Book Review: Torah to the Gentiles
Book Review
In Father Marc Boulos', of the The Bible as Literature podcast, recently released commentary on Holy Paul's letter to the Galatians entitled Torah to the Gentiles, we are privileged to learn about biblical pedagogy, the oneness of Holy Writ, the oft-underrated relevance of the prophets, and the essential instructions of God (love your neighbor, love Him) which always and everywhere regard correcting human behavior. Miraculously, Fr. Marc does this in 127 small pages with large font. Amen and amen I tell you that regardless of your knowledge of the wisdom of God, you will be edified if you read Fr. Marc's Torah to the Gentiles.
He says of the Bible, "it is simple, repetitive and ruthlessly paternalistic". I love everything about this statement. The Bible is simple in that you do not need a master's degree or doctorate to grasp the meaning of the Good News. All you need are non-gargoyle ears that hear. She who has ears to hear, let her hear the Good News. The Bible is repetitive in that it tells you this simple message again and again and again and indeed again. Sometimes with the same words, and sometimes with different words rendered poetically. The Bible is ruthlessly paternalistic in that the simple and repetitive message is that you are wrong, and God is right. You must love God by ministering to your weaker sister.
My increased efforts at exegeting the prophets and spreading my study to as many ears that hear is a result of the edifying podcasts of Fr. Marc and Hebrew scholar Dr. Richard Benton. They are both based in Minnesota at St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church. Let us mine Scripture in their honor and for the glory of the one living God.
Exegesis of Ezekiel 18
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying
I almost always highlight this saying in at least one of my bibles. We should never forget that the prophets are the mouths of God. The way the seraphim act in Isaiah 6 when they are in the presence of the Lord God is how we should act when we hear the word of God. We should be at full attention, and salivating from thirst of His righteousness.
What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, "The fathers eat the sour grapes, but the children's teeth are set on edge?" As I live, declares the Lord God, "you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. Behold, all lives are mine; the life of the father as well as the life of the son is Mine; the person who sins will die.
Yes, this may be a proverb used by Israel in a specific time, but what are these prophetic words saying to us right now and right here? Parents, rulers, bosses, and other figures of authority and power lord themselves over children, denizens, employees and other marginalized figures. Figuratively, the latter category of people are in the hands of the former. Or, so it seems. Truly, truly I say to you that we are all in God's hands. Ultimate judgment is for Him alone to make.
Verses 5 - end reflect the repetitive nature of the Bible that Fr. Marc speaks about. You see almost the exact same words in Ezekiel 33. This shows us the loving-kindess/steadfast love/mercy and condescension of the Lord God.* He gives a simple and repetitive message knowing how difficult it is for us recalcitrant sinners to obey Him. This message is best summed with the final words
Therefore, repent and live.
What you have done in the past matters not, before God. Whether you have stood with the poor for centuries, or oppressed them for the same period is irrelevant to your salvation. Your eternal life is conditional to your current state of repentance, and the mercy of God.
Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on us sinners, and keep us ever-alert to your instructions, that we may live unto the ages of ages, amayn.
Furthermore, we must love each other.
Post Scriptum:
If I have one qualm with Fr. Marc's commentary it is that he does not go far enough in challenging the way we talk about the two testaments. He argues that what is called the Old Testament should be called the Older Testament. I agree. To stay consistent, let us call what is called the New Testament the Newer Testament. This paradigmatic change respects their differences, and bridges the illusionary gap conjured by the 21st century's Marcionists.
*Condescension is not being used here in the colloquial manner. It is referring to the celestial wisdom of God being translated into mere earthly words. This is a blessing we should always give thanks to God for.