tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47678296969324803042024-03-14T02:39:07.828-07:00martyr cross racingThose who walk in fear and love prefer that they themselves, rather than their neighbors, should fall into suffering (First Clement 51). Let us therefore be eager to be imitators of the Lord, to see who can be the more wronged, who the more cheated, and who the more rejected (Ignatius to the Ephesians 10).Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-78896388503860344072018-04-26T15:36:00.000-07:002018-04-29T07:11:11.836-07:00The Internal Evidence for the Case that 2 Peter is a Pseudepigraphal Copy of JudeI started working on this presentation back in the winter. Having already presented portions of this study elsewhere in person and online, I will instead post the whole thing here.<br />
<br />
Of the texts that ended up in the official New Testament canon during the 4th-5th centuries, 2 Peter was one of the most debated and doubted ones. Some of the great leaders of old considered it to be inauthentic for a variety of reasons, and there have always been challenges to its authenticity, even down to this day.<br />
<br />
I had long been aware of the similarities between 2 Peter and Jude, but it was always easy to just turn the page and move on without engaging those similarities deeply. But, curiosity got the best of me this winter, so I decided to carefully compare the texts for myself. It surprised me to see how much more alike the two texts were than I had first imagined: the "similarities" between the books spanned the entirety of both epistles, not just some sections of them. Someone was copying the other -- thought for thought and often word for word, even in the most peculiar places -- and the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to 2 Peter being a copy of Jude.<br />
<br />
The question becomes, then: Why would Peter, one of the twelve, even one of the innermost circle among them, even "the Rock," the fish-coin guy, the water-walking guy, the "You are the Christ" guy, the racer-to-the-tomb-guy, the Pentecost guy, the kill-and-eat guy, the silver-and-gold-have-I-none guy, why would HE of all people, who has such massive wisdom and experience to hand down for posterity, claim to <span style="color: black;"><em>diligently</em></span> have written a <span style="color: black;"><em>final letter</em></span> that was, in actuality, little more than a moderately expanded re-write of the epistle of Jude?<br />
<br />
I don't think he would, and I think Origen and Eusebius and Didymus and the many others who did not embrace 2 Peter's authenticity were right.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Note: the bold texts typically show word-for-word parallels, while the underlines tend to show thought-for-thought parallels. My original document also used a few double underlines and a few dashed underlines to help visually identify the parallels, but pasting the original document into my Blogger editor changed all variations of underlining to single underline format. So I resorted to using blue or red lettering on those few occasions instead. 2 Peter makes some slight rearrangements of the Jude material, and I move them back into a Jude-ordering to show the parallels. Passages in 2 Peter that I move to Jude's ordering are bracketed off with double asterisks ( **passage** ). <br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Summary</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude (NASB)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter (NASB)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Peter notes</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both introduce themselves by
combining “bond-servant” with a relational<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>qualification</span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1 Jude, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bond-servant</b> of Jesus Christ, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and</b> <u>brother</u> of James,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1:1a Simon Peter, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bond-servant</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and</b> <u>apostle</u> of Jesus Christ,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both address their letters only “To those
who…”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To those who</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> are the called, </span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1b <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To those who</b>… </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both then refer to God and Jesus
Christ</span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">beloved in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God</b> the Father, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and</b>
kept for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jesus Christ</b>:</span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1d …by the righteousness of our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and</b> Savior, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jesus Christ</b>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both wish that graces, including
peace, will “be multiplied to you”</span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 May mercy and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">peace</b> and love <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">be
multiplied to you</b>.</span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Grace and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">peace</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">be multiplied to you</b>
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;</span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Be multiplied to you” is used only
in these letters and also 1 Peter</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Both
make appeal to having common faith with the readers</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3a Beloved, while I was making every effort
to write you about <u>our common salvation</u>, </span></span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">**1c …have received a <u>faith of the same
kind as ours</u>…,** </span></span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3 seeing
that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and
godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory
and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and
magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for
this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral
excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge,
self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your
perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in
your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are
increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is
blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former
sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about
His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you
will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">First batch of material unique to 2 Peter,
expounding upon godliness.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Includes the unusual and lengthy sentence
connecting one particular attribute to another, like a chain of eight links,
some of which are nearly synonymous.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk511388056;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">13 …<u>I consider it right, as long as I am
in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder</u>, 14 <span style="color: red;">knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is
imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.</span> 15 <u>And
I will also be diligent that at any time</u> <span style="color: red;">after my
departure </span><u>you will be able to call these things to mind</u>.</span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">16 For we did not follow cleverly devised
tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but <span style="color: red;">we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. </span>17
<span style="color: red;">For when He received honor and glory from God the
Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory,
“This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— </span>18 <span style="color: red;">and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when
we were with Him on the holy mountain.</span></span></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Second batch of material unique to 2
Peter, separated from the first batch by vs. 12, which I examine a little
later. The author here twice attempts to authenticate his Petrine identity
(passages placed in red), first by appealing at length to the “death of Peter”
prophecy, and second by appealing at length to having witnessed the
Transfiguration.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">He stresses the personal
significance of what he is writing (underlined passages), because this letter
is presented as likely being his last words to them. But surely, the real
Peter, the rock, the eyewitness, one of Jesus’ innermost circle, would “be
diligent” to leave behind far more experienced and apostolic words than a
rewrite of the minor epistle of Jude, right?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Interestingly, about the
Transfiguration, the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>author quotes
Matt 17:5, not Peter’s own version as tradition says is found in Mark 9:7. </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both then appeal to the ultimacy of
the faith’s message, and maintaining one’s diligence towards it, because… </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I felt the necessity to write to you
<span style="color: blue;">appealing that you</span> <span style="color: red;">contend earnestly</span> for the faith which was <u>once for all handed
down to the saints</u>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">19 So we have <u>the prophetic word
made more sure</u>, to which <span style="color: blue;">you do well to</span>
<span style="color: red;">pay attention</span> as to a lamp shining in a
dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of
one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human
will, but <u>men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God</u>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude’s letter is much more cohesive
and on point than 2 Peter.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">…Both say sneaky enemies abound
within, who were either fore-marked, or fore-exampled from Jewish history</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4 For <span style="color: blue;">certain
persons have crept in</span> <u>unnoticed</u>, those who were <span style="color: red;">long beforehand marked out</span> for this
condemnation,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2:1 But <span style="color: blue;">false prophets also arose </span><span style="color: red;">among
the people</span>, just as there will also be false teachers among you, <u>who
will secretly</u> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both say these enemies spread
licentiousness (i.e., unrestrained sensuality), deny the Master, and distort
the truth</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ungodly persons <u>who turn the
grace of our God into </u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">licentiousness</b>
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">deny our only</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Master</b> and Lord, Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">introduce destructive heresies, even
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">denying the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Master</b> who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon
themselves. 2 Many will follow their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sensuality</b>,
and because of them <u>the way of the truth will be maligned</u>; 3 and in
their greed they will exploit you with false words;</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both write to “remind” their readers
of what they “already know.” Seems to be the only two occurrences of such a
comment in the New Testament</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5a Now I desire <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to remind you</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">though you
know all things</b> once for all,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">**1:12 Therefore, I will always be
ready <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to remind you</b> of these <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">things</b>, even <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">though you already know them</b>, and have been established in the
truth which is present with you.**</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This verse (1:12) was lodged between
the first two sections of unique material, the one on godliness and the other
one asserting Petrine authenticity.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both warn of the enemies’
destruction, and then go on to utilize three examples to demonstrate it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude gives his first example:
those who fell in the Exodus</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5b that the Lord, after saving a
people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">destroyed</b> those who did not believe.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3b their judgment from long ago is
not idle, and their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">destruction</b> is
not asleep.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude’s examples are the fallen
generation of the Exodus, fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter replaces the Exodus with the
Flood, and then arranges his three examples in chronological order. </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both refer to sinful angels being an
example of the judgment. Jude relies on the story taken from the apocryphal
source of 1 Enoch 1-10</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6 And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">angels</b> who <u>did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their
proper abode</u>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He</b> has kept in
eternal bonds under <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">darkness</b> for
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">judgment</b> of the great day,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4 For if <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God</b> did not spare <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">angels</b>
<u>when they sinned</u>, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">darkness</b>, reserved for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">judgment</b>; </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter scrubs the Enochic details
of the angelic sin, keeping it vague.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5 and did not spare the ancient world, but
preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He
brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;</span></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material unique to 2 Peter, except
it is his second of three<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>examples of
destruction. He replaces the Exodus with the Flood here because the Flood is
a theme he returns to later.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both refer to the biblical story of
Sodom and Gomorrah </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">7a just as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sodom and Gomorrah</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
cities</b> around them, </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6a and if He condemned <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the cities</b> of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sodom and Gomorrah</b></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude makes a direct reference to the
interbreeding as described in 1 Enoch. As the angels once lusted after human
flesh in 1 Enoch, now we see humans who “in the same way” lusted after
angelic flesh in Sodom.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">7b since they in the same way as
these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter continues to scrub the
Enochic details of the angelic sin, and thus the parallel activity by Sodom
as well, keeping it vague. He seems reluctant to use this material, unlike
Jude.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both describe Sodom and Gomorrah’s
fiery destruction as “an example” of the “punishment” of the enemies</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">7c are exhibited as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">an example</b> in undergoing the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">punishment</b> of <u>eternal fire</u>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6b to destruction by <u>reducing
them to ashes</u>, having made them <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">an
example</b> to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">**9b and to keep the unrighteous under
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">punishment</b> for the day of
judgment,**</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter uses this fiery judgement
theme in 6b and 9b as a bookend around vss. 7-9a shown below</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct
of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while
living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their
lawless deeds), 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from
temptation,</i></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material unique to 2 Peter, but it just
expands upon his reference to the Sodom and Gomorrah story so as to include
extra commentary about Lot</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both texts proceed straightway to
accuse these enemies of defiling the flesh…</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">8 Yet in the same way these men,
also by dreaming, <u>defile</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
flesh</b>, </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">10 and especially those who <u>indulge</u>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the flesh</b> in its <u>corrupt</u>
desires </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">…And of rejecting authority and reviling
angelic majesties</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">and <u>reject</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">authority</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">revile angelic majesties</b>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">and <u>despise</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">authority</b>. Daring, self-willed, they
do not tremble when they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">revile
angelic majesties</b>,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The only two places “angelic
majesties” is used in the bible</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both then claim that angels are
reluctant to speak bold judgments.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude quotes additional apocryphal
material, namely, the Testament of Moses (see also, The Vision of Amram) </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">9 But Michael the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">archangel</b>, when he disputed with the
devil and argued about the body of Moses, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment</b>, but said,
“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Lord</b> rebuke you!”</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">11 whereas <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">angels</b> who are greater in might and power <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do not bring a reviling judgment against them</b> before <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lord</b>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter scrubs yet another
apocryphal reference, in favor of a vague statement</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both proceed to explain that these
enemies “revile” what they do not know, and are like “unreasoning animals”
and will be “destroyed”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">10 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">these</b> men <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">revile the things which they do not
understand</b>; and the things which they know by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">instinct</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">like unreasoning
animals</b>, by these things they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">are
destroyed</b>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">12 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">these</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">like unreasoning animals</b>, born as
creatures of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">instinct</b> to be
captured and killed, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reviling where
