Daily Bible Nugget #840, Daniel 7:13

 

The Nugget:

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (KJV)

Dan 7:13  I beheld in the night vision, and, lo, one coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man, and he came on to the Ancient of days, and was brought near to him.
Dan 7:14  And to him was given the dominion, and the honour, and the kingdom; and all nations, tribes, and languages, shall serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed. (LXX, Brenton translation)

Dan 7:13  In my visions during the night, I saw among the clouds in heaven someone like the Son of Man. He came to the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, and was presented to him. (GW, God’s Word translation)

My Comment:

The Messianic title, the Son of Man, was a favorite title of our Lord Jesus Christ. He used it of Himself many times. During His trial, when He used this title in answering the question posed to Him by the Chief Priest, the Chief Priest believed that Jesus committed blasphemy when Jesus applied this title to Himself (Matthew 26:64, 65, 66).

The title “Son of Man” as used by Jesus has several important meanings. It is helpful to study the Bible passages where this title is used.

To study this title, I make use of the Subject Index of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. “Son of Man” is indexed to the note at Matthew 16:27.

One of the important passages given as a cross reference for “Son of Man” at Matthew 16:27 is Daniel 7:13. To dig deeper, study the note and cross references given at Daniel 7:13,

Daniel 7:13
I saw. T968x. Joh 1:2 (T969x). Act 7:55, 56, Rev 7:10.

in the night visions. Dan 7:1, 2; Dan 7:7, Zec 1:8.

one like. +*Psa 8:4; +*Psa 8:5, +*Isa 9:6; +*Isa 9:7, Eze 1:26, Mat 13:41; *Mat 24:30; Mat 25:31; Mat 26:64, Mar 13:26; Mar 14:61, 62, Luk 21:27; Luk 21:36, *Joh 3:13; *Joh 5:27; Joh 12:34, Act 7:56, Php 2:6, 7, 8, Heb 2:14, **Rev 1:7; **Rev 1:13; **Rev 1:18; Rev 14:14.

Son of man. “His title ’the Son of man’ expresses his visible state, formerly in His humiliation, hereafter in His exaltation” (Fausset, on Dan 7:13, Commentary. vol. 4, p. 421). T1915, +*Psa 8:4; +*Psa 8:5; **Psa 80:17, Eze 2:1 note, +Mat 8:20; Mat 9:6; Mat 10:23; Mat 11:19; $*Mat 16:13; +*Mat 16:27 note, Mat 16:28; Mat 19:28; Mat 24:30; Mat 25:31; Mat 26:64, *Mar 2:10; *Mar 8:31; *Mar 8:38, Luk 5:24; Luk 17:24, 25; *Luk 22:69; Luk 24:26, +Joh 1:51 note. +*Joh 3:13; Joh 5:25; Joh 5:27, *Act 7:56, 2Ti 4:1 note. Heb 2:7, Rev 1:13; *Rev 14:14.

came. +Isa 35:4, +*Act 1:11.

the clouds of heaven. +Gen 9:13, Exo 13:21, 22; Exo 19:9; Exo 19:16, 1Ki 8:10, 11, Psa 68:32, 33; Psa 104:3, Isa 19:1, Eze 10:4, Nah 1:3, **Mat 24:30; **Mat 26:64, Mar 9:7; Mar 13:26, **Act 1:9, 10, 11, **Rev 1:7; Rev 10:1.

and came to. *Joh 8:54.

the Ancient. Dan 7:9; Dan 7:22.

and they. Psa 47:5; Psa 68:17, 18, Jer 33:14; Jer 49:19, Eph 1:20, 21, *1Ti 6:16, *Heb 9:24.

Posted in Bible Prophecy, Bible Study Tools, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, How to Study the Bible | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Exploring the claim did Jesus ever declare His divinity

 

The Nugget:

Mark 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

The Discussion:

PixelMistakePicasso You state:

“In the New Testament, Jesus frequently speaks about His relationship with God in ways that are open to interpretation. Key verses often cited where Jesus does not directly claim divinity include:
– Mark 10:18: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” ”

I have given a better understanding of Mark 10:18 in my note for this verse in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (NTSK):

none good but one. God the Father possesses the attribute of essential goodness (+*Mat 28:19 note), as does God the Son (Joh 10:11), and God the Holy Spirit (Psa 143:10). By this statement Jesus did not deny his own goodness, but claimed it was a proof of his deity.

You state:

“- John 14:28: “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” This statement suggests a hierarchy where Jesus positions Himself as subordinate to the Father.”

I have given a better interpretation that is more fully in accord with the full testimony of the Bible itself in my NTSK notes and cross references for John 14:28,

rejoice. Inasmuch as he should then be glorified, and his humiliation and sufferings should cease (De Burgh, p. 276). Joh 16:22; Joh 17:13; Joh 20:13, Luk 24:52, Heb 12:2.

greater than. The Lord was not inferior as to His essential being (see Joh 14:9; Joh 14:11; Joh 10:30), but as to His office, as sent by the Father (see 1Co 15:27, Php 2:9, 10, 11) [CB]. *Joh 14:12, **Joh 5:19; +*Joh 6:38 note. Gen 41:40 with Gen 44:18, Mat 24:36, +**Mar 13:32, *1Co 11:3; +**1Co 15:28, T963x: *Joh 5:19; Joh 8:42; Joh 13:16, Luk 22:41, 42, **+1Co 15:28 (T964x). Php 2:9, Heb 2:7.

You state:

“The original texts of the New Testament were written in Koine Greek, and nuances in translation can affect the interpretation of key passages. For example:
– The use of “Son of Man” (used 81 times in the Gospels) can be a reference to the prophetic figure in Daniel 7:13-14, traditionally understood as divine, yet linguistically it also simply means “human.”

It is better to go to the Scripture itself to learn the meaning and use of the divine titles of our Lord Jesus Christ. The notes and cross references I have placed in the NTSK will assist you as you properly search the Scriptures to learn the truth:

Matthew 16:27
the Son of man. FS144A3, +Gen 11:5, The title “Son of man” designates Christ’s human nature, as the title “Son of God” denotes his divine nature (Act 8:37 note). The use of “Son of man” here in reference to his second coming in glory shows unmistakably that this coming is personal, physical, and visible. Peters notes that this title serves particularly to identify Jesus Christ as the Messiah in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, noting “it is the peculiar, distinctive, predicted name of the Messiah given to Him in virtue of His covenanted relationship to the Kingdom” (Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 1, p. 566). Mat 16:13, +*Mat 8:20; +*Mat 19:28; +*Mat 24:30; *Mat 25:31-34; *Mat 25:46; *Mat 26:64, **+Psa 80:17, +**Dan 7:13, Mar 1:2 note. *Mar 8:38; *Mar 13:26; *Mar 14:62, *Luk 9:26; Luk 21:27; Luk 22:69, Joh 1:51 note. Joh 3:13 note. *Joh 5:27; Joh 13:31, +*Act 1:11; *Act 7:56; Act 8:37, 1Th 1:10, 2Th 1:10, **1Jn 4:2 note. **2Jn 1:7 note. +*Rev 1:7.

