Notes on Confessions Book VI

Confessions
St. Augustine

Book VI

Ch.1

Augustine's mother, Monica, is portrayed as a devout Christian, unsurprised by God answering her prayers yet still devoted to praying for the final salvation of her son.

Ch. 2

Again Monica is shown to be a devout Christian, giving up a custom that involved her venerating the saints (as she had learned in North Africa). She gave it up because Ambrose had forbidden it, for fear it would lead other, living saints into sin (drunkenness) and that it appeared to close to other pagan traditions.

Ch. 3

Augustine learns that some of his mistrust of Christian theology stemmed from his own misconceptions of what Christian's believed, not the true faith in Christ.

Ch. 4

Ambrose preached the spirit of Christianity, invoking 2 Corinthians 3:6, "The letter kills, but the spirit gives live".

Augustine uses an analogy of a bad and good physician to illuminate the status of his soul at this post-Manichean, pre-Catholic experience: It was as if having been to a bad physician (Manichean teaching) he was afraid of the cure (faith) lest he believe again in error. Thus, having had the experience of the bad physician he was hesitant to place his fate in the hands of a good physician (Christianity) and thus, refusing to accept the cure (faith in Jesus).

 Ch. 5

Augustine gradually accepted the Catholic faith, choosing to listen more to the pious believers who felt assured of things rather than the faithless who asked blasphemous questions for the sake of being blasphemous.

At this point Augustine begins his transformation and changes his view on the Holy Scriptures he once reviled. "Thus, since we are too weak by unaided reason to find out truth, and since, because of this, we need the authority of the Holy Writings, I had now begun to believe that thou wouldst not, under any circumstances, have given such eminent authority to those Scriptures throughout all lands if it had not been that through them thy will may be believed in and that thou mightest be sought"

Ch. 6

Augustine thanks God for not letting anything but God himself grow sweet in Augustine's acquisitions. Thus, he was forced to continue pursuing God.

Augustine relates an experience he had with a beggar. The beggar was happy, probably because he was full and drunk. Augustine at the moment of seeing him was miserable, wracked with struggles. He notes though, if one were to ask him whether he would prefer to be happy or miserable he would choose to be happy. Yet, if one were to ask him whether he would prefer to be himself or the beggar he would choose to be himself. Of course, he notes, that the drunkard would sober up and no longer be happy, but he had attained the momentary happiness by begging and in all of Augustine's struggles he had not achieved happiness. Was all his searching in vain? Was all his searching done from a standpoint of vanity?

Ch. 7

God uses the things we do both wittingly and unwittingly towards his ends.

Ch. 8

This chapter deals with how Alypius, a younger friend/contemporary of Augustine's became obsessed with the Gladiatorial games. It's a good section to look at on how one can slip into sin or even into addiction.

Ch. 9

This chapter deals with how Alypius was falsely accused of theft and how God brought about him being proven innocent with no witnesses.

Ch. 10

Alypius and Nebridius joined Augustine in Milan and all three sought the truth but were miserable because they sought it apart from God. They sought the beauty and truth of the created things not the creator.

Ch. 11

If life perished with the body then God would not have gone to such extremes to save the souls of men.

Ch. 12

Augustine argues with Alypius stating that he doesn't want to be celibate. Even though Alypius was correct, the lust in Augustine was too strong to be denounced and abandoned. He wanted to be married to satisfy his lust and give his lust a presentable veneer.

Ch. 13

Monica agreed that Augustine should be married but she didn't get the same conviction from God about it as she had received regarding her son's eventual conversion. She offered motherly advice but nothing forceful or strong, stating, "For she always said that she could distinguish, by a certain feeling impossible to describe, between thy revelation and the dreams of her own soul.

Ch. 14

Augustine tried to get his buddies up to about a group of ten to form a commune to study and learn the truth. This never made it past the planning stages.

Ch. 15

Augustine loses his mistress and mother of his child to prepare for a marriage. It grieved him and he soon took another mistress to satiate his lust.

Ch. 16

"Woe to the audacious soul which hoped that by forsaking thee it would find some better thing!"

Godly Sorrow

Um, duh. Kinda missed the godly word in my reading. It's right there in 2 Corinthians 7:11.

