2015DBRP_008 Gen15-16 Job8 Mrk5

Thanks to our daughter Hannah who read the part of Sarai and Hagar in Genesis 16, and her husband Brandon who reads the part of Bildad the Shuhite in Job 8.

Yesterday we heard the stories of Abram and Lot separating

company, and of Abram rescuing Lot in time of war. Then we

heard of the mysterious priest Melchizedek (who we will read

about in the NT in Hebrews).

Translation notes:

6And  Abram [fully/0] believed the LORD, and the

LORD counted him as righteous because of his [believing

like that//faith].

This is the first time this year that you will hear me lecture on this, so I might as well make this footnote a bit long. Note how in English there is 'believed' and then 'faith'. This makes it appear that 'faith' is  something different from 'belief'. This is not true. In Greek they share the identical root, faith being the noun form of believe. Here in Hebrew, a literal translation is as ESV: “And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” The 'it' refers back to 'believed'. Another example comes up in today's NT reading.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.15.nlt

Job has said some very despairing and angry words, telling God

basically to go take a walk and leave him alone. Job again

wished for his own death.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.8

In the first part of Mark 5, Jesus cast a host of demons out of a

man named Batalion.

Translation notes:

36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be

afraid. Just [keep believing in me//have faith].”

In Greek, Jesus does not use the noun form 'faith' here, but an imperative verb, “just believe.” When English speakers say “Just have faith,” it has become way too vague. It can mean anything and most of my audience in America can think of movies where Hollywood makes fun of the statement. In English the saying has become hollow. It is just like saying, “Keep up your hope.” Hope in what?! Again, in Greek, 'faith' and 'believe' are the same word.

34 And he said to her, “[0/Daughter,] your faith has made

you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

The Greek does say, ‘Daughter’. Like where Jesus calls Mary, his mother, ‘Woman’, this is very hard to translate. In the case of Jesus calling his mother ‘Woman’, in English that would be impolite, and he was not being so impolite in Greek or Aramaic. In the case of the woman healed in Mark 5, calling her ‘Daughter’ can imply that she was younger than Jesus— which is probably wrong. Or it can imply a that they were already friends. In English, I think it is probably best to leave out the word and maybe add the word ‘kindly’: he said to her kindly.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.5

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2015DBRP_007 Gen13-14 Job7 Mrk5a

In yesterday's reading we heard about God scattering people by

confusing their languages. Then we traced the ancestry of Abram, who descended from Seth's line. Then we read of the call of Abram and what happened when they were staying in Egypt because of a

famine.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.13.nlt

We turn to Job 7. Today we hear the second chapter of Job’s response to Eliphaz. In chapter 6 Job said,

10 At least I can take comfort in this:

Despite the pain,

I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

And he also complained:

29 Stop assuming my guilt,

for I have done no wrong.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.7

We turn to Mark 5. We completed the ‘parable chapter’ yesterday. Following the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus also slept in a boat while a storm was raging on the lake, and then he calmed the storm.

Translation notes:

8 For Jesus had [already/0] said to the

spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

9 Then Jesus demanded,

“What is your name?”

And he replied, “My name is [Batalion/Legion], because

there are many of us inside this man.”

A Roman legion could be as many as 6,826 men.

15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the [batalion/legion] of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.

20 So the man [went/started] off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.5

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2015DBRP_006 Gen11-12 Job6 Mrk4b

Yesterday in Genesis 9-10, we heard the story of Noah's drunkenness and his curse on Canaan because of it (which wasn't very fair since it was his father Ham who actually caused the offense to Noah). Then we heard about Noah's descendants.

Translation notes:

4Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches [into/0] the sky.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.11.nlt

In Eliphaz' speech he said something that James will tell us later:

17 “But consider the joy  of those corrected by God!

Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.

The ‘when you sin’ part is a bit different from what James says, but otherwise the idea is the same.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.6

Chapter 4 is the parable chapter of Mark. We will repeat some of what we read yesterday in Mark 4. We start reading in verse 21.

Translation notes:

26 Jesus  also said, “The Kingdom of God [can be

illustrated as being like when//is like] a farmer [0/who] scatters seed on the ground.

It bothers me grammatically to say that a 'kingdom' is like a 'farmer'. The king might be like a farmer, both being people. Jesus' illustration shows that the whole package is what is like the Kingdom of God, including farmer, seed, time for growing, and harvest.

30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God?

