Fifteen Years of Real Bible Study with more to come!

Posted on January 12, 2025 by Jerry

I began posting articles about Real Bible Study on this site on January 10, 2010. I am thankful this was made possible for  me by my son Dan. I have often been assisted by my son Tim.

I have suggested that a good way to understand this site is to visit the Archives and start reading the articles in the order they were written, starting with January, 2010.

I have been following my own advice. Each evening after supper I read one article to my wife. We just finished the articles written for October, 2013, last night.

Sometimes I present very controversial information about Bible doctrine. I have always tried to be fair to all sides of a disputed question or doctrine. Considering that I have been studying the Bible since 1953, I may have learned something about it over all these years!

Thank you for reading along with me. Always feel free to submit a comment or question of your own.

THERE IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE

There is a major difference between Bible readers who go by the Bible alone and in its entirety and those who choose or have been taught to do otherwise.

Some Bible readers come from a religious background which teaches them that the Bible is not the only authority in spiritual or religious matters. They must also believe in accordance to what their church and its tradition teach.

Others, perhaps far fewer in number, are like me. They have read the Bible for itself and believe that the Bible teaches we must go by what is written in the Bible and not by sources from outside the Bible.

I have been asked the question: “But where in the Bible does the Bible teach that you must go by the Bible alone?”

The answer is very simple and is clearly stated in the Bible at Isaiah 8:20 and its context:

Isa 8:20 To the law rather, and to the testimony. And if they speak not according to this word, they shall not have the morning light. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (KJV, King James Version)

Isa 8:20  You should follow the teachings and the agreement. I swear, if you follow those other things, there is no future for you. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

In brief, and in context, Isaiah warns his countrymen that they must not turn to the occult for guidance when God seems not to answer prayer in a crisis. Rather, they must turn to written Scripture for the guidance they need. “To the law” and “to the testimony” are terms Isaiah uses to refer to the Bible itself.

Thus, in Isaiah 8:20 we have the truth expressed that the Bible is the true and only standard of faith and practice and the warning against the danger of false standards, Topic Number 46 in the Topic Number Index of The New Treasury of Scripture  Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

I have been gently and repeatedly sharing this truth with others who come from religious backgrounds or traditions which do not share this view about the Bible. I will attempt to share here what I recently wrote about this:

I need hardly remind you again, but in gentleness I will:

You state:

“Since the Bible is NOT the sole rule of faith, but the Church AND the Bible”

Isaiah 8:20 and context is still in the Bible. It confirms we are to go by what is written IN the Bible, not by what is NOT in the Bible.

A careful study of the cross references to Isaiah 8:20 will confirm that God in His written word the Bible, including the New Testament, asserts both directly and indirectly this fundamental Bible truth.

You will recall that I recently shared with you several New Testament passages citing the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospels that by necessary inference indicate that we are to go by the Scripture alone.

Nevertheless, though we have agreed to disagree on this matter, I fully respect and appreciate all that you share regarding your Christian faith.

I was answered in the discussion thread that while Isaiah 8:20 may teach what I affirm it does, Isaiah was written under the Old Covenant, while we are now living under the New Covenant, which does not contain any such directive.

I answered:

The Old Testament is still very much a part of the Bible. What Isaiah declared as the Word of the Lord will never be obsolete.

The principle of the supremacy of Scripture is valid for all time. This is the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, when He asserted:

Joh 10:35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God was spoken; and the scripture cannot be broken: (DRB)

A careful study of the cross references I have collected for this verse will shed much light on what the Bible itself teaches on this subject.

Jesus sternly warned His Apostles to avoid imitating the Gentile, that is, heathen or pagan, practice of establishing a hierarchy for His church, in the words “but it shall not be so among you.”

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them to him and said: You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and that they that are the greater, exercise power upon them.

Mat 20:26 It shall not be so among you: but whosoever is the greater among you, let him be your minister.

Mat 20:27 And he that will be first among you shall be your servant.

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many. (DRB)

Notice those words carefully: “It shall not be so among you.” The evidence in Scripture demonstrates the Apostles learned and remembered this lesson well. Paul alludes to this statement of Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:24). Peter alludes to this statement (1 Peter 5:3). The testimony of these two witnesses to the teaching of Jesus should alert all of us to the danger of departing, whether in belief or practice, from what our Lord Jesus Christ plainly commanded.

I cannot find what I wrote in another comment about what Jesus Himself stated about the Bible. By direct statement and by the rule of necessary inference, what Jesus states, as recorded in the four Gospels we have in our New Testament, demonstrates that He by example based His teaching and His refutation of error by direct appeal to the Old Testament Scriptures. This establishes as fact in the New Testament that the principle that we are to go by what is IN the Bible, NOT by what is NOT IN the Bible still holds true, if we follow the example of Jesus:

Mar 12:24 And Jesus answering, saith to them: Do ye not therefore err, because you know not the scriptures nor the power of God? (DRB)

Mar 12:26 And as concerning the dead that they rise again have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
Mar 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You therefore do greatly err. (DRB)

Jesus, therefore, charged the religious leaders of His day with error, because they did not know the Scriptures.

