Your request for my feeling about the above question is, on the one hand, complementary, but on the other a bit perplexing.
The easy answer is given in Jesus' answer in the Lord's Prayer. Matthew 6
"12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." A debt is ": something owed : obligation".
I originally learned the prayer replacing debts and debtors with trespasses and trespassers.
where the meanings are from trespass which means:
a: an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another
especially: a wrongful entry on real property
b: the legal action for injuries resulting from trespass.
I guess mentally I am stuck with that definition even though the modern translations use the words from debt.
Because Jesus has put it into this prayer for his disciples and consequently for me as a Christian, I believe "forgiveness" is an element of faith. Gigi has said, "Do not waste your time on those who have trespassed." Your forgiveness also clears your mind of negative thoughts. If they ask for forgiveness, and you have already forgiven them, you have welcomed them as fellow Christians.
Taken in the view of Christians, that answer is adequate. However, there are some assumptions that are made in the general population.
Is there a God?
Often we Christians get into a conversation without the fundamental question being answered. I believe we should be aware of different approaches to the answers both positive and negative to this question. Non-Christians rightly doubt our authority to talk about Jesus and Judaic history if we have not considered this basic question.
I am posting some of what one man, Steven Hawkins, says who opposes the idea of a God in any form.
It’s my view that the simplest explanation is that there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization: there is probably no heaven and afterlife either. I think belief in an afterlife is just wishful thinking. There is no reliable evidence for it, and it flies in the face of everything we know in science. I think that when we die we return to dust. But there’s a sense in which we live on, in our influence, and in our genes that we pass on to our children. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that I am extremely grateful.
As I was growing up in England after the Second World War, it was a time of austerity. We were told that you never get something for nothing. But now, after a lifetime of work, I think that actually you can get a whole universe for free.
The great mystery at the heart of the Big Bang is to explain how an entire, fantastically enormous universe of space and energy can materialise out of nothing. The secret lies in one of the strangest facts about our cosmos. The laws of physics demand the existence of something called “negative energy.”
To help you get your head around this weird but crucial concept, let me draw on a simple analogy. Imagine a man wants to build a hill on a flat piece of land. The hill will represent the universe. To make this hill he digs a hole in the ground and uses that soil to dig his hill. But of course he’s not just making a hill — he’s also making a hole, in effect a negative version of the hill. The stuff that was in the hole has now become the hill, so it all perfectly balances out. This is the principle behind what happened at the beginning of the universe.
When the Big Bang produced a massive amount of positive energy, it simultaneously produced the same amount of negative energy. In this way, the positive and the negative add up to zero, always. It’s another law of nature.
So where is all this negative energy today? It’s in the third ingredient in our cosmic cookbook: it’s in space. This may sound odd, but according to the laws of nature concerning gravity and motion — laws that are among the oldest in science — space itself is a vast store of negative energy. Enough to ensure that everything adds up to zero.
I’ll admit that, unless mathematics is your thing, this is hard to grasp, but it’s true. The endless web of billions upon billions of galaxies, each pulling on each other by the force of gravity, acts like a giant storage device. The universe is like an enormous battery storing negative energy. The positive side of things — the mass and energy we see today — is like the hill. The corresponding hole, or negative side of things, is spread throughout space.
So what does this mean in our quest to find out if there is a God? It means that if the universe adds up to nothing, then you don’t need a God to create it. The universe is the ultimate free lunch.
Since we know the universe itself was once very small — perhaps smaller than a proton — this means something quite remarkable. It means the universe itself, in all its mind-boggling vastness and complexity, could simply have popped into existence without violating the known laws of nature. From that moment on, vast amounts of energy were released as space itself expanded — a place to store all the negative energy needed to balance the books. But of course the critical question is raised again: did God create the quantum laws that allowed the Big Bang to occur? In a nutshell, do we need a God to set it up so that the Big Bang could bang? I have no desire to offend anyone of faith, but I think science has a more compelling explanation than a divine creator.
Imagine a river, flowing down a mountainside. What caused the river? Well, perhaps the rain that fell earlier in the mountains. But then, what caused the rain? A good answer would be the Sun, that shone down on the ocean and lifted water vapour up into the sky and made clouds. Okay, so what caused the Sun to shine? Well, if we look inside we see the process known as fusion, in which hydrogen atoms join to form helium, releasing vast quantities of energy in the process. So far so good. Where does the hydrogen come from? Answer: the Big Bang. But here’s the crucial bit. The laws of nature itself tell us that not only could the universe have popped into existence without any assistance, like a proton, and have required nothing in terms of energy, but also that it is possible that nothing caused the Big Bang. Nothing.
There are many arguments for the existence of God of which is Saint Anselm's famous and highly controversial ontological arguments for the existence of God.
First argument
There are various reconstructions of Anselm's first argument, such as Dr. Scott H. Moore's analyses, for example:
Proposition 1: God is a being than which none greater can be conceived.
Proposition 2: If existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind alone, an imagined being who exists only in our mind is not a "being than which none greater can be conceived." A being than which none greater can be conceived must also exist in reality, where failure to do so would be a failure to be such.
Conclusion: Thus a being than which none greater can be conceived must exist, and we call this being God.
because it is greater to exist in reality than in the mind only, the being that nothing greater than can be thought of will both in the mind and in reality.
Objection
Philosopher Immanuel Kant gave an objection to the argument, although it would be toward ontological arguments in general, rather than at Anselm specifically. In fact, it is actually unclear as to whether Kant had Anselm in mind at all. Kant's objection famously states that "existence is not a predicate." If Kant were considering Anselm's work in his analysis, he certainly left it up to the reader to grasp the applicability of the objection. One possible interpretation is to say that, because existence is not a predicate, a being that exists could not be said to be greater than one that does not exist; they would be equal.
Second argument
Just as the first, Anselm's second ontological argument can be formulated in numerous ways. Viney, for instance, renders the second argument as follows:[3]
"God" means "that than which nothing greater can be conceived."
The idea of God is not contradictory.
That which can be thought of as not existing (a contingent being) is not as great as that which cannot be thought of as not existing (a necessary being).
Therefore, to think of God as possibly not existing (as contingent) is not to think of the greatest conceivable being. It is a contradiction to think of the greatest conceivable being as nonexistent.
Therefore, God exists.
There are numerous arguments for the existence of God. I have listed one for and one against. If you would like more, visit Wikipedia. Please comment.
Was Jesus the Son of God?
The best answer to this question, in my opinion, is expressed in the C. S. Lewis Trilemma. BTW. I recommend his book "Mere Christianity". Lewis, once an atheist, in his discussions, concentrates on the basic elements of Christianity and admittedly avoids differences between different faiths.
One well-known trilemma is sometimes used by Christian apologists considered a proof of the divinity of Jesus, and is most commonly known in the version by C. S. Lewis. It proceeds from the premise that Jesus claimed to be God, and that therefore one of the following must be true:
Lunatic: Jesus was not God, but he mistakenly believed that he was.
Liar: Jesus was not God, and he knew it, but he said so anyway.
Lord: Jesus is God.
The trilemma, usually in Lewis' formulation, is often used in works of popular apologetics, although it is almost completely absent from discussions about the status of Jesus by professional theologians and biblical scholars.
The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first.
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The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
','3. Letters To Dani','','inherit','closed','closed','','1086-revision-v1','','','2020-11-02 14:51:08','2020-11-02 19:51:08','',1086,'http://politico-cat.com/wp/wordpress/2020/11/02/1086-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1224,1,'2020-11-04 14:07:38','2020-11-04 19:07:38','
The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumsized
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The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumcised and follow Judaic law. Apparently some Galatians were accepting this teaching even though it was contrary to what Paul had taught. You can sense this frustration in the first chapters of Galatians where Paul was reasserting his authority.
(ESV) Gal 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
Paul goes on to clarify his message to the Galatians, and us, that
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Love Grandaddy
10/4/2020
“Paul recognized that the challenge of this emphasis on salvation by grace alone is that some might interpret it to mean that so long as you have faith in Christ, you can do whatever comes naturally to you—“whatever feels good, do it.” Such people have been called libertines for their emphasis on a Christian’s liberty, or sometimes antinomians (nomos is the Greek word for Law, hence anti-nomians are those operating lawlessly).”
Even though he spends several chapters discussing devotes four chapters to the problem of legalism, chapter 5 and part of chapter 6 to libertines.
(ESV) Gal 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
In the 6th Chapter, he gives you a list.
(ESV) Gal 6:19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Does this mean we should dispense with Judaic Law. In my opinion, NO. Much like natural law, like gravity, Judaic Law is often what is discovered to have bad results if ignored.
Love Granddaddy
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The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumcised and follow Judaic law. Apparently some Galatians were accepting this teaching even though it was contrary to what Paul had taught. You can sense this frustration in the first chapters of Galatians where Paul was reasserting his authority.
(ESV) Gal 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
Paul goes on to clarify his message to the Galatians, and us, that
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Love Grandaddy
10/4/2020
“Paul recognized that the challenge of this emphasis on salvation by grace alone is that some might interpret it to mean that so long as you have faith in Christ, you can do whatever comes naturally to you—“whatever feels good, do it.” Such people have been called libertines for their emphasis on a Christian’s liberty, or sometimes antinomians (nomos is the Greek word for Law, hence anti-nomians are those operating lawlessly).”
Even though he spends several chapters discussing devotes four chapters to the problem of legalism, chapter 5 and part of chapter 6 to libertines.
(ESV) Gal 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
In the 6th Chapter, he gives you a list.
(ESV) Gal 6:19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Does this mean we should dispense with Judaic Law. In my opinion, NO. Much like natural law, like gravity, Judaic Law is often what is discovered to have bad results if ignored.
