About this scripture section...
The scripture section covers material that is either constituent to or is a derivative of scriptural study. The study of the scriptures, when guided and disciplined, leads a person to discover things about their life and understand the world around them in a different way.
Premises:
The section assumes a few basic premises that are discussed by articles within the section in greater detail:
Corinthians II 10:7-18
In this text, Paul outlines precisely why a person’s ultimate reference helps or hinders their efforts in not only proclaiming, but living out the gospel as examples of Christ. His words reflect heavily on the interoperability of royal kingship in the kingdom of God, where effectively every citizen will operate with monarchial rights and obligations. If we are Lords unto ourselves, the universal royalty of God’s kingdom is compromised and the order falls apart. Apostleship is not about personal attention or personal power.
Mark 3:28-35
This passage incorporates the tail-end of one of the most serious charges laid against Jesus by the official Judaic leadership – that of operating on earth by virtue of an unclean spirit. While this betrays their own bias against the possibility of any valid communication from God being relayed outside of their sphere of influence, Jesus takes this opportunity to educate the population with regard to the power of the spirit of God to bind people to him – not as servants, but as family.
Luke 5:1-11
Within the Davidic tradition of psalmody, one detects that David is as much a general as he is a king. In this passage, Jesus illustrates the power that he will imbue upon the apostles, while also showing them a visible example of how influential they will be in the redemption of history if they cooperate humbly with God.
David’s psalms are often recollections of needs – the first stance of his relationship with God. These are the needs of his people on a specific level and scale, but also for the needs that David recognizes and speaks of with regard to strategic placement of the nation.
Timothy II 3:10-15
The battle of polemic, from Paul’s point of view, is one of hair-splitting, but the decisions are critical to the future doctrine of Christianity. In his exhortation, Paul encourages Timothy to take a strong approach, but to do so in a way that is faithful, not angry. He is able to use himself as an example of those who seek the true Christ – those who follow the false doctrine will find a lot of support from Paul’s contemporaries, but he has not been as lucky.
During the course of Paul’s greater mission, he is confronted with some of the most difficult diplomacy battles a person could ever face. Internally, he had to struggle with the futility of the cultural battles he had been given custody over. There were not many men who could have even been given the assignment he was given, but God assumes the ability to make a rod of leadership and discipline from anyone He chooses. Having been a member of both traditional and innovative communities of faith, Paul faced the difficult task of telling both warring communities that Christ’s appearance has presently made their entire political and religious struggles irrelevant.
Hebrews 2:2-10
This text is a powerful admonition to hold firmly to the things that Christ said early on in his ministry. The speaker calls attention to the awesome magnitude of power offered by the present configuration of the kingdom of God. He remarks how through Christ we have access to a kingdom and dominion that not even the angels or custodians of the former covenant were able to gain.
While a good portion of this sentiment is certainly polemical against Jerusalem proper, the text validly notes the transformation of the nature of the kingdom of God – that it is no longer a location that is even taken care of by the angels any longer.
Luke 10:16-21
This passage parallels the commission of the seventy apostles with the appropriate deposition of grace in the Exodus cycle – this gospel passage is one of many makes the parallel revealed to Paul between Jesus and Moses crystal clear.
Following the drowning of the Egyptians on the day they crossed the Red Sea, the Hebrews and Moses were given a full scale declaration of hope. It is hardly possible to ignore what Christ is forecasting here regarding the cross and the status of the apostleship.
The End Times
From a scriptural point of view, the “end times” are not about a specific person or place, but a particular drama – a series of events that, like any prophetic strain, lead from a recognizable beginning to an inevitable end. And yet, despite all of the common scriptural patterns on which it draws, the book of Revelation sets itself apart as a drama that lacks the conventional outlets generally associated with the phenomenon.
Within the prophetic and wisdom literature traditions there is an understanding that the cross-hatch of dramas, both known and unknown, leave open a multitude of choices to the free human being. Each path begs for participation. Each path has variable launching points and a set end. As a person traverses the path they have chosen, they inevitably reach a point where they recognize that their freedom is being constricted. The choices that once seemed available are no longer there. Doors of opportunity close. The closer a person comes to reaching the end of their prophetic path, the more they try to slow down the process. They become attracted to diversions – things that take their mind away from the process at hand.
Corinthians II 8:16-24, 9:1-5
While at the start it may appear that Paul’s concern is in regard to the reputation of the apostles and teachers who are traveling between assembled communities, we see by the end of this passage that Paul is really concerned over how the communities themselves will be viewed – specifically in connection to how they deal with those who come to them to educate them about the gospel of Christ.
Paul is concerned with regard to what the communities will say about the apostles – there are several dangers here that Paul is trying to avoid.
Matthew 23:29-39
This passage shows Jesus at his most ominous – laying down the line in the sand in idyllic prophetic fashion. Many times the prophetic role of the new covenant is misunderstood to be someone who is able to tell the future. Within the Judahite tradition, it is not so.
Prophetic vision is enabling – an opening of the eyes to the lattice of valid paths on earth. Within the superstructure of wisdom literature, one finds a rich tapestry of traditional dramas – movements – courses of action – paths, if you will. The prophet is one who sees these paths and knows them – and so when the prophet witness that you are on one of these paths and do not know where it goes, he tells you – plain and simple – precisely where that path leads. He or she does so as a warning – so that if you are wise you will re-examine your path, re-evaluate where you think it will lead and hopefully turn to the path of righteousness. The prophet speaks, so that illumined with the word of truth you will not stumble, but will follow your course to its due end.
Corinthians II 8:7-15
This powerful passage introduces the Corinthians to the crucial third stance of the developing a ‘Davidic relationship’ with God – and of course, he uses Christ as the prime example.
Having seen everything that the Corinthian church had manifested through their application of the gospel: