2026 Bible Study Thread

[Tippy]

Exodus 28


The High Priestly garment is also symbolic. The breastplate had 12 precious stones, corresponding to the people of God. The High Priest was to wear this as he entered into the sanctuary. He represents the people to God, their mediator.


The pomegranates invoke the Garden. The High Priest is trying to bring the people back into God's presence, back into Paradise.

Exodus 28

I honestly have no idea what to make of this. I'll try re-reading it again.

Here:

'34;The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. 35;Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die.'

Interesting point that the pomegranates invoke the garden. But Godfather part 2 you are a protestant and you claim that some of the stuff in Orth or Cath is maybe too ritualized and not solo scriptura but then in the scritpture at certain times is all this focus on rituals. How do you reconcile a movement away from this compared to the details put about here?

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 29


The priests had to be from the tribe of Levi and descended from Aaron. Before they could consecrate, they must first be consecrated. This was done through the sacrificial offerings of bulls and goats. When they laid hands on the heads of the sacrificial animals, they would press in towards the animal. This symbolized the transfer of sin and guilt to the victim. The animals were a substitute for the priests.

Exodus 29:

7;Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. 8 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics 9 and fasten caps on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons. The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.

“Then you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.'

It seems Aaron is the first ever 'priest' here annointed by God. In that case, shouldn't the 'rock' as discussed by Jesus actually be Aaron?

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 30


God commissions the ark of incense. Strange incense refers to kinds of incense that haven't been prescribed by the Law. Later, God destroys Aaron's sons for offering strange fire to the Lord. This is what is called the regulative principle of worship in Reformed circles. We may worship God, but we may only worship Him in ways that He lays out for us in Scripture. We cannot just invent our own ways of worshiping Him. This is why skittles communion and all such clownery is off the table. Non-Biblical forms of worship are not worship at all.

Exodus 30

Interesting point about reformed takes on communion although does the Bible explicity state communion must be done by a church at all? For that matter, does the Bible explicitly state Christians must congregate in curhces on Sunday?

If not, why not as Reformed just to have adhoc meetings or connections or congregations outside of church completely?

 

[Tippy]

Exodus 31


God reinforces the Sabbath Law once more to Moses, then gives him the original Bible, the Ten Commandments written on two tablets of stone by God Himself. God inspires a man in the camp by the Holy Spirit to craft the holy hardware according to the specifications that He spoke to Moses. The Sabbath Law prohibits the Hebrews from doing works on the Sabbath rest. Given that all their works were evil, they would've done well to heed the Sabbath Law.

Exodus 32:

14;“‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death.'

Quick question here bro...cos I have worked on Sunday before, does it mean I'm deserving of death? Afterall wouldn't that be the 'solo scriptura' interpretation?

 

[Pravoslavac]

How do you reconcile a movement away from this compared to the details put about here?

No protestant can square this without becoming insane.

Afterall wouldn't that be the 'solo scriptura' interpretation?

A protestant can interpret it how he wants because everyone is a priest.

 

[Northumber]

t seems Aaron is the first ever 'priest' here annointed by God. In that case, shouldn't the 'rock' as discussed by Jesus actually be Aaron?

There are some great interpretations out there on this. Before Aaron the priests would have been the father of every household. Access was restricted to Aaron and the levites because everyone else messed around in an orgy with the golden calf.

First ever priest is Adam.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Interesting point that the pomegranates invoke the garden. But Godfather part 2 you are a protestant and you claim that some of the stuff in Orth or Cath is maybe too ritualized and not solo scriptura but then in the scritpture at certain times is all this focus on rituals. How do you reconcile a movement away from this compared to the details put about here?

You are right to point out that the Old Covenant has a sacerdotal priesthood. This includes rituals, priests, sacrifices, etc. The movement away from sacerdotalism is in the New Testament itself. The book of Hebrews' big argument is that the Levitical Priesthood and the sacerdotalism that goes along with it is now done away with for Christians because Christ has come and accomplished salvation for them. Once of the foundational errors or both Othobroxy and Catholicism is their unbiblical sacerdotal priesthoods.

It seems Aaron is the first ever 'priest' here annointed by God. In that case, shouldn't the 'rock' as discussed by Jesus actually be Aaron?

Aaron is the first Levitical Priest, the priesthood belonging to the Old Covenant. If you remember in Genesis and Hebrews, Melchizedek is pointed out as the priest even before there was a Levitical Priesthood. Jesus holds the office of the Melchizedek Priest, the priesthood belonging to the New Covenant. Only Christ is said to occupy the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is why Ortho and Cath priests aren't really priests. They have no Biblical or Covenant grounding to their priesthoods.