Love Granddaddy
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The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumcised and follow Judaic law. Apparently some Galatians were accepting this teaching even though it was contrary to what Paul had taught. You can sense this frustration in the first chapters of Galatians where Paul was reasserting his authority.
(ESV) Gal 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
Paul goes on to clarify his message to the Galatians, and us, that
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Love Grandaddy
10/4/2020
“Paul recognized that the challenge of this emphasis on salvation by grace alone is that some might interpret it to mean that so long as you have faith in Christ, you can do whatever comes naturally to you—“whatever feels good, do it.” Such people have been called libertines for their emphasis on a Christian’s liberty, or sometimes antinomians (nomos is the Greek word for Law, hence anti-nomians are those operating lawlessly).”
Even though he devotes several chapters discussing the problem of legalism, chapter 5 and part of chapter 6 he devotes to libertines.
(ESV) Gal 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
In the 6th Chapter, he gives you a list.
(ESV) Gal 6:19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Does this mean we should dispense with Judaic Law. In my opinion, NO. Much like natural law, like gravity, Judaic Law is often what is discovered to have bad results if ignored.
Love Granddaddy
10/05/2020
Who Really Wrote Paul’s Letters?
This chapter addresses problems theologians have with differences found in Paul’s letters that would suggest he didn’t actually write them. Paul, as suggested in several letters, had a problem with his eyes possibly caused during his conversion. As a result he had amanuensis to which he dictated the letters. In Romans 16:22: “I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord” the amanuensis identifies himself. Although the author of “Making Sense of the Bible” spend a chapter explaining away the differences, which make interesting reading, It is not necessary for your study.
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The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumcised and follow Judaic law. Apparently some Galatians were accepting this teaching even though it was contrary to what Paul had taught. You can sense this frustration in the first chapters of Galatians where Paul was reasserting his authority.
(ESV) Gal 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
Paul goes on to clarify his message to the Galatians, and us, that
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Love Grandaddy
10/4/2020
“Paul recognized that the challenge of this emphasis on salvation by grace alone is that some might interpret it to mean that so long as you have faith in Christ, you can do whatever comes naturally to you—“whatever feels good, do it.” Such people have been called libertines for their emphasis on a Christian’s liberty, or sometimes antinomians (nomos is the Greek word for Law, hence anti-nomians are those operating lawlessly).”
Even though he devotes several chapters discussing the problem of legalism, chapter 5 and part of chapter 6 he devotes to libertines.
(ESV) Gal 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
In the 6th Chapter, he gives you a list.
(ESV) Gal 6:19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Does this mean we should dispense with Judaic Law. In my opinion, NO. Much like natural law, like gravity, Judaic Law is often what is discovered to have bad results if ignored.
Love Granddaddy
10/05/2020
Who Really Wrote Paul’s Letters?
This chapter addresses problems theologians have with differences found in Paul’s letters that would suggest he didn’t actually write them. Paul, as suggested in several letters, had a problem with his eyes possibly caused during his conversion. As a result he had amanuensis to which he dictated the letters. In Romans 16:22: “I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord” the amanuensis identifies himself. Although the author of “Making Sense of the Bible” spends a chapter explaining away the differences, which make interesting reading, It is not necessary for your study.
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The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumcised and follow Judaic law. Apparently some Galatians were accepting this teaching even though it was contrary to what Paul had taught. You can sense this frustration in the first chapters of Galatians where Paul was reasserting his authority.
(ESV) Gal 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
Paul goes on to clarify his message to the Galatians, and us, that
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Love Grandaddy
10/4/2020
“Paul recognized that the challenge of this emphasis on salvation by grace alone is that some might interpret it to mean that so long as you have faith in Christ, you can do whatever comes naturally to you—“whatever feels good, do it.” Such people have been called libertines for their emphasis on a Christian’s liberty, or sometimes antinomians (nomos is the Greek word for Law, hence anti-nomians are those operating lawlessly).”
Even though he devotes several chapters discussing the problem of legalism, chapter 5 and part of chapter 6 he devotes to libertines.
(ESV) Gal 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
In the 6th Chapter, he gives you a list.
(ESV) Gal 6:19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Does this mean we should dispense with Judaic Law. In my opinion, NO. Much like natural law, like gravity, Judaic Law is often what is discovered to have bad results if ignored.
Love Granddaddy
10/05/2020
Who Really Wrote Paul’s Letters?
This chapter addresses problems theologians have with differences found in Paul’s letters that would suggest he didn’t actually write them. Paul, as suggested in several letters, had a problem with his eyes possibly caused during his conversion. As a result he had amanuensis to which he dictated the letters. In Romans 16:22: “I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord” the amanuensis identifies himself. Although the author of “Making Sense of the Bible” spend a chapter explaining away the differences, which make interesting reading, It is not necessary for your study.
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The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written. First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
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(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use. By the way, I am using the names of the books now, but later we may discuss the opinions about who the actual authors were.
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumcised and follow Judaic law. Apparently some Galatians were accepting this teaching even though it was contrary to what Paul had taught. You can sense this frustration in the first chapters of Galatians where Paul was reasserting his authority.
(ESV) Gal 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
Paul goes on to clarify his message to the Galatians, and us, that
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Love Grandaddy
10/4/2020
“Paul recognized that the challenge of this emphasis on salvation by grace alone is that some might interpret it to mean that so long as you have faith in Christ, you can do whatever comes naturally to you—“whatever feels good, do it.” Such people have been called libertines for their emphasis on a Christian’s liberty, or sometimes antinomians (nomos is the Greek word for Law, hence anti-nomians are those operating lawlessly).”
Even though he devotes several chapters discussing the problem of legalism, chapter 5 and part of chapter 6 he devotes to libertines.
(ESV) Gal 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
In the 6th Chapter, he gives you a list.
(ESV) Gal 6:19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Does this mean we should dispense with Judaic Law. In my opinion, NO. Much like natural law, like gravity, Judaic Law is often what is discovered to have bad results if ignored.
Love Granddaddy
10/05/2020
Who Really Wrote Paul’s Letters?
This chapter addresses problems theologians have with differences found in Paul’s letters that would suggest he didn’t actually write them. Paul, as suggested in several letters, had a problem with his eyes possibly caused during his conversion. As a result he had amanuensis to which he dictated the letters. In Romans 16:22: “I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord” the amanuensis identifies himself. Although the author of “Making Sense of the Bible” spends a chapter explaining away the differences, which make interesting reading, It is not necessary for your study.
I am terminating this section of letter, again because of its length and this seems to be a good breaking point in the subject matter. With all that we have discussed here the most important point made is in the following scripture”
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
11/16/2020
Several chapters of Adam Hamilton’s book, 16-18, discuss these issues and if you wish we can discuss these more fully. The point of these chapters, where important, is that, where we as Christians can hear the word of God from the Bible and as stated above, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” we are required to use the life and words of Jesus to be the final arbiters as to whether what we are reading is the Word of God. I try to remember to quote the prayer from Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer to help me when I write these letters but still are aware that my fallibility resides and I prefer to be challenged.
Love Granddaddy
It seems, if we follow Hamilton’s book, we can’t get away from a discussion of verbal, plenary inspiration and theopneustos discussed above. But we do need to consider it while reading the creation story. The table below shows a timeline of the verbal, plenary account of the creation vs sciences best guess.
Years Ago
Scientific
Verbal, Plenary
4.57 Billion
Earth Formed
500 Million
Multi-Cell Life-Forms
235-65 Million
Dinosaurs
2 Million
prehuman hominids
200 Thousand
anatomically modern humans
6 Thousand
Creation
In discussing the creation, understand that science has some evidence to back up their estimates including the theory of evolution. The Creationist claim the authority for their position. What we have to remember is the purpose of the Bible. It is not a record of science but a theological explanation of the Creation. My view is that God could do it that way if he wanted! Modern science, on the other hand, is built upon a scientific method that starts with a question and follows with observation and reflection, leading to a hypothesis that is then tested, disproven, clarified, or substantiated.
I believe science discovers the rules, God makes them. A young man in Hamilton’s congregation observed, “Any craftsman can build a chair, but how many can design a chair that builds itself and improves over time?”
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The last of part 2 concluded with a discussion of the Lords Prayer from the catechism. This section will be on what I have learned or remembered as a result of reading the book “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. I hope you will pick up a copy. It is available for your Kindle ap on your phone.
10/14/2020
The Bible Jesus Used
We forget that Jesus and the disciples don’t have the same equipment we have. I am writing this using my iPad with an attached keyboard. You will be reading it on your iPhone 1900 miles away. We can put a translation or two or more (I have three) translations of the Bible on our phones. Most of my life, the Bible I had was a book about the size of my iPad and about 2 inches thick. Now consider: books weren’t invented during the time of Jesus. What we call the Old Testament was on a number of scrolls, probably 24 or so, which would be impossible for him to carry from place to place. A first century copy of Isaiah was a scroll was 11 inches wide by 24 feet long. Also the scrolls were hand written, copied by “scribes”. No, no printers either. We know from the accounts in the New Testament that Jesus had access to the scrolls. There is a story about Jesus, at the age of 12, being found with the teachers, presumably discussing something in the scrolls (Luke 2:46–47).
Love Granddaddy
10/15/2020
What scriptures did Jesus Read?
Because access to the scrolls were limited, one might expect his reading to be limited. However, the writers of the gospels tells us that he mostly read and quoted from Psalms, Isaiah and Deuteronomy (the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings). After the 40 days and 40 nights during which he was tempted, Jesus tells us what He calls “the first and greatest commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Love Granddaddy
10/16/2020
A couple of points came out of Chapter 6 that I didn’t expect, but are very important. One is the explicit warning found in Matt 4:1-10, the temptation of Christ. Because the Devil used scripture in two of the three temptations, one should remember that just because someone quotes scripture does not mean what he or she says is from God or God’s will. And that includes me!
