English Bible Lesson 10: Damascus road experience (Acts 9:1-22)

听力预习

This week's scripture listening: 跟读使徒行传第9章，侧重听第1-22节：
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Acts.9 (English audio)

无法打开网页需翻录的音频，请用群内翻录的音频。听了几遍后，查看中英文对照原文：
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9&version=NIV
https://www.wordproject.org/bibles/gb/44/9.htm#0 (Chinese中文 link) 

大家反复听后，仔细想想或独自写一下你对下面的预习题的想法：
1) 你知道这章书有关的成语吗？/Do you know any idioms/expressions from this chapter?
2）划出自己不懂的单词和不明白的句子/Identify new words and sentences that you don't understand
3）Read along practice 跟读练习和分享，
经文中出现的人名（请跟读):

Saul,  Jesus, Ananias

地名（请跟读）

Damascus，Tarsus, Jerusalem,Israel 

难词/生词（请跟读）

synagogues, persecute, disciple, authority,gentiles, baptized,astonished, baffled,Messiah    

背景：《使徒行传》介绍

内容概要：记述基督的福音，如何由耶路撒冷移至叙利亚的安提阿，经小亚细亚、希腊，而伸展到罗马的全部过程事实，故本书乃基督教起始之最早记载，亦为教会历史中，自第一世纪唯一流传迄今者
作者：本书作者，在全书中虽未有提到其名字，但根据一章1，2节，与路加福音一章1-3节记载相似的叙言意思，以及两书文章语气，并所用之医学名词（路四38，八43，44，徒三2，7，十三11，廿八8）等情形看来，推测是医生路加（西四14）所写，由早期的教会领袖，如爱任纽、革利免，以及特土良人等皆曾予以证实。
写作时间：本书约在主后63-65 年之间于罗马写成，大概是当保罗在罗马两年被囚的末期（徒廿八16，30）
本书内容所包括的时间：自主后32-65年，约有三十二年的时期
大纲：

一、在耶路撒冷见证(一至七章)

二、在犹大、撒玛利亚见证(八至十二章)

三、直到地极见证(十三至廿八章)

         1.保罗第一次旅行布道(十三至十四章)──主后48~49年

         2.第一次教会大会(十五章上半)──主后49~50年

         3.保罗第二次旅行布道(十五章下半至十八章)──主后50~52年

         4.保罗第三次旅行布道(十九至廿一章上半)──主后53~57年

         5.抵耶路撒冷被捕(廿一章下半)

         6.在百姓前分诉(廿二章)

         7.在公会前分诉(廿三章)

         8.对腓力斯分诉(廿四章)

         9.对非斯都分诉(廿五章)

         10.对亚基帕分诉(廿六章)

         11.坐船去罗马(廿七章)──主后59~60年

         12.抵罗马监禁(廿八章)──主后60~62年

         13.被释后(参提前、提多、提后三书信)──主后62~67年

         14.再度被捕、殉道──主后68年

保罗的介绍：

- lived in Tarsus, so he was a Roman citizen

- originally named Saul, later renamed as Paul, which means “small” or “humble” in Latin.

- a Jew, he was like many Jews who felt the followers of Jesus posed a threat to the Jewish religion

- persecuted the church but after a life-changing experience on his way to Damascus, he was  converted to Christianity

- became a missionary and went to many places to preach the Gospels of Christ

The Conversion on the Way to Damascus

Artist  Caravaggio

Year  1601

Medium  Oil on canvas

Location  Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome

English Scripture 经文学习

Saul’s Conversion
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against (口吐威胁) the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way(信奉这道）, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground（扑倒在地）and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute（迫害） me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles（外邦人） and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc （残害）in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled（困惑/驳倒） the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

pink: 专有名词跟读
blue: 短语
成语：红色
重要动词：persecute, baptized, baffled

Idioms成语（使徒行传中的成语）
-A Damascus road experience/Damascus road conversion：In modern day usage, a Damascus road experience or conversion refers to a sudden change on a serious issue such as changing political views, a major career change or converting to another religion. 是指生命中一些重要事情突然转向，例如转投另一政党，转工或改信另一宗教。e.g. That moment was my road to Damascus. Everything changed after that.
- Scales falling from the eyes鳞片从眼睛落下: When the scales fall from your eyes, you suddenly realize the truth about something. To suddenly be able to see a situation clearly and accurately.
e.g. I used to be so in love with Andrew, but now that we've broken up, I've had scales fall from my eyes, and I can see how oafish he truly is!
Once you start working somewhere new, it doesn't take long until you have the scales fall from your eyes, and you can see all of the problems of your "perfect" new job.
- Raised havoc / wreaked havoc: Caused trouble, damage or disorder
- Shake the dust off one's feet 把脚上的尘土跺下去（马太 10：14）/ 使徒行传13:50-51 这样的表述在圣经里出现了两次。在马太福音里，耶稣告诉他的门徒如果那个镇的人不欢迎他们传教，他们就把脚上的尘土跺下去。这种行为是表示他们要与那些拒绝神的话的人分开。“shaking dust from one’s feet”亦记载于使徒行传。当时保罗和巴拿巴在安提阿向外邦人传道，这些人很高兴地接纳了神的话，但他们俩却被犹太人驱逐出境。所以保罗和巴拿巴在他们面前跺下脚上的尘土以示抗议。shaking dust from one’s feet这种动作表示了你非常希望离开一些不满意的境况。
- More blessed to give than to receive 施比受更為有福（使徒行传20:35）这个圣经中的一段已经逐渐发展成更流行的说法：“施比受更有福”。这个习语现已变成慈善组织筹款时常用的标语。

阅读/听力理解
WHO: Saul/Paul,  Ananias,  Jesus, (disciples, high priest, men travelling with Saul, those in Synagogues)
When: noon time/on his journey
Where:  near Damascus (Syria)
What: 
-Jesus talked to Saul and he was blinded
-Ananias healed Saul
- Began to preach Jesus is the Son of God
Why: why Saul changed?

讨论：
Why do you think Saul will convert into Christianity?
Will someone believe after seeing the miracles?

Which aspect of your life do you think needs changes? e.g. school life, relationship with family or friends, etc

Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

约翰福音20：24-29

24 那十二个门徒中有称为低土马的多马，耶稣来的时候，他没有和他们同在。 25 那些门徒就对他说：“我们已经看见主了！”多马却说：“我非看见他手上的钉痕，用指头探入那钉痕，又用手探入他的肋旁，我总不信。”
多马释疑
26 过了八日，门徒又在屋里，多马也和他们同在。门都关了，耶稣来站在当中说：“愿你们平安！” 27 就对多马说：“伸过你的指头来，摸[a]我的手！伸出你的手来，探入我的肋旁！不要疑惑，总要信！” 28 多马说：“我的主！我的神！” 29 耶稣对他说：“你因看见了我才信，那没有看见就信的有福了！”

Quotes from Paul
“Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” 忘记背后努力面前的，向着标竿直跑，要得神在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。( Philippian 3:13-14)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人。旧事已过，都变成新的了。 (2 Corinthians 5:17)

课外疑难：
Q: In Acts 9:3-8, how come this differs from accounts in 22:6-21 and Acts 26:12-18? 
A: The accounts differ in three aspects.
Light and Paul’s companions
Acts 26:13: The light was around Saul and his companions
Acts 22:13 Saul and his companions all saw a bright light in Acts 22:13.
Acts 9:3 A light from heaven flashed around Saul, but it does not specify what was around his companions or what they saw.
Conclusion: Saul and his companions all saw a bright light that was around them. It does not specify whether the light was around Saul first, or around all of them at the same time, and actually it does not matter.
Voice and Paul’s companions
Not the answer: In Acts 22:8-9 Paul might simply have been mistaken about what the men heard, and Scripture faithfully recorded what Paul said. However, Paul probably knew, and Paul was likely NOT mistaken here.
The answer:
Acts 26:14 Saul of Tarsus (Paul) heard a voice. It does not specify what his companions heard
Acts 22:9 Saul’s companions did not hear/understand the voice.
Acts 9:7 Saul’s companions heard the sound, but did not see anyone.
Conclusion: There is no difficulty if Saul’s companions heard a sound, but did not understand the voice. The word in Acts 22:9 is used 153 times in Luke’s writing. 57 times it means listen to understand, and 7 times is means to obey. This verb in the genitive form tends to mean just hear. In the accusative form, as used in Acts 22:9 it often means listen to understand, though it can just mean hear also.
Posture of Saul’s companions
Acts 26:14 Saul and his companions all fell to the ground
Acts 22:6-9 Saul fell to the ground, but it does not specify what his companions did.
Acts 9:7 Saul’s companions stood there speechless.
Conclusion: All of them were standing initially. Saul was blinded and fell to the ground. After initially standing speechless, the fear of the voice and the light would easily cause his companions to fall to the ground too.

