Daily Bible Nugget #761, Genesis 37:35

Posted on July 10, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Gen 37:35  And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. (KJV)

My Comment:

The following study is a  continuation of the study begun at Daily Bible Nugget #760 where I mentioned Genesis 37:35 and its note.

There is much misunderstanding about what the Bible teaches about life after death, both among the various cult groups like the Jehovah Witnesses and some Christian denominations like the Seventh Day Adventists. In my fairly wide reading I believe I have seen mistaken views presented in some of the very best modern study Bibles on this subject.

Below, I share an important note I placed in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. Careful study of this note and the Scripture references given should clarify for careful readers just what the Bible teaches about these matters. Other verses in the NTSK and UCRT contain important related notes. Many of those verses and notes I have shared in previous posts here so any reader who desires to dig deeper can use the search feature on this site to find those posts by entering the Scripture reference in the search box.

Cross Reference Bible Study for Genesis 37:35 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Genesis 37:35
his daughters. Gen 31:43; Gen 35:22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

rose up to comfort. Gen 24:67, 2Sa 12:17; 2Sa 13:39, Job 2:11; Job 42:11, Psa 77:2, Jer 31:15, Joh 11:19; Joh 11:31, 1Th 4:13.

but he refused. Gen 45:26; Gen 48:11, Est 4:4, Psa 30:11, Pro 15:15, Jer 45:3.

For I will go down. *Gen 42:38; Gen 44:29, 30, 31; Gen 45:28, **+2Sa 12:23; 2Sa 13:39.

grave. Num 16:30, *Deut 32:22, Job 11:8; Job 14:3, Pro 30:15, 16, Isa 5:14, Hab 2:5, T1003x (“Upright as well as wicked go to hell”–this topic and the following three references are taken from Jehovah Witness literature): Job 14:13, *Psa 9:17; Psa 16:10. Heb. sheol. First mention. *S# H7585. Rendered grave in the following passages: Gen 37:35; Gen 42:38; Gen 44:29; Gen 44:31, 1Sa 2:6, 1Ki 2:6; 1Ki 2:9, Job 7:9; Job 14:13; Job 17:13; Job 21:13; Job 24:19, Psa 6:5; Psa 30:3; Psa 31:17; Psa 49:14; Psa 49:14, 15; Psa 88:3; Psa 89:48; Psa 141:7, Pro 1:12; Pro 30:16, Ecc 9:10, Song 8:6, Isa 14:11; Isa 38:10; **Isa 38:18, Eze 31:15, Hos 13:14; Hos 13:14. Rendered hell in the following passages: Deut 32:22, 2Sa 22:6, Job 11:8; Job 26:6, Psa 9:17; Psa 16:10; Psa 18:5; Psa 55:15; Psa 86:13; Psa 116:3; Psa 139:8, Pro 5:5; Pro 7:27; Pro 9:18; Pro 15:11; Pro 15:24; Pro 23:14; Pro 27:20, Isa 5:14; Isa 14:9; Isa 14:15; Isa 28:15; Isa 28:18; Isa 57:9, Eze 31:16, 17; Eze 32:21; %**Eze 32:27, %**Amos 9:2, Jon 2:2, Hab 2:5, Rendered pit in the following passages: Num 16:30; %**Num 16:33, Job 17:16, For *S# H6900, qeburah, grave, see +Gen 35:20, For *S# H6913, qeber, grave, buryingplace, sepulchre, see +Gen 23:4, For *S# H7845, shachath, pit, ditch, destruction, corruption, see +Job 9:31.

R.B. Girdlestone suggests (Synonyms of the Old Testament, Chapter 24, “Destruction, Death, Hell”) that the state which we call death, i.e., the condition consequent upon the act of dying, is to be viewed in three aspects:

First, there is the tomb, or sepulchre, the local habitation of the physical frame, which is called qeber, Gen 50:5 (+Gen 23:4).

Secondly, there is the corruption whereby the body itself is dissolved, which is represented by the word shachath, Gen 6:13; Gen 6:17; Gen 9:11; Gen 9:15, with reference both to the moral corruption and also to the physical destruction of all that was living on the earth; and of the earth itself, which, as Peter said, perished (2Pe 3:6).

In the N.T. the verb used here (2Pe 3:6, apollumi) is applied to the waste of ointment (Mat 26:8), to the destruction of physical objects, e.g., wine-skins (Mat 9:17), gold (1Pe 1:7), food (Joh 6:27), and the hair of the head (Luk 21:18). In these cases it is not annihilation that is spoken of, but such injury as makes the object practically useless for its original purpose. It is applied to the destruction of the world in 2Pe 3:6 in exactly the same sense; for as the world was destroyed at the Deluge, so shall it be hereafter; it will be rendered useless as a habitation for man. Nevertheless, as after the first destruction it was restored, so it may be after the second. [Note that the future destruction mentioned in 2 Peter 3:7 is selective–it is restricted to the “perdition of ungodly men.”]

Again, the word is applied to the perishing or being destroyed from off the face of the earth in death, when the physical frame which is the temple of life becomes untenanted; and a contrast is drawn between the power of those who can bring about the death of the body, and of Him who can destroy both body and soul in gehenna. Death is spoken of in this sense in Mat 2:13; Mat 8:25; Mat 12:14; Mat 21:41; Mat 22:7; Mat 26:52; Mat 27:20, and probably in Mat 18:14, Rom 2:12; Rom 14:15, and 1Co 8:11, The destruction of the body is compared to the disintegration of the seed which falls into the ground and dies. It is dismemberment and dissolution, and renders the body useless for the time being, so far as its original purpose is concerned, but it is not annihilation. The use of the word apollumi, rendered perish, in the argument in 1Co 15:18 is worthy of note; it here implies, that, physically speaking, the Christian has perished, if Christ be not risen. But since Christ has risen from the dead, Paul affirms emphatically that the Christian who has suffered physical death has not perished. The soul or spirit of each individual person continues in conscious existence after the physical death of the body (Zec 12:1 note. Heb 12:23), as Jesus asserted in +*Mat 10:28 note and promised in Luk 23:43 note. There is not a word here about annihilation of the person (which would continue in hades), but simply of the blotting out of existence in the body. See also, for the moral sense, such passages as Mat 18:11, Luk 15:32, Isa 53:6, Joh 3:15, 16, 2Pe 3:9, Thirdly, there is sheol, which represents the locality or condition of the departed. There is no reason to doubt that what the grave or pit is to the body, that sheol is to the soul.

unto my son. As far as Jacob knew, Joseph had been devoured by a wild beast (Gen 37:33), and was not buried in a grave at all; even had he supposed Joseph perished in some pit, Jacob certainly did not expect his own body to be deposited in the same place: therefore, the use of sheol in the preceding clause, considering these factors in the case, shows that Jacob expected to meet Joseph in a conscious existence after the death of his own body. Gen 25:8 note. Gen 42:38, 1Sa 28:12 note. +*2Sa 12:23, Jer 31:15, 16, 17, +*Amos 9:2, Mat 10:28 note. Luk 23:43 note.

