(Originally Written June 10, 2008 in the Journal)
This will be the first time I've read the Book of Tobit. To be honest, I'm pretty excited because I'm reading a part of the Bible I've never read before. True, the Protestant faith does not hold it to be inspired or canonical. But, it is in the Bible I have in front of me and Augustine, whom I respect deeply, quotes it.
The Book of Tobit was written in the 2nd century BC
Notes on The Book of Tobit
Chapter 1
Tobit (meaning YHWH is good) was the son of Tobiel (meaning God is good). Tobeil was the son of Hannaniel (God is merciful) and was of the tribe of Naphtali.
His family was deported from Samaria when Shalmanesser, king of Assyria defeated Israel.
Tobit lived in Nineveh. When Tobit lived in Samaria, he continued to worship the Lord in Jerusalem, not committing the sins of Jeroboam.
Tobit married Anna, who bore him a son named Tobiah.
Tobit became important to Shalmanesser in Nineveh because he served the Lord unswervingly.
Tobit purchased for the king and made numerous trips to Media, where he deposited his own money.
Tobit lost everything because he buried some Jews killed by the king.
Chapter 2
Tobit was blinded by bird droppings during the Festival of the Booths.
Chapter 3
Tobit fell into despair and prayed to God for death.
Chapter 4
In Media, Sarah was accused of killing her seven husbands. In reality though, the demon Asmodeus had killed them.
She went to hang herself, but decided not to so as to spare her aging father from shame. Sarah prayed to God to die.
God heard both prayers and send the angel Raphael to answer them both.
Tobit called his son to give him instructions. Tobit instructed Tobiah on how to live a moral life.
Giving to the needy is very important.
Tobit told Tobiah that he had money deposited in Media and that he should go and retrieve it.
Chapter 5
Tobiah enlisted Raphael as his guide to Media, but he did not know Raphael was an angel.
Tobit asked Raphael whose family he was. Raphael replied that he was Azariah, son of Hananiah (a member of Tobit's own family).
Tobiah and Raphael left Nineveh for Media.
Chapter 6
The two camped at the Tigris River for the night. A large fish attacked Tobiah and he called for help. Raphael told Tobiah to pull the fish ashore and he did so. Raphael told him to cut out the gall, heart and liver because they were good medicines.
The heart, if you burn it around a person afflicted by a demon will cause the demon to leave it. The gall, if you rub it on a man's eyes who is blind will cause the man to see again.
Raphael told Tobiah that it was his right to marry Sarah as he was the closest relative. Tobiah objected because he knew the demon who had killed her seven previous husbands.
Raphael told him to burn the fish liver and heart and pray before having intercourse with her and the demon would be driven away. "But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed" (Tobit 6:18, New American Bible).
Chapter 7
Tobiah and Raphael met Raguel, the father of Sarah. Raguel rejoiced when he learned Tobiah was Tobit's son and wept when he learned of Tobiah's blindness.
Tobiah and Sarah were married by Raguel according to the Law of Moses.
Chapter 8
Tobiah did as Raphael told him and the demon fled into the desert. Raphael pursued him and bound him. When Tobiah did not die Raguel threw a wedding feast for fourteen days.
Chapter 9
Tobit sent Raphael to continue to get the money. Raphael met Gabael and retrieved the money. He brought Gabael to Tobiah to join the wedding feast.
Chapter 10
Tobiah's parents became very anxious when he did not return home. Tobiah and Sarah then left to return to the house of Tobit.
Chapter 11
Tobiah smeared the fish gall on his father's eyes and it burnt. He then pulled off the cataracts so that Tobit could see.
Tobit blessed the Lord for giving him his sight back.
Tobit learned of his son's marriage and rushed out to meet his daughter-in-law. When the people saw him walking without a guide they were amazed.
Chapter 12
Tobit and Tobiah decided to pay Raphael half of all the wealth he had brought back. Raphael extolled them to be righteous and revealed that he was an angel. Then Raphael ascended into heaven.
Chapter 13
Tobit became old and told Tobiah to flee Nineveh with his family because Nineveh was to be destroyed as predicted in Nahum.
Tobit died and was buried. When Tobiah's mother died she was buried next to Tobit.
Tobiah left Nineveh and settled in Media with Raguel.
Tobiah lived to 117 years old. He saw the destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians and then he died.
Showing posts with label Moses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moses. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Brief Notes on Ezra
(Originally written June 9, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord I feel deflated, defeated and dejected. The hope in my heart is failing. My strength has left me. Lord see my heart, my soul and my mind, they lie prostrate before you. Will you show me pity? Will you extend your grace?
How long oh Lord must I suffer, whether justly or unjustly? How long will you afflict me? The pain is temporal, but real. The Christian does not allow himself to be driven to the depths of despair by the ills of this world, nor does he cherish the goods of this world because he looks to the eternal and has an endless supply of joy. The Lord is joy. Halleluiah! May all men be so fortunate as I am to see the Lord and know that He is good.
But Lord, my vision is weak. I am near sighted and hampered by this world. This world is the world you have made; it is blessed by your very hand. Though we have polluted it with strife and sin, it still points to your amazing craftsmanship. Lord lift up my eyes to you. May you remove my near sightedness so that I can see your glory.
Show me the path you wish me to walk. Make it plain and clear so that even I, the lowest of minds, may see it.
"So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7-8).
Lord everyday I try to have sought you. Some days I feel close to you. Other days I feel you are aloof and hide your face from me. Do not turn from me. Your love is all that sustains me. Without that I will surely die! Lord look to your servant here and grant him mercy. Grant me clemency and pardon me of my many iniquities.
See, I walk the narrow path. I walk straight and upright, trying to swerve neither to the left nor the right. I seek righteousness, not for my own sake, but so that your glory may be magnified.
Who am I that the Holy Father, creator and Master of all, should notice me? I am nobody. I am less than that. Even still you speak to me as a son? Do not hide your voice from me, but speak to my heart and I will listen. Remove the stiffness of my neck. I humble myself before you. I ask not for riches or wealth, but only simply to hear your voice and understand your words. You are my treasure. You are my hope, my joy. I give you all that I am, a small gift I know. But, all I have is yours. Counsel me with your words and soothe my anger, fear and despair with your voice.
Notes on Ezra
Chapter 1 - King Cyrus of Persia released the Judahites after years of captivity. He sent them back to rebuild the Temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed.
Chapter 2 - 42,360 men returned to Judah from exile. When they returned to Jerusalem they gave a free-will offering to the house of the Lord.
Chapter 3 -
They restored the altar of the Lord and began to offer holocausts on it as prescribed in the Law of Moses. Then they laid the foundation for the new temple. Some cried for the old Temple. Others rejoiced for the new.
Chapter 4 -
Men of Israel came down to Judah and demanded they be let to help rebuild the temple. When they were refused they acted to stop the rebuilding process.
Artaxerxes stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem because the men of Israel tricked him into thinking that Jerusalem would stop paying tribute once the city was rebuilt.
Chapter 5 -
Haggai and Zechariah urged the people to keep rebuilding in the name of God. When the enemies of Jerusalem learned this they sent another letter to the king of Babylon to halt the rebuilding.
Chapter 6 -
King Darius of Babylon issued a decree stating that the Temple should be rebuilt and that any men who interfered with it should have his house reduced to rubble and be impaled on a beam from his own house. The Temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. The people then celebrated Passover.
Chapter 7 -
Ezra, a descendant of Aaron came to Jerusalem from Babylon. The hand of God was upon Ezra, who was a scribe. Ezra was put in charge of the Judahites by King Artaxerxes of Babylon.
Chapter 8 -
Ezra gathered many Israelites with him, but no Levites were found so he sent for some. Ezra and his followers arrived in Jerusalem safely and presented the gold and silver from Artaxerxes to the Temple.
Chapter 9 -
Ezra denounced the intermarriage between the Israelites and the surrounding peoples.
Chapter 10 -
The men who had taken foreign wives sent them away, along with all the children born to them.
Lord I feel deflated, defeated and dejected. The hope in my heart is failing. My strength has left me. Lord see my heart, my soul and my mind, they lie prostrate before you. Will you show me pity? Will you extend your grace?
How long oh Lord must I suffer, whether justly or unjustly? How long will you afflict me? The pain is temporal, but real. The Christian does not allow himself to be driven to the depths of despair by the ills of this world, nor does he cherish the goods of this world because he looks to the eternal and has an endless supply of joy. The Lord is joy. Halleluiah! May all men be so fortunate as I am to see the Lord and know that He is good.
But Lord, my vision is weak. I am near sighted and hampered by this world. This world is the world you have made; it is blessed by your very hand. Though we have polluted it with strife and sin, it still points to your amazing craftsmanship. Lord lift up my eyes to you. May you remove my near sightedness so that I can see your glory.
Show me the path you wish me to walk. Make it plain and clear so that even I, the lowest of minds, may see it.
"So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7-8).
Lord everyday I try to have sought you. Some days I feel close to you. Other days I feel you are aloof and hide your face from me. Do not turn from me. Your love is all that sustains me. Without that I will surely die! Lord look to your servant here and grant him mercy. Grant me clemency and pardon me of my many iniquities.
See, I walk the narrow path. I walk straight and upright, trying to swerve neither to the left nor the right. I seek righteousness, not for my own sake, but so that your glory may be magnified.
Who am I that the Holy Father, creator and Master of all, should notice me? I am nobody. I am less than that. Even still you speak to me as a son? Do not hide your voice from me, but speak to my heart and I will listen. Remove the stiffness of my neck. I humble myself before you. I ask not for riches or wealth, but only simply to hear your voice and understand your words. You are my treasure. You are my hope, my joy. I give you all that I am, a small gift I know. But, all I have is yours. Counsel me with your words and soothe my anger, fear and despair with your voice.
Notes on Ezra
Chapter 1 - King Cyrus of Persia released the Judahites after years of captivity. He sent them back to rebuild the Temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed.
Chapter 2 - 42,360 men returned to Judah from exile. When they returned to Jerusalem they gave a free-will offering to the house of the Lord.
Chapter 3 -
They restored the altar of the Lord and began to offer holocausts on it as prescribed in the Law of Moses. Then they laid the foundation for the new temple. Some cried for the old Temple. Others rejoiced for the new.
Chapter 4 -
Men of Israel came down to Judah and demanded they be let to help rebuild the temple. When they were refused they acted to stop the rebuilding process.
Artaxerxes stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem because the men of Israel tricked him into thinking that Jerusalem would stop paying tribute once the city was rebuilt.
Chapter 5 -
Haggai and Zechariah urged the people to keep rebuilding in the name of God. When the enemies of Jerusalem learned this they sent another letter to the king of Babylon to halt the rebuilding.
Chapter 6 -
King Darius of Babylon issued a decree stating that the Temple should be rebuilt and that any men who interfered with it should have his house reduced to rubble and be impaled on a beam from his own house. The Temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. The people then celebrated Passover.
Chapter 7 -
Ezra, a descendant of Aaron came to Jerusalem from Babylon. The hand of God was upon Ezra, who was a scribe. Ezra was put in charge of the Judahites by King Artaxerxes of Babylon.
Chapter 8 -
Ezra gathered many Israelites with him, but no Levites were found so he sent for some. Ezra and his followers arrived in Jerusalem safely and presented the gold and silver from Artaxerxes to the Temple.
Chapter 9 -
Ezra denounced the intermarriage between the Israelites and the surrounding peoples.
Chapter 10 -
The men who had taken foreign wives sent them away, along with all the children born to them.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Brief Notes on The Epistle of Barnabas
(Originally Written June 3, 2008 in the Journal)
The Epistle of Barnabas seems to have been written between 70 - 200 A.D. It is not believed that this Barnabas is the same Barnabas as Paul's companion.
The Epistle of Barnabas
"For on the way of righteousness I have had the companionship of the Lord" (Early Christian Writings, 159).
There are three principles of the Lord:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Love
The Lord has made known to us that He has no need of oblations and sacrifices. The Lord seeks us to give to the needy and give the Lord a contrite heart as sacrifice.
We as Christians are not to withdraw within ourselves and live in solitude. We must make ourselves into the temple of the Living God.
The Lord sanctified us by the remission of our sins in His death.
Ruin justly awaits those who know the way of Holiness but choose the way of Darkness.
The prophets of Israel can only be understood through their fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
Though Jesus Christ was fully God, He came into this world as a man and suffered so that His affliction would win life for us.
Moses spoke of the dietary laws for which the Israelites understood carnally, but we, as Christians, understand them spiritually.
There are two ways of teaching, two wielders of power: the light and the darkness.
To follow the Way of Light is to give glory to Him who redeemed you from death. The Way of Light is never marred by hypocrisy. The Way of Light loves its neighbor more than itself.
"Never do away with an unborn child, or destroy it after its birth" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
"Whatever experience comes your way, accept it as a blessing, in the certainty that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
Be as pure as you can. Detest evil. Be generous. Do not come to prayer with a bad conscious.
The Way of Darkness is defiance of God. Those in the Way of Darkness are sunk in sin.
The Epistle of Barnabas seems to have been written between 70 - 200 A.D. It is not believed that this Barnabas is the same Barnabas as Paul's companion.
The Epistle of Barnabas
"For on the way of righteousness I have had the companionship of the Lord" (Early Christian Writings, 159).
There are three principles of the Lord:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Love
The Lord has made known to us that He has no need of oblations and sacrifices. The Lord seeks us to give to the needy and give the Lord a contrite heart as sacrifice.
We as Christians are not to withdraw within ourselves and live in solitude. We must make ourselves into the temple of the Living God.
The Lord sanctified us by the remission of our sins in His death.
Ruin justly awaits those who know the way of Holiness but choose the way of Darkness.
The prophets of Israel can only be understood through their fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
Though Jesus Christ was fully God, He came into this world as a man and suffered so that His affliction would win life for us.
Moses spoke of the dietary laws for which the Israelites understood carnally, but we, as Christians, understand them spiritually.
There are two ways of teaching, two wielders of power: the light and the darkness.
To follow the Way of Light is to give glory to Him who redeemed you from death. The Way of Light is never marred by hypocrisy. The Way of Light loves its neighbor more than itself.
"Never do away with an unborn child, or destroy it after its birth" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
"Whatever experience comes your way, accept it as a blessing, in the certainty that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
Be as pure as you can. Detest evil. Be generous. Do not come to prayer with a bad conscious.
The Way of Darkness is defiance of God. Those in the Way of Darkness are sunk in sin.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Brief Notes on Joshua 11-24
(Originally Written May 27, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord I am weak. She is packing to leave me for good. If this separation must come to pass I pray you make it temporary. Day and night I will worship you and meditate on your Word. I will follow your Law and neither stray to the left nor to the right. Return her to me and you, most importantly to you. Stir in her the love you have for us. I beseech you as my Lord and King, do not forsake me in my time of desperation. You bound us here on earth; strengthen that binding and draw us closer to each other and close to you. This is all so easy in your power, if you would just touch down a finger on her she would be mine again. But your will be done for who am I to question your methods or wisdom? Lord save us, if you will. Give me strength and comfort today.
Last night you spoke to me and for what reasons I do not know. II heard a still, small voice in my heart speaking to me in the same tone as when I was told to fast. I heard "eat bread and water" and I will obey until the end of August. That is my sacred vow to you. I will honor your call.
Notes on Joshua
Chapter 11
The king of Hazor, Jabin, called to other kings to join him against the Israelites. Jobab, king of Madon, the kings of Shimron and Aehshaph and the kings of the northern mountains and the kings in Arabah and those to the west joined with Jabin. The eastern and western Canaanites, the Amorites, Perizzites and Jebusites united against Israel.
Joshua attacked them by surprise and killed all of them. He followed the Lord's instructions and hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua doomed all the cities and did not stray from the commands of the Lord through Moses. Joshua exterminated the Anakim in the land. But, some survived in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod.
Chapter 12
A survey of the conquered kings:
- Sihon, king of the Amorites from Heshbon
- Og, king of Bashan
- The kings of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Gezer, Debir, Geder, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, Lasharon, Madon, Hazor, Shimron, Aehshaph, Taanach, Megiddo, Kedesh, Jokneam, Dor, Gilgal and Tizrah, 31 in all.
Chapter 13
The Lord told Joshua in old age there was much yet to be conquered but to divide the conquered and unconquered land among the tribes.
The Eastern tribes: Reuben, Gad and the other half of Manasseh
Chapter 14
The Western Tribes: Judah
Chapter 15
Caleb drove from his portion the three sons of Anak (the Anakim) Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.
Judah was given a large portion on behalf of the faith of Caleb when he spied on the cities when the Israelites were still in the desert.
Chapter 16
The tribes of Joseph
Chapter 17
The Josephites, Manasseh and Ephraim complained about the size of their share and Joshua told them it would enlarge when they drove the Canaanites out.
Chapter 18
Joshua then divided the land into seven parts for the other seven tribes. He then cast lots to see who would pick first. The Benjaminites drew first.
Chapter 19
The Simeonites received their portion next, which was bound within that of Judah. Next came Zebulun, then Issachar, then Asher, then Naphtali and was finished by Dan. The Israelites gave to Joshua the city he asked for: Timnah-Serah.
Chapter 20
Kedesh in Galilee, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim and Hebron in Judah were set up as asylum cities. Beyond the Jordan River, the cities Bezer in Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan in Bashan were set apart as cities of asylum.
Chapter 21
The Levites were then allotted cities by the other tribes in accordance with the will of God.
All the promises the Lord made to Israel, He fulfilled.
Chapter 22
The half tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites were blessed and sent back home across the Jordan River. After crossing the Jordan these three tribes built a very large altar to the Lord. When the other tribes heard of this they scrambled to declare war on them. They accused the Gadites, Reubenites and the half tribe of Manasseh of seceding from the Lord. These three tribes explained that it was meant only as a witness to the one true altar of the Lord, not a place for holocausts.
Chapter 23
Joshua warned the community not to stray from the Lord at all because as He fulfilled every promise so too would he fulfill every threat.
Chapter 24
Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel. Joshua died at 110 years old. Eleazar also died. The bones of Joseph were buried in Schechem.
Lord I am weak. She is packing to leave me for good. If this separation must come to pass I pray you make it temporary. Day and night I will worship you and meditate on your Word. I will follow your Law and neither stray to the left nor to the right. Return her to me and you, most importantly to you. Stir in her the love you have for us. I beseech you as my Lord and King, do not forsake me in my time of desperation. You bound us here on earth; strengthen that binding and draw us closer to each other and close to you. This is all so easy in your power, if you would just touch down a finger on her she would be mine again. But your will be done for who am I to question your methods or wisdom? Lord save us, if you will. Give me strength and comfort today.
