"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
Written in response to a specific need or circumstance.
Context:
Author: Written by Paul (with Timothy- his disciple)
Around 61 AD; about 30 years after Christ’s death; original generation still alive
One of 4 letters written while Paul is in prison in Rome
Original audience:
The Christians in Philippi;
not one church; lots of small churches within the city
What was going on?
They had sent their member, Epaphroditus, with a gift to deliver to Paul. Paul wrote the letter to thank them for their support/encouragement while he’s imprisoned.
Paul was also concerned about coming persecutions and the members not all getting along→ written to instruct them to work together
Bonus: Read Acts, chapter 16, for some of the historical accounts in the Epistles
Observe: What’s Happening?– What is the text saying?
Again, asking the churches to get along:
Vs 2- Agree with each other!
Greek women; possibly led separate house churches and not getting along
Inscriptions show that women played a significant role in Philippi’s religious realm
They worked w/ Paul; obviously has high regard for them
Asking other to mediate; help them to reconcile
Stand firm in your faith, agree with each other, do not be anxious,
Instead: think of good things and the God of peace will be with you
Thanks them for their gifts (vs 10-20)
Paul is stating his gratitude without seeking further gifts; doesn’t want to depend on their gifts
He’s learned to be content
Paul is telling them not to worry about him
Learning to be content
Vs 11-13- Greco Roman thinkers would have valued self-reliance; Paul is placing dependence on Christ instead of self
Vs 19- Paul can’t repay them, but trusts God to meet their needs
Vs 22- News that the gospel had reached Caesar’s household would have been really exciting and encouraging to the original hearers
Acts 28- those who guarded Paul heard his teachings
Interpret: What does it mean? What is the central lesson the author wanted to communicate? What does it teach us about God?
Again visits the theme of unity
Excellent Thoughts:
Do not be anxious- present to God
Paul follows his instructions for unity, rejoicing, and releasing anxiety with thinking about good things
Vs 8- Repetition would have been intentional to get reader’s attention
Does this really help?
Example of how what we think/dwell on affects us
Always thinking negatively/taking in negative things isn’t helpful
Cognitive Therapy: a type of psychotherapy in which negative patterns of thought about the self and the world are challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns or treat mood disorders such as depression
Paul follows his instructions for unity, rejoicing, and releasing anxiety with thinking about good things
Also goes in line with the idea of perspective from Chp1; Paul’s perspective shaped his attitude of the situation
And the God of peace will be with you
Vs 7 & 9 (sandwiches the thoughts of peace)
Peace- Greek is “eirene” (equivalent to “shalom” in Hebrew)
tranquility, absence of conflict/harmony with each other
Contentment:
Vs 11- learned to be content whatever the circumstances
Vs 13- Do everything (other translations say “I can do all this”) through Christ who strengthens me
Not taking vs 13 out of context
Allowing Christ to help you be content whatever the circumstances vs. the traditional interpretation of vs 13 as a motivational statement
Strength to endure
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
Application: What does it mean for you?Personal application
Begin to pay attention to how what you’re consuming and repeating in your thoughts is affecting you– both positively or negatively. Are there any areas in your life where you could replace certain thoughts with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy?
Reflect on this area of contentment? Do you generally feel satisfied or does the culture’s message of “more” have an impact on you? Are you able to lean on the Lord for strength in seasons of want?
Written in response to a specific need or circumstance.
Context:
Author: Written by Paul (with Timothy- his disciple)
Around 61 AD; about 30 years after Christ’s death; original generation still alive
One of 4 letters written while Paul is in prison in Rome
Original audience:
The Christians in Philippi;
not one church; lots of small churches within the city
What was going on?
They had sent their member, Epaphroditus, with a gift to deliver to Paul. Paul wrote the letter to thank them for their support/encouragement while he’s imprisoned.
Paul was also concerned about coming persecutions and the members not all getting along→ written to instruct them to work together
Bonus: Read Acts, chapter 16, for some of the historical accounts in the Epistles
Observe: What’s Happening?– What is the text saying?
Vs 1- likely repeating them things he taught them in person
Conservative Jews saying you needed to be circumcised still; Paul is refuting that
Don’t need to put confidence in a physical process anymore; Paul is making it clear this is no longer what marks them as the people of God
Ie- circumcision (way of marking that their people was set apart; belonged to Yahweh)…..Jesus coming abolished the law and need for this
Vs 3: The Spirit allows us to circumcise (i.e. purify) our hearts
The Spirit is now what marks followers of God instead
God is already alluding to in the OT as part of his plan:
Deut 10:16, Deut 30: 6
Will be giving a new heart from the new covenant by the Spirit
Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26-27
Ez- “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
And if anyone could boast in worldly things, it’d be him; but he doesn’t; he considers all those things loss compared to knowing Jesus
You want confidence in the flesh? Paul can boast of worldly confidence
Pharisee (strictest of Jewish sects)
Knowing Christ intimately (along with his suffering and resurrection)
But it’s a process, hasn’t obtained perfection
Vs 10- I want to know Christ
“Know”= intimacy, covenant
Interestingly, Paul also connects knowing Christ to sharing in his sufferings
Though divine, Christ sacrificed himself for us
We’re to imitate Christ
Don’t listen to false teachings; they’re led by passions
Vs 15- Maturity
Common for philosophers of the day to admit they hadn’t reached perfection, though they’d still contrast the difference b/w the mature and novices; advanced students as mature
Ultimate citizenship is in heaven
Vs 20- they would have understood being a citizen of a place they’ve never been to
Philippi was a Roman colony; therefore legal citizens of Rome, along with its benefits
Vs 21- the Jews regarded resurrection to include the entire body; but this idea would have been foreign to the Greek and Roman
Interpret: What does it mean? What is the central lesson the author wanted to communicate? What does it teach us about God?
Identity: in the flesh and in this world, or in our relationship with Jesus?
