Truth-Travelers

Category: Biblical Narratives

• Are You a Character in the Making?

  Posted at 11:59 pm by Dr. Roy Lucas, on January 11, 2020

              “Hugh, Hugh!” David cried after Hugh as Hugh ambled down the corridor towards the Sunday School class.

              “Yes, David.”

  

  “Hugh, this was one of the most exciting Bible studies I have ever done.

  I spied people and things I had never seen before, and I can’t wait to share with the class.”

              “That’s great, David.”

             

              “Hugh,” shouted Marci as she rushed up to Hugh and David. “I have never seen so much come alive from a chapter in the Bible! Thanks for showing us how to do these chapter annotations. I feel that I am really beginning to know what is in Mark 1.”

              As the trio entered the room, the classroom was buzzing from others in the class trying to outdo the others in what they had learned over the last six days.

              “Class, let’s pray and get started.”

              “Father, thank you for all you taught us this week from Your Word. May you continue to open our eyes as we individually and corporately look at Mark 1. Amen.”

  

              “Well, I can see you are excited about your Bible study over Mark 1. Let’s do this systematically so we can share some of your newfound overviews of our chapter.”

              “Who wants to go first and share with us some of the chief people you identified in Mark 1?”

              “David, you, look like you are sitting on egg shells. Share with us.”

              “My major people are Jesus, John the Baptist and the disciples. My minor people are Zebedee, the demon possessed man, Simon Peter’s mother-in-law and the leper.”

              “Very good, David.” Did anyone else have other characters from Mark 1? Marci?”

              “In Mark 1:1 I saw God. He has to be a major character, I would say. Minor people would include those who went to John the Baptist to be baptized from Judea and Jerusalem in Mark 1:5. And in Mark 1:8 I noticed the Holy Spirit is mentioned.”

  

  “In Mark 1:1 I saw God. He has to be a major character, I would say. Minor people would include those who went to John the Baptist to be baptized from Judea and Jerusalem in Mark 1:5. And in Mark 1:8 I noticed the Holy Spirit is mentioned.”

              “Excellent, Marci. Anyone else want to add someone else? Tom, what did you see?”

              “Mark 1:10 and 12 mentioned the Holy Spirit again coming down as a dove and driving Jesus into the wilderness. And a voice – the voice of the Father speaking out of heaven.”

              “Great job, Tom. Did anyone see other people in Mark 1? Yes, Amy, go ahead?”

              “In Mark 1:13 Satan is mentioned. Later in Mark 1:16, Simon and Andrew are named along with James, the Son of Zebedee and his brother John.” Their father, Zebedee is named in 1:19 and 20.

              “Let’s end with one or two more persons. Let’s see, Howard, who did you find in Mark 1?”

              “I found the people in the synagogue of Capernaum (1:21). I also thought that “the unclean spirits needed to be mentioned (1:27). Others I found toward the end of the chapter included James and John, Simon, Simon’s mother-in-law, people who had diseases and were demon possessed (1:34-35).  

              “Very good, Howard.”

              “Rebecca, did you observe any other characters?”

  

     “In Mark 1: 39, devils are referenced. A leper who Jesus healed is found in 1:40-45. Within those verses, Jesus is mentioned again, along with priests and Moses.”

             “Excellent class! I think you have understood this method of study quite well I wonder if we stopped to consider the value of looking at characters or people mentioned in the Bible? What can we gain from such a study? I ran across some interesting study helps this week and want to share some of these with you as we wrap up our study.”

  

  “First of all, I ran across a few resources to help with character studies. Amazon describes The New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters: The Complete Who’s Who in the Bible.

            This was published by Zondervan in 2001 as “An exhaustive, ready reference of every person named in the Bible. 40 major figures are covered in full-length articles. Contributions from 24 world-class evangelical scholars. Biblical references, brief description and relationship to other Bible characters uncover the value of every man and woman in the Bible from Aaron to Zurishadai.”

  

         “A second source is “11 Important People in the Bible” can be found in The Bible for Dummies, which was written especially for me. The book covers Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Mary, Jesus, Peter, and Paul.

       “The Logos Bible Software Blog” from May 22, 2007 lists the top 50 people in the Bible. They utilized computers to search for frequency of mentions and the dispersion of those mentions across biblical books and chapters. You can access this article at: https://blog.logos.com/2007/05/top_50_people_i_1/

              Who do you think most important person is? Jesus, of course. They identified three clusters with Jesus, David, Moses and Jacob being in the top cluster. They provide a screenshot which can be downloaded with these 50 mentioned characters.

              “Daniel Foster on May 4, 2007, posted another article in Logos Bible Software Blog that touched on ‘The Most Important Person in the Bible.  Mr. Foster added another blog on May 25, 2007 called the “Top 50 Women in the Bible.” Yet, another chart is available for download and personal use.  

              “In closing, let me ask, what can we learn from focusing on such characters in the Bible? Any ideas?”

              “David, what do you think?”