Last night you spoke to me and for what reasons I do not know. II heard a still, small voice in my heart speaking to me in the same tone as when I was told to fast. I heard "eat bread and water" and I will obey until the end of August. That is my sacred vow to you. I will honor your call.
Notes on Joshua
Chapter 11
The king of Hazor, Jabin, called to other kings to join him against the Israelites. Jobab, king of Madon, the kings of Shimron and Aehshaph and the kings of the northern mountains and the kings in Arabah and those to the west joined with Jabin. The eastern and western Canaanites, the Amorites, Perizzites and Jebusites united against Israel.
Joshua attacked them by surprise and killed all of them. He followed the Lord's instructions and hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua doomed all the cities and did not stray from the commands of the Lord through Moses. Joshua exterminated the Anakim in the land. But, some survived in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod.
Chapter 12
A survey of the conquered kings:
- Sihon, king of the Amorites from Heshbon
- Og, king of Bashan
- The kings of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Gezer, Debir, Geder, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, Lasharon, Madon, Hazor, Shimron, Aehshaph, Taanach, Megiddo, Kedesh, Jokneam, Dor, Gilgal and Tizrah, 31 in all.
Chapter 13
The Lord told Joshua in old age there was much yet to be conquered but to divide the conquered and unconquered land among the tribes.
The Eastern tribes: Reuben, Gad and the other half of Manasseh
Chapter 14
The Western Tribes: Judah
Chapter 15
Caleb drove from his portion the three sons of Anak (the Anakim) Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.
Judah was given a large portion on behalf of the faith of Caleb when he spied on the cities when the Israelites were still in the desert.
Chapter 16
The tribes of Joseph
Chapter 17
The Josephites, Manasseh and Ephraim complained about the size of their share and Joshua told them it would enlarge when they drove the Canaanites out.
Chapter 18
Joshua then divided the land into seven parts for the other seven tribes. He then cast lots to see who would pick first. The Benjaminites drew first.
Chapter 19
The Simeonites received their portion next, which was bound within that of Judah. Next came Zebulun, then Issachar, then Asher, then Naphtali and was finished by Dan. The Israelites gave to Joshua the city he asked for: Timnah-Serah.
Chapter 20
Kedesh in Galilee, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim and Hebron in Judah were set up as asylum cities. Beyond the Jordan River, the cities Bezer in Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan in Bashan were set apart as cities of asylum.
Chapter 21
The Levites were then allotted cities by the other tribes in accordance with the will of God.
All the promises the Lord made to Israel, He fulfilled.
Chapter 22
The half tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites were blessed and sent back home across the Jordan River. After crossing the Jordan these three tribes built a very large altar to the Lord. When the other tribes heard of this they scrambled to declare war on them. They accused the Gadites, Reubenites and the half tribe of Manasseh of seceding from the Lord. These three tribes explained that it was meant only as a witness to the one true altar of the Lord, not a place for holocausts.
Chapter 23
Joshua warned the community not to stray from the Lord at all because as He fulfilled every promise so too would he fulfill every threat.
Chapter 24
Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel. Joshua died at 110 years old. Eleazar also died. The bones of Joseph were buried in Schechem.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Brief Notes on Joshua 1-10
(Originally Written May 26, 2008 in the Journal)
Notes on Joshua
Chapter 1
The Lord told Joshua to be firm and steadfast and meditate on the Law day and night. He told Joshua not to fear because the Lord was with him.
Chapter 2
Joshua sent two spies and the woman Rahab hid them because she feared the Lord. They returned to Joshua and told them that the people feared the Israelites.
Chapter 3
The Lord stopped the Jordan River flowing and the Israelites crossed it.
Chapter 4
The Israelites erected twelve stones to mark the crossing of the Jordan River, one for each tribe.
The Lord exalted Joshua as He had Moses, and the people respected him as they did Moses.
Chapter 5
The kings of Canaanites and the kings of the Amorites became disheartened when they found that the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River on dry land.
The Israelites were all circumcised at Gilgal because they had not been circumcised in the desert.
Joshua met the captain of the host of the Lord (an angel) on the path to Jericho.
Chapter 6
The Israelites took Jericho by following the orders of the Lord. They marched around the city for seven days and let out a great yell on the seventh. The walls came down and they slaughtered all the men, women, children and animals inside. Rahab and her kin were spared and lived with the Israelites from there on out.
Chapter 7
While in Jericho, Achan took some of the loot that was banned. It was for this reason the Israelites were defeated at the city of Ai. Achan was stoned to death for his sin, with all his family and possessions.
Chapter 8
The Lord trapped Ai. Joshua sent 30,000 men to ambush it in the back and the rest of the force he led to the front. He then retreated and drew all the soldiers from Ai out with pursuit. The ambush squad sacked the city and burned it. The entire population of Ai was killed.
Joshua built an altar to the Lord on Mount Ebal. There he read the Law to the people.
Chapter 9
The Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites formed an alliance against Israel.
The Gibeonites deceived Joshua into making an alliance with them. The Gibeonites were spared their lives but made slaves to the Israelites.
Chapter 10
Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem formed an alliance with the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon against Gibeon. Joshua marched up from Gilgal and slaughtered the five Amorite kings.
Chapter 10:13 - What is the book of Jashar?
The Israelites doomed Makkedhah, Libnah and Lachish, killing everyone. They doomed Eglon, Hebron and Debir. They conquered the mountain regions, the Negeb and the foothills, leaving no survivors. They captured Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, Goshen to Gibeon.
Notes on Joshua
Chapter 1
The Lord told Joshua to be firm and steadfast and meditate on the Law day and night. He told Joshua not to fear because the Lord was with him.
Chapter 2
Joshua sent two spies and the woman Rahab hid them because she feared the Lord. They returned to Joshua and told them that the people feared the Israelites.
Chapter 3
The Lord stopped the Jordan River flowing and the Israelites crossed it.
Chapter 4
The Israelites erected twelve stones to mark the crossing of the Jordan River, one for each tribe.
The Lord exalted Joshua as He had Moses, and the people respected him as they did Moses.
Chapter 5
The kings of Canaanites and the kings of the Amorites became disheartened when they found that the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River on dry land.
The Israelites were all circumcised at Gilgal because they had not been circumcised in the desert.
Joshua met the captain of the host of the Lord (an angel) on the path to Jericho.
Chapter 6
The Israelites took Jericho by following the orders of the Lord. They marched around the city for seven days and let out a great yell on the seventh. The walls came down and they slaughtered all the men, women, children and animals inside. Rahab and her kin were spared and lived with the Israelites from there on out.
Chapter 7
While in Jericho, Achan took some of the loot that was banned. It was for this reason the Israelites were defeated at the city of Ai. Achan was stoned to death for his sin, with all his family and possessions.
Chapter 8
The Lord trapped Ai. Joshua sent 30,000 men to ambush it in the back and the rest of the force he led to the front. He then retreated and drew all the soldiers from Ai out with pursuit. The ambush squad sacked the city and burned it. The entire population of Ai was killed.
Joshua built an altar to the Lord on Mount Ebal. There he read the Law to the people.
Chapter 9
The Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites formed an alliance against Israel.
The Gibeonites deceived Joshua into making an alliance with them. The Gibeonites were spared their lives but made slaves to the Israelites.
Chapter 10
Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem formed an alliance with the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon against Gibeon. Joshua marched up from Gilgal and slaughtered the five Amorite kings.
Chapter 10:13 - What is the book of Jashar?
The Israelites doomed Makkedhah, Libnah and Lachish, killing everyone. They doomed Eglon, Hebron and Debir. They conquered the mountain regions, the Negeb and the foothills, leaving no survivors. They captured Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, Goshen to Gibeon.
Brief Notes on Deuteronomy 20-34
(Originally Written May 26, 2008 in the Journal)
Thank you God for her safe passage home. Thank you for all the blessing you have bestowed upon us. Circumcise our hearts, ears and minds that we may submit to your love and grace. Teach me in your Word. Hear my prayer Heavenly Father.
Deuteronomy
Chapter 20
Instructions for battle, kill all people living in the land of Canaan.
Chapter 21
How to deal with a dead body when found. The purging of sin by washing away the blood.
You may marry a female captive, but if you lose your liking for her you must free her because she was married under compulsion.
You must stone an incorrigible son to death.
Those put to death must be buried the same day.
Chapter 22
When you find something that is lost, take care of it for the owner until he claims it.
Women ought not to wear men's clothing and men are not to wear women's clothing. This is an abomination.
Infidelity is a capital punishment. You must purge evil from your midst.
If a man lies with an unmarried woman he must marry her and cannot divorce her.
Chapter 23
You must keep your camp clean and holy for the Lord dwells with you.
Chapter 24
Take care of the poor, needy and alien.
Chapter 25
Weigh true and just, do not cheat.
Honor your brother and his family.
Chapter 26
You are a people of the Lord. He will bless you if you keep His commandments.
Chapter 27
12 Curses:
1. Cursed is the man who makes an idol.
2. Cursed is the man who dishonors his father and mother.
3. Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's landmarks.
4. Cursed is the man who misleads the blind man.
5. Cursed is the man who violates the orphan, widow or alien.
6. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father's wife.
7. Cursed is the man who practices bestiality.
8. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his sister.
9. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his mother-in-law.
10. Cursed is the man who murders his neighbor.
11. Cursed is the hit man.
12. Cursed is the man who does not follow the law.
Chapter 28
Blessed are those who follow the ways of the Lord.
"Though you betroth a wife, another man will have her. Though you build a house, you will not live in it. Though you plant a vineyard, you will not enjoy its fruits" (Deuteronomy 28:29-30, New American Bible). A prophecy of Christ.
Chapter 29
Warnings against idolatry
Chapter 30
The Lord will delight in you if only you keep His commandments.
Chapter 31
The Lord your God will never fail or forsake you.
Moses commissioned Joshua as his successor.
Chapter 32
The Song of Moses.
It is God and God alone who inflicts wounds and heals them.
Moses went to Mount Nebo to view Canaan and die.
Chapter 33
Blessings are bestowed on the tribes through Moses.
Chapter 34
Moses went up to Mount Nebo and viewed the Promised Land. He died and the Israelites mourned him for thirty days.
Thank you God for her safe passage home. Thank you for all the blessing you have bestowed upon us. Circumcise our hearts, ears and minds that we may submit to your love and grace. Teach me in your Word. Hear my prayer Heavenly Father.
Deuteronomy
Chapter 20
Instructions for battle, kill all people living in the land of Canaan.
Chapter 21
How to deal with a dead body when found. The purging of sin by washing away the blood.
You may marry a female captive, but if you lose your liking for her you must free her because she was married under compulsion.
You must stone an incorrigible son to death.
Those put to death must be buried the same day.
Chapter 22
When you find something that is lost, take care of it for the owner until he claims it.
Women ought not to wear men's clothing and men are not to wear women's clothing. This is an abomination.
Infidelity is a capital punishment. You must purge evil from your midst.
If a man lies with an unmarried woman he must marry her and cannot divorce her.
Chapter 23
You must keep your camp clean and holy for the Lord dwells with you.
Chapter 24
Take care of the poor, needy and alien.
Chapter 25
Weigh true and just, do not cheat.
Honor your brother and his family.
Chapter 26
You are a people of the Lord. He will bless you if you keep His commandments.
Chapter 27
12 Curses:
1. Cursed is the man who makes an idol.
2. Cursed is the man who dishonors his father and mother.
3. Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's landmarks.
4. Cursed is the man who misleads the blind man.
5. Cursed is the man who violates the orphan, widow or alien.
6. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father's wife.
7. Cursed is the man who practices bestiality.
8. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his sister.
9. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his mother-in-law.
10. Cursed is the man who murders his neighbor.
11. Cursed is the hit man.
12. Cursed is the man who does not follow the law.
Chapter 28
Blessed are those who follow the ways of the Lord.
"Though you betroth a wife, another man will have her. Though you build a house, you will not live in it. Though you plant a vineyard, you will not enjoy its fruits" (Deuteronomy 28:29-30, New American Bible). A prophecy of Christ.
Chapter 29
Warnings against idolatry
Chapter 30
The Lord will delight in you if only you keep His commandments.
Chapter 31
The Lord your God will never fail or forsake you.
Moses commissioned Joshua as his successor.
Chapter 32
The Song of Moses.
It is God and God alone who inflicts wounds and heals them.
Moses went to Mount Nebo to view Canaan and die.
Chapter 33
Blessings are bestowed on the tribes through Moses.
Chapter 34
Moses went up to Mount Nebo and viewed the Promised Land. He died and the Israelites mourned him for thirty days.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Brief Notes on Deuteronomy 1 - 17
(Originally written May 23, 2008 in the Journal)
Chapter 1
"Do not fear or lose heart" (Deuteronomy 1:21, New American Bible)
Chapter 2
The Lord would not give the Israelites any land of the Seir or of Moab because they are the descendants of Esau and Lot. He would also not give the land of the Ammonites to the Israelites because they too were the descendants of Lot. The Ammonites, Moabites and the descendants of Esau had all driven out the inhabitants of their land with the help of God. The previous inhabitants were the strong and tall people like the Anakim.
Who are the Anakim? Is there any other reference to them? In mythology? In archeology?
The Lord first delivered Heshbon, the kingdom of the Amorite ruler Sihon to the Israelites. The Israelites doomed them all, man, woman and child.
Chapter 3
The Lord then delivered the Kingdom of Bashan to the Israelites. They defeated King Og and captured over sixty cities. They left no survivors.
Og, the King of Bashan was the last of the Rephaim. His sarcophagus was nine cubits long and four cubits wide.
Moses asked the Lord to allow him to enter the kingdom of the Promised Land, but the Lord refused and showed it to him from a high hill.
Chapter 4
For the Israelites, Egypt was the iron foundry. God allowed the Israelites to be afflicted there for the sake of their spiritual purification. Contrast that with the furnace of affliction in Isaiah 48.
Lord, am I in the iron foundry or the furnace of affliction? I have sinned and deserve the latter. Yet, I am redeemed by the blood of Christ. I am atoned. If this is the foundry then continue the smelting so that I can be pure and strong. If this is the furnace of affliction Lord, cool the fires of your righteous rage and heal me with the balm of your merciful touch. Hear my prayer oh God, for you answer those who call to you. Hear me for the sake of your righteousness and look on me with pity and mercy and love.
Moses warns the Israelites not to be tempted by Idolatry.
"Since the Lord, your God, is a merciful God, He will not abandon and destroy you, nor forget the covenant which under oath he made with your fathers" (Deuteronomy 4:31, New American Bible)
Chapter 5
The retelling of the commandments
Chapter 6
Follow the statutes of the Lord and He will prosper you.
Chapter 7
Do not take mercy or pity on the enemies of God. Loathe and abhor everything that is doomed lest you be doomed by it.
Chapter 8
Do not allow prosperity to make you forget the Lord your God.
Chapter 9
Understand that the Lord gives you good land not because the merits of your heart, but because of the wickedness of others.
Chapter 10
Circumcise your hearts; be receptive to divine grace and guidance.
Chapter 11
You will be blessed and rewarded for obedience to God. You will be cursed for disobedience.
Chapter 12
Destroy all the strongholds and places of idol worship. You will worship the Lord in the place he appoints for you, not wherever you fancy.
Chapter 13
Do not follow a prophet who correctly tells the future but leads you to other gods for the Lord is testing you. Stone to death even your brother, wife or friend if they tempt you to stray to a false god. If a city is led to idolatry, kill all the inhabitants and burn the city. Do not rebuild it.
Chapter 14
Do not follow pagan mourning rituals.
Chapter 15
About the slaves and the poor
Chapter 16
The observation of Passover, Pentecost and the feast of the Booths.
There should be judges in communities whose end should only be justice without partiality.
Do not worship as the pagans do.
Chapter 17
You must stone idol worshippers, but there must be at least two or three witnesses to put a man to death. You must purge evil from the community.
When judges cannot decide they must refer them to the Levitical priests. They will hand down the decision after studying the case.
If you decide to take a king he will be appointed by God. He must not have many wives, horses or silver.
Chapter 1
"Do not fear or lose heart" (Deuteronomy 1:21, New American Bible)
Chapter 2
The Lord would not give the Israelites any land of the Seir or of Moab because they are the descendants of Esau and Lot. He would also not give the land of the Ammonites to the Israelites because they too were the descendants of Lot. The Ammonites, Moabites and the descendants of Esau had all driven out the inhabitants of their land with the help of God. The previous inhabitants were the strong and tall people like the Anakim.
Who are the Anakim? Is there any other reference to them? In mythology? In archeology?
The Lord first delivered Heshbon, the kingdom of the Amorite ruler Sihon to the Israelites. The Israelites doomed them all, man, woman and child.
Chapter 3
The Lord then delivered the Kingdom of Bashan to the Israelites. They defeated King Og and captured over sixty cities. They left no survivors.
Og, the King of Bashan was the last of the Rephaim. His sarcophagus was nine cubits long and four cubits wide.
Moses asked the Lord to allow him to enter the kingdom of the Promised Land, but the Lord refused and showed it to him from a high hill.
Chapter 4
For the Israelites, Egypt was the iron foundry. God allowed the Israelites to be afflicted there for the sake of their spiritual purification. Contrast that with the furnace of affliction in Isaiah 48.
Lord, am I in the iron foundry or the furnace of affliction? I have sinned and deserve the latter. Yet, I am redeemed by the blood of Christ. I am atoned. If this is the foundry then continue the smelting so that I can be pure and strong. If this is the furnace of affliction Lord, cool the fires of your righteous rage and heal me with the balm of your merciful touch. Hear my prayer oh God, for you answer those who call to you. Hear me for the sake of your righteousness and look on me with pity and mercy and love.
Moses warns the Israelites not to be tempted by Idolatry.
"Since the Lord, your God, is a merciful God, He will not abandon and destroy you, nor forget the covenant which under oath he made with your fathers" (Deuteronomy 4:31, New American Bible)
Chapter 5
The retelling of the commandments
Chapter 6
Follow the statutes of the Lord and He will prosper you.
Chapter 7
Do not take mercy or pity on the enemies of God. Loathe and abhor everything that is doomed lest you be doomed by it.
Chapter 8
Do not allow prosperity to make you forget the Lord your God.
Chapter 9
Understand that the Lord gives you good land not because the merits of your heart, but because of the wickedness of others.
Chapter 10
Circumcise your hearts; be receptive to divine grace and guidance.
Chapter 11
You will be blessed and rewarded for obedience to God. You will be cursed for disobedience.
