Our Collaborating Creator

On Trinity Sunday in the Year of Matthew we read the creation story found in Genesis 1:1-2:4a.  It is a grand, sweeping account of God's hand in the creation of all things.  Martin Luther, in his extensive commentary on this account, said that it is no mere happenstance that the Hebrew word for God - Elohim - used in this story, is plural; it refers to the Trinity, said Luther.  Indeed, when the account of the making of human beings is noted in vs. 26, God says, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness..." further supporting Luther's claim.  In any case, we have the three Persons present as the Father creates through the Word while the Spirit hovers.  It will be the preacher's task on this Trinity Sunday to lift up this marvelous mystery.

(The following questions are not meant to be sufficient in themselves, but are best used in conjunction with other fine sets of questions which exegetes can use to mine the treasures of a text. These questions are an attempt to understand how the Word is functioning in this text, a particular concern of Law and Gospel preachers.  For more on Law and Gospel preaching and this method, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)

1.  How does the Word function in the text?  The Word functions here as both Law and Gospel, but in starkly varying amounts.  The Law is present in only one place as the earth before creation is described:  "the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep."  This brief statement describes the earth in its most profound lostness.  There is nothing, but this immense emptiness.  It is beyond imagination, but it conjures up a feeling of abject despair.  The Gospel, however, is everywhere, as God is creating and blessing and declaring good all things.

2.  With whom are you identifying in the text?  We are those privileged to overhear God speaking at the outset of creation. God is not speaking to us, yet we are recipients of this gospel word because by this word, we understand God as One whose only wish is to bring forth a good creation.

3.  What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text?  Although we are only overhearing God's speech, we understand through this word that we are to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it."  This is a call to all humankind to be good stewards of the good creation which God has made, a form of a call to obedience.

4.  What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text?  We could perhaps think of many couplets but we can start with the language of the text:  darkness/light; formless void/the heavens and earth; evil/very good.

5.  Exegetical work:  Ancient writers had much to say about the plural image of God in this text.  Both Gregory of Nyssa and St. Chrysostom picked up on verse 26 where the cohortative ("let us") is used and insist that this was the Trinity in conversation.  Gregory writes: "He did not say, as he did when creating other things, 'Let there be a human.' Instead, God deliberated about the best way to bring to life a creation worthy of honor."  And so Chrysostom: "'Let us make' suggests deliberation, collaboration, and conferences with another person."  (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, OT, vol. 1, p. 28)  As noted above, Luther also believed that this plural language was significant.  "But here, when He wants to create man, God summons Himself to a council and announces some sort of deliberation."  (Luther's Works, vol. 1, p. 56).  It is important to ponder this notion for when we understand ourselves made in God's image, we often think only that we are gifted with a special wisdom, insight, thoughtfulness, or God-awareness.  What these writers suggest is that being created in God's image means that we are wired for collaboration.  We are beings needing community, needing one another, unable to live fully while living apart from others made in God's image.

6.  Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic?  Since this creation account is so full of the Gospel word that God is creating all good, it will be important to follow Henry Mitchell's advice to never short-change celebration in a sermon.  Be the first to ecstasy, said Dr. Mitchell.

Blessings on your proclamation!

A Word of Consolation

This final text from I Peter, assigned for the 7th Sunday of Easter in the Year of Matthew, is all about comforting the afflicted.  These selected verses, 4:12-14 and 5:6-11, are one last word of encouragement before the final greetings and benediction.  Throughout the book, the writer has attempted to lift up God's care for these exiles, emphasizing over and over that they are precious in God's sight even in their exile, therefore they should not lose heart.  It will be the preacher's job to announce this word of consolation.

(The following questions have been developed as a way of answering some fundamental questions for Law and Gospel preachers, i.e. how the Word is functioning in the text.  These questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but are best used in conjunction with other fine sets of questions which have other concerns. For more on this method or on Law and Gospel preaching in general, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock. com or amazon.)

1.  How does the Word function in the text?  The opening verses lift up "the fiery ordeal" that these hearers are experiencing, and in so doing hint at their need for a Savior.  These verses are not a word of Law, but remind us what is at stake.  These opening verses also hint at what God is doing on behalf of these hearers, for example, reminding them that "the spirit of glory" rests on them.  This is a hint of Gospel.  The more explicit statement of Gospel is in the final verse, where we hear that God "will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you."

