Emmaus, is that the same type of situation.

 

[classicalkev]

So, are you placing a time gap between her regeneration and conversion? Or, do you imagine her as an Old to New Testament transitional figure who had already been regenerated and converted in the past by the amount of gospel revelation then made available. Then, upon hearing the Word through Paul she received fuller revelation.

 

[Reformation Monk]

Yes I would see her has already being a true believer and regenerate under the Old Covenant and upon hearing the Word through Paul she received fuller revelation.... the only reason I tend to think this is because the text says that she "worshiped God" so I'm inclined to think that she was already a true believer... but that's just my opinion.