Ancient Relationships: Cultural Context of the Biblical World

A lot of the misunderstanding that surrounds the beliefs and practices of Christianity comes from the fact we do not understand the ancient culture that began in. In this video, we explore the culture of the ancient world to better understand what the New Testament is trying to teach.
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Sources:
Bruce Malina & John Pilch - Handbook of Biblical Social Values
Mark Strauss - Four Portraits, One Jesus
Joseph H. Hellerman - Challenging the authority of Jesus: Mark 11:27-33 and Mediterranean notions of honor and shame. digitalcommons.biola.edu/facu...
John H. Walton - The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis
E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O’Brien - Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes
David deSilva - Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture
Krister Stendahl - The Apostle Paul and the Introspective Conscience of the West. www.jstor.org/stable/1508631.
Bruce Malina & Jerome H. Neyrey - The social world of Luke-Acts. Models for interpretation
#archaeology #AncientRome #Bible

[@austinapologetics2023]

Just wanted to say that I'm glad you make these kind of videos. Most of the Christians at my church and in my life seem to not be interested in cultural context and at times pride themselves on their ignorance of the surrounding world, as if it's a medal of honor.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

I'm glad to help

[@mrspencer9999]

Chad profile pic🤝🏻👌🏻

[@CentripetalDrifterAJ]

Same my fellow brother in Christ he's amazing.

[@benthepen3336]

Thank you very much IP. I'm a high school student in Canada and I have conversations with my teacher about you video topics and I'm almost well prepared after watching your videos. I was on the fence about Christianity and you were a large part of what lightly pushed me over. God bless you and keep up the good work.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Thank you so much, I am glad to hear my videos helped you.

[@blakekendrick7488]

Welcome to the family!! Stay strong in the face of opposition

[@benthepen3336]

@@blakekendrick7488 Thank you🙃

[@benthepen3336]

@Wilhelm Rackman hakapaladonat what's the purpose of this?

[@Omegha94zip]

@Wilhelm Rackman hakapaladonat I've been sharing that video too. You should check out Jeremiah Cohen here on YT. He has a lot of content on free masonry.

[@jasonanthony166]

I lived in the in the Middle East for nine years, living and working within Arab culture. What you explained today is mostly true even now. It took me a while to get used to their way of thinking and conseqently a lot of insight into bible stories that only make sense in that context. Many thanks.

[@thefascifist7201]

It’s a better and more noble way of social life.

[@WhatYourPastorDidntTellYou]

This makes so much more sense along with with the theme of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. Christianity isn’t a list of rules to follow but willingly laying down of our hearts to serve others and God.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

You’ll like a video I have coming out for this December.

[@WhatYourPastorDidntTellYou]

@@InspiringPhilosophy😀😀😀

[@webslinger527]

@@InspiringPhilosophy paulgia made a response to your burial of Jesus video. Are u going to respond?

[@calebjore3295]

@@webslinger527 He said he would, he just hasn't had time. In my opinion, Paulogia needs to take a step back, reassess his epistemological framework, and consider the fact that he just might be wrong about the burial.

[@webslinger527]

@@calebjore3295 I agree with you paulgia is wrong it's pretty much why they accepted by most Scholars that Jesus was buried. Any evidence that he tries to say this proves it is nonsense. I agree with you and inspiring philosophy he's correct from a scholarly and historical point of view Jesus was most likely buried that's where the evidence leads and that's what most scholars believe.

[@msvvero]

Although somewhat familiar with the client/patron relationship, it is helpful to get this additional clarity. I thank the Lord for the insights he has given you and for your ability to communicate them.

[@Nameless-pt6oj]

This channel was perhaps the best gift that God could’ve given me, and I thank Him once again.

[@20july1944]

This is the best video you've made in over a year! A masterful explication of the "friends" and "unconditional forgiveness" and "ongoing obligations" statements of Jesus.

[@dursty3226]

this might be one of the most important and informative lessons on Christianity i've ever heard.