Another point is that Jesus routinely challenges the prevailing interpretation of scripture and regularly calls his hearers and the Pharisees to move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. He demonstrated this by healing on the Sabbath saying that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Love Granddaddy
10/17/2020
Often you find quotations that, in a nutshell describes some of the characteristics of what you understand about Jesus. Adam Hamilton writes,
“Jesus’s ethic was a call to live in radical obedience to God. Yet this was coupled with a radical view of grace and an emphasis on God’s love for sinners. Though Jesus clearly called out religious leaders for their hypocrisy, he demonstrated amazing mercy toward tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, and thieves. He expressed both a prophetic anger toward religious hypocrites and amazing pastoral concern for the broken and lost.”
Love, Granddaddy
10/18/2020
You may remember that I believe God is also speaking to me in Ezekiel 3:16-21. It was interesting that Adam Hamilton felt that Ezekiel 34 shaped Jesus’s sense of identity and mission. I will not post the whole chapter, but the following declaration will give you the idea. In short God expressed his displeasure with the “shepherds” who I take to be the spiritual leaders at the time, because they were enjoying the benefits of their positions but were failing to do their assignment.
(ESV) Ezekiel 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Love Granddaddy
10/19/2020
Jesus viewed himself as the “Good Shepherd” and the rest of us as neglected sheep.
Quoted from “Making Sense of the Bible”:
In response to the Pharisees grumbling because Jesus associated with sinners, Jesus said, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). And in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Love Granddaddy
10/20/2020
Having gone to church most of my life, I never really understood why, while Christ was on the cross he said:
“(ESV) Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I didn’t realize he was actually quoting scripture. And if you read the entire chapter you find that is really the beginning of a very positive prayer.
(ESV) PSA 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Love Granddaddy
10/21/2020
The last important point that is made in Chapter 6 where (Matthew 22) Jesus is asked, “What is the most important commandment?” He gives not one but two: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
In fact, this is the essence of the Christian faith. Regardless of differences between denominations, this is the foundation.
Love Granddaddy
10/22/2020
Prophecy, the Old Testament, and the Early Church
This chapter in the book points out that what many Christians believe to be a prophecy of the coming of Christ may be prophecies of multiple events. Some may use this to discredit the disciples’ description of the events. For example, there is a story in Isaiah that recounts God giving a sign to King Ahaz:
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16)
This is often given as a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. If fact there is an argument as to whether the word “alma” in Hebrew means “young woman” or “virgin”. Reported in the history of King Ahaz is that 13 years later that prophesy was fulfilled.
Does that invalidate that as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus? No according to the author Adam Hamilton. More later.
Love Granddaddy
10/23/2020
Hamilton believes that Matthew probably knew that the prophesy was fulfilled 13 or so years after it was made when he quoted it in Matt 1:23. Another possibility is that he didn’t know. The second possibility makes it easier for us to accept the words without shaking our beliefs. But in the first instance, it could be that Matthew was accepting the second fulfilling of a prophecy as normal. As Hamilton explains”
“But if we understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.e understand that the early Christians and the New Testament writers described this type of foreshadowing as prophecy and understood that Christ was a greater or deeper fulfillment of things God had done in the past—a kind of climactic fulfillment—we can appreciate the original setting of these prophecies and how they point toward the life and ministry of Jesus.”
Love Granddaddy
10/24/2020
Hamilton gives another example of interpretations.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Early Christian interpreted this as pointing to Jesus and his coming Christians. But what could it mean outside the Christian community? A Rabbi would point out that the servant, throughout Isaiah, represents the nation of Israel, and that this passage is about the suffering Israel bore in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, for the sins of the nation and the nations around her.
10/25/2020
Adam Hamilton suggests that when dealing with the prophecies, one should seek to understand them on three levels:
“What did these words mean when Isaiah first wrote them? How were they understood by the people he was addressing?” Then ask, “How did Jesus and the early Christian community reapply and reinterpret these words? What did they mean to Jesus as he was preparing for the cross? What did they mean to early Christians as they reflected upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?” And finally, you should ask, “What might these words mean for my life today? What would God want me to hear from them now?”
Love Granddaddy
The New Testament in Five Minute
Many Christians, including me, don’t pay much attention to the organization of the Bible and am happy that Adam Hamilton gives us this text that provides that information. One church I attended placed a lot of emphasis on organization and counts. At the time, I felt that these numbers were good for bar-room bets but didn’t really reveal much about Jesus. So I am reluctant to present this information.
Maybe a table with these counts and facts is enough.
Verses in the Old Testament
23,145
Verses in New Testament
7,958
Percent of Old versus New Testament verses
75%
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Stories of Jesus, the new covenant, Jesus’s commandments.
4
Acts: The Early Church
1
Writings: Reflection of apostles on the life and teachings of Jesus
27
Letters of Paul
21
Book of Revelation
1
10/27/2020
The Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, mainly tell the stories of Jesus recounting what he did and what he said. They are essential to a Christian’s belief. Most Christian churches in their worship services have spaces for three “readings” from the scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, the second from the Psalms, and the third from the Gospels. You may have noticed that at Gigi’s memorial service that format was used. Where some denominations may have fewer than the three, rarely will you find one that does not have a reading from the Gospels. Luke in Chapter 19 quotes Jesus saying (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That sentence covers the objectives of Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
10/28/2020
This is probably the best summary of the character of God. I hope I can remember to go back to this list as we go forward.
Adam Hamilton, “In each of the Gospels, Jesus reveals the heart and character of God.
He demonstrates God’s frustration with religious hypocrisy,
God’s compassion for those who are poor and oppressed,
God’s mercy toward those who sin,
God’s healing power for those who are broken.
He calls human beings into right relationship with God, commands them, above all else, to love God and neighbor, and insists that this love includes compassion for the hungry and forgiveness for those who sin against us.
He even demands that we apply this love to our enemies.”
Love Granddaddy
10/29/2020
The Gospels also record the betrayal, trial, denial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Betrayal: (ESV) Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. Then(ESV) Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Denial: (ESV) Luke 54:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Trial: (ESV) Luke 54:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Crucifixion: From Wikipedia: “is a method of punishment or capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.“ Details of Jesus’s crucifixion can be found in Luke 23:26-43.
Love Granddaddy
10/30/2020
As you remember in the Creeds, Christians believe in the risen Christ. “He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.”
We have two holidays that are most important to Christians, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Even though, to many, Christmas seems to be celebrated more widely and with seemingly more enthusiasm. But, to me, Easter is the most important. Jesus had suffered for our sins, but the ending, His resurrection, assures us that there is more to life than the 80-100 years we spend on earth.
11/1/2020
The “Acts” tells us stories of the beginning of the church. I read that book and we may go into it more deeply later. For now, I am just going to give a listing of the storied that you may wish to read your self.
1:1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:6
The Ascension
1:12
Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
2:1
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2:14
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
2:42
The Fellowship of Believers
3:1
Lame Beggar Healed
4:1
Peter and John before the Council
4:32
They Had Everything in Common (The Christians try Communism)
5:1
Ananias and Shapiro (Why Communism fails)
6:5
Steven is Seized,... Stoned
8:1
Saul Ravages the Church
8:4
Philip
9:1
Conversion of Saul
The rest of the book deals with incidents associated with the founding of the church and growth of the Christian community in spite of governments’, both civil and established church hierarchy, efforts to suppress them. The message of the Acts is that Christ’s church had the power to change lives, a power it still has today.
Love Granddaddy
11/2/2020
Reading Someone Else’s Letters
I am staying with the outline of “Making Sense of the Bible” which deals in order of when various documents were written rather than the order in which they appear in the Bible. Another of those bar room bets, of the documents, 21 of the 27 were letters. I, along with most Christians, assume the Gospels were written first. Paul’s letters written between AD 50 and AD 65 were probably the first. Scholars believe the Gospels were written between AD 65 and AD 95. Why is this important? For me, it helps clarify why the Gospels give a better picture of Jesus. Paul’s letters were more legalistic and commands than the Gospels. By the time the Gospels were written, the nature of Jesus was better understood.
Love Granddaddy
10/03/2020
The first document written was either the letter to the Galatians or 1st Thessalonians. (Another Bar-Room Bet). Along with the book we are following, we will assume it is Galatians. Since Paul was traveling the Roman Empire, Galatia in this case, establishing Christian churches among the Gentiles (non-Jewish), there were always follow-up questions that needed answered. In addition to the follow up questions, Paul and other Apostles starting communities among the Gentiles with groups of “Judaizers” who followed them teaching that in order to become Christians men must be circumcised and follow Judaic law. Apparently some Galatians were accepting this teaching even though it was contrary to what Paul had taught. You can sense this frustration in the first chapters of Galatians where Paul was reasserting his authority.
(ESV) Gal 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
Paul goes on to clarify his message to the Galatians, and us, that
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Love Grandaddy
10/4/2020
“Paul recognized that the challenge of this emphasis on salvation by grace alone is that some might interpret it to mean that so long as you have faith in Christ, you can do whatever comes naturally to you—“whatever feels good, do it.” Such people have been called libertines for their emphasis on a Christian’s liberty, or sometimes antinomians (nomos is the Greek word for Law, hence anti-nomians are those operating lawlessly).”
Even though he devotes several chapters discussing the problem of legalism, chapter 5 and part of chapter 6 he devotes to libertines.
(ESV) Gal 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
In the 6th Chapter, he gives you a list.
(ESV) Gal 6:19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Does this mean we should dispense with Judaic Law. In my opinion, NO. Much like natural law, like gravity, Judaic Law is often what is discovered to have bad results if ignored.
