Daily Bible Nugget #645, Proverbs 22:3

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 22:3  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (KJV)

Pro 22:3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Pro 22:3  Sensible people foresee trouble and hide from it, but gullible people go ahead and suffer the consequence. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 22:3 When you see trouble coming, don’t be stupid and walk right into it– be smart and hide. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I was in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts many years ago during the 1950s. The Boy Scout Motto was “Be Prepared.” That was good advice then, and important advice now. We need to be prepared mentally, physically, and above all, spiritually. We can be prepared mentally by reading good books and by getting our news from reliable news sources. At this time it appears to me that independent news sources are likely more reliable than the so-called main stream news. We need to be prepared physically by getting enough exercise as well as sleep and by eating a proper diet. We can be prepared spiritually by carefully studying our Bible for ourselves.

Here is another important Proverb from the book of Proverbs:

Pro 14:15  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.  (KJV)

Pro 14:15 The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps. (BBE)

Pro 14:15  A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step. (GW)

Pro 14:15 Don’t be stupid and believe all you hear; be smart and know where you are headed. (CEV)

My Comment:

It is most important to know well both or the several sides to a story. The same is true about controversial subjects. You must study carefully more than one side of the subject before you decide which side, if any, is correct.

I believe God’s Word warns us about falling for propaganda (Proverbs 14:15). The more you can learn about a subject the better you will be able to make correct judgments about current events and contemporary affairs. The more widely read you are and the more broadly educated (yes, I mean getting what used to be called a “liberal education” or “liberal arts education”) you are, the better you will become at discerning truth from falsehood. That is a crucially important skill to have in these perilous times!

Do not follow the crowd. Popular opinion is nearly always wrong. Have you actually read any books, whole books, about propaganda? You ought to become skilled enough to recognize propaganda after hearing even a single sentence advocating falsehood. I believe I am able to do that almost automatically. It makes people mad (“You didn’t even let me finish!”). And yes, I am usually right. Like I told my own father when I was a teenager, “I read more by accident than you do on purpose.” That is still true today. I keep on learning, and so should you.

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Daily Bible Nugget #644, John 5:39

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

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

My Comment:

Many modern English translations get John 5:39 wrong. Greek grammar requires that this verse states a command in the imperative mood. Modern English translations translate this verse in the indicative mood to read “Ye search the scriptures.” As a matter of fact, the Pharisees and Sadducees as well as the scribes did not search the Scriptures  carefully as I discussed in my immediately prior post.

Some Greek scholars also get this verse wrong for they insist that the word “think” as used by John in his writings always means wrongly think. Sorry about that. This instance is surely a prime example of this word having the meaning rightly think.

Many of these mistakes in understanding could be avoided if theologians and grammarians learned how to search the Scriptures carefully themselves, I believe.

It really doesn’t hurt to search the Scriptures. Searching the Scriptures will do you much good.

We should search the Scriptures to:

(1) avoid sticking foot in mouth (John 7:52);

(2) become better informed about Bible prophecy (Revelation 3:10);

(3) equip ourselves to more adequately defend the truth (Jude 1:3);

(4) become more accurately informed about Bible doctrine (Ephesians 4:14);

(5) receive guidance for daily living (Psalm 32:8);

(6) discern the times (1 Chronicles 12:32);

(7) equip ourselves to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4);

(8) know where to turn in Scripture to find the comfort it offers (Romans 15:4);

(9) be able to share the comfort of the Scriptures with others (Romans 15:4);

(10) know the promises of God and how to both find and apply or claim them (1 Corinthians 10:13),

(11) be equipped to ground others in the faith (Colossians 1:23);

(12) train others to teach others (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:2);

(13) protect ourselves from falling into false doctrine (Colossians 2:7).

Some years ago here I shared an important endorsement of cross-reference Bible study written long ago by Bishop Horsley. What he said reinforces the importance of using cross reference Bible study to protect ourselves from falling into false doctrine.

Here is the link to that post:

Cross Reference Bible Study–a Most Important Bible Study Method

 

My elderly friend “Uncle Frank” frequently mentioned to me and others that whenever you  encounter a false doctrine that seems to be supported by Scripture you will always find that upon further search of Scripture that it will “not fit.” In your own study, when that happens, you know you need to dig deeper.