2.  How is the Word not functioning in the text?  As I said above, there is no clear statement of Law here, no Word that explicitly lifts up the hearers need for a Savior.  There is no call to repentance or other clear Word that, as Luther might say, breaks the rock [of our heart] in pieces.

3.  With whom are you identifying in the text?  As per usual, we need to identify with those addressed by the Word.  This may be difficult for some of us in this case, since many of us Christians in the West are hard pressed to call to mind a "fiery ordeal" through which we have lived.  We will need the clear witness of persecuted Christians around the globe to help us hear these words.

4.  What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text?  This text, especially the second portion, is primarily a call to obedience.  This is immediately obvious by the frequent use of imperatives in the second portion:  "Humble yourself..., Cast all your anxiety on him..., Discipline yourselves..., Resist [the devil]."  The tone is one of encouragement and consolation, yet it is a clear call to obedience, where the hearers are called to live faithfully in response to the trustworthy God who has claimed them as God's own.

5.  What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text?  In this text, couplets will make use of some of the language present in the text, but will rely on our imagination.  Some possibilities:  reviled/blessed; devoured/rescued; weakening/restored and strengthened.

6.  Exegetical work:  Earlier in this book, the writer exhorts the listeners to be ready "to make a defense" of the hope that is in them, but to do it "with gentleness and reverence." (3:15-16).  Pheme Perkins, in her commentary on this passage, highlights how the writer is modeling this gentle and reverent defense even here:  "First Peter does not exploit early Christian apocalyptic convictions to demonize those who are harassing believers.  First Peter has left open the possibility that in some cases persecutors may become believers.  Although those who persist in hostility and disbelief will be condemned in the judgement, I Peter does not use that apocalyptic scenario to encourage a sharp division between an inner-directed Christian community and outsiders." (Interpretation Series, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude, p. 73).  Perkins also notes that even though the writer uses the imagery of the devil prowling about "like a roaring lion", there is no suggestion that this image of Satan is associated with the empire or those in power:  "First Peter has no hostility toward Roman rule.  Its attitude toward the larger society is mixed. The sufferings that Christians endure were caused by random individual attacks against them.  There is no evidence of a single anti-Christian policy." (Ibid., p. 80). 

7.  How does the Crossings Community model work with this text?  In his 2017 analysis, Peter Keyel centers on the image of "the fiery ordeal."  This, for Keyel, is the Law in a nutshell.  He explores this thoroughly in the diagnosis.  In the prognosis, Keyel shows how Christ joins us in the fiery ordeal, himself becoming a sufferer with us and for us.  Go to crossings.org/text-study for the entire analysis.

Blessings on your proclamation!

A Hopeful Apology

I Peter 3:13-22 is the epistle reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter in the Year of Mark.  This continues the reading of this letter which, in many ways, is an exhortation to hope - a worthy task in the season of resurrection.  It shall be the preacher's task to continue to exhort people to a vibrant hope, and in this text, to be prepared to defend one's hope.

(The following questions center on the issue of how the Word is functioning.  This is a central concern of Law and Gospel preachers, since the way the Word functions is the way the sermon, at least in part, must function.  For more on this method and on Law and Gospel preaching in general, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)

1.  How does the Word function in the text?  This text is split up quite cleanly into two sections, verses 13-17 and 18-22, wherein we see the text functioning in the former section as a call to obedience, and in the latter as Gospel.  In other words, the initial five verses invite the listeners to live in a certain way because of what God in Christ has done for them, and the last five verses proclaim all that God has done.

2.  How is the Word not functioning in the text?  There is no clear word of Law here, no word that says explicitly, "You need Christ."  To be sure, the text speaks of enemies of believers, but it does not address the need for a Savior.

3.  With whom are you identifying in the text?  As in all these readings in I Peter, we identify with those to whom these words were first written.  We are those for whom Christ has died, and those who are called to give a defense for the hope that is in us.

4.  What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text?  Although the text lacks examples of Law language, there is plenty of Gospel language, and so we shall simply design couplets using the Gospel terms. For example:  unrighteous/righteous; lost/brought to God; a guilty conscience/free of guilt.