Chapter 12
Destroy all the strongholds and places of idol worship. You will worship the Lord in the place he appoints for you, not wherever you fancy.
Chapter 13
Do not follow a prophet who correctly tells the future but leads you to other gods for the Lord is testing you. Stone to death even your brother, wife or friend if they tempt you to stray to a false god. If a city is led to idolatry, kill all the inhabitants and burn the city. Do not rebuild it.
Chapter 14
Do not follow pagan mourning rituals.
Chapter 15
About the slaves and the poor
Chapter 16
The observation of Passover, Pentecost and the feast of the Booths.
There should be judges in communities whose end should only be justice without partiality.
Do not worship as the pagans do.
Chapter 17
You must stone idol worshippers, but there must be at least two or three witnesses to put a man to death. You must purge evil from the community.
When judges cannot decide they must refer them to the Levitical priests. They will hand down the decision after studying the case.
If you decide to take a king he will be appointed by God. He must not have many wives, horses or silver.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Brief Notes on Numbers 30-34
(Originally Written May 21, 2008 in the Journal)
Foolishness and lust and sin, that is what I am. Lord have mercy on me, forgive me of my stupidity. Take the desire for my overindulgence away. I need neither food nor drink nor sex nor touch for fulfillment. I know this, now help me put it into practice.
Open my eyes to your wisdom. Open my heart to you. Open her eyes and heart and mind so she can once again be in your care and feel it. I do not know why she has turned her back on you nor why you have given her over to her sin. Redeem her to you as your lost daughter. Only your touch can save her. Do not abandon her as she has abandoned me. If you need atonement then allow me to atone for her. I will bear the punishment. Reconcile her to you and to me. Look upon me with favor for you are a just and merciful God.
Numbers 30 - Vows
Numbers 31
The Lord told the Israelites to exterminate the Midianites and they did so. They killed all the Midianite men, including five kings and Balaam. They took the women and children captive. When Moses saw the women and children he became angry and told them to kill every male child and every woman who was not a virgin. The men purified themselves and their possessions from battle.
Numbers 32
The tribes of Gad and Reuben settled in the land just conquered on the other side of the Jordan river.
Numbers 33
The retelling of the journey from Egypt to Canaan.
Numbers 34
The laying out of the territory and the appointment of the apportions.
Foolishness and lust and sin, that is what I am. Lord have mercy on me, forgive me of my stupidity. Take the desire for my overindulgence away. I need neither food nor drink nor sex nor touch for fulfillment. I know this, now help me put it into practice.
Open my eyes to your wisdom. Open my heart to you. Open her eyes and heart and mind so she can once again be in your care and feel it. I do not know why she has turned her back on you nor why you have given her over to her sin. Redeem her to you as your lost daughter. Only your touch can save her. Do not abandon her as she has abandoned me. If you need atonement then allow me to atone for her. I will bear the punishment. Reconcile her to you and to me. Look upon me with favor for you are a just and merciful God.
Numbers 30 - Vows
Numbers 31
The Lord told the Israelites to exterminate the Midianites and they did so. They killed all the Midianite men, including five kings and Balaam. They took the women and children captive. When Moses saw the women and children he became angry and told them to kill every male child and every woman who was not a virgin. The men purified themselves and their possessions from battle.
Numbers 32
The tribes of Gad and Reuben settled in the land just conquered on the other side of the Jordan river.
Numbers 33
The retelling of the journey from Egypt to Canaan.
Numbers 34
The laying out of the territory and the appointment of the apportions.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Brief Notes on Numbers 18-29
(Originally Written May 16, 2008 in the Journal)
A lot has happened in the last week and a half. She left me on Wednesday May 7th and today she put down her deposit to live in a coed house. Is it not enough to make me suffer the loss of my wife that I must writhe in pain and agony over her unfaithfulness? Why does the Lord hate me so? Why must He put me in such misery? Why do I face such trials and tribulations. I am merely a man. I am a weakling who is going to be crushed by this. Why have I been set upon a path to be destroyed? What sins have I committed to bring so much shame and hurt upon my head? Where is the mercy of the Almighty? Why have you looked upon me with scorn? I am wicked and growing ever more wicked. There is hate and malice in my very breath. This is why the Lord has struck me down. My pride and arrogance are decimated. The glory of the Lord has reduced me to ashes. May He now, if it is His will, resurrect me from this death. It is in your power Lord, if it is in your will.
The Lord is great and good in His dealings with me. He is fair and just. Though I now walk through such pain and strife I know that He has not abandoned me. Draw me closer to your love my sweet God so that I can begin to heal. Restore my faith and my heart for I am weak and faint. Fear has gripped my heart and soul and I long to be free of it. The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want. Thank you Lord for your tests. May it strengthen my resolve for you. May you be praised for your very Being. You alone are worthy of my praise. Teach me patience and trust here, for I am in failing health and spirit. My mind betrays me and my heart stops. I have sunk beneath all else. I am the lowest of the lows. Restore me to you Lord. I will trust your unfailing judgment in all matters. Amen.
I hurt so bad Lord. Give me some comfort.
Numbers 18 - The priesthood is given to Aaron and his descendants as a gift.
Tithing - only the best portion is acceptable.
Numbers 19 -
The cleansing of the unclean men and women.
The importance of days number three and seven.
Numbers 20
Moses sinned by not trusting God and struck the rock twice.
Aaron passed away and the priesthood went to his son Eleazar.
Numbers 21 -
The Lord led the Israelites to victory over the King of Arad.
The Israelites complained against God and the Lord sent serpents to kill them. They repented and the Lord showed mercy.
What is the Book of the Wars of the Lord?
The Lord led the Israelites into victory over King Sihon and the Amorites.
The Israelites settled in the lands of the Amorites and then captured Jazer.
Numbers 22
Balak, the king of Moab sought out Balaam who feared the Lord. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites. The Lord told Balaam to go, but to do only as He said. The ass Balaam was riding saw the angel of the Lord and turned back three times and spoke to Balaam.
Numbers 23
Balaam blessed Israel to Balak's consternation.
Numbers 24
Balaam gave the oracle that no descendants of Ishmael shall survive.
Numbers 25
Some Israelites worshiped Baal of Shittim and were executed before the Lord. 24,000 died that day.
The Lord told Israel to crush the Midianites for bringing Baal worship to them.
Numbers 26
Another census of the 20 year old males and older is taken.
From Reuben came the Hanochites, the Pallvites, the Hezronites and the Carmites: 43,730 men.
From Simeon came the Nemuelites, the Jaminites, the Jachinites, the Soharites and the Shaulites: 22,200 men.
From Gad came the Zephonites, Haggites, Shunites, Oznites, the Erites, the Arodites, and the Arelites: 40,500 men.
From Judah came the Shelahites, the Perezites, the Hezronites, the Hamulites: 76,500 men.
From Issachar came the Tolaites, the Puvahites, the Jashubites, the Shimuonites: 64,300 men.
From Zebulun came the Seredites, the Elonites, the Jahleelites: 60,500 men.
From Joseph came the Manassehites, the Machirites, the Gileadites, the Abiezrites, the Helekites, the Asrielites, the Shechemites, the Shemidaites, the Hepherites: 52,700 men.
From Ephraim came the Shuthelahites, the Bechrites, the Tahanites, the Eranites: 32,500 men.
From Dan came the Shuhamites: 64,400 men.
From Asher came the Imnites, Ishvites, Benites, Heberites, Malchielites: 53,400 men.
From Naphtali came the Jahzeelites, Gurites, Jezerites, Shillemites: 45,500 men.
601,730 men were registered.
The Levites were the Gershonites, Kohathites, Merarites, Libnites, Hebronites, Mahlites, Mushites, Korahites: 23,300 men.
Only Joshua and Caleb were counted in both censuses.
Numbers 27 - The Lord showed Moses the Promised Land though he could not enter. He then told Moses to anoint Joshua as his successor.
Numbers 28 & 29
Offerings and festivals.
Thank you for this day. I always feel so much better after reading your Word. You are my strength and solace. May my lips never stop praising your Holy name.
A lot has happened in the last week and a half. She left me on Wednesday May 7th and today she put down her deposit to live in a coed house. Is it not enough to make me suffer the loss of my wife that I must writhe in pain and agony over her unfaithfulness? Why does the Lord hate me so? Why must He put me in such misery? Why do I face such trials and tribulations. I am merely a man. I am a weakling who is going to be crushed by this. Why have I been set upon a path to be destroyed? What sins have I committed to bring so much shame and hurt upon my head? Where is the mercy of the Almighty? Why have you looked upon me with scorn? I am wicked and growing ever more wicked. There is hate and malice in my very breath. This is why the Lord has struck me down. My pride and arrogance are decimated. The glory of the Lord has reduced me to ashes. May He now, if it is His will, resurrect me from this death. It is in your power Lord, if it is in your will.
The Lord is great and good in His dealings with me. He is fair and just. Though I now walk through such pain and strife I know that He has not abandoned me. Draw me closer to your love my sweet God so that I can begin to heal. Restore my faith and my heart for I am weak and faint. Fear has gripped my heart and soul and I long to be free of it. The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want. Thank you Lord for your tests. May it strengthen my resolve for you. May you be praised for your very Being. You alone are worthy of my praise. Teach me patience and trust here, for I am in failing health and spirit. My mind betrays me and my heart stops. I have sunk beneath all else. I am the lowest of the lows. Restore me to you Lord. I will trust your unfailing judgment in all matters. Amen.
I hurt so bad Lord. Give me some comfort.
Numbers 18 - The priesthood is given to Aaron and his descendants as a gift.
Tithing - only the best portion is acceptable.
Numbers 19 -
The cleansing of the unclean men and women.
The importance of days number three and seven.
Numbers 20
Moses sinned by not trusting God and struck the rock twice.
Aaron passed away and the priesthood went to his son Eleazar.
Numbers 21 -
The Lord led the Israelites to victory over the King of Arad.
The Israelites complained against God and the Lord sent serpents to kill them. They repented and the Lord showed mercy.
What is the Book of the Wars of the Lord?
The Lord led the Israelites into victory over King Sihon and the Amorites.
The Israelites settled in the lands of the Amorites and then captured Jazer.
Numbers 22
Balak, the king of Moab sought out Balaam who feared the Lord. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites. The Lord told Balaam to go, but to do only as He said. The ass Balaam was riding saw the angel of the Lord and turned back three times and spoke to Balaam.
Numbers 23
Balaam blessed Israel to Balak's consternation.
Numbers 24
Balaam gave the oracle that no descendants of Ishmael shall survive.
Numbers 25
Some Israelites worshiped Baal of Shittim and were executed before the Lord. 24,000 died that day.
The Lord told Israel to crush the Midianites for bringing Baal worship to them.
Numbers 26
Another census of the 20 year old males and older is taken.
From Reuben came the Hanochites, the Pallvites, the Hezronites and the Carmites: 43,730 men.
From Simeon came the Nemuelites, the Jaminites, the Jachinites, the Soharites and the Shaulites: 22,200 men.
From Gad came the Zephonites, Haggites, Shunites, Oznites, the Erites, the Arodites, and the Arelites: 40,500 men.
From Judah came the Shelahites, the Perezites, the Hezronites, the Hamulites: 76,500 men.
From Issachar came the Tolaites, the Puvahites, the Jashubites, the Shimuonites: 64,300 men.
From Zebulun came the Seredites, the Elonites, the Jahleelites: 60,500 men.
From Joseph came the Manassehites, the Machirites, the Gileadites, the Abiezrites, the Helekites, the Asrielites, the Shechemites, the Shemidaites, the Hepherites: 52,700 men.
From Ephraim came the Shuthelahites, the Bechrites, the Tahanites, the Eranites: 32,500 men.
From Dan came the Shuhamites: 64,400 men.
From Asher came the Imnites, Ishvites, Benites, Heberites, Malchielites: 53,400 men.
From Naphtali came the Jahzeelites, Gurites, Jezerites, Shillemites: 45,500 men.
601,730 men were registered.
The Levites were the Gershonites, Kohathites, Merarites, Libnites, Hebronites, Mahlites, Mushites, Korahites: 23,300 men.
Only Joshua and Caleb were counted in both censuses.
Numbers 27 - The Lord showed Moses the Promised Land though he could not enter. He then told Moses to anoint Joshua as his successor.
Numbers 28 & 29
Offerings and festivals.
Thank you for this day. I always feel so much better after reading your Word. You are my strength and solace. May my lips never stop praising your Holy name.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Brief Notes on Numbers 1-17
(Originally Written April 26, 2008 in the Journal)
Numbers
Chapter 1
Moses and Aaron took a census of every male from every tribe 20 years of age and older.
46,500 of the tribe of Reuben
59,300 of the tribe of Simeon
45,660 of the tribe of Gad
74,600 of the tribe of Judah
54,400 of the tribe of Issachar
56,400 of the tribe of Zebulun
40,500 of the tribe of Ephraim
32,200 of the tribe of Manasseh
35,400 of the tribe of Benjamin
62,700 of the tribe of Dan
41,500 of the tribe of Asher
53,400 of the tribe of Naphtali
A total of 603,550
The Levites were not counted because they are priests.
Chapter 2 - The tribes are arranged by the Lord.
Chapter 3
The Levites are counted, males one month and older. They were separated into their smaller camps and given specific duties with the Dwelling of the Lord. The Levites numbered 22,000.
The number of first-born Israelites was 22,273. The Levites were ransomed for the first-borns and money was paid for the 273 others. Thus, the Levites belonged to the Lord.
Chapter 4
The Levite clans were given specific tasks:
- The Kohathites carry the most sacred items, but cannot touch them
- The Gershonites carry the coverings of the Dwelling
- The Merarites carry the poles and boards of the Dwelling
Each Levite was assigned an individual task as well
Chapter 5
The Israelites expelled all unclean persons from the camp.
The Israelites were instructed to give all ill-gotten goods back and pay restitution.
Men who suspected their wives of adultery were instructed to bring her to the priest to be cursed or acquitted.
Chapter 6 - The Vow of the Nazirite
Chapter 7 - Each Prince of each tribe brings sacrifices to the Lord
Why do you allow me to be tormented so? What have I done to incur such wrath, such pain? Why does my mind not rest? Why is my soul not quieted? Where is your fucking love? Where is your gentleness? Why have you tied me to a woman who has no feeling for me? Why have you made me to love such a mean-spirited woman? The Lord is always right and always benevolent. Everything that is is just and true. But I, I suffer so hard. Is this fair and true? Is that right and just? I suffer; she cares not. I weep; she feigns interest. I am an alien in my own house. I am mistreated, yet not avenged. I am unloved and whipped by the woman the Lord gave me. I am abused by the one I love. I am cut deeper and deeper everyday to be sewn up and have the stitches ripped again and again. My heart is an open wound and no healing takes place. Kill me now or heal me. Hear my cry because you are merciful. Hear my cry because you are the Lord God!
Chapter 8 - The purification of the Levites
Chapter 9 - The Israelites moved or encamped according to the command of the Lord.
Chapter 10 - Silver trumpets are made to call the Israelites or sound the alarm for war. God will hear the horn and remember His people.
Chapter 11 -
Moses was distressed by all the people complaining. He asks God to kill him if that was the way he would be treated. Moses gathered 70 elders and the Lord shared the burden of Moses with them. They all began to prophesy. The Lord bestowed quail on the people of Israel. Then they became greedy so the Lord hit them with a plague.
Chapter 12 - Aaron and Miriam became jealous of Moses' power. Miriam was struck with leprosy by the Lord and had to be removed from the camp for seven days.
Chapter 13 -
The Lord told Moses to send out 12 men, one prince from each tribe to scout the land of Canaan. The spies returned and told Moses that the land was full of giants and turned the people away from overtaking the land.
Chapter 14
The people revolted against Moses, Caleb and Joshua. They wished to return to Egypt. The Lord doomed all those who revolted and wished to destroy Israel. Moses persuaded him not to. The Lord doomed the whole generation to wander for forty years in the desert. When Moses told the Israelites this some of them marched into the land but were defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
Chapter 15
Rules regarding sacrifice.
A man is stoned for breaking the sabbath.
Men must wear tassels on their cloaks as a visual reminder of the Lord's commandments.
Chapter 16
Korah rebels against Moses and Aaron. Korah and his 250 men were consumed by fire for their punishment.
Dathan and Abiram rebel against Moses. They are swallowed by the earth as punishment.
Chapter 17
God sought to blot out the sinful community but Aaron made atonement for them. Still, more than 14,000 died.
Numbers
Chapter 1
Moses and Aaron took a census of every male from every tribe 20 years of age and older.
46,500 of the tribe of Reuben
59,300 of the tribe of Simeon
45,660 of the tribe of Gad
74,600 of the tribe of Judah
54,400 of the tribe of Issachar
56,400 of the tribe of Zebulun
40,500 of the tribe of Ephraim
32,200 of the tribe of Manasseh
35,400 of the tribe of Benjamin
62,700 of the tribe of Dan
41,500 of the tribe of Asher
53,400 of the tribe of Naphtali
A total of 603,550
The Levites were not counted because they are priests.
Chapter 2 - The tribes are arranged by the Lord.
Chapter 3
The Levites are counted, males one month and older. They were separated into their smaller camps and given specific duties with the Dwelling of the Lord. The Levites numbered 22,000.
The number of first-born Israelites was 22,273. The Levites were ransomed for the first-borns and money was paid for the 273 others. Thus, the Levites belonged to the Lord.
Chapter 4
The Levite clans were given specific tasks:
- The Kohathites carry the most sacred items, but cannot touch them
- The Gershonites carry the coverings of the Dwelling
- The Merarites carry the poles and boards of the Dwelling
Each Levite was assigned an individual task as well
Chapter 5
The Israelites expelled all unclean persons from the camp.
The Israelites were instructed to give all ill-gotten goods back and pay restitution.
Men who suspected their wives of adultery were instructed to bring her to the priest to be cursed or acquitted.
Chapter 6 - The Vow of the Nazirite
Chapter 7 - Each Prince of each tribe brings sacrifices to the Lord
Why do you allow me to be tormented so? What have I done to incur such wrath, such pain? Why does my mind not rest? Why is my soul not quieted? Where is your fucking love? Where is your gentleness? Why have you tied me to a woman who has no feeling for me? Why have you made me to love such a mean-spirited woman? The Lord is always right and always benevolent. Everything that is is just and true. But I, I suffer so hard. Is this fair and true? Is that right and just? I suffer; she cares not. I weep; she feigns interest. I am an alien in my own house. I am mistreated, yet not avenged. I am unloved and whipped by the woman the Lord gave me. I am abused by the one I love. I am cut deeper and deeper everyday to be sewn up and have the stitches ripped again and again. My heart is an open wound and no healing takes place. Kill me now or heal me. Hear my cry because you are merciful. Hear my cry because you are the Lord God!
