OT/NT/ST/CH: 12/13/2022

Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” deals with the Flood but notices the many flood traditions spread around the earth in antiquity, including China, indigenous Indians in North America and ancient Peruvians. Even the Druids had a story akin to Genesis 6-9. For Psalm 32, Prof. Calvin offers an overview of this famous Psalm of redemption and forgiveness. Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Israel:” deals with an overview of the post-Solomonic period, the fracture of the ten tribes from the orthodox southern tribes and the infidelities of the northern tribes under Jeroboam. For Genesis 31: Prof. Keil comments Jacob’s plan to head home to his father. Laban is hot on the trail, overtakes Jacob, combined with a hot discussion. For Judges 19, Prof. Keil discusses the travels of the Levite and associates from Bethlehem to Ramah and Gibeon. For Isaiah 14.4-23, Prof. Henry comments on the predictive statement of Philistia’s downfall. Isaiah has already discussed the divine blows coming to Assyria and Babylon. Aside from all these details, one can understand the Marcionites of old and of the modern, decadent Protestants with the tamed, defanged and redefined God. ISBE on Johannine Letters, Prof. I. Howard Marshall comments on fake professors, claiming to be believers but being loveless. In this context, it’s our view that John is handling a specific false doctrine, proto-Gnosticism. For Mathew 12.29, Prof. Jamieson comments on Jesus’s statement that there are no idle words that will not be addressed in the Great Assize. For Romans 8.28, Prof. Hodge gives the summary of doctrines down to 8.28. The next block will be 8.29-38, that song of divine deliverance, protection and conquest in this life and the next. It was a favorite of Dr. Richard Halverson, US Senate Chaplain of old. For Acts 2.37-42, Prof. Henry notes how Peter addressed the audience as men and brethren. They reciprocated to the Apostles as brethren. Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” discusses Socrates’s theory of knowledge—it’s not sensorial. EDT: “Laying on of Hands:” the ecclesiastical instances are noted in the OT and NT. For Theology Proper (locus 2): Prof. Hodge is holding a long-talkers’ session on atheistic materialist. What are ideas in the head? Electronic forces of molecules? Heat and atoms? For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond provides an exegetical foray from the Hebrew into Genesis 3—highlighting the shift of roles with Adam and Eve as autonomy-seekers and self-appointed judges of God. Metaphysically—to become like God. Epistemologically—to know good and evil like God. Ethically—to evaluate the validity of God’s Word. Of note, besides Genesis, all ancient religions have a very, very similar account to Genesis 3. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof comments on divine sovereignty and God’s will, the decretive and prescriptive will, Other distinctions are discussed, but are rebuffed due to other liabilities. For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff comments on Nero’s suicide, the rapid succession of Roman Emperors, and the enthronement of Vespasian in 69 AD, whose son, Titus, will take down Jerusalem. For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff gives the glorious hymn of St. John of Damascus. Subject: the resurrection. Signs of election and adoption are evident. For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff comments on the discipline in Geneva. For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch comments on Bucer’s evaluation of Simon Grynaeus in late 1537. Gryneaus, an early Reformer, is disturbed by the slow pace of the English Reformation. Bucer tries to mollify any wounded feelings in Cranmer by noting that Grynaeus is not a practical divine, is simplistic, and is unacquainted with difficulties attendant to the Reformation. E.g., Geneva had a population of maybe 15,000. England was the size of North Carolina with 10,000 churches. Reforms in Geneva were easier than England with a Tudor absolutist. Philip Schaff’s “Creeds of Christendom, Vol.1:” Prof. Schaff continues to discuss Zwingli’s eminent senses on the two sacraments. Oh how he’s maligned by Lutherans, Tractobates, and Anglo-Cathaholics. 1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs # 860 discusses the holy catholic church.