B.A.S.I.C. Newsletters -  April 2007

                                         www.lutheranmissions.org      

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 94
  
I Cor. 16:9  "For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."  
 
April 13, 2007
 
Prayers
     Over a week ago Pastor D. Paul, President of the BELC, was involved in a motorcycle accident in which another cycle ran into him on his cycle.  He has suffered a fractured arm.
His right leg is also in splints and he has to be in bed for at least 15 days until he tries to walk.  Please pray to our Lord that He will heal Pastor D.Paul as quickly as possible and that he can resume his duties in the BELC, as well as his family duties.
 
"Empty Tomb"
     The ancient world boasted of seven wonders: the pyramids of Egypt; the hanging gardens of Babylon; the temple of the goddess Diana at Ephesus; the lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt; the Colossus (huge bronze statue) in the harbor at Rhodes; the statue of the pagan god Zeus at Olympia, Greece; and the tomb of the Persian king Halicarnassus.
     Of all those ancient wonders, only the pyramids are still standing.  All the others have crumbled, along with the ancient world powers whose accomplishments they memorialized.  But another wonder from the ancient world is still very much alive today.  This wonder is more significant than all seven of these ancient landmarks put together.  This is the wonder of the empty tomb of Jesus at Jerusalem.
     When the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb, the forces of evil were certain they had won the victory at last.  but Jesus was raised on the third day.  His resurrection proved that he was more powerful than sin and death and all the other negative forces that Satan uses against us.
     Wonder of wonders, Jesus lives!  And his dynamic power is available to all who place their faith and trust in him.
 
 
A Study of the Apostle's (Part 6)
 
Matthew
He is called Matthew in Lk. 6:15 and Acts 1:13, while in Mk. 2:14 his Jewish name is given – Levi, the son of Alphaeus. And it is just ‘Levi’ in Lk. 5:27-29 His call is recorded in Mt. 9:9. As Jesus came to his tax table, He said ‘Follow Me.’ Tax collectors were regarded by the Jews as traitors because they assisted the Romans. Furthermore the tax collectors were
viewed as being crooked. Luke records the great joy Matthew has in following Jesus
by telling how Levi gave a great feast in his house. Lk. 5:29-32 He invited other sinners who needed Jesus also.

You might think that since this apostle wrote one of the Gospels we would know more about him. But the Gospel was about Jesus not Matthew. He does quote the Old Testament ninety-nine times. And his outreach was to the Jews both in his Gospel presentation as well as for eight to fifteen years after the ascension as he preached in Judea.

His outreach efforts also led him to reach out to the Jews abroad according to tradition. But that was not alone who he witnessed to, as he did also to the Gentiles. In the fourth century a church historian writes of how Matthew preached in Ethiopia and Arabia. The question on ‘Ethiopia’ is whether this was the area now known by that name in Africa or a region in Persia. Some say he even went as far as Persia. Another tradition has him working with
Andrew on the coast of the Black Sea. One ancient writer affirms that he was slain by the sword in Ethiopia while another says it was in Parthia.

James the Son of Zebedee
Of the three men in the inner circle of apostles James was the eldest. He worked with his brother in fishing on the shore of Galilee. His mother’s name was Salome and she may have been a relative(even a sister) of Mary, our Lord’s mother. Jesus called James and John, Boanerges or Sons of Thunder, likely indicating their forceful preaching. Mk. 3:17 As one of the inner circle of three we see him: in the house at the raising of Jairus’ daughter
– Mk. 5:37, on the Mt. of Transfiguration – Mt. 17:1, questioning Jesus privately on the Mount of Olives – Mk. 13:3, praying more privately in Gethsemane – Mk. 14:33.

He with his brother asked Jesus if they shouldn’t call down fire on some who did not regard the Lord rightly. Lk. 9:51-56 Jesus rebuked the brothers for this. At another time the brothers with their mother asked for the positions of honor at Jesus right and left when He came into His kingdom. Mt. 20:20-24 A bit presumptuous and also mistaken on what the kingdom was all about.

