Daily Bible Reading: 1 Maccabees 12 and 1 John 1-2

1 Maccabees 12 – Jonathan decides that it is not enough to be siding with Trypho and his attempt to set the child-king Antiochus up.

Jonathan continues to use “triangulation” as a policy; he sends people to Rome and Sparta to build other alliances against the Hellenists. He sends letters and ambassadors to renew or initiate treaties of friendship. The author includes a copy of the letter Jonathan sends to the Spartans. It reminds them of good relations in the past and speaks of the terrible wars that have encircled them. They have tried to appeal to Heaven for aid but now they are also appealing to Rome and to the Spartans.

When Demetrius comes again to make war on them, Jonathan tries to divert them to Hamath so as to keep them away from Jerusalem. Hamath is on the northern border of Syria. They learn that Demetrius plans a night raid and they prepare for it.

When the troops of Demetrius learn somehow that the Jews know their plan and are preparing to meet it, they become afraid and decide to withdraw after lighting fires to cover their retreat. Meanwhile Jonathan’s brother, Simon, takes Joppa to keep it out of the hands of the Seleucids.

           

Jonathan returns to Jerusalem and meets with the elders there; he convinces them to build fortresses in Judaea and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher and to isolate the city even commercially.

Then the story returns to Trypho. He decides he would much rather be king himself than have the young Antiochus on the throne. He fears that Jonathan might not support that plan. So Trypho decides he must wage war against Jonathan. He fools Jonathan, into thinking he is going to even turn the city of Antioch [Ptolemais] over to him.  He convinces Jonathan that he can trust him, but when Jonathan comes to Antioch, Trypho seizes him, puts some of Jonathan’s men to the sword, and holds Jonathan himself captive.

Some escape and return to Jerusalem. There “they mourned for Jonathan and his companions and were in great fear; and all Israel mourned deeply” (12:52). This chapter makes it sound that Jonathan has been killed, but he will show up again in chapter 13 as a captive, so I am assuming he was not dead yet. The chapter ends with the pagans all around Israel exulting in their weakness and planning to wipe them out.

An important letter – combining elements that are strongly emphasized in Quaker thought but really important to all Christian groups.

1 John 1 – The prologue to the Gospel according to John says in verse 14 that the Word with God in the beginning was “made flesh, and dwelt among us.” It is this that John writes of in this letter: “Something which has existed since the beginning, that we have heard, and we have seen with our own eyes; that we have watched and touched with our hands: the Word, who is life—this is our subject” (1:1).

John wants to tell us about this all so we too “may be in union with [them], as [they] are in union with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1:3).

The central message is this: “God is light; there is no darkness in him at all. If we say that we are in union with God while we are living in darkness, we are lying because we are not living the truth. But if we live our lives in the light, as he is in the light, we are in union with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1:4).

This reality of sin is not something we can deny but “if we acknowledge our sins, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us from everything that is wrong” (1:9).

1 John 2 - John wants us to realize that we can live differently, not caged in our sinful natures. Jesus is our eternal “advocate with the Father” (2:1). But it is not enough to just say we know God through Christ; we must show it in the way we live. “We can be sure that we are in God only when the one who claims to be living in him is living the same kind of life as Christ lived”(2:6).

This is nothing NEW. It is the same expectation God had of us since He created us. It is the same old commandment (2:7). But it is new as well because “the night is over and the real light is already shining” (2:8). It is all about love. “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the dark. But anyone who loves his brother is living in the light and need not be afraid of stumbling” (2:9-10).

So while sin is real and we must break with it by submitting to the commandment that we love our “brothers,” we can only do this if we detach ourselves from worldly desires. “The love of the Father cannot be in any man who loves the world because nothing the world has to offer—the sensual body, the lustful eye, pride in possessions—could ever come from the Father but only from the world; and the world, with all it craves for, is coming to an end; but anyone who does the will of God remains for ever” (2:15-17).

John, like Peter before him, and really all the early apostles and teachers of Christianity, is convinced that the end times are near. Here he says, “these are the last days . . . and now several antichrists have already appeared” (2:18). These antichrists are “rivals of Christ” (2:19) who have arisen from the Christian community itself; but he says they have left. “The man who denies that Jesus is the Christ—he is the liar, he is Antichrist; and he is denying the Father as well as the On, because no one who has the Father can deny the Son, and to acknowledge the Son is to have the Father as well” (2:22-23).

“Keep alive in yourselves what you were taught in the beginning; as long as what you were taught in the beginning is alive in you, you will live in the Son and in the Father” (2:24). The “anointing [Christ] gave teaches [us] everything” we need to know - what you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. The content of this letter, the ideas expressed in it, were incredibly important to early Friends; and I would say that much of what John says here still remains central to Quakers. But I think many Quakers would have trouble with some of John’s words about the Word here. He is very concerned that people NOT FORGET that this Word was FLESH in Jesus Christ.