Chapter 8 - The purification of the Levites
Chapter 9 - The Israelites moved or encamped according to the command of the Lord.
Chapter 10 - Silver trumpets are made to call the Israelites or sound the alarm for war. God will hear the horn and remember His people.
Chapter 11 -
Moses was distressed by all the people complaining. He asks God to kill him if that was the way he would be treated. Moses gathered 70 elders and the Lord shared the burden of Moses with them. They all began to prophesy. The Lord bestowed quail on the people of Israel. Then they became greedy so the Lord hit them with a plague.
Chapter 12 - Aaron and Miriam became jealous of Moses' power. Miriam was struck with leprosy by the Lord and had to be removed from the camp for seven days.
Chapter 13 -
The Lord told Moses to send out 12 men, one prince from each tribe to scout the land of Canaan. The spies returned and told Moses that the land was full of giants and turned the people away from overtaking the land.
Chapter 14
The people revolted against Moses, Caleb and Joshua. They wished to return to Egypt. The Lord doomed all those who revolted and wished to destroy Israel. Moses persuaded him not to. The Lord doomed the whole generation to wander for forty years in the desert. When Moses told the Israelites this some of them marched into the land but were defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
Chapter 15
Rules regarding sacrifice.
A man is stoned for breaking the sabbath.
Men must wear tassels on their cloaks as a visual reminder of the Lord's commandments.
Chapter 16
Korah rebels against Moses and Aaron. Korah and his 250 men were consumed by fire for their punishment.
Dathan and Abiram rebel against Moses. They are swallowed by the earth as punishment.
Chapter 17
God sought to blot out the sinful community but Aaron made atonement for them. Still, more than 14,000 died.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Original Monotheism, Special Revelation and other Scriptures
(Originally written April 11, 2007 in Book 15)
Subsequent Reaction to Schmidt & Original Monotheism
Whether or not one accepts Schmidt's theory it is no longer possible to strictly adhere to an evolutionary theory of religion in light of Schmidt's anthropological evidence.
The most common reaction to Schmidt is to reject his conclusions on an idealogical basis.
Joseph M. Kitasawa claims that while historical evidence is good in the origin theory, any religion's origin is ultimately answerable with metaphysical answers.
Others, like many post-modernists, including David Adams Leeming, claim that religion arises out of a specific social context. Historical investigation is wholly absent from this type of analysis.
Raffaele Pettazzoni attempts to bridge the gap of extreme historistic theories and purely a historical phenomenology. He gave history its due place, but did not draw such strong conclusions as Schmidt.
Pettazzoni maintained that the Supreme god of primitive cultures did not constitute monotheistic religion because that god was a creator and sustainer god, but a remote god nonetheless. He argued that only reform from polytheism could lead to true monotheism.
Summary
There is good reason to believe that religion began with the awareness of a single, creator God.
The God of original monotheism is identical to the God of Scripture in his basic attributes.
The persistence of monotheism can be attributed to the historical continuity with the awareness of God by the first human beings and its reinforcement in general revelation.
General revelation has two dimensions:
1) An intuitive one
2) A rational one
Both yield:
1) Knowledge of the existence of God
2) Knowledge of God's attributes
3) Knowledge of a fundamental moral sense
Chapter 3 - Special Revelation and Non-Christian Scriptures
Christianity maintains that special revelation is located in the Old Testament and New Testament, as well as in Jesus Christ himself.
There are many non-Christian scriptures, but the nature of Scripture is radically different in each religion.
Corduan's "The Protestant Fallacy" is reading other religions' scriptures as one would read the Christian Scriptures. Since scriptural nature varies from religion to religion there can be no single way of reading or regarding Scriptures. One cannot assume the role of Scripture in any religion is identical to the role of Scripture in Christianity.
The Protestant Fallacy
Classical Protestantism holds that the Bible is the literal Word of God and thus, the text is inspired by God.
Protestantism asserts "sola scriptura". That is, there is no other source for propositional revelation other than the Bible.
Protestant Christianity is an "extremely book-bound form of religion" (Corduan, 57-58).
Protestant Christianity stands or falls by Scriptural assertions.
The Protestant fallacy is applying this "sola scriptura" mentality (which is appropriate for the Bible) to other religion's scriptures.
Judaism: The Deuterocanon as key to the Canon
The Protestant fallacy manifests itself when one assumes that to understand Judaism one must simply study the Old Testament.
This can lead to assertions like, "since the Jews no longer perform the ritual sacrifices they are required by their own scriptures, Judaism is internally incoherent".
The Scriptures of Judaism are identical with the Old Testament Canon of Christianity. These books are known in Judaism as the Tanak (TNK).
The Tanak is an acronym based on the Hebrew names of the three divisions of writings:
1) the Law - Torah
2) the Prophets - Nebiim
3) the Writings - Ketubim
When Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70 the Jews began writing down the interpretations of the Tanak which had been entirely oral before.
The Mishnah was produced around A.D. 500. Later, the Talmud was produced.
Since the production of the Talmud, all Judaism is Talmudic Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism holds that the Talmud, though not inspired, is expendable, but not revisable.
Other sects of Judaism, like Cabalistic movements accepted the Zohar as a supplement, but not a replacement, to the Talmud.
While the Tanak is the only Scripture in Judaism, all governance of life is done via the Talmud.
The Jewish Scriptures (for better or worse) must be interpreted through the lens of the Talmud.
Islam: The Qur'an as Event
The Qur'an is the compilation of what was revealed to Muhammad.
The Qur'an is merely excerpts from God's full book in heaven, the umm-al-kitub.
Muslims believe the Qur'an is as it is exactly as it was when it was revealed to Muhammad.
Despite its lofty place in Islam, the Qur'an was supplemented easy on by another book. The Hadith is a collection of the acts and sayings of Muhammad.
While the Hadith is not considered to be revealed like the Qur'an, it is nonetheless as binding as the Qur'an.
The value of the Qur'an within Islam has little to do with its content. The value lies in its very occurrence.
The Qur'an is utterly pristine, whereas other men's revelatory books like Moses' Law, David's Psalms and Jesus' Gospels while being products of revelation were distorted by their followers.
TO recognize the Qur'an is more important than to read it.
The Qur'an is not a human book at all; whereas, the Bible is wholly human and wholly divine.
Muslims believe that the Qur'an mediates God's presence into their lives.
Even in non-Arabic speaking countries the Qur'an is devoutly recited in Arabic. Recitation of the Qur'an is the most important function of the Qur'an in the Muslim community.
Zoroastrianism: A Ritual Accumulation
Similar to the Bible, the canon of Zoroastrianism is a collection of works spanning many centuries.
The Zoroastrianism Scripture is called the Avesta.
The oldest part of the Avesta is the Yasna, which contains hymns called the Gathas, some of which date back to Zoroaster (6th century B.C.).
The Videvdat is the newest part of the Avesta and dates from when Zoroastrianism was the State religion of Iran (A.D. 226 - 637).
The Avesta is not a great source for authoritative information about Zoroastrianism because the language is so impenetrable.
The language of the Gathas is called Avesta because it is simply so different from any other languages.
"One scholar of Iranian religion [H.S. Nybers] has maintained that the Gathas are so difficult to understand because they are intentional gibberish" (Corduan, 62).
Even in the Zoroastrian community, the Avesta is not supposed to be a source of information.
The Avesta is a ritual text used to recite as worship and purification.
Sikhism: A day in the Life of the Book
The Adi Granth is the Scripture of Sikhism.
Nanak (1469-1539) founded Sikhism as a way to bridge Hinduism and Islam. He taught that there is only one God whose nature lies beyond human reason and religious imagery.
Nanak was considered a holy guru by his followers. He was then followed by 9 other holy gurus, each seen as the embodiment of divine light.
Arjan Dev, the 5th Guru compiled all his and the previous gurus' chants and hymns into the Adi Granth.
Gobind Singh (1666-1708) the 10th and final guru, declared that there would be no more gurus and the Adi Granth would be the guru forever more.
From then on the book itself, which is displayed in the Golden Shrine of Amritsa has been recognized as true and binding by all Sikhs.
The Adi Granth is the very embodiment of God.
The Adi Granth functions in two ways:
1) It is the hymn book of the congregation
2) It is venerated as the holy guru.
The actual book is put to sleep in a bed at night and woken up and placed on an altar each morning.
"The basic function of the Adi Granth is an object of veneration, not as a record of revelation" (Corduan, 65).
Baha'i : A Canon Plus a Canon
Baha'i is a young religion founded by Baha'ullah.
Baha'ullah is considered to be a manifestation of God. He was the 9th manifestation after Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab and Baha'ullah.
Baha'ullah taught that all these other prophets had inspired writings and that his own writings complete the canon of world Scriptures for the time being.
The Baha'i Scriptures should be read in a similar fashion as the Protestant Christian Bible is, but the Baha'i Scriptures are paralleled by all the other 8 world Scriptures, whereas the Bible stands alone.
Hinduism: A Protean Canon
Eastern religions have sacred texts in a very different way then to Western religions, especially Christianity.
Hindu sacred texts are divided into two groups:
1) The Shruti
2) The Smriti
The Shruti are "seen", they were directly revealed to the semi-divine rishis of old who passed them down.
The Smriti are "heard", they are merely passed down as tradition only.
Shruti:
- Vedas
- Brahmanas
- Upanishads
Smriti:
- Ramayana
- Mahabharata
- Bhagavad Gita
The Smriti are epic poems and the deuterocanon, while the canon is the Vedic complex.
The distinction is much more ambiguous in reality then in theory.
Buddhism: Canon by Selection
Two major books:
1) Poli Canon
2) Lotus Sutra
The Poli Canon contains the Tripitaka (Three Baskets) and is the oldest Buddhist writings.
The Tripitaka is associated with the older, more traditional form of Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism.
The Lotus Sutra is associated with the more recent and more innovative form of Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism.
Chinese and Japanese Religions
Scriptures and Canon are not easily adapted for Far East Religions.
Religion/Scriptures
Daoism - The Doodejing & the Zhuangzi
Confucianism - The Analects
Shinto - The Kojiki, the Nihong and the Amatsu Narito
The Daodejing contains the wisdom of Lao Tzu, the founder of Daoism.
The Zhuangzi is a collection of anecdotal essays by the teacher Laozi (but probably not the same Laozi/Lao-Tzu)
The Analects is the teachings of Confucius.
The Kojiki is the official Japanese traditional myth. The Nihangi is a supplement to the Kojiki. The Amatsu Nihong is a book of standard prayers and rituals of Shinto.
The Singularity of the Christian Scriptures
The Christian Scriptures is different from all other Scriptures and all Scriptures are unique in their own way.
All Scriptures contain some truths, if truth is meant as that which corresponds to reality.
However, if truth is understood under the coherence theory of truth rather than the correspondence theory of truth then no religions can share truth because they will be truths from differing systems.
Cornelius van Til argued that even knowledge of a flower is different for a Christian and non-Christian. To the Christian, a flower is the creation of a personal God whereas it is a product of chance formation of matter to a non-Christian.
Other Scriptures also contain some wisdom. They also contain some religious truths.
That said, the Bible is sufficient. All we (as Christians) have is the Bible and all we need is the Bible.
There is no deuterocannon in Christianity.
Religious truths in other Scriptures can only be duplications of revealed truths in the Bible.
Other Scriptures do not contain special revelation. But other Scriptures can have a basis in general revelation.
Subsequent Reaction to Schmidt & Original Monotheism
Whether or not one accepts Schmidt's theory it is no longer possible to strictly adhere to an evolutionary theory of religion in light of Schmidt's anthropological evidence.
The most common reaction to Schmidt is to reject his conclusions on an idealogical basis.
Joseph M. Kitasawa claims that while historical evidence is good in the origin theory, any religion's origin is ultimately answerable with metaphysical answers.
Others, like many post-modernists, including David Adams Leeming, claim that religion arises out of a specific social context. Historical investigation is wholly absent from this type of analysis.
Raffaele Pettazzoni attempts to bridge the gap of extreme historistic theories and purely a historical phenomenology. He gave history its due place, but did not draw such strong conclusions as Schmidt.
Pettazzoni maintained that the Supreme god of primitive cultures did not constitute monotheistic religion because that god was a creator and sustainer god, but a remote god nonetheless. He argued that only reform from polytheism could lead to true monotheism.
Summary
There is good reason to believe that religion began with the awareness of a single, creator God.
The God of original monotheism is identical to the God of Scripture in his basic attributes.
The persistence of monotheism can be attributed to the historical continuity with the awareness of God by the first human beings and its reinforcement in general revelation.
General revelation has two dimensions:
1) An intuitive one
2) A rational one
Both yield:
1) Knowledge of the existence of God
2) Knowledge of God's attributes
3) Knowledge of a fundamental moral sense
Chapter 3 - Special Revelation and Non-Christian Scriptures
Christianity maintains that special revelation is located in the Old Testament and New Testament, as well as in Jesus Christ himself.
There are many non-Christian scriptures, but the nature of Scripture is radically different in each religion.
Corduan's "The Protestant Fallacy" is reading other religions' scriptures as one would read the Christian Scriptures. Since scriptural nature varies from religion to religion there can be no single way of reading or regarding Scriptures. One cannot assume the role of Scripture in any religion is identical to the role of Scripture in Christianity.
The Protestant Fallacy
Classical Protestantism holds that the Bible is the literal Word of God and thus, the text is inspired by God.
Protestantism asserts "sola scriptura". That is, there is no other source for propositional revelation other than the Bible.
Protestant Christianity is an "extremely book-bound form of religion" (Corduan, 57-58).
Protestant Christianity stands or falls by Scriptural assertions.
The Protestant fallacy is applying this "sola scriptura" mentality (which is appropriate for the Bible) to other religion's scriptures.
Judaism: The Deuterocanon as key to the Canon
The Protestant fallacy manifests itself when one assumes that to understand Judaism one must simply study the Old Testament.
This can lead to assertions like, "since the Jews no longer perform the ritual sacrifices they are required by their own scriptures, Judaism is internally incoherent".
The Scriptures of Judaism are identical with the Old Testament Canon of Christianity. These books are known in Judaism as the Tanak (TNK).
The Tanak is an acronym based on the Hebrew names of the three divisions of writings:
1) the Law - Torah
2) the Prophets - Nebiim
3) the Writings - Ketubim
When Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70 the Jews began writing down the interpretations of the Tanak which had been entirely oral before.
The Mishnah was produced around A.D. 500. Later, the Talmud was produced.
Since the production of the Talmud, all Judaism is Talmudic Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism holds that the Talmud, though not inspired, is expendable, but not revisable.
Other sects of Judaism, like Cabalistic movements accepted the Zohar as a supplement, but not a replacement, to the Talmud.
While the Tanak is the only Scripture in Judaism, all governance of life is done via the Talmud.
The Jewish Scriptures (for better or worse) must be interpreted through the lens of the Talmud.
Islam: The Qur'an as Event
The Qur'an is the compilation of what was revealed to Muhammad.
The Qur'an is merely excerpts from God's full book in heaven, the umm-al-kitub.
Muslims believe the Qur'an is as it is exactly as it was when it was revealed to Muhammad.
Despite its lofty place in Islam, the Qur'an was supplemented easy on by another book. The Hadith is a collection of the acts and sayings of Muhammad.
While the Hadith is not considered to be revealed like the Qur'an, it is nonetheless as binding as the Qur'an.
The value of the Qur'an within Islam has little to do with its content. The value lies in its very occurrence.
The Qur'an is utterly pristine, whereas other men's revelatory books like Moses' Law, David's Psalms and Jesus' Gospels while being products of revelation were distorted by their followers.
TO recognize the Qur'an is more important than to read it.
The Qur'an is not a human book at all; whereas, the Bible is wholly human and wholly divine.
Muslims believe that the Qur'an mediates God's presence into their lives.
Even in non-Arabic speaking countries the Qur'an is devoutly recited in Arabic. Recitation of the Qur'an is the most important function of the Qur'an in the Muslim community.
Zoroastrianism: A Ritual Accumulation
Similar to the Bible, the canon of Zoroastrianism is a collection of works spanning many centuries.
The Zoroastrianism Scripture is called the Avesta.
The oldest part of the Avesta is the Yasna, which contains hymns called the Gathas, some of which date back to Zoroaster (6th century B.C.).
The Videvdat is the newest part of the Avesta and dates from when Zoroastrianism was the State religion of Iran (A.D. 226 - 637).
The Avesta is not a great source for authoritative information about Zoroastrianism because the language is so impenetrable.
The language of the Gathas is called Avesta because it is simply so different from any other languages.
"One scholar of Iranian religion [H.S. Nybers] has maintained that the Gathas are so difficult to understand because they are intentional gibberish" (Corduan, 62).
Even in the Zoroastrian community, the Avesta is not supposed to be a source of information.
The Avesta is a ritual text used to recite as worship and purification.
Sikhism: A day in the Life of the Book
The Adi Granth is the Scripture of Sikhism.
Nanak (1469-1539) founded Sikhism as a way to bridge Hinduism and Islam. He taught that there is only one God whose nature lies beyond human reason and religious imagery.
Nanak was considered a holy guru by his followers. He was then followed by 9 other holy gurus, each seen as the embodiment of divine light.
Arjan Dev, the 5th Guru compiled all his and the previous gurus' chants and hymns into the Adi Granth.
Gobind Singh (1666-1708) the 10th and final guru, declared that there would be no more gurus and the Adi Granth would be the guru forever more.
From then on the book itself, which is displayed in the Golden Shrine of Amritsa has been recognized as true and binding by all Sikhs.
The Adi Granth is the very embodiment of God.
The Adi Granth functions in two ways:
1) It is the hymn book of the congregation
2) It is venerated as the holy guru.
The actual book is put to sleep in a bed at night and woken up and placed on an altar each morning.
"The basic function of the Adi Granth is an object of veneration, not as a record of revelation" (Corduan, 65).
Baha'i : A Canon Plus a Canon
Baha'i is a young religion founded by Baha'ullah.
Baha'ullah is considered to be a manifestation of God. He was the 9th manifestation after Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab and Baha'ullah.
Baha'ullah taught that all these other prophets had inspired writings and that his own writings complete the canon of world Scriptures for the time being.
The Baha'i Scriptures should be read in a similar fashion as the Protestant Christian Bible is, but the Baha'i Scriptures are paralleled by all the other 8 world Scriptures, whereas the Bible stands alone.
