We come to the addendum to Jeremiah— seemingly written by someone else, perhaps Baruch.
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/jer.52.nlt
I’m going to repeat this today: An important thing about the book of Proverbs is that it contains principles, not promises. This particularly needs to be remembered for verses that talk about prosperity. There will be times, such as what Jeremiah experienced, when no amount of Godly living will bring us wealth.
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/pro.11
The words ‘in Ephesus’ are missing from the best manuscripts of this letter. It is believed that this was a circular letter and every church who received it would fill in their location name.
H.C. Mears says of Ephesians:
In this epistle, we enter the holy of holies in Paul’s writings. Paul speaks in 2Corinthians 12:2 of being “caught up to the third heaven.” Here, as it were, he gives his report, and he seems to be carried away as he tells about it. It is the greatest revelation of truth that God has given to us, the revelation of a mystery that has been hidden from before the foundation of the world.
An important theme in Ephesians is one I have also highlighted this year. It is the idea of being (in literal translations) ‘in Christ’. This idea is also important in John’s writings, like the chapter we heard yesterday. Go back to the vine and branches metaphor in John 15. ‘In Christ’ doesn’t mean inside. It means being joined to Christ or one/in unity with Christ, like a branch is with the vine.
This is the letter where we hear of the Christian’s armor. I believe that a key part of the belt of truth is to believe what God says about us is true.
Translation notes:
3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are [joined/united] with Christ.
4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us [0>>>— joined with/in Christ] to be holy and without fault in his eyes [> through becoming joined to Christ].
5God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
6So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us [because we have become joined with//who belong to] his dear Son.b
7[PET: Through oneness with Christ, we have been redeemed by the sacrifice of His blood as payment for the punishment for sin that we should have suffered. That means we receive forgiveness of sin because of God's amazing kindness to us.//He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.]
11Furthermore, because we are [joined/united] with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,c for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
15Ever since I first heard of your [fully believing//strong faith] in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere,e
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/eph.1
No comments:
Post a Comment