Tuesday, January 31, 2017

GN-DBRP_032 EXO.3 EXO.4 JOB.32 JAS.1


EXODUS 3-4:
In yesterday's beginning to Exodus, we heard of Moses' birth and his young adulthood in Egypt. He murdered a man and had to flee for his life, going to Midian. We also read of his helping the seven daughters of Reuel, a scene that I can't read without thinking of the Cecil B. DeMill movie.

JOB 32:
Job having finished his defense, Elihu takes the stage. HC Mears says,

Eliphaz basically said, “God never makes a mistake. What have you done to bring this on yourself?” Bildad essentially said, “God is just. Confess your sin.” Zophar suggested, “God is all-wise. He knows man.” Elihu, God's man, said the wisest thing: “God is good; look up, and trust Him.”

Note that at the end of the book, Elihu is not mentioned as having misrepresented God. He does seem to speak wisely, but we can fault him for his arrogance.

JAMES 1:
Yesterday in 1Peter 5, Peter gave a very important encouragement to elders within the church. And among other things, he gave an important word on spiritual battle with Satan.

The letter of James is similar to 1 Peter in several ways. In the first verse of both letters, both mention that their audience is dispersed throughout the world. Both describe their audience using Jewish catch phrases. James is also similar to Peter in the way he sets out several themes and keeps returning to them. Moyer says of this book, “As soon as we read through the letter of James we say to ourselves, ‘This man was a preacher before he was a writer.’”

James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps only 15 years after Jesus' death and before the first council of Jerusalem in AD 50. This was written, not by the disciple named James, but by James the half brother of Christ. While Jesus was alive, James was not a believer. But he came to believe when Jesus appeared to him shortly after His resurrection. Some time after this and before his martyrdom in AD 62, James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

James does not call himself ‘the brother of Jesus’ but His slave!

GNT Translation notes:
Job 32:10 So now [,//I want you to] listen to me;
let me tell you what I think.
13 How can you claim [that] you have discovered wisdom?
God must answer Job, for you have failed.
====
Jam. 1:1 From James, a [slave//servant] of God and of the Lord [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ}:
Greetings to [the twelve tribes of//all] God's people scattered over the whole world.
[With these words, James illustrates that all the followers of Jesus are like the twelve tribes of Israel that were scattered everywhere. The twelve tribes of Israel had scattered as a result of persecution, and it was the same with the followers of Jesus.]
2 My brothers and sisters, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 3 for you know that when your [belief in Christ//faith] succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.

NLT Translation notes:
Jam. 1:1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of [our Lord Christ Jesus//the Lord Jesus Christ].
6 But when you ask him, be sure that [you fully believe that God is willing to give you that wisdom you are asking for./ /your faith is in God alone.]Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. [But unlike those heavenly lights, God//He] never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
24 You see [that you have dirt on your face, and then just//yourself,] walk away, and forget what you [looked/look] like.

 


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_032 EXO.3 EXO.4 JOB.32 JAS.1


EXODUS 3-4:
In yesterday's beginning to Exodus, we heard of Moses' birth and his young adulthood in Egypt. He murdered a man and had to flee for his life, going to Midian. We also read of his helping the seven daughters of Reuel, a scene that I can't read without thinking of the Cecil B. DeMill movie.

JOB 32:
Job having finished his defense, Elihu takes the stage. HC Mears says,

Eliphaz basically said, “God never makes a mistake. What have you done to bring this on yourself?” Bildad essentially said, “God is just. Confess your sin.” Zophar suggested, “God is all-wise. He knows man.” Elihu, God's man, said the wisest thing: “God is good; look up, and trust Him.”

Note that at the end of the book, Elihu is not mentioned as having misrepresented God. He does seem to speak wisely, but we can fault him for his arrogance.

JAMES 1:
Yesterday in 1Peter 5, Peter gave a very important encouragement to elders within the church. And among other things, he gave an important word on spiritual battle with Satan.

The letter of James is similar to 1 Peter in several ways. In the first verse of both letters, both mention that their audience is dispersed throughout the world. Both describe their audience using Jewish catch phrases. James is also similar to Peter in the way he sets out several themes and keeps returning to them. Moyer says of this book, “As soon as we read through the letter of James we say to ourselves, ‘This man was a preacher before he was a writer.’”

James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps only 15 years after Jesus' death and before the first council of Jerusalem in AD 50. This was written, not by the disciple named James, but by James the half brother of Christ. While Jesus was alive, James was not a believer. But he came to believe when Jesus appeared to him shortly after His resurrection. Some time after this and before his martyrdom in AD 62, James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

James does not call himself ‘the brother of Jesus’ but His slave!

GNT Translation notes:
Job 32:10 So now [,//I want you to] listen to me;
let me tell you what I think.
13 How can you claim [that] you have discovered wisdom?
God must answer Job, for you have failed.
====
Jam. 1:1 From James, a [slave//servant] of God and of the Lord [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ}:
Greetings to [the twelve tribes of//all] God's people scattered over the whole world.
[With these words, James illustrates that all the followers of Jesus are like the twelve tribes of Israel that were scattered everywhere. The twelve tribes of Israel had scattered as a result of persecution, and it was the same with the followers of Jesus.]
2 My brothers and sisters, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 3 for you know that when your [belief in Christ//faith] succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.

NLT Translation notes:
Jam. 1:1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of [our Lord Christ Jesus//the Lord Jesus Christ].
6 But when you ask him, be sure that [you fully believe that God is willing to give you that wisdom you are asking for./ /your faith is in God alone.]Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. [But unlike those heavenly lights, God//He] never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
24 You see [that you have dirt on your face, and then just//yourself,] walk away, and forget what you [looked/look] like.

 


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Monday, January 30, 2017

GN-DBRP_031 EXO.1 EXO.2 JOB.31 1PE.5


EXODUS 1:
Yesterday we wrapped up Genesis with Jacob's very prophetic blessings for each of his sons. Then we heard of the conclusion after Jacob was buried and finally Joseph died.

Exodus is clearly a continuation of the story of Genesis, since the first word in the Hebrew text is ‘And’. Tradition holds that Moses is the author. The name Exodus derives from the name that was given by the Septuagint translators— which is the translation of the OT into classical Greek made 300 years before Christ.

