Well, good morning to you and welcome to Open Line Chat, where we capture Doctor Michael Riedel and force him to answer our Bible questions.

Well, good morning to you and welcome to Open Line Chat, where we capture Doctor Michael Riedel and force him to answer our Bible questions.

Yeah we do. He is locked in, locked down and ready for your questions at four, two three, 629 8900.

Yeah we do. He is locked in, locked down and ready for your questions at four, two three, 629 8900.

And so, Doctor Melnick, we start today with several questions. And two, that we're already, um, in the running that we want to tell you about. One from Jim. He we didn't get a chance to get to it last week, so we want to ask it today. And he asks you this does the do the 12 baskets of bread left over from feeding the 5000 represent God's provision to all of Israel with the leftover baskets from feeding the 4000 means something as well.

And so, Doctor Melnick, we start today with several questions. And two, that we're already, um, in the running that we want to tell you about. One from Jim. He we didn't get a chance to get to it last week, so we want to ask it today. And he asks you this does the do the 12 baskets of bread left over from feeding the 5000 represent God's provision to all of Israel with the leftover baskets from feeding the 4000 means something as well.

I I'm I'm speechless. Uh, the 12 baskets of bread meant there was a lot of bread left over. It's about the abundance of the provision. There's nothing symbolic about the 12 tribes of Israel or anything like that.

I I'm I'm speechless. Uh, the 12 baskets of bread meant there was a lot of bread left over. It's about the abundance of the provision. There's nothing symbolic about the 12 tribes of Israel or anything like that.

But you can see how a person could think that.

But you can see how a person could think that.

Yes, but no.

Yes, but no.

Yes and no. So I'm just curious. The 4000 were there, 12 left over from the 4002.

Yes and no. So I'm just curious. The 4000 were there, 12 left over from the 4002.

There was a lot of bread left over.

There was a lot of bread left over.

I'm having a hard time following. Where? Where you're at here. Uh, yeah. Michael. So what you're saying is, after Jesus does this miracle with loaves and fish, the significance is there's a superabundance out of a little bit. Is that what you're what you're telling me?

I'm having a hard time following. Where? Where you're at here. Uh, yeah. Michael. So what you're saying is, after Jesus does this miracle with loaves and fish, the significance is there's a superabundance out of a little bit. Is that what you're what you're telling me?

That's what I'm saying.

That's what I'm saying.

I'm like, I don't like finding symbolic meanings in numbers.

I'm like, I don't like finding symbolic meanings in numbers.

But that's all through the scripture, all through the scripture. Everything almost.

But that's all through the scripture, all through the scripture. Everything almost.

I don't think so. Uh, for example, the millennial is going to last a thousand years. What's the symbolic significance of a thousand? It's a thousand. Uh, there are seven plagues that will come upon the tribulation period in the book of revelation. You know what that means. The seven seal judgments and the seven trumpet judgments and the seven bowl judgments. It means seven. That's what it means.

I don't think so. Uh, for example, the millennial is going to last a thousand years. What's the symbolic significance of a thousand? It's a thousand. Uh, there are seven plagues that will come upon the tribulation period in the book of revelation. You know what that means. The seven seal judgments and the seven trumpet judgments and the seven bowl judgments. It means seven. That's what it means.

But seven is a number of completion.

But seven is a number of completion.

So I've been told. But it means seven. And so, uh, I think that when we start playing with gematria, which is symbolic meanings of the numbers, uh, I've also heard 12 is the number of completion. That's why there's 12 apostles and 12 tribes of Israel. I just if there is a symbolic significance of it, what I've ten is a number of completion too. I hear that a lot from different commentators. What I would like to say is if there's something deeper other than the number. I'll wait for the the for eternity to tell me. You know, um, it it says, uh, that ten times Israel rebelled in the wilderness. Some people can count in the wilderness wanderings, ten rebellions. The rabbis do that other people says, If I've told you once, I've told you ten times, you know that. And either may be true, but I don't think ten is the number of completion that there are completely rebellious any more than anybody else is rebellious. So, uh, I just I'm cautious when we come to numbers to find other. Unless the text tells us there's a significance to it, then I don't want to find any symbolic significance.

