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David's
personal favorites may get his stamp of approval. This is very subjective.
Passages that seem significant to the contents of the course are marked:
Name: pgpgxgffle
Reference: UeagrXPELXMNbBvcA
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Name: Sue Kaplan
Reference: Mark 2:5-6
Quote: signs of this are said to be given by oracles......., by varous visions seen by different persons and dreams that appeared to different men
Date: Thursday, December 07, 2006
Time: 07:44:06
this strikes a cord of familiarity with the story of the Magi announcing Jesus' birth, "for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Name: Steve
Reference: Mark 14:63
Quote: Owing to Persion custom they did not drag him off the throne but rent their garments and beat themselves on their breasts and faces as if some terrible disaster had happened.
Date: Thursday, December 07, 2006
Time: 07:27:43
From Mark 14:63-Then the high priest rent his clothes and said "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy!" This reference to "rent" that these two passages have in common reminds us that the writer of Mark and the writer of Anabasis used similar terminology in describing a person that was very upset or angry. Knowing what rent means in the Anabasis reading helps us understand what it means when we read the New Testament.
Name: Sue B.
Reference: I Corinthians 9:19-23 (22) To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak...
Quote: Anabasis of Alexander P. 301 "His drinking bouts too, as Aristobulus says, were prolonged not for the sake of the wine, for he drank little wine, but out of courtesy to his Companions
Date: Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Time: 21:51:45
Alexander's leadership style included building camaraderie with those who served him. He was aware that retaining loyal followers required building trust - which meant meeting those subjects "where they were" - not unlike Paul who admonishes that it is necessary to meet people "where they are" in order to win their trust and ultimately their souls for Christ.
Name: Eric R.
Reference: Matth 3:13 - "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be batized by him."
Quote: Anabasis, p. 290, "Next day again he bathed, and offered the usual sacrifices."
Date: Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Time: 21:06:05
As he approaches death, the account describes him bathing and sacrificing daily; the repeated linkage of the two suggests more than a circumstantial connection. Bathing was part of the purification Alexander passed through, a ritual much baptism was for Jesus. The role of water and cultural importance of purity was a value shared by Greeks and Jews. Moderns do not have the same understanding of the role of these.
Name: Gary
Reference: Rev. 4.4f
Quote: Anabasis page 287 24.2
Date: Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Time: 20:13:32
Comparing Alexander to a god, the mention of his throne and what surrounds it, the continual mentioning of portents--it gives me a sense that the genre of this material is apocalyptic.
Name: Ann
Reference: Luke 6: 39-42 He also told tlhem a parable; "Can a blind person guide a blind person?Will not both fall into the pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like a teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but to not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'friend, let me take the speck in you eye' when you yourslef do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrites first take the log our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.
Quote: Ananbasis of Alexander VII 28:20 p. 299 " But remorse for his misdeeds was to my knowledge peculiar to Alexander among the Kings of old times. and resulted from his noble nature. Most people, even if they have recognized their guilt, suppose that they will conceal it by defending their action as actually right. This shows bad judgement, in my view there is no remedy for a misdeed unless a man admits it and makes his repentance plain...".
Date: Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Time: 11:30:21
Alexander admits his mistakes and does not try to conceal it by claiming he is right all the time. Luke is saying admit your own guilt and mistakes rather than placing blame or responsibility of someone else. Admit you are wrong and do not always try to find blame in someone else. Repent.
Name: Ann
Reference: Luke 6: 39-42 He also told tlhem a parable; "Can a blind person guide a blind person?Will not both fall into the pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like a teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but to not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'friend, let me take the speck in you eye' when you yourslef do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrites first take the log our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.
Quote: Ananbasis of Alexander VII 28:20 p. 299 " But remorse for his misdeeds was to my knowledge peculiar to Alexander among the Kings of old times. and resulted from his noble nature. Most people, even if they have recognized their guilt, suppose that they will conceal it by defending their action as actually right. This shows bad judgement, in my view there is no remedy for a misdeed unless a man admits it and makes his repentance plain...".
