The Birth of Jesus - In July!

This the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 16 to study Luke 2:1-20.  Merry Christmas!  In July!  There are some interesting elements to this very familiar account that should be fun and helpful for us.

Per our usual, read through the passage several times.  Jot down observations and questions you have from the details you read.  Once you have those, then go to any commentaries you have available.  See which of your questions you can answer, and then gather more from what commentaries have. 

After having done that, go back through with the questions below:

• What commentary were you able to find on the 'timing' of the birth of Jesus?  It seems important to Luke, so how spot on was he?  Or do we know?
• Who is not mentioned in Luke's account, even obliquely?  I'm thinking of the person we usually use for the timing of Jesus' birth.
• What city is typically thought of as the 'City of David' in Hebrew Scriptures?
• David figures prominently in where Joseph goes.  Why not 'Judah' or some other reference, why do you think David is the 'head' of his family?
• Regarding timing again, are Joseph and Mary married yet?
• How important to Luke do you think the 'stable' is as the place Jesus was born?  
• Shepherds shepherding, living outdoors, the time of year must be warm.  So when, in the year do you think Jesus was born?
• One angel shows up.  So, what are the odds it's Gabriel?
• The announcement is made, the shepherds are impressed, why do you think the 'choir' was necessary?
• If the shepherds were afraid at one angel, what do you think they felt when the 'multitude' showed up?
• Read the 'song' of the angels in a few translations.  So who is this peace for?  And is the 'good will' or 'favor' already present, or also a 'gift'?
• The show is over, and all they know to look for is a baby in cloths lying in a feed trough.  Why do you think that was enough?
• It is enough detail and they find the three.  Luke doesn't say what the shepherds did while with Joseph and Mary, but what do you think they did?  They had to have done one thing at least.
• The shepherds then tell everyone (and Bethlehem is crowded right now).  The people who hear wonder, what do you think is significant about what Mary does?  Keep in mind, Luke uses Mary's response as a 'contrast' to everyone else here.
• Who else from Bethlehem do you think came to see the three?

That should keep us talking (and guessing) for a while.  Remember to bring your questions and observations.

And The Mute Will Sing!

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 2 to study Luke 1:57-80.  This was a lot of verses but not long ones.  There are several allusions to Psalms, and prophets in the wording, somewhat like Mary's song.

Read through the passage several times making notes on the various things that are interesting to you.  Look for things you might find strange to say at a 'baby shower'.  Jot down your insights and questions.  Then use any commentaries you have about you; study Bible notes, or whatever. 

After that, go back through the passage with the questions below:

• We noted last week that 6 months and 3 months meant Mary remained until 9, when John would be expected to be born.  Considering the wording of this section, do you think she was there with Elizabeth?  If so, why do you think she wasn't mentioned?
• Their relatives seem very involved with John's birth, celebrating with Zachariah and Elizabeth, why do you think they were so insistent to name him Zachariah?
• Finally Zachariah asks for something to write on, and the people are astonished he writes John.  Why do you think they were astonished at that name, or Zachariah's choice?
• What do you think it was about what Zachariah wrote that indicated he had 'learned his lesson' so to speak (and yes, that's a pun)?  What do you think he had not learned up to that point?  Or what do you think the timing was about?
• The first things out of Zachariah's mouth are praises.  His 'healing' affected everyone in the area around them.  So when do you think Zachariah says his prophesy over his son?
• There are a lot of common prophetic terms in Zachariah's 'song'; horn, visitation, redemption, salvation, and so on, but what do you see as his main theme in verses 68 through 75?
• From verse 76 on, he speaks to John.  This is more than Gabriel told him, so what has happened to Zachariah to reveal this to him?
• As John's father, what do you think Zachariah thinks of his own prophesy over his son?  What parts do you think he might, as a father, find troubling?
• Read verse 78 in as many translations as you have.  How do you imagine the sun rises from a height?  What does that even look like?  What do you think Zachariah is alluding to?
• Does John live with his parents, raised by them, or does he live in the wilderness, 'raised by wolves?'  What do you think verse 80 means for his childhood?

That should keep us busy for an hour or so.  Remember to bring your notes and questions to the group.