they have no knowledge</b>, will in the destruction of those creatures <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">also be destroyed</b>, 13a suffering
wrong as the wages of doing wrong…</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Biblical stories of Cain, Balaam,
and Korah are utilized as examples of the sneaky enemies. Both particularly
highlight Balaam as greedy</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">11 Woe to them! For they have gone
the way of Cain, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">for pay</b> they
have <u>rushed headlong into the error</u> of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Balaam</b>, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">14 having eyes full of adultery that
never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">heart trained in greed</b>, accursed children; 15 forsaking the right
way, they have gone astray, having <u>followed the way</u> of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Balaam</b>, the son of Beor, who <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">loved the wages of unrighteousness</b>;
16 but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey,
speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter drops Cain and Korah to dwell
at length on Balaam</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both writers employ a metaphor of
disorder, then immediately proceed to blast the enemies’ self-pleasing
defilement of the communal meal.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">12 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">These are</b> the men who are <u>hidden reefs</u> in your love feasts
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">when they</b><u> </u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">feast with you</b> without fear, <span style="color: blue;">caring for themselves</span>; </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">**13b <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They are</b> <u>stains and blemishes</u>, <span style="color: blue;">reveling</span> in their deceptions, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">as they feast with you</b>,**</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter places the defiling of the
communal meal before the Balaam comparison, while Jude placed it after the
Balaam comparison</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both utilize metaphors from nature
to illustrate the enemies’ treachery, including the same meteorological
metaphor of clouds or mists driven by winds. Both emphasize “without water”</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">clouds</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">without
water</b>, <u>carried along by winds</u>; autumn trees without fruit, doubly
dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like
foam; wandering stars,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">17 These are springs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">without water</b> and <u>mists driven by
a storm</u>,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter splits up his natural
metaphors to form a bookend after vss. 18-21</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The only imagery of water sources
“without water” in the NT (the term elsewhere describes a desert in one gospel pericope).</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Black darkness has been reserved for
the enemies</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for whom the black darkness has been
reserved</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> forever.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for whom the black darkness has been
reserved</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude returns to the apocryphal 1 Enoch
story as the source of an authoritative prophecy</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">14 It was also about these men that
Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter scrubs the apocryphal source
reference yet again</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude’s primary description of the
day of the Lord is a direct quotation of 1 Enoch 1:9</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Behold, the Lord came with many
thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict
all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly
way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against
Him.”</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter moves a much expanded but de-Enoched
description of the day of the Lord to the end of his book</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 29;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both proceed to say the enemies are
arrogant speakers of flattery and empty promises</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">16 These are grumblers, finding
fault, following after their own lusts; they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">speak arrogantly</b>, <u>flattering people</u> for the sake of
gaining an advantage.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">18 For <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">speaking out arrogant words</b> of <u>vanity they entice</u> by
fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who
live in error, 19 <u>promising them freedom</u> while they themselves are
slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 30;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">20 For if, after they have escaped the
defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has
become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not
to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away
from the holy commandment handed on to them. </span></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material unique to 2 Peter, but it
just expands further upon the judgment of the enemies.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 31;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">22 It has happened to them according
to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after
washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter places his remaining natural
metaphors here as <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a bookend to this
section.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 32;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both appeal to the “beloved” at the
same transition point in their letters. </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">17 But you, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">beloved</b>,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3:1 This is now, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">beloved</b>, </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 33;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">the second letter I am writing to
you</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of
reminder,</span></i></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material unique to 2 Peter, making a
third attempt to establish Petrine identity, this time by claiming authorship
of the earlier 1 Peter.</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 34;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both exhort their readers to
“remember the words” that were “spoken beforehand.” </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ought to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">remember</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the words that
were spoken beforehand by</b> the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">apostles</b>
of our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lord</b> Jesus Christ,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 that you should <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">remember</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the words spoken beforehand by</b> the holy prophets, and the
commandment of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lord</b> and Savior
spoken by your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">apostles</b>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In 2 Peter, he clearly refers to the words of the deceased OT prophets; he then adds a mention of Jesus’ teaching as spoken by “your apostles,” as though still alive, Peter included. But the earlier epistle of Jude says the words “spoken beforehand” were those of the apostles, seemingly as if they have mostly passed away. Jude seems to be a second-generation text. If so, 2 Peter’s use of Jude would be another confirmation of its own late and pseudepigraphal nature.</span></span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 35;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both in tandem then warn that
“mockers” would come “in the last times,” “following after their own lusts”</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">18 that they were saying to you, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In the last time there will be mockers</b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">following after their own</b> ungodly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lusts</b>.”</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 85.8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3
Know this first of all, that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in the last
days mockers will come</b> with their mocking, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">following after their own lusts</b>,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 85.8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 36;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The earlier Jude says mockers are
those who spread partisanship and worldliness</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">19 These are the ones who cause
divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4 and saying, “Where is the promise
of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as
it was from the beginning of creation.”</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The later 2 Peter says the mockers
are those who question the parousia-delay, letting it slip that the first
Christian generation had passed away (“the fathers fell asleep”). This
supports my previous comments that the “words spoken beforehand by the apostles”
in Jude shows that they were deceased before 2 Peter was composed</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 37;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5 For when they maintain this, it escapes
their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the
earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that
time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present
heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment
and destruction of ungodly men.</span></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material unique to 2 Peter, but it
is just an expansion to answer the mockers, as well as to reiterate the fiery
eschatological judgment of the enemies. Includes his second reference to the
Flood, which he had earlier used instead of Jude’s Exodus reference </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 38;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both again appeal to “but…beloved”
at the same point in their letters</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">20 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But</b> you, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">beloved</b>,
building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">8 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But</b> do not let this one fact escape your notice, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">beloved</b>,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 39;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude: Wait <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anxiously</i> for the Lord. Perhaps this is indicative that at the
time of writing, parousia-delay had not yet grown into a big issue</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">21 keep yourselves in the love of
God, <u>waiting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">anxiously</b> for the
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life</u>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">that with the Lord one day is like a
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thousand</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">years</b>, and a thousand years like one day. 9a <u>The Lord is not <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">slow</b> about His promise, as some count
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">slowness</b></u>, but is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">patient</b> toward you,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter: Wait <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">patiently</i> for the Lord. Perhaps this is indicative that at the
time of writing, parousia-delay had become a substantial issue. We saw
already that the “mockers” were identified in </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter as those who questioned that
very matter. </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 40;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both suggest that waiting for the
Lord is an opportunity for pursuing God’s salvific mission</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">22 And have mercy on some, who are
doubting; 23 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">save</b> others, <u>snatching
them out of the fire</u>; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the
garment polluted by the flesh.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">9b not wishing for any to perish but
for <u>all to</u> <u>come to repentance</u>.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">**15a and regard the patience of our
Lord as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">salvation</b>;**</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 Peter’s theme of eschatological
patience (vss. 9, 15a) bookends the</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">day of the Lord section of vss.
10-14</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 41;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">10 But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will
be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned
up. </span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>11
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening
the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed
by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to
His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which
righteousness dwells.</span></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material unique to 2 Peter, but it
is really his own expanded and <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">de-Enoched </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“day of the Lord” section that Jude
briefly described earlier with his quotation of </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1 Enoch 1:9</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 42;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both exhort their readers to
diligently stand so that they will be “blameless” when they are finally in
the Lord’s presence</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">24 Now to Him who is able to keep
you from stumbling, and to make you <u>stand</u> in <span style="color: blue;">the presence of His glory</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">blameless</b>
with great joy,</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">14 Therefore, beloved, since you
look for these things, <u>be diligent</u> to <span style="color: blue;">be
found by Him</span> in peace, spotless and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">blameless</b>…</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 43;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">15b just as also <span style="color: red;">our
beloved brother Paul</span>, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are
some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as
they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You
therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are
not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own
steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge</span></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material unique to 2 Peter, making a
fourth attempt to establish Petrine identity by appealing to having a
relationship with and understanding of Paul, whose letters are allegedly
already available to “Peter” and his readers in a sort of collection by the
60s AD. Meanwhile, “the rock’s” own letter that remarkably assigns
scripture-status to Paul’s letters will remain virtually unknown for decades
to come?</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 44;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both utilize three nearly identical divine
terms in closing. </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">25 to the only <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God </b>our<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Savior, </b>through<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Jesus Christ</b> our Lord, </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">of our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lord </b>and<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Savior Jesus
Christ</b>. </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 45; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.25pt;" valign="top" width="138"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both letters close by ascribing
“glory” to the Lord with a </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“now and ever-after” phrase, and
then an Amen. </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">glory</b>, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">now and forever</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amen</b>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt;" valign="top" width="156"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To Him be the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">glory</b>, both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">now and to the
day of eternity</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amen</b>.</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.75pt;" valign="top" width="120"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">These are the only two places in the
NT where a “now and ever-after” phrase is used.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In contrast to 2 Peter’s
overemphasizing his claims of Petrine identity, 1 Peter makes only two brief
statements that support Petrine identity, both in the final chapter; in 5:1
he says he was “a witness of Christ’s sufferings,” and in 5:13 he concludes
the letter with greetings from others, including “my son Mark.” That’s all. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jude does not close his letter with
any greetings from others, and following him (in contrast with 1 Peter),
neither does 2 Peter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-72109673903606893272014-03-14T20:05:00.000-07:002014-03-14T20:05:18.759-07:00Non-Violent Enemy-Love Sampler From TertullianTertullian wrote roughly around 200 AD. He was an eloquent author. We will see that the case he makes is consistent with the other writings we have considered.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I will let him do most of the talking. I include limited comments or clarifications along the way. Some comments are embedded in the excerpts, noted by brackets and italics. Bold-fonted emphases will isolate important phrases not to miss. The translations used are those provided by George Kalantzis in <u>Caesar and the Lamb</u>, with some rewordings by me where the wording was stiff (the book could stand a re-editted edition). Older translations of this and virtually all other ancient materials are available online. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some think
it madness that, although we could offer the sacrifice right here and now and
then go away unharmed, even preserving our mental reservation [the Romans didn’t
mind if Christians performed the Roman sacrifices “without meaning it in their
hearts”], we prefer to be obstinate rather than safe; that is to say, you [Rome] give
us advice on how to cheat you [by faking piety to Rome]. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But <b>we recognize the origin of these
suggestions, and who it is that prompts all of this</b> – how sometimes by cunning
deception, and sometimes by cruel rage, he<b> [Satan]</b> works to throw us off our
constancy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Apology 27:2-3 </i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Moreover, it
is clearly unjust to force free persons to sacrifice against their will, for
under all other circumstances, a willing mind is required for discharging one’s
religious obligations <i>[yet recall how the self-empowered Church itself
abandoned this conviction after achieving the status of State Religion by the
Fifth Century]</i>…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are led by necessity
[i.e., by edict] to force us [to sacrifice], just as much as<b> it is our duty to
face the danger</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Apology 28:1</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While we
spread ourselves before God, let the hooks pierce us, the crosses suspend us,
the flames engulf us, the swords slash our throats, the beasts leap upon us.
