wilderness
wilderness, temple roof, high mountain ... alle guten Dinge sind drei ... is a frequently used saying, all good things are three (or come in threes). While being tempted is not a good thing, the outcome of resisting temptation is. More importantly this reminds me of other places with three connected narratives (the coins, etc.) It certainly creates a kind of crescendo here until Jesus says Away with you ...
I baptize with water
Baptism is a Jewish practice, no? Does this mean in Jewish baptism no holiness is involved? Was being babtised when John performed it simply a gesture, a human initiation rite? Are we again led yo see here the transition to the 'real thing' –– what then became Christian spirited and en-spiriting babtism
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,
John's importance is manifested in all four gospels. He feels like the Jewish 'jumping board' f to propel Jesus into Christ/Messiah and from there the gospel intothe manifestation of Christianity.
if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.
Of course the Jews came first, they still are the root, or so I read this. The gentiles are the branches. Why would they boast? Is this already a worry about supersessonism for Paul?
for
indeed, it is almost identical and both are not by Paul
For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it
this is interesting. I cannot count the people who hate their body. This is, of course a cultural affliction of our times ... but it is even then a strong statement ... I cannot believe that really everyone tenderly cared for his /her body. How does this relate to his affliction of which Stendahl speaks, or does it.
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
This remnant notion strikes me as important. It is just something I cannot put my finger on. It feels like a PhD thesis condensed into one word. What is the Greek / Hebrew?
in view of the impending crisis,
CRISIS ... no need to change wretchedness or bliss (even as those who think they are already in the eschaton get chided–later in 2Cor). Fir the present form of the world is passing away – not will. Is!
30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Boy, this guy is mighty weak. It is clearly imaginable how difficult his ministry must have been. Therefore the 'weakness' must have needed lots of strength and dogged ('godded') inspiration. This better minister of Christ's exposure to danger would be hard to beat. And: I believe him. I can see here his mastery of turning a spear right back at those who threw it in the first place.
sudden destruction will come upon them
upon them ... wielding the sword of divisiveness night and day children the day children having the save end of the stick his language that of military garb' beast plate, helmet, a cry of command maybe not surprising in a military outpost