Here are two perceptive summary statements about Exodus— quotes by Durham (from Constable’s Notes):

“No other biblical book surfaces elsewhere in the OT as frequently as the Book of Exodus does; in the NT only the Books of Psalms and Isaiah are cited more, and that for the fairly obvious reasons of liturgy and messianism.”

“The story of the first half of Exodus, in broad summary, is Rescue. The story of the second half, in equally broad summary, is Response, both immediate response and continuing response. And binding together and undergirding both Rescue and Response is Presence, the Presence of Yahweh from whom both Rescue and Response ultimately derive.”

Here is a quote by J. Daniel Hays:
“The deliverance of Israel out of Egypt by Yahweh in the Old Testament is parallel in importance to the resurrection of Christ in the New Testament. The historicity of these events is a critical foundation for a proper understanding of the rest of the Bible.”

And finally, Henrietta Mears in her handbooks says this:
“Exodus is connected to Genesis in much the same way that the New Testament is connected to the Old Testament. Genesis tells of humanity’s failure under every test and in every condition. Exodus is the thrilling epic of God rushing to the rescue. It tells of the redeeming work of a sovereign God.”

JOB 31:
In the NNT, this is Job's sixth chapter of his long speech, and in the GNT it is his third. No matter how you divide the discourse, it is the final chapter of this long speech, in which he makes his final protest that he is innocent. After this, Elihu struts his stuff.

1PETER 5:
Peter finished chapter 4 talking about proudly bearing the name of ‘Christ’— which is part of the word ‘Christian’, and being patient under suffering, if that is included in God's will for you.

GNT Translation notes:
Gen. 2:11 When Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his people, the Hebrews, and he saw how they were forced to do hard labour. He even saw an Egyptian [strike//beating//attaching//kill] a Hebrew, one of Moses' own people.
====
Job 31:12 [Such a sin//It] would be like a destructive, hellish fire,
consuming everything I have.
====
1Ptr. 5:9 Be firm in [fully believing in Christ//your faith] and resist him, because you know that your fellow-believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.

NLT Translation notes:
1Ptr. 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for [the Scriptures say,] “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your [fully believing in Christ//faith]. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_031 EXO.1 EXO.2 JOB.31 1PE.5


EXODUS 1:
Yesterday we wrapped up Genesis with Jacob's very prophetic blessings for each of his sons. Then we heard of the conclusion after Jacob was buried and finally Joseph died.

Exodus is clearly a continuation of the story of Genesis, since the first word in the Hebrew text is ‘And’. Tradition holds that Moses is the author. The name Exodus derives from the name that was given by the Septuagint translators— which is the translation of the OT into classical Greek made 300 years before Christ.

Here are two perceptive summary statements about Exodus— quotes by Durham (from Constable’s Notes):

“No other biblical book surfaces elsewhere in the OT as frequently as the Book of Exodus does; in the NT only the Books of Psalms and Isaiah are cited more, and that for the fairly obvious reasons of liturgy and messianism.”

“The story of the first half of Exodus, in broad summary, is Rescue. The story of the second half, in equally broad summary, is Response, both immediate response and continuing response. And binding together and undergirding both Rescue and Response is Presence, the Presence of Yahweh from whom both Rescue and Response ultimately derive.”

Here is a quote by J. Daniel Hays:
“The deliverance of Israel out of Egypt by Yahweh in the Old Testament is parallel in importance to the resurrection of Christ in the New Testament. The historicity of these events is a critical foundation for a proper understanding of the rest of the Bible.”

And finally, Henrietta Mears in her handbooks says this:
“Exodus is connected to Genesis in much the same way that the New Testament is connected to the Old Testament. Genesis tells of humanity’s failure under every test and in every condition. Exodus is the thrilling epic of God rushing to the rescue. It tells of the redeeming work of a sovereign God.”

JOB 31:
In the NNT, this is Job's sixth chapter of his long speech, and in the GNT it is his third. No matter how you divide the discourse, it is the final chapter of this long speech, in which he makes his final protest that he is innocent. After this, Elihu struts his stuff.

1PETER 5:
Peter finished chapter 4 talking about proudly bearing the name of ‘Christ’— which is part of the word ‘Christian’, and being patient under suffering, if that is included in God's will for you.

GNT Translation notes:
Gen. 2:11 When Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his people, the Hebrews, and he saw how they were forced to do hard labour. He even saw an Egyptian [strike//beating//attaching//kill] a Hebrew, one of Moses' own people.
====
Job 31:12 [Such a sin//It] would be like a destructive, hellish fire,
consuming everything I have.
====
1Ptr. 5:9 Be firm in [fully believing in Christ//your faith] and resist him, because you know that your fellow-believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.

NLT Translation notes:
1Ptr. 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for [the Scriptures say,] “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your [fully believing in Christ//faith]. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.


Check out this episode!

Sunday, January 29, 2017

GN-DBRP_030 GEN.49 GEN.50 JOB.30 1PE.3.17-22 1PE.4


GENESIS 49-50:
In yesterday's reading, Jacob blessed Pharaoh, Joseph lead powerfully during the worst of the famine, and Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh— putting the younger Ephraim above his older brother. (And if you remember Jacob's story, you'll know where he got that idea.)

JOB 30:
In the GNT, this is the 2nd of Job’s three chapters stating his complaints. In the NLT, this is the 5th chapter of his monologue. Yesterday Job spoke of his previous blessed life and high position. In this chapter he tells of his anguish.

1PETER 4:
Yesterday in chapter 3 he gave instructions to wives, husbands, and all Christians— particularly when we suffer. NOTE: The final verses of chapter 3 having to do with Noah's day and spirits in prison have caused much debate. I agree with the maxim that states that in interpretation “Context is king.” It is therefore best to let the ending verses of chapter 3 be interpreted for us by what Peter says in chapter 4, verse 6. Let’s begin by re-reading 1PETER 3:17-22.