<b>They very posture of the Christian at prayer is preparation for any punishment</b>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Apology 30:7</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the
emperors, we respect the judgment of God, since He has set them over the
people. We know that in them is that which God has willed, and so we wish that
what God has willed be safe and sound; and we consider this a great oath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are under obligation to respect [the
emperor] as the one chosen by our Lord. So I might well say, “Caesar belongs
more to us, since he has been appointed by our God.” As he is mine, I do more
for his welfare…because I pray for it to Him who can truly grant it….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, because I set the majesty of Caesar
below that of God, I commend him all the more to God to whom alone I
subordinate him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Apology 32:1 – 33:2</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If then, as
we have said above, <b>we are expressly commanded to love our enemies, whom have
we to hate</b>? And if when someone injures us <b>we are forbidden to retaliate</b>, so
that the action may not make us [and you] alike, <b>whom then can we injure</b>? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Apology 37:1</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How often
without your authority has <b>the hostile mob</b> of their own mere motion<i> [beat down
our door intending us harm and]</i><b> invaded us</b> with showers of stones and fire!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…But in all of this conspiracy of <b>evils
against us</b>, in the midst of these <b>mortal provocations</b>, what one evil have you
observed to have been returned by Christians?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>…<b>Away with the thought that those who are taught by God should either
revenge themselves with human fire or resent the fire that is sent to refine
them</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Apology 37:2-3</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For what kind
of war would we not be fit and ready (despite our inferior numbers), we who
willingly submit to the sword, if it were not for the fact that according to
our doctrine <b>we are given the freedom to be killed rather than to kill</b>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <i> </i></span><i>Apology 37:5</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is for us a battle, because we are
called to trial in court so that we may fight there for the truth while our
life hangs in the balance. And the victory is to hold fast to that for which we
have fought. This victory has attached to it the glory of pleasing God and the
reward of eternal life. <b>We have won the victory when we are killed; we escape at
last when we are led forth [to execution]</b>….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Carry on good magistrates; you will become much better in the eyes of
people if you sacrifice the Christians for them. Crucify us, torture us,
destroy us! <b>Your injustice is the proof of our innocence. That is why God
permits us to suffer all of this</b>….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <i>
[Do you see the parallels with the lessons of 4 Maccabees?] </i> </span><i>Apology 37:2-3,12</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In this
world <b>we have exposed our very life and our very body to all manner of injury,
and we endure this injury with patience</b>. <i>[There is no sign of turning the other
cheek only to a point, is there?]</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shall
we, then, be hurt by the loss of lesser things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>…If one attempts to <b>provoke you by manual violence</b>, the admonition of
the Lord is at hand: “To him,” He said, “who strikes you on the face, turn the
other cheek likewise.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let [their]
outrageousness be wearied out by your patience.<i> [You defeat them by loving not your life even unto death, remember?] </i> <b>Whatever that blow may be,
conjoined with pain and humiliating treatment</b>, it shall receive a heavier one
from the Lord. <b>You wound [your enemy] more by enduring</b>; for he will be beaten
by Him for whose sake you endure. If the tongue’s bitterness break out [against you]
in malediction or reproach, look back at the saying, “When they curse you,
rejoice!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…Let us servants, therefore,
<b>follow our Lord closely, and be cursed patiently, that we may be able to be
blessed</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Patience 8:1-3</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But <b>how will
a Christian go to war</b>? Indeed, how will he serve even in peacetime <b>without a
sword which the Lord has taken away</b>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <i> </i></span><i>[<u>Matthew
26:52</u> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Jesus said to him, "Put
your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall
perish by the sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <u> </u></span><u>John 18:36</u> Jesus
answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this
world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to
the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."]</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i> </i> </span>For even if soldiers came to John and
received advice on how to act, and even if a centurion became a believer, <b>the
Lord, by taking away Peter’s sword, disarmed every soldier thereafter</b>. We are
not allowed to wear any uniform that symbolizes a sinful act. <i> [I will suggest a parallel here with "Thus He declared all foods clean." His magnificent actions in both cases subsume into Himself the old commandments against foods and for war.] </i> <i> Idolatry 19:3</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Is it right
to make an occupation of the sword</b>, when the Lord proclaims that he who takes
the sword shall perish by the sword? <b>Will a son of peace take part in battle
when he should not even go to court</b>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>The
Crown 11:2</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To be sure,
the case is different for those who are converted after they have been bound to
military service. John admitted soldiers to baptism; next were the two most
faithful centurions: the one whom Christ praised, and the other whom Peter
instructed. But, once we have embraced the faith and have been baptized, we
either must immediately leave military service, as many have done, or we must
resort to all kinds of excuses in order to avoid any action which is also
forbidden to civilian faithful, lest we offend God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or last of all, for the sake of God we must suffer
the fate which a mere faithful civilian was no less ready to accept [prison or
execution].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>For military service offers
neither exemption from punishment of sins, nor relief from martyrdom. The
Gospel is one and the same for the Christian at all times whatever his occupation
in life</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>The Crown 11:4-5</i></div>
</blockquote>
In his Letter to Scapula, Tertullian makes two points that I really wish to not permit us to miss. Considering the darkness of my own heart, I sense that our innate, normative, and routine resistance to seriously following the Christlike example of non-violent, sacrificial enemy-love arises from the reality that, simply but profoundly put, we do not trust God. Not like Job. Not like Joseph. Not like Daniel. Not like Jesus. And I think a substantial reason for that is because "what we were won with is what we were won to": fire insurance, best life now, better friends, more parties, hundred-fold returns. How many of us had self-sacrificial enemy-love really emphasized and placed clearly before us on the day we were saved? Exactly. Note, however, a couple of points Tertullian makes with little fanfare concerning his day:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For us, <b>the
things we suffer at the hands of ignorant men are not a source of great fear or
dread. When we joined this sect we plainly undertook to accept the conditions
this involved</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <i> [The majority of comfortable western casual Christians who join the church today begin, continue, and end clueless to this; it is never made plain that this is what is involved, and hence suffering and persecution are a huge demotivator for those who depart. What else should we expect when these self-empowered members of self-empowered churches come to find out that they had no real power after all?]</i> </span><i>To Scapula 1:1</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>It is the
teaching of our faith that we are to love even our enemies and pray for those
who persecute us. Here lies the perfection and distinctiveness of Christian
goodness</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>[How can you know if the Holy Spirit is working in you? Ask yourself how this is working out for you.] </i> Ordinary goodness is
different, for all men love their friends, but only Christians love their
enemies. We are moved with sorrow at your ignorance, and with pity for the
errors of men’s ways; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and as we look to
the future, we see the signs of impending distress every day. In such
circumstances, <b>we have no choice but to take the initiative and openly and
publicly lay before you those things which you refuse to listen to</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>To Scapula 1:</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In a way, this is what I am doing here. I am laying out before you, and before me, things that we all have refused to listen to. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-30811437133653629052014-03-13T18:40:00.002-07:002014-03-13T18:50:06.087-07:00Non-Violent Enemy-Love Samplers from Athenagoras and Clement of Alexandria<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the red corner, we have our wildly popular contestant, proud of his strength and armed to the teeth and daring any government to just try to do something about it: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mr. Turn-the-Other-Cheek-Only-to-a-Point.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And in the blue corner, mocked and spat upon for his weakness, rejected by zealots, with a sign nailed over his head saying, "The son of a liberal":</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mr. Clement Athenagoras</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What, then, are those teachings in which we are
brought up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I say unto you, Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; pray for
them that persecute you; that you may be the sons of your Father who is in
heaven, who causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on
the just and the unjust.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow me
here to lift up my voice boldly in loud and audible outcry, pleading as I do
before philosophic princes. For which of those [smart, intelligent, elite philosophers
and rhetoricians]…have purged their souls so that,<b> instead of hating their
enemies, they love them</b>? And <b>instead of speaking ill</b> of those who have reviled
them (to abstain from which is of itself an evidence of no mean forbearance),
to bless them; and to <b>pray for those who plot against their lives</b>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…But among us you will find uneducated
persons, and artisans, and old women, who, if they are unable to prove with words
the benefit of our doctrine, yet<b> by their deeds</b> they exhibit the benefits that
arise from their persuasion of its truth:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>they do not rehearse speeches, but exhibit good works; <b>when struck, they
do not strike again</b>; <b>when robbed, they do not go to law</b>; they give to those
that ask of them, and love their neighbors as themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Athenagoras,
Plea on Behalf of the Christians 11</i></span>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For when they know that <b>we cannot endure even to see
a man put to death</b>, though justly; who of them can accuse us of murder or
cannibalism? Who does not reckon among the things of greatest interest [are] the
contests of gladiators and wild beasts, especially those which you [the emperor] sponsor? But we, deeming that <b>to see a man put to death is much the same as killing
him</b>, have forbidden ourselves such spectacles. <b>How then</b>, when we do not even watch it so as to avoid guilt and pollution, <b>can we put people to death</b>? And when we
say that "those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder, and will
have to give an account to God for the abortion," on what principle should we
commit murder? For it is not fitting that the same person who regards the very
fetus in the womb as a created being and an object of God's care, to be willing
to kill it well after its birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Athenagoras, Plea on Behalf of the
Christians 35</i></span>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will not Christ, who has <b>blared a song of peace to
the very ends of the earth</b>, gather together His own <b>soldiers of peace</b>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, O people, he did assemble a <b>bloodless
army</b> by His blood and His word, and to them he entrusted the kingdom of heaven.
