Walking in Faith

Tonight, Jason challenged me to pick a passage in the Bible and blog about it. Why did he challenge me in this way? Because I haven’t sat down even once this week for quiet time. He’s quite disappointed in me, and feels like he’s harping on me when he reminds me or asks me why I hadn’t done it (again). The worst part is, I have no idea why I haven’t done it. None what-so-ever! So, when he asked me to do this, I wasn’t going to say no. I first went into Ephesians 5 (which talks much about husbands and wives), but was more interested in looking at the cross referenced passages. I happened upon 1 Peter 3:2,5 and decided to read and study that tonight. So, here goes…

Reading: 1 Peter 3:1-7

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives— 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Passages like this one tend to be like walking on glass for many women. Just the thought of being submissive or (as the ESV puts it) to “be subject to” our husbands makes them feel as though they are second class citizens, that they don’t have an equal value to men, etc etc. It’s such a shame that so many women who feel like that can’t see past the ends of their own noses. It’s not about them, it’s about God and His glory, not our own.

God created this perfect place for man to exist – we didn’t have to work for our food, we lived in harmony with nature and all of God’s creations, and best of all, we had a perfect existence where we could walk and talk with God. Man and woman completely messed that up for everyone. God in his perfection could not have that same relationship with us anymore. Unfortunately, with that removal from Eden also came the exact curses that cause women to spit nails when they read a verse like this. Women are cursed with the desire to rule over men:

Genesis 3:16
…Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”

No woman wants to be ruled over. It’s not in our nature – our sin nature, that is. But, when a woman is able to devote herself to the Lord, to be found pleasing in God’s eyes – gentle and quiet in spirit – then are we not threatened by a passage like this.

The passage goes on to talk about how a woman can win over a disobedient husband not with words, but with actions and conduct. I think that this goes for not only spiritual matters, but in any aspect of a married life. How many husbands are going to respond positively when their wives are harping on them and displaying harsh conduct and a rough actions? But when leading by example, God promises women that they will win over their husbands. It’s not being underhanded or manipulative, it’s being gentle, submitting ourselves and respecting them as the head of the house/marriage.

Don’t go thinking that husbands get off easy, getting to be in charge and boss their wives around all the time. That’s not what God intended a marriage to be like. God reminds husbands in v.7 that they, likewise, have certain responsibilities to their wives as well, lest their prayers be hindered:

live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life (v7)

I can’t imagine any man not wanting to live up to that with their bride. God appointed them as the head of household, to protect and protect their wives (and family). There is no greater honour (or weight upon one’s shoulders!) than to be responsibile for your wife as heir with him of the grace of life!!

Basic Facts:

• OT was originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic (portions of Ezra and Daniel) from 1500 to 400 BC
• NT was originally written in Kolae Greek from years 40 to 100 BC
• Do not have any original writings (autographs or autographa)
• All transmissions were hand written until invention of the printing press
• Most readily available materials were stone, papyri, parchment.   In 2nd century BC, codex was developed
• Few manuscripts of OT that date before 900AD
• Transmission was extremely difficult

Textual Criticism

• Definition: science of reconstructing the original text of the Scriptures based on available manuscript evidence
• Applies to all historical documents (Plato, Socrates, Confucius, etc.)
• There were over 300,000 copyist errors, or variants, in the NT alone
• Variant is defined as one text disagreeing with another text
• 99% of the variants do not impact theology
• Of the 1% that do impact theology none affect major doctrine
• Vulgate was considered the only inerrant text by many; KJV by others
• Unintentional errors:  mistaken letter, homophony (substitution of similar-sounding words), dittography (letter or word that was written twice rather than once), fusion (incorrect division of words (GODISNOWHERE)), homoioteleuton (omission caused by two words that have similar endings), and metathesis (reversal of order of two words: Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus)
• Intentional errors: changes in grammar or spelling and modernization of language (Genesis 47:11 – city of Rameses), harmonization (scribe felt at liberty to change apparent discrepancies (Lk 23:38 and John 19:19 — “this is Jesus — King of the Jews)), theological changes and/or additions (1 John 5:7-8 — doctrine of Trinity) and liturgical additions (Matthew 6:13 – Lords prayer “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”)

Basic Principles of Textual Criticism:

• Shorter reading is normally preferred
• Harder reading is normally preferred
• Earlier occurrence of the variant gives credence to its validity
• Wider distribution of the variant gives credence to its validity

