<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'>Forwarded: <br>
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<font face="arial, helvetica">From: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien@comcast.net></font><br>
<font face="arial, helvetica">To: Tom O'Brien <tgobrien@comcast.net></font><br>
<font face="arial, helvetica">Sent: Sat, Apr 1, 2017 12:35 pm</font><br>
<font face="arial, helvetica">Subject: Scripture in Context for April 30, 2017</font><br>
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<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;">Dear Friends, </div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"> </div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal"><font face="arial, helvetica">[</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Below]</font><font face="arial, helvetica"> is Scripture in Context for April 30, 2017. I hope you and others find it helpful and informative. It is also posted on Facebook and at </font><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.scriptureincontext.org" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;">www.scriptureincontext.org</a><font face="arial, helvetica">. </font></div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"> </div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;">I’ll resume sending out Scripture in Context later this month, but for those of you who post SIC in electronic Church Bulletins, you should be set for the next five Sundays – April 2 to 30, 2017. </div>
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<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;">Blessings, </div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"> </div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica;">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>APRIL 30, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Acts 2:14a, 36-41 <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><o:p> </o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the
author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Today’s reading presents the last part of Peter’s long
speech after the Pentecost Event. Rather than offend the ruling Romans by
stating that they crucified Jesus (which they did), the author’s account of the
speech repeats the statement that the Israelites crucified Jesus (v.36). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">As discussed at greater length in last week’s Scripture in
Context, a variety of accusations were made against the Israelites/Judeans/Pharisees
in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John. These Gospels (and Acts) were written
from 70 CE to 100 CE when the Jesus Followers were contending with the Pharisees
for control of Judaism going forward. Harsh words were expressed in the
Gospels, and the Pharisees took exclusionary actions by expelling Jesus
Followers from the synagogues. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">In the same verse (36), Acts says God “made” Jesus Lord and
Messiah. This statement shows that, in the early church, the understanding of
who and what Jesus of Nazareth was/is continued to evolve. Verse 36 presents a view that is generally described
as “adoptionism” – the idea that Jesus was a man whom God adopted as God’s Son
and “made” him Lord and Messiah. This
understanding is inconsistent, for example, with John’s theology in which the Logos/Word
pre-exists from all eternity and becomes flesh in Jesus (John 1:14).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">In concluding his speech, Peter urges the Israelites to repent
(change their religious thinking), be baptized and have their sins
forgiven. After baptism, Peter says they
will receive the Holy Spirit. This presents a different sequence from the
accounts of most baptisms described in Acts – typically, the Holy Spirit comes first
to persons and is the reason they are baptized. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">The account concludes by stating that 3,000 persons were
baptized on that day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>1 Peter 1:17-23<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">In the First Century, it was not uncommon to write something
in another person’s name so that the writing would have extra “authority” –
particularly when the writer believed he knew what the “authority” (in this
case, Peter) would have said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">The First Letter of Peter was likely written in the last
quarter of the First Century, long after Peter’s death. It was written in
sophisticated Greek and resembles the form of Paul’s letters. Its focus is not on the earthly life of Jesus
of Nazareth, but on the Resurrection and the affirmation that Jesus is the
Christ, the Messiah. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Today’s reading contains two (of five) directives to the
Jesus Followers: (1) to live in reverent fear of the Lord, knowing they were
ransomed by the blood of Christ; and (2) love one another deeply from the
heart, knowing they were born anew through the word of God.</div>
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