Exodus 27 – The altar or “slaughter-site”
[Schocken] shall be a square – five by five cubits, three cubits high. It is to
be made of bronze and there are to be “horns” on each corner of bronze. Like
the ark, it too shall have poles so that it may be carried.
The courtyard
of the sanctuary should be enclosed with linen curtains hung on silver hooks
and rings. The curtain shall be decorated “with beautiful embroidery in blue,
purple and scarlet thread” (27:16).
“Command the
people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep
the lamps burning continually. The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in
front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his
sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a
permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation
to generation” (27:20-21).
While
it may seem that I am including a lot of minutia in my paraphrasing and
retelling, there is really a whole lot
more detail; but it the kind of detail that provides a great deal of
symbolism – details as to materials used, measurements and other things that
for millennia have been interpreted and re-interpreted by those who see a great
wealth of spiritual importance in the detail.
Early Christian Writers
Justin Martyr (100-165)
Introduction – Born in what is today Nablus
(Palestine) into a Gentile/pagan family. Exposed early-on to Greek philosophy –
Stoics and Pythagoreans and Plato. Met “an old man” who was a Syrian Christian
and they talked philosophy and religion. He kindled in Justin an interest in
the prophets, in whose writings he saw a foretelling of Christ, and this led
him to a love of Christ that was deep and abiding. He was also influenced by
the bravery of persecuted Christians.
He traveled to
Rome where he started a school. Tatian was a student of his. Tatian would
become a well-known, 2nd century Christian theologian and author of
the Diatessaron [Harmony of the Gospels]. In the reign of Marcus Aurelius, he
was denounced by a “cynic philosopher” named Crescens, was tried by urban
prefect Junius Rusticus and beheaded c. 165.
He was
prominent in examining the idea of the Logos.
I use here the online edition of the
Apology, which is available to the public on the site Christian Classics
Etherial Library.
First Apology – Dated sometime between 147 and 161 AD.
1 – The letter/apology is addressed to Antoninus Pius, his
sons and the Roman Senate “on behalf of those of all nations who are unjustly
hated and wantonly abused, myself being one of them.”
2 – “Reason directs those who are truly pious and
philosophical to honor and love only what is true, declining to follow
traditional opinions, if these be worthless. For not only does sound reason
direct us to refuse the guidance of those who did or taught anything wrong, but
it is incumbent on the lover of truth, by all means, and if death be
threatened, even before his own life, to choose to do and say what is truth, by
all means, and if death be threatened, even before his own life, to choose to
do and say what is right. Do you, then, since ye are called pious and
philosophers, guardians of justice and lovers of learning, give good heed, and
hearken to my address; and if you are indeed such, it will be manifested. For
we have come, not to flatter you by this writing, nor please you by our
address, but to beg that you pass judgment, after an accurate and searching
investigation, not flattered by prejudice or by a desire of pleasing
superstitious men, nor induced by irrational impulse of evil rumors which have
long been prevalent, to give a decision which will prove to be against yourselves.
For as for us, we reckon that no evil can be done us, unless we be convicted as
evil-doers or be proved to be wicked men; and
you, you can kill, but not hurt us.”
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