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The Genealogy of Jesus July 11 - 17, 2021
The Genealogy of Jesus July 11 - 17, 2021 MAIN POINT Jesus is a real person from a real family who came to bring real grace, rest, and jubilee for those who follow Him. INTRODUCTION What do you know about your genealogy? Who is the most interesting person that you know about from your family tree? What would you like to discover about your genealogy that you don’t already know? What do you know about the ways your ancestors exercised their faith? Each of the four Gospels begins differently. Matthew begins with Jesus’ family tree. Mark begins with a brief introduction followed by an account of John the Baptist’s ministry. Luke begins with the details of the Christmas story, focusing on Gabriel’s appearance to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and to Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus. John’s Gospel starts with a more theological introduction about the Word becoming flesh John( 1:14). Both Matthew and Luke included genealogies of Jesus, but Luke did not include a genealogy until after the record of Jesus’ baptism (Luke 3:23-38). In his gospel, Matthew wants us to see that Jesus is a real person from a real family who came to bring real grace, rest, and jubilee for those who follow Him. UNDERSTANDING READ MATTHEW 1:1-16. What titles does Matthew assign Jesus in verses 1 and 16? What is the meaning of each title? Luke’s genealogy goes back to Adam to emphasize the universality of the gospel (Luke 3:23-38). What is Matthew’s point in beginning with Abraham? What does Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus say to Jewish readers? Matthew began his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy or historical record. -
God's Faithfulness in the Book of Ruth
God’s Faithfulness in the Book of Ruth 1. Introduction. A. Read: Ruth 4:18-22 - 18 This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David. [slide 1] B. We’ve been gleaning from the book of Ruth over the past couple of months, trying to take a magnifying glass to see some of what God is speaking to us from this book. Now, after all of the tragedy and hope, despair and celebration, drama and romance, we come to this conclusion - a genealogy?! C. I’ve been part of the Navigators and they have memory verse packs, but I don’t think this passage was in there. Would you put it in there? Probably not! Especially if you memorized the King James version: Perez begat Hezron, Hezron begat Ram … all the way to Jesse begat David. The book of Ruth is a great story, but you think it is a little weak on the ending? D. We said early on in this study that the author of this book was very skillful. The skill in story-telling shows up in the way he ends this book. You and I have been looking at details in this book and now the author is backing us out of the fields, out of Bethlehem, to a bigger picture. -
Life and Contexts Ļ
Chapter 1 Ļ Life and Contexts ļ n a letter that he sent to the Cretan scholar Saul Hako- I hen Ashkenazi a few years prior to his death, Isaac Abar- banel observed that he had written all of his “commen- taries and compilations” after I left my homeland (’eresខ moladeti); for all of the days that I was in the courts and palaces of kings occupied in their service I had no time to study and looked at no book but squandered my days in vanity and years in futile pursuit so that wealth and honor would be mine; yet the wealth was lost by evil adventure and “honor is departed from Israel” [1 Sam. 4:21]. Only after wandering to and fro over the earth from one kingdom to another . did I “seek out the book of the Lord” [Isa. 34:16].1 This personal retrospective, stark even after allowances are made for its imprecision and an autobiographical topos that it reflects,2 alludes to major foci of Abarbanel’s life. He engaged in large-scale commercial and financial en- deavors. He held positions at three leading European courts. He was a broad scholar who authored a multifaceted literary corpus comprising a variety of full- bodied exegetical tomes and theological tracts. And during roughly the last third of his life, in consequence of Spain’s expulsion of its Jews in 1492, his existence was characterized by itinerancy, often in isolation from family and scholarly peers. Situate these themes and their cognates on a wider historical, cultural, and intellectual canvas, and the result is a rich tableau at the center of which stands an ambitious seeker of power, prestige, and wealth who ar- dently cultivated the intellectual life and its vocations as exegete, theologian, and writer. -
Jesus Christ' Nativity Story
