Second Sunday in Advent, Year B
Abbraccio tra la Giustizia e la Pace - Justice embracing Peace by Artemisia Gentileschi, circa 1635, private collection. Gentileschi was the most successful female Baroque painter. One of the women is a personification of Peace with an olive branch and the other is a personification of Justice with the top of a scale shown in her hand. This is a depiction of Psalm 85:10.
The playlist for this week is available on YouTube.
I want to draw special attention to the song O God, Will You Restore Us?
Isaiah 40:1-11
CSB
“Comfort, comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and announce to her
that her time of hard service is over,
her iniquity has been pardoned,
and she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.”
A voice of one crying out:
Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;
make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
Every valley will be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled;
the uneven ground will become smooth
and the rough places, a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will appear,
and all humanity together will see it,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
A voice was saying, “Cry out!”
Another said, “What should I cry out?”
“All humanity is grass,
and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flowers fade
when the breath of the Lord blows on them;
indeed, the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flowers fade,
but the word of our God remains forever.”
Zion, herald of good news,
go up on a high mountain.
Jerusalem, herald of good news,
raise your voice loudly.
Raise it, do not be afraid!
Say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
See, the Lord God comes with strength,
and his power establishes his rule.
His wages are with him,
and his reward accompanies him.
He protects his flock like a shepherd;
he gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them in the fold of his garment.
He gently leads those that are nursing.
Who wrote Isaiah: historically attributed to Isaiah, but likely multiple authors who collected the prophecies of Isaiah (the first 39 chapters were likely written or dictated by Isaiah, but the rest seem distinctly different & don't mention the name Isaiah anymore)
Who Isaiah was written to: Jewish people in Judah before, during, and after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
When Isaiah was written: 8th century BCE/BC and later (after the fall of Jerusalem)
The purpose of the book of Isaiah: the same destruction that is coming for Jerusalem is also coming for those who destroyed Jerusalem
Things I noticed:
Who Isaiah was written to: Jewish people in Judah before, during, and after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
When Isaiah was written: 8th century BCE/BC and later (after the fall of Jerusalem)
The purpose of the book of Isaiah: the same destruction that is coming for Jerusalem is also coming for those who destroyed Jerusalem
Things I noticed:
1. “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God: see also Isaiah 3:10, Isaiah 35:3-4, Isaiah 41:10-14, Isaiah 41:27, Isaiah 49:13-16, Isaiah 50:10, Isaiah 51:3, Isaiah 51:12, Isaiah 57:14-19, Isaiah 60:1-22, Isaiah 61:1-3, Isaiah 62:11-12, Isaiah 65:13-14, Isaiah 66:10-14, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 85:8 below, Jeremiah 31:10-14, Zephaniah 3:14-17, Zechariah 1:13, Zechariah 9:9, 2 Corinthians 1:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, Hebrews 6:17-18, 2 Chronicles 30:22, Psalm 90:15, Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 14:1, Isaiah 30:19, Ezekiel 14:22, Zechariah 1:17, Luke 2:25, John 12:46, Acts 20:12, Romans 4:7, Colossians 2:2, Colossians 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Lamentations 1:2, Lamentations 1:9, Lamentations 1:16-17, Lamentations 1:21, Isaiah 52:9
2. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem: see also Genesis 34:3, 2 Chronicles 30:22, Hosea 2:14, Genesis 50:21, 2 Chronicles 32:6, Isaiah 35:3, Zechariah 1:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:18
announce to her that her time of hard service is over: see also Psalm 102:13-28, Song of Songs 2:11-13, Jeremiah 29:11, Daniel 9:2, Daniel 9:24-27, Daniel 11:35, Daniel 12:4, Daniel 12:9, Habakkuk 2:3, Acts 1:7, Galatians 4:4, Revelation 6:10-11, Revelation 11:15-18
her iniquity has been pardoned: see also Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 33:24, Isaiah 43:25, Isaiah 44:22, Isaiah 61:7, Psalm 32:1, Jeremiah 31:33-34, Jeremiah 33:8-9, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Matthew 9:2, Romans 4:7
