Some Key Words (6/15/00-6/16/00)

Rely (epanapauo [1879]):

to rest upon, rely, repose upon, remain upon; to rest upon anything, to settle upon, fix ones abode upon; to settle on, remain, rely

Boast (kauchaomai [2744]):

to glory in or because of something - with or without good reason; to vaunt

Know (ginosko [1097]):

to know experientially as opposed to intuitively, to be acquainted with, to understand, to be conscious of, discern, distinguish, approve, acknowledge, to think, beware; to learn to know, come to know, gain knowledge of by perception, become known, to understand, perceive, have knowledge of, to become acquainted with; to know

Will (thelema [2307]):

the result of the will, not a demand but an inclination of pleasure towards that which pleases, what God does of His own good pleasure, what should be done or does occur as the object of God's good pleasure in carrying out His purpose; what one wishes to be done, what one has determined shall be done, God's purpose to bless man through Christ, His commands and precepts, inclination, desire, pleasure; a determination, choice, purpose, volition, inclination

Things that are essential (diaphero [1308]):

to carry through any place, to carry in different directions, to different places, as those driven to and fro on ship, to differ, the good things that differ, to distinguish between good and evil, approve of things that excel, to differ from one, to excel, to surpass, what makes a difference, matters, is important; to transport, to toss about, to differ, to surpass

Instructed (katecheo [2727]):

to sound toward, to sound down upon, resound, charm with sound, fascinate, to teach orally, instruct, to inform or be informed by word of mouth; to sound down into the ears, to indoctrinate, to apprise of

Guide (hodegos [3595]):

a leader of the way, a teacher of the ignorant and inexperienced; a conductor, or teacher

Corrector (paideutes [3810]):

an instructor, chastiser; a teacher, a chastiser; trainer, teacher, discipliner

Foolish (aphron [878]):

without reason, senseless, stupid, without intelligence or reflection, acting rashly; mindless, ignorant, egotistic, rash, unbelieving

Teacher (didaskalos [1320]):

a teacher, a name of respect as for the Jewish scribes, teachers as a special office of the Church; one who teaches concerning the things of God, one who is, or thinks himself to be, fitted to teach, teachers of Jewish religion, Jesus, as the preeminent teacher who taught salvation; an instructor

Immature (nepios [3516]):

infant, one who is not yet able to speak plainly, a child in ignorance and simplicity, a babe in Christ, a person weak in faith, a beginner; a little child, a minor, untaught, unskilled, childish

Knowledge (gnosis [1108]):

present and fragmentary knowledge; general intelligence, understanding, general understanding of religion, especially as pertains to what is lawful and what is not, moral wisdom; knowledge

Truth (aletheia [225]):

unveiled reality, the manifest essence, reality pertaining to appearance, clearly seen reality; what is true an any matter, in accord with truth, factual, certain, religious truth, personal excellence, candor of mind, free of pretence; truth

Dishonor (atimazo [818]):

insult, treat with contempt in word, deed, or thought; to render infamous, maltreat

Blasphemed (blasphemeo [987]):

to revile, to hurt one's reputation, to rail against, to speak with impious irreverence concerning God, to resist the Holy Spirit's convicting power; to speak reproachfully, to be reviled or railed at; to vilify, to speak impiously

Transgressor (parabates [3848]):

a transgressor of the law, deviation from known truth, willful deviation; a lawbreaker; a violator

 

Paraphrase: (6/15/00)

17 But, if you are counting on your place as one of God's chosen people to be enough, 18 if you have learned the Law, agreeing that it is true, and reveals God's will to us, 19 if you are confident that your understanding qualifies you to enlighten the benighted people around you, 20 taking the Law as the full embodiment of truth, correcting any foolish enough, or untaught enough, not to find it so; 21 given all that is entailed in your teaching others, why not teach yourself? You teach others to steal, but have you not done so? 22 You tell others not to commit adultery, but don't you do that very thing? You hate idolatry, are you robbing temples? 23 With all your knowledge of the Law, do you think to honor God in breaking His Law? 24 Even as Scripture has said, your example gives the Gentiles reason to blaspheme and ridicule the name of our God. 25 Certainly, circumcision is to your good, so long as in all other respects you also adhere to the Law, but as a transgressor of that Law, your circumcision has become worse than meaningless. 26 By the same token, if one who has never been circumcised yet keeps all of God's Law, won't God consider him as one circumcised? 27 In fact, won't such a one become judge over you who have both Law and outward sign, yet transgress the Law and the covenant?