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“How do Christians explain these false prophecies?”

Posted on July 9, 2023 by Jerry

7-9-23 How do Christians explain these false prophecies?

The Muslim Challenge:

How do Christians explain these false prophecies?

Mark 13
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
. . .
24 “But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Pay attention to verse 30. THIS GENERATION.. referring to the generation that was living at that time.

My Response:

Always PAY ATTENTION to the context and in the four Gospel accounts the parallel contexts involved.

Always PAY ATTENTION to the grammar involved.

As to the grammar, Young’s Literal Translation is often the most accurate representation in English of the underlying Greek text, as in Matthew 24:34,

Mat 24:34 Verily I say to you, this generation may not pass away till all these may come to pass. (YLT)

Notice the wording: “this generation MAY NOT PASS AWAY TILL all these MAY come to pass.”

“MAY” marks the subjunctive mood in Greek, a mood which marks a contingency in order to be fulfilled. The contingency involved and still involves (Acts 3:19-21) and marks the uncertainty, which was conditional upon the repentance of the nation.

AS TO THE CONTEXT: Note carefully what is stated in Matthew 16:28,

Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (KJV)

The immediate context which follows this statement is the account of the Transfiguration, where the “some standing here”–Peter, James, and John–did see the Son of man coming in his kingdom:

Mat 17:1  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Mat 17:4  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (KJV)

TK replied (7-10-23):

//As to the grammar, Young’s Literal Translation is often the most accurate representation in English of the underlying Greek text,//

Which Greek text?

//Young’s Literal Translation is often the most accurate representation in English //

hmm.. then why do you quote from KJV?

Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (KJV)

What does YLT say?

“Verily I say to you, there are certain of those standing here who shall not taste of death till they may see the Son of Man coming in his reign.'”

What did Paul believe with regards to the prophecy that Jesus would come back during his lifetime?

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

“I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none.” (1 Corinthians 7:29)

 

My reply (7-12-23):

You asked:

“Which Greek text?”

Young followed the received text of the Greek NT. This has no effect upon the verses in question.

“hmm.. then why do you quote from KJV?”

I quote from the KJV most often because it is the better known public domain English translation which has a stable text more suitable for reference purposes.

I quote from the YLT when it better conveys in English a point of grammar evident in the original Greek text that is not represented in most English translations.

“What did Paul believe with regards to the prophecy that Jesus would come back during his lifetime?”

1Th 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall by no means precede those who are dead. (EMTV, English Majority Text Version)

Some have mistakenly drawn the inference that Paul here asserts he expected the return of Jesus in his own lifetime.

This, of course, is an unwarranted inference which fails to take into account Paul’s own inspired prediction regarding the great apostasy and the coming of Antichrist given in 2 Thessalonians 2, events which Paul certainly did not suppose were to be compressed into his own lifespan.

The fact that Christ revealed to Peter certain events which would transpire in his life (Joh 21:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23), as well as to Paul (Act 9:15; Act 20:23, 24; Act 27:24), must not be understood to deny the doctrine of the imminency of the return of Christ.

Robertson notes Paul “was alive, not dead, when he wrote” (Word Pictures, vol. 4, p. 32). Paul sometimes associates himself with the living (as here, and Php 3:20, Tit 2:12, 13), and sometimes with the dead, (as **1Co 6:14, **2Co 4:14; 2Co 5:8, Php 1:21, 22, 23, 24; Php 2:17, 2Ti 4:6, 7, 8). By such words Paul simply associates himself with the class of the living to which he then belonged, as opposed to the dead, and was not making a statement about how soon Jesus would return, a secret which God has kept in his own counsel (+*Deut 29:29, Mat 24:36, +*Mar 13:32, +*Act 1:7), as Hogg and Vine well observe (Comm. on 1 Thessalonians, p. 138).

Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:29 foresaw that the time was short before the onset of coming persecution, and he gives directions for what the Christians should do in preparation for them. Paul was answering questions that the Corinthians had asked him about. This is not, in context, a reference to the then nearness of the second coming of Christ.

Thank you, Tamara Kudaibergen, for asking such good questions, and for your gracious patience in awaiting my response.

 

 

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible 'Contradictions' Answered, Bible Prophecy, False Religions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #760, Psalm 9:17

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psa 9:17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (KJV)

Psa 9:17  Let sinners be driven away into Hades, even all the nations that forget God. (Brenton LXX)

Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into Sheol, all the nations that forget God. (Darby)

Psa 9:17 The sinners and all the nations who have no memory of God will be turned into the underworld. (Basic English Bible)

Psa 9:17  Don’t forget this: all the wicked will one day fall into the darkness of death’s domain and remain there, including the nations that forget God and reject his ways. (TPT)

Psa 9:17 The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol;
this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,
Psa 9:18 for the needy are not permanently ignored,
the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed. (NET)

Psa 9:17 The wicked will go down to the world of the dead to be with those nations that forgot about you.
Psa 9:18 The poor and the homeless won’t always be forgotten and without hope.
Psa 9:19 Do something, LORD! Don’t let the nations win. Make them stand trial in your court of law.
Psa 9:20 Make the nations afraid and let them all discover just how weak they are. (CEV)

Cross Reference study for Psalm 9:17 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 9:17
The wicked. or, wicked ones (plural). Heb. rasha. Psa 37:38; Psa 139:19; *Psa 145:20, Jos 10:40, 1Ki 2:9, Job 10:15, Pro 14:32; Pro 24:20, **Ecc 8:8, Isa 3:11; Isa 5:14, *Mat 25:41, 42, 43, 44, 5, 46, *Rom 2:8; *Rom 2:9, *2Th 1:7, 8, 9, Jas 1:15, *Rev 20:15; *Rev 21:8.

