The painting: "The Word Made Flesh"
Scripture Studies
Following are excerpts from the Scripture studies of Joshua,
1 & 2 Kings and Romans.
By Barbara M. Kozera
From the Book of Joshua part of the introduction follows:
The book of Joshua's oral tradition harkens back centuries with the last written version occurring around 586 BCE by the Deuteronomic and various priestly writers. They wrote six books, the books of Deuteronomy through II Kings. These writers believed that Israel’s greatest offense against God and the reason for the exile was faithlessness brought on by syncretism, the mixing of different beliefs together, that occurred in greatest measure under King Solomon [1 Kings 11:1-10]. Their writing reflects this belief. The Deuteronomic writers wrote and reedited their books many times.
Among their books is Joshua, which uses past events in a narrative style presenting major issues instead of accurately reporting history. The book of Joshua is a true epic that uses the person of Joshua to embody the fate of Israel along with divine mystical events. The storytellers and later writers wanted the hearer or reader to live through the hero's deeds. The Hebrew storytellers tell what people do and say and how they act or react in order to affect a response in the listener. Hence Joshua gives speeches that relate the importance of Israel's history (Jos 1:11-15 and chapter 23:8). Take note of repetition of words, actions or stories because it may be significant or it could be that the editors did not want to leave any past oral or written information out. Notice the three times the Lord tells Joshua to be "Be strong and courageous" (Jos 1:2-9). For the Deuteronomic writers actions and places will carry a theme such as Joshua's journey to the city of Shittim. The theme for this story took place earlier (Num 25:1) divulging the immorality of the city's populace. The writers skillfully use foreshadowing to link events and add suspense. In addition they embellished information about people, events and actions to augment the heroic stature of their main characters or grandeur to events. Most importantly the Deuteronomic writings extol the faithfulness of God which is boldly stated in this example "Not a single promise that the Lord made to the house of Israel was broken; every one was fulfilled" (Joshua 21:45).
Sample of questions from Joshua Chapter 9
Questions Chapter 9
1 Why do you think Joshua overlooked consulting the Lord again regarding the Gibeonites?
2 What did you think about the Gibeonite deception? Why did it work
3 What were the ramifications of the treaty between Joshua, the Israelite leaders and the
Gibeonite delegation?
Why did Joshua not kill the Gibeonites?
4 The references to the Lord's house will be the future Temple in Jerusalem that the Deuteronomic
writers knew existed but not Joshua, does this kind of foreshadowing effect the story?
A sample of the historical information added to the study of Joshua.
Information on the Canaanites
The Canaanites are first mentioned in Gen 10:15-18 "Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites,Zemarites and Hamathites."
The Greeks also called the Canaanites the Amorites or the Phoenicians, the seafaring peoples. They lived along the northern coast of modern Israel.
The Canaanites were organized as city-states with each fortified city having a chieftain. The city-state society was ordered Aristocracy and workers.
The Canaanites controlled the major trading routes through the valley of Jezreel and the inland mountain pass leading to Damascus. There warfare used chariots in contrast to the Israelite’s foot- soldiers.
The Canaanites worshiped more than 30 gods. A common way to appease the gods was animal sacrifices. The smell of sacrifices was food for the gods and the partaking of the sacrificed animals bonded and joined the people together. The greatest assuage to a god was child sacrifices especially of a first-born.
The Canaanites' main god was "El", pictured as a bull or bearded old man, the Father of the gods, mortals and time. [”El” meant god or super-god in most Semitic tongues]. El's mate was Asheraha fertility goddess pictured nude holding her breast. Asherah is known as Venus to the Greeks and Ishtar to the Babylonians.
El's son is Baal, means Lord or master, also portrayed, as a bull and was a fertility god who created the fertile earth with rain. In Canaanite lore Baal continually fought with Mot, pictured as a dragon or serpent, who was the god of crops that cyclically die and god of the netherworld. Within this life and death cycle the rains stopped and the land dried. Thus annually there existed a constant wet and dry struggle between the two gods with the people caught between both of the warring gods. One way they had to appease the gods and make the land fertile was for them to have sexual intercourse with temple prostitutes. The temples and prostitutes were located in high places like hilltops where stone monoliths were built representing Baal and pillars represented Asherah.
Moloch, Milcon. Nations: Ammonite, Canaanite, Semite Sun god represented the negative aspects of the sun’s heat and was appeased with child sacrifices.