"See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter"

So what is Godly sorrow? It's an awareness of our own sins. The ungodly don't have to worry about their moral shortcomings because it doesn't matter to them. But those who are striving to be godly and live a life that is pleasing to God must constantly assess their lives and root out the sin in them. When we sin we should feel this godly sorrow so that this sorrow can lead to repentance. Since godliness is a foundational attribute that I am seeking out, the natural expression of godliness when I go against the will of God ought to be sorrow, horror and indignation at my mistake. Lord, I ask you to forgive me of my multitude of sins. I am humbly seeking you Lord for answers. Forgive me and help me to walk with you. Help me to cease to do what is evil and learn to do what is good.

The Promises of God

I think I found the "godly" word I was looking for in 2 Corinthians 7. But, in the NIV it is translated as holiness. It's connected to some promises Paul is reiterating in 2 Corinthians 6.

"I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:16-18).

Paul then states since we have these incredible promises from God lets purify ourselves and live godly lives perfecting the holiness that we strive for. This is my prayer Lord, that I can purify myself before you and strive for the perfection of holiness.

Sorrow & Repentance

In continuing the search for godliness I cam to both 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and chapter 7 but the word 'godly' wasn't in either one. I was confused in reading Chapter 1, mainly because I was looking for the specific word and missed much of the message, but in Chapter 7 I gleaned a couple of things.

"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while - yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).

The difference between being sorry in the world and sorry in Christ is twofold. Being sorry in the world's terms leaves one feeling regret and on the road to death. But being sorry in Christ brings about repentance and salvation. In my recent struggles with alcohol I could easily be sorry because of the way my drinking has affected things externally. But in taking the approach of tackling it by going for God I do not go down the path of regret, but down the one to repentance and salvation. Hear my prayer God. I repent to you of my sin. I feel sorrow for the pain I've inflicted, especially on my wife. Lead me not into temptation and help me to stay on the straight path to you. Help me find godliness (and another passage that actually has the term in it). Amen.

The end times notes

(Originally written May 10, 2006 in 3 Subject Book)

Historic Christian Belief

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

True, Origen

Between Death & Resurrection

Purgatory
-Roman Catholic Doctrine (2 Maccabees 12:45)

Protestant objections
-Luke 16:26
-Hebrews 9:27

Paradise
-Jesus: Luke 23:43
-Paul: 2 Corinthians 12:4, Philippians 1:23
-Revelation 2:7, 6:9-11

The Return of Christ & the millennium

Historic pre-millennialism (2nd century)
-post apostolic fathers

Amillennialism (4th century)
-Augustine of Hippo

Post-Millennialism (16th century)
-Jonathan Edwards

Dispensational Pre-Millennialism (19th century)
-Darby, LaHaye/Jenkins: Left Behind

Theories of salvation

(Originally written March 22, 2006 in 3 Subject)

Historic Christian Thought

1. Expiation - "removal of sin"

Scapegoat (Leviticus 16)
-Israel's sin 'laid upon' the goat
-No blood
-The goat 'scapes' - escapes
-The guilt of sin is removed

Romans 3:25 RSV 'expiation' translates from the Greek "hilasterion"

2. Propitiation

Propitiation - "to appease" another's anger

-Divine wrath against sin is propitiated by Christ's sacrificial death
-Sacrificial goat (Leviticus 16), blood sacrifice

Romans 3:25 is translated as propitiation from the Greek "hilasterion"

Through faith in Christ's blood.

Blood is a penal sacrifice

Hilasterion is the Old Testament 'mercy seat' in the Septuagint

3. Redemption via Ransom

Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"

The question is, a ransom to whom?
-The Devil? (Christus Victor theory)
-The Law of God?
-The Wages of Sin?
-No one in particular?

The redemption is both present and future

4. Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Restoration of fellowship with God means the death of Christ and subsequent resurrection
Fellowship with God is an objective reality of God
Reconciliation is God's great goal

Paul's Missionary Journeys and 1 Corinthians Notes

(Originally written January 19, 2006)

Pg. 472-505

-Paul's Second Missionary Journey (A.D. 50) starts with the split between Paul and Barnabas. Paul takes Silas and goes north to Galatia. Barnabas takes John Mark and goes to Cyprus.
-Paul strengthens the churches in Syria and Ciliciaby by giving encouragement and teaching and by giving a copy of the letter from the Jerusalem council.
-Paul picks up Timothy in Lystra

-Paul had Timothy circumcised because his mother was Jewish (Father was Greek). Timothy was a believer before he met Paul, but Paul had Timothy circumcised so that he would not offend Jewish believers (because his mother was Jewish also) which gave him access to the Synagogue. 