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The Age of Ishmael when Hagar and he left Abraham’s household

 

The Text:

Gen 21:14  And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. (KJV)

The Challenge:

WORST BIBLICAL ERROR: HAGAR CARRY HER 17 YEARS OLD SON ISHMA-EL ON HER SHOULDER

Was Ishmael and Hagar sent to the desert before or after the birth of Isaac?

If we were to accept the Biblical version, we would encounter a number of inconsistencies and contradictions. It is clear from the story in Gen. 21:14-19 that Ishmael was a

at that time. For example according to Gen. 16:16 Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. And according to Gen. 21:5 Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born. It follows that Ishmael was already fourteen years old when his younger brother Isaac was born. According to Gen. 21:8-19 the incident took place after Isaac was weaned. Biblical scholars tell us the child was probably weaned at about the age of three. Thus, it follows that when Hagar and Ishmael were taken away Ishmael was a full-grown teenager, seventeen years old.

However, the profile of Ishmael in Gen 21:14-19 is a small baby and not a full-grown teenager. Why?

Genesis 21:14-21 ESV So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar,

putting it on her shoulder, along with the child

, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. (15) When the water in the skin was gone,

 

My Initial Response:

I did a brief check on your exegesis of Genesis 21:14. Your analysis is rather an eisegesis of this text and is entirely mistaken.

K&D [Keil & Deilitzsch] give the following explanation:

Gen 21:14-16

The next morning Abraham sent Hagar away with Ishmael. The words, “he took bread and a bottle of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it (שָׂם participle, not perfect) upon her shoulder, and the boy, and sent her away,” do not state the Abraham gave her Ishmael also to carry. For וְאֶת־הַיֶּלֶד does not depend upon שָׂם and וַיִּתֵּן because of the copula ו, but upon יִקַּח, the leading verb of the sentence, although it is separated from it by the parenthesis “putting it upon her shoulder.” It does not follow from these words, therefore, that Ishmael is represented as a little child. Nor is this implied in the statement which follows, that Hagar, when wandering about in the desert, “cast the boy under one of the shrubs,” because the water in the bottle was gone. For יֶלֶד like נַעַר does not mean an infant, but a boy, and also a young man (Gen 4:23); – Ishmael must have been 15 or 16 years old, as he was 14 before Isaac was born (cf. Gen 21:5, and Gen 16:16); – and הִשְׁלִיךְ, “to throw,” signifies that she suddenly left hold of the boy, when he fell exhausted from thirst, just as in Mat 15:30 ῥίπτειν is used for laying hastily down. Though despairing of his life, the mother took care that at least he should breathe out his life in the shade, and she sat over against him weeping, “in the distance as archers,” i.e., according to a concise simile very common in Hebrew, as far off as archers are accustomed to place the target. Her maternal love could not bear to see him die, and yet she would not lose sight of him.

In my cross reference study resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, I give the following note and cross references at Genesis 21:14,

Gen 21:14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

child. Note: Or, rather, lad or youth, (see Gen_21:12; Gen_21:20) as Ishmael was now 16 or 17 years of age. S# H3206, +*Dan 1:4 note. 2Ki 2:23 note, 2Ki 2:24 h. +*Pro 22:6.

 

Response to me:

Your ESV is my eisegesis?????????????

All I did was merely quoted your ESV vertatimbly yet you lied and accused me of interpreting it…

Jewish interpretation (RAshi ) is also provided … Rashi tell us that Abraham put Ishmael on Hagar shoulder yet you deny it…

 

My Definitive Answer:

Abe San Yes, I accused you of eisegesis. Your citation of an English translation (whether the CEV, the ESV, or the KJV) does not answer my charge.

You stated in the Opening Post:

“Ishmael must have been a baby and not a teenager!
The above analysis leads to the inevitable conclusion that while the Bible contains some truths as explained earlier, there is also evidence of human additions, deletions and interpolations which only a subsequent authentic revelation could clear. The Islamic version of the story is fully consistent and coherent from A to Z;”

This is eisegesis because you have failed to tackle the term translated “boy” or “child” in Genesis 21:24.

I presented the evidence from my book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, and cited it from my digital eSword resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, as follows:

child. Note: Or, rather, lad or youth, (see Gen 21:12; Gen 21:20) as Ishmael was now 16 or 17 years of age. S# H3206, +*Dan 1:4 note. 2Ki 2:23 note, 2Ki 2:24 h. +*Pro 22:6.

Here are the Bible references as well as the associated notes I have placed in my resource:

Genesis 21:12
12  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
King James Version

Important because this is a related immediate context to Genesis 21:14. Note carefully the statement, “for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.”

Genesis 21:20
20  And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
King James Version

Important because this is a related immediate context of Genesis 21:14. It also reflects the fact that the Hebrew word underlying “child” in the KJV (H3206) does not necessarily mean a young child for here the age of Ishmael is 16 or 17 years of age. Furthermore, the construction used here does not necessitate that Abraham placed Ishmael upon Hagar’s shoulder!

Daniel 1:4
4  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
King James Version

Children. Note: The word yeladim, rendered children, is frequently used for lads, or young men (see Gen 21:8; Gen 21:14, 15, 16), νεανισκους, neaniskous, as the LXX. render; and Daniel must have been at this time at least seventeen or eighteen years of age. *S# H3206. Rendered “children” at Dan 1:10; Dan 1:13; Dan 1:15; Dan 1:17, Gen 30:26; Gen 33:1-2; Gen 33:5; Gen 33:5, 6, 7; Gen 33:13, 14, Exo 1:17, 18; Exo 2:6; Exo 21:4, *1Sa 1:2, **2Ki 2:23 note, 2Ki 2:24 h. Ezr 10:1, Neh 12:43, Job 21:11, Isa 2:6; Isa 8:18; Isa 29:23; Isa 57:4. 5, *Lam 4:10, Hos 1:2, Rendered otherwise at Gen 4:23 (young man). Gen 21:8 (child), **Gen 21:14 note, Gen 21:15, 16; Gen 32:22 (sons). Gen 37:30 (child). Gen 42:22; Gen 44:20, Exo 2:3 (child), Exo 2:6, 7, 8, 9; Exo 2:9, 10; Exo 21:22 (fruit). Rth 1:5 (sons). Rth 4:16 (child). 2Sa 6:23 (child). 2Sa 12:15; 2Sa 12:18; 2Sa 12:18; 2Sa 12:18; 2Sa 12:18, 19; 2Sa 12:19; 2Sa 12:21; 2Sa 12:21-22; 2Sa 12:22, 1Ki 3:25; *1Ki 12:8 (young men), 1Ki 12:10; 1Ki 12:14; 1Ki 14:12 (child). 1Ki 17:21; 1Ki 17:21, 22, 23, 2Ki 4:1 (sons), 2Ki 4:18 (child), 2Ki 4:26; 2Ki 4:34; 2Ki 4:34, 2Ch 10:8 (young men), 2Ch 10:10; 2Ch 10:14, Job 38:41 (young ones). Job 39:3, Ecc 4:13 (child), Ecc 4:15, *Isa 9:6; Isa 11:7 (young ones). Jer 31:20 (child). Joe 3:3 (boy). Zec 8:5 (boys).