A number of times Jesus asked the question, “Have ye not read?” Jesus expected them, and expects us, to read and be very familiar with the Scriptures:

Mar 2:25 And he said to them: Have you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry, himself and they that were with him? (DRB)

This question of Jesus is repeated several times in the Gospel record. At Matthew 12:3, I have placed a comprehensive note on this subject in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Matthew 12:3
Have ye not read. Mat 12:5, Mat 19:4; +Mat 21:16; +Mat 21:42; Mat 22:31, Mar 2:25; Mar 12:10; Mar 12:26, Luk 6:3; Luk 10:26. Jesus appealed repeatedly to the Bible alone as the source of spiritual authority. Notice the preceding cross references which document Christ’s repeated question, “Have ye not read?” Jesus expected his hearers to have read the Bible. He expects them to understand what they read (Mat 24:15 note). His question, “Have ye not read?” is recorded ten times! Jesus referred to seven distinct passages (Gen 1:27 at Mat 19:4; Exo 3:6 at Mat 22:31, 32; Lev 24:6, 7, 8, 9 at Mat 12:3; Num 28:9, 10 at Mat 12:5; 1Sa 21:6 at Mat 12:3; Psa 8:2 at Mat 21:16; Psa 118:22 at Mat 21:42).

Jesus appealed to the Bible as His authority many times, but never once did he appeal to the authority of the religious leaders in Israel (Pharisees or Sadducees), or to religious tradition. He commanded to “Search the Scriptures” (Joh 5:39). Two dozen times Jesus cites the Old Testament Prophets as recorded in the New Testament (Luk 24:27 note).

Even during His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus cited the Scripture, not tradition, when he resisted the Devil successfully. It seems we could learn something from that (**Mat 4:4; Mat 4:6, 7; Mat 4:10).

Mat 4:4 Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. (DRB)

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (KJV)

Mat 4:4  Jesus answered him, “The Scriptures say, ‘It is not just bread that keeps people alive. Their lives depend on what God says.'” (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Mat 4:4 Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’ ” (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

That the New Testament was written by the authority of Christ may be legitimately inferred from the fact that: (1) John explicitly records that Jesus Christ commanded him to write (Rev 1:19). (2) Jesus directly promised that the Holy Spirit would guide his apostles into all truth and bring all things to their remembrance (Joh 16:12, 13). Thus, as they wrote the writings we now have in the New Testament we are assured of their accuracy for they were written under divine inspiration (2Ti 3:16, 2Pe 1:21). Peter called the letters written by Paul “Scripture” (2Pe 3:16), and clearly possessed them as a well-known collection. Paul cites the words of Jesus, quoting them exactly, from Luk 10:7 in 1Ti 5:17, 18.

The book of Revelation makes at least four direct quotations from the Gospels. By John’s death, the entire New Testament as we have it today was available and being read by or to all genuine Christians. Thus the claim by some Roman Catholics that Jesus gave us the Church, not the Bible, as our teaching authority and source of spiritual truth, the “pillar and ground of the truth” (**1Ti 3:15 note), is untrue, for Jesus himself appealed to the authority of Scripture, not tradition or the religious institution of his day. Mat 9:13; +*Mat 22:29, Lev 10:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, +Deut 17:19, +*Psa 119:139, Act 13:27.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Apologetics--Christian, Bible Study Tools, Doctrinal Discussions | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Daily Bible Nugget #899, Jude 1:3

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (KJV)

My Comment:

I posted the following comment today on another site where the sufficiency of Scripture was under discussion:

To add just a thought or two or so:

When any “church” (even if it thinks it is the “one true church”) falls into error or heresy (whether doctrinal or moral heresy), by what standard must we correct the church? God has given us the standard in His written Word, the Bible.

What is the answer to the problem of so many differing interpretations of the Bible? The answer given in the Bible itself is stated where we read “rightly dividing” or “rightly handling” the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). This means there must be a way to determine the correctness of any proposed interpretation of Scripture, and there is such a way. When given two differing interpretations, it is possible to determine which, if either, is the better interpretation. Such principles of correct interpretation involve employing necessary inference, correspondence with the immediate and remote context by comparing Scripture with Scripture. I have listed 23 or so such principles on my Real Bible Study site in the October 2010 archives. As an English teacher I used these principles to teach the correct understanding of short stories (especially “The Bet,” by Anton Chekov) and poetry.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

2Ti 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (ESV)

2Ti 2:15 Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (DRB)

To whom are the Scriptures addressed? Jude informs us quite plainly when he writes:

Jud 1:3 Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (KJV)

Note that “the faith” is a complete, not developing, body of truth delivered in complete form “once for all,” “unto the saints,” not a church hierarchy, but very ordinary believers.

