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God's Answer in Chapter 11
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Jan 20, 2007 7:21 am
Mood: giggly,
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When the preacher’s car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby roadhouse to use the phone. After calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, Frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. “What happened to you, Frank?” asked the good reverend. “You used to be rich.”
Frank told a sad tale of bad investments that had led to his downfall. “Go home,” the preacher said. “Open your Bible at random, stick your finger on the page and there will be God’s answer.”
Some time later, the preacher bumped into Frank, who was wearing a Gucci suit, sporting a Rolex watch and had just stepped our of a Mercedes. “Frank.” said the preacher, “I am glad to see things really turned around for you.”
“Yes, preacher, and I owe it all to you,” said Frank. “I opened my Bible, put my finger down on the page and there was the answer—Chapter 11.”
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All you Aussies, Is this true???
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Jan 20, 2007 7:20 am
Mood: confused,
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The Australian coat of arms pictures two creatures—the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail. Those who truly choose to follow Jesus become like the emu and kangaroo, moving only forward, never back (Luke 9:62)
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Our Heart versus our Head
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Jan 20, 2007 7:18 am
Mood: sad,
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On February 11, 1962, Parade Magazine published the following brief account—itself a commentary on artificial motivation.
At the village church in Kalonovka, Russia, attendance at Sunday school picked up after the priest started handing out candy to the peasant children. One of the most faithful was a pug-nosed, pugnacious lad who recited his Scriptures with proper piety, pocketed his reward, then fled into the fields to munch on it. The priest took a liking to the boy, persuaded him to attend church school. This was preferable to doing household chores from which his devout parents excused him. By offering other inducements, the priest managed to teach the boy the four Gospels. In fact, he won a special prize for learning all four by heart and reciting them nonstop in church. Now, 60 years later, he still likes to recite Scriptures, but in a context that would horrify the old priest. For the prize pupil, who memorized so much of the Bible, is Nikita Khrushchev, the former Communist czar.
As this anecdote illustrates, the “why” behind memorization is fully as important as the “what.” The same Nikita Khrushchev who nimbly mouthed God’s Word when a child, later declared God to be nonexistent—because his cosmonauts had not seen Him. Khrushchev memorized the Scriptures for the candy, the rewards, the bribes, rather than for the meaning it had for his life. Artificial motivation will produce artificial results.
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Sold out!
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Jan 19, 2007 10:37 am
Mood: beautiful,
208 Views
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A young woman in England many years ago always wore a golden locket that she would not allow anyone to open or look into, and everyone thought there must be some romance connected with that locket and that in that locket must be the picture of the one she loved. The young woman died at an early age, and after her death the locket was opened, everyone wondering whose face he would find within. And in the locket was found simply a little slip of paper with these words written upon it, "Whom having not seen, I love." Her Lord Jesus was the only lover she knew and the only lover she longed for.
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Philippians contains a Christian Hymn
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Jan 19, 2007 10:31 am
Mood: beautiful,
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This passage is a favorite of most Christians. It is frequently taught and unknown to many has been the source of hotly contested debates on the divine and human nature of Christ [see Kenosis in Christology link below] and has been instrumental in the formulation of Christian Creeds [see Creed and Nicene links below]. It is also thought to be one of the earliest Christian hymns [see Is the Oldest known Christian Hymn in the Bible? link below]
Because of the quarreling and disharmony in the church at Philippi Paul has encouraged the people to be in oneness, to be unified, to not be prideful or focused on their own interests but to consider the interests of others as more important than their own. Now Paul provides an example to them of Christ and how He humbled himself and suggests that they:
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus VERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2:5-11
No one knows if this was already a hymn that Paul inserted or a Hymn that the church sang because Paul wrote it. But it is one of the most important passages in our Bibles describing how the preincarnant Christ existed in the form of God, emptied himself, and took the form of a bond-servant made in the likeness of man. There are very deep unresolved theological issues which arise from this verse, which scholars still actively debate, relating to the historical Jesus, so I will just provide some details and not delve very deeply into this arena of discussions on these verses.
