Friday, October 29, 2021

Links related to research completed for teaching this week/A cover that does the original some justice

 

A cover that does the original some justice

My good friend 007, also known as JLVH, let us know on the Against Forced Isms, Facebook page that something may Erupt soon. So, I was thinking about another excellent, guitar solo, although much shorter, and also a cover version. The being the La Villa Strangiato electric guitar solo, from Exit Stage Left. There are two other guitar solos in the piece, but it is difficult to find someone online that attempts the electric intro solo (not the acoustic studio album version). Many versions, including several Rush live versions, do not perform the introduction.

Video one: Cover
Video two: Original 
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Links related to research completed for teaching this week

My teaching at community group, bible study, reportedly went well this week. Here are the links for the extra  background research I completed.

Friday, October 22, 2021 I Peter 2: 4-10 for study group, part 1 


Thursday, October 28, 2021

PhD: Twitter quote 108

PhD: Twitter quote 108

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter 


Photo: Civil Engineering Discoveries, Quebec, September 4 2021 

From the main body

Twitter version I 

An infinite eternal God can be understood as the first cause not needing a cause. 

From PhD footnotes 

Twitter version II

Karl Barth explains within The Doctrine of Creation that the essence of God himself is eternal, he is before time, above time and after time. Barth (1932-1968: 67). 

Twitter version III

God is ‘infinite spirit’ and eternal. Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 152 Volume 1). 

Twitter version IV

God is eternal and without beginning or end. Bavinck (1918)(2006: 148 Volume 2). 

Twitter version V 

God is eternal and infinite, he is eternal now, ‘the permanent now’ and eternity results from his infinity. Weber (1955)(1981: 455). 

Twitter version VI

God has eternal existence as a ‘just and wise person.’ Frame (2002: 388). 

Twitter version VII

God’s essence is eternal and necessary (logically must exist), and the finite universe is temporal and contingent (not necessary). Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 191 Volume 1).

October 28, 2021

Twitter version VIII

The necessary, that which exists by necessity, exists in any possible world, or any possible reality.
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BARTH, KARL (1932-1968) Church Dogmatics, The Doctrine of the Word of God: Volume 1, Part One, Translated by J.W. Edwards, Rev. O. Bussey, and Rev. Harold Knight, Edinburgh, T. and T. Clark. 

BARTH, KARL (1932-1968) Church Dogmatics, The Doctrine of Creation: Volumes 1 and 3. Translated by J.W. Edwards, Rev. O. Bussey, and Rev. Harold Knight, Edinburgh, T. and T. Clark. 

BARTH, KARL (1932-1968) Church Dogmatics, The Doctrine of God: Volume 2, First Half -Volume, Translated by J.W. Edwards, Rev. O. Bussey, and Rev. Harold Knight, Edinburgh, T. and T. Clark. 

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 2: God and Creation, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids. 

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids. 

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

FRAME, JOHN M. (1999) ‘The Bible on the Problem of Evil: Insights from Romans 3:1-8,21-26; 5:1-5; 8:28-39’, IIIM Magazine Online, Volume 1, Number 33, October 11 to October 17, Fern Park, Florida, Third Millennium. http://www.thirdmill.org/files/english/html/th/TH.h.Frame.ProblemofEvil.htm 

FRAME, JOHN M. (2002) The Doctrine of God, P and R Publishing, Phillipsburg, New Jersey. 

JAMES, WILLIAM (1892-1907)(1969) The Moral Philosophy of William James, John K. Roth (ed.), Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York. 

JAMES, WILLIAM (1893)(2004) William James and a Science of Religions, Wayne Proudfoot (ed.), Columbia University Press, New York. 

JAMES, WILLIAM (1902-1910)(1987) Writings 1902 – 1910, The Library of America, New York. 

JAMES, WILLIAM (1902)(2002) The Varieties of Religious Experience, Prometheus Books, Amherst, New York. 

JAMES, WILLIAM (1904) ‘Does ‘Consciousness’ Exist?’, in Journal of Philosophy, Psychology, and Scientific Methods, Volume 1, pages 477-491. New York, Columbia University. http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/James/consciousness.htm 

JAMES, WILLIAM (1907) Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking, Longman and Green Company, New York. 

MILL, JOHN STUART (1789-1861)(2003) Utilitarianism and On Liberty, Mary Warnock (ed.), Blackwell Publishing, Oxford. 

MILL, JOHN STUART (1825-1868)(1984) Essays on Equality, Law, and Education, John M. Robson (ed.), University of Toronto Press, Toronto, University of Toronto Press. 

