Archive for category Genesis
Just Call Me “teacher”
Posted by Peter in Ancient Hebrew, Bible, Blogging, Christianity, Genesis, God, Hebrew, Jesus, Old Testament on September 11, 2009
I am “teaching” a discipleship class at our church starting this Sunday. I’m really looking forward to it.
It has been in the planning stages since about the first of the year, but I was pleasantly (and amusingly) surprised to find a postcard in the mail from our church publicizing the class.
The class will run for four weeks on Sunday evenings. I will probably post about the classes just for fun, although a lot of what I’m going to cover is already here somewhere (see links below). It’s going to be a blast.
Note the text:
Come experience the Word of God with teacher Peter Lopez and explore treasures from the Scripture God placed there for you to find!
I have taught several classes as an adjunct faculty member at a local college, but this makes it seem more official. Didn’t they call Jesus “Teacher?” Well, henceforth, just call me “teacher,” too. 
[Note the distinction in titles-I will forego the capitalization in reverence to my Teacher.]
The class was named after, you guessed it, this blog and will be “an exploration of the beauty of the Word of God.” Ringing any bells? Specifically, we will look at Genesis 1:1 in the ancient Hebrew pictographs and a whole slew of other cool stuff.
Each of the four weeks there will be a theme or purpose that ties in to the teaching. The plan is also to conclude with prayer for specific needs related to the themes. For example (a very rough draft):
- Week 1 – Faith: Why you can trust God’s Word. Related Teachings: In the beginning, My Covenant, and The Language of God.
- Week 2 – Knowing Jesus as Your Shepherd. Related Teachings: The Lord is My Shepherd, On Creation, and What’s in a Name.
- Week 3 – Encountering Heaven. Related Teachings: Oh, My Heavens Part 1 and Part 2 and The Salvation of “the earth”.
- Week 4 – Revelation: God and His Word. Related Teachings: God’s Signature.
If anyone out there in cyberspace needs or wants prayer for an increase of faith, to know Jesus as your shepherd, to encounter heaven, or for revelation from and about God and His Word, please let me know. We will pray specifically for those wants and needs, and we will pray for you individually. Let me know in the comment section below, or, if you prefer a little more privacy, use the “Contact” for above.
Biblical Justification for a Two-Day Weekend?
If any of you have ever wondered whether we should have a one-day weekend or two, here’s something to think about:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night And there was evening and there was morning, one day (emphasis added). Gen. 1:1-5 (NASB)
The account continues:
8 …And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Creation, creation, creation…
31 …And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
However, immediately following that we have:
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.
2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Gen. 2:1-2 (NASB)
Isn’t it true that in the Jewish tradition, the Sabbath, for example, begins the evening of the sixth day and continues until the evening of the seventh? Why wouldn’t the first day, or “one day” above, begin the same way such that all of the creation events that have been traditionally assigned to the “second day” would have actually happened on day one, and those events assigned to the “first” day (“first” not actually appearing in Hebrew text) would have occurred before time as we know it.
Thus, the creation of man would have occurred on the fifth day, and the, “By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done…” stuff would have happened on the sixth.
So, like us, God might have used the sixth day (our Saturday) to finish up some stuff, too. A little house cleaning after a hard week’s work, if you know what I mean? Think of it as a Sabbath-lite.
The moral of the story: don’t feel bad for only working five days, not six.
And don’t send me a lot of heretical hate mail, or flood the comment section by telling me how wacko I am, I already know that. I’m just trying to have a little fun on a Friday (my Sabbath-lite-lite), and if creation theology is reformed in the process, so be it.
Hebrews Bible Study-Week 1
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, Greek, Israel, Jesus, Law, New Testament, Old Testament on August 27, 2009
Last night was the first real night of our Hebrews study. Our study group actually met last Wednesday, but it was more of a meet-and-greet.
One of the themes that kept emerging throughout the discussion of Hebrews 1 was the author’s set up of his (or her) theme or thesis or argument. It is similar to how a lawyer would present a case. I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me during the days and weeks leading up the study, and only right in the midst (I might have developed the idea a little more being a lawyer and all), but it will end up being a good starting point, I think.