5.  Exegetical work:  The word translated as 'defense' is a word which theologians know well. It is the word apologia, from which we get the words apology, apologist, and apologetics.  While the common use of this word is to express regret, in this case it is far from that. The word means to make a spirited defense.  According to Rienecker and Rogers, "The word was often used of the argument for the defense in a court of law and though the word may have the idea of a judicial interrogation in which one is called to answer for the manner in which he has exercised his responsibilities (Beare), the word can also mean an informal explanation or defense of one's own position...and the word would aptly describe giving an answer to the skeptical, abusive, or derisive inquiries of ill-disposed neighbors. (Kelly)." (Linguistic Key to the Greek NT, p. 758)  Fourth century exegete, Didymus the Blind, has this to say:  "We must be so well instructed in the knowledge of our faith that whenever anyone asks us about it we may be able to give them a proper answer and to do so with meekness and in the fear of God.  For whoever says anything about God must do so as if God himself were present to hear him."  (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT, Vol. XI, p. 104) 

6.  Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic?  To have the listener experience the text, that is always the goal of the sermon, said Fred Craddock.  How will we give our listeners an experience of this text?  That is the question.

Blessings on your proclamation!

Baby Rocks Hewn from the Living Stone

I Peter 2:2-10, the epistle reading for the Fifth Sunday of Easter in the Year of Mark, continues our reading through the book of First Peter in this season.  This passage is loaded with Old Testament metaphors, curious because we understand that this letter was not written to Jews, but quite likely to Gentiles mainly.  Be that as it may, the language is rich both in Law and Gospel.  It shall be the preacher's task to lift up both.

(The following questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but are only an avenue for exploring the function of the Word, a central concern of Law and Gospel preachers.  As the Word functions in the text, so should the Word function in the sermon.  For more on this method and Law and Gospel preaching in general, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)

1.  How does the Word function in the text?  There is plenty of evidence of both Law and Gospel in this short text.  The Word functions as Gospel whenever we hear what God is doing to save: "a living stone...chosen and precious in God's sight, "a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame, "but you are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people."  The Word functions as Law whenever it exposes our need for a Savior:  "a living stone, rejected by mortals, "The stone the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall, "Once you were not a people... once you had not received mercy."

2.  With whom are you identifying in the text?  We are the "newborn infants" who are exhorted to "long for pure spiritual milk."  We are those who "have tasted that the Lord is good."  We are those who are being built into "a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God."  In short, we are the ones addressed by this text of Law and Gospel.

3.  What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text?  Like many other passages in I Peter, in addition to Law and Gospel, the Word also functions here to invite the listeners to live in response to God's grace.  The exhortation to "let yourselves be built into a spiritual house," is a classic call to obedience.  We are those who have tasted the goodness of the Lord, now we are exhorted to let God do the work of building us up in faith.  We were not saved for our own sake alone, but "in order that [we] might proclaim the mighty acts of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light."

4.  What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text?  The presence of clear Law/Gospel language in this text offers a number of appropriate couplets:  rejected/chosen; unbelief/belief; no people/God's people; had not received mercy/have received mercy.

5.  Exegetical work:  Pheme Perkins, in her commentary, has lifted up some of the many OT references which I Peter calls on.  They come mainly from the prophet Isaiah and the book of Exodus.  Isa 28:6 (v.6)  "And a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate." Psa 118:22 (v.7) "The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone." Isa 8:14 (v.8)  "He will become a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will become a rock one stumbles over." Isa 43:20 "a chosen people," Exo 19:6 "a priestly kingdom and a holy nation," Isa 43:21 "the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise." (v.9)  Verses 9b-10 also echo two other prophetic passages:  Isa 9:2, "The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light," and Hos 2:23, "And I will say to Lo-ammi, [Not my people] 'You are my people': and he shall say, 'You are my God'".  (Interpretation series, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude, p. 43)  What is clear in this passage is that the writer is emphasizing again and again the new identity these early believers had in Christ.  They were not to be defined by their state as exiles of the Dispersion (1:1), but rather as children of God, called to be a holy nation, priests to witness to God's glory.

6.  How does the Crossings Community model work with this text?  Although Michael Hoy does not provide a Crossings analysis of this text, his commentary, archived under the reference, is insightful.  He speaks of our identity as "chips off the new block."  In our baptism into Christ, the Living Stone, we become part of this "new block."  Christ is the Rock upon which we can stand.  See the entire commentary at crossings.org/text-study.

Blessings on your proclamation!