GNT Translation notes:
Gen. 49:12 [NLT puts in the text the alternate translation that GNT puts in the footnote: 12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.//GNT text:
12 His eyes are bloodshot from drinking wine,
His teeth white from drinking milk.]
====
1Ptr. 3:20 These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat — eight in all — were [safely brought through//saved by] the water,
3:21 which [is//was] a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing away of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
4:6 That's why the Good News was given by Christ to those spirits in the world of the dead. Let that be a warning to all of us: God will judge all mankind according to what we have done. But the Good News has been given so that we can live with God forever. (PET)
[I don't agree with those who do all sorts of interpretational gymnastics in order to say that the spirits in this verse are not the same as those just a few verses before. One of the main principles of interpretation is to let Scripture interpret Scripture— and even more so when it is the same author and in the same context. (Remember that Peter is not the one who came up with the unfortunate chapter break here.) I call on those who feel it necessary to find a difference between the ‘spirits’ to examine the doctrinal principles that force them to go to such lengths. Is it your doctrine that people are never given a second chance for salvation after death? In that case, just consider that God was starting the world all over in the flood, and God has the right to make a special case for those pre-flood people. In our own case, I agree, God will not give us a second chance after death. Actually, the way we have translated verse 6 above eliminates the second chance problem.]

NLT Translation notes:
Job 30:9 “And now [even] they mock me with vulgar songs!
They taunt me!
====
1Ptr. 4:1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have [have made the decision to be] finished with sin.
6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead —so although they were destined to die like all people, they [could//might//now] live forever with God in the Spirit.
18 And also [the Scripture says], “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_030 GEN.49 GEN.50 JOB.30 1PE.3.17-22 1PE.4


GENESIS 49-50:
In yesterday's reading, Jacob blessed Pharaoh, Joseph lead powerfully during the worst of the famine, and Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh— putting the younger Ephraim above his older brother. (And if you remember Jacob's story, you'll know where he got that idea.)

JOB 30:
In the GNT, this is the 2nd of Job’s three chapters stating his complaints. In the NLT, this is the 5th chapter of his monologue. Yesterday Job spoke of his previous blessed life and high position. In this chapter he tells of his anguish.

1PETER 4:
Yesterday in chapter 3 he gave instructions to wives, husbands, and all Christians— particularly when we suffer. NOTE: The final verses of chapter 3 having to do with Noah's day and spirits in prison have caused much debate. I agree with the maxim that states that in interpretation “Context is king.” It is therefore best to let the ending verses of chapter 3 be interpreted for us by what Peter says in chapter 4, verse 6. Let’s begin by re-reading 1PETER 3:17-22.

GNT Translation notes:
Gen. 49:12 [NLT puts in the text the alternate translation that GNT puts in the footnote: 12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.//GNT text:
12 His eyes are bloodshot from drinking wine,
His teeth white from drinking milk.]
====
1Ptr. 3:20 These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat — eight in all — were [safely brought through//saved by] the water,
3:21 which [is//was] a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing away of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
4:6 That's why the Good News was given by Christ to those spirits in the world of the dead. Let that be a warning to all of us: God will judge all mankind according to what we have done. But the Good News has been given so that we can live with God forever. (PET)
[I don't agree with those who do all sorts of interpretational gymnastics in order to say that the spirits in this verse are not the same as those just a few verses before. One of the main principles of interpretation is to let Scripture interpret Scripture— and even more so when it is the same author and in the same context. (Remember that Peter is not the one who came up with the unfortunate chapter break here.) I call on those who feel it necessary to find a difference between the ‘spirits’ to examine the doctrinal principles that force them to go to such lengths. Is it your doctrine that people are never given a second chance for salvation after death? In that case, just consider that God was starting the world all over in the flood, and God has the right to make a special case for those pre-flood people. In our own case, I agree, God will not give us a second chance after death. Actually, the way we have translated verse 6 above eliminates the second chance problem.]

NLT Translation notes:
Job 30:9 “And now [even] they mock me with vulgar songs!
They taunt me!
====
1Ptr. 4:1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have [have made the decision to be] finished with sin.
6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead —so although they were destined to die like all people, they [could//might//now] live forever with God in the Spirit.
18 And also [the Scripture says], “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”


Check out this episode!

Saturday, January 28, 2017

DBRP_030NewsFromHere


What a month! Thanks for listening.

In the update from the 3rd of January, I asked for prayer for my upcoming trip to Indonesia and the revisions to our Plain Indonesian New Testament. If some of you prayed, I want you to know that God has answered and supplied for my trip. By the time I leave on the 7th of February, I hope that I will have DBRP podcasts cued up and ready to go active each day until a day or two after I return home. I arrive back home on the 29th of March.

I will try to capture some interesting pictures and post them in our Facebook group. (There is a link to the group in the episode notes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DBRPdiggingdeeper/

So, speaking about posting pictures and experiences from my trip, I feel a bit conflicted, and my inner dialogue goes something like this:

“People listening to the podcasts and members of the group will be the people most interested in knowing what happens while I’m in Indonesia.”

But then I argue, “But no one else is posting pictures in the group of some random thing in their lives!”

Then my other voice answers, “Yes, but You have permission to do so since you started the group.”

But then my rational self responds, “Well that seems rather egotistic! No one else is posting their personal pictures without some Bible verse on them!”

So my two selves say to you, “How about if you group members also feel free to share about your lives in the Facebook group, and then I won’t feel so alone?!” The random pictures I share could probably all be made into prayer requests. If I share a picture of someone who is probably not a follower of Christ, you could pray that the Gospel could be made plain to them, or for the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to them. If I share a picture of someone who is helping me in the translation work, I probably will share something that will help you pray for them or praise the Lord about them. So similarly, you could share a prayer request or a picture from your life that would imply prayer requests. Then I won’t feel so alone in sharing. Of course, be careful what you share. Like don’t share, “Please pray for me because my boss is a jerk.” You wouldn’t want that post to somehow find its way onto his notifications page! Share interpersonal things or other problems in a more general way. The Holy Spirit regularly modifies our prayers for each other so that they go right to the center of God’s will. The Holy Spirit knows the details, and we don’t need to know those things to pray for you.