Having cultural status isn’t ultimately what matters
Whatever were gains before, Paul now considers loss for the sake of Christ
Knowing Christ is better
Vs 8- “because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus…for whose sake I have lost all things”
Liken to a love relationship, or a child: you thought life was good/fine but then you can’t imagine life w/o
This relationship is important/life changing
Relational: Intimacy with Christ
Vs 10- Paul desires to know Christ; vs8- a loss compared to knowing Christ
Greek word “know”= ginosko
Relational: Knowing Christ in the sense of having a relationship of faith and trust; recognition of his divine person
John 10:14-15- my sheep know my voice
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
You recognize the voice of someone you know vs a stranger
Knowing- also connects to the concept of Covenant, but we’ll cover that separately
Pressing On – Athletic Imagery
Remember, a Greek audience.. Philippi located in modern day Greece
Vs 12-14- “I press on”- it’s a process; not about reaching perfection
Paul’s goal: vs 10 & 11
Vs 13- If you’re running a race to win, looking behind slows you down
Vs 14- winners were typically called up for their prize; in this case the prize is heaven
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3: 14
Application: What does it mean for you?Personal application
Are there “worldly” gains you still cling to for worth instead of your identity in Jesus? Do you remember life before “knowing” Christ?
Would you consider yourself to “know God intimately”? Like in Jesus’ parable about the sheep, do you think you would know His voice? One of the ways we can know God’s voice is knowing what He says in the Word.
In week 1, we talked about sanctification and how it is a process of becoming more like Jesus. Do you feel pressure to have already arrived in terms of your character, knowing the Bible, knowing God, etc? What sorts of things cause you to look behind or slow you down in moving forward? What does this concept of simply pressing on, and knowing even Paul hadn’t arrived, do for you?
Written in response to a specific need or circumstance.
Context:
Author: Written by Paul (with Timothy- his disciple)
Around 61 AD; about 30 years after Christ’s death; original generation still alive
One of 4 letters written while Paul is in prison in Rome
Original audience:
The Christians in Philippi;
not one church; lots of small churches within the city
What was going on?
They had sent their member, Epaphroditus, with a gift to deliver to Paul. Paul wrote the letter to thank them for their support/encouragement while he’s imprisoned.
Paul was also concerned about coming persecutions and the members not all getting along→ written to instruct them to work together
Bonus: Read Acts, chapter 16, for some of the historical accounts in the Epistles
Observe: What’s Happening?– What is the text saying?
Paul invites them to live in unity
Vs 2- “make my joy complete by being like-minded, one in spirit”
Vs 3- Do nothing out of selfish ambition; value others above yourself; look to the interests of others
Roman culture, it was all about reputation, position, honor
Vs 4- think of the larger good over yourself
Imitate Christ’s humility
Paul’s use of poetry highlights its significance; being the heart of the letter
Vs 9-10 THEREFORE
Because of Christ’s humbling himself, God exalted him; was able to accomplish his work
Vs 12/13- Again, this idea of growing, sanctification
“Continue to work out your salvation,”
“God who works in you”
Vs 14/15- Idea of standing out in a dark world
Deut 32:5- Jewish literature often compared the righteous with light
Sending Timothy and Epaphroditus
Vs 22- teachers often viewed close disciples as sons; wants to send Timothy to encourage them
Epaphroditus- messenger who almost died on the long journey. It wasn’t safe to send money with just anyone. It would have been a trusted person to carry the gift from Philippians all the way to Paul in Rome
Interpret: What does it mean? What is the central lesson the author wanted to communicate? What does it teach us about God?
The Church as a Unified Community:
If we really love Christ and are allowing him to change us from the inside out, we should be able to live in loving community with each other.
When we see each other as fellow “spirit-carriers”/ambassadors/family members, we should have a sense that we need to work in one direction
All of that should produce affection and empathy for one another
There are SO many clashes in the modern-day church
Music, buildings, theology, culture, politics, moral behavior, etc
SO HOW DO WE DO THIS?!
The Answer: Think of yourself the way Jesus did!
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ”
In your relationships with one another, have the mindset of Christ
Not self-focused; not bringing our thinking in line with each other, but in line with Christ’s thinking!
What was the mindset of Christ?
Verse 6- Jesus didn’t use his position to his advantage
the NT culture was all about using your status to your advantage; completely counter-cultural
Rulers like Alexander the Great and Augustus were domineering, military conquerors.
Paul’s message would have seemed absurd!
Vs 7: God as servant:
It was unusual for people of status to even eat with a servant, much less act like one
Vs 7: “made himself nothing” can also mean “emptied himself”
This does not mean he emptied himself of divinity; it was about being truly divine; emptied himself of his rights
Word picture from Isaiah 53:12- the servant who poured out his life in death
Vs 8- humbled himself and became obedient to death on a cross
the cross was the epitome of a shameful death
about his obedience to go all the way to the cross;
NT Wright: he is the God of self-giving love
Vs 9-11: Paul showing the victory in it all
Paul references Isaiah 45:23 to show Christ is equal to God- “to me and me alone, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear”
Christ is the Messiah
Paul building a proof: point A→ point B → point C
Live in unity by living like Christ
THEN We’ll be a witness!
Remember how the church is to live in a way that exemplified the final restoration/kingdom living; we are God’s ambassadors
Vs 14- without grumbling and complaining; shine like stars
Point C→ Live in unity by living like Christ and you will be a shining example to the world around you
“As you look at the incarnate son of God dying on the cross, the most powerful thought you should think is this: this is the true meaning of who God is. He is the God of self-giving love.”
-NT Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters
Application: What does it mean for you?Personal application
Our God is known most clearly when he abandons his rights for the sake of the world. Can you think of ways you still think of yourself before “the sake of the world”?
How can we bring a sense of unity to our lives– our families, churches, communities, world?
Taken from: NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Copyright 2016
Taken from: NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Copyright 2016
OUTLINE:
Genre:
Letter: sometimes referred to as Epistles
Written in response to a specific need or circumstance.