It might be interesting for Friends to know that the Catholic Catechism also teaches this same lesson in section 427: “[E]verything is taught with reference to him – and it is Christ alone who teaches – anyone else teaches to the extent that he is Christ’s spokesman. . .” And I like also that the Catechism teaches in #430 something I felt I first learned when I studied early Quaker writings that in “Jesus, God recapitulates all of his history of salvation on behalf of men.”

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Maccabees 11:1-37 and 2 Peter 2

Maccabees 11:1-37 – Ptolemy VI tries to take possession of Alexander’s kingdom even though he is Alexander’s father-in-law. Ptolemy tries to win Demetrius’ cooperation by promising to give his daughter [Alexander’s wife at this time] to be his wife instead. The next sentence says that this actually happens right away.

Next, Ptolemy enters the city of Antioch and “assume[s] the crown of Asia” (11:13). When Ptolemy and Alexander finally engage in a decisive battle near the Lake of Antioch, Ptolemy’s forces are victorious even though Ptolemy himself is mortally wounded. He dies three days later. Alexander flees to Arabia and someone there kills him, cuts off his head and sends it to Ptolemy [now deceased]. So now both kings – Ptolemy and Alexander - are dead.

Demetrius becomes king of the Seleucid Empire in 145 BC.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Jonathan musters the “mean of Judea for an assault on the Citadel in Jerusalem” (11:20). The Citadel is a fortress of the Seleucid empire, which has now fallen into the hands of Demetrius, a ruler not allied with him as Alexander had been.  Demetrius writes to Jonathan and asks to meet with him in Ptolemais. Jonathan continues to besiege the Citadel, but takes “the deliberate risk of taking silver and gold, clothing and numerous other presents, and going to Ptolemais to face the king, whose favor he succeeded in winning” (11:24). “The king, Demetrius, “treated him as his predecessors had treated him, and promoted him in the presence of all his friends” (11:26).  Furthermore, “Jonathan claimed that the king should exempt Judaea from tribute, with the three Samaritan provinces, promising him three hundred talents in return. The king consented, and wrote Jonathan a rescript covering the whole matter” (11:28-29). Clever man, this Jonathan. 

2 Peter 2 – The church will face what the gathered people of God under the Old Covenant faced, “false teachers, who will insinuate their own disruptive views and disown the Master who purchased their freedom” (2:1).  This kind of departure from the road God wants us on has been part of the story from the beginning. Even the angels rebelled from God’s way. God did not spare them even.

Then there was the flood, then Sodom and Gomorrah. But in all these stories, God also show he “rescues the good from the ordeal” (2:9).

People who “insult what they do not understand are not reasoning beings” (2:12). They will suffer for the evil they do. They are “dried-up rivers, fogs swirling in the wind, and the dark underworld is the place reserved for them. With their high-flown talk, which is all hollow, they tempt back the ones who have only just escaped from paganism, playing on their bodily desires with debaucheries” (2:17-18).

Those who have been won to the Lord must be careful not to permit the “world” to entangle them again. It will go hard with those who relapse.

The tone of this letter is not “Pauline” at all. It is much more designed to raise fear in those of the community about these false teachings they are fighting. I think Paul’s approach is more encouraging, more from his own experience of Christ’s saving power and less “us and them,” but it is true that the problem of false teaching is ALWAYS a problem. The question remains how to create any human endeavor that is “fool-proof.” I don’t think it’s possible.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Maccabees 10:51-89 and 2 Peter 1

1 Maccabees 10:51-89 - Despite the fact that Demetrius defeats the forces of Alexander Balas, Demetrius himself is killed by the end of the day. Alexander then sends agents to Ptolemy VI, king of Egypt, claiming victory over Demetrius and asking for his daughter in marriage.

Ptolemy writes him and arranges to meet him in the city of Ptolemais, where Akko is today on the Mediterranean. It is 150 BC when the marriage occurs.

Alexander writes to Jonathan, the brother of Judas Maccabeas, and asks him to join them in the meeting. In the struggle to obtain the loyalty of the Jews against Demetrius – a very unpopular Seleucid leader – Alexander had established Jonathan Maccabeas as High Priest in Jerusalem. Jonathan comes and gives gifts of silver and gold and makes a good impression on Kings Alexander and Ptolemy VI.

If you are confused by this story, join the club. Jonathan is a Maccabean and here he is making peace with a man who is now head of the Seleucid government. He gains advantages from the power struggle going on in the region, and his alliance with Alexander permits him to unite his very divided people and make Judea stronger. It’s just hard to follow the political machinations he had to employ.

They reward Jonathan by making him “military commissioner and governor-general” of Judea. By accepting this title, he establishes the Hasmonean dynasty, which will endure until 37 BC.

Demetrius’ son, Demetrius II, comes to power and challenges Jonathan to battle on the plains. Jonathan wins and is rewarded again rewarded with honor by King Alexander.

