Jan 8: Gen. 8, Matt. 8, Ezra 8, Acts 8

Genesis 8
The flood ends.  The ark lands in the mountains of Ararat.  The waters are dried.  The ark is opened and all the animals released.  Noah builds an altar and makes offering.  God pledges to never curse the ground because of man or to strike down all living creatures again.

Matthew 8
Jesus heals a leper who asks for healing.  He tells him not to tell anyone but to go show himself to a priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded.

• What is that gift?

A Roman centurion asks Jesus to heal his sick servant.  Jesus agrees, but the centurion has such faith that he believes that Jesus can heal remotely by his word.  Jesus responds that "with no one in Israel have I found such faith."  The healing is done as the centurion believes.  Jesus then proceeds to heal Peter's mother-in-law as well as a number of people oppressed by demons.
People say they will follow him but he warns one about the uncomfortable nature of his calling ("the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head".  Another he tells to come immediately ("leave the dead to bury their own dead").
Jesus is out with his disciples on the water in a storm.   They are scared but he calms the storm with words.
Two men come to him possessed with demons and they call him "Son of God".  The demons ask to be cast into a herd of pigs.  He does it and the pigs run and drown themselves in the river.  The men go into town and tell everyone, and the people of the city ask Jesus to leave town.

• The centurion is the first reference to salvation for Gentiles and to the notion that being Jewish doesn't mean you will be saved.   
• I've heard Mormons refer to the "outer darkness".  What is that exactly and from what tradition does it come?
• Why did the demons want to be cast into a herd of pigs?

Ezra 8
The genealogy of Ezra's entourage is laid out.  He sends for Levites for the journey (I believe Levites are the priests).  They fast at the river Ahava and pray for protection, because Ezra doesn't want to ask for physical protection since it seems to be a demonstration of lack of faith in God's protection.   He appoints priests to guard the treasure they're carrying, and they set off.  They get to Jerusalem without incident and make burnt offerings to God.  They then deliver the funds from the king to the king's officials in the region.

Acts 8
Saul persecutes the Christians, arresting as many as possible.  Philip preaches in Samaria, healing and casting out unclean spirits.  A magician named Simon in Samaria, highly regarded as given power by God, was converted by Philip.  Peter and John go to Samaria to try to help deliver the Holy Spirit to the city.  Simon thinks that the Spirit is conveyed by laying of hands, so asks if he can buy the power from them.  He's rebuked by Peter, who repents.
Philip is on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza when he comes across a eunuch of the Ethiopian court who is reading Isaiah.  Philip instructs the eunuch in the prophecy that Isaiah describes, stating that he's talking about Jesus.  The eunuch asks to be baptized right away.  Philip goes on spreading the gospel to Caesarea.

Jan 7: Gen. 7, Matt. 7, Ezra 7, Acts 7

Genesis 7
God gives Noah detailed instructions on how to load out the ark.  Noah does it.  The flood comes and drowns everything and everyone except for those in the ark.

• Were Noah and his family really the only people left on the entire Earth?

Matthew 7
The rest of the Sermon on the Mount.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Seek and ye shall find.
Do unto others as you will have them do unto you.
You will know false prophets by their fruits.
Jesus will deny people who talk the talk without walking the walk.
Basing your actions on his words is a solid foundation, unshakeable.
People were amazed when he spoke because he spoke not as a messenger or scribe, but as an authority.

• The analogy of the mote and the plank is my favorite in the Bible, I think.   We judge others for their little faults even as we carry huge faults of our own.  By working on our own first, we then see more clearly.

Ezra 7
Ezra, a descendant of Aaron and a scribe, came from Babylonia during Artaxerxes's reign to study the law and teach.  The king sent him apparently to make sure that the completion of the temple and resumption of offerings was in accordance with the law of God, as well as setting up the appropriate judicial framework.

• I'm still really surprised that the kings of Persia honor the God of Israel.

Acts 7
Stephen is being questioned by the council.  He proceeds to give an Old Testament lesson from Abraham to Joseph to Moses to David.  He calls them out for resisting the Holy Spirit as did those who persecuted or did not heed the prophets before him.  They stone him and he dies a martyr for Jesus.

Jan 6: Gen. 6, Matt. 6, Ezra 6, Acts 6

Genesis 6

The "sons of God" (angels) are sleeping with women and producing the Nephilim.  The Nephilim where "mighty men who were of old, the men of renown."  God declares that man shall only live for 120 years.  

People are getting worse and just thinking evil thoughts all the time (selfish?).  God plans on wiping away life entirely.  However, Noah was righteous and he desired to preserve him, so he told Noah the specs for an ark to carry him, his wife, and his sons and their wives, along with two of every animal and lots of food.  