2 Kings 2:23
23  And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
King James Version

children. S# H5288, naar. Note: The words neurim ketannim not only signify little children, but young men; for katon signifies not only little, but young, in opposition to old; and “naar” signifies not only a child, but a young man, grown to years of maturity: thus Isaac (Gen 22:5) is called “naar” when twenty-eight years old, Joseph (Gen 41:12) when thirty-nine, and Rehoboam (2Ch 13:7) when forty. These idolatrous young men, having heard of the ascension of Elijah, without believing it, blasphemously bade Elisha follow him. The venerable prophet, from a divine impulse, pronounced a curse “in the name of the Lord,” which was immediately followed by the most terrible judgment; thus evincing the Source from which it flowed.

Proverbs 22:6
6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
King James Version

The word rendered “child” in Proverbs 22:6 is the same Hebrew word found in 2 Kings 2:23. This verse, often taken as a promise for the future faithfulness of children who have been taught properly during childhood in the home will not depart from that training when they grow older. The general truth stated in this familiar proverb is not restricted to young children, but to young adults who have reached the age of forty years old as seen in the cross references given above.

Therefore, Hagar’s son was not a young child when these events took place but a teenager.

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Who men saw when they saw God face to face and lived

 

 

The Text:

Gen 32:30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (KJV)

The Complaint:

i found so annoying when christian wants to kidnap all the biblical figure, and insisting it is their cultic Jesus .Shame! really shame!l

My Response:

It is a shame that that some of the commenters here refuse to believe the Word of God as it is written in the Bible.

Who said this:

Exo 33:20 But, “he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

Clearly these words were spoken by God the Father, who is spirit (John 4:24), and therefore not visible to man (John 1:18).

John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (ESV)

Joh 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (ESV)

John 1:18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (KJV)

Therefore, when men see God as reported in the Old Testament, in context they have seen the Angel of the Lord, who also in context is called both God and Jehovah. These instances are correctly understood to be pre-incarnate appearances of our Lord Jesus Christ as a careful comparison of Scripture with Scripture will verify.

Some of the other relevant Scripture passages which bear upon this issue include:

Exodus 24:10

10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
King James Version

Genesis 32:30

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
King James Version

Numbers 12:8

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
King James Version

Deuteronomy 5:24

24 And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.
King James Version

Judges 6:22

22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.
Jdg 6:23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
King James Version

Judges 13:22

22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
Jdg 13:23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
King James Version

Isaiah 6:5

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
King James Version

John 1:18

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
King James Version

Joh 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. (NET Bible)

John 5:37

37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
King James Version

Those who know and properly respect the Holy Scriptures will not try to deny what is plainly revealed about Who our Lord Jesus Christ truly is.

 

Response to My Comment:

Those who respect our Creator and His Torah would never suggest that He would appear as a man, because to do so would be calling Him a liar!

Exodus 24:10, no description of an image is given!

Genesis 32:30 was a vision/dream, where Jacob wrestled with a man! It doesn’t say that he wrestled with our Creator and to suggest that reveals how little you think of Him!

Numbers 12:8 is speaking in future tense, proclaiming Moses will unite with Him, after death! Our Creator already made it clear that no one can look at His face and live!

Deuteronomy 5:24, no one saw an image!

Both references from judges are referring to messengers, not our Creator!

Isaiah 6:5 is referring to the vision he had. Again, a vision is not a physical manifestation!

The quotes from the Greek New Testament are irrelevant

Jesus was not a god! Jesus wasn’t even a good person!

Jesus spoke against our commandments multiple times in Mathew chapter 5!

Jesus practiced witchcraft in Mathew chapter 17, when he summoned the spirit of Moses!

Jesus encouraged pagan traditions like blood consumption in John 6:53-56! Even though Christians mimic his teachings symbolically; symbolic abominations are still abominable!

Jesus engaged in hedonistic behavior with men in John chapter 13 and is promised 144,000 virgin men “undefiled by women”, in Revelations 14:3-4!

There was nothing to suggest Jesus was anything but a man who resisted the Roman occupation and was killed for it, just like hundreds of thousands of other people.

Jesus died for the only sins he could; his own!

The days of Jesus were shortened and he had no offspring to see.

 

My Reply:

You state:

“Genesis 32:30 was a vision/dream, where Jacob wrestled with a man! It doesn’t say that he wrestled with our Creator and to suggest that reveals how little you think of Him!”

I respect and honor your great regard for the Torah.

If you read the immediate context of the incident recorded in Genesis 32:30 there is nothing said that would indicate this was a dream. Compare the incident recorded in Genesis 28:10-22 where the experience Jacob had is specified to be a dream:

Gen 28:10  And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
Gen 28:11  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

In response to this dream Jacob vowed:

Gen 28:19  And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Gen 28:20  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Gen 28:21  So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

However, that you would regard Jacob’s wrestling all night with the Angel to be but a dream is contrary to the physical results of that “dream” which resulted in permanent impairment of his hip:

Gen 32:31  And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Your view that this incident was but a dream seems contrary to the fact of the solemnity given this incident in Scripture which tells the circumstances upon which God changed Jacob’s name from Jacob to Israel:

Gen 32:28  And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Furthermore, when Jacob makes reference to this event and more at the end of his life, Jacob states:

Gen 48:15  And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
Gen 48:16  The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

And so all of your quick dismissals of the Biblical evidence I gave where men saw God and were frequently surprised that they yet lived could be answered by a closer examination of each text in its near and related contexts, but this first example of looking at Scripture more carefully is enough to make my point.

 

 

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #839, Micah 5:2

 

The Nugget:

Micah 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The Challenge: 

You have provided an interesting list of Bible verses to consider. To label them as “translation errors” is hardly warranted.

This example is rather ironic:

8. Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel…” The translation of this prophecy affects Christian understanding of Jesus’ birthplace and his messianic role.

It is ironic because in the New Testament record this verse is quoted by the scribes and Pharisees who understood from this very Scripture where the Messiah must be born (see Matthew 2:6 and John 7:52). That is hardly a Christian understanding at the time because there were no Christians yet when this happened, so the interpretation is originally Jewish.

Furthermore, when the whole verse (Micah 5:2) is cited, it reveals that the Person of the Messiah has existed for eternity past, which proves His Deity: “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

A study of the cross references given most extensively in my book The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and my expansion of that resource in digital form titled The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury will confirm the teaching of this verse.