I have been reading a very interesting resource that demonstrates to me the quirks and vagaries of some of the church fathers as they struggled over many years to arrive at a definitive position about the Person and Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ as they dealt with various heresies that arose:

Wilhite, David E. 2015. The Gospel according to Heretics: Discovering Orthodoxy through Early Christological Conflicts. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thankfully, over time, many arrived at the correct, Biblical, answer.

 

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, Education Issues, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Daily Bible Nugget #898, Acts 16:15

Posted on January 5, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Act 16:15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. (KJV)

Act 16:15 And when she was baptized and her family, she intreated us saying, Since ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us. (Wesley’s NT)

Act 16:15  She devoted herself to the Lord, and we baptized her and her entire family. Afterward she urged us to stay in her home, saying, “Since I am now a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” So we were persuaded to stay there. (TPT, The Passion Translation)

My Comment:

Years ago I wrote a short outline about the controversial subject of baptism. I think I prepared this outline because, as an ordained Presbyterian Elder, I was asked to perform a baptismal service for the young children of one of my first students in my career as a teacher in the Detroit Public Schools. I thought it appropriate to give the Bible evidence that authorized what was done in such a service.

My public school student was converted to Christ as she read each succeeding volume of the Living Bible when those first came out. I bought the volumes so another one of my students from that very same class who also attended my high school Sunday school class could loan them to her.

The Outline:

Household baptisms:

  1. Acts 16:15. Lydia.  Household = family and must include INFANTS. See the same root word used at 1 Timothy 5:14–“Guide the house” = rule the infants. Compare 1 Timothy 3:4, 12.
  2. Acts 11:14. Cornelius, household.
  3. 2 Timothy 4:19. Onisiphorus. 2 Timothy 1:16, 18.
  4. Acts 16:34. Jailer and household.
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:16. Stephanus, household.

Mode of baptism in the New Testament = sprinkling

  1. Hebrews 10:22, hearts sprinkled, bodies washed
  2. Hebrews 6:2. baptisms = washings.
  3. Mark 7:3, 4. baptized beds or tables.
  4. Acts 22:16. Where was Paul baptized? In the house of Ananias. Compare Revelation 1:5 and Ezekiel 36:25.

I am fully aware that there are other viewpoints about this subject that do not agree with mine. Feel free to discuss in the comment section below. There is much more to know about this subject than I have presented in this short outline!

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #897, 1 Corinthians 15:33

Posted on January 4, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (KJV)

1Co 15:33  Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.” (GNB, Good News Bible)

1Co 15:33  Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. (GW, God’s Word translation)

1Co 15:33 Don’t fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

1Co 15:33  Don’t be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.” (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived; “Evil stories corrupt well-disposed minds.” (Murdock NT)

1Co 15:33 Do not be tricked by false words: evil company does damage to good behaviour. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

1Co 15:33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” (NLT, New Living Translation)

My Comment:

Compare 1 Corinthians 15:33 with Proverbs 13:20–

Proverbs 13:20
20  He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
King James Version

When I was a high school student, my Sunday school teachers, Mr. John Boyko and Mr. Dean Sawdon, recommended to us that we read one chapter of the book of Proverbs each day corresponding to that day’s date. Since Proverbs has 31 chapters, that works out well.

I was early impressed with a most important piece of advice found in Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Follow that advice and you will stay out of trouble!

I made some notes on the back of an envelope in the 1960s about Hindrances to Guidance which incorporate some of these verses and much more, as follows:

  1. Wrong relationships with other people. 2 Corinthians 6:14.
  2. Ignorance of the Word of God. Colossians 1:10. Mark 12:24.
  3. Prayerlessness. James 4:2.
  4. Failing to trust in the Lord. Proverbs 3:5, 6. Psalm 9:10.
  5. Seeking counsel from wrong sources. 1 Chronicles 10:13. 1 Kings 12:8. Job 21:16. Job 22:18. Psalm 1:1. Psalm 33:10, 11. Psalm 73:24. Proverbs 12:15. Proverbs 21:30. Isaiah 8:19, 20.  Isaiah 30:1.
  6. Unconfessed sin. Psalm 66:18. 1 John 1:9.
  7. Willful practice of known sin. Psalm 66:18.
  8. Failing to walk in the light that we have. John 3:19. Psalm 119:105. Psalm 119:130.
  9. Failure to have a firm goal in our life. James 1:5, 6, 7, 8.
  10. All the factors that lead to unanswered prayer relate also to hindrances to divine guidance. Psalm 66:18.
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Daily Bible Nugget #896, 1 Peter 4:10

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (KJV)

1Pe 4:10  God has shown you his grace in many different ways. So be good servants and use whatever gift he has given you in a way that will best serve each other. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

My Comment:

In my limited experience, I found that serving the Lord in a small church became an overwhelming task, though I enjoyed it at the time. I first was invited to sing in the church choir. It is a good thing that my little voice was drowned out by the better singers!