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Daily Bible Nugget #643, John 7:52 explained

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

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

My Comment:

On this site I tend to repeat myself. That is on purpose. New readers will often not know what I posted here before so whatever I post will be new to them. Long time readers here may have forgotten that I posted on the current subject in the past.

Here is a link to my previous in-depth explanation of John 7:52,

Daily Bible Nugget #229, John 7:52

 

I found some things there that I myself forgot I had written!

I stated (based on notes in the Companion Bible):

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 2 Kings 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.

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Daily Bible Nugget #642, John 7:52

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

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

My Comment:

I suspect that very few who read John 7:52 posted above will see the point. I think John as he wrote this verse had a smile on his face. If it were me, I could hardly contain my laughter at the subtle humor John employed here. This has everything to do with knowing the Rules of Interpretation. Jesus knew them. John knew them. The scribes and Pharisees did not! And neither did Satan when he quoted the Bible to Jesus as reported in Matthew 4:6.

It has been some time since I last wrote here about the Rules of Interpretation which must be followed carefully to arrive at the correct meaning of any written document, including the Bible.

I just noticed that my numbering of the rules as found in the October 2010 Archives to the right of this page do not correspond to my numbering as given in my resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. This post is about Rule 6 in the Archives which is Rule 5 in the UCRT.

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.

I notice that in the October 2010 Archives I have given a longer statement for this rule:

Interpret a particular passage in harmony with ALL other passages which may have a bearing upon the subject. This is exceedingly important. You cannot cherry-pick your evidence. All relevant evidence must be taken into account to come up with the correct interpretation.

Groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Roman Catholics, Calvinists, Seventh Day Adventists, the Church of Christ, and many others flagrantly violate this rule and come up with very mistaken interpretations of the Bible.

To successfully find ALL the relevant passages about a subject, you MUST do Real Bible Study and make full and careful use of such tools as an exhaustive concordance to the Bible (Strong’s Concordance is a good choice) and a source of full and complete cross references to every verse in the Bible (such as The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, or Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible).

 If you haven’t made full use of these resources (or their equivalent, including the now available digital resources like the e-Sword Bible Software and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury) don’t kid yourself into supposing you have properly considered ALL the passages pertaining to the subject, issue, or doctrine you are considering.

Now, if you have read carefully what I just wrote above, you may feel that you are among the many whose toes I just stepped on!

That is why, now once again, this Real Bible Study site has a comment box below that now actually works. Facebook arbitrarily (in my view) turned it off some while back but I have now met their requirements for this site so they graciously and quite promptly turned the visibility of comments back on. So feel free to chime in.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #641, Proverbs 23:27

Posted on July 17, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 23:27  For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

My Comment:

Character is all-important. High moral standards are essential. This passage may seem a bit strange for a “Daily Bible Nugget.” The reason I selected this passage is that a few weeks ago I saw a post on an atheist website which tried to mock the Bible in direct reference to this verse.

The Bible tells us that “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour” (Proverbs 14:9).

The poster said he needed to know what was meant by a pit, and wondered how deep it was, so he could decide for himself if the sought-for pleasure was more rewarding than the threatened hazard of the pit.

Any careful reader of the Bible ought to know that a “pit” was used as a trap to catch animals who fell in it in Bible times.

The practical application, knowing this bit of information, ought to be most plain.

A related subject given in the Subject Index of my resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, is “Snares of the Devil” (Deuteronomy 7:25). Another related topic is “Snares laid by sinners” (Psalm 5:9). At each topic verse many additional verses are given.

Is there such a thing as objective moral standards? Some atheists, and many in the world at large, would try to argue that there are no moral absolutes. But the fact is that there are objective moral standards, and that fact is a very good proof that God exists, for He is the author of them.

For those who would like to study the cross references for Proverbs 23:27, I furnish them below in a form more complete than they will be found in either the New Treasury or The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

 

Proverbs 23:27

For a whore. Pro 9:15. Gen 39:10. Ecc 7:26. Hos 4:11.

deep ditch. +*Pro 22:14 (*S# H7745).

strange woman. Pro 2:16; Pro 5:3, Pro 5:4, Pro 5:20. Pro 20:16. Num 31:16. Jdg 16:4. Ecc 7:26, Jer 10:2.

pit. Heb. be-er, +Gen 16:14.

 

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Posture in Prayer

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Jerry

Every now and again I read claims by Muslims that because Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane fully prostrated Himself, He must be a Muslim, because Muslims do that too.

