From the Bishop
Dear friends,
When I commenced my first year of theological study at Trinity College in Melbourne, I had come from an accounting and management background. I had stopped any language study in year 8 but I had become proficient in several coding languages for computers.
The approach to English during my high schooling did not involve conventional grammar study although my mind had been blown by an approach called Transformational Grammar which sought to make plain the deep meaning of text.
My study of Greek was a challenge, but I recognised the importance of appreciating that the Bible comes to us as translations and interpretations of Hebrew in the Old or First Testament and in Greek in the New or Second Testament.
I have been thrilled and moved many times to understand the insights from the original languages with the allusions the authors were trying to create.
Those who translate and interpret the text inevitably bring their own theological traditions, linguistic judgements and historical understanding to the task. There are choices that need to be made about the best the English word or phrase that most faithfully conveys the meaning of the original text.
During the Reformation, significant effort was devoted in England and across Europe to translating the Scriptures into the common languages of the people.
Combined with the advent of the printing press, this meant that the treasure entrusted to us was no longer accessible only to the educated few but increasingly available to ordinary Christians. It is no surprise that churches also devoted energy to teaching people to read so that they could engage with the Scriptures for themselves.
From this era, we have the beautiful prayer “Blessed Lord, you have caused all scriptures to be written for our learning: grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that encouraged and supported by your holy word, we may embrace and always hold fast the joyful hope of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
While some clergy were proficient in the biblical languages, many relied on authorised translations and, in some cases, the Book of Homilies.
Over time, as biblical scholarship expanded and access to Scripture increased, the expectation grew that clergy would engage the text more deeply and preach from it with confidence.
Engaging deeply and faithfully with the scriptures is an essential part of Anglicanism.
There have always been disagreements about the weight given to various parts and the importance of translation and context.
In every age, faithful Christians wrestle with the written word to encounter the Living Word – Jesus Christ – God who is Love was incarnate amongst us.
Every blessing,
Bishop Peter Stuart
Anglican Bishop of Newcastle
Bible reflection: The story of Zacchaeus
By Bishop Peter
When I was in primary school we were taught the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”. As the years have passed it has become clear to me that this is simply not true. Our descriptions about other people matter as do their descriptions of us.
In this edition, we are looking at the story of Zacchaeus who is the subject of name-calling and denigration.
The flow of the story goes something like this:
Jesus enters Jericho (v.1) his mission is directed towards those on the margins in keeping with his proclamation in the synagogue reported in Luke 4: 18 – 21.
We meet Zacchaeus (v. 2) He is a wealthy chief tax collector, and we are also told that he is short in stature. Before Zacchaeus says a single word, both the reader and the crowd have reason to make assumptions about him.
Zacchaeus is presented as someone deeply interested in Jesus (vs 3). He was trying to see who Jesus was.
Zacchaeus breaks social rules (v. 4) he’s a tax collector who is willing to climb a tree like a young boy.
Jesus seeks out Zacchaeus (v. 5). Jesus stops beneath the tree, looks up, calls Zacchaeus by name and insists on staying at his house.
The crowd does not respond well (vs. 6 and 7). Zacchaeus is overjoyed with the chance to meet Jesus but the crowd grumbles. They turn their spite from Zacchaeus to Jesus.
We will jump over verse 8 for now. In verse 9, Jesus affirms Zacchaeus. He is described as “a son of Abraham.”
So, what is happening in verse 8 and 10.
There is important scholarly debate about verse 8 because of the translation from the original Greek into English. The issue centres on the verbs in Luke 19:8: “Behold, Lord, the half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” In Greek the verbs are δίδωμι (didōmi) – “I give” and ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi) — “I restore”. Both are present indicative verbs, not future (“I will give”) or subjunctive (“I would give”).
While many English translations present Zacchaeus as making new promises, a growing number of scholars argue that the Greek is better understood as describing his existing pattern of life, not making new promises. Jesus enables the truth about Zacchaeus’ life to be told. The crowd and history tell us that Zacchaeus is truly and fully seen by Jesus. Zacchaeus has been the subject of name-calling which has diminished him in other people’s eyes. That is not how he is seen by God.
This contrasts with a reading that emphasises the encounter with Jesus as a conversion moment.
We are then required to engage with verse 10, where Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”. So, who are the lost in this context. It might be Zacchaeus but given the crowds response, perhaps it is them – the people who cannot see and welcome Jesus for who he is; the people who cannot understand that the love which Jesus embodies accepts people that societies and cultures can name as unacceptable.
While tradition has been focussed on when and how Zacchaeus was converted, it is possibly the wrong question. The challenge is to ask whom we have already decided is beyond God’s welcome. We are remarkably quick to name people by their failures, occupations, politics, wealth, poverty, or past. Jesus names people differently. He calls Zacchaeus “a son of Abraham”. He calls the woman who had bled for twelve years “a daughter of Abraham”. Every one of us is more than the labels people want to suggest for us. The question Luke leaves with his audience is whether we will continue to see people through the names their culture gives them, or through the eyes of Christ. That is our question today.
Points for Prayer
By Bishop Sonia
In today’s Bible Study we are reminded of expressing gratitude in our prayers. This reminded me of a very simple but effective prayer method – ACTS.
A – Adoration – We praise God for some attribute of Himself
C – Confession – We express our sorrow for sin – ours and the world’s
T – Thanksgiving – We express gratitude to God
S – Supplication – and then, We ask God for…
Loving God,
We are sorry that we can be quick to judge others and slow to be curious about them.
We thank you that when Jesus meets Zacchaeus
we see both your loving heart, and the response of gratitude.
We pray for all who are looked down on, forgotten, or neglected.
Teach us to love the stranger in our midst.
We make our prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.
There are also some lovely prayers of gratitude in A Prayer Book for Australia – see pages 218-220.
The Litany below is just one:
For the beauty and wonder of creation,
we thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women,
we thank you, Lord.
For daily food, for homes and families and friends,
we thank you, Lord.
For minds to think, hearts to love, and imagination to wonder,
we thank you, Lord.
For health, strength, and skill to work, and for leisure to rest and play,
we thank you, Lord.
For patience in suffering, for courage and faithfulness in difficult times,
we thank you, Lord.
For all who pursue justice and truth,
we thank you, Lord.
Today we give thanks especially for…
we thank you, Lord.
For […and] all the saints whose lives have reflected the light of Christ,
we thank you, Lord.
Help us build the community
We would love to hear your stories of prayer. Please send them to [email protected]