Then I was encouraged to teach a summer class in the church basement (where it was much cooler) to help students read better. That was a successful assignment.

Then during Vacation Bible School I was given the task of helping drive children back to their homes in my little Volkswagen Beetle.

At about that point, I began to realize that I was being drafted into doing many tasks that took up considerable time where I was asked to do things others were very likely better equipped to do.

I wrote on the back of an envelope in the early 1960s a principle I determined to follow whenever possible:

“Involve yourself in those areas of service which exercise your spiritual and natural gifts. Do not become encumbered doing things others could do, and leaving undone things you can do but they can not.”

That is how, by God’s grace, I found time to do the necessary research to produce The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, a Bible study resource everyone who reads the Bible needs to more fully understand what the Bible teaches by learning how the Bible explains itself.

Dig deeper into 1 Peter 4:10 by reading the cross references provided in:

(1) The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Peter 4:10
every: Mat 25:14, 15; Luk 19:13; Rom 12:6, 7, 8; 1Co 4:7, 1Co 12:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

minister: Mat 20:28, Mat 25:44; Mar 10:45; Luk 8:3; Rom 15:25, Rom 15:27; 2Co 9:1; 2Ti 1:18; Heb 6:10

good: Mat 24:45, Mat 24:14, Mat 24:21; Luk 12:42, Luk 16:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; 1Co 4:1, 2; Tit 1:7

the manifold: 1Co 3:10, 1Co 12:4, 1Co 15:10; 2Co 6:1; Eph 3:8, Eph 4:11

(2) The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Peter 4:10

every. Mat 25:14; +Mat 25:15; Luk 19:13; ✓Rom 12:3; Rom 12:6, 7, 8; *1Co 4:7; 1Co 7:7; *1Co 12:4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11; Eph 4:7

minister. 1Pe 4:11; Job 29:15; Job 29:16; Eze 16:49; *Dan 11:33 n. Mat 20:28; Mat 25:44; Mar 10:45; Luk 8:3; Rom 15:25; Rom 15:27; Rom 16:3, 4, 5; *1Co 14:26; 1Co 16:15; 2Co 9:1; Gal 5:13; *Gal 6:10; *Eph 5:19, 20, 21; +*1Ti 6:17, 18. 2Ti 1:18; +*Heb 6:10

one to another. 1Pe 4:9; +Rom 12:5

good stewards. +✓Mat 24:45; *Mat 25:14; Mat 25:21; +*Luk 12:42; Luk 16:1-8; *1Co 4:1; 1Co 4:2; +1Co 9:17; Tit 1:7

the manifold. 1Co 3:10; 1Co 12:4; 1Co 15:10; 2Co 6:1; Eph 3:8; Eph 4:11

(3) The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

1 Peter 4:10
every man. +Mat 25:14; +Mat 25:15, Luk 19:13, *Joh 3:27, Act 11:29, **Rom 12:3; **Rom 12:6, 7, 8, 1Co 3:5; *1Co 4:7; 1Co 7:7; 1Co 7:17; *1Co 12:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 2Co 10:13, Eph 4:7, Php 1:11.

the gift. or, a gift of grace. Gr. charisma (S# G5486, 1Co 7:7). Rom 12:6, 1Co 1:7; *1Co 7:7; 1Co 12:4; 1Co 12:9; 1Co 12:28; 1Co 12:30, 31; +**1Co 15:10, Eph 4:7; Eph 4:11, 12, 1Ti 4:14, 2Ti 1:6.

minister. Gr. diakoneō (S# G1247, Mat 4:11). 1Pe 4:11, 1Pe 1:12, 2Ki 4:10, Job 29:15, 16, Eze 16:49, *Dan 11:33 note. Mat 8:15; Mat 20:28; Mat 25:35; Mat 25:44, Mar 1:31; Mar 10:45, Luk 4:39; Luk 8:3; Luk 10:40; Luk 12:37; Luk 12:42; Luk 17:8; Luk 22:26, 27, Joh 12:2; Joh 12:26, Act 3:6; Act 6:1, 2; Act 6:4; Act 19:22, +*Rom 12:8 note. Rom 15:25; Rom 15:27; Rom 16:3, 4, 5, 1Co 12:5; *1Co 14:26; 1Co 16:15, 2Co 3:3; 2Co 8:12; 2Co 8:18, 19, 20; 2Co 9:1, Gal 5:13; *Gal 6:10, *Eph 5:19, 20, 21, 1Th 4:11, 1Ti 3:10; 1Ti 3:13; +*1Ti 6:17; +*1Ti 6:18, 2Ti 1:18, Phm 1:13, +*Heb 6:10, 3Jn 1:5.

one to another. 1Pe 4:9, +Rom 12:5.