2 Peter 1 – This letter is addressed to a very wide audience – to all “those who through the righteousness of our God and Savor Jesus Christ have been given a faith as precious as ours” (1:1). Christ has offered us a way of knowing God and sharing in the divine nature.

But he notes, “to attain this, you will have to do your utmost yourselves, adding goodness to the faith that you have, understanding to your goodness, self-control to your understanding, patience to your self-control, true devotion to your patience, kindness towards your fellow men to your devotion, and, to this kindness, love” (1:5-7).

Peter believes it is his duty “to keep stirring [the faithful] up with reminders” (1:14). We are not “in this tent” [our bodies} for a long time; life is short. But he assures them he “shall take great care that after my own departure you will still have a means to recall these things to memory” (1:15).

He says it is not through “cleverly invented myths” (1:16) that knowledge of God is transmitted. The note I have here says that this is a reference to Gnostic teachings about the “parousia” [Christ’s return] that seemed to Peter too elaborate.  Peter claims a knowledge of Christ that came “when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favor’” – words they heard “when we were with him on the holy mountain” (1:17-18). This is apparently a reference to the transfiguration experience recounted in Matthew 17.

Peter refers believers back to scripture and to prophecy, but warns us that interpretation of our religious history and texts is not meant to be the work of any one individual.

 

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Maccabees 10:1-50 and 2 Timothy 4

1 Maccabees 10:1-50 – The port city of Ptolemais (Acca) is taken by Alexander Balas (Epiphanes). King Demetrius sends Jonathan a conciliatory letter to prevent him from joining up with this Balas against them. He gives him authority to raise an army (militia). Jonathan takes charge in Jerusalem and begins to rebuild the city. King Alexander hears of what Jonathan is doing and approaches him, to make friends with him. He offers to make him “high priest” of his nation. Jonathan then starts arming his people.

Demetrius hears of all this and likewise sends a message to Jonathan, reminding him of the pledge not to join with their enemies and releasing him and his people from an array of obligation to the empire. He also expands the territory Jonathan would have control of including the port city itself. He even offers to pay for reconstruction of the sanctuary.

           

Jonathan, however, refuses to accept these offers because they don’t trust Demetrius and think of all the bad things he did to them. They decide in favor of Alexander Balas. It winds up in a military confrontation which Alexander LOSES but in which Demetrius is killed.

2 Timothy 4 – Timothy must continue to preach the message that lies at the core of their faith. “The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear” (4:3).

Paul is in prison as he writes this letter to Timothy, and he says, “the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life” (4:6). He feels he has done his best to run the race well. He prays that Timothy will be able to come to see him soon. He asks for him to bring the coat he forgot when he was in Troas – so personal a note! He asks Timothy to bring the books he left as well. He warns him about specific people. He sends personal greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and conveys the greetings of others who are with him.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Maccabees 9 and 2 Timothy 3

1 Maccabees 9 – This takes up the story left in Chapter 7. King Demetrius [the Seleucid king], hears of Nicanor’s defeat, he sends other generals in. It is 160 BC – when Judas’ men see the huge force coming after them, many flee. They are left with around 800 out of the original 3000.

His men try to convince him to leave the field in the present state of weakness, but he convinces them their reputation requires them to stay. Somehow, they manage to break the strong right wing of the opposing army. The left wing scatters and Judas is mortally wounded. It is unclear how the battle ends, but from what comes next, it didn’t go well.

           

Seeming to start at a different place, after Judas’ death, unity breaks down among the Israelites. The “renegades” [anti-Maccabaean] reemerge; famine hits and people generally side with the Seleucid monarch. “A terrible oppression” (9:27) begins. The resistance movement turns to Jonathan. He sends one of his brothers, John on a mission and he is captured and apparently killed.

In revenge, the Maccabaeans raid a wedding procession of important opponents and turn them to mourning – God, how like today.

           

Bacchides, the Syrian general, working out of Jerusalem, sets up garrisons in many towns. In 153 BC. Alcimus, an Israelite from the House of Aaron, working with the Syrian occupiers orders demolition of a wall of the sanctuary – the wall dividing the Gentiles from the Jews in the Temple.

Alcimus dies of a stroke, and Bacchides withdraws from the area for two years. The “renegades” eventually ask for him to return. He starts back, but the Maccabaeans learn of it and have fifty of the renegades arrested and killed. The force of Bacchides is routed. Bacchides himself becomes angry with those who encouraged him to re-enter the region and so he takes some of them into custody and has them killed. Jonathan and Bacchides come to agreement on his withdrawal and Jonathan sets up a government center at Michmash where he governs according to the Law.

2 Timothy 3 – Difficult days lie ahead “in the last days” (3:1). ”People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful and irreligious” (3:2). People “will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power” (3:5). Timothy should avoid these people. People of real faith will have to endure persecution. He should be patient in all his trials.

Paul also speaks of the usefulness of the Holy Scriptures – what we now call the Old Testament. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed” (3:16-17).