End-Times Marriage...Or Not

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting August 7 to study 1 Corinthians 7.  There's a ton in this chapter, so we'll get to what we can.  The immanent return of Jesus seems to form the overall background of all that Paul recommends and commands in this chapter.  So this will bring up some interesting questions, I hope.

Read through the chapter several times, in as many translations as you can find.  Look for strange wording or where different versions have truly worded it very differently.  In such places pay careful attention to footnotes.  Jot down observations and questions that come to your mind as you read.  Be sure to bring these to the group.

After reading through several times with your own observations and questions, read through again with those below:

• What sort of 'religious' problems do you think Paul might be using in his reference to 'touch'?  Look at Exodus 19:12,13; Leviticus 11:8, 12:4; Deuteronomy 14:8 for help here.  Can you think of others?
• Why do you think Paul balances references to men and women so evenly here?  What do you think that says about the status of women in their congregation? (consider again, 1 Co 1:11)
• Verse 1 and verse 6 seem to 'bracket' this first section.  So Paul gives this command, but doesn't seem happy about it.  What do you think is Paul's overall view of marriage?
• Paul reveals something of his own 'condition' in verse 7, but points out it has to do with 'gifting'.  On the other hand, he doesn't refer to 'gifting' in verse 9.  Why do you think that is?
• In verse 10, Paul shifts from his own views to those of Jesus.  Where is he now getting these instructions?
• In almost every translation it seems what the wife might do in verse 10 is referred to differently than what the husband does in verse 11.  Why do you think Paul switches terms here?  He's still balanced, but perhaps this gives more detail to the circumstances of women?  (look forward to verse 13)
• Why do you think Paul would speak of reconciliation of the wife, but not the husband?  Which is more restrictive here?
• In verse 12, we have a switch away from commands from Jesus and toward Paul's directives.  Why do you think he would switch up here, and how does that help you gain insight to how we can use Scripture?
• Verse 14 is interesting because it is not really clear how this is true and what it means for the unbelieving spouse and children.  References in Ezra 9:2 and Malachi 2:15 are not especially helpful here since they address a different problem.
• In verse 15 do you think Paul is describing 'divorce' and then those rules apply or simply separation? What then happens to the believing spouse?
• Do you think Paul is switching topics entirely in verse 16 or do you see it somehow related to the previous discussion on marriage and divorce?
• In verse 19, Paul says circumcision is nothing, but yet says keeping the commands of God.  Isn't circumcision a command of God?
• Paul has a special section just for circumcision and slavery.  Why do you think these would be two important issues within the church?
• Paul repeats, 'remain in the condition in which you were called.'  Why do you think this might need repeating in this congregation?
• In verse 25, the same grammatical structure used in verse 1, signalling a change in topic is used.  What do you think that means for my question about verse 16?
• In verses 25 through 28, what is Paul's assumption that forms his opinion here?  How do you think this influences his other references previously in this chapter?
• In verses 29 through 31, how would this look for us?  Do you think this still applies today? If so, how?  What do you think it would look like?
• Paul says his motivation is 'unrestricted devotion to God' (verse 35), what is his view of those who marry?  Do you think this is still true today?
• These references to 'virgin' may actually have to do with giving a daughter in marriage.  What do you think it would mean in that culture to not give the daughter in marriage? (we'd all be guessing here)
• Verses 39 and 40 refer to widows.  Here again Paul thinks 'single is better'.  Why do you think he would 'support' his view by claiming that he too has the Spirit of God?

That should do for now.  We may be able to wade through all this in an hour or so.  But we may not either.  We'll take it as we go.

For To You Is Born...

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting, Thursday, December 20.  The passage is Luke 2 instead of Acts 14.

Read through the chapter several times.  It may be helpful to read Chapter 1 because that has a lot of detail that is assumed in this chapter.  As you read through Chapter 2, look for things that seem odd, or out of place.  Look for things that "don't match" and consider who is doing what and to whom are things being done.

After reading through a few times yourself, writing down observations and questions, consider the questions below as you read through again.

• When did all this happen?
• What's the census for?
• Why go to the family cities?
• What is the status of Joseph and Mary?
• What might have been some difficulties along the road from Nazareth?
• What was everyone doing in Bethlehem?
• If shepherds were out in the fields, what was the weather like, most likely?
• What can you guess about what the angel looked like?
• Once the angel makes the announcement, who shows up?  What do they do?
• Once they leave, how long does it take the shepherds to find the manger?
• What do they do once they find the baby?
• What do the shepherds do after seeing the child?
• What does Mary do after they leave?
• What is the common theme with anyone connected to the child?
• Why the eighth day for circumcision?
• Look up Leviticus 12:1-8, why the pigeon or turtle dove?
• What is Simeon's guarantee from the Spirit?
• What things are included in Simeon's address to Mary?
• What is Anna's "job"? Is it unusual for a woman to be a "prophet"? (see 2 Kings 22:8-20)
• What does Anna do with Jesus?
• What theme continues with those encountering Jesus?
• After the "purification" and "dedication", where did they go?
• So how long were they in Bethlehem? 
• What sort of parenting do Joseph and Mary provide to Jesus the Teenager if they leave without Him?
• Why would they be so lax?
• How many days was He missing in total?  How did He survive that long?
• What was Jesus doing in Jerusalem?  
• What is the significance that He was sitting and asking questions?
• What did the teachers think? Look up "astonished"/"amazed" (G1839).  What was the problem with which they grappled?
• What were Jesus' parents response?  What is odd about Mary's question?
• What does Jesus' answer to her reveal about what He knows about Himself?
• Knowing what He does about Himself, what would His 'submission' have looked like?

