2019, October 27 ~ Joel 2:23-32 and 2 Timothy 4:4-8, 16-18

Joel 2:23-32

Joel is one the “Minor Prophets” – the 12 prophets whose works are much shorter than those of the “Major Prophets” (Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel) and are found in a single scroll.

Joel (whose name means “YHWH is God”) is located in the Bible between Hosea and Amos (two of the earliest prophets – in the 700’s BCE) most likely because some of the themes in Joel are similar to those in Amos.

Joel’s prophesy, however, was much later and contained no reference to either the Assyrians or Babylonians. It is dated within the period 539 BCE to 333 BCE when the Persians ruled over Israel and Judea. Joel is thought by scholars to have been active from about 400 BCE to 350 BCE – a time of relative calm under the generally benevolent rule of the Persians.

In today’s reading, Joel referred to a locust plague (v.25) that was a call to repentance and resulted from YHWH’s judgment upon the people (Chapter 1). The balance of the reading is apocalyptic in tone and described Judah’s ultimate vindication in which the entire community would share a close relationship with God (vv.28-29).

Some of the portents of the “Day of the Lord” described in verses 30 and 31 were adopted by the authors of the Gospels according to Mark, Matthew and Luke (the “Synoptic Gospels”) to describe the time that Jesus of Nazareth was on the Cross.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

The Letters to Timothy and Titus are called “Pastoral Letters” because they concerned the internal life, governance and behavior of the early Christian churches and their members. Most scholars agree they were written in the early Second Century in Paul’s name by some of his followers (Paul died in 63 CE). Writing a document in someone else’s name was a common practice in the First and Second Centuries. By then, the Jesus Follower Community had become more institutionalized and concerns about “heresy” had arisen.

The Pastoral letters were written to Paul’s “co-workers” but have a broader audience. By the time they were written, Paul was regarded as an unambiguously authoritative figure of the past.

2 Timothy is more personal than 1 Timothy. The author, writing as Paul, treated Timothy as his “beloved child,” loyal disciple and his spiritual heir.

In today’s reading, “Paul” was portrayed as near death (“the time of my departure”) and as stating that his life was a sacrifice (a “libation”) and an athletic contest (“the good fight”). He asked forgiveness for those who opposed his message (v.16) and thanked God for the strength and support he received.