she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins: see also Isaiah 61:7, Job 42:10-12, Jeremiah 16:18, Jeremiah 17:18, Daniel 9:12, Zechariah 1:15, Zechariah 9:12, Revelation 18:6, Exodus 22:4, Psalm 90:15, 1 Timothy 5:17
3. A voice of one crying out: The person proclaiming this is functioning much like a historical town crier or herald, as specified in verse 9 below. The Dead Sea Scrolls (see the Mark passage below for more details) interpreted this passage as applying to everyone in their sect, but other rabbinic sources and the New Testament interpret this as applying to just one person, though who it applies to varies between different rabbis and Christian scholars. Isaiah likely was saying that he was this voice, but he also likely saw it as better applying to the Messiah, for reasons given at the end of this passage's commentary. See also Matthew 3:1-3, Mark 1:2-5 below, Luke 3:2-6, John 1:23
Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness: see also Isaiah 35:8-10, Isaiah 57:14, Isaiah 62:10-11, Malachi 3:1, Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 1:16-17, Luke 1:76-77, Isaiah 42:11, Matthew 11:10, Luke 7:27
make a straight highway for our God in the desert: see also Isaiah 11:15-16, Isaiah 43:19, Isaiah 49:11, Psalm 68:4, Isaiah 35:1, Jeremiah 31:9, Hebrews 12:13, Isaiah 35:8, Isaiah 26:7-8
4. Every valley will be lifted up: see also Isaiah 42:11, Isaiah 42:15-16, 1 Samuel 2:8, Psalm 113:7-8, Ezekiel 17:24, Ezekiel 21:26, Luke 1:52-53, Luke 3:5, Luke 18:14
every mountain and hill will be leveled: Which mountain would be flattened? Mark 12:10-11 and Zechariah 4:7 provide clues. The new Temple is a spiritual temple and every idea and thing that props up illegitimate temples will be flattened to create a spiritual Temple whose cornerstone is Jesus. See also Isaiah 2:12-15, Job 40:11-13, Song of Songs 2:8, Isaiah 2:14
the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain: see also Isaiah 42:16, Isaiah 45:2, Proverbs 2:15, Ecclesiastes 1:15, Isaiah 49:11, Jeremiah 31:9, Zechariah 14:10, Isaiah 26:7-8
5. And the glory of the Lord will appear: see also Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 35:2, Isaiah 60:1, Psalm 72:19, Psalm 96:6, Psalm 102:16, Habakkuk 2:14, Luke 2:10-14, John 1:14, John 12:41, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 21:23, Luke 2:9, John 2:11, Exodus 16:10, Exodus 24:16-17, Exodus 33:18
all humanity together will see it: see also Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 52:10, Isaiah 60:1-3, Isaiah 66:16, Isaiah 66:23, Jeremiah 32:27, Joel 2:28, Zechariah 2:13, Luke 2:30, Luke 2:32, Luke 3:6, John 17:2, Acts 2:17
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken: see also Isaiah 1:20, Isaiah 58:14, Jeremiah 9:12, Micah 4:4
6. A voice was saying, “Cry out!” Another said, “What should I cry out?”: see also verse 3 above, Isaiah 12:6, Isaiah 58:1, Isaiah 61:1-2, Jeremiah 2:2, Jeremiah 31:6, Hosea 5:8, John 7:37
All humanity is grass, and all its goodness is like the flower of the field: see also Isaiah 37:27, Job 14:2, Psalm 90:5-6, Psalm 92:7, Psalm 102:11, Psalm 103:15-16, James 1:10, James 1:11, 1 Peter 1:24-25, Deuteronomy 5:26, 2 Kings 19:26, 1 Chronicles 29:15, Job 7:6, Isaiah 51:12, Matthew 6:30,
7. The grass withers, the flowers fade when the breath of the Lord blows on them; indeed, the people are grass: see also Isaiah 64:6, Jonah 4:7, Matthew 21:20, Luke 12:28, Job 7:6, Psalm 92:7, Psalm 102:4, Psalm 103:15-16, Isaiah 40:24, Ezekiel 21:31, Haggai 1:9, James 1:10-11, 1 Peter 1:4, Job 14:2, Matthew 6:30, Psalm 37:2, Isaiah 37:27, Isaiah 51:12, Psalm 102:11, Psalm 129:6
8. The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever: see also Isaiah 46:10-11, Isaiah 55:10-11, Psalm 119:89-91, Psalm 119:160, Zechariah 1:6, Matthew 5:18, Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, John 10:35, John 12:34, Romans 3:1-3, 1 Peter 1:24-25, Luke 16:17, Luke 21:33, James 1:11, 1 Peter 1:4, Isaiah 34:16, John 1:1, John 1:14
9. Zion, herald of good news: see also Isaiah 41:27, Isaiah 52:7, Ezra 1:1-2, Luke 24:47, Romans 10:18, Psalm 96:2
go up on a high mountain: see also Judges 9:7, 1 Samuel 26:13-14, 2 Chronicles 13:4, Jeremiah 31:6, Nahum 1:15
Jerusalem, herald of good news, raise your voice loudly: see also Isaiah 52:8, Isaiah 58:4, Jeremiah 22:20, Acts 2:14, Isaiah 12:5, Isaiah 58:1, Luke 2:10, Acts 13:32, Romans 10:15, Isaiah 58:1