I just now did a search of my Real Bible Study site and discovered I have discussed Micah 5:2 there only once and that very briefly at the following link:

The Deity of Jesus Christ proven from Scripture: Part 3

I will now remedy that and write a new post which includes the cross references for Micah 5:2 from my digital resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, so that everyone who wishes can access them freely.

Dig Deeper by Studying the Cross References from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for Micah 5:2 which are as follows:

Micah 5:2
But thou. >Mat 2:6, >Joh 7:42.

Bethlehem. T1888, +Jos 19:15. Jdg 12:8; %Jdg 17:7, $Mat 2:1; $Mat 2:6, $Luk 2:4, 5, 6, Joh 7:42, Heb 7:14.

Ephratah. Gen 35:16; Gen 35:19; +Gen 48:7, Ephrath. Jos 12:9 note. +Rth 1:2; Rth 4:11, 1Sa 17:12, +1Ch 2:50; +1Ch 2:51; +1Ch 2:54; 1Ch 4:4, Psa 132:6.

little. Jdg 6:15, 1Co 1:27, 28, 29.

among. 1Sa 10:19; 1Sa 23:23.

thousands. +Exo 18:21; +Exo 18:25 <rp. Num 1:16, Deut 1:15, +Jos 22:21, Jdg 6:15; Jdg 12:6 mg, note. Jdg 15:15 note. 1Sa 6:19 note. 1Sa 8:12; 1Sa 10:19; 1Sa 17:18; 1Sa 23:23, 1Ki 20:30 note. 1Ch 12:20; 1Ch 15:25; 1Ch 27:1.

of Judah. Deut 33:7, +1Ch 5:2, %+Psa 60:7, $Mat 2:6, $Heb 7:14, $Rev 5:5.

yet. Isa 11:1; Isa 53:2, Eze 17:22, 23, 24, *Amos 9:11, Luk 2:4, 5, 6, 7, 1Co 1:27, 28.

out of thee. Num 24:19, Isa 11:1, Joh 7:27.

shall he. Psa 23:1; Psa 78:71, Jer 23:4, Zec 13:7, Act 13:32; Act 26:6, Heb 5:5.

come forth. Jer 33:14, Eze 21:27, Dan 9:25, %*Zec 9:9; Zec 12:8, Mat 11:3; Mat 21:5, Luk 2:6; Luk 7:19; +**Luk 24:27, Joh 1:45, Gal 4:4, =1Th 4:16.

that is. +*Gen 49:10, 1Ch 5:2, +*Isa 9:6; +*Isa 9:7, +*Jer 23:5; +*Jer 23:6, Eze 34:23, 24; Eze 37:22, 23, 24, 25, *Zec 9:9, Mat 28:18, +**Luk 1:31, 32, 33; Luk 23:2; Luk 23:38, Joh 19:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 1Ti 3:16, Rev 19:16.

ruler. 1Ch 11:2, Psa 28:9, Isa 55:4, Jer 30:9; Jer 30:21, Eze 37:24, **Joh 1:49, +*Act 2:30; =Act 7:35; +*Act 10:36, *Rom 9:5, Col 1:20, 1Ti 1:17.

in Israel. +*Act 1:6.

whose goings forth. +Gen 22:15 note. *Psa 90:2; Psa 102:25, 26, 27, *Pro 8:22; *Pro 8:23, +*Joh 1:1-3; **Joh 8:58, *Col 1:17, +*Heb 13:8, *1Jn 1:1; *1Jn 1:2, *Rev 1:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; Rev 2:8; Rev 21:6.

from. *Psa 55:19; Psa 93:2, Isa 43:13, Dan 7:9, Joh 1:15; +*Joh 8:58.

of old. Heb. kedem, +S# H6924. Always used of the past; rendered (1) ever, Pro 8:23, (2) eternal, Deut 33:27, (3) everlasting, **Hab 1:12, (4) old, Neh 12:46, Psa 44:1; Psa 55:19; Psa 68:33; Psa 74:2; Psa 77:5; Psa 77:11; Psa 78:2; Psa 119:152; Psa 143:5, Jer 46:26, Lam 1:7; Lam 2:17, Mic 7:20, (5) ancient, Deut 33:15, 2Ki 19:25, Isa 19:11; Isa 23:7; Isa 37:26; Isa 45:21; Isa 46:10; Isa 51:9, (6) past, Job 29:2, (7) aforetime, Jer 30:20, (8) before, Psa 139:5, Pro 8:22.

from. T76-3, Psa 72:17. Pro 8:22, 23, 24, +*Joh 1:1; +*Joh 1:2; +*Joh 8:35; +*Joh 8:58; *Joh 17:5, *1Jn 1:1; *1Jn 1:2, +*Rev 1:8; +*Rev 1:17.

everlasting. or, the days of eternity. Heb. olam, +Gen 17:7. FS22D4B, +Dan 7:9. Mic 7:14, Deut 33:27, **Psa 90:2; Psa 93:2, *Pro 8:22; *Pro 8:23, Isa 57:15, Hab 1:12, *Joh 1:1; *Joh 1:2; **Joh 6:54 note. Rom 16:26, Php 2:6, 1Pe 1:20, Rev 1:4.

Symbol Explanation:
* clear verse
**important reference, don’t miss
+ find more here
> verse quoted in the Bible at this reference
= Bible type: a person, action, rite, institution that prefigures a NT truth
or Italicized or indicates an alternative translation provided by KJV translators
FS Figure of speech reference
T Topic Number Index reference
<rp Reference to Pentateuch
S# Strong Number as given in the lexicons at the back of Strong’s Concordance
$  Fulfilled Prophecy
mg margin reading

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Prophecy, Daily Bible Nuggets | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How to Scorch the Critics

 

4-25-24 How to Scorch the Critics

The Texts:

John 21:24  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

John 19:35  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

1 John 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

The Challenge (Who Wrote the Gospel of John):

Gospel of John: Unmasking its True Author

The Gospel of John stands as a pivotal component of the Christian New Testament, deeply influential in both theological discourse and spiritual guidance. Traditionally, this Gospel has been attributed to John the Apostle, one of Jesus Christ’s original disciples.

However, modern biblical scholarship raises compelling arguments against this attribution, focusing primarily on linguistic style, theological content, and historical context. This post delves into these aspects, presenting a case for reconsidering the authorship of this profound religious text.

  1. Linguistic and Literary Style

The Gospel of John is markedly different in style and vocabulary from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). While the Synoptics share a considerable amount of material and present a narrative in a relatively straightforward manner, John’s Gospel is more symbolic and uses a higher level of Greek, not just in terms of vocabulary but also in its philosophical undertones. This suggests a different authorship. For instance, the use of the term “Logos” or “Word” in the opening verses introduces a concept that aligns more closely with Hellenistic Jewish and Greek philosophical ideas than with the simpler narrative style of the Synoptic Gospels.

