Galatians 3:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

We continue where we left off yesterday, justification by faith: …we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, … because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal. 2:16) Let’s follow Paul’s argument in today’s reading. First, Abraham was the father of many nations: In you shall all the nations be blessed. (v. 8b, Genesis 12:3) Second, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. (v. 6, Genesis 15:6) Third, the Law came 430 years later and did not nullify the Covenant. (v. 17) Finally, do we now set aside the Promise and instead follow the Law, with all its spiritual and fleshly (circumcision!) demands? Paul’s conclusion: For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse… (v. 10a) and Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law… (v. 11a) and Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us… (v. 13a). We are saved, not by works, but by faith!

My Study Bible mentioned at verse 2 that Paul mentions the Holy Spirit sixteen times in the last four chapters of Galatians. Sweet!

Blessings!

Galatians 2

Dear RTB’ers,

Scholars disagree as to when Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written. Basically it comes down to either (1) after Paul’s first missionary journey and before his second or (2) after his second. In between his first and second missionary journeys we have the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 where the leaders of the church discussed the circumcision issue and held that converted Gentiles did not need to be circumcised. The leaders found that converted Gentiles need only to …abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20b) There was no need to have converted Gentiles circumcised. But even with this outcome decided by the church leaders, it seems that fervent, hard-line Jews had continued to make this an issue in the Galatian churches. Paul deals directly with this issue in the first half of today’s reading. The word “circumcise” and its derivatives occurs seven times in today’s first twelve verses. It was important to Paul that …James and Cephas and John … gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (v. 9) With all this, it is my conclusion that this letter to the Galatians was written after Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13-14) and before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and his second journey. (Acts 16, ff.)

There is a lot of theology packed into the second half of chapter 2 (Gal. 2:15-21) Verse 20 is the one verse in this section that is most often quoted: I have been crucified with Christ… However, with such a focus on verse 20 we can easily miss the next verse: …for if righteousness were through the Law, then Christ died for no purpose. (v. 21b; the NASB has Christ died needlessly, an even more powerful phrase to me). Jesus dying needlessly…??!! Through all that suffering…??!! What a horrible thought!! That thought alone ought to propel us to grab onto the Gospel of grace – it’s not by our works that we are saved!! Folks, this verse is an evangelism tool. When someone says something like, “I think I’ll go to heaven; I’m basically a good person…”, then you can respond with “So Jesus wasted His time dying on the cross…?”

A final quick comment – Paul will frustrate you with his parenthetical expressions (Gal. 2:2,4,6,8; comments set off by dashes or by parentheses). These side comments can easily distract you from his main point in the rest of the sentence. So my advice is that you jump over these parenthetical expressions and read the full sentence by itself; it will be much more clear. Then go back to what he has said in the parenthetical expressions – what he has said there is relevant and worthwhile. [BTW, different translations may or may not set those comments off by themselves. The ESV clearly sets them off.]

Blessings!

---

See also: November 27 (2023) / Acts 15:1-35; Galatians 1-2

Galatians 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we begin another of Paul’s epistles, our third, this one to the Galatians. To get a better handle on Galatians, we need to go back to Paul’s first missionary journey in Acts 13-14. After he and Barnabas had shared the gospel in Cyprus, they sailed north to Asia Minor and continued their missionary work in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Just to hear those city names, we surely recall the “Jews from Asia”, specifically the Jews in Antioch who caused an uproar over Paul’s teaching: But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. (Acts 13:45) These Jews from Antioch ran Paul and Barnabas out of town, then continued to follow them to Iconium and Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14). Then further, even after many years had passed, they still had it in for Paul – recall the “Jews from Asia” in Acts 21:27 and continuing through Paul’s “trial” before Felix and Festus in Acts 24-25. So this week, as we read Galatians we need to remember the “Jews from Asia”, with Paul writing to the Christian converts in those cities who are (presumably) still being hassled by the hard-line Jews.

So what’s the big issue? Circumcision! Not specifically stated, but clearly the issue: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and … [that] there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (vv. 6-7) It’s clear to me that Paul is writing this letter soon after his visit to these cities and before the “Jerusalem Council” (Acts 15), where the issue of circumcision was set aside by the church leaders. There is no mention of this Council in this letter or of their four-fold “rules to follow” for non-Jewish converts to Christianity. Hence, written before that Council…!

