PAUL IN THE ROLES OF PROPHET AND SERVANT TO THE NATIONS: MIDRASHIC USES IN GALATIANS OF JER 1:5 and ISA 49:1-6 (part1)

"But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, ..." (Gal 1:15, 16a NIV). 

There was a basic foundation built during Paul's rabbinic discipleship under Gamaliel that prepared him in certain practical ways for his Christian ministry to the Gentiles. But none of the things he learned in his B.C. past went far enough to explain why his gospel did not require non-Jews to convert to Judaism in order to be accepted into full "citizenship in Israel" (Eph 2:12). Paul relayed to his Galatian readership what eventually brought forth such a dramatic change in his worldview. 

I Need Atonement

With two handfuls of incense and a shovel full of glowing coals from the altar, the high priest entered into the darkness of God’s throne room to make atonement. What does atonement mean? Atonement does not simply mean “forgiveness for sins.”

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim (אחרי מות/קדושים | After the death/Holy)

Torah: Leviticus 16:1-20:27

Haftarah: Ezekiel 22:1-19

Gospel: John 7:1-52/John 7:53-10:21

Buffalo, Bacon or Sloth?

I would certainly eat that delicious bacon, but My Father in heaven has forbidden me to eat of it, so I will not.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Shemini (שמיני | Eighth)

Torah: Leviticus 9:1-11:47

Haftarah: 2 Sam. 6:1-7:17

Gospel: Mark 9:1-13

Dilemma in Translation

"I am a friend to all who fear You, to all who keep Your mandates" (Psa 119:63).

That possessive noun I translated "Your mandates" [פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ / PIQUDEYKHA] is from the same Hebrew root word [פ-ק-ד / P-Q-D] as the verb often translated "visiting" in Exo 20:5 --

"... visiting [פֹּ֠קֵד / POQED] the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me ..."

The NIV wrongly translates this verb "punishing."

DID GOD THE FATHER ACTUALLY FORSAKE JESUS SOME TIME WHILE THE SON OF GOD WAS ON THE CROSS?

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'" (Mat 27:46; Cf Psa 22:1; Mar 15:34).

It is commonly taught in Christian congregations that, at the moment when Christ cried out with this quote from Psa 22:1 ("My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"):

1. "The Godhead was ripped apart."
2. "God the Father hid His face from God the Son, forsaking Christ for the time being, because Christ had taken upon himself our sin, and God cannot look upon sin."
3. Similar such things.

Blood on the Doorposts

Although Passover is celebrated annually, the Israelite homes were never again smeared with blood from the Passover lambs.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Pesach (פסח | Passover)

Torah: Exodus 12:21-51

Haftarah: Joshua 3:5-7, 5:2-6:1, 6:27

HOW IT WAS: The Lord’s Supper as Jesus Inaugurated It. (Part #4)

Could it be that when Jesus, the rabbi from Galilee, instituted his Eucharist in the 1st century that he (or a later follower of his) also introduced a new custom into the (then fairly fluid) Jewish Passover liturgy—a custom that had the leader choose the middle of the three loaves of unleavened bread, like the 2nd person of what Christians now refer to as “the Holy Trinity” was chosen for a special assignment?

Could it be that the middle loaf of this “bread of affliction” is broken and half of it consumed, like our Lord Jesus, who was “afflict[ed]” for our sins. Indeed, he referred to himself as the “Bread of Life,” who must be personally appropriated in order for an individual to live eternally with God?[1]