We are at 2 Peter 1:12. The author says he will always remind the reader of the stuff they already know. That seems rather pointless doesn't it? He thinks it is right to keep doing this as long as he is alive, because Jesus has made it clear to him that he hasn't got much time left. But no fear, he will find a way to be responsible for helping them remember, even after he shuffles off this mortal coil. This guy has issues.
He goes on to say that he and his cronies didn't make stuff up when they told about "the power and coming of our lord Jesus Christ." They were "eyewitnesses of his majesty" because they were with Jesus on a sacred mountain when a voice from god said, "This is my beloved son, with him I am well pleased." Well, well, well. This is the story of the transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of Peter, James and John. It is found in Mark 9, Matthew 17, and Luke 9. Mark says god's words are "This is my son, whom I love. listen to him." In Luke it is "This is my son, whom I have chosen. listen to him." In Matthew it is "This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him." Notice that 2 Peter appears to be quoting from the book of Matthew. In all of the instances, god supposedly also commanded those present to listen to Jesus, but the author of 2 Peter did not include those words of god. Will he ever tell us any of the things Jesus is supposed to have said?
The author goes on to say that the readers would also do well to pay attention to the words of the prophets. (What about the words of Jesus?) However, they need to understand that no prophecy of scripture ever came about by the prophets own interpretation. That's funny. He's acknowledging that prophets got the meanings of their prophecies wrong. He says that's because the prophecies didn't come from the will of man, but from god, through the holy spirit. Excuses excuses. So, how in the world can anyone know what the prophecies actually meant, or if they came true, if even the prophets got it wrong?
We are now in chapter two.The author says, "There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign lord who bought them (AKA Jesus)." Okay. Let us recognize that both liars and truth tellers will say that the people disagreeing with them are wrong. These people "spreading heresies" could actually be the truth tellers, but of course the author begs to differ. He says people will follow the heretic's shameful ways and bring the truth into disrepute. They will also exploit the reader with made up stories. Is this projection? I'm pretty sure the story of the transfiguration is made up. The author says the story tellers will get the destruction awaiting them. When we point our finger, three fingers are pointing back at us.
The author goes on to say that after all, "God did not spare the angels when they sinned but sent them to hell, putting them in gloomy dungeons to be held for judgement" He also did not spare the people who were drowned in the flood. Nor did he spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were burnt to ashes, "an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly." These are all proof that sinners will get what is coming to them. A note about the angels who sinned and got sent to hell: there isn't actually any Old Testament scriptures that say this. Also the word "hell" here is translated from the Greek word Tartarus, which is a deep pit located below Hades, the land of the dead. This isn't the "lake of fire" hell that Christianity is fond of.
Till next time.
Edited to add: the bit about angels in prison and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah very closely echoes terminology found in Jude 6.
Showing posts with label Sodom and Gomorrah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sodom and Gomorrah. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Jesus Burning part 1
In this segment, we will take a look at words of judgement and punishment spoken by Jesus, specifically referencing and/or implying punishment by death, negative judgement, a tortured afterlife, and/or burning. This should give us an idea of how loving and gracious Jesus was. I will ignore passages that merely say someone won't go to heaven. We are going to examine many passages we have not previously covered in this series, from the gospels and words in red. We will pass over some that we've already discussed.
The first passage I come to is Matthew 8:10-12. There Jesus is talking about a Roman Centurion. He says "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come frim the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside , into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This sentiment is repeated in Luke 13:28-30. It obviously is a rebuke of the Jews not recognizing Jesus's authority. The word "subject" in this passage is actually "sons" in the Greek. Which brings me to an interesting question. What place did women have in this supposed kingdom of god, Jewish or Christian? The bible was written by men, for men. As far as I can tell, very few of Jesus's doctrinal teachings were directed to women, if any. As far as I can tell, no Old Testament teachings were either, even those that told stories about specific women. If women "defiled"men on earth, would they even be allowed in heaven?
The next passage I come to is Matthew 10:14-15. There Jesus is sending the twelve disciples out to preach. He tells them, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town." Luke 9:5 has the same scene but does not conclude with a curse of divine judgement. Remember that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone. Many modern christians take this passage to be applicable to those who will not listen to their evangelistic efforts.
The passage in Matthew 10 continues on to verse 28, which tells the disciples, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (gehenna). This passage is not echoed elsewhere. It seems that maybe Luke was less concerned with judgement than Matthew. We shall investigate Luke deeper when we are through with Matthew. In the meantime, notice that the One who destroys body and soul in hell is capitalized. That means the people who translated and edited this version believe it is referring to god. God destroys bodies and souls in gehenna. This is an active statement about god. Many christians like to say that their god doesn't send people to hell, people send themselves. Baloney. Also, if the body and the soul is destroyed, what is left? Is that the end? I don't see any indication of an eternal torment.