References：
教学设计参考: http://www.selbl.org
疑难：http://www.biblequery.org/acts.html

English Bible Lesson 9: Last Supper (Mark 14)

The Last Supper, ca. 1520, by Giovanni Pietro Rizzoli, called Giampietrino (active 1508–1549), after Leonardo da Vinci, Oil on canvas, in the collection of The Royal Academy of Arts, London; full-scale copy that was the main source for the twenty-year restoration of the original (1978-1998).

听力预习

请预听和跟读马可福音第14章，侧重听Mark 14：12-52（Last Supper/最后的晚餐)  (similar in Matthew 26, Luke 22 and John 13)
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/mark.14

无法打开网页需翻录的音频，请用翻录的音频。听了几遍后，可以查看中英文对照原文

大家反复听后，仔细想想或独自写一下你对下面的预习题的想法：
1) 你知道这章书有关的成语吗？/Do you know any idioms/expressions from this chapter?
2）划出自己不懂的单词和不明白的句子/Identify new words and sentences that you don't understand
3）Read along practice 跟读练习和分享（在群里和/或网络直播时）
4) 这幅画和经文的最后晚餐有什么不一样？油画中哪位是犹大？

背景
福音書的作者都是隱名的，但從早期的教會歷史資料，可知本書的作者是馬可。馬可是他的拉丁名字，希伯來名則叫約翰(參徒十二12)。據信他的家相當富有，樓房非常寬敞，被主選用來作和祂門徒吃逾越節筵席的場所；又在主復活升天以後，一百二十名門徒聚集在那樓房裏禱告，結果帶下五旬節(參徒一12~15；二1)。一般都稱那樓房為『馬可樓』。又有人說，客西馬尼園也是馬可家所有，主與門徒們可以常常到那裏去禱告，因此猶大知道主在吃完晚餐後，必定又是到那園裏，才會率領公會的兵丁去那裏捉拿耶穌。當主被捉拿時，那一個丟下所披的麻布，赤身逃走的少年人(參十四51~52)，大概就是馬可本人；因為別的福音書均未提到這事。

课堂笔记
马可福音14章的纲要/Outline of Chapter 14
一、最後晚餐（十四1～25）
   1.決定要殺死耶穌（十四1～2）
   2.在伯大尼(Bethany)受膏（十四3～9）
   3.被猶大出賣（十四10～11）
   4.樓房的主人（十四12～16）
   5.被賣的預言（十四17～21）
   6.主的晚餐（十四22～25）
二、在客西馬尼的傷痛（十四26～42）
   1.往客西馬尼的路（十四26～31）
   2.園中的傷痛（十四32～42）
三、耶穌被捉拿（十四43～52）
四、彼得跌倒（十四53～72）

听和跟读/Listen and read along
注：下面的红字为难读或易读错的词语
The Last Supper
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread（除酵节）, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining（斜倚） at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

27 “You will all fall away（离弃）,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,

    and the sheep will be scattered.’[d]

28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[e] you yourself will disown me three times.”

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Gethsemane

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus Arrested

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Learn some new words and phrases 生词和短语的学习
fall away: withdraw from Jesus' company
insisted emphatically: strongly
diown: formally end your connection with someone / deny
Keep watch: observe with continuous attention
cup: Jesus’ suffering / sacrifice
their eyes were heavy:  you are tired so you can barely keep your eyes open
the hour has come: time
armed with swords and clubs:带着刀棒
under guard: keep under close watch in order to prevent escape


Literary device/文学手段
27 You will all fall away, Jesus told them, for it is written:
'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.‘ ( an idiom using Metaphor)
36 Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup（比喻） from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will（对比）.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak：（对比）.

阅读/听力理解/讨论
What did Jesus do with the bread before the disciples ate it? （14：22）
What part of Jesus did the cup signify at the last Supper? （14：23）
Jesus predicted Peter would disown him. How many times would Peter disown him? When would this happen? （14：30）
How many times did Jesus find his disciples asleep? （14：31）
Was Jesus disappointed when he returned from Gethsemane to find his disciples asleep? (14:37-42)

Who were those people with Judas when he betrayed Jesus? （14：43)
What signal did Judas give to identify Jesus as the man to be arrested? (14:44)
What would you do in the following scene if you were one of the disciples? 
46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Idioms成语（马可福音中的成语）

A camel go through the eye of a needle 骆驼穿过针的眼（马可福音10：25）在表面看来，骆驼是不可能从骆驼里钻出来的。有一个富人问耶稣他应该怎样做才能得到永生。耶稣看着他，就爱他，要求他卖掉他所有的财产后跟随他。这个人看着就变了脸色，走开了。因为富人要进神的国就如骆驼要穿过针的眼一样难。耶稣这样对他的门徒们说。 但这不是就说富人就不能进神的国。其实钱本身不是问题，是富人对钱的爱多过对神的爱，这才是对富人的挑战。

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak心有余而力不足。（马可福音 14：38）当我们说一个人精力不足无法完成工作时，我们就用The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak这句话来表示。

Kiss of Judas, Judas's betrayal of Jesus with a kiss identifying him to his executioners.If you say that a particular event is the kiss of death for something, you mean that it is certain to make them fail or be a disaster.
e.g.Trying to please an audience is the kiss of death for an artist.
e.g. A political scandal is a kiss of death to politicians.
e.g. Your attitude was the kiss of death for your employment here.

Last supper 最后的晚餐, 最后的晚餐是耶稣在临死前和他的门徒最后的一顿饭。在晚餐时，耶稣祝福了面包和葡萄汁，让它们分别代表他的身体和血。自从他死后，这种仪式一直保存到今天，对此各个教派也有不同的称呼。如早期教会称为“Eucharist”(圣餐)，新教教会称为“Holy Communion”(圣餐)，而罗马天主教会则称为“Mass”（弥撒）。仪式的目的是为了纪念耶稣的死，同时也为了加强基督教徒间的凝聚力。 《最后的晚餐》是意大利画家里昂那多.达文西Leonardo Da Vinci的杰作。这幅壁画创作于1495-1498,現存放於圣玛丽教堂，教堂坐落在今天位于米兰的Santa Maria delle Grazie 。今天世界各地的人都不辞千里涌向这个世界文化遗产遗址瞻仰这幅名作。
e.g. The owner of a house on a Scarborough cliff edge has hosted a special dinner as a farewell gesture to the property which is at risk of falling off the cliff as it crumbles. Owner Kane Cunningham invited twelve guests to the bungalow's "last supper "to highlight the perils of climate change.(http://ne ws.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8578583.stm)

疑难讨论（课后补充）from Bible query
Q: In Mk 14:27 (KJV), how would the disciples be offended at Jesus because Jesus did not defend Himself? 
A: Their faith would be crushed when Jesus, with all His power, voluntarily submitted to capture, mistreatment, and death. A powerful Messiah would be expected to defend Himself and defeat the Romans, not to surrender to them.
Q: In Mk 14:42-52, does this depict a Jesus who was at their mercy in contrast to the other Gospels depicting Jesus as in charge, as some liberals say?
A: That is an over-simplification. Since early times, Christians have recognized that Matthew stressed Jesus as the Promised King, who fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. Mark emphasized Jesus as the suffering servant and Jesus’ actions. Luke emphasized Jesus as a man, and Luke wrote most on Jesus’ childhood. John emphasized Jesus as God, and was probably written assuming the read had read the other gospels.
Q: In Mk 14:51-52, who was that "un-masked man", who fled away without his clothes? 
A: While Scripture does not say, tradition says it was John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark. The skeptical Asimov’s Guide to the Bible p.905 also says the same, adding the speculation that "that the evangelist could not resist mentioning his presence at a key point in the story of Jesus." 

