Sermon Tone Analysis

recap

v.1 after this, passover, jesus back...

The temporal indicator After this is not specific, so it is uncertain how long after the incidents at Cana this occurred.

to read ἑορτή with the article would almost certainly demand a reference to the Jewish Passover

A Jewish feast.

Jews were obligated to go up to Jerusalem for 3 major annual feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

If the first is probably ruled out because of the time of year, the last is not as likely because it forms the central setting for chap.

7

v.2 SETTING THE STAGE...

Sheep Gate- for passover, many sheep, pools purpose, depth etc.

Bethesda- more to come

5 porches- hmmm

Archaeology … Always supports the Bible!!!!

more on Bethesda....

[Ψ] pc vg); codex D has Belzetha.

A lot of controversy has surrounded the name of the pool itself: The reading of the Byzantine (or majority) text (A C Θ 078 f1, 13 𝔐), Bethesda, has been virtually discarded by scholars in favor of what is thought to be the more primitive Bethzatha, even though many recent translations continue to employ Bethesda, the traditional reading.

The latter is attested by Josephus as the name of a quarter of the city near the northeast corner of the temple area.

He reports that the Syrian Legate Cestius burned this suburb in his attack on Jerusalem in October A.D. 68 (J.

W. 2.19.4 [2.530]).

However, there is some new archaeological evidence for this problem.

3Q15 (Copper Scroll) from Qumran seems to indicate that in the general area of the temple, on the eastern hill of Jerusalem, a treasure was buried in Betʾ Esdatayin, in the pool at the entrance to the smaller basin.

The name of the region or pool itself seems then to have been Bet ᾿Esda, “house of the flowing.”

It appears with the dual ending in the scroll because there were two basins.

Bethesda seems to be an accurate Greek rendition of the name, while J. T. Milik suggests Bethzatha is a rendition of the Aramaic intensive plural Betʾ Esdata (DJDJ 3, 271).

As for the text of John 5:2, the fundamental problems with the Bethesda reading are that it looks motivated (with an edifying Semitic etymology, meaning “House of Mercy” [TCGNT 178]), and is minimally attested.

Apart from the Copper Scroll, the evidence for Bethesda is almost entirely shut up to the Byzantine text (C being the most notable exception, but it often has Byzantine encroachments).

On the one hand, this argues the Byzantine reading here had ancient, semitic roots; on the other hand, since both readings are attested as historically accurate, a decision has to be based on the better witnesses.

The fact that there are multiple readings here suggests that the original was not well understood.

Which reading best explains the rise of the others?

It seems that Bethzatha is the best choice.

v.3 Many ill folk… physically but also spiritually… more on this later!

v. 4 an angel...

Other MSS include only v. 3b (Ac D 33 lat) or v. 4 (A L it).

Few textual scholars today would accept the authenticity of any portion of vv.

3b–4, for they are not found in the earliest and best witnesses (𝔓66, 75 א B C* T pc co)

maybe a local urban legend… could be a rouge fallen one seeking a following… NT ex.

placebos...

v.5-6 Jesus approaches the man… asked a keen question, doesn’t assume need… else where...

Many of us are in Need of healing, physical and spiritual.

physical, mental, emotional

verses on healing

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

Is anyone among you sick?

Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.

If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.

And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

Isaiah 53:

the church should also be a house of Mercy… where people are gathering to be healed physically and spiritually… are we bringing life to death?

v.7 the mans response is very familiar, God has many things for us but we make excuses...

what excuses are we making even today about healing both physical and spiritual...

personal testimony scoliosis and psoriasis...

Mariah’s baby testimony...

measures of faith...

recap last week...

Mario...

God’s timing and reasoning...

v.8 Jesus’ commands, our response...

alter call for spiritual healing and physical healing...