• Seriously, what is up with the Nephilim?  Why are angels coming down and impregnating human women?  The Nephilim sound a lot like Greek and Roman demigods.  Is it possible that they were used as an explanation for particularly extraordinary people as they passed into legend?
• Why was Noah so good when everyone else was evil?  

Matthew 6

The Sermon on the Mount continues:

He states that we shouldn't show our righteousness and giving to others, but do it in secret.  This keeps our purposes clean and makes sure we're giving for the right reasons.

He states that we shouldn't give big flowery prayers and provides The Lord's Prayer.  

He states that we shouldn't make a big production out of fasting, but just do it and go about our normal lives as we do.

He states that we shouldn't focus on acquiring wealth.  You can't serve both God and money.  

He tells us not to worry.  God takes care of the flowers in the field, the birds, the grasses, and so he definitely has you covered.  

• The "don't worry" verses are particularly useful in a society and era where we sweat the small stuff.

Ezra 6

Darius researches and determines that Cyrus did in fact make this decree.  He instructs the provincial officials to honor the decree and facilitate the completion of the temple.  

The temple is finished, dedicated, and they celebrate a particularly joyous Passover.

Acts 6

The Hellenists (who?) complain that the Hebrews are neglecting widows in the daily distribution of resources.  The 12 apostles say "we can't preach and distribute at the same time".  So they elect seven new disciples to distribution duty so they can focus on preaching.   This frees them up, and they continue to preach, converting a number of local priests.  

One of the seven, Stephen, was performing miracles and some took issue with him.  However, they couldn't best him in debate, so they secretly had him accused of blasphemy.  He was arrested and accused, but it was clear that the Spirit was on him.  

• Who are the Hellenists? Greek Jews?  
• Why were the widows specifically getting neglected?  
• Why was Stephen out preaching when his job was distribution?  I assume maybe he had more time?
• Was there something about what Stephen said that made these certain synagogues go after him?

Jan 5: Gen. 5, Matt. 5, Ezra 5, Acts 5

Genesis 5
Lineage from Adam to Noah (7 generations).  People live hundreds of years before having kids, then live hundreds more.

• Are these ages intended to be literal or are these periods?
• There seem to be implications that other people already exist by the time Cain killed Abel in Genesis 4.  So are Adam and Eve and their descendants the first "chosen" or the first in general.

Matthew 5
Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount.
He delivers the Beatitudes (blessed are the [insert virtue] for they shall [insert counterintuitive blessing here]).
He declares people (presumably specifically his followers) to be the salt of the earth and light of the world.
He declares that he came to fulfill the Law (of Moses), not to abolish it.
He establishes that adherence to the letter of the law is insufficient, and that the spirit matters more (so lust is as bad as adultery, and anger towards your brother is as bad as murder.)
He declares divorce for reasons other than sexual immorality to be invalid.
He states that we should not make oaths, because we don't have any power over the things we would swear by.
He repudiates "an eye for an eye" and encourages us to do more than what is asked of us.
He adds "love your enemy" to "love your neighbor" and encourages us to reach out beyond our circle.

• This is clearly important stuff.  Red text pretty much the whole chapter.
• Jesus tells us that not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Does his declaration on the cross, "It is finished", satisfy this?  If not, are the laws in Leviticus and elsewhere in the Old Testament still valid today?
• Has there been a call elsewhere in history prior to Jesus to show love to those who do not show love to you, and to reach out to others?

Ezra 5
The governor of the province Beyond The River (Transjordan? later Judea?) ask who gives them the right to build.  They send a letter to the Persian king Darius await to hear from him as to whether the Jews have the right to build and whether their claim of right granted by Cyrus is true.

Acts 5
Ananias and Sapphira sold some of their property but did not give all the proceeds to the church.  When the apostles called them on it, they both fell down dead.
The apostles and their followers preached in Solomon's Portico in Jerusalem and added lots of followers, performing healings, driving out evil spirits, and other miracles.
The Sadducees arrested them, but an angel freed them and they went back out to preach.  They were going to arrest them again but they were afraid of the crowd of followers.  They get a talking to from the high priest and respond "Hey, we've gotta follow God and preach Jesus.  I talk what I've seen."  The council wanted to kill them, but one of them, Gamaliel said, "We've had leaders before rise up with followers, but they were just cults of personality.  When they died, the groups dispersed.  If these guys are the real deal, ordained by God, you can't beat them, and if it's just men making up something, they'll disperse too.  Don't kill them."  So they were beaten and admonished, but set free.

