Theology On Tap

In this episode we continue our look at how to understand Scripture correctly. Mark’s Poem/Prayer Dear Lord Jesus, Your word is pure and your love is sure. Speak truth to me that I may see Your grace so true and what I should do. Dear Lord Jesus, Your word is pure and love is sure. Speak truth in me that all may see Your grace so clear and your love so near. Amen Pastor Mark’s 5 (hopefully) easy-to-remember categories: 1. All Scripture is inspired, inerrant word of God - not just the stuff we like. 2. All of Scripture is centered on Christ. 3. The mission of God (Missio Dei) is evident in every book of the Bible. 4. All of Scripture's passages have one of two possible messages: Law or Gospel. 5. The best way to understand how to apply that Bible to your life today is to understand what it meant to the first writers/hearers. Resources: D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo, “Introduction to the New Testament”, Zondervan Temper Longman III, “Introduction to the Old Testament,” Zondervan Gordon Fee, Douglas Stewart, “How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth.” Zondervan 4th ed. https://www.BibleProject.com Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

This time we will take a look at what might be some of our listeners favorite passages, and we want to be gentle. Remember the big question of this season: “How can we be confident that we correctly understand the Bible?” That’s all we’re hoping to accomplish. We want you to be confident that you are hearing - and sharing - the truth of God’s Word. Pastor Mark’s 5 (hopefully) easy-to-remember categories: 1. All Scripture is inspired, inerrant word of God - not just the stuff we like. 2. All of Scripture is centered on Christ. 3. The mission of God (Missio Dei) is evident in every book of the Bible. 4. All of Scripture's passages have one of two possible messages: Law or Gospel. 5. The best way to understand how to apply that Bible to your life today is to understand what it meant to the first writers/hearers. Resources: D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo, “Introduction to the New Testament”, Zondervan Temper Longman III, “Introduction to the Old Testament,” Zondervan Gordon Fee, Douglas Stewart, “How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth.” Zondervan 4th ed. https://www.BibleProject.com Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

Last time we talked about what you might call “situational context” and how that helps our understanding of the Bible. This time we will talk about translations – how they can impact our understanding. The books of the Bible were not originally written in English. The written documents of the Old Testament books were handed down through time in Hebrew language. And the New Testament books were initially written in Greek. We’re not suggesting that faithful Bible students have to learn those languages. But translators do know those languages – intimately – and they take their work seriously. But they have decisions to make. Types of Translations: · Formal equivalence = word for word= English Standard Version · Closest natural equivalence / Meaning for meaning = God’s Word Translation · Dynamic/functional equivalence Thought for thought / phrase for phrase = New International Version · Paraphrase/ retelling = The Message; The Living Bible Link to Episode 203: https://anchor.fm/theologyontap/episodes/Theology-On-Tap--Episode-203-Canon-and-Translations-eqatq3  Pastor Mark’s 5 (hopefully) easy-to-remember categories: 1. All Scripture is inspired, inerrant word of God - not just the stuff we like. 2. All of Scripture is centered on Christ. 3. The mission of God (Missio Dei) is evident in every book of the Bible. 4. All of Scripture's passages have one of two possible messages: Law or Gospel. 5. The best way to understand how to apply that Bible to your life today is to understand what it meant to the first writers/hearers. Resources: D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo, “Introduction to the New Testament”, Zondervan Temper Longman III, “Introduction to the Old Testament,” Zondervan Gordon Fee, Douglas Stewart, “How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth.” Zondervan 4th ed. https://www.BibleProject.com Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

Throughout this season, we will answer an important question: “How can we be confident that we correctly understand the Bible?” Pastor Mark’s 5 (hopefully) easy-to-remember categories: 1. All Scripture is inspired, inerrant word of God - not just the stuff we like. 2. All of Scripture is centered on Christ. 3. The mission of God (Missio Dei) is evident in every book of the Bible. 4. All of Scripture's passages have one of two possible messages: Law or Gospel. 5. The best way to understand how to apply that Bible to your life today is to understand what it meant to the first writers/hearers. Link to Episode: 204: https://anchor.fm/theologyontap/episodes/Theology-On-Tap--Episode-204-Five-Keys-to-Interpreting-the-Bible-eqb6tm Resources: D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo, “Introduction to the New Testament”, Zondervan Temper Longman III, “Introduction to the Old Testament,” Zondervan Gordon Fee, Douglas Stewart, “How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth.” Zondervan 4th ed. https://www.BibleProject.com Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