Interesting point about reformed takes on communion although does the Bible explicity state communion must be done by a church at all? For that matter, does the Bible explicitly state Christians must congregate in curhces on Sunday?

If not, why not as Reformed just to have adhoc meetings or connections or congregations outside of church completely?

The Bible does teach both communion and Lord's Day worship. Our next book will probably be the book of Acts, where you will see the Bible teaching these things.

Quick question here bro...cos I have worked on Sunday before, does it mean I'm deserving of death? Afterall wouldn't that be the 'solo scriptura' interpretation?

Sunday is not the Sabbath. Hebrews 4 teaches what the Sabbath really is.

 

[Northumber]

Only Christ is said to occupy the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is why Ortho and Cath priests aren't really priests. They have no Biblical or Covenant grounding to their priesthood.

If one were to take the reformed position, wouldn't Ortho and Cath priests be categorized in the priesthood of all believers?

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

If one were to take the reformed position, wouldn't Ortho and Cath priests be categorized in the priesthood of all believers?

Every believer is a priest in that sense, so yes. Every believer being a priest, having direct access to God, is the opposite of sacerdotalism, where only some people have direct access to God.

 

[Northumber]

Every believer is a priest in that sense, so yes. Every believer being a priest, having direct access to God, is the opposite of sacerdotalism, where only some people have direct access to God.

In the reformed view is there any hierarchy? For example, a father of a family being more of a symbolic priest?

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

In the reformed view is there any hierarchy? For example, a father of a family being more of a symbolic priest?

In that sense, yes. A father is like a priest, responsible for leading his family to God. However, heirarchy necessary implies separation or even degrees of separation. Before you can get an audience with the CEO, you must climb up the corporate ladder. This was how it was under the Old Covenant. One of the things that makes the New Covenant better, in the words of Hebrews, is the direct access that everyone has to the CEO, namely Jesus.

 

[Northumber]

In that sense, yes. A father is like a priest, responsible for leading his family to God. However, heirarchy necessary implies separation or even degrees of separation. Before you can get an audience with the CEO, you must climb up the corporate ladder. This was how it was under the Old Covenant. One of the things that makes the New Covenant better, in the words of Hebrews, is the direct access that everyone has to the CEO, namely Jesus.

I should clarify I think of hierarchy like branches of a tree. You know, directly related to Jesus saying I am the vine, you are the branches. So, fractal, but all connected.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 34

[1] And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two Tablets of stone, like unto the first, and I will write upon the Tablets the words that were in the first Tablets, which thou brakest in pieces. [2] And be ready in the morning, that thou mayest come up early unto the mount of Sinai, and wait there for me in the top of the mount.

Moses has to carve out the stone tablets. This in contrast with God carving out the first set. The Bible makes a distinction between that which is made with hands (man-made) and that which isn't (God-made). God still writes the words, but this "inferiority" of the Law is noted. Man has always assumed that eternal words should be written on stone, but God knows that eternal words are written on the heart.

[5] And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name of the LORD. [6] So the LORD passed before his face, and cried, YHWH, YHWH God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, [7] Reserving mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin, yet by no means leaving the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.

By God's own words, He is forgiving and vengeful. Merciful but also righteous to punish sin. Kind and severe. Not one or the other, but both/and. Law and Grace, though they seem to be at odds, are united in God's character.

[28] So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; and did neither eat bread nor drink water. And he wrote in the Tablets the words of the covenant, even the Ten commandments.

Food and water are used as literary symbols for Christ, but you see here there is no figurative speech. The God of Life is the sustenance for Moses. Later, Jesus also fasts for 40 days and 40 nights, God preserving His life.

[29] So when Moses came down from mount Sinai, the two Tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand, as he descended from the mount, (now Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone bright, after that God had talked with him.) [30] And Aaron and all the children of Israel looked upon Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone bright, and they were afraid to come near him. [31] But Moses called them, and Aaron and all the chief of the Congregation returned unto him; and Moses talked with them. [32] And afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he charged them with all that the LORD had said unto him in mount Sinai. [33] So Moses made an end of communing with them, and had put a covering upon his face.