[@MyWatchIsEnded]

It really is since it defines the relationship structure between us and God in a definite way that violates religious claims to obtaining a relationship with God. Just take Catholicism as an example of how religion violates that relationship by using the intercession of "patron saints" who are men who have died a long time ago and cannot hear their calls for intercession. You can apply this logic of patron and client to almost every religion and find them wanting.

[@SquizzMe]

Thank you so much for this. I've been recovering from a very serious condition that almost made me go blind and I have been struggling with this precise issue of "How do I thank God when it was the hard work of my fantastic doctors?" Very much needed. And brilliant research as always. God bless everyone ^_^

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

I’m glad this helped you.

[@samgutierrez5155]

Praise God you were healed! Pray for me, I am going to have my eyes checked soon!

[@annoyingdude76]

I remember once me and a couple of friends did some minor humanitarian work and one of them said that it was good that we did it, and I just said that it was the Christian thing to do (or ''it's what God would want'' type of answer). One of them said that I shouldn't do good just because God said it but because I want to do good, and I replied with ''dude, trust me, you do NOT want me to do what I want''. I had a really unpleasant period and a several people would have had a broken nose if I did what I wanted. It's a good thing I don't listen to their advice

[@Hambone3773]

I would disagree with the women cannot be Pastors example since Paul appealed to created order and the honor of angels. Also, there is nothing more relational than husbands and wives and the intent of the prohibition is to preserve the roles of husbands and wives in marriage by preventing a potential role reversal in the church. Furthermore Paul specifically says this teaching is universal in all the churches of God and puts an exclamation point on it with his "the gospel did not start with you" statement.

[@Coteincdr]

Your videos are awesome!! I became a Christian a couple of weeks ago, and your videos have been a great help and guide. I'm having questions about the passages in the Gospels that say "this generation will not pass..." hopefully one day you can make a video about it. Thanks!!

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

That is great to hear, thank you for sharing this with me.

[@MathewAlden]

Oh, I actually just asked my pastor about this. He says - and he could be wrong; I don't know - that the Greek word "genea" kindof means "generation", but kindof means "age". As in "this age will not have passed...".

[@Coteincdr]

@@MathewAlden yeah I know of those explanations but I'm not sure, there are also other passages that are in the same line that are complicated.

[@evandromarques8498]

a view that I find very interesting is the preterist view, which says that this generation consists of 40 years of preaching Christianity to the Jews until the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in the year 70.

[@evandromarques8498]

I personally believe in preterist eschatology symbolically, as a kind of micro-tribulation that points to a macro-tribulation in the future.

[@migaotto292]

This was fascinating to watch. I started wondering in the middle of the video why the Biblical teachings would be so similar to the cultural views of the day, maybe because the culture was the main influencer in it. But obviously the Biblical teachings could not have been too consistent with the culture, since Paul tells his readers to not conform to the world and Christians were persecuted by the Jews and Romans. Maybe that is one of the reasons why Jesus and the New Testament came at that specific time, to be consistent enough with the culture so that many people would accept Christ and the gospel message would spread as quickly as it did, but still be the timeless word of God.

[@barrycrouch1230]

I am so thankful that you created this playlist. Thank you so much. It has been very helpful to me.

[@Piranhabyte]

Pretty incredible that God gave us the ultimate honor of not only taking us as clients, but adopting us into his very family as children!

[@neilallender8150]

AMEN

[@Lightborn1311]

This was such an excellent video. I am going to listen to it till I can recite these concepts from memory. It's one of those "You're answering questions I didn't even know I had" kind of things. Thank you for this! Keep up the good work.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Awesome. I am glad I could help

[@SgtWarlord]

This is by far my favorite episode. Your explanation opened spiritual "doors" in my understanding of the New Testament (especially James).

[@Kikki-Marie]

This truly blessed me. This cultural context has added a new depth to my understanding of our relationship with Jesus. Thank you. 😊

[@goranvuksa1220]

This understanding is natural and a lot more deeper in the Orthodox Church. It seems that protestants are revealing something that Orthodox held for 2000 years unchanged. You should make a visit to the nearest Orthodox church.

[@markderosa]

Thank you for the video. Very well made, wish everyone can watch this.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Thank you

[@gibrantrejo9193]

Wow, this was just fantastic, so eye-opening and deeply supported by primary sources, thank you for the work and effort, brother. I thank God for your ministry!