Christ’s trumpet is His gospel. He blew it, and we heard. Let us put on the<b>
armor of peace</b>: putting on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">breastplate
of righteousness</i> and taking up the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shield
of faith</i> and putting on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">helmet of
salvation</i>. Let us sharpen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the sword
of the Spirit which is the word of God</i>. This is how the Apostle arranges us
in the battleline of peace. <b>These are our invulnerable weapons</b>. <b>Armed with
them</b>, let us take our position against the evil one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clement
of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks 11</i></span>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Etruscans use the trumpet [to
charge into] war, the Arcadians use the pipe, the Lacedemonians the flute, the
Thracians the horn, the Egyptians the drum, and the Arabs the cymbal. But as
for us, we make use of one instrument alone: <b>only the Word of peace</b>, by whom we
honor God, <b>no longer with ancient harp or trumpet or flute which those trained
in war use</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clement of Alexandria, Christ the Educator 2.4.42:2-3</i></span>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do not be deceived, you who have tasted of truth and
have been deemed worthy of the great redemption!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Contrary to the rest of the people</b>, gather
for yourself an <b>army without weapons, without war, without bloodshed, without
anger, without stain</b>; an army of pious old men, of orphans loved by God, of
widows armed with gentleness, of men adorned with love…whose Commander is God;
for whose sake a sinking ship rises, steered by the prayers of saints alone;
and disease at its height is subdued, put to flight by the laying on of hands;
and <b>the attack of robbers is disarmed, its weapons stripped by pious
prayers</b>….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clement of Alexandria, Salvation of the Rich 34:3</i></span>
</div>
</blockquote>
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<![endif]-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-64886377953027073182014-03-12T18:07:00.000-07:002014-03-12T18:07:02.743-07:00Guns And Athenagoras: Inverting The Order (part six)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Quoting from: </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/03/10/287311237/kentucky-southern-baptists-draw-crowds-with-gun-giveaways"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.npr.org/2014/03/10/287311237/kentucky-southern-baptists-draw-crowds-with-gun-giveaways</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That article provides an example of a church
appealing to people's self-empowerment drives, and calling it
evangelism. </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's an hour before suppertime, and
the line outside Lone Oak First Baptist Church in Paducah, Ky., is wrapped
around the building. The people are waiting for more than a Bible sermon;
there's a raffle tonight. Twenty-five guns are up for grabs. </span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's nothing new about <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">gun raffles</span> in Kentucky, even at a
church. Last year, there were 50 events like this one in the state. The
Kentucky Baptist Convention says it's <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">a
surefire way to get new people through church doors</span>.... </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In attendance is Tom Jackson, who's
not a particularly regular churchgoer. "I do believe in God and I do
believe in living the way that he wants you to live, let's put it like that,"
he says.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jackson says <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">he believes in turning the other cheek, but</span> also in the right to
defend himself and his family how he sees fit. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You can turn the other cheek</span>, he says,<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> only to a point</span>.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"[If]
somebody kicks your door down, means to hurt your wife, your kids, you — how do
you turn the other cheek to that?" Jackson asks.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Turn the other cheek, only to
a point." I don't recall that being the theme of Christlike response
to abuse and threats. And back when Judas led to Gethsemane the Roman
soldiers who kicked down the door with intent to hurt Jesus, the one man
who fought back was rebuked by Jesus.</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The early churches, who faced real
kick-the-door-in mobs as well as hateful magistrates and emperors, provide
us with a refreshingly different but very difficult answer to Jackson’s
question, “How do you turn the other cheek to that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s return to the Epistle of
Diognetus for help first, then I will introduce a new early church writer.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christians are in the flesh, but
they do not live according to the flesh <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[so
much for shooting people]</i>. They live on earth, but their citizenship is in
heaven <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[if they don’t take up arms for Lord
Jesus (do medieval crusaders get some exemption?), why would they take up arms
for Lord Caesar?]</i>… They love everyone, and by everyone they are persecuted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[they don’t shoot them].</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are unknown, yet they are condemned;
they are put to death <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[they don’t shoot back],</i>
yet they are brought to life… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
dishonored, yet they are glorified in their dishonor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[glorified by God, not by Smith and Wesson].</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are cursed, yet they bless; they are
insulted, yet they offer respect <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[they
don’t get even].</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For doing good,
they are treated like <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">evildoers</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> [they don’t
pull the trigger]</i>….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Epistle to
Diognetus 5:9-16a</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The author then moves into a lengthy
analogy, which I think is very relevant to provide:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a word, what the soul is to the
body, Christians are to the world. The soul is dispersed through all the
members of the body, and Christians throughout the cities of the world. The
soul dwells in the body, but is not of the body; likewise Christians dwell in
the world, but are not of the world. The soul, which is invisible, is confined
in the body which is visible; in the same way, Christians are recognized as
being in the world, and yet their religion remains invisible. The flesh hates
the soul and wages war against it (even though it has suffered no wrong)
because it is hindered from indulging in its pleasures; so also, the world
hates the Christians (even though it has suffered no wrong) because they set
themselves against its pleasures. The soul loves the flesh that hates it, and
Christians love those who hate them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[love
is not expressed with gunfire]….</i> The soul, which is immortal, lives in a
mortal dwelling; similarly Christians live as strangers amid perishable things,
while waiting for the imperishable in heaven. The soul, when poorly treated
with respect to food and drink, becomes all the better; and so the Christians
when punished daily <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[by someone kicking
in the door looking to cause harm]</i> increase more and more. Such is the
important position to which God has appointed them, and it is not right for
them to decline it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[it is not right for
them to shoot]. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Epistle to Diognetus
6</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The entire feel, theme, intent, and
message of the preceding words flies in the face of the idea that we turn the
other cheek only to a point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The new writer I will introduce is
Athenagoras, who wrote <u>Plea On Behalf of the Christians</u> to the emperor around
177 AD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After commending the emperor for allowing the multitude of religions in the empire (yet 200 years later Christians revoked that openness toward the others), he turns
to making a plea for equal openness toward Christianity:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While admiring your mildness and
gentleness and your peaceful and benevolent attitude towards all, everyone
enjoys equal rights; and the cities, according to their rank, share in equal
honor; and, through your wisdom, the whole empire enjoys profound peace.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But you have not cared for us who
are called Christians in this way; and although we commit no wrong, but as it
will be shown in this discourse we are of all people most piously and
righteously disposed toward God and your reign, you allow us to be harassed,
plundered, and persecuted – the mob making war upon us only because of our name….</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The injury we suffer from our
persecutors is not aimed merely at our money, or our civil rights, or our
honor, or anything of less importance – after all, we hold these things in
contempt (although they appear of great importance to the masses), for we have
learned not only not to return blow for blow, or to bring to court those who
plunder and rob us, but to those who strike us on the one cheek to offer the other,
and to those who take away our shirt to give also our coat – for when we have
given up our property, they plot against our very bodies and souls…. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Plea On Behalf of the Christians
1:2b-4</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These statements from among the
great cloud of witnesses point so clearly to Christlikeness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Compare them with the words of the
main speaker at the gun raffle evangelism show:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I
brought a gun with me tonight," McAlister says. "I know that's very
controversial."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">...<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And he welcomes the controversy</span>; the best seats in the house are
reserved for reporters. On stage, he cocks what he calls his most valuable gun.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"There's
no government on the face of this earth that has the right to take this gun
from me," he says to thunderous applause.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
closing line of the article quotes the speaker's own justification of his message:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"If
simply offering them an opportunity to win a gun allows them to come into the
doors of the church and to hear that the church has a message that's relevant
to their lives, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that," he says.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yo<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ur “relevant” message would have no
relevance at all to a persecuted church, like those who lived and died the Christlike way
1900 years ago. Your message feeds the virus of self-empowerment.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<![endif]-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-40936365478907763802014-03-11T16:41:00.000-07:002014-03-11T19:18:59.507-07:00Justin Martyr: Inverting The Order (part 5)Some weeks ago, I quoted The Epistle to Diognetus as saying: "Christians are not distinguished from other people by country or language or custom. Nowhere do they live in cities of their own.... They live on earth but their citizenship is in heaven."<br />
<br />
Next, consider the Normandy Landing, or the Civil War, or the Revolutionary War. In them we observe Christians' hearts roused to fight for "State," against one another. An American Baptist's musket blows out the brains of a British Anglican. A southern Methodist's bayonet splits the heart of a northern Congregationalist. A PCA member grenades a Lutheran. We have generally accepted these things as acts of normal, patriotic, God-is-on-our-side godliness, because of handed-down traditions drenched in self-empowerment. It is so natural to pray that our own congregation's fighting men win the State's war and return home, but do you think about the prayers of "enemy" congregations that their fighting men win their State's war against us and return home? If war breaks out between America and Russia, would you display a bumper sticker that says "Support Russian Christian troops" with a pretty red ribbon on it? I don't think so. The self-empowerment gene within Christendom has long placed Christians into the difficulty of killing one another for the sake of the State, when we are actually supposed to be "not of this world." It places us in an awkward position of hoping "our" Christians defeat "their" Christians for the sake of the State's territory and material benefit and international status.<br />
<br />
I'm not writing these things as a pacifist peacenik listening to "Imagine." I'm writing it as a Christian trying to challenge the multiple ways that we have been corrupted by self-empowerment. I think the willingness of Christians to kill brothers and enemies alike, for the sake of countries, is a very sensitive nerve to touch. And it needs to be touched. This doesn't mean that Christians in the military aren't Christians; it means that we need to reconsider what the heck we have adopted as "normal." It means that accepted wisdom usually reigns unchallenged. <br />
<br />
Let us therefore add to the case the thoughts of Justin Martyr (around 150 AD):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We who <b>hated</b> and <b>slaughtered one another</b>, we who would not welcome to our homes people of a different race because of their customs -- now, since the coming of Christ we live and eat with them, and we pray for our enemies, and we try to persuade those who hate us unjustly to live according to the good counsel of Christ. <i>1 Apology 1.14.3</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And concerning our being long-suffering and ready to serve all, and free from anger, this is what Christ said: "To the one who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also; and to the one who takes your shirt do not forbid your coat also; whoever shall be angry is in danger of the fire. And everyone who compels you to go with him one mile, follow him two. Let your good works shine before all people so that, by seeing them, they may glorify your Father who is in heaven." For we ought not to rebel; nor does Christ want us to imitate the wicked. But He has exhorted us to guide all people out from shame and desire for evil by our patience and kindness. And we have proof of this in the many examples of those who used to be on your side but who have been<b> turned away from the way of violence and tyranny</b>, who were overcome by observing their [Christian] neighbor's way of life, or by observing the strange patience of their [Christian] fellow travellers when they were taken advantage of. <i>1 Apology 1.16.1-4</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When the Spirit of prophecy speaks of things to come, He says: "For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, and He shall judge between the nations and arbitrate among many peoples; and they shall <b>beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks</b>, and nation will not lift up sword against nation, <b>neither shall they learn to war anymore</b>." We can show you that <b>this really happened</b>. For <b>twelve men</b> went forth from Jerusalem -- common men, not trained in speaking. But by the power of God they testified to every race of people, just as they were sent by Christ to teach all the word of God. <b>And now, we who used to kill each other, not only do we not fight our enemies, but in order that we might not even lie or deceive our inquisitors, we gladly die bearing witness to Christ</b>. <i>1 Apology 1.39.1-3</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And <b>we who were full of war, and the slaughter of one another</b>, and every kind of iniquity, have in every part of the world<b> converted our weapons of war: "our swords into plowshares, our spears into farming hooks</b>." And we cultivate piety, justice, <b>love of humanity</b>, faith, and hope, the kind that comes from the Father through the crucified One...; Now it is obvious that no one can frighten or subdue us who believe in Jesus worldwide. For it is evident that, though we are beheaded and crucified, thrown to the wild beasts, the chains, the fire, and all the other forms of torture, <b>we will not renounce our confession</b>. The more such things happen [to us], the more that others in great numbers come to faith and become worshipers of God through the name of Jesus. Just as when one cuts off the fruit bearing branches of a vine, other branches shoot afresh and blossom again and bear fruit, so it is with us. <i>Dialogue with Trypho 110:3-4a </i></blockquote>