So I've been told. But it means seven. And so, uh, I think that when we start playing with gematria, which is symbolic meanings of the numbers, uh, I've also heard 12 is the number of completion. That's why there's 12 apostles and 12 tribes of Israel. I just if there is a symbolic significance of it, what I've ten is a number of completion too. I hear that a lot from different commentators. What I would like to say is if there's something deeper other than the number. I'll wait for the the for eternity to tell me. You know, um, it it says, uh, that ten times Israel rebelled in the wilderness. Some people can count in the wilderness wanderings, ten rebellions. The rabbis do that other people says, If I've told you once, I've told you ten times, you know that. And either may be true, but I don't think ten is the number of completion that there are completely rebellious any more than anybody else is rebellious. So, uh, I just I'm cautious when we come to numbers to find other. Unless the text tells us there's a significance to it, then I don't want to find any symbolic significance.

All right. Okay.

All right. Okay.

Digging into where Scripture does not necessarily go. I get that. And, um, Michael, I wanted to ask you this particular question. I'm walking through Proverbs with a friend of mine, and he asked me a question about Proverbs 2921, the way that it is translated. And it seems like, uh, depending on the different translations, because he uses a Bible app. I'm an NIV guy. Um, but he says that he puts together like 3 or 4 different, um, translations and they seem counter to one another like, uh, Like the New International Version, says a servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. And the ESV, the English Standard Version, says whoever pampers his servant from childhood in the end will find him his heir. That that. It seems like there are two different ways of looking at it. Completely different. New living translation. A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel. Uh, new King James Version. He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end. So? So how? First of all, how do you know which one to lean into? And then how did they come to two completely different places in this translation?

Digging into where Scripture does not necessarily go. I get that. And, um, Michael, I wanted to ask you this particular question. I'm walking through Proverbs with a friend of mine, and he asked me a question about Proverbs 2921, the way that it is translated. And it seems like, uh, depending on the different translations, because he uses a Bible app. I'm an NIV guy. Um, but he says that he puts together like 3 or 4 different, um, translations and they seem counter to one another like, uh, Like the New International Version, says a servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. And the ESV, the English Standard Version, says whoever pampers his servant from childhood in the end will find him his heir. That that. It seems like there are two different ways of looking at it. Completely different. New living translation. A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel. Uh, new King James Version. He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end. So? So how? First of all, how do you know which one to lean into? And then how did they come to two completely different places in this translation?

Well, part of.

Well, part of.

The the verse there where the ESV has air and others have something like insolent. Right.

The the verse there where the ESV has air and others have something like insolent. Right.

Mhm.

Mhm.

It's the, it's the word uh, and I'm going to give you a big word now. It's a hapax. Legomenon. Hapax. Legomenon is a word that only appears once in the Hebrew Bible.

It's the, it's the word uh, and I'm going to give you a big word now. It's a hapax. Legomenon. Hapax. Legomenon is a word that only appears once in the Hebrew Bible.

Wow.

Wow.

Okay.

Okay.

And if it only appears once. The way you know the meaning of a word is by how it's used in context, in context, in multiple places. But if you only have it once, it's not so clear. So the Septuagint, the earliest translation we have, translates the word grief, Manon as Manon as grief. So he who pampers a servant from youth, he'll be, uh, he will come to grief, uh, or he will cause grief. Uh, other verses treat it well. Maybe it's a root from Arabic and it means a weakling. And so some have argued for that as an answer. Uh, in the Middle Ages, a great Jewish commentator by the name of Rashi, uh, used the word, and he thought it meant become a master. Frankly, it's one of those words that we just don't know. My inclination would be to say, well, probably earliest the Septuagint. Understood. Uh, the Septuagint is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. So I'm inclined to go with the Septuagint translation, which the NIV has. Um, and, and that's what I would do.

And if it only appears once. The way you know the meaning of a word is by how it's used in context, in context, in multiple places. But if you only have it once, it's not so clear. So the Septuagint, the earliest translation we have, translates the word grief, Manon as Manon as grief. So he who pampers a servant from youth, he'll be, uh, he will come to grief, uh, or he will cause grief. Uh, other verses treat it well. Maybe it's a root from Arabic and it means a weakling. And so some have argued for that as an answer. Uh, in the Middle Ages, a great Jewish commentator by the name of Rashi, uh, used the word, and he thought it meant become a master. Frankly, it's one of those words that we just don't know. My inclination would be to say, well, probably earliest the Septuagint. Understood. Uh, the Septuagint is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. So I'm inclined to go with the Septuagint translation, which the NIV has. Um, and, and that's what I would do.

So okay. Well, thank you for that. And I'm just reading this right now. If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end. Okay. And that that's coming out of Septuagint. Okay.

So okay. Well, thank you for that. And I'm just reading this right now. If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end. Okay. And that that's coming out of Septuagint. Okay.

That's the Septuagint translation.

That's the Septuagint translation.

Okay. Perfect.

Okay. Perfect.

Thank you so much for that.

Thank you so much for that.

