Understanding Scripture Better
Sunday – Theme
– race, hatred and being different :
culture in the Bible.
Same Kind of Different as Me
Nathanial – John 1:46 ( Nazarene – negative stereo type
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip,(BF) he said to him, “Follow me.”(BG)
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.(BH) 45 Philip found Nathanael(BI) and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,(BJ) and about whom the prophets also wrote(BK)—Jesus of Nazareth,(BL) the son of Joseph.”(BM)
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”(BN) Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite(BO) in whom there is no deceit.”(BP)
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi,(BQ) you are the Son of God;(BR) you are the king of Israel.”(BS)
Acts 16:7 –
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
Mysia , Bithinia. ( Galatia ) –
Considered barbarians – someone who didn’t speak Greek. Barbarian = “ blah blah blah” ( Greek ridicule equivalent )
Can’t speak Greek considered stupid because Greek equated speech with reason.
Southern Galatia people preferred their provincial names.: Acts 2:9-10 ( Luke knew this)
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Galatians 3:1 Paul chastens them as ( you stupid rednecks ) you foolish Galatians…
See also vs. 15 brothers and sisters….
Acts 6:1 – food distribution…
Greek Jews ( 2nd tier ) and Hebraic Jews
Solution – 5 Greek names
Ethnic distinctions w/o hate.
LANGUAGE
Other predudice
Twang – genteel or slow ( southern accent )
Boston, New York, New Jersey, Canada
Judges 12 ( gileadites battle ephramites )
Epramites couldn’t say “sh” sounds.
Gallilian accents
Matt 26:73
Acts 2:7
PREJUDICE
We may Read Bible Ignorant of obvious ethnic differences
Numbers 12:1. Cushite wife
12:1-2. “ who does he think he is “
Ethnic issues
Siblings have an issue with where she is from .
Atlas – southern Nile river area
– dark skin Africans
Western eyes assume…..
Darwin’s Origins Book title:
The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
– inferior “ races “
What goes without being said? Tone of the dispute……
Ruth
Act of Redemption (4:1–12)
Elimelech
2 sons marry moabite women….
“Same kind of different as me.,”
“In many ways, our world today is focused on divisions, on differences. Differences between people of different gender and race, between people of different economic status, between people of different belief systems. It’s easy, perhaps even natural, to find members of our same “tribe,” those who share our worldview and our demographic traits.
It’s much less natural to reach across those boundaries, to try to understand others’ experiences, to serve those who have almost nothing in common with us. It’s easier to ignore them—especially the homeless—to act as if they don’t exist.”