turned. Gen 37:35 note. Compare Job 21:26; Job 34:15; Psa 104:29; Ecc 3:20; Ecc 12:7 (CB). Psa 63:9, Exo 34:7, Eze 31:17, Eze 32:21, %**+Eze 32:27 note. +*Mat 10:28 note. +*Luk 12:5; Luk 16:23.

hell. Heb. sheol, +Gen 37:35. T561. Psa 1:5; Psa 11:6; +*Psa 16:10; Psa 18:5; %Psa 30:5; *Psa 55:15; Psa 139:8, +*Deut 32:22; +Deut 32:43 (T237). Job 21:20; Job 26:6; Job 31:3; Job 36:13, Pro 15:24; Pro 27:20, Isa 5:14; **Isa 33:14; +*Isa 66:24, Eze 31:17, Hos 13:9; Hos 13:14, *Mal 4:1, Mat 3:7; *Mat 3:10, 11, 12; Mat 7:19; Mat 7:27; Mat 8:11, 12; *Mat 13:40, 41, 42; *Mat 13:47, 48, 49, 50; Mat 11:23, 24; Mat 23:33; +**Mat 25:32 (T387), Mat 25:41; Mat 25:46, Mar 9:43, 44, *+Luk 16:22; *+Luk 16:23; *+Luk 16:24 (T343). Joh 5:28, 29; Joh 15:6; Joh 17:12, +Rom 11:22 (T236). 1Co 16:22, Php 3:18, 19, 2Th 1:6, 7, 8, 9; *2Th 2:3; *2Th 2:9, 10, 11, 12, Heb 10:26, 27, +Jas 1:15 (T287). 2Pe 2:4; 2Pe 2:9, 10; 2Pe 2:17; 2Pe 3:7, Jud 1:7, Rev 19:20; *Rev 20:15; +*Rev 21:8.

that forget God. Not the heathen, as such; but all (of whatever race) who willfully forget, and put away from them, that knowledge of Himself which God has inscribed on men’s consciences (Kay). T692. Psa 10:4; +Psa 14:1 (T22). Psa 44:17; Psa 44:20; *Psa 50:22; Psa 79:6; Psa 106:13; Psa 106:21, Deut 32:18, Jdg 3:7, 1Sa 12:9, *Job 8:13, Isa 17:10, Jer 2:32; Jer 3:21; *Jer 13:25; Jer 18:15; Jer 23:27, Eze 20:9; Eze 22:12, Hos 2:13, Joh 3:19, Rom 1:18, 19, 20, 21; Rom 2:6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 2Pe 3:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

 

My Comment:

There is no escaping the FACT that the Bible teaches the eternal, never-ending, punishment of the wicked and the unsaved in what is commonly referred to as hell in our English Bible translations. On a more technical level, it is possible to dig deeper into the Bible to learn more about the subject of eternal punishment as it is reflected in the meanings of the original language words underlying our English translations. I have furnished the cross references and notes as given at Psalm 9:17 which enable any reader here to pursue such a study accurately.

The solution to the moral and spiritual deterioration in our nation and society is for more individuals to actually read the New Testament for a long enough time daily (at least 20 minutes a day) and often enough weekly (at least 4 days a week) on a continuing basis until genuine, permanent, spiritual awakening occurs. I know this by personal experience. This suggestion has been confirmed as to its validity and effectiveness in the lives of those who will faithfully follow this suggestion by research reported by Barna and Pew Research.

Posted in Bible Study Tools, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, Politics and the Bible | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #759, Proverbs 18:22

Posted on July 2, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. (KJV)

Pro 18:22 Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah. (Darby)

Pro 18:22  He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.] (Brenton LXX)

Pro 18:22  When a man finds a wife, he has found a treasure! For she is the gift of God to bring him joy and pleasure. But the one who divorces a good woman loses what is good from his house. To choose an adulteress is both stupid and ungodly.  (TPT)

Pro 18:22 A man’s greatest treasure is his wife– she is a gift from the LORD. (CEV)

My Comment:

There is much to learn from the Bible itself regarding God’s best will for marriage. Today marks my 46th wedding anniversary date. I am thankful to the Lord that I have indeed found a good wife!

The Bible does not tell everything about a subject it discusses all at one place. To learn about all the Bible teaches one must make use of the best and most complete sources of cross references available. These can be found in reference Bibles, in study Bibles, and more completely still in The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, and most completely of all in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

I have placed explanatory notes on subjects my own students have asked about. If you don’t like the questions they asked or the answers I supplied after my own very careful study and research, blame my students–they insisted I retain my notes which answered their questions! I did my homework carefully. If you have insight on any topic that sheds further light beyond what I knew when I furnished my explanatory notes, always feel free to leave a comment and share it here.

Cross reference study for Proverbs 18:22 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Proverbs 18:22
findeth a wife. Pro 5:15, etc. *Pro 12:4; *Pro 19:14; Pro 30:18, 19; *Pro 31:10, etc. Gen 2:18; Gen 2:22; %+Gen 21:21; Gen 24:44; Gen 24:57; Gen 24:67; %Gen 28:8; %Gen 28:9; Gen 29:20, 21; Gen 29:28, Exo 2:21, Num 12:1; Num 36:6, Deut 21:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, %Jdg 14:2; %Jdg 14:3, Rth 4:10, 1Sa 18:20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,, 27, 28, 29; 1Sa 25:39, 2Sa 3:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, Ecc 9:9, Song 4:9, Hos 12:12, %Mat 19:5; %Mat 19:10, Joh 2:1, *1Co 7:2; *1Co 7:39; 1Co 14:35 note. **2Co 6:14, +**Heb 13:4.

and. *Pro 3:4; *Pro 8:35, Gen 24:44.