  1. Theological Distinctiveness

John’s Gospel contains theological themes and Christological insights not present in the other Gospels. The depiction of Jesus in John is more abstract and divine from the very beginning—emphasized through declarations like “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). This high Christology contrasts sharply with the more humanized portrayals in the Synoptic Gospels, suggesting a later development in the understanding of Jesus’ nature, which likely evolved after the lifetime of the original apostles.

  1. Historical and Contextual Clues

The context and content of John’s Gospel also suggest a later authorship. For example, the detailed knowledge of Jewish rituals and the geographical specifics of Jerusalem imply a familiarity that aligns more with a resident or a frequent visitor to the area, potentially after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE—long after the death of John the Apostle, if traditional timelines are maintained. Moreover, the text’s references to the expulsion of Christians from synagogues (“They will put you out of the synagogues”; John 16:2) likely refer to events that occurred around 85-90 CE, further pointing to a composition date that is decades after the Apostle John would have lived.

  1. External Attributions and Early Church Testimonies

While early church tradition ascribes the Gospel to John the Apostle, it is essential to note that these attributions come from later church fathers like Irenaeus in the late 2nd century. The lack of contemporary evidence linking John the Apostle directly to the text, and the reliance on second-generation testimonies, calls into question the reliability of these attributions. It’s possible that the ascription was influenced more by ecclesiastical politics or a desire to anchor the text’s authority in apostolic foundations than by factual history.

Conclusion

Considering the linguistic, theological, and contextual differences, along with the historical timing of the Gospel’s themes and ecclesiastical attributions, it becomes increasingly plausible that the Gospel of John was not authored by John the Apostle but by a later figure or community deeply versed in both Jewish and Hellenistic philosophical traditions.

 

The Critics Proven Wrong:

If you have personally carefully read the Gospel of John for yourself you would know that the claims of unbelieving critics are not at all well founded.

John wrote his Gospel after the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke had been written. John wrote to preserve the record of what our Lord Jesus Christ did and taught, and John did not repeat in his account what was already written in the other Gospel records.

The 27 primary source First Century documents included in the New Testament are historical, and by definition were not written at a later time by anonymous writers in the name of a famous apostle of Christ. The Christians who first received the New Testament writings were most careful not to include any writings whose apostolic source was in doubt. The Apostle Paul alludes to this issue when a spurious writing claiming to be from Paul was firmly rejected by Paul himself as mentioned in the second chapter of 2 Thessalonians.

For those who have read and studied the Gospel of John at length for themselves as I have done, there are internal evidences that demonstrate that only John, the beloved disciple, could have written it. I have noticed that John was a good eavesdropper. He reports carefully what others in the crowds surrounding Jesus are saying. When you read carefully enough, you learn from John’s Gospel that there are certain family relationships revealed that reveal why and how John knew what he did about what was going on.

The references John makes to local landmarks, to sociological conditions, to the conflicting religious parties, and his knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, a knowledge far superior to the knowledge of either the contemporary Pharisees or Sadducees, absolutely confirms that only John could be the author of the Gospel of John.

John inserts some sly humor that pokes fun at the ignorance of the Pharisees of their own Scriptures when he reports:

Joh 7:40  Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
Joh 7:41  Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
Joh 7:42  Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
Joh 7:43  So there was a division among the people because of him.
Joh 7:44  And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
Joh 7:45  Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
Joh 7:46  The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
Joh 7:47  Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
Joh 7:48  Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
Joh 7:49  But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
Joh 7:50  Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
Joh 7:51  Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

Notice how the above text from John illustrates how carefully John listened to what was being said by the people in the crowds around him.

Now notice how John carefully reports the response of the Jewish leadership to Nicodemus:

Joh 7:52  They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

Careful readers who actually know their Bibles will get the humor and irony of the “put down” this comment John reports for it demonstrates the ignorance of the scribes and Pharisees and the Sadducees of Jesus’s day of their own Scriptures:

John 7:52 is a very good example of the fact that the scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests DID NOT obey or follow the principle underlying my Rule 5 of my Rules of Interpretation.

Rule 5 states (as given in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury):

(5) Interpret a particular passage in harmony with all other passages which may have a bearing upon the subject. All relevant evidence must be taken into account to arrive at the correct interpretation.

These rules are listed at 2Pe 1:20.

Expanding my notes for John 7:52 (as given on my Real Bible Study site):

If they had looked, they would have found that Jonah and Hosea arose out of Galilee, and perhaps Elijah, Elisha, and Amos (CB). See Isa 9:2 where the Messiah as the great light arises in all likelihood out of Galilee (Isa 9:1).

The scribes and Pharisees were unaware of the geography of their own country!

The facts as given incidentally in the Bible do confirm that Jonah, Hosea, Elijah, Elisha, and Amos arose out of Galilee. The way to ferret this information out from the Bible is to follow carefully the cross references given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

For Elijah, referred to as “Elijah the Tishbite,” see the references and notes given at 1 Kings 17:1,
the Tishbite. i.e. captivity; recourse, *S# H8664. 1Ki 21:17. 1Ki 21:28. 2Ki 1:3. 2Ki 1:8. 2Ki 9:36. From Tishbe, a city of Naphtali in Galilee (Young). +*Joh 7:52.

For Jonah, see the references and notes given at 2Ki 14:25,

2Ki 14:25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

Jonah. i.e. a dove. +Jon 1:1, Mat 12:39, 40; Mat 16:4, Jonas.
Amittai. i.e. true, steadfast. *S# H573: 2Ki 14:25, Jon 1:1.
Gath-hepher. i.e. wine-press of the well. S# H1662. Jos 19:13, Gittah-hepher. +*Joh 7:52, In Zebulun, in Galilee.

For Micah, see the references and notes given at Micah 1:1,

Mic 1:1  The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
Micah. i.e. who is like Jehovah?

(2) The sixth of the minor prophets, a native of Moresheth-gath, west of Jerusalem, in Gath. Thus Micah is one of several prophets who did come out of Galilee (%Joh 7:52). He was a contemporary of Isaiah, and prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, B.C. 750-698.

Morasthite. Micah is one of several prophets who did come out of Galilee (%Joh 7:52), as did Jonah (Jon 1:1 note), Hosea, and probably Elijah, Elisha, and Amos. Mic 1:14, +Jer 26:18.
It seems ironic that the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’s day were not more aware of at least these examples found in their own Hebrew Scriptures of prophets who did arise out of Galilee.

Maybe I should cut them a little slack, though. They had to read and search through Bible books scroll by scroll. They could not have imagined back then anything like the instantaneous search results we can now get for our Bible studies using digital resources.

It turns out that Nahum is also of Galilee.

Nah 1:1  The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Nahum. i.e. comforted, *S# H5151.
Elkoshite. i.e. God my bow, i.e. defense; of the gathered of God, *S# H512. From a town in Galilee (Young). A dweller in Elkosh, which Jerome says was a village of Galilee (%Joh 7:52).