References:
Phrase:https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bible-phrases-sayings.html
疑难： http://www.biblequery.org/mk.html
课程内容教学计划：http://www.selbl.org/

English Bible Lesson 8: Prodigal Son (Luk e15：11-32)

听力预习

请预听和跟读路加福音第15章，侧重听15：11-32（浪子回头的故事/Prodigal Son)
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/luke.15

无法打开网页需翻录的音频，请用翻录的音频。听了几遍后，可以查看中英文对照原文

大家反复听后，仔细想想或独自写一下你对下面的预习题的想法：
1) 你知道这章书有关的成语吗？/Do you know any idioms/expressions from this chapter?
2）划出自己不懂的单词和不明白的句子/Identify new words and sentences that you don't understand
3）What are the 5W( who, where, when, what, why) of the story?
4）Read along practice 跟读练习和分享（在群里和/或网络直播时）
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (Luke 15:21)
Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  (Luke 15:22-24)
You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  (Luke 15:31-32)
5) 思考以下问题：
- In Lk 15, what do the three parables have in common?

- In Lk 15:20-24, why did the father take back the prodigal son, and should he have done so? 

- In Lk 15:25,29-30, did the elder brother have a valid point?
6）换位思考：如果你是故事中的父亲/大儿子/小儿子， 你会如何？

课堂笔记
路加福音15章的纲要/Outline of Chapter 15
What prompted Jesus to tell the three parables(15:1-2)
Lost sheep (a shepherd's story) (15:3-6)
Jesus explained (15:7)
Lost money (a woman’s story) (15:8-9)
Jesus explained (15:10)
Lost son/Prodigal Son (15:11-32)

听和跟读/Listen and read along
注：下面的红字为难读或易读错的词语
The Parable of the Lost Son （1’21）
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate*.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Learn some new words and phrases 生词和短语的学习

share of estate: my part of all the money and property; 

squandered: wasted; wild living: Live a life in a very uncontrolled way;

Hire himself out: to give the use of his services for payment

Lost and found

Everything I have is yours:Becomes a famous quote in songs and movies

Fill in the blanks by using the words and phrases just learnt填空题:

Don’t squander food. Buy just what you will eat.

 I long to listen to the live concert of Lady Gaga.

The U.S. soldiers backed home safe and sound from Iraq.

When he came to his sense, he realized that he had been sleeping on the street.

 Do you know why more teenagers hire themselves out as teen models?

阅读理解/Reading comprehension

Look for the answers from Chapter 15

1.How did the younger son earn a living after spending his money?(15:15)

2. How did he come to his senses and decided to return home? ?(15:16)

3. How did his father react when he saw the son from a distance? (15:20)

4. Why was his elder brother angry and refused to celebrate his brother’s return? (15:29:30)

Literary device/文学手段
v 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him
anything. 【metaphor and exaggeration】
v 17 When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!【contrast exaggeration】
v30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes
comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!‘ 【contrast】
v32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is
alive again; he was lost and is found.'【metaphor，contrast】

Idioms成语（路加福音中的成语）

New wine in old bottles新酒旧瓶（路加福音5：36-37）现在，我们把这句话说成”旧酒新瓶”，意思是换汤不换药，把本已有的事情重新包装成新的东西

Golden rule金科玉律 （利未记19:18,马太福音 7:12，路加福音6:31）金科玉律是指最重要和基本的定律。在《圣经》中，它是指“爱人如己”原则。 在其他学派也有很多类似的说法。例如，孔夫子曾说过：“己所不欲，勿施于人”，就被大家认为是所有行为的首要原则。

Carry his cross 背起十架(路加福音 9:23)如果有人要”carry his cross”，即是说他们需要面对很重大的责任或困难。

Puts his hand to the plough and looks back手扶着犁向后看 (路加福音9:62) 当人们犁地的时候，需要眼看前方，不能向后看。否则，犁沟就会弯曲。耶稣用这种隐喻来形容那些对跟随基督犹豫不决的人。那些对他的呼召没有立刻回应的人不配侍奉神。

Good Samaritan好撒玛利亚人／乐善好施的人(路加福音10:30-35)好撒玛利亚人是指那些向有需要的人提供帮助的人。

Prodigal son 浪子回头(路加福音 15:11) A prodigal son是指一个浪子，在无节制的生活方式中挥霍了大量钱财。The return of a prodigal son指一个浪子回头，回归到一个更好的生活方式。E.g. "Henry has already said that what he has done in the past has left him lifelong regrets. I think 'the return of the prodigal son' is most important,“ said Lisa Kuo Yu-chin 
[A Real-Life Prodigal Son –John Newton (1779)]

 思考/讨论以下问题：
- In Lk 15, what do the three parables have in common?
- In Lk 15:20-24, why did the father take back the prodigal son, and should he have done so?
- In Lk 15:25,29-30, did the elder brother have a valid point?
- 换位思考：如果你是故事中的父亲/大儿子/小儿子， 你会如何？

下面的不是标准答案，只是从Bible Query摘录下来供参考
Q: In Lk 15, what do the three parables have in common? 
A: All three parables have to do with lostness and the joy of being found. The parable of the 99 + 1 lost sheep shows God searches out the lost. The parable of the 9 + 1 lost coin shows that God rejoices over finding the lost. The parable of the prodigal son shows that God forgives and accepts back the lost and wayward. Of course, as we seek the heart of God, we want our love and attitude towards others to reflect God’s love and attitude, too.
Throughout Luke 15 God wants us to have a heart for the lost like He does. In Luke 16 God wants us to have a mind for the lost.

Q: In Lk 15:20-24, why did the father take back the prodigal son, and should he have done so? 

A: The father took back the prodigal son simply because he loved him. The son did the father wrong and showed him disrespect, but the father freely forgave his son who returned. 

The father was under no obligation to take the son back, so nothing says he "should" have done so. However, the father was in his rights to be generous, and he graciously took back his son. 

Q: In Lk 15:25,29-30, did the elder brother have a valid point? 

A: A person’s answer depends on if money and treasure are thought more important than people. The older brother gained back a brother, which he apparently did not value as much as one more fattened calf. The brother’s concern about fairness, down to one fattened calf, betrayed a lack of love. 

It has been said that some people use things and love people, while others love things and use people. When a genuine Christian even begins to love things more than people, then their perspective is far from what God wants it to be. Things can include material possessions, knowledge, rituals, and even religion. The only thing that we are told to love more than people is God. See Hard Sayings of the Bible p.476-477 for more info. 

歌曲欣赏
Amazing Grace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCp5LG_zNE

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
T'was blind but now I see

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come.
T'was grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home,
And grace will lead us home

Amazing grace, Howe Sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
T'was blind but now I see

Was blind, but now I see.

参考：
疑难： http://www.biblequery.org/mt.html
课程内容教学计划：http://www.selbl.org/

Bible English Lesson 7 Right Living (Matthew 5：38-6:15)

听力预习

请预听和跟读马太福音第5章和第6章，侧重听5：38-6:15：

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Matt.5 （from 5'30)
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Matt.6 (end 2'02)

无法打开网页需翻录的音频，请用翻录的音频。听了几遍后，可以查看中英文对照原文：http://www.holybible.or.kr/BIBLE_cgb/cgi/bibleftxt.php?VR=0&VL=40&CN=5&CV=1

大家听一遍，仔细想想或独自写一下你对下面的预习题的想法：
1) 你知道这章书有关的成语吗？
2）划出自己不懂的单词和不明白的句子
3) Jesus asked the believers to “turn the other cheek” when someone hits them. Do you think this is reasonable in real life? Could Jesus do it himself? Can you think of any example in the Bible?

历史背景 - 新约的编写年代

引言

基督教中的几个重要节日
Christmas圣诞节-The Birth of Jesus耶稣诞生

"A.D." stands for anno domini, Latin for “in the year of the lord,” and refers specifically to the birth of Jesus Christ. "B.C." stands for "before Christ.“

In the modern calendar, we label all years with B.C. (before Christ) or A.D. (anno domini, or "in the year of our lord"). ... Besides B.C. and A.D., some people use B.C.E. (for "before common era") and C.E. (for "common era").

