May - Reading 24

Good afternoon -

Our scedule of Scriptures for today is:

Mark 15:42-47

Galatians 5:13-26

Psalm 117

2 Samuel 22

 

Good evening -

Our reading tonight in 2Samuel is repeated in Psalm 18. Aside from the introduction in verses 2-4 and a conclusion in verses 47 - 51, the chapters are identical. Therefore, I am going to link you back to January 18 & 19 for these previous commentaries, both by our siter, Helen, and a short commentary by BibleBelievingBill back when he was NewBeliever:

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=33&t=000032&p=#000003

http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=33;t=000033#000003

Tonight in Mark, we read this Gospel's account of Joseph aquiring the lifeless body of Jesus and entombing it. This account is a very good example of why it is so important to have four seperate Gospels. From each Book we get a different perspective. Mark informs us that Pilate was surprised at the haste of Christ's death. Matthew tells us about the gaurd on the tomb. Luke will tell us that Joseph was a dissenter on the Sanhedrin's decision regarding Christ.

In Galatians tonight, we read that when we are in the Spirit, our virtues will flow from that indwelling, not from the Law. Paul provides us with a list of virtues and a list of vices and Paul describes the qualities of the Spirit and the qualities of the sinful nature always being in conflict with each other. As I have read this, I have wondered if Paul made an impact on the Judaizers. We will have to watch for the Galatians being mentioned again in the Epistles.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Sunday School lecture - 7/13/03

Galatians 5:16-26

In our Scriptures today, Paul gives us two lists: one of vices, one of virtues. We once again see the dichotomy present within the believer. On one side we have his natural affinity towards the flesh and on the other we have the persuasion of the Indwelling Spirit. Paul tells us that the vices are “manifest or “evident” that is to say, that they are apparent to anyone. The Judaizers may well have been teaching that the Law was the only alternative to falling into vice. Paul taught that the indwelling Spirit, superior to the Law, was sufficient. If we “walk in the Spirit” we are not prone to the desires of the flesh.

Most scholars break these vices into three categories:

Sins of sex: Sex was given to the first couple before the fall. In its spiritual form it is healthy, beneficial, and a gift from God. When it is affected by the flesh it yields:
 *Adultery: voluntary sexual interaction between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband

 fornication : consensual sexual interaction between two persons not married to each other.

 Uncleanness: Sexual impurity. This could include many things. Bestiality, homosexuality, pedophilia, incest, etc.

 lasciviousness: lewdness, lust

Sins of Worship: man has an inner need for worship. As God tries to reveal himself to man, man yearns to return worship. However, a corruption of this by the flesh yields:
 Idolatry

 Witchcraft – This is prone to interpretation. The obvious route is what we would call sorcery or black magic. It can also include taking of drugs for occult reasons and for abortion. Source, Teacher’s quarterly, page 80.

Sins of society: Man was created gregarious, he seeks companionship. Under the influence of the flesh this leads to:
 Hatred – abolished by Christ

 Variance – in disagreement - a license to do some act contrary to the usual rule

 Emulations –ambitious or envious rivalry, jealousy

 Wrath - fits of rage 1 : strong vengeful anger or indignation 2 : retributory punishment for an offense or a crime /

 Strife - exertion or contention for superiority

 Seditions - incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority, dissension

 Heresies - an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards, divisions

 Envyings – begrudgement

 *Murders

The Lifeway Commentary goes so far as to put the last two vices in a separate category of alcohol:

 Drunkenness – abuse of alcohol

 Revelings – behavior associated with drinking; other versions say “orgies”. This may also relate to alcohol abuse in pagan religions

*It should be noted that Adultery and murder are present in the KJV and not in other texts because they are in the Byzantine text but not the Alexandrine. This is an issue we could bat around all day but it is of no avail in this instance as Paul notes that his list is not exhaustive in verse 21 with “and such like”. After all, these works are evident, plain, self-revealing, manifest. Paul tells us that those who exhibit these actions are not going to inherit the Kingdom.

He then lists 9 virtues. This list paints a picture of morality. Each quality is a single characteristic of a single fruit (singular) and they do not operate independently of one another. The metaphor of fruit is very ingenuous as fruit produces from within a plant. Outside action and influence can not produce fruit without the inner workings of some force. In this case the inner force is Christ, or the Spirit, and the fruit is this moral character.

 In opposition to the sins of sex we have “love.” This the agape love, benevolence, the disposition to do good

 Joy – even adverse circumstances can not thwart it

 Peace – more than a lack of conflict, inner peace, a state of well being, again, even in the face of adversity

 Longsuffering – or patience – stands in opposition to emulations

 Gentleness

 Goodness

 Faith – in most versions faithfulness

 Meekness - enduring injury with patience and without resentment, gentleness

 Temperance - moderation in action, thought, or feeling, restraint, self-control

Against these nine virtues there is no law. If you think about it, there is no NEED for a law against these. They harm no one and benefit all.

Scofield 1917 has this to say about this passage:

Paul urges the Galatians who “live” in the Spirit to also “walk” by the Spirit, allowing the persuasion of such to shape their behavior.

 

Our final readings for the month of May in this schedule are:

Mark 16

Galatians 6

Psalm 118

2 Samuel 23-24

 

Our final readings for the month of May in this schedule are:

Mark 16

Galatians 6

Psalm 118

2 Samuel 23-24

 

Our final readings for the month of May in this schedule are:

Mark 16

Galatians 6

Psalm 118

2 Samuel 23-24

 

Our final readings for the month of May in this schedule are:

Mark 16

Galatians 6

Psalm 118

2 Samuel 23-24

 

Our final readings for the month of May in this schedule are:

Mark 16

Galatians 6

Psalm 118

2 Samuel 23-24