My total trip duration counting time waiting for the next flight is 28 hours and 38 minutes. I start at 6:30AM on Tuesday the 7th, and arrive after 4 flights in Jakarta at around 1 AM on the 9th. Around 9 days at the first of my time in Indonesia will be taken up with finalizing the revisions to our Plain Indonesian New Testament. Our coordinator Balazi will come from West Kalimantan (or Borneo) to Jakarta bringing his newly married bride Tika. Tika has two weeks still left that she can claim as honeymoon days in her work as a government nurse. I will need to send the whole NT text off to the typesetter by the 17th of February. After that I will go to Papua, and work for a week or two with the Orya people. We will be revising their New Testament so that later this year, it can be recorded by a group called Faith Comes by Hearing. (The Orya translation was our first Bible translation ministry in Indonesia.) When I show you pictures of the Orya people, you will see that they don’t look like the straight-haired, olive skinned Asian people in many of my photos.

After that, several huge things should start in mid-March, and all not under my control:

  1. The printing of the second edition New Testament should start to be printed.
  2. The recordings of the whole Plain Indonesian New Testament should be published by Faith Comes by Hearing around the same time. When people read the Terjemahan Sederhana Indonesia New Testament using the Youversion app, there will be the little floating play button at the bottom of each chapter. But for illiterate people who live in remote places, we will need to figure out how to give small listening devices to them.
  3. By mid-March, a donor I have never met will have given a huge gift that will make it so that the second edition New Testaments will be sold at a subsidized price for the first 9,000 copies. What I am hoping is that the low price of $3 USD (made available all over Indonesia with no shipping charge) will encourage Indonesians themselves to be generous. I hope that Grammas will buy extra copies to give to grandkids, and pastors will say, “I want our whole youth group to have this.” And I hope others say, “My relatives in the remote village of my birth need this to understand God’s Word.”

I don’t want this New Testament to be a best-seller for my sake. If you have followed the JOT series where I am sharing about the Gospel of Mark, you will have heard why I want our New Testament to get out and be used. The first reason is, increasing the understanding of God’s Word. God isn’t glorified as He should be when his Word is misunderstood. Misunderstanding is the very thing that causes false cults to spring up. And the second thing I want is that people enjoy reading and listening to God’s Word. If people don’t enjoy it because of the language is odd, stiff, or difficult, then they won’t bother to read the whole Bible. God is not glorified as He should be because believers are put off from reading their Bibles, leading to ignorance and neglect of God’s Word.

If you are not using a player that shows you the full episode notes, you can always find them at the web site dailybiblereading.info, when you search for the episode by name or number or find the one you want on the New Episodes page. I recently released a sample episode of the JoySightings series of podcasts, number 012 which contains the first chapter of Tales of the Kingdom by David and Karen Mains. The way to get the other issues is by searching for them or looking at dailybiblereading.info.

Again I want to remind you that there are multiple ways of listening to the Daily Bible Reading podcasts, and the ways that work best are explained at our web site, dailybiblereading.info. There seem to be about 100 people who are just using the web site for listening. Anything that works for you is fine. There is one point of confusion I want to explain again: For all you people using the Youversion or Bible.com reading app, there is a little floating play button at the bottom of each chapter in the NLT and GNT that will play the audio for that chapter. Those are great professionally-done recordings and I’m happy if you listen to them. But I would be disappointed if you thought you were listening to the DBRP podcasts when you play them. Links to the DBRP podcasts are found on the Devotional Content pages at the upper right. But most of you will find that you can’t do both at the same time while using the Youversion’s Bible reading app alone. It is almost always better to start the podcast playing using one of the many alternatives, and then open the Youversion’s Bible.com app, and activate your current day in the DBRP reading plan.

Please pray for me in February and March, and for Gale, who will be holding the fort at home for seven long weeks. I talk to her every morning in Indonesia, which is every evening for her in Arkansas. If I am in Jakarta, the time zone difference is 12 hours, and 10 hours if I am in Papua.

May the Lord bless you ‘real good’ until we meet again.

 


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GN-DBRP_029 GEN.47 GEN.48 JOB.29 1PE.3


GENESIS 47-48:
In yesterday's reading, Jacob arrived in Egypt with his family. Excluding more extended family, the whole group numbered 70 people at that time.

JOB 29:
Yesterday we heard the chapter in praise of God’s wisdom, which GNT attributes to Zophar. Today Job speaks of his former blessings, in the first of three chapters which are the final statement of his case.

1PETER 3:
Peter packed each sentence with meaning. I encourage you to take time to read the first two chapters slowly and think about Peter’s descriptive words. Yesterday, for instance, we read the wonderful “Living Stones” passage— which pictures deep meaning about our spiritual identity because of our being built upon (or, joined as one with) Christ, the Cornerstone.

At the end of chapter 2, Peter taught about submitting to governmental leaders, and slaves submitting to their masters.

NLT Translation notes:
Job 29:12 For I assisted the poor in their need
and the orphans who [needed/required] help.
18 “I thought, ‘Surely [my death will come after a good, long life//I will die surrounded by my family
after a long, good life] and I will be surrounded by my family.
24 When they were discouraged, I [had only to smile//smiled] at them.
My look of approval was precious to them.
====
1Ptr. 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about [where you have placed your hope//your Christian hope], always be ready to explain [about Christ/it].


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_029 GEN.47 GEN.48 JOB.29 1PE.3


GENESIS 47-48:
In yesterday's reading, Jacob arrived in Egypt with his family. Excluding more extended family, the whole group numbered 70 people at that time.

JOB 29:
Yesterday we heard the chapter in praise of God’s wisdom, which GNT attributes to Zophar. Today Job speaks of his former blessings, in the first of three chapters which are the final statement of his case.

1PETER 3:
Peter packed each sentence with meaning. I encourage you to take time to read the first two chapters slowly and think about Peter’s descriptive words. Yesterday, for instance, we read the wonderful “Living Stones” passage— which pictures deep meaning about our spiritual identity because of our being built upon (or, joined as one with) Christ, the Cornerstone.

At the end of chapter 2, Peter taught about submitting to governmental leaders, and slaves submitting to their masters.

NLT Translation notes:
Job 29:12 For I assisted the poor in their need
and the orphans who [needed/required] help.
18 “I thought, ‘Surely [my death will come after a good, long life//I will die surrounded by my family
after a long, good life] and I will be surrounded by my family.
24 When they were discouraged, I [had only to smile//smiled] at them.
My look of approval was precious to them.
====
1Ptr. 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about [where you have placed your hope//your Christian hope], always be ready to explain [about Christ/it].