In Matthew 10:20-24, Jesus curses some cities with the Sodom and Gomorrah curse when they wouldn't repent after he performed miracles.
In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus says, "But I tell you that men (mankind) will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken (whew! That will take a long time.) For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Well. I don't imagine there are many, if any, people who haven't said something regrettable at some time. Also, this certainly flies in the face of a grace based, as opposed to works based, salvation. Some could say that he was talking to Jews, so it doesn't refer to christians. In that case, anything he said exclusively to Jews would not apply to christians. That would cut out a large chunk of Jesus's teachings.
To be continued.
The first passage I come to is Matthew 8:10-12. There Jesus is talking about a Roman Centurion. He says "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come frim the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside , into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This sentiment is repeated in Luke 13:28-30. It obviously is a rebuke of the Jews not recognizing Jesus's authority. The word "subject" in this passage is actually "sons" in the Greek. Which brings me to an interesting question. What place did women have in this supposed kingdom of god, Jewish or Christian? The bible was written by men, for men. As far as I can tell, very few of Jesus's doctrinal teachings were directed to women, if any. As far as I can tell, no Old Testament teachings were either, even those that told stories about specific women. If women "defiled"men on earth, would they even be allowed in heaven?
The next passage I come to is Matthew 10:14-15. There Jesus is sending the twelve disciples out to preach. He tells them, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town." Luke 9:5 has the same scene but does not conclude with a curse of divine judgement. Remember that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone. Many modern christians take this passage to be applicable to those who will not listen to their evangelistic efforts.
The passage in Matthew 10 continues on to verse 28, which tells the disciples, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (gehenna). This passage is not echoed elsewhere. It seems that maybe Luke was less concerned with judgement than Matthew. We shall investigate Luke deeper when we are through with Matthew. In the meantime, notice that the One who destroys body and soul in hell is capitalized. That means the people who translated and edited this version believe it is referring to god. God destroys bodies and souls in gehenna. This is an active statement about god. Many christians like to say that their god doesn't send people to hell, people send themselves. Baloney. Also, if the body and the soul is destroyed, what is left? Is that the end? I don't see any indication of an eternal torment.
In Matthew 10:20-24, Jesus curses some cities with the Sodom and Gomorrah curse when they wouldn't repent after he performed miracles.
In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus says, "But I tell you that men (mankind) will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken (whew! That will take a long time.) For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Well. I don't imagine there are many, if any, people who haven't said something regrettable at some time. Also, this certainly flies in the face of a grace based, as opposed to works based, salvation. Some could say that he was talking to Jews, so it doesn't refer to christians. In that case, anything he said exclusively to Jews would not apply to christians. That would cut out a large chunk of Jesus's teachings.
To be continued.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Genesis chapter 19, part 1
After reading chapter 19:
*The two angels that left Abraham arrived at Sodom, and Lot just happened to be sitting at the gate of the city. He insists they go home with him, where he feeds them.
* All the men of the city surround Lot's house and demand that Lot send the visitors out so they can have thier way with them. ( Yes, I know. I'm being a prude because of internet filters.) This sounds. almost like a zombie apocalypse movie.
*Apparently Lot is not in any danger, because he goes outside and calls these people his friends. He offers his virgin daughters to the men as a trade for the two angels. Because angels can't defend themselves and God won't rescue them? Hospitality to strangers is more important to Lot than his daughters. What a great guy. I wonder how his daughters felt at that moment.
*The men of the city begin to threaten Lot as well, but the angels inside the house pull Lot back in and magically blind those at the door.
*It seems that 10 righteous people could not be found, even among the women and children. If Sodom was such a horrendous place, why was Lot living there? So, the angels told Lot to take everyone who would go with him and get the heck out of there. The lord was about to destroy the city.
*Lot went back out to tell his future sons-in-law to get out of the city. (You mean he was planning on marrying his daughters to a couple of those villains?) They didn't believe him anyway.
*The angels grabbed Lot's family and led them out of the city, telling them to run as fast as they could to the mountains without looking back. Instead, Lot negotiated for a small nearby town. When they reached the town safely, minus Lot's wife, burning sulphur rained down, destroying the cities and vegetation of the entire plain. It's a shame that no concrete evidence of their existence, or their destruction, was left for future archaeologists to find. Now it looks just like this story might never have happened.
*The story ends with Abraham standing above, surveying the smoking landscape. Very cinematic.
*The two angels that left Abraham arrived at Sodom, and Lot just happened to be sitting at the gate of the city. He insists they go home with him, where he feeds them.
* All the men of the city surround Lot's house and demand that Lot send the visitors out so they can have thier way with them. ( Yes, I know. I'm being a prude because of internet filters.) This sounds. almost like a zombie apocalypse movie.