The glory reflecting off Moses' face effects fear in the Hebrews. It is the power of the Law. It is the Law that has caused man to fear since the beginning. So Moses would put a veil over His face. This same theme is present in the Temple. The sanctuary of the Temple was a fearsome and terrible place to enter. The priests took the greatest precautions and followed God's letter to the T. What separated the sanctuary was the veil. If you are still under the Law, and it's not just Jews who are under the Law but all unbelievers and make-believers, the veil remains. If you are under Grace, the veil has been torn in two and see God's glory as if in a mirror, conforming your image to His image. If you want to understand, read 2 Corinthians 3.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 35

[4] Again, Moses spake unto all the Congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, saying, [5] Take from among you an offering unto the LORD; whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring this offering to the LORD: namely gold, and silver, and brass...

The Hebrews begin building the holy hardware. The materials used to make the Tabernacle and it's artifacts were given, not under obligation, but as a free gift. This is what Paul talks about when he says that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. God accepts worship only from those who do so without a sense of begrudging obligation. He wants service, but service with a smile. It shouldn't be hard for you to put on a happy face. There shall be no stinginess in the worship of God.

 

[Northumber]

In that sense, yes. A father is like a priest, responsible for leading his family to God. However, heirarchy necessary implies separation or even degrees of separation. Before you can get an audience with the CEO, you must climb up the corporate ladder. This was how it was under the Old Covenant. One of the things that makes the New Covenant better, in the words of Hebrews, is the direct access that everyone has to the CEO, namely Jesus.

I have to revisit this because I find it so interesting.

I see a natural direct access with the CEO at the beginning (Adam walked with God), and then a fall, and then gradual slippage away from that natural access, God continually offers ways to rebuild a relationship with what is labeled as Old covenant rituals. People miss the point, focus on the thing, the ritual, rather than the intent behind it, but it all ends up making a very salient point with the arrival of Christ (because that's always what God does - makes even the stuff that is bad good again). Christ again is that natural access, but even better than before.

 

[Tippy]

The Bible does teach both communion and Lord's Day worship. Our next book will probably be the book of Acts, where you will see the Bible teaching these things.

I have read acts before and will be keen to read again. I can't remember an explicit verse commanding weekly meetings in a church building with songs of praise and Bible study.

If you can't account for these 'human' interpretations of Acts then it seems a little bit to undermine the attacks on Orth/Cath for their non-biblical traditions.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

I have read acts before and will be keen to read again. I can't remember an explicit verse commanding weekly meetings in a church building with songs of praise and Bible study.

If you can't account for these 'human' interpretations of Acts then it seems a little bit to undermine the attacks on Orth/Cath for their non-biblical traditions.

Congregating on the Lord's Day, hymn singing, reading Scripture, communion, baptism, etc, are all taught in Scripture, these aren't human traditions. The problem with the human traditions of the Orth/Cath is that they're usually backed up by anathema. If you don't want to kiss icons, you are going to hell according to the 2nd Council of Nicea. It's one thing to have traditions, we all have them, it's quite another to elevate those traditions to the level of Scripture and threaten people with hell for not believing in them.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 36 - 39

[35] Moreover he made a veil of blue silk, and purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen; with Cherubims of broidered work made he it

These are very technical chapters detailing the Hebrews crafting the holy artifacts. The motif of the artifacts is that they reflect paradise. Just as the cherubim guarded the Garden and reflect God's glory, they are present here. The "pomegranates" are modeled after the fruit of the garden. The pillars in the Temple, which will come later, are meant to invoke the trees of the Garden. When Moses goes up the mountain, he goes up to "heaven" and "sees" the heavenly temple. Now even this is symbolism on top of symbolism, looking forward to Christ truly ascending into the heavenly temple. Moses ascending up the mountain and receiving the instructions for the Tabernacle is a type of Jesus ascending up into glory and presenting His intercessory work before the Father in the heavenly temple.

[8] Also he made the Laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass of the mirrors of the women that did assemble and came together at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

If you do not know what mirrors looked like in the ancient world, I recommend you look them up. It's very interesting.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 40

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle. 35And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had dwelt on it, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle. 36Now throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; 37but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. 38For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.

Here is the great reunification at the end of the book. Much like Genesis ended with Jacob's family all reuniting, this book ends with God coming back to dwell with His people; and that's really how the story of the Bible goes, God reuniting with His people at the end of it all.

That's it for Exodus brothers. Let's give it a few days rest and give people a chance to catch up. What book do you want to do next? We had two early votes, one for Numbers and one for Acts. I want to do both but I'm leaning toward Acts to bring the New Testament in for this year.