Magnificent Psalm of Mary

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting June 25 to study Luke 1:46-56.  This is a spontaneous poetic monologue attributed to Mary, named for the first word in it in the Latin Vulgate, Magnificat. 

This 'hymn' is filled with some interesting stuff; not the stuff of a teenage girl typically.  If it were truly spontaneous and/or truly something Mary said/wrote, we get a very intriguing look at her character, how she sees herself, and how she understands what's happening to her.

Read it slowly.  Find the parallel (repeated/contrasted) elements.  Look for themes, like the reversal of how things normally work in the world.  Try and come up with a central theme of this hymn.  See if there's one central point you see being made.

As always, jot down questions and interesting things you see.  Make notes, and only after that go to a commentary or two.  You can modify your questions from there, but don't dismiss them.  Commentaries never have all the answers.  Add notes and questions you have after reading commentaries.  After you have done all that, then go through the questions below:

• Notice that the verse divisions don't make a lot of sense throughout.  Why do you think that might be? (no wrong answer here, no one knows)
• Mary exalts and rejoices because all generations will call her blessed, and God's to blame.  What does that tell you about Mary's character?
• Mary refers to herself throughout as the Lord's maid-slave.  Consider what that means in that historical setting (maid-slave, see if you can find an article on it, like Blue Letter Bible site, in the ISBE).  Why do you think she sees herself that way?  What does that tell you about such a one being 'called blessed by all generations'?
• Mary lists lots of things God has done to 'bad people'.  How is what's happening to her God doing such things to such people?  Who do you think these 'people' might be?
• In several places, Mary uses contrasts.  Think about who is contrasted with whom.  How do you think she sees herself in those categories of people she uses?
• What makes Mary a slave, or poor, or humble, or hungry?  Why do you think she refers to herself this way?
• Christians interpret the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah as referring to Jesus.  Mary seems to tie them to Israel.  Who's right? (yep, look it up)
• Why do you think Mary stays with Elizabeth three months?
• What does Mary walk back into at home after that time?  What do you think of her courage?

That should be plenty for us.  Remember to bring your questions!

Baby Announcement - Take 2

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting June 18 to study Luke 1:26-45.  This is the announcement to Mary, which is different in many ways from the one made to Zachariah previously in this chapter.

This is one of the most familiar passages in Scripture because we spend so much time with it during Christmas.  We like to read how the angel appeared to Mary, as well as Joseph.  So that will make harder to find the things that seem strange.  There are a few though, one of which is the differences between this announcement and the previous one to Zachariah.  Even so, it will be difficult for familiarity to not breed some level of 'contempt'.

Read it through, jot down notes, come up with some questions that occur to you.  Be sure to use several translations and look up differences in word choice.  Then go to commentaries and see what they think.  After having done that, then go back through with the questions below:

• Look up a Jewish calendar, and see when their year started, and see when 'sixth month' would have been.  So what would nine months after that have been?
• The timing of the announcement of John isn't given.  Why do you think it would be important to give the timing of this announcement?  Or do you think this timing is tied to the first?
• What do you think of the difference in greeting between Gabriel to Zachariah and then to Mary?  What sort of 'greeting' was there to Zachariah?
• Mary is startled, but what does it sound like to you that she was most aware of when she sees Gabriel?
• After the greeting and her response, the rest sounds a lot like the announcement to Zachariah (with some obvious necessary differences).  But what do you think about the 'tone' of the two announcements.  Do you think there are or detect any difference in tone between the two?
• Mary asks how these things 'might be' since she's still a virgin.  This question doesn't bring any punishment.  What differences, if any, do you see between her response and Zachariah's?
• The word 'overshadow' is a compound word made up of 'over' and 'darken'; which makes sense. But what do you think of the irony that the coming of the Light of the World at first darkens Mary's?
• Mary doesn't ask for a 'sign' but the angel gives one anyway (Elizabeth), why do you think Zachariah was wrong then to ask for one?
• The angel points out that Elizabeth was in her sixth month, so was the first 'sixth month' the timing within the year, or after the previous events described (i.e. Elizabeth becoming pregnant).  Consider that it may be possible that her husband's temple visitation may have occurred as part of the New Year as well.  What do you think?
• The phrase of verse 37 is '...because every word beside God not powerless." But it could also be, "...because every word not powerless beside God." There is a slight difference in meaning.  Which do you think is intended?
• Consider Mary's response to all that Gabriel said.  How much do you think her response had to do with the last phrase of Gabriel?
• Mary goes to see Elizabeth in Judah.  Find Nazareth on a map, and then trace down to Judah.  We're not told where in Judah they were, but still, Mary is walking.  What does this tell you about how Mary feels about what she was told?
• Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit when she hears Mary.  Previously it was said that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit still in the womb, and he leaps when he hears Mary.  Why would Elizabeth only be filled now, not before when John was filled before?  Or do you think he was?
• Consider what Elizabeth says carefully.  What is it really that makes Mary 'blessed' or 'happy'?  Why do you think that is?  Why wouldn't it be the fact/event itself?

That should keep us going for a bit.  I was going to do fewer questions, but more came to mind, sorry...sort of.  

Luke: Good News of Jesus

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting June 12 to begin the study of Luke's Gospel.  This will be a long study folks, so settle in for the long trek.  But this trek will be through the life of Jesus, and no one is more odd to us than Jesus.  He will frustrate us, delight us, confuse us, and illuminate us beyond our ability to imagine.  Get ready.

The best way to prepare for this I hope you've already been doing.  Since we knew two weeks ago we'd be going through Luke, I was hoping you'd be reading through 'introductions' in study Bibles and any commentaries you could find.  The Blue Letter Bible has lots of resources, including the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE).  The entry for Luke is pretty good, but multi-volume commentaries will have good ones as well.

One of the things we'll discuss is Luke himself.  Find out all you can about him (which is probably sparse).  Most of what's out there is conjecture, but still interesting.  Sifting down to what we actually know is sometimes depressing compared with what we suspect, but still important.  Any decent Bible dictionary should have a good article on him.

If we have time, we'll dive into the first 25 verses of chapter 1 and begin to examine the announcement of John the Baptist, his parents, and 'announcements from God' in general.  We may not get that far, and there's no reason to push it.  If you've been reading a lot about Luke already, you can read ahead, and have some questions about verses 1-25.

That's all I have at the moment.  I know you were hoping for more of my amazingly insightful probing questions, but this week we'll just fly around without them (did I just hear a collective sigh of relief?).  See you Thursday!

The Plague of Accounting

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 21 to study 2 Samuel 24.  The LAST chapter!  Yes, we finally made it, and what a bizarre chapter with which to wrap up.  Here we see some of the oddest behavior of God recorded.  Theologians don't like this chapter, so don't be discouraged.  No one really understand it.  But we will slug our way through nonetheless!

Read through it several times.  It may be helpful with this one to read through fully with a few old and new translations.  Then pay close attention to the differences in how they build their statements.  Part of the differences you will see between translations of different time periods will be in theological views changing in the 20th Century (which is interesting).  So use a KJV and something else, but if you can find an American Standard Version (ASV - it's public domain - easy to find online for free), use that as well.

This is a good chapter to use with a Strong's either in print or online.  There are lots of places where words are difficult to understand, which you will see in the differences between translations.

You're going to have a ton of questions (everyone does).  So make sure to write them all down or you'll forget some.  The ones I have below are focused on stuff just below the surface, so that's why there's fewer of them, and none of them will be obvious or make much sense (kind of like the chapter as a whole).  Be sure to come up with your questions first, then look through whatever commentaries you have, and only then, look at the questions below.  DON'T START WITH THESE!  Please!

