In this episode we discuss the readings for the seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Genesis 45:3-12, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38.
Editorial note from Fr Aaron:
I mention in this podcast that the number of verses in Psalm 37 is different between the Book of Common Prayer’s psalter and most Bible translations. Why? The psalter tends to stick with the “couplet” nature of the psalm when breaking it into verses, presumably because this makes for cleaner corporate reading. But since this psalm is an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet, most Bible translations generally break it into verses according to each successive acrostic letter. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet (my apologies for not being able to recall that when recording this podcast!), so you might think this would result in 44 verses. Alas, some irregularities in the grouping of the acrostic’s letters prevents this sort of unperturbed math/versification. In the end, the result is that most Bibles will show 40 verses for Psalm 37, whereas various psalters will typically show either 41 or 42 verses.
I also mentioned that even the chapter/psalm number of each psalm may vary in some cases! How is that possible? The Vulgate (Latin translation of the OT) and Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT) split or combine several of the psalms, relative to the Hebrew manuscripts—though all add up to a total of 150 psalms ultimately. Most contemporary—and all Protestant—Bibles number the psalms according to the Hebrew manuscripts. But the Vulgate and Septuagint were central for the early Catholic and Orthodox churches, so you may find traces of this different numbering system for the psalms in those traditions.
Other things we discuss in the episode:
ACNA 2019 prayer book and Coverdale Psalter
Boundaries, by: Cloud & Townsend
Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.