Lectionary 2 B

A smattering of topics with a little bit of possible click bait. Yes, there is click bait in the Book of Concord.

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
--Psalm 139:14-16

Verses 14-16 are quoted in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 1: Original Sin (FC, SD 1.36) as one of several passages used to show that God is still the creator of humans—"body and soul" (FC, SD 1.38)—even though we are corrupted, but God is not the creator of the corruption.

Verse 16 on its own is quoted in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration 11: Election (FC, SD 11.4) as one of several passages that begin to make the distinction between God's foreknowledge and God's predestination of the chosen to salvation. The point here is really God's providence even with the foreknowledge: "...before it happens, God sees and knows what the perverted, evil will of the devil and of human beings intends to and actually will undertake and do. Even in these evil activities and works God's praescientia (that is, his foreknowledge) preserves order, in such a way that God sets the limits and boundaries for the evil which God does not will... Besides that, God the Lord rules all things so that they must promos the honor of his divine name and the welfare of his elect to the shame of the godless" (FC, SD 11.6).

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, “The two shall be one flesh.”
--1 Corinthians 6:16

From the quote, you might expect something quite titillating, but verse 16 is cited in a footnote to Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article 2: Free Will (FC, SD 2.66, n. 80)  with two other passages from 1 Corinthians that elaborate on a minor historical point. This section (FC, SD 2.66) quotes 2 Corinthians 6:1 as the idea of cooperating with God is discussed. This quote was apparently controversial, and the 1 Corinthians passages are quoted in the Latin version of the Solid Declaration as further explanation. So the theological conversation about if and how we cooperate with God and the Holy Spirit is the question. Not titillating, but for theologians an exciting question. (Believe it or not...)

TheoThru

You are fully known by God and wonderful. Remember that. Regardless of what the world tells you or what you might tell yourself, God has always known you and all you do and in God's sight you are wonderful!