It was seventeen years from the time James believed and he was martyred. It has been advanced that in the 14 years from the ascension until his death he went to Spain. Jesus certainly prepared him for this. He was the first of the apostles to die the violent martyr’s death. James had learned. Eusebius quotes Clement of Alexandria on James’ death: “(Clement) says that the one who led James to the judgment-seat, when he saw him bearing his testimony, was moved, and confessed that he was himself also a Christian. They
were both therefore, he says led away together; and on the way he begged James to
forgive him. And (James), after considering a little, said, ‘Peace be with you,’ and kissed him. And thus they were both beheaded at the same time.” This was in 44.
 
 
Hermeneutics - Figures of Speech
 
An excellent book that we have handed out to some of our brothers is “Biblical Interpretation: The Only Right Way” by Kuske. You can read in it of the proper interpretation as we have been going over it in figures of speech as well as in more areas.
 

Symbol

We all know what the cross has come to symbolize. So in Scripture we have symbols like the cross. When we see the rainbow in the sky it reminds us that God will not destroy this world again with water as He did in Noah’s day. Gen. 9:12-16
 

Type

Especially in the Old Testament we had pictures or patterns of what was yet to come. The lamb of the Passover meal was a picture of Jesus who as John the baptizer said is “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The high priest was a type of what Christ would be as we read in Heb. 9:6,7,11,12. Moses was a type or picture of what  Christ would be  as we read in Deut. 18:15. Melchisedec, while a real person in the Old Testament time of Abraham, was also a picture of what Christ would be. Heb. 7 In  this area of types we see how Scripture interprets Scripture as we go from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the type to the ultimate fulfillment.
 
Pastor Koenig

 

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 95
  
I Cor. 16:9  "For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."  
 
April 30, 2007
 
 
Prayer of Thanks
Pastor Jeremiah's (CLCEA-Tanzania) wife broke her leg early in the year.  We thank the Lord that it is healed up. And we pray now that all may go well with the pastor and wife.
 
 
 
NEWS - Progress in Translation Work
An excellent booklet outlining the chief teachings of Christianity and our Lutheran church is "My Church and Others" by Mueller. Outlined below is the progress in translating it into languages for each of our sister churches with the men involved in the translation.
  • CLCI/Telegu - Pastor Jyothi
  • BELC/Tamil - Pastor D. Paul, Hindi - Pastor Deepak
  • ELCC/French - Pastor Yumba leading a committe on it
  • CLCEA/Swahili - Pastor Malyi is translating it now.
  • ECLC/Kisii - Joshua has translated it and it is going to the printer.
This work is important so that other people as well as our own can study the teachings in a simple and yet organized way. The booklet in English is fifty-five pages and varies in pages depending on the translation. The French, Telegu and Tamil translations are on the website www.lutheranmissions.org and  the others will be posted there also as time passes.  
 
A Study of the Apostle's (Part 7)
(final part)
 
John the Son of Zebedee
It is of this apostle that we know the most due to his five writings in the New Testament. He was the younger son of Zebedee and Salome. At first he was a disciple of John the baptizer, referring to himself as the “other disciple” who was with Andrew. Jn. 1:35,40 The picture we have of him in the New Testament is in  four stages:
1. A convert and disciple of John the baptizer (  Jn. 1:35,40),
2. An attachment to Christ as he left the Baptist( Jn. 1:40). He was one of the first disciples to be called,
3. A discipleship under the Master’s training (Mt. 4:21-22),
4. An apostleship for well over seventy years(Lk. 6:13,14). 
He very modestly refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Looking at his Gospel there are key words that are used over and over again that characterize his life and work.  ‘Truth’ is used 45 times pointing out his great work to give the truth about Jesus
that all might believe. ‘Love’ is used more than 80 times emphasizing what was at the heart of our Lord’s words and actions. ‘Witness’ is used nearly 70 times pointing up how what Jesus said and did had a purpose, that we might witness to Him.

While John’s brother James was the first to die, John was the last of the apostles to die. Shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 by the Romans John moved to Ephesus. While there, by order of the Roman Emperor Domitian, John was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he received the Revelation from the Lord. When he was released from exile, he returned to Ephesus and lived until the time of Emperor Trajan. It is said that John,
“Founded and built churches throughout all Asia(Minor), and worn out by old age, died in the 68th year after our Lord’s passion and was buried near the same city(Ephesus).”