Check out this episode!

Friday, January 27, 2017

GN-DBRP_028 GEN.46 JOB.28 1PE.1.22-25 1PE.2


GENESIS 46:
In yesterday’s two chapters, Joseph's brothers went back to Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph's younger brother. Joseph contrived a creative way to reveal his identity. When Pharaoh heard about Joseph's brothers, he helped provide for Jacob's family to come to Egypt.

JOB 28:
This chapter and part of the previous chapter are assigned to Zophar in the GNT. NLT goes strictly with the assignments of speakers as in the Hebrew, where all of this is assigned to Job. Starting in 27:13, NLT therefore makes it clear that Job’s words, which sound mighty like what his opponents have said, are him (rather sarcastically) repeating their arguments.

1PETER 2:
Peter addressed his letter to “To God's chosen people who live as [refugees/foreigners] scattered throughout” various provinces. But it is clear that Peter also has a spiritual meaning in mind, as the song says, “This world is not my home.” In chapter 2, Peter again comforts us and gives wonderful descriptions of our identity because of being joined to Christ. The first verse of chapter 2 starts with ‘then/So’, so let’s recall the last verses of chapter 1, starting at v22.

NLT Translation notes:
Job 28:6 [Down there/Here] the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
and the dust contains gold.
16 [Wisdom is//It’s] worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
19 Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for [wisdom/it].
====
1Ptr. 2:5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ], you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
6 As [God says in the Scriptures// the Scriptures say],
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who [believes/trusts] in him
will never be [disappointed/disgraced].”
[Both meanings for this word are good. I simply prefer 'disappointed'. I think the idea is that No one who trusts in Him will find out that they have believed a lie. See Biblewebapp.com.]
7 Yes, you who [believe/trust] in him recognize [how precious that Cornerstone is!//the honor God has given him.]
But for those who reject him, [the Scriptures say,]
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
[In 7a, NLT is not wrong. (Almost always when I make changes, it is not correcting mistakes, but simply choosing an alternative.) The Greek is very terse: “For you who believe therefore is the honor,” And the choice of meaning may be conditioned on what choice the translator has made at for  disgraced /disappointed' above. I totally do not like ESV here: “So the honor is for you who believe,” Such a translation takes the focus off Christ and puts it on us. It seems to me that NIV is much better: “Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.”]
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.
You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. [As the Scriptures say,/0]
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” [in this world] to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
13 For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority— whether [that be/0] the king as head of state,
16 [You//For you] are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
21 For God [has/0] called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.


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NL-DBRP_028 GEN.46 JOB.28 1PE.1.22-25 1PE.2


GENESIS 46:
In yesterday’s two chapters, Joseph's brothers went back to Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph's younger brother. Joseph contrived a creative way to reveal his identity. When Pharaoh heard about Joseph's brothers, he helped provide for Jacob's family to come to Egypt.

JOB 28:
This chapter and part of the previous chapter are assigned to Zophar in the GNT. NLT goes strictly with the assignments of speakers as in the Hebrew, where all of this is assigned to Job. Starting in 27:13, NLT therefore makes it clear that Job’s words, which sound mighty like what his opponents have said, are him (rather sarcastically) repeating their arguments.

1PETER 2:
Peter addressed his letter to “To God's chosen people who live as [refugees/foreigners] scattered throughout” various provinces. But it is clear that Peter also has a spiritual meaning in mind, as the song says, “This world is not my home.” In chapter 2, Peter again comforts us and gives wonderful descriptions of our identity because of being joined to Christ. The first verse of chapter 2 starts with ‘then/So’, so let’s recall the last verses of chapter 1, starting at v22.

NLT Translation notes:
Job 28:6 [Down there/Here] the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
and the dust contains gold.
16 [Wisdom is//It’s] worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
19 Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for [wisdom/it].
====
1Ptr. 2:5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ], you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
6 As [God says in the Scriptures// the Scriptures say],
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who [believes/trusts] in him
will never be [disappointed/disgraced].”
[Both meanings for this word are good. I simply prefer 'disappointed'. I think the idea is that No one who trusts in Him will find out that they have believed a lie. See Biblewebapp.com.]
7 Yes, you who [believe/trust] in him recognize [how precious that Cornerstone is!//the honor God has given him.]
But for those who reject him, [the Scriptures say,]
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
[In 7a, NLT is not wrong. (Almost always when I make changes, it is not correcting mistakes, but simply choosing an alternative.) The Greek is very terse: “For you who believe therefore is the honor,” And the choice of meaning may be conditioned on what choice the translator has made at for  disgraced /disappointed' above. I totally do not like ESV here: “So the honor is for you who believe,” Such a translation takes the focus off Christ and puts it on us. It seems to me that NIV is much better: “Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.”]
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.
You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. [As the Scriptures say,/0]
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” [in this world] to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
13 For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority— whether [that be/0] the king as head of state,
16 [You//For you] are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
21 For God [has/0] called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.


Check out this episode!

Thursday, January 26, 2017

GN-DBRP_027 GEN.44 GEN.45 JOB.27 1PE.1


GENESIS 44-45:
Yesterday we heard of Joseph's brothers on their first and second trips to Egypt. [GNT only: Regarding my comment in yesterday’s podcast about Joseph giving wine without limit, it is likely that He was showing the normal generosity of a wealthy host. I very much doubt that under these circumstances his brothers would have allowed themselves to become drunk.] We pick up the story, still in Joseph's palace on the second trip.

JOB 27:
In the NLT, this chapter is the 2nd chapter of Job’s six-chapter-long speech. But in the GNT Zophar interrupts and carries on through chapter 28.

FIRST PETER 1:
In the last chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we read about the resurrection of Jesus. Since Mark very likely wrote his gospel based on Peter's information, it seems fitting that we move to Peter's two letters now. Evidently Peter spent the last decade of his life in Rome, where he was martyred around the year 64. Mark (whom Peter fondly refers to as ‘his son’ in chapter 5) was with him in Rome when this was written. Silas— whom we will hear of later in Acts, was the secretary for writing this letter. Scholars do not doubt that this letter is from Peter.