[@201950201950]

Thank you so much for this message. Why have I not been taught this before? This should be at the top of the list in Sunday school catechism Bible study this is amazing. Thank you. Now I know or understand my father better.

[@chinocracy]

This is really informative. I believe the patron-client relationship is very much alive and still the dominant culture in many societies, especially my country, the Philippines. I believe we have the equivalent of "wokes" in our country who want everyone else to follow the rules-based approach of the west, which they are educated on. But they refuse to understand that the patron-client culture still prevails, so they meet with failure in wanting to impose their way upon this society. I also think that their rules-based approach isn't even based on sound Biblical understanding, but on personal sentiment based on worldly values. I think such people need to step back and question their own actions, because they should wonder why other people are enraged at them - and it's not because the other people are "fascists."

[@dbooker3182]

Yes, the western "enlightenment" perspective has been a blessing in many ways, but unfortunately people have come to worship it (think of the brass serpent in the wilderness) and it has become a stumbling block. Too often, we don't perceive its limits or the strengths & value of other perspectives (much less our need of the LORD).

[@rabbinemo6402]

And because of that alot of filipino Catholic teens tend to be secretly agnostic and atheist because they've been in this middle perspective that their consuming western media and at the same time under cultural norms of the east.

[@matheuspinho4987]

God Bless your Country, from a Catholic brother from Brazil 🇧🇷🇻🇦🇵🇭

[@maximillianjames7799]

It all makes sense now. I feel we should've learned Jewish culture first before any Christian doctrinal education.

[@johnfleming8285]

You do some great videos, but this might be my favorite one. Please keep up the great work!

[@EzraWilson1]

This is an outstanding video! The biggest barrier to understanding the New Testament is the way we impose our modern values upon the text.

[@phoenixedge4049]

Brilliant. It’s incredible how different the theology is that flows from this context of our relationship with God as a patron-client relationship than it does with the predominant western Christianity’s viewpoint of our relationship with God being constituted by black and white rules.

[@jeannielindquist3952]

Our company was started so that our family would have income, profit is nice but it's not what we strive for. Honest, dependable and caring to employees and clients.

[@yogurtbanana2124]

More people absolutely need to see and hear this! So true!!

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Share it around

[@dmjones1956]

This is great - made me think of Asian societies that have modern legal systems but personal and business relationships still show signs of the traditional paradigm. I am interested to know more about the Father-Son relationship in its NT cultural context and what it means to be a child of God.

[@zaberfang]

In the ancient world, lives are shorter and more fragile, hence more people value their lives than today.

[@jayakare]

This makes so much sense. Thank you 🙏

[@Stonium]

Thanks so much for this!

[@iceman4660]

This has been very insightful

[@brethilnen]

Wow that is so insightful

[@andrewhinson4323]

We have to be careful about saying rules are subordinate to relationship. Really careful. Which rules can we subordinate to relationship with God? Which ones can not be? When and where can they be subordinated or not. Itll get you and we into a lot of trouble.

[@renren1641]

Among the best videos I've seen from you, probably the best since your Genesis series.

[@minasoliman]

If you take this client-patron idea further, it might make sense why the ecclesiastical structure endorsed by early Christians like Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and the author of the Didascalia exists in the way it does and why there was a liturgical structure to our prayers. Furthermore the Petrine structure of the Church does not necessitate it the way Roman Catholics believe it, but still we can recognize Peter’s role in being that one who Christ chose in beginning to build the Church within the patron-client understanding.

[@onlineapologetics9729]

Excellent video!!!

[@joshuamelton9148]

Such an outstanding video. Great job.

[@DimensiondelosSecretos]

Amazing mike, you got me with the women being pastors thing. I Agree with you. Time to change another one of my views jajaja... Man through your videos I've stop being a calvinist, change my views of genesis and hell etc etc... Good job brother. May the Ancient of days keep you and yours with blessings and love... 😇😉😁

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

I’m glad I could help. Thank you for the kind words!