Cross reference study for Hebrews 13:4 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage. or, Let marriage. The Greek construction may properly read as a command. Gr. gamos (S# G1062, Mat 22:2). T423. *Gen 1:27; *Gen 1:28; *Gen 2:18, 19, 20, 21, 22; *Gen 2:24; Gen 12:15; Gen 12:17; Gen 20:7; Gen 20:9, Lev 21:13, 14, 15, 2Ki 22:14, Psa 68:6; Psa 107:41, 42, Pro 5:15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; Pro 18:22, Isa 8:3, *Mat 8:14; *Mat 19:3, 4, 5, 6, Luk 20:34, Joh 2:1, 2, 1Co 7:2, etc., 1Co 7:28; 1Co 7:38; 1Co 9:5, Eph 5:31, 1Ti 3:2; 1Ti 3:4; 1Ti 3:12; *1Ti 4:1, 2, 3; 1Ti 5:14, 15, Tit 1:6.

honourable. Gr. timios [(S# G5093), valuable, that is, (objectively) costly, or (subjectively) honored, esteemed, or (figuratively) beloved (Strong): Rendered (1) precious: 1Co 3:12, Jas 5:7, 1Pe 1:19, 2Pe 1:4, Rev 17:4; Rev 18:12 a, Rev 18:16; Rev 21:19, (2) most precious: Rev 18:12 b. Rev 21:11, (3) more precious: 1Pe 1:7, (4) dear: Act 20:24, (5) honourable: Heb 13:4, (6) had in reputation: Act 5:34]. Premarital sexual relations of any kind are a dishonor to the sanctity of marriage and are forbidden by Scripture. Gen 2:18, Rth 4:10, *Pro 18:22, Isa 62:5 note. *Mal 2:14; *Mal 2:15, Mat 19:5, *Joh 2:1; Joh 2:2, Act 5:34 g. 1Co 7:1; *1Co 7:2; 1Co 7:8; 1Co 7:26, 27; 1Co 7:32, 33; 1Co 7:38; +*1Co 7:39; *1Co 9:5, *Eph 5:23, 1Th 4:4, 1Ti 3:2; 1Ti 3:12; 1Ti 4:3.

in all. Gr. En pasin: or, in all respects, as in 1Ti 3:11; 2Ti 4:5; Tit 2:9; Col 1:18; Php 4:12, If as A.V., the more natural expression would be para pasin, as Mat 19:26; Mat 26:8; Rom 2:13; 2Th 1:6; Jas 1:27. En pasin in all things appears in this chapter, Heb 13:18 (Vincent). *FS171B, +Gen 24:10. There is therefore no basis in Scripture for the practice of forbidding marriage to clergy! In fact, such a practice is condemned by Scripture as heresy, as a departure from the faith or apostasy, and a doctrine of demons in 1Ti 4:3. **Mat 8:14, *1Co 7:2, 1Th 4:6.

and the bed. or, and let the bed. Gr. koitē [(S# G2845), a couch; by extension cohabitation; by implication the male sperm (Strong): Rendered (1) bed: Luk 11:7, Heb 13:4, (2) conceived: Rom 9:10, (3) chambering: Rom 13:13]. As a command, this asserts the Biblical requirement of holiness and chastity by forbidding any sexual contact or relations of persons before marriage, which would be a defilement of the marriage bed involving fornication or adultery (Mat 19:9, 1Th 4:3 note). See on Heb 12:16, Lev 15:18; Lev 15:24; *Lev 21:1; Lev 21:7; Lev 21:10; Lev 21:13, Rom 13:13, +**1Co 6:9, *Gal 5:19; *Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, *Col 3:5; *Col 3:6, Rev 22:15.

undefiled. Gr. amiantos (S# G283, Heb 7:26), unsoiled, that is, (figuratively) pure (Strong). Rom 13:13, Jas 1:27.

but. or, for. T405, Heb 12:16, Gen 34:7; *Gen 39:9, Lev 20:10, Num 25:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, *Pro 2:18; Pro 2:19; Pro 5:3, 4; Pro 5:8, 9, 10, 11, 12; Pro 6:26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34; Pro 7:22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27; Pro 9:16, 17, 18; Pro 29:3, Ecc 7:26, Jer 5:7, 8, 9; Jer 23:14, 15, Hos 4:11, +*Mal 3:5, +Act 15:20, Rom 1:27, +*1Co 5:10; 1Co 5:11; +**1Co 6:9; 1Co 6:10; 1Co 10:8, *Gal 5:19, 20, 21, *Eph 5:5; Eph 5:6, *1Ti 4:3, 2Pe 2:14, +*Jud 1:7, +*Rev 21:8; *Rev 22:15.

whoremongers. or, fornicators. Gr. pornos (S# G4205, 1Co 5:9). Heb 12:16, +*Lev 21:7, Heb 12:16, +**Act 15:20, *1Co 5:9; +1Co 5:10; 1Co 5:11; +**1Co 6:9; 1Co 6:18, +*2Co 12:21, Eph 5:5, +*1Th 4:3; 1Th 4:6, 1Ti 1:10, 2Pe 2:10, Rev 2:14; +**Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15.

and adulterers. Gr. moichos (S# G3432), a (male) paramour; figuratively apostate (Strong). +*Exo 20:14, Lev 18:20; +*Lev 21:7; Lev 21:13; Lev **21:14 note, Num 5:16; Num 5:18, Deut 22:22, 2Sa 11:27, Job 24:15; +*Job 31:1; Job 31:11; Job 31:12, Psa 50:18, Pro 6:32, *Jer 5:7; Jer 23:10, Eze 18:6; Eze 22:11, Mar 10:11, Luk 18:11 g. Joh 4:18, +**1Co 6:9 g. Jas 4:4 g.

God will judge. or, God is judging (LNT). Note the present tense (LNT, fn g). FS121C2D2, +Gen 15:14, God emphatically and repeatedly threatens severe punishment for sexual sin, including the sin of “living together” and “sleeping together” without the benefit of marriage. Vincent observes “Note the emphatic position of o theos. He will judge and condemn infractions of the marriage-bond, however social sentiment may condone them.” Psa 50:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, Pro 5:11; Pro 5:22, Ecc 12:13, 14, +*Mal 3:5, +*Rom 1:26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 1Co 5:13, *2Co 5:10, *Eph 5:6, *Col 3:5; Col 3:6, +*1Th 4:6.

Cross Reference study for Leviticus 21:13, 14 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Lev 21:13  And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
Lev 21:14  A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

Leviticus 21:13
take a wife. +**Lev 21:7, Eze 44:22, 2Co 11:2, 1Ti 3:11, Heb 13:4, Rev 14:4.

virginity. *S# H1331. Deut 22:14, 15; Deut 22:17; Deut 22:20, Jdg 11:37, 38, *Eze 23:3; *Eze 23:8, For *S# H1330, see Gen 24:16, For *S# H5959, almah, see +Gen 24:43.