Here are a couple of quotes from Constable’s Notes. Constable quotes Selwyn:

“Along with [1Peter’s//its] [end times//eschatological] focus there is much emphasis on holiness (personal, social, and communal), hope, salvation, community, relationship to the world, the Trinity, and especially suffering.”

“… despite its brevity—only 105 verses in all—[1Peter/it] is a microcosm of Christian faith and duty, the model of a pastoral charge, composed of divers materials and of many themes.”

For those who want to delve deeper in studying this short letter, I encourage you to search out and mark every occurrence of these repeated words: trials/suffering, hope, joy, grace, and glory.

GNT Translation notes:
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of [Christ Jesus*//Jesus Christ].
[This change will be made everywhere in my podcasts. Even though the Greek has the order as ‘Jesus Christ’ and that order sounds natural to our ears, it is not really grammatical. This is shown if I put some other title and name in that order. If I say, “Obama President is going to Egypt next week,” then everyone will say that that ordering is unnatural. We never say, “Obama President” but “President Obama...” By using the grammatical order for “Christ Jesus” it makes it clear that a title is being used. The title of Christ— by the way, means the same as the title in the Hebrew language, Messiah. Both terms mean ‘the anointed one’.]
‘faith’ → ‘fully believe’
[This change was also made in the podcast. It helps us to see the cohesion of the Greek word ‘pistis/pistew’ if the same root word is used in English.]
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
[Included in this Word that lasts forever//This word] is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.

NLT Translation notes:
Job 27:13 [You say//0], “This is what the wicked will receive from God;
[I also added ‘You say” to verses 16, 18, and 22.]
14 They may have many children, [(you say,)]
but the children will die in war or starve to death.
16 “Evil people [(you say)] may have piles of money
and may store away mounds of clothing.
20 Terror[s] overwhelm[0/s] them like a flood,  [(you say,)]
and they are blown away in the storms of the night.
====
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of [Christ Jesus*//Jesus Christ].   [and this change will be made everywhere.]
[*Even though the Greek has the order as 'Jesus Christ' and that order sounds natural to our ears, it is not grammatical. This is shown if I put some other title and name in that order. If I say, “Obama President is going to Egypt next week,” then everyone will say that that ordering is unnatural. We never say, “Obama President” but “President Obama...” By using the grammatical order for “Christ Jesus” it makes it clear that a title is being used. The title of Christ, by the way, means the same as the same title from the Hebrew language, Messiah. Both terms mean 'the anointed one'.]
5 And through your [fully believing//faith]* in Christ, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
[*As I have discussed in other footnotes before, the word 'faith' in English has developed many meanings, and because of that it makes the meaning unclear to use the word ‘faith’ in Bible translations in English. In Greek, 'faith' and 'believe' are just the verb and noun form of the same word.]
7 These trials will [prove//show] that [you truly believe//your faith is genuine]. [Your believing//It] is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your [believing//faith] is far more precious than mere gold. So when [you continue strong in your believing in spite of many trials//your faith remains strong through many trials], it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ] is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you [fully believe in//trust] him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
9 The reward for [believing in//trusting] him will be the salvation of your souls.
[It greatly damages the cohesion of a passage when the translators sometimes translate the same Greek word as ‘believe’ and the noun form as ‘faith’. Now the NLT translators went even further by using ‘trust’ instead of ‘believe’. I urge us to use ‘believe/fully believe’ everywhere, so we can see the cohesion that centers on this term. One might say that the New Testament writers were harping on it! If people are afraid of the error of easy-believism, then I wouldn’t mind using the word ‘trust’ everywhere. But my main point is, let the cohesion be seen.]
14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. [Back then you didn’t know any better.//You didn’t know any better then.]
16 For [God says in//0] the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
21 Through Christ you have come to [believe//trust] in God. You believe that God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. [The result is that you fully believe//And you have placed your faith] and hope in God. [moved to the front→ because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.]
25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And [included in the word of the Lord that remains forever //that word] is the Good News that was preached to you!

 


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP-027 GEN.44 GEN.45 JOB.27 1PE.1


GENESIS 44-45:
Yesterday we heard of Joseph's brothers on their first and second trips to Egypt. [GNT only: Regarding my comment in yesterday’s podcast about Joseph giving wine without limit, it is likely that He was showing the normal generosity of a wealthy host. I very much doubt that under these circumstances his brothers would have allowed themselves to become drunk.] We pick up the story, still in Joseph's palace on the second trip.

JOB 27:
In the NLT, this chapter is the 2nd chapter of Job’s six-chapter-long speech. But in the GNT Zophar interrupts and carries on through chapter 28.

FIRST PETER 1:
In the last chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we read about the resurrection of Jesus. Since Mark very likely wrote his gospel based on Peter's information, it seems fitting that we move to Peter's two letters now. Evidently Peter spent the last decade of his life in Rome, where he was martyred around the year 64. Mark (whom Peter fondly refers to as ‘his son’ in chapter 5) was with him in Rome when this was written. Silas— whom we will hear of later in Acts, was the secretary for writing this letter. Scholars do not doubt that this letter is from Peter.

Here are a couple of quotes from Constable’s Notes. Constable quotes Selwyn:

“Along with [1Peter’s//its] [end times//eschatological] focus there is much emphasis on holiness (personal, social, and communal), hope, salvation, community, relationship to the world, the Trinity, and especially suffering.”

“… despite its brevity—only 105 verses in all—[1Peter/it] is a microcosm of Christian faith and duty, the model of a pastoral charge, composed of divers materials and of many themes.”

For those who want to delve deeper in studying this short letter, I encourage you to search out and mark every occurrence of these repeated words: trials/suffering, hope, joy, grace, and glory.

GNT Translation notes:
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of [Christ Jesus*//Jesus Christ].
[This change will be made everywhere in my podcasts. Even though the Greek has the order as ‘Jesus Christ’ and that order sounds natural to our ears, it is not really grammatical. This is shown if I put some other title and name in that order. If I say, “Obama President is going to Egypt next week,” then everyone will say that that ordering is unnatural. We never say, “Obama President” but “President Obama...” By using the grammatical order for “Christ Jesus” it makes it clear that a title is being used. The title of Christ— by the way, means the same as the title in the Hebrew language, Messiah. Both terms mean ‘the anointed one’.]
‘faith’ → ‘fully believe’
[This change was also made in the podcast. It helps us to see the cohesion of the Greek word ‘pistis/pistew’ if the same root word is used in English.]
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
[Included in this Word that lasts forever//This word] is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.