• We live in an era where giving 10% is a big deal.  Are we really going against God by not giving everything to the point where we could/should be stricken dead?  This is after Jesus's sacrifice, so it's not obvious where judgment and punishment should fall for our wrongs.
• Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given an opportunity to repent?  Are they punished eternally for their withholding?
• Again, the witnessing for Jesus and the preaching "Christ crucified".  The transition from Jesus's ministry to first-level Christology is not obvious to me at this time.
• Gamaliel is a smart dude, and I think it's interesting that he allows for the possiblity that the apostles are on God's side and they are not.  I assume the beatings after are attempts to maintain political order.  Were the high priests afraid that they'd be overthrown by the apostles and a new order would be established?

Jan 4: Gen. 4, Matt. 4, Ezra 4, Acts 4

Genesis 4
The Cain and Abel story.  Cain's mad because God doesn't regard his gift of crops the same way as Abel's gift of meat.  God tells him relax and don't let sin get a hold of you by not doing your best.  Cain kills Abel.  God curses Cain to be a fugitive and wanderer, but shows some mercy and puts a mark on him to indicate that he shouldn't be harmed.  Cain goes and settles in another land and has descendants. His great-great-grandson Lamech kills some guy in a fight and asserts that if a wrong against Cain is avenged sevenfold, then a wrong against him should be avenged seventyfold.  Adam and Eve have another child.

• Why did God have no regard for Cain's offering?  Cain was a farmer and Abel a shepherd, so of course they offer different things.  
• Is this the same Lamech that's the father of Noah?  I don't think so but the names in the ancestry line look familiar. 
• Why is Lamech making random proclamations?  And I don't think those are addressed again.
• The chapter ends with "At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord."  What is the significance of this?

Matthew 4
Jesus goes into the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the devil.  They go back and forth, scripture for scripture, as the devil tries to tempt him into using his power to create food, then to throw himself off of a cliff and let angels save him, then to receive the entire world as his kingdom in exchange for worshipping the devil.  Jesus passes.
He returns to Galilee, finds John (presumably the Baptist) has been arrested, and moves to Capernaum, apparently fulfilling a prophecy.  He begins preaching repentance.  He calls Simon (Peter), Andrew, and James and John from their fishing jobs to join him.  He went around the land preaching and teaching and became very popular.

• Why would Jesus need to be forged by temptation?  I assume it's so he could experience everything that we experience to serve as a better example.

Ezra 4
Builders of the temple are approached by others who worship the God of Israel, but are rebuffed.  The rebuffed locals raise a lot of obstacles and make their job harder for several years, until Darius takes over as king of Persia.  They wrote a letter to Artaxerxes (who?) another king warning them what happened the last time Jerusalem was allowed to assemble, warning that Jerusalem will again come to power and Persia will lose their sovereignty.  Artaxerxes makes them stop work for the rest of his reign, and work doesn't resume until Darius becomes king.

• Did Artaxerxes rule between Cyrus and Darius?
• Why didn't the tribes of Judah and Benjamin let anyone else work on the temple?
• Not a question: Jerusalem sounds a lot like late 19th/early 20th century Germany in this.

Acts 4

The Sadducees arrest Peter and John for proclaiming Jesus's resurrection.  Annas, Caiaphas, and the other high priests/elders of Jerusalem get together for an inquiry.  Peter proclaims the miracles they've been doing are in the name of Jesus and that there is salvation exclusively through him.  They were surprised by the boldness and eloquence of these formerly ordinary people.  They are told not to preach Jesus anymore, but Peter and John say "hey, we're only talking about what we've seen.  The miracle stood, so they couldn't punish them about it.  They prayed for boldness in the face of persecution.
The believers lived communally, sharing all resources, which were under management by the apostles.

• I find it interesting that the apostles' response to inquisition is "hey, I only talk about what I saw."  I find this a more compelling argument for veracity, because it doesn't make for good storytelling.
• Are we called to live communally?  Is there a way to make that work on a mass scale?  We've seen that Marxism doesn't work and full socialism doesn't work, but can people deny their nature en masse and truly share?

Jan 3: Gen. 3, Matt. 3, Ezra 3, Acts 3

Genesis 3
The serpent tricks Eve into eating from the tree of knowledge.  They realize they're naked.  God calls them out when he sees they're hiding their nakedness.  God curses the serpent (with being a lowly creature antagonizing but ruled over by man), the woman (pain in childbirth, dominance of the husband), and the man (difficulty in plowing the land and getting useful crops).  Adam names Eve.  God then (apparently talking to himself in plural), decides to kick Adam and Eve out of the garden.

• Why is the garden no longer findable?  Is it figurative?  If so, what is the meaning of the sword and the cherubim guards.  If it weren't findable, why have guards?
• Much is made of Genesis 3:15 "he [offspring of woman] shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."  Many refer to this as the Protoeuangelion, an early prophecy of Jesus's suffering at and triumph over evil.  It's an interesting thought, but is there supporting evidence of this?
• Why is woman being dominated by man chosen as a punishment?  Were they equals before?  And why does patriarchy look like typical primate social order if it was specifically a punishment?

Matthew 3
John the Baptist, living ascetically in the wilderness, is baptizing people and preaching repentance.  This fulfills a prophecy of Isaiah.  He challenges the Pharisees and Sadducees who come, telling them that their descent from Abraham doesn't make them special.  He asserts that someone is coming who is greater than him, who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire instead of water, and who will separate wheat from chaff.
Jesus appears and lets John baptize him.  John demurs, but Jesus encourages him to "fulfill all righteousness" (more prophecy?)  Upon his baptism, the heavens opened and a visible manifestation of the "Spirit of God" descends upon him, and God himself asserts that "this is my beloved Son".

• Who else was there that day, and did they spread the word?
• Not a question: It's interesting that John stands up and tells the hierarchical Jews of the time that their descent doesn't make them special, when for so long their descent is specifically what did make them special, per the convenant with Abraham. 

Ezra 3

Some of the Israelites begin building the alter and using it, getting back to offerings at the appointed times.  The priests then supervise the acquisition of materials and building of the temple.  They lay the foundation.  Some of the old men wept while others shouted for joy.

• Not a question: The imagery here is historically heavy.  One can imagine young people cheering as the foundation is laid and their faith's physical presence reasserted, while older men weep as they remember thinking they'd never see Jerusalem or the temple again, and knowing their children and grandchildren will.  Having a home is important.

Acts 3

Peter and John heal a lame beggar who typically posts up at the temple.  They heal him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  He is miraculously healed and people marvel.  Peter takes it as an opportunity to preach.  He states that Jesus was glorified by God, calls them out for participating in his killing and choosing to free a murderer instead of him, and brings it around to explain that faith in the name of Jesus is what healed the man.  More references to prophecy, where apparently Moses foretells Jesus, and calls for repentance.  

• Is this emphasis on repentance common in religions of the time?  In Judaism?  Would repentance have been a foreign concept?
• When Mosess says that anyone who does not listen to the prophet that comes after him, he will be "destroyed from the people", what does he mean?  Cut off?  Damned eternally?

Jan 2: Gen 2, Matt. 2, Ezra 2, Acts 2

Genesis 2

God rests on the seventh day after creating everything.  

Plants are created but no crops apparently.  God creates a man from dust and places him in a garden with 4 rivers coming out of it.  Two of the rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) have familiar names, the others do not.

• Did the other two rivers dry up or do they exist?  Research indicates that the Pishon and the Gihon are not definitively located, but they have been identified in the past with the Ganges and the Nile, respectively.  This gives some credence to the figurative nature of Eden, as civilization as we know it kicked off in a band from India to Ethiopia.

God places the first man into the garden and has him working in the field and tending the garden.  He tells him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  

• Is there a notion of man pre-free will?   Does this have anything to do with evolution?

God gives the first man the job of naming everything, but there is no "helper fit for him".  God makes him a person to be with him so that he is not alone.  The first "marriage declaration" is stated.  The first man and his wife are naked and unashamed in the garden.

• What is the significance of man getting to name everything?  Is there something we should understand about what this means for our stewardship of the Earth?

Matthew 2

The wise men ask Herod where to find the new King of the Jews, which isn't so great since Herod is currently ruler of Judea.  Herod's people figure out he's in Bethlehem (via prophecy) and Herod actually sends the wise men to find him (I didn't know this.)  A star guides the way, and the Nativity scene happens.  They were warned in a dream to go home another way rather than actually going to Herod, so they did.  

Joseph was told in a dream to take the child and Mary and hide in Egypt until Herod dies.  Matthew says this is to fulfill another prophecy about God's son being called out of Egypt.

Herod, threatened by the possiblity of Jesus and angry about the wise men sneaking out of Judea, kills all the male children around Bethlehem aged 2 and under, which apparently fulfills yet another prophecy.  

When Herod dies, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus return but out of fear of reprisal from Herod's son Archelaus, they set up in the obscure district of Galilee in a small town called Nazareth.  This fulfills still another prophecy.  

• I could use a Bible that cross-references these prophecies.  I feel like I need a WikiBible.
• Stars are really high up.  What did the guiding star look like and how was it clear where they should go?
• Is there historical evidence for the killing of all these children?  (apparently, kind of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents - estimates range from 6 to 20 children if all baby boys in the small town were killed, which is certainly plausible )

Ezra 2

Exhaustive account of the different houses of Israel that are returning, and their entourages.  

• Should I be paying closer attention to the census record chapters when I'm not doing research?

Acts 2

On Pentecost (apparently a Hebrew festival celebrating the giving of The Law on Mount Sinai), the Holy Spirit descends and the apostles begin to speak in tongues in Jerusalem.  Apparently, all of them are from Galilee, but Jews from around the known world can understand them.  Some marvel at it as a miracle.  Others just think they're drunk.  

Peter speaks up and says that it's too early for anyone to be drunk (which I think is a funny answer), then quotes a prophecy of Joel, ending in "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

• Saved from what/to what?  Eternal damnation is the obvious answer, but that theology hasn't yet been spelled out so what would the people hearing this understand?

Peter goes on to preach about Jesus crucified and resurrected, and quotes a prophecy of David that he says speaks to this.  He asserts Jesus is God and the Messiah.  People respond and 3000 or so were baptized into the faith.

It describes the early days of the church.  Lots of miracles, everyone living in communes, sharing all resources, and converting people around them.

• The earliest days of the church have people living in a communist way (literally communist as in pooling and sharing of all available resources and not having individual possessions, not Marxist or socialist where a government decides how resources are allocated).  Why does the church not call us to do that now?  Is it because it's too hard?  Not essential?  Does this have to do with the disadvantage the rich had according to Jesus in entering the Kingdom of God?

Jan 1: Gen 1, Matt 1, Ezra 1, Acts 1

Genesis 1
God creates everything. Starts with space, ends with man.

• Does the order of creation matter/have significance beyond the obvious logical sequencing?

Matthew 1
Lineage of Jesus is covered from Abraham to him.  42 generations (14 to David + 14 to deportation to Babylon + 14 to his birth).
Joseph's role in the Nativity story is discussed.  He would have divorced Mary quietly but an angel told him that the conception was holy, and what he should name the child.   Reference to fulfilled prophecy regarding a virgin birth and a child called Immanuel (God with us).  Joseph honored the angel's command.

• How does Jesus (Jeshua -> "God saves")'s name relate to the prophesied name Immanuel ("God with us"), if at all?

Ezra 1
Cyrus, king of Persia, appears to honor the God of Israel and sends the Israelites home to rebuild the temple.  It looks like he took some of the spoils from Babylonia to do it.

• Did Persia conquer Babylon while the Israelites were still there?
• Why does Cyrus honor the God of Israel?  Is that his god as well?

Acts 1
Jesus returns and proves himself alive to the apostles.  He hangs out with them for 40 days, then ascends into heaven.  2 men in white robes stand by them as they watch him ascend and promise that he'll return the same way he left.
After Jesus leaves, the apostles vote on a replacement for Judas, who apparently bought a field with his reward for Jesus's betrayal, and fell and disemboweled himself in the field.  (This apparently fulfills some Psalmic prophecies as well. )  They vote Matthias in to replace him as "a witness to the resurrection."

• Who are the two men in white robes? (presumably angels) and why did they feel the need to tell the apostles that Jesus would return in a particular way if not enough to recognize his return by?
• Were Barsabbas/Justus and Matthias specially qualified to be witnesses to the resurrection other than having been around for a long time?

Why I'm Doing This

I am enrolled in a 1 year Bible reading plan with Renovation Church, my home church in Atlanta. I figured it would be useful to take notes on what I'm reading as I go to keep it fresh in my mind and to be able to go back to do analysis later. I decided to do it open book style, with notes to secure what happened into my memory and questions I have as they come up. People who care can read along with, or comment on my notes.

The plan we're on appears to be a variant of the M'Cheyne Bible plan.  Apparently, we'll go through the New Testament and Psalms twice, and the Old Testament once.  Also, the 4 chapters we cover each day are from different parts of the Bible.  It'll be interesting to see multiple stories unfold at once.

What's my position?  I'm a Christian, a skeptic, and academically minded, though my background is technology, not philosophy or other liberal arts.  I'm aware of stories in the Bible and have done some reading but don't know it thoroughly or always know what happened when.

I will make weird notes that aren't necessarily interesting to read, and I'll raise questions I don't have answers to or theories on.  If I ever choose to go deeper in scholarly analysis, the notes may prove useful.  My only goal though is to actually get something from this beyond reading the words, and to use analysis as a means to achieve contemplation.

Let's see what happens.