[Propertalk] Fwd: Scriptuire in Context 11.20.16 [next week - OT amd Epistle]

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: tgobrien <tgobrien at comcast.net>
To: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien at comcast.net>
Sent: Thu, Nov 10, 2016 10:57 am
Subject: Scriptuire in Context 11.20.16




Dear Friends, 
 
Scripture in Context for November 20, 2016.  I hope you and others find it helpful.  
 
The Scripture in Context offerings since July are at www.scriptureincontext.org.  
 
Blessings, 
 
Tom 



TODAY’S READINGS IN CONTEXT
NOVEMBER 20, 2016
 
 
 
 
Jeremiah 23:1-6
 
After the righteous King Josiah was killed in battle in 609BCE, the fortunes of Judea took a sharp downward turn. Babylon threatenedJudea’s existence, and Judea had hapless kings from 609 until 586 BCE when theBabylonians destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the Judean leaders to Babylon. Jeremiah’sprophesy (i.e. speaking for Yahweh)began around 609 and continued until 586 BCE when he died in Egypt. 
 
The Book of Jeremiah underwent substantial revisions betweenthe time of Jeremiah and the First Century. Many sections in “poetry style” are attributed to the prophet, and partsin “prose style” were added later.  Indeed,parts of Jeremiah are word-for-word the same as 2 Kings, a book written by theDeuteronomists (authors of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings). Theconsistent Deuteronomic themes in the prose style parts are that Yahwehcontrols Judea’s fate and if Judeans and their kings do not worship Yahwehfaithfully, they will be scattered. Yahweh’s power is such, however, that a“remnant” will return from Babylon to Judea. 
 
Today’s reading is in prose style and attacks the kings andpriests (the “shepherds”). It holds up the promise that Yahweh will raise upfor “David” (Judea) a righteous king who will enable Israel to live in safetyand righteousness. 
 
 
Colossians 1:11-20
 
Colossae was a town in what is now western Turkey.  A Jesus Follower community was founded thereby Paul’s associate, Epaphras (1:7).  Theletter is short (four chapters) and expresses concern about practices that areinconsistent with Paul’s understanding of being a Jesus Follower. Scholarsdebate whether it was written by Paul or by his disciples in the decade afterPaul’s death in 64 CE.  
 
In today’s reading, theauthor adopts an apocalyptic theme in contrasting light and darkness (vv.12-13). He expresses the theme that believers are redeemed and receiveforgiveness of sin in the Christ (v. 14). “Redemption” conveys the sense of being bought back, the way somethingalready owned is redeemed from a pawn shop. He describes Jesus of Nazareth asthe “image” (or symbol or manifestation) of the invisible God (v.15) anddescribes the Cosmic Christ as the unifying force for all created things, theone who brings life to us even though we encounter our own deaths, and theforce that reconciles all things in 


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