Daily Bible Nugget #10, John 5:39

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

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

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, (English Standard Version)

John 5:39 ἐραυνᾶτε τὰς γραφάς, ὅτι ὑμεῖς δοκεῖτε ἐν αὐταῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον ἔχειν· καὶ ἐκεῖναί εἰσιν αἱ μαρτυροῦσαι περὶ ἐμοῦ·

My Comment:

Are these words of Jesus a command statement in the imperative mood, or do they simply state a fact in the indicative mood? Most modern English translations, like the English Standard Version, opt for the indicative mood, by translating “You search the Scriptures.”

The King James Version of 1611 properly translates the Greek text as an imperative, thus a command, “Search the Scriptures.” Very few other English translations do.

Truth is never determined by a majority vote!

In Greek, when the verb comes first in the sentence, as it does here, it is in the imperative mood, and so is a command statement. I have given the Greek text above–not that I expect most readers here are able to read it–but to show that the first word,
ἐραυνᾶτε, the word translated “search,” indeed comes first in the sentence. The point at issue here is that this Greek verb is spelled the same way in Greek for both the indicative and imperative mood form of the verb. Therefore, in this case, it is not the form itself (which is ambiguous) but the grammar which determines the mood.

Another issue pertaining to understanding John 5:39 correctly involves the phrase “because you think that in them you have eternal life.” Does “you think” mean you think this, but you are wrong; or does it mean you rightly think?

Both the analogy of Scripture (what the rest of the Bible has to say about this) and the usage of the underlying Greek word for “you think” support the view that the meaning is “rightly think.”

Through believing the Scriptures, we have eternal life. By searching the Scriptures, we know without question that they consistently testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this, we have life through His name.

May every reader here take this verse to heart, and do what it says, by carefully searching the Scriptures on a regular basis. There is much more to “unpack” in this “Bible Nugget,” John 5:39. You will be enriched in your spiritual life if you take the time to make it the subject of your further study.

For those who wish to DIG DEEPER into this significant admonition:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on pages 1173, 1174.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on pages 1194, 1195 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 5:39.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them further given below:

