James 2:1-26

James writes that in keeping the Law but failing in one point a person is guilty of the whole Law. He uses an example: If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (v. 11b) For our 21^st-century society that example needs to be flipped: “If you commit adultery but do not murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” Adultery is altogether too common in our society, even among those who claim to be believing Christians. Jesus said “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Matthew 19:5) To me Jesus was ruling out all sexual activity except that between a husband and a wife. This includes heterosexual activity outside of marriage as well as homosexual activity. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but Hollywood and the media have so glorified sexuality that many in society see nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, people living together, homosexual marriage, or any other activities that violate God’s simple standard of marriage between a man and a woman. I truly don’t mean to be personally judgmental, but I am afraid for God’s judgment on our American society.

Faith and works – I comment on that in the second link below.

See also:

• March 17 (2020) / James 2:1-13
• March 18 (2020) / James 2:14-26

James 1:1-27

Welcome to the Epistle of James!

Sin, with a number of verses (seemingly?) reflecting temptations from outside and from inside… First, from outside: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… (v. 2) and Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial… (v. 12) [I’m sure brothers and man includes sisters and women!] Verse 2 seems especially to refer to trials from outside, since the following verses have trials (testing) leading to endurance (steadfastness) and endurance having its “full effect”. By contrast, later verses refer to temptations (lust?) instead of trials and testing: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin… (vv. 13-15a) Verse 14 refers to “his own desire”, reflecting temptation (or lust) beginning from within. It’s helpful to see that temptations arise from outside and from inside – and even more helpful to consider the source and to be able to fight the temptation, with help from the Holy Spirit, our “Helper”.

See also:

• March 15 (2020) / James 1:1-11
• March 16 (2020) / James 1:12-27

Galatians 6:1-18

My daily pattern is to read through two translations and notes and sidebars of our scheduled reading, then to read my comments from last year, then to read a third translation and post new comments. With this pattern it is often the case that in my first readings I do not understand a particular verse. Then I often find in my comments from last year (see the links below) that I had searched out that verse and came to a better understanding. That was the case today – verse 12 was initially confusing to me until I read my Study Bible notes and my comments from last year; then upon re-reading the verse it was much clearer. So my perspective to you is this – last year’s in-depth study of the epistles helped me/us to gain a greater understanding of what Paul and the other writers were saying, especially with particularly difficult verses. And it’s not just my comments that I am encouraging you to read; last year’s RTB team members also added a number of clarifying and illuminating comments. Perhaps John S. can find the time to show you how to access all the comments from last year. (That access is confusing to me!)

As for new comments on today’s reading… A couple of days ago I suggested that “flesh” and “world” often have negative spiritual meanings in Paul’s writings. We see that today: For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption… (v. 8a), “flesh” here relating to money, sex, power, etc. (See also my second paragraph comments in the first link below.) Then today we also see Paul’s use of “world” in a negative spiritual sense: But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (v. 14) Finally, what is often the case is not always the case: …they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. (v. 13b) Here “flesh” does not have a negative meaning – it simply refers to a person’s being, with the Judaizers boasting in their influence over another person’s circumcision decision.

And so we finish our first epistle with Paul’s appropriate closing: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers [and sisters]. Amen. (v. 18)

See also:

• March 13 (2020) / Gal. 6:1-10
• March 14 (2020) / Gal. 6:11-18

Galatians 5:16-26

When we did our “Three Streams” series at St. Andrew’s last March during Lent it was Archbishop Foley Beach who spoke on the third “stream”, the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream – the Spirit-filled life. And as he spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, he was clear in distinguishing the manifestations of the Spirit (speaking in tongues, healings, lifting hands, etc.) from the fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Today we have Paul’s famous listing of the fruits of the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… (vv. 22-23a) See my comments in the link below and note that “fruit” is singular, not plural. That is, these nine characteristics are part and parcel of every believer’s life. It’s what God does for us as we actively seek Him – as we ask daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As for the gifts of the Spirit, Paul lists a number of those gifts in at least three places – and in no particular order anywhere. Check out these lists in Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11-12. We don’t imagine any of those lists to be as complete and comprehensive as Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit that we read about today.

