Random Textual Thoughts

1. All Scripture is Scripture, but it’s interesting to think about the differences among the authors’ backgrounds and how that might influence their writing.  For example, consider the range of education among the various New Testament authors, with Paul and Dr. Luke at one end, and maybe fishermen Peter and John at the other.  I’ve read that Luke’s writing contains more medical references than you would expect had he not been a doctor, and Paul’s writing and speaking contains allusions that would not occur to someone less highly educated than he was.  Note, by the way, the Luke is the only Gentile author in the Bible, and perhaps that would have limited in a different way the references he would make.

2. It’s easy to miss the fact that the historical parts of the Old Testament are not self-consciously limited to incidents in Jewish history that happened to involve God.  It’s a complete political/social history, is it not? — but of a people whose lives are defined by God’s constant presence.

3. The Gospels can be both straight journalism and great literature if the latter is per God’s inspiration.

4. David names a later son after Nathan, his accuser!  No wonder God considered him a man after His own heart.

5. The fetus John the Baptist jumping for joy (in Elizabeth’s womb) because of the fetus Christ’s presence (in Mary’s womb) is a powerful pro-life datum, is it not?

6. The books of the Old Testament are divided into groups of five and twelve:  The five books of the Pentateuch, the five wisdom books, and the five major prophets; and the twelve books of historical narrative and the twelve minor prophets.