Raise it, do not be afraid!: see also Isaiah 35:3-4, Isaiah 51:7, Isaiah 51:12, Acts 4:13, Acts 4:29, Acts 5:41-42, Ephesians 6:19, Philippians 1:28-29, 1 Peter 3:14, John 12:15
Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”: see also Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 25:9, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 John 5:20-21, Isaiah 12:6, Isaiah 24:14, Isaiah 65:1
10. See, the Lord God comes with strength: see also Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 59:15-21, Isaiah 60:1-22, Zechariah 2:8-11, Malachi 3:1, John 12:13, Isaiah 49:24-25, Isaiah 53:12, Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8, Exodus 13:9, Luke 1:51
and his power establishes his rule: see also Isaiah 59:16, Psalm 2:8-9, Psalm 66:3, Psalm 110:1-2, Psalm 110:6, Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:20-22, Philippians 2:10-11, Revelation 2:26-27, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:11, Isaiah 63:5
His wages are with him, and his reward accompanies him: see also Isaiah 62:11, Revelation 22:12, Isaiah 49:4, Exodus 23:21, Malachi 3:1-2
11. He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing: see also Zechariah 9:16, Isaiah 49:9-10, Isaiah 63:11, Genesis 49:24, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 78:71-72, Psalm 80:1, Ezekiel 34:11-31, Ezekiel 37:24, Micah 5:4, John 10:1-18, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 7:17, Isaiah 42:3, Genesis 33:13-14, John 21:15-17, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Genesis 46:32, Numbers 11:12, Deuteronomy 1:31, 2 Samuel 5:2, 2 Samuel 7:7, 1 Chronicles 11:2, Psalm 28:9, Psalm 78:52, Psalm 95:7, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Song of Songs 1:7, Song of Songs 6:2, Isaiah 5:17, Isaiah 54:7, Jeremiah 31:8-10, Micah 7:14, Zechariah 11:16, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 2:6, Matthew 12:20, Matthew 18:14, Mark 10:16, Luke 12:32, Luke 15:5, Luke 17:2, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:29, 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 3:2, James 3:17, 1 Peter 5:2, Psalm 119:176, Psalm 79:13, 1 Samuel 17:34-35, Genesis 48:15, Psalm 74:1, Psalm 100:3, Psalm 77:20, Jeremiah 13:17, Zechariah 11:11, Psalm 28:9, Numbers 27:17, Matthew 9:36, Isaiah 63:14, Micah 2:12-13, Jeremiah 23:1-4, Jeremiah 3:15
The literary structure of this passage is available here. Isaiah is using reverse "exodus" imagery in this passage; God will redeem his people from captivity again. In the Mark passage below and in the rest of the Gospels, the Gospel writers interpreted it in the sense of returning from spiritual wandering in the wilderness or spiritual exile from God's kingdom. Isaiah likely saw a greater second fulfillment than just a return from Babylon because no amount of hard service could pay for their sins and returning from exile didn't level the rough, uneven places, and the glory of God could only appear to all of humanity when the Messiah (God incarnate) came.
Psalm 85
CSB
Lord, you showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave your people’s guilt;
you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your fury;
you turned from your burning anger.
Return to us, God of our salvation,
and abandon your displeasure with us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger for all generations?
Will you not revive us again
so that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your faithful love, Lord,
and give us your salvation.
I will listen to what God will say;
surely the Lord will declare peace
to his people, his faithful ones,
and not let them go back to foolish ways.
His salvation is very near those who fear him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.
Faithful love and truth will join together;
righteousness and peace will embrace.
Truth will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.
Also, the Lord will provide what is good,
and our land will yield its crops.
Righteousness will go before him
to prepare the way for his steps.
Who wrote this Psalm? attributed to the sons of Korah. The Sons of Korah were the descendants of Moses' cousin Korah, who led a revolt against Moses as described in Numbers 16. Korah's offspring did not join in his rebellion and are listed in the Bible as doorkeepers or guards at the door of the Tabernacle/Temple (1 Chronicles 9:17–19). Samuel was a descendant of Korah (1 Chronicles 6:28). They could have also played a part in worship activities (2 Chronicles 20:19).