The opening four verses (a single sentence in the Greek) are powerful. Already, the author has grabbed the audience’s attention contending that (1) God has spoken to the fathers through the prophets and (2) God has spoken in His Son, who (3) upholds all things through the word of His power and (4) has a much better name than the angels. The importance of these conclusions to a Hebrew audience cannot be overstated.
The author then, in proving the superiority to the angels, immediately invokes Messianic Psalms. Again, the significance is clear. This Son is the one to whom the scriptures have been pointing. Everything that has come before has been to try and illustrate this.
In Chapter 2, the author cuts right to it, “if the word spoken through the angels proved unalterable,” then how much more is this true since He said it and God confirmed it through sings, wonders and miracles.
The audience is presented with the inescapable conclusion before the identity of the Son is revealed. Quite a stroke of persuasive genius, especially considering the intended audience.
And then the really good news, the devil is rendered powerless (Genesis 3:15), the slaves are set free, and He is there to help us because He gets it. He became one of us, and He gets it.
This is obviously a very shorthand version of an hour-and-a-half Bible study. I don’t know if my study/discussion notes will be of any help, but I have included them as separate posts, and you are certainly free to use and abuse them as you feel the need:
At the end of the semester I will probably make a master post with links to everything, but for now it’s one week at a time.
Hebrews Chapter 1-Study Notes
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, Israel, New Testament, Old Testament on August 27, 2009
These are my study notes for Hebrews Chapter 1. I don’t know if they will make much sense to anyone else, but if they are helpful to anyone feel free to use them.
The scripture references and discussion notes should have aligned with the appropriate scriptures, but I lost that somehow when I loaded the table into my blog. On the left is, obviously, the Bible text, the center column contains the scriptures I referenced or wanted to reference, and the right-hand column has discussion topics.
| Hebrews 1 (NASB)
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, 6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, 7 And of the angels He says, 8 But of the Son He says, 10 And, 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? |
Scripture Refs.
1:2-3 – Gen. 1:1, John 1:1 1:5 – Psalm 2 1: 9 – Psalm 45; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16: 12-14 1:10 – Psalm 102; Gen. 1:1 1:13 – Psalm 110 |
Discussion Notes 1:1-3 – Scripture and prophets like sketches before photos. Ex. layers and layers of sketches required for animation. 1:2 – “spoken to us in,” limited to past tense? “In.” 1:4 - Must understand in context of ancient Israel. Angels = significant, greater than prophets. 1:5 – Psalm 2. First Messianic Psalm. Key to who “Son” is. Author refers to Messianic Psalms over and over. 1:13 – Ps. 110 “order of Melchizedek” theme repeated in Hebrews Ch. 5-7. 1:14 For “those who will inherit salvation?” |
Hebrews Chapter 2-Study Notes
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, New Testament on August 27, 2009
These are my study notes for Hebrews Chapter 2. I don’t know if they will make much sense to anyone else, but if they are helpful to anyone feel free to use them.
The scripture references and discussion notes should have aligned with the appropriate scriptures, but I lost that somehow when I loaded the table into my blog. On the left is, obviously, the Bible text, the center column contains the scriptures I referenced or wanted to reference, and the right-hand column has discussion topics.
|
Hebrews 2 (NASB) 1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. 5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, 13 And again, And again, 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. |
Scripture Refs.
2:6-8 – Psalm 8 2:12 – Psalm 22 2:14 – Gen. 3:15 2:15 – Gal. 4 2:17-18 – Heb. 4:15 |
Discussion Notes 2:1 – What is the “this reason?” Is it what was spoken in 1:1-2? 2:2 – The scriptures given by angels to the fathers in the past unalterable, how much more what is spoken by the Son, and then confirmed by those who heard. 2:6-8 – Psalm 8. Another Messianic Psalm. 2:8 – Will we only see all things subjected to Him upon His return? What do we do now? 2:14 – Since Gen. 3:15, devil has been trying to prevent seed from being born. 2:15 – What are we/they slaves to? 2:17-18 – Tempted in every way, yet w/o sin. Truly knows and understands what we are going through. |
Canon within a Canon
Posted by Peter in Bible, Blogging, Christianity, Genesis on August 10, 2009
My friend Polycarp, et al., are walking the fine line of heresy ( ) with this Canon within a Canon non-meme, but lest they burn alone, I’ll bite:
My Canon w/i a Canon:
- Genesis
Yup, that about covers it. It’s all in there.
If pressed, however, I would expand said Canon to include:
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Job
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Joel
- Zechariah
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts
- Paul’s Epistles
- Hebrews
- Revelation
Ouch, that was painful!
God was the First Feminist
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, God, Old Testament on June 30, 2009
Okay, not exactly. But, to the extent to which God intended equality of the sexes, I think so.
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Gen. 5:2 (KJV)
The tension between Christianity (or Christian doctrine) and feminism has always struck me as odd and unnecessary. God created them, male and female, and called them Adam.
In Genesis 2, we are told that Adam named his helper “Woman,” but I don’t find anywhere in scripture where God makes such a distinction. God created a helper for Adam, but called them Adam.
Later in scripture, there are rules for how humans are to interact, govern, and live peaceably in a society, but I believe those are for the benefit of mankind, given from a merciful God who knows all to well the frailties of Adam. In the New Testament, Paul gives additional instructions out of revelation of how these beings can best interact and accomplish God’s will on earth.
But, male and female are indeed two sides of the same coin, and together we are one Adam.
An Exciting New Blog-The World Bible Translation Center Blog
Posted by Peter in Bible, Bible Translations, Blogging, Christianity, Genesis, Greek, Hebrew, New Testament, Old Testament on June 17, 2009
I am excited to report on a new blog I was emailed about last night (by my pastor). It is the World Bible Translation Center Weekly Blog (Wonder of the Word). The Wonder of the Word…it has a Beauty of the Bible sort of feel, doesn’t it?
As it happens, the founding pastor of our church now works at the World Bible Translation Center. If I’m not mistaken, an Arabic translation was released recently, and the WBTC is currently working on several translation projects. Here is the list of the languages in which the WBTC has completed a translation, and you can download the Bible in pdf form in Burmese, Punjabi, or one of the other languages.
The WBTC has also published an English Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) (originally the English Version for the Deaf, or the EVD), which served as the basis for the International Children’s Version (ICV) which I am becoming acquainted with as the father of an 11-month old. So, you may be familiar with the WBTC even if you’re not familiar with it.
If you are so led, you may also support the WBTC financially (the blog is not a solicitation for funds, by the way) which our church and my family does. We have been told that it costs approximately $750,000.00 to translate the Bible into a new language, or approximately $25.00 per verse. It should come as no surprise to my readers that my wife and I have chosen to sponsor Genesis 1:1 in as many languages as possible.
It is a worthwhile project and I highly encourage you to support it in any way possible. You can put it in your blogroll.
Question: What if Adam had Repented?
Posted by Peter in Bible, Christianity, Genesis, God, Old Testament on May 29, 2009
Okay, so this is not just a simple question, but rather two questions (each potentially raising many, many other questions):
- What if Adam had just confessed and repented when the Lord came a callin’ in Genesis 3?
- Or, what if, immediately after Eve partook of the fruit, Adam had said, “No thanks, we’re not supposed to. Serpent, get away, and while we’re at it, Eve, why don’t you confess and repent”?
Would the course of human history be different? If so, how?
Genesis 1:1 Follow Up
Posted by Peter in Ancient Hebrew, Bible, Christianity, Genesis, Hebrew, Old Testament on May 11, 2009
I am working on a post (and have been for some time now) wherein I will compile all of my posts on Genesis 1:1 and its ancient Hebrew pictographs.
I think I will initially publish it as a post and then make it a permanent page when it slips off the bottom of the the front page, but I’m still kicking this idea around. The length is the only reason I would publish it as a page only.
Anyway, for the time being, I will simply say, “Coming Soon.” In the mean time, these are the Genesis 1:1 links which I will reformat into the new post/page, if you want a preview:
Genesis 1:1 Posts:
- In the beginning
- God (The Lord is My Shepherd)
- Created (On Creation)
- The Heavens (Part 1 and Part 2)
- And the Earth
- God’s Signature
Other Related Posts:
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