NLT Translation notes:
Job 27:13 [You say//0], “This is what the wicked will receive from God;
[I also added ‘You say” to verses 16, 18, and 22.]
14 They may have many children, [(you say,)]
but the children will die in war or starve to death.
16 “Evil people [(you say)] may have piles of money
and may store away mounds of clothing.
20 Terror[s] overwhelm[0/s] them like a flood,  [(you say,)]
and they are blown away in the storms of the night.
====
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of [Christ Jesus*//Jesus Christ].   [and this change will be made everywhere.]
[*Even though the Greek has the order as 'Jesus Christ' and that order sounds natural to our ears, it is not grammatical. This is shown if I put some other title and name in that order. If I say, “Obama President is going to Egypt next week,” then everyone will say that that ordering is unnatural. We never say, “Obama President” but “President Obama...” By using the grammatical order for “Christ Jesus” it makes it clear that a title is being used. The title of Christ, by the way, means the same as the same title from the Hebrew language, Messiah. Both terms mean 'the anointed one'.]
5 And through your [fully believing//faith]* in Christ, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
[*As I have discussed in other footnotes before, the word 'faith' in English has developed many meanings, and because of that it makes the meaning unclear to use the word ‘faith’ in Bible translations in English. In Greek, 'faith' and 'believe' are just the verb and noun form of the same word.]
7 These trials will [prove//show] that [you truly believe//your faith is genuine]. [Your believing//It] is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your [believing//faith] is far more precious than mere gold. So when [you continue strong in your believing in spite of many trials//your faith remains strong through many trials], it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ] is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you [fully believe in//trust] him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
9 The reward for [believing in//trusting] him will be the salvation of your souls.
[It greatly damages the cohesion of a passage when the translators sometimes translate the same Greek word as ‘believe’ and the noun form as ‘faith’. Now the NLT translators went even further by using ‘trust’ instead of ‘believe’. I urge us to use ‘believe/fully believe’ everywhere, so we can see the cohesion that centers on this term. One might say that the New Testament writers were harping on it! If people are afraid of the error of easy-believism, then I wouldn’t mind using the word ‘trust’ everywhere. But my main point is, let the cohesion be seen.]
14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. [Back then you didn’t know any better.//You didn’t know any better then.]
16 For [God says in//0] the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
21 Through Christ you have come to [believe//trust] in God. You believe that God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. [The result is that you fully believe//And you have placed your faith] and hope in God. [moved to the front→ because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.]
25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And [included in the word of the Lord that remains forever //that word] is the Good News that was preached to you!

 


Check out this episode!

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

GN-DBRP_026 GEN.42 GEN.43 JOB.26 MRK.16


GENESIS 42-43:
Yesterday in chapter 41, we heard of Pharaoh's dream, and what happened to Joseph as a result of his correctly telling the interpretation. Note also that Joseph was careful to give the glory to God for that interpretation.

JOB 26:
Yesterday in chapter 25, Bildad only had a six verse response, because Job interrupted him with the speech we will read today. Bildad implied Job’s guilt in more than one way, including this most obvious rhetorical question:

4 Can anyone be righteous or pure in God's sight?

MARK 16:
Yesterday we heard of the death and burial of Jesus. That chapter was full of fulfilled prophecies.

GNT Translation notes:
Mrk. 16:1 After the Sabbath was over, Mary [— the one from the village of Magdalene//Magdalene], Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint the body of Jesus.
17 Believers will be given the power to perform miracles: they will drive out demons in my name; they will speak in [unlearned languages//strange tongues];

NLT Translation notes:
Gen. 42:5 So Jacob’s a sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine [extended to//was in] the land of Canaan as well.
43:9 I personally guarantee his safety. You [can//may] hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever.
22 We also have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money [back/0] in our sacks.”


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP-026 GEN.42 GEN.43 JOB.26 MRK.16


GENESIS 42-43:
Yesterday in chapter 41, we heard of Pharaoh's dream, and what happened to Joseph as a result of his correctly telling the interpretation. Note also that Joseph was careful to give the glory to God for that interpretation.

JOB 26:
Yesterday in chapter 25, Bildad only had a six verse response, because Job interrupted him with the speech we will read today. Bildad implied Job’s guilt in more than one way, including this most obvious rhetorical question:

4 Can anyone be righteous or pure in God's sight?

MARK 16:
Yesterday we heard of the death and burial of Jesus. That chapter was full of fulfilled prophecies.

GNT Translation notes:
Mrk. 16:1 After the Sabbath was over, Mary [— the one from the village of Magdalene//Magdalene], Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint the body of Jesus.
17 Believers will be given the power to perform miracles: they will drive out demons in my name; they will speak in [unlearned languages//strange tongues];

NLT Translation notes:
Gen. 42:5 So Jacob’s a sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine [extended to//was in] the land of Canaan as well.
43:9 I personally guarantee his safety. You [can//may] hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever.
22 We also have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money [back/0] in our sacks.”


Check out this episode!

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

GN-DBRP_025 GEN.41 JOB.25 MRK.15.33-47


GENESIS 41:
In yesterday's reading, Joseph interpreted two dreams. He said something significant: Interpreting dreams is God’s business.

JOB 25:
Yesterday Job said,

Why doesn't God set a time for judging, a day of justice for those who serve him? (Job 24:1)

And speaking of the helpless and downtrodden he said,

“In the cities the wounded and dying cry out, but God ignores their prayers. (v12)

Starting in v18 GNT follows a number of other translations in saying that Zophar chimed in, disagreeing that the wicked are indeed punished, contradicting what Job was saying. NLT doesn’t do that. When you find a place like that and want more information, it is always a good idea to see if the NET (New English Translation) has a footnote. If you are using the YouVersion Bible reader, and do not see the footnote marks in NET and GNT, click the Menu button, then click Settings, and activate Show Notes.