Key Verse: (6/15/00)

2:21 - Especially the first part. This question really is the whole point: If you think yourself a teacher of others, teach yourself.

People Mentioned: (6/16/00)

N/A

Some Parallel Verses (6/16/00)

2:17

Mic 3:11 - In spite of their corruption and dishonesty, Israel's leaders claim to rely on the Lord for safety. Jn 5:45 - Since the Jews placed their reliance on Mosaic Law, it is Mosaic Law that accuses them. Ro 9:4 - The Jews remain the special recipients of the Law, the temple service, the covenants and promises of God.

2:18

Php 1:10 - Love leads to knowledge leads to the approval of the more excellent things, leaving us blameless on the last day.

2:19
2:20

Ro 3:31 - Faith establishes the Law. 2Ti 1:13 - We are to cling to the standard (Law) of sound doctrine, in faith and love.

2:21

Mt 23:3 - We may follow the good teaching of bad teachers, even though they themselves do not. We are to do as they say, not as they do.

2:22

Ac 19:37 - Those accused by Demetrius neither robbed temples, nor blasphemed his goddess.

2:23

see 2:17. Same references.

2:24

Is 52:5 - Against the Assyrians, God notes that they took His people without cause, and now blaspheme His name continually because of them. Ez 36:20 - Because the Israelites were taken into captivity, their captors blasphemed God as unable to keep His people. 2Pe 2:2 - Because of those who claim Christianity without adhering to it, Christianity will be maltreated.

2:25

Jer 4:4 - Judah is called to a spiritual circumcision, to repent of their evil deeds before judgement comes upon them. Jer 9:25 - Punishment will come on those whose circumcision is merely physical.

2:26

1Co 7:19 - Circumcision or its lack are meaningless, as obedience to God is the measure. Ro 3:30 - God justifies both circumcised and uncircumcised by faith. Eph 2:11-13 - We should not forget that we, the uncircumcised, were once separated from Christ, but no longer. Ro 8:4 - Christ's death fulfilled the Law's requirements for those who walk in accord with the Holy Spirit.

2:27

Ro 3:30 - God has justified the uncircumcised along with the circumcised, by one means. Eph 2:11-13 - By the work of Christ, we who were once separated have been joined to Israel. Mt 12:41 - The Gentiles of Ninevah will judge Israel, because Ninevah repented, and Israel would not.

 

New Thoughts (6/17/00)

(6/15/00) Don't want to lose this thought: what was it that Israel stole? How did they commit adultery? How did they rob the temples? Against the backdrop of the Prophets, this could be seen as a description of what Israel had become by the time of Christ's arrival, a statement regarding their treatment of Him, as well as a condemnation of their elitist view of the Gentiles' inferiority.

(6/17/00) More to the point, how does this speak to the church today? We, too, tend to trust more in the wrong things. We hold our attendance at church in high esteem, and indeed it is a good thing - commended by God. So was circumcision. But church attendance isn't the point, it's intended more as a sign of our belief. Again, much like circumcision was intended. When we use the tools of the Gospel to spread our own fame, when we perform rather than worship in truth, do we not steal from God, Himself? When we run from church to our social engagements, when work is more important to us than God's house, when we have better things to do than spend our time in His presence, do we not commit spiritual adultery? When we bend His service to fit our image, do we not do the same? I suspect that in this day and age, church attendance has become as meaningless to God as circumcision had become in Christ's day. For too many, it has become a salt that has lost its saltiness, no longer changing the flavor of their daily lives. It has become a social club, rather than a house of worship. Yes, there are still true believers hidden in amongst most of His houses, if not all. No, it is not for us to try and weed out the house. But, woe to those who lay claim to faith, but deny it by their actions! The Judge will in no wise be happy to have had His good name maligned because of their deeds, when they stand before Him - as they surely will. May God have mercy great enough to bring them to change before that day. Father, help me to remember this lesson. Help me to check myself for these errors, as I look towards growing into the role You have been preparing me for. Show me the places where I still act in grotesque opposition to my beliefs, and bring change. I want to be a true testimony to Your goodness, not a cause for unbelief in those around me. Lord, help me. How often have I brought shame upon Your name by my actions? How often - daily - do I fail of the example I ought to set! Help me, God, to grow more faithful in my behavior, to get beyond this constant failure into the place of peace - the place of knowing Your constant hand upon my life. Bring me to the point where the things of this life no longer irritate me enough to spoil the testimony of my peace.