Leviticus 21:14
a widow. +**Lev 21:7, Except she were the widow of his predecessor, which some gather from Eze 44:22, But that place speaks only of the common priest, not of the high priest (Matthew Poole).

or a divorced woman. Deut 24:2, *Eze 44:22, **Mat 19:3 note, Mat 19:9 note. Tit 1:6.

or profane. S# H2491. Lev 21:7, Gen 49:4 (S# H2490, in reference to sexual defilement or incest). **Pro 7:26, Isa 53:5 h (wounded or pierced through).

or an harlot. +*Heb 13:4.

these he shall not take. 1Ti 3:11.

but he shall. Tit 1:6.

take a virgin. *S# H1330, +Gen 24:16, Song 6:9, Eze 16:8, Hos 2:7, 2Co 11:2, Eph 5:27.

of his own people. i.e., either (1) Of his own tribe, which is confuted by the examples of holy men; see 2Ch 22:11; or, (2) Of the seed of Israel, as it is explained in Eze 44:22 (Matthew Poole). In context, these restrictions apply specifically to the high priest in Israel. But under grace in the New Testament we are still absolutely called to holiness (**Heb 12:14), and are accounted “priests and kings” (1Pe 2:9, Rev 1:6), a position Israel lost when they rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah (Mat 21:43; Mic 5:3). Therefore, in terms of taking a wife (Lev 21:13), God’s stated preference is that a wife (1) have been found faithful in all things (1Ti 3:11), (2) surely not a whoremonger (fornicator, having willfully—Heb 10:26 note with Deut 22:25, 26, 27, 28, 29— engaged in promiscuity or premarital sexual relations, +*Heb 13:4), nor (3) a divorced woman (here at Lev 21:14). Jesus in His teaching does not allow for divorce (Mat 19:6), but in mercy Jesus grants an exception for fornication (Mat 19:9). Paul provides another exception which is granted: when an unbelieving spouse secures a divorce from the innocent believing spouse, the believing spouse is permitted to remarry, “only in the Lord,” thus must only marry a genuine Bible-believing Christian, not someone who is unsaved (1Co 7:15; 1Co 7:39); it is possible that if a believing spouse suffered a divorce to escape physical abuse, and is thus the innocent party of a divorce, that such a person is permitted likewise to remarry, but only in the Lord. Ideally, however, a never-married single believer would in almost all cases best be advised to seek to marry a believer who is likewise single, who has never been married. Scripture surely does not permit believers to marry unbelievers (**2Co 6:14, 15, 16, 17, 18). Num 12:1, Ezr 10:18.

Posted in Bible Study Tools, Christian Living, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, Practical Application Bible Studies, Principles of Christian Living | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

We need Affirmative Learning, NOT Affirmative Action

Posted on July 1, 2023 by Jerry

 

I have heard the same grumbling yet again from those who oppose the United States Supreme Court’s decision issued just a couple of days ago that I heard back in 2014 when a similar case was decided, which I wrote an article about back then and reproduce below. Talk show hosts on WJR, Detroit, writers in the news media, newscasts on WWJ, Detroit, haven’t figured it out yet.

They ask, “How are colleges supposed to achieve diversity if they cannot engage in ‘Affirmative Action?'”

Here is my answer with a practical and workable solution (for once, please read carefully to the end!):

The United States Supreme Court just made a decision about Michigan’s state constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2006 to let stand its ban on Affirmative Action policies once practiced in university admissions.

This morning I heard snatches of angry protests railing against the Supreme Court’s decision from local supporters of Affirmative Action who are upset that such discriminatory policies are gone for good.

Some in the Black and the Spanish community support Affirmative Action.

I support Affirmative Learning. They need to learn to do the same.

If parents want their children to have a chance at success in college, they need to learn right now that education begins in the home. If your children are spending their time playing video games, watching television, or cruising the Internet for most of their out-of-school waking hours, forget it. If you are constantly carting them off to sporting activities, forget it.

Your child needs to learn how to read. Your child needs to learn how to write. Your child needs to learn how to think.

I remember vividly a parent who became very angry with me because I told her that her daughter was not cooperating with my attempts to help her academically. The parent was most incensed when I told her that her daughter did not know how to read well enough. She angrily said her daughter surely knew how to read. Then I dropped the bombshell. I said according to my testing, she reads at about the fourth grade level. The parent asked on what basis did I know that? I said that is how high she scored on my standardized reading comprehension pretest.

The daughter was in the eleventh grade, as I recall. That means she was reading at seven years below grade level. She was a student in the Health and Welfare Curriculum at Cass Technical High School, and she had been referred to me by the department head for that curriculum for academic assistance.

Now other students had been brought to me for assistance. They cooperated. They succeeded. They were amazed at their own progress, and were most appreciative that my help brought them immediate results in substantial grade improvement on their report card even though the teacher they had was extremely rigorous in his grading system. That teacher was much feared when I was a student at Cass myself.

Dr. Ben Carson, who spoke at a Presidential Prayer Breakfast not too long ago, knows the answer. His mother knew the answer. She encouraged him to read books from the public library every week. That is the direction to go. You learn to read better by reading more. As I recall, Dr. Carson said she even required him to write reports on the books he read. You learn to write by writing, too.

The most efficient way to do that is to have students read several books on a non-fiction subject. Have the student read the easiest one first–even if it comes from the children’s collection in the library. Then read a second book on the same subject, from the young adult section. Finally, read a book from the adult section of the library. What the child or student learns from the easiest level will enable them to understand the middle level of difficulty. And that will enable the student to understand a book written at the adult level on the subject. There are lots of non-fiction subjects to choose from. I have set up such “reading ladders” using a series of books on rocks. Another series on the weather. Another series on other topics of science. When a child or student thinks a subject is boring, I tell them “It is boring because you are boring.” When you learn more about a subject it becomes more interesting. The more you know about subject the more interesting it becomes for you.

Now what I have just written in the above paragraph is the simple key you need to solve the academic problem of any child or student. Now, just go put all this into practice.

Would you want the services of a neurosurgeon who entered college unqualified? Who got in because of Affirmative Action? Who was passed along because professors feared to fail too many minority students? Or would you rather be treated by someone like Dr. Carson who fully earned his credentials?

I believe the Supreme Court’s decision ought to send a message. If students want to enter prestigious universities, then they had better start young to develop their academic skills.

The greatest influence on the future academic success of any child is the education they receive in the home. From what I read, surveys reveal that 85% of the homes in the United States of America have a Bible at hand. The Bible, especially if read in the King James Version, is the best textbook to start with. After all, it comes from the Creator of the universe Himself. Children really need to learn what He has to say.

If your child or student is not “up to” reading, I have written a reading program that works for any student, age 8 and above. My program has been used for students who were three or more grade levels behind in reading achievement, gifted and talented students in high school, for college students in the nursing program, and by adults in my night school classes.

