The Bible

[hotcoffee]

Being Italian, I call him Malachi, pronounced (ma-lach'-ee). Yes he is the last of the 12 minor prophets from Hosea to Malachi. They're called minor prophets because of the size of their writings. They are by no means insignificant, though.

That's the point I was making. They are extremely quick read but the information in there is really going to have an impact when I read the New Testament.

 

[hotcoffee]

Matthew.... I've done a lot of reading over the past few months.

I think Matthew is more like a historical gate to the Gospels. I love how the Bible is put to gether.... it's really well done... The minor prophets... short little hits from God Himself, and then the child is born... and already Herod is stalking Him.

God seems to be saying, "Ok... I've done all I can do... I've tried every other way and I simply cannot understand why you keep worshiping other idols!"

It's like He's saying, "OK.... I'll send my own son down there to be a real king. He'll show you how to live."

The geneology was fun to read this time.... Did you notice it says 14 generations, 4 times.... how cool is that... if 7 is the perfect number.... 14 must be the perfect marriage.

Did you notice Ruth is mentioned there? Jesus is a direct descendent of Boaz and Ruth..... And He is also a direct descendant of Jesse.... There are three very good stories in the Old Testament.

I like how Jesus opened his preaching with being baptised by John. He was baptised before He went into the dessert for 40 days and 40 nights.....

 

[ItalianScallion]

The best NT book (IMO) is the Gospel of John but all the gospels have something in them that the others don't, that's why there's 4 of them.

There is much more to the 14 generations than meets the eye. Don't take it literally and start making age of the earth predictions from it. Matthew really did a genius thing with that genealogy but he doesn't mean there were only 14 generations from Abraham to Jesus. It's complicated to say the least so I usually just read it or skip over it.

 

[hotcoffee]

The best NT book (IMO) is the Gospel of John but all the gospels have something in them that the others don't, that's why there's 4 of them.

There is much more to the 14 generations than meets the eye. Don't take it literally and start making age of the earth predictions from it. Matthew really did a genius thing with that genealogy but he doesn't mean there were only 14 generations from Abraham to Jesus. It's complicated to say the least so I usually just read it or skip over it.

It's 14 generations 4 times. When I read that, I started thinking about how many generations my family has been in the United States. We came here from Ireland in 1461. [Yes, religious persecution and famine drove us here]

Since Captain George Athey came over from Ireland a lot has changed in the United States. That was much less than 56 generations. The Atheys didn't live to be 100 either.

If you think of it in that context, you should clearly see that from Abraham to Jesus is a long, long, long time to develop a plan and give man time to get it right a few times.

Time changes things.... Generations change the family.... this family seemed to stay in tact pretty much....

Remember.... I'm reading this as a book... all the characters are important... If Matthew is the historical gatekeeper to the salvation story, there is a wealth of information about the significance of the lineage of Jesus... I find it interesting that the lineage goes to Joseph.... who had no DNA invested in Jesus. Joseph's contributon to Jesus was his devotion to the Lord God and the law of Moses. He took an active part in raising the child Jesus as his own son... knowing He was much more than that.

I'm sure His human body was tempted by the sins of the fathers.... and let's face it... David and Solomon passed down a particular weakness for the ladies....

The importance of the lineage in context may be in the fact that the family for the most part stayed focused on the Lord God and the law as handed down through Moses.

I'm trying not to skip over anything. Something as boring as a family tree has a part in the main storyline.... There's a reason it was put there... just like the story of Jonah.... What would have happened if the human side of Jesus had caused Him to go off the plan? I don't give these questions too much thought as the story continues really quickly....

Another reason not to skip over the geneology is the bloodline itself... Herod had reason to believe that a new King of the Jews had been born in Bethlehem.... There was definitely a bloodline to a great king for Herod to worry about...

 

[Zguy28]

I just came across this passage and was intrigued as I hadn't read Titus in quite some time.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Tit 3:4-7


What can take away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

 

[hotcoffee]

It's been a rough couple of days. All the stuff with watching a good christian woman walk out on her job, watch a couple of menopausal women tell everyone off they the come in contact with.... and I have to say sitting in my car and reading my Kindle is the highlight of my day....

Matthew was the tax collector right?

It's a little rough to read what Jesus says about the persecution.... and dusting off your shoes when you leave....

I can't imagine that all the words that Jesus spoke are in the Bible... There are so many sides to Him tho that following the sermons is always refreshing.... like a different look at how He was coping with being a human.

Jesus got so much into being Him and getting everything done.... He forgot He was human....What He said about His mother was quite rude don't you think?