Date: Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Time: 11:27:41
Alexander admits his mistakes and does not try to conceal it by claiming he is right all the time. Luke is saying admit your own guilt and mistakes rather than placing blame or responsibility of someone else. Admit you are wrong and do not always try to find blame in someone else.
Name: Judy
Reference: Mk14:14-17 "...the teacher asks.Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?" He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there. So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating......"
Quote: Ananbasis of Alexander VII 24:4 page 289 "...Alexander offered the gods the customary sacrifices for good fortune as well as some that were enjoined by prophecy and then began feasting and drinking far into the night."...and then began
Date: Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Time: 20:31:46
Alexander feasted and drank with his friends in the days before his death. Jesus also feasted and drank with his disciples before his death.
Name: Deb
Reference: John 19:26-27 "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."
Quote: "At this time he gave the officers instructions for the march and the voyage." (pg. 291)
Date: Monday, December 04, 2006
Time: 10:04:05
When Alexander made this statement he was ill, and even when he was at the point of death, still received his officers and soldiers to visit him. Both Jesus and Alexander made sure that their affairs were in order before they died, even though they were suffering. Sorry about that first post--hit the button by accident!
Name: Deb
Reference: John 19:26-27 "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."
Quote:
Date: Monday, December 04, 2006
Time: 09:59:29
Name: David G
Reference: Luke 1:1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us …
Quote: Arrian Book I: 1, In fact other writers have given a variety of accounts of Alexander…..
Date: Thursday, November 23, 2006
Time: 11:25:48
Both Luke and Arrian start in similar ways acknowledging that other people have written previously about Jesus and Alexander respectively, but they still think it is necessary to write their own account.
Name: Sue Kaplan
Reference: Acts 25:12
Quote: 210:4 "Others sharing in the same folly I have dispatched to Rome, as being Roman citizens
Date: Thursday, November 16, 2006
Time: 07:14:42
this is very similar to Acts 25 where Paul wants to face Caesar and requests to go before him.
Name: Kathy
Reference: Acts 2:42-47
Quote: &7 "...their fault consisted in this, that they assembled periodically at dawn and sang a hymn to Christ as to a god...after which they separated, meeting again for a common meal, which was, however, open to all, and innocent."
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Time: 22:47:47
Two thoughts: First, that this writer either senses or has experienced, first-hand or through reports, that the Christians' common meal is "open to all." Second, that he finds prayer to be a greater crime than the gathering for the common meal; if the meal referred to has elements of Eucharist, if he understood it, wouldn't it certainly have evoked a different response? That they continued both these practices despite persecution indicates the importance of the practices of communal assembly for prayer and the meal.
Name: Judy
Reference: Luke 22:61-61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Quote: Plinius 2 (page 210) ".....whether pardon should be granted to those who retract their beleif;....."
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Time: 22:39:47
Other have already commented on the similarity to Peter's denial of Jesus. I would add to this that Peter repented "wept bitterly" and then went on to continue to serve the Lord. As Plinius was ready to give pardon to those who denied the Roman god, so Jesus gives forgiveness for those Christians who also deny Him.
Name: Gary
Reference: Phil 4.3f ; 1 Tim 2.10f
Quote: p. 210 v.8 "deaconesses"
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Time: 12:54:12
I thought it interesting to note the usage of deaconess, which implies female deacons in the early church. Compared to how women are spoken of in Phil versus 1 Tim one has to question the role women really played in the formation of Christian communites in the first few centuries of the common era. Were there other "deaconess" in the cultic religions of the area in the first century? Was this word common in usage at the time? Just a few questions that arise from reading this letter.
Name: Steve
Reference: Matthew 20:22
Quote: There are many areas in the reading that describe persecution against Jews and Christians, including: "Meanwhile I adopt the following course. I ask them three distinct times whether they are Christians, then if, in spite of warning, they are obstinate, I order them to be executed."
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Time: 22:16:33
The passage from Matthew includes Jesus acknowledging to some of the disciples that they will indeed "drink from my cup..." indicating that they will suffer persecution because of their faith. There are other areas from the New Testament when Jesus instructs that there are those that will suffer greatly because of their faith. There are many places in the Pliny reading where we see that this is indeed the case (that there were those that suffered and were killed because of their Christian faith.)