Who was this Psalm written for? the choir director to lead the worshippers in communal lament
When was this Psalm written? possibly near the end of the Babylonian exile when there was a partial return to the Promised Land but not all of the Jews were allowed to return
What is the purpose of the book of Psalms? The Psalms are songs for worship, both public and private.
When was this Psalm written? possibly near the end of the Babylonian exile when there was a partial return to the Promised Land but not all of the Jews were allowed to return
What is the purpose of the book of Psalms? The Psalms are songs for worship, both public and private.
Things I noticed:
1. Lord, you showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob: see also Leviticus 26:42, Joel 2:18, Zechariah 1:16, Psalm 77:7, Psalm 14:7, Psalm 126:1, Psalm 126:2, Ezra 1:11, Ezra 2:1, Jeremiah 30:18, Jeremiah 31:23, Ezekiel 39:25, Joel 3:1, Leviticus 25:23, Psalm 53:6, Jeremiah 33:7, Zephaniah 2:7, Jeremiah 29:14, Jeremiah 30:3, Jeremiah 33:11, Jeremiah 33:26, Ezekiel 29:14, Hosea 6:11, Amos 9:14, Zephaniah 3:20, Job 42:10, Deuteronomy 30:3
2. You forgave your people’s guilt; you covered all their sin. Selah: pronounced SEE-luh, the exact definition of this word is unknown. There's a decent chance it is a musical notation for the choir to stay silent during instrumental music and people are supposed to meditate upon what was just sung. See also Psalm 32:1, Psalm 79:8-9, Jeremiah 50:20, Micah 7:18, Acts 13:39, Colossians 2:13, 2 Chronicles 6:21, Isaiah 38:17, Jeremiah 33:8, Romans 4:7, Psalm 32:5
3. You withdrew all your fury; you turned from your burning anger: see also Isaiah 6:7, Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 54:7-10, John 1:29, Exodus 32:11-12, Exodus 32:22, Deuteronomy 13:17
4. Return to us: see also Psalm 80:3, Psalm 80:7, Psalm 80:19, Jeremiah 31:18, Lamentations 5:21, Malachi 4:6, Psalm 23:3, Psalm 60:1, Psalm 126:4
God of our salvation: see also Psalm 25:2, Psalm 27:1, Micah 7:7, Micah 7:18-20, John 4:22, Isaiah 17:10
abandon your displeasure with us: see also Psalm 78:38, Isaiah 10:25, Daniel 9:16
5. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger for all generations?: see also Psalm 74:1, Psalm 77:9, Psalm 79:5, Psalm 80:4, Psalm 89:46, Isaiah 64:9-12, Micah 7:18, Luke 21:24, Revelation 18:21-23, Psalm 13:1, Psalm 77:7, Isaiah 57:16, Jeremiah 3:5, Lamentations 5:20
6. Will you not revive us again: see also Psalm 80:18, Psalm 138:7, Ezra 9:8-9, Isaiah 57:15, Hosea 6:2, Habakkuk 3:2, Psalm 143:11,
so that your people may rejoice in you?: see also Psalm 53:6, Ezra 3:11-13, Jeremiah 33:11, Psalm 51:12, Psalm 90:14, Habakkuk 3:18
7. Show us your faithful love, Lord, and give us your salvation: Faithful love is the Hebrew word hesed again--see my commentary on this Hebrew word. See also Psalm 50:23, Psalm 91:16, Jeremiah 42:12, Genesis 49:18
8. I will listen to what God will say: see also Habakkuk 2:1, Hebrews 12:25, Numbers 9:8, 1 Samuel 3:9
surely the Lord will declare peace to his people: see also Psalm 29:11, Isaiah 57:19, Zechariah 9:10, John 14:27, John 20:19, John 20:26, Acts 10:36, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Ephesians 2:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Judges 6:23, Isaiah 40:1 above, Isaiah 51:3, Haggai 2:9, John 16:33, Romans 5:1, Philippians 4:7
his faithful ones: see also Psalm 50:5, Ephesians 1:1-2
and not let them go back to foolish ways: see also Psalm 130:4, John 5:14, John 8:11, Acts 3:26, Galatians 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:19, Hebrews 10:26-29, 2 Peter 2:20-22, Revelation 2:4-5, Revelation 3:19, Genesis 34:7, 1 Samuel 25:25, Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 27:22
