Bible Topics

Judas Iscariot has almost always been written off as a total loser. When anyone is bad, he is compared to Judas. Yet the man never expected Jesus to be taken. Jesus had walked out of tight situations so often. Only when he saw Christ condemned by Pilate and the cross beams on the shoulders, did Judas realize the magnitude of his error.

Then he openly admitted his failure, was truly sorry and confessed to the priests — the wrong ones. He should have confessed to Jesus. Peter's failure was far greater even after explicit warning. However, he went to Christ and received pardon. I, personally, don't think Judas was condemned after he hanged himself. He just didn't produce as much as he could have.

Paul was born in 10 AD and converted in 24 AD. He studied in the school of Gamaliel which was considered one of the strictest. Paul was strict even according to Gamaliel's standards. He died a martyr in Rome in 67 AD. So he was 56 when he died. This puts a wholly new slant on Paul for me. I understand why the community in Rome wanted to get him on the road. I also understand his acerb tongue much better.

I have mulled over and over the ages of the Apostles and Paul. I don't know why I always thought of them as old men, apart from the presentation in art and sculpture. Christ himself and John Baptist were 30. Christ died at the age of 32 or 33 in the year 27–30. Paul was converted in 34 and the Christian community was five to seven years old. Paul was around Rome until 39 and then was sent on his first trip by the Roman Community.

Paul urges Timothy and Titus not to let people make fun of or ignore them because they were so young. They were both young kids, at home, when Paul converted the families. They took a shine to him and accompanied him.

I finished reading my work "Who Is God?" according to the Bible. It would make a good text for Sunday School or Bible Classes.

I am firmly convinced that the word "Elohim" was used deliberately in the "Elohist" editing of the OT. It is a plural in Hebrew and would indicate more than one god. It could also be the generic word "The Deity" without stressing one or many. The Elohist was codified during the time of Isaiah I, Hosea and Amos. These men were preaching constantly against the "many gods" notion and the fertility cults that ensued.

The text gives a new slant to the meaning of the OT teaching. People are interested in finding a fuller meaning to life.

Paul started writing his letters at age 40 and died at age 57. Irenaeus maintains that Paul wrote very little of the letters. He fired them off in a passion of temper or anger or anxiety or self-pity. Then the writer, mostly Luke, tried to tone the language down.

Some of the people in the Bible were important only in the Bible Story. Others have a permanent value in the world today.

One example is Moses. First, there is the period in which he grew up in his own home through the fast thinking of his sister, Miriam. Then he had a background in Egyptian thought and rule. Then he spends several years in the desert. This readies him to lead the Israelites through the desert. Finally, he gives them basic laws that are the foundation of all western civilization today. Then he dies before he actually enters the Promised Land.

The Gospels use two words: "Pastor" and "Minister." Pastor is the Latin word for shepherd and this image is primarily being in front and leading. You have to know the flock but the primary job of shepherd is to get food and water for the flock and protect them against enemies. Minister means you work with individuals. You learn their specific needs and then offer suggestions. Then it is up to the people or the flock to do their part. You can show, lead and help but you can't do for them.

Jesus and his group (men, wives, children) were eating the Seder (Last Supper). This was the meal that celebrated the Exodus and freedom. Christ said, "From now on when you eat this meal, it is to have a new meaning — the deliverance from sin and death by my sufferings and Resurrection." That's it. Beautiful — simple!

The 2.5 hour workshop topics for the sessions would be:

1. Who Is God? (as presented in the Bible.) This would entail the idea that he is Father, holy, kind, just and wise. This would be presented by the prophets as newscasters of those days and other OT writings.

2. Is Jesus Christ Relevant Today? This would consider the Apostles, the first Christian community, and the true notion of Church as a gathering — holy and universal. Any church that measures up to this notion of holiness is the Church of Christ. Contrast the 10 Commandments of the first Moses with the 1 Commandment of Love of the 2nd Moses (Jesus).

3. The Creation Story: The story of "Why" all things were made, not "how."

"Who Is God?" clearly stresses that the OT was a supporter of many gods until the Yahwist editors in the 9th centuries BC. "Is Jesus Relevant" has to present him as true man, but only man; a gifted person with whole weight of the world on his shoulders. "Creation" stresses that the Bible teaches only "why" — not "how."

It took the Hebrews centuries to go from many gods to only one God. Then the notion of Father developed especially in the prophets. The true aspect of Son or Child began to grow in the Wisdom literature and was fully developed in the ideas, ideals and teaching of Jesus. When Jesus left, the followers inherited the "Breath" or "Spirit" of Jesus as the bond that gave them life.