Research and Science Today No. 1(9)/2015 Social Sciences JESUS CHRIST’ NATIVITY STORY Lehel LÉSZAI1 ABSTRACT: MATTHEW AND LUKE PRESENT US JESUS’ GENEALOGY IN THE BEGINNING OF THEIR GOSPEL. MATTHEW’S BOOK OF GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST BEGINS WITH ABRAHAM AND FINISHES WITH JESUS (MT 1,1–17). MATTHEW FOLLOWS THE GENEALOGY OF JOSEPH, WHO IS MENTIONED AS MARY’S HUSBAND. MATTHEW AND LUKE TELL US THAT JOSEPH’S FIANCÉE IS MARY. A YOUNG GIRL AND A CARPENTER ARE CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE THE EARTHLY MOTHER AND FOSTER-FATHER OF HIS ETERNAL SON. GOD CHOOSES SIMPLE AND POOR PEOPLE FOR JESUS AS EARTHLY PARENTS. WE CANNOT READ TOO MUCH IN MATTHEW’S GOSPEL ABOUT THE BIRTH ITSELF, IT IS JUST MENTIONED THAT IT HAPPENED IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA DURING THE REIGN OF HEROD THE KING. CONTINUING MATTHEW’S STORY THE LORD’S ANGEL INSTRUCTS JOSEPH IN DREAM TO MAKE THEIR ESCAPE WITH JESUS AND MARY IN EGYPT FROM THE MURDEROUS ANGER OF HEROD. THIS IS ALSO A FULFILLMENT OF AN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON” (HOS 11,1). HEROD THE GREAT, THE BLOODTHIRSTY KING DIES AND THE ANGEL OF GOD APPEARS THIS TIME IN EGYPT TO JOSEPH IN HIS DREAM TO DIRECT HIM TO RETURN HOME. MT 2,20 REMINDS US OF THE SAME EPISODE IN MOSES’ STORY (EX 4,19). JESUS RETURNS FROM THE EXILE TO THE PROMISED LAND, BUT HE CANNOT SETTLE DOWN IN JUDEA, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY, IN HIS NATIVE VILLAGE, BUT HE HAS TO GO TO THE BORDER OF THE COUNTRY, TO THE HALF PAGAN GALILEE. -
The Beatitudes, Part One: the Sermon on the Mount by John W
The Beatitudes, Part One: The Sermon on the Mount by John W. Ritenbaugh (https://www.cgg.org) The Beatitudes, Part One: The Sermon On The Mount by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," January 1999 Certain portions of Scripture seem to be etched more deeply into people's minds than others. Psalm 23 is definitely one of these, as are I Corinthians 13 and Hebrews 11. The Sermon on the Mount, as Matthew 5-7 is commonly called, is another. Its popularity may stem from its position near the beginning of the New Testament, causing it to be read more frequently than other parts. Far more likely, however, people know it well because of its succinct and strikingly clear teachings that form many of the foundational planks of the Christian way of life. Containing Jesus' description of what His followers should be and do, it comes closer to being Christianity's manifesto than any other single portion of the Bible. Scholars debate whether Jesus actually gave the Sermon as a single discourse, but Matthew presents it as though it was, and the issue is really moot in terms of the powerful instruction it offers. Among other things, it contains the Beatitudes, brief illustrations on the spirit of the law, and advice about the personal and private nature of a relationship with God, including the so-called Lord's Prayer. It teaches us how to avoid the pulls of this world through trusting in God and seeking His Kingdom and righteousness before all other priorities in life. Chapter 7 includes the well-known Golden Rule, a caution against judging, a warning to beware of false prophets and a final admonition to found ourselves on solid ground by not only hearing but doing. -
2 the Assyrian Empire, the Conquest of Israel, and the Colonization of Judah 37 I
ISRAEL AND EMPIRE ii ISRAEL AND EMPIRE A Postcolonial History of Israel and Early Judaism Leo G. Perdue and Warren Carter Edited by Coleman A. Baker LONDON • NEW DELHI • NEW YORK • SYDNEY 1 Bloomsbury T&T Clark An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Imprint previously known as T&T Clark 50 Bedford Square 1385 Broadway London New York WC1B 3DP NY 10018 UK USA www.bloomsbury.com Bloomsbury, T&T Clark and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc First published 2015 © Leo G. Perdue, Warren Carter and Coleman A. Baker, 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. Leo G. Perdue, Warren Carter and Coleman A. Baker have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Authors of this work. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the authors. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: HB: 978-0-56705-409-8 PB: 978-0-56724-328-7 ePDF: 978-0-56728-051-0 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Typeset by Forthcoming Publications (www.forthpub.com) 1 Contents Abbreviations vii Preface ix Introduction: Empires, Colonies, and Postcolonial Interpretation 1 I. -
The Genealogy of Christ