Context:
Author: Written by Paul (with Timothy- his disciple)
Around 61 AD; about 30 years after Christ’s death; original generation still alive
One of 4 letters written while Paul is in prison in Rome
What Philippi was like: real people; real time
Philippi was a prosperous Roman city; not a small rural area
Along the Egnatian Way, which was a major highway that connected the eastern provinces to Rome (major highway)- big factor in its prosperity and political influence
Original audience:
The Christians in Philippi;
not one church; lots of small churches within the city
Paul and his team started the church of Philippi during his 2nd missionary journey. First church established in Europe. Luke (as in the gospel of Luke) was its pastor for the first 6 years. One of the healthiest churches in the New Testament.
What was going on?
They had sent their member, Epaphroditus, with a gift to deliver to Paul. Paul wrote the letter to thank them for their support/encouragement while he’s imprisoned.
Paul was also concerned about coming persecutions and the members not all getting along→ written to instruct them to work together
The Christians in Philippi all loved Paul, but were not getting along with each other
Bonus: Read Acts, chapter 16, for some of the historical accounts in the Epistles
Observe: What’s Happening?– What is the text saying?
Paul is so thankful for their faith in Jesus; begins his letter with encouragement and affection
Vs 6- “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion”- God keeps working on us
Vs 9- “this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…may be able to discern”- continues this idea of God working on us
Vs 12- “what has happened” (see Acts)- he’s in prison
All through the palace guard (entire palace); it has helped to advance the gospel (perspect changes interpretation of circumstances)
Vs 13- likely refers to the Praetorian Guard around Rome (Acts 28:16)
15- Common in the Meditarranean culture to desire honor
Vs 18- what matters is that Christ is preached
Vs 19- Job 13:16
If he lives, he gets to continue sharing the gospel; if Paul dies, he gets to be with Jesus
No matter what happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of Christ
Stand firm in one spirit, one man for the faith
Interpret: What does it mean? What is the central lesson the author wanted to communicate? What does it teach us about God?
Idea of continued sanctification:
Definition: the action or process of making something holy; the action or process of being freed from sin
Becoming more like Christ
Verse 6- “will carry it to completion until the day of Christ.”
vs 9/10- “more in knowledge…to discern….until the day of Christ”
Vs 11- “Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ”
Perspective:
Don’t be discouraged with my being in chains
Paul could be grumbling about being in prison; instead he’s praising God about his ability to share the gospel bc of his unique position there
He doesn’t get upset that some are preaching from selfish motives; either way Christ is being preached!
Vs 18- “Yes and I will continue to rejoice!”
Death vs life- serve here and preach Christ or be with Christ in heaven
Paul affirms their relationship and his care for them
begins with sincere thanks, encouragement, and affection;
almost as if to make it clear that any rebuke is coming from someone who genuinely loves them
Whatever happens…conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of Christ
He’s talking about whether he lives or dies and the coming persecution
Stand firm in one spirit
Application: What does it mean for you?Personal application
What emotions does the word sanctification bring up in you? Positive/negative/confused? Does that idea that Jesus continues to work in us after being saved intimidate your or give you hope? Are there any areas God is working on in your life now?
What do you think about Paul’s perspective in the midst of really difficult circumstances? Are there any areas in your life where you could use some new perspective?
At the end of Chapter 1, Paul is just getting started with some of his rebuke to the Philippians. Knowing Paul gave these warnings from a place of love, how does it make you feel? Regardless of circumstances or persecution, do you feel the body of Christ is standing firm in one spirit? The body of Christ begins with us. Are you conducting yourself in a manner worthy of Christ in our volatile cultural climate?
Even as a champion for reading and understanding the Bible, I understand that without absorbing today’s topic, everything else I’ve written these past weeks is meaningless. When we approach the Bible, we must come with an open, humble heart that allows the cerebral information to penetrate into our hearts. Without that, we’re reduced to academic scholars, pushers of religious dogma, even to Pharisees.
Let’s look at this quote from a Seminary Professor, C.L. Blomberg:
“If we wanted to be brutally honest…one would have to say that the conservative, evangelical Christian…is probably the closest parallel to the ancient Pharisees.”
What terms or adjectives come to mind when you hear Pharisee? Does that statement seem a bit extreme? Did it strike a chord? Seem a little offensive to your Christian sphere?
Before walking off in a huff, hold onto your panties, take a deep breath, and hear me out. Let me remind you that the man who made that statement is not anti-Christian. He is a Bible professor, teaching pastors and ministry students who will go on and teach more people. So why would he say such a thing?
Jesus actually had a lot to say on this topic.
In Matthew 23, Jesus spends the entire chapter rebuking the Pharisees and teachers of the law.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." - Matthew 23: 25-28
Yikes! Jesus compares them to whitewashed tombs, calling them dead on the inside. Clearly he takes it very seriously that they care more about following the rules and looking good on the outside than they do about cleaning their hearts.
Again, in John 5: 38-39, Jesus says to the Pharisees, “nor does God’s word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Of the religious groups of the day, the Pharisees knew the scriptures better than anyone, adhered to the rules better than anyone, yet they were missing the main point! Jesus was making it clear that their strict rule following wouldn’t save them. Jesus’ message was about coming to Him for salvation.
In the process of trying to more carefully understand the context and absorb Biblical knowledge, we cannot forget to make that head to heart connection.
In the process of trying to more carefully understand the context and absorb Biblical knowledge, we cannot forget to make that head to heart connection. If all we ever do is store up a wealth of knowledge, a list of dos and don’ts, we become too much like the Pharisaic Jew or the legalistic evangelical, and forget what is at the center of Christianity: a transformative relationship with Jesus.