The Old Testament presents a Father who is a provider of all basic tools (Gen), a person who lays down the law (Ex), a person who details the rules and regulation of each day (Lev), a person who helps to pick up pieces once the kids see their mistakes (Num), a person who helps to start all over after total catastrophe (Dt), a person who helps in the first steps of a project (Jos), a person who inspires leaders in time of need (Judges), a person who notices every good deed, no matter how small (Ruth), a person who inspires and strengthens a wise counselor (1 & 2 Sam), a person who believes in ambition if it is controlled (1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chron).

The Gospels are the stories of a son who works with his father. The Acts & Letters and Rev are the stories of people who are conscious of the needs of others and ready to share. "Are you hungry?" Have some of my lunch! "Are you cold?" Take my sweater. Service to others replaces sacrifice.

It's too bad the women in the Church who wanted to squelch the male tyranny and dominance didn't use all the examples of women in the OT who had to save the people when the male leaders fouled up the situation. The Popes and Bishops were just too strong from Trent (1563) onward. In 1918, with the writing of the new Code of Canon Law, the doom of all women and laypeople was settled. Julius Caesar could not have set up a worse scenario. John XXIII was the first one who tried to alleviate the mess. He died. His successor died or was "bumped off" and the male domination returned.

John's purpose in writing was to encourage the Christians who were being severely persecuted in Rome about 80–85 AD. At the same time, he did not want the Roman authorities to understand and get new ideas for persecution. At that time, the Jewish authorities had fanned alive this idea of Kingship and that the Christians were out to overthrow the government of Rome. John adapted the Apocalyptic style of Ezechiel and Daniel. The writing has unique ideas but they have to be presented in proper light. Down through the centuries the writing has been misconstrued to predict every catastrophe that ever happened. The "end of the world" people use it constantly.

John was completely taken with the idea of the "new creation." His Gospel is presented as the "7 weeks" of the new creation in contrast to the 7 days of the 1st creation. The apocalypse is divided into the "7 beatitudes" or 7 sources of Happiness.

The article (magazine) on the Resurrection of Christ was well done and interesting. I didn't find anything new because all these points were brought up in our commentary by Simon & Dorado in the seminary. The most difficult question was with Mark's Gospel. His Gospel ended with the death and burial. Chapter 16, the story of the Resurrection, was added in later manuscripts.

There is no doubt that almost all the actions of Christ are given symbolic meanings in the Gospels. So much of the interpretation was read back into the stories from theological theses and art works.

The whole virginal conception and birth are clearly a misreading. The text says Mary was a "Parthenos." This is a Greek word used everywhere and always meant "Queen Mother." The Parthenon was the monument of the Queen mother of the gods. I think the story is a simple story of a regular conception and then all the frills were added as in the stories in the OT. The important point is what are the stories teaching.

The Bible should be taught as Semitic history without any proselytizing. Jesus Christ did not start a "religion." His intent, as the first Christians saw it, was to make sure that the human culture be in control of society and lead all creation to its full destiny.

There is a need to settle this so-called conflict between science and revelation. I kept returning to the opening account of Genesis. The writers had little idea of the make-up of the universe. Nor were they concerned about "how" it came to be. Their one thought was its purpose, the "why" of its existence.

God is shown as looking at his handiwork and said, "Isn't that great?" Today, as astronomers probe the outer space and come up with their gigantic finds, the approval of God would be even stronger. He would be clapping his hands, grinning from ear to ear, and shouting: "That's what I've been trying to tell you! Don't get bogged down in some selfish squabble when there is so much to see and learn and use." There is no conflict.

The Passover was celebrated by the Jews every Sabbath with a special week at the feast of Pasach. The whole meaning was a recall of the liberation from slavery into the freedom of the Promised Land. Jesus and his group celebrated this feast and at the very end he said, "Now let's give this whole ritual a new meaning. I am the Passover Lamb and each time you eat this meal, recall my victory over death and sin for all mankind." That's it!

It is identically the same idea as a birthday dinner for your Mom, or a wedding anniversary celebration. Each time the people gather in church, it is to celebrate the new "Lamb of God" — Jesus Christ.

I was certainly glad I read my commentaries on the Last Supper in the 4 Gospels and in 1 Cor. The idea of Christ as the Paschal Lamb is well developed in each place. John's Gospel starts right off with the idea at the Baptism.