The Crucifixion被钉十字架/受难节

Jesus suffered and died on the cross

Easter: His Resurrection复活节

An empty tomb -- 》He has risen from the dead

 经文跟读：马太福音第五章（MATTHEW 5)
Eye for Eye 以眼还眼/论报复（Luke 6:29-30)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[*] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek,  turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies 论爱仇敌 （路6:27-28;32-36)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[**] and hate your enemy.’44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans/gentile外邦人 do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

第六章

Giving to the Needy 论施舍

1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness善事 in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets吹号, as the hypocrites假冒为善 do in the synagogues会堂 and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer论祷告

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,我们在天上的父

Hallowed（圣） be your name,愿人都尊你的名为圣

10 your kingdom come,愿你的国降临

your will be done,愿你的旨意行在地上

    on earth as it is in heaven.如同行在天上

11 Give us today our daily bread.我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们

12 And forgive us our debts,免我们的债，

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.如同我们免了人的债

13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]不叫我们遇见试探

    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’救我们脱离凶恶

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin/ trespasses against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

生词words
temptation试探/诱惑 (6:13) = If you feel sth you want to do or want to have even when you know that it is sth that you should avoid, you refer to this feeling as temptation

e.g. The temptation of Adam and Eve to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit.
e.g. Young people are warned against falling into the temptations of some money lenders to get quick cash at a low rate for they may end up with a heavy debt.

persecute 逼迫/迫害(5:44) = treat sb. unfairly or cruelly often because of their race or beliefs

synagogue 会堂 (6:2) = a building where Jewish people meet to worship or to study their religion

Hypocrite假冒为善/虚伪 / 伪君子(6:5) = a person pretends to have the qualities, beliefs, or feelings that they don’t really have

What did Jesus say about the hypocrites?

Their inner qualities? Beliefs? Feelings? In contrast to their behaviour?

What did the hypocrites do when they pray?

Idioms/idiomatic expressions成语/谚语

Phrasal verbs (verbal idioms) - informal English

Idioms – a colourful and fascinating aspect of English, commonly used in informal and formal, spoken and written English

turn a blind eye to sth. 对...视而不见= try not to notice or see

the top dog = the most important and powerful person in a group

“look daggers at someone” has greater emphasis than “look angrily at someone”

5:39To deal with unreasonable or unfair physical treatment

= to overcome evil with good (do not fight back on your own)

Turn the other cheek置之不理

39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also只是我告诉你们，不要与恶人作对。有人打你的右脸，连左脸也转过来由他打。[不要以恶报恶】

An eye for an eye以眼还眼

5:38你们听见有话说，以眼还眼，以牙还牙。

A demand for justice in the law

Background

- Exodus 21:23-24  “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”以眼还眼，以牙还牙，以手还手，以脚还脚，以烙还烙，以伤还伤，以打还打。

Take your tunic … give him your cloak 拿你的里衣，连外衣也由他拿去

background : the believer was sued (was brought to court, and was accused of wrongdoing)

The accuser took his tunic (undergarment)

The believer should let him have his cloak (overcoat) as well [v 40]

In our society,  “give the shirt off your back”= to give as much help or resources as possible

In fundraising events, 

e.g. The Headline News:

Put On A Mask, Give the Shirt Off  Your Back!

 (source: Breast Health International 2008 Fundraising party)

Go … two miles 同..走二里

有人强逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里。

Today, we use: “go the extra mile 加倍努力” as an idiom 

= do more than necessary (Go to 2.1, p.46 to look at an example)

Send(s) rain on the righteous and the unrighteous降雨给义人，也给不义的人

In the passage, note the structure of the verse “and” 

Originally, both sun and rain are blessings

But, later, rain --》 misfortune, bad things

Meaning today: “rain falls on the good and the bad (alike)”= everyone has equal chance to face everyday problems

The tsunami in Japan killed over 19,000 people. Rain falls on the good and the bad.

Use “911 attack in New York” to make a sentence with the idiom 

Or other events such as SARS up to 2009 in HK = 300 people died

SARS=Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

讨论

1.Jesus asked the believers to “turn the other cheek” when someone hits them. 

Do you think this is reasonable in real life?

Could Jesus do it himself? Can you think of any example in the Bible?

2. Give an example where you did love your enemy.

3. In today’s scripture, you probably have noticed how Jesus addressed God among the believers. What did he call him? Do you believe there is heaven? And is this important to the believer?

Q: In Mt 5:39-40, how are Christians supposed to turn the other cheek? 

A: Christians are not to live naturally but supernaturally. We are to allow ourselves to be vulnerable (but not foolishly trusting evildoers), recognizing that we can trust God to watch over us and our family. See Now That’s a Good Question p.522-524 for more info. 

Q: In Mt 6:1-4, are we to do good works in secret, or let our light shine before men as Mt 5:16 says? 

A: Both. We should be diligent in doing good works. However, it should not be our own works, but rather Jesus, the one who lives in us, that others see when they see us. We are to be reflectors of Christ. Our light should shine, not us. 

It is a privilege that God chose us to give glory by working through us. See Bible Difficulties and Seeming Contradictions p.233-234 for more info. 

Q: In Mt 6:1-4, in giving to God, how are Christians not to let their right hand know what their left hand is doing? 

A: Just as we are not to make a big deal about our good works toward others, we are not to make a big deal about it before God. Do not break your arm by patting yourself on the back too hard either. ;-) Do not think of how you are doing God a favor. Do not mistakenly thing that you are enriching God, who owns everything anyway, or how fortunate God is to have saved you. We are saved not because of any merit of ours, but because God saw how helpless we were, and in His grace loved us anyway. See Now That’s a Good Question p.581-582 for a different but complementary answer. 

Q: In Mt 6:5-7, Jesus is condemning all public prayer? 

A: No, this verse does not say that. Rather He is condemning prayers that are just for show. As a matter of fact, Jesus prayed publicly in John 11:41-42. 

In the Old Testament Solomon prayed a very public prayer in 1 Kings 8:22. Jesus is not against public prayer, but against "ostentatious" prayer, i.e. prayer in order to be seen in public. See When Critics Ask p.333-334 for more info. 

Matthew Gospel Idioms 马太福音中的成语/谚语
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth 以眼还眼，以牙还牙（出埃及记21：24-25，马太福音5：38）
iota（马太福音 5:18)Iota 是希腊文的24个字母中最小的一个，就像yodh是希伯来语字母中最小的一个。当耶稣在八福山上向信徒说，神的法律中，即使最小的字母都必须遵從，时光流逝也永久不变.
Go the extra mile多走一里路 （马太福音5：41）在如今的商业广告中，“多走一里路”已经成为我们熟知的用语，广告商们借此向顾客做出改善服务的承诺。实际上，这个短语取自圣经，“有人强逼你走一里路，你就同他走两里。if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”（马太福音5:41）。它体现一种牺牲精神，教导人们去爱自己的敌人，如果他们逼你退一步，你就应该退两步。 不过，这句经文的“牺牲精神”如今被淡化了。在商业用语里，它时常被用来描述如何去更好的服务客户。同样出自马太福音的还有另一则短语—“turn the other cheek(转过另一边脸)”，其包含的牺牲精神仍被保留至今。
Daily bread 日用饮食（马太6：9-13）面包是一个隐喻，在圣经中代表一切供應。“Daily bread”是指日常所需，包括身体和精神上的。
No man can serve two masters 一仆不能事二主（马太福音 6:24）。一仆不能事二主，这里耶稣指的主分别是上帝和玛门（古希伯来人对“财利”的称谓）。耶稣曾警示信徒们，每个人同一时间只能忠于一个个体或组织，如果选择效忠财利，那么必定违背上帝的旨意。 现今这句话常被用在发生利益冲突的时候。举个例子，如果某公司官员同时为若干不同的机构效力，那么他能否真正地忠于一个组织就很令人怀疑。
Do not judge, or you too will be judged (Matthew 7:1) 你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断（马太福音7:1）这句话源自《圣经》马太福音中的“登山宝训”，耶稣训勉信徒们不要对他人妄加评论，要不然他们自己也会得到同样的评论和对待。
Mote in the eyes眼内有尘 （马太福音 7：3）这句话出自圣经著名的“上山宝训”，耶稣教导人们，不要总是太关注别人的错误，而忽视了自己的过失。每当我们看到别人眼里的沙子，会很容易去放大他的缺点，却很难意识到自己可能也存在同样的不足。
Golden rule金科玉律 （利未记19:18,马太福音 7:12，路加福音6:31）金科玉律是指最重要和基本的定律。在《圣经》中，它是指“爱人如己”原则。 在其他学派也有很多类似的说法。例如，孔夫子曾说过：“己所不欲，勿施于人”，就被大家认为是所有行为的首要原则。
Wolf in sheep’s clothing　披着羊皮的狼（馬太福音7:15）人們常用這习语來比喻虛情假意背後的潛在危機。
By the fruits you will know them 从它结的果你可以认出它（马太7：20）这个谚语是指一个人的坏念头很容易从他或她的舉止中看出来。
A prophet is not respected in his own country　先知在自己乡下是不受尊重的（马太13；53）
Salt of the earth 社会栋梁 (马太福音5：13) (English Version)这个短语来自耶稣的「登山宝训」。盐在圣经中有其特殊的意义。它是一种添味的佐料，能调和食物的口感，故圣经用「盐」来比喻和谐。耶稣说：「盐本是好的，若失了味，可用什么叫它再咸呢？你们里头应当有盐，彼此和睦。」（马克福音9：50） 自从圣经翻译家威克里夫的英译本里出现了「salt of the earth」之后，这个短语便植入西方文学中。《坎特伯利故事集》的作者George Chaucer和George Bernard Shaw都在他们的文学作品里引用了这个习语。滚石乐队用一首名为「salt of the earth」的歌颂扬平民英雄。
Separate the sheep from the goats分清好人与坏人（马太福音 25：32）上帝将人比作一群绵羊。另一方面，山羊在圣经中代表不接受基督的人。如果你separate the sheep from the goats，就说明你把基督徒从不信的人中分别出来。另一个说法是分清了好人与坏人。
Shake the dust off one's feet 把脚上的尘土跺下去（马太 10：14）/ 使徒行传13:50-51shaking dust from one’s feet这种动作表示了你非常希望离开一些不满意的境况。这样的表述在圣经里出现了两次。在马太福音里，耶稣告诉他的门徒如果那个镇的人不欢迎他们传教，他们就把脚上的尘土跺下去。这种行为是表示他们要与那些拒绝神的话的人分开。“shaking dust from one’s feet”亦记载于使徒行传。当时保罗和巴拿巴在安提阿向外邦人传道，这些人很高兴地接纳了神的话，但他们俩却被犹太人驱逐出境。所以保罗和巴拿巴在他们面前跺下脚上的尘土以示抗议。
Turn the other cheek以德报怨（马太福音 5：38-39）耶稣在登山宝训中对众人说：「你们听见有话说，以眼还眼，以牙还牙。只是我告诉你们，不要与恶人作对。有人打你的右脸，连左脸也转过来由他打。」（马太福音 5：38-39） 当有人冒犯你时，你却把另一边脸也转过去让他打。耶稣劝众人不要对冒犯我们的人作出报复，因为报复指会惹来更多更多积怨，更大伤害，冤冤相报何时了。能够turn the other cheek的人，就能宽恕人。