Love Granddaddy
10/05/2020
Who Really Wrote Paul’s Letters?
This chapter addresses problems theologians have with differences found in Paul’s letters that would suggest he didn’t actually write them. Paul, as suggested in several letters, had a problem with his eyes possibly caused during his conversion. As a result he had amanuensis to which he dictated the letters. In Romans 16:22: “I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord” the amanuensis identifies himself. Although the author of “Making Sense of the Bible” spends a chapter explaining away the differences, which make interesting reading, It is not necessary for your study.
I am terminating this section of letter, again because of its length and this seems to be a good breaking point in the subject matter. With all that we have discussed here the most important point made is in the following scripture”
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
','4. Letters to Dani','','inherit','closed','closed','','1236-revision-v1','','','2020-11-09 18:47:02','2020-11-09 23:47:02','',1236,'http://politico-cat.com/wp/wordpress/2020/11/09/1236-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1271,1,'2020-11-11 18:26:59','2020-11-11 23:26:59','
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
','4. Letters to Dani','','inherit','closed','closed','','1236-revision-v1','','','2020-11-11 18:26:59','2020-11-11 23:26:59','',1236,'http://politico-cat.com/wp/wordpress/2020/11/11/1236-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1273,1,'2020-11-11 19:00:03','2020-11-12 00:00:03','
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
','4. Letters to Dani','','inherit','closed','closed','','1236-revision-v1','','','2020-11-12 19:33:15','2020-11-13 00:33:15','',1236,'http://politico-cat.com/wp/wordpress/2020/11/12/1236-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1278,1,'2020-11-15 22:19:38','2020-11-16 03:19:38','
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
11/16/2020
Several chapters of Adam Hamilton’s book, 16-18, discuss these issues and if you wish we can discuss these more fully. The point of these chapters, where important, is that, where we as Christians can hear the word of God from the Bible and as stated above, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” we are required to use the life and words of Jesus to be the final arbiters as to whether what we are reading is the Word of God.
','4. Letters to Dani','','inherit','closed','closed','','1236-revision-v1','','','2020-11-15 22:19:38','2020-11-16 03:19:38','',1236,'http://politico-cat.com/wp/wordpress/2020/11/15/1236-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1280,1,'2020-11-15 22:28:26','2020-11-16 03:28:26','
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
11/16/2020
Several chapters of Adam Hamilton’s book, 16-18, discuss these issues and if you wish we can discuss these more fully. The point of these chapters, where important, is that, where we as Christians can hear the word of God from the Bible and as stated above, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” we are required to use the life and words of Jesus to be the final arbiters as to whether what we are reading is the Word of God. I try to remember to quote the prayer from Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer to help me when I write these letters but still are aware that my fallibility resides and I prefer to be challenged.
Love Granddaddy
','4. Letters to Dani','','inherit','closed','closed','','1236-revision-v1','','','2020-11-15 22:28:26','2020-11-16 03:28:26','',1236,'http://politico-cat.com/wp/wordpress/2020/11/15/1236-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1282,1,'2020-11-16 23:53:26','2020-11-17 04:53:26','
The Gospels
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
11/16/2020
Several chapters of Adam Hamilton’s book, 16-18, discuss these issues and if you wish we can discuss these more fully. The point of these chapters, where important, is that, where we as Christians can hear the word of God from the Bible and as stated above, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” we are required to use the life and words of Jesus to be the final arbiters as to whether what we are reading is the Word of God. I try to remember to quote the prayer from Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer to help me when I write these letters but still are aware that my fallibility resides and I prefer to be challenged.
Love Granddaddy
It seems, if we follow Hamilton’s book, we can’t get away from a discussion of verbal, plenary inspiration and theopneustos discussed above. But we do need to consider it while reading the creation story. The table below shows a timeline of the verbal, plenary account of the creation vs sciences best guess.
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
11/16/2020
Several chapters of Adam Hamilton’s book, 16-18, discuss these issues and if you wish we can discuss these more fully. The point of these chapters, where important, is that, where we as Christians can hear the word of God from the Bible and as stated above, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” we are required to use the life and words of Jesus to be the final arbiters as to whether what we are reading is the Word of God. I try to remember to quote the prayer from Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer to help me when I write these letters but still are aware that my fallibility resides and I prefer to be challenged.
Love Granddaddy
It seems, if we follow Hamilton’s book, we can’t get away from a discussion of verbal, plenary inspiration and theopneustos discussed above. But we do need to consider it while reading the creation story. The table below shows a timeline of the verbal, plenary account of the creation vs sciences best guess.
Years Ago
Scientific
Verbal, Plenary
4.57 Billion
Earth Formed
500 Million
Multi-Cell Life-Forms
235-65 Million
Dinosaurs
2 Million
prehuman hominids
200 Thousand
anatomically modern humans
6 Thousand
Creation
In discussing the creation, understand that science has some evidence to back up their estimates including the theory of evolution. The Creationist claim the authority for their position. What we have to remember is the purpose of the Bible. It is not a record of science but a theological explanation of the Creation. My view is that God could do it that way if he wanted! Modern science, on the other hand, is built upon a scientific method that starts with a question and follows with observation and reflection, leading to a hypothesis that is then tested, disproven, clarified, or substantiated.
I believe science discovers the rules, God makes them. A young man in Hamilton’s congregation observed, “Any craftsman can build a chair, but how many can design a chair that builds itself and improves over time?”
','4. Letters to Dani','','inherit','closed','closed','','1236-revision-v1','','','2020-11-17 00:19:35','2020-11-17 05:19:35','',1236,'http://politico-cat.com/wp/wordpress/2020/11/17/1236-revision-
This may seem to be a backward way of stating my thoughts. However, if you the reader are interested, I am including notes I kept while considering this issue.
Actions
What should we do? My opinion!
Restrooms
Where organizations have public restrooms, there should be one for biological male and another for biological females. If the organization wishes it may, in addition to the previous, supply any combination of LGBQ or T designated bathrooms. To express our opinions, I recommend we boycott organizations that do not provide restrooms determined by biological sex but provide LGBTQ restrooms only.
Sports
Organizations that "oversee" sports like the NCAA should restrict "trans" men from participating in women's sports. Their bylaws should cover restricting biological mixing in sports where one sex clearly has an advantage over the other. We should boycott performances where such mixing occurs.
Public
My commitment to "Freedom of Speech" requires me to support a Public Libraries inclusion of an LGBTQ section and/or books, even though I don't care for taxpayer funding of the same.
I do not believe LGBTQ principles should be taught in public school in grades 1-7 or earlier. Further, counseling of students by teachers or staff without parental approval, should be prohibited. If LGBTQ courses are available in later grades, whether required or optional, corresponding anti-LGBTQ courses must be provided.
When appearing in public, including TV, Radio, or public internet sources, members of the LGBTQ must conform to local norms.
Members of the LGBTQ community may not hold recruitment events where children up to 13 years of age may attend.
As long as above rules are observed by members of LGBTQ, membership may not be used as the singular reason for rejection from employment.
Notes
First Impression
Who is the Methodist Church that they should be able to restrict any of God’s children access to organizations professing to be followers of Jesus Christ? The notes below include the “Confession of Faith” of the Methodist Church. I suggest readers review that “Confession” and add a comment to specify what there restricts membership of anyone in considered to be in LGBTQ.
Jesus, by his words and actions, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” demonstrated his acceptance of all of God’s children.
What should Methodist’s do about the LGBTQ issue?
Firstly, separate the parts. The definitions below suggest that at least the LGB, T, and Q are separate and can be separated in their treatment.
Secondly, add a ceremony that unites two members of the same sex with the same parts as included in the marriage ceremony.
Thirdly, make changes to the Discipline that place restrictions on or advantages to persons of one of the two biological sexes except where they concern the Transexual members.
Fourthly, establish changes that recognize only two sexes, established by human sex chromosome configuration, as male or female.
Fifthly, establish restrictions on Transexual participation where one sex has a natural advantage over the other (eg. sports, and the like)
These changes, I believe, are consistent with what Jesus wants his church to be. They do not, except in the case of what Transexuals want, restrict access to the church while recognizing the right of all of God’s children access to the fellowship of other Christians.
Definitions
L - Lesbian: 1. a gay woman, 2. relating to a gay woman. 3. from Lesbos where Sappho expressed affection for women in her poetry.
G – Gay: 1. a homosexual (used especially of a man)
B – Bisexual: 1. sexually or romantically attracted not exclusively to people of one sex or gender.
T – Transexual: 1. a transgender person, especially one whose bodily characteristics have been altered through surgery or hormone treatment to bring them in alignment with their gender identity.
Q – Queer: Today, the word queer is more commonly used as an umbrella term for anything that is not heterosexual.
Sex: either of TWO main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions. “In humans, sex determination is the process that determines the biological sex of an offspring and, as a result, the sexual characteristics that they will develop. Humans typically develop as either male or female, depending on the combination of sex chromosomes that they inherit from their parents. The human sex chromosomes, called X and Y, are structures in human cells made up of tightly bound deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, and proteins. Those are molecules that contain the instructions for the development and functioning of all life forms, including the development of physical traits and body parts that correspond with each biological sex. Humans who inherit two X chromosomes typically develop as females, while humans with one X and one Y chromosome typically develop as males.”
What does the Confession of Faith Say?
Article I - God
We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible. He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his name. We believe the one God reveals himself as the : Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and is one in being with the Father and the Son. He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He leads men through faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church. He comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth.
We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.
Article V - The Church
We believe the Christian Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and catholic. It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's own appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.
We believe the Sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian's profession and of God's love toward us. They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith, and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship.