Paul tells his own history at the end of today’s reading and continuing tomorrow with chapter 2. Scholars have long done a “compare and contrast” analysis of these verses with Paul’s conversion in Act 9 to more fully understand his conversion and his early years. More tomorrow…

Blessings!

Joshua 1-24

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we have no new reading; STS calls it a “Revision” day. I like the second half of the second question in STS – God’s character and His purpose for us…

A couple of my own thoughts from Joshua. First, my Study Bible noted seven occasions when the Israelites set up altars or memorial stones in the Promised Land. Off the top of my head I could only name four. How many can you find. (Use a “search” option in your browser.) Let’s name them this Sunday (the 25^th) at our last RTB gathering before Carol and I leave.

Second, the slaughters of all the men, women and children… That certainly sounds harsh to our 21^st-century minds with our sense of righteousness, mercy and justice. So how to explain it? No answer – except that God is God and I am not.

Third, God gave the Israelites the Promised Land. They promptly disobeyed (read the book of Judges!) and eventually lost it in 722 BC and 586 BC, then gained it back after 70 years of captivity in Babylon – such that the Jews had “centers” in Jerusalem and Galilee separated by Samaria during Jesus’ life. But then they lost it again in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the Temple and dispersed the population. Never again did the Jews have their own homeland until 1948. And today maintaining that homeland is a constant battle. So, what to make of the Jews’ claim to that Promised Land? What to make of that 1948 “gift”? What to make of the WWII Holocaust? What to make of “God’s chosen people”? What to make of our own Jewish “heritage”?

See you Sunday!!

Blessings!

Joshua 24

Dear RTB’ers,

Yesterday we had two sets of three times that Joshua had reminded Israel of God’s giving them the Promised Land and of the possibility of them losing that land due to their disobedience. Again today, we have two sets of three interchanges, “And Joshua said to the people…” (vv. 2, 19, 22), together with the people’s responses, “And the people said to Joshua…” (vv. 16, 21, 24). Their intent is solid, but we will see, even in the very next book of the Bible (Judges) that their follow-through is weak!

Today, probably the most famous verse in the book of Joshua, “…choose you this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (v. 15) I’ve seen this verse on plaques in many Christian homes, typically as I’ve first walked into their houses. It’s a good testament to a household’s faith, and a good daily reminder to the family.

Blessings!

---

See also: March 11 (2023) / Joshua 23-24

Joshua 23

Dear RTB’ers,

Three times Joshua warns the Israelite leaders that they could lose the Promised Land: until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you (v. 13); until He has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you (v. 15); and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that He has given to you. (v. 16) Prophetic words from Joshua… The Northern Kingdom went into exile in 722 BC and the Southern Kingdom in 586 BC. And even today Israel is still battling for their land, with opposition from the Palestinians within their borders, from all their neighboring nations, and from the entire Arab world.

The contrast, again three times: And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you. (v. 3); The LORD your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. (v. 5) For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. (v. 9)

Our choice – Joshua 23:3,5,9 or Joshua 23:13,15,16. The key: Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day. (vv. 6-8) For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you. (vv. 12-13) So, what’ll it be: verses 3, 5, 9 or verses 13, 15, 16?

Blessings!

Joshua 22

Dear RTB’ers,

Two sets of sentences stood out for me today: And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, he said to them, “Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.” (vv. 7b-8) The Israelites had accumulated much wealth through the destruction of the peoples they defeated. And Joshua thought to send a great deal of that wealth with the Trans-Jordan tribes as they returned to their homes. Again, the fairness that I’ve talked about the last two days…

War averted!! Then the people of Israel sent … Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, … And they came to the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them… (vv. 13-15) It was a simple matter of sending a delegation instead of an army! I wonder how often I need to go talk to someone instead of “warring” with them in my head!

Blessings!

---

See also: March 10 (2023) / Joshua 20-22

Joshua 20-21

Dear RTB’ers,

My computer is still in the shop, so another crippled post today. Again, the geography  is interesting, so please look back at the maps that I sent two days ago. 