Bible Verses Used in the episode: James 2:18 Another person might say, “You have faith, but I do good things.” Show me your faith apart from the good things you do. I will show you my faith by the good things I do. Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news…. Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. When we gather, we gather around His Truth. That truth is stated in clear, absolute statements. Jesus IS risen Sins ARE forgiven Baptism NOW saves us This IS my body and blood There is NOW NO condemnation for those who believe. We observe that he feeds His Body using ordinary familiar objects – Word, Water, Bread, Wine In a world with all kinds of uncertainty, these absolutes statements attached to ordinary things are comforting and nourishing. But when we go things get a little trickier. We are commanded to do good works and care for those in need and yet, “the poor will always be with us.” We desire to build relationships in our community, to pray and work for prosperity in our world, but we shouldn’t promise our community that we can bring earthly utopia. We’ll never get there, but we can and should strive to make improvements. That takes work and energy and wisdom, so we return to His truths regularly - for renewed strength. But even as we do this work we find that God uses ordinary, familiar things.  We talked about vocations – the idea that God gives to His people - ordinary work - prepared in advance by God - to be done by ordinary people to the best of their ability in order to bless their neighbors. Facilitating the great commandment and the great commission Body of Christ – perhaps not a metaphor that resonates well with people. Are there other metaphors? Wild Olive branches grafted in Family Brothers and sisters God’s children Bride and Groom What metaphor speaks to you? Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

Key Passages for this episode: Micah 6:8 what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Matthew 28: 19.20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.” A couple of definitions: Evangelism (εὐαγγέλιόν)  – tellers of the good message (Missionaries) Ephesians 4:11 ”Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists… to the Body” Ambassador: (πρεσβεύω) a person who has been given authority to communicate or to act on behalf of a ruler—‘representative, ambassador. 2 Corinthians 5:20. (Paraphrase) We are Christ’s ambassadors, His representatives calling others to be reunited with God. Witness: (μάρτυς) A person who saw something, To give testimony to it. Testify. To be persecuted for it. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Link to the video Seth mentioned- https://youtu.be/Ug5GBS34B_o  Link the the video Kyle mentioned- https://youtu.be/u4ZoJKF_VuA   Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

The Body of Christ- Why do we go? Why? Because God asks us to go – He sends us. What does he ask us to do? Micah 6:8 what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Matthew 28: 19.20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.” So what does God expect of us when we go? Bring Justice, mercy, humility to our neighbor & make disciples How do members of the Body follow those instructions?  Vocation! A neighbor-oriented perspective on Christian living - that develops from the foundation of Grace alone, Faith Alone, Scripture alone, Christ alone. But just as God equips the body when He gathers it, he also equips it when he sends it too. So why do we go? Because God sends us! What does he send us to do? By giving us a vocation to serve our neighbor! How does he equip us to answer that call? Vocations. The book Mark was reading from in this episode is: Vieth, Gene. Working for Our Neighbor: A Lutheran Primer on Vocation, Economics, and Ordinary Life. Christian's Library Press. 2016 Link to order book: https://www.amazon.com/Working-Our-Neighbor-Lutheran-Economics/dp/1942503296/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=gene+veith+working&qid=1622173196&sr=8-2 Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

When God gathers His Body, He feeds His body, gives it nutrition. He is strengthening, growing the koinonia of His Body Some of those feeding experiences seem to be the same through time: In Worship, God feeds us; we respond. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;   you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. -Psalm 51:16 You must not worship the Lord your God in the way those who worship idols worship their gods. … Seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; … There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. -Deuteronomy 12:5 We love because he first loved us. -1 John 4:19 The Word (Scripture), Communion, and Baptism are constant ways in which God Promises to always feed and strengthen koinonia Some portions of those experiences are different over time 1.      Traditions and cultures change 2.      Location of the gathering place 3.      Worship music 4.      Method of Word study, frequency of Communion, method of baptizing. 5.      What age groups attend? 6.      Do people stand or sit? Why? 7.      Robes, stoles, incense Some of the ways the koinonia is built and fed adapt in time and place. But God also has some unchanging ways which He promises will build and feed koinonia. So what is God doing when He gathers his Body? Feeding and strengthening it! What are his Gathered people doing – being fed and strengthened for the work of the Body. Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com   Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