• The verb typically translated as 'incited' or 'moved' in verse 1 is clearly written to say that God caused David to do harm to the country.  Yes, God is angry with them, but what do you think the writer/editor is describing here?  What do you think God is doing?  This brings into question your assumptions about God and His character.
• The word translated as 'number', 'enroll', 'register' etc. is actually a very problematic generic word for 'visit'.  The reason for the visit is always left to context, and rarely with another 'helping descriptor' word. So it has tons of words it's translated into, with visit not even the most common.  You easily get the reason for the 'visit' here.  Why do you think this 'visit' is such a serious sin?
• Between the close of verse 10 and the beginning of verse 11 David obviously slept.  What do you think David thought about what he did and what this meant for his people?
• God offers David three options.  What do you think it says about David that he responded as he did?  
• How compassionate was three days of pestilence on the people of Israel?
• In verses 13 and 15, the word for the 'plague' or 'pestilence' is here. But in verses 21 and 25 the word is here.  How likely is it that the 'editor' used two different sources for the event?  What do you think that would do to contribute to making this difficult to understand?  Can you find any more of these?
• Consider the interaction between God and the 'angel' and David and the angel.  How do you imagine this happening?  Keep in mind David is in Jerusalem (or is he? - this is where the word for 'plague' changes).
• Read verse 23 in the KJV.  Remember that italicized words are ones added to help the translation make sense.  What if you read it without them, what do you think that means for this Arunah character?  Now what's going on?

There are plenty of other questions, so these are just additional ones you may not have caught or that most commentaries will simply ignore (some, not all).  It should be a lively discussion to wrap up 2 Samuel!

Nice Poem, Tough Guy

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 21 to study 2 Samuel 23.  This is a very interesting chapter.  It starts with a poem, and winds up with a roster of some of the toughest guys in ancient history.  They're not 'creepy', but they do give the uncomfortable sense of not being 'safe'; at least not for 'bad guys'.

Read through the chapter a few times.  Spend some time on the poem, especially considering the contrast from chapter 22, like in tone and in possible situation.  I think this is more one from later in David's life rather than 22 being earlier.  What do you think?

Make notes as you read through, jot down questions.  It's easy to get lost in the names, so basically look for familiar ones, ones that don't fit the 'pattern' and so on.  Only after doing this should you consult commentaries.  The commentaries will make a lot more sense at that point.  Remember to use different translations as well.  That helps spot difficulties in language (especially in the poem, but also among the names).

After reading through, taking notes, jotting questions, and reading any commentary and alternate translations, go back through with the questions below:

• Consider how David 'introduces' himself at the beginning.  Read it in a few translations.  What does verse 1 sound like to you?  Imagine it being said out loud.  Who do you imagine saying it?
• Starting in verse 2, David speaks of himself and his house.  What do you think of his self-assessment?
• Through verse 5, David speaks of the greatness of his house, but why is it great?  Where does his 'greatness' come from?  Why do you think he speaks about it in this way?
• After verse 5, David begins to contrast his 'house' with 'others'.  Look at these others in other translations.  Who do you think he refers to here?  Find a King James version among your translations.  They don't even try to translate it, but simply use the Hebrew word.  Considering the wide range of translation options, what do you think it means?
• Verse 8 begins the list of David's Mighty Ones.  The account begins with three, or the Three.  What makes these guys distinctive?
• Can you imagine such a fight where one guy with a sword or spear defeats everyone?  How is that possible?  What do you think such a fight would look like?
• Who won the victory in those encounters?  Why do you think that's important here?
• Why, after they worked so hard, do you think David pours out the water before God?  What did he do with it?  Do you think that was 'better' than drinking it?
• Everyone else is compared to the Three.  How do you think they compare?
• Why do you think Joab isn't listed?  His brothers made it on the list, and he survived the reign of David, why do you think he didn't make it?
• Abishai is left on his own in a way.  Why do you think that is?  How do you think he is compared to the "Three"?  So is he a 'good guy' or 'bad guy'?
• Benaiah is next after Abishai.  What do your commentaries say about his 'snowy pit lion fight' if anything?  
• He defeats one Egyptian.  How impressive is that considering the Three?  What do you think of him?
• His role seems to be in charge of the bodyguards (the Thirty), or is he simply 'the Bodyguard' of David?  Look at various translations.  What do you think?
• Then the list of the 'Thirty', and Asahel is first, but we know he dies early on before David is king over Israel.  So, is this a current list of David's body guard at the end of his reign?  Why do you think this list is included?  What's the writer's point with this list of the Three, the two, and the Thirty?  What do you think it says about David?

That should carry us through the hour (or so).  Be sure to bring your questions and notes!