歌曲欣赏

主祷文：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXHYx06psEs（中文版）

Lord's Prayer English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUkAzyDRL5E

参考：
疑难： http://www.biblequery.org/mt.html
课程内容教学计划：http://www.selbl.org/ 

Bible English Lesson 6: Wisdom of Solomon (1 King Chapter 3)

听力预习

请预听和跟读列王纪上第3章音频，侧重听一下第5-28节：

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/1Kgs.3

无法打开网页需翻录的音频，请用翻录的音频。听了几遍后，可以查看中英文对照原文：http://www.holybible.or.kr/BIBLE_cgb/cgi/bibleftxt.php?VR=0&VL=11&CN=3&CV=1 

大家听一遍，仔细想想或独自写一下你对下面的预习题的想法：
1) 你知道这章书有关的成语吗？
2）划出自己不懂的单词和不明白的句子
3）故事的5W: who, where, when, what, why

导言/Warm up
What do we call the following sayings?

Honesty is the best policy. 誠實是上策

A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds. 光說空話不做事,猶如花園光長刺。

Pride comes before a fall骄兵必败. 

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin智慧人积存知识。愚妄人的口速致败坏。（箴言10：14）.

谚语、语录、引言、箴言

Proverbs 箴言
Quotations “ …” (name of author) 引言
Quotable quotes (in Reader’s Digest) 语录
Wise sayings 警句

1 KING CHAPTER 3 学习
背景和简介
本書記載猶大國和以色列國諸王的事蹟，所以命名為‘列王紀。在希伯來文聖經中，列王紀上和列王紀下原為一卷。本書著者不詳。解經家中有的說是文士以斯拉所寫，有的說是先知耶利米所寫。雖然我們不能斷定究竟是誰寫的，可是耶利米是本書的著者的可能性較大，因為：(一)寫本書時第一個聖殿還在，（八8，）(二)書中句法多與耶利米書的句法相同。本書的記載所包括的時間約有一百十八年，自主前1005年起，至主前897年止。

It was about 480 years since the Israelites left Egypt and that was about the time when Solomon became king.
The name Solomon came from the Hebrew name (Shelomoh)  meaning peace (shalom)

Solomon:

King David’s son

Well-known for his wisdom, wealth, power and writings

Examples of his writings: 

the Song of Songs 雅歌,（青年时写的）  Proverbs箴言（中年时写的）,  Ecclesiastes传道书（老年时写的）

However, …

As Solomon grew older, he sinned and did not follow the Lord (1 Kings 11:1-13)

He loved many foreign women as many as 1000! (maybe more or less, i.e. many)

What was worse  he worshipped the idols of his wives instead of following the Lord completely

Result: his kingdom was torn in two in his son’s time

第三章故事纲要

Part One: God and Solomon 上帝和所罗门

vv. 5 to 15 

2. Part Two: A court case 法庭定案

vv. 16 to 28 taking different roles:

King Solomon

Mother 1

Mother 2

读完故事知道上面油画表达的内容了吗？Why was the baby held up by the man? Why did the woman fall to the ground?

Words and phrases 单词和短语学习
Solomon’s wisdom 
Ability to make judgement /judgment (Am.)
Ability to govern the nation well
Ability to write 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs
Ability to describe lots of plant lives, to teach about animals and birds, reptiles and fish

--》He was said to be wiser than many  people in Egypt and in the East

e.g. The leaders in many countries today need Solomon’s wisdom to improve their economic situation.

e.g. Mathematics is my weakest subject. I think I will need Solomon’s wisdom to find out the solution to this problem.

Righteous and upright in heart (v 6) 公义，正直

- in the Hebrew culture, heart refers to the mind, the way of thinking and behaving
Righteous (adj.)
- if someone lives or behaves in a way that is morally good
Upright (adj.)
- describes people who are careful to follow acceptable rules of behaviour and behave in a moral way

Chosen people (v 8)选民
In the Book of Genesis, the Lord chose Abraham, a descendant of Adam and Eve after many generations and promised to make him into a great nation
- all peoples on earth will be blessed through Abraham

Abraham belonged to a Hebrew-speaking tribe [the Tower of Babel]

Abraham->Issac->Jacob (Israel) 

-- they were the forefathers of the Israelites

“chosen people” refer to the Israelites in the O.T.

Use of “chosen people” today：

Noah’s Ark is a letter that God had sent us and till today we haven’t opened the envelope. We should realize this and taken upon ourselves with dignity the task of building an ark as God’s chosen people,” says Ter-Gulanyan.

(From: ArmeniaNow.com Mar. 4, 2012)

- believers of the Christian faith

Too numerous to count (v 8) 多得不可胜数

numerous = when something exists in large numbers 

Too numerous to count = so many in quantity that it seems impossible to know the number

e.g. There are creative ways to advertise a product, ~.

a discerning heart (v 9) 明辨的心

Go back to the verse and guess the meaning of this phrase

- when you describe someone as discerning, you mean they are able to judge which things of a particular kind are good (right) and which are bad (wrong)

- a discerning heart = a discerning mind

To distinguish between right and wrong (v 9) 能辨别是非

= to tell the difference between what is correct and what is not

e.g. When we were small, our parents taught us how to distinguish between right and wrong.

riches and honour (v 13) 富足，尊荣

Riches (n. pl.) = valuable possessions / large amount of money e.g. oil riches

Honour/ honor (Am.) (n.) = a special reward given to someone usually because they have done sth. good or they are greatly respected 

e.g. Olympic games offer athletes opportunities to gain riches and honor.