-Paul next goes to Troas because the Holy Spirit forbids him to go to Asia (Ephesus) or to Bithynia. 

-While in Troas, Paul receives a vision to go to Macedonia. Paul relays the vision to his companions and they leave for Macedonia immediately (God's will for us??)

-The first church in Europe was probably in Rome, but going into Macedonia was a big step in Christianity's expansion into Europe.

Chapter 23

-Neapolis was the first city they went to. From Nepalis they went to Philippi.

-Philippi had no synagogue because it probably expelled the Jews after Rome did in A.D. 49

-Paul found a group of women praying on the Sabbath. He ministered to Lydia who accepted Christ. Lydia invited Paul and his companions to stay with her and her family. This was the start of the church in Philippi

-One day Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl, who then lost her ability as a fortune teller. Her master then took Paul for a trial because the girl was very profitable as a fortune teller.

-As a result of the trial Paul was beaten and imprisoned.

-During their night in prison an earthquake shook the prison, unlocking all the doors. To avoid trial the guard planned to kill himself. Paul convinced him not to and shared with him the good news. He became a Christian. Paul and Silas was freed in the morning.

-The next big stop was Thessalonica. In Thessalonica Paul preached in the Synagogue and many believed. Out of jealousy, Jewish leaders who did not believe in Jesus started a riot. They took Jason, whom Paul was staying with and brought him to court. They were told to post bond and were released. Later that night Paul was encouraged to leave, so he did.

-Paul then went to Berea. The Jews in Berea checked the facts of Jesus through the Old Testament and many were saved.

-The angry Jews of Thessalonica came to Berea to start riots and stop Paul. Paul left, but Silas remained.

-Paul and Timothy sailed for Athens. Timothy stayed in Athens teaching. Silas was in Berea and Paul returned to Thessalonica to encourage believers.

- In Athens Paul debated with Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. Many Athenians laughed at the idea of the resurrection but some believed. Paul left Athens to go to Corinth.

-Corinth had a population of 500,000. Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and he worked with them as tent makers for several months. While in Corinth, Paul waited for updates from Silas and Timothy.

-Paul's first letter to Thessalonians was one of faith, hope and love. He was encouraging them to stay hopeful despite persecution.

-Paul said they are to avoid sexual immorality and to love one another.

-Paul encourages them that those who died would take part in God's kingdom to come.

-A couple of month's after the first letter Paul wrote a second one to the Thessalonians.

-This letter was to assure them that the day of the Lord had not come and when it did come it would be unmistakeable. 

-It also praises them for growing in love and faith and encouraged them to keep hope despite the continuing persecution.

-Paul ended his letter with some prayer requests and some admonitions.

-Paul signs the letter (wrote it) by himself because forgeries were starting to confuse people.

-Paul "shakes out his clothes" in protest to the unbelieving Jews. This marks a shift in policy to ministering primarily to Gentiles.

-Paul remained in Corinth for a year and a half.

-Paul left Corinth to return to Antioch and give an update. While going through Ephesus he was asked to stay. He declined so that he could return to Antioch, but did leave Priscilla and Aquila to minister there. 

-In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos the resurrection of Jesus because he was already teaching about Jesus' life. Apollos then went to Greece as a missionary.

-Paul traveled to Antioch probably alone. His companions were probably still scattered teaching the good news: Luke in Philippi, Timothy and Silas in Corinth, and Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.

Chapter 24
-Paul stayed in Antioch through the winter then headed back out to the churches he planted. (AD 53).
-When Paul returned to Ephesus he met a group of men who knew of John the Baptist (probably by Apollos before he knew all of Jesus' story). Paul preached to them about the Holy Spirit and they believed.
-Paul spoke and taught in the synagogues of Ephesus for three months and drove a wedge between the Jews. Some believed and some did not. Then Paul taught the Gentiles in Ephesus. This lasted over two years.
-Some Jews were trying to use the name of Jesus in an exorcism. The demon possessed man claimed to know of Jesus and Paul but not them. The demon possessed man then beat the exorcists and the name of Jesus was seen as powerful in that region because of it.
-In Ephesus the silversmiths started a riot because Paul had converted many idol worshippers and they were losing business because no one was buying dos anymore. The riot dispersed and Paul eventually left Ephesus.