Episode 302- The Body of Christ- Why do we gather? Link to Jacob Collier’s website- https://www.jacobcollier.com/  (not a paid promotion) Psalm 147:2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. Jeremiah 23:3 Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. Deuteronomy 30:3, 4 Then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. Matthew 23:37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. I Corinthians 12:13-18 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (Through baptism, the Holy Spirit makes believers to be members of Christ’s body, the Christian church)  ... Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them. So why do we gather? - Because that’s how God designed humans - Because the Spirit of God gathers us for His good purposes and His good pleasure Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

The Body of Christ- by Mark Siegert His body looking shoddy hanging up there on the cross This is how He gets a win? This is not a loss? There’s extra room in His tomb No body in that prison This IS how He got the win See! He has risen! This now done He makes us one – one body resurrected Our hostile traits are crushed to death In Him we’re all connected This now done He makes us one – one body resurrected Our hostile traits are crushed to death In Him we’re all connected ------ Some things we might mean when we say or hear the phrase, “Body of Christ.” 1. The literal physical body of Jesus. 2. Or, we might think about His body which is truly present in Communion Matt 26:26. Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24 3. Or – more probably – we use the phrase as a metaphor – a really powerful metaphor to describe the Church and our place in it. Ephesians 1:22,23 Romans 7:4 1 Cor 10:16,17 koinónia spiritual fellowship an association involving close mutual relations and involvement—‘close association, fellowship. Ephesians 2:14-16 Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

Season three drops May 7th.  Our theme this season is "The Body of Christ."   Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show

Natural Revelation- What we learn about God from Creation – the natural world. As our beginning point, we will notice that the Bible itself does say that creation does have something to say to us. Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Over time the Bible’s statements like these led believers to look at creation in order to see what creation might be saying. These observations are now sometimes categorized as “arguments” for the existence of God. If you are a Christian, you do not need to stand in opposition to science. Rather, you can embrace science. This is where we learn important and useful stuff about the natural world. We may or may not learn about God, but we can learn about nature. So, please don’t assume that because you are a Christian you have to ignore science or speak against it. If fact, if you think God might be calling you to work in a scientific field, feel free to explore the possibilities. When it seems that “science” and the Bible are contradicting each other, we as Christians can’t simply ignore that observation AND we can’t automatically conclude that science is always wrong. It could be that our interpretation of the Bible is incorrect. It could also be that what we think we “know” from science is incorrect. “What can we learn about God from the natural world?” - We can learn that God exists. - What else can we learn? And I think there are a few other related – and very important – questions: - What do we NOT learn about God from nature? - What do we learn about God from the Bible’s story of creation? - And again do we NOT learn about God from that story? Put another way: - What do we learn – and not learn – about God from His creation? - What do we learn – and not learn – about God from His account of creation? Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show

Five Keys to Interpreting the Bible: 1. All Scripture is the inspired, inerrant word of God - not just the stuff we like. 2. All of Scripture is centered on Christ. 3. The mission of God (Missio Dei) is evident in every book of the Bible. 4. All of Scripture's passages have one of two possible messages: Law or Gospel. Law: statements tell us what to do For our own good – so that life might go well for us For the good of our neighbor – so that life might go well for our neighbor To eventually remind us that we don’t won’t can’t perfectly follow His laws To make it clear what the consequences are for that disobedience. Gospel: What He does to restore our relationships with Him 5. The best way to understand how to apply that Bible to your life today is to understand what it meant to the first writers/hearers. Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show

Mark’ s Haiku: God speaks to people Who He is How much He loves His people Good News! Canon- Technically the word means a set of rules or measures by which something is judged to be authentic. Also refers to a collection of things which are judged to be authentic. Link to Video that Seth mentioned about the translators at the UN- https://youtu.be/cXNTArhA0Jg Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com  Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast  Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show