We believe children are under the atonement of Christ and as heirs of the Kingdom of God are acceptable subjects for Christian Baptism. Children of believing parents through Baptism become the special responsibility of the Church. They should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ, and by profession of faith confirm their Baptism.
We believe the Lord's Supper is a representation of our redemption, a memorial of the sufferings and death of Christ, and a token of love and union which Christians have with Christ and with one another. Those who rightly, worthily and in faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake of the body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner until he comes.
We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. We believe, however, man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise his will for good.
We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.
We believe regeneration is the renewal of man in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life. By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve him with the will and the affections. We believe, although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to depart from grace and fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of God, be renewed in righteousness.
We believe good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow regeneration but they do not have the virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment. We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.
We believe sanctification is the work of God's grace through the Word and the Spirit, by which those who have been born again are cleansed from sin in their thoughts, words and acts, and are enabled to live in accordance with God's will, and to strive for holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Entire sanctification is a state of perfect love, righteousness and true holiness which every regenerate believer may obtain by being delivered from the power of sin, by loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and by loving one's neighbor as one's self. Through faith in Jesus Christ this gracious gift may be received in this life both gradually and instantaneously, and should be sought earnestly by every child of God.
We believe this experience does not deliver us from the infirmities, ignorance, and mistakes common to man, nor from the possibilities of further sin. The Christian must continue on guard against spiritual pride and seek to gain victory over every temptation to sin. He must respond wholly to the will of God so that sin will lose its power over him; and the world, the flesh, and the devil are put under his feet. Thus he rules over these enemies with watchfulness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe divine worship is the duty and privilege of man who, in the presence of God, bows in adoration, humility and dedication. We believe divine worship is essential to the life of the Church, and that the assembling of the people of God for such worship is necessary to Christian fellowship and spiritual growth.
We believe the order of public worship need not be the same in all places but may be modified by the church according to circumstances and the needs of men. It should be in a language and form understood by the people, consistent with the Holy Scriptures to the edification of all, and in accordance with the order and Discipline of the Church.
We believe the Lord's Day is divinely ordained for private and public worship, for rest from unnecessary work, and should be devoted to spiritual improvement, Christian fellowship and service. It is commemorative of our Lord's resurrection and is an emblem of our eternal rest. It is essential to the permanence and growth of the Christian Church, and important to the welfare of the civil community.
Article XV - The Christian and Property
We believe God is the owner of all things and that the individual holding of property is lawful and is a sacred trust under God. Private property is to be used for the manifestation of Christian love and liberality, and to support the Church's mission in the world. All forms of property, whether private, corporate or public, are to be held in solemn trust and used responsibly for human good under the sovereignty of God.
Article XVI - Civil Government
We believe civil government derives its just powers from the sovereign God. As Christians we recognize the governments under whose protection we reside and believe such governments should be based on, and be responsible for, the recognition of human rights under God. We believe war and bloodshed are contrary to the gospel and spirit of Christ. We believe it is the duty of Christian citizens to give moral strength and purpose to their respective governments through sober, righteous and godly living.
What does the Bible Say?
The following scripture is provided for reference.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. ...
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ...
And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ...
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” ...
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” ...
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. ...
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ...
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...
King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. ...
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. ...
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...
Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ...
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, ...
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...
What did Jesus Say?
The list above seems overwhelming. However when you look at what Jesus said, one might conclude there is a case for LGBQ’s acceptance>
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ...
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...
Note that Jesus does not, in his own words, condemn anyone in the LGBTQ.
Consider Matthew 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
From the above scripture and its sources, I believe that Jesus is more inclusive than exclusive. The actual history referenced by old testament law is different from what the conditions are today.
Why do we have to deal with LGBTQ?
As I was researching the scripture, it occurred to me that we are trying to deal with problems associated with an organization or pseudo-organization. Way back in my career history I learned that problems can best be solved by breaking them into their parts. I believe the same is true here. Therefore I would like to deal with the components rather that the one overall problem.
Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual
As the definitions above, this segment is about homosexuals of the human race. The problem exists primarily because of Old Testament Law. I did not find that, (short of Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”) Jesus emphasizes the law, but rather draws sinners to Him. Read the story “Woman in Somaria” John 4:. The story in Luke 18:9 about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector also illustrates the dichotomy of Jesus’ thinking. Again, Matthew 18:20.
Egairram
Marriage is just a word: “the legally or formally recognized union of two people in a personal relationship (historically and some jurisdictions specifically a union between a man and a woman)”. Why not introduce another word, egairram, to remove the parenthetical part of the meaning of marriage. Certainly the writers of the Methodist Discipline can modify services to accommodate erairram to be officiated by Methodist Clergymen. Will partners of egairram be living in sin? Isn’t that a determination to be made by God?
Other Issues
Generally, the transsexual issues are more extreme than the LGB defined ones. However, the following issues, along with covering LGB instances, cover those when Transexuals are involved. A basic rule followed is that no group has “rights” than another.
Bathroom Accommodations
I suggest that bathroom accommodations be determined by physical sex of the attendee as determined by either the reproductive organs or the configuration of the human sex chromosome. Such separation is recommended for parents of underage children who prefer they remain separated. Angela Markwalter writes in her article (https://artwench.wordpress.com/2016/04/23/target-transgenders-in-womens-bathrooms/) “that one in five women been violated by a man and who will forever suffer psychological and emotional damage.” and asks are we “supposed to inflict further damage by inviting men into the women’s restroom? “
Competition
Where physical attributes by sex make a difference in the ability of competitors, competitions must be separated by sex. (Eg. track and field sports, swimming, usually give the advantage to males). A complete list should be developed by governing bodies of the sport.
Conclusion
The conclusion is included at the beginning of this article. If you get to this paragraph, I would be interested in your thoughts on the subject.
Let the Children Come to Me
"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."
Even though this is reporting an experience of Jeremiah, I believe it is also a demonstration of when the Lord begins participation in the lives of all humans.
The Call of Jeremiah
"Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”"
I believe there are three essential elements required for the birth of a child. 1. the egg, 2. the sperm, and 3. God's law. Once the fertilization process occurs, the resulting zygote deserves the protection of more of God's law, specifically that of "You shall not Murder".
Laborers in the Vineyard
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’
And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.
And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them,
Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go.
I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.
Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’
So the last will be first, and the first last".
I think that, mistakenly, ministers of the protestant churches tend to emphasize the last verse, that in green. Yes, it is important. But no more important than the preceeding two verses!
Most Christians know that Jesus illustrated beliefs via parables. This belief can best be illustrated by Matthew 25:14-30. I will attempt to bring it up to date using an investor.
Matthew 25:14-30
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.
Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Investor
There was an investor who was taking a trip to an area where he couldn’t see the stock market results. His practice was to invest in start-up companies and purchased stock to help them get started.
He selected three companies in which to invest. From the first, A, he purchased 500 shares at $10 per share.
From the second company, B, he purchased 200 shares at $10 a share.
And from the third company C he purchased 100 shares at $10 a share.
When the investor returned, he checked on the value of his investments. He found that the first company’s stock price had increased to $50 per share. The investor, impressed, decided to purchase more stock from company A.
The stock of company B had increased to $20 per share, and the investor purchased more stock from the company.
The stock of company C remained at $10 a share. The annual report kept reminding its stockholders that it was protecting their hard earned cash with programs that had nothing to do with growth. The investor sold his shares in company C and listed it on the “Do Not Buy” list in the newsletter he published for his customers. He took the $1000 and purchased another 20 shares of company A.
In the real world of “Wall Street” such transactions may not necessarily be as obvious. One stock I hold has doubled even during the pressure on the stock market during the last year.
There is even a stock TMFX that uses its criteria to select start-ups and small cap companies so one can purchase shares of it and it acts as a mutual fund for those types of stock.
Some may say that I'm not the one to have a happy marriage because, when said and done, I had Liz! And that was a blessing that is most of what a happy marriage takes. Please forgive me if I either pass down some important advice I received along the way, from people whose names I have forgotten. And while writing this article I quote others who have written similar articles that I think are useful.
Liz told others that the main reason she married me was she thought I was a "Good Person". That is probably the number one qualification! Ultimately it is tested over and over through failures of one or the other partner's commitment to do what is right.
Liz and I were Christian. We worshiped together and studied, including questioning, together. We felt it necessary to serve in the church, and whether Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, or Catholic. And we felt it was necessary to attend services. Our children, a continuous blessing to us, went with us and often participated in youth groups.
Steven Nock, a professor of sociology, says that "Commitment and Trust" and the lack of either or both is what causes most of today's problems. How serious are you when you "Pledge Your Troth"(Make a solemn pledge of commitment or loyalty in marriage.) We used the Methodist pledge:
"________, wilt thou have this man/woman to be thy wedded husband/wife to live together after God’s ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him/her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto him/her, so long as ye both shall live? ("I will")
(Repeat) "I, ________, take thee ________, to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better – for worse, for richer – for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
(Rings) "In token and pledge of the vow between us made, with this ring I thee wed; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
This is a solemn oath, and unless you make it as a part of your very being, before God, don't make it!
When you are apart from your mate, you are just as married as when you are together. In my profession, I was often away from Liz. Temptation was unbounded and my purient self often wanted to yield. Realizing that temptation was triggered by missing being with Liz I think helped me resist, and fortunately I did. The commitment (the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.) to your spouse must be sustained.
I must confess, I have extensive admiration for military spouses who must indure months and even years of separation. Maybe someone who has that experience will share their thoughts on the subject.
Nelson Guthrie was one of the two ministers that presided at our wedding. He was the one that conferred with us about what we were getting into! The only thing I remember about those conferences, was the “warning” that sex made up only 25% of the marriage. Now I wonder what that means.