Name: Ann
Reference: Matthew 3: 7-9
Quote: p.299--" But remorse for his misdeeds was to my knowledge peculiar to Alexander among the kings of old times and resulted from his noble nature.
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Time: 14:13:19
Pliny is saying that Alexander the Great is the only one of the kings that repents for his misdeeds.John The Baptist is saying to the Sadducees repent for your misdeeds of not accepting the teachings including the resurrection.
Name: David G
Reference: Acts 25:25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death;
Quote: 8 ...but discovered nothing worse than a depraved and violent superstition. I have accordingly delayed the trials to consult you.
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Time: 12:36:54
In the Acts passage the Roman Authorities in the form of the Governor Festus had difficulty finding a suitable charge to put on Paul after accusations from the Jews had been made against him. The Roman Governor Pliny likewise has difficulties finding things wrong with the Christians after they have had an anonymous accusation made against them.
Name: Sue B
Reference: John 21:15-17
Quote: 3 - I ask them three distinct times whether they are Christians...
Date: Monday, November 13, 2006
Time: 19:55:42
This threefold pattern of questioning reminded me of Jesus asking Simon Peter three times..."Simon, son of John, do you truly love me" perhaps as a counterbalance of his impending three denials. Pliny appears to be using this same method of questioning...coincidence?
Name: Ann
Reference: Matthew 15:19
Quote: 7 They affirmed, however, that the sum and substance if their fault consisted in this, that they assembled periodically at dawn and sang a hymn to Christ as to a god, binding themselves by a soemn oath to abstain from theft, robbery, adultery, perjury, and dishonesty; after which they separated meeting again for a common meal which was however, open to all, and innocent.
Date: Monday, November 13, 2006
Time: 13:15:58
This seems to me to allude to some of the ten commandments, ie., murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person not eating with unwashed hands. Jesus is talking with the Pharisees and scribes and trying to get them to understand that it isn't the unclean food or hands that defile but what comes out of the mouth. It is the tradition and authority argument.
Name: Eric G
Reference: Acts 16:11-15
Quote: Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses.
Date: Sunday, November 12, 2006
Time: 15:33:26
While the tone is certainly negative, the letter helps to provide extra-canonical verification which support passages such as this one in Acts showing that women held leadership positions in the early church.
Name: David G
Reference: Matt 11:5
Quote: For as the story goes, you make the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, and you cleanse lepers, and cast out unclean spirits and demons, and you cure those who are tortured by long disease and you raise dead men - p89
Date: Thursday, November 09, 2006
Time: 08:39:14
The list in the quote from the letter of Abgar to Jesus bears a lot of resemblance to the passage on Matthew where Jesus sends word to John the Baptist in prison of the things he is doing as proof that he is the one to come. Abgar says at the start of this quote 'For, as the story goes'. Perhaps the story he heard was from Matthew's Gospel
Name: Gary
Reference: John 5.18
Quote: p.93 "...I have such belief in him as to have wished to take force and destory the Jews who crucified him..."
Date: Thursday, November 09, 2006
Time: 07:44:11
The tone taken in this passage refects a negitive attitude towards the Jews that seems parallel to how they are portrayed and treated throughout the Johannine Gospel--sighted verse being an example.
Name: Eric G
Reference: John 15:5-7
Quote: Now regarding your request that I come to you, I must first complete all that I was sent to do here, and once that is completed, must be taken up to the One who sent me. When I have been taken up, I will send one of my disciples to heal your suffering and bring life to you and yours
Date: Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Time: 22:18:19
Although John offers that Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit after Jesus' ascention, there are strong similarities that Jesus would send Abgar an advocate (here Thaddeus) to make things whole once he finished his eartlhy mission.
Name: Sue Kaplan
Reference: John 6:36/ John 20:29
Quote: pg 89 "...those who have seen me will not believe on me, and those who have not see me will believe and live
Date: Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Time: 19:17:34
This seems to be very close to these 2 passages from John. Abgar believed though he had never seen Jesus. And yet those who had seen and heard Jesus were skeptical and did not believe
Name: Kathy
Reference: John 17:1-5
Quote: page 91 "I must first complete here all for which I was sent, and after thus completing it be taken up to him who sent me...."