Hinduism: A Protean Canon
Eastern religions have sacred texts in a very different way then to Western religions, especially Christianity.
Hindu sacred texts are divided into two groups:
1) The Shruti
2) The Smriti
The Shruti are "seen", they were directly revealed to the semi-divine rishis of old who passed them down.
The Smriti are "heard", they are merely passed down as tradition only.
Shruti:
- Vedas
- Brahmanas
- Upanishads
Smriti:
- Ramayana
- Mahabharata
- Bhagavad Gita
The Smriti are epic poems and the deuterocanon, while the canon is the Vedic complex.
The distinction is much more ambiguous in reality then in theory.
Buddhism: Canon by Selection
Two major books:
1) Poli Canon
2) Lotus Sutra
The Poli Canon contains the Tripitaka (Three Baskets) and is the oldest Buddhist writings.
The Tripitaka is associated with the older, more traditional form of Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism.
The Lotus Sutra is associated with the more recent and more innovative form of Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism.
Chinese and Japanese Religions
Scriptures and Canon are not easily adapted for Far East Religions.
Religion/Scriptures
Daoism - The Doodejing & the Zhuangzi
Confucianism - The Analects
Shinto - The Kojiki, the Nihong and the Amatsu Narito
The Daodejing contains the wisdom of Lao Tzu, the founder of Daoism.
The Zhuangzi is a collection of anecdotal essays by the teacher Laozi (but probably not the same Laozi/Lao-Tzu)
The Analects is the teachings of Confucius.
The Kojiki is the official Japanese traditional myth. The Nihangi is a supplement to the Kojiki. The Amatsu Nihong is a book of standard prayers and rituals of Shinto.
The Singularity of the Christian Scriptures
The Christian Scriptures is different from all other Scriptures and all Scriptures are unique in their own way.
All Scriptures contain some truths, if truth is meant as that which corresponds to reality.
However, if truth is understood under the coherence theory of truth rather than the correspondence theory of truth then no religions can share truth because they will be truths from differing systems.
Cornelius van Til argued that even knowledge of a flower is different for a Christian and non-Christian. To the Christian, a flower is the creation of a personal God whereas it is a product of chance formation of matter to a non-Christian.
Other Scriptures also contain some wisdom. They also contain some religious truths.
That said, the Bible is sufficient. All we (as Christians) have is the Bible and all we need is the Bible.
There is no deuterocannon in Christianity.
Religious truths in other Scriptures can only be duplications of revealed truths in the Bible.
Other Scriptures do not contain special revelation. But other Scriptures can have a basis in general revelation.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Quick survey of world religions
(Originally Written March 26, 2007 in Book 15)
A Tapestry of Faiths
The Common Threads Between Christianity & World Religions
Winfried Corduan
Intervarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. 2002
Chapter 1: Asking the right Questions
Insofar as Christianity is the religion that expresses the preeminence of Christ, Christianity alone is true and worthwhile.
The relationship between Christianity and other religions have many dimensions of similarity.
1. The Soteriological Dimension
2. The Content Dimension
There are many beliefs that Christianity shares with other religions.
3. The Revelatory Dimension
Many religions claim truth is grounded in revelation.
4. The Apologetic Dimension
5. The Moral Dimension
Most religions include a moral system and many areas resemble each other.
6. The Communication Dimension
A Very Brief History of Religion
Traditional/tribal religions in contrast to enscripturated religions:
Traditional religions are closely tied to their local culture.
Traditional religions tend to be animistic and ritualistic.
They recognize nature spirits and ancestor spirits. Frequently they recognize a high god in the sky.
Western Religions in contrast to Eastern Traditions
Western traditions are largely monotheistic like Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Islam and Baha'i.
Monotheistic Western Religions Normally have:
1. A strong monotheistic emphasis
2. A strong ethical emphasis
3. A positive approach to history. History is an unfolding of divine revelation and action.
Eastern religions are religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Daoism, Confucianism and Shinto.
Buddhism and Jainism are direct offshoots of Hinduism.
Eastern religions are more divers in belief than Western Religions.
3. Beliefs in Contrast to Cultus:
Cultus is the rituals, altars, hymns, temples, offerings and modes of prayer.
The relationship between a belief system and its cultus can be extremely elastic.
I. Judaism
Origin: Moses, 15th Century B.C.
Essential Beliefs and Practices:
- Monotheism
- obedience to a divinely revealed law
Scriptures:
- The Hebrew Scriptures
- Interpretations of the Scriptures (i.e. the Talmud)
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Orthodox
- Conservative
- Reform
II. Zoroastrianism
Origin: Zoroaster, 6th Century B.C.
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Monotheism
- Conflict between God (Ahura Mazda) and the evil Spirt (Angra Mainyu)
- Ethical purity
- Ritual cleanliness
Major Contemporary Division
- None
III. Christianity
Origin: Christ, 1st Century A.D.
Essential Beliefs and Practices:
- Trinitarian Monotheism
- Jesus as the Messiah
Scriptures:
- The Bible (Old and New Testaments)
Major Contemporary Divisions:
- Eastern Orthodox
- Roman Catholic
- Protestant
IV. Islam
Origin: Muhammad, (A.D. 570 - 632)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Monotheism
- Allah
- Judgment based on their obedience to God's requirement
Scriptures
- The Qu'ran
- Hadith
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Sunnite
- Shi'ites
V. Baha'i
Origin: Baha'ullah 19th Century
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Baha'ullah was the manifestation of God
- Unity of all religions
- New World Order
Scriptures:
- The writings of Baha'ullah
Major Contemporary Divisions
- None
VI. Hinduism
Origin: 1500 B.C., religion of the Aryans who invaded the Indian subcontinent
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Extremely diverse
- Samsara (reincarnation)
- Karma
Scriptures
- The Vedas
- The Ramayana
- The Mahabharata
- Brahmans
- Sutras
- Puranas
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Monastic Groups
- Bhakti (personalistic)
- Vaishnavitas
- Shaivites
- Shaktites
VII. Buddhism
Origin: Gautama Buddha (600 B.C.)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Salvation = deliverance from the reincarnation cycle
- Nirvana
Scriptures:
- The Tripitaka
- The Lotus Sutra
- Other sutras
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Theravada (Hinayana)
- Mahayana
- Zen
- Pure Land
- Soka Gakkai
- Tibetan
VIII. Jainism
Origin: Mahavira (600 BC)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Redemption by elimination of solid karma matter from one's soul
- Worship of the Tirthankaras
Scriptures
- The Agamas
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Digambaras
- Svetambaras
IX. Sikhism
Origin: Guru Nanak (16th Century A.D.)
Essential beliefs and Practices:
- There is one God who is represented on earth by the Holy Book the Adi Granth.
- Escape from the reincarnation cycle
Scriptures
- Adi Granth
Major Contemporary Divisions
- None
X. Daoism
Origins - Lao Zi (Lao-Tzu)
Essential beliefs and practices
- Yin & Yang
Scriptures
- Daodejing
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Daoism is interconnected with other religions, especially Buddhism and Confucianism
XI. Confucianism
Origins: Confucius (6th Century B.C.)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Ethical System
Scriptures
- Analects
Major Contemporary Divisions
- None
XII. Shinto
A Tapestry of Faiths
The Common Threads Between Christianity & World Religions
Winfried Corduan
Intervarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. 2002
Chapter 1: Asking the right Questions
Insofar as Christianity is the religion that expresses the preeminence of Christ, Christianity alone is true and worthwhile.
The relationship between Christianity and other religions have many dimensions of similarity.
1. The Soteriological Dimension
2. The Content Dimension
There are many beliefs that Christianity shares with other religions.
3. The Revelatory Dimension
Many religions claim truth is grounded in revelation.
4. The Apologetic Dimension
5. The Moral Dimension
Most religions include a moral system and many areas resemble each other.
6. The Communication Dimension
A Very Brief History of Religion
Traditional/tribal religions in contrast to enscripturated religions:
Traditional religions are closely tied to their local culture.
Traditional religions tend to be animistic and ritualistic.
They recognize nature spirits and ancestor spirits. Frequently they recognize a high god in the sky.
Western Religions in contrast to Eastern Traditions
Western traditions are largely monotheistic like Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Islam and Baha'i.
Monotheistic Western Religions Normally have:
1. A strong monotheistic emphasis
2. A strong ethical emphasis
3. A positive approach to history. History is an unfolding of divine revelation and action.
Eastern religions are religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Daoism, Confucianism and Shinto.
Buddhism and Jainism are direct offshoots of Hinduism.
Eastern religions are more divers in belief than Western Religions.
3. Beliefs in Contrast to Cultus:
Cultus is the rituals, altars, hymns, temples, offerings and modes of prayer.
The relationship between a belief system and its cultus can be extremely elastic.
I. Judaism
Origin: Moses, 15th Century B.C.
Essential Beliefs and Practices:
- Monotheism
- obedience to a divinely revealed law
Scriptures:
- The Hebrew Scriptures
- Interpretations of the Scriptures (i.e. the Talmud)
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Orthodox
- Conservative
- Reform
II. Zoroastrianism
Origin: Zoroaster, 6th Century B.C.
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Monotheism
- Conflict between God (Ahura Mazda) and the evil Spirt (Angra Mainyu)
- Ethical purity
- Ritual cleanliness
Major Contemporary Division
- None
III. Christianity
Origin: Christ, 1st Century A.D.
Essential Beliefs and Practices:
- Trinitarian Monotheism
- Jesus as the Messiah
Scriptures:
- The Bible (Old and New Testaments)
Major Contemporary Divisions:
- Eastern Orthodox
- Roman Catholic
- Protestant
IV. Islam
Origin: Muhammad, (A.D. 570 - 632)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Monotheism
- Allah
- Judgment based on their obedience to God's requirement
Scriptures
- The Qu'ran
- Hadith
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Sunnite
- Shi'ites
V. Baha'i
Origin: Baha'ullah 19th Century
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Baha'ullah was the manifestation of God
- Unity of all religions
- New World Order
Scriptures:
- The writings of Baha'ullah
Major Contemporary Divisions
- None
VI. Hinduism
Origin: 1500 B.C., religion of the Aryans who invaded the Indian subcontinent
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Extremely diverse
- Samsara (reincarnation)
- Karma
Scriptures
- The Vedas
- The Ramayana
- The Mahabharata
- Brahmans
- Sutras
- Puranas
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Monastic Groups
- Bhakti (personalistic)
- Vaishnavitas
- Shaivites
- Shaktites
VII. Buddhism
Origin: Gautama Buddha (600 B.C.)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Salvation = deliverance from the reincarnation cycle
- Nirvana
Scriptures:
- The Tripitaka
- The Lotus Sutra
- Other sutras
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Theravada (Hinayana)
- Mahayana
- Zen
- Pure Land
- Soka Gakkai
- Tibetan
VIII. Jainism
Origin: Mahavira (600 BC)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Redemption by elimination of solid karma matter from one's soul
- Worship of the Tirthankaras
Scriptures
- The Agamas
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Digambaras
- Svetambaras
IX. Sikhism
Origin: Guru Nanak (16th Century A.D.)
Essential beliefs and Practices:
- There is one God who is represented on earth by the Holy Book the Adi Granth.
- Escape from the reincarnation cycle
Scriptures
- Adi Granth
Major Contemporary Divisions
- None
X. Daoism
Origins - Lao Zi (Lao-Tzu)
Essential beliefs and practices
- Yin & Yang
Scriptures
- Daodejing
Major Contemporary Divisions
- Daoism is interconnected with other religions, especially Buddhism and Confucianism
XI. Confucianism
Origins: Confucius (6th Century B.C.)
Essential Beliefs and Practices
- Ethical System
Scriptures
- Analects
Major Contemporary Divisions
- None
XII. Shinto
Sunday, November 12, 2006
The Coming of Christianity
(Originally written November 12, 2006 in Book 11)
The Mystery Cults all began to reflect the shift from human emphasis to superhuman. The acceptance and adherence to them paved the way for Christianity.
The cults brought hope to the masses who were in despair due to the collapsing of the Empire. "But the masses had doubtless been ignorant and superstitious, ready to put their trust in occult powers" (Jones, 19).
Neoplatonism was the first instance where, not only the uneducated lower class gravitated toward the supernatural, but the educated, middle and upper classes abandoned the natural, human mind set.
The emphasis on discovering the natural reality shifted to an emphasis on discerning why a transcendent Absolute Being created a natural world.
Another major shift was to view this world as evil and thus not capable of producing the good life.
Christianity first appealed to the uneducated, but when it became socially acceptable Neoplatonism proved to be a philosophical model and rival.
The survival of Christianity over the mystery cults has nothing to do with its possession of an objective truth or moral superiority, but its energy, ingenuity, polemical ability, administrative skill and the good luck of early Christian Fathers.
Linehan: really? luck? wow, that is quite ad hoc.
Jesus: The Jewish Heritage
Pagan View of the Christians.
Christ was born circa 4 BC during the reign of Augustus.
He was crucified in 29 AD during the reign of Tiberius.
The first three centuries after Christ's death, Christianity spread slowly.
The persecution was not as great as the Church fathers reported and was due mainly to their traitor status. They pledged allegiance to a divine God, not the divine Emperor.
The Christians refused to conform to the outward state religion so the officials viewed the tiny sect as ignorant and dangerous.
They were regarded as atheists and hopelessly immersed in the blackest superstition.
Jesus was a Jew and sought to reform Judaism, not destroy it.
Yahweh
Yahweh seems to be originally a war god, associated with meteorological phenomena.
Moses fused the tribes of Judaism together and made Yahweh a state god.
Yahweh chose the Jews as his people, but was the supreme creator of all. Why should a supreme god trouble himself with such a small group of people? The Jews never asked this question.
Linehan: Not true! "What is man that you are mindful of him?"
Israel developed a supreme national egoism.
Despite Yahweh's love for them, the Israelites had an unfortunate career. They lost their independence again and again.
Their intense nationalism deeply marked their religious thinking.
Their loss of independence led them to develop the notion of a jealous god who demanded strict, sole, individual worship.
The Israelites aimed to get back into the good graces of YHWH. This changed over the centuries from primitive outward signs to an inner righteousness. This gradual transformation took place through the Hebrew prophets.
Elijah was one of the earliest prophets. He sought to defend the worship of YHWH (Moses' god of wrath) from the new polytheism of King Ahab's foreign wife Jezebel.
Amos, who lived 100 years or so after Elijah saw YHWH no longer a vain monarch. Amos' YHWH could be won over by flattery and was angered by luxury and vice, not so much disobedience.
People seeking to formulate a single YHWH face a problem of harmonizing primitive beliefs with a more sophisticated version of God.
Deuteronomy, written in the 7th century BC attempted to harmonize the two conceptions of YHWH. It stated that the rituals are important (primitive) because they were outward expressions of an inner righteousness (motive).
Motive for worship was key in Judaism's mature form.
The Deuteronomy harmonizing resulted in a codifying law. This law became unalterable and strict. The adherence to this law caused men to return to the primitive ritualism of Judaism.
Jesus' attitude toward the Law
Jesus was anti-legalistic. He wished for Judaism to return to being concerned with the spirit or motives, not the rigid ritualism of the law.
Jesus' main position was what matters is the thoughts of our hearts, not what we actually do.
Jesus did not however reject the Law totally. He simply believed that Jews were using the Law to justify unjustifiable conduct.
He wished to complete the Law, not destroy it.
He attempted to simplify the ever multiplying law into a few simple precepts.
Jesus' two main precepts were actually derived from the Law.
1) Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart
2) Love thy neighbor as thyself
Fatherhood of God
Jesus emphasized that God was the father of man.
This was not a discovery of Jesus. Many Eastern cults viewed God as a Father and the Jews even had come to the conclusion long before Jesus Christ.
Jesus' emphasis is on this point transferred the notion from the East to the West. The Gentile Christians who are unfamiliar with God as Father notion made it a pivotal part of the emerging religion.
The wrathful God of the Hebrews was also adapted and grafted into the teachings of Jesus,
Jesus' belief in imminent judgment day
Jesus was dominated by a conviction that the end was near. This imminent doom mentality affected all of his teachings.
The teachings of Jesus
There is no formal ethical theory or doctrine of virtues in Jesus' teachings.
Jesus' teachings were not systematic. He used paradoxes and parables.
Jesus' view of pleasure was similar to the Greek Cynic view, but his adoption of this view was for very different reasons.
Jesus was criticized for enjoying the company of low persons too much.
Jesus was not an ascetic, but his focus on the kingdom of Heaven led him to ignore the physical world to a point. Christianity would adopt an ascetic bias because of this aspect of Jesus.
Jesus did not place emphasis on tomorrow because there will be no tomorrow. He held that the more we concern ourselves with property and possessions the less we'll concern ourselves with readying for the judgment day.
Jesus criticized the wealthy for two reasons:
1) They got their riches unjustly
2) Their possessions naturally caused them to think about them.
The poor were at an advantage to focus on the judgment day for Jesus and this mind set caused Christianity to be popular with the poor.
Jesus' ethics compared with Greek ethics
Jesus' ethic is noticeably absent of any social ethic.
Jesus' focus on the Kingdom of God and on inwardness made him uninterested in overt social or political theorizing.
Christianity, when it became a state religion, had to concern itself with politics.
Jesus' ethics also varied from Greeks in that he placed no emphasis on intellectual virtues that Aristotle was so concerned with.
Jesus was vitally concerned with moral, practical virtues, but also differed from Aristotle here.
Jesus denigrated pride as a sin, which was a key virtue for Aristotle.
Jesus' starting point was God, whereas Aristotle's starting point was man. Pride was self-centered and thus it took away from God and sinful.
Jesus' altruism replaced Aristotle's egoism.
Jesus emphasized the equality of man or at least all Jews. Jesus was provincial.
Jesus' view was narrow compared to the Greek but possessed two advantages:
1) its altruism
2) its democratic outlook
The Messiahship of Jesus
Jesus' messiahship is not a philosophical issue and in philosophy it is more important what his followers thought of it, not what he thought of it.
The moral and eschatological meaning Jesus taught was understood in political terms by many of his followers.
The Romans were not worried with Jesus until he came into the urban centers and caused the crowds to riot.
The Jesus Movement
Christianity developed slowly by created a complex theology out of Jesus', Judaism's, Oriental Cults' and late Greek philosophical teachings.
How the movement survived
The crucifixion of Jesus and the scattering of the disciples could have easily killed the movement. Somehow, the disciples' belief in the Messiahship of Jesus was revived after his death.
