Bitter-Sweet As the people move on from the Red Sea crossing, they search for water but find none in the desert for three days, until they come to a place they name Marah, the name is a play on the Hebrew for bitter. There is something off about the water, it tastes bitter. The people… Continue reading A hungry and thirsty people
Tag: Biblical Studies
Romans 3:9-20
Paul has argued that there are real benefits and privileges to being Jewish and the heritage that brings. However, does that actually benefit the Jews? Paul says “no” because Jews and Greeks, in other words, the representative Gentiles, alike sin (v9). He then cites a number of Scripture passages, primarily from the Psalms to demonstrate… Continue reading Romans 3:9-20
Romans 3:1-8
Paul continues his argument concerning circumcision and Jewishness. It’s important to see this as a central theme to the letter so that chapters 9-11 are not a mere parenthesis between the doctrine and the practice, a little detour but are central to the conclusion of his argument. Paul has said that it is circumcision of… Continue reading Romans 3:1-8
Romans 2:25-29
Paul now argues that law keeping and law breaking are central to your status as Jews (circumcised) or Gentiles (uncircumcised). He states that circumcision is of value for those who observe the Law. However, Circumcision without law-keeping is useless, you are considered uncircumcised (v25). In the same way, those who are uncircumcised but keep the… Continue reading Romans 2:25-29
Romans 2:12-16
There is no escaping death. Sin leads to death. This includes both those who sin but haven’t hot the Law (Torah), they still perish and it also includes those who have heard Torah (Jews) but break it. They are judged under the Law (v12). Is this unfair? No, because judgement is not concerning whether or… Continue reading Romans 2:12-16
Where are God’s people?
The plagues, marking out the land and the people of Egypt for curse rather than blessing is a fulfilment of Genesis 12:1-3. God had promised that those who blessed Abraham and his offspring would be blessed and so it had been the case when Joseph came down to Egypt. He had also warned that those… Continue reading Where are God’s people?
De-creation and the Egyptian plagues
In Genesis 6-9, we see that God’s judgement on a sinful and wicked world is also an act of de-creation. Where the creation of Genesis 1-2 had seen forming and structure so that light was divided from darkness and sea from land and sky, we see a descent into chaos as the form and structure… Continue reading De-creation and the Egyptian plagues
Romans 2:6-11
If God is a righteous judge and not biased, then your ethnic identity, Jew or Greek counts for nothing. God judges according to how we live, what we do, our works (v6). If you patiently do what is right or “do well”, in other words are faithful and seek for what is good, described in… Continue reading Romans 2:6-11
The firstborn
God announces to Moses that there is just one more plague to come and then Pharoah will let the people go (Exodus 11:1). Before he announces the plague, Moses instructs the Isralites to go and request silver and gold from the Egyptians. YHWH ensures that the people find favour with the Egyptians and additionally, Moses… Continue reading The firstborn
Romans 2:1-5 (notes)
At the start of chapter 2, Paul is addressing any man/person rather than specifically the recipients of his letter. The point is made to those who seek to judge others, they are “without excuse”. This is the conclusion to the preceding argument that God’s righteousness and wrath our revealed clearly but humans choose to suppress… Continue reading Romans 2:1-5 (notes)
Faithroots 