How do I know it works? I tried it out with my students–one on one–for more than thirty years as a classroom teacher. I revised my program whenever a student encountered any difficulty understanding it at any point. It is most likely the most tested and validated reading program of its kind ever published.

My program is called The Language Enrichment Program, and is available for about $10 in the Kindle format on Amazon, or for about $20 in printed book form. Search on Amazon under “books” by my name and the book title [“Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program”].

Any student who works through my self-instructional reading program will improve in reading comprehension, inference skills, and reading speed. In my experience, once reluctant readers become eager readers after using it.

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Daily Bible Nugget #758, Isaiah 3:9

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Isa 3:9  The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. (KJV)

Isa 3:9 For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves. (ESV)

Isa 3:9  The look on their faces will be held against them. They boast about their sins, which are like those of the people of Sodom. They don’t even bother to hide them. How horrible it will be for these people, because they have brought disaster on themselves. (GW)

Isa 3:9  Their prejudices will be held against them. They sin as openly as the people of Sodom did. They are doomed, and they have brought it on themselves. (GNB)

Isa 3:9 Their respect for a man’s position is a witness against them; and their sin is open to the view of all; like that of Sodom, it is not covered. A curse on their soul! for the measure of their sin is full. (BBE)

Isa 3:9  Wherefore now their glory has been brought low, and the shame of their countenance has withstood them, and they have proclaimed their sin as Sodom, and made it manifest. (Brenton LXX)

Isa 3:9 The look on their faces testifies to their guilt;
like the people of Sodom they openly boast of their sin.
Too bad for them!
For they bring disaster on themselves. (NET)

Isa 3:9 The look on your faces shows that you are sinful as Sodom, and you don’t try to hide it. You are in for trouble, and you have brought it all on yourselves. (CEV)

Cross Reference study for Isaiah 3:9 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Isaiah 3:9
The shew of their countenance. +Isa 3:16, 1Sa 15:32, 2Sa 13:4, 2Ki 9:30, Psa 10:4; Psa 18:27; Psa 73:6, 7, Pro 6:17; Pro 30:13, *Jer 3:3; Jer 6:15, Eze 16:49, Dan 7:20, Hos 5:5, Act 23:14.

and they declare their sin. *Gen 13:13; *Gen 18:20; *Gen 18:21; Gen 19:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1Sa 2:23, Jer 8:12; Jer 44:16, 17, Eze 23:16; +*Eze 24:7, Joh 18:5, 1Co 5:2.

as Sodom. Gen 19:34, *Lev 18:22 note. +Deut 23:17, +**Job 36:14 mg. Eze 16:30, Rev 17:5.

hide it not. FS144D, +Gen 40:23. Num 25:6; +**Num 32:23, 2Sa 16:22, Eze 3:7; Eze 16:25; Eze 21:24; Eze 23:18; Eze 23:39; Eze 24:7, 1Co 5:2, **Eph 4:19 note.

Woe. *Lam 5:16, *Hos 13:9.

soul. Heb. nephesh, +Gen 12:3.

rewarded evil unto themselves. +Job 36:14 mg. Jer 2:19, +**Rom 1:27, 1Co 6:18.

My Comment:

Solomon in the first chapter of Proverbs gives the following advice:

Pro 1:10  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Based on this advice, we are warned not to get involved in the schemes and practices of the wicked and ungodly. This is explicitly stated at 2 Chronicles 19:2,

2Ch 19:2  And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

We are directed not to help the ungodly by supporting the causes they support or promote. We are to obey God rather than man, as Peter and the apostles said as recorded in Acts 5:29,

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Thus, disobeying the wicked commands of civil rulers is justifiable from Scripture itself. Just as I went on line to work on this post, I read a headline that reported that the Michigan House of Representatives just passed legislation requiring everyone to use the preferred pronouns when speaking to or of those in a now protected group or else face jail time and large fines for not doing so. I hope this nonsense dies in the Michigan Senate.

As for what God’s Word has to say about helping the ungodly, consider the following cross references from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for that clause at 2 Chronicles 19:2,

help the ungodly. 2Ch 16:3; 2Ch 18:1; 2Ch 18:3; 2Ch 18:28; 2Ch 20:37; 2Ch 22:5, **2Sa 12:14, 1Ki 15:19; 1Ki 21:25, 2Ki 3:7; 2Ki 8:28, Ezr 9:12, Job 8:20, +**Psa 15:4; *Psa 139:21; *Psa 139:22, Pro 1:10, 11, 12 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; Pro 13:20, Ecc 10:1, %+*Mar 1:25, Rom 1:32; Rom 16:17, *2Co 6:14, 15, 16, 17, **Eph 5:11, **2Jn 1:10; **2Jn 1:11, +*Jud 1:3.

Notice the cross references I have marked with a double asterisk:

2 Samuel 12:14
14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
King James Version

Psalms 15:4
4  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
King James Version

Psa 15:4  They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth. They make firm commitments and follow through, even at great cost. (TPT)

Ephesians 5:11
11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
King James Version

Eph 5:11 Stop having anything to do with the profitless doings of darkness; instead you must continue to expose them. (Williams NT)

Eph 5:11  Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light. (GNB)

Eph 5:11  And don’t even associate with the servants of darkness because they have no fruit in them; instead, reveal truth to them.
Eph 5:12  The very things they do in secret are too vile and filthy to even mention. (TPT)

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The Solution:

Share the truth of God’s Word with those in your circle of influence.

Encourage others to read the New Testament long enough (at least 20 minutes a day) often enough (at least four days a week) on a continuing basis to learn the answers to life’s questions and problems and experience positive spiritual and practical change in your life.

Practice God’s hospitality commands on a regular basis! You will find it possible to explore these by consulting my newly republished book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, at Topic 354, Titus 1:8, Hospitality, a duty; and Topic 355, Job 31:32, Hospitality, examples of.

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Frequently Misunderstood or Misread Bible Verses

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Jerry

 

Sometimes what we think we know turns out not to be so!

John 17:3

Muslims, Unitarians, Christadelphians, Oneness Pentecostals, and Jehovah Witnesses misunderstand John 17:3.

I have found that Muslims misread John 17:3 by failing to take into account its several contexts (immediate context, related context, remote context, total Bible context).