9. His salvation is very near those who fear him: see also Psalm 24:4-5, Psalm 50:23, Psalm 119:155, Isaiah 46:13, Mark 12:32-34, John 7:17, Acts 10:2-4, Acts 11:13-14, Acts 13:16, Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 56:1, Zechariah 9:9, Luke 1:50
so that glory may dwell in our land: see also Isaiah 4:5, Ezekiel 26:20, Haggai 2:7-9, Zechariah 2:5, Zechariah 2:8, Luke 2:32, John 1:14, Haggai 2:9
10. Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace: This is hesed love as in verse 7 above. An explanation of this verse is available on Wikipedia. See also Psalm 89:14, Psalm 100:5, Exodus 34:6-7, Micah 7:20, Luke 1:54-55, John 1:17, Psalm 72:3, Isaiah 32:16-18, Isaiah 45:24, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Luke 2:14, Romans 3:25-26, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:21, Hebrews 7:2, 2 Samuel 15:20, Psalm 25:10, Psalm 26:3, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 40:11, Psalm 57:10, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 108:4, Psalm 117:2, Psalm 138:2, Proverbs 16:6, Isaiah 16:5, Hosea 2:19, Luke 1:79, John 14:27, Acts 10:36, Ephesians 2:17, Ephesians 4:21, Colossians 1:20, James 2:13, Revelation 15:3
11. Truth will spring up from the earth: see also Isaiah 4:2, Isaiah 45:8, Isaiah 53:2, John 14:6, 1 John 5:20, Psalm 72:3
righteousness will look down from heaven: see also Isaiah 42:21, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, Luke 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:6, Isaiah 61:11, Colossians 1:20
12. Also, the Lord will provide what is good: see also Psalm 84:11, Micah 6:8, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:3, James 1:17, Genesis 49:25, Matthew 7:11
our land will yield its crops: see also Psalm 67:6, Psalm 72:16, Isaiah 30:23-24, Isaiah 32:15, Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23, Acts 2:41, Acts 21:20, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, Leviticus 25:19, Leviticus 26:4, Isaiah 4:2, Ezekiel 34:27, Ezekiel 36:8,
13. Righteousness will go before him to prepare the way for his steps: see also Psalm 72:2-3, Psalm 89:14, Isaiah 58:8, Psalm 119:35, Matthew 20:27-28, John 13:14-16, John 13:34, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:1-2, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Peter 2:18-24, 1 Peter 4:1, 1 John 2:6, Psalm 37:23, Revelation 14:13
The literary structure of this psalm is available here.
Second Peter 3:8-18
CSB
Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Who wrote Second Peter: Apostle Simon Peter according to 2 Peter 1:1
Who Second Peter was written to: "To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 1:1. If the author of First Peter and Second Peter are the same person, according to 1 Peter 1:1 the addressees are Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, all Roman provinces in the area that is now the country of Turkey--some could have been Jewish or God-fearing Gentiles but, whether Jew or Gentile, most of them had lived pagan lives based upon I Peter 4:3-4. Map available here.
When Second Peter was written: shortly before Peter's martyrdom circa 68 CE/AD -- see 2 Peter 1:14
The purpose of the book of Second Peter: the book is a warning to stay away from false teachers, particularly ones who teach lies about the kingdom of God and God's Final Judgment
Things I noticed:
Who Second Peter was written to: "To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 1:1. If the author of First Peter and Second Peter are the same person, according to 1 Peter 1:1 the addressees are Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, all Roman provinces in the area that is now the country of Turkey--some could have been Jewish or God-fearing Gentiles but, whether Jew or Gentile, most of them had lived pagan lives based upon I Peter 4:3-4. Map available here.