The trouble is, we humans tend to go to extremes. If you remember the introduction (An Intro: Why It’s Not Just For Your Pastor), I spoke about being informed in the Scriptures for ourselves so that we are not like lemmings and easily led astray. However, on the opposite side is an equal challenge of not becoming the hypocritical, white-washed Pharisee. We should neither have a faith that is led merely on warm fuzzies and our emotion of the day any more than we should claim a faith in Jesus that is reduced to academic knowledge of the Bible while ignoring its purpose to shape us into the reflection of the one we claim to follow.
We need balance.
I will make this very clear: dogmatic reading of the Bible or a precise following of the rules will not save you. Only a relationship with our Savior, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is what saves. “For it is by grace you have been saved…not by works, so that no man may boast” (Ephesians 2). Repenting from our sin and accepting the gracious gift of Jesus that has been given us is the only thing that saves. However, if we don’t build on that foundation, if we ignore the opportunity to come to know our Creator God and Savior more through his Holy Scriptures, we miss out. We pass by on the chance to better understand the heart of God and to allow it to transform our lives.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
So if there’s anything with which I can leave you regarding the need to read your Bible, perhaps it is this:
Reading the Bible is not a “you have to,” it is a “you get to!”
Therefore, as we conclude this series, my prayer for you is that you can let this notion be your framework as you grow your knowledge of God’s beautiful, holy Scriptures. Let His word be your sustaining daily bread. Let it guide you and provide you with a discerning voice. Celebrate the unending richness you will uncover as you peel back the layers of its goodness. And then sit back and ask our gracious God to use all of that to work inside you so that you never resemble the Pharisees, who quoted the holy Scriptures yet failed to recognize when He stared them in the face. Rather possess a heart that is so transformed, it begins to reflect the heart of the Savior.
May our God bless you and keep you, and make his face shine upon you.
I have to be honest that after teaching Bible study this way for several years, I thought it would be simple to convert into a blog. However, taking what I’d normally discuss with a group over the course of an hour and trying to reduce it down into a concise blog format proved to be much harder than anticipated.
For the sake of what we can cover here today, I zoomed in on one passage from Ephesians. I would recommend, however, for your own study, that you read the surrounding chapters (or even the whole book) to grasp the larger picture. As we read from Ephesians 2, we are going to journey through the Inductive Guide so you can practice alongside me. For each section of the guide, I will explain what I do and then provide bullet-point information of the notes I would take in my journal. This is meant to give you ideas; it is not the only way to think about the passage and/or study scripture. The more you practice, the more you’ll find a rhythm that works for you. If you can, grab your Bible and turn to the book of Ephesians. Otherwise, I will also have the verses here. A printable version of today’s practice will be available at the bottom.
Ephesians 2:11-22
JEW AND GENTILE RECONCILED THROUGH CHRIST
Genre:
Here, I think about where the book of the Bible is located, use the Genre Guide, or look at the intro in a study Bible to help me determine what genre I’m reading.
Letter: sometimes referred to as Epistles.
Written in response to a specific need or circumstance.
Context:
For today’s purpose, or when I’m preparing a lesson plan for Bible study, I do dig into the context a bit deeper than for daily reading by utilizing some of the Tools I mentioned. But even knowing general context helps unveil new layers of the text. This where it’s helpful to use that study Bible introduction and think about where the book is located in the Biblical Timeline. In this case, Ephesians is written after Christ’s death and resurrection, when the new churches of Christian believers are being formed and undergoing heavy persecution.
Author: Written by Paul, the apostle, around 60 AD. One of the 4 letters written while in prison in Rome.
Original Audience: new Gentile Christian believers in Ephesus and the general Mediterranean area. Written to encourage them in their new faith and to encourage unity. (Gentile simply means “not Jewish”)
Listeners would have known that Paul was currently imprisoned in Rome after being accused by Jewish leaders that he brought an Ephesian Gentile beyond the temple’s outer court (see Acts 21:27-29)
Ethnic and cultural differences between the Jewish and Gentile believers had become an area of contention in the Ephesian church. This brand new church was in danger of becoming 2 separate churches.
When we enter the scene, this new church is fragmented, and Gentile Christians are being made to feel lesser than because they’re not Jewish (and not circumcised). Paul comes in and makes it very clear about their worth in the kingdom of God.
Observe: What does the passage say?
At this point, I begin reading and make notes along the way about significant points, themes, etc. I pause every couple or few verses to write down what I want to remember. I may also jot down other verses of which I’m reminded.
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Vs 11 & 12: Remember what life was like before Christ!
Before Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Jews did not realize that salvation would ever be extended to the world, to people outside of themselves. This was a big deal for Gentiles! (word for a non-Jew)
Without hope
Vs 13: Jesus dying on the cross changed everything. Jesus allowed them to be part of the family.
Ephesians 1:5- “he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ”
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Vs 14/15- Jesus is our peace. He destroyed the barrier, between people and with God. Jesus brought reconciliation/atonement for our sins.
1 John 2: 1-2 “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father– Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Vs 15/16- Create a new humanity from the two = means to reconcile the two sides.
Vs 17- Christ’s message of salvation was for everyone; Jew and Gentile.
Vs 18- Both have access to the Father because ofJesus.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Vs 19- All part of God’s family; citizens.
Vs 20-22- Jesus holds it all together; the cornerstone; he’s the unifier. Everything is built off of Jesus.
Interpret: What does the passage mean?
Here, I look back over what I observed the text to be saying, along with what I know of the context. I try and pull a couple of main points or themes I am seeing from the text.
Jesus’ atoning work was and is a big deal! It changed a lot of things!
We tend to take this for granted in our era, but this was and is life-changing. Jesus’ death and resurrection ushered in a new era of relationship with God; the turning point in God’s rescue plan.
We are Gentiles. We would have been excluded prior to Jesus.
Theme: remember who you were, so you can remember who you are.
Remember what you’ve been saved from.
Those who receive Jesus are called members of God’s family; adopted, heirs; no second-rate citizens.
Theme of unity:
The body of Christ should not be at war with itself anymore.