              “Hugh, I think we learn that they were real people, just like us. Take David or Moses, for example. They served the Lord in phenomenal ways, messed up, and God still used them for His purposes. We can discover guidance for our lives.”

  

              “And Hugh,” interrupted Amy. “I think we gain insight into how God moves among His people. We begin to see the importance of obedience to God’s Word.

  We see God’s hand of blessing for those walking in His statutes and His hand of curse or discipline for those in disobedience. We learn to trust God, His promises, and His warnings.”

  Tweet

              “Hugh, I am like David and Amy. I think it is vital that we see the importance of these people. We see God’s hand of love and care for lost humanity as we read through the Old and New Testaments.

  God knew man sinned. God loved man enough to prepare His Son, Jesus Christ, to come and reconcile man to Himself.”

  Tweet

              “Before we run out of time, I want to add that I believe by studying people in the Bible,” piped in Alicia. “We gain understanding about the culture and times the people lived in. Traditions are mentioned from time to time, such as the washing of hands and tithing of mint. This helps us understand Jesus anger with outward religion by itself.”

              “Excellent thoughts in relation to characters and why we need to note them in our studies. May our study help us to learn to love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. For next week, select your favorite verse or verses out of Mark 1. The following week, we will touch upon some of the key doctrines found in Mark 1. Someone told me once, that a farmer can plow deep and slow or he can plow shallow and fast, but he cannot plow fast and deep. See you next week, Lord willing!”

              If you read this blog and have other ideas about why we should focus on Bible Characters, please post a comment. Blessings to you.

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  Posted in Bible Reading, Biblical Narratives, Context, Literary, Gospel Interpretion, Gospels, Mark's Gospel, Observing the Text, Resources for Contextual Background | 0 Comments | Tagged #BibleCharacters #Characterstudy

• Did Luke Insult John Mark by calling him a huperetes?

  Posted at 12:13 pm by Dr. Roy Lucas, on April 1, 2019

  Hugh Mortimer and Pastor John agreed to meet for lunch this week at Martha’s Diner. The smell of hamburgers frying filled Hugh’s sinus’ as soon as he entered the Diner.  Martha’s Diner was known for its burgers. The diner had cooked hamburgers since 1937.  The diner’s décor was 1950’s style.  The cozy atmosphere would make a comfortable place to meet with Pastor John.

  

  After the waitress escorted Hugh to a table, seeing Pastor John enter the diner, he waved for Pastor John to join him.  “Good afternoon, Pastor John,” said Hugh.  “Good afternoon, Hugh, isn’t that a delicious aroma?” Pastor John replied as he took a deep breath.  “It most certainly is!” exclaimed Hugh. “I am so hungry, I could eat a horse.” 

  “Have you decided what you would like to have?” asked Pastor John.  “I have,” said Hugh.  So, Hugh picked up the phone in the booth and placed his order. He handed the phone to Pastor John who did the same. “Where else in town can you place your order over a phone?” asked Hugh.  Pastor John said, ‘There is no other place in town that uses the phone to place an order like Martha’s Diner. That is one of the reasons it is such a great experience to come and eat here.” 

  “Hugh,” said Pastor John, “Did you learn anything else about John Mark this week?”

  “I discovered that John Mark came on the scene when there was a famine in Israel. That is about A.D. 45-46. It seems that a prophet named, Agabus, prophesied this severe famine. The Christians at Antioch gathered an offering to send to their fellow Christians in Jerusalem. They sent Saul, later known as Paul, and Barnabas with their love gifts (Acts 11: 27-30). When the gift had been delivered, the two brought John Mark back to Antioch with them (Acts 12:25).”

  “Isn’t that fascinating, Hugh?” questioned Pastor John.  “It is!” said Hugh. “And John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10).  Barnabas, who spoke up for Saul (Paul) because he saw the potential in him, also identified the possibilities in John Mark.”

  “And Pastor John,” said Hugh, “John Mark went on a great adventure with his cousin, Barnabas, and Saul.  The church of Antioch commissioned Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark to go on mission in Asia Minor among the Gentiles.  John Mark went with them as a helper or assistant (Acts 13:1-5).”

  Their hamburgers and fries arrived. Each man became silent while they poured catsup on their  plates for the French fries and spread mayonnaise on their cheeseburgers. Both men began to eat. “Mmmm!” both men said at the same time.

  

  “Very good, Hugh! I am impressed with the amount of detail you gleaned this week,” Pastor John responded.  “I had hoped we would touch upon this area of John Mark’s life because I did a word study related to the word, ‘helper’ used in Acts 13:5 to describe John Mark.”

  “The Greek word is, huperetes and the Greek text reads, “They had John huperetes.” This Greek word, huperetes” is a interesting word. One meaning relates that it is not that they had John Mark as helper, but John Mark huperetes. Many interpreters and interpretations use it in the sense of ‘helper’ or ‘assistant.’  The Authorized Version interprets it, “They had John to their minister.” The Revised Standard, “They had John to assist them.” The New English Bible translates it, “They had John as their assistant.” The New American Standard Version (1995 edition) has, “They also had John as their helper.” The ESV puts it as, “They had John to assist them.”

