Again, it was a fun morning of learning! Jo Ann and Dan ran the study via Zoom in their car while on a road trip to Idaho. In fact, some of the study took place while we were parked at Snowbasin Ski Resort in Ogden, Utah since right after we concluded, Jo Ann skied all afternoon!
Robin, Jo Ann, Dan, David, Dave, Nadine, and Karen attended. We missed Merrill and wanted to sing and wish him happy birthday. We sang the Misheberach healing prayer for both Odette and Merill and also Nadine (who has an infected tooth). Robin found the Debbie Friedman version and played it while we sang. We also opened up with our new tradition of Dan leading us in “Give Us That Old Time Religion.”
(This summary below is written by Dan)
Summary of New Testament from Jewish Point of View study March 21, 2022
We studied I Corinthians chapters 5-7, which focused mainly on issues of sexual morality. The first issue was a man living with his father’s wife which caused a major scandal. Paul ordered that the man be shunned. Paul said that Christians should not associate with fellow Christians who are “immoral.” He continued this theme in I Corinthians chapter 6, verses 9- 10:”Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the king of God? Do not be deceived! Idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers – none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.”
We agreed this is confusing and inconsistent with others things Paul said in Romans.
Christians should not sue other Christians in secular courts, according to another part of I Corinthians chapter 6.
Chapter 7 returns to sex and marriage. Here Paul speaks more like a rabbi, issuing rulings based on his understanding, but not as a command from God. He counsels people that singleness is preferred to marriage because it allows people to concentrate on the things of God. But he allows that not everyone can handle this, and for this reason says it’s ok to marry. To each her own.
He issues a specific ruling that if a Christian is married to a non-Christian, the marriage is valid as long as it’s ok with the non-Christian spouse. But if the non-Christian spouse wants out, divorce is permissible.
He ends chapter 7 saying that widows (and widowers, I expect) are free to remarry or remain single. He says opting for singleness is preferable, in his opinion.