The church, reconciled to God through Christ, is to live in a way that exemplifies the ultimate restoration
Jesus is our peace; the one who holds things together. But that also means we need him to hold things together; can’t do it on our own.
Application: What does it mean for me?
At this point, I can’t do it for you. This is where you apply what you’ve learned personally, not merely as a universal principle. What from the reading and interpretation is speaking to your heart? What is God challenging you to do or pray?
Personally, God was moving my heart about the theme of unity, and about how Jesus is our source for peace. We are in a time of extreme division, even within the church body. This reminds me not only of Christ’s call for unity, but the fact that he is the root of it. When our focus becomes ourselves, or when we try and do things in our own strength, everything falls apart, just as a foundation would if you pulled out the chief cornerstone. This past week it has caused me to reflect on how I can present Christ’s peace in my own sphere. It has also reminded me to see fellow believers as children of God, as part of the family. We may have moments of disagreement, but I should never be looking at others as second-rate citizens of the kingdom of God. We’re in this together, and it’s only through Jesus that we can remain in or come back to a place of unity.
I pray that God not only spoke to your heart about today’s reading, but you were able to learn something to grow your excitement and confidence in studying God’s word. In closing, I wanted to pray the same prayer Paul said to the Ephesian church:
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3: 17-19
Blessings as you go about your week. Next week we’ll visit the last part in this series, an important component to our studying of the scriptures.
Today I wanted to share some of the tools I have found helpful along the way for my own study and for preparing Bible studies. This isn’t going to be an all-inclusive list of every resource out there; these are simply the go-to tools I utilize regularly.
1. Read different translations for comparison. Different translations serve different purposes. Some have been more closely translated word-for-word from the Hebrew and Greek texts into English to produce the most literal translations. However, as we discussed with context, this is where the actual meaning can sometimes be “lost in translation” without careful reading. In the middle of the spectrum are thought-for-thought translations. And on the opposite side are paraphrase translations, which offer a more devotional style reading. Below I’ve listed several popular Bible translations in descending order, from most literal to the least. A really great option is using www.Biblegateway.com to compare different translations side by side.
ESV- The English Standard Version is the most literal translation, attempting to translate word for word from the original text.
KJV- The King James Version is an English translation of the Bible commissioned for the Church of English in the early 1600s. They have also made the more updated New KJV with more updated language. It can have a poetic flow, naturally from the older way of speaking.
NIV- The New International Version is more of a meaning-for-meaning translation of the Bible. It was translated into English directly from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, but attempts to convey the original contextual meaning through its translation. It was initially published to meet the need for an updated English language translation.
NLT- The New Living Translation is more focused on translating meaning and entire thoughts, as opposed to translating word for word. It intends to make the translation into modern, everyday English, such that its meaning will have the same effect as the original audience.
AMP- The Amplified Bible’s goal is to “amplify” the meaning by blending word meaning and context to translate the original. It uses additional words to help make the meaning more clear. Since it sometimes takes multiple English words to fully interpret a Hebrew or Greek word, this is a more lengthy translation.
The Message- A paraphrase translation written by Pastor Eugene Peterson. It was his attempt to bring the original heart and emotion into this translation. Written directly from the Greek/Hebrew texts.
2. Study Bible. If I could only recommend one thing for you, this would be it. It provides so much great information in one package. There are many versions out there. Here are three I can recommend from personal experience.
Life Application Study Bible– This This is a great option if you want some contextual info mixed in with devotional-style thoughts.
NIV Study Bible- This study Bible provides more historical & contextual info than the above version, along with more maps and photos.
NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. I would recommend this for those most interested in deeper historical and contextual information. On a continuum, The Life Application version supplies basic information, the Study Bible supplies plenty of info for most readers, where this version is going to provide a wealth of information for the reader wanting a lot of detail and knowledge. I find this to be a great Bible for preparing lesson plans when I lead Bible studies.
3. Utilize Cross-References. In many Bibles, you can find cross-references to other verses in the Bible (often using a letter system in the margin). This is a great way to read the Old Testament verses that New Testament passages are referencing, or vice versa.
4. Use a Concordance. This is a way to help you locate verses containing certain words or topics. Some Bibles have one located in the back, but you can also buy expansive ones, like Strong’s Bible Concordance. You can also utilize Biblegateway.com for the same purpose.
Study Bible Concordance
5. Use a Greek/Hebrew Dictionary.This can be really great for exploring the meaning of a word more deeply. Because the English language is more limited, you can often learn a much deeper meaning of what the original Hebrew or Greek meant to convey.
8. N.T. Wright. If I had to pick just one author to read user-friendly, trusted Bible commentaries by, this is the guy. A brilliant, British Bible scholar, N.T. Wright has a great series of commentaries that are written for everyday people like us, as opposed to writing for other theologians. He explains contextual background but also uses anecdotes to make passages even more relatable. You can look for his series Titled “For Everyone.”
9. Listen to the Bible. I’ve been there. With 3 kids, work, and extracurriculars, I am still there. Certain seasons of life are crazier than others. In those stretches, I’ve found it easier to listen to the Bible while I’m driving, exercising, doing dishes, etc. The Bible App by YouVersion is great for this option.
I hope you find these help. Like I said, this is not an exhaustive list, but these are the regular tools and devices I find myself using. I do also want to note that I do not access all of these every day or even every week and month. They’re simply great tools I go to when needed. Some days I have more time to study scripture than other days. Some topics I want to dig into more than others. So please do not look at this as a to-do list of your daily devotional time. That would be quite the accomplishment! They are tools to put in the toolbelt to help us as we explore God’s word.
Keep at it! For Part 7 we’ll practice walking through the Inductive Study Guide to give you the confidence to do it on your own.
I’m praying God will give you his wisdom and discernment as you open his precious Holy Scripture.