What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 [God's Kingdom can be compared to//It is like] a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,

40 Then he [said to/asked] them, “[What a bunch of cowards you are! It is clear that you don't believe fully in me!”//Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”]

I have treated these rhetorical questions as statements. In English it seems a bit silly to ask “Why are you afraid?” Jesus' question is a rebuke (and we can debate how strong a rebuke was intended). The second RQ is also a rebuke.

Note that I will often change 'faith' to 'fully believe'. This might be a good illustration of why the English word 'faith' is often misunderstood. 1) People often have forgotten that the root meaning of 'faith' is

'believe'— having the same Greek root word. 2) When one uses an abstract noun like 'faith' we loose the object— in this case the Person who is being believed. Note that 'faith' does not have the

a vague root meaning like 'endurance' or 'ability to live without fear', which might be assumed by some readers. Such words almost always end up placing 'faith' in ourselves. This is very wrong. What faith means here is placing trust 100% in Jesus.

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “[Wow, what kind of man is this Jesus?!//Who is this man?]”3 they [said to//asked] each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

The disciples had not forgotten Jesus' name! This translation is as suggested by Deibler.

 

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.4

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2015DBRP_005 Gen9-10 Job5 Mrk4a

In chapter 8 the flood receded and Noah made a sacrifice after

coming out of the boat.

Translation notes:

I will pronounce names like ‘Canaan’ as Cana’an, and I pronounce most names more like their phonetic pronunciation. This happens to be like the Indonesian pronunciation. Many times I have been told I am approaching original language pronunciation.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.9.nlt

We turn now to Job 5. In chapter 4 Eliphaz implied that Job is guilty and that is the reason he is being punished:

“Stop and think! Do the innocent die?

When have the upright been destroyed?

8 My  experience shows that those who plant trouble

and cultivate evil will harvest the same.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.5

In chapter 3 we have seen that opposition to Jesus is mounting from the Jewish religious leaders. They are already plotting to kill him and saying he works miracles by the power of Satan.

Translation notes:

6 But the plant[s/0] soon wilted under the hot sun, and since [they/it] didn’t have deep roots, [they/it] died.

Seed is a collective noun, so the plants should be plural, even though Greek is singular, referring back to 'seed'.

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the

secret[s/0] of the Kingdom of God.

Even though the word 'mystery' is singular in Greek, it is more natural in English to use plural 'secrets'. One mystery can contain many secrets. Jesus is opening the possibility of his disciples understanding many things that were previously unrevealed to mankind. He is not saying he has given them just

one secret.

13 Then Jesus said to them, [“How could you fail to understand the meaning of that parable? If so, you will be hopeless at understanding all my other parables!”//“If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?”]

Some translations translate this verse as two rhetorical questions. Jesus is using the RQ as a mild rebuke. When we do rebuking RQs in English, I think we tend to make them shorter.

22 [Similarly/For] everything that is hidden [now/0] will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.

Greek has a 'gar' connector here which is often translated as 'for'. But 22 is not a REASON for 21, but instead is showing the point of similarity with 21.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.4

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2015DBRP_004 Gen7-8 Job4 Mrk3

Let's start a Digging Deeper Forum! Then we will be able to share about treasures that we find in God's Word and encourage our fellow 'diggers'. The forum will also allow us to share prayer requests. To make this happen, we need several spiritually mature people who are willing to act as moderators. If you are willing to be a moderator, please contact Phil via the e-mail address on the Announcements Page.

In Genesis 5, we heard the overview of the descendants of Adam and Eve up to Noah. In chapter 6, Noah was further introduced. Also the reason for the flood was explained.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.7.nlt

We turn to Job 4. In chapter 3 Job cursed the day he was born and expressed his deep misery.

Remember that in the speeches of Job’s three friends we will  see a mixture of truth and error. In particular, we should not follow Eliphaz’s example in today’s chapter. The Bible tells us repeatedly that we are not to trust or listen to communication from spirits.

Translation notes:

6 [How come//Doesn’t] your reverence for God [doesn't/0] give you confidence?

[Perhaps you place too much confidence in your own integrity.//Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?]

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.4

We turn to Mark 3. In Mark 2, Jesus shocked his listeners by preceding the healing of a paralyzed man by forgiving the man’s sins. And in three other events in chapter 2 we can see the beginnings of the conflict between Jesus and the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees.

Translation notes:

10 He had healed many people that day, so all the [other/0] sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him.

23 Jesus called them over and responded with an

illustration. [It is not possible that Satan would drive out his own demons.”//“How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked.]

33 Jesus  replied, [“Let me show you the kind of people whom I regard as my mother and brothers!”// “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?]