When Second Peter was written: shortly before Peter's martyrdom circa 68 CE/AD -- see 2 Peter 1:14
The purpose of the book of Second Peter: the book is a warning to stay away from false teachers, particularly ones who teach lies about the kingdom of God and God's Final Judgment
Things I noticed:
8. Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day: see also Romans 11:25, 1 Corinthians 10:1, 1 Corinthians 12:1, Psalm 90:4
9. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance: see also verse 15 below, Isaiah 46:13, Habakkuk 2:3, Luke 18:7-8, Hebrews 10:37, Exodus 34:6, Psalm 86:15, Isaiah 30:18, Romans 9:22, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Peter 3:20, Exodus 18:23, Exodus 32:32, Exodus 33:11, Romans 2:4, 1 Timothy 2:4, Revelation 2:21, Ezekiel 12:27-28, 2 Kings 14:25-27, Ezekiel 18:23, Ezekiel 18:32, Ezekiel 33:11
10. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed: see also verse 12 below, Isaiah 2:12, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1, Joel 2:31, Joel 3:14, Malachi 4:5, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:14, Jude 1:6, Matthew 24:42-43, Luke 12:39, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 3:3, Revelation 16:15, Psalm 102:25-27, Isaiah 51:6, Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Romans 8:20, Hebrews 1:11-12, Revelation 20:11, Revelation 21:1, Psalm 46:6, Psalm 97:5, Amos 9:5, Amos 9:8, Amos 9:13, Nahum 1:5, 2 Peter 3:7, Luke 16:17, Job 14:12, Jeremiah 4:23-26, Luke 21:33
11. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness: see also verse 12 below, Psalm 75:3, Isaiah 14:31, Isaiah 24:19, Isaiah 34:4, Matthew 8:27, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, James 1:24, Psalm 37:14, Psalm 50:23, 2 Corinthians 1:12, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 3:20, 1 Timothy 4:12, Hebrews 13:5, James 3:13, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 2:12, 2 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 1:6, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Timothy 6:3, 1 Timothy 6:6, 1 Timothy 6:11
12. as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat: We can hasten the coming of the day of God through evangelism--see verse 9 above. See also verse 10 above, 1 Corinthians 1:7, Titus 2:13, Jude 1:21, 1 Corinthians 1:8, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 50:3, Isaiah 34:4, Revelation 6:13-14, Isaiah 2:1-22, Isaiah 64:1-12, Micah 1:4
13. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells: see also Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22, Revelation 21:1, Revelation 21:27
14. Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace: see also Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 9:28, 2 Peter 1:5-10, 1 John 3:3, Matthew 24:26, Luke 2:29, Luke 12:43, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Philippians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23
15. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him: see also verse 9 above, Romans 2:4, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Peter 3:20, Acts 15:25, Exodus 31:3, Exodus 31:6, Exodus 35:31, Exodus 35:35, 1 Kings 3:12, 1 Kings 3:28, 1 Kings 4:29, Ezra 7:25, Proverbs 2:6-7, Ecclesiastes 2:26, Daniel 2:20-21, Luke 21:15, Acts 7:10, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 12:8, James 1:5, James 3:17
16. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures: The Apostle Paul had probably written most/all of his epistles by the time that Peter wrote his epistles. Whenever I get frustrated with Paul's epistles because they are challenging, I remember this verse and know that I am in good company. See also 1 Peter 1:1, Romans 8:1-39, 1 Corinthians 15:1-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28, 2 Kings 1:1-18, 1 Kings 10:1, Hebrews 5:11, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Timothy 3:5-7, James 1:8, Exodus 23:2, Exodus 23:6, Deuteronomy 16:19, Psalm 56:5, Habakkuk 1:4, Jeremiah 23:36, Matthew 15:3, Matthew 15:6, Matthew 22:29, 2 Peter 2:1, Philippians 3:19, 1 Peter 2:8, Jude 1:4, Proverbs 1:6, Isaiah 28:13, John 6:60, 2 Corinthians 11:6
17. Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position: see also 2 Peter 1:12, Proverbs 1:17, Matthew 24:24-25, Mark 13:22-23, John 16:4, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 16:6, Matthew 16:11, Philippians 3:2, Colossians 2:8, 2 Timothy 4:15, 2 Peter 2:18-20, Romans 16:18, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2 Peter 1:10-11, 2 Peter 2:18-22, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 4:14, Colossians 2:5, Hebrews 3:14, 1 Peter 5:9
18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity: see also Psalm 92:12, Hosea 14:5, Malachi 4:2, Ephesians 4:15, Colossians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 1:8, 2 Peter 2:20, John 17:3, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 1:17, Philippians 3:8, Colossians 3:10, John 5:23, 2 Timothy 4:18, 1 Peter 5:10-11, Jude 1:25, Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:9-14
The literary structure of this passage is available here.
Mark 1:1-8
CSB
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!
