Becoming Wise: Proverbs & James (January 24-February 21 2010)

This course provides a broad overview of biblical wisdom literature, specifically Proverbs and James (the primary Old and New Testament wisdom books). The intentions of the class are as follows:

1. to increase the student’s biblical literacy
2. to help establish a framework for understanding reformed theology
3. to equip the student with basic exegetical skills to analyze and apply wisdom literature.

We will use Scripture to analyze itself, so we will examine passages in Genesis through the writings of various biblical authors: Moses, Luke, John, David, etc. A more literal translation of the bible [RSV, ASV, or ESV] is recommended, but by no means required. The instructor will also post handouts here.

Schedule: Sundays, January 24 through February 21 from 12:10PM to 1:30PM. There will be no class on February 14.

Location: Hunter College, West Building (Southwest Corner of 68 & Lexington).

Childcare: Childcare is provided by RSVP only for children 3 and under. To make arrangements for childcare, please email Bethany at bethany.griffith@redeemer.com at least 4 days prior to the start of the class (Wednesday).

Please click this link to download the class slides

If you have any questions, please contact: foundations@redeemer.com

Joshua (Oct 25 - Nov 22)

Joshua is probably one of the most misunderstood and misapplied books of the Bible. From this book, false messiahs initiated, prosecuted, and justified terrible atrocities such as the Crusades and the Inquisition. Like Catholics, Protestants too have misapplied the book, as evidenced by various pilgrims migrating from Europe, exterminating Indians, and claiming the United States as their own sort of promised land. Germany, one of the most so-called Christian nations in mid-twentieth century Europe, committed terrible crimes against humanity. In short, lots of so-called holy wars have been fought in God’s name, and sadly, false messiahs tend to cite or at least reference the book of Joshua to justify them.

In response to these false messiahs and ungodly wars, many people reject the book of Joshua altogether, as well as the God of the Old Testament. For Christians, this is dangerous. We Christians believe that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are one and the same. Therefore, an explanation is required to make sense of the book of Joshua and understand its implications for God’s Church today. Although the context of Joshua operates in Theocratic Israel (which has not existed since 70 AD), the book still has tremendous relevance to us in this present day and age. Using both Old and New Testament sources, we will attempt to answer the questions: “What was God’s motive, means, and objective to the Canaanite wars?” and “How is the book of Joshua relevant to the Church today?”

The format of the series will be interactive and will utilize the Socratic Method.

Schedule: Sundays, October 25 through November 22, from 12:10PM to 1:30PM. There will be no class on November 8.

Location: Hunter College, West Building (Southwest Corner of 68 & Lexington), 5th Floor, Room 506.

Materials:  Please click here to download the Class Slides

 

This is a quick essay in my own words.  Criticism, comments, and questions are most welcome. 

In Christ, Marty

___________________________________________

The center of Reformed Theology is the conceptual framework that God relates to His Creation through a series of covenants.  A covenant is a formal agreement memorialized between two or more parties who agree to satisfy certain stipulations in good faith.  Unlike a contract, covenants presume a divine witness who will judge each of the covenant parties and administer blessings or curses based on covenant performance.  Within Reformed Theology, God is the Divine King who initiates, stipulates, witnesses, memorializes, and judges various covenants with his Creation.  Thus, Reformed Theology organizes and interprets the Bible through the lenses of the various biblical covenants found within it.  In so doing, Reformed congregations are distinctly different from other branches of the Church, which interpret the Bible through alternative lenses, which may or may not be biblically sound.

Although not necessarily Reformed Theology, closely related Covenant Theology categorizes the various covenants found in the Bible into one of two covenant frameworks: the so-called Covenants of Works and Grace.  In addition to these two super-covenants, some Covenant Theologians presume the eternal existence of a certain Covenant of Redemption (Psalm 110, Phil 2:5-11), made before the beginning of time between the Persons of God, meaning within the Trinity itself.  The Westminster Confession includes references to the Covenants of Works and Grace based on certain observations of the Adamic (Gen 2:16), Noahic (Gen 9:8-17), Abrahamic[1], Sinai (Exo 20:1-17), and New Covenant.  However, in subtle disagreement to mainstream Covenant Theology, the Westminster Confession recognizes various covenants of works, but only one Covenant of Grace, by the clever use of the indefinite and definite articles respectively.