John 5:39. Search. *S#2045g. Jn 5:39. *7:52. Ro 8:27. 1 C 2:10. 1 P 1:11. Re 2:23. The Greek form for “search” may be indicative, a statement of fact, and so rendered “Ye search,” as in many modern translations, or it may be imperative, a command, as in the A.V., “Search.” Robertson thinks the following words, “ye think,” which are indicative, favor taking the verb as indicative, not imperative. Alford favors taking the verb as an imperative, because of the preceding context, and its initial position in the sentence. The Companion Bible notes that “the indicative never commences a sentence without the pronoun or some other word, while the imperative is so used.” For the same Greek construction see Jn 7:52, “Search, and look…”; Jn 14:11, “Believe me…”; Jn 15:20, “Remember the word…” This Greek word for “search” occurs in the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, in the following places: Ge 31:33, 35, 37. 44:12. Dt 13:14. Jg 6:29. 2 S 10:3. 1 K 20:6. 2 K 10:23. Pr 20:27. Je 27 (50):26. Jl 1:7. The word is defined “to seek out, trace; used of a lion who ‘scours the plains and traces the footsteps of the man who had robbed him,’ Homer, Iliad, xviii. 321; used of dogs tracing their game by the foot, Homer, Odyssey, xix. 436. Hence, to track, trace, investigate” (Bullinger, Critical Lexicon and Concordance, p. 672). The imperative should be adopted here; the Jews did not search, but merely read the Scriptures, as so many Christians today. Had they searched diligently, and believed, they would have accepted the claims of Jesus. Lessening the force of Christ’s statement by taking it as an indicative rather than imperative seems to detract from the Bible’s teaching regarding itself, that we are to search the scriptures, not merely read them. Some modern translations appear to weaken the force of a number of texts which contain the Bible’s teaching about itself at several critical points, particularly here, John 8:31, and 2 T 3:16. T#1068. ver. *46. Jn 7:52. Dt 11:18-20. *17:18, 19. *32:46, 47. Jsh +*1:8. Ps *1:2. *119:11, *45, 97-99. Pr 6:23. 8:33, 34. Is +**8:20n. 29:18. *34:16. Je *8:9. Mt *22:29. Mk 12:10. Lk **16:27-29, 31. Ac 8:32-35. +**17:11, 12. Ro 2:17, 18. 3:2. Col *3:16. 1 T 4:13. 2 T **3:14-17. 1 P +**1:11. 2 P **1:19-21. 3:1, 2. Re 1:3. De Burgh notes that the following cross references suit the Indicative rendering, Ye search: ver. 45-47. Ezk 33:30-32. Mt 23:29-31. Ac 13:27. the scriptures. Dt 31:12. 2 Ch +*17:9. Ps *19:7. Ec 12:12. Is +**8:20n. Je 6:16. Ml 4:4. Mt 2:4-6. +21:42. Mk +*12:24. Lk 24:25-27. 2 T +**3:15-17. for. FS71, Jn +1:24. Here we have in two verses a double Epicrisis, the first approving, and the second condemning, but both adding a solemn truth, independent of the statement that goes before. (A) Search the Scriptures, (B) For in them ye think ye have eternal life. (A) And they are they which testify of me: (B) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. In the first and third members (A and A), we have the Scriptures; while in the second and fourth (B and B, the Epicrisis), we have the action and conduct of those who possessed them. in them. 1 C 15:2. 1 Th **2:13. 2 T **3:15. Ja *1:18. 1 P *1:23. ye think. Gr. dokeō, S#1380g, Mt 3:9. Robertson cites Bernard who believes this word in John “always indicates a mistaken opinion (Jn 5:45. 11:13, 31. 13:29. 16:20. 20:15)” (Word Pictures, vol. 5, p. 92). The analogy of scripture, however, flatly contradicts this position, and forbids taking this as the meaning here, however correct it may be for the other passages cited, for scripture elsewhere teaches that we are born again through the instrumentality of the written word of God (2 T **3:15. Ja 1:18. 1 P 1:23). The Pharisees rightly believed that “in them” they had eternal life, but as Jesus elsewhere states, they knew not the scriptures nor the power of God (Mk 12:24), made them void by their traditions (Mk 7:7-9), and failed to believe them (Jn 5:46. Lk 16:31). Dt 32:47. Ps *16:11. 21:4. 36:9. 133:3. Da +*12:2. Mt 19:16-20. Lk *10:25-29. Ac 15:28g. 1 C 4:9g. **+7:40g,n. He 11:16, 35. ye have. ver. *24. Jn 3:36. +4:14. 1 J **5:13. eternal. Gr. aionios, Mt +18:8. Mk 10:17. Ro 6:23. T 1:2. 1 J 2:25. they are they. Mk 9:4. 10:3. which testify of me. T#1020. ver. 32, 36. Jn *1:45. +*12:41. Dt *18:15-18. Ps **40:7. SS *2:9. 8:2. Lk 4:21. See on Lk +**24:27n, 44. Ac 3:22. *8:28, 30. 10:43. 18:28. 24:14. *26:22, 23, 27. Ro *1:2. 1 C 15:3. He 3:5. 1 P **1:10, +**11. 1 J 4:14. 5:9. Re *19:10.

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Daily Bible Nugget #9, John 5:24

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

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.

My Comment:

This verse would be a good verse to memorize. In fact, all of the “Bible Nuggets” I have shared so far in this series would make good memory verses. Jesus declared a number of truths in this statement that most people still find very hard to believe. Some churches and denominations flat-out deny the truths proclaimed in this verse. First, notice Jesus marks this verse as especially important, for He begins by saying “Verily, verily.” Second, Jesus stresses the importance of continuing to hear His word, for He states “He that heareth my word.” The word “heareth” translates the meaning of the original language, where continued hearing is spoken of. I believe that to continue hearing the word of Jesus in our day means to keep reading His word as found in the Bible. Third, Jesus adds the stipulation that not only must we keep hearing His word, we must keep believing in the One Who sent Him.

Here is where many get things wrong. Jesus promised that whoever keeps hearing His word and keeps believing on Him Who sent Him keeps having eternal life. When Jesus said “hath eternal life,” he declared that you and I may know for sure that we now have at this very moment eternal life. It is not necessary to wait until we die to find out whether or not we have eternal life. Thus, Fourthly, Jesus promises us that we have eternal life now.