I found it interesting that the city name “Capernaum” means “village of comfort” or “village of Nahum” (Mat 4:13).

All this evidence that there were quite a few prophets who arose from Galilee suggests to me that the Pharisees with their counter-claim against Nicodemus may have “stuck their foot in their mouth.” Or, as I sometimes state, they did not do their homework first!

Quite obviously, the Pharisees themselves failed to search the Scriptures carefully enough, the point of Rule 5 of my Rules of Interpretation.

Jesus commanded us to “Search the Scriptures.”

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, Bible Study Tools, How to Study the Bible | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Earth Day

 

4-22-24 Earth Day

Proverbs and Quotations:

“Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.”  Shakespeare, King Lear I.iv.

My Comment:

Today is marked on my calendar as “Earth Day.”

I remember posting an appropriate proverb or quotation many years ago that seemed appropriate for my classes. I can’t find the quotation I used then. I’ll have to search for it in my lesson plans and use it another year. The Shakespeare quotation above will serve the  purpose in the interim.

I have been lately reading several books about the subject of worldview. Worldviews are the underlying philosophies that frame our thinking and belief systems, systems most of us are unaware of.

“Earth Day” belongs to a worldview that is incompatible with a Christian or Biblical worldview.

Perhaps most who acknowledge “Earth Day” also think highly of environmentalists and believe in “climate change,” and think climate is affected by human activity. They are concerned about carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and think this is a harmful byproduct of human activity and cow flatulence. They are concerned about “carbon footprints,” and want everyone to cut back on eating red meats. Some even speak of eating bugs and owning nothing as if this were an admirable goal. They also believe in evolution and think there are too many humans on our planet. They also believe in the viability of electric cars but at the same time think we can power our electric grid using windmills and solar panels. All this is puerile nonsense, believed by those who failed to pay much attention in physics class.

Last year for more than a month the skies here were so darkened by smoke from Canadian wildfires that our tomato garden failed miserably to grow and bear fruit. To add insult to injury, we had too much rain after that so that other gardeners in our immediate area lost their vegetable crops due to rotting in the field.

I suspect the Canadian wildfires resulted from mismanagement of the forests, mismanagement that was likely based upon the mistaken whims of environmentalists whose ideas are not based on genuine science or proper forest management. It is obvious that such mismanagement resulted in releasing into our atmosphere far more pollutants than legitimate human activity normally would. The unusual amount of rain may have resulted from “climate engineering,” also “solar management,” evidence for which is plainly visible for those who make the effort to look up to the sky to see those lines drawn by very silent airplanes whose so-called “chemtrails” remain in the  sky far longer than any exhaust seen from normal airplanes. This climate engineering is designed to reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the surface of the earth to reduce global warming.

There are a number of Bible passages that may relate to these issues:

Revelation 11:18

18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
King James Version

Jeremiah 51:25

25  Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.
King James Version

Matthew 24:22

22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
King James Version

Mark 13:20

20  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
King James Version

Ecclesiastes 1:4

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
King James Version

2 Peter 3:7

7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
King James Version

Be careful not to disdain what the Bible teaches. It is never safe to bet against the Bible!

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Is the claim Jesus is God the teaching of Jesus or Paul?

The Text:

1Pe 3:15 but in your hearts be consecrated to Christ as Lord, and always be ready to make your defense to anyone who asks a reason for the hope you have. But you must do it in gentleness and reverence, (Williams NT)

My Comment:

All of us need to learn to be better witnesses to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. These days we do not need to become missionaries overseas. Many people either overseas or who come from overseas are within our circle of influence. I have found many opportunities on the Internet to share what the Bible teaches to people of other faiths from all over the world.

I share the following interchange I have lately had with a former Christian who is now a Muslim if I correctly understand his testimony.

The challenge:

I have a liitle challenge to any learned christian here.

Prove me that i am wrong.

Once we put a vital argument that Jesus never claim as God unequivocally,and all his followers knew it very well.Most deluded claim christian apologist will refute it according to Paul, the murderer and false apostle.

Using bogus books

Romans

Ephisians

Hebrew

Chorintians etc.

Is that Jesus words and teaching or Pauls ministry and the deceiver?

Compare it here.

John 4:19, 25-26 (KJV) The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

 

My Response:

Since Messianic Bible prophecy in the Old Testament predicts and declares the deity of the Messiah in passages our Lord Jesus Christ Himself quoted as found in the record contained in the four Gospels, it is not necessary to depend on the writings of Paul to establish the doctrine of the Deity of Christ.

Opening Post (OP) Author Response to Me:

let us accept the fact even all four gospels had many self contradictory. Pertaining to the so called divinity. Just try to notice most of the words coming from Jesus is more vital to oppose it. Yes outside of it Paul elevated him into something, Aside the most developed in the book of john that can never be find in 3 synoptic gospels. And mostly from the OT the jews never had such knowledge that the messia or christ is pertaining to God, unless to a jews who converted in christianity.

My Reply:

You are correct when you assert:

“And mostly from the OT the jews never had such knowledge that the messia or christ is pertaining to God …”

Isaiah in a passage quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ supplies a clue as to why this was so:

Isa 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

God has been very careful to respect the freedom of the will of every person. He does not force us to believe the truth by providing overwhelmingly irrefutable or undeniable evidence such that it would be impossible for anyone to not believe what He has revealed in nature (Psalm 19:1-6) or in His written word (Psalm 19:7-14) in the Bible.

Only those who have an open mind and heart to truth are able to receive the abundant truth He has provided in His written word, the Bible.

Those who do not have an open mind and heart are unwilling to receive the truth of God’s Word but instead resist, deny, contradict, and even attempt to suppress the truth.

The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are just as clear and forthright in their witness to the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ as is the Gospel of John if you read them carefully.

 

OP Author Gives His Testimony of How He as a Christian Became a Muslim:

that is the common excuses of every christian,and far more worst to accuse us we dont have spirit to understand everything which no one can understand the mystery but those who have the spirit.But to tell you honestly sir.

No any christian can say that we dont ask the spirit every time we pray and read the bible.Let me give you my self as an example.

We all knew that all of us were born as a Roman Catholic and influence by the church. But when the missionary conquer us we are more become active in the scripture. We tend to be more develop to be literate reading the bible .When i became a born again christian we knew for the fact how the church is being corrupted.

that is why we become more guided in scripture to understand. And yes all claim christian are relying more on that spirit.

I FOUGHT FOR hard to defend the christian taeching,even when id worked in Saudi i secretly preach the bible. That is how i risk my life in the name of bible and Jesus.

But we knew for the fact we have many question at back of our mind, Somethings that the message of Jesus are so few and it always incomplete and will follow by the narration of almost 3rd persons. Which is contardictory to the words of Jesus.

Like the common criticism when Jesus uttered my God My God why you have forsaken me?? That is one of the many questionable remarks of Jesus. And even my family sometimes ask me things .They thought Jesus is God why he called for another God??