[@DimensiondelosSecretos]

@@InspiringPhilosophy always brother😇

[@DimensiondelosSecretos]

@@austin3789 My point is not that we should now promote the idea that women can be pastors too, because there are guidelines in the bible about the order of positions in a congregation, and who can and cannot be pastors, teachers and the rest... Our point is that rules are secondary to relationship with God, if we have to break the rules so that we can have a better chance to establish a relationship with the Lord, then we'll do it... If there are no men who will stand to take the mantle, then let a well prepare and fearful women of God do it...

[@Deanna974]

Hmm. The female pastor thing kind of surprised me, to be honest lol. Especially in light of 1 Timothy 2:11-14, where Paul makes the argument from the creation order for male leadership in the church. I always get weird reactions if this subject comes up; I'm a woman, and based on Scripture, I don't believe that women should be elders or pastors. I do see room for grace even though I believe this is error: I know a woman who is a female pastor, and she seems sincere and humble, and I believe she is a true believer. But it is a bit of a confusing message-- in marriage, a wife should submit to the husband, but a woman is leading the church...? Interestingly, there were a lot of marriage issues in the church around that; the marriage of someone I knew personally was on the verge of falling apart because the wife wanted to lead the marriage. 🤷🏾‍♀️ The video was great overall, as usual, though! :)

[@laiquende9971]

Respectfully I think you should put more thought into things before changing your mind. I’m not saying this channel isn’t helpful but you’re saying that you’ve changed your position on a huge ecclesiastical issue that has been debated for years based on an almost 23 minute video that wasn’t even focused on the subject of female ordination? That’s a quick jump to a minority position not held by Rome, the East, or Protestant traditions seeking to be faithful to their confessions and the witness of church history. I’d also have you look at Paul’s writing to Timothy on this subject. His reason for male only ordination is based upon creation and not culture which would most likely indicate something universal. This is how the majority of the church has understood the apostle’s teaching, and it’s not some weird fundamentalist doctrine of the 20th century this video seems to imply. You may not even give this comment a look and we’ve probably never met, but if you do care to give this more thought I’d encourage you to do so.

[@ModernMystic611]

Thank you for this video. God bless.

[@jilesbo9175]

Been a long haul driver for almost 30yrs devoid of Church and ministry, that is, until inspiringphilosophy. Thank you

[@MortenBendiksen]

Thank you for this. Though I had this inclination already, I was really anxious because so many people were saying, you have to this, and you must this, because of this or that rule. This lets me really trust in the Lord. What I have been called to, is proper, though it may not be proper for everyone everywhere. My particular church may be slated for dying, but that is okay, I don't have to worry anymore. What I am called to do is care for the people actually there, doing what they actually are doing, even when it sometimes seems wrong to me.

[@dannyqin7118]

Woah so interesting! Thank you IP!

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Thank you

[@gussetma1945]

This is one of you best explanations. The beginning scenes of the movie the Godfather shows the contrast between the patron-client justice system and the Anglo-American legal notions. Modern people have no clue. Only Catholics and Orthodox Christians have even a glimmer of this difference.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Thank you

[@gussetma1945]

@@InspiringPhilosophy kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWevfKawftd3sNE

[@edluckenbill8363]

You are more honest then I thought .

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Thank you

[@dlfincher6887]

Good insights. Thanks for sharing. The ancient communities were connected & far less individualistic than today. You reflected that until you wrongly switched to a “Jesus & me” ending that fails to see the connectedness of the Church. Christ ordained 12 men to carry out the great commission. Churches could only rightly be established by them or under their authority. Preaching & teaching which led to converts who were baptized, placing them into Christ (Rom 6), happened under their authority. Believing followed hearing the gospel preached by men who were “sent” from Christ and his apostles. There was no New Testament scripture for decades. There were church communities and baptism and the Eucharist were events that happened in community. Yes, there was always private prayer directly to God, but the life of the kingdom was always a communal one.

[@Codreanu_Prezent]

Individualism and capitalist modernity are the sin of greed doing away with holy tradition, folk, and faith. The root of the new nihilistic world is this love of money under the predatory capitalist economy. Very much unlike the meritocracy it claims to be, it is a jungle where strength determines value. This utterly opposed to the story of Christ: mercy for the weak and undeserving. A second chance for the wicked. What chance do they have under those bridges?

