Humor of Paul’s Diatribes in Romans 1:18-32 and 3:9-18

Humor of Paul’s Diatribes in Romans 1:18-32 and 3:9-18

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434833/fan_mail/new] People take the Bible way too seriously. By reading it out loud and you can see the humor and irony. Paul was a master at using hyperbole to shake up his audience. He often uses "vice lists" where he throws the kitchen sink in obliterate a con  Romans 1:18-32 is the famous diatribe against pagan worship. While its audience is not clear, it purpose is. It sets up the rest of the letter. In this fun episode, I do a dramatic reading of two passages to highlight how it must have sounded to the listeners in Rome when Phoebe read it to them. I also give a few other examples of diatribe being used in the New Testament. I also make an endorsement for Eugene Peterson's The Message, which does such a good job of making Bible reading fun.  Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Their females exchanged natural intercourse[e] for unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the males, giving up natural intercourse[f] with females, were consumed with their passionate desires for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind and to do things that should not be done. 29 They were filled with every kind of injustice, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters,[g] insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them. Romans 3:9 What then? Are we any better off?[c] No, not at all, for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10 as it is written: “There is no one who is righteous, not even one; 11     there is no one who has understanding;         there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;     there is no one who shows kindness;         there is not even one.” 13 “Their throats are opened graves;     they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of vipers is under their lips.” 14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16     ruin and misery are in their paths, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” This hodgepodge comes from a scattering of cherry picked verses. This is where I will take you down a rabbit hole for a moment. I promise, it is worth it. First is total depravity.  Paul cites a grab bag of verses in Old Testament, from Ecclesiastes 7:20, Psalms 5, 14, 53, and 140 and sprinkles in a little Proverbs 1 and Isaiah 59 for seasoning. That’s an awful lot for just 9 verses. Revelation 21:6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless,[f] the polluted, the murderers, the sexually immoral,[g] the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes,[c] so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral[d] and murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. The Message, Romans 5:12-14 You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.

Word-for-Word vs. Meaning-for-Meaning Bibles - What it means & how Theology is injected in the text

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434833/fan_mail/new] Bible publishing is big business. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on marketing both in advertising and promotion and giving away free copies every year. One way to build confidence in a Bible version is to say that it is the most word-for-word version and by implication the most reliable version. This is contrasted with meaning-for-meaning. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) and its predecessors is routinely described as the most word-for-word. As a version that most strictly applies word equivalents to Hebrew and Greek, this is mostly true. But is it really more accurate? Does the reader gain a better understanding of the text? In this informative episode, I argue that word-for-word versions often inject more theological bias than illumination. I highlight a contentious verse, Romans 3:25, as an example. I also touch on two other verses where the NASB is less word-for-word than the far more scholarly based NRSVue Bible. The best version is the one that clearly transmits the intent of the author as much as we can discern.  CSB God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. CEB Through his faithfulness, God displayed Jesus as the place of sacrifice where mercy is found by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness in passing over sins that happened before, LSB/NASB whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; NRSVUE whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; Beverly Gaventa, along with many scholars, interprets hilasterion in Romans 3:25 primarily as a reference to the mercy seat (kapporet) of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant, rather than just "propitiation" or "expiation." In this view, Christ is the "place" where atonement is made, bringing together divine justice and mercy.  Key aspects of this interpretation include: • The "Place" of Atonement: Rather than a mere action, hilasterion functions as a location where God’s glory dwells, and through Christ’s blood, this becomes accessible to all believers. • Replacement of the Temple: This imagery signifies that the cross replaces the Temple as the functional place of atonement, setting it in public view rather than in the hidden Holy of Holies. • Atonement Context: It ties Christ’s sacrifice to the Day of Atonement rituals, focusing on the purification and reconciliation of sinners and the overcoming of sin's power. Leviticus 19:16 CSB Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord. CEB Do not go around slandering your people. Do not stand by while your neighbor’s blood is shed; I am the Lord. NRSVUE You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand idly by when the blood of your neighbor is at stake: I am the Lord. Romans 16:7  CSB Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews and fellow prisoners. They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me. LSB Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding to the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. NASB Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsfolk and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding in the view of the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. NRSVUE Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. MSG Hello to my&