The verse says:

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV)

Joh 17:3 Now eternal life means knowing you as the only true God and knowing Jesus your messenger as Christ. (Williams NT)

They misread John 17:3, arguing that when Jesus speaks of His Father as being the only true God, Jesus necessarily excludes Himself from the category of “true God,” and so denies His Deity. Therefore, they conclude, Jesus never claimed to be God and the doctrine of the Trinity is false.

But that is not what John 17:3 says. Jesus is emphasizing that eternal life belongs to those who continue to know God the Father and continue to know Jesus Christ His Son.

Jehovah Witnesses misread John 17:3 by reading into the verse their mistaken presuppositions: they presuppose that the category “only true God” must mean “only the Father is the only true God”–which is not what the text says. That is neither the subject of the verse nor the subject of the context.

I have discussed John 17:3 in much fuller detail on this site. Use the “Search” feature to easily access those articles. Just type in John 17:3 in the search box.

John 3:5

A number of mainline Protestant churches and particularly the Church of Christ as well as the Roman Catholic Church insist that John 3:5 teaches the doctrine of “baptismal regeneration” and/or “baptismal remission of sin.” They teach that in order to be saved, in order to receive forgiveness of sin, a person must be water baptized.

My experience discussing the Bible with Roman Catholics has been that when I ask them “Do you know for sure that you have been born again?” the response I get is “Yes, I have been baptized.”

This interpretation of John 3:5 is totally mistaken because the reference to baptism here is not to ritual water baptism but to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is a totally mistaken view for it fails to account for the Figure of Speech Hendiadys present in the text, where two words are used but only one thing is meant.

John 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The Note I supplied in my recently republished book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, gives some further details:

“Two words are used (water, Spirit), but one thing is meant (Spirit). By this figure water and spirit are joined by “and.” There is no of in the Greek, supplied here by the translators. There is no article to either of the two nouns. This figure gives the meaning, “born of water, even the spirit.” That only one thing is meant by the two words is clear from verses 6 and 8 (Joh 3:6; Joh 3:8), where only the Spirit (the one thing) is mentioned. The figure may also be understood to mean “born of spiritual water,” where the “spiritual water” is, by the figure Metonymy, put for the Holy Spirit Himself, as is clear from Joh 7:38, 39. The reference is to the real baptism by the Holy Spirit which is the one indispensable condition of entering the kingdom of God (Rom 8:9, 1Co 12:13), not to the water of ritual baptism (Act 1:5 note).”

I have discussed John 3:5 in much greater depth on this site. Use the “Search” feature to easily find those articles.

2 Corinthians 13:5

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

This is not a command to constant self-examination! The note I placed in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge explains this text:

“yourselves. FS101, +Deut 32:42. The Hyperbaton by which the pronoun heautous, yourselves, is placed at the beginning of the sentence (the object before the subject), shows the emphasis which is to be placed upon it, and tells us that this is the serious irony of a grieved heart, and not a general command.

“These Corinthian saints, having been beguiled by the Jewish enemies of the apostle to question his apostleship, actually sought a proof of Christ speaking in him! So he meets their questionings with another question: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me…YOURSELVES examine ye, if ye are in the faith; YOURSELVES prove ye. Know ye not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates?” The answer to this question, thus ironically put, would prove them to be the seals of his ministry, and the real proof of his apostleship.

“Here is no command for the saints today, no admonition to practice continual self-examination and introspection, to see whether they are in the faith; for Christ is in them. Read the words in connection with the context, and the force of this solemn Irony will be at once seen: and it will be used no more to vex and perplex God’s dear children, by taking words which refer to their state to upset their standing, which is perfect and complete “in Christ” (F/S 812).”

2 Corinthians 5:10

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

This verse is often, if not always, misread to teach that when we appear before the judgment seat of Christ, we will be judged publicly for everything we have ever done, whether good or bad.

Verses like this can be very unsettling to the faith and assurance of salvation for every believer who encounters them while reading the Bible.

Add Matthew 5:20 to the mix:

Mat 5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.  (KJV)

Mat 5:20 `For I say to you, that if your righteousness may not abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye may not enter to the reign of the heavens. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Mat 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness may exceed beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees, you may by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens. (LNT, Lavender’s NT)

Mat 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (NET Bible)

Mat 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven at all. (Williams NT)

Mat 5:20  I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Mat 5:20  I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Mat 5:20 You must obey God’s commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don’t, I promise you that you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Add Matthew 5:48 to this mix:

Mat 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (KJV)

Then add Matthew 7:21-23 to the mix:

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV)

Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who practice doing the will of my Father in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, was it not in your name that we prophesied, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many wonder-works?’
Mat 7:23 And then I will say to them openly, ‘I never knew you at all. Go away from me, you who practiced doing wrong.’ (Williams NT)

Mat 7:21 Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.
Mat 7:22 On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, “We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.”
Mat 7:23 But I will tell them, “I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!” (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Ordinary Bible readers who read Matthew 7:21, 22, 23 may well ask, “Who, then, can be saved?” What if, on Judgment Day, Jesus tells us “I never knew you”?

Add yet another striking verse to the mix:

Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (KJV)

Mat 12:36 I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.
Mat 12:37 On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said. (CEV)

A brief answer to this apparent conundrum can be seen reflected in what Paul wrote in Galatians 3:23, 24, 25, 26,

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (KJV)

Notice Paul equates the terms law, and schoolmaster, stating we are no longer under a schoolmaster, thus declaring we are no longer under the law as a means of obtaining salvation.

Unlike the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’s day, we do not base our salvation upon perfectly keeping the Law of Moses, but upon faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.

Now back to the disturbing text, 2 Corinthians 5:10,

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (KJV)

Carefully consider, however, that “the judgment seat of Christ” does not take place at “the Great White Throne” (Revelation 20:11, 12)!