[@milliemoss4876]

I've more or less rejected the jargon of evangelical christianity, because it doesn't broaden out or explain or provide a context for the beliefs christians hold. Thankyou for this work. It does do that, and is very encouraging and helpful.

[@alanraikes3645]

I just want to Thank you for taking the effort to explain this to us. And of course our Ultimate patron,our loving Father.

[@melpomene316]

Thank you, brother, this is so helpful

[@lexus_offroad_adventures]

SO good. 👏 Putting to words what seems to be so difficult to explain in a modern context. Keep these videos coming!

[@markp44288]

This is fantastic. Spot on.

[@connorohare229]

I think about the relationship I had with my former employer before he passed on. We worked together for so many years, that we became as this video describes, a patron. Whenever he asked for help from me, I never saw it as burdensome or arbitrary, I genuinely wanted to do my part because I knew him personally. Honestly this video is refreshing and sobering on certain aspects of my faith towards Christ. I hope to appropriately understand and appreciate the grace, repentance, and life to live for Christ's honor.

[@craustin03]

Love your research

[@jeremiahmeade710]

That is interesting, except that, when Paul says that he doesn’t permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man, he cites the order of creation as one of the reasons. This is indicative of a cultural superseding, and time transcending, reason.

[@MortenBendiksen]

This also gives additional meaning to the Eucharist. My patron has called me to share a meal with Him, in so doing I humbly glorify Him, and He graciously shares with me what I do not deserve. Refusing or not taking it seriously, is an unthinkable act of defiance. Of course, this applies to those called to it, not all have been called to His table yet.

[@neilallender8150]

THIS CONTENT IS EXCELLENT

[@alleadonai]

I love this, excellent job! As an aside, Mike Winger has done a pretty lengthy study on the Biblical support for egalitarianism that I would like to suggest to those interested

[@nealheadley50]

Very fascinating. It gives a new level to words like "hased" as well.

[@austyn5004]

I'm on my spiritual journey right now and trying to figure out wheres my place in Christianity. This video was VERY informative and helpful for me. I appreciate the breakdown

[@jamesbhollingsworth5452]

Read the book.

[@nootnoot8287]

I love your pic! 🥰

[@sunsetfuzz]

This helped me connect some dots i was struggling with. Thank you for following God's calling in your life. All for the glory of God.

[@rocketman2628]

Off-topic but do you have any updates on the "Was Evolution Inevitable?" video?

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Not as of now.

[@terencend1826]

Thank you for this insight - part answer to many questions I have been praying about - can see God telling me this before in pieces here and there - and nicely summed up today

[@yoshuareynaldo2295]

Lol, this is the thing i was waiting for. Yes this is true, as a Chinese diaspora i could confirm it, i could even show you if you want. I snickered when Michael said that : 'if you work with your boss, you would not expect a fixed number of hours', The truth is, Chinese society, both mainland and diasporas still operate in this 'rules', so does their business. In Indonesia, we called it 'Orang Dalam' or 'Karteblanche', which is a slang of you got a job based on nepotism/social connection rather than your capabilities. The carteblanche term meant 'plain white paper', which is in turn another slang for 'free-pass' There's also a phenomenon of working overtime in Chinese Businesses, one of the earliest Chinese manufacturers here are notorious for overworking their workers, even though the job is contract-based de jure, and there's a bias towards ethnic Chinese in job promotion, it's no coincidence literally 99,99% of mid level managers up are Chinese-- it's very similar to client-patron based on collectivistic nature. My mum, the most socially conservative of my family loved this company (she likes it when i worked there). The mainland Chinese Business are even worse -- they actually put this overtime hour almost legally. And this is a general tropes of Chinese Business, many Chinese-owned companies, especially mainland or those close to mainland did not have a good reputation worker's rights. The bad thing is that unlike the client-patron which the client is 'loving' towards the patron, they would likely cut us off if we are sick or in trouble financially. Of course, this is not to say all Chinese bosses are like this, some business, ironically the ones that are still semi-professional, still have the full client-patron relationship where the boss actually thinks his workers as his 'family', when they got professional, they still have that way of thinking but left the 'client' duty they need to do.

