[Propertalk] Fwd: Scripture in Context for September 25, 2016

[Joe Parrish]

TODAY’S READINGS IN CONTEXT
SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
 
 
 
Amos 6:1a, 4-7
 
After Solomon died in 930 BCE, the Kingdom of Israel splitinto two parts, the North (called Israel with 10 tribes) and the South (calledJudea with two tribes).  The reign ofKing Jeroboam II of Israel (788-747 BCE) was very prosperous and a time ofgreat inequality between rich and poor. Amos was a cattle herder and cared for fig trees in Judea, but he wascalled by Yahweh to go north to prophesy (speak for the LORD) against Israelfrom about 760 to 750 BCE. Amos is one of the 12 “minor” prophets whose worksare shorter than the three “major” prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah andEzekiel).  
 
In today’s reading, Amos (speaking for Yahweh) harshly criticizedthe wealthy in Israel and predicted their doom. His mention of the “ruin of Joseph” (v.6) is a colloquial reference to theimpending destruction of Northern Israel by Assyria in 722 BCE.  The “back story” to this reference is: accordingto Numbers 18, the Tribe of Levi was not allocated land because they werepriests and received tithes from the other tribes. Therefore, there would havebeen only 11 tribes receiving land. To fix this, Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim andManasseh, were each allocated lands and counted among the 12 Tribes ofIsrael.  Because the Tribe of Ephraim becamethe largest and most prosperous of the Northern 10 tribes and King Jeroboam wasan Ephraimite, the nation of Northern Israel was sometimes referred to as “Ephraim”or “Joseph.”  
 
 
1Timothy 6:6-19
 
The Letters to Timothy and Titus are called “PastoralLetters” because they concern the internal life, governance and behavior of theearly Christian churches and their members. Most scholars agree they werewritten in the early Second Century in Paul’s name by some of his followers (Pauldied in 64 CE).  Writing something insomeone else’s name was a common practice in the First and Second Centuries. 
 
Today’s reading is from the last chapter of the letter. Theauthor cautions against love of money, encourages the active “pursuit” ofrighteousness and “fighting the good fight of the faith.” (v.12) 



-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Parrish <JoeParrish at compuserve.com>
To: Propertalk <Propertalk at stsams.org>
Cc: PROPERTALK.topic <PROPERTALK.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Tue, Sep 13, 2016 11:02 am
Subject: FW: Scripture in Context for September 25, 2016



 
 

From: Tom O'Brien [mailto:tgobrien at comcast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 9:47 AM
To: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien at comcast.net>
Subject: Scripture in Context for September 25, 2016

 


Dear Friends, 

 

Attached is Scripture in Context for September 25, 2016.  I hope you and others find it helpful and interesting. 

 

Prior offerings are at www.scriptureincontext.org

 

Blessings, 

 

Tom 



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