In general, the Reformers recognized that the pre-eminent biblical covenant is the New Covenant, or the Covenant of Grace.  However, there also exist other biblical covenants, mostly of works, some of which are operative today.  For example, the Bible explicitly mentions the covenants of Marriage (Gen 2:21-25, Mal 2:14), Brotherhood (Gen 4:9, Amos 1:9), and Common Grace (Gen 9:8-17), all of which 1) God instituted, 2) apply to the entire human race, and 3) operate today.  Regarding Marriage and Brotherhood, God, as covenant witness and judge, will hold people accountable for the good and bad works they do (i.e. as spouses and siblings).  As a result, Marriage and Brotherhood should be properly categorized as works covenants.  However, the Noahic covenant, by which God continues to bless the Creation despite the evil that people do is “a” covenant of grace, as God pours out his unmerited grace on the just and unjust.  As strange as it may sound, all unbelievers are in covenant relationships with God, and it is through these covenants, they currently experience both grace and judgment.  The Noahic covenant, which operates even today, will ultimately expire at the return of Christ and is therefore unable to save, so it is a vastly inferior covenant of grace when compared to “the” Covenant of Grace, meaning the New Covenant.  Thus, it is through the various works covenants that God will faithfully execute judgment against all Humanity.  It is through the Covenant of Grace that God will choose His Elect and redeem them.

The Reformers recognized that no one, other than Jesus Christ, had faithfully performed his or her responsibilities and obligations under the various works covenants, despite the overflowing and unmerited love God pours onto all of us through the various grace covenants.  As a result, all Humanity is justly condemned for its sin.  However, Jesus Christ, being human lived in perfect obedience to the various works covenants and being God inaugurated the Covenant of Grace, substituted Himself for the just judgment all Humanity deserved in order to redeem His Elect.  It is through this Covenant of Grace that the Reformed Church operates.

For the Reformed Church, the New Covenant supersedes all other covenants.  It is an everlasting covenant which will continue from the present time into eternity.  None of the other covenants will do that.  The law of the New Covenant is love.  It is through the New Covenant that God sends His Holy Spirit to equip the Elect with all the spiritual gifts required to build up the Covenant Community.  The Holy Spirit is the covenant sign (or engagement ring) of the New Covenant which will ultimately be consummated at the Marriage of the Lamb.  The elders of the Reformed Church are primarily called to be the faithful stewards of God’s covenants, ministering to the Church through the New Covenant, but also the World through God’s other covenants.  Thus, because of its covenantal framework, the Reformed Church is vitally unique amongst the other branches of Christ’s Church.

Question:

I have a question for you along the lines of "intervention," especially in light of some the recent news stories about Christian parents who refuse medical help for their sick children--believing that the illness is a result of some sin and enough "prayer and faith" will heal.  My hunch is that this is wrong and un-biblical but am unable to explain it.  Could you help me flesh this out with biblical support?

Response:

First of all, your intuition is exactly right.  The key issue is “testing God” which simply means to do something to provoke God to act.  This is a grave sin and one of temptations that Satan uses against Christ.  It’s also Israel’s sin in the wilderness which they commit 10 times.  Hebrews has several discussions about this. 

 

So, these unfortunate stories we read about in the news are basically situations where people are testing God and trying to provoke him to do something (ie – heal children).  This is the same sin illustrated in the fictional USC story that is wideley circulated.  Understanding that this is similar to that story, you can see that in addition to testing God:

 

1.       It bears false witness concerning Him

2.       It operates from a presumption that human beings have some authority over God which is in itself a lie.  This of course is idolatry and blasphemes God’s name.

3.       It assumes a sort of works-based righteousness whereby people can control the divine through their own actions.  This of course makes people their own god and their own source of salvation.

 

As I say, bad theology always results in bad ethics.  So, hence the misfortune of children whose parents believe these lies.  The parents, in their vain attempt to control God, end up sacrificing their own children to false gods…  Doesn’t it strike you as demonic that these children suffer and even die even though their parents are claiming to be saving them?  The fact is that the parents are not trying to save them, but rather they are erecting their own idols to save themselves and the idols are powerless to save.

 

As for divine intervention, it does happen, but its always within the context of God’s covenants which He Himself has established.  So, God intervenes covenantally.  Some people mistakenly interpret the Bible to believe that they can claim certain Old Testament blessings that were related to the Sinai covenant.  What they neglect to understand is that they actually deserve the curses, not the blessings, in the strict sense of the Mosaic covenant.  In the New Covenant, such Mosaic blessings for “good behavior” and curses for “bad behavior” no longer apply since Christians are not under the Mosaic covenant, but rather the law of grace. 

 

I hope this helps, in Christ, Marty

Question:

According to the KJV, it seems that the Messiah may sin:

2 Sam 7:14: I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.

According to the New Testament, Jesus is without sin [Heb 4:15].  What is the deal?