  “Hugh, originally the word huperestes pictured slave who rowed in the lower bank of oars in one of the galleys of the slave propelled ships.  Hence, it indicated that John Mark helped in a humble state. This somewhat limits his work among that done by Saul and Barnabas.” (Click to Tweet)

  

  It appears he did not help to preach or work in the religious side of the mission. The implication is he oversaw the expedition. Perhaps he took care of the physical and material side of the mission. This proved to be the most common understanding of the term among scholars and interpreters of huperestes.”

  Hugh said, “That is so interesting as we think about Mark as the author of this Gospel.”

  “Indeed it is, Hugh,” continued Pastor John. “But there is another less accepted understanding of the term. One scholar believes that John Mark performed the office of a chazzan who was a synagogue official. The term is referred to in Luke 4:20. From what I understand the chazzan was an attendant. He alone received wages for his work in the synagogue.”

  “This chazzan maintained the buildings, cared for the sacred scrolls by bringing them out and putting them up before and after the services, blowing the silver trumpet three times before the Sabbath came, and often the synagogue teacher for the children. So, while this man did not participate in the sacred worship services, he clearly held the most important position in the synagogue.”

  “Hugh, if this is what is meant, then John Mark was with them, the huperetes, the synagogue attendant.  If this is the real picture, then John Mark possessed a close attachment to orthodox Judaism.  Perhaps this explains why he left the journey and returned to Jerusalem. However, Hugh, it has never held a major position among scholars.”

  

  “Goodness Pastor John,” exclaimed Hugh, “Look at the time. I must return to work. Our time together passes so quickly. But I am learning much about the author of Mark’s Gospel. Thank you. Where and when do you want to meet next week?”

  “Hugh, if you don’t care, one of my favorite restaurants is Briar Haven. They cook Bar-B-Q and it is absolutely delicious,” suggested Dr. John.

  “That works for me! It is near my work so it will be easier to meet you. See you next week at noon! Can we continue discussing Mark and his background next week? We ended with him leaving the expedition, but that is not the end of his story.”

  “And Pastor John, you have helped to renew my excitement for studying God’s Word. I can’t wait until next week!”

  “Great! See you next week,” Pastor John said as he paid for his meal and left Martha’s Diner. Hugh followed Pastor John out the door and went back to work.

  Please respond, forward, or retweet or comments if you found the blog helpful in your study of John Mark as the author of the gospel bearing his name. Thank you.

  To read the article from the Hastings Bible Dictionary on John Mark, go to this website: https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hdb/m/mark-john.html

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  Posted in Acts, Biblical Narratives, Gospels, Interpretation, Mark's Gospel, Resources for Contextual Background, Resources for Gospel Interpretation | 5 Comments

• SIX CONSIDERATIONS AN INTERPRETER NEEDS TO MAKE …

  Posted at 9:56 am by Dr. Roy Lucas, on January 28, 2019

  Like it or not, if you read, you are an interpreter.

              The context of the sentences and paragraphs guide the interpretation you make. For example, the word, “bolt.” What picture pops into your mind?

              Left to itself, you might imagine at least 3 ideas. But used in the context of a sentence, the meaning is clear. 

  “The mechanic tightened the bolt.”

  

  “The lightning bolt struck the plane.”

  

  “The dog bolted out the door when it heard the bath water running.” 

  

  SIX CONSIDERATIONS CAN GUIDE OUR INTERPRETATION OF A BIBLICAL PASSAGE:

  CONSIDERATION 1: YOUR PREUNDERSTANDINGS

  

              Preunderstandings contain the ideas we may impose on the text before we study the text serious. We may be aware of some preunderstandings, but not others. Every encounter the reader experiences with the text adds to this preunderstanding: Sunday School lessons, sermons, Bible studies and a myriad of other possible experiences.
  Admittedly, some experiences involved true understandings of the text, while others may not be true.

          Kevin Vanhoozer warns about assuming our preunderstandings are always true as he calls it pride. This kind of pride “encourages us to think that we got the correct meaning before we have made the appropriate effort to recover it. Pride does not listen. It knows. Click to Tweet ”[i]   

              Preunderstandings often spring from theological agendas. Assuming that you know what the passage means because you have studied it in detail is dangerous. Familiarity may breed contempt for a passage already studied. Truths may be overlooked. Additional warnings need to be uttered in relationship to a culture that believes it knows what Jesus would do.

              Preunderstandings stand at the cusp of changing every time a passage is examined.  The goal is to improve one’s comprehension each time the text is studied. 

  CONSIDERATION 2: YOUR BASIC CONVICTIONS

  

              Without question basic convictions remain important to the interpreter. Unlike preunderstandings, these beliefs will not change each time we read a passage.  Basic convictions are not tied to one passage but are gleaned from the entire Bible.  The student could list several of these non-negotiables which are connected to beliefs towards the Bible. J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays offer these for our consideration:

  1.The Bible is the Word of God. Although God worked through people to produce it, it is nonetheless inspired by the Holy Spirit and is God’s Word to us.