-While in Ephesus Paul wrote four letters to Corinth (We have 2).
-First Corinthians was correcting them on instructions he gave in his first letter.
-First Corinthians deals with issues that the modern church still struggles with.

Review of Wednesday

Paul first visited Corinth on the Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:1-18).

4 Letters to Corinth/3 Visits
1st is lost
2nd is First Corinthians (from Ephesus)
3rd is lost - a "sorrowful letter"
4th is Second Corinthians (from Macedonia)

Wrote Romans from Corinth

Sources for Paul in 1 Corinthians
-Chloe's household
-Three individuals
-Letter from Church at Corinth with questions for Paul

Two root problems at Corinth
1) An over-enthusiastic view of the Spirit
-abuse of flashy gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14)
2) An over-realized eschatology:
-felt the future was present (1 Corinthians 4:8-10)

4 Kinds of People
- Natural Person
- Baby Christians (Natural persons who receive salvation)
- Willful Carnal Christians (Baby Christians who experience no growth)
-Spiritual Christians (Baby Christians who grow)

Carnal Christians have legalism, jealousy, guilt, aimlessness, fear, ignorance of spiritual heritage, disobedience, unbelief, poor prayer life, no desire for Bible Study

Church discipline/Restoration

The goal of Church discipline is always restoration.

What sins warrant this act?
-incest
-idle men
-the divisive

"Church discipline is needed when a given sin carries with it the serious possibility of corrupting the whole congregation"

Two extremes to avoid:
1) Becoming legalistic about forbidding all kinds of morally neutral practices
2) Refusing to engage in Church discipline because no one is perfect

I Corinthians 6:1-1: Lawsuits

What kind of cases are in view?
-trivial crimes
-ordinary matters along the lines of civil cases

Key question: will the gospel be promoted by contemplated litigation?

Paul used the courts to spread the Gospel throughout Acts.

Single vs. Marriage

Philosophical dualism background:
"matter" is evil (body)
"spirit" is good (soul)

Libertine/antinomian - "everything is permissible"
ascetic - no sex whatsoever

Do not deprive one another of sexual relations except for:
1) Total agreement
2) Limited time
3) devotion and prayer
(But after that, have at it!)

1 Corinthians 7:6: "this I say by way of concession, not command"

What does Paul allow?
1) Marital relations
2) Temporary abstinence

The ascetic view was pushed on the church by force.

The gift of celibacy comes from the gift of self-control.

What were Paul's reasons for staying single:
1) "The present distress"
2) "The shortening of the time"
3) "To promote what is seemly and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord"

When do spiritual gifts come to you:
1) When you become a Christian
2) More dynamic - when you need it
3) Pray for it, desire it (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, 14:39)

Tongues - Ecstatic utterances or known foreign Languages?
-Both

What purpose do tongues have?
-The charismatic praise of God

Guidelines for tongues?
-two or three at the most should speak in Church with an interpreter. No interpreter, no tongues

Highlights of Acts, James, Calvinism vs. Arminianism & Galatians

(Originally written on January 17, 2006 in Book 20)

Highlights in the Book of Acts

Acts 2 - Birth of the Church

Church = New Testament People of God
Israel = Old Testament People of God

Acts 6 - Prototypes of Deacons/Elders

The 12 - Prototypes of elders/bishops

Functions of the Elders/Bishops
1) Teaching the word
2) Prayer

The Seven = The prototypes of deacons/deaconesses

Acts 8 - Persecuted church scatters
Acts 9 - Paul's conversion
Acts 10 - Gospel to the Gentiles
Acts 12 - James is Martyred
Acts 14 - 1st Missionary Journey
Acts 15 - The Jerusalem Council
-Must Gentile Christians keep the Law in order to be saved as the Judaizers insist?
Acts 15:39-18:22 - 2nd Missionary Journey
Acts 18:23-21:27 - 3rd Missionary Journey
Acts 21:27-23:32 - Imprisoned in Jerusalem
Acts 23:33-26:32 - Imprisoned in Caesera
Acts 27-28 - Voyage to Rome
Acts 28:16-30 - Roman imprisonment

The Book of James:

Author: James, brother of Jesus (oldest)
- Did not believe in Jesus
- Jesus appeared to him post resurrection
- Very religious Jew
Galatians 2:12/Acts 21:17-26

Recipients:
-Jewish believers who scattered after Stephen's death
-Only epistle strictly written to a Jewish audience