Chemosh, Baal-Peor Nations: Canaanite, Mobite, Semite, Sumer.Was the national war god of the Moabites also androgynous- male as sun god. female as moon goddess. Usually pictured as a phallus, cone, pillar or tree branch, associated with Ishtar.
History of Ancient Israel, pp.21-26. Dictionary of Ancient Deities pp. 164, 73, 86-87, 328-329.
********* *********** ************
Part of the introduction from the Book of Jonah follows:
A prophetic book communicates the Lord's message through a prophet. Most modern scholars believe the twelve minor prophetic books were written after the fall of the monarchy around 586 BCE during or after the Babylonian exile. Most of the prophetic books relate their message by use of divine messages, oracles, but the exception is the book of Jonah, which was written as a narrative and a parable that includes satire, humor and allegory. Two important themes found in Jonah relate to God's forgiveness of an enemy the Assyrians of the city of Nineveh [3:10], and Jonah's inability to identify with God's forgiveness and mercy [4:2]. The Assyrians had ruthlessly destroyed Israel two hundred years earlier 722-721 BCE [related in 2 Kings 15:27-17:31] so Israelite animosity towards them was understandable.
Of interest and question is the fact that the city of Nineveh had already been destroyed by Babylonian King Napolassar in 612 BCE. [The fall of Nineveh is mentioned in the Book of Nahum]. One has to wonder what Nineveh represents; is it symbolic for Jerusalem? The Israelites had to speculate why they were in exile in Babylon with Jerusalem destroyed; did God still love them? If the answer is yes, then the forgiveness the book of Jonah directs to the Assyrians could be directed towards the Israelites and the city of Jerusalem and Jonah is the tool used to present the issue as an allegory.
The other consideration is God's forgiveness of an enemy in that all humanity can fall under God's mercy and grace. Whether God's mercy and forgiveness in the story is directed towards Israelites or Assyrians is not the point rather God's love and mercy towards peoples of all nations and times is the key to understanding and enjoying the four chapters Book of Jonah.
An excerpt from page four, the Book of Jonah:
The entire Book of Jonah is found in Painted Meditations and Meditations with Stories Inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Some biblical scholars see the great fish in the story as divine judgment or an element of humor but there could be more. Jonah being saved from drowning in the chaos of the sea by the great fish could relate to the Assyrian and the Babylonian god, Ea or Nudimmud, the creator of the earth, waters and mortals who was pictured as having the head of a goat and body of a fish. Suppose when the Israelites walked from Jerusalem to Babylon over the rising and falling sands, like ocean waves, the first thing they saw everywhere were idols of Ea, the goat fish, some of them must have felt enveloped or swallowed by these sacrilegious god idols. Even the last verse when the fish vomits Jonah out on the dry land could show the revulsion the Israelites felt when they looked upon the idol of the goatfish god, Ea. Idols are referred to in the prayer that follows (2:9). For this reason the allusion of being swallowed by a fish, referring to the idols of Ea, is something to consider.
*********** *********** ************
Following is page one from 1 Kings:
The narrative in the book Kings is a continuation of the David story from the Books of Samuel written from 961-561 BCE. Due to the similarity of chapters 12 and 28 of Deuteronomy, it is believed that a Deuteronomist writer or writers wrote Kings with two later identified revisionist additions in 2 Kings 25:26 and the last three verses of 2 Kings. The books of Kings were one scroll or book in Hebrew and became two books when translated into Latin and Greek, languages that used vowels.
The Deuteronomist writer's point of view reflects the belief that not followings God's command, that prohibited the worship of any other God (Exodus 20:3), by the kings of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms and their peoples caused there takeovers by foreign invaders and the forced exiles of the populace. The Deuteronomist will omit any other reasons even if they are recorded elsewhere in presenting their position. The prophets, God's mouthpieces, such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah warn the kings of pending reprimands and condemnations from God. This bible study will explain the correlation these great prophets have with the monarchs in the books of Kings and where Christians have taken some verses an applied them to the Messiah, typology.
********** ********** **************
From 2 Kings the a portion of Table of Contents and the Bibliography follows:
Introduction
Summary of II Kings
Quotation: 2 Kings 17:22-23
Quotation: 2 Kings 21:12-15
Outline Chapter 1
Text Chapter 1
Questions Chapter 1
Outline Chapter 2
Quotation: Deuteronomy 21:17
Text Box: Moses and Elijah
Text Box: Elijah the Coming Messiah and John the Baptist
Quotations: Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:12-15; Luke 1:17
Summary of Elisha stories
Text Chapter 2
Questions Chapter 2
Bibliography
Berlin, Adele and Brettle, Marc Zvi Editors,The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford
University Press, 2004. pp 203-205.
