Jan 6, 2025
GENESIS 15-16:
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).
JOB 8:
In the preceding two chapters, Job 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.
He said to God,
19 Won't you look away long enough
for me to swallow my spit?
20 Are you harmed by my sin, you jailer?
Why use me for your target practice?
Am I so great a burden to you?
21 Can't you ever forgive my sin?
Can't you pardon the wrong I do?
MARK 5b:
In the first part of Mark 5, Jesus cast a host of demons out of a
man named Mob.
——————
NLT Translation notes:
Gen. 15:6 And 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.]
====
Mrk. 5:36 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.]
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.