[@vcflai6184]

I as a Chinese understand very well this kind of relationship. We unconsciously take the burden of our boss and companies on our shoulders once we are hired. So that's why the Chinese patron-clients relationship needs redemption, just like all other cultures.

[@yoshuareynaldo2295]

@@vcflai6184 Exactly. This is actually an issue in many Chinese churches. Unfortunately, they blend hierarchic Confucianism with Christianity in businesses, so rather than seeing workers as 'brothers', they see it in some kind of social rank. Some of the people who still do this are Christians. Hope our prayers could redeem our culture.

[@acarpentersson8271]

No one can ever say we are free to sin because of grace. Paul explicitly dispelled that notion. Jesus dispels that notion. Even without this cultural background, everything clarified by it was already made clear in the teachings of scripture

[@midnightwatchman1]

Thank you and I am grateful to our patron Jesus

[@strongbada.4709]

Misreading Scripture with western eyes is a great book on how the Bible was written to an eastern culture. It explains so many things in the Bible that we as western people trip over.

[@theosib]

Very nice video. And another example of how fundamentalists have really missed the mark on what the NT was supposed to mean. I call IP the only good Christian apologist. One reason is that he isn’t looking to find ways to trick people into believing but rather looking for deeper meaning to share.

[@thinkspot8879]

Please can you let me know the name of the music that starts at 9:30?

[@akimoetam1282]

Hi IP, great video. Very informative. Will you be making a video on how the NT uses the OT? I feel that there’s a lot of confusion as to why the NT authors use OT in a certain way. It would be great once you had time to make a video(s) on this topic. Keep up the good work!

[@danielburger1775]

"NT" and "OT" are MODERN constructs. When the time came to put the Bible together, many stated that the Gospels should be placed at the start. Only political agendas pushed it way back. Here's something..."prophecies" don't exist, and never have. So, how does the author of the Book of Isaiah, as just one example, write about Christ? The answer SHOULD be blindingly obvious, but we have been raised on the belief in "OT" and "NT"...

[@nickcariglia1988]

Hello IP. Really enjoy your videos and messages. Your explanation using the historical and cultural nature of those times has given me and other Christians a stronger confidence in the Bible. One question if you may: I understand Jesus's use of the patron-client relationship when he called the disciples his friends. I wonder would such a friendship exist between a rabbi-disciple relationship? Thank you in advance

[@lindarothera7838]

Very interesting & l have never heard anything like this before

[@ScientificNotation34]

Amazing video

[@Jonperk318]

I’m grateful for your hard work and theological precision. Your videos have been really helpful and meaningful to me. Also, as someone who grew up in a fundamentalist Christian context, I really just want to see more women as elders and scholars and wish people wouldn’t misuse certain passages to try to silence half of the human race. So, this was great insight!

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

thank you and well said

[@Jopedius]

I would advice caution to put it mildly. The church in my country is liberal shipwreck with its women priestesses. Those pastors who protested this change and wished to keep to God's word were eventually driven out of the church and now you are lucky to hear a sermon about sin and forgiveness through blood of Jesus. "By their fruit you will recognize them". God bless.

[@vcflai6184]

@@Jopedius Who advocated and promoted liberal theology? Men. Why put the blame on all women just because some strong-will persons gained more persuasive power?

[@Jopedius]

@@vcflai6184 I do not blame women

[@teachmetheway7081]

I admit it fits my worldview particularly the part about women and roles in church. Hence why I say excellent. Others will reject it saying it is only philosophy (no pun intended) but it answers exactly as I had discerned on account of the new testament. In the language of the author, they seek to make themselves brokers of their own selves as patrons. Paul said it so it is final. Yet Paul is clearly a client. And Paul recognizes relationship the foundation for rules- because we regard each other we follow practices that don't hurt the other. Anyway, the debate on women and roles will continue till christ wraps it all up. In that regard, I thank him for grace. Amen.