good stewards. Gr. oikonomos (S# G3623, Luk 12:42). Gen 47:14, Deut 26:10, 1Ch 29:2, Mat 20:8; +**Mat 24:45; *Mat 25:14; Mat 25:17; Mat 25:21, +*Luk 12:42; Luk 16:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Luk 19:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, *1Co 4:1; 1Co 4:2; +1Co 9:17, 2Co 8:19, Gal 4:2, 1Ti 4:6, Tit 1:7.

the manifold. 1Pe 1:6, 1Co 3:10; 1Co 12:4; 1Co 15:10, 2Co 6:1, Eph 3:8; Eph 4:11, Jas 1:2.

grace of God. Rom 15:15, +**1Co 15:10, 2Co 8:6; *2Co 9:8, Gal 2:9.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #895, 1 Corinthians 11:31

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

My Comment:

Many years ago I attended the New Years Eve “Watch Night” service at Military Avenue United Presbyterian Church. It was an encouraging service. Prayer requests were shared. We all participated in congregational singing of hymns sequentially through the hymn book until midnight.

The end of one year and the start of the next is often the time many make New Year’s Resolutions.

In a similar way it is a good time to do some reflecting on our spiritual life and growth, looking back on last year and considering how to advance in the coming year.

Many years ago I made a list of questions to consider, questions that might prompt our thinking about spiritual growth:

  1. Are you satisfied with your present state of spiritual growth?
  2. Are you satisfied with your present level of commitment?
  3. Is Christ satisfied with the quality of your Christian life?
  4. Do you want more of the things of God in your life?
  5. Are you satisfied with a mediocre level of Christian living, experience, growth?
  6. What are you willing to do or sacrifice to make or secure greater spiritual growth and deeper commitment to the Lord?
  7. What are the hindrances to spiritual growth and commitment in your life right now?
  8. Which hindrance is the greatest obstacle to your spiritual progress as you see it now?
  9. What steps can you suggest which would overcome the greatest obstacle?

On the same piece of paper, “SUBJECT: DUTY ASSIGNMENT; FROM: Ferd Hall, Assistant Principal; TO: J Smith; DATE: blank; Please be advised that you have been assigned the following duty for the current semester: 6th hour study hall 417.” I have no memory at all of Ferd Hall. I do recall that such a duty was very unpleasant and virtually impossible to fulfill well.

But on this same paper I wrote what may have been my goal for the Cass Technical High School Bible Discussion Club:

Objective: To learn more about the Bible, its history, content, literary form, and relevance.

Activities planned: Open discussion of the Bible’s content in the light of its history and literary form.

As it turned out in actual experience, I emphasized open discussion by using a question and answer format. Students brought their Bible questions, and the students shared the answers with each other or asked my input and help to learn the answers to the questions raised.

I have since learned that this is how Paul conducted his Bible teaching, as reflected in Acts 17:2-3 and Acts 20:7.

Act 17:2  And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (KJV)

Act 17:2  Paul went into the synagogue to see the Jews as he always did. The next three weeks, on each Sabbath day, he discussed the Scriptures with them. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

My note given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

reasoned. Gr. dialegomai (S# G1256, Heb 12:5). The imperfect tense points to frequent and renewed discussion (Walker). T452, +*Act 17:17 g. Act 18:4; Act 18:19; Act 19:8, 9; Act 20:7 g, Act 20:9; Act 20:11; *Act 24:12; *Act 24:25; *Act 28:23, *1Sa 12:7, Neh 8:8, **Isa 1:18, +Mat 28:19 (T458). Mar 9:34, 1Co 2:4, 5, 2Co 3:12; 2Co 4:1, 2, +Eph 4:11 (T447). +1Ti 5:20 (T461). Hebrews 7—10, Jud 1:9.

Act 17:3  Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.  (KJV)

Act 17:3  He explained the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to die and then rise from death. He said, “This Jesus that I am telling you about is the Messiah.” (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Act 17:3 explaining them and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and said, “This very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.” (Williams NT).

My note given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Opening. Gr. dianoigō, *S# G1272. To open thoroughly; to expound (Strong).

alleging. Literally “setting forth (arguments)”; i.e. bringing forward passages of Scripture to prove his points (Thomas Walker). Gr. paratithēmi [(*S# G3908), to place alongside, that is, present (food, truth); by implication to deposit (as a trust or for protection) [Strong]:

Act 20:7  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (KJV)

Act 20:7  On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing Scripture with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight. (GW, God’s Word translation)

My note given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

preached. or, discoursed. Gr. dialegomai (S# G1256, Heb 12:5), +Act 17:17, Often translated reason. [Strong: Middle voice; to say thoroughly, that is, discuss (in argument or disputation)]. Act 20:2, Act 17:2; Act 17:17; Act 18:4; Act 18:19; Act 19:8, 9.