Fifthly, Jesus promised that we shall not come into condemnation. Some translations read “judgment.” The Apostle Paul expands on this theme in Romans 5:1, where he writes “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And again, in Romans 8:1, Paul writes “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Therefore, if we continue to hear Christ’s word, and believe on Him who sent Him, we have eternal life right now in this life. Our eternal destiny is settled.

Sixthly, Jesus tells us that we have “passed from death into life.” In the original language this is stated in the perfect tense, which means the state of passing from death into life is an event that has taken place, and continues in its effect until now. It is a one-time event whose effect continues forever for those who fit the description given earlier in the verse: those who continue to hear and continue to believe.

Seventhly, Jesus speaks of passing from death into life. That means that although we are alive physically, we all start out dead spiritually. In order to have spiritual life that lasts forever, we must do as Jesus solemnly announces. We must continue to hear His word, and continue to believe on Him by whom He was sent.

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Daily Bible Nugget #8, John 8:31-32

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

My Comment:

The test of true commitment to Jesus Christ is stated here. True disciples continue in His word. Today, His word is found in the Bible. The truth is found where His word is found. His word is not to be found in a supposed “one true church,” but in Scripture. The truth of Scripture will make you free from man-made religion. There really is a difference between the world-view and doctrine taught in the Bible compared to any other source of supposed spiritual truth. Make the Bible the source of your spiritual life in Jesus Christ.

For those who wish to DIG DEEPER into this encouraging promise:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1182.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1202-1203 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 8:31-32.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them further given below:

John 8:31. Then said Jesus. Jn 7:17. 14:21, 23. those Jews. ver. 22, 48, 52, 57. Jn +5:10. which believed. Jn +5:47. Ps 106:12. If. FS184C, Mt +4:9. Jn 6:66-71. *15:4-9. 1 S 12:14. Mt *24:13. Ac *13:43. +*14:22. 26:22. Ro 2:7. *11:22. Col +**1:23. 1 T 2:15. +*4:16. 2 T 3:14. He +*3:14. 8:9. *10:38, 39. Ja *1:25. 1 J *2:19, 24. 2 J *9. continue. T#937. Jn 5:38. 7:17. *15:7, 8. +*17:6. Nu +*29:25. Jb *23:12. 24:13. Ps 25:5. 119:31. Pr 3:21. 8:34. Mt 10:22. %+*13:20, 21. 24:13. Lk %+**8:13. 22:28. Ac 2:42. 11:23. 13:43. 14:22. 1 C **15:2, 58. Ga **6:9. Ph 4:1. Col +*1:23. *3:16. 1 Th 3:8. 5:21. He +*10:35. 1 P **2:2. 2 P **3:18. 1 J 2:10, 24, 27, 28. 2 J 8, 9. Re *2:10, 26. word. Gr. logos, Mk 9:32n. ver. +*43. Jn +*5:39n. Ps 119:93. 1 Th **2:13. 2 T +*3:15. 1 J 2:14. my disciples. ver. 36. Jn 1:47. 6:55. *13:35. *15:8. 1 T +*4:16. 5:3-5. 2 T +*2:2.

John 8:32. ye shall. Jn *6:45. **7:17. **14:6. 16:13. Ps *25:5, 8, 9, 12. 119:32. Pr 1:23, 29. *2:1-7. +*4:18. SS 1:7, 8. Is +*2:3. 30:21. *35:8. 54:13. Je 6:16. *31:33, 34. Ho +*6:3. Ml 4:2. Mt *11:29. 13:11, 12. 2 T 3:7. know the truth. ver. 40, 44, 45. Jn +1:14, 17. Da 9:13. 1 T 4:3. 1 J *2:27. 2 J +1. and the. ver. *36. Jn *17:17. Ps *119:45. Is *61:1. Ro 6:7, 14-18, 22. 8:2, 15. 1 C 7:22. 2 C *3:15-17, 18. Ga 5:1, 13. 2 T *2:25, 26. Ja *1:25. 2:12. 1 P 2:16. truth. ver. 40, 44, 45. Jn +1:14, 17. shall make you free. ver. 36. Ge 24:8. Le *25:10, 41. Ps 50:23. 119:45. Is 26:13. Lk 4:19. Ro 6:18, 22. **8:2. 1 C 7:22. 2 C 3:17. Ga 2:4. +*5:1, 13. Ja 1:25. 2:12. 1 P 2:16. 2 P 2:19.

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Daily Bible Nugget #7, Acts 10:43

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

My Comment:

Peter in his sermon to Cornelius and his family and gathered friends asserts that all the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures give witness to Jesus Christ. Through belief in the Messiah and His message shall remission of sins be received. This is the answer to the crucial question raised in the book of Job, at Job 25:4.

For those who wish to DIG DEEPER into this encouraging promise:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1236.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1256 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Acts 10:43.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them further given below:

Acts 10:43. To him. Ac 26:22, 23. Ps *40:7. Is *53:11. Je *31:34. 33:8. Da *9:24. Mi **7:18. Zc *13:1. Ml *4:2. Lk +**24:25-27, 44-46. Jn *1:45. +**5:39, 40. **12:41. Ro 3:21. 10:8. 1 P +**1:11. Re *19:10. all the prophets. Ac 3:18, 21, 24. 24:14. Ps 40:7. Mt 11:13. Lk 11:50. 13:28. +*24:27. Ro 1:2. 3:21. 16:26. 2 T +*3:15. He 11:32. 1 P 1:10. 2 P 3:2. witness. ver. 22. Ac 5:32. Jn 1:7, 32. Ro 1:4. through his name. FS121T1, Dt +28:58. Ac 3:16. **4:10-12. +15:26. Jn **20:31. Ro *5:1. **6:23. He *13:20. 1 J 2:12. whosoever. Ac 2:39. 11:17. 13:39. 15:9. Ro 9:33. 10:11. Ga 3:22. 1 T **2:4. 2 P **3:9. Re **22:17. believeth. Ac 9:42. 11:17. *13:38, 39. 14:23. 15:9. **16:31. 19:4. 20:21. 22:19. 24:14. *26:18. Mk +*16:16. Jn **3:14-17. +4:39. **5:24. *6:69. Ro 8:1, 34. 10:11, +14. shall receive. Ps *19:7. Ro **6:23. Ga *3:22. Ep **2:8. remission. or, forgiveness. Ac +2:38. 5:31. 13:38, 39. Lk 1:77. Jn 20:23. of sins. Ac +*2:38. Mt *26:28. Lk *7:48, 50. Ep *1:7. Col *1:14. 1 J 2:12.

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Daily Bible Nugget #6, Job 25:4

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Job_25:4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

My Comment:

Bildad in the book of Job asked the most fundamental question to be found in the Bible. The only valid answer to that question must come from the Bible itself. The question boils down to another question: How can we be sure we are forgiven of all our sin or sins? I chose this verse as a follow-up passage to help everyone dig deeper into Psalm 103:3, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities…” How can we know our sins are forgiven? The usual answers we are often taught are not at all correct. For example, baptism in any of its possible forms has nothing to do with forgiveness of sin. No human being on earth today has any authority to forgive sin. Some teach that you cannot be sure you have been forgiven until after you die. If that were the case, no one has any basis in this life for hope of eternal life until we see where we stand in the next life, and then it will be too late to change our status. But to suggest that no one can claim during this life that they can be absolutely sure they now have and will continue to have eternal life is utterly contrary to plain and specific Scripture. Well, so much for the Council of Trent. On this point, as on so many others, they got it wrong. Bildad asked an important question. Job asked the same question earlier in the narrative of the book of Job (Job 9:2). You can only find the correct answer to that question in your Bible. It is eternally crucial that you know for sure you have found the correct answer to this question. The cross references furnished below do lead to the answer straight from Scripture itself.