Transmission of the Old Testament

Two primary factors we look for:

1. How close do our copies come to the original?
2. How many copies do we have?

Four different manuscripts:

1. Ben Asser Family (9th and 10th century, Masoretic family of scribes): Cairo Codex (Codex C in AD 950), Leningrad Codex (Codex P written in AD 916), Alppo manuscript (Codex A written before AD 940)
2. Septuagint (LXX): Greek translation of the OT translated around 300-150 BC (earliest copy AD 400)
3. Targums: Aramaic paraphrases of the OT after AD 200
4. Dead Sea Scrolls:  found in 1948; contained copies or portions of every book in OT expect Esther; includes full copy of Isaiah dating 135-200 BC

When comparing DSS and Codex Leningrad, almost identical text.  This gives huge weight to the Leningrad Codex based on consistency of text between Codex and DSS.

Masorites: group of scribes who carried on the meticulous transmission process of the standardized text from AD 500 to 1100 AD.

Transmission of the New Testament

Three types of evidence:

1. Original Greek Manuscripts
• John Ryland Papyri (125 AD)
• Codex Sinaiticus (350 AD)
• Codex Vaticanus (350 AD)
2. Early Church Fathers
• Commentaries, dairies, books, letters, etc.
• Polycarp, Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Tertillian, etc.
• John Burgeon catalogued over 86,000 quotations before AD 325
3. Translations
• 15,000 copies
• 25,000 handwritten copies of NT

Sinaiticus is the is the most reliable NT Codex and includes the entire NT.

1.  Read Jude 1:3; 1 Cor. 11:2; and 2 Thess. 2:15. Knowing that the traditions spoken of in the New Testament are simply summaries of the Gospel that have been passed on from one person to another, do sermons in evangelistic crusades and Sunday sermons qualify for traditions? Explain.

The Word still speaks to people.  Sunday sermons, evangelistic crusades, etc. all fit into the context of 2 Thes. 2:15 which states:

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by
our letter.

Traditions have been taught to us by spoken word or by letter, inspired by the Lord.

2.  Why do you think Roman Catholics find it so attractive to have a living authority other than Scripture that authoritatively pronounces on matters of faith and morals? 

Any topic of debate can be resolved.  Papal authority allows there to be no room for dispute.  A matter of dispute is quickly resolved within the Church because the Pope has that authority.  It also means that interpretation isn’t left to the individual (which is fallible and could misunderstand/misinterpret).  The Pope is the ultimate authority on earth concerning the interpretation of Scripture. 

What is the danger of this?

The Pope is fallible just like me.  He could misunderstand something in the Scriptures because his emotions, his experiences, his traditions are affected his regula fide.  The Pope then decrees something to the entire Church which they are to believe in and obey.  Even though it may be counter-Scriptural (such as salvation by works).

3. (Advanced question) Roman Catholic apologists often accuse Protestants of holding to the “novel” doctrine of sola Scriptura which was not known until the sixteenth-century. Is this true? Explain. 

Protestants practiced the doctrine of sola Scriptura but it was not called that until later in history.  In the 16th century, the Protestants provided clarity around sola Scriptura so as to remove confusion and discussion among the believers.

An “anachronistic fallacy” is when one demands that someone find or enforce a contemporary articulation of an idea, term, or concept upon people of earlier times.  How do Roman Catholics commit this fallacy when they 1) interpret the word “tradition” in Scripture and the early Church fathers and 2) when they demand that Protestants find an articulation of sola Scriptura in Scripture or the early Church fathers?

The Roman Catholics look at the word “tradition” as meaning those behaviors, actions and beliefs handed down from the early Church fathers.  Reformers would think of tradition as the Gospels handed down by the Apostles to their disciples and from them to their disciples, etc. 

4. How have you been frustrated by the practical disunity in the Protestant Church today?

There are several topics that come to mind as causing disunity in the Church:

• Women as teachers/leaders
• Choice of God or election
• Abiltiy to fall from grace
• Worship music
• Eschatology as a whole

5. Do you think that this disunity needs to be solved? If so, how would you suggest the Protestant Church create unity, and how absolute should this unity be?

I don’t believe it has to be solved.  What has to be addressed is the disunity in the Church.  Disagreement and difference of opinions is healthy.  It becomes a discussion of separation that becomes the problem.  The Church should look their doxology and agree and align on the essentials.  Those non-essentials should be stated as such and left for friendly discussion but not topics to separate the Church or the purpose of the Church.

