Subtitle of Day 154: All Form One Body, Yet Strive after the Greater Gifts.

The First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is pure gold in terms of a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom!

As such it is presented verbatim in its entirety below with highlighted words and phrase that touch my heart, my soul or raised questions in my consciousness.

For conscience’ sake be mindful to judge ourselves… We all form one body, yet strive after the greater gifts.

God not Pleased with Most of the Jews:

For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized in Moses, in the cloud and in the sea. And all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink (for they drank from the spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was Christ). Yet with most of them God was not well pleased, for “They were laid low in the desert.”

They are an Example to Us:

Now these things came to pass as examples to us, that we should not lust after evil things even as they lusted. And do not become idolaters, even as some of them were, as it is written. “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Neither let us commit fornication, even as some of them committed fornication, and there fell in one day twenty-three thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur, as some of them murmured, and perished at the hands of the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as a type, and they were written for our correction, upon whom the final age of the world has come.

Application:

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. May no temptation take hold of you but such as man is equal to. God is faithful and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also give you a way out that you may be able to bear it.

The Danger of Pagan Sacrificial Banquets:

Therefore, beloved, flee from the worship of idols. I am speaking to men of sense; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the sharing of the blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord? Because the bread is one, we though many, are one body, all of us who partake of the one bread. Behold Israel according to the flesh, are they who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What then do I say? That what is sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No; but I say that what the Gentiles sacrifice, “they sacrifice to devils and not to God”; and I would not have you becomes associates of the devils. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils; you cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord and of the table of the devils. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Practical Directions:

All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own interests, but those of his neighbor. Anything that is solid in the market, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you, and ask no question for conscience’ sake. But if someone says, “This has been sacrificed to idols,” do not eat of it, for the sake of him who told you and for conscience’ sake—I mean the other’s conscience, not thine. For why should my liberty be called to judgment by another’s conscience? If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I ill spoken of for that which I give thanks?

Give No Offense:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, do all for the glory of God. Do not be a stumbling-block to Jews and Greeks and to the church of God, even as I myself in all things please all men, not seeking what is profitable to myself, but to the many, that they may be saved.

Women to Pray with Head Covered:

Be imitators of me as I am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, because in all things you are mindful of me and hold fast my precepts as I gave them to you. But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, disgraces his head. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is the same as if she were shaven. For if a women is not covered, let her be shaven. But if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off and her head shaved, let her cover her head. A man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God. But woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. This is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority over her head, because of the angels.

Nature and Custom Require a Veil:

Yet neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man in the Lord. For as the woman is from man, so also is the man through the woman, but all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: does it become a woman to pray to God uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that for a man to wear his hair long is degrading; but for a woman to wear her hair long is a glory to her? Because her hair has been given her as a covering. But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, neither has the churches of God.

Abuses in the Celebration of the Eucharist:

But in giving this charge, I do not commend you in that you meet not for the better but for the worse. For first of all I hear that when you meet in church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must be factions, so that those who are approved may be made manifest among you. So then when you meet together, it is no longer possible to eat the Lord’s Supper. For at the meal, each one takes first his own supper, and one is hungry, and another drinks overmuch. Have you not houses for your eating and drinking? Or do you despise the church of God and put to shame the needy? What am I to say to you? Am I to commend you? In this I do not commend you.

Institution of the Eucharist:

For I myself have received from the Lord (what I also delivered to you), that the Lord Jesus, on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks broke, and said, “This is my body which shall be given up for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In like manner also the cup, after he had supped, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the cup; for he who eats and drinks unworthily, without distinguishing his body, eats and drinks judgment to himself. This is why many among you are infirm and weak, and many sleep. But if we judged ourselves, we should not thus be judged. But when we are judged, we are being chastised by the Lord that we may not be condemned with this world. Wherefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together unto judgment. The rest I shall set in order when I come.

Spiritual Gifts through the Holy Spirit:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. You know that when you were Gentiles, you went to dumb idols, according as you were led. Wherefore I give you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says “Anathema” to Jesus. And no one can say “Jesus is Lord,” except in the Holy Spirit.

Varieties of Gifts:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of ministries, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. Now the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit. To one through the Spirit is given the utterance of wisdom; and to another the utterance of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; to another the gift of healing, in the one Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the distinguishing of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But all these things are the work of one and the same Spirit, who allots to everyone according as he will.

All Form One Body:

For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, many as they are, form one body, so also is it with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

Unity Among the Members:

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were hearing, where would be the smelling? But as it is, God has set the members, each of them, in the body as he willed. Now if they were all one member, where would the body be? But as it is, there are indeed many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need thy help”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” Nay, much rather, those that seem the more feeble members of the body are more necessary; and those that we think the less honorable members of the body, we surround with more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts receive a more abundant comeliness, whereas our comely parts have no need of it. But God has so tempered the body together in due portion as to give more abundant honor where it was lacking; that there may be no disunion in the body, but that the members may have care for one another. And if one member suffers anything, all the members suffer with it, or if one member glorifies, all the members rejoice with it.

Christ’s Mystical Body:

Now you are the body of Christ, member for member. And God indeed has placed some in the Church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healing, services of help, power of administration, and the speaking of various tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have the gift of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? Yet strive after the greater gifts.

For conscience’ sake be mindful to judge ourselves… We all form one body, yet strive after the greater gifts.

Day 154: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; For Conscience’ Sake Be Mindful to Judge Ourselves… All Form One Body, Yet Strive after the Greater Gifts.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 10-12.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

1 Corinthians Chapter 10:  God not pleased with most of the Jews; They are an example to us; Application; The danger of pagan sacrificial banquets; Practical directions; Give no offense.

God not Pleased with Most of the Jews:

For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized in Moses, in the cloud and in the sea. And all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink (for they drank from the spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was Christ). Yet with most of them God was not well pleased, for “They were laid low in the desert.”

They are an Example to Us:

Now these things came to pass as examples to us, that we should not lust after evil things even as they lusted. And do not become idolaters, even as some of them were, as it is written. “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Neither let us commit fornication, even as some of them committed fornication, and there fell in one day twenty-three thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur, as some of them murmured, and perished at the hands of the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as a type, and they were written for our correction, upon whom the final age of the world has come.

Application: Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. May no temptation take hold of you but such as man is equal to. God is faithful and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also give you a way out that you may be able to bear it.

The Danger of Pagan Sacrificial Banquets:

Therefore, beloved, flee from the worship of idols. I am speaking to men of sense; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the sharing of the blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord? Because the bread is one, we though many, are one body, all of us who partake of the one bread. Behold Israel according to the flesh, are they who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What then do I say? That what is sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No; but I say that what the Gentiles sacrifice, “they sacrifice to devils and not to God”; and I would not have you becomes associates of the devils. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils; you cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord and of the table of the devils. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Practical Directions:

All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own interests, but those of his neighbor. Anything that is solid in the market, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you, and ask no question for conscience’ sake. But if someone says, “This has been sacrificed to idols,” do not eat of it, for the sake of him who told you and for conscience’ sake—I mean the other’s conscience, not thine. For why should my liberty be called to judgment by another’s conscience? If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I ill spoken of for that which I give thanks?

Edify—to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift:

Give No Offense:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, do all for the glory of God. Do not be a stumbling-block to Jews and Greeks and to the church of God, even as I myself in all things please all men, not seeking what is profitable to myself, but to the many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians Chapter 11:  Women to pray with head covered; Nature and custom require a veil; Abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist; Institution of the Eucharist.  

Women to Pray with Head Covered:

Be imitators of me as I am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, because in all things you are mindful of me and hold fast my precepts as I gave them to you. But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, disgraces his head. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is the same as if she were shaven. For if a women is not covered, let her be shaven. But if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off and her head shaved, let her cover her head. A man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God. But woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. This is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority over her head, because of the angels.

Nature and Custom Require a Veil:

Yet neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man in the Lord. For as the woman is from man, so also is the man through the woman, but all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: does it become a woman to pray to God uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that for a man to wear his hair long is degrading; but for a woman to wear her hair long is a glory to her? Because her hair has been given her as a covering. But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, neither has the churches of God.

Abuses in the Celebration of the Eucharist:

But in giving this charge, I do not commend you in that you meet not for the better but for the worse. For first of all I hear that when you meet in church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must be factions, so that those who are approved may be made manifest among you. So then when you meet together, it is no longer possible to eat the Lord’s Supper. For at the meal, each one takes first his own supper, and one is hungry, and another drinks overmuch. Have you not houses for your eating and drinking? Or do you despise the church of God and put to shame the needy? What am I to say to you? Am I to commend you? In this I do not commend you.

Institution of the Eucharist:

For I myself have received from the Lord (what I also delivered to you), that the Lord Jesus, on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks broke, and said, “This is my body which shall be given up for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In like manner also the cup, after he had supped, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the cup; for he who eats and drinks unworthily, without distinguishing his body, eats and drinks judgment to himself. This is why many among you are infirm and weak, and many sleep. But if we judged ourselves, we should not thus be judged. But when we are judged, we are being chastised by the Lord that we may not be condemned with this world. Wherefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together unto judgment. The rest I shall set in order when I come.

1 Corinthians Chapter 12:  Spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit; Varieties of gifts; All form one body; Unity among the members; Christ’s mystical body.

Spiritual Gifts through the Holy Spirit:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. You know that when you were Gentiles, you went to dumb idols, according as you were led. Wherefore I give you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says “Anathema” to Jesus. And no one can say “Jesus is Lord,” except in the Holy Spirit.

Anathema—a person or thing detested or loathed; a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction; a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.

Varieties of Gifts:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of ministries, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. Now the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit. To one through the Spirit is given the utterance of wisdom; and to another the utterance of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; to another the gift of healing, in the one Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the distinguishing of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But all these things are the work of one and the same Spirit, who allots to everyone according as he will.

All Form One Body:

For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, many as they are, form one body, so also is it with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

Unity Among the Members:

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were hearing, where would be the smelling? But as it is, God has set the members, each of them, in the body as he willed. Now if they were all one member, where would the body be? But as it is, there are indeed many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need thy help”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” Nay, much rather, those that seem the more feeble members of the body are more necessary; and those that we think the less honorable members of the body, we surround with more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts receive a more abundant comeliness, whereas our comely parts have no need of it. But God has so tempered the body together in due portion as to give more abundant honor where it was lacking; that there may be no disunion in the body, but that the members may have care for one another. And if one member suffers anything, all the members suffer with it, or if one member glorifies, all the members rejoice with it.

Source of Biblical Humor???

Joke: When The Body Was First Made, Who Was the Most Important

One day, all the parts of the body were talking about who was most important.

THE BRAIN SAID – “Since I control everything and do all the thinking, I am the most important therefore I should be boss.”

THE FEET SAID – “Since I carry him everywhere he wants to go and get him in position to do what the brain wants, I am the most important.”

THE EYES SAID – “Since I must look out for all of you and tell you where the danger lurks, I am the most important body part.”

THE HANDS SAID – “Since I do all the work and earn all the money to keep the rest of you going, I am the most important.”

Of course, everyone got into the arguments and the heart, lungs, and ears all say the same thing.

Finally, the anus spoke up and pointed that he was the most important even though the others didn’t know it. All the other laughed and laughed to think of an anus being boss.

The anus decided to prove the point and refused to function. Blocked up tight.

Soon the brain was feverish, the eyes crossed and ached, the feet were too weak to walk, the hands hung limply at the sides, and the heart and lungs struggled to keep going.

All pleaded with the anus to relent and agreed that the anus was the most important and so it happened… the moral of the story: the anus always ends up being the boss.

Christ’s Mystical Body:

Now you are the body of Christ, member for member. And God indeed has placed some in the Church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healing, services of help, power of administration, and the speaking of various tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have the gift of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? Yet strive after the greater gifts.

As the two Books of Paralipomenon end they come to the same conclusion as the four Books of King—ALL of Israel—Juda, Jerusalem, Israel, and Samaria are held captive in Babylon.

There is less written about Israel and Samaria in Paralipomenon and more written of Juda and Jerusalem.

Day 131: OT Fourth Kings C17-20; Assyria takes Israel; Juda’s Prayers are Answered!

The details of Ezechias, King of Juda praying with the Prophet Isaias dovetail nicely with synchronization between the two biblical sources.

Like the dance noted in the Books of Kings between Juda and Israel and their kings, so too is there a dance between the Books of Kings and the Books of Paralipomenon as would be expected between the omitted and the remitted of the omitted!

King Ezechias would pray with Isaias the Prophet:

And Ezechias the king, and Isaias the prophet… prayed against this blasphemy, and cried out to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the stout men and the warriors, and the captains of the army of the king of the Assyrians: and he returned with disgrace into his own country. And when he was come into the house of his god, his sons that came out of his bowels, slew him with the sword. And the Lord saved Ezechias and the inhabitants of Jerusalem… and gave them treasures on every side… and he (Ezechias) was magnified thenceforth in the sight of all nations.

In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he heard him, and gave him a sign… and he humbled himself afterwards, because his heart had been lifted up, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and therefore the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Ezechias.

And King Josias cleaned up the Temple and his priest Helcias found Moses’ book of the law of God. And Josais preached it to all of Juda and Jerusalem but they would not listen and God spared Josais from seeing all his spirited work unfold as all the Israelites headed to seventy years of captivity in Babylon:

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land, and the temple of the Lord, he sent Saphan and Maasias the governor of the city, John… the son of the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. And they came to Helcias the high priest: and received of him the money which had been brought into the house of the Lord… And all the remnant of Israel… And they did all faithfully.

Helcias the Priest found the book of the law of the Lord, by the hand of Moses… he carried the book to the king… Lo, all that thou hast commanded to thy servants, is accomplished… And he read it before the king. And when he had heard the words of the law, he rent his garments, saying: Go, and pray to the Lord for me, and for the remnant of Israel, and Juda, concerning the words of this book, which is found: for the great wrath of the Lord hath fallen upon us, because our fathers have not kept the words of the Lord, to do all things that are written in this book.

Josias would celebrate the Pasch, Passover; the future Easter of Christianity!

But to the king of Juda that sent you to beseech the Lord, this shall you say to him: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Because hast heard the words of this book, and thy heart was softened, and thou hast humbled thyself in the sight of the God for the things that are spoken against this place, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and reverencing my face, hast rent thy garments, and wept before me: I have also heard thee, saith the Lord. For now I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shall be brought to thy tomb in peace: and thy eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and the inhabitants thereof.

Day 133: OT Fourth Kings C21-25 (END); Both Juda & Israel are Captive in Babylon

But both dances end with seventy years of captivity in Babylon…

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses—Amon—Josias—Joachaz—Joakim—Joachim—Sedecias)

Until the music of King David, by my count, now twenty-one generations in duration, begins to play again with Cyrus the king of the Persians coming to power:

But in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, to fulfill the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremias, the Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus king of the Persians: who commanded it to be proclaimed through all his kingdom, and by writing also, saying: Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.

Sentenced to 70 Years of Captivity in Babylon and now comes the time for the children of Israel to return to Jerusalem.

Day 155: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Sentenced to 70 Years of Captivity in Babylon.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 32-36

Bible Notes:

This book opens with the story of Solomon: his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, the beginning of sacrifices therein, his great riches, and finally his death. The latter section of the book records the history of the Southern Kingdom, Juda, up to the Babylonia Captivity. The last two verses contain the opening words of a decree by Cyrus, King of Persia, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 32: Sennacherib invades Juda; Sennacherib demands surrender of Jerusalem; Blasphemy of the servants of Sennacherib; An angel destroys the Assyrians; Ezechias falls sick; Ezechias wealth and works; Manasses succeeds Ezechias.

Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came and entered into Juda, and besieged the fenced cities… the whole force of the war was turning against Jerusalem… he took counsel… to stop up the heads of the springs… they stopped all the springs, and the brook, that ran through the midst of the land, saying: Lest the kings of the Assyrians should come, and find abundance of water… (Ezechias) spoke to their heart, saying: Behave like men, and take courage: be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of the Assyrians, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there are many more with us than with him. For with him is an arm of flesh: with us the Lord our God, who is our helper, and fighteth for us. And the people were encouraged with these words of Ezechias king of Juda.

Thus saith Sennacherib king of the Assyrians: In whom do you trust, that you sit still besieged in Jerusalem? Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the people of the lands? Have the gods of any nations and lands been able to deliver their country out of my hand? … that your God should be able to deliver you out of his hand? Therefore let not Ezechias deceive you, not delude you with a vain persuasion, and do not believe him…. Consequently neither shall your God be able to deliver you out of my hand.

And many other things did his servants speak against the Lord God, and against Ezechias his servant… so neither can the God of Ezechias deliver his people out of this hand… And he spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, the works of the hands of men.

And Ezechias the king, and Isaias the prophet… prayed against this blasphemy, and cried out to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the stout men and the warriors, and the captains of the army of the king of the Assyrians: and he returned with disgrace into his own country. And when he was come into the house of his god, his sons that came out of his bowels, slew him with the sword. And the Lord saved Ezechias and the inhabitants of Jerusalem… and gave them treasures on every side… and he (Ezechias) was magnified thenceforth in the sight of all nations.

In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he heard him, and gave him a sign… and he humbled himself afterwards, because his heart had been lifted up, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and therefore the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Ezechias.

And Ezechias was rich, and very glorious, and he gathered himself great treasures… Storehouses… and he built himself cities… for the Lord had given him very much substance… in all his works he did prosperously what he would.

But yet in the embassy of the princes of Babylon, that were sent to him, to inquire of the wonder that had happened upon the earth, God left him that he might be tempted, and all things might be made known that were in his heart.

Now the rest of the acts of Ezechias, and of his mercies, are written in the vision of Isaias… the prophet and in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel.

And Ezechias slept with his fathers, and they buried him above the sepulchers of the sons of David: and all Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem celebrated his funeral: And Manasses his son reigned on his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses)

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 33: Manasses’ idolatrous reign; Manasses carried into captivity; Manasses regains his freedom; Manasses destroys idolatry; Amon succeeds Manasses; Amon’s wicked reign; Josias succeeds Amon.

Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-five years in Jerusalem. And he did evil before the Lord, according to all the abominations of the nations, which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel… and he wrought many evils before the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

Lord: In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever. And I will not make the foot of Israel to be removed out of the land which I have delivered to their fathers…

So Manasses seduced Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to do evil beyond all nations, which the Lord had destroyed before the face of the children of Israel.

And the Lord spoke to him (Manasses), and to his people, and they would not hearken. Therefore he brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of the Assyrians: and they took Manasses, and carried him bound with chains and fetters to Babylon.

Fetter—a chain or shackle placed on the feet.

And after that he (Manasses) was in distress he prayed to the Lord his God: and did penance exceedingly before the God of his fathers. And he entreated him, and besought him earnestly: and he heard his prayer, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom, and Manasses knew that the Lord was God.

After this he built a wall without the city of David… and he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord… and he commanded Juda to serve the Lord the God of Israel. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places to the Lord their God.

But the rest of the acts of Manasses, and his prayers to his God… are contained in the words of the kings of Israel… are written in the words of Hozia. And Manasses slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house: and his son Amon reigned in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses—Amon)

Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord… And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasses his father had humbled himself, but committed far greater sins.

And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. But the rest of the multitude of the people slew them that had killed Amon, and made Josias his son king in his stead.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses—Amon—Josias)

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 34: Josias’ good reign; Josias destroys idolatry; Josias repairs the Temple; Helcias finds the book of Law; Olda’s prophecy; Josias renews the covenant.

Josias was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one and thirty years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father: he declined not, neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

And in the eight year of his reign, when he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of his father David: and in the twelfth year after he began to reign, he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the idols, and the graven things… and had demolished all profane temples throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land, and the temple of the Lord, he sent Saphan and Maasias the governor of the city, John… the son of the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. And they came to Helcias the high priest: and received of him the money which had been brought into the house of the Lord… And all the remnant of Israel… And they did all faithfully.

Helcias the Priest found the book of the law of the Lord, by the hand of Moses… he carried the book to the king… Lo, all that thou hast commanded to thy servants, is accomplished… And he read it before the king. And when he had heard the words of the law, he rent his garments, saying: Go, and pray to the Lord for me, and for the remnant of Israel, and Juda, concerning the words of this book, which is found: for the great wrath of the Lord hath fallen upon us, because our fathers have not kept the words of the Lord, to do all things that are written in this book.

Olda the prophetess: Thus said the Lord the God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you to me (Josias): Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring evils upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, and all the curses that are written in this book which they read before the king of Juda. Because they have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange gods, to provoke me to wrath with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath shall fall upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

But to the king of Juda that sent you to beseech the Lord, this shall you say to him: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Because hast heard the words of this book, and thy heart was softened, and thou hast humbled thyself in the sight of the God for the things that are spoken against this place, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and reverencing my face, hast rent thy garments, and wept before me: I have also heard thee, saith the Lord. For now I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shall be brought to thy tomb in peace: and thy eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and the inhabitants thereof.

And he (Josias) called together all the ancients of Juda and Jerusalem. And went up to the house of the Lord… And the king read in their hearing, in the house of the Lord, all the words of the book. And standing up in his tribunal, he made a covenant before the Lord to walk after him, and keep his commandments, and testimonies, and justifications with all his heart, and with all his soul, and to do the things that were written in that book which he had read. And he adjured all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to do the same: and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of the Lord the God of their fathers. And Josias took away all the abominations out of all the countries of the children of Israel: and made all that were left in Israel to serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived they departed not from the Lord the God of their fathers.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 35: Josias celebrates the Pasch; Offerings for the Phase; Josias’ most solemn sacrifice; Death of Josias.

And Josias kept a phase to the Lord in Jerusalem, and it was sacrificed on the fourteenth day of the first month.

Phase—any of the major appearances or aspects in which a thing of varying modes or conditions manifests itself to the eye or mind; Astronomy: the particular appearance presented by the moon or a planet at a given time; one of the recurring appearances or states of the moon or a planet in respect to the form, or the absence, of its illuminated disk.

Pasch–the Jewish festival of Passover; Easter.

And being sanctified kill the phase, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the words which the Lord spoke by the hand of Moses.

And Josias gave to all the people that were found there in the solemnity of the phase… all these were of the king’s substance. And the princes willingly offered what they had vowed, both to the people and to the priests and the Levites… gave to the priests to keep the phase… gave to the rest of the Levites to celebrate the phase… And the phase was immolated: and the priests sprinkled the blood with their hand, and the Levites flayed the holocaust… as it is written in the book of Moses… And they roasted the phase with fire… and they distributed them speedily among all the people… And the singers… according to the commandment of David.

So all the service of the Lord was duly accomplished that day, both in keeping the phase, and offering holocausts upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias. And the children of Israel that were found there, kept the phase at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. There was no phase like to this in Israel, from the days of Samuel the prophet, neither did any of all the kings of Israel keep such a phase as Josias kept… In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this phase celebrated.

After that Josias had repaired the temple, Nechao king of Egypt came up to fight in Charcannis by the Euphrates: and Josias went out to meet him.

Nechao to Josias: What have I to do with thee, O king of Juda? I come not against thee this day, but I fight against another house, to which God hath commanded me to go in haste: forbear to do against God, who is with me, lest he kill thee.

Josias would not return, but prepared to fight against him, and hearkened not to the words of Nechao from the mouth of God, but went to fight… And there he was wounded by the archers, and he said to his servants: Carry me out of battel, for I am grievously wounded… and he died and was buried in the monument of his fathers, and all Juda and Jerusalem mourned for him, particularly Jeremias: whose lamentations for Josias all the singing men and singing women repeat unto this day, and it became like a law in Israel: Behold it is found written in the Lamentations.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 36: Joachaz succeeds Josias; Joakim succeeds Joachaz; Joakim carried captive in Babylon; Joachin succeeds Joakim; Nabuchodonosor makes Sedecias king; Sedecias reigns wickedly; Destruction of Jerusalem; The decree of Cyrus.

Then the people of the land took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of his father in Jerusalem. Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses—Amon—Josias—Joachaz)

And the king of Egypt came to Jerusalem, and deposed him… And he made Eliakim his brother king in his stead, over Juda and Jerusalem: and he turned his name of Joakim: but he took Joachaz with him, and carried him away to Egypt.

Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did evil before the Lord his God.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses—Amon—Josias—Joachaz—Joakim)

Against him (Joakim) came up Nabuchodonosor king of the Chaldeans, and led him bound in chains into Babylon.

And Joachim his son reigned in his steed. Joachim was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses—Amon—Josias—Joachaz—Joakim—Joachim)

And at the return of the year, king Nabuchodonosor sent, and brought him (Joachim) to Babylon, carrying away at the same time the most precious vessels of the house of the Lord: and he made Sedecias his uncle (Joachim’s) king over Juda and Jerusalem.

Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God, and did not reverence the face of Jeremias the prophet speaking to him from the mouth of the Lord.

(David—Solomon—Roboam—Abia—Asa—Josaphat—Joram—Ochozias—Joas—Amasias—Ozias—Joatham—Achaz—Ezechias—Manasses—Amon—Josias—Joachaz—Joakim—Joachim—Sedecias)

…and he (Sedecias) hardened his neck and his heart, from returning to the Lord the God of Israel. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people wickedly transgressed according to all the abominations of the Gentiles: and they defiled the house of the Lord, which he had sanctified to himself in Jerusalem.

And the Lord the God of their fathers… spared his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused the prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, and there was no remedy. For he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, and he slew their young men with the sword in the house  of his sanctuary, he had no compassion on young man, or maiden, old man, or even him that stooped for age, but he delivered them all into his hands. And all the vessels of the house of the Lord, great and small, and the treasures of the temple and of the king, and of the princes he carried away to Babylon. Whosoever escaped the sword was led to Babylon, and there served the king and his sons till the reign of the king of Persia. That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, and the land might keep her Sabbaths: for all the days of the desolation she kept a Sabbath, till the seventy years expired.

But in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, to fulfill the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremias, the Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus king of the Persians: who commanded it to be proclaimed through all his kingdom, and by writing also, saying: Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.

 

The First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is pure gold in terms of a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom!

As such it is presented verbatim in its entirety below with highlighted words and phrase that touch my heart, my soul or raised questions in my consciousness.