There are 168 hours in a week. Of that we work 53 hours (including lunch and travel) a week. We sleep 56 hours and have meals 14. That leaves about 45 hours. Does that mean we only have about 11 hours a week for sex?
Reminds me of the story about the consultant from SFPTAS (Society For Presenting the Truth About Sex) He always started his lectures by having everyone stand. Then he would ask those who:
Had sex once daily to sit down? Some number, most of which were lying, sat down.
Then once every other day? More sat down.
Once a week? By then about half of the audience was seated.
He continued. Once a month? Once every two months…
He noticed one gentleman still standing when he said "one a year?", but obviously seemed very happy. So he asked, “Sir, you only have sex once a year. Why are you so happy?”
“Because”, came the answer, “Tonight’s the night!”
While too much independence ― the kind that leads to infidelity or workaholism ― is a marriage breaker, too much dependence isn't the answer either. "Every good marriage is based on an awful lot of separation," Nock says. "People need to have a separate life and existence to feel validated as individuals. They can't live solely as somebody's partner."
(ESV) Gal 2:16 “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
The above quote is to remind us of a central point made in the Bible that Gentile Christians, “us”, should use while discussing Law in the Gospels.
How, When, and Why the Gospels Were Written
Again we need to discuss how, when, and why these 4 books were written.
Why
First, the why. While the Apostles were alive there was no reason to write record the events of Jesus life. The spoken narrative was enough to pass the stories to the next generation. Even that had dangers, I you ever play the game of rumor, where a line of 10 or more people whisper something the first person says successively down the line and the last person reports what he or she said, the mere transfer of the stories can get garbled. The Disciples realized as they died, some of the stories would be lost or garbled. Gigi and I, realizing we would not be around forever, started a book of memories several years ago. I need to work on it more, but realize I will not remember some of the incidents that Gigi will consider important.
Love Granddaddy
When
As we discussed earlier they were probably written some time after some of Paul’s letters. Biblical Scholars put the dates around 70s or 80s. Why should we care? We need to put the writing in the proper context so we know from other history at the time what these early Christians faced.
How
Mathew, Mark, and Luke are considered by scholars as “synoptic gospels”. Obviously there were not copyright laws because similar, often identical texts can be found in all three books. We won’t go in much detail but Adam Hamilton has provided a handy chart that illustrates the relationships. Mark seems to be the primary source that Mathew and Mark use.
However, and where scholars are concerned there always seems to be a however, there is the feeling that, because of various ways the stories are quoted, there were four sources of the material. They refer to these sources as M, Q, Mark, and L. Below is a chart that shows the way information was distributed.
To some, these findings cast doubt on the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will say that the Gospels are fiction because of the differing accounts. Some may say the stories are “inspired by God” and will be answered with “If they are inspired, why didn’t they get it right by now?” I liken the books, regardless of how many contributing authors, to observers or reporters who are writing the events as they see them. The message of Jesus still comes through, loud and clear!
Love Granddaddy
The Perplexing, Puzzling, and Profound John
11/08/2020
Reading the synoptic Gospels then reading John you will immediately recognize that they are very different. Clement of Alexandra explained John this way. “John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the gospel, being urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.” In fact I would suggest that in addition to you reading something from the Old Testament, the synoptic Gospel to get the full effect. Adam Hamilton explains the differences this way. “If I’m looking for answers to questions of when, what, and how, I look to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If I’m interested in answers to questions of who and why, I turn to John.“
To illustrate the difference, I looked up the institution of the Last Supper. The Synoptics agree that it was instituted on what would be Jesus’s last Passover. With little difference the Synoptics described it this way.
(ESV) Matt 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When I looked at John, I found that he didn’t say anything about the institution of the Last Supper, which was unnecessary, but instead:
(ESV) John 13:4 He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
This is certainly a different aspect of Jesus, but helps understand The Who and why.
Love Granddaddy
Which Books Made It into the New Testament and Why
10/09/2020
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT
As discussed earlier, the letters of Paul were the first documents written that found there way into the Bible. Even though purposes of the letters were to encourage young Christian Churches and clarify his teaching, it is likely that the letters were copied and shared in the Christian Community. Prior to those times, members had the eye witnesses to tell them about Jesus. Paul was always clear when he was stating his own opinion versus words coming from Jesus. For Example:
(ESV) 1Cor 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Love Granddaddy
11/10/2020
THE EMERGENCE OF THE GOSPELS AS SCRIPTURE
In Adam Hamilton’s discussion of the emergence of the Gospels, give us an estimate time-line of documents.
Date
Title
Discussion
Late 1st Century
The Didache
Writings of Matthew or Sources that Matthew Used http://www.thedidache.com/
Early 2nd Century
Mark & Matthew
Papias of Hieropolis, mentions their use. He also tells us that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and that his quotation’s of Jesus came from Peter.
2nd Century
First Book resembling a New Testament
Marcion included the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters (he did not include the pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, or Titus https://www.marcionite-scripture.info /Marcionite_Bible.htm).
170 AD
Diatessaron
By Tatian, a student of Justin Martyr, a teacher living in Rome. Included the 4 Gospels https://earlychurch.com/justin-martyr/
End of 2nd Century
The Shepherd of Hermas, The Didache, 1 Clement, Letter of Barnabas.
These were books circulated and used around end of 2nd Century
I will probably add to the above table, and will definitely discuss in more detail later. I have, in addition to Alan Hamilton’s book, read the links provided. I found discussion of Marcion to be particularly interesting because he, like many Christians, had a problem with the depiction of the Old Testament God, and the one Jesus presented.
Love Granddaddy
11/11/2020
There were a number of New Testaments authorized by Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Athanasius. If want details I refer you to Alan Hamilton’s book. In 397, a council in Carthage, Africa, finally adopted a New Testament which declared “Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures”.
Adam Hamilton has listed what he believe is the criteria for acceptance in the New Testament: Usefulness, Consistency, Association, and Acceptance.
Where these sections of Hamilton’s books were difficult for me to get through, his presentation gave me a better understanding of their authenticity. I also encourages me to challenge interpretations that do not comply with what I believe about Jesus.
Love Granddaddy
11/12/2020
Theopneustos or Plenary Inspiration
Theopneustos is a word originated by Paul that means “God-breathed” and often translated as “inspired”. With reference to the Bible, it is used to describe the situation where a writer puts the word to print or uses it and God breaths a meaning by which the reader or hearer is inspired. In the New Testament the writers wrote accounts of Jesus life but the readers must use their own experience, knowledge, and intellect to draw inspiration.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.” Scott Barry Kuafmen, “Why Inspiration Matters”
The history of the church seems to emphasize this view.
The actual wording of Article V of the Methodist Articles of Religion (based upon Article VI of the Anglican Church’s Thirty-Nine Articles) reads, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” The Evangelical United Brethren Church noted, “We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.” Both were accepted when the two churches merged to form the United Methodist Church in 1968.
During the period of Enlightenment, as a defense to scholars who were challenging every thing, many sects, still in existence today adopted the view that every word in the Bible was the direct word of God. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration. Adam Hamilton, and I, believe this constitutes a “house of cards” because if anything is found to be wrong, the whole house comes down.
I recognize that there are better sources of information and explanations. Why do I write these letters? In the hopes that I can inspire you to pursue these subjects further. And because
I love you Granddaddy
11/16/2020
Several chapters of Adam Hamilton’s book, 16-18, discuss these issues and if you wish we can discuss these more fully. The point of these chapters, where important, is that, where we as Christians can hear the word of God from the Bible and as stated above, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” we are required to use the life and words of Jesus to be the final arbiters as to whether what we are reading is the Word of God.
Before Liz, Gigi to her granddaughters, died, she made me (Felix) promise to work with Dani to improve her spiritual education. Dani, a graduating senior, had enough on her plate that we were not able to fulfill that promise and before life had even a semblance of slowing down for Dani, she was in California. I decided to fulfill my promise by writing emails daily. Then Dani would be able to read them at her convenience. This web-page contains some of those emails.
08/26/2020
I know and understand the pressures you are under to leave, so will understand I won't get a chance to say good bye in person. But this I want you know:
I will miss you, even though most of your visits were in conjunction with some kind of service, like wrapping my feet, your very presence warmed my heart.
Know that I will be available to talk with you over any medium, any time. If you need anything that I may be able to supply, ask.
I suggest you get a Ignacious Bible from Kindle for your phone. It is the easiest translation to read. Try to read it daily. Your mother and dad have taught you to be a good person. Now I hope you spread those "rules" to those around you. Reading your Bible will help.
I love you!
Grandaddy
08/27/2020
Before GiGi died she instructed me to discuss our beliefs with you. I knew you were busy and used that as an excuse not to do my part. I'm sure you are going to be busy in San Diego taking another step in your growth. So I'm going to fulfill my part of my assignment in a way that may not interfere with your life unless you want it.
Often, daily hopefully, I will write a fairly brief email with scripture that I think is useful to help you maintain that innate goodness I know you have. I only ask you to read it. But I would love to discuss it with you, any time and with any medium.
You already know the importance of the Lords Prayer and I hope you develop the habit of saying it every night.
When your GiGi and I were your age, we belonged to a Church Group called the Methodist Youth Fellowship that met once a week at our respective churches. At the end of each meeting, we would join hands and recite the following “The Lord Bless You and Keep You. "May the Lord's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May God show you His Face to you and give you Peace. That is found in Numbers 6:24-26.
I love you and miss you.
Granddaddy
08/31/2020
In the King James Version this starts with "Make a joyful noise". As a choir director and musician, it was my favorite Psalm. The NIV version may be a more accurate translation but I like the way the KJV starts better.
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Love, and miss you too. I count the moments I spend doing these emails time spent with you.