Today we’re going to discuss why the order of application matters. Why can’t we just read a verse from the Bible and immediately apply it to our lives? There’s no one-size-fits-all with the variety of verses contained in the Bible. So there will of course be instances where that may work out and a verse means just what it sounds like, even after seeing the larger framework. However, with many other verses and passages, if we skip ahead of noting genre and context, we can skew the original meaning altogether.
Let’s use another well-known verse as an example:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 is often perceived as this notion that God will not let harm befall us; nothing bad will ever happen; God has good and prosperous things planned for me; and God is going to rescue you quickly from any troublesome situations. Again, a sort of motivational verse.
Read in isolation, that does seem to be the case. God knows the plans he has for us and it sounds like he wants to give us prosperity and a hopeful future. Golly, if I’m going through a hard circumstance, it would sure seem like God is going to come to my rescue, for surely he doesn’t wish anything bad on me?
Right?
Well, sort of. That idea isn’t all fallacy, but there are holes in that theology.
If we put on the brakes and use the Inductive Method we’ll discover several important points to understand what God is saying here and why he is saying it. Jeremiah 29:11 is written at the point in history where the last of the Israelites’ land has been conquered by the Babylonians and they have just been taken into Babylonian Exile (see Part 4 for a Timeline and major Biblical events ). After ignoring Jeremiah’s warnings and pleadings for 23 years for them to repent, Israel is facing the consequences of breaking their Covenant relationship with God.
At the beginning of Chapter 29, titled A Letter to the Exiles, God begins by letting the exiles know they will be in captivity for 70 years. He instructs them to ignore the false prophets who are spreading ideas that God will come to their immediate rescue and destroy Babylon. Instead, God tells them to build houses and settle down, plant gardens, and marry. He is making it very clear that they better get comfortable because they’re going to be there for a while.
At that point, we approach verse 11 within its full paragraph:
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
So what is God’s point here? He tells them to hunker down because exile will last 70 years. But then he says he will come to them and free them from captivity after that 70 years because he knows the plan he has for them. There is light at the end of the tunnel. He knows the journey through the dark tunnel may appear daunting, but ultimately, he has a plan; a plan that will result in a much better ending than if he’d merely taken away their immediate discomfort. He is encouraging them to hold on, have faith in him. There is hope and a future, it just may not involve squelching the discomfort today brings. It is meant to instill hope in the midst of their exile, not to provide news that exile will be short-lived.
“It is meant to instill hope in the midst of their exile”
Now that you have the larger context of Jeremiah 29 and what it meant to the original listeners, take a moment to reflect and see how it applies to your life, to situations you may be facing.
How would you apply Jeremiah 29:11 to your life now? Does it still seem to fit within the Prosperity Gospel belief that if you follow God, no harm will come upon you? Does it still leave you with the assumption that immediate rescue is imminent? Or does it enable you to reflect on that verse differently? Does it teach you something new about the character of God? Does it cause you to reflect on your own trials in a new light? Does it provide a fresh lens with which to see a God in whom we can trust for ultimate purpose and intention, even when we at times have to experience pain in this life?
I hope and pray this example has helped you gain insight as to why we should be cautious to apply scripture too hastily. Briefly pausing to understand the greater scope really can open the doors to a deeper understanding of God’s character and heart, and thus, how that pertains to our daily lives.
And in case you were curious about the end of the story, Babylonian Exile does end in 539 BC when Cyrus, king of Persia (who had since captured Babylon), allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. See the book of Ezra to read that story. All of that, combined with the world events that occur over the 400 Years of Silence (period between Old & New Testaments), set the stage for the perfect timing of the arrival of the Son of God, Jesus, who brought about the incomparable hope and future for mankind….but those details we’ll save for another time.
Keep practicing and don’t get discouraged if the process still feels messy. Later this week, we’ll take a look at tools I’ve found helpful for studying the Bible.
As I referenced in the Intro, somehow I came away from my adolescent years of church and Sunday school with a very fragmented view of the Bible. I am embarrassed to say it was closer to my mid 20s when, through studying on my own accord, I began to connect some of the dots, particularly of the Old Testament of the Bible.
I figured I would start by making myself vulnerable so that no one need feel inferior. Wherever you’re at in your Biblical knowledge, you have nothing to be ashamed about.
For example, I was definitely older before I ever connected that the story of Joseph directly connected to the story of Moses. As in, the Israelites end up in Egypt in the first place because Joseph brings his family there to save them from a famine. Then the Israelites become enslaved later on and Moses is the man God chooses to help free them. I think the first time I pieced that one together, my mind was blown. Likewise, it was most certainly only in the past 5 years that I realized the kingdom of Israel, God’s chosen people, actually split in two at one point! It became two nations, mad at each other! I’ve led Bible studies for 15 years and it still took time to figure some of those things out– and hey, no judgment! It’s a big Bible, ha!
Now, some of you may be laughing at me wondering, how did you not learn that earlier? As I said to my husband, I will now say to you: we didn’t all have the privilege of attending Christian school growing up. So seriously, count that a blessing and don’t take it for granted if you did. But I will also assume that there were others of you, like myself, who went “OOOOOHHHH! Now I get it!”
As I prepared this, there were so many MORE things I wanted to include, but it was just too much for an already lengthy topic. So we’ll dive into more overarching Biblical themes and important events in the future. Today, the purpose is to lay the groundwork and understand the larger picture.
The Bible is really one big love story about a Creator God wanting to restore relationship with his people and creation. Everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus, and at least ⅔ of the New Testament references the OT, so it is so important to understand both. They do not exist within a vacuum. Each informs the other.
In the beginning, God created this world and mankind, all operating under his shalom (peace). Then man rebelled and broke that peace, bringing about suffering and chaos. But almost right away, in the book of Genesis, God already kickstarts his rescue plan. It begins with a man named Abraham. God establishes a Covenant with Abraham and says “I will be your God and all nations will be blessed through you.”