It’s a straightforward read today – setting apart cities of refuge in chapter 20 and cities for the Levites in chapter 21. First, the cities of refuge. You should be able to locate theses six cities on most any map of the division of the Promised Land to the twelve tribes. They start west of the Jordan in the north, then in the middle, then in the south before crossing over to the trans-Jordan tribes and reversing the listing, from the south to the middle to the north. I pointed yesterday to the fairness associated with the division of the land to the remaining seven tribes. We see fairness again today. A man who has claimed to kill someone unintentionally is allowed to flee to one of these six cities and the elders in the city must give him refuge until the death of either the avenger or the High Priest. The Lord had earlier spoken against revenge: It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip… (Deuteronomy 32:35a) The apostle Paul repeats the Lord’s words: Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19) So having these cities of refuge forestalls revenge killing.

As for the cities for the Levites… Aaron had three sons – Kohath, Gershon and Merari. Earlier in Exodus and Leviticus these three sons were assigned duties relative to the Tent of Meeting (the Tabernacle) in the wilderness. Kohath, the oldest, was assigned the “most holy” chores, while the other two sons essentially had supporting roles. So when it comes to assigning lands to the Levites, Kohath comes first and his lands are all “nearby” (centrally located). They were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin and ten towns from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh. On your map you’ll see how centrally located these 23 cities are. Next the Gershonites were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the northern tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan (in the Trans-Jordan) and the Merarites received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. So these Levite “brothers” are now fully split apart, serving the Lord in these towns in these various tribes throughout the Promised Land and the Trans-Jordan. I find myself a bit sorry for the Gershonites and the Merarites, having been transported much greater distances from the center of Israeli activity.

Blessings!

---

See also: February 20 (2023) / Numbers 34-36

Joshua 18-19

Dear RTB’ers,

Continuing the division of the Promised Land to the twelve tribes, today with seven more allotments in chapters 18 and 19. I’ve always appreciated the inherent fairness for these last seven tribes. Pick three men from each tribe, search out the land, define seven territories, then assign those territories by casting lots. I might prefer land along the coast or the hills and mountains and I might get my preference, but if not I’ll get other territory deemed equally attractive and I’ll live with it. A really fair process…!

My computer is in the shop, so a very shortened post today. The geography is hard to follow anyhow! Just look back at the maps that I sent yesterday.

Blessings!

---

See also: March 9 (2023) / Joshua 18-19

Joshua 15:13-17:18

Dear RTB’ers,

Continuing the division of the Promised Land to the twelve tribes. Yesterday in Joshua 15:1-12 we saw the first allotment of the land going to Caleb and the tribe of Judah. Today the Joshua 15:13-63 finishes that allotment of land by naming more than 100 cities assigned to Judah. In later years Judah will become prominent as the “Southern Kingdom”, contrasted with Israel as the “Northern Kingdom”. Hence we have much more detail on Judah’s allotment than we do on any of the other eleven tribes.

Joshua 16 then has Ephraim’s allotment, while Joshua 17 has the second half of the tribe of Manasseh. You will recall that Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s two sons – hence their primacy in the division of the land. In addition, Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim, also laying a second claim to primacy in receiving their allotment.

So after today’s reading we will have allotments for five tribes – Reuben, Gad, and one-half of Manasseh east of the Jordan; Judah in the south; and Ephraim and the other half of Manasseh in the center of the Promised Land. It would be helpful for you to locate a map from the Internet (if you do not have a Study Bible with maps). Here is a very simple one, with colors that nicely define the borders and a few important cities mentioned:

Two items are worth noting on this map. The first is the absolute size of Judah and Manasseh, much larger than any of the other tribal allotments. Part of their large size, however, includes hills, mountains and forested land, all of which are difficult lands for humans to carve out a living. Second, we can see that “east” and “west” Manasseh are now joined. That division is by editorial choice. Many other maps of the division of the twelve tribes have “east” Manasseh further north. Here is a second map (from Bible Odyssey) showing that division:

These maps will continue to serve us well as we read through seven more allotments in Joshua 18-19.

Blessings!

---

See also: March 8 (2023) / Joshua 15-17