Bimson, J.J. Kane,J. P. New Bible Atlas, Inter-Varsity Press, Lion
Publishing, 1985
Hiesberger, Jean Marie, The Catholic Bible Personal Study Edition, Oxford University Press,
New York, 1995.
Mazar, Amihai, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible - 10,000-586 B.C.E. ,
THE ANCHOR YALE BIBLE REFERENCE LIBRARY, Yale University
Press, New Haven and London,1990
Meeks, Wayne, A, General Editor, The Harper Collins Study Bible New Revised
Standard Version, Harper Collins Publishers, 1993
Pradis, The NIV Holy Bible 5.1, Windows, Zondervan, 1998
Sofffer, Shirley, The Astrology Sourcebook, Lowell House, Los Angeles, 1998
Stearns Peter N., The Encyclopedia of World History, Houghton Mifflin
Company, Boston, New York, 2001
Turner, Patricia & Charles Russell Coulter, Dictionary of Ancient Deities, Oxford
University Press, 2000
Verbruzze, Verlyn Editor NIV THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT
WORDS, Zondervan publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2000
Vine, W. E., Vine's Complete Expository dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, 1996
Wigoder, Geoffery, Illustrated Dictionary & Concordance of the Bible, General
Editor GG The Jerusalem Publishing House Ltd., 1986
Whiston, William, Translator, The Works of Josephus, Hendrickson Publishing,
2001
Wood, D.R.W. Revision Editor (third edition) NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY,
Inter-varsity Press, Leicester, England, InterVarsity Press, Downess, Grove,
Illinois
************ ************** ***********
The following excerpts are from the Book of Romans:
Historical background information follows from page fourteen:
Roman Household Gods and Festivals
Roman homes contained a Laraium modeled after a Roman temple that housed a guardian spirit, a storehouse spirit and the goddess of the hearth, Penates. Prayers, lares, vows and petitions inscribed on wax were placed before the idol, whose actual presence was believed, along with an appropriate sacrifice made of cakes, honey or wine.
Priest offered animal sacrifices on major festival days that were usually announced by the astrologers. These festivals usually included athletic competition and most festivals were days when public business was forbidden.
January-Carmentis , childbirth
February- Fornax- rain for grain harvest
March whole month- Mars-god of war
March 1st Juno-goddess of women in childbirth
March 15th Anna Perenna river goddess
March between 15th & 28th Cybele-a mother goddess whose worshipers
bathed in the blood of a sacrificial bull
April 15th Tellus- goddess of the earth
April 19th Ceres-goddess of crops
April 28th Flora-goddess of flowers- celebrated with games
May 15th Mercury-Messenger & Festival of Traders
June 11th Matuta-goddess of growth
June 13th Minerva goddess of war
July 23ed Neptune sea god Fall equinox, September, Venus-fertility
December 17th Saturn- agrarian life-celebrated with the greatest agricultural
festival
December 23ed Acca Larentia-goddess who bequeathed her wealth to
Rome
In astrology each planet has a ruling god attached to it and a position in the sky. The sky was divided into twelve equal portions containing particular constellations whose relationship to the moon and sun affected the lives of every person. From the time of a person’s birth until their death the night sky was watched for signs and omens. The wide spread belief in Roman astrology found its roots in Greek, Egyptian and the 2500 BCE Chaldean astrology.
Information is from Ancient Roman Mythology and The Astrology Sourcebook.
Excerpts from Romans chapter three page 18 on the "law" follow:
Romans 3:27b
On what principle? On that of observing the law?
No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith
apart from observing the law.
Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too?
Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith?
Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
[Paul returns to the law topic in chapter eight].
Background information follows:
The Torah (Pentateuch Greek) the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh, are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy contain the Ten Commandments (Exodus chs 19-20) and more than 600 laws. The laws are found in the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:22-23,33), the priestly laws (Leviticus and Numbers 5:5-6:21; 15:1-30; 18:28-30; 30:9-34) and the Book of Deuteronomy chapters 12-26. Taking up one third of the Torah is the focal point the Tabernacle narrative that spans one year's time and brings forth the law, the priesthood, the types of Temple worship, and the tribal based society, all that was Israel.
