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To: AlguyA; Invincibly Ignorant; CindyDawg
But I often wonder, did Paul teach them that which he taught the Corinthians when he noted that the Israelites in the time of Moses all drank the same spritual drink from the same spiritual Rock that followed them in the desert and that that Rock was Christ?

The reason why I find this interesting is because there is nothing in the Old Testament which tells us the Rock followed them in the desert. There was, however, within Jewish oral tradition at that time a belief that the Rock followed them in the desert. Hence, St. Paul is drawing on this oral tradition in teaching the Corinthians. I wonder, Stephen, would you take St. Paul to task for teaching something withoug 'scripture to back it up?'


Are you reading from the same Bible I am or are you "interpreting" the passage?

1 Corinthians 10: RSV
[4] and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

Allow me to post what I believe is an excellent note from the NAB:
(2) [4] A spiritual rock that followed them: the Torah speaks only about a rock from which water issued, but rabbinic legend amplified this into a spring that followed the Israelites throughout their migration. Paul uses this legend as a literary type: he makes the rock itself accompany the Israelites, and he gives it a spiritual sense. The rock was the Christ: in the Old Testament, Yahweh is the Rock of his people (cf Deut 32, Moses' song to Yahweh the Rock). Paul now applies this image to the Christ, the source of the living water, the true Rock that accompanied Israel, guiding their experiences in the desert.

Paul made it clear when he was teaching tradition and he also made it clear that this tradition was in the past. By that standard no "tradition" past the time of the Apostles is valid.

Please note:

1 Corinthians 11:
[2] I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.

2 Thessalonian 2:
[15] So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

2 Thessalonian 3:
[6] Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

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As for your eisegesis concerning the Rock, the water, and Jesus, you may have missed this.

Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Numbers 20:
[6] Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
[7] and the LORD said to Moses,
[8] "Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water; so you shall bring water out of the rock for them; so you shall give drink to the congregation and their cattle."
[9] And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
[10] And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?"
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[11] And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his rod twice; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.

47,316 posted on 04/18/2003 11:45:18 AM PDT by OLD REGGIE (I am a cult of one? UNITARJEWMIAN)
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To: OLD REGGIE
Hey, thanks for doing the work.

You proved my point. Paul uses tradition as well as scripture. As for the exegisis on Exodus, that's pretty much what I said. There's nothing in there about the rock following them. Thus, as the note from the NAB graciously points out, Paul is using a rabbinic legend(read: tradition) in developing his theology about Christ. Hence, had the Bereans used the same criteria which modern Protestants do, they would have excoreated Paul for adding to Scripture.

Off to Good Friday service. Peace be with you.

47,317 posted on 04/18/2003 12:09:28 PM PDT by AlguyA (I'm giving up tag lines for Lent.)
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To: OLD REGGIE
Oh no! Another book. :') What's this about the rock following them? I'll have to read up on this. Guess I missed it 1st, 2nd, 3rd or maybe even the 4th time I read this passage:')
47,340 posted on 04/18/2003 3:31:01 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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