Bible Topics

I looked up more texts with the "teleoo" root. Everyone already stresses that something or someone is now "complete and able to function perfectly." Hence the "telos" of the world is the moment when the world is brought to be what God intended from the beginning. Then we will be able to use the whole world as it is supposed to be. The newscaster I heard is an example of what the verb "teleoo" means. He talked of the invention of the fountain pen, the ball point, the typewriter, the electric typewriter, the computer and then all the perfections of computers. This line of progress or development is what is meant by "to telos." Everything is developed until perfection is reached. Is it an unending process? Are there various stages of development? Will you be able to participate? The Gospels all stress that participation in the final product depends upon how you shared with others.

The Jerusalem Bible (1967) uses the same term for the adjective and the verb but it is almost non-committal. They translate the adjective "teleios" by the English word "perfect." This is fine if we stop to think about the word "perfect." However, we use this word rather loosely in English.

The Apocalypse is a great piece of literature. I read my commentary and saw that I concluded with the words "I have a lot more to do on this book." I always read the Apocalypse in the setting of old Rome as it is excavated. A person can walk right down the steps and at the street level, it is 2nd century. At the bottom of the stairs it is the first century or earlier. I walked through there twice each day, on my way to and from the PBI. I looked at something different each time.

I have my ideas about "to telos" all arranged in my head. The opening words of Genesis say that the purpose of all creation is to show or establish the Fatherhood of God in the Brotherhood of man (Hebrew word, Bara). This can only be done if the plan of God is followed. The first couple failed miserably and there was a time of trying to get back on track. Finally, Jesus Christ pointed out the way this plan was to be carried out (Greek phrase "to telos").

This plan is presented in the four gospels and the whole picture is necessary. Mark is giving the picture as Peter saw it. The word is "apologia" (1 P 3:15). This means strong personal conviction in each person. Luke stresses "soteria" or "health" in all senses of the word. This stresses that absolutely everyone is invited. It emphasizes the rights and dignity of women. Matthew centers on "basileia" or "kingship" and this is expressed in helping each other in every need so that no one is overlooked or neglected. Finally, John is "huiothesia" or "sonship." The new Adam and the new Eve are establishing true love that is seen in service.

Achieve these goals and the world reaches its goal (telos).

I mulled over the full meaning of "The End" or "To Telos" in the Bible. The opening words of Genesis and the 4 Gospels make a complete picture.

The earth and universe are filled with untold hidden gems. Each time man discovers and makes something new, I can almost see God with a great big grin saying, "I told you it was great. Now keep on digging!" I can see Jesus Christ with a big smile saying, "This is what I was trying to point out. I saw the unlimited possibilities as I worked out my ideas in my itinerant preaching and teaching days. I had a hard time convincing the leaders of the time. In fact, I couldn't even reach them. Now, keep working at the whole ideal."

I enjoy thinking about various aspects and ideas of the gospels as the answer to the opening words and plan of Genesis. The approach of each evangelist and his followers is as different as three great artists presenting the same theme.

I like Mark because this picture is so in keeping with the basic approach of Peter. Luke takes the ideas of Paul and develops a completely new slant on Paul's approach. Matthew follows his own background and approach. John follows his personality throughout his whole life and gives the most developed picture of Christ.

Last night and this morning, I did a lot of thinking about the "final perfection" (telos) of the whole universe. The Biblical picture is clear. God started everything off with all of the potency for development. As it started, he saw that it was good and he was pleased. Then he turned it over to mankind to develop all the potentialities in the whole universe. When it is truly complete it will be peopled with firm conviction, true sharing with each other, sharing in the powers of real kingship and a love that is true harmony. We have a way to go!

I have finally reduced the whole Bible story to two words: from "Bara" to "to telos." The story begins in the "Fatherhood of God" and will be complete in the "Brotherhood of Man." I don't think the universe is going to be destroyed to make an end as has been taught. When the universe is brought to the goal set by God from the start, then it will be peopled with all those who have properly identified themselves in this life.

After that, the period of testing is over. Then people can enjoy themselves for eternity. The unidentified will be cast aside as if they never existed. How much a person will enjoy him or herself will depend on the capacity for joy they developed in this life.

My head has been buzzing full of ideas yesterday and today. The Bible picture of the human race is the time of the first Adam and the second Adam. This is especially true of the picture in John's writings.

The first Adam was a lump of clay. Yahweh breathed and the clay became the first man. Then he was presented with his partner and equal in all things, Eve. They were to set in motion the development of all the treasures hidden in the world. But they made their first big mistake — they tried to play God.

The story of mankind is the constantly widening gap between God and man. Finally, Jesus goes to Jerusalem, the heart of man's folly, and allowed himself to atone for the whole mess.

As he is on the cross, his final act is to give us the new Woman, the New Eve, restored in everything. Then he cried out, "Tetelestai." "There! All that mess is cleared away!" He bowed his head and gave back the breath. The failure of the first Adam was gone.

He came back from the dead, gave the "holy Breath" to his Apostles and sent them on their way. Now the Holy Breath is to be in full function until the "telos" — until the whole world and people reach their goal.