  2.The Bible is trustworthy and true.

  3.God has entered into human history; thus, the supernatural (miracles, etc) does occur.

  4.The Bible is not contradictory; it is unified, yet diverse. Nevertheless, God is bigger than we are, and he is not always east to comprehend. Thus, the Bible also has tension and mystery to it.[ii]

  CONSIDERATION 3: YOUR AIM IN INTERPREATION

  

              The aim of the interpreter rests on finding the intended meaning of the text.  Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart rightly state, “the most important ingredient the interpreter brings to the task is enlightened common sense. The test of good interpretation is that it makes good sense of the text. Correct interpretation, therefore, brings relief to the mind as well as a prick or prod to the heart.” [iii]

              The interpreter needs to remember that discovering a “new” or “unique” meaning which no one else ever saw is not the goal of interpretation. This may border on pride where the interpreter attempts to find what all other interpreters throughout history failed to discover. Indeed, the interpretation may be unique to the one who sees or hears it for the first time, but it not an new and improved meaning.  

  CONSIDERATION 4: YOUR TRANSLATION

  

              Have your read the preface to your favorite and trusted translation? Why not? Many readers fail to understand that their favorite Bible translation is, in reality, someone else’s interpretation of the original languages. The reader needs to understand the complexity of translations. There is no one word in the original language which can be translated in every context as the same word. Even the Greek word, kai, or “and” can mean, “and, also, indeed, and but” as well as many others, depending on the context. 

              “A Bible translation, or version, is a scholarly attempt to render the stories and thoughts of a people from ancient cultures who spoke ancient languages into a modern language that is spoken by people who live in very different, contemporary cultures.”[iv]

              Have you asked yourself, “Is my translation a literal translation or is it a dynamic translation? That is, “Did my translators seek to stay as close to the literal word order of the Hebrew and Greek texts or did they seek to do an idea for idea translation?”  James Moffatt, a Bible translator said, “A real translation is an interpretation.” [v]

  CONSIDERATION 5: THE GENRE OF YOUR LITERATURE BEING STUDIED

  

              The interpreter must be aware of the literary types found in the Bible based on formal and technical criteria apart from the author of the text, provenance, and subject matter. Texts are placed in categories based on literary conventions called, genre. 

              The Hebrew Old Testament major genres include historical narratives, poetry, prophecy, and wisdom literature. The Greek New Testament genres can be classified as gospel, epistle and apocalyptic. Each of these may include sub-categories. For example, narrative may touch upon parable, fable, short story, and saga.

  CONSIDERATION 6:  THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PASSAGE

  

              The interpreter should explore the historical context behind the passage. This differs from book to book. Research the time and culture of the author as well as his intended readers. What geographical, topographical, religious, economic, and political situation did the author and readers live? How might those areas touch upon the intended meaning of the author? The intended purpose should be sought as well, if possible to discover.

              Related to the historical context is the literary context.  The interpreter recognizes that words make sense in sentences. But more than that, they make sense in relationship to the sentences and paragraphs before and after them.  “The most important contextual question you will ever ask – and it must be asked – is, “What is the point?” The goal is to trace the author’s train of thought.”[vi]

  If the interpreter considers these six facets of interpretation with each text under study, he or she will be further down the road to a clearer understanding of that passage. 

  

  Can you add other considerations I did not mention? Leave a comment with your ideas and a once sentence summary of what you mean by your consideration.

  ---

  [i] Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Jr. Is There a Meaning in This Text? The Bible, the Reader, and the Morality of Literary Knowledge (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998), 462.

  [ii] J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), 145.

  [iii] Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, (Grand Rapdis: Zondervan, 2003),              18.

  [iv] Michael J. Gorman. Elements of Biblical Exegesis, (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009), 40.

  [v] Ibid., 35.

  [vi] Fee, How to Read, 27.

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  Posted in Acts, Biblical Narratives, Biblical Poetry, Biblical Prophecy, Context, Literary, Epistles, Genres, Gospel Interpretion, Gospels, Holy Spirit, Interpretation, Narratives, Old Testament Law, Old Testament Wisdom, Poetry, Presuppositions, Prophecy, The Old Testament | 8 Comments | Tagged Considerations, convictions, genre, preunderstandings, pride, translations

• STAKE YOUR CLAIM: THE GOLD RUSH IN ACTS

  Posted at 9:11 pm by Dr. Roy Lucas, on December 3, 2018

  STRIKING GOLD FROM ACTS IN SEVEN STEPS

              The gold city of Dawson remained filled with disenchanted gold miners. Some found mining jobs in the open mines, others fed themselves with short-term jobs offered by mine supply businesses, restaurants, hotel clerks, and washing clothes among others.  Most stayed because they were either broke or too embarrassed to return home.