Response:

The issue is a translation issue.  The KJV translation has also found its way into many popular English translations, so this isnt an uncommon question.  However, when we examine the original Hebrew and LXX Greek texts, we find something much different than what the KJV suggests:





According to the LXX, the Messiah doesnt sin, but rather sin approaches the Messiah or comes to him.  This of course is consistent with the theology of the Cross.  The Messiah doesnt sin, but when sin approaches him, he endures punishment for it.  This is consistent with the idea of a suffering Messiah who endures the punishment for sin so that people (ie - sinners) may approach God.

According to the Hebrew text, the Messiah is "like a son which does wrong" - however this doesnt mean that the Messiah actually does wrong, but rather is like one who does.  This is also consistent with the theology of the Cross, meaning that Jesus is sinless but his death atones for our sin.  He is punished like a son who does wrong, but the text doesn't necessarily say that he actually does it.

From time to time, the issue of forgiveness comes up in class with very controversial results.  As part of a biblical theology exercise for one of my classes, I wrote this paper on the bibical theology and ethics of forgiveness found in Matthew's Gospel.

Click here to download the paper

This paper should serve as a general outline of the argument which I have presented in the past in class.  Those who would like to discuss this topic in detail are welcome to join me on this blog.

Take care! In Christ, Marty

Question:

In class you mentioned that King Solomon was "the epitome of foolishness," but the Bible says that he was wise.  Can you explain?

Response:

It’s true that God grants King Solomon wisdom, but Satan does too.  So, let’s look at Solomon’s request and God’s response:

1 Kings 3:9 (My Translation):  Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

 

1 Kings 3:12 (My Translation) Behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you heart of wisdom, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

 A lot of English translations translate the text as an “understanding mind,”  “wisdom” or “discerning mind” which is simply wrong. In fact, it’s important to see that Solomon’s request and God’s response don’t fit the conventional view of wisdom, which is some sort of an intellectual capability.  Although intellectual capability is good and a gift from God, if such capability is perverted to pursue fallen  and selfish desires then it becomes Worldly Wisdom. “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” [James 3:15-17].  Worldly Wisdom is antithetical to Godly Wisdom and an abomination to God.  It is a function of a depraved mind [Rom 1:28] pursuing the fallen desires of the heart [Rom 1:24]. 

 

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” [James 3:18].  According to true Hebrew text, Solomon’s request is for a heart that can discern good from evil.  This is the essence of Godly Wisdom.  Therefore, we see that true Godly Wisdom isn’t a function of the mind, but rather a function of the heart to discern between right and wrong, enabled through the power of the Holy Spirit.  So, Solomon is essentially asking for Godly Wisdom and God does indeed grant it to him.  See James 1:5 - “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”  However, as the narrative progresses, we don’t really see Solomon using Godly Wisdom, but rather Worldly Wisdom. 

 

Like most scholars, I think that the first indication that Solomon is being led astray is when he builds his palace.  Solomon spends 7 years building the Temple [2 Kings 7:37], but 13 years building his own house [2 Kings 7:1].  His own house is far more expensive and elaborate than the Temple, suggesting a distorted sense of priorities, especially since his palace was built with “taxpayer” money (so to speak).  After he has completed building his own house, God appears a second time and delivers Solomon a stern warning in 1 Kings 9:4-9.  God warns Solomon to keep his commandments and statutes.  If he does not, God will bring disaster upon Solomon and his house, as well as the house of Israel.

 

Solomon does not heed God’s warning, but turns to foolishness.  Beginning in Chapter 11 (1 Kings), Solomon begins loving godless women, rather than the Lord.  The significance of that is that he is now listening to Worldly Wisdom and is fully neglecting Godly Wisdom.

 1 Kings 11:1-8 (ESV): Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.

Most interpreters point the simple fact that Solomon had strayed into idolatry, which in itself is foolishness.  However, I would like to point out a few other things.  Solomon blasphemed the marriage covenant by marrying 700 women and keeping another 300 concubines.  For doing this, most men would tell you that Solomon was very wise (in the world’s standards), but this is simply not God’s view.  In the best case, Solomon is guilty of forced sexual slavery, but I would tell you he is guilty of much worse.  Let me explain using Solomon’s own song.

Song of Solomon 8:11-12 (ESV): Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.  My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.

 In the Song of Solomon, we see that Solomon actually pimped out his wives for "a thousand pieces of silver."  The righteous Shumanite (the young woman in the Song of Solomon) will have nothing to do with Solomon, but reserves herself for her beloved only.  Solomon tries to win her into his harem [Song of Solomon 3:7-11], but she will not succumb to the temptation that Solomon presents (Solomon in all his riches, military power, royal lineage, etc.).  As we discussed in class this is demonic Worldly Wisdom at work.  Solomon is essentially acting like a the archetype of foolishness, an “adulterous” person: 

1) tempting women (with his riches, power, and royalty); and,

 

2) laying a trap by satisfying their fallen desires (greed, lust, pride, etc.); and,

 

3) capturing them (through perverse marriage covenants of all things); and,

 

4) and then sending them down to hell (let me explain).

