I Pet 3:15, Getting ready to defend our hope

Week-5 Handout … for the final class-session, on 05/26/21

Session-5 outline

( 5 mins) Final Devotional thoughts

(15 mins) Interactive-exercise related to …

             _1. The process of progressing from an un-sequenced list of

                    texts on “Spiritual Authority” … to the in-body chain

                    that flows from “link to link” (ie: text to text).

             _2. (If time permits): Our starter-lists related to

                    “God’s Soul-saving gifts”.

                 Since this was described as optional homework, let’s just

                    reason together regarding some words or phrases

                    associated with God’s soul-saving gifts.

                 We can then, later … use these terms & phrases to build a

                    starter-list of texts applicable to this sub-topic.

(10 mins) Quick walk-through of misc considerations applicable to Chaining;

             in defense of our hope or for any other Scriptural topic.

            

( 5 mins) Final questions/comments

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Devo Subject:   The meaning of “defense”, in I Pet 3:15

We have been preparing a defense for weeks, without formally defining it J. 

So, we will do that tonight before the class is completed.

   The Greek word rendered as “defense” in the NAS, is “apologia”.  If the

      word had been transliterated rather than translated, what very mistaken

      impression might be made?

NOT: “always being ready to make an ______________ for the hope … in you…”

   However, something “close” to a transliteration yields a noun whose

      definition is quite near the meaning of “defense” as used in 3:15.

      “_______________” in general refers to reasoned (ie: logical) arguments

         or writings used to support a particular position.  The discipline

         frequently applies to positions in either science or religion.

      In the context of Christianity, the “positions” correspond to Biblical

         teachings or doctrines. 

      When Peter encouraged his readers to always be ready to make a

         defense of their hope, he wanted them to give a

         reasoned (or logical) explanation for their hope.

      So, as we prepare ourselves to be ready … we want to do the very best

         we can to accurately & logically explain the truths of God’s Word.

         (comp II Tim 2:15)

   Interactive-exercise, part_1 … PRINT pages 4-6 for Reference Documents

   Miscellaneous reminders and considerations …

   A few reminders of important points covered in earlier weeks …

   We want to sanctify Christ, as Lord, in the way that we live daily,

      and also in the way that we “defend our hope”.

   For someone to ask us about our hope, they need to observe hope in us

      through the way we conduct ourselves &/or in the way we speak.

   When we get the opportunity, we should do our best to “defend our hope”

      with gentleness, humility, agape love, and open Bibles.

   Whether or not we share it during the “defense”, we should be

      familiar with the context of the verses identified in our Chaining.

   Pray … for opportunities to “defend”, for faithfulness & boldness during

      the “defense”, & for the Questioner to be receptive to the Word.

   A few new miscellaneous thoughts I don’t recall discussing earlier …

   As we are deciding whether to include a particular text in our ohaining,

      try to objectively assess whether it clearly communicates (or at least

      contributes to) the intended message.

   Are there potential questions &/or objections that might be anticipated

      related to sharing a particular text?  If so, we might be able to

      prepare for them in advance.  (Paul demonstrates this in his writings.

      See, for example, I Cor 15: 27-28.)

  

   Consider trying to minimize the number of verses to be read for a single

      supporting-text … if we can do so without compromising clarity.

   An example from last week’s starter-lists for “Conditionally Beneficial”:

      Acts 8: 26-31 & 34-39 … is 12 verses.  The condition(s) represented are

      all found within 35-38.  So, my personal preference would be to

      read only 35-38 (4 verses), and mark 26-34 as immediate-context.

   If a text we are considering contains a textual variant … my personal

      preference is to find the same teaching elsewhere, in order to avoid a

      potential objecttion.

   In last week’s starter-lists related to the “Conditionally Beneficial”

      sub-topic, two texts that were shared contained variants. 

      (Acts 8:37 and Mk 16: 9-20 are both variants.)

   If we decide they are important enough &/or we cannot find a similar

      teaching without a variant … at least be aware of possible objections.

   What should we do if we’re asked a question that we are not ready for?

      _A. If it is something we know will be covered later in our chains.

      _B. If it is something we know will not be covered later.

   Before we use our Chaining with a Questioner, consider trying it first

      with a Christian friend.  What advantages might this have?

Interactive-exercise, part_2

Final questions/comments

 

From anyone in the class …

 

 

 

 

From Art …

 

At times, our sessions have run past 8 PM.  And at times we have had to cover “too much” material in a single session.  But you have been very patient, accommodating, and gracious.

 

Still, we did not complete everything that would have been ideal.  But

we should now have the tools to complete Steps 2-4 of the Chaining process for the sub-topics which follow “Spiritual Authority” in our Chains-List.

   If you work on your Chaining after tonight’s class … and encounter any

   questions or problems … feel free to email or call me.

 

If we are now closer than we were 6 weeks ago … to “always being ready to make a defense … for the hope that is in us” … then the class has been

well-worth our collective efforts. 

Thank you for your participation!


 

                      Art & Dana’s Final-Lists

Step-2: Prepare final sequenced-lists (Full and Abbreviated)

 

                    Logically-sequenced texts related to Spiritual Authority

        NOTE: The yellow-highlighted verses are ALSO part of the final ABBReviated list!

    Text          Immediate    key thought

                   Context

-------------     ----------   ------------------------------------------------  

                         The authority of the Scriptures

I Thess 2:13       2: 9-13     The (gospel msg) is not the word of men, but the word of God

II Tim 3: 16-17    3: 13-17    All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for …

                               Scriptural authority & relevance are ongoing

I Pet 1: 23-25     1: 22-25    The Word of the LORD abides forever

Heb 4: 12-13       4: 7-13     The Word is sharper than 2-edged sword …   All things are open

                                  to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do!

                               The authority of God the Father, and of Christ Jesus

Mt 28:18          28: 16-20    All authority has been given to Christ Jesus

I Cor 15: 27-28   15: 20-28    An anticipated question … Is Christ now “over” the Father as well?

                                  NO … the Father is “the exception”

Jn 12:48          12: 44-50    The words Jesus spoke … will judge us on the last day

Col 3:17           3: 12-17    Do sll in the name of the Lord  (“name” suggests authority)

  

                               Relationship between the Law and the new covenant

Heb 8: 7,9,13      8: 6-13     Changing of the covenants!

Heb 9: 16-17       9: 15-22    Timing of the change

//, that many people hold in high esteem

                               Unreliable sources of authority

Mt 15: 3,8-9      15: 1-9      Traditions which violate God’s instruction

Prov 14:12        14: 11-14    The way that “seems right” … ends in death (follows 3:5!)

Prov 3:5           3: 3-8      Trust the LORD, not your own understanding

*************************************************************************************************

** Related texts that we decided NOT to include in our in-body chaining (with a few exceptions).

  (They are retained here for possible future use.  eg: reference, addressing questions, etc.)

    Text               key thought

-------------          --------------------------------------------------------------------

Starter-list from Steve and Mona

2 Timothy 3:16-17      This text is included in our final-list

Jn 3:16                Used instead, in the sub-topic: “Conditionally Beneficial”  // Belief

Mt 28:18               This text is included in our final-list

Mt 16: 15-16           Who do you say that I am, & Peter’s response (given to him by the Father)

Acts 5:29              Peter & the other apostles (to the Council): We must obey God … not men

Php 2:5                Your attitude should be the same as Christ’s …

Prov 3:5               This text is included in our final-list

Jms 4: 7-8             Submit therefore to God.. Resist the devil & he will flee from you.                  

 

Starter-list from Mary

Jn 1: 1-17 AND         Things said about God (in Gen 1) also apply to the Word-become-flesh

Gen 1, select verses   Creation-from-nothing was the work of Godspoken into existence

                        Art & Dana’s Chains-List

Step-3: Prepare a Chains-List for the inside back-cover of your Bible

 

Main-Topic: Defending our hope (based on I Pet 3:15)

                                                             

 Properly-Sequenced Sub-Topics      First Logically-     Last Logically-

                                     sequenced text       sequenced text 

    Spiritual Authority             I Thess 2:13         Prov 3:5

    Sin, A Universal Problem        Rom 3:23_            Is 59: 1-2

    God’s Soul-Saving Gifts         ____________         ________________  // TBD

       Universally Available        I Tim 2: 3-4         Gal 3:28

       Conditionally Beneficial     Mt 7: 13-14          Acts 2: 38,41

    …   …   …   …                   …   …   …   …        …   …   …   …

   (Counting the Cost)              ____________         ________________  // TBD

 

 

 

The following “Main Topic” examples are just to illustrate that we can use

   Chaining for a multitude of topical studies. 

For this class, only the preceding Main Topic is relevant.

 

Main-Topic: Relationship between covenants  

                                                             

 Properly-Sequenced Sub-Topics      First Logically-     Last Logically-

                                     sequenced text       sequenced text 

    Spiritual Authority             I Thess 2:13         Prov 3:5

    Relationship between covenants  ____________         ________________  // TBD

 

 

Main-Topic: … … …

 

Main-Topic: … … …


                Art & Dana’s In-Body Chains … EXAMPLES

      Step-4 Prepare the in-body chains (corresponding to Step-2)

 

   Both examples are taken from sub-topic “Spiritual Authority”.

Heb 4: 12-13 falls between two texts on the Abbreviated-final-list.

               Its immediate-context is 4: 7-13 …

                  so 6 & 14 are OUTSIDE the bracket identifying the context,

                     7 – 13 are INSIDE  the bracket.

               12 & 13 are flagged with “**” because they are to be read aloud.

               If the FULL list is being followed, the next text is Mt 28:18

               If the ABBR list is being followed, the next text is I Cor 15: 27-28

        6                                                  Nothing

     -----                                           

     |  7                                                  Nothing

     |  8                                                  Nothing

     |  9                                                  Nothing

     | 10                                                  Nothing

     | 11                                                  Nothing

 **  | 12  For the word of God is living …            FULL ->  Mt 28:18                                               

 **  | 13  And there is no creature hidden …          ABBR ->  I Cor 15: 27-28    

     -----           

       14                                                  Nothing

I Cor 15: 27-28 is part of the Abbreviated-final-list.

 

               Its immediate-context is 15: 20-28 …

                  so 19 & 29 are OUTSIDE the bracket identifying the context,

                     20 – 28 are INSIDE  the bracket.

                  27 & 28 are flagged with “**” because they are to be read aloud.

                  If the FULL list is being followed, the next text is Jn 12:48

                  If the ABBR list is being followed, the next text is Prov 3:5

       19                                                  Nothing

     -----                                           

     | 20                                                  Nothing

     | 21                                                  Nothing

     | 22                                                  Nothing

     | 23                                                  Nothing

     | 24                                                  Nothing

     | 25                                                  Nothing

     | 26                                                  Nothing

 **  | 27  For He has put all things …   …            FULL ->  Jn 12:48                                               

 **  | 28  And when all things are subjected …        ABBR ->  Prov 3:5    

     -----           

       29                                                  Nothing

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