I'm not being mean here.... what I mean is once in a while I see a human side of Jesus in the Word. It helps to see the miracle of the reserection in a different light if you see the human part of Him take over. The un-inspired human side of Jesus is fun to watch.... it's in-dearing....

 

[ItalianScallion]

I'm trying not to skip over anything. Something as boring as a family tree has a part in the main storyline.... There's a reason it was put there... Another reason not to skip over the geneology is the bloodline itself... Herod had reason to believe that a new King of the Jews had been born in Bethlehem.... There was definitely a bloodline to a great king for Herod to worry about...

For a personal Bible reading yes, read it all. For my Bible study on the radio, it would bore the people to sleep so I need to keep it lively and relevant...

Matthew was the tax collector right?
Jesus got so much into being Him and getting everything done.... He forgot He was human....What He said about His mother was quite rude don't you think?....

Yes Matthew was a tax collector.

Jesus was not being mean. We can't know his tone of voice but he would never be disrespectful to His mom. Which verse are you referring to?

 

[hotcoffee]

For a personal Bible reading yes, read it all. For my Bible study on the radio, it would bore the people to sleep so I need to keep it lively and relevant...

Yes Matthew was a tax collector.

Jesus was not being mean. We can't know his tone of voice but he would never be disrespectful to His mom. Which verse are you referring to?

My point is.... He was human too!.... and as a human... the human side could pop out sometimes.... I understand that the Godly side is Godly... that human side tho.... he meant no disrespect or rudeness.... but it must have slipped out and that's why the author put that in there.... or that's the reasoning I see behind it....

In my opinion, Jesus had to deal with human emotions and frailties... I'm sure they got in His way sometimes just like they get in our way too.... [take the two women I mentioned... they're nice normally but lately.... no so much]...

The gospel means more to me when I think that He spent time as a human and understands what we deal with on a daily basis. He knows what it's like to be busy in the mind and speak first before engaging brain and heart.... that's what I get from this... it's makes Him so much more to me....

Imagine... you're standing in front of God and Jesus is right there on God's right side. Satan or one of his demons is telling God that you spoke out with out thinking on such and such a time at such and such a place and it was rude.... Then Jesus whispers in God's ear... "I remember that from the human side... I forgive it...." then God says.... "Forgiven"....

That's the way I like to think of it.... It's all awesome...

 

[hotcoffee]

I'm in the crucifiction and burial now....

but before that I read about the Pharisees and the Saducees [sp]... sad you sees... The way Matthew tells the stories.... He trained the disciples

I know He mourned for John the Baptist.

I never understood the trasfiguration before. It must have been awesome to see the Lord glow like that. They beheaded Elijah. Seems like this meeting was like when the coach, catcher, and 1st base meet on the mound to discuss the next play.

I can just hear it now.... "These humans are insane.... they just beheaded Elijah.... " He couldn't just disappear.... although the human side of him jabbed him every now and then. The God side stayed in control tho.... and He agreed to see it through.

Matthew doesn't say anything about the criminal being saved. In fact Matthew seems to say that they both jeered Jesus.

I hadn't noticed the earthquakes before.... rocks split... wow....

I also didn't notice the sleeping that walked out of their tombs... and talked to the people in the area.

Jesus is now in the tomb. I had to leave Him there while I went back to work.

Hey.... anyone else reading this along with me?

 

[hotcoffee]

I'm reading Mark now.

Interesting how two men tell the same story.....

 

[hotcoffee]

I'll start Luke this morning.

A friend lost her husband. She has been asking if her husband will know her in Heaven. I really think Mark answers that question better than Matthew did.

I also noticed for the first time that Mark says Jesus never intended to get in the boat with the disciples. According to Mark He had planned to walk to the other shore. He only got in the boat to quiet the apostles fears.... they thought they had seen a ghost....

There are a lot of notations about the human needs of Jesus.... He was hungry, tired, frustrated and even angry. He dealt with all of these. Jesus did an excellent job of overcoming being human.

The children in my Sunday School class, years ago, thought that all the people in the Bible were old people. [That is with the exception of the children that the disciples tried to keep away from Jesus] Another thing they seem to accept as truth is that Jesus walked around glowing with some kind of light. They see the pictures of Jesus glowing and relate them to the Godly side of Jesus. Based on what I'm reading.... Jesus really had to deal with the human experience and all its limitations.

Both Matthew and Mark commented on Jesus saying that the disciples needed to believe they could heal the sick, cast out demons, and walk on water.... and it would be so....

 

[hotcoffee]

Finished Luke this morning.... remember... I'm reading the Bible from one cover to the other.... so this is not a Bible Study.... it's just reading and noting things of interest...