The Book of Leviticus was the first book studied by children for it contained the laws of purification and atonement and most of the laws observed on a regular basis such as dietary, festivals, and marriage.
There are property laws that included crops to be given to the poor (Lev 19:9-10; Deut 24:19-21). Laws that forbid interest on loans to other Israelites (Ex 22:25), Marriage laws, criminal laws, injury laws, sexual offenses laws, and laws for treason.
The laws are a covenant that forms a personal relationship between God and the people and are a gift from God (Ex 19:5). The laws were given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt a part of their unearned salvation and keeping the laws brought blessings like bountiful harvest and lots of children.
Illustrated Dictionary & Concordance of the Bible, The Jewish Study Bible, New Bible Dictionary
Information given on page twenty-five follows:
A Review of How Paul Uses These Word
Justification means, through unwavering belief in Jesus Christ, God freely cancels sins regarding them righteous by means God’s gift of grace.
Grace God’s freely bestowed gift, which leads to eternal life, that was totally underserved.
Incarnation The word incarnation does not appear in scripture rather the word flesh is used. Jesus was born and died in the flesh.
Righteousness being morally right or justified. It involves God’s covenant relationships bringing about a “new humanity” consisting of both Jews and Gentiles.
Reconciliation means the end of enmity replaced with peace and goodwill.
Redemption means the deliverance from evil by a payment.
Propitiation removes the wrath of God with an offering so we are seen as innocent. Propitiation is connected to the sacrifices on Day of Atonement ,Leviticus 17:11 “for the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Resurrection means to come to life again.
Salvation saves both the body and the soul from the bondage of sin in this life and is a salvation that only comes to completion at the end times.
Sanctification means the on going process of living a life of holiness.
Wood, D.R.W. Revision Editor (third edition) NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY
I hope you have enjoyed my art and excerpts from the scripture studies and the New Life Psalms.
A little about myself, I have just become a senior citizen who returned to graduate from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 2003 with a BS in Social Science. I started to write and paint in the mid nineteen-eighty's after a healing of my right nerve damaged arm, so I do believe my paintings and writings to be inspired by God. In addition to painting and writing I enjoy church, the outdoors, reading and being with or in touch with family and friends. I currently live in the Reno Nevada area.
If you would like to contact me: barbaramkozera@outlook.com
The book of Joshua's oral tradition harkens back centuries with the last written version occurring around 586 BCE by the Deuteronomic and various priestly writers. They wrote six books, the books of Deuteronomy through II Kings. These writers believed that Israel’s greatest offense against God and the reason for the exile was faithlessness brought on by syncretism, the mixing of different beliefs together, that occurred in greatest measure under King Solomon [1 Kings 11:1-10]. Their writing reflects this belief. The Deuteronomic writers wrote and reedited their books many times.
Among their books is Joshua, which uses past events in a narrative style presenting major issues instead of accurately reporting history. The book of Joshua is a true epic that uses the person of Joshua to embody the fate of Israel along with divine mystical events. The storytellers and later writers wanted the hearer or reader to live through the hero's deeds. The Hebrew storytellers tell what people do and say and how they act or react in order to affect a response in the listener. Hence Joshua gives speeches that relate the importance of Israel's history (Jos 1:11-15 and chapter 23:8). Take note of repetition of words, actions or stories because it may be significant or it could be that the editors did not want to leave any past oral or written information out. Notice the three times the Lord tells Joshua to be "Be strong and courageous" (Jos 1:2-9). For the Deuteronomic writers actions and places will carry a theme such as Joshua's journey to the city of Shittim. The theme for this story took place earlier (Num 25:1) divulging the immorality of the city's populace. The writers skillfully use foreshadowing to link events and add suspense. In addition they embellished information about people, events and actions to augment the heroic stature of their main characters or grandeur to events. Most importantly the Deuteronomic writings extol the faithfulness of God which is boldly stated in this example "Not a single promise that the Lord made to the house of Israel was broken; every one was fulfilled" (Joshua 21:45).
Sample of questions from Joshua Chapter 9
Questions Chapter 9
1 Why do you think Joshua overlooked consulting the Lord again regarding the Gibeonites?
2 What did you think about the Gibeonite deception? Why did it work
3 What were the ramifications of the treaty between Joshua, the Israelite leaders and the
Gibeonite delegation?
Why did Joshua not kill the Gibeonites?