  

              Rumors spread in the spring of 1899 that miners had found new gold.  The steamers confirmed the rumors. Cape Nome, Alaska drew over 8,000 people for the new jackpot.  Eric Lindblom, John Brynteson and Jafet Lindberg, known as the “Three Lucky Swedes,” joined forces in the Circle City area of Alaska. They left that area and moved to the west coast of Alaska, near the Anvil Creek.  By the fall of 1898 excitement and renewed hopes spread among the disillusioned miners in the Yukon and Alaskan territories.

  

              By summer of 1900, the largest general delivery address in the U.S. postal system would be in a town that did not exist a year earlier?  A tent town mushroomed after gold was found on the beaches of the Snake River along its mouth.

               In just a few months the population reached 20,000 people.  The only equipment the people needed to mine for gold were shovels, buckets and rockers to separate the gold from the sand and rocks. The unexpected birth of Nome provided hope for many broke, desperate people,and renewed dreams.

  

              Like the exciting news of the gold strike in Nome, Alaska, the gold that can be mined from the Book of Acts is plentiful for the person willing to invest time and surrender to the illumination of the Spirit. 

              Our mining goal this week is to discover how to mine the gold from the Book of Acts. May the Lord spur his miners to dig the depths of Acts.  May we be spiritually bankrupt and know we are so destitute that we run to the book for its wealth.  

  QUESTIONS FOR THE GOLD MINER TO REMEMBER TO ASK … 

  

              We, gold miners, need to remember, like the Gospels, the Book of Acts presents narrative which requires two questions for the interpreter to focus keenly upon:  

  1) What is Luke’s intended message of each episode included in the Book of Acts.

  2) What does Luke tell his readers by the way he connects the individual stories and speeches to form the larger narrative?           

  SIX QUESTIONS TO ASK AS WELL …

  

  The primary meaning of any story in Acts can be discovered by these six questions: Ask

  Who?

                 What?

                               When?

                                             Where?

                                                             Why?

                                                                           And How?   

  ADDITIONAL ISSUES TO REMEMBER 

  

              The gold miner must evaluate the length of Luke’s stories and how they are connected to understand Luke’s logical connections. Keep in mind, the length of Luke’s stories hint toward the events Luke considered most important.  

              The gold miner in the gold field of Acts must realize that the application of Acts brings new issues not faced with the Gospels. In the Gospels, no interpreter believes he/she will walk with Jesus into Jericho or sit with Jesus in the boat on the Sea of Galilee.  However, in Acts the ministry of Jesus fades into the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

              The question is, what in Acts is normative for the church or for a believer to imitate the experiences and practices of the early church.  The other option relates to a descriptive method of applying Acts, that is, what should the modern church or believer hold to as important, valuable, and inspiring, but not binding?  

  SEVEN STEPS TO HELP MINE THE GOLD HIDDEN IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

  

  Select the passage you desire to explore.

              If you plan to preach exegetically through the Acts, you should evaluate the paragraph divisions of your translation. You could compare your translation with that of 2 or 3 more.  Use the paragraph divisions to help you identify the major thought development of the chapter. 

  Explore the literary connections of the passages before and after your passage.

              The gold miner needs to be explore the intended meaning of the passages immediately before and immediately following his passage understudy.  This will help to keep the flow of thought intact.  The miner needs to expand his awareness of the contents of Acts from the beginning of the Book of Acts and to the end of the Book of Acts.  The miner should know the terrain of Acts like as well as any gold miner would know his stake.  

  Determine Luke’s intended meaning of the passage under study.

              The literary context studied in the previous section now provides the grid from which the current study must fit logically. The miner for the gold in the passage should explore as many aspects of the passage as possible.  Nothing should be taken for granted. 

  The miner needs to review his presuppositions and pre-understandings related to the passage which he/she brought to the passage from former study, other sermons or Bible studies, or any other source that could slant the interpretation away from Luke’s intended meaning.

  Ask what characteristics of the persons in the narrative can be modeled or need to be avoided?

              Acts is filled with persons who modern day disciples should model in behavior, attitude, faith, and being.  In similar manner, other persons serve as models who the modern believer ought to refused to emulate.  

              Of course, Peter, Barnabas, and Paul standout as major role models to imitate.  A few including Stephen, Lydia, and Philip show the modern miner how to live a life of faith and obedience. Ananias and Sapphira with their deception and subsequent judgment portray those negative models to avoid as well as Simon, the sorcerer and King Herod Agrippa.  

              The gold miner will ask what characteristics did each person exemplify that is worthy of study and application?  Alongside this feature of study, the gold miner will ask what was God’s response to those who modeled faith and obedience and what was His response to those who disbelieved or disobeyed?  Another question needing to be asked is what should be followed and what ought to be avoided by today’s believers?

  Ask what is the theological meaning intended by Luke?

              In the passage understudy, the intended meaning of Luke must carry the day for the gold mine interpreter. (Click to Tweet) The literary context of the passage will set the boundaries for what can be considered normative and for what is not normative actions for the modern church to follow.  This will be more fully explored below. 