[@audreyandremington5265]

I think this patron client relationship sounds very wholesome, much nicer than what we use today!

[@edluckenbill8363]

Great video

[@annvogelpohl3502]

Thank you! I have a playlist concerning the different viewpoints between the Eastern and Western mindsets. I will add some of yours to the list.

[@Kikki-Marie]

Thanks!

[@littleandre4957]

Right, grace or rather, "favour" (Lit. Heb.) was the word that was used - not always in a secular manner but also in relation to the Creator's favour upon you because of your repentance as it is still today.

[@Nithinsparekkattil]

Bro , Please make a video on Islamic view of crucifixion vs Christian view of Crucifixion

[@gussetma1945]

It also helps for us to understand the intercession of Saints etc.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

True

[@DavidWilberBlog]

Great job, Michael. Fascinating topic.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

You’re a fascinating topic!

[@Nov_Net]

@@InspiringPhilosophy ?

[@whatistruth560]

@IP, I been reading and hearing that God if so true is the universe itself, do you think this type of way or that God Created and is not the universe but outside of our reality by part of it a different way? Thanks God bless.

[@calebjore3295]

IP knows a thing or two about being thankful to his patrons

[@brandono7003]

Video is incredible

[@MenaceMovement]

Great video! I got a request for you. Can you make a video more in depth about why you believe women CAN be pastors when considering the context of biblical times compared to today

[@mentalwarfare2038]

Thanks for this IP. Random question: how would you respond too Euthyphro’s Dilemma? Does God abstractly choose what is good? This is a pretty common objection, so honestly you could probably make a short video on it if you wanted to.

[@InspiringPhilosophy]

Thanks, I talk about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaGcf59shLp4gJI

[@mentalwarfare2038]

@@InspiringPhilosophy Thanks IP. Just fyi, you are perhaps my biggest inspiration in my pursuit of knowledge. I am now a double major in theology and English, seeking to become a professor. You sir, are truly inspiring philosophy.

[@Nov_Net]

@@mentalwarfare2038 congratulations

[@mentalwarfare2038]

@@Nov_Net I’m not there quite yet, but thank you, I really appreciate it.

[@mentalwarfare2038]

@@InspiringPhilosophy I guess this is the question I was getting at when it comes to Euthyphro’s dilemma… If God can not arbitrarily decide what is good and evil, then how can He command murder (i.e. Canannites). Would murdering then be good?

[@CalumCarlyle]

Very interesting. I couldn't help but to transpose this grace/gratitude model over to Taoism, and it works very well. In that tradition, there is no separate and cogniscant god, instead the Tao is everything and is in everything, but is not separately aware or conscious. The relationship with nature is very important in that tradition, so i can easily see this as a covenant of sorts with the natural world, as the physical representation of the Tao. The christian way of expressing all of this often seems overly complex and bureaucratic, though. I cannot believe that heaven operates through a complex bureaucracy.

[@charlesrankin1190]

Michael, how far should we take this idea of "relationship trumps rules"? In our society, it would advance God's honor if we changed our approach to sexual ethics. Does this mean that we should change it if it would advance His name and His kingdom? Should we be utilitarians about this?

[@Lucas-gm3bv]

How would you change the approach to sexual ethics?

[@altinmares8363]

Please post more videos about -Idolatry -Polytheism -Revolutionary Monotheism

[@aaagggmmmsss]

thank you

[@arthurazcarate4473]

Great!

[@th3secretpro365]

I thought this video was very good, and it definitely made me see things in a new way. But it does leave me with a couple of questions. 1. Are there rules that supersede relationships? after all, God hates sin. And rules such as do not sin in this way seem to be unbreakable. 2. How does this relationship differ since we are called multiple times Son and daughters of God or Children of God? Both Jesus and New Testaments authors such a Paul said these things. If anyone could answer I would love to hear what you have to say. But I will definitely be doing my own research later.