Aim for charity, strive for spiritual gifts:

Excellence of Charity:

And I point out to you a yet more excellent way. If I should speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have all faith so as to remove mountains, yet do not have charity, I am nothing. And if I distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, yet do not have charity, it profits me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth; bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Contrast with Other Gifts:

Charity never fails, whereas prophecies will disappear, and tongues will cease, and knowledge will be destroyed. For we know in part and we prophecy in part; but when that which is perfect has come, that which is imperfect will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away the things of a child. We see now through a mirror in an obscure manner, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I have been known. So there abide faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest if these is charity.

The gift of Prophecy is Superior:

Aim at charity, yet strive after the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, as he is speaking mysteries in his spirit. But he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, and encouragement, and consolation. For who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Now I should like you all to speak in tongues, but still more to prophesy; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he can interpret so that the church may receive edification.

The gift of Tongues Requires Interpretation:

But now, brethren, If I come to you speaking in tongues what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? Even inanimate instruments, like the flute or the harp, may produce sound, but if there is no difference in the notes, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? If the trumpet give forth an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you—unless with the tongue utter intelligible speech—how shall it be known what is said? For you will be speaking to the empty air. There are, for example, so many kinds of languages in this world and none without a meaning. If, then, I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be to the one whom I speak, a foreigner; and he who speaks, a foreigner to me. So also you, since you strive after spiritual gifts, seek to have them abundantly for the edification of the church.

Prayer for the Gift of Prophecy:

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What, then, is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray for the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the understanding also. Else if thou givest praise with the spirit alone, how shall he who fills the place of the uninstructed say “Amen” to thy thanksgiving? For he does not know what thou sayest. For thou, indeed, givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank God that I speak with all your tongues; yet to the church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Functions of these Gifts:

Brethren, do not become children in mind, but in malice be children and in mind mature. In the Law it is written that “In other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they listen to me, says the Lord.” Wherefore tongues are intended as a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers, whereas prophecies, not to unbelievers, but to believers, Therefore, if the whole church be assembled together and, while all are speaking with tongues, there should come in uninstructed persons or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad? Whereas if, while all are prophesying, there should come in an unbeliever or uninstructed person, he is convinced by all, he is put on trial by all; the secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.

Practical Directions:

What then is to be done, brethren? When you come together each of you has a hymn, has an instruction, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by twos or at the most by threes, and let them speak in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter let him keep silence in the church, and speak to himself and to God. Of the prophets, let two or three speak at a meeting, and let the rest act as judges. But if anything is revealed to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. For you all can prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged. For the spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets. For God is a God of peace, not disorder.

Women Forbidden to Speak in Church:

Thus I likewise teach in all the churches of the saints. Let women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted them to speak, but let them be submissive, as the Law also says. But if they wish to learn anything let them ask their husbands at home, for it is unseemly for a women to speak in church.

Order Necessary:

What, was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or was it unto you only that it reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments. If anyone ignores this, he shall be ignored. So then, brethren, desire earnestly the gift of prophesying and do not hinder the gift of speaking in tongues. Only let all things be done properly and in order.

Aim for charity, strive for spiritual gifts:

Day 156: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Aim for Charity; Strive for Spiritual Gifts!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 13-14.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

1 Corinthians Chapter 13:  Excellence of charity; Contrast with other gifts.

Excellence of Charity:

And I point out to you a yet more excellent way. If I should speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have all faith so as to remove mountains, yet do not have charity, I am nothing. And if I distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, yet do not have charity, it profits me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth; bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Charity—Christian love; agape; leniency in judging others; forbearance; benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor; a charitable fund, foundation, or institution; a charitable act or work; a charitable act or work; generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless.

Love—the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God; affectionate concern for the well-being of others; sexual intercourse; copulation; a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

Contrast with Other Gifts:

Charity never fails, whereas prophecies will disappear, and tongues will cease, and knowledge will be destroyed. For we know in part and we prophecy in part; but when that which is perfect has come, that which is imperfect will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away the things of a child. We see now through a mirror in an obscure manner, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I have been known. So there abide faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest if these is charity.

1 Corinthians Chapter 14:  The gift of prophecy is superior; The gift of tongues requires interpretation; Prayer for the gift of prophecy; Functions of these gifts; Practical directions; Women forbidden to speak in church; Order necessary.

The gift of Prophecy is Superior:

Aim at charity, yet strive after the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, as he is speaking mysteries in his spirit. But he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, and encouragement, and consolation. For who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Now I should like you all to speak in tongues, but still more to prophesy; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he can interpret so that the church may receive edification.

Edify—to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift:

The gift of Tongues Requires Interpretation:

But now, brethren, If I come to you speaking in tongues what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? Even inanimate instruments, like the flute or the harp, may produce sound, but if there is no difference in the notes, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? If the trumpet give forth an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you—unless with the tongue utter intelligible speech—how shall it be known what is said? For you will be speaking to the empty air. There are, for example, so many kinds of languages in this world and none without a meaning. If, then, I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be to the one whom I speak, a foreigner; and he who speaks, a foreigner to me. So also you, since you strive after spiritual gifts, seek to have them abundantly for the edification of the church.

March 16, 1990 CABLE NEWS Network founder Ted Turner has banned the word ”foreign” from newscasts and other programs of CNN and from his other broadcast operations. Turner… ordered to use the word ”international” in place of ”foreign” in a gesture ostensibly intended to help defuse cross-border tensions. ”The word foreign implies something unfamiliar and creates the perception of misunderstanding,” Turner wrote. ”In contrast, international means among nations and promotes a sense of unity.” (Google Search)

Prayer for the Gift of Prophecy:

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What, then, is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray for the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the understanding also. Else if thou givest praise with the spirit alone, how shall he who fills the place of the uninstructed say “Amen” to thy thanksgiving? For he does not know what thou sayest. For thou, indeed, givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank God that I speak with all your tongues; yet to the church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Functions of these Gifts:

Brethren, do not become children in mind, but in malice be children and in mind mature. In the Law it is written that “In other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they listen to me, says the Lord.” Wherefore tongues are intended as a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers, whereas prophecies, not to unbelievers, but to believers, Therefore, if the whole church be assembled together and, while all are speaking with tongues, there should come in uninstructed persons or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad? Whereas if, while all are prophesying, there should come in an unbeliever or uninstructed person, he is convinced by all, he is put on trial by all; the secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.

Practical Directions:

What then is to be done, brethren? When you come together each of you has a hymn, has an instruction, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by twos or at the most by threes, and let them speak in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter let him keep silence in the church, and speak to himself and to God. Of the prophets, let two or three speak at a meeting, and let the rest act as judges. But if anything is revealed to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. For you all can prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged. For the spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets. For God is a God of peace, not disorder.

Women Forbidden to Speak in Church:

Thus I likewise teach in all the churches of the saints. Let women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted them to speak, but let them be submissive, as the Law also says. But if they wish to learn anything let them ask their husbands at home, for it is unseemly for a women to speak in church.

NOTE: WOW, in the New Testament???

Order Necessary:

What, was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or was it unto you only that it reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments. If anyone ignores this, he shall be ignored. So then, brethren, desire earnestly the gift of prophesying and do not hinder the gift of speaking in tongues. Only let all things be done properly and in order.

 

The Biblical Book of Esdras describes the return from exile of a large group of Jews under Zorobabel and their rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The last three chapters tell of the return and spiritual renovation of another group of exiles under Edras, the holy doctor of the Law from whom this book takes its name.

God can stir up and raise our spirits!

What Nabuchodonosor stole from the temple and carried to Babylon, Cyrus, his spirit stirred up and raised by God, let the Jews out of captivity and let them return to Jerusalem and Juda.

Not only did Cyrus free the Jews from Babylon but he royally decreed that the Jews were to rebuild the Temple- the house of the Lord in Jerusalem!

So now all the multitudes of Jews acting as one man, but only forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty in number at this point in time, singing men and singing women, offered themselves freely to the house of the Lord to build it in its place

First the foundation:

And when the masons laid the foundations of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their ornaments with trumpets… with cymbals, to praise God by the hands of David king of Israel. And they sung together hymns, and praise to the Lord: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel… But many of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the fathers and the ancients that had seen the former temple, when they had the foundation of this temple before their eyes, wept with a loud voice: and many shouting for joy, lifted up their voice. So that one could not distinguish the voice of the shout of joy, from the noise of the weeping of the people: for one with another the people shouted with a loud shout, and the voice was heard afar off.

What a celebration! But now their enemies saw this and supposedly offered to help them:

Now the enemies of Juda and Benjamin heard that the children of captivity were building a temple to the Lord the God of Israel. And they came to Zorobabel, and the chief of the fathers, and said to them: Let us build with you, for we seek your God as ye do: behold we have sacrificed to him, since the days of Asor Haddan king of Assyria, who brought us hither.

But Zorobabel, and Josue, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel said to them: You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God, but we ourselves alone will build to the Lord our God, as Cyrus king of the Persians hath commanded us.

Rejected they sought other less direct means to interfere with the rebuilding of the Temple:

Then the people of the land hindered the hands of the people of Juda, and troubled them in building. And they hired counselors against them, to frustrate their design all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of the Persians. And In the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.

(This is the copy of the letter) To Artaxerxes the king… they will not pay tribute not toll, nor yearly revenues, and this loss will fall upon the kings… and shall know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to the kings and provinces… We certify the king, that if this city be built, and the walls thereof repaired, thou shalt have no possession on this side of the river.

The king sent word… that this city of old time hath rebelled against kings, and seditions and wars have been raised therein… Hinder those men, that this city be not built, till further order be given by me. See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings.

…and they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and power. Then the work of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was interrupted, and ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

Interesting so they hired lawyers to stop the building of the Temple! Well at least civilization is becoming more civilized versus the immediate war and slaughter option. After sometime God intervened again through prophets:

Now Aggeus the prophet, and Zacharias… prophesied to the Jews that were in Judea and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. The rose up Zorobabel… and Josue… and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

And at the same time came to them… and their counselors… Who hath given you counsel to build this house, and to repair the walls thereof?

In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the promoters of that building. But the eye of their God was upon the ancients of the Jews, and they could not hinder them. And it was agreed that the matter should be referred to Darius, and then they should give satisfaction concerning that accusation.

The copy of the letter… sent to Darius the King… the king all peace… Be it known to the king… the house of the great God, which they are building… And they answered us in these words, saying: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building a temple that was built these many years ago, and which a great king of Israel (David designed, son Solomon built) built and set up.

 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he delivered them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon the Chaldean: and he destroyed this house, and carried away the people to Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus set forth a decree, that this house of God should be built… let the house of God be built in its place… and from that time until now it is in building, and is not yet finished. Now therefore if it seem good to the king, let him search In the king’s library, which is in Babylon, whether it hath been decreed by Cyrus the king, that the house of God in Jerusalem should be built, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

King, look in your own library!

Freed from Babylon captivity, the Jews started to rebuild the Temple and soon will hopefully finish rebuilding the Temple!

Day 157: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Free from Babylon Captivity, Jews start to Rebuild the Temple!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Esdras, Chapters 1-5

Bible Notes:

The book describes the return from exile of a large group of Jews under Zorobabel and their rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The last three chapters tell of the return and spiritual renovation of another group of exiles under Esdras, the holy doctor of the Law from whom this book takes its name.

1 Esdras Chapter 1: Cyrus releases the Jews; Preparations for the return to Jerusalem; Cyrus restores the Temple vessels.

In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persians: and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and in writing also, saying Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord the God of heaven hath given to me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him. Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build his house of the Lord the God of Israel: he is the God that is in Jerusalem. And let all the rest in all places wheresoever they dwell, help him every man from his place, with silver and gold, and goods, and cattle, besides that which they offer freely to the temple of God, which is in Jerusalem.

…and everyone whose spirit God had raised up… besides what they offer on their own accord.

And king Cyprus brought forth the vessels of the temple of the Lord, which Nabuchodonosor had taken from Jerusalem, and had put them in the temple of his god… All the vessels of gold and silver, five thousand four hundred: all these Sassabasar brought with them that came up from the captivity of Babylon to Jerusalem.

1 Esdras Chapter 2: List of those who returned to Jerusalem; Families; Priests; Levites; Nathinites and the servants of Solomon; Those with an unknown genealogy; Total number that returned; Donations to help rebuild the Temple.

Now these are the children of the province, that went out of the captivity, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Juda, every man to his city…

The number of the men of the people of Israel: The children of… The children of Bethlehem… The children of Jericho…

The priests… The Levites… The singing men… The children of the porters… the children of Asa… The children of the servants of Solomon… and the children of the servants of Solomon…

And these are they that came up from… And they could not show the house of their fathers and their seed, whether they were of Israel… and was called by their names, these sought the writing of their genealogy, and found it not, and they were cast out of the priesthood… that they should not eat of the holy of holies, till there arose a priest learned and perfect.

All the multitudes as one man, were forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, besides their man servants, and women servants… singing men and singing women… Their horses… mules… camels…. asses…

…offered freely to the house of the Lord to build it in its place. According to their ability, they gave towards the expenses of the work…

1 Esdras Chapter 3: Erection of an altar; Feasts observed; Foundations of the Temple are laid.

And now the seventh month was come… and the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem… and they built the altar of the god of Israel that they might offer holocausts upon it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God… while the people of the lands round about put them in fear…

And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the holocaust every day orderly according to the commandment, the duty of the day in its day. And afterwards the continual holocaust, both on the new moons, and on all the solemnities of the Lord, that were consecrated, and on all in which a freewill offering was made to the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer holocausts to the Lord: but the temple of God was not yet founded.

And in the second year of their coming to the temple of God in Jerusalem, the second month… all that were come from the captivity to Jerusalem began, and they appointed Levites from twenty years old and upward, to hasten forward the work of the Lord.

And when the masons laid the foundations of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their ornaments with trumpets… with cymbals, to praise God by the hands of David king of Israel. And they sung together hymns, and praise to the Lord: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel… But many of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the fathers and the ancients that had seen the former temple, when they had the foundation of this temple before their eyes, wept with a loud voice: and many shouting for joy, lifted up their voice. So that one could not distinguish the voice of the shout of joy, from the noise of the weeping of the people: for one with another the people shouted with a loud shout, and the voice was heard afar off.

1 Esdras Chapter 4: Samaritans offer to help build the Temple; The Jews refuse Samaritan help; Samaritans take revenge; Letter to the Persian king; Work in Jerusalem ordered to stop; The work on the Temple is halted.

Now the enemies of Juda and Benjamin heard that the children of captivity were building a temple to the Lord the God of Israel. And they came to Zorobabel, and the chief of the fathers, and said to them: Let us build with you, for we seek your God as ye do: behold we have sacrificed to him, since the days of Asor Haddan king of Assyria, who brought us hither.

But Zorobabel, and Josue, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel said to them: You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God, but we ourselves alone will build to the Lord our God, as Cyrus king of the Persians hath commanded us.

Then the people of the land hindered the hands of the people of Juda, and troubled them in building. And they hired counselors against them, to frustrate their design all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of the Persians. And In the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.

… and the letter of accusation was written in Syriac, and was read in the Syrian tongue.

(This is the copy of the letter…”) To Artaxerxes the king… they will not pay tribute not toll, nor yearly revenues, and this loss will fall upon the kings… and shall know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to the kings and provinces… We certify the king, that if this city be built, and the walls thereof repaired, thou shalt have no possession on this side of the river.

The king sent word… that this city of old time hath rebelled against kings, and seditions and wars have been raised therein… Hinder those men, that this city be not built, till further order be given by me. See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings.

…and they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and power. Then the work of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was interrupted, and ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

1 Esdras Chapter 5: Work on the Temple resumed; Darius informed by the royal officials; The letter to Darius.

Now Aggeus the prophet, and Zacharias… prophesied to the Jews that were in Judea and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. The rose up Zorobabel… and Josue… and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

And at the same time came to them… and their counselors… Who hath given you counsel to build this house, and to repair the walls thereof?

In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the promoters of that building. But the eye of their God was upon the ancients of the Jews, and they could not hinder them. And it was agreed that the matter should be referred to Darius, and then they should give satisfaction concerning that accusation.

The copy of the letter… sent o Darius the King… the king all peace… Be it known to the king… the house of the great God, which they are building… And they answered us in these words, saying: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building a temple that was built these many years ago, and which a great king of Israel (David designed, son Solomon built) built and set up. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he delivered them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon the Chaldean: and he destroyed this house, and carried away the people to Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus set forth a decree, that this house of God should be built… let the house of God be built in its place… and from that time until now it is in building, and is not yet finished. Now therefore if it seem good to the king, let him search In the king’s library, which is in Babylon, whether it hath been decreed by Cyrus the king, that the house of God in Jerusalem should be built, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

The First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is pure gold in terms of a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom!

As such it is presented verbatim in its entirety below with highlighted words and phrase that touch my heart, my soul or raised questions in my consciousness.

In Resurrection; I die daily; I rise a spiritual body!

Christ’s Resurrection:

Now I recall to your minds, brethren, the gospel that I preached to you, which also you received, wherein also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold it fast, as I preached to you—unless you have believed to no purpose. For I delivered to you first of all, what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again of the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and after that to the Eleven. Then he was seen by more than five hundred brethren at one time, many of whom are with us still, but some have fallen asleep. After that he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. And last of all, as by one born out of due time, he was also seen by me. For I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been fruitless—in fact I have labored more than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether than it is I or they, so we preach, and so you have believed.

The False Doctrine:

Now if Christ is preached as risen from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ risen; and if Christ has not risen, vain then is our preaching, vain too is your faith. Yes, and we have found false witnesses as to God, in that we have borne witness against God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise, if the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, neither has Christ risen; and if Christ has not risen, vain is your faith, for you are still in your sins. Hence they also who have fallen asleep in Christ, have perished. If with this life only in view we have had hope in Christ, we are of all men the most to be pitied.

Christ the First-Fruits:

But as it is, Christ has risen from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also comes resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made to live. But each in his own turn, Christ as first-fruits, then they who are Christ’s, who have believed, at his coming. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when he does away with all sovereignty, authority and power. For he must reign, until “he has put all his enemies under his feet.” And the last enemy to be destroyed will be death, for “he has put all things under his feet.” But when he says all things are subject to him, undoubtedly he is excepted who has subjected all things to him. And when all things are made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be made subject to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.

Practical Faith:

Else what shall they do who receive Baptism for the dead? If the dead do not rise at all, why then do people receive Baptism for them? And we, why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I die daily, I affirm it, by the very pride that I take in you, brethren, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If, as men do, I fought the beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead do not rise, “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die.” Do not be led astray, “evil companionships corrupt good morals.” Awake as you should, and do not sin; for some have no knowledge of God. To your shame I say so.

The Mode of the Resurrection:

But some will say, “How do the dead rise? Or with what kind of body do they come?” Senseless man, what thou thyself sowest is not brought to life, unless it dies. And when thou sowest, thou does not sow the body that shall be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or something else. Bit God give it a body even as he has willed, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another of beasts, another of birds, another of fishes. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but of one kind is the glory of the heavenly, of another kind, the glory of the earthly. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown in corruption rises in incorruption; what is sown in dishonor rises in glory; what is sown in weakness rises in power; what is sown a natural body rises a spiritual body.

The Natural and the Spiritual Body:

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, earthly; the second man is from heaven, heavenly. As was the earthly men, such also are the heavenly. Therefore, even as we have borne the likeness of the earthly, let us bear also the likeness of the heavenly.

Final Glory of the Body:

Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood can obtain no part in the kingdom of God, neither shall corruption have any part in incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall all indeed rise, but we shall not all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead rise incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible body must put on incorruption, and this mortal body must put on immortality. But when this mortal body puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the word that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

The Collection:

Now concerning the collection being made for the saints, as I have ordered the churches of Galatia, do you also. On the first day of the week, let each one of you put aside at home and lay up whatever he has a mind to, so that the collections may not have to be made after I have come. But when I am with you, whomever you may authorize by giving credentials, them I will send to carry your gift to Jerusalem. And if it is important enough for me also to go, they shall go with me.

St. Paul’s Plans:

But I shall come to you after passing through Macedonia (for I mean to pass through Macedonia); but with you I shall perhaps remain or even winter, so that you may speed me wherever I may be going. For I do not wish to see you just now in passing by, for I hope to stay some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I shall stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a door has been opened to me, great and evident, and there are many adversaries. Now if Timothy comes, see that he be with you without fear, for he works the work of the Lord just as I do. Therefore, let no one despise him, but speed him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am awaiting him with the brethren. With regard to our brother Apollos, I earnestly besought him to come to you with the brethren, and he was quite unwilling to come at present; but he will come when he has leisure.

Final Directions:

Watch, stand fast in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in charity. Now I beseech you, brethren—you know that the household of Stephanas and of Fortunatus are the first-fruits of Achaia, and have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—to such as these do you also be subject, and to every helper and worker. I rejoice at the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because what was lacking on your part they have supplied; for they have refreshed both my spirit and yours. To such as these, therefore, give recognition.

Greetings:

The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla with the church at their house greet you heartily in the Lord. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I Paul greet you, with my own hand. If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. My love is with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Resurrection; I die daily; I rise a spiritual body!

Day 158: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; In Resurrection; I Die Daily; I Rise a Spiritual Body!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 15-16 (END).

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.

1 Corinthians Chapter 15:  Christ’s Resurrection; The false doctrine; Christ the first-fruits; Practical faith; The mode of the Resurrection; The natural and the spiritual body; Final glory of the body.

Christ’s Resurrection:

Now I recall to your minds, brethren, the gospel that I preached to you, which also you received, wherein also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold it fast, as I preached to you—unless you have believed to no purpose. For I delivered to you first of all, what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again of the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and after that to the Eleven. Then he was seen by more than five hundred brethren at one time, many of whom are with us still, but some have fallen asleep. After that he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. And last of all, as by one born out of due time, he was also seen by me. For I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been fruitless—in fact I have labored more than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether than it is I or they, so we preach, and so you have believed.

The False Doctrine:

Now if Christ is preached as risen from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ risen; and if Christ has not risen, vain then is our preaching, vain too is your faith. Yes, and we have found false witnesses as to God, in that we have borne witness against God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise, if the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, neither has Christ risen; and if Christ has not risen, vain is your faith, for you are still in your sins. Hence they also who have fallen asleep in Christ, have perished. If with this life only in view we have had hope in Christ, we are of all men the most to be pitied.

Christ the First-Fruits:

But as it is, Christ has risen from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also comes resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made to live. But each in his own turn, Christ as first-fruits, then they who are Christ’s, who have believed, at his coming. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when he does away with all sovereignty, authority and power. For he must reign, until “he has put all his enemies under his feet.” And the last enemy to be destroyed will be death, for “he has put all things under his feet.” But when he says all things are subject to him, undoubtedly he is excepted who has subjected all things to him. And when all things are made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be made subject to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.

Practical Faith:

Else what shall they do who receive Baptism for the dead? If the dead do not rise at all, why then do people receive Baptism for them? And we, why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I die daily, I affirm it, by the very pride that I take in you, brethren, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If, as men do, I fought the beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead do not rise, “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die.” Do not be led astray, “evil companionships corrupt good morals.” Awake as you should, and do not sin; for some have no knowledge of God. To your shame I say so.

The Mode of the Resurrection:

But some will say, “How do the dead rise? Or with what kind of body do they come?” Senseless man, what thou thyself sowest is not brought to life, unless it dies. And when thou sowest, thou does not sow the body that shall be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or something else. Bit God give it a body even as he has willed, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another of beasts, another of birds, another of fishes. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but of one kind is the glory of the heavenly, of another kind, the glory of the earthly. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown in corruption rises in incorruption; what is sown in dishonor rises in glory; what is sown in weakness rises in power; what is sown a natural body rises a spiritual body.

The Natural and the Spiritual Body:

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, earthly; the second man is from heaven, heavenly. As was the earthly men, such also are the heavenly. Therefore, even as we have borne the likeness of the earthly, let us bear also the likeness of the heavenly.

Final Glory of the Body:

Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood can obtain no part in the kingdom of God, neither shall corruption have any part in incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall all indeed rise, but we shall not all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead rise incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible body must put on incorruption, and this mortal body must put on immortality. But when this mortal body puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the word that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians Chapter 16:  The collection; St. Paul’s plans; Final directions; Greetings.

The Collection:

Now concerning the collection being made for the saints, as I have ordered the churches of Galatia, do you also. On the first day of the week, let each one of you put aside at home and lay up whatever he has a mind to, so that the collections may not have to be made after I have come. But when I am with you, whomever you may authorize by giving credentials, them I will send to carry your gift to Jerusalem. And if it is important enough for me also to go, they shall go with me.

St. Paul’s Plans:

But I shall come to you after passing through Macedonia (for I mean to pass through Macedonia); but with you I shall perhaps remain or even winter, so that you may speed me wherever I may be going. For I do not wish to see you just now in passing by, for I hope to stay some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I shall stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a door has been opened to me, great and evident, and there are many adversaries. Now if Timothy comes, see that he be with you without fear, for he works the work of the Lord just as I do. Therefore, let no one despise him, but speed him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am awaiting him with the brethren. With regard to our brother Apollos, I earnestly besought him to come to you with the brethren, and he was quite unwilling to come at present; but he will come when he has leisure.

Final Directions:

Watch, stand fast in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in charity. Now I beseech you, brethren—you know that the household of Stephanas and of Fortunatus are the first-fruits of Achaia, and have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—to such as these do you also be subject, and to every helper and worker. I rejoice at the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because what was lacking on your part they have supplied; for they have refreshed both my spirit and yours. To such as these, therefore, give recognition.

Greetings:

The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla with the church at their house greet you heartily in the Lord. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I Paul greet you, with my own hand. If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. My love is with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Anathema—a person or thing detested or loathed; a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction; a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.

Maranatha—O Lord, come: used as an invocation in I Cor. 16:22.

 

The last three chapters of First Esdras tell of the return and spiritual renovation of another group of exiles under Esdras, the holy doctor of the Law from whom this book takes its name.

Now after these things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Esdras the son of—counted fifteen generations between—Aaron, the priest from the beginning.

