October 24, 2009

Texts:
1 Kings 20 and 21
Ephesians 1

Kings:
Notice the contrast between the first 34 verses of chapter 20 and the end of it. You can see the sources being mixed together--both pro-Ahab and anti-Ahab writing.
To appreciate chapter 21, you have to look back to earlier readings and remember how important the ancestral lands were. Your family, within your clan inherited a particular piece of real estate. And Ahab wants to take Naboth's vineyard. Ahab and Jezebel just don't seem to understand why Naboth doesn't want to sell. Their violation of Naboth's life and property is worthy of a prophetic intervention!

Ephesians:
While this letter is in Paul's name, and clearly seems to be written by someone familiar with Paul's theology, many scholars do not feel Paul wrote this letter. Here are a few reasons why.
1. The Greek vocabulary is different, or the words are the same but used differently than Paul's other letters.
2. This letter seems to be about worship, about how the church behaves. It seems to reflect a later development of the church than Paul's time (when "church" still meant groups of people meeting in houses).
3. Baptismal imagery is different as well. See if you can notice the difference between Galatians/Romans and Ephesians.