Apostle's Mailbox

What are you working for? Food that perishes, or food that lasts forever?

And who's going to give you such food? The Son of Man.

So you say you're a part of a church? Perhaps you've been forgetting about some of her members.

John 6 contains a lot of material that is used in arguing for or against advanced doctrinal topics. While it's not wrong to try to understand what Jesus was talking about in today's passage, it's more important not to miss one very key point he makes.

https://apostlesmailbox.com/

If you're trying to rule a kingdom in the 1400's, good strong walls are a great asset. If you're trying to maximize profits, keeping competition at bay is very helpful. If you're part of a religious organization, chances are someone has (or will) try to build some walls to "protect" it. Is this good, or bad?

Links:

https://apostlesmailbox.com/

Photo of walled garden by user chris_j_wood at Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Unmodified.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heligan_Walled_Garden.JPG

When we're taught that the Bible is God's Word and we're given a copy of it written in English, we often assume that understanding its meaning should be a pretty straightforward task. As we see in today's episode, the nature of time, geography, culture, and translation warn us that it's very easy to misunderstand communication, even when its given to us in our native language.

Today we'll learn more about why our study of Scripture needs to be undertaken with the humility of knowing that just because something seems "obvious" to us, doesn't necessarily guarantee that we've properly understood its meaning.

Links
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Apostle's mailbox: https://apostlesmailbox.com

Jamethy's sketchfab model of an ancient Jewish dwelling:
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/1st-century-israelite-house-72c347217c8a4f38872252dcab6d1784
(License: cc 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Today we discuss the day when Jesus walked on water, and some of the Old Testament passages that have been suggested as the background context which helps interpret the passage.

One suggestion is a possibility (Psalm 77), another is a perhaps more interesting option (Job 9), and the last is probably best considered an example of what not to do when interpreting Scripture (Isaiah 46).

We'll talk about semantic range and the divine name, even as I try to resist the urge to act as if this text was written for one concrete "teaching point."

https://apostlesmailbox.com/

The Bible teaches us many amazing things, and simple things, and complex things, and ... terrifying things.

Today's episode is teaching on perhaps the most SCARY thing in the Bible for modern Christians. The ideas discussed herein just might leave you unable to carry on with life as you always knew it. Your pastor might never be brave enough to say these things out loud, but they're in your Bible. Proceed at your own risk.

Michael Heiser once said that it's the "strange" things in the Bible that are important. In today's episode on John 6, we consider the various "strange" details that show up in the feeding of the 5,000, and discover that they all point back to the Exodus, Moses, and the promise of a capital-p Prophet who Yehovah promised to raise up from among the Israelite people.

We'll see everything from Manna to the Sabbath, and take caution that the kingdom of God (with Jesus as King) is not to be established by force of arms.

In a world of AI, air travel, and microwaves, working hard to accomplish a task seems like such a waste of effort. We want our religion to be give to us pre-packaged, and we want to understand it without having to think very much.

Bible study is indeed made far easier by leaning on the expertise of others. Nevertheless, understanding divine self-revelation written in ancient foreign languages to ancient cultures is not a simple task. Furthermore, regardless of how "healthy" your church is, chances are very high that you've learned to accept as true a doctrine that misses the mark.

Today is a challenge to roll up your sleeves, prepare for hard work ahead, and decide to take the red pill.

Links*

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How to be Your Own Selfish Pig: https://amzn.to/3LyG18X

Dino Dig Diplodocus: https://amzn.to/4cS03Y2

*Some links, including Amazon links, are affiliate links that support this ministry if used to make a purchase.

To make sense of John 5, you've got to understand Agency. When you understand Agency, you might be surprised at where you end up.

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(Note: Links to Amazon are Affiliate Links, for which I receive compensation if purchases are made using them)

LutheranSatire "St. Patrick's Bad Analogies": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw

Jewish Encyclopedia entry on Agency: https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/894-agency-law-of

A few of the major traditional creeds: https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds
(Note especially the difference between the Apostle's Creed and the Athanasian Creed, both in simplicity/complexity, and in the absence and presence of proclaiming condemnation on those who do not agree.)

Non-traditional analysis of major "deity of Christ" texts which assumes a conservative view of the inspiration of Scripture : https://amzn.to/4eJYPj0

A "Wisdom" framework for understanding the book of John according to 1st century Jewish thought: https://amzn.to/45LK8b6

Apostle's Mailbox: https://apostlesmailbox.com/