Descended from Abraham comes the people of Israel. When they first make their exodus out of slavery from Egypt, they no longer know Yahweh God, whom their descents followed. So God again establishes his Covenant with them and says “I will be your God, you will be my people, all nations will be blessed through you.” God promises to be their God and secure blessing upon them, but Israel is supposed to live in a way that reflects the heart of God. For their side of the Covenant, they are to be a beacon to the nations around them, displaying the generous and compassionate heart of their Lord.
The rest of the OT is waiting to see if Israel can hold up their end of the Covenant relationship. Can they be ambassadors of Creator God to the surrounding nations? Can they bring redemptive living to the world? We, of course, know they fail in this mission. They abandon Yahweh and live in the most detestable of ways, and the Covenant relationship is broken. Yet even in the bleakest of moments, when impending Babylonian conquest is upon the Israelite people, God already speaks of his continued rescue plan, of sending a Redeemer and establishing a new covenant, which will not be written on tablets of stone but on their minds and hearts.
When we open the book of the New Testament, the rescue story comes to a pinnacle. The Creator God, knowing his creation cannot rescue and atone itself, humbles himself and comes to the very world he created as God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. Jesus, fully God, but also descended from the line of Abraham and the Israelite nation, is for all people what they could never be for themselves, never able to fulfill the Old Covenant. He presents a New Exodus, where now all peoples of the world are invited to come out of slavery from sin and into freedom under a New Law, a New Covenant. For the first time since the fall of Adam and Eve, Jesus restores right relationship between God and man by becoming their sacrifice, the final slaughtered Lamb,the last atonement needed. He dismantles the Old Law and establishes a New Covenant.
The most central part of the story has occurred, but it is not over. Jesus’ death and resurrection was the bridge to restoring the relationship between people and their Father God, but the final restoration of the world has not yet come. We will not be swept off to heaven someday and this world destroyed in a final judgement. One day, Jesus will return, and this world that God so lovingly created, he will make new. Heaven will come down to meet earth, and our Lord will dwell among us. And the ultimate peace, the beautiful and orderly shalom that God always desired for this world and for his relationship with his children, will be restored.
In the waiting, Jesus makes it very clear in the Gospels that we do not have to wait for God’s Final Restoration. When Jesus came, he ushered in the Kingdom of God. He displayed and taught what it means to live in a such a way that reflects the heart of the Father. And so in the meantime, while we wait, we can bring the Kingdom of God to this world each and every day by choosing to display God’s shalom, by choosing to reflect his love and mercy and compassion. In the same way the Israelites were supposed to be a light to the nations around them, but failed without access to relationship with their Heavenly Father, we are invited to partake in God’s story by being ambassadors of King Jesus to the world around us.
Now that we have the plot of the story and ultimately know the ending, where God restored relationship at great cost to himself and where God’s love and peace will prevail, we can begin to fill in some of the details along the way.
Below you will find a bullet-point, cliff-notes version of the major events in the Bible. It’s like reading it in fast forward and it can make it easier to see how the pieces fit together. This isn’t all-inclusive, but it provides anchor points. A downloadable pdf of this will be at the end. Following that, there will also be a printable Timeline. I find it to be handy to reference, because even the best of us can forget things along the way.
Major Events of the Bible:
Creation (Genesis 1-2)
People repeatedly sinning against God (Genesis 3-11)
Fall of Adam and Eve, and decline of descendants
The Flood
God spares Noah and the animals as a remnant
Makes a Covenant with creation to never again destroy it (rainbow)
Man again turns corrupt; the Tower of Babel- God confuses the languages and people scatter (Gen 11)
God’s solution: God makes a Covenant Promise with Abraham (Genesis 12-17)
Promises to make him into a great nation and to give him land
Millions of descendants
All nations will be blessed through him
Patriarchs of God’s people (Gen 21-50)
Abraham→ Isaac → Jacob
Jacob’s other name- Israel, which means “wrestles with God”
Jacob’s 12 sons become the 12 tribes of Israel
Jacob’s son, Joseph, is sold into slavery in Egypt, which leads to his eventual position of power in Egypt
Joseph saves his family, Israelites, during a great famine→ family moves to Egypt
Israelite population rapidly grows in Egypt. When the old generation dies and new pharaoh no longer remembers Joseph, Israelites are made into slaves as a means to subdue them (Exodus)
Moses’ life is spared, raised by Pharaoh’s daughter
God delivers his people out of Egypt in Exodus and enters Covenant relationship with them (the Mosaic Covenant) (Exodus 19 & 24)
I will be your God, you will be my people; I will dwell in your midst
Israelites are meant to be God’s image bearers, to represent God to the world, to be set apart
Israelites know little about Yahweh before this point; they have to learn how to live as people set apart (hence, The Law)
Deuteronomy (just prior to entering the Promised Land)
God restates their covenant relationship and details their blessings if they obey him and worship him alone, as well as the terrible judgments if they do not (see Deut 28)
Israel vows to keep the Covenant, but of course they do not
Joshua through 2 Kings follows the Israelite’s story of entering the Promised Land and seeing if they keep that agreement (clearly they do not)
They gradually conquest the land and then lose pieces again as they fall into sin
Time of the Judges
Israel’s attempt to have a leader; someone representing God, to guide the people
Judges were political military leaders but also a judicial role (like a Supreme Court)
It goes horribly and by the end, it’s written, “in those days Israel had no king: everyone did as they saw fit.” (Judges 21:25)
Outrageous moral decline- rape, murder, neglect of widows/orphans/poor, worshipping pagan gods
Samuel is the last judge
The Cycle of Judgment: they do this all through the OT
the people are faithful and enjoy peace→ People get complacent and rebel→ God gives them into the hands of their enemies→ People turn back to God and cry out in their oppression→ God rescues them and people are faithful under that leader→ Until that leader is gone and the people rebel again
Israel enters monarchy- a new strategy of trying to lead the people via a king (1 Samuel)
