This is a three part series. (here, here and here)
Continue reading “A Brief Survey of Creation in Genesis in 2nd Temple Judaism (3 – Seven Days)”
Aug 17 2009
Must Biblical Interpretation be Literal?
There have been many different ways used to interpret the holy Scriptures since they were first passed on to another generation. In the early Church, two different schools developed which saw a divide, not only of understanding, but of outcomes. Following earlier examples of biblical interpretation, the Middle Ages saw a fourfold method of biblical interpretation:
Apr 08 2009
Easter with Melito – Typology in the Old Testament concerning Christ
This week, I am going back through my old posts on Melito of Sardis. So, here we go, a bit more from his Passover Homily.
D. Model versus Finished Product (34-38)
34. What was this extraordinary mystery? It was Egypt struck to destruction but Israel kept for salvation. Listen to the meaning of this mystery:
35. Beloved, no speech or event takes place without a pattern or design; every event and speech involves a pattern–that which is spoken, a pattern, and that which happens, a prefiguration–in order that as the event is disclosed through the prefiguration, so also the speech may be brought to expression through its outline.
36. Without the model, no work of art arises. Is not that which is to come into existence seen through the model which typifies it? For this reason a pattern of that which is to be is made either out of wax, or out of clay, or out of wood, in order that by the smallness of the model, destined to be destroyed, might be seen that thing which is to arise from it–higher than it in size, and mightier than it in power, and more beautiful than it in appearance, and more elaborate than it in ornamentation.
37. So whenever the thing arises for which the model was made, then that which carried the image of that future thing is destroyed as no longer of use, since it has transmitted its resemblance to that which is by nature true. Therefore, that which once was valuable, is now without value because that which is truly valuable has appeared.
38. For each thing has its own time: there is a distinct time for the type, there is a distinct time for the material, and there is a distinct time for the truth. You construct the model. You want this, because you see in it the image of the future work. You procure the material for the model. You want this, on account of that which is going to arise because of it. You complete the work and cherish it alone, for only in it do you see both type and the truth.
Melito is not employing Origenism, but something along the lines of Chrysostom. He sees in the Old Testament a pattern for the things in the New, especially Christ. Surely Melito is not the first nor the last to find such comparible patterns. In 37, Melito reminds us of what the author of Hebrews said, when he wrote
In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Judaism, the customs and rites, once fulfilled in Christ, were meant to pass away.
Mar 14 2009
Do Christians really deny the Old Testament?
While cruising AlphaInventions today, I ran across this post. He starts,
In a few of my recent posts, numerous Christians have argued that most of the Old Testament should be viewed as allegories or metaphors and not factual historical accounts. And the Bible has inaccuracies because it was written by men that occasionally misquoted god.
He has the bullet points,
- Jesus believed that the Old Testament was divinely inspired
- Jesus continually quoted Old Testament scripture to teach his disciples and criticize the Jewish pharmacies.
- Jesus also confirmed many of the historical accounts in the Old Testament,
- Jesus even confirmed the most often rejected Old Testament stories,
And ends,
If Christians have to discount Old Testament stories to believe in Jesus, than they are not Christian. If Jesus believed it, Christians must believe it. Otherwise how can you honestly call yourself a follower of Jesus? He would say to you, “are you not in error because you deny the Scriptures?”
So, you can understand my worry – until I read a comment,
Jesus did not come to remove the curse of the law:
Matthew 5:17-19
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”Go ahead and ignore the law if you want to be called “least in the kingdom of heaven”.
So it started making sense. I for one, who is dead to the Law through the body of Christ (Romans 7.4), do not view the Old Testament as mere allegory or metaphor, but as the very word of God; however, I also see that the Law was fulfilled in Christ, and because of the divorce at Calvary, we are no longer required to obey the Law of Moses.
Why is it that people dismiss the entire corpus of the New Testament, when we are supposed to interpret the Old with the New?
Jul 29 2008
John Chrysostom on the Church
It is not merely that the Church was barren like Sarah, or became a mother of many children like her, but she bore them in the way Sarah did. As it was not nature but the promise of God which rendered Sarah a mother, [for the word of God which said, At the time appointed I will return unto you, and Sarah shall have a son, (Gen. xviii. 14.) this entered into the womb and formed the babe,] so also in our regeneration it is not nature, but the Words of God spoken by the Priest*, (the faithful know them,) which in the Bath of water as in a sort of womb, form and regenerate him who is baptized. – St. John Chrysostom, *Homily on Galatians 4*
As we have learned, one cannot simply discount someone from this time period because of interpretations by later people. John Chyrsostom is right about the Church, although his Godhead might not be the best, and we know from such as Marcellus of Ancyra, not every good ‘Catholic’ held the same view of the Godhead.
Jul 28 2008
Devotional – Christ, the only way (7/28)
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, “Who touched Me?”‘ But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
(Luke 8:43-48 NKJV)
We know well this story, and we readily accept the fact of this passage in Holy Scripture; however, perhaps if we look further, we may be enriched further by it.
As we know, sin is many times represented in Scripture by some sickness or another and that blood is a defiling agent under the Law. Here was a woman who had been sick for some twelve years with a disease that made her untouchable. Chrysostom says, “For by the custom of the Law a malady of this kind was accounted a great uncleanness. Independently of this also, she had not yet a right estimation of Him, else she would not have thought to remain concealed, but nevertheless she came trusting to be healed.”
We understand fully that this woman represents a sinner, and in seeking to find a healing, she spent all that she had, perhaps would say her entire life in that the sinner can search his or her entire life to find the healing for the soul from the pangs of death. The sinner, just as this woman had, will find nothing that can heal and save from death. Too many times, the first place that a sinner will run is to another religion (the physicians). Buddhism, Islam, an even modern Christianity, cannot save the soul from death and hell. The New Age mysticism is a physician that too many consult now, but this two is only a doctor for the mind, healing neither body nor soul. Miracles, signs, wonders all are nothing to heal the soul, although often times it heals the body, if only through the abscess of the mind.
This woman stands for every sinner who seeks healing of the soul’s sin sickness through the physicians of religions. Further, this woman stands for every sinner, who finally recognizing that their is only One who can heal, seeks to make it through the crowd and press forward to Christ our God, our Good Healer.
As recorded in John’s Gospel, Christ says,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)
It only through Jesus Christ that we can receive our healing for the sin that weighs us down. Not through Buddhism, not through Judaism, not through New Ageism, nor through what passes itself as Christianity – churchless or otherwise. It is but through the Christ of the Scriptures. It is not through the study of doctrine, of some serious study of theology that a person is saved, for the gospel came first and then the theology of it. It is not through a total grasp of everything concerning God and His Church that one is saved. This woman desired only to touch the border, the tzitzit, of his garment. It is not the wh0le of Christianity that saves a soul, but the very beginning, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ – in that God robed Himself in a body of flesh, submitting Himself to the Cross, and was raised the third day. It is the gospel that convicts the sinner of the sin, and draws the repentant to the altar, and fills his or her heart with a godly sorrow. It is not the great Traditions, Doctrines, or deep things of God that does this, but the simple words of Christ, who said that if He was lifted up, he would draw all men to Him.
But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
(Malachi 4:2 NKJV)
So, dear friends, I enjoin you to stop wasting your life and your living in searching for what is standing in front of you at this very moment.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
(Revelation 3:20 NKJV)