*Apparently Lot is not in any danger, because he goes outside and calls these people his friends. He offers his virgin daughters to the men as a trade for the two angels. Because angels can't defend themselves and God won't rescue them? Hospitality to strangers is more important to Lot than his daughters. What a great guy. I wonder how his daughters felt at that moment.
*The men of the city begin to threaten Lot as well, but the angels inside the house pull Lot back in and magically blind those at the door.
*It seems that 10 righteous people could not be found, even among the women and children. If Sodom was such a horrendous place, why was Lot living there? So, the angels told Lot to take everyone who would go with him and get the heck out of there. The lord was about to destroy the city.
*Lot went back out to tell his future sons-in-law to get out of the city. (You mean he was planning on marrying his daughters to a couple of those villains?) They didn't believe him anyway.
*The angels grabbed Lot's family and led them out of the city, telling them to run as fast as they could to the mountains without looking back. Instead, Lot negotiated for a small nearby town. When they reached the town safely, minus Lot's wife, burning sulphur rained down, destroying the cities and vegetation of the entire plain. It's a shame that no concrete evidence of their existence, or their destruction, was left for future archaeologists to find. Now it looks just like this story might never have happened.
*The story ends with Abraham standing above, surveying the smoking landscape. Very cinematic.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Genesis chapter 18
*The lord (Yahweh) appears to Abraham as one of three men. We find out in the next chapter that the other two are angels. Abraham washes their feet and gives them food. Spiritual beings have bodies and require cleansing and nourishment?
*Sarah was listening from the tent and hears the lord say that she will have a child. She laughs because she is old, just as Abraham laughed in the last chapter. The lord asks why Sarah laughed. As if he didn't know! Then he promises to return the next year when Sarah has a son.
*The lord and the two men get ready to walk on their way, but first the lord repeats the promise of Abraham being a father of many nations. Then the lord says he is on his way to Sodom and Gomorrah to check out the truth of the rumors of their bad behavior. As if he didn't already know!
*The men walk on, but the lord stays there and Abraham approaches him. Here is another person seeing the God that no one has ever seen. Abraham has a discussion with God about how many righteous people it will take for God to spare the city from destruction. It turns out ten is the minimum number. So the omnicient God leaves to go count righteous people.
*Sarah was listening from the tent and hears the lord say that she will have a child. She laughs because she is old, just as Abraham laughed in the last chapter. The lord asks why Sarah laughed. As if he didn't know! Then he promises to return the next year when Sarah has a son.
*The lord and the two men get ready to walk on their way, but first the lord repeats the promise of Abraham being a father of many nations. Then the lord says he is on his way to Sodom and Gomorrah to check out the truth of the rumors of their bad behavior. As if he didn't already know!
*The men walk on, but the lord stays there and Abraham approaches him. Here is another person seeing the God that no one has ever seen. Abraham has a discussion with God about how many righteous people it will take for God to spare the city from destruction. It turns out ten is the minimum number. So the omnicient God leaves to go count righteous people.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Genesis chapter 14
After reading chapter 14:
*It came to pass that there was a lot of fighting between a bunch of small kingdoms from the hill country to the desert to the Salt Sea (Dead Sea). There were so many kings that they must have been more like chieftains.
* With a few exceptions, evidence of most of the people and place names in this chapter has been found nowhere outside religious sources. This includes Sodom and Gomorrah.
*It is interesting to find Amalekites here because Amalek was a descendant of Esau, Abram's grandson who isn't born yet.
*Lot and his household were living in Sodom at this time, and were captured by Sodom's opposition. Abram was still living in Hebron and had some allies in the area. He got together his own army, chased down Lot's captors, and retrieved him and his possessions.
*Abram returns in glory and is met by a few kings, not the least of whom is Melchizedek, the special king of Salem, priest of El. Melchizedek brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram. Abram gives him a tenth of everything. Here we see the introduction of tithing.
*Abram apparently brought back spoils of war, but keeps nothing for himself because he does not want it to be said that he is a beneficiary of Sodom.
*It came to pass that there was a lot of fighting between a bunch of small kingdoms from the hill country to the desert to the Salt Sea (Dead Sea). There were so many kings that they must have been more like chieftains.
* With a few exceptions, evidence of most of the people and place names in this chapter has been found nowhere outside religious sources. This includes Sodom and Gomorrah.
*It is interesting to find Amalekites here because Amalek was a descendant of Esau, Abram's grandson who isn't born yet.
*Lot and his household were living in Sodom at this time, and were captured by Sodom's opposition. Abram was still living in Hebron and had some allies in the area. He got together his own army, chased down Lot's captors, and retrieved him and his possessions.
*Abram returns in glory and is met by a few kings, not the least of whom is Melchizedek, the special king of Salem, priest of El. Melchizedek brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram. Abram gives him a tenth of everything. Here we see the introduction of tithing.
*Abram apparently brought back spoils of war, but keeps nothing for himself because he does not want it to be said that he is a beneficiary of Sodom.
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