I have a couple of questions for the more studied than I.... I hope these questions don't bring on too much of a debate.... I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and I believe every word is true... so there must be a logical reason for these couple of things....

Matthew and Mark say that the two criminals rebuked Jesus.... Luke discusses a conversation where one of them rebukes the other and Jesus tells him that he will join Him in paradise that day....

Matthew and Mark say that Jesus asked the disciples to keep watch while He prayed and came out to find them sleeping twice. Luke doesn't mention that.

Mark and Luke talk about the servant's ear being cut off.... but Luke says Jesus touched the ear and it was healed....

Did I miss something? Just asking... not questioning.... but thought a few of you might have been waiting for me to ask....

On to John at lunch today....

Anyone else reading with me?

 

[ItalianScallion]

Matthew and Mark say that the two criminals rebuked Jesus.... Luke discusses a conversation where one of them rebukes the other and Jesus tells him that he will join Him in paradise that day....

Matthew and Mark say that Jesus asked the disciples to keep watch while He prayed and came out to find them sleeping twice. Luke doesn't mention that.

Mark and Luke talk about the servant's ear being cut off.... but Luke says Jesus touched the ear and it was healed....

Did I miss something? Just asking... not questioning.... but thought a few of you might have been waiting for me to ask....

This was done to show that there was no collusion between the writers of the Gospels. If there was, they'd all be the same and 3 of them wouldn't be needed. Each writer wrote about what he saw or heard. Just because only one Gospel says that Jesus healed the ear of Malchus, doesn't mean the others are discounting it.

 

[hotcoffee]

John is a little harder to understand than the other three gospels.... so I'm reading a little slower now.... Lararus has just walked out of the tomb.

I noticed that twice so far the Pharisees tried to stone Jesus.... He dissappears into the crowd.... I find that interesting.... People follow Him everywhere He goes. He even walked on water to get away from the crowds.... I'm thinking something supernatural has to occur for Him to blend in with the crowds....

 

[ItalianScallion]

John is a little harder to understand than the other three gospels.... so I'm reading a little slower now.....

John is my fav book! What's so hard to understand?

 

[hotcoffee]

John is my fav book! What's so hard to understand?

John knew Jesus better than the other three. He heard all the deep conversations Jesus had with the disciples about His death.

John also talked about how the cheif priest understood that Jesus must be sacrificed to save lives and fulfill the scriptures.... at least that's how I see it...

Deep.... very deep....

 

[ItalianScallion]

John knew Jesus better than the other three. He heard all the deep conversations Jesus had with the disciples about His death.

John also talked about how the cheif priest understood that Jesus must be sacrificed to save lives and fulfill the scriptures.... at least that's how I see it...

Deep.... very deep....

Ok, deep but not difficult. John did have a favorable spot with Jesus, for sure. It was often the jealousy between Peter & John that got Jesus upset.

John's Gospel give more (and better) information about Jesus than any other book in the Bible IMO and only John & Matthew were Apostles; Mark & Luke were not.

 

[hotcoffee]

Ok, deep but not difficult. John did have a favorable spot with Jesus, for sure. It was often the jealousy between Peter & John that got Jesus upset.

John's Gospel give more (and better) information about Jesus than any other book in the Bible IMO and only John & Matthew were Apostles; Mark & Luke were not.

I don't think Matthew understood the mission that Jesus was on as well as John did. Could be why John was one of the favorites. John seems to not only tell what happened but why it had to happen.

Peter professed his faith in Jesus over and over.... It's a real shame that when Jesus was turned over to the guards, that Peter's faith had to be put to the test. Hearing that rooster crow must have broken his heart. Peter does remind me of some of the modern day churches tho. But that's a topic for another thread....

Soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect us must have a tiny inkling of what Jesus went through. They know there is a chance that they might face death for us.

Jesus knew the mission was to be turned over to the authorities and suffer crucifiction for the rest of us. Although we all hope that our soldiers will never have to face injury or death.... they go in spite of the possibility.... Jesus came to earth knowing the outcome.... and He still did it! I really Thank Him....

 

[hotcoffee]

The Acts is more about what Paul went through then the Acts of the Disciples... so far....

Paul is in front of Festus now.... It's a good thing he was a Jewish, Roman Citizen..... It's also a good thing he was intelligent.... He did a good job spreading The Way to the Greeks.... [or geeks if you will ]

 

[hotcoffee]

I start Hebrews in the morning.... Paul is good speaker.... I enjoyed the book alot....

One question.... who is "we"?