Has no equal among kings (v 13) 列王中没有一个能比你的

= nothing is the same as or that reaches the same standard

Go back to v 13 and find out what Solomon will have that has no equal among kings

“both riches and honor”

Walk in my（Lord's) ways (v 14) 遵行我的道

Read verse 14 and go to verse 6 to guess the meaning of this phrase 

***********

- to live according to the laws and commands of the Lord遵行我的道，谨守我的律例，诫命

- to be faithful to God (worship only the Lord) 信靠上帝（并只敬拜祂）

- to be righteous and upright in heart 公义，正直

in the middle of the night (v 20) 半夜起来

= at midnight --> twelve o’clock in the middle of the night 

In general, it refers to the time when something happens in the dark, usually when everything is quiet and everyone is asleep.

put him by her breast (v 20) 放在她怀里

Breast (n. count.) = either of the two parts of a woman’s body that produce milk: 

Feeding a baby at the breast = nursing a baby

Put him by her breast = place him next to her breast  

Breast = the upper part of the human body; the chest: hold somebody to one’s breast

- a bird’s breast = front part of its body

- chicken breast, breast of lamb as appeared on a menu

- a breast pocket of a garment衣服的胸前口袋

- breast-fed vs bottle-fed a baby

Beat their breast 竭力争辩

If you say someone beats their breast, you are emphasizing that they are very angry or upset about something or that they are pretending to be very angry or upset about it

Henry Tang beat his breast and called it a mistake, i.e., his negligence in dealing with the issue of re-structuring his flat illegally.

To publicly express emotions or views that one does not actually feel or support. During election season, all the candidates beat their breasts about how much they love our communities—and then they get into office and slash community initiatives.

Idiom: To make a clean breast of something坦白供认, 完全承认.

to tell the truth about something that you have done wrong:

I might as well make a clean breast of it. I have been living under a false identity in this country since 1997.

Can you make a sentence to show understanding of this idiom?

I might as well make a clean breast of it. …

filled with compassion (v 26) 心里急痛/动了怜悯之心

To fill, filled, filled (v.)

Compassion (n. uncountable) 

= a feeling of pity, sympathy, and understanding for someone who is suffering : 

Elderly people need the time and compassion from their physicians.

Compassionate (adj.) 

- compassionate leave = time away from your work that your employer allows you when a member of your family dies or is seriously ill

To be filled with compassion for someone动了怜悯之心

Some people donate money to the poor to get publicity. But Daniel does it because he is filled with compassion for the needy.

To administer justice (v 28) 断案

To administer (verb) = to take responsibility to organize or supervise 

- use with something such as : 

~ the country, ~ the law, ~ a test

Doctors and nurses administer the drugs to patients

Justice = fairness in the way people are treated

A country needs a healthy legal system to help judges to administer justice in society.

In American English, 

A justice is a judge

Thomas is sworn in today as a justice on the Supreme Court. 

Justice is used before the names of judges

i.e. Mr Justice Chan or Madam Justice Wong

Held the king in awe (v 28) 王这样判断，就都敬畏他

= looked up to the king showing a lot of  respect and feeling slightly afraid 

e.g.

Heads, not hearts: Tony Blair is held in awe by his party, but he is not much loved; does this matter? 

4 Oct, 1997 (news headline in “the Economist”)

BRIGHTON

Tony Blair is held in awe by his party, but he is not much loved. Does this matter?

讨论(换位思考）

如果你是作者、所罗门、母亲1、母亲2、老百姓，你会如何评价这个故事？

Have you faced any dilemma or difficult problems which you had a hard time solving?

How did you solve these issues in the end?

Do you think you possess wisdom in solving everything?

Who do you turn to when you face difficult situations?

Take home message结语

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明。

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 在你一切所行的事上，都要认定他，他必指引你的路。

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” 不要自以为有智慧。要敬畏耶和华，远离恶事。

(Proverbs 3:5-7)

lean on=depend on

acknowledge him=recognize him (in all areas of your life)

shun=avoid

参考链接：

大卫鲍森-旧约圣经纵览 (列王纪上） https://www.fuyin.tv/html/1018/9673.html
大卫鲍森-旧约圣经纵览 (列王纪下） https://www.fuyin.tv/html/1018/9674.html
The Bible Project Read Scripture: 1-2 Kingshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVFW3wbi9pk&index=15&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVFW3wbi9pk&index=15&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u
Bible query: http://www.biblequery.org/ex.html
课程内容教学计划：http://www.selbl.org/

Bible English Lesson 5: Exodus Chapter 14

听力预习

周五以前请预听和跟读出埃及记第14章的音频，侧重听一下第10-26节：

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Exod.14 

无法打开网页需翻录的音频，请用翻录的音频。听了几遍后，可以查看中英文对照原文：http://www.holybible.or.kr/BIBLE_cgb/cgi/bibleftxt.php?VR=0&VL=2&CN=14&CV=1。

大家听一遍，仔细想想或独自写一下你对下面的预习题的想法：
1) 你知道这章书有关的成语吗？
2）划出自己不懂的单词和不明白的句子
3）找一下文中使用的比喻、比较句子、押韵地方
4）听完两遍，试试理一下本章纲目
5）音乐欣赏找出其对应押韵的句子：When you believe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1dgDBAorDA&t=5s&index=12&list=LLITDIvDwSbtmLhGjpGta76g (歌词见下面, 翻录音频在群里）
6）听完且看了中英文对照内容，看一部与这个主题有关的视频
如：

电影《埃及王子》: "The Prince of Egypt": https://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTkwMTU2OTk5Ng==.html?spm=a2h0k.11417342.soresults.dposter&s=cc012018962411de83b1
电影《摩西》：https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9xzDwjMkoOxIDYh9Mc0kzw
影评思考问题：a）多少忠于了原文；b）作了哪些添加或删除；c）有哪些是扭曲了原文；d）你喜欢或不喜欢之处；e）对你理解原文有帮助吗？

Introduction
Use your imagination
You have been living in a foreign country for many years and one day, the government …
- ask you to quit your job and do another job that requires great physical strength
- Make you a second-class citizen
- Order someone to kill your son who has just been born for a few days

What would you do?

Israelite [stayed there for about 400 years] vs. Egyptians

Moses vs. Pharaoh

Story outline

概要：神以大能拯救以色列人過紅海

   一、神預示要在法老身上得榮耀(1~4節)
   二、法老帶著軍兵追趕以色列人(5~9節)
14:10-12 Israelites complain (groan)
14:13-14 Moses comforts them
14:15-18 God reassures the Israelites
14:19-23 God parts the water
14:24-26 The victory (triumph)

   八、以色列人見神的拯救，就敬畏神(29~31節)

Movie appreciation (见预习中的链接）

影评思考问题：a）多少忠于了原文；b）作了哪些添加或删除；c）有哪些是扭曲了原文；d）你喜欢或不喜欢之处；e）对你理解原文有帮助吗？

英语学习

Vocabulary, expressions and idioms

Divided waters分水

• V16 & V21

• the area of sea that is around the coast of a country and is thought to belong to that country

Harden the hearts 硬起心肠

V17

• to make you stop feeling pleasant towards someone

• e.g. When somebody keeps taking advantage of you, you simply need to

harden your heart.

Exodus 大批迁移

An exodus of nurses will not affect the hospital’s ability to cope with patients, says the health minister”.

• Meaning: exit of a large group of people

Parting the water

Moving through the crowd in a congested pedestrian is like parting the water.

• Meaning: separating the water--> difficult

Stand firm 只管站住/坚持

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. 摩西对百姓说，不要惧怕，只管站住，看耶和华今天向你们所要施行的救恩。

• Be determined

• e.g. Stand firm on your decision.

• e.g. Stand firm. Knock drugs out.

Deliverance

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. 摩西对百姓说，不要惧怕，只管站住，看耶和华今天向你们所要施行的救恩。

• save someone from a painful experience

• e.g. God brings the Israelites deliverance from the Egyptians

• e.g. God delivers the Israelites from the Egyptians.

Move on往前走

15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 耶和华对摩西说，你为什么向我哀求呢，你吩咐以色列人往前走

16 Raise your staff(手杖）and stretch out your hand …

glory荣耀

17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and …我要使埃及人的心刚硬，他们就跟着下去。我要在法老和他的全军，车辆，马兵上得荣耀。

• praise and thanks, especially as given to God

• e.g. Give glory to the Lord!

• e.g. To gain victory, everyone of use should put personal glory aside.

chariots车辆

17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.…我要使埃及人的心刚硬，他们就跟着下去。我要在法老和他的全军，车辆，马兵上得荣耀。

Withdraw

19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them... 在以色列营前行走神的使者，转到他们后边去，

• v.  withdraw, withdrew, withdrawn

• to move out or move back

• e.g. You can withdraw money from the ATM machine.