We have seen more than once since January that our credibility with outsiders is best linked to our love of enemy even at the sacrifice of ourselves. Refraining from the State's wars in Christlikeness is a modest beginning toward removing the Christian self-empowerment gene that has pushed us to hate those who love us as much as we hate those who hate us. I think this is a helpfully obvious first step toward the more difficult work of martyr cross racing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-51118963866352608522014-03-10T18:31:00.000-07:002014-06-04T12:49:33.354-07:00Celsus And Origen: Inverting The Order (part four)Celsus was a Roman philosopher who opposed Christianity. Among his many points of attack, he accused Christians of a lack of patriotism toward Rome. He wrote his work, called <u>The True Doctrine</u> in 177 AD.<br />
<br />
Ambrose requested to Origen that he write a response to Celsus. Origen did so in 248 AD, quoting Celsus extensively.<br />
<br />
The first thing to note is that Origen wrote in response to arguments, not to a man, since Celsus was likely long dead. But six decades after it was written, Celsus' book was deemed problematic enough by Ambrose that he requested Origen to write a response.<br />
<br />
The second thing to note is that the defense of Christianity that Origen wrote in 248 AD was consistent with the faith that Celsus had hated enough to write against in 177 AD.<br />
<br />
Therefore, be sensitive both to the practices of second century Christians that Celsus was trying to refute, and the defense offered by third century Origen. By doing so, we will see a consensus between second and third century Christians on the topic that follows.<br />
<br />
To begin our present purposes, Celsus argued that if Christians will not honor the Roman gods (and Caesar was among them), then he wished Christians would not grow up to marriageable age, nor get married, nor have children, nor do anything else except to depart the world with no posterity so that Christianity will cease to exist.<br />
<br />
Nasty, eh? But it reminds me of the self-empowered preacher who made the news by saying that all homosexuals should be locked in pens until they all died off. And the world frequently reminds us all about that preacher, and uses him as part of their apologetic; and because of him many people were led to mock and blaspheme Christ.<br />
<br />
Back more strictly on topic, here are several chapters, or parts of chapters, from Book 8 of Origen's book <u>Against Celsus</u>. Numbers in brackets denote chapters:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[56] Even though by his words Celsus dismisses us utterly from life in order that, as he supposes, this race of ours may entirely cease to exist on earth, yet we who are concerned with the business of our Creator will live according to the laws of God.... For we worship the Lord our God, and serve Him only, praying that we may become<b> imitators of Christ</b>.... That is why we do not render the customary honor to the beings whom, Celsus says, earthly things have been entrusted -- because "no one can serve two masters." We cannot at the same time serve God and mammon, whether the name refers to any one particular thing or to many.... It is preferable for us to <b>dishonor mammon by the transgression of the law of mammon</b> in order to pay honor to God by keeping God's law, rather than to dishonor God by the transgression of the law of God in order to pay honor to mammon by keeping the law of mammon.... </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[65] We ought to despise the kindly disposition of men and of emperors if to propitiate them means not only that we have to <b>commit murders</b> and <b>acts of</b> licentiousness and <b>savagery</b>, but also that we have to blaspheme the God of the universe or make some servile and cringing utterance....</blockquote>
Celsus argued that if every Roman followed the example of Christians, then the emperor would be "abandoned, alone, and deserted" and would not be able to stand against enemies:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
[68] Celsus goes
on to say: "We must not disobey the ancient writer, who said long ago,
'Let one be king, whom the son of crafty Saturn appointed;'" and adds:
"If you set aside this maxim, you will deservedly suffer for it at the
hands of the king. For if all [Romans] were to do the same as you [Christians], there would be
nothing to prevent his [the king] being left in utter solitude and desertion, and the
affairs of the earth would fall into the hands of the wildest and most lawless
barbarians; and then there would no longer remain among men any of the glory of
your religion or of the true wisdom...." </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But we
are far from setting aside the notion of a providence, and of things happening
directly or indirectly through the agency of providence. And the king will not "inflict
deserved punishment" upon us, if we say that it wasn't the son of crafty Saturn
who gave him his kingdom, but He who "removes and sets up kings." And
I wish that all were to follow my example in...maintaining the <b>divine origin of the kingdom</b>, and observing the precept to "honour the king"! In these circumstances the king will not "be left in
utter solitude and desertion," neither will "the affairs of the world
fall into the hands of the most impious and wild barbarians." For if, in
the words of Celsus, "they do as I do," then it is evident that even
the barbarians, when they yield obedience to the word of God, will become most
obedient to the law, and <b>most humane</b>; and every form of worship will be
destroyed except the religion of Christ, which will alone prevail. And indeed
it will one day triumph, as <b>its principles take possession of the minds of men</b>
more and more every day.</div>
</blockquote>
Christians in 177 AD, and their brotherly defenders in 248 AD, will not war at all: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
[70] But if all
the Romans, according to the supposition of Celsus, embrace the Christian
faith, <b>they will, when they pray, overcome their enemies; or rather, they will
not war at all</b>, being guarded by that divine power which promised to save five
entire cities for the sake of fifty just persons. For men of God are assuredly
<b>the salt of the earth: they preserve the order of the world; and society is
held together as long as the salt is uncorrupted</b>: for "if the salt have
lost its savour, it is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill; but it
shall be cast out, and trodden under foot of men. He that has ears, let him
hear" the meaning of these words. When God gives to the tempter permission
to persecute us, then we suffer persecution; and when God wishes us to be free
from suffering, even in the midst of a world that hates us, we enjoy a
wonderful peace, trusting in the protection of Him who said, "Be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world." And truly He has overcome the world.
Therefore the world prevails only so long as it is the pleasure of Him who
received from the Father power to overcome the world; and <b>from His victory we
take courage</b>. Should He even wish us again to contend and struggle for our
religion,<b> let the enemy come against us</b>, and we will say to them, "I can
do all things, through Christ Jesus our Lord, which strengthens me." For
of "two sparrows which are sold for a farthing," as the Scripture
says, "not one of them falls on the ground without our Father in heaven."
And so completely does the Divine Providence embrace all things, that not even
the hairs of our head fail to be numbered by Him.</div>
</blockquote>
Christian refusal to go to war is in response to a higher calling, from obedience to be crucified with Christ, from citizenship not of this world, with love for their enemies. It is not a rejection of a State's right to bear the sword: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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[73] In the
next place, Celsus urges us "to help the king with all our might, and to
labour with him in the maintenance of justice, <b>to fight for him; and if he requires
it, to fight under him, or lead an army along with him</b>." To this our
answer is, that we do, when occasion requires, give help to kings, and that, so
to say, a divine help, "putting on the whole armour of God." And this
we do in obedience to the injunction of the apostle, "I exhort, therefore,
that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks,
be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority;" and
the more any one excels in piety, the more effective help does he render to
kings, even more than is given by soldiers, who go forth to fight and slay as
many of the enemy as they can. And <b>to those enemies of our faith who require us
to bear arms for the commonwealth, and to slay men</b>, we can reply: "Do not those
who are [pagan] priests at certain shrines, and those who attend to certain gods, as
you account them, keep their hands free from blood, that they may with <b>hands
unstained and free from human blood</b> offer the appointed sacrifices to your
gods; and <b>even when war is upon you, you never enlist the [pagan] priests in the army</b>.
If that, then, is a laudable custom, how much more so, that while others are
engaged in battle, Christians too should engage as the priests and ministers of God,
<b>keeping their hands pure</b>, and <u>wrestling in prayers to God on behalf of those
who are fighting in a righteous cause</u>, <u>and for the king who reigns righteously,
that whatever is opposed to those who act righteously may be destroyed</u>!"
And as we by our prayers vanquish <b>all demons who stir up war</b>, and lead to the
violation of oaths, and disturb the peace, <b>we in this way are much more helpful
to the kings than those who go into the field to fight for them</b>. And we do take
our part in public affairs, when along with righteous prayers we join
self-denying exercises and meditations, which teach us to despise pleasures,
and not to be led away by them. And <b>none fight better for the king than we do</b>.
<b>We do not indeed fight under him, although he require it; but we fight on his
behalf, forming a special army— an army of piety— by offering our prayers to
God</b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
[74] And <b>if
Celsus would have us to lead armies in defence of our country</b>, let him know
that <b>we do this</b> too, and that not for the purpose of being seen by men, or of
vainglory. For <b>"in secret," and in our own hearts</b>, there are <b>prayers
which ascend as from priests in behalf of our fellow citizens</b>. And Christians
are benefactors of their country more than others. For they train up citizens,
and inculcate piety to the Supreme Being; and they promote those whose lives in
the smallest cities have been good and worthy, to a divine and heavenly city,
to whom it may be said, "You have been faithful in the smallest city, come
into a great one," where "God stands in the assembly of the gods, and
judges the gods in the midst;" and He reckons you among them, if you no
more "die as a man, or fall as one of the princes."</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Wrestle with the following, as I do as well. Origen and the earlier Christians whom Celsus was condemning refused not just going to war but also refused serving in public office: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
[75] Celsus
also urges us to "take office in the government of the country, if that is
required for the maintenance of the laws and the support of religion." But
we recognise in each state the existence of another national organization,
founded by the Word of God, and we exhort those who are mighty in word and of
blameless life to rule over Churches. <b>Those who are ambitious of ruling we
reject</b>; but we constrain those who, through excess of modesty, are not easily
induced to take a public charge in the Church of God. And those who rule over
us well are under the constraining influence of the great King, whom we believe
to be the Son of God, God the Word. And<b> if those who govern in the Church</b>, and
are called rulers of the divine nation— that is, the Church—<b> rule well, they
rule in accordance with the divine commands, and never suffer themselves to be
led astray by worldly policy</b>. And it is not for the purpose of escaping public
duties that <b>Christians decline public offices</b>, but that they may reserve
themselves for a diviner and more necessary service in the Church of God— for
the salvation of men. And this service is at once necessary and right. They
take charge of all— of those that are within, that they may day by day lead
better lives, and of those that are without, that they may come to abound in
holy words and in deeds of piety; and that, while thus worshipping God truly,
and training up as many as they can in the same way, they may be filled with
the word of God and the law of God, and thus be united with the Supreme God
through His Son the Word, Wisdom, Truth, and Righteousness, who unites to God
all who are resolved to conform their lives in all things to the law of God.</div>
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We will continue to pursue the position of Christian non-violence in the next post.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-16109691594372638152014-03-08T18:59:00.000-08:002014-03-08T18:59:18.312-08:00Inverting The Order (part three)Quick review: The church of the first three centuries was serious about following Jesus' cross-bearing example. They understood, by personal experience, the life-encompassing nature of the faith, the reality of martyrdom, and the delight of enemy love. I have suggested that the liberation brought about by the conversion of Emperor Constantine caused Christendom to drift away from martyr cross racing and drift toward self-empowerment, due to the absence of literal martyrdom and an increasing dependence on earthly power.<br />
<br />
Lactantius was an early church father who lived and wrote during the early fourth century AD, including the eras before Constantine and after Constantine. Last time, I posted a portion of his pre-Constantine writings:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When God forbids killing, He doesn't just ban murder, which is not
permitted under the law [of men] even; He is also forbidding to us to do
certain things which are treated as lawful among men. A just man may
not be a soldier (since justice itself is his form of service), nor may
he put anyone on a capital charge: whether you kill a man with a sword
or a speech makes no difference, since killing itself is banned. In this
commandment of God no exception at all should be made: killing a human
being is always wrong because it is God's will for man to be a sacred
creature.</blockquote>
