Collecting Confidence Part II

Series:  Profiting From Peter

A Challenge to Joyful Steadfastness

Review

Any good introduction will have at least seven (7) elements that help with interpretation and application. Last week we began with the first of those seven elements, the Authenticity of the epistle.

When we consider the authenticity of any portion of Scripture we have to ask ourselves several key questions:

• Why was this epistle included in the New Testament Canon?
• Why did the early church consider this epistle as authentic?
• What evidence is available that testifies to authenticity?

A.  Authenticity

1.  Traditional Evidence

2.  Internal Evidence

3.  External Attacks

Do You Know Where Your Church Is?

The church is always to be under the Word; she must be; we must keep her there. You must not assume that because the church started correctly, she will continue so. She did not do so in the New Testament times; she has not done so since. Without being constantly reformed by the Word the church becomes something very different. We must always keep the church under the Word.

Topics: Church
Source: What is an Evangelical? The Banner of Truth Trust, 1992, p. 30.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2, ESV)

Meditate (הגה hagah) 

The Hebrew word from which we translate as “meditate” is found primarily in Hebrew poetry. It appears frequently in the collection of Psalms. 

The basic meaning of haga is a “low sound.” The best way to describe it is the “moaning made by a dove” or the “low growling of a lion as it stands over its kill.” It is used a few times in relationship to “mourning.” It is used at least once in reference to the “whispering” of Israel’s enemies when Jerusalem collapsed. 

It seems that those who meditated read the Scripture out loud but in a very low voice or whisper. They may have “repeated” the passage and/or in a soft whisper like voice mused over it. 

The purpose of mediation was to gain the meaning of a particular Scripture or passage. Meditation was thinking and musing on a passage until the meaning and application was discerned. 

Mediation is not indicative of a trance or non-lucid state generated in order to “hear a voice from God, nor a special word from God.” Meditation is not repeating the same words or phrases in order to achieve a spiritual status. 

The blessed man, the man who is truly blessed of God is the man (woman) who does not spend time in the company of sinners nor follows the philosophy of this world, but is the man who delights in God’s word. This blessed or happy man also murmurs, mutters, or muses over God’s word until the meaning and application has been discerned.  

After selecting a passage of scripture to read employ the following guidelines: 

• Read the passage at a normal speed

• Re-read the passage a little slower, observing and absorbing

• Re-read the passage again, lingering on words and phrases

• Re-read the passage again praying over words and phrases

Speak your thoughts and ideas about what the passage says and what it means. Ask and answer the following questions (out loud)” 

• Who is speaking?

• Who is being spoken to?

• What is being said?

• Why is being said?

• Why is being said in the manner in which it is being said?

• What does it mean?

• What benefit is derived from what is being said?

• What negative is noted from what it is being sad?

• Where is the action taking place or to take place?

• When is the action to take place?

It is from these questions that you are able to determine or discern the meaning and/or application of a passage. Naturally these questions are not exhaustive. What other questions can you think of?

The Glorification Barometer

Over the last forty (40) years I have written a number of quotes, comments, pithy sayings, and poems in the fly-leafs of my bibles. Each Tuesday I am going to share those various entries from my bibles with you. I hope they will be as much of blessing to you as they have been to me. Sometimes I will be able to give credit where credit is due and sometimes I won’t be able to credit the source. I apologize for this to each one who contributed these gems over the last forty (40) years.

TODAY'S TREASURE:

God is most glorified in me,
when I am most satisfied in him.

--John Piper

Sunday in the Study

Due to technical difficulties today's installment of Sunday in the Study will not be posted.

Lord willing, today's installment will be posted Sunday, February 10th, 2013.

The Gospel-driven Disciples apologize for these technical difficulties.

Saturdays with the Doctor # 5

Is you grade passing or failing?

"The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God."

-- Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

_____________________________ 

Happy 54th Birthday to my only brother, Craig L. Metcalf of Houston, TX!

Who Are the Chief Princes?

Archangel - αρχαγγελος (ar-khang’-el-os)

Archangel is a classification of angels who have great rank and power. The total number of archangels are unknown having never been revealed in scripture. The term "archangel" is used in only two (2) places in the New Testament and it is not used in the Old Testament.

I Thess 4:16 - "For the Lord Himself with descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

Jude 9 - "But Michael the archangel when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you.'"

 Michael is called the "official" or "prince" over Israel in Daniel 10:13. He is considered one of the "chief princes" mentioned in Daniel 10:13 involved in the angelic battle against the demons which influenced the leadership of Persia and Greece. This reference gives us the only indication that there might be more than one archangel. Their number is something that God has chosen not to reveal to mortal men.

Michael is the only angel identified as an archangel in the Bible. However, most scholars believe that Lucifer and Gabriel are probably archangels. 

Jewish writings consider seven angels as archangels. Among those seven archangels tradition names at least four (4) by name: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel. This is not proven by Scripture, however, this assumption is based on Revelation 8:2 which mentions "the seven angels who stand before God." The Bible does not name archangels nor does it describe their duties.

Gabriel and Lucifer are considered to be archangels by many scholars. However, neither is designated in the Scriptures with this description.