Same the famous tiktok of a young child when he reading that Jesus as when he grow God nourished him with knowledege???

See even a young and pure mind do understand things.Which an adult will always denied as he already doctrinated or manipulated.That is why it is difficult to argue when a person are more theological than academic which logic is always at hand.

Ma sha allah! With out Islam the world has no any option to see the truth but just to stay in christian world with endless contradiction about historical Jesus.

It is happened even the time of Jesus ministry. That is why there are tons of theological view about Jesus.

Name it you will find it.

You have the claim monotheistic belief, dualism, trinitarianism, modalism, etch. It defend who is majority and in power he will become the claim orthodox. But it will not die in our generation. Even some of hereticals view are being murdered and outnumber. Still they are coming back and representing as different denonination. That is why Ma sha allah.I am proud to be a Muslim. Jesus still lives in me as my great prophet the messiah who submitted to God of Abraham as we believe as a muslim. That is a very safe side as we can still see in many biblical verse a very strong argument that no one can deny. Oh by the why why i explain my past life as a christian?

Just to prove if you are right and Jesus is God, He betrayed me. When i follow him sincerely when i was taught by the church. I never commited such sinfull way when i am a christian. Dont say because i am weak. remember our christian song. Let the weak say i am strong.

My Response:

Thank you for sharing some of your spiritual history.

You raise some interesting and very important questions in your comment.

For example, you mention that even a young child wondered about “when he reading that Jesus as when he grow God nourished him with knowledege???”

That question may be related to what is said in Luke 2:52,

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

This passage teaches us that Jesus was truly human, and increased in knowledge and maturity with His increasing age just like the rest of us do.

The writer of the book of Hebrews references this fact about our Lord Jesus Christ when he wrote:

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The question about the words on the cross that Jesus spoke, a quotation from Psalm 22:1,

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

as recorded in Matthew 27:46,

Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

I have carefully explained in my notes for Matthew 27:46 in my digital reference work, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

I have posted that information on my Real Bible Study site at the following link:

https://www.realbiblestudy.com/?p=2433

 

Author’s Reply to Me:

Yes sir, but still we are very clear how the trinitarian defending it. When we ask them if Jesus the man died, is God died too? And of course every trinitarian will say no! his body died but his divinity of being God will never and did not die. That is why the kid is right: if he is truly God in flesh why he should be nourished by other God? That is why trinitarian is a paradox argument. It will never stand. But to accept just a believer.

My Reply:

As for the question about “if Jesus the man died, did God die too?” one of several valid explanations would be that the Bible teaches that bodies may and do die but souls or spirits never die.

False cults and mistaken religions refuse to accept the fact that the Bible reveals to careful readers by the Rule of Necessary Inference that our Lord Jesus Christ possessed two natures in His one Person: a divine nature and a human nature.

Understanding this FACT about the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ clarifies our understanding about Who our Lord Jesus Christ is and what He has accomplished for those who believe by His death on the cross for us.

Author’s Reply to Me:

it is just plain notion that will never ever be the truth when we will ask Jesus and all his followers. People that time knew him very well and who and what is God that very distorted when we are going to ask christian..

Here a very simple with no mystery.

God is. A spirit and not a man like Jesus.

John 4:24 (KJV) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Aside from the very own chapter and story.

JESUS AFFIRMED WHO HE IS.

BASE FROM THE UNDERSTANDING OF A WOMAN, AS IT IS BEING PROPHECIES SINCE FROM THEIR FOREFATHER.

John 4:19, 25-26 (KJV) The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

As simple as that no such mystery no hokus pokus…sorry all your notion is false and our argument wil stay firm as long as we follow Jesus own words.

 

My Reply:

Did you notice in the very text of New Testament Holy Scripture that when the woman at the well spoke of her faith in a coming Messiah that Jesus told her, as you correctly quoted, “I that speak unto thee am he.”

The Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, teach the Deity of the Messiah.

Peter makes this clear by what he writes when he states:

Pe 2:1 Stop being hateful! Quit trying to fool people, and start being sincere. Don’t be jealous or say cruel things about others.

1Pe 2:2 Be like newborn babies who are thirsty for the pure spiritual milk that will help you grow and be saved.

1Pe 2:3 You have already found out how good the Lord really is.

1Pe 2:4 Come to Jesus Christ. He is the living stone that people have rejected, but which God has chosen and highly honored.

1Pe 2:5 And now you are living stones that are being used to build a spiritual house. You are also a group of holy priests, and with the help of Jesus Christ you will offer sacrifices that please God.

1Pe 2:6 It is just as God says in the Scriptures, “Look! I am placing in Zion a choice and precious cornerstone. No one who has faith in that one will be disappointed.” (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Notice especially what is stated in 1 Peter 2:3,

1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (KJV)

This verse (1 Peter 2:3) is a quotation from Psalm 34:8,

Psalm 34:8 Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.
American Standard Version

Notice very carefully that Peter applies what was said of Jehovah in the Old Testament to Jesus.

I have found 19 examples where the New Testament writers have applied to Jesus what was written in the Old Testament about Jehovah.

This is also seen in the narrative found in Acts 11:20, 21,

Act 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Act 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (KJV)

Notice that in Acts 11:21 Luke uses the Old Testament phrase, “the hand of the Lord” (see Exodus 9:3). “It was proof of God’s approval of their course in preaching the Lord Jesus to Greeks (A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures, vol. 3, p. 157).”

When Luke writes at the end of Acts 11:21 that a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord,” “”Lord” refers to “the Lord Jesus,” as in verse 20 (Act 11:20), though “the hand of the Lord” is the hand of Jehovah, clearly showing that the early disciples put Jesus on a par with Jehovah. His deity was not a late development read back into the early history (A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures, vol. 3, p. 157).”

 

OP Author Reply to Me:

sir it is not the proper way to study scripture.First the author of John is not peter.The story of Peter doesn know how christ met the woman.

 

My Reply to OP Author:

I am sorry that you did not understand what I wrote in my comment.

I would kindly ask that you try to read it again.

I said nothing about the author of John being Peter.

When you write that “the story of Peter doesn’t know how Christ met the woman,” you may also be misunderstanding what John wrote in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John.

As for what is the proper way to study Scripture, I may have far more experience than you may have about how to study the Scripture. I am most happy to encourage and help you understand more about how to do real Bible study.

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #838, John 8:56

 

3-31-24 Daily Bible Nugget 838 John 8v56

The Nugget:

John 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

The Challenge Answered:

Abe San You make the claim or statement above:

“Abraham saw Jesus according to your NT? Is there any passage in the OT confirming this fantastic claim of Jesus? None.
How can we then trust that claim?”

Since it is our Lord Jesus Christ who made the claim, to dispute the claim is to call the Lord Jesus Christ a liar.

I suggest you go back and think about how far off you must be in your thinking to ever state or write a claim like that.

