Lee Harmon's Blog, page 73

2 Corinthians 11:5, Paul’s Credentials

But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”

//It’s interesting to examine why Paul considers himself an apostle when he wasn’t one of the Twelve. We don’t know exactly who the “super-apostles” are that Paul references in today’s verse, but it may have had more to do with charisma than credentials. As Paul claims in the next verse, “I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge!”

So, Paul embarks on a challenge to show himself worthy of apostleship, too. Ap...

Mark 16:1, Anointing the Body of Jesus

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.

//Here’s a befuddling topic. Did Jesus’ body ever get anointed for burial? This seems to be a significant theological event, but the Gospels don’t seem to agree.

Let’s start with Mark, the first Gospel written. Mark says that after Jesus was buried, probably on Saturday night (the Sabbath officially ended at sunset on Saturday evening), spices were prepared...

Judges 9:4, The First Campaign Contribution

So they gave him seventyshekelsof silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.

//Election year is nearly over, so I may be able to get away with toting out this verse. Somehow, it always hits me in the funny bone.

Abimelech is mounting what may be the first ever political campaign (hey, it could be!) in his election race against the “sons of Jerubbaal.” His campaign platform seems to be, “wouldn’t it be nicer to have one bi...

Book review: The NRSV Daily Bible

Harper Bibles

★★★★★

Wow. How did they know? Harper Bibles just sent me this new daily study Bible for review, and I don’t mind saying … it’s fabulous! I’ll break my review down into two sections, first describing the New Revised Standard Version, and then describing the study Bible format.

The NRSV may be my favorite translation, because it’s how I want to read the Bible. By that I mean, it’s ideally suited to scholarly study. It’s prepared by an interfaith committee of thirty translators, rep...

1 Samuel 15:29, Does God Change His Mind?

“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”

//A recent comment was made on an online forum that Calvinism must somehow overcome the stories in the Bible where God changes his mind. Today’s verse came to mind as I contemplated this. God has promised to remove Saul as king over Israel, and Saul pleads with the prophet Samuel, asking if God will relent. Samuel says nope, God is not a man, that he should ever relent.

The curious thing about...

Book review: The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life

by Emmet Fox

★★★★

I guess I blew it with the timing of this review. This is a beautiful hardbound reprint of a 1934 classic, clearly meant as a gift option. The publication timing of November 2012 hints of a Christmas gift. Did any of you get Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift certificates for Christmas? My apologies, HarperOne, for not jumping on this sooner, to get the word out.

Let’s start with the dirt on Emmet Fox (1886-1951). He was a spiritual teacher, and served as minister of the Divine...

Luke 2:25-32, The Lord’s Messiah

The Holy Spirit was upon [Simeon] and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.

I have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared for all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the na...

Jeremiah 10:3-4, Are Christmas Trees Taboo?

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

//I see this verse quoted every Christmas, by well-meaning Christians concerned about the evil of setting up a Christmas tree. The Bible itself even seems to argue against having a Christmas tree. Jeremiah, quoting the commandment of God, seems to say “quit cutt...

Matthew 9:20, Healing Power in the Tassels

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

//In today’s verse, a woman braves the crowd to reach out and touch Jesus’ garment, hoping to be cured.

Unless one is specifically looking for it, many subtleties of the New Testament go unnoticed. It almost seems sometimes like there is a contest between the Gospel writers to see who can provide the...

Book review: The Gay Disciple

by John Henson

★★★★★

I enjoyed this one! This is fiction, building upon the story of several notable but sketchy characters in the New Testament. Henson modernizes the names and nicknames of his characters (Jim for James, Rocky for Peter), which added to the enjoyment for me. I found myself embracing the puzzle of figuring out who the characters were in the Bible.

All characters tell their story in first person, beginning with Lazarus, the man whom Jesus raised from the tomb.Lazarus is presume...