For those who wish to DIG DEEPER to learn the answer to this all-important question:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 512.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 568 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Job 25:4.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them further given below:

Job 25:4. How then. This question was faced by Socrates and Plato. J. E. Conant writes “Then can God forgive sin? Not until He ceases to condemn it and begins to consent to it, and He will never do that until he ceases to love! It is no wonder, then, that Socrates cried out in despair, ‘Plato! Plato! It may be that Deity can forgive sins, but I do not see how!’ This is the problem with which the greatest minds this world ever saw have wrestled, and not one of them ever came nearer to its solution than Socrates did. If there is any power in the mind of any man to overthrow these conclusions, the way is wide open for some one to come forward and undertake it. But it will never be done, for they are lifted straight up from the Word of God, and they are axioms to the mind of man. When love deals with sin, it will not be forgiven, it will be condemned by the execution of the penalty (Romans 8:3, R.V.),” No Salvation Without Substitution, p. 95. Ezk +*33:16n. Ac **16:30, 31. 1 C +*6:2. be justified. Jb *4:17-19. *9:2. *15:14-16. Ge **15:6. Le +*18:5n. Ps *130:3. *143:2. Pr **+20:9. Ec **7:20. Is **64:6. Hab **2:4. Lk **18:13, 14, 19. Ac 10:43. +**13:38, 39. Ro *3:19, 20, 26. **5:1. 1 C 4:4. Ga **2:16. T **3:5. 1 J 1:8. how can. Jb *14:3, 4. 2 Ch 6:18. Ps *51:5. Zc *13:1. Mk *7:21, 22. Ro 3:10. 7:18. 1 C *6:11. Ep *2:3. 1 J **1:9. Re *1:5. born. FS142, Ge +20:16. Jb 14:1. Ge 5:3. Lk +*1:35. Jn **3:6, 7. 9:34. Ac 4:27. of a woman. Le 12:2. Mt 11:11.

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Daily Bible Nugget #5, Psalm 103:3

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget

Psalm 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

My Comment:

Only God through our Lord Jesus Christ is the source of full forgiveness. While medical science has advanced greatly, still God does grant divine physical healing in our day in answer to prayer. I suspect that some prayers are sent to the wrong mailbox, but God in His grace often still hears and answers prayer for healing. Just as many of us are acutely aware of individuals who need healing right now, some of us may also be aware of cases where God has miraculously brought healing into the lives of others. The Bible is very clear, though, that in this age God does not bring healing to all for whom we pray. Jesus healed all who came to Him, and granted forgiveness at the same time during His earthly ministry. But Paul left Trophimus at Miletum sick (2 Timothy 4:20).

For those who wish to DIG DEEPER into this encouraging promise:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 614.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 659 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Psalm 103:3.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them further given below:

Psalm 103: 3. forgiveth. or, passeth over. This verb, with its adjectives and substantives, is never used but of God T#790. Ps 25:11. *32:1-5. *51:1-3. +*130:8. Ex 34:9. Nu 14:19. 2 S 12:13. Is *43:25. 44:22, 23. Je 31:34. 33:8. Ezk 33:16. Mt *9:2-6. Mk *2:5, 10, 11. Lk 7:47, 48. Ep *1:7. healeth. T#756. Ps 30:2. 38:1-7. +41:3, 4, 8. *107:17-22. 147:3. Ex *15:26. +23:25. Nu 12:13. *21:7-9. Dt 7:15. 32:39. Jsh 18:27, Irpeel. 2 K 20:5. Pr 3:7, 8. 4:22. Is 19:22. 30:26. 33:24. **53:5. 57:18, 19. Je 3:22. 8:22. *17:14. 30:17. 33:6. Ezk 47:12. Ho 6:1. 7:1. 11:3. 14:4. Mt 8:16, 17. Ac 10:38. 2 T %4:20. Ja *5:15. 3 J 2. diseases. or, sicknesses. Heb. Tachaluim (S#8463h). Dt 29:22. Je 16:4 (grievous).

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Daily Bible Nugget #4, Psalm 50:15

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

My Comment:

Many of us have become acutely aware of others who need our prayers. Some may need our prayers for their physical or spiritual healing. Others may be in difficult situations. Whatever the case, God invites us to call upon Him in the day of trouble. We cannot always know ahead of time just what form God’s promised deliverance will take. It may not be what we wish, or expect, or think we deserve. But God has promised His deliverance. And when it comes, what ever form it takes, may we be ready to glorify Him.