The Genealogy Of Christ “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham…” (Matthew 1:1) © 2020 David Padfield www.padfield.com Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Genealogy Of Christ Introduction I. The opening words of the New Testament give us the “genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matt 1:1). A. These words do not stand in isolation—they are the culmination of the entire Old Testament story. B. Matthew claims that Jesus is the descendant of two of the most significant characters in Bible history: Abraham and David. C. While most Bible readers today skip over the genealogy of Christ, Jewish readers in the first century A.D. would find this list to be of great importance. D. The Bible places great emphasis upon the ancestry and genealogy of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:3–4; Heb 7:14). II. The genealogy of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is often neglected, and yet it is of vital importance to those concerned about salvation. A. “Most contemporary Americans cannot give the maiden names of their great grandmothers or the vocations of their great grandfathers. They seemingly pay little interest to their family ancestry. However, it was not so with the Jew. To him, genealogies were most important. Among other things, the birthright, given to the firstborn son, involved a double inheritance, family leadership, vocational opportunities, and land ownership. That is why genealogies were found throughout the Old Testament. -
A Christian Physicist Examines Noah's Flood and Plate Tectonics
A Christian Physicist Examines Noah’s Flood and Plate Tectonics by Steven Ball, Ph.D. September 2003 Dedication I dedicate this work to my friend and colleague Rodric White-Stevens, who delighted in discussing with me the geologic wonders of the Earth and their relevance to Biblical faith. Cover picture courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey, copyright free 1 Introduction It seems that no subject stirs the passions of those intending to defend biblical truth more than Noah’s Flood. It is perhaps the one biblical account that appears to conflict with modern science more than any other. Many aspiring Christian apologists have chosen to use this account as a litmus test of whether one accepts the Bible or modern science as true. Before we examine this together, let me clarify that I accept the account of Noah’s Flood as completely true, just as I do the entirety of the Bible. The Bible demonstrates itself to be reliable and remarkably consistent, having numerous interesting participants in various stories through which is interwoven a continuous theme of God’s plan for man’s redemption. Noah’s Flood is one of those stories, revealing to us both God’s judgment of sin and God’s over-riding grace and mercy. It remains a timeless account, for it has much to teach us about a God who never changes. It is one of the most popular Bible stories for children, and the truth be known, for us adults as well. It is rather unfortunate that many dismiss the account as mythical, simply because it seems to be at odds with a scientific view of the earth. -
Verse: Ruth 4:1-22
Verse: Ruth 4:1-22 Note to the Teacher: I have included additional verses that might help answer questions of the fourth chapter's cultural proceedings. Next week we will begin reading the Parables of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Big Idea of the Lesson: God is the active mover of redemption when He is both seen and unseen. The redemption story in Ruth is fully realized and offered to all in the Jubilee brought by Christ Jesus. Key Verses: Deuteronomy 25:5-10 Leviticus 25:10-13, 23-25 Luke 4:18-21 Key Words: In verse 1, the use of “friend” is an inadequate translation. A better equivalency is “So and So,” which is a statement that the kinsman does not respond as a proper redeemer, making him not worth remembering or recording. Names matter in the Old Testament; he has no name. Jubilee – This word does not appear in the text, but it lives in the story's background. Jubilee was supposed to be observed every 50th year (after 7 cycles of 7 years). A ram's horn would be blown to demark the year, slaves would be freed, debt cleared, land returned to the ancestorial family, and the people of God, animals, and land would rest for the entire year. Jubilee is a reminder and statement of who owns the land, people, and possessions; God is the owner. All that Israel had was a gift from God. It is not the year of Jubilee in Ruth. So Boaz must work as Kinsman-Redeemer per Levitical law because, without his intervention, Naomi's land and her and Ruth's freedom will be lost until the Jubilee year. -
The Biography of Isaac Leeser