The "telos" of the world will come when people have developed the world to its full potential as intended from the beginning. Then all who have established their personal identity will be able to share in it completely. This is the picture that was drawn in the opening lines of Genesis. This is the idea and ideal that Jesus developed by his life and teaching. Now it is ours to reach.

I have Luke well summarized. Luke is a medical doctor and his summary of the whole work of Christ is "soteria." The theologians translate this as "salvation" and then get lost in their sidetracks and wanderings and distinctions.

Actually, the Greek word means "healing." Luke sees the whole message of Christ as total healing — physical, mental and spiritual. The physical healing is the curing of disease, sickness and care of the sick as practiced by doctors, nurses and all medical help. Mental health is the education and mental development as carried on by teachers, schools, writers and people in education. This would refer in a special way to the home. Spiritual healing is the caring for the spiritual needs of the inner life of a person by counseling, guidance, goal-setting, forgiveness and helping people back on the track.

Each gospel gives one aspect of the "fullness" of the earth or universe as intended from the beginning and as developed and presented by Jesus Christ in his ideas and ideals. Jesus was the talented and gifted student of his day even though he never set foot in the rabbinical schools. He was so convinced of his ideas, he was willing to die for them and did.

The news item on public radio about the Psalms was of interest. St. Jerome made three or possibly four translations of the Psalms. One is extant and is a masterpiece. The Vulgate butchered Jerome, as usual.

Jerome admitted there was much about the "poetic form" that could not be translated. Some of them are songs about specific Bible stories or events and these can be better understood. Most of the Psalms are songs inspired by the mental outlook of the person composing.

There is a definite rhythm to them but this can seldom be matched in our western languages. The acrostics are linguistic masterpieces. Each verse begins with a word that starts with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. That word is almost always the keyword to the verse.

This morning, I'll work on the Psalms. I have a good summary presentation but I leave it to the reader to open the Bible and peruse the 150 songs. I don't think that will get people to open their Bibles. Or, if they do, they will have only the Confraternity translation that leaves a lot to be desired. The Jerusalem Bible translations and footnotes are excellent but few people have the J.B.

I had four major guides in my approach to the Psalms. We recited the whole office in Latin, each day in the Novitiate. Father John, our novice master, wanted us to appreciate the Psalms so he gave us several classes in their make-up as Hebrew poetry, their imagery, historical references, and translation by St. Jerome. Then I did a thorough study in Oconomowoc as a student. Our library was excellent.

In Washington, DC at Catholic University, I studied the Psalms with Pat Skehan, Roland Murphy and Lou Hartman. In Rome, I had Dyson and Bonsirven. When I taught in Oconomowoc, I always gave a good presentation of the Psalms.

I worked on the Psalms again this morning. Some of the Psalms are beautiful poems. However, a lot of them are really "brutal" in their cries for destruction and vengeance on their enemies. A lot of the bigotry and hatred comes from the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC and the subsequent time in the Babylonian exile.

The people in exile were sure this was a punishment for the lives of their ancestors. They saw themselves as the poor, overburdened, innocent people. Ezechiel tried to set them straight with his teaching on personal responsibility. The people, for the most part, ignored him and turned to the pagan idols and fertility cults.

Many of the psalms are cries of despondency because the people blamed everyone else. Ezechiel really weighed into the people for blaming everyone but themselves. He was the first prophet who put all his stress on personal responsibility. The remnant who left the captivity to go back to Jerusalem started off well. However, when they arrived at the city, they saw the mess that was left after the destruction. These were the new generation that had been born in captivity. They started the same old grumbling and decided to sit on their hands. Aggeus (Haggai) and Sophoniah blistered their ears but it did no good for most of them. Many of the Psalms reflect the grumbling attitudes of these people.

St. Jerome was an interesting person and a scholar far beyond his times. The persecutions had come to a halt in 313 A.D. Many theologians and church clergy lacked depth and scholarship. By 380 A.D. the official teaching was in a real mess. Jerome, recognized by all as a great scholar, was commissioned in 380 AD by Pope Damasus to make a new translation from the original languages.

Jerome went off by himself and completed his work in 384. He gave his copy to the Pope and kept one for himself. Damasus immediately had many copies made and gave them to the clergy and theologians around Rome. They began to read and all hell broke loose. They refused all the changes because their theological teachings could not be established in the Bible. They started to make their changes and this continued through the centuries. In 1563 at Trent, this mess was called the official text of the church.

Today is known as Holy Innocents Day. The Magi had stopped to ask Herod where they could find the new King of the Jews. Herod didn't know what they were talking about but he insisted they come back and tell him so he could go to pay his respects.

The Magi learned the real attitude and motive of Herod so they went home by a different route. When Herod learned this, he put out an edict that all male Jewish babies under two years were to be killed. At one time, the number of those slaughtered was thought to be large. Then some calmer heads started to figure the number of babies born in two years' time to a group the size of the Jews, the percentage of boys in these births, and a new figure was deduced. Now the number is given as between 50–75, if that high.

Mary and Joseph took their baby and headed for Egypt. They stayed until they heard Herod had died. However, his successor hated Jews even more than Herod, so Joseph took his family north and they settled in Nazareth. The only source of this story when the Gospel was written was Mary herself.