A church tradition says that when John was evidently an old man, he had to be carried to the church. At these meetings, he was accustomed to say no more than, “Little children, love one another!” He was asked, “Master, why do you always say this?” “It is the Lord’s command,” was his reply,”…it is enough.”

Peter
In the four lists of the twelve the first name in each list is Peter. He was the leader of the apostles. He is Simon Bar Jona which means son of John. Jesus gave him the name Cephas which is Aramaic and means rock. Peter is the Greek translation of the name. We know for sure that Peter had a wife and that she accompanied him at times. As with several others as a fisher, Jesus would make him a fisher of men.

One modern commentator says, “The four gospels are full of Peter. After the name of our Lord Himself, no name comes up so often as Peter’s name. No disciple speaks so often and so much as Peter. Our Lord speaks oftener to Peter than to any other of His disciples; sometimes in praise, sometimes in blame. No disciple is so pointedly reproved by our Lord as Peter, and no disciple ever ventures to reprove his Master but Peter. No other disciple
ever so boldly confessed and outspokenly acknowledged and encouraged our Lord as Peter repeatedly did, and no one ever intruded, and interfered, and tempted Him as repeatedly as Peter did.” Think of some of Peter’s questions and the answers our Lord gave:
the tribute money (Mt. 17:24),
the meaning of His parables (Lk. 12:41),
the number of times forgiveness should be shown (Mt. 18:21),
the reward to be given those who follow Jesus (Mt. 19:27).

There is much written about Peter in the first 12 chapters of Acts. We think at the beginning of Acts of his sermon on Pentecost. And in his two epistles we also see who Peter was and how he was a changed man from those earlier years of learning. One who denied His Lord was used by the Lord as such a leader.

After being imprisoned several times in Jerusalem because of his faith, Peter left with his wife and possibly others. Some believe that he ministered in Babylon to the Jewish colonist converts there. Eventually he went to Rome and while there, it is believed that Mark served as his translator as he preached. It is also believed that as Peter told and retold
his experiences with Jesus that Mark transcribed this into the Gospel of Mark.
According to tradition the Roman Emperor Nero, who publicly announced himself the chief enemy of God(and the Christians) was led to kill the Christians. During this persecution Peter was crucified upside down in 67.
 
 
Hermeneutics - Figures of Speech

We have looked at only 14 different figures of speech. There are more. Now why not take the test again and see how many you get right.
 
Test
The first list is of the figures of speech. The second list is the definition of each. See if you can match them. In the third list we have one passage illustrating each. See if you can match the passage to the figure of speech.
 
  1. Metaphor
  2. Allegory
  3. Parable
  4. Simile
  5. Personification
  6. Hyperbole
  7. Euphemism
  8. Epizeuxis
  9. Irony
  10. Synechdoche
  11. Metononmy
  12. Allusion
  13. Symbol
  14. Type
 
    1. Words stand for other words
    2. A picture that reminds us of something
    3. Softening of a statement
    4. Comparison with the use of ‘is’
    5. A part is put for the whole
    6. An extended simile
    7. Repeating a word
    8. Censure or ridicule
    9. An extended metaphor
    10. A thing stands for a person
    11. Comparison with ‘like’ or ‘as’
    12. An overstatement
    13. An indirect reference
    14. A picture or pattern of something in the future
 
Ps. 16:9 “my heart rejoices”
Jn. 15:5 “I am the vine”
Jn. 2:19 “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up”
Mt. 23:24 “You blind guides, that strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel.”
Jn. 3:8 “The wind blows where it wills”
Lk. 4:43 “I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also”
Mt. 23:37 “How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…”
Job 12:2 “wisdom will die with you”
Is. 40:1 “Comfort, comfort you My people”
Acts 7:60 “fell asleep”
Mt. 13:31 “the kingdom of heaven is like”
Gal. 4:21-31 “Hagar is Mt. Sinai”
Heb. 7 “Melchisedec”
                  Gen. 9:12-16  “the rainbow”
 
 
Pastor Koenig