To me, they seem very consistent though. The idea is that if you pamper your slave or servant, you're not going to have a slave or servant, adult or one who behaves like that. They're going to behave very differently.

To me, they seem very consistent though. The idea is that if you pamper your slave or servant, you're not going to have a slave or servant, adult or one who behaves like that. They're going to behave very differently.

Mhm. It's almost like you have to lead your heart.

Mhm. It's almost like you have to lead your heart.

Right.

Right.

Yeah, totally.

Yeah, totally.

The thing I would give as the illustration. And by the way, the word slave there isn't referring to the kind of slavery that we had here in the United States. It's much more like indentured servitude. A contract employee for a period of years, so forth. Maybe firmer than that, but still, that's what it's more like. Um, and, uh, but I was thinking about how I teach my classes. When I start my classes, I tell students, no late papers. This is what it's going to be. And I, at the beginning of the semester, I am as firm as I can be about the rules of the class. I don't pamper them. And then when students have needs, uh.

The thing I would give as the illustration. And by the way, the word slave there isn't referring to the kind of slavery that we had here in the United States. It's much more like indentured servitude. A contract employee for a period of years, so forth. Maybe firmer than that, but still, that's what it's more like. Um, and, uh, but I was thinking about how I teach my classes. When I start my classes, I tell students, no late papers. This is what it's going to be. And I, at the beginning of the semester, I am as firm as I can be about the rules of the class. I don't pamper them. And then when students have needs, uh.

Something a little.

Something a little.

Me, I show more compassion. But I don't tell them that at the beginning. Why? Because if I do that at the beginning, having taught for many years now, what I know about the nature of students, not just the current students, but all students for all time, is they will take advantage and not do their work. So, uh, I think that's the same principle here.

Me, I show more compassion. But I don't tell them that at the beginning. Why? Because if I do that at the beginning, having taught for many years now, what I know about the nature of students, not just the current students, but all students for all time, is they will take advantage and not do their work. So, uh, I think that's the same principle here.

Okay. You're listening to mornings with Tom and Toby, also known as Open Line chat, here on Monday mornings. Doctor Redlich is here with us, ready to answer your Bible questions.

Okay. You're listening to mornings with Tom and Toby, also known as Open Line chat, here on Monday mornings. Doctor Redlich is here with us, ready to answer your Bible questions.

All right, so you've got your Bible out. Uh, hold up your sword, doctor riddle, and turn to Matthew 1818 through 20. And this is from Liz. Uh, this is the question she was trying to ask last week. Um, what does this mean? Truly, I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven again. Truly, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my father in heaven. For where 2 or 3 gather in my name, there am I with them.

All right, so you've got your Bible out. Uh, hold up your sword, doctor riddle, and turn to Matthew 1818 through 20. And this is from Liz. Uh, this is the question she was trying to ask last week. Um, what does this mean? Truly, I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven again. Truly, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my father in heaven. For where 2 or 3 gather in my name, there am I with them.

What does.

What does.

That mean?

That mean?

What does that mean? Loosed in, uh. Let me go.

What does that mean? Loosed in, uh. Let me go.

Back.

Back.

Binding and loosing is a phrase from rabbinic thought. Jewish thought of making decisions, either permitting or prohibiting to bind is to prohibit, and to loose is to permit. Uh, so the and it has to do with, with uh decisions made by leaders regarding, uh, either legal matters of the Torah, of the Law of Moses. How do you obey it, or even community matters. And that's that's where it comes from. The context here is, uh, the Matthew 18 process. If if you have a grievance with your brother, you go see him. Uh, if that isn't resolved, bring a witness, and then if not, tell it to the church. Or I think technically, that's referring to the elders of the future community, just like you would in a synagogue. And the leadership will make a decision. And whatever they bind or loose, whatever legal decision they make about that conflict is bound in heaven. The same thing. And it has really to do with church discipline in this context, not prayer. Uh, where the leaders were, 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name to exercise church discipline. God is there in the midst of them, uh, giving them the authority to do that.

Binding and loosing is a phrase from rabbinic thought. Jewish thought of making decisions, either permitting or prohibiting to bind is to prohibit, and to loose is to permit. Uh, so the and it has to do with, with uh decisions made by leaders regarding, uh, either legal matters of the Torah, of the Law of Moses. How do you obey it, or even community matters. And that's that's where it comes from. The context here is, uh, the Matthew 18 process. If if you have a grievance with your brother, you go see him. Uh, if that isn't resolved, bring a witness, and then if not, tell it to the church. Or I think technically, that's referring to the elders of the future community, just like you would in a synagogue. And the leadership will make a decision. And whatever they bind or loose, whatever legal decision they make about that conflict is bound in heaven. The same thing. And it has really to do with church discipline in this context, not prayer. Uh, where the leaders were, 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name to exercise church discipline. God is there in the midst of them, uh, giving them the authority to do that.

