Resurrection in the Old Testament | 2 Maccabees

[@CocoBella88]

I don’t think people understand how amazing it is to have NT Wright reading scripture to us 🕊️

[@NTWrightOnline]

We are glad you are encouraged, and we are grateful to our donors who make it possible for N.T. Wright to share these reflections with our community. Thank you!

[@DadHominem]

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

[@richardglady3009]

Thank you for sharing this Scripture and explaining its meaning and helping me understand how it all goes together. The last prayer was nice. Thanks.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thank you for sharing your encouragement with us, Richard. Blessings to you as you continue your journey. --NTW Online Team

[@marthaalger3162]

Oh my! How encouraging! The way to live this life victoriously for Christ!

[@NTWrightOnline]

We're glad you found this so encouraging! This victory looks like embodying our kingdom hope in our daily lives--living with hope, justice, and love, knowing that our ultimate future is secure in Christ. With this hope, we are inspired to live fully and faithfully in the present. So encouraging! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. --NTW Online Team

[@bettyh7586]

Reading scripture. Oh, I’m going to learn about the books of the Maccabee’s. Yea!

[@vincealcazar2870]

Bishop Wright, that's one well traveled Bible. And so we go. Thank you.

[@taviaseymour1635]

What a blessing. I love learning more of God’s good story. And what a brave and Godly mother!

[@NTWrightOnline]

We're grateful to see your inspiration! We are so grateful to our supporters who keep this channel active! --NTW Online Team

[@youngman44]

Thank you so much again.

[@albertito77]

Yes folks, Anglicans (and Lutherans too) do read the Apocryphal books " for example of life and instruction of manners". Thankyou Bishop Tom for an encouraging piece

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thank you for your insightful comment! The Apocryphal books provide value for understanding the historical context in which the canonical scriptures were written. This helps us to understand the thought-world of the canonical writers in many helpful ways. Thank you for your reflections! --NTW Online Team

[@budicaesar1213]

Dutch Reformed peeps do as well: Article 6: The Difference Between Canonical and Apocryphal Books We distinguish between these holy books and the apocryphal ones, which are the third and fourth books of Esdras; the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Jesus Sirach, Baruch; what was added to the Story of Esther; the Song of the Three Children in the Furnace; the Story of Susannah; the Story of Bel and the Dragon; the Prayer of Manasseh; and the two books of Maccabees. The church may certainly read these books and learn from them as far as they agree with the canonical books. But they do not have such power and virtue that one could confirm from their testimony any point of faith or of the Christian religion. Much less can they detract from the authority of the other holy books.

[@rickfilmmaker3934]

Wonderful. Inspiring. Please keep teaching us for your words are Holy Gold indeed. Thank You.

[@NTWrightOnline]

We are so grateful for our donors and supporters who keep this channel going. Thank you! --NTW Online Team

[@ruthhamilton-qe4vr]

Thank you

[@FlorinEftimie]

So good and encouraging ❤

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thank you for your encouragement! --NTW Online Team

[@aysegulgoknar]

It's amazing Dear Professor, thank You for Your time and for marvellous explaining, amen, many greetings and blessings Dear N. T. Wright from Tūrkiye.

[@NTWrightOnline]

We love our friends from Turkiye! Glad you're here and part of our community! --NTW Online Team

[@davidbelzer]

I just finished your book the New Testament and it's world and really enjoyed it. 😀 I am shure I will be going back and reference it Again. For my next read I would like to do something on Old testament Prophecy do you have a book you would recommend for me

[@NTWrightOnline]

We share your appreciation for studying Old Testament prophecy! We recommend checking out N.T. Wright Online's self-paced course on the prophecies in Isaiah. This course explores the prophetic messages surrounding the Suffering Servant and the significance of these prophecies. www.admirato.org/courses/servant-king?portfolioCats=50%2C52%2C49%2C51 Additionally, our "15 Essential Biblical Texts" course is another excellent resource. It includes many promises from the Old Testament and covers prophetic elements, helping you understand both prophecy and its background. www.admirato.org/courses/fifteen-essential-biblical-texts?portfolioCats=50%2C52%2C49%2C51 Both courses offer a free preview if you'd like to check them out first. Please keep us updated! We'd love to know your thoughts as you continue to explore these topics. --NTW Online Team

[@ms.jordan5634]

So do you believe we should not eat pork??? Just asking.

[@jessehendrix2661]

Do you think that Maccabees has the same level of authority as John or Genesis, or is it more like additional reading which is helpful but may have errors like C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity? And if you believe the former, what is your reasoning? Fan of your teaching. I don't care whether it is or isn't canon; I just want to treat it as Scripture if it's Scripture.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Hello Jesse, that's a great question! N.T. Wright has spoken of the Book of Maccabees and other apocryphal books in online coures, books, and articles. While he does not see the books of the apocrypha, such as the Book of Maccabees, as scripture, he appreciates their value in helping us to understand the historical and cultural context of the thought-world into which Jesus proclaimed his message. A lot of the concepts found in Maccabees were taken for granted by many of Jesus's hearers. It's helpful to try to see the world as they did, so we know how they would have heard Jesus's message. N.T. Wright discusses this in many places, including in his online course on The Resurrection of the Son of God: www.ntwrightonline.org/portfolio-items/resurrection/?portfolioCats=50%2C52%2C49%2C51 What has sparked your interest? --NTW Online Team

[@jessehendrix2661]

@NTWrightOnline Thanks, I had thought that might be his position, but the introduction made it seem as though he considered it Scripture. I just wanted to know for certain. I come from sort of a Calvary Chapel or SBC background, but am a fan of Dr. Wright as well as some other Anglican figures like C.S. Lewis, Fernando Ortega, etc. I appreciate his emphasis on the kingdom of God, which was clearly an important part of the gospel message Christ preached. Do you have any materials on specific ways to live out kingdom lives in this life? I know broad generalities like agape love, walking by the Spirit, the summaries of our duty in Ecclesiastes and Micah, etc, but I've been looking for more specific advice.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Jesse, thanks for sharing this. There is a lot of depth in your reflections. We actually do have materials on this, including a free online, self-paced course taught by N.T. Wright here: www.admirato.org/courses/faith-working-through-love We have other courses, too. Please reach out if you have any other interests or topics and we'll let you know what coures we have. [e-mail]

[@SeanRhoadesChristopher]

(2 Maccabees 12.39-45 NRSV) ¶ On the next day, as had now become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kindred in the sepulchres of their ancestors. Then under the tunic of each one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was the reason these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened as the result of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin.

[@Ditchdiggerpewsitter]

Sounds RCC doctrine? Seems that the Lord judged the idolaters here.

[@Ditchdiggerpewsitter]

While I sincerely appreciate brother N. T. I do think we have more work to do to understand these things and the things that belong to eschatology. Plenty of differences amongst the faithful; We still have an AD 70 full preterist rendering that is vehemently contested because of creeds and church history, but yet to be with scripture. But where don't we have contesting; and even so among the early church fathers? So my comment is that 1 Cor 15 (our main resurrection go to text as well as Daniel - Sad we have to resort to an apocryphal text) is about the raising of the Old Covenant remnant who died in hope of a true and efficacious redeemer - Jesus Christ the Lord -and the full manifestation of the Sons of God in the raising and setting apart as victorious the Church of Christ Jesus our Lord. And this, once type and shadow of the Old Covenant had done it's work and brought Jesus as the expected consummation of the age(s). The constituent parts of a futurist paradigm (AS N. T. alludes here) include a complete renewal or remodeling of the physical time and space cosmos as per Is 65, 2 Pet. 3 and end of Rev.. However, these things have already been addressed by some of the leading lights such as John Owen, John Lightfoot, Milton Terry and many many others, that the New Heavens and The New Earth is about the Old Covenant Temple and Mosaic Law type and shadows, sacrificial system etc. that was passing away and indeed has passed away and now the NHNE with the eternal ruling and reigning of God the Father and God the Son has come. Anyways, I have been convicted of heresy and disfellowshipped from my home congregation. But here I sit in the dust of the ground awaiting more clarity from those better informed about the scriptures. Love br. David - Canada.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thank you for your reflections. N.T. Wright does not personally monitor this channel, but if you'd like recommendations on where to keep digging on this topic, I can send you some ideas for further study. You can reach out to me directly at [e-mail]. --NTW Online Team

[@Johnthestudent]

Why do you call this Scripture when all Protestants reject it? Since Jesus quoted from the Apochrypha ( Matthew 23:37 and Sirach 28, and more) why do you reject it, but say you follow Jesus?

[@carlhansen5501]

I didn't know that we completely rejected it.

[@cerealbowl7038]

From Article VI of the 39 Articles of the Church of England (his denomination): "And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine; such are these following: … The First Book of Maccabees"