[@Godsfavoritedaughter256]

The only rule is to respect each others like love each other and respect our bosses or church leaders aslong as t doesn’t go against your hearts feeling. If t doesn’t sit right with ur heart don’t do it. Then aslong as we don’t worship them. We Should know that Our God and The Holy Trinity is the Only Family to Be Worshiped. Then be careful with what u feed on as in u feed ur hears. Beware of people sent by the devil if u feed ungodly words they enter ur soul and become ungodly. Then our leaders are not our gods but our earthly guardians. U have no right to stick to them or be their slaves do what has to be done.

[@Godsfavoritedaughter256]

Lastly don’t forget to ask the Holyspirit to guide u in your daily life and teach u when u opening or reading the Bible

[@zayobayo2175]

I'll try! 1. Of course we're not supposed to sin. Yet, we're all sinners. God is willing to forgive that as long we repent. Perhaps a good way to think about it is - Who set the rules? Do they just exist on their own? In a way, we are asked to have a relationship with the One Who made the rules, essentially. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" And ask yourself - WHY were the rules put in place, what's the purpose of the rules? 2. I'm not sure if I get the question - but are you asking how the patron-client relationship differs from the Father-children relationship? Well, to me, they have a common denominator, and that is the earnest recognition of authority and responsibility - submission from one side and responsibility from the other. Like how a good child obeys their parents and good parents take care of their children. Loosely similar to patron-clients. I guess I just have a loose interpretation of the phrases you mentioned and so don't see a problem there. I try not to be too literal in my interpretation of words, as I myself often use words very loosely.

[@droe2570]

1) You are confusing what sin is. Sin is not a "breaking of the rules". Sin is a failure to honor God with your life, and to place Him first in all your dealings. It is a relationship issue, not a rules issue. This is explained by Jesus in John 3: 19 "And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light...." Also, if you notice the 10 commandments, the first commandment is to have no other gods before Him. Jesus also quotes Deuteronomy 6: 5 "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Love is a relationship function, not a rules function. 2) I'm not sure what you are asking here. How does it differ from what? We are made children of God by virtue of joining His household, something only made possible by the sacrifice of Christ. God came to earth as a man, lived and preached among us, then gave up His life on the cross as a payment for our sins. He took upon Himself the death we earn by virtue of our failure, our rejection of Him. When we turn to God, we become part of His family. As such, we become like His children. We are under His authority, and we are also under His protection. Not necessarily protection of the body, though sometimes this too, but most importantly the protection of our souls.

[@georgerichwine1864]

Well said

[@Codreanu_Prezent]

Wonderful! Wonderful presentation my intelligent friend! Well sourced as usual! By the way, will you ever speak about nihilism, tradition, and the disconnect of the modern world with faith? Without trying to be too political for the sake of unity of course. I recommend you read or listen to a spiritual biography called "A Confession" by Leo Tolstoy. It's likely the greatest expression of faith and faithlessness I've seen penned beyond the shadow of the prophets and apostles for the modern pessimistic unbeliever. I'd say it may help better equip you to push away the modern vulagar reductionism of the post-liberal age.

[@jasonliebenow]

Fascinating work as always! Looking for clarification. I understand you saying that if the teaching of males only in the public ministry hinders relationships, then it is to be abandoned. How many christian teachings can we apply this to? It seems to me that we could abandon any Christian teaching if we believe that it hinders us from building relationships and thereby bringing more clients to our patron. Would that be right or am I mistaken?

[@DanielApologetics]

Aaahhhhnnnddd...AddedToFavoritePlaylist!

[@MatthewChenault]

Some of these cultural aspects are still retained in parts of the western world. The American South’s hospitality culture is a good example of this ancient cultural context continuing on in the modern world. For example, if my pastor asks me to help him out with something, I’d feel an obligation to do so. Once the work is done, if the pastor offers me a free meal, then I’d be expected to sit and eat with him. Even though he might not be a family member, the pastor would be an important aspect of my local community. It would be an imperative to help him out, even after I’d been working all week, because it would be a good thing to do.

[@Jim-Mc]

Yep, and also I feel that rather than attracting post modern Westerns to Christianity with this kind of social contract it may just make it even more objectionable to them

[@IchigosBestFriend]

How old are you? I don’t mean it in a bad way , you just break this stuff down better than anyone I’ve ever listened to . Amazing

[@utuberme1]

Probably early 30s