Biographical Sketch of Isaac Leeser University of Pennsylvania Libraries Biographical Sketch of Isaac Leeser by Arthur Kiron, Schottenstein-Jesselson Curator of Judaica Collections Isaac Leeser was born in the village of Neuenkirchen, which at that time was part of the Prussian province of Westphalia, on December 12, 1806. Leeser's father, Uri Lippman (Uri ben Eliezer) was a merchant of limited financial means and educational background. The name "Leeser" is reputed to have been selected for Isaac by his paternal grandfather, Eliezer (i.e., Liezer). Little is known of Leeser's mother, Sara Isaac Cohen, who died when Leeser was eight. Her name only recently came to light when a Dutch descendant, Ms. Helga Becker Leeser, discovered it while doing genealogical research in the Dulmen Stadtarchiv name-taking act of September 22, 1813. Isaac was the second of three children; his one older sister was named Leah Lippman and his younger brother was named Jacob Lippman. Leah married a butcher named Hirsch Elkus who moved the family to the small town of Denekamp, Holland located near the Dutch-German border. Leeser's younger brother Jacob died of smallpox at the age of twenty-five in 1834, one year after emigrating to America. Jacob contracted the disease from his brother Isaac after coming to Philadelphia to care for him. While surviving the disease and the trauma of his brother's death, Leeser' face remained deeply pock-marked, a disfigurement that would cause him great embarrassment throughout his life. Both Jacob and Isaac died bachelors. Leeser received his early education in Dulmen (in Germany), where his family had moved no later than 1812. -
Rahab: a Woman of Faith” Matthew 1:1-17, Joshua 2:1-1 4 Wayne J
Old Testament Readings: Psalm 130:1-8, Jeremiah 31:31-34 New Testament Reading: Luke 1:68-79 The Five Women in the Lineage of Jesus “Rahab: A Woman of Faith” Matthew 1:1-17, Joshua 2:1-1 4 Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor Because of her profession, Rahab, a Canaanite woman, was always identified as a harlot. Because of her expressed faith in a forgiving and merciful God, Rahab became a heroine to her family, the first Gentile to be welcomed into God’s family, and one of the mothers in the lineage of Jesus. Even though she was a Gentile, the writer of Hebrews included Rahab in the Hebrew Hall of Faith; identifying her as the woman who did not perish, like those who were disobedient. Even though she worked as a prostitute, and lied to the king’s messengers, James, the half-brother of Jesus, said Rahab was “justified by her works when she received the messengers and sent them another way.” The reason the story of Rahab is in the Scriptures is to show us that God delights to display the glory of His grace, and the wonders of His love, to and through the least likely candidates. The New Testament lists two genealogies of Jesus. Luke 3:23-38 is the ascending record of Jesus’ family tree, beginning with the birth of Jesus to Mary, and then tracing His lineage back 77-generations to Adam. Luke wrote his genealogy of Jesus to prove His humanity. Matthew 1:1-17 is the descending record of Jesus’ family tree, beginning with Abraham and tracing his lineage forward 42-generations to Joseph. -
From Adam to Noah: a Reconsideration of the Antediluvian Patriarchs' Ages
JETS 37/2 (June 1994) 161!168 FROM ADAM TO NOAH: A RECONSIDERATION OF THE ANTEDILUVIAN PATRIARCHS' AGES R. K. HARRISON* The narrative material of Gen 5:3!32, which catalogued the ages of the principal descendants of Adam through the line of Seth, has long been a matter for debate, if only because of the apparently exaggerated lifespans attributed to the individuals listed there. Until the rise of rational Biblical criticism in the eighteenth century the lengthy ages were accepted much as they stood, out of deference to the sanc- tity of the divinely!revealed Hebrew tradition. But when literary critics dis- regarded the concepts of revelation and inspiration and began to treat the Hebrew Scriptures as nothing more than a collection of national records, of- ten of uncertain provenance and riddled with mythology, a vastly different set of interpretative criteria came to the forefront. Following certain European principles of literary criticism and influ- enced by the notion of supposed human biological evolution, the hypothe- sis developed by Julius Wellhausen (1844!1918) envisioned the growth of Biblical material from rudimentary beginnings until it attained its climax in the late postexilic period (about the second century BC). As far as the Pentateuch was concerned, this approach was worked out in great and of- ten conflicting detail, resulting in the recognition of four supposed basic literary components.1 The developed hypothesis was entirely subjective in nature and, as was the case with Darwin's evolutionary views, was entirely untroubled by the exercise of any objective control. Nevertheless external data began to ap- pear in the nineteenth century, and when archeological discoveries brought an entirely new perspective to bear upon ancient Near Eastern studies it became possible for literary!critical procedures to be scrutinized rigorously and to be shown to possess serious flaws in important areas.