It's Greek to Me: Why knowing the languages of the Bible helps understanding it

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434833/fan_mail/new] One of the strangest things you will hear when speaking about the Bible online is "I don't need to learn Hebrew or Greek to understand the Bible." I agree that you can do great work with good solid English translations, but there is always more to learn. In this practical episode, I speak about the strengths and weaknesses of different study methods. I describe how to use Interlinear Bibles and Concordances. Nowadays, the best language study can be done online. I tell you about the pitfalls. Greek and Hebrew word study can be very helpful, but you must be very careful because there is must more than just the definition of words. Verbal aspect and idiom are very important. Don't be afraid to approach the biblical languages, just be sure to listen to good scholarship and know how to use the tools well.  The Bible was written in ancient languages long before we got it in English. English like we know it wasn't even around until about 500 years ago, but the Bible is over 2000 years old. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. A lot of people work hard to understand what the Bible really said, because it is hard to translate from one language to another. You know this if you speak Spanish or French or any other language than English too. What makes it even harder with the Bible is that Hebrew and Greek are so old that we can't just ask someone what they meant. I had to learn about Hebrew and Greek to become a pastor. I am not an expert, but I know enough to know what is important. In this episode, I tell you about the history of the Bible and how it came into English. Then I tell you why it is still important to know something about these ancient languages. We continue to learn so much more and our English bibles are still changing. It is always interesting and exciting.

Phoebe: The woman who carried and read Paul’s letter to Romans

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434833/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I tell about one of the most important people in the whole New Testament. There are only two verses about her, but her story is much deeper. She was a prominent Christian leader because she was a deacon and a benefactor. Mostly likely a wealthy widow, she was many who strongly supported the Christian mission and who were crucial in the spread of Christianity. She was the person who carried the letter to the Romans. This was Paul's most important letter and Phoebe as a single woman had to carry 500 miles and then read and explain it to people in Rome. How do we know all of this? Bible scholars know what the cultures were like. They know how Paul worked with other people. Most of all they know how the early church was supported. The story of Phoebe tells us so much about how we can know so much about the Bible almost 2000 years after it was written, especially about how women worked in the church.  Introduction to Phoebe 16 I’m introducing our sister Phoebe to you, who is a deacon (servant) of the church in Cenchreae. 2 Welcome her in the Lord in a way that is worthy of God’s people, and give her whatever she needs from you, because she herself has been a sponsor (benefactor) of many people, myself included. Greetings to Roman Christians 3 Say hello to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life. I’m not the only one who thanks God for them, but all the churches of the Gentiles do the same. 5 Also say hello to the church that meets in their house. Say hello to Epaenetus, my dear friend, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. 6 Say hello to Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7 Say hello to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners. They are prominent among (as) the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

Blasphemy! The Unforgivable Sin Myth | Modern Bible Interpretation for Healing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434833/fan_mail/new] Young Christians live in fear of committing the "unforgivable sin"—a false doctrine rooted in harmful theology that keeps people trapped in shame. In this healing episode, Real Bible Rob explores how affirming Christianity and modern Bible interpretation can free you from this fear. Whether you've struggled with intrusive thoughts about blasphemy or questioned punitive theology, this conversation offers grace-centered perspective grounded in Scripture. I tell you about the most heartbreaking messages I receive from young people when ask me if they have committed the unforgivable sin. They worry they are doomed to hell because of blasphemy. I always wonder if it was a pastor or a Sunday school teacher that filled them with this fear. In this hard hitting episode, I tell you why you don’t need to fear it. Blasphemy is a very aggressive and special kind of sin that few of us, and virtually no teenager, can commit. Also, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was something very special that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-30. If you are worried about this, it is really important to understand what it means and how people use this fear to scare and control you. This is important knowledge to have. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is a story of unconditional love, repentance, and forgiveness. This is super useful for understanding the character of God.  The unforgivable sin, or "unpardonable sin," in the Gospels is  blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, specifically described in Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, and Luke 12:10. It involves willfully and persistently attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, as the Pharisees did when accusing Jesus of using demonic power, indicating a hard-hearted, final rejection of Christ's salvific work. Outline:  The heartbreak of hearing people fret about the unforgivable sin.  Unforgivable Sin Misconception Blasphemy Biblical Origin Defining Blasphemy Why Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is different Prodigal Son Forgiveness Rejecting Fear Tactics - pushing punishment and reward