  Examine the rest of Acts and ask if the events in this passage are normative in other parts of Acts?

              Reading Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35 reveals the early believers selling property and giving material goods to other believers in need.  So, our question is, “Does God expect the modern believer and modern church to sell our goods and give it to other believers in our local churches?”  Without question, this generosity causes us to want to be like our early brothers and sisters in Christ. 

              But, the modern interpreter must continue to read Acts 5. Here Ananias and Sapphira sell property and give some to the apostles.  Peter makes the situation clear in Acts 5: 3-4. He clearly states that Ananias and Sapphira were free to keep the profit they had made from the sale. God did not require them to sell the property or to give money to the apostles.  Thus, the sharing of property and goods rested purely on a voluntary response to needs of other believers. 

  Mark the places where events and themes are reduplicated in Acts.

              Many of these are easy to identify if one keeps a pencil/pen handy and makes a list. Check the number of references to prayer, preaching, witnessing, God’s sovereign control over events and people, the spread of the Gospel from Jew to Gentile as a place to begin. 

  LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

  

            Let me suggest we read and highlight the number of ways God revealed His will to the early church in Acts.

            Remember the mere fact that something is repeated does not automatically mean that it is normative for Christianity throughout history.

          Please feel free to post your observations in the response area this week. Let’s see howmany ways we can find.  Then we can evaluate how many we feel are normative and timeless.

  Please use this format:

  Acts 8:26, 12:7 – God used angels to communicate His will to the early church.

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  Posted in Acts, Biblical Narratives, Genres, Interpretation, Narratives, The Book of Acts Background Material | 0 Comments

• HOW TO BEAT THE FBI TO THE GOLD!

  Posted at 11:59 pm by Dr. Roy Lucas, on November 18, 2018

  

  The October 9, 2018 CBS news webpage reported the FBI searched for Civil War treasure near Dents Run, Pennsylvania on March 13, 2017. Why search for treasure at Dents Run, Pa?

  A father-son team, Dennis and Ken Parada, along with author and journalist Warren Getler, invested five years excavating in a cave on state land and an additional two years drilling on top of the cave before seeking the aid of the FBI.  These three men anxiously waited for the FBI to begin digging.

  Their wait ended within the month. Before the FBI commenced to dig, the FBI employed a consulting firm to scan the ground using a gravimeter. The scan revealed a “large metallic mass with the density of gold,” according to the three treasure hunters. They excitedly waited for the FBI to arrive and begin the dig.

  Just how did this cache of gold make it to such a site? Legend reveals that the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, the Union Army shipped between 26 and 52 bars of gold, each weighing about 50 pounds of 23 kilograms from Wheeling, West Virginia to Philadelphia. The Union Army routed the gold through this area to keep it away from the Confederate Army. The shipment was either lost or stolen. The lost shipment’s estimated worth in today’s money would be between $25 to $50 million dollars.

  Enter the FBI. On March 13, 2017 the Parada’s and Getler understood they would be allowed to witness the unearthing of this large metal cache.  But disappoint filled their lives. Instead of watching the metal excavated, the FBI forced them to stay in their car which was out of sight of the excavations.  Six hours later the FBI escorted them up the hill and announced the FBI team was cold, tired, and hungry. Since it was getting dark, they would come back the next day.

  However, the trio protested that three hours remained in that day and the team was only three feet from the cache of gold.  Denny Parada recalled the agent told him, “Denny, we’re going, we’re going.”

  No one knows if the FBI left that afternoon. But residents reported hearing sounds of machinery working in the area. The noise kept them from sleeping and the hillside was brightly lit. Other residents told of seeing several black SUV’s passing by their homes, backing down near the hole, and other ATV’s meeting the SUV’s. There appeared to be a transference of something. It was too dark to tell the exact items being moved. An additional witness observed several large vehicles coming from the area along with 2 large armored trucks.

  The second day the Paradas sat in their car again for several hours until they were led to a sizable and empty hole. The FBI completed the excavations without the treasure hunters witnessing what had been in the hole – if anything.  Was there a cache of treasure? Only the FBI knows.

  As we turn to the New Testament, we discover a cache of treasure which the FBI cannot keep you from discovering.  Our goal is to dig into the four major literary genres of the New Testament: Gospels, Acts, Epistles or Letters, and Revelation during the next few weeks.

  THE CACHE OF GOLD IN THE GENRE OF THE GOSPELS

  

  “Gospel” means “good news.” Ancient literature employed the term when a successful military campaign had been conducted. In the New Testament context ‘gospel’ refers to the announcement of the message spoken by Jesus Christ.  Mark used the term, ‘gospel,’ in 1:1, 1:14-15; 8:25, 10:29, 14:9. Mark may be the first to use the term, gospel, in this fashion.

  Eventually the term referred to the written documents of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with their narratives of the life of Christ. Each gospel bore the same message of Jesus but presented Jesus in four unique purposes or perspectives. Some scholars refer to the gospels as theological biographies.