I have meticulously studied every verse in the Bible and its cross references. My judgment is that the claim Jesus made is absolutely correct and is confirmed by the passages in the Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures to which He refers.

Jesus identified the problem and reason for the unbelief of the Jewish leaders of His day. Jesus told them that had they believed Moses, they would have believed Him, because Moses wrote of Jesus (John 5:46).

John 5:46  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

Jesus also stated that they failed to search the Scriptures, stating that the Scriptures testified of Him (John 5:39).

John 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

The way to find the Biblical answer which demonstrates the truth of the claim Jesus made in John 8:56 is to do a proper search of the Scriptures yourself.

To make the task easier for everyone, I have spent well over five decades collecting cross references from scholarly sources and placing them all in my published Bible study resources, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the greatly extended and more complete digital resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I share these cross references on my Real Bible Study site. The site has a search feature. Place the verse reference “John 8:56” in the search box to see if I have posted the cross references for that verse. If I have not done so yet, leave a comment requesting that I post those references and I will do so.

My Comment:

I have followed my own advice today (Friday, April 12, 2024) and searched this site for John 8:56. It turns out I have not written about John 8:56 here before.

To Dig Deeper, Study the Cross References from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for John 8:56 as I have shared them below:

John 8:56
father. FS171G, +Gen 13:8, Rom 4:1.

Abraham. Joh 8:33; Joh 8:39, 40; Joh 8:53, Mal 2:10, Act 7:2.

rejoiced. or, leaped for joy. Gr. agalliaō (S# G21). Joh 5:35, Gen 15:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Gen 17:17; Gen 17:19; *Gen 22:13; *Gen 22:14; *Gen 22:18, Mat 13:17, Luk 2:28, 29, 30; Luk 10:24, Rom 4:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, *Gal 3:7, 8, 9; *Gal 3:14, 14, 16, 17, 18, Heb 11:13; Heb 11:39, 40, 1Pe 1:10, 11, 12.

to see. Joh 6:40, Mat 23:39, Luk 17:22, Heb 12:2; Heb 13:8.

my day. *Gen 18:14, Mat 13:17, *1Co 2:8.

he saw. Joh 1:3, **Gen 17:1, +**Gen 18:1, +*Exo 6:3, Act 7:38, +*Rev 1:8; Rev 15:3.

and was glad. or, rejoiced. Gr. chairō. Joh 3:29.

Note that for the key words “he saw” I added the new reference to +**Gen 18:1. At that reference in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury I have given more cross references which demonstrate that Abraham saw and talked with Jesus in His pre-incarnate form. The point is that no man has ever seen God (John 1:18. John 4:24). In the Old Testament when individuals are reported as seeing God, they are actually seeing our Lord Jesus Christ who appeared to them as God, as Jehovah, and as the Angel of the Lord.

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Daily Bible Nugget #837, Ephesians 1:13

 

The Nugget:

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (KJV)

Eph 1:12 that we who had first put our hope in Christ might praise His glory.
Eph 1:13 You too, as you have heard the message of the truth, the good news that means your salvation, and as you have trusted in Him too, have been stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,
Eph 1:14 who is the first installment of our inheritance, so that we may finally come into full possession of the prize of redemption, and praise His glory for it. (Williams NT)

Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, (ESV)

Eph 1:13 Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. (CEV)

My Comment:

I made the following response this Easter morning to a comment by a devout and sincere Roman Catholic who wrote of the contrasting views about salvation held by the Roman Catholic Church as compared to those of Protestants. My comment is intended to show there is a great contrast between Roman Catholicism’s view of salvation and how to receive it compared to what the Bible itself teaches:

There are things in your comment that are held to be true by the Roman Catholic Church but are not found in the Bible and are not in accord with what is found in the Bible.

First, the notion of “penance” is not taught in the Bible but is the result of a historic mistranslation of the underlying inspired Greek New Testament text of a word which should be rendered “repent.” Modern English Bible translations have corrected this error.

Second, the notion that grace is dispensed by the Roman Catholic Church by means of its Sacraments is a concept not taught in Scripture, but an error sometimes given the label “sacerdotalism.”

Third, the notion that ritual water baptism has any saving grace whatsoever is foreign to Scripture. It may be the result of a mistaken interpretation of John 3:5.

Nevertheless, I am most thankful that the Roman Catholic Church has maintained and does affirm and teach the Deity of Christ and the Doctrine of the Trinity, both of which most certainly are taught in the Bible.

Dig Deeper by Studying the Cross References given in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for Ephesians 1:13,

Ephesians 1:13
ye also. **Eph 2:1; **Eph 2:11; **Eph 2:12, *Col 1:21, 22, 23, +*1Pe 2:10.

trusted. Eph 1:12, 2Ch 16:7, Psa 86:2; Psa 125:1, Pro 16:20, Song 8:5, Dan 3:28, Zep 3:12, Mat 12:21, Rom 15:12, Php 2:19.

after that ye heard. Eph 4:21, **+Joh 1:17, *Act 15:7; **Act 16:31; **Act 16:32, Rom 6:17; **Rom 10:14, 15, 16, 17, *Col 1:4, 5, 6; *Col 1:23, **1Th 2:13.

the word of truth. *Psa 119:43, Joh 17:17, *2Co 6:7, Gal 2:5, Col 1:5, **2Ti 2:15, *Jas 1:18, *1Pe 1:23.

the gospel. *Mar 16:15; *Mar 16:16, Act 13:38, 39; Act 15:7, +*Rom 1:16, 1Co 2:2; *1Co 15:1, 2, 3, 4, Php 1:27, +**2Ti 3:15, *Tit 2:11, **Heb 2:3, +*Jas 1:21.

of your salvation. Act 13:26.

in whom. Joh 5:23.

after that ye believed. Joh 5:24; Joh 7:39, Gal 3:2, *2Ti 1:12, 1Pe 1:8.

ye were sealed. +*Eph 4:30, Exo 28:11, Lev 14:14; Lev 14:17, *Est 8:8,
Song 4:12, Jer 32:10, +*Eze 9:4, Mat 27:66, Luk 15:22, +Joh 3:33; +*Joh 6:27, *Rom 4:11, *2Co 1:22, **2Ti 2:19, Rev 7:2, 3.

holy. +*Joel 2:28, *Luk 11:13; *Luk 24:49, *Joh 14:16; *Joh 14:17; *Joh 14:26; *Joh 15:26; Joh 16:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, *Act 1:4; Act 2:16, 17,  18, 19, 20, 21, 22; Act 2:33; Act 9:31, Rom 5:5, Gal 3:14.

Spirit. FS121A1, +Luk 1:17 note. Rom 8:9; Rom 8:15, 16, 2Co 5:5, Gal 4:6, Php 2:1.

of promise. Eze 36:27; *Eze 37:14, *+Luk 24:49, Joh 4:14; Joh 14:16, 17; Joh 16:13, Act 1:4, Gal 3:2; Gal 3:14.

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