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (KJV)

But notice that those who have part in the first resurrection will not have any part in the Great White Throne judgment:

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (KJV)

Jesus directly promised:

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (KJV)

Joh 5:24 I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Paul echoes this fundamental  truth:

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (KJV)

Rom 8:1  So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned. (GW, God’s Word translation)

The mistake many make in Bible interpretation is to forget that there is more than one resurrection. The Bible does not teach a single general resurrection of the dead. This is evident from several Bible passages:

Luke 14:14  And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (KJV)

Luk 14:14 Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. (NET Bible)

The resurrection of the just or righteous (the first resurrection) takes place at least 1000 years before the resurrection of the unrighteous mentioned in the book of Revelation (Revelation 20:5):

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (KJV)

Rev 20:5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection. (NET Bible)

 

Joh 5:21  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Joh 5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Joh 5:27  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (KJV)

Joh 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.
Joh 5:22 Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
Joh 5:23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
Joh 5:24 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.
Joh 5:25 I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming — and is now here — when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Joh 5:26 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself,
Joh 5:27 and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Joh 5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
Joh 5:29 and will come out — the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation. (NET Bible)

In reference to John 5:28, I placed the following explanatory note in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

in which all. This does not assert a simultaneous resurrection of the just and unjust. The word “hour” is frequently rendered “time” as the parallel passages (Joh 4:23, 1Jn 2:18) show, equivalent to saying “a time is coming when all shall be raised,” without requiring that the time is brief, and certainly not simultaneous when other Scriptures tell us “every man in his own order” (1Co 15:23). Notice the following verse (John 5:29) describes two resurrections, the “resurrection of life” and the “resurrection of damnation” (Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 2, p. 301). John 11:24. **John 11:25, 26. John 11:44, 45.

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From Father to Son

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Jerry

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1992, I received copies of the first edition of my book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

I autographed a copy to my youngest son with the message:

Just think! Your Dad wrote this book. This book will help you understand the Bible better. With this book you can dig into the treasures of God’s Word.

It took your Dad 26 years or more of research and study to prepare this book. Your Mom helped, too. It took Dad five years just to type it. But now that the book is done, I hope we will have more time to use it together. This is one book you will never finish studying, so it should last you a long time.

May this book be as great a blessing in your life as it was to your Dad when he was a boy, using the original edition.

With love from the author, your Dad!

 

Today, I am returning this copy to my son on Father’s Day, 2023.

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Daily Bible Nugget #757, Psalm 62:8

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psa 62:8  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Cross reference Bible study for Psalm 62:8 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 62:8
Trust. Psa 4:5; +**Psa 9:10 note. Psa 22:4, 5; Psa 34:1, 2; Psa 46:1, 2, 3; *Psa 55:22; Psa 61:4; Psa 84:12; Psa 112:7; Psa 115:9; *Psa 118:8, 1Sa 30:6, 2Ki 6:27, *Job 13:15; Job 35:14, **Pro 3:5; Pro 22:19, Isa 26:4; *Isa 50:10, Jer 48:7, Lam 3:24, Dan 3:28, **Hab 3:17, 18, 19, *Mar 11:22, *1Ti 6:17, 1Jn 2:28.

at all times. Psa 16:8; Psa 34:1; Psa 106:3; +*Psa 119:20, **Hab 3:17, 18, 19, Joh 8:29, Rom 12:12.

ye people. Psa 3:6; Psa 3:8; Psa 7:8; Psa 9:11; Psa 14:4.

pour out. T1353, Psa 18:3; Psa 42:4; Psa 69:24; Psa 79:6; Psa 86:4, Psa 102:1, title. +*Psa 119:145; Psa 142:2, +Exo 4:9, Jdg 6:20, *1Sa 1:15, 1Ki 10:2, Isa 26:16; Isa 33:2, Jer 20:12, *Lam 2:19, Jon 3:8, **Php 4:6, +*Jas 5:16.

heart. FS121I1, +Gen 3:7. *Psa 4:4; Psa 13:2; *Psa 15:2; Psa 20:4, +*Eph 5:19.

God. +Psa 9:9; Psa 18:2; Psa 46:11, *2Ki 6:27, *Pro 14:26, *Heb 6:18.

refuge. Psa 62:7, Psa 9:9, Num 35:6.

for us. Heb 2:10, 11, 12, 13.

Selah. +Psa 9:16.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook post:

PSALM 62.8 Trust in Him at all times; you
people, pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

PSALM 18.1-2 I will love You, O Lord, my
strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and
my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
MY shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

PROVERBS 14.26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong
confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

PSALM 150.6 Let everything that
has breath Praise the Lord .
Praise the Lord!!
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Daily Bible Nugget #756, Proverbs 14:15

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

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

Pro 14:15  A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Pro 14:15  The naïve believes every word, but the shrewd discerns his steps. (TLV, Tree of Life Version)

Pro 14:15  A gullible person will believe anything, but a sensible person will confirm the facts. (TPT, The Passion Translation)

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

My Comment:

The Bible cautions against gullibility! Don’t fall for the lies promoted in our contemporary culture. Be patient and investigate before committing to action.

Many things that were condemned as “conspiracy theory” have in recent weeks been confirmed to have been “conspiracy facts.” Sometimes it is wise to “follow the money.” For example, if the law pertaining to monopoly and price-fixing were enforced strictly right now, there would be no national debt crisis in the United States. What once constituted less than 4% of our federal expenditure is now over 30% of the federal budget, and this budget item is growing every year at a far greater rate than inflation. It will, from what I have read, soon constitute an expense greater than is taken in yearly as taxes, which could collapse the whole government. That might be a good thing, seeing as the government itself has become lawless. The budget item I refer to is health care. Do some reading yourself on the subject of Covid and the “vaccines” created to alleviate it. It turns out that the “cure” is worse than the disease, and could have been avoided without the use of the “vaccines” by using medicines already available and in wide use. The notion that face masks would be effective against a virus was proven to be nonsense by many scientific studies over many years in the past. A good analogy would be comparing the effectiveness of a face mask to building a chain link fence to keep mosquitos out of your back yard. Likewise, “social distancing” has no verifiable scientific effectiveness in slowing the spread of disease.

Cross reference Bible study for Proverbs 14:15 as given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

Proverbs 14:15
simple. FS108K54, +Pro 1:4, Pro 4:26; +*Pro 22:3; Pro 27:12, Gen 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Eze 14:10 note. Rom 16:18, 19, +*Eph 4:14; Eph 5:17, *1Jn 4:1.

believeth every word. Jos 9:14, **1Ki 13:15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, +*Eph 4:14, 2Ti 3:6, 7, 8; 2Ti 3:13, Heb 13:9, 2Pe 2:2; 2Pe 2:18, 19, 20.

the prudent. See on +Pro 14:8, +*Pro 22:3, Amos 5:13, Act 13:7, *Rom 14:12, +*1Th 5:21.

looketh well. +*Pro 15:14; Pro 18:1 note, **Pro 18:17, +*Isa 8:20 note. Mat 7:15, +**Act 17:11; Act **20:28, 29, 30, **1Th 5:21, *2Pe 3:17, *1Jn 4:1.

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