With a direct line to Aaron, Esdras is a pure-blooded priest for sure!

Was faith a ‘trial-and-error’ method back in biblical times?

This I wonder as the seemingly grievous sin in this passage is simply marrying outside the faith? Was that part of Moses’ law? Surely not one of the Ten Commandments.

What is there to be learned here?

For even a prophet of the Lord was too ashamed of his belief in the Lord to ask for help?

For I was ashamed to ask the king for aid and for horsemen, to defend us from the enemy in the way: because we had said to the king: The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him in goodness: and his power and strength, and wrath upon all them that forsake him. And we fasted, and besought our God for this: and it fell our prosperously unto us.

Is mixing the holy seed really a sin?

And after these things were accomplished, the princes came to me, Saying: The people of Israel, and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, and from their abominations… For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands. And the hand of the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression.

While I understand God is in control of all and we know not His Ways, aren’t we always supposed to be trying to do the right thing? And is there a commandment to seek not peace?

Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and take not their daughters for your sons, and seek not their peace, not their prosperity for ever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat good things of the land, and may have your children your heirs for ever.

I am confused even as to how this one ended: in death or forgiveness? Made an end? Gave their hands.

…and the people wept with much lamentation… let it be done according to the law…

And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the chamber… and entered thither: he ate no bread, and drank no water: for he mourned for the transgression of them that were come out of the captivity.

The all the men of Juda, and Benjamin… trembling because of the sin, and the rain.

And Esdras the priest stood up, and said to them: You have transgressed, and taken strange wives, to add to the sins of Israel… And now make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers… According to thy word unto us, so be it done… until the wrath of our God be turned away from us for this sin… to examine the matter. And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer for their offence a ram of the flock. And of the sons of… And of the sons of… And of the sons of… All these had taken strange wives, and there were among them women that had borne children.

I have shivered in the rain but never trembled just because it was raining, lightning and thunder, yes I have trembled but not just because it was raining!

Confused yet then I remember that this is the Old Testament mainly of the law and God’s wrath for those who cannot completely obey the law which is everyone. Note that the princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression. I see Esdras’s example of confession, complete honesty, and prayer to the Lord:

Esdras’ Confession & Prayer to the Lord:

My God, I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins are grown up even unto heaven, from the days of our fathers: and we ourselves also have sinned grievously unto this day, and for our iniquities we and our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the lands, and to the sword, and to captivity, and to spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is at this day.

And now, as a little and for a moment, has our prayer been made before the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and give us a pin in his holy place, and that our God would enlighten our eyes, and would give us a little life in our bondage. For we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God hath not forsaken us, but hath extended mercy upon us before the king of the Persians, to give us life, and to set up the house of our God, and to rebuild the desolations thereof, and to give us a fence in Juda and Jerusalem.

And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments, which thou hast commanded by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying: The land which you go to possess, is an unclean land, according to the uncleanness of the people, and of other lands, with their abominations, who have filled it mouth to mouth with their filth.

Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and take not their daughters for your sons, and seek not their peace, not their prosperity for ever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat good things of the land, and may have your children your heirs for ever.

And after all that is come upon us, for our most wicked deeds, and our great sin, seeing that thou our God hast saved us from our iniquity, and hast given us a deliverance as at this day, that we should not turn away, not break thy commandments, nor join in marriage with the people of these abominations.

Art thou angry with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to save?

O Lord God of Israel, thou art just: for we remain yet to be saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there can be no standing before thee in this matter.

And now knowing the story of Esdras, I look within and see the need for more Spiritual Renovation with hopefully more direction and power of the Will of God in my life along with His love compassion, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Amen! Alleluia!

 

Day 159: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Story of Esdras & the Spiritual Renovation!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Esdras, Chapters 6-10 (END)

Bible Notes:

The book describes the return from exile of a large group of Jews under Zorobabel and their rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The last three chapters tell of the return and spiritual renovation of another group of exiles under Esdras, the holy doctor of the Law from whom this book takes its name.

1 Esdras Chapter 6: Darius finds the lost decree of Cyrus; Darius orders the building resumed; Completion of the Temple; Dedication of the Temple; Observance of the Passover.

…and there found in Echatana, which is a castle in the province of Media, a book in which this record was written. In the first year of Cyrus the king: Cyrus the king decreed, that the house of God should be built, which is in Jerusalem… And also let the golden and silver vessels of the temple of God… be restored, and carried back to the temple of Jerusalem…

Now therefore Thathanai… Stharbuzanai, and your counselors, who are beyond the river, depart from them, and let that temple of God be built by the governor of the Jews, and by their ancients, that they may build that house of God in its place… That is any whosoever, shall alter this commandment, a beam be taken from his house, and set up, and he be nailed upon it, and his house be confiscated. And may the God, that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all kingdoms, and the people that shall put out their hand to resist, and to destroy the house of God, that is in Jerusalem. I Darius have made the decree, which I have diligently complied with.

And the ancients of the Jews built, and prospered according to the prophecy of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias… and they built and finished, by the commandment of the God of Israel, and by the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of the Persians.

And the children of Israel… kept the dedication of the house of God with joy… And they offered… a sin offering for all Israel twelve he goats, according to the number of tribes of Israel… as it is written in the book of Moses.

And the children of Israel of the captivity kept the phase, on the fourteenth day of the first month… And the children of Israel that were returned from captivity, and all that had separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations of the earth to them, to seek the Lord the God of Israel… And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, that he should help their hands in the work of the house of the Lord the God of Israel.

1 Esdras Chapter 7: Genealogy of Esdras; Journey of Esdras to Jerusalem; Artaxeerxes’ commission to Esdras; Esdras thanks God.

Now after these things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Esdras the son of—counted fifteen generations between—Aaron, the priest from the beginning.

This Esdras went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God had given to Israel: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. And there went up some of the children of Israel… to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. And they came to Jerusalem… according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Esdras had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do and to teach in Israel the commandments and judgment.

And this is a copy of the letter of the edict, which king Artaxerxes gave to Esdras the priest… the most learned scribe of the law of the God of heaven… that are minded to go into Jerusalem, should go with thee… And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle is in Jerusalem… do it according to the will of your God… how much soever thou shalt have occasion to spend, it shall be given out of the treasury, and the king’s exchequer, and by me… I Artaxerxes the king have ordered and decreed… that whatsoever Esdras the priest, the scribe of the law of God in heaven, shall require of you, you give it without delay… that you have no authority to impose toll or tribute, or custom upon them… for them who know the law of thy God, yea and the ignorant teach ye freely… And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king diligently, judgment shall be executed upon him, either unto death, or unto banishment, or to the confiscation of goods, or at least to prison.

Esdras: Blessed be the Lord the God of our fathers, who hath put this in the king’s heart, to glorify the house of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem, and hath inclined his mercy towards me before the king and his counselors, and all the mighty princes of the king: and I being strengthened by the hand of the Lord my God, which was upon me, gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

1 Esdras Chapter 8: Those who returned with Esdras; Esdras secures priests; Esdras proclaims a fast; Keepers of all treasures; Esdras arrives in Jerusalem; Weighing of the treasures; Holocausts are offered.

Now these are the chiefs of families, and the genealogy of them, who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes the king… Of the sons of… Daniel… David… Exechiel… Adan… Isaias… Joab…

And I gathered them together by the river… and we stayed there three days: and I sought among the people and among the priests for the sons of Levi, and found none there. So I sent… Nathan… wise men… and I put in their mouth words that they should speak… that they should bring us ministers of the house of our God. And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a most learned man of the sons of Moholi the son of Levi the son of Israel (Jacob)… Isaias… all these were called by their names.

And I proclaimed there a fast by the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before the Lord our God, and might ask of him a right way for us and for our children, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to ask the king for aid and for horsemen, to defend us from the enemy in the way: because we had said to the king: The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him in goodness: and his power and strength, and wrath upon all them that forsake him. And we fasted, and besought our God for this: and it fell our prosperously unto us.

And I separated twelve of the chief of priests… And I weighed to their hands… You are the holy ones of the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and gold, that is freely offered to the Lord the God of our fathers. Watch ye and keep them, till you deliver them by weight… into the treasure of the house of the Lord.

…and the hand of our God was upon us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemy and of such as lay in wait by the way. And we came to Jerusalem… offered holocausts to the God of Israel, twelve calves for all the people of Israel…

1 Esdras Chapter 9: The sins of the Jews; Sorrow of Esdras; Esdras’ confession and prayer.

And after these things were accomplished, the princes came to me, Saying: The people of Israel, and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, and from their abominations… For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands. And the hand of the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression.

And when I heard this word, I rent my mantle and my coat, and plucked off the hairs of my head and my beard, and I sat down mourning. And there were assembled to me all that feared the God of Israel, because of the transgressions of those that were come from the captivity, and I sat sorrowful, until the evening sacrifice.

Esdras’ Confession & Prayer to the Lord:

My God, I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins are grown up even unto heaven, from the days of our fathers: and we ourselves also have sinned grievously unto this day, and for our iniquities we and our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the lands, and to the sword, and to captivity, and to spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is at this day.

And now, as a little and for a moment, has our prayer been made before the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and give us a pin in his holy place, and that our God would enlighten our eyes, and would give us a little life in our bondage. For we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God hath not forsaken us, but hath extended mercy upon us before the king of the Persians, to give us life, and to set up the house of our God, and to rebuild the desolations thereof, and to give us a fence in Juda and Jerusalem.

And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments, which thou hast commanded by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying: The land which you go to possess, is an unclean land, according to the uncleanness of the people, and of other lands, with their abominations, who have filled it mouth to mouth with their filth.

Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and take not their daughters for your sons, and seek not their peace, not their prosperity for ever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat good things of the land, and may have your children your heirs for ever.

And after all that is come upon us, for our most wicked deeds, and our great sin, seeing that thou our God hast saved us from our iniquity, and hast given us a deliverance as at this day, that we should not turn away, not break thy commandments, nor join in marriage with the people of these abominations.

Art thou angry with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to save?

O Lord God of Israel, thou art just: for we remain yet to be saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there can be no standing before thee in this matter.

1 Esdras Chapter 10: Esdras orders dismissal of strange wives; Esdras assembles the people; Dismissal of foreign wives; Those who had married foreign wives; The priests; The Levites; The people.

…and the people wept with much lamentation… let it be done according to the law…

And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the chamber… and entered thither: he ate no bread, and drank no water: for he mourned for the transgression of them that were come out of the captivity.

The all the men of Juda, and Benjamin… trembling because of the sin, and the rain.

And Esdras the priest stood up, and said to them: You have transgressed, and taken strange wives, to add to the sins of Israel… And now make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers… According to thy word unto us, so be it done… until the wrath of our God be turned away from us for this sin… to examine the matter. And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer for their offence a ram of the flock. And of the sons of… And of the sons of… And of the sons of… All these had taken strange wives, and there were among them women that had borne children.

NOTE: Spiritual renovation is the process of being renovated, renewed, re-created, by the love and presence of God-With-Us. It’s more of a story to enter into than a definition really – it’s God’s story and we’re being written into the pages. Our debut is the forgiveness we have been given through Jesus Christ and the story unfolds as the Lord continues to work on our souls, renewing our character, setting us free from the old addictions that plague us. (Google Search).

  

 

Saint Paul at the beginning of this letter (The Second Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians) defends himself against the charges of inconstancy in the apostolate, of pride, and of selfish motives in his work. After a short appeal for a collection to help the poor in Jerusalem, he again refutes his enemies and vindicates his apostolic authority.

The Second Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is of a pure content in terms of a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom!

As such it is presented verbatim in its entirety below with highlighted words and phrase that touch my heart, my soul or raised questions in my consciousness.

With gratitude that the Spirit of the Living God is in our hearts!

Greeting:

Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia: grace be to you and peace from our God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Comfort in Trouble:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, that we also may be able to comfort those who are in any distress by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also through Christ does our comfort abound. For whether we are afflicted, it is for your instruction and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort; which shows its efficacy in the endurance of the selfsame sufferings that we also suffer. And our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so will you also be of the comfort.

Persecution and Deliverance:

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of the affliction which came upon us in Asia. We were crushed beyond measure—beyond our strength, so that we were weary even of life. Yes, we have been carrying, within our very selves, our death sentence; in order that we may not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. He it is who delivered us, and will deliver us, from such great perils; and in him we have hope to be delivered yet again, though the help of your prayers for us. Thus, for the gift bestowed on us at the instance of many persons, thanks will be given by many on our behalf.

Paul’s Sincerity:

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity—not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God—we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you. For we write nothing to you that you do not read and understand. Indeed, I hope you will always understand, even as you have understood us in part, that we are your boast, as you will also be ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul Replies to Charge of Being Fickle:

With this assurance I meant, in order that you might enjoy a double grace, to visit you first, and to pass through you into Macedonia, and from Macedonia to come again to you, and by you to be sent forward on my way to Judea. Now in this my intention, did I show fickleness? Or are my plans made according to the flesh, so with me it is now “Yes” and now “No”? God is my witness that our message to you is not both “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not now “Yes” and now “No,” but only “Yes” was in him. For all the promises of God find their “Yes” in him; and therefore through him also rises the “Amen” to God unto our glory. Now it is God who is warrant for us and for you in Christ, who has anointed us, who has also stamped us with his seal and has given us the Spirit as a pledge in our hearts.

The reason for his Change of Plan:

Now I call God to witness against my soul that it was to spare you that I did not again come to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but rather we are fellow-workers in your joy; for in faith you stand.

Paul’s Letter to Them (The Corinthians):

But I made up my mind not to come to you again in sorrow. For if I made you sad, who can gladden me, save the very one that is grieved by me? And I wrote to you as I did, that when I come I may not have sorrow upon sorrow from those who ought to give me joy; for I trust in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For I wrote to you in much affliction and anguish of the heart, with many tears, not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the great love I have for you.

He Pardons the Offender:

Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in a measure (not to be too severe) all of you. For such a one this punishment meted out by the many is sufficient. On the contrary, then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest perchance he be overwhelmed by too much sorrow. Therefore I exhort you to assure him of your love for him. For to this very end also did I write, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in all things. Whom you pardon anything, I also pardon. Indeed what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—I have done for your sakes, in the person of Christ, that we may not be defeated by Satan; for we are not unaware of his devices.

Thanksgiving for Good News.

Now when I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, though I had there a great opportunity in the Lord, I had no peace of mind, because I did not find Titus my brother. And so, bidding them farewell, I went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus, manifesting through us the odor of his knowledge in every place. For we are the fragrance of Christ for God, alike as regards those who are saved and those who are lost; to these an odor that leads to death, but to those an odor that leads to life. And for such offices, who is sufficient? We, at least, are not, as many others, adulterating the word of God; but with sincerity, as coming from God, we preach in Christ in God’s Presence.

The Corinthians are his Commendation:

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some do, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written on our hearts, which is known and read by all men; clearly you are a letter of Christ, composed by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on fleshly tablets of the heart.

Paul’s Assurance comes from Christ:

Such is the assurance I have through Christ towards God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. He also it is who has made us fit ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

Superiority of the New Law over the Old (Law):

Now is the ministration of death, which was engraved in letters upon stones, was inaugurated in such glory that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly upon the face of Moses on account of the transient glory that shone upon it, shall not the ministration of the spirit be still more glorious? For it there is glory in the ministration that condemned, much more does the ministration that justifies abound in glory. For though the former ministration was glorifies, yet in this regard it is without glory, because of the surpassing glory of the latter. For if that which was transient was glorious, much more is that glorious which abides.

The Veil is Taken Away:

Having therefore such hope, we show great boldness. We do not act as Moses did, who used to put a veil over his face that the Israelites might not observe the glory of his countenance, which was to pass away. But their minds were darkened; for to this day, when the Old Testament is read to them, the selfsame veil remains, not being lifted to disclose the Christ in whom it is made void. Yes, down to this very day, when Moses is read, the veil covers their hearts; but when they turn in repentance to God, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is the spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with faces unveiled, reflecting as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his very image from glory to glory, as through the Spirit of the Lord.

Amen! Al-le-lu-ia! The Spirit of the Living God is in our hearts!

Day 160: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Spirit of the living God in Our Hearts!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 1-3.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul at the beginning of this letter defends himself against the charges of inconstancy in the apostolate, of pride, and of selfish motives in his work. After a short appeal for a collection to help the poor in Jerusalem, he again refutes his enemies and vindicates his apostolic authority.

2 Corinthians Chapter 1:  Greeting; Comfort in trouble; Persecution and deliverance; Paul’s sincerity; Paul replies to charge of being fickle; The reason for his change of plan.

Greeting:

Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia: grace be to you and peace from our God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Comfort in Trouble:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, that we also may be able to comfort those who are in any distress by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also through Christ does our comfort abound. For whether we are afflicted, it is for your instruction and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort; which shows its efficacy in the endurance of the selfsame sufferings that we also suffer. And our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so will you also be of the comfort.

Persecution and Deliverance:

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of the affliction which came upon us in Asia. We were crushed beyond measure—beyond our strength, so that we were weary even of life. Yes, we have been carrying, within our very selves, our death sentence; in order that we may not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. He it is who delivered us, and will deliver us, from such great perils; and in him we have hope to be delivered yet again, though the help of your prayers for us. Thus, for the gift bestowed on us at the instance of many persons, thanks will be given by many on our behalf.

Paul’s Sincerity:

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity—not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God—we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you. For we write nothing to you that you do not read and understand. Indeed, I hope you will always understand, even as you have understood us in part, that we are your boast, as you will also be ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul Replies to Charge of Being Fickle:

With this assurance I meant, in order that you might enjoy a double grace, to visit you first, and to pass through you into Macedonia, and from Macedonia to come again to you, and by you to be sent forward on my way to Judea. Now in this my intention, did I show fickleness? Or are my plans made according to the flesh, so with me it is now “Yes” and now “No”? God is my witness that our message to you is not both “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not now “Yes” and now “No,” but only “Yes” was in him. For all the promises of God find their “Yes” in him; and therefore through him also rises the “Amen” to God unto our glory. Now it is God who is warrant for us and for you in Christ, who has anointed us, who has also stamped us with his seal and has given us the Spirit as a pledge in our hearts.

The reason for his Change of Plan:

Now I call God to witness against my soul that it was to spare you that I did not again come to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but rather we are fellow-workers in your joy; for in faith you stand.

2 Corinthians Chapter 2:  Paul’s letter to them; He pardons the offender; Thanksgiving for good news.

Paul’s Letter to Them (The Corinthians):

But I made up my mind not to come to you again in sorrow. For if I made you sad, who can gladden me, save the very one that is grieved by me? And I wrote to you as I did, that when I come I may not have sorrow upon sorrow from those who ought to give me joy; for I trust in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For I wrote to you in much affliction and anguish of the heart, with many tears, not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the great love I have for you.

He Pardons the Offender:

Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in a measure (not to be too severe) all of you. For such a one this punishment meted out by the many is sufficient. On the contrary, then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest perchance he be overwhelmed by too much sorrow. Therefore I exhort you to assure him of your love for him. For to this very end also did I write, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in all things. Whom you pardon anything, I also pardon. Indeed what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—I have done for your sakes, in the person of Christ, that we may not be defeated by Satan; for we are not unaware of his devices.

Thanksgiving for Good News.

Now when I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, though I had there a great opportunity in the Lord, I had no peace of mind, because I did not find Titus my brother. And so, bidding them farewell, I went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus, manifesting through us the odor of his knowledge in every place. For we are the fragrance of Christ for God, alike as regards those who are saved and those who are lost; to these an odor that leads to death, but to those an odor that leads to life. And for such offices, who is sufficient? We, at least, are not, as many others, adulterating the word of God; but with sincerity, as coming from God, we preach in Christ in God’s Presence.

2 Corinthians Chapter 3:  The Corinthians are his commendation; Paul’s assurance comes from Christ; Superiority of the new law over the old; The veil is taken away.

The Corinthians are his Commendation:

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some do, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written on our hearts, which is known and read by all men; clearly you are a letter of Christ, composed by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on fleshly tablets of the heart.

Paul’s Assurance comes from Christ:

Such is the assurance I have through Christ towards God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. He also it is who has made us fit ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

Superiority of the New Law over the Old (Law):

Now is the ministration of death, which was engraved in letters upon stones, was inaugurated in such glory that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly upon the face of Moses on account of the transient glory that shone upon it, shall not the ministration of the spirit be still more glorious? For it there is glory in the ministration that condemned, much more does the ministration that justifies abound in glory. For though the former ministration was glorifies, yet in this regard it is without glory, because of the surpassing glory of the latter. For if that which was transient was glorious, much more is that glorious which abides.

Ministration—the act of ministering care, aid, religious service, etc; an instance of this.

The Veil is Taken Away:

Having therefore such hope, we show great boldness. We do not act as Moses did, who used to put a veil over his face that the Israelites might not observe the glory of his countenance, which was to pass away. But their minds were darkened; for to this day, when the Old Testament is read to them, the selfsame veil remains, not being lifted to disclose the Christ in whom it is made void. Yes, down to this very day, when Moses is read, the veil covers their hearts; but when they turn in repentance to God, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is the spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with faces unveiled, reflecting as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his very image from glory to glory, as through the Spirit of the Lord.

 

How does one revive and restore one’s own spirit? Can it be done alone or only by the grace of God?

What are the steps? How does one begin?

According to the story of Esdras/Nehemias, these are the steps—awareness of the truth—experience grief knowing the loss—abstinence of some sort (fasted)—prayer to O Lord God of Heaven—know of and remind God of His Promises to us believers—pray for mercy—identify, accept and feel your emotions (countenance)—BE not afraid—do God’s Will through US; seek unity of purpose and work together with other like-minded people—forgive others and forgive the debt they owe you—give of yourself and not only of your excesses—and pray some more that this is your True Self and God’s Will for your life’s work and purpose…

Where is your Jerusalem?

Take that first step in the right direction…  

The book (of 2 Esdras/Nehemias) is a history of the Jewish restoration under Nehemias, whose name is also given to the book. A servant of the Persian king, Nehemias became governor of Juda after the exile and took charge of the work of reconstruction. He not only helped rebuild Jerusalem but also fostered a spiritual revival.

The words of Nehemias… I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me: They that have remained, and are left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction and reproach: and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.

And when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.

Nehemias: I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee, and keep thy commandments, let thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the children of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father’s house have sinned.

We have been seduced by vanity, and have not kept thy commandments, and ceremonies and judgments, which thou has commanded thy servant Moses.

Remember the word that thou commanded to Moses thy servant, saying: If you shall transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations; but if you return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though you should be led away to the uttermost parts of the world, I will gather you from thence, and bring you back to the place which I have chosen for my name to dwell there.

And these are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast redeemed by thy great strength, and by thy mighty hand.

I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man.

For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Nehemias to King Artaxerxes: O king, live for ever: why should not my countenance be sorrowful, seeing the city of the place of the sepulchers of my fathers is desolate…

King Artaxerxes: For what dost thou make request?

Nehemias: That thou wouldst send me into Judea… and I will build it…

…and they built the flock gate… the fish gate… the old gate… the gate of the valley… the gate of the dunghill… the gate of the fountain…

And after him built… and after him built… and after him built…

Prayer of Nehemias: Hear thou our God, for we are despised: turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them to be despised in a land of captivity. Cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thy face, because they have mocked thy builders. So we built the wall, and joined it all together unto the half thereof: and the heart of the people was excited to work.

And they all assembled themselves together, to come, and to fight against Jerusalem…

Nehemias: Be not afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your houses… that God defeated their counsel… that half of their young men did the work. And half were ready for to fight… and the rulers were behind them in all the house of Juda… with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he held a sword… And they built, and sounded with a trumpet by me.

The work is great and wide, and we are separated on the wall one far from another… our God will fight for us… Let every one with his servant stay in the midst of Jerusalem, and let us take our turns in the night, and by day, to work.

And my heart thought with myself… We, as you know, have redeemed according to our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles… And they held their peace, and found not what to answer. And I said to them: The thing you did is not good; why walk you not in the fear of our God, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the Gentiles, our enemies? …let us forgive the debt that is owning to us. Restore ye to them this day… We will restore, and we will require nothing of them: and we will do as thou sayest… thus may he be shaken out, and become empty. And all the multitude said: amen. And they praised God. And the people did according to what was said.

And from the day, in which the king commanded me to be governor in the land of Juda… I and my brethren did not eat the yearly allowance that was due to the governors… But I did not so for the fear of God… yet I did not require my yearly allowance as governor; for the people were very much impoverished. Remember me, O my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people.

Day 161: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Spiritual Revival & Restoration of Esdras & Nehemias…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Esdras (Nehemias), Chapters 1-5

Bible Notes:

The book is a history of the Jewish restoration under Nehemias, whose name is also given to the book. A servant of the Persian king, Nehemias became governor of Juda after the exile and took charge of the work of reconstruction. He not only helped rebuild Jerusalem but also fostered a spiritual revival.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 1: Nehemias mourns over the state of Jerusalem; Nehemias asks help from God.

The words of Nehemias… I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me: They that have remained, and are left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction and reproach: and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.

And when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.

Nehemias: I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee, and keep thy commandments, let thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the children of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father’s house have sinned.

We have been seduced by vanity, and have not kept thy commandments, and ceremonies and judgments, which thou has commanded thy servant Moses.

Remember the word that thou commanded to Moses thy servant, saying: If you shall transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations; but if you return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though you should be led away to the uttermost parts of the world, I will gather you from thence, and bring you back to the place which I have chosen for my name to dwell there.

And these are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast redeemed by thy great strength, and by thy mighty hand.

I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man.

For I was the king’s cupbearer.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 2: Artaxerxes sends Nehemias to Jerusalem; Arrival in Jerusalem; Nehemias views the broken wall; Nehemias urges rebuilding the wall.

King Artaxerxes to Nehemias: Why is thou countenance sad, seeing thou dost not appear to be sick?

Nehemias: This is not without cause, but some evil, I know not what, is in thy heart. And I was seized with an exceeding great fear…

Nehemias to King Artaxerxes: O king, live for ever: why should not my countenance be sorrowful, seeing the city of the place of the sepulchers of my fathers is desolate…

King Artaxerxes: For what dost thou make request?

Nehemias: That thou wouldst send me into Judea… and I will build it…

And the king gave me according to the good hand of my God with me.

…and it grieved them exceedingly, that a man was come, who sought the prosperity of the children of Israel. And I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

…and I told not any man what God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem… the wall of Jerusalem which was broken down…

You know the affliction wherein we are… come and let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, and let us be no longer a reproach. And I showed them how the hand of my God was good to me, and the king’s words, which he had spoken to me, and I said: Let us rise up, and build. And their hands were strengthened in good. But Sanaballat… and Tobias… and Gossem… scoffed at us, and despised us…

Reproach—

Nehemias to the Scoffers:  The God of heaven he helpeth us, and we are his servants: let us rise up and build: but you have no part, nor justice, not remembrance in Jerusalem.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 3: Builders of the flock gate; Builders of the fish gate; Builders of the old gate; Builders of the gate of the valley; Builder of the gate of the dunghill; Builder of the gate of the fountain; Builders of the wall.

…and they built the flock gate… the fish gate… the old gate… the gate of the valley… the gate of the dunghill… the gate of the fountain…

And after him built… and after him built… and after him built…

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 4: Enemies scoff at the builders; Prayer of Nehemias; Plot against the builders; The builders are armed; Military provisions.

…when Samaballat heard that we were building the wall he was angry: and being moved exceedingly he scoffed at the Jews… and said before his brethren, and the multitude of the Samaritans: What are the silly Jews doing? Will the Gentiles leave them alone?

Tobias: Let them build: if a fox go up, he will leap over their stone wall.

Prayer of Nehemias: Hear thou our God, for we are despised: turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them to be despised in a land of captivity. Cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thy face, because they have mocked thy builders. So we built the wall, and joined it all together unto the half thereof: and the heart of the people was excited to work.

And they all assembled themselves together, to come, and to fight against Jerusalem…

Nehemias: Be not afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your houses… that God defeated their counsel… that half of their young men did the work. And half were ready for to fight… and the rulers were behind them in all the house of Juda… with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he held a sword… And they built, and sounded with a trumpet by me.

The work is great and wide, and we are separated on the wall one far from another… our God will fight for us… Let every one with his servant stay in the midst of Jerusalem, and let us take our turns in the night, and by day, to work.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 5: Economic problems; Usury is forbidden; Nehemias’ unselfishness.

And my heart thought with myself… We, as you know, have redeemed according to our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles… And they held their peace, and found not what to answer. And I said to them: The thing you did is not good; why walk you not in the fear of our God, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the Gentiles, our enemies? …let us forgive the debt that is owning to us. Restore ye to them this day… We will restore, and we will require nothing of them: and we will do as thou sayest… thus may he be shaken out, and become empty. And all the multitude said: amen. And they praised God. And the people did according to what was said.

And from the day, in which the king commanded me to be governor in the land of Juda… I and my brethren did not eat the yearly allowance that was due to the governors… But I did not so for the fear of God… yet I did not require my yearly allowance as governor; for the people were very much impoverished. Remember me, O my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people.

 

The Second Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is of a pure content in terms of a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom!

As such, it is presented verbatim in its entirety below with the day’s title, highlighted words and phrases that touch my heart, my soul and/or raised questions in my consciousness.

With gratitude that the Spirit of the Living God is in our hearts!

Saint Paul at the beginning of this letter defends himself against the charges of inconstancy in the apostolate, of pride, and of selfish motives in his work. After a short appeal for a collection to help the poor in Jerusalem, he again refutes his enemies and vindicates his apostolic authority.

2 Corinthians Chapter 4:  

How Paul exercises his ministry:

Discharging therefore this ministry in accordance with the mercy shown us, we do not lose heart. On the contrary, we renounce those practices which shame conceals, we avoid unscrupulous conduct, we do not corrupt the word of God; but making known the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

And if our gospel also is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this world has blinded their unbelieving minds, that they should not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves merely as your servants in Jesus.

For God, who commanded light to shine out of the darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give enlightenment concerning the knowledge of the glory of God, shining on the face of Christ Jesus.

Frailty of the ministers:

But we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, to show that the abundance of the power is God’s and not ours.

In all things we suffer tribulation, but we are not distressed, we are sore pressed, but we are not destitute; we endure persecution, but we are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we do not perish; always bearing about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodily frame.

For we the living are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Thus death is at work in us, but life in you. But since we have the same spirit of faith, as shown in that which is written—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believed, wherefore we also speak.

For we know that he who raised up Jesus will raise up us also with Jesus, and will place us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that grace which abounds through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound, to the glory of God.

Hope of a glorious Resurrection:

Wherefore we do not lose heart. On the contrary, even though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our present light affliction, which is for the moment, prepares for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure; while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.

 

2 Corinthians Chapter 5:  

God made us for immortality:

For we know that if the earthly house in which we dwell be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by human hands, eternal in the heavens. And indeed, in this present state we groan, yearning to be clothed over with that dwelling of ours which is from heaven, if indeed we shall be found clothed, and not naked.

For we who are in this tent sigh under our burden, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but rather clothed over, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as its pledge.

We work to please Him:

Always full of courage, then, and knowing that while we are in the body we are exiled from the Lord—for we walk by faith and not by sight—we even have the courage to prefer to be exiled from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

And therefore we strive, whether in the body or out of it, to be pleasing to him. For all of us must be made manifest before the tribunal of Christ, so that each one may receive what he has won through the body, according to his works, whether good or evil.

Paul writes out of his love of Christ:

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade men; but to God we are manifest. And I hope also that in your consciences we are manifest. We are not again commending ourselves to you; but we are giving you occasion to boast about us, that you may have an answer for them who glory in appearances and not in heart.

For if we were out of our mind, it was for God; if we are sane, it is for you.

For the love of Christ impels us, because we have come to the conclusion that, since one died for all, therefore all died; and that Christ died for all, in order that they who are alive may live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again.

Reconciliation to God through Christ:

So that henceforth we know no one according to the flesh.

And even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.

If then any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the former things have passed away; behold, they are made new!

But all things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

For God was truly in Christ, reconciling the world to himself by not reckoning against man their sins and by entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Ambassadors of Christ:

On behalf of Christ, therefore, we are acting as ambassadors, God, as it were, appealing through us.

We exhort you, for Christ’s sake, to be reconciled with God. For our sakes he made him to be sin who knew nothing of sin, so that in him we might become the justice of God.

 

2 Corinthians Chapter 6:

A life of zeal:

Yes, working together with him we entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

For he says, “In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and in the day of salvation I have helped thee.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!

We give no offense to anyone, that our ministry may not be blamed.

On the contrary, let us conduct ourselves in all circumstances as God’s ministers, in much patience; in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses; in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults; in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings; in innocence, in knowledge, in long-sufferings, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unaffected love; in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the armor of justice on the right hand and on the left; in honor and dishonor, in evil report and in good report; as deceivers and yet truthful, as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold, we live, as chastised but not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet enriching many, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Mutual love:

We are frank with you, O Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. In us there is no lack of room for you, but in your heart there is no room for us. Now as having a recompense in like kind—I speak as to my children—be you also open wide to us.

Avoid marriage with unbelievers:

Do not bear the yoke with unbelievers.

For what has justice in common with iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what part has the believer with the unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For you are the temple of the living God, as God says. “I will dwell and move among them, I will be their God and they shall be my people.”

Wherefore, “Come out from among them, be separated says the Lord, and touch not an unclean thing; and I will welcome you in, and will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord almighty.”

Day 162: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Making known the Truth about Life & Death…

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 4-6.

Bible Notes:

Saint Paul at the beginning of this letter defends himself against the charges of inconstancy in the apostolate, of pride, and of selfish motives in his work. After a short appeal for a collection to help the poor in Jerusalem, he again refutes his enemies and vindicates his apostolic authority.

2 Corinthians Chapter 4:  How Paul exercises his ministry; Frailty of the ministers; Hope of a glorious Resurrection.

How Paul exercises his ministry:

Discharging therefore this ministry in accordance with the mercy shown us, we do not lose heart. On the contrary, we renounce those practices which shame conceals, we avoid unscrupulous conduct, we do not corrupt the word of God; but making known the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

And if our gospel also is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this world has blinded their unbelieving minds, that they should not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves merely as your servants in Jesus.

For God, who commanded light to shine out of the darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give enlightenment concerning the knowledge of the glory of God, shining on the face of Christ Jesus.

Frailty of the ministers:

But we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, to show that the abundance of the power is God’s and not ours.

In all things we suffer tribulation, but we are not distressed, we are sore pressed, but we are not destitute; we endure persecution, but we are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we do not perish; always bearing about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodily frame.

For we the living are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Thus death is at work in us, but life in you. But since we have the same spirit of faith, as shown in that which is written—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believed, wherefore we also speak.

For we know that he who raised up Jesus will raise up us also with Jesus, and will place us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that grace which abounds through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound, to the glory of God.

Hope of a glorious Resurrection:

Wherefore we do not lose heart. On the contrary, even though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our present light affliction, which is for the moment, prepares for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure; while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians Chapter 5:  God made us for immortality; We work to please Him; Paul writes out of his love of Christ; Reconciliation to God through Christ; Ambassadors of Christ.  

God made us for immortality:

For we know that if the earthly house in which we dwell be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by human hands, eternal in the heavens. And indeed, in this present state we groan, yearning to be clothed over with that dwelling of ours which is from heaven, if indeed we shall be found clothed, and not naked.

For we who are in this tent sigh under our burden, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but rather clothed over, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as its pledge.

We work to please Him:

Always full of courage, then, and knowing that while we are in the body we are exiled from the Lord—for we walk by faith and not by sight—we even have the courage to prefer to be exiled from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

And therefore we strive, whether in the body or out of it, to be pleasing to him. For all of us must be made manifest before the tribunal of Christ, so that each one may receive what he has won through the body, according to his works, whether good or evil.

Paul writes out of his love of Christ:

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade men; but to God we are manifest. And I hope also that in your consciences we are manifest. We are not again commending ourselves to you; but we are giving you occasion to boast about us, that you may have an answer for them who glory in appearances and not in heart.

For if we were out of our mind, it was for God; if we are sane, it is for you.

For the love of Christ impels us, because we have come to the conclusion that, since one died for all, therefore all died; and that Christ died for all, in order that they who are alive may live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again.

Reconciliation to God through Christ:

So that henceforth we know no one according to the flesh.

And even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.

If then any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the former things have passed away; behold, they are made new!

But all things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

For God was truly in Christ, reconciling the world to himself by not reckoning against man their sins and by entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Ambassadors of Christ:

On behalf of Christ, therefore, we are acting as ambassadors, God, as it were, appealing through us.

We exhort you, for Christ’s sake, to be reconciled with God. For our sakes he made him to be sin who knew nothing of sin, so that in him we might become the justice of God.

2 Corinthians Chapter 6: A life of zeal; Mutual love; Avoid marriage with unbelievers.

A life of zeal:

Zeal—fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.

Yes, working together with him we entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

For he says, “In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and in the day of salvation I have helped thee.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!

We give no offense to anyone, that our ministry may not be blamed.

On the contrary, let us conduct ourselves in all circumstances as God’s ministers, in much patience; in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses; in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults; in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings; in innocence, in knowledge, in long-sufferings, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unaffected love; in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the armor of justice on the right hand and on the left; in honor and dishonor, in evil report and in good report; as deceivers and yet truthful, as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold, we live, as chastised but not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet enriching many, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Mutual love:

We are frank with you, O Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. In us there is no lack of room for you, but in your heart there is no room for us. Now as having a recompense in like kind—I speak as to my children—be you also open wide to us.

Avoid marriage with unbelievers:

Do not bear the yoke with unbelievers.

For what has justice in common with iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what part has the believer with the unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For you are the temple of the living God, as God says. “I will dwell and move among them, I will be their God and they shall be my people.”

Wherefore, “Come out from among them, be separated says the Lord, and touch not an unclean thing; and I will welcome you in, and will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord almighty.”

   

 

Should such a man as I flee?

Nehemias was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, strengthened by God, doing the Will of God, yet others were afraid, thinking perhaps their enemies were stronger than God?

The wall was finished and when finished was a symbol of God to Nehemias’ enemies that God was with Nehemias. Moral of the story up to this point being perseverance is the key to success. Living life from the inside-out, guided by God, moving in the right direction will undoubtedly have trials and tribulations, challenges as big as mountains, but perseverance will enable one to finish the race coming home to God, that which is called a lifetime, no matter how long, or how short.

Israel had returned home—all 42,360 of the remaining children of God. And in the silence of the multitude, Esdras reread the Book of the Law of Moses—The Ten Commandments, for in the Old Testament all they could perceive was the law for the love, compassion, and mercy of Jesus had yet to come.

What to do with the sinners who broke the law, who in truth was everybody in spirit, pride, and silly ego?

But in a personal perspective free of self they remembered the trials and tribulations of their forefathers all the way back to Abraham and the original covenant made with God. They saw the cycle of addiction to sin demonstrated by their ancestors. The misperception; the sin; the pain and suffering until the truth emerges yet again; the return of hope and a way to continue in relationship with God.

They extracted the inspiration of God through their forefathers and renewed the original covenant with God with gratitude that they have found their way back home to the Promised Land.

Most importantly, they vowed to never to betray or forsake their covenant with God.

Here, in the selected words of the Chapters 6 thru 10 of the Second Book of Esdras (Nehemias), and in the Bible itself, continue on or find your pathway to God:   

…and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it…

Come and let us make a league together… But they thought to do me mischief…

I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come and go down to you…

…that thou and the Jews think to rebel, and therefore thou buildest the wall, and hast a mind to set thyself king over them…

There is no such thing done as thou sayest: but thou feignest these things out of thy own heart. For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I strengthened my hands the more.

…for they will come to kill thee, and in the night they will come to slay thee…

Should such a man as I flee?

But the wall was finished… in two and fifty days…

And it came to pass when all our enemies heard of it, that all nations which were round about us, were afraid, and were cast down within themselves, for they perceived that this work was the work of God.

But God had put in my heart…

These are the children of the province, who came up from the captivity of them that had been carried away, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned into Judea, every one into his own city.

All the multitude as it were one man, forty-two thousand three hundred sixty… and all Israel dwell in their cities.

And all the people were gathered together as one man… and they spoke to Esdras the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel…

And Esdras opened the book before all the people: and when he had opened it, all the people stood. And Esdras blessed the Lord the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, amen: lifting up their hands: and they bowed down, and adored God with their faces to the ground… made silence among the people to hear the law: and the people stood in their place. And they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and plainly to be understood: and they understood when it was read.

This is a holy day to the Lord our God: do not mourn, nor weep: for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law… and be not sad; for the joy of the Lord is our strength… Hold your peace, for the day is holy, and be not sorrowful… make great mirth: because they understood the words that he had taught them.

And all the assembly of them that were returned from the captivity made tabernacles, and dwelt in tabernacles… and there was exceeding great joy… and they kept the solemnity seven days…

…the children of Israel came together with fasting and with sackcloth, and earth upon them. And the seed of the children of Israel separated themselves from every stranger: and they stood, and confessed their sins, and the inequities of their fathers. And they rose up to stand: and they read in the book of the law of the Lord their God, four times in the day, and four times they confessed, and adored the Lord their God.

And there stood up upon the step… and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God:

Arise, bless the Lord your God from eternity to eternity: and blessed be the high name of thy glory with all blessing and praise.

Thou thyself, O Lord alone, thou hast made heaven, and the heaven of heavens, and all the host thereof: the earth and all things that are in it…

Thou, O lord God, art he who chosest Abram… and gavest him the name of Abraham. And thou didst find his heart faithful before thee: and thou madest a covenant with him, to give him the land of… to give it to his seed: and thou hast fulfilled thy words, because thou art just.

And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt: and thou didst hear their cry by the Red sea… And thou didst divide the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry land… And in a pillar of a cloud thou wast their leader by day, and in a pillar of fire by night…

Thou camest down also to mount Sinai, and didst speak with them from heaven, and thou gavest them right judgments, and the law of truth, ceremonies, and good precepts.

Thou madest known to them thy holy Sabbath, and didst prescribe to them commandments, and ceremonies, and the law, by the hand of Moses thy servant.

And thou gavest them bread from heaven in their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock in their thirst…

But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments… And they hardened their necks, and gave the head to return to their bondage, as it were by contention.

But thou, a forgiving God, gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, and full of compassion, didst not forsake them… and had committed great blasphemies, yet thou, in ty many mercies, didst not leave them in the desert… And thou gavest them thy good Spirit to teach them… Forty years didst thou feed them in the dessert, and nothing was wanting to them…

And thou gavest them kingdoms, and nations… And thou didst multiply their children as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them to the land… And they took strong cities and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods: cisterns made by others… and abounded with delight in thy great goodness.

But they provoked thee to wrath, and departed from thee, and threw thy law behind their backs: and they killed thy prophets, who admonished them earnestly to return to thee: and they were guilty of great blasphemies…

And thou heardest from heaven, and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies thou gavest them saviors, to save them from the hands of their enemies. But after they had rest, they returned to do evil in thy sight: and thou leftist them in the hand of their enemies, and they had dominion over them. Then they returned, and cried to thee: and thou heardest from heaven and deliveredst them many times in thy mercies. And thou didst admonish them to return to thy law. But they dealt proudly, and hearkened not to thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments…

And thou didst forbear with them for many years, and didst testify against them by thy spirit… Yet in thy very many mercies thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them: because thou art a merciful and gracious God.

Now therefore our God, great, strong, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy, turn not away from thy face all the labor which has come upon us…

And thou are just in all things that have come upon us; because thou hast done truth, but we have done wickedly…

Behold we ourselves this day are bondmen: and the land, which thou gavest our fathers, to eat bread thereof, and the good things thereof, and we ourselves are servants to it. And the fruits that thereof grow up for the kings, whom thou hast set over us for our sins, and they have dominion over our bodies, and over our beasts, according to their will, and we are in great tribulation.

And because of all this we ourselves make a covenant, and write it, and our princes, our Levites, and our priests sign it.

And the subscribers were Nehemias… And the rest of the people… all that had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God… All that could understand promising for their brethren… they came to promise, and swear that they would walk in the law of God, which he gave in the hand of Moses the servant of God, that they would do and keep all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his ceremonies… and we will not forsake the house of our God.

Day 163: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Should Such a Man as I Flee???

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Esdras (Nehemias), Chapters 6-10

Bible Notes:

The book is a history of the Jewish restoration under Nehemias, whose name is also given to the book. A servant of the Persian king, Nehemias became governor of Juda after the exile and took charge of the work of reconstruction. He not only helped rebuild Jerusalem but also fostered a spiritual revival.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 6: Enemies seek to terrify Nehemias; Delaia attempts to delude Nehemias; The wall is finished; Some Jews correspond with Tobias.

…and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it…

Come and let us make a league together… But they thought to do me mischief…

I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come and go down to you…

…that thou and the Jews think to rebel, and therefore thou buildest the wall, and hast a mind to set thyself king over them…

There is no such thing done as thou sayest: but thou feignest these things out of thy own heart. For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I strengthened my hands the more.

…for they will come to kill thee, and in the night they will come to slay thee…

Should such a man as I flee?

And I understood that God had not sent him, but that he had spoken to me as if he had been prophesying… For he had taken money, that I being afraid should do this thing, and sin, and they might have some evil to upbraid me withal.

…and the rest of the prophet that would have put me in fear.

But the wall was finished… in two and fifty days…

And it came to pass when all our enemies heard of it, that all nations which were round about us, were afraid, and were cast down within themselves, for they perceived that this work was the work of God.

And Tobias sent letters to put me in fear.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 7: Watchmen for the gates; People who came from Babylon with Zorobabel; Men of Israel; Priests; Levites; Nathinites; Servants of Solomon; Those of unknown ancestry; Summary; Offerings of the returning exiles.

Now after the wall was built… Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till the sun be hot.

But God had put in my heart…

These are the children of the province, who came up from the captivity of them that had been carried away, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned into Judea, every one into his own city.

The number of the men of the people of Israel… The children of… The men of… The priests… The Levites… The Nathinites… The children of the servants of Solomon… And these are they that came up… and could not show the house of their fathers, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel… These sought their writing in the record, and found it not…

All the multitude as it were one man, forty-two thousand three hundred sixty…

Hitherto is related what was written in the record. From this place forward goeth on the history of Nehemias.

And some of the heads of the families gave unto the work… And some of the heads of the families gave to the treasure of the work… And that which the rest of the people gave… and all Israel dwell in their cities.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 8: Esdras reads the Law to the people; The people make merry; The Feast of Tabernacles.

And all the people were gathered together as one man… and they spoke to Esdras the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel…

And he read it plainly in the street… and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book…

And Esdras opened the book before all the people: and when he had opened it, all the people stood. And Esdras blessed the Lord the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, amen: lifting up their hands: and they bowed down, and adored God with their faces to the ground… made silence among the people to hear the law: and the people stood in their place. And they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and plainly to be understood: and they understood when it was read.

Esdras the priest and scribe

This is a holy day to the Lord our God: do not mourn, nor weep: for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law… and be not sad; for the joy of the Lord is our strength… Hold your peace, for the day is holy, and be not sorrowful… make great mirth: because they understood the words that he had taught them.

…were gathered together in Esdras the scribe, that he should interpret to them the words of the law. And they found written in the law that the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in tabernacles, on the feast…

Go forth to the mount, and fetch branches… to make tabernacles, as it is written…

And they made themselves tabernacles every man on the top of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street…

And all the assembly of them that were returned from the captivity made tabernacles, and dwelt in tabernacles… and there was exceeding great joy… and they kept the solemnity seven days…

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 9: Public fasting and repentance; The prayer of the Levites; Introduction; God’s choice of Abraham; God’s rescue of the Jews from Egypt; From Mount Sinai to the Promised Land; God’s help in conquering Chanaan; Ingratitude of the people; May God’s benefits continue; Renewal of the covenant.

…the children of Israel came together with fasting and with sackcloth, and earth upon them. And the seed of the children of Israel separated themselves from every stranger: and they stood, and confessed their sins, and the inequities of their fathers. And they rose up to stand: and they read in the book of the law of the Lord their God, four times in the day, and four times they confessed, and adored the Lord their God.

And there stood up upon the step… and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God:

Arise, bless the Lord your God from eternity to eternity: and blessed be the high name of thy glory with all blessing and praise.

Thou thyself, O Lord alone, thou hast made heaven, and the heaven of heavens, and all the host thereof: the earth and all things that are in it…

Thou, O lord God, art he who chosest Abram… and gavest him the name of Abraham. And thou didst find his heart faithful before thee: and thou madest a covenant with him, to give him the land of… to give it to his seed: and thou hast fulfilled thy words, because thou art just.

And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt: and thou didst hear their cry by the Red sea… And thou didst divide the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry land… And in a pillar of a cloud thou wast their leader by day, and in a pillar of fire by night…

Thou camest down also to mount Sinai, and didst speak with them from heaven, and thou gavest them right judgments, and the law of truth, ceremonies, and good precepts.

Thou madest known to them thy holy Sabbath, and didst prescribe to them commandments, and ceremonies, and the law, by the hand of Moses thy servant.

And thou gavest them bread from heaven in their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock in their thirst…

But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments… And they hardened their necks, and gave the head to return to their bondage, as it were by contention.

Contention—a struggling together in opposition; strife; a striving in rivalry; competition; contest; strife in debate; dispute; controversy.

But thou, a forgiving God, gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, and full of compassion, didst not forsake them… and had committed great blasphemies, yet thou, in ty many mercies, didst not leave them in the desert… And thou gavest them thy good Spirit to teach them… Forty years didst thou feed them in the dessert, and nothing was wanting to them…

And thou gavest them kingdoms, and nations… And thou didst multiply their children as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them to the land… And they took strong cities and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods: cisterns made by others… and abounded with delight in thy great goodness.

But they provoked thee to wrath, and departed from thee, and threw thy law behind their backs: and they killed thy prophets, who admonished them earnestly to return to thee: and they were guilty of great blasphemies…

And thou heardest from heaven, and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies thou gavest them saviors, to save them from the hands of their enemies. But after they had rest, they returned to do evil in thy sight: and thou leftist them in the hand of their enemies, and they had dominion over them. Then they returned, and cried to thee: and thou heardest from heaven and deliveredst them many times in thy mercies. And thou didst admonish them to return to thy law. But they dealt proudly, and hearkened not to thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments…

And thou didst forbear with them for many years, and didst testify against them by thy spirit… Yet in thy very many mercies thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them: because thou art a merciful and gracious God.

Now therefore our God, great, strong, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy, turn not away from thy face all the labor which has come upon us…

And thou are just in all things that have come upon us; because thou hast done truth, but we have done wickedly…

Behold we ourselves this day are bondmen: and the land, which thou gavest our fathers, to eat bread thereof, and the good things thereof, and we ourselves are servants to it. And the fruits that thereof grow up for the kings, whom thou hast set over us for our sins, and they have dominion over our bodies, and over our beasts, according to their will, and we are in great tribulation.

And because of all this we ourselves make a covenant, and write it, and our princes, our Levites, and our priests sign it.

2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 10: Signers of the covenant; Conditions of the covenant; Offerings promised in the covenant.

And the subscribers were Nehemias… And the rest of the people… all that had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God… All that could understand promising for their brethren… they came to promise, and swear that they would walk in the law of God, which he gave in the hand of Moses the servant of God, that they would do and keep all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his ceremonies.

And we made ordinances for ourselves, to give the third part of a sicle every year for the work of the house of our God. For the loaves of proposition, and for the continual sacrifice, and for a continual holocaust on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, on the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offering: that atonement might be made for Israel, and for every use of the house of our God.

…as it is written in the law of Moses, and that we would bring the firstfruits of our land… the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree… firstborn of our sons… the firstlings of our oxen, and of our sheep, to be offered in the house of our God.

…the firstfruits… to the storehouse of our God, and the tithes of our ground to the Levites… and the Levites shall offer the tithe of their tithes in the house of our God, to the storeroom into the treasure house… and we will not forsake the house of our God.