Jesus miracles and resurrection convinced the disciples of his supernatural status.
The disciples formed a communal life after Jesus' death.
Shift of Emphasis to Jesus
Jesus began to become the focus of a new religion, rather than a reformer of an ancient one.
Jesus had always been considered anointed by his followers. The emphasis shift made him a deity.
The divinity of Jesus created problems. It faced monotheistic problems, conception of God problems and eschatological problems.
The Jews of the Dispersion
Only a small portion of Jews lived in Palestine. The Diaspora (dispersed Jews) lived all over the empire.
The Gentile Mission
The Orthodoxy of Judaism was primarily located in Palestine. The Diaspora and converts were less Orthodox and more open to Christianity.
The Hellenized Jews and Gentiles converting to Christianity continued to change the new religion.
Converts began interpreting Christianity and preaching it around the world. The most important of these converts was St. Paul.
The Mystery Cults all began to reflect the shift from human emphasis to superhuman. The acceptance and adherence to them paved the way for Christianity.
The cults brought hope to the masses who were in despair due to the collapsing of the Empire. "But the masses had doubtless been ignorant and superstitious, ready to put their trust in occult powers" (Jones, 19).
Neoplatonism was the first instance where, not only the uneducated lower class gravitated toward the supernatural, but the educated, middle and upper classes abandoned the natural, human mind set.
The emphasis on discovering the natural reality shifted to an emphasis on discerning why a transcendent Absolute Being created a natural world.
Another major shift was to view this world as evil and thus not capable of producing the good life.
Christianity first appealed to the uneducated, but when it became socially acceptable Neoplatonism proved to be a philosophical model and rival.
The survival of Christianity over the mystery cults has nothing to do with its possession of an objective truth or moral superiority, but its energy, ingenuity, polemical ability, administrative skill and the good luck of early Christian Fathers.
Linehan: really? luck? wow, that is quite ad hoc.
Jesus: The Jewish Heritage
Pagan View of the Christians.
Christ was born circa 4 BC during the reign of Augustus.
He was crucified in 29 AD during the reign of Tiberius.
The first three centuries after Christ's death, Christianity spread slowly.
The persecution was not as great as the Church fathers reported and was due mainly to their traitor status. They pledged allegiance to a divine God, not the divine Emperor.
The Christians refused to conform to the outward state religion so the officials viewed the tiny sect as ignorant and dangerous.
They were regarded as atheists and hopelessly immersed in the blackest superstition.
Jesus was a Jew and sought to reform Judaism, not destroy it.
Yahweh
Yahweh seems to be originally a war god, associated with meteorological phenomena.
Moses fused the tribes of Judaism together and made Yahweh a state god.
Yahweh chose the Jews as his people, but was the supreme creator of all. Why should a supreme god trouble himself with such a small group of people? The Jews never asked this question.
Linehan: Not true! "What is man that you are mindful of him?"
Israel developed a supreme national egoism.
Despite Yahweh's love for them, the Israelites had an unfortunate career. They lost their independence again and again.
Their intense nationalism deeply marked their religious thinking.
Their loss of independence led them to develop the notion of a jealous god who demanded strict, sole, individual worship.
The Israelites aimed to get back into the good graces of YHWH. This changed over the centuries from primitive outward signs to an inner righteousness. This gradual transformation took place through the Hebrew prophets.
Elijah was one of the earliest prophets. He sought to defend the worship of YHWH (Moses' god of wrath) from the new polytheism of King Ahab's foreign wife Jezebel.
Amos, who lived 100 years or so after Elijah saw YHWH no longer a vain monarch. Amos' YHWH could be won over by flattery and was angered by luxury and vice, not so much disobedience.
People seeking to formulate a single YHWH face a problem of harmonizing primitive beliefs with a more sophisticated version of God.
Deuteronomy, written in the 7th century BC attempted to harmonize the two conceptions of YHWH. It stated that the rituals are important (primitive) because they were outward expressions of an inner righteousness (motive).
Motive for worship was key in Judaism's mature form.
The Deuteronomy harmonizing resulted in a codifying law. This law became unalterable and strict. The adherence to this law caused men to return to the primitive ritualism of Judaism.
Jesus' attitude toward the Law
Jesus was anti-legalistic. He wished for Judaism to return to being concerned with the spirit or motives, not the rigid ritualism of the law.
Jesus' main position was what matters is the thoughts of our hearts, not what we actually do.
Jesus did not however reject the Law totally. He simply believed that Jews were using the Law to justify unjustifiable conduct.
He wished to complete the Law, not destroy it.
He attempted to simplify the ever multiplying law into a few simple precepts.
Jesus' two main precepts were actually derived from the Law.
1) Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart
2) Love thy neighbor as thyself
Fatherhood of God
Jesus emphasized that God was the father of man.
This was not a discovery of Jesus. Many Eastern cults viewed God as a Father and the Jews even had come to the conclusion long before Jesus Christ.
Jesus' emphasis is on this point transferred the notion from the East to the West. The Gentile Christians who are unfamiliar with God as Father notion made it a pivotal part of the emerging religion.
The wrathful God of the Hebrews was also adapted and grafted into the teachings of Jesus,
Jesus' belief in imminent judgment day
Jesus was dominated by a conviction that the end was near. This imminent doom mentality affected all of his teachings.
The teachings of Jesus
There is no formal ethical theory or doctrine of virtues in Jesus' teachings.
Jesus' teachings were not systematic. He used paradoxes and parables.
Jesus' view of pleasure was similar to the Greek Cynic view, but his adoption of this view was for very different reasons.
Jesus was criticized for enjoying the company of low persons too much.
Jesus was not an ascetic, but his focus on the kingdom of Heaven led him to ignore the physical world to a point. Christianity would adopt an ascetic bias because of this aspect of Jesus.
Jesus did not place emphasis on tomorrow because there will be no tomorrow. He held that the more we concern ourselves with property and possessions the less we'll concern ourselves with readying for the judgment day.
Jesus criticized the wealthy for two reasons:
1) They got their riches unjustly
2) Their possessions naturally caused them to think about them.
The poor were at an advantage to focus on the judgment day for Jesus and this mind set caused Christianity to be popular with the poor.
Jesus' ethics compared with Greek ethics
Jesus' ethic is noticeably absent of any social ethic.
Jesus' focus on the Kingdom of God and on inwardness made him uninterested in overt social or political theorizing.
Christianity, when it became a state religion, had to concern itself with politics.
Jesus' ethics also varied from Greeks in that he placed no emphasis on intellectual virtues that Aristotle was so concerned with.
Jesus was vitally concerned with moral, practical virtues, but also differed from Aristotle here.
Jesus denigrated pride as a sin, which was a key virtue for Aristotle.
Jesus' starting point was God, whereas Aristotle's starting point was man. Pride was self-centered and thus it took away from God and sinful.
Jesus' altruism replaced Aristotle's egoism.
Jesus emphasized the equality of man or at least all Jews. Jesus was provincial.
Jesus' view was narrow compared to the Greek but possessed two advantages:
1) its altruism
2) its democratic outlook
The Messiahship of Jesus
Jesus' messiahship is not a philosophical issue and in philosophy it is more important what his followers thought of it, not what he thought of it.
The moral and eschatological meaning Jesus taught was understood in political terms by many of his followers.
The Romans were not worried with Jesus until he came into the urban centers and caused the crowds to riot.
The Jesus Movement
Christianity developed slowly by created a complex theology out of Jesus', Judaism's, Oriental Cults' and late Greek philosophical teachings.
How the movement survived
The crucifixion of Jesus and the scattering of the disciples could have easily killed the movement. Somehow, the disciples' belief in the Messiahship of Jesus was revived after his death.
Jesus miracles and resurrection convinced the disciples of his supernatural status.
The disciples formed a communal life after Jesus' death.
Shift of Emphasis to Jesus
Jesus began to become the focus of a new religion, rather than a reformer of an ancient one.
Jesus had always been considered anointed by his followers. The emphasis shift made him a deity.
The divinity of Jesus created problems. It faced monotheistic problems, conception of God problems and eschatological problems.
The Jews of the Dispersion
Only a small portion of Jews lived in Palestine. The Diaspora (dispersed Jews) lived all over the empire.
The Gentile Mission
The Orthodoxy of Judaism was primarily located in Palestine. The Diaspora and converts were less Orthodox and more open to Christianity.
The Hellenized Jews and Gentiles converting to Christianity continued to change the new religion.
Converts began interpreting Christianity and preaching it around the world. The most important of these converts was St. Paul.
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Structure of Christian Morality & Utilitarian Ethics
(Originally written February 9, 2006 in Book 21)
Class notes
The Structure of Christian Morality
The Hierarchy:
The Glory of God (The social weight that God carries) ->
The image of God in Humanity ->
The principle of the common Good (love your neighbor/do unto others) ->
Moral principles (justice, mercy, etc.) ->
Specific commands
The higher up in the hierarchy the more absolute it becomes. The lower in the hierarchy the more subjective possibilities arise.
Since there is a hierarchy of morality are there levels of evil?
Yes, Moses had different punishments in his law.
Jesus speaks of the "weightier matters" in Matthew 23:27
Some contest this view based on the fact that God is infinitely holy and all sin offends him equally.
Topic 3
I. Plato (early 4th century B.C.)
Virtue = performing 'function' well
A. Internally a virtuous person is one whose internal parts are working well (harmoniously). Reason controlling physical and emotional desires
B. Externally: one's role (function) in society
II. Aristotle (late 4th century BC)
-Student of Plato
-teacher of Alexander the Great
III. Augustine (late 4th/early 5th century AD)
IV. Thomas Aquinas (13th century)
V. Thomas Hobbes (17th century)
VI. David Hume (18th century)
VII. Immanuel Kant (18th century)
VIII. John Stuart Mill (19th century)
S&P Ethics
Can non-consequentialists satisfactorily handle conflicting rights and principles
1) Deliverances of moral common sense still have to be examined critically
2) Non-consequentialists shouldn't rest contently until they figure out the differences in their prima facie principles
Utilitarianism Once More
Act Utilitarianism - only moral obligation is the maximization action of happiness for everyone concerned and every action is judged by how well it lives up to the standard
Rule Utilitarianism - utilitarian code should be applied to moral codes as a whole but not to an individual's actions
The optimal moral code must take into account what rules can reasonably be taught and obeyed, as well as the costs of calculating those rules in people
What will the optimal code look like?
Pluralistic, prima facie
Criticism of rule Utilitarianism
1) Act utilitarians maintain that a utilitarian who cares about happiness should be willing to violate rules in order to maximize happiness
2) Non-consequentialists still balk at seeing morality determined by their consequences
Class notes
The Structure of Christian Morality
The Hierarchy:
The Glory of God (The social weight that God carries) ->
The image of God in Humanity ->
The principle of the common Good (love your neighbor/do unto others) ->
Moral principles (justice, mercy, etc.) ->
Specific commands
The higher up in the hierarchy the more absolute it becomes. The lower in the hierarchy the more subjective possibilities arise.
Since there is a hierarchy of morality are there levels of evil?
Yes, Moses had different punishments in his law.
Jesus speaks of the "weightier matters" in Matthew 23:27
Some contest this view based on the fact that God is infinitely holy and all sin offends him equally.
Topic 3
I. Plato (early 4th century B.C.)
Virtue = performing 'function' well
A. Internally a virtuous person is one whose internal parts are working well (harmoniously). Reason controlling physical and emotional desires
B. Externally: one's role (function) in society
II. Aristotle (late 4th century BC)
-Student of Plato
-teacher of Alexander the Great
III. Augustine (late 4th/early 5th century AD)
IV. Thomas Aquinas (13th century)
V. Thomas Hobbes (17th century)
VI. David Hume (18th century)
VII. Immanuel Kant (18th century)
VIII. John Stuart Mill (19th century)
S&P Ethics
Can non-consequentialists satisfactorily handle conflicting rights and principles
1) Deliverances of moral common sense still have to be examined critically
2) Non-consequentialists shouldn't rest contently until they figure out the differences in their prima facie principles
Utilitarianism Once More
Act Utilitarianism - only moral obligation is the maximization action of happiness for everyone concerned and every action is judged by how well it lives up to the standard
Rule Utilitarianism - utilitarian code should be applied to moral codes as a whole but not to an individual's actions
The optimal moral code must take into account what rules can reasonably be taught and obeyed, as well as the costs of calculating those rules in people
What will the optimal code look like?
Pluralistic, prima facie
Criticism of rule Utilitarianism
1) Act utilitarians maintain that a utilitarian who cares about happiness should be willing to violate rules in order to maximize happiness
2) Non-consequentialists still balk at seeing morality determined by their consequences
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Christianity & Philosophy, Proofs and nature of faith
(Originally written February 1, 2006)
The Christian Theology Reader
Clement of Alexandria on Philosophy and Theology
Clement argues that God gave the Greeks philosophy in order to prepare them for the coming of the Lord. He parallel this with God giving the Jews the law.
Philosophy was necessary to the Greeks for righteousness before the incarnation.
Post-incarnation philosophy assists people who come to faith by way of demonstration. It is a preparation for true religion.
Clement states all good things come from God. Some come directly (like Jews receiving the law from God through Moses) and some come indirectly (the Greek's philosophy).
"Philosophy, acted as a custodian to bring Greeks to Christ, just as the law brought the Hebrews" (6).
Philosophy is not antiquated or made obsolete by Christ's coming. It is a way for some people (lovers of truth) to come to the Lord.
Clement views Christ as both the perfection and fulfillment of the Old Testament and of philosophy.
Biblical parallels Galatians 3:23-24. The Greek word Paul uses for "custodian" is the same word Clement uses to describe philosophy for the Greeks.
Tertullian on the Relation of Philosophy and Heresy
Tertullian was avidly opposed to the fusion of philosophy and theology.
He held that philosophy had a pagan outlook on life.
He contacted the differences between Athens and Jerusalem, symbolic of the differences between pagan philosophy and God's revelation of the Christian faith.
He held that Christian minds were completely on a different wave length than their pagan counterparts.
Philosophy provides worldly wisdom by "boldly asserting itself to be the interpreter of the divine nature and dispensation" (7)
Heretics and philosophers often accept or deny similar viewpoints, i.e. Marcion came from the Stoics.
Tertullian holds that it is necessary to seek God in the simplicity of the heart. Philosophy completes it too much.
There is no need for curiosity after discovering Jesus Christ.
After believing in Christ "there is nothing else which we are obliged to believe"
Tertullian uses historical evidence to connect heresies and philosophy. He felt this was enough to justify the exclusion of philosophy from theology.
Since Philosophy has, at its core, values which are contrary to Christian principles, the fusion of the two would lead to the erosion of Christian integrity.
Augustine on Philosophy and Theology
Augustine advocates using all of the good philosophy in theology and disregarding the bad. He parallels this with the Hebrews casting of the burdens of the Egypt, but taking its treasures with them.
What the Plutonists have said which is true should be claimed by Christians for their own use because the Plutonists posses it illegally.
"Pagan learning is not entirely made up of sales teaching and superstitions. It contains also some excellent teachings, well suited to be used by truth, and excellent moral values"
Philosophy can neither be totally rejected or uncritically accepted.
Augustine points to person who were raised pagans, converted, then brought some of their values (now spun through truth) into the church and made a great impact.
Anselm of Canterbury's proof for the existence of God
God is "that than which no greater thing can be thought". Knowing this definition of God, Anselm states that without God the idea of God would still exist. Then (since God does not exist) the greatest thing that can be thought of is the idea of God. This contradicts the definition of God, therefore, it cannot be true. Since it is not true, the only option we have left is that God exists.
This argument is often referred to as the "ontological argument". (Ontological philosophy refers to the branch of philosophy dealing with being)
This is not a purely logical argument, nor was it intended to be. It is more of a statement of how obvious it was to himself that God exists and the implications that that entails.
The important part of this theory to remember is that the idea of something is inferior to the reality of that something.
Thomas Aquinas on Proofs for the existence of God
Aquinas postulated 5 "proofs" for the existence of God.
The term "proofs" cannot be taken in the strictest sense of the word here. It instead demonstrates the consistency of Christian theology with what is known of the world.
Aquinas' work "the Totality of Theology is" widely regarded as the greatest work of medieval theology (17)
The first argument for the existence of God, is the argument from change.
"Everything that is in the process of being changed is changed by something else" (18).
It is impossible for something to be the cause of change and be changing itself.
There must be a first cause to effect change. The first cause of change must be God.
The second argument for the existence of God is based on the nature of an efficient cause.
There is a sequence of efficient causes in the observable world, but nothing is the cause of itself. This would require something to exist prior to itself, which is impossible.
If there were no first cause there would be no effect. We can see that then are causes and effects, therefore there must have been an initial cause. This initial cause is God.
The third argument for the existence of God is the nature of possibility and necessity.
"If nothing ever existed, it would have been impossible for anything to begin to exist" (19).
Since we exist and we see other things that exist, there could never have been a point in time that nothing existed because then nothing would have begun to exist.
All things that exist must, by necessity, have been brought into existence by something. Therefore something must exist free of necessity to begin the existence of all other things (directly or indirectly). This existence free of necessity of being brought into existence is God.
The fourth argument for the existence of God is from the gradation that occurs in things.
Things are known to be more or less because they approximate in varying degrees to that which is greatest.
There must be something that is greatest, truest, best and noblest. This is God.
The fifth argument for the existence of God is based on the governance of things.
Because things, like natural bodies, work towards a goal without any knowledge of that goal with amazing precision and accuracy makes it obvious that they achieve this goal by design and not chance.
There is no way things without knowledge can reach goals consistently without a designer. Therefore, there is an intelligent being who designed all natural things to reach their goals. This being is God.
God's existence is proven 5 ways:
1) The world is in motion. Something had to start that motion: God
2) The world is full of causes and effects. There must have been a first cause: God
3) Things exist in this world that we are not necessary (humans are one of them). The fact that humans exist means something exist that is necessary to bring what is our necessary into existence: God
4) Values, truth, and morals must come from an ultimate source of values, truth and morality: God.
5) The world shows obvious traits of intelligent design. There must have been an intelligent designer: God.
Martin Luther on the theology of the Cross
Luther draws a distinction between theologians of glory who seek God apart from Jesus Christ and theologians of the cross who know that God is revealed through Jesus Christ.
John Calvin on the Nature of faith
Calvin establishes a direct relation between faith and the merciful promises of God.
Faith is a steady and certain knowledge of the divine benevolence towards us, which is founded upon the truth of the gracious promise of God in Christ.
Faith should be certain and secure but doubt and anxiety are natural.