For those who wish to DIG DEEPER into this encouraging promise:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 571.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 621 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Psalm 50:15.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them further given below:

Psalm 50: 15. call upon me. Ps +3:4. 18:3. 55:16. 60:1. 77:2. 81:7. *91:14, 15. 107:6, 13, 19, 28. 116:4. 120:1. Ge 25:21. 32:9. Ex 15:25. Dt 26:7. Jg 3:9, 15. 4:3. 6:6. 9:7. 16:28. 1 S 1:10. 7:9. 23:11. 30:8. 2 S *12:16. 15:32. 21:1. 22:4. 1 K *8:38. 22:32. 2 K 13:4. *19:4, 20. *20:2, 3. 2 Ch 6:29. 13:14. **+14:11. 20:4. *32:20. *33:12, 13. Ne *4:9. Jb 5:8. 22:27. 33:26. Pr 1:28. SS 2:14. 8:13. Is 19:20. 30:18, 19. 38:2. 58:9. *65:24. Je 29:12. +*33:3. Ezk %20:3. Da 2:18. Ho 5:15. 14:2. Jl 1:19. 2:12, 17, 18. **+2:32. Jon 2:1. Zc 13:9. Mt +*7:7. Lk 5:12. +**11:9. 22:44. Ac 9:11. *16:25. Ja *5:13. 1 J **3:22. day of trouble. T#1159. Ps 9:9. 18:6. 20:1. 27:5. 77:2. 81:7. 86:7. 120:1. Ge 35:3. 2 K 19:3, 4. 2 Ch 28:22. Is 26:16. 33:2. *37:3. Je +*30:7. Ho +*5:15. Mk 5:23. Jn 4:46. deliver. Ps 18:3. *34:3, 4. 54:6, 7. 66:13-20. 81:7. Ge 21:17. 31:3. 35:3. Jg 3:15. Is 30:19. 41:17. Je 14:8. 39:17. Mi 7:7. Na 1:7. Zc 9:14, 15. 12:7-9. Lk 17:15-18. +**23:43n. glorify. ver. +23. Ps 22:23. 30:11, 12. 35:28. Ezk 39:22. Jl 2:27. Zp 3:15. Mt *5:16. 15:31. Jn 9:24. 15:8. 1 P 4:11, 14.

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Daily Bible Nugget #3, Romans 15:4

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

My Comment:

God wrote the Bible for our benefit. One of the great benefits from Bible reading is that it will furnish a firm basis for us to have hope. In the light of current events, where if one were to believe the news reports, disaster and destruction are always impending or ongoing somewhere in the world, the Bible tells us the “end of the story” before it happens. When personal tragedy strikes, we can rest upon the comfort of the scriptures to give us strength and hope. But to get this benefit, one must learn from Scripture itself by reading it yourself!

For those who wish to DIG DEEPER into this important passage:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1298.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1318 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 15:4.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them further given below:

4. whatsoever. Ro *+4:23, 24. 1 C *9:9, 10. *10:11. 2 T +**3:16, 17. 2 P *1:19-21. written. Ro +3:10. Ps *102:18. Je 30:2. Da 7:1. Mt *4:4. Jn 19:35. 20:30, **31. aforetime. Jb 8:8. Ga 3:1. Ep 3:3g. Ju 4. for our learning. or, teaching. Note: Rather, “for our instruction.” T#1030. Ro 2:18. 12:7. Ps +*119:130. Is +*8:20. Mt 13:44. Mk 1:44. +*12:24. Jn +*5:39. **20:31. 1 C 1:5. *10:6, 11. Col 2:17. 1 T 1:16. 2 T +**3:16. He 10:1. 2 P *1:19. 1 J **5:13. patience. or, patient endurance. FS134, Mt +3:9. In Hebrew the words “patience” and “hope” would be sabbar and subar, thus exhibiting the figure Parechesis, or Foreign Paronomasia. Ro +*2:7. *5:3-5. 8:24, 25. *12:12. Ps 119:81-83. Lk +*8:15. 21:19. 1 C *13:4, 5. 2 C 6:4-6. 12:12. 1 Th 1:3. 2 Th 1:4. He *6:10-19. +*10:35, 36. *13:5, 6. Ja 1:3. *5:7-11. 1 P 1:13. 2:19-23. 2 P 1:6. Re 2:3. 14:12. and comfort. FS93A, Ge +1:26. T#1051. Ro 8:28. 2 Ch 31:4. 35:2. Jb 5:19. 6:10. 11:16. Ps 27:5. 30:5. 42:5. 103:13. +*119:50, **52, 82, 92, 143. 138:7. Is 46:4. 61:3. 63:9. Mt +*5:4. Jn **14:1-3. Ac 4:36. 15:30, 31. 1 C +14:3. 1 Th 3:7. 4:13. Ja 5:7-11. 1 P 4:12, 13. Re 2:10. 3:10. 7:14-17. 14:13. the scriptures. Ro +1:2. 16:26. Ps 19:7. Mt +21:42. 22:29. Mk +*12:24. 2 T +**3:15-17. hope. T#1042. Ro 4:18. 5:2, 4-6. 8:24. 12:12. Ps +*34:4. *71:14. +*119:49, 74, 81, 114, 116. 130:5. Pr +*3:5. 14:32. Jn 15:16. Ac 23:6. 26:6. 1 C 9:10. 13:13. 2 C 3:12. Ga 5:5. Ep 1:18. +**2:12. 4:4. Col 1:5, 23, 27. 1 Th 1:3. 2:19. *5:8. 2 Th +*2:16. 1 T 1:1. T *1:2. *2:13. 3:7. He *3:6. +*6:11, 18. 7:19. 1 P +*1:3, 4. +*3:15. 1 J **3:3.