If you haven't listened to our episode on Scripture Alone from last season, you might want to listen before you get into this week's episode.  Here is a direct link: https://anchor.fm/theologyontap/episodes/Theology-On-Tap--Episode-1-03-Sola-Scriptura-Scripture-Alone-elfsct/a-a3km05l What is the Bible? Actually not a single book, but a library of 66 books In short, it is God’s revelation about Himself to His people for His people. It is History It is Inspired- or breathed out -  by God 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the people of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. It doesn’t just contain the inspired Word of God, It is the Word of God It is Inerrant- It doesn't contain errors. It is Living and Active- Not simply ink on a page or pixels on a screen Genesis 2:7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Ezekiel 37:9 Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. It is Performative- It has the power to do things. Psalm 29: The voice of the Lord is powerful;  the voice of the Lord is majestic. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon…  The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks  and strips the forests bare. Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

Mark's Poem: From the powerful words of creation And the prophets’ proclamation God’s chosen people had great expectation Of God’s coming salvation Yahweh had spoken This is the way The angels then made declaration The baby born to a virgin is the incarnation This infant is the culmination Of God’s promised salvation Yahweh has spoken This is the way In life this God in flesh found humiliation But the cross and His rising were God’s manifestation He brings hope to every nation For all who believe, He provides salvation Jesus has spoken “I am the way” Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.

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Pastor Seth Moorman and Kayleigh Lopez bring some Christmas greetings and get you ready for Season 2 of Theology On Tap. Episode One of Season Two drops on Friday January 8th.   Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com or join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show.  

In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses the hymn "A Mighty Fortress" and the Psalm behind it, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation. A Mighty Fortress & Psalm 46 Luther wrote words and music between 1527 & 1529. Ein feste Burg ist unser Got It became known as the “anthem of the Reformation.” · Perhaps used to inspire troops in wars against the Ottoman Empire which was pushing into Europe · Perhaps used as a battle anthem by the Swedes during the 30 years war · Perhaps an anthem of the Swedish Socialists in the 19th Century The hymn has a unique metrical pattern – Luther didn’t borrow the tune. He wrote it and it enhances the lyrics. He did not use a bar tune. His tune fits the lyrics. Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength,    a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam,    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,    the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;    God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;    he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us;    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,    how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;    he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God.    I will be exalted among the nations,    I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us;    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah A liturgical psalm Used is worship services by Ancient Hebrews – a song         · Psalm of Comfort                 o Describing God’s power                         § As a refuge during crisis                                 · Very present help                         § A fortress which is a military image    - but… Interestingly – It doesn’t describe walls built by humans, or human armaments, chariots, or even horses which make this fortress impregnable. It is the Lord of hosts, who in the past destroyed the enemies of the city of God and who still is able to make wars cease to the end of the earth. The Psalm has its own “rhythm,” perhaps 2 verses which we can find even in English Verse 1 (verses 1-6) Refrain (verse 7) “The Lord of Hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress.” Verse 2 (verses 8-10) Refrain (verse 11) “The Lord of Hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress.”

In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses that moment that the Gospel of Jesus became real to Martin Luther, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation. Righteous, Righteousness, just, justice, justified are all usually the same word Leviticus 19:15 ““You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. Luke 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Romans 1:17  For in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4,  “Behold, [the Babylonian King’s] soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. Luther’s Works 34 pages 325-338 Preface to the Complete Edition of Latin Writings written in 1545, describing the events and circumstances of his early days as professor. I was once a monk and a most enthusiastic papist… drunk and submerged in the pope’s dogmas … I [defended them] in seriousness, as one who in dread of the last day, nevertheless, from the depth of my heart, I wanted to be saved. Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that [God] was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and I secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God, and said, "As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the decalogue, without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!" Thus I raged with fierce and troubled conscience. Nevertheless, I beat persistently upon Paul …  most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted. At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, in Romans 1:17 namely, "In [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, 'He who through faith is righteous shall live.'" There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through its gates…. That place in Paul Rom 1:17 was truly the gate to paradise. With that, Luther came to love the word “righteousness of God” with as much zeal as he had previously hated it. And he saw comforting analogies to the “Righteousness of God” in phrases like Power of God, wisdom of God, strength of God, salvation of God. So, some say that the Reformation didn’t actually begin with the posting of the 95 theses but with this discovery. Continue the Conversation on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast/ Twitter- @theology_ontap If you want to join a live recording of Theology On Tap via zoom, send an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com.