Calvin states believers have a "perpetual struggle with their own lack of faith, and are far from possessing a peaceful conscience, never interrupted by any disturbance" (26).
Faith is not believing God exists, it is trusting in the promise of a benevolent God.
Blaise Pascal on Proofs for the Existence of God
Pascal places an emphasis on the heart, rather than reason, in the knowledge of God. He also stresses the limitations of reason.
Knowledge of God comes through the heart. Reason vainly attempts to discredit that knowledge. The inability to prove this knowledge of God does not affirm the uncertainty of this knowledge; it demonstrates the weakness of our reason.
Reason must recognize there are many things which it cannot comprehend.
The metaphysical proofs for God have little impact on men because their reason is incapable comprehending them.
Knowledge of God must be accompanied by the acknowledgement of our depravity and of acceptance of Christ as the redeemer to be effective.
John Calvin on the Natural knowledge of God
A full knowledge of God can only be achieved through Scripture, but a partial knowledge of God is possible apart from scripture which makes it impossible for humans to plead ignorance at the judgment.
God's existence can be recognized by all mankind. They are condemned by not worshipping God to light of their awareness.
A sense of divinity is "inscribed in the hearts of all people" (98).
A faith for all seasons
Ch. 1 our knowledge of God
Faith and Knowledge
If faith has nothing to do with knowledge, then theology (study of interactions between man and God) is reduced to anthropology (a study of man's interaction with man).
A lot of modern Christian theology is based on the assumption that faith has nothing to do with knowledge. This makes God impossible to know. We can only know about our experiences with God.
This theologies based on the Enlightenment which states that man is the ultimate measure of everything.
The rationalists came out of the Enlightenment. They believed that knowledge could only come from empirical or scientific evidence. However, God is above any empiricism or scientific method.
"Faith finds its basis in non rational elements of human experience" (2). This is a modern view of faith. A historic view of faith believes it is a part of knowledge.
Augustine says that you first have to believe in God, then knowledge of God will follow.
Faith also looks to the future. Hebrews 11:1 states, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen"
While knowledge of God comes directly through Scripture, it can also come indirectly through creation.
General revelation is what God has revealed to all humanity through creation.
Special revelation is what God has revealed to a limited number of people through redemptive history: Scripture and Jesus Christ.
Knowledge of God through General Revelation
All men in all times know God to some extent even if they don't have access to the Bible.
There are two types of General revelation
1) Outward general revelation is reality around that points us to God
2) Inward general revelation is reality within our moral and spirituality that points us to God
Creation reveals the power of God and His divine nature
Conscience dictates our morality. It is included in inward general revelation.
The Christian Theology Reader
Clement of Alexandria on Philosophy and Theology
Clement argues that God gave the Greeks philosophy in order to prepare them for the coming of the Lord. He parallel this with God giving the Jews the law.
Philosophy was necessary to the Greeks for righteousness before the incarnation.
Post-incarnation philosophy assists people who come to faith by way of demonstration. It is a preparation for true religion.
Clement states all good things come from God. Some come directly (like Jews receiving the law from God through Moses) and some come indirectly (the Greek's philosophy).
"Philosophy, acted as a custodian to bring Greeks to Christ, just as the law brought the Hebrews" (6).
Philosophy is not antiquated or made obsolete by Christ's coming. It is a way for some people (lovers of truth) to come to the Lord.
Clement views Christ as both the perfection and fulfillment of the Old Testament and of philosophy.
Biblical parallels Galatians 3:23-24. The Greek word Paul uses for "custodian" is the same word Clement uses to describe philosophy for the Greeks.
Tertullian on the Relation of Philosophy and Heresy
Tertullian was avidly opposed to the fusion of philosophy and theology.
He held that philosophy had a pagan outlook on life.
He contacted the differences between Athens and Jerusalem, symbolic of the differences between pagan philosophy and God's revelation of the Christian faith.
He held that Christian minds were completely on a different wave length than their pagan counterparts.
Philosophy provides worldly wisdom by "boldly asserting itself to be the interpreter of the divine nature and dispensation" (7)
Heretics and philosophers often accept or deny similar viewpoints, i.e. Marcion came from the Stoics.
Tertullian holds that it is necessary to seek God in the simplicity of the heart. Philosophy completes it too much.
There is no need for curiosity after discovering Jesus Christ.
After believing in Christ "there is nothing else which we are obliged to believe"
Tertullian uses historical evidence to connect heresies and philosophy. He felt this was enough to justify the exclusion of philosophy from theology.
Since Philosophy has, at its core, values which are contrary to Christian principles, the fusion of the two would lead to the erosion of Christian integrity.
Augustine on Philosophy and Theology
Augustine advocates using all of the good philosophy in theology and disregarding the bad. He parallels this with the Hebrews casting of the burdens of the Egypt, but taking its treasures with them.
What the Plutonists have said which is true should be claimed by Christians for their own use because the Plutonists posses it illegally.
"Pagan learning is not entirely made up of sales teaching and superstitions. It contains also some excellent teachings, well suited to be used by truth, and excellent moral values"
Philosophy can neither be totally rejected or uncritically accepted.
Augustine points to person who were raised pagans, converted, then brought some of their values (now spun through truth) into the church and made a great impact.
Anselm of Canterbury's proof for the existence of God
God is "that than which no greater thing can be thought". Knowing this definition of God, Anselm states that without God the idea of God would still exist. Then (since God does not exist) the greatest thing that can be thought of is the idea of God. This contradicts the definition of God, therefore, it cannot be true. Since it is not true, the only option we have left is that God exists.
This argument is often referred to as the "ontological argument". (Ontological philosophy refers to the branch of philosophy dealing with being)
This is not a purely logical argument, nor was it intended to be. It is more of a statement of how obvious it was to himself that God exists and the implications that that entails.
The important part of this theory to remember is that the idea of something is inferior to the reality of that something.
Thomas Aquinas on Proofs for the existence of God
Aquinas postulated 5 "proofs" for the existence of God.
The term "proofs" cannot be taken in the strictest sense of the word here. It instead demonstrates the consistency of Christian theology with what is known of the world.
Aquinas' work "the Totality of Theology is" widely regarded as the greatest work of medieval theology (17)
The first argument for the existence of God, is the argument from change.
"Everything that is in the process of being changed is changed by something else" (18).
It is impossible for something to be the cause of change and be changing itself.
There must be a first cause to effect change. The first cause of change must be God.
The second argument for the existence of God is based on the nature of an efficient cause.
There is a sequence of efficient causes in the observable world, but nothing is the cause of itself. This would require something to exist prior to itself, which is impossible.
If there were no first cause there would be no effect. We can see that then are causes and effects, therefore there must have been an initial cause. This initial cause is God.
The third argument for the existence of God is the nature of possibility and necessity.
"If nothing ever existed, it would have been impossible for anything to begin to exist" (19).
Since we exist and we see other things that exist, there could never have been a point in time that nothing existed because then nothing would have begun to exist.
All things that exist must, by necessity, have been brought into existence by something. Therefore something must exist free of necessity to begin the existence of all other things (directly or indirectly). This existence free of necessity of being brought into existence is God.
The fourth argument for the existence of God is from the gradation that occurs in things.
Things are known to be more or less because they approximate in varying degrees to that which is greatest.
There must be something that is greatest, truest, best and noblest. This is God.
The fifth argument for the existence of God is based on the governance of things.
Because things, like natural bodies, work towards a goal without any knowledge of that goal with amazing precision and accuracy makes it obvious that they achieve this goal by design and not chance.
There is no way things without knowledge can reach goals consistently without a designer. Therefore, there is an intelligent being who designed all natural things to reach their goals. This being is God.
God's existence is proven 5 ways:
1) The world is in motion. Something had to start that motion: God
2) The world is full of causes and effects. There must have been a first cause: God
3) Things exist in this world that we are not necessary (humans are one of them). The fact that humans exist means something exist that is necessary to bring what is our necessary into existence: God
4) Values, truth, and morals must come from an ultimate source of values, truth and morality: God.
5) The world shows obvious traits of intelligent design. There must have been an intelligent designer: God.
Martin Luther on the theology of the Cross
Luther draws a distinction between theologians of glory who seek God apart from Jesus Christ and theologians of the cross who know that God is revealed through Jesus Christ.
John Calvin on the Nature of faith
Calvin establishes a direct relation between faith and the merciful promises of God.
Faith is a steady and certain knowledge of the divine benevolence towards us, which is founded upon the truth of the gracious promise of God in Christ.
Faith should be certain and secure but doubt and anxiety are natural.
Calvin states believers have a "perpetual struggle with their own lack of faith, and are far from possessing a peaceful conscience, never interrupted by any disturbance" (26).
Faith is not believing God exists, it is trusting in the promise of a benevolent God.
Blaise Pascal on Proofs for the Existence of God
Pascal places an emphasis on the heart, rather than reason, in the knowledge of God. He also stresses the limitations of reason.
Knowledge of God comes through the heart. Reason vainly attempts to discredit that knowledge. The inability to prove this knowledge of God does not affirm the uncertainty of this knowledge; it demonstrates the weakness of our reason.
Reason must recognize there are many things which it cannot comprehend.
The metaphysical proofs for God have little impact on men because their reason is incapable comprehending them.
Knowledge of God must be accompanied by the acknowledgement of our depravity and of acceptance of Christ as the redeemer to be effective.
John Calvin on the Natural knowledge of God
A full knowledge of God can only be achieved through Scripture, but a partial knowledge of God is possible apart from scripture which makes it impossible for humans to plead ignorance at the judgment.
God's existence can be recognized by all mankind. They are condemned by not worshipping God to light of their awareness.
A sense of divinity is "inscribed in the hearts of all people" (98).
A faith for all seasons
Ch. 1 our knowledge of God
Faith and Knowledge
If faith has nothing to do with knowledge, then theology (study of interactions between man and God) is reduced to anthropology (a study of man's interaction with man).
A lot of modern Christian theology is based on the assumption that faith has nothing to do with knowledge. This makes God impossible to know. We can only know about our experiences with God.
This theologies based on the Enlightenment which states that man is the ultimate measure of everything.
The rationalists came out of the Enlightenment. They believed that knowledge could only come from empirical or scientific evidence. However, God is above any empiricism or scientific method.
"Faith finds its basis in non rational elements of human experience" (2). This is a modern view of faith. A historic view of faith believes it is a part of knowledge.
Augustine says that you first have to believe in God, then knowledge of God will follow.
Faith also looks to the future. Hebrews 11:1 states, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen"
While knowledge of God comes directly through Scripture, it can also come indirectly through creation.
General revelation is what God has revealed to all humanity through creation.
Special revelation is what God has revealed to a limited number of people through redemptive history: Scripture and Jesus Christ.
Knowledge of God through General Revelation
All men in all times know God to some extent even if they don't have access to the Bible.
There are two types of General revelation
1) Outward general revelation is reality around that points us to God
2) Inward general revelation is reality within our moral and spirituality that points us to God
Creation reveals the power of God and His divine nature
Conscience dictates our morality. It is included in inward general revelation.
Friday, January 6, 2006
Quick outline of Mark
(Originally written January 6, 2006 in Notebook 20)
Mark 1:1 - 9:50
1:1-8 John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus: "After me will come one more powerful than I, ... I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with he Holy Spirit"
1:9-13 Jesus is baptized by John, then sent to the desert by God where he is tempted by Satan.
1:14-20 Jesus gathers his first four disciples, Simon, Andrew, James and John (the fishermen)
1:21-28 Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath when a demon possessed man confronted him. Jesus cast the demons out of the man and all the people wondered what this new teaching and authority was.
1:29-34 Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law and word spread about Jesus' healing powers. Many people brought the sick and demon possessed to Jesus to be healed. Jesus healed them and cast the demons out but would not let the demons speak, for they knew who he was.
1:35-39 Jesus went to pray one morning. His disciples went looking for him and then they left to go to other villages to preach.
1:40-45 Jesus heals a man with leprosy and informs him not to tell anyone. The man disobeys and tells everyone. Jesus can now no longer enter any town without a mob rushing him. He stays outside the cities, but crowds still flock to him.
2:1-12 When Jesus returned to Capernaum a crowd so large gathered that no one else could get inside. Four men ripped a hole in the roof and lowered the paralytic in to see Jesus. Jesus said to the man, "your sins are forgiven". Some teachers began to wonder and accuse Jesus of blasphemy in their heads. Jesus knew this and asked the men, "is it easier to forgive someone's sins or to heal him of his injuries?" To prove that he was the Christ he ordered the man to rise up and walk home. Everyone was amazed by this and praised God.
2:13-17 Jesus eats dinner with the tax collectors and "sinners". The Pharisees ask his disciples why he eats with those people and Jesus replies, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners"
2:18-22 Jesus is asked why his disciples are not fasting. Jesus answers they will fast after he has filled them with what they need to be sustained.
2:23-28 Jesus and his disciples pick some grain to eat on the Sabbath. The Pharisees ask why Jesus allows his disciples to break the law and Jesus replies that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
3:1-6 Jesus asks the men in the synagogue if it is right to do good or evil on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill; but, no one answers. Jesus then heals a man with a gimp hand and the Pharisees seek to kill Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.
3:7-12 People from all over the area came to see Jesus after they heard of the miracles. Demons bowed at his feet and said, "You are the son of God" but Jesus told them not to say who he was.
3:13-19 Jesus appoints twelve apostles who will preach and drive out demons: Simon (Peter), James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas
3:20-30 Jesus is accused of being possessed by Satan and driving out demons in the name of Satan. Jesus replies with, "How can Satan drive out Satan? A house divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan opposes himself his time is over".
4:1-20 Jesus tells the parable of the Sower. A farmer throws seeds and some land on the path where the birds ate them. Some fell not the rocks where they grew but withered in the sun. Some fell on the thorns where they grew but were choked. Other seeds fell on good soil where they grew and produced a crop. Jesus asked if the people understood. The people didn't understand so Jesus explained it. The seeds on the path are like the people who hear the word but Satan takes it away. The seeds on the rocks are those who hear and accept but fall away at the first sign of persecution. The seeds that fell in the thorns are those who hear the word but it is choked away by worldly things. The seeds that fall in the good soil and produce fruit are those that hear the word and accept it and produce a crop of believers.
4:21-25 Jesus asks if a lamp is hidden, no of course not! It's put on a stand. He says what is hidden will be disclosed. He says you will be judged as harshly and more as you judge others. And says those who have will be given more (the saved) and those without will have more taken away (the lost).
4:26-29 The parable of the growing seed is what the kingdom of God is like. Seeds continue to sprout up without him knowing how. And when the grain is ripe it will be harvested.
4:30-34 The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds but produces the largest of all garden plants. Jesus also explains all the parables he taught to his disciples.
4:35-41 Jesus is asleep in the boat when a massive storm comes over the sea. The disciples woke Jesus and he calmed the sea. The disciples were amazed at His power.
5:1-20 Jesus comes on man who was possessed by a legion of demons. The demons beg Jesus not to torture them or banish them from the area. They beg to be released to a flock of pigs nearby. Jesus lets them and they enter the pigs and cause them all to drown. The town came out to see what had happened and asked Jesus to leave. The formerly demon-possessed man begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to stay with his family and tell how the Lord has been good to him.
5:21-43 Jesus after crossing the lake was approached by a synagogue leader begging Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. On the way a woman who had been bleeding touched Jesus garment and was healed.
6:1-6 Jesus spoke in his hometown and was not accepted. He was appalled by their lack of faith.
6:7-13 Jesus sent the 12 out to preach and cast out demons.
6:14-29 John the Baptist is beheaded by Herod.
6:30-44 Jesus feeds the 5,000.
6:45-56 Jesus walks on the water out to the 12 in the middle of the lake.
7:1-23 Jesus is approached by the Pharisees about why his disciples don't follow the Jewish traditions. jesus calls the men hypocrites for holding to Jewish traditions but ignoring God's law. Jesus then declares it is not the external world that makes a man unclean, but it is man's hearth that makes him unclean.
7:24-30 Jesus enters a house secretly but is found by a Greek woman. This woman begs Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. Jesus replies, "first let the children eat... for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs". The woman replies, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs". Jesus states that because of the woman's faith her daughter is freed of the demon.
7:31-37 Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. He commands the people not to talk about it but they are amazed and talk about it.
8:1-13 Jesus feeds 4,000 men with 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. He then rebukes the Pharisees for asking for a miracle.
8:14-21 Jesus warns the disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. The disciples take this literally and Jesus rebukes them
8:22-26 Jesus heals a blind man and orders him not to go into the village.
8:27-30 Jesus asks Peter who he thinks he is. Peter replies to Jesus, "you are the Christ". Jesus warns him not to tell anyone.
8:31-9:1 Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. Jesus rebukes Peter for rebuking him.
9:2-13 Jesus, Peter, John and James go up a mountain where Jesus is transfigured and talks with Moses and Elijah.
9:14-32 Jesus drives a demon out of a boy that his disciples could not. Jesus again predicts his death and resurrection. The disciples were afraid.
9:33-37 Jesus asks the twelve what they were arguing about. The twelve were arguing over who is the greatest disciple. Jesus says the greatest is the least. Those who serve will be great.
9:38-41 Jesus tells his disciples whoever is not against him is for him.
9:42-50 Jesus tells them if your hand causes you to sin it is better to cut it off than go to hell. Then Jesus tells the twelve to be salt.
10:1-12 Jesus condemns divorce.
10:13-16 Jesus rebukes his disciples for not letting the little children come to him.
10:17-31 Jesus tells a young rich man for him to enter heaven he must sell all his possessions, give it to the poor and follow him. The man did not.
10:32-34 Jesus again predicts his death to the twelve.
10:35-45 James and John ask to sit next to Jesus in glory. The other disciples are upset at this and Jesus tells them that to be great they must become a servant.
10:46-52 Jesus heals a blind man who begs for his sight, "By your faith you are healed".
11:1-11 Jesus has his disciples go and get him colt and he rides into Jerusalem while a crowd sings, "hosanna"
11:12-19 Jesus, hungry, walks to a fig tree in the distance. When there is no fruit Jesus says, "may no one eat fruit from you again". Then Jesus goes to the Temple and drives out all the merchandisers and money lenders. The leaders looked for a way to kill him. Then Jesus and the twelve left the city.
11:20-25 The fig tree Jesus cursed withered and died. Jesus tells his disciples that what you ask for in prayer if you have faith will happen and he tells them to forgive others.
11:27-33 The leaders of the temple ask Jesus who give him his authority. Jesus answered with a question: did John the Baptist baptize from heaven or from men? The Pharisees decided not to tell him their answer, so Jesus did not answer their question.