When teaching, I like to provide material suitable for students of every level and capacity. I do not like to leave the very bright students sitting bored all through class saying “we’ve had all this before.” So in Bible teaching, and even here in this post, I have provided material that goes from the very simple to the very challenging. If any reader here musters the courage and the time to consult all the cross references I’ve compiled as given above, you must be at the top level. But anyone with the willpower and the time (like retirees and pastors!) can do it, and will be very blessed and encouraged if they do.

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Daily Bible Nugget #2, Deuteronomy 30:11

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

My Comment:

The Bible is accessible to everyone. God’s Word is found exclusively in the Bible. With so many homes supplied with at least one Bible, not to mention that the Bible is readily available on the Internet, let us all be thankful that God has made His Word available to us in a form He says is understandable–“it is not hidden from thee.” Take advantage of that fact by reading the Bible regularly, even if only a verse a day from the Bible Nugget posted here daily. You will be amazed at the spiritual growth you will experience as a result!

Deeper commentary from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

it is not hidden: Or as the word niphlaith implies, not too wonderful for thee to comprehend or perform; but easily to be acquainted with, and understood, because clearly revealed: neither is it afar off; it was proclaimed in your ears from mount Sinai, and is now proclaimed in the sanctuary: it is not in heaven; for it has been already revealed: neither is it beyond the sea; that you need travel for instruction, as the ancient philosophers did, or seek instruction from men, at immense labour and expense; but the word is very nigh to thee; brought to thy very doors; in thy mouth, and in thy heart; made so familiar as to afford a topic of common discourse, that it might be laid up in the memory and reduced to practice. Psa_147:19, Psa_147:20, Isa_45:19, Rom_16:25, Rom_16:26, Col_1:26, Col_1:27

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Daily Bible Nugget #1, Hosea 8:12

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Hosea 8:12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

My Commentary:

God has written great things to us and for us in the Bible. Though it is reported that 88% of the homes in the United States of America have at least one Bible, I suspect that most of those Bibles are not read very often, and even less often seriously studied. For many people, the Bible is a “strange thing.” They are themselves strangers to reading the Bible. My goal is to reverse that for any who will take the time to read what is posted here!

My Idea:

I must confess, this is not entirely my idea. Ken Sagely graciously offered the suggestion that I do something like this a month or two ago, as I recall. What I hope to do is focus on a single Bible Nugget, usually just one striking verse, and give a brief comment to go with it. I may not be able to live up to the “Daily” part just yet, but having encountered this verse at Hosea 8:12 this afternoon, I thought this verse would make a good starting verse.

My goal is to present helpful Bible verses, one verse at a time, in a short format that no one can give an excuse that the material is too long for them to read in the time they can give. Over time, you will see, that considering just one verse a day can lead to real spiritual growth and a deepening personal relationship with God and with our Lord Jesus Christ.

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