Posted on 12/03/2005 12:34:09 PM PST by sionnsar
In the daily lectionary this week we have been reading Second Peter. Yesterday's reading took us to the end of Chapter One. Today's reading began with Chapter Three-- a rather large omission. Here, for the edification of all, is the Scriptural passage that the constructors of our BCP decided to leave out of the lectionary:
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
"By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'"
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Good catch - interesting ommission
I would hesitate to draw conclusions, however. 2 Peter 2 occurs on Wednesday through Friday of the week of 3 Advent for Year One in Morning Prayer in the 1979 BCP. And they have additional chutzpah, actually. I Timothy 3 occurs on Wednesday for Morning Prayer of 6 Epiphany, also in Year One. I think this week occurs just about every year, though it would occur more often as the penultimate Sunday in Trinity than as 6 Epiphany.
Still, it can't help the ECUSA cause to 'reform' the sexuality of ministers to read that bishops are supposed to be the husband of one wife and not be greedy after filthy lucre.
Deacon Paul
and apt to teach, controlling their own house well
So why was it left out?
The KJV reads that chapter best of all BTW. :-)
Thats very annoying for the '79 BCP, often in the Old Testament readings, the prayer book omits narratives of killing god's enemies
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