I want to provide a few more quotes from the pre-Constantine writings of Lactantius:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let us see whether justice can have any bond with folly.... Why should a just man [Christian] go to sea, or what would he want from other people's lands when his own sufficed? Why go to war and tangle himself in other people's lunacies when his heart was full of peace with everyone eternally?</blockquote>
And again,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[The world thinks it is] folly for a man to prefer to be in need or to die rather than cause hurt or seize another man's property.</blockquote>
And again,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
How can a man be just who does harm, who hates, who ravages, who kills? And all those are actions of people striving to do their country good. People who think that the only useful or advantageous thing is something you can grasp simply do not know what doing good is. But what you can grasp, another can grab.</blockquote>
And again,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We must avoid [the gladiator shows] because they are a strong enticement to vice, and they have an immense capacity for corrupting souls. Rather than contributing something to a happy life they are, in fact, exceedingly harmful. For anybody who finds it pleasurable to watch a man being slain (however justly the person was condemned), has violated his own conscience as much as if he had been a spectator and participant in a clandestine murder.</blockquote>
What might that mean about our present-day lifelike theatrical blood-lust?<br />
<br />
Lactantius' opposition to Christians serving in the military reflected the broad and established consensus of the church from 30 AD to 312 AD. Contemporary American Christians would likely be astonished, and even highly offended, at the early church's insistence that military service was no more of a viable vocation for a Christian than was being a pimp. More on that in later posts. <br />
<br />
On October 28, 312 AD, Constantine went into battle after having the sign of the Christogram inscribed on his soldiers' shields -- the first time in history Christian symbols led the way into war. We all know that Constantine won the battle.<br />
<br />
After Constantine was converted (a good thing, if it was legitimate) and the persecutions of Christians had ceased (a good thing), Lactantius continued ministry and writing. Note how his later statements will contrast with his earlier statements of absolute opposition to taking human life and participating in war. He shifts from saying that a just man cannot participate in war, to saying that just men won their wars. This was just a subtle beginning. Lactantius recounts:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Constantine was advised in a dream to mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers and then engage in battle. He did as he was commanded and...marked Christ on their shields. Armed with this sign, the army took up its weapons. The enemy came to meet them without their emperor and crossed the bridge. The lines clashed, their fronts of equal length, and both sides fought with the most extreme ferocity. </blockquote>
Long story short, Constantine won. An ally of his, Licinius, also fought a battle against an enemy of Rome. Lactantius tells us:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
An angel of God appeared to Licinius in his sleep telling him to get up right away and, with his entire army, to offer prayers to the all high God. If he did that, the victory would be his.... The angel stood at his side and told him how to pray and what words to use. When he woke up, Licinius called for his secretary and dictated to him the words he had heard: "All High God, we beseech You; Holy God, we beseech You. To You we completely entrust our just cause; to You we entrust our safety; to You we entrust our empire. Through You we have life; through You we are victorious and blessed...".</blockquote>
Licinius also won. A joint announcement was written by Constantine and Licinius after their victories. Lactantius quotes it, and I provide a snippet here:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
...The [new] arrangements which above all needed to be made [as a rule for the Empire] were those which ensured reverence for Divinity, so that we might grant both to Christians and to all people freedom to follow whatever religion each one wished, in order that whatever divinity there is in the seat of heaven may be appeased and made propitious towards us and towards all who have been set under our power.</blockquote>
This initial liberating decree was a call for freedom of religion for all, including (with particularity of intent) Christianity. For the first time, Christians would no longer be forced to perform acts of worship to Caesars. Their religion was now accepted among all of the others. A good thing.<br />
<br />
Let's turn to a closing word from Lactantius about these victories:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
With great rejoicing, then, let us celebrate the triumph of God; let us extol the victory of the Lord; day and night let us pour out our prayers in rejoicing. Let us pray that He establish forever the peace that has been granted to His people after ten years [of hard persecution prior to Constantine's victory]. </blockquote>
George Kalantzis summed it up this way:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Lactantius's rejoicing for the victories of Constantine and Licinius is unquestionably at odds with his earlier attitudes towards war and military service, from a time when it was not imaginable that the commander-in-chief could be obedient to the true God. Yet, as that last statement reveals, this rejoicing in the defeat of enemies was also the expression of jubilation by a generation that had lived through one of the most brutal and far-reaching persecutions.</blockquote>
Who wouldn't feel a euphoria at the death of your persecutors at the hands of those who promise you liberty? I'm not even remotely suggesting that such feeling is inappropriate. What I am suggesting, however, is that with this new freedom, and with the power of the State's sword on their side, and with martyrdom fading as a real and present danger, the church (1) generally drifted into reliance upon physical power, (2) failed to maintain living a martyr's life, (3) increasingly dressed itself with self-empowerment, and (4) lost its grasp of enemy-love. Christ's inverted ordering of power and love was blindly being flipped back to its original state.<br />
<br />
Before the 4th century was even over, Rome passed legislation establishing Christianity as the State religion; now all of those other religions were illegal! Standing behind the State's sword, the persecuted became persecutor -- after only a mere 70 years removed from her own sufferings. <br />
<br />
Increasingly, Christians during that era were becoming detached from the voices of the suffering church fathers, and having no problems serving in Roman armies and marching into foreign lands to kill Rome's enemies instead of redeeming them. And today, our patriotic militaristic American Church carries on that tradition, as she probably sends more men and women overseas with guns, prepared to kill, than she sends overseas with Bibles, prepared to die.<br />
<br />
Martyr cross racing is an attempt to address, and maybe begin to reverse, the self-empowerment mutation that has long been encoded within our religious DNA, endangering our integrity and embarrassing our witness. <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-54113586118858054392014-03-07T14:50:00.000-08:002014-03-17T07:38:46.255-07:00Inverting The Order (part two)Continuing with <u>Caesar and the Lamb</u> by George Kalantzis:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The first account of a Christian martyr is the stoning of Stephen (Acts 6:1-8:2) and the earliest recorded prayer of the church for the state is found in the <i>First Letter of Clement</i> (60:4-61:3), sent by the church of Rome to the church of Corinth at the end of the first century (ca. 90-95 CE). Scarcely a generation earlier, Paul had written to the churches in Rome to "be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" (Rom 13:1). Paul had also instructed the Romans to "pay to all what is due them -- taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due" (Rom 13:17; also, 1 Tim 2:1-2). Jesus had talked about rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's (Matt 22:21). To these, Peter added: "For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.... Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Pet 2:13-15).</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It was the same Peter, however, who, along with John, defined for the Christian community what "honoring the governing authorities" meant and how submitting oneself to the authorities was not to acquiesce to the [worship] demands of the state. Following the example of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, Peter and John affirmed that obedience to the command of God superseded the orders of the state: "We must obey God rather than any human authority" (Acts 5:29, 4:19). With this seemingly simple declaration, the apostles exposed the true nature of the conflict and identified every other authority, secular or religious, as subordinate to God. The Good News of God's imminent kingdom (Mark 1:15) was interpreted as "the rejection of one emperor, Caesar, by the proclamation of another, namely, Jesus" (cf. Acts 17:6)....</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The apostles neither rebelled against Rome nor sought a particular national identity separate from the eschatological kingdom of Christ. Christians <i>honored the emperor</i> and the governors as his appointed authorities by following the example of Christ in refusing their consent <i>and</i> by submitting themselves to the consequence of their rejection, including scourging and death. That is what "rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's" would look like in the new economy; a simultaneous "yes" and "no" that points back to God as supreme. In doing so, they overturned yet again the normative paradigms of the classical traditions and showed how, for the Christians, power is gained through submission. A truly countercultural movement the Romans did not comprehend.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Martyrdom, then, was not the fate of the powerless, those finally forced to admit the grandeur of the state. Martyrdom was a witness <i><u>to</u></i> the state of its subordination to the God of heaven. Paul had already given expression to that: "For Your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Rom 8:36-37). (pp. 34-35)</blockquote>
Kalantzis sums up this section a little later:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The witness of the New Testament and of the early Christians was not one of an autonomous Christian political order, and yet, it <i>was</i> a wholly new political order. They honored the emperor by putting him in his proper place, under God, and commending him to divine favor. "I will honor the emperor," wrote Theophilus of Antioch (ca. 170 CE), "not by worshipping him, but by offering prayers for him.... He is not God. He is a man whom God has appointed to give just judgment, not to be worshipped." The distinction is crucial: the emperor has been given authority by God to govern according to God's justice, not Rome's. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Christians insisted that their refusal to acquiesce to the simulacra [image?] of justice and worship [it] ought not to be interpreted as subversion or disloyalty but as a call to the state to repent and acknowledge its proper place under the authority of God (cf. John 19:11). It was civil disobedience.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A first principle of civil disobedience is the proposition that one cannot act contrary to conscience, even under compulsion. One acts or refuses to act, based on a higher conviction which, in the case of the Christian martyrs, was divine law. An equally important feature of civil disobedience was its non-violence. This, too, was an incontestable principle early Christians inherited from the teachings of Christ and the New Testament. (pg 38)</blockquote>
Tying this together with my previous posts, the emperor's pursuit of your acquiescence is a reflection of how much he does not want to submit to God. He will threaten to kill you if you do not acquiesce (or even "pretend" to), because your acquiescence is how he desires to kill God: by your own hands. Our standing firm against him is for his own good, both as a testimony to him of God's lordship, and as a mirror by which he cannot help but know himself to be soaked in the blood of martyrs. Our time to prepare to stand firm is today, not down the road. <br />
<br />
Therefore, honor emperors and obey them insofar as they are not compelling you to worship them (or their State) by dictating to us new practices that denounce God and repudiate Christ. But when he makes his move against Christ, he must be rejected; and yet you still can show him due honor by facing the unjust sword he bears against you. By your death you defeat him, and testify to him that his true place is subjected to the God he hates. <br />
<br />
So, if Christ by His own example has so reversed the pagan order of honor in relation to the State, how has He not also done so in how we relate to each other, and to our coworkers, and to any neighbor? But of course He has! Go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, give your coat also! Blessed are the meek and the abused; rejoice and be glad! This is true strength through personal weakness. This is trusting God's crushings. This is blessing the name of the Lord. <br />
<br />
Let's return to Kalantzis once more:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For Justin [Martyr], Christianity had created a completely new ethic, inconceivable by the competing moral systems of his time: "We who formerly killed one another not only refuse to make war on our enemies, but in order to avoid lying to our interrogators or deceiving them, we freely go to our deaths confessing Christ" (Apol 1.39). The <i>Second Letter of Clement</i>, the writings of Irenaeus (bishop of Lyon), Athenagoras' <i>Plea on Behalf of the Christians</i>, the <i>Letter to Diognetus</i>, the writings of Clement of Alexandria, as well as Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Arnobius, and Lactantius, all speak of the irreducible relationship between love of enemy and the Christian call to nonviolence. Love of enemy, insisted Tertullian, is a peculiar idiom found among Christians alone and it separates them from all other people.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We need to note, however, that neither Justin's argument nor that of the other early Christian writers, was one of passive acceptance of the <i>pepromenon</i>, a fatalism that acquiesced to fate at the hands of an omnipotent state. If interpreted as such, Christian pacifism loses its scriptural underpinnings and ignores the fact that Jesus called His disciples engage in active peace-making. The scriptural call to nonviolence locates the positive call to love -- especially the enemy -- at the nonnegotiable center of the Christian message. This <u>reversal of power</u> that originates voluntarily from the one in the perceived position of weakness, and is directed toward the strong, is expressed in the form of prayer for one's persecutor and aims to bring the enemy into Christian communion (cf. Rom 12:21).... Christians do not kill or participate in war because the rule of Christ demands otherwise. In the fourth century, Lactantius put it this way:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When God forbids killing, He doesn't just ban murder, which is not permitted under the law [of men] even; He is also forbidding to us to do certain things which are treated as lawful among men. A just man may not be a soldier (since justice itself is his form of service), nor may he put anyone on a capital charge: whether you kill a man with a sword or a speech makes no difference, since killing itself is banned. In this commandment of God no exception at all should be made: killing a human being is always wrong because it is God's will for man to be a sacred creature. (pp 52-53) </blockquote>
