PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS

Tag: Sunday within the Octave of Epiphany

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Romans 12:1–6a from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel of the First Sunday after Epiphany, Luke 2:41–52, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    I. A report, how Christians ought to give themselves entirely to God the Lord, live according to this commandment, and keep themselves from the godless world. (v.1–2)

    II. Some rules concerning various good works which one chiefly ought to pay heed to in private matters toward one another. (v. 3–21)

    Annotated Text

    1. I admonish you,1 (you my) beloved brothers, through the mercy of God (which He has shown you in His Son Christ Jesus, the only Savior and Mediator), that you (as spiritual priests) * that you give (present) your bodies (and souls) as a sacrifice that is living (not taken from slaughtered animals, but rather made alive through the Holy Spirit), holy (sanctified through Christ’s blood) and pleasing to God (through faith), which (sacrifice) is your rational (arranged according to the Word of God, and grounded upon the many benefits previously adduced) worship (such a worship, which is moved from a heart enlightened and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and not consisting in external Levitical ceremonies, but rather is carried out in the Spirit and in truth, John 4:23. Luther: “St. Paul here calls all sacrifices, works, and worship irrational when they happen without faith and the knowledge of God”).

    1 Greek: “Therefore” (or “according to such”) [οὖν]. This is a little word of conclusion whereby Paul derives special Christian duties from the doctrine of justification by faith as he did in general in Romans 6:1ff; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:1ff.

    * Romans 6:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (1 Peter 2:5)

    2. And do not conform yourselves to this world (do not be minded as the children of the world who only strive after how they may please men and at the same time place God’s favor away from their eyes), but rather be changed * through the renewal of your mind (put on a different mind than the children of the world have; give room and place to the Holy Spirit that He may renew your understanding and heart more and more through the renewal of the Divine image), that you may prove (recognize and learn) † that which is the good, the pleasing, and the perfect will of God (as He has revealed it to us in His Word, according to which your spiritual sacrifices offered in Christ to God are pleasing to Him).

    * Ephesians 4:23

    † Ephesians 5:10, 17 (1 John 2:15; Philippians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Wisdom 9:10)

    3. For I say through the grace which has been given to me (as an apostle of Christ), to each among you, that no one ought to consider himself more than is fit for him to consider (that no one think of himself too highly out from pride); but rather that he consider himself with moderation (remain within his limits, and not ascribe to himself to much, nor entangle himself in things too high), each, according to * God has divided the measure of faith (according to as God has distributed to each His saving knowledge and His gifts).

    * 1 Corinthians 7:17, 12:11; Ephesians 4:7

    4. For in like manner, as we have many members in * one body, but not all members have one business (or performance);

    * 1 Corinthians 12:2; Ephesians 4:25

    5. in this way we who are many are * one body in Christ (who is the Head in this spiritual body); but among one another (under this Head) is one (a true believer) a member of the other.

    * 1 Corinthians 12:27 (1 Corinthians 10:17)

    6. And * has various gifts (gifts of grace, in particular the ability to serve others) according to the grace (gracious distribution, Ephesians 4:7ff.), which has been given to us.

    * 1 Corinthians 12:4 (1 Peter 4:10)

    Useful Applications

    I. CORRECTION: That we ought to give ourselves entirely to God, with our body and soul, as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice, through the rejection of the godless world and through the renewal of the Holy Spirit. (v. 1–2) [There are no applications for v. 3–6.]

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Luke 2:41–52 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel of the First Sunday after Epiphany, Luke 2:41–52, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    IV. The disputation of the twelve-year-old boy Jesus with the teachers in the temple. (v. 42–52)

    Annotated Text

    41. And His parents went every year to Jerusalem for the * Passover (to celebrate it according to God’s ordinance).

    * Exodus 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16 (Exodus 23:15, 17)

    42. And when He (the Lord Christ) was twelve-years-old (at which time the children were gradually encouraged unto the public observance of the Law), they (the parents with their child Jesus) went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast.

    43. And when the days (appointed for the celebration of the Passover, namely the seven days of unleavened bread, Exodus 34:18) were completed,1 and they returned to the house, the child Jesus remained at Jerusalem, and His parents2 did not know (that He had remained behind).

    1 Greek: “But when they had gone up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast and had fully kept these (feast) days.” [Read this verse continuously from v. 42]

    2 Greek: “Joseph and His mother” (So it is also to be understood in v. 41)

    44. But they supposed (when they missed the Child that) He was among the companions (who had gone up with them from Nazareth in great numbers and were still behind), and they went (they returned [toward Nazareth]) a day’s journey (far), and they sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

    45. And when they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem and sought Him.

    46. And it came to pass after three days, they found Him in the temple (in an auxiliary building in the temple, in which there was a school) sitting among the midst of the teachers so that He could hear them (as they explained God’s Word) and asking them questions (not because He had need of their instruction, but rather that He might have an opportunity to instruct them).

    47. And * all of those who heard Him, were astonished at His understanding and His answers1 (over His highly-informed answer, over the wisdom that was seen in His answer).

    * Matthew 7:28; Mark 1:22 (John 7:15)

    2 Greek: “the answers (He gave)”

    48. And when they (His parents) saw Him, they were appalled (they marveled to the highest degree over it, what this meant that such a Child should have dared to presume to speak with all the most learned men about such high and important matters). And His mother said to Him, “My Son, * why have you done this to us (that you have made so much care and anxiety for us with Your remaining behind)? Behold, Your Father and I have sought you with pains.”

    * Genesis 12:18

    49. And He said to them, “Why have you sought me (what need was there of the seeking)? Do you not know that I must be in that which is My Father’s? (that I must wait for that which My heavenly Father has laid upon Me?)”

    (John 4:34, 17:4)

    50. And they did not understand the word that He spoke with them.

    51. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submissive to them (He did what His father and mother asked Him, and what He could do to please them). And His mother * kept all these words in her heart.

    * Luke 2:19; Genesis 37:11

    52. And Jesus * increased in wisdom,1 age (stature, height, and size), and grace with God and men (he was a child dear, sweet, and pleasant child to everyone, which thus happened through God’s special grace).

    * 1 Samuel 2:26 (Acts 7:20)

    1 † This is to be understood of the human nature in the state of His humiliation, to which also His age belonged.

    Useful Applications

    IV. CORRECTION: Because Christ, the Son of God Himself, was obedient and submissive to His mother and foster father, much more should all other children of men be obedient and submissive to their parents. (v. 51) DOCTRINE: Catechesis is a work sanctified by Christ Himself and is the highest edifying work. (v. 46–47) CORRECTION: Christ’s love for the temple also shows where one ought to fondly go and keep the children. (v. 42, 49ff.)