Date:
- Earliest Christian document
- Josephus records James' martyrdom in AD 62
- Makes no reference to Judaizing controversy (AD 49)
- Approximately written AD 46-47

Focus of James: The practical outworking of Christianity in a righteous lifestyle

Emphases
1) Patience in the face of suffering
2) How the rich treat the poor
3) Judgment and judging

James & Paul on role of works in salvation:
- Both James & Paul affirm good deeds and are against bad deeds
- Both use the Greek word "erga" (works) but use it differently

James 2:14-26 has a particular kind of works in view
- Good deeds like acts of charity, generosity, impartiality, control of tongue, etc
- His opponents were claiming orthodoxy without action

Paul opposes "works" as in works of the Law
- Stops people from attempting to obtain salvation through the Law, which is impossible

Calvinism vs. Arminianism

Total Depravity vs. Free will/human ability
Unconditional Election vs. Conditional election
Limited Atonement vs. Unlimited Atonement
Irresistible Grace vs. Resistible grace
Perseverance of the Saints vs. Can fall from grace

Calvinism justifies Unconditional Depravity by Romans 3:10, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians 4:18 and Ecclesiastes 7:20. We are unable to save ourselves and will never choose Christ on our own.

Arminianism justifies free will/human ability by John 1:9 and Titus 2:11

Calvinism justifies unconditional election by Romans 8:29-30, Romans 9:11-18, Acts 13:48. Foreknew = Forechosen. God chooses man, man does not choose God.

Arminianism justifies conditional election via Romans 8:29. Foreknew = Foresaw. God foresaw who would choose Him.

Calvinism justifies limited atonement with John 10:10, John 10:15, John 17:2, John 17:6, John 17:9. Christ only died for the elect.

Arminianism justifies unlimited atonement with 1 John 2:2, 1 Timothy 4:10, 2 Peter 2:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:19. Christ died for all men.

Calvinism justifies irresistible grace with Romans 9:19-21. Nobody can resist God's will.

Arminianism justifies resistible grace with 1 John 2:2, 1 Timothy 4:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 2 Corinthians 5:19. God can be resisted.

Calvinism justifies Perseverance of the saints with Philippians 2:12-13, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:38-39. Salvation is secure.

Arminianism justifies can fall from grace with Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-31, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Romans 8:38-39, Romans 11:22. Salvation can be lost.

Introduction to Galatians

Dualism: Body doesn't matter, do whatever. Soul is what counts.

Two Extremes of dualism:
Antinomianism - over indulgence
Asceticism - no pleasure at all, minimalism

If Paul was concerned about distortions of the gospel, we should too.

Problem behind letter to Galatians.

Jewish Christian teachers infiltrated the Galatian churches with a message that endangered the Gospel message. They were Judaizers.

Judaizers sought to complete Paul's gospel in two ways.
1) by requiring circumcision
2) by enforcing Jewish food laws

Notes on the Canon, Textual Criticism and Interpretation of the Bible

(Originally written January 5, 2006 in Notebook 20)

The Canon & Transmission of the New Testament text

Definition of Canon - originally meant measuring reed

Metaphorical meaning - standard

Applied to the New Testament - refers to those books accepted by the Church as the standard with governs our beliefs.

The Precanonical Period

- Oral tradition (25 years worth)
(The passion narrative was probably memorized)

- Early Christian Preaching:
1) No New Testament books at this time
2) Early Church had the Septuagint

- Logica = Sayings (A collection of Christ's sayings compiled by Matthew)
- Perhaps like the "Q" Source, namely the 250 or so verses common to Matt and Luke, not in others

- Testimonia = Collection of Old Testament Passages

- Agrapha
- Literally means "unwritten"
- they are the unwritten things that Jesus said
- unwritten means not in the Gospel
- An example of this is Acts 20:35

- Direct revelation from God through the prophets (Acts 11:27-28, Acts 13:1, I Corinthians 11:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12-14)

The collection of individual documents

- New Testament authors regarded their messages as authoritative (I Corinthians 7:40, I Corinthians 14:37, 2 Peter 3:1-2, Revelation 22:18-19)
- Internal testimony: the documents were to be read in the public gatherings of the churches (Revelation 1:3, Galatians 1:1-2, I Thessalonians 5:27, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Colossians 4:16)
- Internal testimony: at least two writers cite other New Testament works as "Scripture" (1 Timothy 5:18, 2 Peter 3:15-16)

The influence of that lead to their collection
- Apostles start to die
- A body of truth was needed for teaching new convents
- Influential heretics arise like Marcion of Sinope: Marcion limited the canon to Paul's letters and Luke's gospel. He was anti-semitic and disregarded other books as Old Testament and of the God of wrath.