BTW, ask Carol to recite the fruit of the Spirit in Czech – this listing of the fruit of the Spirit was our memory verse for our Czech and Slovak kids the very first English Camp that we did with Mark Bruner. Memories…!!

See also: March 12 (2020) / Gal. 5:16-26

Galatians 5:1-15

When I read this section last year I was really confused by verse 11. I looked at another translation, and the first paragraph in my comments in the link below helped me to understand what Paul was saying. There are a few other confusions in today’s reading. Please read on.

I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! (v. 12) The ESV translation gets it right, with “emasculate” an even stronger word than “castrate”. Other translations have “mutilate” (NASB) and “cut themselves off” (NKJV). Paul is being sarcastic here – he certainly does not wish this behavior on any of those Judaizers!

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh… (v. 13a) In general, any time Paul refers to “the flesh” or “the world” he is referring to anything that takes our eyes or our behavior away from faith in Jesus. That is, something that is “an opportunity for the flesh” could be food or sex or money or power. Our freedom in Christ does not mean that we are free to do whatever our “flesh” desires!

Yes, Paul’s epistles are more difficult to read and understand than the Gospel or Acts narratives!

See also: March 11 (2020) / Gal. 5:1-15

Galatians 4:1-31

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. (v.3) And: But now that you have come to know God … how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world…? (v. 9) Although it’s confusing, it could be that Paul’s twice-mention of the “elementary principles of the world” are the many rules of the Law which Jews were required to obey. That is, I wonder if Paul is speaking to those Jews who had converted to Jesus, but were now going back to their old ways because of those Judaizers who had come in, fearful of this new faith to which their fellow Jews had turned. Paul goes on about these Judaizers: They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. (v. 17) These Judaizers see that they have lost their influence with these new converts and want to turn them back the rules of the Law, once again enslaving them.

With all that it’s clear to me that I am not a Bible scholar. But then again, even the Bible scholars don’t know exactly what Paul was trying to say in this chapter – these “elementary principles” and his “bodily ailment (v. 13) and “at first” (also vs. 13). As I’ve said before the past few day, we move on!

See also:

• March 8 (2020) / Gal. 4:1-11
• March 9 (2020) / Gal. 4:12-20
• March 10 (2020) / Gal. 4:21-31

Galatians 3:15-29

This gets confusing. Paul bases his argument in today’s reading on his translation of the word “offspring” (or “seed” as in many translations): Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (v. 16)

But here is the quotation from Genesis that Paul is citing, with God speaking to Abraham: I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And…in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:17-18) I fully understand that Paul has a better understanding of the Old Testament books than I, but as I read it, in God speaking to Abraham, it seems to me that His first use of the word “offspring” is plural, effectively translating “offspring” as “descendants”. So I find myself at odds with Paul’s argument of the singular versus the plural.

HOWEVER, Paul’s argument of singular versus plural does not nullify his main point of salvation through Jesus, where he says, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (v. 16b), in that Jesus is one of those offspring (descendants) from Abraham. That is, Abraham’s offspring (descendants) include Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, and Jesus – and countless millions more! So the translation of offspring as singular versus plural seems to me not to be an issue.

The main point of Paul’s full argument in today’s text is that our salvation is through faith in Jesus, not through the Law of Moses. In the previous chapter we have Paul making it explicit: …if righteousness were through the Law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:21b) I think a better translation is that “Christ died needlessly”. That is, Jesus’ death on the cross would have been a waste of time. What a horrible thought!

See also: March 7 (2020) / Gal 3:15-29

Galatians 3:1-14

Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (v. 2b) Our Men’s Group has been on a “Three Streams” mission; currently our topic is the “Spirit-filled stream”. We are looking at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, in Acts, and in the Epistles. So here we find Paul’s first reference to the Holy Spirit in the first of the many letters/epistles that he wrote. My Study Bible noted that we will see sixteen more references to the Spirit in this Epistle!! I love it when our studies overlap!

Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? (v. 5) This quote is the ESV translation, but I have capitalized the deific pronoun, “He”. The NASB and the NKJV both capitalize deific pronouns, but the ESV does not. I suppose it’s because the ESV does not want to “put words into our mouth” or, more realistically, thoughts into our head. But when it’s fairly clear that the “He” refers to Jesus or His Father, I see no reason not to capitalize it – for the sake of clarity. As to the content of this verse, “…He who supplies the Spirit to you…”, you may recall Jesus’ promise to His followers at the Last Supper, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper…” (John 14:16) Here we see Paul writing that Jesus has fulfilled His promise – He or the Father has sent the Holy Spirit. Closing the loop…!

As we get deeper into the Epistles the readings get more difficult – not as much narrative as we see in the Gospels or in Acts. But we read on – there is good material for us to digest!

See also: March 6 (2020) / Gal. 3:1-14

Galatians 2:1-21

About Paul’s time line… Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. (v. 1) Scholars can make different arguments as to when this event occurred – some that this 14-year trip occurring when Paul and Barnabas brought an aid gift to the Jerusalem church while others claim that this visit was the chapter 15 Jerusalem Council. I’ve read through some of these discussions and come to my own conclusion, agreeing with the first of those time frames, the “aid” visit. So here’s my time line:

1. Paul gets converted and spends some time in Damascus (Acts 9).
2. He goes away into the Arabian desert for three years, returning to Damascus (Galatians 1:17).
3. Soon thereafter he makes his first trip to Jerusalem, along with Barnabas (Galatians 1:18).
4. Fearing for his safety he goes home to Tarsus (Acts 9:30, Galatians 1:21).
5. After 14 years Barnabas goes to Tarsus and brings Paul to Antioch (Acts 11:25).
6. Soon thereafter Paul makes his second trip to Jerusalem with Barnabas taking along the aid gift (Acts 11:30).
7. Paul and Barnabas go off on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14).
8. Finally, Paul and Barnabas go up to Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

So that’s my time line – others disagree.

In its introduction to Galatians my Study Bible points out the importance of verse 16: …yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Here is their comment: “It was the rediscovery of the basic message of Galatians that brought about the Reformation. Galatians is often referred to as ‘Luther’s book’ because Martin Luther relied so strongly on this letter in his writings and arguments against the prevailing theology of his day. A key verse is 2:16.” Further, their note on 2:16 says, “Three times it tells us that no one is justified by observing the Law, and three times it underscores the indispensable requirement of placing one’s faith in Christ.” Much of the rest of Galatians continues this theme of justification by faith.

See also:

• March 4 (2020) / Gal. 2:1-10
• March 5 (2020) / Gal. 2:11-21

Galatians 1:1-24

Today we begin the Epistles – as an interruption to the Acts narrative, but chronologically consistent with Acts. That is, scholars maintain that Paul wrote to the Galatian churches (Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe) sometime after his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14) and before his second missionary journey (which begins at Acts 15:36). But even for those who agree with that chronology, there is ample discussion as to whether Paul wrote Galatians before or after the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). Our Chronological Bible has Galatians after the Jerusalem Council, but I would argue that we should have read it before Acts 15, in that nowhere in Galatians does Paul mention the four restrictions set forth by the Council, that (Gentile) believers …abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. (Acts 15:29) But we have what is laid out before us, so we move on.

…but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (v. 7b) This verse supports my comment above that Galatians was written before the Jerusalem Council. If Paul wrote Galatians after the Jerusalem Council I would imagine that he would have referred to those restrictions (cited above) in challenging the Judaizers who were arguing for circumcision of all believers. But as I said above, we read on.

Paul recounting his own conversion: I did not immediately consult with anyone, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (vv. 16b-19) You might want to re-read Acts 9 for the details of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.

I would encourage you to read the comments in the links below that I wrote last year, primarily because those comments might help us to understand Paul’s mindset as we read through Galatians and the rest of his epistles.

See also:

• March 2 (2020) / Galatians 1:1-10
• March 3 (2020) / Galatians 1:11-24