John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Who wrote Mark: Scholars are unsure because the book itself includes no attribution. Hippolytus of Rome (circa 170-235 CE/AD), in On the Seventy Apostles, distinguishes Mark the Evangelist (2 Timothy 4:11), John Mark (Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 13:5, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:37, Acts 15:39), and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24). There is also a Mark mentioned in 1 Peter 5:13. Other church fathers believed that all of these Marks were the same person. At all periods of Roman history, Marcus [Mark is the anglicized version of Marcus] was the third-most-popular praenomen, trailing only Lucius and Gaius, which would support the theory of multiple Marks, but thoroughly Latin and Greek names are less common in the New Testament. The African Memory of Mark by Thomas Oden provides evidence from ancient Coptic sources that the Evangelist Mark is the only Mark mentioned in the Bible and that he was a Levite born and raised in Cyrene (Libya) whose wealthy family immigrated to Jerusalem when he was a young adult, was a relative of the Apostle Peter's wife, was present at pivotal moments in Jesus' time on earth, traveled and evangelized with the Apostles Paul and Peter in Asia and Europe and then on his own throughout northern Africa, founded the church in Alexandria, Egypt and was the first bishop there, and was martyred in 68 CE/AD. I think that Dr. Oden's argument is quite plausible and likely true; my opinion is that modern scholars who casually discard ancient Coptic documentation do so based on their racism (for liberals) and their anti-anything-not-clearly-Protestant (for evangelicals). Mark's mother being one of the wealthy women who supported Jesus and the disciples/apostles and multiple members of the family being involved in the early Church just makes sense. The Memory of Mark gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.
Who Mark was written to: persecuted Gentile Christians who likely lived in Rome or another large city in the Roman Empire
When Mark was written: The current, widely but not entirely accepted theory is that Mark was the first Gospel to be written; evangelicals tend to place the date of writing between 55-65 CE/AD and others 2-10 years later. Dr. Oden says that based on Coptic tradition, the date would be 67-68 CE/AD.
The purpose of the book of Mark: to tell the story of Jesus specifically to Gentile/Hellenized audiences in an action-packed manner--note the frequent use of the word immediately--emphasizing Jesus as the Suffering Servant that the prophets foretold.
Things I noticed:
When Mark was written: The current, widely but not entirely accepted theory is that Mark was the first Gospel to be written; evangelicals tend to place the date of writing between 55-65 CE/AD and others 2-10 years later. Dr. Oden says that based on Coptic tradition, the date would be 67-68 CE/AD.
The purpose of the book of Mark: to tell the story of Jesus specifically to Gentile/Hellenized audiences in an action-packed manner--note the frequent use of the word immediately--emphasizing Jesus as the Suffering Servant that the prophets foretold.
Things I noticed:
1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ: The word translated gospel (evangelion or euangelion) means "good news" of the type that a herald (see Isaiah 40:3, Isaiah 40:9 above) would proclaim throughout a town. The most famous, very relevant (secular) evangelion can be found in the Calendar Inscription of Priene. Χριστός (Christos) means anointed in Greek as does מָשִׁיחַ (Messiah) in Hebrew. See also Luke 1:2-3, Luke 2:10-11, Acts 1:1-2, John 20:31, Romans 1:1-4, 1 John 1:1-3, 1 John 5:11-12, 2 Corinthians 10:14, John 15:27, Acts 1:22, Isaiah 52:7, Luke 1:19
the Son of God: see also Psalm 2:7, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 14:33, Matthew 17:5, Luke 1:35, John 1:14, John 1:34, John 1:49, John 3:16, John 6:69, Romans 8:3, Romans 8:32, Hebrews 1:1-2, Mark 3:11, Romans 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:19, 2 Corinthians 10:14, Hebrews 4:14
2. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Mark is quoting from both Isaiah and Malachi, but he only mentions Isaiah because the quotation from that book isn't quite as obvious; Malachi was probably quoting from/referencing Isaiah while adding additional details. See also Psalm 40:7, Matthew 2:5, Matthew 26:24, Matthew 26:31, Luke 1:70, Luke 18:31, Mark 9:12, John 6:45
See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way: see also Malachi 3:1-2, Malachi 4:5, Matthew 11:10, Luke 1:15-17, Luke 1:76, Luke 7:27, Luke 7:28, Isaiah 40:3 above, John 3:28, Acts 13:24, Exodus 23:20
3. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!: see also Isaiah 40:3-5 above, Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:2-6, John 1:15, John 1:19-34, John 3:28-36, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 11:7, Luke 1:76-77, Luke 1:80, John 1:23, Matthew 11:10, Genesis 16:7, Exodus 3:1, Exodus 4:27, Exodus 16:10, Matthew 14:13, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:31-32, Luke 5:16, Revelation 12:6, Revelation 12:14
4. John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins: Baptism in Judaism is the mikveh or mikvah and is used for ritual/ceremonial purification. It is based upon Exodus 29:4, Exodus 30:19-21, Exodus 40:30-32, Leviticus 8:6, Leviticus 11:32, Leviticus 13:58, Leviticus 14:8-9, Leviticus 15:1-33, Leviticus 16:4, Leviticus 16:24-28, Leviticus 17:15-16, Leviticus 22:6, Numbers 8:15&21, Numbers 19:7-8, Numbers 19:11-19, Numbers 31:22-23, and Deuteronomy 23:11. There is a distinct possibility that John the Baptist was an Essene or whichever sect was living at Qumran and it appears that this group used the mikveh more often than the average Jews of the time due to the large numbers of mikva'ot (ritual bath facilities) at Qumran and the emphasis on ritual purity in the extra-biblical material in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Qumran community was rejecting the corrupt religious leadership (Sanhedrin) in Jerusalem, the same ones that God scathingly denounced in Ezekiel 34 and the same ones that Jesus threw out in Matthew 21:12-13 and Mark 11:15-18. Before the kingdom of God would be inaugurated, the priesthood had to be purified as specified in Malachi 3:3-4 to prevent the entire populace from destruction, as in 2 Peter 3:9 above.