Okay. Michael, I've heard this particular verse or section of Scripture used specifically in terms of spiritual warfare. I've never heard it used in the context of actually how it is listed here in Scripture. You know, talking about church discipline. Uh, is that an accurate interpretation of this particular passage?

Okay. Michael, I've heard this particular verse or section of Scripture used specifically in terms of spiritual warfare. I've never heard it used in the context of actually how it is listed here in Scripture. You know, talking about church discipline. Uh, is that an accurate interpretation of this particular passage?

Uh, it's kind of.

Uh, it's kind of.

Interesting, I would say. I have I use a textbook when I teach biblical interpretation. It's called playing with fire, written by Walt Russell. And, uh, it's it's it's about how to interpret the Bible for spiritual formation. And one of the things he talks about right at the outset is interpreting the Bible in context appropriately, and not yanking verses out and applying it to situations where it doesn't fit. And he starts with this example of Matthew 18, where he says, this is about church discipline, not about prayer, not about spiritual warfare. And yet it's taken inappropriately and used in other contexts. And what we need to do is interpret it in the context here, which is of church discipline.

Interesting, I would say. I have I use a textbook when I teach biblical interpretation. It's called playing with fire, written by Walt Russell. And, uh, it's it's it's about how to interpret the Bible for spiritual formation. And one of the things he talks about right at the outset is interpreting the Bible in context appropriately, and not yanking verses out and applying it to situations where it doesn't fit. And he starts with this example of Matthew 18, where he says, this is about church discipline, not about prayer, not about spiritual warfare. And yet it's taken inappropriately and used in other contexts. And what we need to do is interpret it in the context here, which is of church discipline.

Awesome. Yeah. Thank you so much for that, Michael. And for clearing that up for us. Got some more questions that have come in. Kathryn has this question for you. She says, I've been studying the book of James and there's controversy about authorship when or what brought about. Here's her question. Um, just last names to identify specific people.

Awesome. Yeah. Thank you so much for that, Michael. And for clearing that up for us. Got some more questions that have come in. Kathryn has this question for you. She says, I've been studying the book of James and there's controversy about authorship when or what brought about. Here's her question. Um, just last names to identify specific people.

I can tell.

I can tell.

You about the controversy about James.

You about the controversy about James.

Okay.

Okay.

But I can't.

But I can't.

Tell you about when last names came.

Tell you about when last names came.

All right, well, let's talk about James.

All right, well, let's talk about James.

Actually, very recent history, like just 2 or 300 years ago.

Actually, very recent history, like just 2 or 300 years ago.

Yeah, that's not my area of expertise, but the the issue is that the word James, The name James in Greek is Jacobus, which means.

Yeah, that's not my area of expertise, but the the issue is that the word James, The name James in Greek is Jacobus, which means.

Jacob.

Jacob.

And think about it, how common was the among Jewish people? How common was the name? Jacob?

And think about it, how common was the among Jewish people? How common was the name? Jacob?

Probably very.

Probably very.

Mhm.

Mhm.

Yeah. Which is why there's bunches of people in the New Testament that we encounter who are named Jacob. Mhm. And so, so the, the different the question becomes uh was it one of these some other Jacob or was it the Jacob. That's the brother of the Lord Jesus who becomes the leader of the church in the book of acts. Remember, Peter leaves in acts ten. Uh, he says, I'm, uh, acts 11. Yeah. Acts ten. Uh, sorry. Acts 12. He gets out. He's, uh. He's been arrested, and then he's leaving, and he reports. He goes and knocks at the door. Uh, and, uh, they they leave. They think he's an angel. So they leave him there, and he says, I'm getting out of town. Report these things to James and James at that point becomes the leader. So we come to chapter 15 and James or Jacob is the leader of the Jerusalem Council. Remember? So no. Who? No. Yeah.

Yeah. Which is why there's bunches of people in the New Testament that we encounter who are named Jacob. Mhm. And so, so the, the different the question becomes uh was it one of these some other Jacob or was it the Jacob. That's the brother of the Lord Jesus who becomes the leader of the church in the book of acts. Remember, Peter leaves in acts ten. Uh, he says, I'm, uh, acts 11. Yeah. Acts ten. Uh, sorry. Acts 12. He gets out. He's, uh. He's been arrested, and then he's leaving, and he reports. He goes and knocks at the door. Uh, and, uh, they they leave. They think he's an angel. So they leave him there, and he says, I'm getting out of town. Report these things to James and James at that point becomes the leader. So we come to chapter 15 and James or Jacob is the leader of the Jerusalem Council. Remember? So no. Who? No. Yeah.