Saul is the first king- starts okay but can’t remain faithful to God
Samuel is instructed to go to Bethlehem and anoints David as the next king
David is the one who takes Jerusalem and establishes it as the capitol
David finishes conquering the Promised Land
Israel’s land being established; wants to build a permanent temple for God
Solomon is the last king of Israel in its entirety– cursed because of his unfaithfulness (1 Kings)
The Division of the Kingdom (1 & 2 Kings)
The Northern Kingdom- referred to as Israel
There are no good kings here in its history; they turn to idol worship
The Southern Kingdom- referred to as Judah
Where Jerusalem is located
Where we get the term “The Jews”
Has a few good kings mixed in with the bad
On-going civil war between the kingdoms
The destruction of the northern kingdom, Israel, by the Assyrians (722 BC) – 2Kings 17
The destruction of Solomon’s temple and the southern kingdom, Judah, by the Babylonians (587 BC)- 2Kings 24 & 25
Exile in Babylonia and Egypt (550-450 BC)
Return to the land- Ezra & Nehemiah
Persian age (538 BC)- In his first year of rule, King Cyrus frees the Israelites
Rebuilding of the temple- Nehemiah
Intertestamental period (also referred to as the “400 Years of Silence”)
Greek empire from 336-165 BC
Brings the Greek language (common trading language), making for one common language
Greek cultural influence
Greek preference for aesthetics over content
Roman Empire in rule by the time Jesus is born
Jesus’ Birth, Life, Death & Resurrection (The Gospels)
Jesus ushers in the Kingdom of God and establishes a New Covenant
Jesus becomes the final sacrificial Lamb of atonement for sins
Jesus’ death & resurrection restores right relationship with God
The formation of the early church (Acts)
Jesus’ disciples become the first missionaries
The Holy Spirit arrives at Pentecost
The invitation to be God’s people is opened up to non-Jews (referred to as “Gentiles”)
Saul is converted on the road to Damascus and renamed “Paul”
Nero comes to power in the 60s AD
Intense persecution- causes Christians to spread out and ultimately spread Christianity to other parts of the world
Revelation: One day Christ will return and restore all things; the earth will be made new and heaven will meet earth, and God will dwell among his people.
….Until then, we eagerly wait and see what role we’ll play in God’s story.
What comes to mind if you hear: “It’s brick outside.”?
What about: “Can I get those fries animal style?”
Or perhaps: “that’s sick!”
Well, the way you interpret those words will largely be dependent on where you live and the generation in which you were born. If you live on the East Coast, you know it to mean, “it’s freezing out, like a brick of ice.” If you’re from the West Coast, you can assume someone is ordering fries with cheese, Thousand Island dressing, and grilled onions. And again, depending on where you live or your social circle, “that’s sick,” could mean something is really gross, or it’s totally awesome.
Those examples confuse you? Let’s try again.
Tell someone who doesn’t live in Michigan that you need to “run into Meijers and grab some Faygo pop,” or that your sister is a “troll,” and they may look at you cross-eyed. But locals here all know precisely that Michiganders love adding an “S” to everything, “Meijer” is a Michigan-based grocery store, and that Faygo is a local carbonated beverage called “pop”, never “soda.” You also aren’t using an offensive slur toward your kin, you’re merely saying your sister lives in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, under the Mackinac Bridge, hence from which the term “troll” is derived. 😉
Putting that into perspective, if there can be that much contextual difference within the same time period, just from region to region, how much more would we need to be mindful of contextual differences with Biblical accounts written thousands of years ago on the other side of the world? Jesus was not preaching in Mid-Western America. He was speaking to Jewish audiences in the Middle-East over 2,000 year ago.
We want to be mindful of the cultural context we are bringing to the table when we open our Bibles. We can very quickly interpret scripture incorrectly when we view it through 21st Century Western culture. Our natural tendency will be to view things through our own cultural lens. So before reading a passage or chapter, take a moment to stop and think about the original context first.
Let’s look at some examples from the Bible. In the NIV translation of the Bible, Jesus addresses his mother in John Chapter 2 as “Woman!” Understandably, I’ve witnessed people react to that as Jesus being disrespectful and misogynistic. Well, gee, when we read it within our cultural context, it does appear that way. But while the NIV often provides a literal translation, the cultural equivalent of what Jesus said would actually be like saying “Madame.” Do you see the difference in the level of respect by understanding just one word within its original context?!
Now let’s address an oh, so popular verse:
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13
This is a classic verse taken out of context. Our Western, 21st Century culture loves this verse. It fits in perfectly with the cultural notion that
“You can do anything!”
“She believed she could and she did!”
“Work hard enough and you can achieve your dreams!”
Philippians, most likely written while Paul sat in a prison cell in Rome, was written to encourage the church of Philippi as they may face further persecution.
Let’s look at verse 13 in full context of the paragraph:
“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Interesting. When read all together, what is the main subject Paul is addressing? Is he talking about climbing the corporate ladder or killing it at a presentation or stashing away enough money to build that dream house? Paul is talking about contentment here! Not quite what is typically associated with that verse, now is it?
I love that the NIV has actually updated the wording of verse 13 to read as “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” By merely changing “things” to “this”, it directs your mind back to the aforementioned verses, as opposed to reducing Paul’s words into a motivational chant.
Begin to practice pausing before you read scripture to consider that the original context was not 21st Century Western culture, and therefore, how would the original context have impacted its meaning? Below are some ideas for what to ask or pay attention to regarding context.
Some study Bibles offer contextual info at the beginning of a book. Utilize that!
You absolutely do not need to answer every single one of these every time. They are merely meant to guide and assist, to provide you with some direction, not to bog you down. Again, don’t expect perfection from yourself pertaining to context, and certainly don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers. This coming Sunday we’ll return for Part 4 about the Bible as one big story and that will really help create some anchor points.
Have a great weekend and I hope to see you here in a few days for Part 4!
The Priscilla Initiative 