As I said, I have succeeded in nullifying the Scriptural foundation for most of Trent (1563). I see more clearly why so many theologians were up in arms at the Council and for years afterwards. However, they were told to crawl into their shells and hush up or they would be "exterminated." So many left and the others shut up.

As I was working on the 10 commandments, yesterday, I came up with several little ideas that were new to me. For example, the presence of God — We have all the descriptions of his personality in the Books of the OT. Each stresses some aspect of Father. If these attributes become clear to us, then his "presence" is not in heaven somewhere. He becomes as close as a parent when we say "I could just hear Dad talking over my shoulder." "I could just hear Mom saying..." — They may be miles away or dead and yet their presence is real because we know them so well and know how they react.

I've thought and re-thought about the 10 Commandments since last night. They are stated in the negative. They were intended to set the downward limits. I didn't think of this but that's exactly what Christ said to the young man in the Gospel. He made a clear contrast between the negative guidelines of the OT and the positive guidelines of his teaching. I will introduce the positive note.

As I talked to our neighbor last night, it was beginning to get dark and a star or two were clearly in the sky — or a planet as the case may be. I think of my commentary on Genesis as I look at the sky.

God was sitting with a vast stretch of desert in front of him, leading to the great drop-off or abyss. He decided to make some light. Then he needed some lamps to carry the light so he made a real big one for the day and a lesser light for the night. But the moon was not quite bright enough so he made a lot of small night-lights and put them in the sky.

The whole picture is beautiful imaginative poetry written originally in the Bible in the 10th century BC — in the time of Solomon.

That basic idea on "Advocate" runs through the whole idea of "spirit" and "holy Spirit" so I'll have to re-read and edit that notion. The "positive notion" of each of the 10 Commandments (10 Cs) is a magnificent approach but I have to get it all in line. I had a lot of success with the First commandment, yesterday.

I finished the work on the Holy Spirit and rounded out the first five of the 10 Commandments. I get a better picture of what I am trying to do with each of the Commandments. I also spent time reading through the Psalms, Wisdom, Proverbs, and Sirach to get some of the better quotes. I wrote the citations down and then I can decide which ones I want to use as samples. The author of Sirach was surely vehement in his condemnation of idleness. They had a lot of communal living in his time and I'm sure there were many parasites, leeches and barnacles among them.

Jesus worried constantly about what people thought of him. He was thoroughly convinced that his ideas were the right interpretation of the picture. He was really shaken by the murder of his cousin, John Baptist. They were close friends. He enjoyed the acceptance of the crowd but knew how easily they could be swayed against him.

At the end, he had to make his momentous decision. Should he take off and hide as he had done before? Or should he go out and die unjustly for his convictions? He wrestled the doubts to a final acceptance and then went out to meet the crowds.

The Romans talked constantly about "Pax." The Roman peace was definitely a cessation of war. They greeted each other with the "Pax embrace" and always sent people on their way with the phrase "Vode in Pace." Christ and his Apostles certainly knew this.

At the Last Supper in John's account, Christ says explicitly, "My peace I give you — not as the world gives" — not Roman "pax." Then he describes what his peace is. The Christians used the Roman greeting with the Christian meaning.

The idea of only one true church of Christ is the tenet that has to go first. The Didache and the Apostles' Creed say only, "Holy and Catholic (universal)." Each of the communities established by Paul was independent. The Council of Jerusalem merely made suggestions.

The "Koinonia" or "sharing" of the Christians was to be such that human society would be reformed from the inside out. The only command was truly "love of your neighbor," i.e. helping those near you according to needs. The story of the Good Samaritan guides us.

Topic: God and the problem of evil. We know for sure this was a serious and common question at the end of the OT period. The book of Job is a thorough presentation. However, they came up with no solution and that's where the NT picks it up. The Christian writers come no nearer to a solution except to affirm that it is the function of human beings, by their cooperation and brain power, to remove and heal as much of the evil as possible.

Governments, at times, have truly worked to remove social ills. The medical people have succeeded in removing or curing many physical ills. The scientists are working constantly to uncover the hidden nature of the world about us. Educators are striving to raise the intellectual level of the people to be able to think, read and learn more. The media are tools for speedy spread of all this learning but so far concentrate most of their attention on what goes wrong.

Topic: "Found Son" — Prodigal Son. Of all the stories of parables that Christ told, this one stands at the top of the list for beauty, meaning and universal application. Every family that ever existed had its problems and this story presents the basic themes that strike at the roots of every family.