</blockquote>
Today, we commit murder all too often with speeches and writings. Not literally, but in the spirit of "he who is angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire," and also "What causes quarrels and fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder." <br />
<br />
How is it today that we think we can treat the diversity among our own brotherhood so scornfully, while maybe even simultaneously becoming convinced to treat a God-hating tyrant with calm self-sacrificing respect? How is it today that we can treat a tribe of naked, spearing headhunters on the opposite side of the world with more grace and patience than the we show to the church of a different denomination right next door? Yes, yes, I know they aren't correct about doctrine X. But does that justify your anger and insults and haughtiness? Surely not. <br />
<br />
How did we get this way? We've hinted at it before, but Lactantius himself provides a big clue that we will look at next time.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-74344277640883150792014-03-06T19:54:00.000-08:002014-03-06T19:54:29.077-08:00Inverting The Order (part one)From <u>Caesar and the Lamb</u> by George Kalantzis:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Christians had inherited their notions of martyrdom from their Jewish heritage and especially the martyrdom accounts of [Second and Fourth] Maccabees...[concerning those who] were killed for their unyielding faithfulness to God. Origen looked to the martyrdom of the Maccabees and acknowledged it as "a magnificent example."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Christians' primary inspiration, however, was in the power and hope of the resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor 15:13-14) whose life and example they were called to emulate. The descriptions of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 and the obvious connections with Jesus were from very early on the interpretive matrix through which Christians understood their own experiences and times. Jesus had warned them that in response to His call to discipleship they would be persecuted at the hands of the status quo (e.g. Matt 10:16-42, John 15:18-35). Jesus had called His disciples to see themselves as "blessed" when reviled and persecuted on His account and had assured them of the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:10-12, Rev 21:7). To quote Wilken again,</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Church gave men and women a new love, Jesus Christ, a person who inspired their actions and held their affections. This was a love unlike others.... The Resurrection of Jesus is the central fact of Christian devotion and the ground of all Christians' thinking....</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It would be misleading, then, to read the accounts of the martyrs primarily as refusals by Christians to offer sacrifice, as their pagan counterparts [accused]. On the contrary, almost sacrificial in character, each of these accounts is a rich sacrificial narrative that rejects the dominant religio-political paradigm and reinterprets assumed perceptions of power dynamics. (pp 23-24)</blockquote>
Note how Kalantzis above places faithful martyrdom into a stark contrast with power dynamics. I can adjust the terminology by setting martyr cross racing in opposition to self-empowerment.<br />
<br />
Kalantzis quotes Eusebius describing the brutality of the martyrdom of a slave woman named Blandina. Eusebius concluded,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And the heathen themselves confessed that never among them had a woman endured so many and such terrible tortures. </blockquote>
</blockquote>
Kalantzis picks up from there:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The reversal of power was complete. It was the pagans who were led to confess, not the Christians. The example of Christ, His response during trial and torture, even His physical posture of calm silence and assurance had given Christians a new vocabulary. It transformed profoundly deeply rooted ideologies about human beings, power, the world, and history. The classical Greek concept of<i> arete</i>, and its Roman equivalent of <i>virtus</i>, both linguistic derivatives of "male/man," signified the ideal of individual greatness. Based on the heroic ideal, Aristotle identified a virtuous person as someone who is prepared to sacrifice himself...for one's friends or family or homeland, and, if necessary, to die for it. Many of the philosophers from the classical to the imperial era expressed similar views. To be humble was to be weak, poor, submissive, slavish, and womanish; it was the physical position of shame, humiliation, degradation and, therefore, to be understood as morally bad. The New Testament revolutionized these values wholly by their total inversion. It presented Jesus who "endured the cross, disregarding the shame" (Heb 12:2) as the One Christians ought to emulate (1 Pet 2:19-20), and Paul's boasting in his lowly status,<i> tapeinos</i>, and sufferings in imitation of Christ gave new meaning to humility, transforming it into a virtue. (pg 33)</blockquote>
This very key trait -- that ensured the faithful Christlike depth of the early persecuted church as well as its growth in numbers -- has ceased to be found in her much anymore in our cultural context. We are so like the world, intoxicated with position and winning and goods, that Christ is blasphemed to the world by our self-empowerment and worldliness. I'm reminded of something that old preacher from my early adulthood would say: "So many Christians are looking for the World Church to start, and they're sitting in it." It's easy to look at someone else as being worldly in order to distract us from our own worldliness.<br />
<br />
We will pick up with more from Kalantzis next time, seeing again how Christ inverted the order of honor, and maybe we will catch a peak at how and why the church after Constantine inverted the order back to a more pagan view.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-1090934897165674312014-03-03T20:19:00.000-08:002014-03-03T20:19:44.982-08:00Greenhouse Gases And Christian Heat<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Disclaimer:
I don’t care whether you think the case for anthropogenic warming is correct or incorrect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I do care about why those who take up a
sword over the issue do so.<br />
<br />
Over four
years ago, a well-known Christian blogger wrote a post about global warming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was informative to me about the post
were the examples of self-empowerment that dotted the comments section.<br />
<br />
Conservative
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">evangelicals</span> are very adamant in
their opposition to what the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">political
left</span> is trying to accomplish with climate science, but their opposition is
likewise political.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just stupidly
political.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do I mean?<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well, let's take a brief climate rabbit trail first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
gist of the case made by the vast majority of climate-related scientists is
that humanity’s increasing of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere will, umm,
increase the amount of heat being trapped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t put it more simply than that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let's chase
our rabbit into space by making a very basic astronomical comparison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a Mars summer day, your high temperature
may be a fairly mild 40 degrees F.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
your low temperature the next morning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Try -100 F.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are virtually no heat-trapping gases in
the atmosphere, and most of the daytime heat escapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now look to Venus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daytime
temperature is a hellish 900 F.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And your
low temperature is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pretty much the same
hellish 900 F.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its atmosphere consists mainly of heat
trapping gases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat does not
dissipate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we can see what the lack
of heat trapping gases can do, and what a super-abundance of them can do, what
can we basically assume will be the impact of doubling their miniscule amounts
in our own atmosphere? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Okay, back
to earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do I mean by “stupidly
political”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the Christian commenters
beneath the blog post wrote: “The right doesn’t make this a political issue,
only the left.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well now, that’s how the
right crafted it to appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
right makes it as much of a political issue as the left, only the right goes
about it stupidly, in my opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s
why:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the left sees this hockey puck of
data and tries to score these politically self-empowering goals: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>taxes, carbon footprints, no pipeline, no
SUVs, yadda yadda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The right sees this
hockey puck of data and tries to score political goals too:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hate the left, fear for your wallet, it’s all
a scam, climate-gate, 15 year pause, yadda yadda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem for the right, as I see it, is
that their political goals are self-empowering only for the short-term (just a
couple of elections if they’re lucky), but over time they will likely be self-defeating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your whole party marks itself as a mocker
of the issue, and then you are shown to be wrong, you make yourself obsolete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not take the hockey puck of data and
pursue long-term political goals, just like the left is doing, and just like
the left and right try to do with every other possible issue imaginable?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, push tax cuts for the competitive
development of technology that safely removes excess carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere
and oceans.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Oh well, that’s
the end of my hypothetical political punditry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither the right nor the left are your friends, Christian.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Back to the
blog commenters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another one wrote, “Global
warming and population control are hand-in-hand, and therefore Christians
should not support any ideology that leads to such evil.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me try to rephrase him: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A Christian who says that ‘increasing
heat-trapping gases increases the amount of heat trapped’ has been fooled by
scam lies of commie conspirators, and is supporting an evil and deadly
ideology.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this what the Spirit is saying
to the churches?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another
wrote: “Global warming is not happening because God is sovereign.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fail to understand his point now as much as
I failed to do so 4 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would he
say Chernobyl, or radiation poisoning in Japan, are not happening because God
is sovereign?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does he understand
concurrence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think his meaning was,
roughly, “God is creator, therefore puny man cannot harm the global environment
by his pollution or exploitations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is
this what the Spirit is saying to the churches?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
An<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>other
wrote: “It doesn’t matter what’s going on because seedtime and harvest, summer
and winter, will continue.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other
words, “Who cares what we’re doing, it doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why polish brass on a sinking ship, right?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this what the Spirit is saying to the
churches?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another
wrote: “What we have observed over the past 100 years is strictly natural
warming.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least that is a step toward
the acknowledgement of warming in the observations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we can also shift our response a
bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For every 90 climate scientists who
acknowledge anthropogenic warming, there are 10 (and that is being generous)
climate scientists who do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually,
among that ten percent, some do acknowledge anthropogenic warming but argue it
will make the earth better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some others had
also provided “scientific” argumentation supporting Big Tobacco against the
government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Etc. etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, among the 90 percent there are some
dubious characters as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But before
you fire off a huffy comment about how I haven’t yet dealt with your favorite
climate pundit, let me cut to the chase:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are the 10 percent – those who have the ear of conservative
evangelicalism -- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>arguing in support of
God, or Mammon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will confess that most
of the deniers that I have heard or read -- whether in the end they end up
being on the right or wrong side of the science matters not for what I am about
to say – have as their bottom line their own wallets and the very temporary victory
of their particular partisan political preferences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this what the Spirit is saying to the
churches?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The initial
context of “This is what the Spirit says to the churches” are the letters at
the beginning of the Book of Revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These churches lived under Roman domination; their tax dollars benefitted
the beastly Caesars; they were opposed by locals; still facing tribulation and
martyrdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several of the letters also
contained a “But this I have against you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These criticisms weren’t about how they failed to do enough to silence
some scientific consensus, nor how they could have kept more of Caesar’s coins
in their own pockets to give to the church, nor how Christian liberty requires
fighting for political liberty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only
did none of the churches hear such a thing, one church heard these words:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> know your
works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot
nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and
I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and
naked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I counsel you to buy from me gold
refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may
clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to