12:1-12 Jesus spoke the Parable of the Tenants to the people
12:13-17 Jesus says, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's
12:18-27 Jesus tells them there will be no marriage in the resurrection, people will be as angels
12:28-34 Jesus says the Greatest commandment - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second greatest - Love your neighbor as yourself.
12:35-39 Jesus warns the people of the teachers of the law's hypocrisy.
12:41-44 The poor widow gave her offering and it was greater than the wealthiest person's gift.
13:1-31 Jesus predicts the end times and tells them what will happen before it comes.
13:32-37 Jesus tells the disciples no one knows the hour when the Son of Man will return except the father.
14:1-11 A woman pours expensive perfume on Jesus and Jesus says it will prepare him for his burial. Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus for pay.
14:12-26 Jesus predicts his betrayal, then has the passover dinner.
14:27-31 Jesus predicts Peter's denials.
14:32-42 Jesus prays at Gethsemane where his disciples fall asleep. jesus asks for the cup to be taken away, "but not my will, but thine be done".
14:43-52 Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane, when Judas kisses him.
14:53-65 Jesus is brought to trial and declares He is the Son of Man an the Messiah.
14:66-72 Peter denies Jesus three times, just as predicted
15:1-15 Jesus appears before Pilate. Barabbas is released and Jesus is condemned to be crucified.
Mark 1:1 - 9:50
1:1-8 John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus: "After me will come one more powerful than I, ... I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with he Holy Spirit"
1:9-13 Jesus is baptized by John, then sent to the desert by God where he is tempted by Satan.
1:14-20 Jesus gathers his first four disciples, Simon, Andrew, James and John (the fishermen)
1:21-28 Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath when a demon possessed man confronted him. Jesus cast the demons out of the man and all the people wondered what this new teaching and authority was.
1:29-34 Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law and word spread about Jesus' healing powers. Many people brought the sick and demon possessed to Jesus to be healed. Jesus healed them and cast the demons out but would not let the demons speak, for they knew who he was.
1:35-39 Jesus went to pray one morning. His disciples went looking for him and then they left to go to other villages to preach.
1:40-45 Jesus heals a man with leprosy and informs him not to tell anyone. The man disobeys and tells everyone. Jesus can now no longer enter any town without a mob rushing him. He stays outside the cities, but crowds still flock to him.
2:1-12 When Jesus returned to Capernaum a crowd so large gathered that no one else could get inside. Four men ripped a hole in the roof and lowered the paralytic in to see Jesus. Jesus said to the man, "your sins are forgiven". Some teachers began to wonder and accuse Jesus of blasphemy in their heads. Jesus knew this and asked the men, "is it easier to forgive someone's sins or to heal him of his injuries?" To prove that he was the Christ he ordered the man to rise up and walk home. Everyone was amazed by this and praised God.
2:13-17 Jesus eats dinner with the tax collectors and "sinners". The Pharisees ask his disciples why he eats with those people and Jesus replies, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners"
2:18-22 Jesus is asked why his disciples are not fasting. Jesus answers they will fast after he has filled them with what they need to be sustained.
2:23-28 Jesus and his disciples pick some grain to eat on the Sabbath. The Pharisees ask why Jesus allows his disciples to break the law and Jesus replies that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
3:1-6 Jesus asks the men in the synagogue if it is right to do good or evil on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill; but, no one answers. Jesus then heals a man with a gimp hand and the Pharisees seek to kill Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.
3:7-12 People from all over the area came to see Jesus after they heard of the miracles. Demons bowed at his feet and said, "You are the son of God" but Jesus told them not to say who he was.
3:13-19 Jesus appoints twelve apostles who will preach and drive out demons: Simon (Peter), James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas
3:20-30 Jesus is accused of being possessed by Satan and driving out demons in the name of Satan. Jesus replies with, "How can Satan drive out Satan? A house divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan opposes himself his time is over".
4:1-20 Jesus tells the parable of the Sower. A farmer throws seeds and some land on the path where the birds ate them. Some fell not the rocks where they grew but withered in the sun. Some fell on the thorns where they grew but were choked. Other seeds fell on good soil where they grew and produced a crop. Jesus asked if the people understood. The people didn't understand so Jesus explained it. The seeds on the path are like the people who hear the word but Satan takes it away. The seeds on the rocks are those who hear and accept but fall away at the first sign of persecution. The seeds that fell in the thorns are those who hear the word but it is choked away by worldly things. The seeds that fall in the good soil and produce fruit are those that hear the word and accept it and produce a crop of believers.
4:21-25 Jesus asks if a lamp is hidden, no of course not! It's put on a stand. He says what is hidden will be disclosed. He says you will be judged as harshly and more as you judge others. And says those who have will be given more (the saved) and those without will have more taken away (the lost).
4:26-29 The parable of the growing seed is what the kingdom of God is like. Seeds continue to sprout up without him knowing how. And when the grain is ripe it will be harvested.
4:30-34 The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds but produces the largest of all garden plants. Jesus also explains all the parables he taught to his disciples.
4:35-41 Jesus is asleep in the boat when a massive storm comes over the sea. The disciples woke Jesus and he calmed the sea. The disciples were amazed at His power.
5:1-20 Jesus comes on man who was possessed by a legion of demons. The demons beg Jesus not to torture them or banish them from the area. They beg to be released to a flock of pigs nearby. Jesus lets them and they enter the pigs and cause them all to drown. The town came out to see what had happened and asked Jesus to leave. The formerly demon-possessed man begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to stay with his family and tell how the Lord has been good to him.
5:21-43 Jesus after crossing the lake was approached by a synagogue leader begging Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. On the way a woman who had been bleeding touched Jesus garment and was healed.
6:1-6 Jesus spoke in his hometown and was not accepted. He was appalled by their lack of faith.
6:7-13 Jesus sent the 12 out to preach and cast out demons.
6:14-29 John the Baptist is beheaded by Herod.
6:30-44 Jesus feeds the 5,000.
6:45-56 Jesus walks on the water out to the 12 in the middle of the lake.
7:1-23 Jesus is approached by the Pharisees about why his disciples don't follow the Jewish traditions. jesus calls the men hypocrites for holding to Jewish traditions but ignoring God's law. Jesus then declares it is not the external world that makes a man unclean, but it is man's hearth that makes him unclean.
7:24-30 Jesus enters a house secretly but is found by a Greek woman. This woman begs Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. Jesus replies, "first let the children eat... for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs". The woman replies, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs". Jesus states that because of the woman's faith her daughter is freed of the demon.
7:31-37 Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. He commands the people not to talk about it but they are amazed and talk about it.
8:1-13 Jesus feeds 4,000 men with 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. He then rebukes the Pharisees for asking for a miracle.
8:14-21 Jesus warns the disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. The disciples take this literally and Jesus rebukes them
8:22-26 Jesus heals a blind man and orders him not to go into the village.
8:27-30 Jesus asks Peter who he thinks he is. Peter replies to Jesus, "you are the Christ". Jesus warns him not to tell anyone.
8:31-9:1 Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. Jesus rebukes Peter for rebuking him.
9:2-13 Jesus, Peter, John and James go up a mountain where Jesus is transfigured and talks with Moses and Elijah.
9:14-32 Jesus drives a demon out of a boy that his disciples could not. Jesus again predicts his death and resurrection. The disciples were afraid.
9:33-37 Jesus asks the twelve what they were arguing about. The twelve were arguing over who is the greatest disciple. Jesus says the greatest is the least. Those who serve will be great.
9:38-41 Jesus tells his disciples whoever is not against him is for him.
9:42-50 Jesus tells them if your hand causes you to sin it is better to cut it off than go to hell. Then Jesus tells the twelve to be salt.
10:1-12 Jesus condemns divorce.
10:13-16 Jesus rebukes his disciples for not letting the little children come to him.
10:17-31 Jesus tells a young rich man for him to enter heaven he must sell all his possessions, give it to the poor and follow him. The man did not.
10:32-34 Jesus again predicts his death to the twelve.
10:35-45 James and John ask to sit next to Jesus in glory. The other disciples are upset at this and Jesus tells them that to be great they must become a servant.
10:46-52 Jesus heals a blind man who begs for his sight, "By your faith you are healed".
11:1-11 Jesus has his disciples go and get him colt and he rides into Jerusalem while a crowd sings, "hosanna"
11:12-19 Jesus, hungry, walks to a fig tree in the distance. When there is no fruit Jesus says, "may no one eat fruit from you again". Then Jesus goes to the Temple and drives out all the merchandisers and money lenders. The leaders looked for a way to kill him. Then Jesus and the twelve left the city.
11:20-25 The fig tree Jesus cursed withered and died. Jesus tells his disciples that what you ask for in prayer if you have faith will happen and he tells them to forgive others.
11:27-33 The leaders of the temple ask Jesus who give him his authority. Jesus answered with a question: did John the Baptist baptize from heaven or from men? The Pharisees decided not to tell him their answer, so Jesus did not answer their question.
12:1-12 Jesus spoke the Parable of the Tenants to the people
12:13-17 Jesus says, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's
12:18-27 Jesus tells them there will be no marriage in the resurrection, people will be as angels
12:28-34 Jesus says the Greatest commandment - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second greatest - Love your neighbor as yourself.
12:35-39 Jesus warns the people of the teachers of the law's hypocrisy.
12:41-44 The poor widow gave her offering and it was greater than the wealthiest person's gift.
13:1-31 Jesus predicts the end times and tells them what will happen before it comes.
13:32-37 Jesus tells the disciples no one knows the hour when the Son of Man will return except the father.
14:1-11 A woman pours expensive perfume on Jesus and Jesus says it will prepare him for his burial. Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus for pay.
14:12-26 Jesus predicts his betrayal, then has the passover dinner.
14:27-31 Jesus predicts Peter's denials.
14:32-42 Jesus prays at Gethsemane where his disciples fall asleep. jesus asks for the cup to be taken away, "but not my will, but thine be done".
14:43-52 Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane, when Judas kisses him.
14:53-65 Jesus is brought to trial and declares He is the Son of Man an the Messiah.
14:66-72 Peter denies Jesus three times, just as predicted
15:1-15 Jesus appears before Pilate. Barabbas is released and Jesus is condemned to be crucified.
15:16-20 Jesus has a purple robe put on him, a crown of thorns on his head and is mocked
15:21-32 Jesus is crucified, they cast lots for his clothes and mock him
15:33-41 Jesus dies. The curtain splits in the temple. The centurions who saw Jesus die proclaimed Jesus must be the Son of God.
15:42-47 Joseph of Arimethea asks for the body of Christ. He laid the body in the tomb and wrapped it.
16:1-8 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James went to the tomb to find Jesus was gone and an angel told him that He had risen.
This is where most early manuscripts end. But later ones contain 16:9-20.
16:9-20 Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and to two others but no one believes them. Jesus appears to the eleven and charges them to preach throughout the world.
Thursday, January 5, 2006
Book Notes on the Biblical Canon & Interpretation
(Originally written January 5, 2006 in Notebook 20)
Book Notes
The Promise and The Blessing
Michael Harbin
- There are many ways of studying the Bible, this book will approach it from its historical context
- This book will help us to understand the books of the Bible as the original readers would have
- There are two basic approaches to understanding the Bible
1) The Traditional View
2) The Modern View
- The traditional view is a more conservative view and has been the widely accepted view until recent times
- The traditional view accepts the Bible on face-value and believes it to be historically accurate
- The Modern View is a more liberal view of the Bible that assumes it to be mythical until there is corroborating evidence
-The Modern view began to gain ground in the 1800's especially after Julius Wellhaven produced a theory that the Pentateuch was written much later than previously assumed
- Willhausen's theory (The Documentary Hypothesis) argues that God is limited and could not (or at least would not) perform miracles, or interfere with he space-time history
- The Traditional View holds that God will on occasion and has intervened in the time-space history
- Miracles cannot be proved or disproved by scientific research. Science can show us what is normal and by nature miracles are unnatural. This makes them out of the scope of science
- Archaeology constantly shatters the modern view's beliefs and presuppositions
- Archeology does not prove the Bible
- Archeology has limitations and problems
- One problem is that of historical loss. This occurs when items are destroyed either by disaster, humans or time
- Another problem is that of limited excavation. This occurs when archeologists cannot excavate areas because of politics, weather, funding or other restrictions
- Another problem is that of non-written sources. This problem occurs when we find artifacts that aren't written ones, like tools or pottery. These items sometimes cannot be figured out what exactly they were used for and that sometimes we can only deduce small amounts of information from them
- Another problem is that of dating. This is when artifacts are attempted to be dated. There is no exact way of being 100% accurate all of the time
- Another problem is the problem of history. Sometimes people in history were not thought of as important until after the fact.
- History is defined as "the recording of eyewitness accounts in written form"
- History begins with writing, so any culture without writing is prehistoric by nature
- History began no earlier than 3200-3100 B.C. in Sumer at the mouth of the Tigris-Euphrates rivers.
- All writing began as pictographs:
Mesopotamia: Cuneiform
Egypt: Hieroglyphics
- All writing began as financial records
- Originally God intended to speak to Israel himself the books of Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus but after God spoke the 10 commandments to them they were frightened and asked Moses to tell them what God said
- Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus became the first canon (and probably Job)
- The canon is a group of writings regarded as authentic and used in the Bible
- The canon as we have it today gradually developed
- The Old Testament was written in Hebrew (except for three passages in Aramaic)
- The Old Testament was translated into their everyday languages after the exile to Babylon
- The most important Greek translation is the Septuagint
- The Early New Testament books fell into two basic categories:
1) Eyewitness accounts of the Messiah (the Gospels)
2) Letters from key witnesses to believers (the Epistles)
- Numbers and Deuteronomy were added to the Old Testament Canon 40 years after the original canon
- To be in the canon a book must be inspired by God. It must have two roles of the Holy Spirit:
1) Inspiring the writer
2) Verifying the inspiration to the community
- Christianity began with the assumption that the Jewish canon was authoritative
- The concept of the Messiah comes from the Jewish canon
- The New Testament was primarily written to groups of God's people throughout the Roman Empire
Review Questions
1) The traditional view of how the Bible was written is that it was written as a historically accurate account of events
2) The traditional view accepts the Bible at "face-value" and believes in its miraculous events
2) The Modern view looks at the Bible with skepticism and does not accept it until other evidence is produced to verify it.
3) The canon is the books believed to be inspired and authoritative. It's important because it makes up the Bible
4) The epistles were written before the Gospels because the apostles felt that a written account of Jesus as the Messiah was not needed because Christ's return was just around the corner.
5) It took so long for a New Testament canon to be agreed on because there were so many letters to be found and decided on.
6) The significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls is that it gave use written documentation of the Bible 1,000 years older than our previous oldest copies. With that we could compare the accuracy of the copying process.
Book Notes
The Promise and The Blessing
Michael Harbin
- There are many ways of studying the Bible, this book will approach it from its historical context
- This book will help us to understand the books of the Bible as the original readers would have
- There are two basic approaches to understanding the Bible
1) The Traditional View
2) The Modern View
- The traditional view is a more conservative view and has been the widely accepted view until recent times
- The traditional view accepts the Bible on face-value and believes it to be historically accurate
- The Modern View is a more liberal view of the Bible that assumes it to be mythical until there is corroborating evidence
-The Modern view began to gain ground in the 1800's especially after Julius Wellhaven produced a theory that the Pentateuch was written much later than previously assumed
- Willhausen's theory (The Documentary Hypothesis) argues that God is limited and could not (or at least would not) perform miracles, or interfere with he space-time history
- The Traditional View holds that God will on occasion and has intervened in the time-space history
- Miracles cannot be proved or disproved by scientific research. Science can show us what is normal and by nature miracles are unnatural. This makes them out of the scope of science
- Archaeology constantly shatters the modern view's beliefs and presuppositions
- Archeology does not prove the Bible
- Archeology has limitations and problems
- One problem is that of historical loss. This occurs when items are destroyed either by disaster, humans or time
- Another problem is that of limited excavation. This occurs when archeologists cannot excavate areas because of politics, weather, funding or other restrictions
- Another problem is that of non-written sources. This problem occurs when we find artifacts that aren't written ones, like tools or pottery. These items sometimes cannot be figured out what exactly they were used for and that sometimes we can only deduce small amounts of information from them
- Another problem is that of dating. This is when artifacts are attempted to be dated. There is no exact way of being 100% accurate all of the time
- Another problem is the problem of history. Sometimes people in history were not thought of as important until after the fact.
- History is defined as "the recording of eyewitness accounts in written form"
- History begins with writing, so any culture without writing is prehistoric by nature
- History began no earlier than 3200-3100 B.C. in Sumer at the mouth of the Tigris-Euphrates rivers.
- All writing began as pictographs:
Mesopotamia: Cuneiform
Egypt: Hieroglyphics
- All writing began as financial records
- Originally God intended to speak to Israel himself the books of Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus but after God spoke the 10 commandments to them they were frightened and asked Moses to tell them what God said
- Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus became the first canon (and probably Job)
- The canon is a group of writings regarded as authentic and used in the Bible
- The canon as we have it today gradually developed
- The Old Testament was written in Hebrew (except for three passages in Aramaic)
- The Old Testament was translated into their everyday languages after the exile to Babylon
- The most important Greek translation is the Septuagint
- The Early New Testament books fell into two basic categories:
1) Eyewitness accounts of the Messiah (the Gospels)
2) Letters from key witnesses to believers (the Epistles)
- Numbers and Deuteronomy were added to the Old Testament Canon 40 years after the original canon
- To be in the canon a book must be inspired by God. It must have two roles of the Holy Spirit:
1) Inspiring the writer
2) Verifying the inspiration to the community
- Christianity began with the assumption that the Jewish canon was authoritative
- The concept of the Messiah comes from the Jewish canon
- The New Testament was primarily written to groups of God's people throughout the Roman Empire
Review Questions
1) The traditional view of how the Bible was written is that it was written as a historically accurate account of events
2) The traditional view accepts the Bible at "face-value" and believes in its miraculous events
2) The Modern view looks at the Bible with skepticism and does not accept it until other evidence is produced to verify it.
3) The canon is the books believed to be inspired and authoritative. It's important because it makes up the Bible
4) The epistles were written before the Gospels because the apostles felt that a written account of Jesus as the Messiah was not needed because Christ's return was just around the corner.
5) It took so long for a New Testament canon to be agreed on because there were so many letters to be found and decided on.
6) The significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls is that it gave use written documentation of the Bible 1,000 years older than our previous oldest copies. With that we could compare the accuracy of the copying process.
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