2 esdras 7:102 - And I answered and said, if I have found favor in your sight, show further to me your servant whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them,
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "2 esdras 7:102" mean?
This verse, 2 Esdras 7:102, is part of a larger passage where Esdras is questioning God about the fate of humanity, particularly the unrighteous. He is grappling with the seeming injustice of a judgment where the vast majority are condemned while a select few are saved.
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"And I answered and said, if I have found favor in your sight...": Esdras is being humble and respectful. He's acknowledging his position as a servant before God and hoping his question will be received well. This is a common rhetorical device used in prayer and supplication.
"...show further to me your servant...": He's asking for more understanding, further clarification. He wants God to reveal more of His plan.
"...whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them...": This is the crux of the question. Esdras is wondering if the righteous will be able to plead on behalf of the unrighteous on Judgment Day. Will the righteous be able to beg God for mercy for those who didn't live righteously? Can they, in effect, act as mediators?
In essence, Esdras is asking if there will be any chance of pardon or mitigation of judgment for the ungodly through the prayers or actions of the righteous after judgment has been rendered.
Significance and Context:
This verse highlights the tension between divine justice and divine mercy. Esdras is wrestling with:
The irreversibility of judgment: Is the Day of Judgment truly final? Can anything change the outcome?
The role of the righteous: Can the righteousness of some atone for the sins of others? Is there a corporate or communal aspect to salvation?
God's character: Is God primarily just or primarily merciful? How are these qualities balanced?
The answer to this question, provided later in 2 Esdras, is largely negative. The text emphasizes the individual nature of judgment and the lack of opportunity for intercession after the final judgment. This leads to further despair and questioning from Esdras.
Why is this significant?
Debate on salvation: This verse speaks to ongoing theological debates about the nature of salvation, the roles of faith and works, and the possibility of post-mortem salvation.
Humanity's struggle with justice: It reflects the human struggle to reconcile the perceived unfairness of suffering and the apparent finality of death.
Theodicy: It's a part of a larger theodicy (an attempt to explain why a good God allows evil to exist). Esdras is grappling with how a just and loving God can allow so many to perish.
Therefore, 2 Esdras 7:102 is a crucial verse in understanding the book's exploration of judgment, justice, mercy, and the ultimate fate of humanity. It reveals Esdras's deep concern for the salvation of others and his willingness to challenge God's plan in the face of perceived injustice.
2 esdras 7:102 - And I answered and said, if I have found favor in your sight, show further to me your servant whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them,
What does "2 esdras 7:102" mean?
This verse, 2 Esdras 7:102, is part of a larger passage where Esdras is questioning God about the fate of humanity, particularly the unrighteous. He is grappling with the seeming injustice of a judgment where the vast majority are condemned while a select few are saved.
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"And I answered and said, if I have found favor in your sight...": Esdras is being humble and respectful. He's acknowledging his position as a servant before God and hoping his question will be received well. This is a common rhetorical device used in prayer and supplication.
"...show further to me your servant...": He's asking for more understanding, further clarification. He wants God to reveal more of His plan.
"...whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them...": This is the crux of the question. Esdras is wondering if the righteous will be able to plead on behalf of the unrighteous on Judgment Day. Will the righteous be able to beg God for mercy for those who didn't live righteously? Can they, in effect, act as mediators?
In essence, Esdras is asking if there will be any chance of pardon or mitigation of judgment for the ungodly through the prayers or actions of the righteous after judgment has been rendered.
Significance and Context:
This verse highlights the tension between divine justice and divine mercy. Esdras is wrestling with:
The irreversibility of judgment: Is the Day of Judgment truly final? Can anything change the outcome?
The role of the righteous: Can the righteousness of some atone for the sins of others? Is there a corporate or communal aspect to salvation?
God's character: Is God primarily just or primarily merciful? How are these qualities balanced?
The answer to this question, provided later in 2 Esdras, is largely negative. The text emphasizes the individual nature of judgment and the lack of opportunity for intercession after the final judgment. This leads to further despair and questioning from Esdras.
Why is this significant?
Debate on salvation: This verse speaks to ongoing theological debates about the nature of salvation, the roles of faith and works, and the possibility of post-mortem salvation.
Humanity's struggle with justice: It reflects the human struggle to reconcile the perceived unfairness of suffering and the apparent finality of death.
Theodicy: It's a part of a larger theodicy (an attempt to explain why a good God allows evil to exist). Esdras is grappling with how a just and loving God can allow so many to perish.
Therefore, 2 Esdras 7:102 is a crucial verse in understanding the book's exploration of judgment, justice, mercy, and the ultimate fate of humanity. It reveals Esdras's deep concern for the salvation of others and his willingness to challenge God's plan in the face of perceived injustice.