  When we study the Gospels, we must consider a central theological truth: The Kingdom of God and how it relates to the gospel message.  Various forms clamor for attention: parables, miracle stories, pronouncement statements, woes, beatitudes, and nativity stories.

  THE CACHE OF GOLD IN GENRE OF THE ACTS

  

  If a gospel is a theological biography, then Acts can be called a theological history. That is, a narrative of events related to one another from a given place and time which have been selected to teach certain theological truths.

  Acts focuses on several characters, unlike the gospels.  While the title is possibly a misnomer, the Acts of the Apostles, it might be better to call it, the Acts of the Holy Spirit, since He plays a role throughout the Acts while no single man plays a key role throughout the entire book.

  The significance of Pentecost proves to be a major topic demanding attention. We must determine whether to read Acts as narrative or theology. The spread of the gospel ‘unhindered’ might prove to be a worthy exploration.

  THE CACHE OF GOLD IN THE GENRE OF THE EPISTLES

  

  The amount of gold to be found in the epistles eludes the interpreter’s mind.  The epistles contain creeds or hymns to be explored. The domestic codes deserve considerable mining as do slogans.  Of course, the theology of Paul and the General Epistles demand the interpreter’s exploration.

  The interpreter must open the cache of the epistle related to form of the ancient letter. In related fashion, the orientation of the parts of the sentences and clauses as they relate to one another hold rich deposits for the interpreter.

  THE CACHE OF GOLD IN THE GENRE OF THE REVELATION

  

  No genre has held more mystery for the interpreter across the centuries than that of the Revelation.  Revelation’s cache of treasures includes a combination of three genres: epistles, prophecy, and apocalyptic.  Each must be identified and mined.

  The sifting of these three genres within the Revelation may help prevent the interpreter from making the text say more than it does or from claiming less than the text does.  Each genre will reveal its deep deposits as the interpreter digs deep.

  

  Grab a shovel!

  Let’s Dig before the FBI grabs our cache of gold!

  If you desire to review the articles related to the Old Testament, click on the links below:

  TREASURE HUNTERS WANTED –

  THERE’S GOLD IN THEM, THERE BIBLICAL NARRATIVES

  WANTED: Diamond Miners – apply inside

  STRINGING PEARLS FROM POETRY – can it be done?

  CAN YOUR GOD SAY MORE THAN ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’?

  FOUR QUESTIONS TO REAPING THE WEALTH OF WISDOM

  Do you believe that studying the various genres of the Scriptures will bear riches in our study of God’s Word? Why or why not?

   

   

   

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  Posted in Acts, Biblical Narratives, Civil War, Epistles, FBI, Gospels, Interpretation, Interpreting Biblical Prophecy, Narratives, Prophecy, Revelation, The Book of Acts Background Material, Treasure, Uncategorized, wealth | 0 Comments

• THERE’S GOLD IN THEM, THERE BIBLICAL NARRATIVES

  Posted at 9:01 am by Dr. Roy Lucas, on October 15, 2018

  

  Set against the bleak backdrop of the Great Depression, Napoleon Hill penned his magnus opus, Think and Grow Rich in 1938.   Contained in the pages of this timely book which gave people hope that life could get better, Hill records the story of R. U. Darby and his uncle.

  U. Darby’s uncle caught gold fever and traveled west, staked a claim, purchased a pick and shovel, and began to dig with feverish abandon. His lust for gold caused Darby’s uncle to push through the hard days.

  Week’s passed before this uncle unearthed the shiny metal. He figured that heavy machinery could expedite his recovery of this vein or riches. He covered up the mine, crossed the country back to his home in Williamsburg, Maryland, and convinced many friends and family to invest in the mine.  The machinery was purchased and shipped to the mine. Darby and his uncle returned to the mine.

  They extracted a car of gold and shipped it to a smelter. Darby’s uncle owned one of the richest mines in Colorado. The debt for the machinery could be paid with a few cars of this gold. Then the gold would be filling in their pockets.

  The men drilled as their hopes arose.  Then, something happened – the vein of gold vanished. The rainbow dried up and the pot of gold was missing. The two men kept drilling, but they soon gave up. They quit!

  To help recoup some of their expenses, the men sold their machinery to a junk man for a few hundred dollars. They purchased train tickets and left for home.  Now, some junk men fail to seize the opportunities presented to them. But, not this junk man.  He sought the services of a mining engineer who figured what had happened to the gold vein.  He told the junk man that Darby and his uncle had failed because they did not understand how the ‘fault lines’ ran.  He finished some calculations and told the junk man, that the gold vein was just three feet from where Darby and his uncle stopped.  Can you imagine that?  Three feet from millions of dollars. The junk man was wise in that he sought help to mine the gold ore from the earth before giving up.

  

  http://www.sacred-texts.com/nth/tgr/tgr06.htm

  Biblical Narratives represent a gold mine of almost immeasurable riches.