4 The references to the Lord's house will be the future Temple in Jerusalem that the Deuteronomic
writers knew existed but not Joshua, does this kind of foreshadowing effect the story?
A sample of the historical information added to the study of Joshua.
Information on the Canaanites
The Canaanites are first mentioned in Gen 10:15-18 "Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites,Zemarites and Hamathites."
The Greeks also called the Canaanites the Amorites or the Phoenicians, the seafaring peoples. They lived along the northern coast of modern Israel.
The Canaanites were organized as city-states with each fortified city having a chieftain. The city-state society was ordered Aristocracy and workers.
The Canaanites controlled the major trading routes through the valley of Jezreel and the inland mountain pass leading to Damascus. There warfare used chariots in contrast to the Israelite’s foot- soldiers.
The Canaanites worshiped more than 30 gods. A common way to appease the gods was animal sacrifices. The smell of sacrifices was food for the gods and the partaking of the sacrificed animals bonded and joined the people together. The greatest assuage to a god was child sacrifices especially of a first-born.
The Canaanites' main god was "El", pictured as a bull or bearded old man, the Father of the gods, mortals and time. [”El” meant god or super-god in most Semitic tongues]. El's mate was Asheraha fertility goddess pictured nude holding her breast. Asherah is known as Venus to the Greeks and Ishtar to the Babylonians.
El's son is Baal, means Lord or master, also portrayed, as a bull and was a fertility god who created the fertile earth with rain. In Canaanite lore Baal continually fought with Mot, pictured as a dragon or serpent, who was the god of crops that cyclically die and god of the netherworld. Within this life and death cycle the rains stopped and the land dried. Thus annually there existed a constant wet and dry struggle between the two gods with the people caught between both of the warring gods. One way they had to appease the gods and make the land fertile was for them to have sexual intercourse with temple prostitutes. The temples and prostitutes were located in high places like hilltops where stone monoliths were built representing Baal and pillars represented Asherah.
Moloch, Milcon. Nations: Ammonite, Canaanite, Semite Sun god represented the negative aspects of the sun’s heat and was appeased with child sacrifices.
Chemosh, Baal-Peor Nations: Canaanite, Mobite, Semite, Sumer.Was the national war god of the Moabites also androgynous- male as sun god. female as moon goddess. Usually pictured as a phallus, cone, pillar or tree branch, associated with Ishtar.
History of Ancient Israel, pp.21-26. Dictionary of Ancient Deities pp. 164, 73, 86-87, 328-329.
********* *********** ************
Part of the introduction from the Book of Jonah follows:
A prophetic book communicates the Lord's message through a prophet. Most modern scholars believe the twelve minor prophetic books were written after the fall of the monarchy around 586 BCE during or after the Babylonian exile. Most of the prophetic books relate their message by use of divine messages, oracles, but the exception is the book of Jonah, which was written as a narrative and a parable that includes satire, humor and allegory. Two important themes found in Jonah relate to God's forgiveness of an enemy the Assyrians of the city of Nineveh [3:10], and Jonah's inability to identify with God's forgiveness and mercy [4:2]. The Assyrians had ruthlessly destroyed Israel two hundred years earlier 722-721 BCE [related in 2 Kings 15:27-17:31] so Israelite animosity towards them was understandable.
Of interest and question is the fact that the city of Nineveh had already been destroyed by Babylonian King Napolassar in 612 BCE. [The fall of Nineveh is mentioned in the Book of Nahum]. One has to wonder what Nineveh represents; is it symbolic for Jerusalem? The Israelites had to speculate why they were in exile in Babylon with Jerusalem destroyed; did God still love them? If the answer is yes, then the forgiveness the book of Jonah directs to the Assyrians could be directed towards the Israelites and the city of Jerusalem and Jonah is the tool used to present the issue as an allegory.
The other consideration is God's forgiveness of an enemy in that all humanity can fall under God's mercy and grace. Whether God's mercy and forgiveness in the story is directed towards Israelites or Assyrians is not the point rather God's love and mercy towards peoples of all nations and times is the key to understanding and enjoying the four chapters Book of Jonah.