Granddaddy
09/01/2020
Jesus used parables to illustrate his points. One was the parable of the "Good Samaritan‚"
(NIV) 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27 He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
28 "You have answered correctly", Jesus replied. "this and you will live."
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30 In reply Jesus said: ‚"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. "Look after him," he said, "and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have."
36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The fact that Jesus made a Samaritan the hero is this story is significant. Jews, during then, did not associate with Samaritans nor the other way round. When the Jews rebuilt the Temple they refused to have Samaritans participate. As a result an enmity between the two tribes resulted. The Samaritans built their own.
When your grandmother and I were your age, the churches we went to used this situation as an example of the racism that was prevalent.
Love
Granddaddy
You will often hear ,"Judge not that you be not judged." I believe you should always read scripture in context. Sometime soon I will send you a message that God sent to Ezekiel which led me to the following opinion.
(NIV) 1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
I think verse 2 actually gives you an out. Turning it around, I think what Jesus was getting across was really, don't hold others to a higher standard than you hold yourself. Remember that Jesus' main message was to love one another. I don't think that meant "not having a standard" or not helping your neighbor raise his.
Love
Granddaddy
09/05/2020
Today I had the occasion to discuss abortion with a lady from the church. The following scripture was what I used to show her what Jesus said about children.
(NIV) 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Love
Granddaddy
09/06/2020
The following scripture illustrates how important you are. But it still strikes me as funny.
(NIV) 13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Love from Your salty old
Granddaddy
09/07/2020
The verse following the one I sent last night is often quoted by politicians. But Jesus is telling us not to hide what we are, and why.
(NIV) 14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Love
Granddaddy
PS: you are welcome to share these messages with your condo-mates.
09/08/2020
Your great-grandmother Bearden was a Bible Scholar, not one that researched the history or meaning in today's world or the like, but she knew what was in both the old and New Testament. When Gigi and I were in Colorado Springs, we had what is known as the Cuban Crisis where the Soviet Union threatened to bomb the United States if we didn,t remove a blockade around Cuba. This was before we had agreements in place regarding the Atomic Bomb. I worked at Ent AFB at a facility called SpaceTrac which was in the same building that housed the defense center that tracked missiles launched from the Soviet Union. When a threat was detected, the base was locked down and no communication between people on the base and families off base. Wives and husbands worked out a way to notify those off-base if threat existed, even though the base was locked down. When Gigi was telling my mother about the plan, my mother asked what she would do. Gigi said she would go to a designated place in the mountains that would not be affected by an atomic explosion designed to take out Ent. My mother responded, "Good. After all that is what the Bible says you should do. Head for the hills.
I decided to look for where it said that for today,s lesson.
(NIV)Jos 2:16 Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you.
(NIV) Gen 13:10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.
That is as close as I could get. My mother knew the KJV and I was using the NIV translation. BTW the story surrounding Jos 2:16 is worth reading.
Love
Granddaddy
09/08/2020
The previous scripture I sent, was from this segment of a story. There are a lot of stories like this in the Old Testament.
(NIV) Jos 2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land", he said, ‚"especially Jericho.". So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: ‚"Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don‚'t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, ‚"I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone‚'s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 "Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."
14 "Our lives for your lives!‚" the men assured her. ‚"If you don‚'t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way."
17 Now the men had said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear. "
21 "Agreed", she replied. ‚"Let it be as you say."
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."
Thought I might mention, your dad served lobster and steak yesterday.
Love
Granddaddy
09/09/2020
In this scripture Jesus answers the question of minimum wage and equal pay for equal work and tells us the relation of Employee and Employer. Most churches take verse 16 as the primary emphasis. Where that may be true, other points like in verse 13 and 15 are also important.
(NIV) Matt 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right, 5 So they went.
He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, "Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?"
7 "Because no one has hired us" they answered.
He said to them, "You also go and work in my vineyard."
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first."
9 The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 "These who were hired last worked only one hour", they said, "and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day."
13 But he answered one of them, "am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?
16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
Love
Granddaddy
09/10/2020
You will hear political discussions about profits, often how much a company can make during there operation. Some want to control the profit a company, some want to tax what they call excess profits, and some want to punish companies that ‚"gouge" their customers by making too much profits. Oil Companies are often the targets if their profits are greater than 10%. Several years ago, there was an outcry when they made more than these controllers permitted. However, Microsoft was making a healthy 39%. The following parable demonstrates how Jesus felt about profits.
(NIV) Matt 25:14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. Master, he said, "you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more." 21 His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" 22 The man with two bags of gold also came. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more." His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" 24 Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. "Master", he said, "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." 26 His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 "So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Love
Granddaddy
Stories of David
09/11/2020
This is the story of David, a shepherd boy, beginning when he was only 15.
(NIV) 1st Samual 16: 1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." 2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD." 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate. " 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace? " 5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.
Love
Granddaddy
Sept 12, 2020
The following story I’m sure you have heard. In pursuing this path, I found that the stories of Moses were hard to read from the NIV translation, but found a web-site that published more readable versions. I will note when I use those. The David and Goliath story is from the NIV translation.
David and Goliath
1stSa 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other. ” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. 12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. 17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” 20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. 25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.” 26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.” 28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.” 38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals! ” 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. 54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent. 55 As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is that young man?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.” 56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.” 57 As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. 58 “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him. David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.” Saul’s Growing Fear of David 1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
Love
Granddaddy
David's Marriage
09/14/2020
This is a rather gory account of what David had to do to marry Saul’s Daughter.
(NIV) 1stSA 18:6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom? ” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns. 17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!” 18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law? ” 19 So when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. 20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. 21 “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.” 22 Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’” 23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.” 24 When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines. 26 When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, 27 David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. 28 When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days. 30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.
Love
Grandaddy
09/15/2020
In trying to give you stories about David, I found there was a lot of repetition in the Biblical account. I will continue but will try to give you a more brief account. It also occurred to me that you may need an outline. This is one that I use,
BIBLE OUTLINE
1. OLD TESTAMENT
A. Law
i. The First Book of Moses Called Genesis
ii. The Second Book of Moses Called Exodus
iii. The Third Book of Moses Called Leviticus
iv. The Fourth Book of Moses Called Numbers
v. The Fifth Book of Moses Called Deuteronomy
B. Narrative
i. The Book of Joshua
ii. The Book of Judges
iii. The Book of Ruth
iv. The First Book of Samuel
v. The Second Book of Samuel
vi. The First Book of Kings
vii. The Second Book of Kings
viii. The First Book of Chronicles
ix. The Second Book of Chronicles
x. The Book of Ezra
xi. The Book of Nehemiah
xii. The Book of Esther
C. Wisdom
i. The Book of Job
ii. The Book of Psalms
iii. The Book of Proverbs
iv. The Book of Ecclesiastes
v. The Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon or Canticles)
D. Major Prophets
i. The Book of Isaiah
ii. The Book of Jeremiah
iii. The Book of Lamentations
iv. The Book of Ezekiel
E. Minor Prophets
i. The Book of Hosea
ii. The Book of Joel
iii. The Book of Amos
iv. The Book of Obadiah
v. The Book of Jonah
vi. The Book of Micah
vii. The Book of Nahum
viii. The Book of Habakkuk
ix. The Book of Zephaniah
x. The Book of Haggai
xi. The Book of Zechariah
xii. The Book of Malachi
2. NEW TESTAMENT
A. The Gospels
i. The Gospel According to Matthew
ii. The Gospel According to Mark
iii. The Gospel According to Luke
iv. The Gospel According to John
B. Acts
i. The Acts of the Apostles
C. Epistles of Paul
i. The Epistle of Paul to the Romans
ii. The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
iii. The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
iv. The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians
v. The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians
vi. The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians
vii. The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians
viii. The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
ix. The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
x. The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy
xi. The Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy
xii. The Epistle of Paul to Titus
xiii. The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
D. General Epistles
i. The Epistle to the Hebrews
ii. The General Epistle of James
iii. The First Epistle of Peter
iv. The Second Epistle of Peter
v. The First Epistle of John
vi. The Second Epistle of John
vii. The Third Epistle of John
viii. The Epistle of Jude
E. Apocalypse of John
i. The Book of Revelation (or The Apocalypse of John)
Love
Granddady
09/18/2020
Most of the stories about David and his establishment of his Kingdom. All the stories don’t depict him as being God’s servant as he would like you to believe. This story is one of those.
Bathsheba
When it was spring, it was time to once again attack the Ammonites. Normally David would go with his men, but he decided to stay home. After taking a nap one afternoon, he walked along the sundeck that was on the roof of the palace. From there, he saw a beautiful woman taking a bath. He sent for a servant and asked, “Who is that woman?” “Oh, her name is Bathsheba. She is the wife of Uriah, one of your 30 fighting men.” David sent for her, so she came to the palace. He slept with her that night. In time she realized she was expecting a baby, and she knew it was from the night she spent with the king. She sent word to David that she was pregnant. He decided he had to hide what he had done. So he immediately sent a message to Joab. “Send Uriah to me.” The soldier arrived and the king asked him, “How is the battle going? Is Joab well?” After Uriah gave a report, the king told him he could go home to his wife before going back to the battle. He even sent a gift for the couple. Uriah left the king, but didn’t go home. He slept the night at the door of the palace with all of the king’s servants. In the morning, the king called him in and asked, “Why didn’t you go home?” “No, I wouldn’t do that. The Ark of God is on the field of battle. The army of Israel sleeps in tents. Joab and his officers are on the field. I can’t go to my house and live in ease. I can’t eat and drink with my wife while they are sacrificing for our nation.” Building a Nation David said, “Stay here one more day, and then I’ll send you back to the battle.” The king then asked Uriah to eat and drink with him. During the course of the evening, David got him drunk. Still, he didn’t go home, but slept on a cot at the palace doors. The next morning David wrote a letter to his commander. “Put Uriah in the front where the fighting is the most fierce. At an assigned moment, have your men fall back, leaving him to die.” The king gave the sealed letter to Uriah, and told him to take it to Joab. He went back to the battle and gave the letter to his commander. Joab obeyed the order and put Uriah at the exact place that was the most dangerous. At the assigned moment, everyone else fell back and Uriah was killed. Bathsheba heard that her husband died in battle, and she mourned his death. Joab continued his battle against the Ammonite capital city. Finally he broke through and captured their water supply. He sent word to David. “Come quickly! Lead the army into the city and capture it so you’ll get the glory.” David went and led the army to victory over the Ammonite cities. He had the Ammonite people totally tear down their walls and all of their buildings. He took everything of value, and put the people to work making bricks. David then went back to Jerusalem. Once Bathsheba’s time of mourning was over, he made her his wife. Soon afterwards, she gave birth to their son. Only God knew about their sin, and he was not pleased.
