Changes

The '''Book of Baruch''' is found in the books of the [[Septuagint]], the Old Testament accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Orthodox Church]] in the ''Greek Orthodox Bible'', and found in the books of the Old Testament of the ''[[Vulgate]]'' and included in the canon of inspired scripture by the [[Third Council of Carthage (397)]]. It is included in the canon of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Bible]]. Since the [[Council of Trent]] it is [[Dogma|dogmatically]] accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Catholic Church]] in the ''Catholic Bible''—books of the Bible accepted as divinely inspired by the majority of Christian believers in the United States and throughout the world.<ref>The '''Catholic Church''' is the world's largest [[Christianity|Christian]] body comprised of several distinct [https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm "Rites"]. The [[Catholic Church|Catholic Church (Latin Rite)]] is the largest religious body in the United States, with over 60 million adherents (4 times as large as the second largest church, the Orthodox).<br/>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/ “The Global Catholic Population,” © 2011, Pew Research Center.]<br/>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html The Largest Catholic Communities]<br/>

The '''Book of Baruch''' is found in the books of the [[Septuagint]], the Old Testament accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Orthodox Church]] in the ''Greek Orthodox Bible'', and found in the books of the Old Testament of the ''[[Vulgate]]'' and included in the canon of inspired scripture by the [[Third Council of Carthage (397)]]. It is included in the canon of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Bible]]. Since the [[Council of Trent]] it is [[Dogma|dogmatically]] accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Catholic Church]] in the ''Catholic Bible''—books of the Bible accepted as divinely inspired by the majority of Christian believers in the United States and throughout the world.<ref>The '''Catholic Church''' is the world's largest [[Christianity|Christian]] body comprised of several distinct [https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm "Rites"]. The [[Catholic Church|Catholic Church (Latin Rite)]] is the largest religious body in the United States, with over 60 million adherents (4 times as large as the second largest church, the Orthodox).<br/>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/ “The Global Catholic Population,” © 2011, Pew Research Center.]<br/>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html The Largest Catholic Communities]<br/>

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', officially called the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', and also referred to as the '''[[Orthodox Church]]''' and '''Orthodoxy''', is the second largest [[Christianity|Christian church]] in the world, with an estimated 225–300 million adherents, most of whom live in [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Russia]].<br/>{{cite web |last1=Calivas |first1=Rev. Alciviadis C. |title=The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church |publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America |year=1983 |url=http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7061 |accessdate=7 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |last1=Fairchild |first1=Mary |title=Christianity:Basics:Eastern Orthodox Church Denomination |publisher=about.com |url=http://christianity.about.com/od/easternorthodoxy/p/orthodoxprofile.htm |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |title=Christianity |work=Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents |publisher=adherents.com |url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}</ref><ref name=Prot>See [http://www.888c.com/worldChristianDenominations.htm Percentage of Christians in Protestant Denominations (29.5%)].</ref> Baruch is a book of hope which reveals the transformative power of trusting in God with sincere repentence.

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', officially called the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', and also referred to as the '''[[Orthodox Church]]''' and '''Orthodoxy''', is the second largest [[Christianity|Christian church]] in the world, with an estimated 225–300 million adherents, most of whom live in [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Russia]].<br/>{{cite web |last1=Calivas |first1=Rev. Alciviadis C. |title=The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church |publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America |year=1983 |url=http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7061 |accessdate=7 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |last1=Fairchild |first1=Mary |title=Christianity:Basics:Eastern Orthodox Church Denomination |publisher=about.com |url=http://christianity.about.com/od/easternorthodoxy/p/orthodoxprofile.htm |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |title=Christianity |work=Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents |publisher=adherents.com |url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}</ref><ref name=Prot>See [http://www.888c.com/worldChristianDenominations.htm Percentage of Christians in Protestant Denominations (29.5%)].</ref> Baruch is a book of hope which reveals the transformative power of trusting in God with sincere repentance.

The book of Baruch is composed of three basic parts.  The first part (chapters 1:1–3:8) is a preface which includes a penitential prayer by the exiles in Babylon. The second part (chapters 3:9–5:9), in two segments, is poetry by Baruch, in which he offers prayers of praise, remembrance and trust, and Jerusalem herself is given voice to speak. The final part (chapter 6) is actually a separate work entitled the [[Epistle of Jeremiah]] (Letter of Jeremiah), which in ancient Greek manuscripts was not originally part of the text of Baruch, but was a separate book in the Bible.  Ancient Latin versions attached the Letter of Jeremiah to Baruch, making them one book. It was also most likely originally written in Hebrew. Baruch is one of the deutero-canonical books. The Catholic Church uses Baruch as the sixth reading in the Easter Vigil liturgy.

The book of Baruch is composed of three basic parts.  The first part (chapters 1:1–3:8) is a preface which includes a penitential prayer by the exiles in Babylon. The second part (chapters 3:9–5:9), in two segments, is poetry by Baruch, in which he offers prayers of praise, remembrance and trust, and Jerusalem herself is given voice to speak. The final part (chapter 6) is actually a separate work entitled the [[Epistle of Jeremiah]] (Letter of Jeremiah), which in ancient Greek manuscripts was not originally part of the text of Baruch, but was a separate book in the Bible.  Ancient Latin versions attached the Letter of Jeremiah to Baruch, making them one book. It was also most likely originally written in Hebrew. Baruch is one of the deutero-canonical books. The Catholic Church uses Baruch as the sixth reading in the Easter Vigil liturgy.