Honest answer, but this is great. Continue.

Honest answer, but this is great. Continue.

Jacob is leading the Jerusalem Council. Uh, the question becomes, is it some other Jacob that wrote it? I would my inclination is to agree with the earliest traditions that it's this leader of the Jerusalem congregation who's written about in the New Testament, who's written about even in the book of, in the the history of the, of the Jewish people of Josephus, that that's the very same Jacob that had the authority to write this epistle to the Messianic Jews scattered abroad, the 12 tribes. And so I would go with the traditional view. But that's why it's such a common name that people wonder.

Jacob is leading the Jerusalem Council. Uh, the question becomes, is it some other Jacob that wrote it? I would my inclination is to agree with the earliest traditions that it's this leader of the Jerusalem congregation who's written about in the New Testament, who's written about even in the book of, in the the history of the, of the Jewish people of Josephus, that that's the very same Jacob that had the authority to write this epistle to the Messianic Jews scattered abroad, the 12 tribes. And so I would go with the traditional view. But that's why it's such a common name that people wonder.

Which which Jacob.

Which which Jacob.

Is a different one.

Is a different one.

And then and how it became James is a whole nother story.

And then and how it became James is a whole nother story.

Yeah, yeah. But that's it's Jacob. If I wrote my translated my Bible, it would be the book of Jacob.

Yeah, yeah. But that's it's Jacob. If I wrote my translated my Bible, it would be the book of Jacob.

Okay.

Okay.

All right. We've got one last question. See if we can squeeze this in here with you. Michael. Uh, Beverly says, could you please explain the difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and salvation and being filled with the Holy Spirit?

All right. We've got one last question. See if we can squeeze this in here with you. Michael. Uh, Beverly says, could you please explain the difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and salvation and being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Yeah. We're indwelled Romans eight nine. If we don't have the spirit, we don't belong to him. So every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Uh, that's his presence. Uh, filling has to do with his control. Don't be drunk with wine or controlled by wine, but be filled, controlled by the Holy Spirit. It's used when people are in the Bible are filled with anger. That means they're controlled by their anger. It just means controlled. Well, how are we controlled by the spirit? The parallel passage to Ephesians 518, which says, be filled with the spirit is let the word it has the same exact everything's the same, except it has a different command. It says, let the word of the. Of Christ dwell in you richly. And so, as we allow the Word of God, the word dwell means their forcible occupation. As as the, uh, as the Word of God takes forcible occupation of our lives, the Spirit of God gets control of them as we read it, obey it. That's the Holy Spirit controlling us. And, uh, the outcome is that we are controlled by the Spirit of God. Uh, that's so controlled by the Spirit of God has to do with us in dwelling. That's what God does for us. Uh, we shouldn't look for more of the spirit. We should look for more control by the spirit. Uh, the the point of of, uh, control or indwelling, you know, in Romans eight, it says that we have the power that raised Jesus from the dead dwelling within us. And there are believers saying, you know, you need to get more power. No, we don't. We need to submit to him better and allow him to control us.

Yeah. We're indwelled Romans eight nine. If we don't have the spirit, we don't belong to him. So every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Uh, that's his presence. Uh, filling has to do with his control. Don't be drunk with wine or controlled by wine, but be filled, controlled by the Holy Spirit. It's used when people are in the Bible are filled with anger. That means they're controlled by their anger. It just means controlled. Well, how are we controlled by the spirit? The parallel passage to Ephesians 518, which says, be filled with the spirit is let the word it has the same exact everything's the same, except it has a different command. It says, let the word of the. Of Christ dwell in you richly. And so, as we allow the Word of God, the word dwell means their forcible occupation. As as the, uh, as the Word of God takes forcible occupation of our lives, the Spirit of God gets control of them as we read it, obey it. That's the Holy Spirit controlling us. And, uh, the outcome is that we are controlled by the Spirit of God. Uh, that's so controlled by the Spirit of God has to do with us in dwelling. That's what God does for us. Uh, we shouldn't look for more of the spirit. We should look for more control by the spirit. Uh, the the point of of, uh, control or indwelling, you know, in Romans eight, it says that we have the power that raised Jesus from the dead dwelling within us. And there are believers saying, you know, you need to get more power. No, we don't. We need to submit to him better and allow him to control us.