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From: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien@comcast.net><br>
To: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien@comcast.net><br>
Sent: Wed, Dec 14, 2016 11:21 am<br>
Subject: Scripture in Context 12.25.16<br>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Dear Friends, </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Below in Word is Scripture in Context for December 25, 2016. It covers the readings for Christmas III (Christmas Day) in the Revised Common Lectionary I hope you and others find it informative and helpful. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">This offering and those that go back to July 2016 are posted at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.scriptureincontext.org">www.scriptureincontext.org</a>.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">I have also posted it on Facebook. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Blessings, </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Tom </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>TODAY’S READINGS IN CONTEXT<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>DECEMBER 25, 2016<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Isaiah 52:7-10<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><u><o:p> </o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three
distinct periods in Israel’s history.
Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were mostly written in the
30 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701
BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to
55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587
to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to
Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and contains encouragement to
the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Today’s reading is central to the message of Second
Isaiah. It describes the return of
Yahweh (whenever the word “LORD” is in all capital letters, the word in Hebrew
is “YHWH”) to Jerusalem and Mount Zion. The “sentinels” in verse 8 are the
prophets who sing for joy that the Babylonian Exile will end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Hebrews 1:1-4<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">The Letter to the Hebrews is an anonymous sermon addressed
to both Jewish and Gentile Jesus Followers who were suffering persecution. It
urges them to maintain their Faith and Hope in the face of hardship. Although
the Letter is sometimes attributed to Paul, most scholars agree that it was
written after Paul’s death in 62 CE but likely before 100 CE. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">In today’s reading, the author identifies the Son with Holy
Wisdom that was present at creation (Prov. 8:22) by saying ”through whom he
also created the worlds.” (v. 2) The author also anticipates the language of
the Gospel According to John – “all things came into being through him” (John
1:3). Because the theology of the
Trinity was still evolving, the author stops short of identifying the Son with
the Father as God, and refers to the Son as “a <u>reflection</u> of God’s glory
and the exact <u>imprint</u> of God’s very being” (v.3) and as superior to
angels (v.4). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
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