Good afternoon –
In our reading of Ezekiel for the 8th we read the parable of the two adulteress sisters, Oholah and Oholibah. Immediately within the text the simile is explained that these two sisters are Samaria and Jerusalem. Chapter 23 uses rather graphic language to make its point. Both the prophet and God were disgusted with the behavior of Jerusalem’s kings and people. The questionable political alliances of the Israelites is here addressed as another form of idolatry, kind of a “lay down with dogs and get up with fleas” type statement.
In John we see the story of the man who was blind from birth being healed. This story goes well with our reading from Job. The Jews held to a belief that infirmities were caused by sin, a false notion that Christ dispels with His statement in verse 9:3. It is also worthy of note that in verse 4 He uses the word “we” to describe who would be doing the work of the Father, not just Himself.
1John
The Epistle of 1John has no signature as to its authorship but it is a relatively universal acknowledgment that the author was John, son of Zebedee, the Apostle. Early church fathers espoused this notion and the text itself lends credence to such a notion. The style of 1John and the Gospel of John are remarkably similar.
It is also hard to date the Letter but we can assume that John was advanced in years in that he refers to his readers as “children” in verse 2:1; 28; 3:7.
The primary focus of the Letter is to address the emerging philosophy of Gnosticism. This heretical teaching is characterized by the belief that the spirit is entirely “good” while the body (or things made of matter) is inherently “evil.” From this unbiblical concept several errors arose within the thinking of the Christian Body:
Man’s body is evil
Salvation would be attained by escape from the body, a feat not attained by faith but through special knowledge
The body belonging to Christ was either (a) an illusion, a concept known as “Docetism” or (b) the Divine nature of Christ joined the body of Christ at the time of His baptism and departed from Him at the time of His death, a concept known as Cerinthianism.
Since the body was evil, it was treated negatively
Most importantly, because of this view, those who prescribed to Gnosticism felt that breaking the laws set forth by Christ were of no consequence, therefore giving in to the hedonistic desires of ther body had no effect on one's salvation
The Letter does not indicate any specific audience and it is believed that it was a general Letter meant for circulation among the churches.
May God bless you
- Clint