I want to comment briefly about the sin of blaspheming or reviling the Holy Spirit. Some people worry about whether they have done this. In this context, the Pharisees were saying the Jesus was working by the power of Satan. But Jesus was working by the power of the Holy Spirit. Such a person in that frame of mind will not repent. So Jesus warned the Pharisees, because they were mighty close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit by what they were saying about Jesus. I want you to know: If you worry about whether in some past time you have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, then you haven’t! If you are the kind of person who still is sorry for sins committed and ready to repent of sin, then you have never blasphemed the Holy Spirit, nor are you likely to ever do so.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.3

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2015DBRP_003 Gen5-6 Job3 Mrk2

In chapter 3 of Genesis, the Lord gave his judgment against the serpent. God talked about the woman’s offspring (singular) when speaking to the serpent, and said, “He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” This is the very first prophecy looking forward to a Messiah and Redeemer who will crush Satan’s head. Just before that, there is another picture worth noting: God provided clothes for the man and woman made from animal skins. This is the first hint of a sacrificial system that prefigures Christ.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.5.nlt

We turn now to Job 3 and will read Job’s first speech. In the Bible— and especially in Job and the Psalms, we find out that God thoroughly understands and takes into account the fact that humans suffer.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.3

We turn to Mark 2. Yesterday in the second half of Mark 1, we read of Jesus miraculously healing people in Capernaum, and his refusing to stay only there. He preached and cast out demons all over the region of Galilee. The healing of the man with leprosy is notable because of the exchange between Jesus and that man, and also the results of the man’s not following Jesus’ instructions.

Translation notes:

5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, [PET: I have forgiven your sins.//your sins are forgiven.]”

9 [PET: Certainly you will have difficulty accepting that I said to this paralyzed man, ‘I have forgiven your sins.’ Will it be easier for you to accept it if I say to him, ‘Get up, pick up your mattress and go home’?//Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? ]

10 So I will prove to you that [I, the Son of Man have//the Son of Man has] the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,

18 Once when John’s disciples were fasting and the

Pharisees were [also] fasting, some people came to Jesus and

asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples

and the Pharisees do?”

28 So [I,] the Son of Man [am/is] Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.2

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2015DBRP_002announcements

I want to keep the daily podcasts to 20-24 minutes, so there is very limited time for announcements. Rather than taking time in a regular podcast, I have decided to send out this special announcement podcast.

Welcome to all you who have joined us for the New Year! I am very excited about what God is doing through the Daily Bible Reading Podcast (DBRP) this year. If you have questions about how to READ, LISTEN, or DO BOTH using the two sites and applications involved, please see the How to Subscribe page at dailybiblereading.info.

Wouldn’t it be good to share together in what we are learning from God’s Word? And I’m sure that some of you have prayer requests that you would like to share. Also, I am concerned that some people from around the globe would have questions about the Bible or spiritual issues they would like to ask and discuss. Some of our listeners have no one to turn to for spiritual counsel. Some may be in countries or situations where it is impossible to meet with other believers for fellowship. Some of our listeners are seeking spiritually and are checking out what the Bible says before making a commitment.

One way we could more deeply minister to the DBRP listening community is by having a Digging Deeper Forum. All or part of the forum would be private and confidential for members only. Our forum might have different sections, such as:

• Digging Deeper Discussions (open forum)

• Prayer Requests

• for guys only

• for gals only

• for the whole family

• Advice and discipleship questions  (monitored private forum)

In order to have a forum, we will need to start out with 3-5 moderators. For moderators, we need people who are spiritually mature and who have a desire to help people dig deeper into God’s Word, and who want to come along side of people with spiritual questions and prayer requests. Moderators would need to have time to visit the forum almost daily, and would likely need 30 minutes for normal visits. 

If you would be willing to help, please send a message to me at the e-mail address mentioned in the podcast. That e-mail address is also found at the bottom of the Our Story page at dailybiblereading.info. In your e-mail, please tell me if you would like to be a forum member or a moderator. If you would like to be a moderator, please give me information about your life and journey as a follower of Christ.

If the Lord wills, I will be making my first trip to Indonesia in the first week of February. I will give little updates in the podcasts and let you hear some sounds and voices from Indonesia. The main focus of my trip is recruiting translation team members and training them, so that we can translate the Old Testament into plain Indonesian.

Thanks for joining me in this year-long adventure of digging deeper into God’s Word. God watches over His Word (Jer.1:12). We can be certain that this adventure will yield results.

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