  Almost half of the Old Testament (40 %) consists of narratives. Have you discovered the narratives in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 – 2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Jonah, and Haggai are mostly narrative?  Even Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel have substantial amounts of narrative scattered throughout them.

  Since biblical narratives are stories, they go beyond merely documenting events that happened in history. Narratives include how things happened and this invites the reader to experience, along with the main characters, the action being described. The biblical authors intend his readers (you and me) to identify with the characters and to experience what they are experiencing.

  Norman Perrin, in The New Testament: An Introduction (New York: Harcourt Bruce Jovanovich, 1974), 165 writes, “The natural function of narrative is to help the reader hear the voices, take part in the action, get involved in the plot.” Naturally, the more realistic the characters, the more accurate the settings and the more believable the plot, the more compelling the reader is to join the characters in the story.

  Let’s define the gold we want to unearth: Narrative or story is a literary from possessing sequential time action and involving setting, characters, and plot. It is the story form of literature.”

           

  Quarry for the Setting – 

  

  Settings serve as the stage upon which the stories unfold. Settings serve as a backdrop to the plot and aid the reader in understanding the action taking place. For example, knowing Abraham was a nomad provides the reader with knowledge about his lifestyle. Settings include the physical aspects of geography, culture, and nearness or distance from society.

   

            Excavate for Characters –

  

  Characters paint important pictures.  Picture these scenes among others: Abraham with his hand raised high, holding a sharp knife, poised to pierce Isaac’s heart?  The disheartened reaction of Josephs’ older, wicked brothers’ hearts when Joseph demanded they leave their youngest brother in his care while they returned to their father with Benjamin.  The eyes of the people of Israel when they watched the armies of Pharaoh drown in the Red Sea. The surprise of both the Philistines and the Israelites when youthful David slung the rock into the forehead of Goliath and Goliath fell to the ground like a mighty oak.

  Characters fill almost every page of the Old Testament. Consider Haman, the Agagite exterminator, Jezebel, King Ahab’s murderous wife and vineyard stealer, Jonathan, King Saul’s son whose heart was knit to David’s.  Reflect upon scheming Rebecca who helped her son, Jacob, steal the birthright from his brother. Who could forget Jacob being outwitted by his father-in-law on his wedding night? Many more intriguing stories await discovery in the Old Testament.

   

             Dig for the Plot –

  

             Plot contains the arrangement of events within the story. Normally plot is a sequential arrangement of events interrelated. Plots build on a beginning, a middle and a conclusion.  Plots rely on conflict to move the story line forward so that a resolution can be found.  Conflict can utilize physical boundaries, such as seeking to survive wandering in the wilderness for forty years.  Other plots explore the conflict between characters: Cain and Abel for instance.  A third plot explores moral of spiritual conflict such as Jezebel’s desire for Naboth’s vineyard.

   

  Six Suggestions for unearthing the gold from Biblical Narratives*

  

  1. Read the biblical narrative with the intention of joining the main characters in their journey. Narrative stories are invitations to experience what the characters are experiencing.  Use your imagination to make the experience vivid and concrete.

   

  2. Read the biblical narrative examining every detail of the setting. These details are not normally superfluous. They are hints the author has included to help us understand the plot of the story.  Ask yourself how these setting details aids your understanding.

   

  3. Read the biblical narrative digging to know every detail about the characters. No detail is irrelevant.

   

  4. Read the biblical narrative paying attention to the development of the plot, especially the conflicts. How are the conflicts explored and resolved? Watch for multiple plots within the story. Keep an eye for cause-effect events.

   

  5. Read the biblical narrative asking how the narrative gets your attention, arouses your curiosity, or creates suspense?

   

  6. Read the biblical narrative seeking to develop the antagonist and protagonist in the story. What characteristics do you notice of each?

   

  Helpful Resources:

  

  Fee, Gordon and D. Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All its worth, 2^nd ed. Thorndike, ME:           G. K. Hall, 1993).

   

  Gabel, C. B. Wheeler and A. B. Your, The Bible as Literature: An Introduction,  4^th ed. New           York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

   

  Goldingay, J. Models for Interpreting Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.

   

  Licht, Jacob. Storytelling in the Bible. Jerusalem: Magnes, 1978.

   

  Ryken, Leland. How to Read the Bible as Literature. Grand Rapids:  Academie

  Books/Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

   

  Tannehill, Robert C. “The Disciples in Mark: the Function of a Narrative Roll.” Journal of             Religion 57 (1977): 386-4-5.

   

  Wilder, Amos N. “Story and Story-World.” Interpretation 37 (193): 353-364.

   

  What biblical narratives do you find most enjoyable to read? Why? Let;s discuss how we can experience what the biblical characters experienced.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

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  Posted in Biblical Narratives, Context, Literary, Gap of Culture, Gap of Geography, Interpretation, Narratives, The Old Testament, Uncategorized | 5 Comments | Tagged characters, gold, Old Testament, plot, setting, story

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