MILL, JOHN STUART (1833)(1985)(2009) Theism: John Stuart Mill, The Collected Works of John Stuart Mill, Volume X - Essays on Ethics, Religion, and Society, Toronto, University of Toronto Press. http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=241&chapter=21523&layout=html&Itemid=27 

MILL, JOHN STUART (1874)(2002) The Utility of Religion, London, Longman, Green, and Reader. http://www.laits.utexas.edu/poltheory/mill/three/utilrelig.html 

MILL, JOHN STUART (1874)(1885) Nature the Utility of Religion and Theism, London, Longmans, Green and Co. 

MILLBANK, JOHN, CATHERINE PICKSTOCK, and GRAHAM WARD (2001) Radical Orthodoxy, London, Routledge. ROTH, JOHN K. ‘Introduction’ (1892-1907)(1969) in The Moral Philosophy of William James, John K. Roth (ed.), Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York. 

ROTH, JOHN K. (1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

WEBER, OTTO (1955)(1981) Foundations of Dogmatics, Volumes 1 and 2, Translated and annotated by Darrell L. Guder, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

WHITEHEAD, ALFRED NORTH (1926) Religion in the Making, New York, The MacMillan Company. 

WHITEHEAD, ALFRED NORTH (1927-1929)(1957) Process and Reality, New York, The Free Press/MacMillan Publishing Company, Incorporated. 

WHITEHEAD, ALFRED NORTH (1967)(1986) ‘Adventures of Ideas’, in Forest Wood JR., Whiteheadian Thought as a Basis for a Philosophy of Religion, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, University Press of America, Inc. 
http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=2736&C=2479 

Saturday, October 23, 2021

I Peter 2: 4-10 for study group, part 2-The Orthodox Study Bible

I Peter 2: 4-10 for study group, part 2-The Orthodox Study Bible

Preface 

Part 2 of preparation for leading a church home group, bible study, next week.  Non-exhaustive.

Part 1 from Friday...


Our church uses the English Standard Version (ESV), so I will use that English version of I Peter 2: 4-10. 

I Peter 2: 4-10

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[a] 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Footnotes a 1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the corner

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

This study bible uses the New King James Version (NKJV)

In regards to 2: 4-10, this academic bible states that the Apostle Peter is comparing the New Testament Church to the Old Testament temple. (553). Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Bible Law which included (includes) priesthood, sacrifice and worship. (553). Christ is the fulfillment of this Old Testament imagery. (553). Therefore, as in verse 5, Christians become living stones (regenerate Christians, John 3, Titus 3, 1 Peter 1: 3, my add), a spiritual house (indwelled with the Holy Spirit, John 20, Acts 2, my add), a holy priesthood (replacing the Old Testament covenant, see Hebrews, Luke 22, my add), to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (this through the applied atoning and resurrection work for believers in justification and sanctification, being saved by grace through faith alone, for good works, Ephesians 1-2, my add).

Barclay, correctly in my view, understands Jesus Christ as the stone, referencing Psalm 118: 22 (194). He opines that in the original Psalms context, Israel was the cornerstone, but in the New Testament, the cornerstone is Christ. (194). 

Psalm 118:22 English Standard Version (ESV)

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[a] Footnotes Psalm 118:22 a Hebrew the head of the corner

In Jesus Christ, and his applied salvation (my add), Christians are a chosen people (198), again supporting the concept of predestination discussed in Part 1. The promises made to Israel are being fulfilled by the Church, opines Barclay. (198). Barclay calls the Church the New Israel. (198). Regardless of biblically and theologically how one interprets this complex issue of Israel versus the Church, I can opine with certainty that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation (John 14: 6) and this takes place in the context of the Christian Church.

ἐκλεκτὸν (chosen) (eklekton) from both 1 Peter 2: 4 and 9

Therefore, according to Barclay, Christians are a royal priesthood (199). Clearly, the New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant (Hebrews, Luke 22, as already noted) and the results of this are described in 2: 4-10 as God's people are spiritually in Jesus Christ.

In his commentary, G. J. Polkinghorne writes that this section provides two analogies. One, the Church as Temple (1555) with Jesus Christ as the principal stone (1555). This scholar opines that cornerstone comes from Isaiah 28: 16 (He also references Ephesians 2: 20) (1555). Notably, Polkinghorne uses a different Hebrew Bible reference than did Barclay. Both seem correct.

Isaiah 28:16 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid[a] as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ Footnotes Isaiah 28:16 Dead Sea Scroll I am laying

In this building, Christians are 'living stones made alive in Christ' (1555). Two, the Christian Church as Priesthood (1555). There is a new priesthood with Christ as the High Priest as seen in Hebrews (1555).
  