6. Do you believe that the doctrine of sola Scriptura has been abused in the
Protestant church? Give examples.

Abused may not be the right word.  I am sure that there are plenty of situations where sola Scriptura has been abused by simply forcing it down people’s in a polemic way instead of irenic. Specifics would have to be around the use of solo Scriptura where people believed that there was nothing besides the Scripture.

7. Do you believe that the Bible supports the sola Scriptura theory or the dualsource theory more?

There are several Scriptures that I find hard to reconcile with dual-source.  I believe the Bible supports sola Scriptura based on some of these key passages:

• 2 Tim. 3:14-17
• Deut 4:2
• Rev 22:18-19

8. How has this lesson most challenged your thinking?

It opened my eyes to why people would think that there are more options than sola Scriptura.  The dual-source theory or sola Ecceslia has some decent Scriptural arguments.  However, I believe that the evidence presented in the Bible supports sola Scriptura.  I also broadened my personal perspectives on traditions and what constitutes a tradition in the history of the Church.

Reading: Genesis 22:1-19

Read through this passage a couple of times, seeing it first of all from Abraham’s point of view and then from God’s angle. In what ways was Abraham’s faith strengthened through this testing?

Abraham knew that the Lord God was a loving, caring God that was going to keep His commitments. Originally, I think that Abraham would have been petrified. He wouldn’t have understood why the Lord would have asked Him to sacrifice the only son that He has given to Abraham. When Abraham was about to slay his own son, the Lord interjected and provided for Abraham based on his faith.

Can you think of times when your own faith or that of your church or even the wider Christian fellowship has been tested, yet through it all blessing has resulted?

My faith is tested as I question my own faith. I don’t have anything that proves that I am saved. It is faith that tells me I am saved. I can see by the fruit but there is no proof. I live my life daily knowing that I am saved by faith. However, there are times — especially those times when I am sinning the most and away from the Lord — that I really question myself. Luckily, the Word has made it pretty clear how to be saved. It isn’t by works but by the grace of the Lord. Praise God!

Make a list of all the things and people which are precious to you. Is God more important to you than each of them?

• My wife, Larissa
• My oldest daugther, Elisabeth
• My middle child, Sarah
• My youngest daughter, Rebekah
• My mother, Stephanie
• My in-laws, Barb and Nick
• My Church
• My friends
• My house
• My job

All of these things are very important to me. However, none of them are as important as the Lord. Unfortunately, it is easy for me to say that but I don’t always act like it. If He was truly the most important thing in my life, I would spend more time with Him than I do. I should spend more time focusing on His plan and not my own plans.

Reading: Genesis 21-25

As you read these chapters, watch out for evidence that God is in control of every situation — be it the timing of the birth of Isaac or Isaac’s marriage with Rebekah. Note down the evidence that you collect.

• Lord gave Abraham and Sarah a child when they were 100 years old
• Lord provided for Hagar and her child when they were dying in the desert
• Abimelech was able to see the blessings the Lord had provided to Abraham
• Lord provided a ram in the thicket so Abraham did not have to sacrifice his only son Isaac
• The Hittites were able to see the blessings the Lord had provided to Abraham
• Lord providing Rebekah for Isaac to wed
• Lord blessed Rebekah so that she could have children

Abraham may sometimes have wondered if God’s power could really bring about the impossible. Sometimes we too are fearful and forget that God is in control.

Even now, as we are trying to prepare our house to sell so that we can buy a new house in the Hutto area where we plan to help plant the new church, I can see God at work. If I trust in my own capabilities, there is no way this is going to happen. We won’t get the house on the market in time, even if we put a contingency offer up, someone else will buy the house, etc. However, if the Lord truly wants us to move to that area into that specific house, doors will remain open — they will not be closed. The Lord will provide in every situation as long as we let Him be in control.

Write down your own fears alongside the evidence that God is all-powerful. What happens to your fears as you look at the God who is in command?

My fears quickly go away. The only thing I have to fear in this world is God Himself. He is all powerful, all mighty, all seeing, all knowing. There is nothing that happens without Him knowing and allowing. That is incredibly humbling. He cares enough about me to allow me to deal with good and bad situations. Obviously, the bad are for my own growth and discipline. He is perfect in all ways. I only have to give things over to Him and trust that He will guide me. Praise the Lord for His love, His mercy and His grace!