Monthly Archives: January 2022

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The understanding of the Scriptures of the early Christians

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Paul writes in the 2nd letter to Timothy in chapter 3:15-17: „From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.“

With the term “ the sacred writings ” Paul means the Jewish Bible – i.e. the Tanakh, consisting of the five books of Moses (Torah), the prophets (Nevi’im) and the Scriptures (Ketuvim). The Tanakh was the Bible of the first followers of Jesus. Continue reading The understanding of the Scriptures of the early Christians →

Jesus

Faith prove itself in family

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The core of human coexistence is family and work. This is where faith has to prove itself.  Ephesians 5,21 to 6,9

Paul is often only quoted in part, which leads to a wrong perception.

Man and woman are created to complement each other. Paul writes in Ephesians 5,21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ”

Ephesians 5,31 says husband and wife become one. This is only possible in mutual appreciation.
 Continue reading Faith prove itself in family →

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The Messiah – a king-priest like Melchizedek

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David writes in Psalm 110 about the Messiah: “1 The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. … 4 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Melchizedek means “My king of righteousness of peace”. He is a picture of the reconciling ministry of Jesus who is at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19 / Luke 22:69).  Continue reading The Messiah – a king-priest like Melchizedek →

Jesus

Women let their fear of God shine

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Mankind can be wicked or have a good heart. The midwives of Exodus 1:15-22 are faced with the question of which is more important to them: a good relationship with the government or a good relationship with God. They feared God more than the king. Instead of eliminating the boys, they chose life. They disobeyed the pharaoh’s inhuman command to kill all male children. They stood on the side of life and did not want to become the servants of death. Verse 20 says, “God made the midwives prosper.” God blesses those who stands to Him.

The resistance of the women thwarts the pharaoh’s plan. He had thought the midwives would kill the newborn boys immediately and then fool the family into believing it was a stillbirth so the plan could go ahead without fanfare. But now he has to realize that his idea that the midwives should lie to the Hebrews will come back with a boomerang lie and show him how powerless he is. Continue reading Women let their fear of God shine →

Jesus

Survey in the diocese of Basel

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A survey in the Diocese of Basel Switzerland has shown that a majority of Catholics seek advice in God’s Word (54%). Also the Word of God, but in the form of the liturgy or reading the Bible, increased 44 percent. When asked in which moments they experience a good dialogue in the church in their environment, 17 percent give a self-written answer. Individual and concrete examples were often mentioned (e.g. in the monastery shop or the common Bible group).

https://www.obrist-impulse.net/wir-sind-ohr

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Live as children of light

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(Ephesians 5:1-20)

We are set free to a new life as God’s beloved children (Ephesians 5:1). Jesus accepted the consequences of our transgression by offering himself as a sacrifice on the cross (Ephesians 5:2).

This does not mean, however, that we should now live haphazardly, but that we should live as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8). This life is marked by love (Ephesians 5:4), gratitude (Ephesians 5:4), goodness, justice, truth (Ephesians 5:9) and wisdom (Ephesians 5:15).

Instead of spreading meaningless gossip (Ephesians 5:6), we always give thanks to Heavenly Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19).

We have been transported from the kingdom of death into the kingdom of God where Jesus lights the way for us. Paul does not say: You were in darkness, but: You were darkness. Now you are light (Ephesians 5:8).

But the darkness has not been eradicated, not even among the new people in Christ, otherwise the author would not have to mention it.

The environment of the church in Ephesus at that time was characterized by immorality, greed and ungodly gossip. That is why Paul encourages an opposite way of life.

We should keep the clarity and radiance, even if everyone around us lives something else.

Jesus

Symbolism of the numbers in the Bible

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Numbers play a special role in the Bible. They often serve as a link and reminder of certain events or symbols. But they are not absolute statements in the sense of an oracle or a hidden prophecy.

The one (Hebrew: echad) is associated with the concept of the unity of God (Deuteronomy 6: 4). Man and woman are also to become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). The unity of God stands against man’s distrust of God and his benevolence, a “no longer wanting to be one with God”. But we are to become one with God’s way of thinking (John 17:21). But always in the awareness of the differences. The absolute one is jachid. Each personality only exists once and is part of a larger unit in which we complement each other. Everything is designed to be complement. Continue reading Symbolism of the numbers in the Bible →

Israel

When people ignore God

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The new king doesn’t know the story of Joseph. It has been 300 years since Joseph stood up for Egypt. We see: it is always dangerous if we ignore history and do not want to learn from it. This is why the Bible is good to read because it shows what happens when people ignore God.

The Israelites are not oppressed because they rebel, but because they are doing well and are blessed by God, as God has promised to Abraham (Gen. 12: 3), Isaac (Gen. 26: 4) and Jacob (Gen. 28:14).

If we feel threatened, then we have no appreciation or a good word for others. Instead of togetherness, there is an opposition. Continue reading When people ignore God →