An excerpt from page four, the Book of Jonah:
The entire Book of Jonah is found in Painted Meditations and Meditations with Stories Inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Some biblical scholars see the great fish in the story as divine judgment or an element of humor but there could be more. Jonah being saved from drowning in the chaos of the sea by the great fish could relate to the Assyrian and the Babylonian god, Ea or Nudimmud, the creator of the earth, waters and mortals who was pictured as having the head of a goat and body of a fish. Suppose when the Israelites walked from Jerusalem to Babylon over the rising and falling sands, like ocean waves, the first thing they saw everywhere were idols of Ea, the goat fish, some of them must have felt enveloped or swallowed by these sacrilegious god idols. Even the last verse when the fish vomits Jonah out on the dry land could show the revulsion the Israelites felt when they looked upon the idol of the goatfish god, Ea. Idols are referred to in the prayer that follows (2:9). For this reason the allusion of being swallowed by a fish, referring to the idols of Ea, is something to consider.
*********** *********** ************
Following is page one from 1 Kings:
The narrative in the book Kings is a continuation of the David story from the Books of Samuel written from 961-561 BCE. Due to the similarity of chapters 12 and 28 of Deuteronomy, it is believed that a Deuteronomist writer or writers wrote Kings with two later identified revisionist additions in 2 Kings 25:26 and the last three verses of 2 Kings. The books of Kings were one scroll or book in Hebrew and became two books when translated into Latin and Greek, languages that used vowels.
The Deuteronomist writer's point of view reflects the belief that not followings God's command, that prohibited the worship of any other God (Exodus 20:3), by the kings of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms and their peoples caused there takeovers by foreign invaders and the forced exiles of the populace. The Deuteronomist will omit any other reasons even if they are recorded elsewhere in presenting their position. The prophets, God's mouthpieces, such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah warn the kings of pending reprimands and condemnations from God. This bible study will explain the correlation these great prophets have with the monarchs in the books of Kings and where Christians have taken some verses an applied them to the Messiah, typology.
********** ********** **************
From 2 Kings the a portion of Table of Contents and the Bibliography follows:
Introduction
Summary of II Kings
Quotation: 2 Kings 17:22-23
Quotation: 2 Kings 21:12-15
Outline Chapter 1
Text Chapter 1
Questions Chapter 1
Outline Chapter 2
Quotation: Deuteronomy 21:17
Text Box: Moses and Elijah
Text Box: Elijah the Coming Messiah and John the Baptist
Quotations: Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:12-15; Luke 1:17
Summary of Elisha stories
Text Chapter 2
Questions Chapter 2
Bibliography
Berlin, Adele and Brettle, Marc Zvi Editors,The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford
University Press, 2004. pp 203-205.
Bimson, J.J. Kane,J. P. New Bible Atlas, Inter-Varsity Press, Lion
Publishing, 1985
Hiesberger, Jean Marie, The Catholic Bible Personal Study Edition, Oxford University Press,
New York, 1995.
Mazar, Amihai, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible - 10,000-586 B.C.E. ,
THE ANCHOR YALE BIBLE REFERENCE LIBRARY, Yale University
Press, New Haven and London,1990
Meeks, Wayne, A, General Editor, The Harper Collins Study Bible New Revised
Standard Version, Harper Collins Publishers, 1993
Pradis, The NIV Holy Bible 5.1, Windows, Zondervan, 1998
Sofffer, Shirley, The Astrology Sourcebook, Lowell House, Los Angeles, 1998
Stearns Peter N., The Encyclopedia of World History, Houghton Mifflin
Company, Boston, New York, 2001
Turner, Patricia & Charles Russell Coulter, Dictionary of Ancient Deities, Oxford
University Press, 2000
Verbruzze, Verlyn Editor NIV THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT
WORDS, Zondervan publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2000
Vine, W. E., Vine's Complete Expository dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, 1996
Wigoder, Geoffery, Illustrated Dictionary & Concordance of the Bible, General
Editor GG The Jerusalem Publishing House Ltd., 1986
Whiston, William, Translator, The Works of Josephus, Hendrickson Publishing,
2001
Wood, D.R.W. Revision Editor (third edition) NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY,
Inter-varsity Press, Leicester, England, InterVarsity Press, Downess, Grove,
Illinois
************ ************** ***********
The following excerpts are from the Book of Romans:
Historical background information follows from page fourteen:
Roman Household Gods and Festivals
Roman homes contained a Laraium modeled after a Roman temple that housed a guardian spirit, a storehouse spirit and the goddess of the hearth, Penates. Prayers, lares, vows and petitions inscribed on wax were placed before the idol, whose actual presence was believed, along with an appropriate sacrifice made of cakes, honey or wine.
