| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @February 13, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
Genesis 46
Genesis 46:8 (ESV) 8 Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn,
The chapter focuses primarily on the traveling of Jacob/Israel to meet his son, Joseph, and the genealogy of Israel. A number of commentaries point out that there are some inconsistencies between this and other OT genealogies (ex. Num. 26; 1 Chron. 2-8). The Faithlife Study Bible contains a helpful insight as to why this may be:
This could indicate that this genealogy [in Genesis], in parallel with the similar one in Exod 1:1–7, focuses on people—and reaching the symbolic number of 70—while others focus on clans. While 70 nations are listed in Gen 10, here 70 people related to Israel (Jacob) are listed, suggesting that the nation of Israel functions as a new beginning for humanity.
Mark 16
Mark 16:6–7 (ESV) 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint Him, they encountered a man sitting on its right side who spoke to them. The order of his address—a mixture of commands and description—seems intentional to provide calm, empathize with their motive, provide new information regarding Jesus’ resurrection, where they could find Him, who they were to tell and how all of it fulfilled what Jesus had previously spoken.
Job 12
Job 12:3 (ESV) 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
Job responds to the friends with biting sarcasm, that he indeed knows the ways of God. In rhetorical question, he declares how everyone has such understanding and that their guidance is self-evident. Job demonstrates that he is hardly without knowledge, sharply rebuffing their patronizing attempts to speak truth into his situation.
Romans 16
Romans 16:17–18 (ESV) 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
In his final instructions, Paul tells the church to be watchful and avoid those who cause divisions and create obstacles to the doctrine they were taught. A couple things stand out here. First is that their diligence was not be of division generally but of false doctrine specifically. We should expect minor differences with regard to the Christian walk but there must be unity around the salvific elements of the gospel. Things such as the triune essence of God, Jesus’ divinity, His being fully God and fully man and sole propitiator of sin cannot be in dispute. The other is that we are to actively avoid those who propagate aberrant teaching. Given our sin nature and the penchant for perverted instruction to erode sound doctrine leading to perceived plausibility warrants fervent warning against continuous exposure.
Carson on 46
One of the most difficult things to grasp is that the God of the Bible is both personal—interacting with other persons—and transcendent (i.e., above space and time—the domain in which all our personal interactions with God take place). As the transcendent Sovereign, he rules over everything without exception; as the personal Creator, he interacts in personal ways with those who bear his image, disclosing himself to be not only personal but flawlessly good. How to put those elements together is finally beyond us, however frequently they are simply assumed in Scripture.
Carson puts his finger on a continuously elusive but Scripturally-revealed understanding that God is both personal and transcendent. How these things exist in concert is a mystery that will surely remain without full resolution. As with many of the eternal and unfathomable qualities of God, we must rest in faith on the Word He has given.
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- D. A. Carson, For the Love of God: Volumes 1 & 2 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006; hosted on thegospelcoalition.org)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)