This hymn was not just randomly inserted at this place in the letter. It is to provide an example of oneness and how the Philippians need to be united without quarreling (read 1:27-2:4 ) working together for God’s purposes and His Glory. Paul wants the Philippians to address their struggles like he has been doing with those who persecute him in prison. Now he uses Christ as the Supreme example of humility and oneness with God, and asks the Philippians to have the same mind, same attitude as Christ and not strive for personal gain, but humble themselves for God’s purposes to be accomplished. It was a call for them to be humble, self-sacrificing, self-denying and dedicated to working together in unity.
Paul’s motive was not to give instructions in doctrine, but to reinforce how Christians are to live, interact and work together. But there is a lot of doctrine embedded in them. From these verses we learn that the incarnation which brought the Son into “the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” was a conscious choice on the part of Christ. Jesus was free to maintain His state of supreme glory in the throne room of God surrounded by myriads of worshiping angels. But for our sake, He did not regard the state of supreme glory as a valuable possession that must be retained at all costs. On the contrary, because of His love, grace and mercy toward His sheep, He entered into a state of humiliation, a state of servitude, suffering and anguish.
The words “emptied Himself” have generated a lot of debate about what Christ emptied Himself of and how this affected His attributes. Scholars have suggested He “emptied Himself” means:
1.....Of His Glory
2.....Of being Equal with God
3.....Of His independent exercise of authority
4.....Of the prerogatives of Deity
5.....Of the insignia of majesty
6.....Of the relative attributes of deity (omnipresence, omnipotence and omnipresence [see post below on Kenosis] )
The text does not give us any clues or tell us what Christ emptied Himself means so these are all speculative answers which are hotly debated from different perspectives such as Systematic Theology.
Christ voluntarily took the form of a ‘bond-servant” (Doulos -- a slave). He became a slave for God for our benefit. As a slave, Christ submitted Himself to God’s authority and obeyed His commands and also served humanity. The word ‘bond-servant’ (Doulos) here in verse 7 is the exact same word that Paul used in verse 1:1 to describe himself, in contrast to calling himself an Apostle as he does in his other letters [see Philippians 1:1 is different because....... ]. Paul uses the same title for himself to show that being a humble servant in oneness of purpose with God is much more important than being an Apostle. It is a message that would ring loudly in the ears of the Philippians and should influence us to have the same attitudes as Paul and Christ and in humility work together in unity and in submission to God’s authority with our brothers and sisters, for His purposes and Glory.
Other related posts include:
Is the Oldest known Christian Hymn in the Bible?
Kenosis in Christology
Creed
Nicene Creed
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Nicene Creed
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Jan 19, 2007 10:19 am
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The Nicene Creed, both in its original (325 AD) and revised formulas (381 AD), is an implicit condemnation of specific doctrinal errors that were being taught. The Council of Nicaea was reluctant to adopt language not found in Scripture, and ultimately did so only after Arius showed how all strictly biblical language could also be interpreted to support his belief, that there was a time before Jesus was created when he did not exist. In adopting non-biblical language, the council's intent was to preserve what they thought the Church had always believed that Jesus is fully God, co-eternal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
As different variations in Christian belief evolved in the fourth century and were perceived as threats, new phrases were seen to be needed, like amendments to a constitution. As the historical developments of a constitutional society can be traced through amendments to its constitution, the particular theological developments in a religious society show in the successive forms of its written creed.
We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
To many modern Christians, the Nicene Creed is regarded as the quintessential expression of Christian faith. However, some evangelical Christians who take an extreme view of sola scriptura (only scripture) reject the Creed (and especially its recitation), not necessarily for its content but simply because it is not found in the Bible.
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Creed
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Jan 19, 2007 10:17 am
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The purpose of a creed was to act as a yardstick of correct belief. And there were many doctrinal errors that were leading people towards false views of the Godhead and the nature of Christ. After the printing press was invented the first Bibles were printed by Gutenberg in 1455 AD. Before that time the masses did not have written scripture available for those few who were able to read. A creed was a compact way of presenting a Statement of faith or belief system. It was hoped that by memorizing this summary of the faith, lay people without extensive theological training would still be able to recognize deviations from orthodox doctrines based on the Bible as interpreted in Christian Tradition.