anoint your eyes, so that you may see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revelation 3:15-19</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> climate
wars, and especially the warfare of the climate-change deniers that has been
embraced by conservative evangelicalism, has much (much much) more to do with
self-empowerment than with martyr cross racing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Al<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>so around
four years ago, I quipped to a group of Christian guys who were mocking
climate-change (because it happened to be cold that day) that it seemed odd to
me that those who think men will be scorched with burning heat (Rev 16:8-9) and
that the Lord will destroy those who destroy the earth (Rev 11:18) would have absolutely
no big-picture concern about the issue at all, whatsoever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mammon
talks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But the climate wars were just the beginning of where I saw self-empowerment lurking. And you don't even have to be a redneck to understand it. More to come.</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-83933755492295436982014-02-23T16:20:00.000-08:002014-02-23T16:20:49.313-08:00The Wisdom of Sirach for HealingThe Wisdom of Sirach is a book of the Jewish Apocrypha, written in Hebrew by Jesus ben Sirach around 175 BC, and published later in Greek by his grandson. It is a book of wisdom similar to Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and in Roman Catholic Bibles it is commonly known as Ecclesiasticus. The book is intended to support a life devoted to Scripture, not to be a book of Scripture. The grandson wrote a prologue in which he says:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets and the others that followed them, and for these we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. Now, those who read the scriptures must not only themselves understand them, but must also as lovers of learning be able through the spoken and written word to help the outsiders. So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other books of our ancestors, and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, so that by becoming familiar also with his book those who love learning might make even greater progress in living according to the law. You are invited therefore to read it with goodwill and attention, and to be indulgent in cases where, despite our diligent labor in translating, we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense when translated into another language. Not only this book, but even the Law itself, the Prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a little when read in the original.... I have applied my skill day and night to complete and publish the book for those living abroad [Greek-speaking Jews of the Diaspora, living outside of Israel] who wished to gain learning and are disposed to live according to the law. </blockquote>
With that introduction, I want to quote a small section of this book, with extreme Pentecostalism in mind -- whether the kind that handles snakes and drinks poisons, or the kind that forbids medicine as an act of "faith" (which is really self-empowerment and self-authentication). I do so because around the same time the dead snake-bitten pastor was in the news, so were the parents of a young child who died for a lack of simple medical treatment because the parent's church forbids the use of medicine and even the wearing of seatbelts -- and tragically this was the <u><b>second</b></u> young child of theirs to die for the same reasons in recent years.<br />
<br />
So what does Sirach have to say?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Sirach 38:9-11</b> 9 My child, when you are ill, do not delay, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you. 10 Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly, and cleanse your heart from all sin. 11 Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of choice flour, and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford. </blockquote>
Certainly, an extreme Pentecostal will have no problem with that. Pray for healing and repent of sins and offer up a sacrifice of praise! Yet look at the very next verses as Sirach continues his wisdom on the topic:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Sirach 38:12-15</b> 12 Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him; do not let him leave you, for you need him. 13 There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians, 14 for they too pray to the Lord that he grant them success in diagnosis and in healing, for the sake of preserving life. 15 He who sins against his Maker, will be defiant toward the physician. </blockquote>
Martyr cross racing is laying down your own life (actual, financial, reputation) to save another, not laying down another's life to save face. Make your own application.<br />
<br />
(Disclaimer: "Make your own application" is a helpful charge borrowed from the Phoenix Preacher blog)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-91199806857930990422014-02-22T19:06:00.000-08:002014-02-23T11:48:24.446-08:00Does Mark X the Spot?Mark 16:18 ...they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them... <br />
<br />
News spread several days ago that the "reality TV star" of a show about snake-handlers had died after being bitten by a snake during a religious meeting. We looked up a few news videos about the fellow; he had been bitten several times in the past, and even lost a portion of a finger due to a snake bite. He never sought treatment for the finger as it rotted on his hand, nor when it had finally broke off. His wife insisted on keeping the finger chunk, and it was displayed proudly on camera to the reporter.<br />
<br />
It reminded me of a quote from a preacher who was very influential to me early in my adulthood. He would say, "You can take the Word of God and preach yourself." Meaning: using the Bible, a preacher can exalt himself and not God. Such is epidemic these days, as selfish ambition and pride are at the root of many hearts. It is not limited to snake handlers. For my own purposes, I have labelled such things rather broadly by the term "self-empowerment." Self-empowerment is an antonym of martyr cross racing, and I plan to blog a series of thoughts on it in the not too distant future.<br />
<br />
But today, I want to point out that it is a fact, though not overly expressed in churches, that the oldest Greek manuscripts of Mark do not contain 16:9-20. And further, the ending contained in verses 9-20 is not the only competing ending to Mark; there are other different and somewhat shorter endings that are known to exist. None of them have a strong case for being original. In fact, it may be that 16:8 really is the final verse of Mark as originally written. The Gospel of Mark has a theme known as "The Messianic Secret," mainly because Jesus is so often shushing people about his identity throughout the Gospel of Mark. Ending his gospel with an empty tomb may have been Mark's stylistic intent; we just do not know for sure. Possibly, as later scribes copied the gospel of Mark, and being confused that their source did not feature a post-resurrection appearance, a few scribes may have uniquely and individually scribbled in different conclusions to round out Mark to make it similar to the other three gospels.<br />
<br />
Given that situation, why would a scribe include a line about taking up snakes and drinking poison? I am suggesting two stories that would yield those scribal interpolations.<br />
<br />
First, there is the account in Acts of Paul being bitten by a poisonous snake while assembling firewood, but being unharmed. Notably, Acts does not mention that what had happened to Paul was a fulfillment of Jesus' words; therefore, it is possible that the story about Paul became the source of a later scribal interpolation to conclude Mark, namely, 16:9-20.<br />
<br />
Secondly, among the Apostolic Fathers is a fellow named Papias, who lived roughly from 70-150 A.D. He apparently wrote a five volume work on the sayings of Jesus that has since been lost to us, except for parts quoted by later ancient Christians. One such writer who quoted Papias was Eusebius, the church historian from the era of Constantine. Eusebius wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"That Philip the apostle resided in Hierapolis with his daughters has already been stated, but now it must be pointed out that Papias, their [the daughters'] contemporary, recalls that he heard an amazing story from Philip's daughters. For he reports that in his day a man rose from the dead, and again another amazing story involving Justus, who was surnamed Barsabbas, who drank a deadly poison and yet by the grace of God suffered nothing unpleasant."</blockquote>
Notably again, there is no mention from Papias that this occasion fulfilled any words of Christ. Thus it is possible that this story in Papias' books was an inspiration for a later scribal interpolation known today as Mark 16:9-20.<br />
<br />
What is further striking is that both the occasion of Paul being bitten, and the occasion of Justus swallowing poison, are accidental occasions. It was not Justus' intent to drink poison, but miraculously by the grace of God he wasn't harmed. It was a one time thing, just like Paul being bitten while assembling fire wood. If intentionally handling snakes and drinking poisons was normative and routine worship in the apostolic churches, Papias would not write about an "amazing story" handed down by word of mouth about how surviving poison graciously happened to one guy one time. <br />
<br />
Therefore, since these two stories are closely related to Mark 16:18, and both of these stories are about accidental, one-time occurrences, then the actions of intentionally and routinely handling snakes and drinking poisons in religious meetings -- and refusing medical care upon being bitten or overdosing -- is not even fairly defended by Mark 16:18. It is much more akin to jumping from the pinnacle of the temple: putting the Lord your God to the test. The devil suggests that doing so will help your ministry grow and bring glory to God. Jesus counters that it is a sin. <br />
<br />
Acts, Papias, and Mark together "X" out that interpretation, whether 16:9-20 is a scribal interpolation or not. What we have instead, then, with snake-handling, is a drive for self-empowerment: taking the word of God and exalting yourself.<br />
<br />
Don't get smug; "biblical" self-empowerment is expressed by you and me too. Martyr cross racing is about putting it to death.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767829696932480304.post-20772031130067028042014-02-15T04:30:00.000-08:002014-02-15T04:30:48.398-08:00Aborting an Abortion: A Martyr's LifeThere is a certain blog I occasionally visit because it is sometimes good, sometimes troubling, and always very honest.<br />
<br />
A few years ago, I was troubled by one post and its subsequent discussions. Seems a seasoned, well-known mega-pastor in the western U.S. took a call on his radio program from a young woman seeking advice on going through with an abortion. She was carrying conjoined twins who shared the same body but had two heads. The doctors had advised abortion because of the high risk of
complications and because such children rarely live for more than a day
outside the womb. After hearing the situation, the pastor assured the
woman that if she were to choose abortion the Lord would not condemn
her. Something of an online war ensued about the pastor's counsel. <br />
<br />
Some commenters on that particular blog thread claimed "This abortion can be justified using the self-defense argument," while others made strict pro-life arguments that condemned the woman and pastor, while still others had nothing more to say than "The Bible is silent here."<br />
<br />
One pastor commenting in the discussion thread wrote something like, "Given the difficulty of her plight, I have no specific Biblical counsel to offer her." But he went far enough to say that if she were in his congregation, he promised "love and compassion" and he wouldn't permit anyone to condemn her for having an abortion. When I read that, I felt that he was probably using the term "condemn" with little if any differentiation from "rebuke" and "reprove." I marvel that the notions of Biblical rebuke and reproof are often presented as the opposites of love and compassion. Yes, we all know that church can be notorious for self-righteous judges and prideful condemnations. But this commenter was a <b>pastor</b> who would have nothing to do with loving her enough to rebuke and reprove her in Christ. Much more needs to be done to correct the "fire-at-will" crowd than to command a congregation to say nothing at all in opposition to her choice. But that issue is not what I am treating here. (But for future reference, that same pastor in the comments section is known to have a particular doctrinal affinity for theologian Ben Witherington, whom I plan to quote in a future post).<br />
<br />
Back on topic, I think the comments in that discussion are partly a symptom of our overt short-sightedness as a whole. Part of what helped me to see it that way were some statements I read a short time later in William Gurnall's devotional, "The Christian in Complete Armor." For example:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Temptation is never stronger than when relief seems to dress itself in the very sin that Satan is suggesting. [As in "abort the twins" or "eat the pork" or "curse the name"?]</blockquote>
And again,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Of all his plots, this is perhaps the most dangerous to the saints, when he appears in the mantle of a prophet and silver-plates his corroded tongue with fair-sounding language. In this manner, he corrupts some in their judgment by interpreting gospel truth in such a way that God appears to condone questionable behavior. These Christians get caught up in the world's morality under the disguise of Christian liberty.... How we need to study the Scriptures, our hearts, and Satan's wiles, that we may not bid this enemy welcome and all the while think it is Christ who is our guest! [Christ has no rebuke of your abortion. Your circumstances exempt you. <span style="color: #990000;">Divine justice will excuse you for fearing the doctor when you are under compulsion (4 Maccabees 8:22).</span>]</blockquote>
And again,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Some martyrs have confessed that their hardest work was to overcome the prayers and tears of their friends and relatives. Paul himself expressed those same feelings when he said, "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready, not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!" [I am ready, not only to live destitute for this child, but also to die in the hospital for him as a demonstration of the grace of the Lord Jesus!] </blockquote>
What I saw was that the twins' mom wasn't thinking, "Dying (figuratively or literally) for these twins is the most Christlike and God-rewardable thing I can do, as a testimony to the greatness of the name of Him whose love compels me." The commenters on that blog weren't thinking this way either. And I don't think this way either. That must change!<br />
<br />
Can you, can I, can the twins' mom say,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"O Lord God Almighty, I bless You because You have considered me worthy of this needy child by whom I will likely be exhausted of everything I am and have, so that I might receive a place of 'martyrdom' in the cup of Your Christ"?</blockquote>
Or say,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"God has judged me worthy to be found with this child. It is good to be setting from this world to God, in order that I may rise to Him"?</blockquote>
Or say,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I know that many have lived destitute lives so that they might ransom others. I will do so for my baby"?</blockquote>
If God works all things together for the good of His people, and if He works all of our weakenings together for our strength, then all things should be viewed as happening <b>for</b> our faith. And suffering <b>with</b> faith is suffering <b>for</b> your faith: a daily martyrdom grounded in loyal adoration of our sovereign God, even in the bitter providences. Especially in the bitter providences. Call it a martyr's life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0