Love and Happy Birthday
Granddaddy
09/17/2020
Most of the stories of David are of him as a warrior and establishing his kingdom. I have decided to move on to stories of Moses, However, as an interlude I thought I would share the story of the person after whom a person you know is named.
Rivka or Rebekah
When Sarah died, Abraham realized he needed to find a wife for his son Isaac. He said to his servant, “I’m sending you back to my homeland so you can find a wife for my son. Promise me you won’t choose a woman from the people around here. Make sure she’s from among my relatives.” The servant was concerned. “What if I find a woman, and she’s not willing to leave her home and come here? Perhaps I should take Isaac back there to marry her.” “Absolutely not! You’re not to take Isaac back to that country! Listen, the Lord will send his angel before you. He’ll prepare the way. But if the woman isn’t willing to come back with you, then you’re released from this assignment.” After a long journey, the servant reached the town where Abraham’s relatives lived. He stopped at a well on the outskirts of town and prayed, “Oh God, help me find the right woman for Isaac.” Suddenly he had an idea. “Lord, I’ll ask a woman for a drink of water. I’ll know she’s the right one if she gives me a drink, and then offers to draw water for all ten of these camels!” Soon a young woman named Rebekah came to the well. She was beautiful … and virtuous … and … she wasn’t married. She filled her jar and started to walk away. The servant stepped forward and asked for a drink of water. She gave him one, and then offered to draw water for all his camels. While she was doing this, the servant asked God to help him know for sure that this was the woman for Isaac. After Rebekah was done, the servant gave her several pieces of jewelry and asked, “Who’s your family, and is there room at your father’s house for my men and me to spend the night?” She told the servant the names of her father and Beginnings grandfather, and the servant knew they were Abraham’s relatives. Rebekah said that there was plenty of room for them to spend the night. She then left the servant and ran home to tell her family about this conversation. Her brother was Laban, and when he saw the valuable jewelry, he hurried to the well to see who had given her these things. He asked the servant, “Come, we’ve prepared a place for you and your servants, as well as your camels!” Once they got to the house, the servant was invited to sit down and eat a meal with them. But he said, “Before we eat this meal, I must tell you my story.” He told them about the assignment Abraham had given him. He then said, “I prayed and asked God to show me the right woman for Isaac. As a sign, I asked that she’d be willing to give me a drink of water and also draw water for all the camels. Rebekah did exactly that. I believe she’s the woman God has chosen to be Isaac’s wife.” Laban and his father were amazed when they heard this story. They agreed with him and immediately gave their blessing. The next morning they asked Rebekah if she was willing to go with Abraham’s servant and marry Isaac. She said she was willing to go. So, they blessed Rebekah and sent her with the servant. Isaac was in the field when he saw, off in the distance, the servant’s caravan of camels. So he started walking toward it. Rebekah saw him coming their way. She asked the servant, “Who is that man?” “Oh, that is my master, Isaac.” So Rebekah covered herself with a veil. The servant told Isaac all about his trip, and how God led him to just the right woman. So Isaac took Rebekah to be his wife, and the love between them was great.
Love Granddaddy
09/18/2020
Moses was born at a time when the Israelites were growing and Pharaoh was concerned enough to limit their growth. Moses was born under a Law seeking to do just that.
The Israelite population continued to increase in number, so Pharaoh issued a new law for the nation. “Every Hebrew boy-child is Beginnings to be thrown into the Nile River.” During this time of persecution, a boy was born to one of the Hebrew families. His mother hid him for three months, but it became more difficult with each passing week. Finally, she realized she needed to do something different. So she made a waterproof basket, put the child inside, and placed it in the Nile River among the reeds near the banks. The boy’s sister was Miriam. She hid nearby to see what would happen to her brother. Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to take a bath. She saw the basket floating among the reeds and sent her servants to get it. When she opened the basket, the baby started to cry and she felt sorry for it. She said, “This must be one of the Hebrew children.” Miriam came out of her hiding place and spoke up. “Do you want me to go find a Hebrew mother who can nurse this child?” “Yes. I’d like that. Go get a nursing mother.” So the girl went and got her own mother – the mother of the baby. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Nurse this child for me and I’ll pay you.” When the boy was old enough, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter and the boy became her son. She called him Moses (which means “pulled out”) saying, “I pulled him out of the water
Love Granddaddy
09/19/2020
During Moses day, women were not considered equal to men. This and other stories seeks to elevate their importance by illustrating how “heroes” treated them.
“Once he got there, he sat down next to a well. Soon seven women came to the well to draw water for their sheep. They were the daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian. Suddenly, some shepherds come and started to chase the women away. Moses stepped in and defended them. After the fight, he helped the women draw the water for their sheep. When they got back home, Jethro was surprised his daughters were back so soon. They said, “An Egyptian protected us from the shepherds, and he even helped draw water for the flock.” “So where is he? What! Did you leave him at the well? Go get him and invite him to come and have a meal with us.” Moses stayed with Jethro and his family, and eventually married one of his daughters, a woman named Zipporah. Together, they had two sons.”
Love Granddaddy
09/20/2020
This section, the Exodus, is rather long so I am breaking it into three sections. This is the assignment, where God assigns Moses the job of leading the people out of Egypt. If you compare this with the text, you will find I have left out some of the repetition.
(ESV) Exo 3:The Burning Bush 1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt.
Love Granddaddy
09/22/2020
Moses was concerned that his slowness of speech would be inadequate to deal with Pharaoh. So God gave him the tools to convince him. Two facts are evident from this series to me. One is that God becomes angry when we doubt His ability to use us to bring about His will. The second is that, in spite of this, He is patient with us and gives us, not only what we need, but what we think we need. The lesson here is given in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread”.
(ESV) Exo 4:1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” 2 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” 10 But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”
Love Granddaddy
Although we do what we think is God’s will, it sometimes doesn’t result in what we think should happen. We need to remember that we only have a part in God’s plan. It would be nice if we knew, but it would not be a test of our faith.
(ESV) Exo 7 Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh 1 And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Love Granddaddy
09/24/2020
Exo 7:14 thru Exo 12:32 includes the description of the ten plagues that was visited on the Egyptians before Pharaoh decided to let Moses lead his people out of Egypt. They were:
Water turned to blood
The Frogs
The gnats
The Flies
The Livestock
The Boils
Hail
Locusts
Darkness
Death of Firstborn
You may sometime want to read the full accounts but at this time I believe you just need to know their names.
Before the 10th, God established what we now know as “Passover”. There is a lot of detail starting at Exo 12 but what you need to know is that God had His people spread the blood of lambs on their doors so that the angel of death would “pass over” that household. The firstborn of households not marked were struck down including that of Pharaoh to the livestock.
Pharaoh then told Moses to take his people and go.
Love Granddaddy
09/25/2020
Read the scripture first, then comment at end.
“(ESV) Exo 14: 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Prior to this scripture was the account of the “Pillars and Clouds” that led the Israelis during the Exodus. Some have suggested that the phenomenon was actually a comet that was known to have been close to earth. I couldn’t find reference to that on the net.
What lesson do we get from this scripture? After Pharaoh told Moses to lead the Israelites and leave we now have him sending Egyptians after them to bring them back. The lesson! “You can’t trust a Politician”
Love Granddaddy
09/26/2020
This is one of those stories that are, to a degree, confirmed. At the end of this letter I have included a link to a site that discusses how it could happen and give clue that it really happened.
(ESV) Exo 14:15 The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.” 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
During the exodus there was a lot of whining about what the Israelis endured and God’s responses. IMHO the next significant occurrence was that God gave Moses and his followers the 10 commandments. They represent the framework of the Jewish and Christian Faiths.
(ESV) Exo 20 The Ten Commandments 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
09/28/2020
Following the Ten Commandments is Law for the Israelis. At that time in our, Judaic-Christian, slavery was an accepted practice. Note that the first laws concerned the treatment of slaves.
(ESV) Exo 21:1 “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever. 7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.
This is by no means a justification for slavery. But it does give you an idea of the Judaeo-Christian path of where we are today.
Love Granddaddy
09/29/2020
Some years back, I read a theologian’s explanation of the law. I tried without success to find that article on the web. Briefly he said there were three buckets: one held the absolute law, like Gravity, that promised immediate reaction if violated; the second held behavioral law, like the Ten Commandments; and the third which held advisory laws, like eating pork which, during the time of Exodus, threatened illness and death. (We have since learned that processes exist that removed that threat). Even though you may not have explicitly learned about those buckets, you have lived in an environment that recognized the differences.
While searching for the article, I came across the following article that gives another view of the law. Using the articles as a backdrop will help you better understand the law.
Love Granddaddy
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/threefold-use-law/
09/30/2020
This is the final letter in this series. I will start a new one mainly because this post is too large and unwieldy.