• e.g. The British has withdrawn its troops from Iraq.

Pillar柱

The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them,在以色列营前行走神的使者，转到他们后边去，云柱也从他们前边转到他们后边立住。

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, …摩西向海伸杖

25 … And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.” 我们从以色列人面前逃跑吧，因耶和华为他们攻击我们了。

• v. to defeat

26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your handover the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 耶和华对摩西说，你向海伸杖，叫水仍合在埃及人并他们的车辆，马兵身上。

• move back and emerge sb.

Metaphor比喻的运用

a symbol that is used to represent another thing strengthen the image in your mind

e.g. Even a child could carry my dog around for many hours. He is a feather.

Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to

die? (14:11) 他们对摩西说，难道在埃及没有坟地，你把我们带来死在旷野麽。

“…and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. (14:22) 以色列人下海中走乾地，水在他们的左右作了墙垣。

Comparison比对

Consider two things of similar characteristics to reinforce the message

• It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Your sentence:

a) It would have been better for me to drink the bitter medicine than to ___?___.

b) It would have been better for me to______________?________________.

Alliteration押韵

Repetition of the consonant of two words or more in a word group

如：Best Buy, Fresh Fish

I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians…

And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army…

Read this aloud:

She sells sea shells on the sea shore.

Music appreciation

Listen to the song: When you believe

•What is the main theme of this song?

• Find out the rhyming pattern in the lyrics

Discussion

1. What difficulties have you experienced in your life?

2. Amongst them, which one is the most difficult problem for you? How did you face the problem?

3. Do you believe miracles do happen when you believe?

Take home message结语

Faith moves mountains 信心移山

• …if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,

you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to

there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

…你们若有信心像一粒芥菜种，就是对这座山说，你从这边挪到那边，他也必挪去。并且你们没有一件不能作的事了。

音乐欣赏
When you believe (歌词）

Many nights we prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hope for a song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains Long
before we knew we could, whoa, yes

There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
Its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe
Mmm yeah

In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer bird
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
My hearts so full, I can't explain
Seeking faith and speakin' words
I never thought I'd say

There can be miracles
When you believe (When you believe)
Though hope is frail
Its hard to kill (Mmm)
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve (You can achieve)
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe
(Hey)
(Ooh)

They don't always happen when you ask
And its easy to give in to your fears
But when you're blinded by your pain
Can't see the way, get through the rain
A small but still, resilient voice
Says hope is very near, oh (Oh)

There can be miracles (Miracles)
When you believe (Boy, when you believe, yeah) (Though hope is frail)
Though hope is frail (Its hard)
Its hard to kill (Hard to kill, oh, yeah)
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve (You can achieve, oh)
When you believe somehow you will (Somehow, somehow, somehow)
Somehow you will (I know, I know, know)
You will when you believe (When you)
(Oh oh)

其他疑问
Q: In Ex 14:6-7, why did Pharaoh pursue all the Israelites with only 600 chariots?
A: While chariots were awesome weapons of war in ancient times, and most of the Israelites did not have weapons, the answer is that Exodus 14:7 says that Pharaoh took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots, and Exodus 14:9 says and the army. Exodus 15:4 also mentions Pharaoh’s chariots and his army.

Q: In Ex 14:9-28 and Josh 24:6, how did the Pharaoh have "horsemen", since armies at that time did not have cavalry? A: As the NIV footnote says, these may refer to "charioteers", not cavalry. When this word is used, it is always in contrast to the regular army.

Q: In Ex 14:14, since God fought for the Israelites then, why did God not always fight for the Israelites later? A: God was not under obligation to always fight for the Israelites. He could fight for them and refrain from fighting for them whenever He wanted to do so. Often, it appears God let them fight their own battles.


Q: In Ex 14:21-29, how could 2 million Israelites cross the Red Sea in only 24 hours? A: Assume that 602,000 men means about 2 to 2.5 million people. If the crossing was perhaps 2 to 2.5 miles (3.2 - 4 km) wide, and were an average of a two yards apart, that would be 1,760 single-file columns of 1,136 people each. Allowing for carts and animals, if they were an average of ten yards from the person in front of them, and the people walked slowly at 1 mile (1.6 km) per hour, they could pass a particular point in 6.5 hours.

Q: In Ex 14:17; 15:21, how does drowning the Egyptians exalt God and give Him glory? A: It showed in the eyes of the Israelites that God had the power to save them even from a mighty army, and that God would watch over them.

: In Ex 14:17; 15:21, why was God so unjust to drown the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, when the soldiers were just obeying orders? A: There is an important lesson here: soldiers should not be obeying orders that are evil. Back then, when the Egyptian soldiers were ordered to kill the peaceful worshippers of God, they were liable for judgment for their "evil obedience".

Q: In Ex 14:18, did the Israelites cross the "Red" Sea, or the very shallow "Reed" Sea? A: The Hebrew is Yam Suph, and it could be either one; we do not know exactly where they crossed. When Critics Ask p.75-76 suggests it might be Lake Ballah, which was a shallow "sea" 10-15 miles (16-24 km) wide. (Lake Ballah was destroyed when the Suez Canal was built.) Even the Sea of Reeds might not have been shallow back then. Exodus 14:22 says the waters formed a "wall" on both sides, so there must have been considerable water, there. If the sea they crossed was shallow, and the Israelites crossed it, then as one person quipped, it would be much more of a miracle if they had crossed the shallow Reed Sea, to drown all those horses and charioteers in just inches of water. See Hard Sayings of the Bible p.144-145 for more info.

Q: In Ex 14:21-29, how could God part the Sea? A: The Almighty could do it any way He wanted. Exodus 14:21 records a strong east wind, but there could be other factors too.

课程参考链接：
Bible query: http://www.biblequery.org/ex.html
课程内容教学计划：http://www.selbl.org/

Bible English Lesson 4 - Genesis Chapter 11 (TOWER OF BABEL)

听力预习

请预听和跟读创世记第11章的音频：https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Gen.11

无法打开网页需翻录的音频，请用下翻录的音频。听了几遍后，可以查看中英文对照原文：http://www.holybible.or.kr/BIBLE_cgb/cgi/bibleftxt.php?VR=0&VL=1&CN=11&CV=1。

大家听一遍，仔细想想或独自写一下你对下面的预习题的想法：
1)你知道这章书有关的成语吗？
2)想一想:In Gen 11, what was sinful about building the Tower of Babel? 
3) 想象一下你是作者，写一下创11章故事大纲（十分简单的思路）
4）划出自己不懂的单词和不明白的句子
5) 听完且看了中英文对照内容，请观看下面这个视频: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY-PDpuROUY (或下载的视频），并分析制作人a）多少忠于了原文；b）作了哪些添加或删除；c）有哪些是扭曲了原文；d）你喜欢或不喜欢之处；e）对你理解原文有帮助吗？

章节纲目
【人的建造和神的反應】Tower of Babel
    一、人的言語原是一樣的(1節) one language and a common speech
     二、人聯合起來建造城和塔(2~4節) jointly build a city with a tower
     三、神變亂人的言語，使人分散在全地上(5~9節) confuse their language and scattered them
【由閃到亞伯蘭的家譜】from Shem to Abram/the Decendants of Shem
    一、從閃到法勒共有五代(10~17節) from Shem to Peleg five generations
     二、從拉吳到亞伯蘭共有五代(18~26節) form Reu to Abram five generations
【他拉帶亞伯蘭出吾珥】Terah took Abram out from Ur/the Descendants of Terah
    一、父家親屬簡介(27~30節) Abram’s family
    二、出吾珥，停在哈蘭(31~32節) out from Ur and settled in Harran

时间：
巴别塔发生的时间推断：Between the flood and Babel: 101 years; 建立巴別的事是在閃的第五代子孫時發生的。

地点：示拿（巴比伦城）

分析：建塔目的（傳揚人的名make a name, not to be scattered不要分散）

Scatter v. - throw in various random directions.

People

“Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly

Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.