Formation of the Canon

- The idea: God superintended the collection of the documents via through his spirit in the churches

Tests of canonicity:
1) Apostolic origin (of an apostle or associate)
2) Apostolic doctrine (first oral, then written)
3) Acceptance by the churches

- Canon confirmed the third council of Carthage

Conclusion
- The Holy Spirit superintended the writing, collection and recognition of the canon
- None of the books were accepted by the church because of ecclesiastical compulsion
- Canon wasn't determined by a council or by individuals' judgments. It was the Spirit guidance.
- Church did not determine the canon, it only recognized it

Textual criticism - the study of the copies of any written composition of which the original autograph is unknown

Foundations of Exposition

-Exposition
- Systematic Theology
- Biblical Theology
- Exegesis
- Hermeneutics

How the Bible came to Us

Thoughts in God's mind --> revelation --> Human author's minds --> Inspiration --> Original Manuscripts of the Bible (Collection of 66 Books) --> Textual Criticism --> Modern Greek and Hebrew Bibles -> Translation --> Modern English Versions --> Illumination and Interpretation --> Thoughts in our minds --> Application --> Change in our lives --> Communication --> to others

The Holy Spirit does not help you to interpret the Bible. It prompts you to act on the Biblical passages you read.

Revelation is the wisdom that cannot be known through human methods, it must be revealed by God

Hermeneutics is the science that teaches us the principles, laws and methods of interpretation.

Differing hermeneutical principles and procedures yield different results and is responsible for varying Christian doctrines.

Evangelicals use the grammatical-historical method of interpretation.

Grammatical - considers the meanings of the words in the text

Historical - considers the meaning of the text within historical contexts

Validation - validating your interpretation

Grammatical-historical method seeks to establish the meaning and the intention of the text as it would have been understood by the original readers.

Competent exegesis must be done in the original languages

Interpret literally

Literal - the natural or usual construction and implication of a writing or expression; following the ordinary and apparent sense of words, not allegorical or metaphorical

There are three elements to every word:
1) Symbol - the actual letters
2) Sense - the meaning attached to the symbol (mediator, intercessor, helper)
3) Referent: the actual thing being related to

Interpret the Bible Contextually

Interpret in accordance with the genre of literature

Understand there are figures of speech: metaphors, similes, overstatements, hyperbole, pun, paradox, irony, parables, fables, myths, riddles

Revelation is accommodated.
Revelation is progressive.

II Corinthians 6-13 & prayer

(Originally Written July 21, 2005 in Talks With God)

II Corinthians 6-13

Lord, I'm not sure why it seems like these days are really tough. I asked for a challenge this week and to be stretched this summer. I guess that is why it is like this. Even though I'm emotionally, mentally and physically tired, spiritually I'm more refreshed and alive than I have ever been. Thank you Jesus for your peace that you give me in these tough times. Speak to me today, open my ears so I can hear your voice.

Why do I feel sorrow?

II Corinthians 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation, and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death"

Lord am I a Corinthian? It was necessary for Paul to write them twice and for me to read both of them. Lord, make me something for others to boast about. Lord, keep me humble so that I do not boast but in my weakness and your strength. Make me as Paul or Titus. Make me a faithful servant of you. I love you Lord!

A new covenant with the Lord

(Originally written July 20, 2005 in Talks With God)

II Corinthians 1-5

Why do I suffer what I cannot bear?

II Corinthians 1:9 "Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on our selves but on God, who raises the dead."

II Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Show me how to a minister of the New Covenant. Help me to strive for what is unseen and not for what is seen. For I know that what is unseen is eternal and I want what is eternal, but I still crave what is worldly. You said through Paul that no men will be tempted beyond what he can bear and you will always offer a way out. Make your way out obvious and known to me.

Lord, why am I losing my focus? Why can I not keep my eyes fixed on the task at hand? Where is my mind wandering to? help me to see only what you want me to see; help me to hear only what you want me to hear; help me to think only what you want me to think; help me to do only what you want me to do.