Priest offered animal sacrifices on major festival days that were usually announced by the astrologers. These festivals usually included athletic competition and most festivals were days when public business was forbidden.
January-Carmentis , childbirth
February- Fornax- rain for grain harvest
March whole month- Mars-god of war
March 1st Juno-goddess of women in childbirth
March 15th Anna Perenna river goddess
March between 15th & 28th Cybele-a mother goddess whose worshipers
bathed in the blood of a sacrificial bull
April 15th Tellus- goddess of the earth
April 19th Ceres-goddess of crops
April 28th Flora-goddess of flowers- celebrated with games
May 15th Mercury-Messenger & Festival of Traders
June 11th Matuta-goddess of growth
June 13th Minerva goddess of war
July 23ed Neptune sea god Fall equinox, September, Venus-fertility
December 17th Saturn- agrarian life-celebrated with the greatest agricultural
festival
December 23ed Acca Larentia-goddess who bequeathed her wealth to
Rome
In astrology each planet has a ruling god attached to it and a position in the sky. The sky was divided into twelve equal portions containing particular constellations whose relationship to the moon and sun affected the lives of every person. From the time of a person’s birth until their death the night sky was watched for signs and omens. The wide spread belief in Roman astrology found its roots in Greek, Egyptian and the 2500 BCE Chaldean astrology.
Information is from Ancient Roman Mythology and The Astrology Sourcebook.
Excerpts from Romans chapter three page 18 on the "law" follow:
Romans 3:27b
On what principle? On that of observing the law?
No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith
apart from observing the law.
Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too?
Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith?
Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
[Paul returns to the law topic in chapter eight].
Background information follows:
The Torah (Pentateuch Greek) the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh, are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy contain the Ten Commandments (Exodus chs 19-20) and more than 600 laws. The laws are found in the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:22-23,33), the priestly laws (Leviticus and Numbers 5:5-6:21; 15:1-30; 18:28-30; 30:9-34) and the Book of Deuteronomy chapters 12-26. Taking up one third of the Torah is the focal point the Tabernacle narrative that spans one year's time and brings forth the law, the priesthood, the types of Temple worship, and the tribal based society, all that was Israel.
The Book of Leviticus was the first book studied by children for it contained the laws of purification and atonement and most of the laws observed on a regular basis such as dietary, festivals, and marriage.
There are property laws that included crops to be given to the poor (Lev 19:9-10; Deut 24:19-21). Laws that forbid interest on loans to other Israelites (Ex 22:25), Marriage laws, criminal laws, injury laws, sexual offenses laws, and laws for treason.
The laws are a covenant that forms a personal relationship between God and the people and are a gift from God (Ex 19:5). The laws were given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt a part of their unearned salvation and keeping the laws brought blessings like bountiful harvest and lots of children.
Illustrated Dictionary & Concordance of the Bible, The Jewish Study Bible, New Bible Dictionary
Information given on page twenty-five follows:
A Review of How Paul Uses These Word
Justification means, through unwavering belief in Jesus Christ, God freely cancels sins regarding them righteous by means God’s gift of grace.
Grace God’s freely bestowed gift, which leads to eternal life, that was totally underserved.
Incarnation The word incarnation does not appear in scripture rather the word flesh is used. Jesus was born and died in the flesh.
Righteousness being morally right or justified. It involves God’s covenant relationships bringing about a “new humanity” consisting of both Jews and Gentiles.
Reconciliation means the end of enmity replaced with peace and goodwill.
Redemption means the deliverance from evil by a payment.
Propitiation removes the wrath of God with an offering so we are seen as innocent. Propitiation is connected to the sacrifices on Day of Atonement ,Leviticus 17:11 “for the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Resurrection means to come to life again.
Salvation saves both the body and the soul from the bondage of sin in this life and is a salvation that only comes to completion at the end times.
Sanctification means the on going process of living a life of holiness.
Wood, D.R.W. Revision Editor (third edition) NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY
I hope you have enjoyed my art and excerpts from the scripture studies and the New Life Psalms.
A little about myself, I have just become a senior citizen who returned to graduate from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 2003 with a BS in Social Science. I started to write and paint in the mid nineteen-eighty's after a healing of my right nerve damaged arm, so I do believe my paintings and writings to be inspired by God. In addition to painting and writing I enjoy church, the outdoors, reading and being with or in touch with family and friends. I currently live in the Reno Nevada area.
If you would like to contact me: barbaramkozera@outlook.com