God

The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 

 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 

這些人想要傳揚自己的名。這是神在其他經文認可的渴望，祂亦曾應許要使亞伯拉罕和大衛的名為大。留後是傳名的方法之一。想要傳揚自己的名本身雖然沒有邪惡或犯罪之處，我們仍當了解這個慾望或會令人著魔，而至採取不正當手段。

同樣，這些人不願意分散也是合理的。神雖然將生養眾多，甚至能夠遍滿了地的高貴能力賜給他們，卻沒有勒令他們分散。生養眾多而非分散，才是達成遍滿地面的方法。經濟環境能夠逼使任何一群人分散，這也是他們進行都市化的原因。神分散他們，不是因為不要他們同在一起，而是因為他們合力作惡，正如我們也會將胡鬧的孩子分開一樣。

疑问：神变乱人的口音，是神怕了他们吗？

神將他們的口音變亂了，不讓他們停留在頂撞神的心思裏，免得神在那個時候將他們毀滅了。這是神的好意，但是很多人不領會這點，以為神怕了他們，所以才這樣作。

疑问： In Gen 11, what was sinful about building the Tower of Babel? 

A: It was not the construction of a building, but the arrogant motivation of (foolishly) thinking they could ascend to Heaven on their own. At the core of much of idolatry is the belief that people should be religious however they want, in "their own way", instead of seeking the One True God. God’s reaction does not seem to be one of punishment but rather preventing them from additional evil. Wise parents do not want their children to totally ignore the law and their own commands, and God does not want people, whom He created, to do that either. 

难点：人名和关系

句式

account of Shem’s family line. 闪的后代

When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

沟通：态度和动机的重要性

Make your name?? Or Glorify God’s name?

Pride

Do we need God?

Take home message结语

The Tower of Babel represents the pride of mankind wanting to reach the heavens and be their own gods. It represents the unification of all people in error. We develop a pattern of self-sufficiency that left out God. It is a pattern that plague us to this day. We need God!

课外延伸 -  Is china/Chinese in the bible?
上面的图包括了创世记第十章和第十一章讲述的挪亚后代图。可能有人问， 如果我们相信创世记中所有人类都被洪水所灭，只剩挪亚家8口人，那么中国人是上图哪个儿子的后代？你知道有哪些说法？下面的几种说法仅供参考
1). Ham: Sinite 说法一：含的后代
All peoples descended from Adam, then Noah through the Tower of Babel incident.
http://www.icr.org/article/how-can-chinese-dynasties-extend-back-many-thousan/ (from Ham->sinite)
https://bible.org/question/out-which-noah%E2%80%99s-three-sons-did-chinese-race-come (from Ham-->Sinite)
Gen10:17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
The Biblical mention of a people in the Far East named “Sinim” (Isaiah 49:12), together with references in ancient secular histories to people in the Far East called “Sinae,” at least suggests the possibility that some of Sin’s descendants migrated eastward, while others went south into the land of Canaan. It is significant that the Chinese people have always been identified by the prefix “Sino-” (e.g., Sino-Japanese War; Sinology, the study of Chinese history). The name “Sin” is frequently encountered in Chinese names in the form “Siang” or its equivalent.

The evidence is tenuous but, of all the names in the Table of Nations, it does seem that two sons of Canaan, Heth (Hittites = Khittae = Cathay) and Sin (Sinites = Sinim = China), are the most likely to have become ancestors of the Oriental peoples. Since it seems reasonable that divine inspiration would include in such a table information concerning the ancestry of all the major streams of human development, it is reasonable to conclude that the Mongoloid peoples (and therefore also the American Indians) have come mostly from the Hamitic line.

2) Shem:Joktan 说法二：闪的后代约坍那支
http://www.eifiles.cn/oo-en.htm (from Shen->Joktan)
According to the Biblical record, Shem is the original forefather of both the West Asian people and East Asian people.  In the Genesis account, the ancestry of all the East Asian people can be traced to Shem.
Shem means honourable name, which fits well with East Asian cultural values. In the Hebrew Bible, God is referred to as ‘The Honourable Name’ (HA-SHÈM), thus associating God with the people of Shem.  In Genesis 10:21, Shem is called “the father of all the children of Eber,” meaning the Hebrew people.  The word Hebrew means ‘of Eber,’ or ‘descended from Eber.’  Gen. 10:25,
To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg,
                for in his days the earth was divided,
                and his brother’s name was Joktan.
     The Hebrew race has therefore descended from Eber in two branches: Peleg and Joktan.  The name Peleg means division, (indicating the division of mankind in Babylon, Gen. 11:7-9), and the name Joktan means diminished, (indicating the diminished lifespan of mankind at that time).
Joktan’s clan must have been the first to scout the ancient Silk Road that later  became the main road of migration into east Asia.  Mesha (the departure point)  was the start of the Silk Road.  The Silk Road's ancient start was near the city of  Mashhad in north-eastern Iran.  The Iranian name Mashhad has its origin from  the ancient Hebrew name Mesha.

3) Japheth: Magog 雅弗后代：玛各支派
3) Japheth: Magog
(from Japheth,Magog, the second son of Japheth mentioned in Genesis 10:2., The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras.
Japheth->Magog
https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/7583.24.129.0/asia/china/is-china-in-the-bible
at any rate, the Chinese and all the minority groups living in China are of the Mongoloid race, which stems from Noah’s son Japheth. Soon after the dispersion at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:8), Japheth’s descendants migrated through Central Asia to the lands they occupy now.

The Ezekiel 38:2 prophecy demonstrates this as well, listing numerous nations and peoples associated with or dwelling “in the land of Magog.” The people who most prominently settled this land are typically identified as Mongolic and Turkic. The name Mongol is even derived from the name Magog.

ISA 23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. The descendants of Javan’s son Kittim came to Asia some time after many of their cousins had already settled there. After their migration through Central Asia, the Kittim made their appearance in modern-day northern China and Mongolia under the name Khitan in the fourth century a.d. In the 10th century, the Khitan people managed to create a dynasty that subjugated the peoples, including the Chinese, in modern-day northern China. Their territory stretched from what is now Korea to eastern Kazakhstan, including Beijing, the seat of government in China today.

4) Mixed 混合说法

Ham->Cush, from Ham-->Cush, 

Shun舜 is Nimrod, the Chinese Han people were ruled first by a Japhetic descendant associated with Magog—possibly his son, though the Bible doesn’t say specifically. During Nimrod’s rebellion at the Tower of Babel, the Chinese were ruled by Nimrod. After his reign, when God intervened and changed the languages, government over the Chinese returned to the Japhetic line, under Yu’s rule. These people then migrated north and east to modern-day China, setting up their capital in the North China Plain at the end of the third millennium B.C.

During Yaou’s lifetime a new leader, Shun, came to power. According to another ancient Chinese manuscript, The Bamboo Annals, Shun舜is described as having a “black body.” He was obviously not Chinese, and his mother was called “the queen mother of the west,” indicating him as a foreigner. The Shoo King gives the name of Shun’s father as Koo-sow.

According to Dr. Herman Hoeh’s Compendium of World History, this Shun 舜 was none other than the Nimrod宁录 of the Bible. Therefore Koo-sow, which can also be spelled Kusou, is Nimrod’s father Cush古实! And the “queen mother of the west” can only be Semiramis.

Chinese and future中国人和未来

No matter which foreign invader occupied the throne, China always remained Chinese.

One remarkable demonstration of the resilience of their society and culture was the survival, amid all the invasions, of the Chinese language—a feat few other languages have managed.

All the mixing and migrating of different peoples has made it impossible to characterize what a pure ethnic Han is. Nevertheless, prophetically speaking, China refers to all the people of China, not just the Han ethnic group. And at any rate, the Chinese and all the minority groups living in China are of the Mongoloid race, which stems from Noah’s son Japheth.

 the Chinese Han people were ruled first by a Japhetic descendant associated with Magog—possibly his son, though the Bible doesn’t say specifically. During Nimrod’s rebellion at the Tower of Babel, the Chinese were ruled by Nimrod. After his reign, when God intervened and changed the languages, government over the Chinese returned to the Japhetic line, under Yu’s rule. These people then migrated north and east to modern-day China, setting up their capital in the North China Plain at the end of the third millennium b.c.

Prophecy 预言

China is one of those kings of the east

 “the king of the north,” a German-led European power, 

“the king of the south,” a radical Islamic power led by Iran (these prophetic identities are explained in our booklets Germany and the Holy Roman)

参考链接
https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/7583.24.129.0/asia/china/is-china-in-the-bible

Video Review
请观看下面这个视频: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY-PDpuROUY (或下载的视频），并分析制作人a）多少忠于了原文；b）作了哪些添加或删除；c）有哪些是扭曲了原文；d）你喜欢或不喜欢之处；e）对你理解原文有帮助吗？
圣经考古：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDFzAufkgeg&t=149s