That's probably enough.  Keep some of these items in mind for the following week.  I suspect there will be some questions to be addressed next week about timing.

See everyone Thursday!

Blessings of Christmas upon each of you!

Who Let You In Here?

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Small Group meeting on November 29.  The Scripture passage is Acts chapter 11.  This passage falls neatly into two sections, verses 1-18 regarding Peter being challenged about the acceptance of Gentiles, and verses 19-30 about the believers in Antioch.

As you read this chapter, catch the last 4 verses of chapter 10 just for context.  Read this chapter through several times (hopefully you already have been).  Look for things that "don't match", and what I mean by that is questions that don't match the setup of the problem, answers that don't match questions, or events and actions that don't match initial intent.  Things like that can indicate some element of the account that Luke assumed was understood without explanation. They can also indicate some sort of cultural idiom, custom, or etiquette.  Look for other pieces that are strange, out of place, or just hit you cross ways.  List them, look into them (you can use the Blue Letter Bible website), and share them with us on Thursday.

After you've done some poking around on your own, or if you haven't found anything as you did so, consider the questions below as you go through the chapter:

• What had the believers in Judea heard about the Gentiles?
• Who addressed Peter in Jerusalem?
• What did they ask?  What does that have to do with what was heard?
• Why would this be important? (we sort of discussed this in chapter 10 with the whole "heavenly sheet" thing)
• How does Peter respond?  What does verse 4 say in various translations?
• Look up the Greek word used to describe how Peter went through his explanation (G2517).  Why do it that way?  What's his intent?
• What two responses does Peter get to his explanation?
• What do Peter's inquisitors conclude from his account?  (hang onto that piece of info for later)
• Why are people spreading throughout the region?
• What might that mean for the timing of these events?
• Look up the three "regions" mentioned in verse 19 on a map (one included below).  What's the relationship between all three?  Which one is different?

 

•  What prompts the proclamation to the Gentiles?  Consider the timing again, why is this interesting?
• What do those in Jerusalem do in response?
• What does Barnabas do once he arrives? (At least four things)
• What doesn't he do that might be expected?
• If these events occurred before the preceding 18 verses, then how does that affect your understanding of the reception Peter received when he arrived in Jerusalem?
• What are the differences between what Peter does and what happens in Antioch?
• What do you suppose will happen once Barnabas and Saul reach Jerusalem?

That should get us going for a nice discussion Thursday!  Be sure to bring the other questions and things you found in your own study.  We need your perspective on this.

I look forward to Thursday's discussion.  Have a blessed week!

Ouch! What Was That For?

I didn't want to forget again, so I made sure I posted here before I started posting on another page.  This is the study page for our group meeting on June 7 next week.  Chapter 17 forms an interesting couplet with 18, somewhat like Chapter 1 and 2 as we saw before.  The similarities are striking as are the differences.  It might help to read both chapters together even though we will be spending more time on 18 later.

As you read 17, consider the following questions, and, as always, come up with your own.

• God names Himself, what is different here from the names previous?
• Look up "blameless", or in the Strong's Concordance, "perfect".  How is that the same or different from what we normally think of as either blameless or perfect?
• This seems to be another "greeting" (remember chapter 15?).  How does this event seem to differ from before in Chapter 15? (there's a clue in verse 22)
• God changes Abram and Sarai's names here.  Read this article about names, and the significance of name changes from the Blue Letter Bible website.  So why does this relationship between Abram and God "turn a corner" here? What's so different now?
• The promise of lots of descendants and the land Abraham resides in is repeated in verses 4-8.  But now the covenant is ratified, not by binding God to it (chapter 15), but by circumcision of Abraham; and everyone else.  Why impose this so thoroughly throughout Abraham's household?
• What would you have thought if your household leader comes to you with this "new plan" from God?
• The text is very explicit that Abraham complied that very day, repeating it several times.  Why is that important?
• What limits would you place on your obedience to God?  What does "making sense" have to do with obedience?

That should do it for now.  Remember to write down questions you have as you read.  Some will be answered are you study, and some not (some never).  Bring 'em on!

Blessings upon you, and see you this Thursday!