Jan 30, 2020
GENESIS 49-50:
In yesterday's reading, Jacob blessed Pharaoh, Joseph lead
powerfully during the worst of the famine, and Jacob blessed
Ephraim and Manasseh— putting the younger Ephraim above his older
brother. (And if you remember Jacob's story, you'll know where he
got that idea.)
JOB 30:
In the GNT, this is the 2nd of Job’s three chapters stating his
complaints. In the NLT, this is the 5th chapter of his monologue.
Yesterday Job spoke of his previous blessed life and high position.
In this chapter he tells of his anguish.
1PETER 4:
Yesterday in chapter 3 he gave instructions to wives, husbands, and
all Christians— particularly when we suffer. NOTE: The final verses
of chapter 3 having to do with Noah's day and spirits in prison
have caused much debate. I agree with the maxim that states that in
interpretation “Context is king.” It is therefore best to let the
ending verses of chapter 3 be interpreted for us by what Peter says
in chapter 4, verse 6. Let’s begin by re-reading 1PETER
3:17-22.
GNT Translation notes:
Gen. 49:12 [NLT puts in the text the alternate translation that GNT
puts in the footnote: 12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.//GNT text:
12 His eyes are bloodshot from drinking wine,
His teeth white from drinking milk.]
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1Ptr. 3:20 These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God
when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his
boat. The few people in the boat — eight in all — were [safely
brought through//saved by] the water,
3:21 which [is//was] a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves
you. It is not the washing away of bodily dirt, but the promise
made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ
4:6 That's why the Good News was given by Christ to those
spirits in the world of the dead. Let that be a warning to all of
us: God will judge all mankind according to what we have done. But
the Good News has been given so that we can live with God forever.
(PET)
[I don't agree with those who do
all sorts of interpretational gymnastics in order to say that the
spirits in this verse are not the same as those just a few verses
before. One of the main principles of interpretation is to let
Scripture interpret Scripture— and even more so when it is the same
author and in the same context. (Remember that Peter is not the one
who came up with the unfortunate chapter break here.) I call on
those who feel it necessary to find a difference between the
‘spirits’ to examine the doctrinal principles that force them to go
to such lengths. Is it your doctrine that people are never given a
second chance for salvation after death? In that case, just
consider that God was starting the world all over in the flood, and
God has the right to make a special case for those pre-flood
people. In our own case, I agree, God will not give us a second
chance after death. Actually, the way we have translated verse 6
above eliminates the second chance problem.]
NLT Translation notes:
Job 30:9 “And now [even] they mock me with vulgar songs!
They taunt me!
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1Ptr. 4:1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must
arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to
suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you
have [have made the decision to be] finished with sin.
6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead
—so although they were destined to die like all people, they
[could//might//now] live forever with God in the Spirit.
18 And also [the Scripture says], “If the righteous are barely
saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”