This seems to me to be rather convoluted logic.

Here is some Biblical evidence that shows many different postures were employed during prayer in the Bible:

Here is a list of postures during prayer that I have noted in my reading of the Bible:
 
Prayer, posture during
(1) kneeling, +Dan 6:10 (T1259). Psa 95:6.
 
(2) sitting, Jdg 20:26 note, congregation seated. 1Ch 17:16, individual seated.
 
(3) standing, Mar 11:25.
 
(4) hands spread out, Exo 9:29.
 
(5) hands lifted, 1Ti 2:8.
 
(6) head bowed, Gen 24:26.
 
(7) eyes uplifted, Psa 121:1.
 
(8) with face to ground, Neh 8:6.
 
(9) Falling on face, Num 16:22.
 
(10) Bowing the knees, Isa 45:23.
 
(11) Toward the Temple in Jerusalem, Psa 5:7.
 
(12) Looking up, Psa 5:3.
 
 
This list is taken from the Subject Index of my book, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.
 

 

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Figures of Speech in the Bible

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Jerry

Where to learn the meaning of all the figures of speech in the Bible.

 

  1. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Figure of Speech Index lists all the figures of speech in the Bible. In this index the figures are listed alphabetically. The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury is even more complete.

 

  1. At each verse in the Bible where a figure of speech occurs, the figure is identified, and a reference to the main entry verse is given where the figure is named, defined, and all places where the figure occurs are listed.

 

  1. I believe that the New Treasury is the most complete listing of figures of speech in the Bible ever compiled in English. Depending how you “count” the figures, there are well over 200 figures identified in the New Treasury.

 

  1. Figures of speech are used for emphasis, and are important to accurate understanding and interpretation of the Bible.

(1)        There are degrees of emphasis in the figures of speech:

(a) Simile;  or, Resemblance.  FS160A.  Psalm 1:3.  A declaration that one thing resembles another.  “He shall be like a tree.”  Psalm 1:4.  “The ungodly…are like the chaff.”

(b) Metaphor;  or, Representation.  FS119.  A declaration that one thing is (or represents) another.  Ge 49:9.  “Judah is a lion’s whelp.”  Psalm 84:11.  “The Lord God is a sun and shield.”  Mark 14:22n.  “this is (or represents) my body.”  John 10:9.  “I am the door.”  Allegory is continued or extended metaphor, FS7, +Ge 4:24.

(c) Hypocatastasis; or, Implication.  FS103.  Ge 3:13.  Serpent.  John 2:19.  Temple.  Luke 13:32.  “that fox.”  Note that this figure as used in John 2:19 is important to the defense of the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of Christ.

(2)        A figure of speech may be a powerful aid to defending a doctrine.

(a)  Hendiadys;  or, Two for One.  Two words used, but one thing meant, involving nouns.  FS93A.  Genesis 1:26.  “image and likeness” means “in the likeness of our image.”

John 3:5.  “born of water and of the Spirit.”  Meaning:  born of water, even the Spirit.  May also mean “born of spiritual water,” where spiritual water by the figure Metonymy is put for the Holy Spirit himself (see John 7:38, 39).

Titus 2:13 n.  “the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” or “our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”  The reference is to one person, not two.

See also 2 Peter 1:1 for the same construction.  “God and our Savior Jesus Christ” or “our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

(b)  Hendiadys;  or, Two for One.  FS93B.  Involving verbs.  Isaiah 66:11.  “may suck…and be satisfied” means “suck to satiety.”  Matthew 13:23, “heareth…and understandeth” means “hears with understanding,” two words but one act.

(c)  Hendiatris; or, Three for One.  FS94.  Jeremiah 4:2.  “The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness” means “lives truly, justly, and righteously.”  Matthew 6:13.  “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory”  means “powerful, glorious, kingdom.”  John 14:6.  “the way, the truth, and the life” means “the true and living way.”

(3)        A figure of speech may be a powerful aid to understanding the meaning of the author correctly.

(a)  Litotes, or Meiosis;  A Belittling.  A belittling of one thing to magnify another.  FS111, Ge 18:27.  Luke 11:4 n.  “And lead us not into temptation;  but deliver us from evil.”  [Jesus is not affirming that God will lead us into temptation unless we pray to ask him to do otherwise;  the emphasis is upon prayer for deliverance from evil, or the evil one.]  Ephesians 5:18.  “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;  but be filled with the Spirit.”  [Paul is not accusing the Ephesians of having a drinking problem, but emphasizing by contrast the importance of being filled with the Spirit.]