Jesus Christ is the High Priest of this Priesthood. Christians are 'the spiritual heir of God's ancient people' (1555). 

The Orthodoxy text describes these people as living stones, a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, that are 'the people of God who have obtained mercy.' (553). 'This is salvation in all its fullness.' (553). 

BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press. 

BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press. 

CAIRD, GEORGE B. (1977) Paul's Letters from Prison Paperback, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

COAD, F. ROY (1986) ‘Galatians’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. 

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. 

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HARPUR, GEORGE (1986) 'Ephesians', in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

LIGHTFOOT, JOHN B. (1993) The Destination of the Epistle to the Ephesians in Biblical Essays, New York, Macmillan.

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

PAYNE DAVID F. (1986) '2 Peter' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

POLKINGHORNE, G.J. (1986) '1 Peter' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company. 

THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT (1993) Stuttgart, United Bible Societies.

THE ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE, NEW TESTAMENT AND PSALMS (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,  Nashville, Tennessee, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Part 2 of larger article to be slightly revised on Blogger, with a version placed on academia.edu, 20251101.
 

Friday, October 22, 2021

I Peter 2: 4-10 for study group, part 1

I Peter 2: 4-10 for study group, part 1

Photo

Civil Engineering Discoveries Budapest October, 16 2021, LinkedIn

Preface

Part 1 of preparation for leading a church home group, bible study, next week.

Our church uses the English Standard Version (ESV), so I will use that English version of I Peter 2: 4-10.

I have needed to make the Greek New Testament image extra large for public presentation. This will possibly distort some mobile versions.

I Peter 2: 4-10

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[a] 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Footnotes a 1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the corner

This week the study leader asked if predestination was referenced in this upcoming passage. Concerning 'chosen' in verses 4 and 9.

Bible Hub: 1 Peter 2: 4

Referenced

ἐκλεκτὸν (chosen)

Listed as an adjective (describes the noun) as in God chosen.

adjective, accusative (marks the direct object), masculine, singular. Again, God chosen.

ἐκλεκτὸν is also used for I Peter 2: 4 within The Greek New Testament (788). 

Quote: 'Bold face type is used to identify direct quotations from the Old Testament. (1). Bold face type is used for ἐκλεκτὸν at I Peter 2: 9 where Exodus 19: 6 is quoted (paraphrased as in Greek, not Hebrew). (1, footnotes).

ἐκλεκτὸν (eklekton)


Cited

Original Word: ἐκλεκτός, ή, όν

Strong

Cited 

'Usage: chosen out, elect, choice, select, sometimes as subst: of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him (of the Hebrew race, particular Hebrews, the Messiah, and the Christians).' 

Strong's definition here for 2: 4 is loosely connected as similar to the angels, 'to be peculiarly associated with him, and his highest ministers in governing the universe'. This implies predestined election. 


Image 

Consistent manuscript evidence.



















Verse 9 states  But you are a chosen race. 


ἐκλεκτόν is again used. This time as an adjective, nominative, neuter, singular. The nominative relates to the subject. As in chosen race.

Again there is consistent manuscript evidence.


Bauer

ἐκλεκτόν ή, όν (242)

I Peter 2: 9 'esp. of those whom God has chosen fr. the generality of mankind and drawn to himself.' (242). I Peter 2: 4 is defined, again, slightly differently from 2: 9, as in 'Since the best is usually chosen, choice, excellent'. (242). I deny that this excellence is based on human goodness, as Romans, Ephesians, Galatians and Hebrews as examples, deny human works righteousness for salvation. By excellence, if Bauer has a reasonable theological definition here, I reason these people, as Christians, and Hebrew Bible believers before the cross, are excellent because they fit into God's excellent, external plans. Being regenerate through God the Holy Spirit (John 3, Titus 3, 1 Peter 1: 3), through the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, God the Son, submitting to God the Father. This salvific work providing justification and sanctification, by grace through faith, alone.

BAUER, WALTER (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

CAIRD, GEORGE B. (1977) Paul's Letters from Prison Paperback, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

COAD, F. ROY (1986) ‘Galatians’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. 

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. 

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HARPUR, GEORGE (1986) 'Ephesians', in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

LIGHTFOOT, JOHN B. (1993) The Destination of the Epistle to the Ephesians in Biblical Essays, New York, Macmillan.

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.

THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT (1993) Stuttgart, United Bible Societies.

Part 1 of larger article to be slightly revised on Blogger, with a version placed on academia.edu, 20251101.