The Chalcedonian creed was adopted at the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held at Chalcedon, located in what is now Turkey, in 451 AD, as a response to certain heretical views concerning the nature of Christ. It established the orthodox view that Christ has two natures (human and divine) that are unified in one person. The Council of Chalcedon is one of the seven ecumenical councils accepted by Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and many Protestant Christian churches. It is the first Council not recognized by any of the Oriental Orthodox churches.
The Chalcedonian creed was written amid controversy between the Western and Eastern churches over the meaning of the Incarnation, the ecclesiastical influence of the emperor, and the supremacy of the Roman Pope. The western churches readily accepted the creed, but some eastern churches did not.
English translation
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.
The creed became standard orthodox doctrine, while the church of Alexandria dissented, holding to Cyril's formula of the oneness of Christ’s nature as the incarnation of God the Word. This church felt that this understanding required that the creed should have stated that Christ be acknowledged "from two natures" rather than "in two natures." This miaphysite position, often erroneously known as "Monophysitism", formed the basis for the distinction from other churches of the Coptic church of Egypt and Ethiopia and the "Jacobite" churches of Syria and Armenia.
The Chalcedonian Creed failed to unite the church. This was largely due to the fact that it does not so much provide a solution as define the problem.
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Kenosis in Christology
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Jan 19, 2007 10:14 am
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In Christian theology, Kenosis is the concept of the 'self-emptying' of one's own will and becoming entirely receptive to God and his perfect will. It is used both as an explanation of the incarnation, and an indication of the nature of God's activity and condescension.
An apparent dilemma arises when Christian theology posits a God outside of time and space, who enters into time and space to become human (incarnate). The doctrine of Kenosis attempts to explain what the Son of God chose to give up in terms of his divine attributes, or divinity, in order to assume human nature. Since the incarnate Christ is simultaneously fully human and fully divine, Kenosis holds that these changes were temporarily assumed by God in his incarnation, and that when Jesus ascended back into heaven following the resurrection, he fully re-assumed all of his original attributes and divinity.
Specifically, kenosis refers to attributes of God that are thought to be incompatible with becoming fully human {For example, God's omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. Theologians who support this doctrine often appeal to a reading of Philippians 2:5-8. Critics of Kenosis theology argue that the context of Philippians 2:5-8 is referring to Jesus voluntarily taking the form of a servant to conceal his divine glory (revealed temporarily in the Transfiguration), or to forsaking his place and position in heaven to dwell among men, as opposed to forsaking his divine attributes or nature.
Kenotic Christology focuses on certain passages in the Gospels where Jesus questions his being called good (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19, Matthew 19:17), and evidence that he was not omniscient concerning the date of the Second Advent (Mark 13:32, Matthew 24:36). It became a central issue in the Protestant debates of the sixteenth century, and was revived in the nineteenth century to reinterpret classical doctrines of the incarnation.
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Is the Oldest known Christian Hymn in the Bible?
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Jan 19, 2007 10:12 am
Mood: beautiful,
232 Views
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Many scholars think Philippians 2:6-11 is a Hymn that Paul knew and sang with the Christians at Philippi.
Structure of Hymn
In his book Kyrios Jesus, (1928 ) E. Lohmeyer argues that Philippians 2:6-11 is part of an early Christian confession and/or liturgy that was originally written in Aramaic and sung at celebrations of the Lord's supper in Palestine. Kyrios means Lord in Greek. Many scholars have observed this structure and have proposed various structures for the hymn. Lohmeyer thinks it was a hymn of six stanzas, as follows:
I. Being in the form of God,
he considered it not a thing to be seized,
to be equal with God.
II. But emptied Himself,
By taking the form of a slave,
Coming in human likeness.
III. And appearing on earth as man,
He humbled Himself,
Becoming obedient unto death (indeed, death on a cross)
Iv. Wherefore God exalted Him,
And bestowed on Him the name
that is above every name;
V. That in the name of Jesus
Every knee should bow
of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth,
VI. And every tongue confess:
'Jesus Christ is Lord,'
To the glory of God the Father.
Jochiam Jeremias sees it as emphasizing the three aspects of Christ's existence: His pre-existence, incarnate life and exalted status as Lord. From this Jeremias organizes it in to three stanzas: stanza 1 = verses 6-7a; stanza 2 = verses 7b -8 and stanza 3 = verses 9-11.
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