"And according to his insight, he shall admit him. In this way both his love and his hatred. No man shall argue or quarrel with the men of perdition. He shall keep his council in secrecy in the midst of the men of deceit and admonish with knowledge, truth, and righteous commandment those of chosen conduct, each according to his spiritual quality and according to the norm of time. He shall guide them with knowledge and instruct them in the mysteries of wonder and truth in the midst of the members of the community so that they shall behave decently with one another in all that has been revealed to them. That is the time for studying the Torah (lit. clearing the way) in the wilderness. He shall instruct them to do all that is required at that time and to separate from all those who have not turned aside from all deceit. These are the norms of conduct for the Master in those times with respect to his loving and to his everlasting hating of the men of perdition in a spirit of secrecy. He shall leave to them property and wealth and earnings like a slave to his lord, (showing) humility before the one who rules over him. He shall be zealous concerning the Law and be prepared for the Day of Revenge. He shall perform the will [of God] in all his deeds and in all strength as He has commanded. He shall freely delight in all that befalls him, and shall desire nothing except God's will." The Community Rule. Another version of The Community Rule here; this provides even more context to John the Baptist and I recommend checking it out.
See also John 1:31, Matthew 3:1-2, Matthew 3:6, Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:2-3, John 3:23, Acts 10:37, Acts 13:24-25, Acts 19:3-4, Acts 18:25, Acts 22:16, Luke 1:77, Luke 1:80, Luke 7:24, 2 Timothy 2:25
5. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him: see also Matthew 3:5-6, Matthew 4:25
they were baptized by him in the Jordan River: see also John 1:28, John 3:23
confessing their sins: Which sins did they need to confess? Malachi 3:5 lists the sins that needed to be repented of before the Messiah came. See also Leviticus 26:40-42, Joshua 7:19, Psalm 32:5, Proverbs 28:13, Acts 2:38, Acts 19:18, 1 John 1:8-10, Luke 3:3
6. John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey: John was imitating Elijah (Malachi 4:5) and living off the land (1 Kings 17:4, 1 Kings 17:9). See also 2 Kings 1:8, Zechariah 13:4, Matthew 3:4, Leviticus 11:22, Luke 7:33, Luke 1:17, Luke 1:76
7. One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals: see also Matthew 3:11, Matthew 3:14, Luke 3:16, Luke 7:6-7, John 1:27, John 3:28-31, Acts 13:25, John 1:15
8. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit: see also Matthew 3:11, Proverbs 1:23, Isaiah 32:15, Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:4, Acts 2:17, Acts 10:45, Acts 11:15-16, Acts 19:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Titus 3:5-6, Luke 3:16, John 1:26, John 1:33, Ezekiel 39:29, Zechariah 12:10
The literary structure of this passage is available here. Interpreting who "my messenger" refers to is a complex issue. I believe that Isaiah viewed himself as a messenger delivering prophecy (messages from God) in a (spiritual or physical) wilderness (Isaiah 6:8); he also viewed the coming messenger(s) as the second Elijah and the Messiah--whether Isaiah knew that these were two different people is unknown. Parts of Isaiah 40 apply only to Jesus and other parts sound like John the Baptist. The Qumran community believed that everyone in their group was a messenger crying out in the wilderness messages of repentance and purification from corruption that needed to be heard to hasten the coming of the Messiah, and I don't think that they were wrong either. We are also messengers spreading the Good News of the arrival of God's kingdom, hastening the second coming of Christ as Second Peter 3:12 above says. I used to give a side-eye to post-millennialists who thought that we could usher in the Kingdom of God by becoming better people, but maybe they are right.
Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Comments
Post a Comment