These passages convince me that Paul employed the discussion, question and answer, procedure which I as a young teacher learned to use at the Cass Technical High School Bible Discussion Club I was asked to sponsor. Notice that the very Greek word, dialegomai, bears some similarity in form and likely in meaning to our English word dialog.

Back to the Daily Bible Nugget, 1 Corinthians 11:31, to dig deeper into this interesting and important subject of judging ourselves, study the cross references as I have collected them in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

1 Corinthians 11:31
if we. FS184B1, +Luk 7:39, 1Co 11:28, **Psa 32:3, 4, 5, Jer 31:18, 19, 20, Luk 15:18, 19, 20, **+1Jn 1:9, Rev 2:5; Rev 3:2, 3.

would. or, were to.

judge. or, discern. FS135, +Psa 68:28, 1Co 11:29 mg. Lev 16:29; Lev 23:32, Job 10:2, +*Psa 119:59, Lam 3:40, +Hag 1:7; Hag 2:15, Mar 14:19, 2Co 13:5 note. Gal 6:4, 1Pe 4:6.

we should not. +**Joh 5:24.

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Daily Bible Nugget #894, Acts 5:42

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Acts 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Act 5:42  The apostles did not stop teaching the people. They continued to tell the Good News—that Jesus is the Messiah. They did this every day in the Temple area and in people’s homes. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Act 5:42  Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Act 5:42 and not for a single day did they stop teaching in the temple square and in private houses the good news of Jesus the Christ. (Williams NT)

My Comment:

The Apostles directly disobeyed the authorities who had commanded them:

Act 5:38  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
Act 5:39  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Act 5:40  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Act 5:41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

I came upon a clipping from an unknown source from a mailing I received in the 1960s that is still worth sharing today:

EVANGELISM IN ACTS 5:42

and daily = Everyday Evangelism

in the temple = Church Evangelism

and in every house = House to House Evangelism

they = Every Believer Evangelism

ceased not = Hot-hearted Evangelism

to teach = Instructional Evangelism

and to preach = Preaching Evangelism

Jesus Christ = Christ-centered Evangelism

Dig deeper into God’s Word on each of these themes by reading the cross references I have collected for Acts 5:42 in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Acts 5:42
daily. +Act 5:20; +Act 5:21, Act 2:46; Act 3:1, 2, etc. Luk 21:37; Luk 22:53, *2Ti 4:2.

in. Act 2:46; *Act 20:20.

the temple. Act 5:20, Jer 7:2; Jer 26:2, Luk 24:53.

and in every house. Gr. kai oikon, at home. Act 2:46.

they ceased not. *Act 4:20; *Act 4:29, 2Sa 6:22, Isa 40:9, **Dan 6:10,
Rom 1:15, 16, Gal 6:14, Eph 6:20, 2Ti 2:9.

teach. Act 8:30, 31. 15:35; Act 17:2, 3. 18:26. Act 20:20, 21, 27. Act 28:31, Mat 28:20. Luk 20:1. Eph 4:11. 2 Tim 2:2.

preach. Act 8:4, 5; Act 8:12; Act 8:25; Act 8:35; Act 8:40; Act 9:20; Act 10:36; Act 11:20; Act 13:32; Act 14:7; Act 14:15; Act 14:21; Act 15:35; Act 16:10; Act 17:3; Act 17:18, *1Co 2:2, Gal 1:16, Eph 4:20, 21, Php 1:15, *Col 1:28.

Jesus Christ. The name of Act 5:41 (CB). +Act 18:5.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #893, Colossians 1:14

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (KJV)

Col 1:14 in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of the sins, (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Col 1:14 in Whom we have the redemption by means of His blood, the removal of the sins. (Lavender NT)

My Comment:

God the Father (Colossians 1:12) has delivered us from the powers of darkness (Colossians 1:13). This deliverance extends even further than most realize to not just the forgiveness of sins, but to their removal, by the power of the blood Atonement accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. This is an extensive subject for study. Notice that in the notes I have placed in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for Colossians 1:14 shared below, that the note for the keyword redemption by Walter Kelly Firminger demonstrates that Dr. Malcolm Lavender is not the first to correctly understand redemption. I believe Dr. Lavender as gone further in the study of the Atonement of Christ than any previous scholar who has written on the subject. That is why I share his notes on the subject throughout The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, making it possible for more readers to come to a more accurate understanding of the subject. I am thankful to Dr. Malcolm Lavender and his son Dr. Russ Lavender for their gracious permission granted to me to share their work in this manner.

I trust the following notes and cross references will be an encouragement to all who find it possible to read and study them.

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 1:14
In whom. Isa 53:12, *Mat 20:28; +*Mat 26:28, +*Act 20:28, *Rom 3:24; *Rom 3:25, +*Gal 3:13, **+Eph 1:7; Eph 5:2, **1Ti 2:6, **Tit 2:14, *Heb 9:12; *Heb 9:22; Heb 10:12, 13, 14, *1Pe 1:19; *1Pe 1:20; **1Pe 3:18, **1Jn 2:2, +*Rev 1:5; *Rev 5:9; Rev 14:4.

redemption. Gr. apolutrōsis (S# G629, Rom 3:24). This word in NT usage means primarily deliverance and does not apart from context convey the idea of a ransom or payment. Ignoring this fact, and taking the word as meaning essentially a payment in order to secure a deliverance, many have raised the question “to whom was the ransom paid?” (Walter Kelly Firminger [WKF], Commentary on Colossians and Philemon, p. 102). This misconception has led to much false doctrine. Lev 4:35, Rom 3:24, 1Co 1:30, *Eph 1:7, *Tit 2:14.

through his blood. FS117, +Gen 19:8. Exo 12:13, Lev 17:11, Mat 26:28, +*Rom 3:25; Rom 5:8, Eph 2:13, Heb 9:12.

the forgiveness. or, the removal (LNT). Removal translates aphesin, to remove, save from not in (Mat 1:21); so a deliverance (Luk 4:18); not a cancelation of guilt, while sin remains in the believer. Sin and guilt are inseparable, both are removed or both remain. Sins are not passed over under grace (Rom 3:25; cf. note at Rom 2:13); under grace sins are not removed from the mind of God, except as from the life of the believer! Where there is removal, as under grace, sin offerings have ceased because removed, aphesis (Heb 10:18; cf. Eph 1:7). Note also that Atonement and redemption are not the same thing; one is past completed action, the other is subjunctive, potential, futuristic (cf. Eph 5:25, 26; Tit 2:14; Heb 13:12; 1Pe 3:18) [LNT, fn g]. Col 2:13; Col 3:13, **Psa 32:1; **Psa 32:2; Psa 130:4, Luk 5:20; Luk 7:47, 48, 49, 50, +*Act 2:38; *Act 5:31; +*Act 10:43; +*Act 13:38; Act 13:39; +*Act 26:18, **Rom 4:6, 7, 8, Eph 1:7; **Eph 4:32, **1Jn 1:9; *1Jn 2:12.

of sins. +=Lev 5:6, Heb 8:12.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #892, Colossians 1:13

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (KJV)

Col 1:13 Who has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love; (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Col 1:13  God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Col 1:13 For God has rescued us from the tyranny of Darkness, and has removed us into the Kingdom of his Son, who is the embodiment of his love, (TCNT, Twentieth Century New Testament)

Col 1:13 who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love, (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Col 1:13  God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves.  (GW, God’s Word translation)

Col 1:13 It is God who has delivered us out of the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of His dearly loved Son, (Williams NT)

Col 1:13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I have shared above the text of Colossians 1:13 from eight different English translations. Reading more than one English translation can help each reader get a fuller understanding of what the text says and means.

I decided to devote this post to Colossians 1:13 because I shared Colossians 1:12 just recently in Daily Bible Nugget #890.

Here are both verses together:

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (KJV)

Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (ESV, English Standard Version)

Colossians 1:13 involves our present condition involving spiritual warfare with the promise of our future inheritance in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.

One important aspect of defeating Satan in our life is to follow the promise and directions found in the book of James, where we are told “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:7, 8).

There is much more instruction in the Bible about these important matters. One way to begin to learn more from the Bible about these subjects is to carefully consult the cross references (the links to other verses throughout the Bible on these subjects) for Colossians 1:13 which I share below from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Colossians 1:13
hath delivered. or, rescued. Gr. rhuomai (S# G4506, Mat 6:13). Isa 49:9, Zec 9:11, Mat 6:13, Mar 5:15, Luk 4:18, Rom 7:24, +*2Ti 2:26.

us from. +*Psa 71:20; Psa 86:13, Isa 49:24, 25; *Isa 53:12, Mat 12:29, 30, Luk 8:27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, +*Act 26:18, *Gal 4:5, +*1Th 1:10, *Heb 2:14; *Heb 2:15.

the power. Col 2:15, Mat 12:26, *Luk 22:53, *+Joh 12:31; *+Joh 12:32; Joh 14:30, **2Co 4:4, Eph 4:18; *Eph 5:8; *Eph 6:12, *1Pe 2:9, 1Jn 2:8, 9; **1Jn 3:8, %Rev 12:10.

of darkness. or, of the darkness. *Job 10:21; *Job 10:22, Psa 88:18; Psa 143:3, Ecc 6:4, Mic 7:8, +*Luk 22:53, Joh 12:27, 1Th 5:4.

and hath. FS96C6, +Mat 2:4. Here, future blessings are spoken of as present (as glorification, Rom 8:30), for this kingdom is declared by Paul to be future, **2Ti 4:1. The reference to the “inheritance” in the immediate context (Col 1:12) verifies the reference to be future. As the inheritance is certainly future, so the kingdom with which it is associated must be future. +*Luk 13:24, **Joh 5:24, Rom 6:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, +**1Co 6:9, 10, 11, 2Co 6:17, 18, *Eph 2:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1Th 2:12, Tit 3:3, 4, 5, 6, +**2Pe 1:11, 1Jn 3:14.

translated. Gr. methistēmi (S# G3179, Act 13:22). Eph 2:13.

into the kingdom. *Psa 2:6; *Psa 2:7; Psa 97:1, +*Isa 9:6; +*Isa 9:7, +**Dan 7:13; +**Dan 7:14, *Zec 9:9, Mat 3:2; +**Mat 6:10; +**Mat 6:33; Mat 12:26; Mat 12:28; +*Mat 25:34, Luk 22:18, **Joh 18:36, Act 1:3, *+Rom 14:17, 1Co 15:23, 24, 25, Eph 1:22, **2Pe 1:11, Rev 3:21.

his dear Son. Gr. the Son of his love. FS24B, +Gen 9:5. Col 1:15, Psa 2:7; Psa 2:12, Pro 8:30; Pro 30:4, **Isa 42:1, **+Mat 3:17; Mat 12:18; **Mat 17:5, Mar 1:11, Luk 3:22, *Joh 3:16; *Joh 3:35; *Joh 17:24, Rom 1:3, Eph 1:6, 1Jn 1:3.

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Daily Bible Nugget #891, Colossians 1:3

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Col 1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (KJV)

Col 1:3  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in our prayers for you. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Col 1:3 Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Colossians 1:3 is actually the first of the several mentions of thanksgiving in the book of Colossians. Paul mentions giving thanks in all four chapters of Colossians.

Studying each of the cross references given for Colossians 1:3 will lead to an abundance of further instruction and encouragement to give thanks and to pray.

For example, I have given the reference to 2 Corinthians 1:11 where I share the other references to the Greek word underlying the key words giving thanks found in Colossians 1:3, where it is translated thanks may be given:

2Co 1:11  Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

2 Corinthians 1:11
ye also. 1Co 12:22.

helping together. or, cooperating. 2Co 9:14, *Exo 17:12; Exo 36:29, Est 9:20, Isa 37:4; Isa 62:6, 7, Act 12:5, *Rom 15:30, 31, 32, Eph 6:18, 19, *Php 1:19, Col 4:3; Col 4:12, 1Th 5:25, 2Th 3:1, *Phm 1:22, Heb 13:18, *Jas 5:16, 17, 18.

by prayer. Gr. deēsis (S# G1162, +1Ti 2:1). A petition for a special object, having regard to our necessity rather than to God’s sufficiency to supply it: giving prominence to personal need (CB, Appendix 134,II.3, p. 164). Psa 6:9, *Rom 15:30.

that. 2Co 4:15; 2Co 9:11, 12, Act 12:5, Eph 6:18.

thanks may be given. Gr. eucharisteō (S# G2168). **2Co 2:14, Mat 15:36 g. Mat 26:27 g. Mar 8:6 g. Mar 14:23 g. Luk 17:16 g. Luk 18:11 g. Luk 22:17 g, Luk 22:19 g. Joh 6:11 g, Joh 6:23 g. Joh 11:41 g. Act 27:35 g. Act 28:15 g. Rom 1:8 g, Rom 1:21 g. Rom 7:25 g. Rom 14:6 g. Rom 16:4 g. 1Co 1:4 g, 1Co 1:14 g. 1Co 10:30 g. 1Co 11:24 g. 1Co 14:17 g, 1Co 14:18 g. 1Co 15:57, Eph 1:16 g. Eph 5:4; Eph 5:20 g. Php 4:6, Col 1:12 g. **Col 3:17 g. 1Th 1:2 g. +*1Th 2:13 g. 1Th 5:18 g. 2Th 1:3 g. 2Th 2:13 g. Phm 1:4 g. Rev 11:17 g.

I believe, based on a study of the above cross references, that prayer for others is very beneficial, even when we ourselves may not be in a position to witness the outcome of our prayers. Paul asked others to pray for him, just as Paul shared that he prayed for them.

Here are the cross references for Colossians 1:3 as I have collected them in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Col 1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Colossians 1:3
give thanks. Gr. eucharisteō (S# G2168, 2Co 1:11). Col 1:12, Act 27:35, Rom 1:8, 9; Rom 6:17; Rom 16:19, 1Co 1:4, Gal 1:24, Eph 1:15, 16, *Php 1:3, 4, 5; *Php 4:6, 1Th 1:2.

to God. Psa 72:17, +Rom 15:6.

and the Father. Joh 1:14.

Lord Jesus Christ. +*Act 10:36, 2Co 11:31.

praying. Col 1:9; Col 1:13, *Eph 3:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; Eph 6:18, *Php 1:9, 10, 11, 1Th 3:10, 11, 12, 13, *2Th 2:16; *2Th 2:17, 2Ti 1:3, Phm 1:4.

 

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