Date: Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Time: 17:08:39
Both passages speak to the larger mission of Jesus, the sense that he was sent by another, and that he will again be in the presence of the One who sent him.
Name: Steve
Reference: Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission) "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Quote: "So Thaddaeus began in the power of God to heal every disease and weakness so that all marveled." (And then later in the passage:) "And Thaddaeus said: 'I will now be silent, but since I was sent to preach the word, summon for me tomorrow and assembly of all your citizens, and I will preach before them, and sow in them the word of life...' and so on.
Date: Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Time: 16:26:26
Even though the Great Commission doesn't specifically instruct healing, much of what Thaddaeus is doing here sounds like a carrying-out of the spirit of the Great Commission that Jesus gives his disciples at the end of Matthew.
Name: Deb
Reference: 2 Kings 5:6, 10 6. "He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, 'When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.' 10. Elisha sent a messenger to him..."
Quote: Eusebius 1:13 "Thus, when King Abgar [V}, the celebrated ruler of peoples beyond the Euphrates, was suffering terribly from an incurable illness and often heard the name of Jesus and his miracles, he sent him a request, via letter carrier, pleading for relief from his disease. Jesus did not consent to his request at the time but favored him with a personal letter, promising to send one of his disciples to cure the disease and bring salvation to him and his relatives."
Date: Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Time: 15:59:10
I probably should be applogizing by now for all of my Old Testament connections, but I can't help recognizing the similarities! Naaman was very reluctant to take the word of a servant and wanted the prophet himself to deliver his healing, but in the story from Eusebius, King Agbar was willing to accept Jesus's response and his disciple.
Name: Michael Kasevich
Reference: 1 Corinthians 4:17 "For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church."
Quote: Page 91 "I will send to you one of my disciples to heal your suffering..."
Date: Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Time: 21:21:35
In the letter of reply, Jesus sounds like Paul addressing the Corinthians. Or does Paul sound like Jesus?
Name: Judy
Reference: John 20:29 "Jesus said to him "Have you beleived because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet beleive>"
Quote: page 89 reply from Jesus to Abgar: "Blessed art thou who didst beleive in me not having seen me, for it is written concerning me that those who have seen me will not beleive on me, and those who have not seen me will beleive and live."
Date: Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Time: 17:48:07
The first line in John is Jesus' rebuff to Thomas for needing to see in order to beleive. The fist line to Abgar is praise for Abgar beliving when he had not seen as Thomas was unable to do. The continuation of Jesus' response is a twist of Thonas. Thomas did beleive after seeing. To Abgar Jesus say even those who have seen will not beleive.
Name: Ann Y.
Reference: John 4:46-54, John 20:26-31, Matt. 15:21-28
Quote: "Are you of a truth a disciple of Jesus, the Son of God, who said to me,' I will send you one of my disciples who will heal you and give you life'?" Thaddaeus said, 'Since you have had great faith n him sho sent me, I was sent to you for this reason. And again if you believe in him, the request of you heart shall be to you as you believe."
Date: Sunday, November 05, 2006
Time: 15:45:34
These discussions between Thaddaeus and King Agbar concern Agbar's faith and faith in general which results in healing. The passages above give as examples a healing of a daughter, a son, and the story of doubting Thomas. Here the healing is done by the 'Apostle' Thaddaeus who says " Since you have had great faith in him who sent me, I was sent to you for this reason [healing]."
Name: Kathy
Reference: James 3; Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 14:32-42
Quote: page 11 line 12: "whoever lies down and goes to sleep in the session of the Many, thirty day [punishment]. " for example
Date: Thursday, November 02, 2006
Time: 12:10:09
Though this section on pages 10 & 11 had a flavor of James, particularly his admonitions about controlling the tongue, which are wonderful rules for community living, I did find the judgements and punishments levied to be harsh and somewhat contrary to the sense in Hebrews 10:25 of "encouraging one another." Also, how would the Essenes have punished those disciples in the garden of Gethsemane who fell asleep when Jesus had expressly asked them to keep awake?