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

shall pass away, but. FS111, Gen 18:27, This is most assuredly the Figure Meiosis, also known as Litotes (Luk 11:4 note), involving a Balanced Sentence where the first statement is contrary to fact or reality, and is used in a contrast to most strongly emphasize what is affirmed in the last statement.

In this form of statement the last statement is frequently introduced by the word but, which helps to mark this figure (see Isa 51:6; Isa 54:10, +Luk 11:4).

Scholars can wrangle with my assertion all they please; their contrary opinion only demonstrates they have not studied the Scriptures carefully enough. I have.

Jesus does not, and absolutely could not, affirm that heaven and earth will pass away. The expressions used here are frequently reflected elsewhere in Scripture (see the preceding Parallel Passages). Surely our Lord Jesus Christ and His Jewish hearers, intimately acquainted with the Hebrew Scriptures (T1122, +**Joh 6:14), were aware of the context, for example, of **Psa 102:26 note as seen in Psa 102:28, something apparently missed by some modern scholars.

God’s Covenant Promises are absolutely guaranteed as being more sure than the promise that the earth abides forever and shall never perish, so sure are the sure mercies of David, mercies above and greater than the heavens (Psa 108:4); note carefully in the context of Psa 102:26 the statement of Psa 102:28 that the generations of “thy servants shall continue” (+**Psa 72:5) and be “established before thee”—surely the Bible writers who cite or allude to Psa 102:26 were most aware of its context and the assurance of Psa 102:28, so when Jesus states “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away,” His words are the guaranteed words of the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants, which are more sure than the heavens and will certainly come to pass.

God Himself appeals to the promised eternal constancy of the universe (Jer 31:35, 36, 37) to affirm the absolute certainty of the “Sure mercies of David” (+**Isa 55:3).

To suggest the heavens or the earth shall literally pass away would violate the provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant (+**Gen 12:2 note) and the Davidic Covenant (+**2Sa 7:10 note), which would contradict the very character of God Himself (+*Mal 3:6), which is utterly impossible (+**Gen 18:25 note. +*Tit 1:2).

If our Lord Jesus Christ is to rule eternally here upon this earth in Jerusalem on the Throne of David forever over the whole earth (+**Isa 24:23, Dan 7:13, 14, +*Zec 14:9, +*Mat 5:5, **Luk 1:32; **Luk 1:33, Rev 11:15), then the earth as we know it will stand forever (**1Ch 16:30, **Psa 148:5; **Psa 148:6). Psa 58:8; +**Psa 108:4, +**Luk 1:32; +**Luk 1:33.

 

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #640, John 10:11

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

My Comment:

The Bible plainly tells us that Jesus died for our sins.

There are many, especially those of the Muslim faith, who deny that Jesus ever died.

There are many, especially Muslims and Jehovah Witnesses, who deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Each of these mistaken belief systems have failed to read the New Testament and the Bible as a whole correctly.

An atheist poster recently presented the challenge, “What gives you the authority to declare what the Bible really means?” I began my participation in that discussion thread by stating that I have been studying the Bible seriously since 1953. Of course, their first response to me was that just because I have read the Bible for a very long time does not qualify me to declare what it really means. Only their response to me was much more rude than my restatement of it here.

All this to say that most people do not really know how to read well. Most people do not do very much reading at all. Even college graduates do poorly on examinations that require them to use inference skills to arrive at proper answers. I was made a reading specialist and writing consultant because students in my classes showed remarkable improvement in reading and writing. I have knowledge of these things because this has been my profession for many years.

When it comes to reading with understanding, there are rules of interpretation that must be followed. I have listed 24 of these rules in two posts in the archives on the right-hand side of this very page for October of 2010. Be sure to go there to learn what these rules are.

