Although sexual pluralism has no rational grounds-theologically, historically, or scientifically-it might be useless to resist with rational argument. For a view which rises to prominence by abandoning reason can hardly be defeated through the use of reason.
Jim Spiegel.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the LORD’s food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things, but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them." (Leviticus 21:16-23)The priests interceded to God for the people. They were to be without blemish to represent holiness. As such, the reference to crushed testicles, while an absolute requirement, appears to relate to accident and disease; compare to the other blemishes listed.
No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.The second paragraph refers to banned relationships (such as incest, or possibly cultic prostitution). Thus the context here may relate to disobedience. The next command forbids the involvement of the Moabites and the Ammonites because of their refusal to treat Israel well and their desire to curse. While it is not mentioned specifically here, note that the Moabites also enticed Israel into disobedience through sexual sin.
Those born of an illicit union shall not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 23:1-2 NRSV)
No one (lo') whose testicles are crushed or whose penis (shofkah) is cut off (karath) shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. (Deu 23:1)In the Greek it says
Neither a eunuch nor one who has been castrated (apokoptō) shall enter into the assembly of the Lord."Apokoptō" is a verb meaning to "cut off" or "amputate" with the implication of "cutting off genitals" in the appropriate context.
But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate (apokoptō) themselves! (Galatians 5:11-12)The similarity in terms raises the possibility of an allusion here to Deuteronomy. The immediate connection within Galatians is the hyperbolic comparison of circumcision to penile amputation. However a possible allusion of amputation in Galatians to ritual amputation in Deuteronomy suggests that such persons are similar to the pagan worshippers. In the same way that such persons were barred from the holy assembly in Israel, so those who add earning salvation to grace are denied fellowship with Christ.
'If bad things were true of her, and I knew it,' said Curdie, 'I would not hesitate to say them, for I will never give in to being afraid of anything that's bad. I suspect that the things they tell, however, if we knew all about them, would turn out to have nothing but good in them; and I won't say a word more for fear I should say something that mightn't be to her mind.'
George MacDonald, The Princess and Curdie.
If you ever catch me being passive aggressive toward you, please alert me so that I can clarify my intentions and remove the passive part.
Jane Dunsworth.
We are told to forgive, up to seven times daily, which actually means four hundred ninety times, and this applies even though all of us would have our suspicions that the repentance wasn't genuine after about the third or fourth time.
Douglas Wilson, Hebrews Through New Eyes.
If the Bible is in any sense God’s Word, as it repeatedly claims (2 Timothy 3:16) then it carries his authority. And to deny that authority is not to let God out of a human box but to let humans out of a divine one.
Mark Ward
A leader can be said to be doing his best—when he is willing to surrender tasks to those who are more adept.
Kenneth Boa
There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.
Mark Twain
| Day | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Cornelius's vision | Peter's vision | Leave Joppa | Arrive Caesarea |
| Comment | About the 9th hour of the day | The next day | The next day | the following day |
| Reference | 10:3 | 10:9 | 10:23 | 10:24 |
| Exclusive reckoning | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Inclusive reckoning | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Example | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
About the 9th hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius."
"4 days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the 9th hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing..."Our culture uses exclusive reckoning. Let's say Day A was a Monday. When referencing Monday we would say
And after 6 days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (Mark 9:2)
Now about 8 days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28)The important thing is to be aware of it and allow for variable accounting of time in Scripture.