In reference to point #4, I would like to point out that sacrifices to Chemosh and Molek were child sacrifices.  So, Solomon wasn’t just permitting this but promoting it.  In other words, he was impregnating his wives/whores who were then bearing children and sacrificing them to their false gods.  Horrific!  But, if you examine this by the World's Standards, it makes sense.  After all, by the world’s standards, who would want to take care of all these children?  Getting rid of them is awfully convenient to those that want to promote their own selfishness.  But, from God's view,  those that kill these children are being dragged down into hell.  Before we dismiss Solomon’s actions as barbaric and outdated, isn’t this the same sort of pattern we see in New York City and the crux of the abortion issue today?

 

Anyway, although given the gift from God to discern right from wrong, Solomon chooses to do the wrong thing and follows Worldly Wisdom instead.  I could go on from here, but the point is made throughout Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, and Proverbs.  Solomon simply gives himself over to all his desires and becomes enslaved to them to the point of reaching a sense of godless, existential nihilism.  

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (ESV): I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” …  I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.  I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.  I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.  I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.  I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.  I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the children of man.  So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.  And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.  Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

 

I do believe that Solomon does eventually repent, but the consequences of his actions destroy Israel.  Most of his children, gained through idolatry are sacrificed to false gods.  As for the remaining children, they are at war with one another as they seek to satisfy their own fallen passions.  The Nation is ripped asunder by them and given over to the idolatrous environment which Solomon has created.  So, in effect Solomon did the Worldly thing: Screwed everyone else to satisfy his own selfish and wicked desires.  Consequently, Solomon should serve us an example of Worldly Wisdom and its Foolishness, not Godly Wisdom which he forsook.  Although he knew what was right, he did not do it.

 

 In Christ, Marty

Hi Class,

As promised, here are the slides for the entire Become Wise Class (Proverbs and James). 

Click here do download the slides

Take care, In Christ, Marty

Here is the syllabus and course description for this class.  Please note that if you register for Sunday April 19th, it will include a small fee for lunch.

Have you ever noticed that the Gospel accounts of our Lord’s resurrection differ from one another? Some claim that these differences are contradictory and disprove the resurrection altogether. Nothing is more dangerous for the Christian than rejecting the resurrection. Paul says it best:

"If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.” [1 Cor 15:13-19]

 

We believe that God raised Christ from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit [Rom 8:11]. The same Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead also inspired the Gospel accounts of His Resurrection. Fortunately, for those who believe, the differences in the Gospel accounts help prove the reality of Christ’s resurrection. In this class, we will examine all four Resurrection accounts found in the Gospels in order to understand the historical events recorded in each of them, and then we will synthesize a harmony of the Gospels to gain a full, biblically grounded, understanding of the Resurrection narratives. Through careful exegetical work, we will be able to confidently exclaim “He has Risen!”

 

Schedule: Thursday, April 9 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM.

Location: Redeemer Offices, Main Conference Room (1359 Broadway, 4th Floor, btw. 36 & 37).

Registration will open online Saturday, January 10. Limited enrollment. There is no fee for this seminar.

Please click here to register.

If you have any questions, please contact: foundations@redeemer.com

Here is the course information and syllabus:

This course provides a broad overview of biblical wisdom literature, specifically Proverbs and James (the primary Old and New Testament wisdom books). The intentions of the class are as follows:

1. to increase the student’s biblical literacy
2. to help establish a framework for understanding reformed theology
3. to equip the student with basic exegetical skills to analyze and apply wisdom literature.

We will use Scripture to analyze itself, so we will examine passages in Genesis through the writings of various biblical authors: Moses, Luke, John, David, etc. A more literal translation of the bible [RSV, ASV, or ESV] is recommended, but by no means required. The instructor will also post handouts here.

Schedule: Sundays, March 8 through 29 from 12:10PM to 1:10PM.

Location: Hunter College, West Building (Southwest Corner of 68 & Lexington).

Childcare: Childcare is provided by RSVP only for children 3 and under. To make arrangements for childcare, please email Bethany at bethany.griffith@redeemer.com at least 4 days prior to the start of the class (Wednesday).

Registration will open online Saturday, January 10. Limited enrollment. There is no fee for this course.

Please click here to register.

If you have any questions, please contact: foundations@redeemer.com