Baruch is a collection of four very different compositions in two parts, beginning with the Letter to Jerusalem (1:1–3:8), which is most of the book, and ending with an appended work entitled “The Letter of Jeremiah”, from the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles, which circulated separately in major manuscripts of the Greek tradition, .  

Baruch is a collection of four very different compositions in two parts, beginning with the Letter to Jerusalem (1:1–3:8), which is most of the book, and ending with an appended work entitled “The Letter of Jeremiah”, from the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles, which circulated separately in major manuscripts of the Greek tradition, .  

The work offers an explaination of the trauma of the exile in terms of a Deuteronomic cycle: sin (of Israel), punishment, repentance, and return (cf. Jgs 2; also Dt 28–33).

The work offers an explanation of the trauma of the exile in terms of a Deuteronomic cycle: sin (of Israel), punishment, repentance, and return (cf. Jgs 2; also Dt 28–33).

The prayer of the exiles (2:11–3:8) is a confession of sin and a request for mercy, and has remarkable similarities to Dn 9 and to parts of Jeremiah.  

The prayer of the exiles (2:11–3:8) is a confession of sin and a request for mercy, and has remarkable similarities to Dn 9 and to parts of Jeremiah.  

====Letter to Jerusalem====

====Letter to Jerusalem====

Letter to Jerusalem (1:1–3:8). The first part is basically a "cover letter" for the second part. This letter is most of the book. It narrates how Baruch read his prophecy aloud to the displaced King Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) and the other exiles in Babylon (1:3-4).  In response to his prophecy the exiles repent to the Lord and send the priest Jehoiakim, with a large sum of money, and the vessels of the Temple deported by the Babylonians as booty, all back to Jerusalem, presumably by the hand of Baruch (1:7), to offer sacrifices at the Temple, which was still standing in 593 B.C., the 5th year of king Jechoniah in exile. Interestingly, they commission sacrifices to be offered for their Babylonian oppressors Nebuchadnezzer and Belshazzar (called Nabuchodonosor and Balthasar) (1:11). They offer a prayer of repentence and ask God for his deliverance, counting on his mercy and reminding him of his promises.  Many commentators see a relationship between this part of Baruch and Daniel 9 (see also Ezra 9).

Letter to Jerusalem (1:1–3:8). The first part is basically a "cover letter" for the second part. This letter is most of the book. It narrates how Baruch read his prophecy aloud to the displaced King Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) and the other exiles in Babylon (1:3-4).  In response to his prophecy the exiles repent to the Lord and send the priest Jehoiakim, with a large sum of money, and the vessels of the Temple deported by the Babylonians as booty, all back to Jerusalem, presumably by the hand of Baruch (1:7), to offer sacrifices at the Temple, which was still standing in 593 B.C., the 5th year of king Jechoniah in exile. Interestingly, they commission sacrifices to be offered for their Babylonian oppressors Nebuchadnezzer and Belshazzar (called Nabuchodonosor and Balthasar) (1:11). They offer a prayer of repentance and ask God for his deliverance, counting on his mercy and reminding him of his promises.  Many commentators see a relationship between this part of Baruch and Daniel 9 (see also Ezra 9).

====Historical Setting====

====Historical Setting====

No certain date can be given for the book, but it may have been edited in final form during the last two centuries B.C. Nevertheless, the times when these sections were written were still very challenging, and the temptation to abandon the worship of God was great. Though the book (except the letter of Jeremiah) is assigned to the pen of Baruch, most Bible scholars think it is a combination of much later disparate pieces, all originally written in Hebrew in Palestine, edited together and united by this framework of a letter from Baruch. The Book of Jeremiah relates that Baruch went into exile together with Jeremiah in Egypt.

No certain date can be given for the book, but it may have been edited in final form during the last two centuries B.C. Nevertheless, the times when these sections were written were still very challenging, and the temptation to abandon the worship of God was great. Though the book (except the letter of Jeremiah) is assigned to the pen of Baruch, most Bible scholars think it is a combination of much later disparate pieces, all originally written in Hebrew in Palestine, edited together and united by this framework of a letter from Baruch. The Book of Jeremiah relates that Baruch went into exile together with Jeremiah in Egypt.

   

   

Baruch reveals part of the Lord's relationship with his people. The exile was necessary to teach Israel to trust in him (chapter 2:5). The nation acknowledges its sin and spiritually returns to the Lord by seeking his wisdom and law.  While they praise him in captivity (chapter 3:7), their fear is removed (chapter 4:21) and God leads them in joy (chapter 5:9).  They trust in the Lord's promise of deliverance (chapter 2:34) and reject the idol worship of the Babylonians (chapter 6). Baruch is a book of hope which reveals the transformative power of trusting in God with sincere repentence.

Baruch reveals part of the Lord's relationship with his people. The exile was necessary to teach Israel to trust in him (chapter 2:5). The nation acknowledges its sin and spiritually returns to the Lord by seeking his wisdom and law.  While they praise him in captivity (chapter 3:7), their fear is removed (chapter 4:21) and God leads them in joy (chapter 5:9).  They trust in the Lord's promise of deliverance (chapter 2:34) and reject the idol worship of the Babylonians (chapter 6). Baruch is a book of hope which reveals the transformative power of trusting in God with sincere repentance.

==Martin Luther's judgment of Baruch==

==Martin Luther's judgment of Baruch==