Jesus the Christ

February 16, 2020

Jesus the Christ (Acts 2:36)

“Therefore,

Let the entire house of Israel

Know with certainty

That God

Has made him

Both Lord

And Christ.

This is the Jesus

Whom you crucified.”

ἀσφαλῶς οὖν γινωσκέτω πᾶς οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι καὶ Κύριον αὐτὸν καὶ Χριστὸν ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεός, τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε.

The author of Acts indicated that Peter concluded his address about the connection between David and Jesus.  He said that the entire house of Israel (πᾶς οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ) should know with certainty (ἀσφαλῶς οὖν γινωσκέτω) that God (ὁ Θεός) has made Jesus (αὐτὸν) both Lord (ὅτι καὶ Κύριον) and Christ (καὶ Χριστὸν), the Messiah.  This is the Jesus (τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν) whom they had crucified (ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε).  Jesus was both the Lord, Divine, and the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One.  In case there was any confusion, Peter indicated that this Jesus was the one that they had crucified.  However, God raised him up with the resurrection.  Now he can take his rightful place at the right hand of God.  The messianic times have already begun.  In what sense have the end times already begun?

February 7, 2018

The traditional canonical Greek bible

The standard collection of twenty-seven books of the New Testament, centers on the good news about Jesus the “Christ,” literally “the anointed one,” and his followers.  The collected canon of biblical books during the first four centuries is in itself an indication of how the value of these texts developed slowly and emerged over time.  These diverse inspired authors of the second half of the first century of the Christian era provide a basic insight into the thought and practices of the primitive Christian communities.  Our shared sacred documents also reveal information about the perceived role of the Holy Spirit in the activities and expectations of the newly forming Christian communities.

January 29, 2018

The messenger to prepare the way (Mal 3:1-3:1)

“‘See!

I am sending

My messenger

To prepare the way

Before me.

Yahweh,

Whom you seek,

Will suddenly come

To his temple.

The messenger of the covenant,

In whom you delight,

Indeed,

He is coming.’

Says Yahweh of hosts.”

The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, applied this text along with Isaiah, chapter 40, to John the Baptist.  Just as Yahweh was sending his messenger to prepare his way, so too John the Baptist would prepare the way for Jesus the Christ.  Yahweh was sending his messenger to prepare his way for his re-entrance into his Temple.  Yahweh would suddenly come, because the messenger of the delightful covenant had prepared things for him.