In chapter 25, Bildad only has time to speak a few lines when Job interrupts him.

MARK 15b:
In the first half of this chapter, Jesus was tried by Pilate, and condemned when Pilate caved in to pressure orchestrated by the religious leaders. The soldiers beat and mocked Jesus, he was nailed to the cross, and then everyone mocked him.

GNT Translation notes:
Gen. 41:55 When the Egyptians began to be hungry, they cried out to the king for food. So he ordered them to go to Joseph and do [whatever Joseph//what he] told them.
====
Mrk. 14:40 Some women were there, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary [— the one from the village of Magdalene//Magdalene], Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph, and Salome.
47 Mary [— the one from Magdalene//Magdalene] and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body of Jesus was placed.


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_025 GEN.41 JOB.25 MRK.15.33-47


GENESIS 41:
In yesterday's reading, Joseph interpreted two dreams. He said something significant: Interpreting dreams is God’s business.

JOB 25:
Yesterday Job said,

Why doesn't God set a time for judging, a day of justice for those who serve him? (Job 24:1)

And speaking of the helpless and downtrodden he said,

“In the cities the wounded and dying cry out, but God ignores their prayers. (v12)

Starting in v18 GNT follows a number of other translations in saying that Zophar chimed in, disagreeing that the wicked are indeed punished, contradicting what Job was saying. NLT doesn’t do that. When you find a place like that and want more information, it is always a good idea to see if the NET (New English Translation) has a footnote. If you are using the YouVersion Bible reader, and do not see the footnote marks in NET and GNT, click the Menu button, then click Settings, and activate Show Notes.

In chapter 25, Bildad only has time to speak a few lines when Job interrupts him.

MARK 15b:
In the first half of this chapter, Jesus was tried by Pilate, and condemned when Pilate caved in to pressure orchestrated by the religious leaders. The soldiers beat and mocked Jesus, he was nailed to the cross, and then everyone mocked him.

GNT Translation notes:
Gen. 41:55 When the Egyptians began to be hungry, they cried out to the king for food. So he ordered them to go to Joseph and do [whatever Joseph//what he] told them.
====
Mrk. 14:40 Some women were there, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary [— the one from the village of Magdalene//Magdalene], Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph, and Salome.
47 Mary [— the one from Magdalene//Magdalene] and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body of Jesus was placed.


Check out this episode!

Monday, January 23, 2017

GN-DBRP_024 GEN.40 JOB.24 MRK.15.1-32


GENESIS 40:
In Genesis yesterday, some listeners to these podcasts were probably shocked. We heard the less than auspicious beginnings of Judah's line— particularly involving Tamar, who was more righteous than Judah. Then we heard of Joseph working for Potiphar and then being thrown in jail. Even in jail, he rose to the top.

JOB 24:
Job continues his response to Eliphaz.

MARK 15a:
At the end of chapter 14, Jesus was arrested, was tried before the council, and Peter denied knowing Jesus.

GNT Translation notes:
Mrk. 15:2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “[Yes, as you said.//You have said it.]” (NLT)
[Jesus says “You say” in Greek. I am told that this would normally be interpreted as an affirmative response. For English, I don't like the NLT here, because “You have said it” might mean an enthusiastic affirmative. On the other hand, if we say something like “Those are your words,” it implies that Jesus is disagreeing. Probably the best way to translate an affirmative is to add a 'Yes' to make clear the meaning. I also am not completely happy with the GNT. When we say, ‘So you say,’ in English, we are implying that we are skeptical of the previous speaker’s statement. In this case, Pilate has asked a question, and the response ‘So you say’ seems inappropriate.]
18 Then they began to [mockingly] salute him: “Long live the King of the Jews!”
26 The notice of the accusation against him [read//said]: “The King of the Jews.”
30 [Come down now//Now come down] from the cross and save yourself!”

NLT Translation notes:
2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “[Yes, as you said.//You have said it.}”
[Jesus says “You say” in Greek. I am told that this would normally be interpreted as an affirmative response. For English, I don't like the NLT here, because “You have said it” might mean an enthusiastic affirmative. On the other hand, if we say something like “Those are your words,” it implies that Jesus is disagreeing. Probably the best way to translate an affirmative is to add a 'Yes' to make clear the meaning.]
3 [The//Then the] leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes,
32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe [in/0] him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.


Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_024 GEN.40 JOB.24 MRK.15.1-32


GENESIS 40:
In Genesis yesterday, some listeners to these podcasts were probably shocked. We heard the less than auspicious beginnings of Judah's line— particularly involving Tamar, who was more righteous than Judah. Then we heard of Joseph working for Potiphar and then being thrown in jail. Even in jail, he rose to the top.

JOB 24:
Job continues his response to Eliphaz.

MARK 15a:
At the end of chapter 14, Jesus was arrested, was tried before the council, and Peter denied knowing Jesus.

GNT Translation notes:
Mrk. 15:2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “[Yes, as you said.//You have said it.]” (NLT)
[Jesus says “You say” in Greek. I am told that this would normally be interpreted as an affirmative response. For English, I don't like the NLT here, because “You have said it” might mean an enthusiastic affirmative. On the other hand, if we say something like “Those are your words,” it implies that Jesus is disagreeing. Probably the best way to translate an affirmative is to add a 'Yes' to make clear the meaning. I also am not completely happy with the GNT. When we say, ‘So you say,’ in English, we are implying that we are skeptical of the previous speaker’s statement. In this case, Pilate has asked a question, and the response ‘So you say’ seems inappropriate.]
18 Then they began to [mockingly] salute him: “Long live the King of the Jews!”
26 The notice of the accusation against him [read//said]: “The King of the Jews.”
30 [Come down now//Now come down] from the cross and save yourself!”

NLT Translation notes:
2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “[Yes, as you said.//You have said it.}”
[Jesus says “You say” in Greek. I am told that this would normally be interpreted as an affirmative response. For English, I don't like the NLT here, because “You have said it” might mean an enthusiastic affirmative. On the other hand, if we say something like “Those are your words,” it implies that Jesus is disagreeing. Probably the best way to translate an affirmative is to add a 'Yes' to make clear the meaning.]
3 [The//Then the] leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes,
32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe [in/0] him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.


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