[Propertalk] Fwd: Scripture in Context 12.25.16

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien at comcast.net>
To: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien at comcast.net>
Sent: Wed, Dec 14, 2016 11:21 am
Subject: Scripture in Context 12.25.16



Dear Friends, 
 
Below in Word is Scripture in Context for December 25, 2016.  It covers the readings for Christmas III (Christmas Day) in the Revised Common Lectionary   I hope you and others find it informative and helpful. 
 
This offering and those that go back to July 2016 are posted at www.scriptureincontext.org.
 
I have also posted it on Facebook.  
 
Blessings, 
 
Tom 
 
TODAY’S READINGS IN CONTEXT
DECEMBER 25, 2016
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 52:7-10
 
The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from threedistinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were mostly written in the30 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701BCE.  “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return toJerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and contains encouragement tothe Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.
 
Today’s reading is central to the message of SecondIsaiah.  It describes the return ofYahweh (whenever the word “LORD” is in all capital letters, the word in Hebrewis “YHWH”) to Jerusalem and Mount Zion. The “sentinels” in verse 8 are theprophets who sing for joy that the Babylonian Exile will end.  
 
Hebrews 1:1-4
 
The Letter to the Hebrews is an anonymous sermon addressedto both Jewish and Gentile Jesus Followers who were suffering persecution. Iturges them to maintain their Faith and Hope in the face of hardship. Althoughthe Letter is sometimes attributed to Paul, most scholars agree that it waswritten after Paul’s death in 62 CE but likely before 100 CE.  
 
In today’s reading, the author identifies the Son with HolyWisdom that was present at creation (Prov. 8:22) by saying ”through whom healso created the worlds.” (v. 2) The author also anticipates the language ofthe Gospel According to John – “all things came into being through him” (John1:3).  Because the theology of theTrinity was still evolving, the author stops short of identifying the Son withthe Father as God, and refers to the Son as “a reflection of God’s gloryand the exact imprint of God’s very being” (v.3) and as superior toangels (v.4).   

 


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stsams.org/pipermail/propertalk_stsams.org/attachments/20161215/908f6957/attachment.htm>