Back to the issue of the death of Jesus. Jesus predicted His death and His resurrection:

John 2:18  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.
Joh 2:22  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Luk 24:13  And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Luk 24:14  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Luk 24:15  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luk 24:16  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Luk 24:17  And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
Luk 24:18  And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Luk 24:19  And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luk 24:20  And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 
Luk 24:21  But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luk 24:22  Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Luk 24:23  And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
Luk 24:24  And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 
Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 
Luk 24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luk 24:28  And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luk 24:29  But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Luk 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luk 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luk 24:33  And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Luk 24:34  Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Luk 24:35  And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

The Muslim claim that I just read stated that Jesus did not die, the resurrection never happened, and that such claims about Jesus were fabricated by His followers afterwards.

Some discussion also concerned whether anything in the Bible actually predicted the death of Jesus and its purpose.

I submitted one verse:

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Of course, they had no way of understanding the implications of this verse. Lack of inference skills, once again, speaking on the natural plane.

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Does Isaiah 9:6 contradict Matthew 10:34?

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Jerry

An atheist’s challenge:

Contradiction 101 “Bring PEACE or War?”

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

 

A Christian answer:

No contradiction here.

It’s all about context.

It only looks like a contradiction to those who fail II Tim. 2:15.

Ultimate peace is for sinners to be reconciled to a holy God.

Proclaiming the Truth of God in this life is divisive. It creates conflict, not peace, because the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit and is in rebellion against God and those who follow Him.

Christ was crucified to satisfy God with regard to sin, therefore He can justly give peace and everlasting life to those upon whom He will have mercy.

Yes, we really DO know the Bible and are happy to teach you.

My answer:

Of course, if you as an atheist really knew your Bible better you would be able to more carefully distinguish things that differ. You must take differences into account when you are alleging similarities.

One text you cite (Isaiah 9:6) refers to the second advent or coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The other text you cite (Matthew 10:34) refers to the first advent or coming of Christ.

Jesus Himself made this very clear in His conversation on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:26.

Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Atheist response:

Thats one of the interpretation according to your christian cult but it doesnt mean its the right one. All 45,000 denomination hold its own truth

My response:

On what basis in terms of actual evidence can you make the claim that “only a LIE has different versions”? (My comment refers to a “meme” that I cannot reproduce here which showed a shelf of several popular Bible translations with the accompanying claim “only a LIE has different versions”) I have several different English versions or translations of works of great classic literature.

Just what connection does your claim of “All 45,000 denominations hold its own truth” have to do with the validity of the rule of interpretation I referenced, that when seeking to understand the Bible, “You must take differences into account when you are alleging similarities”?

Another atheist responds:

The devious duplicity of xtianity using a conglomeration of babbling philosophically twisted multi-translated completely unknown authors, except possibly Paul, who by today’s cultural standards represents corrupt morality. But you two dudes don’t want to live in today’s moral standards do you?

My response:

I reject your blanket “conglomeration of babbling philosophically twisted multi-translated completely unknown authors” statement as being devoid of any connection with reality.

The only New Testament book which is written by an anonymous (to us) author is the book of Hebrews.

And as for “today’s moral standards,” this too is too broad a designation. Specifically, what moral standards are you referring to?

[No further atheist response here: my comment might have been a discussion killer.]

 

 

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Atheism, Bible 'Contradictions' Answered, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Boost the Impact of Your Outreach

Posted on May 22, 2021 by Jerry

I have noticed that very few individuals and churches are reaching out to their immediate neighborhood and community by helping both children and adults improve in reading.

I was asked to devise and conduct such an  outreach at a neighborhood church near the first school where I taught English and reading. The program was very successful and well-received.

It is very hard to read and correctly understand the Bible if you lack good reading skills.

You will not get all you should out of your Bible reading and study if you lack what reading professionals (like me) call inference skills.

Even college students and college graduates generally lack adequate inference skills.

Everyone can learn to read better at any age.

The Language Enrichment Program is available on Amazon. On Amazon, search for “Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program” and you will easily find it.

Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program

I developed my book to help students write better English. In the process of having my students use it, I discovered that students who used my program greatly improved in reading. Reluctant readers became eager readers. My students improved in all their academic subjects. Many students were on the honor roll because their grades improved in all their other classes.

When I was transferred to teach in a high school for gifted and talented students, I used my program to “defend” my students against other English teachers who taught traditional English grammar. Those teachers told me they could always tell which of their students had been in my class because they knew their English grammar.

My point is, my book, The Language Enrichment Program, works for remedial and reluctant readers and it works as academic enrichment for gifted and talented students.

Find it on Amazon by searching for “Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program.”

 

Posted in Education Issues, The Language Enrichment Program | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment