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ABBA (FATHER): Not ‘Daddy’
[Not by Michael Snow; this is a link for an article by Glenn T. Stanton]
From the Gospel Coalition
FactChecker: Does ‘Abba’ Mean ‘Daddy’?
In the Aramaic language of the time of Jesus, there was absolutely no other word [than Abba] available if Jesus wished to speak of or address God as father. … it [Abba] is… the only possible form!
See full article
Christ’s Coming: 1 Thessalonians vs. ‘Left Behind’
First Thessalonians 4: The Coming of the Lord
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (English Standard Version)
Thessalonians is one of the earliest books of the New Testament. (Some think the earliest. F.F. Bruce suggested the possibility that Galations preceded it. But overall, James was probably the first.) Understandably, these new Christians in this new church had questions and misunderstandings that needed answers.
As v. 15 shows, this section answers questions about the coming of the Lord, the Parousia.[With reference to those who remain alive at that time.]
It begins in v. 13 with Paul addressing their concern about fellow Christians who have already died. Were these who had died now at some disadvantage? What hope did those who still live have for them when Christ returns?
Verse 14 points to Jesus’ death and resurrection, the central theme of Christian hope concerning those who have died.
See 1 Corinthians 15 where Paul addresses the question of the resurrection. Christ’s resurrection was the first fruits, and the resurrection of Christians is the final harvest, v.23 “at His coming (parousia)” when “we shall all be changed—in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (verse 52).
Verse 15 gives the key point of this passage (addressing the concerns of the Thessalonians) that, when Christ returns, the living Christians have no advantage over those who have died.
Verse 16 describes, in familiar terms (for us who have the NT), Christ’s return (parousia). This is no secret event.
This Coming is described in the same terms as other passages about the Lord’s coming:
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God….in the clouds…”
Acts 1 “…a cloud took him out of their sight….’This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’”
Dan 7 “…with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man”
Rev 1 “…Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him…”
Mark 13 “…then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven…”
Verse 17 pictures the “we” who are still alive as following those who have died “to meet the Lord in the air…”
To meet [apantasin] the Lord… “When a dignitary paid an official visit (parousia) to a city in Hellenistic times, the action of the leading citizens in going out to meet him and escort him back on the final stage of his journey [to that city] was called the apantesis.” (F.F. Bruce,I &2 Thessalonians, WBC)
See N.T. Wright speak of this, here.
Verse 18 (This is no gnostic revelation of some new doctrine of a secret ‘rapture’.) The whole point of this passage is to encourage each other in the hope given to us regarding death through Christ’s death and resurrection.
The Saving Dawn of Christ's Crucifixion
TODAY CHRIST'S HOLY PASSION DAWNS UPON THE WORLD AS A SAVING LIGHT, FOR HE COMES OF HIS GOODNESS TO SUFFER:
HE WHO HOLDS ALL THINGS IN HIS HAND
CONSENTS TO BE HUNG UPON THE WOOD
IN ORDER TO SAVE MANKIND.
Today, 5 May, is Pascha (Easter) in the East. Blessing upon all who celebrate our Risen Lord, Christ Jesus.
The Easter Message and John 3:16
John 3:16...Keeping the Easter Message
Many Christians have lost their grade school grammar and so have lost the focus of this verse. A few weeks ago, I heard a pastor, using this text, emphasizing that God sooooooo loved the world. The main focus of the verse was not even acknowledged.
So: ‘in a manner or way indicated,’ hence, “God thus loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…”
Yeshua Ha’Mashiach: Crucified
Isaiah 52:13ff
“Behold, my servant [Targ. adds "the Messiah"] will accomplish his purpose;
he will be high and lifted up, and very exalted.
Just as many were appalled over you–
his appearance was a disfigurement from the human
and his form from that of humanity–
so he will startle many nations…
He was despised, a rejection of people,
a man of pain, one who knows sickness
and like a hiding of face from him,
he was despised, and we did not pay attention to him.
But surely it was our sickness he carried,
our pains he bore.
But we considered him stricken,
smitten of God and afflicted.
But he was pierced through for our rebellion,
crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment for our peace was on him,
and his welts made healing for us
All of us, like sheep we go astray,
each one to his own way we have turned;
but the Lord has caused to fall on him
the inquity of us all.
From NICOT, Isaiah, by Prof. John Oswalt, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary.
“High and lifted up are used in combination four times in this book (and no where else in the OT). In the other three places (66:1; 33:10; 57:15) they describe God….The same point may be made concerning exalted….only God can be lifted up. Is it here than being said that the nation of Israel [the explanation of some for 'servant'] will be exalted to the place of God? Is it a prophet of Israel? In each case the answer must be no. This is the Messiah or no one.”
53:7 …Like a sheep…
“the only extended metaphor in this poem involves sheep, the primary animals of sacrifice.”
“the Servant will be exalted to highest heaven…because it was all in order to carry the sin of the world away to permit God’s children to come home to him….redemption.”
“The text must still be read through the eyes of faith, but with that faith the mystery is no longer about how it is possible for sinful humans to have a healthy and whole relationship with God. The only mystery is how God could love us like that.”
Holy Week--Hosanna!
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
--Zechariah 9
Jerusalem and The Passover Feast
The ISBE sets the scene:
Pilgrimage was made annually to Jerusalem for the Passover sacrifice…
Passover in NT temple days was a spectacle of excitement and devotion.
7 Ways to Do a Bad Word Study.
This week has been a fascinating walk through the world of “Word-Studies”. My guess is, you’ve encountered some sort of word story in the last couple of months: a Bible study, a sermon, a commentary, a quip about agape love or a defense of a biblical viewpoint you’re not sure of. But sometimes it’s hard to wade through the muck and know when you’re being short changed.
[Reblog, Article is Not by Michael Snow]
For further reading on this topic, see Chapter One of
Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson
