Daily Bible Nugget #805, Isaiah 26:4

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

My Comment:

One of the most helpful ways to study the Bible is to make use of cross references. Cross references are “links” to other verses or passages in the Bible that are connected in some way to the verse being studied.

Below I share the cross references for Isaiah 26:4 as they are given in four different published Bible study resources: (1) The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (1836); (2) The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (1992 & 2023); (3) Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible (2007); (4) The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury (2016).

The easiest resource to use for beginners is likely The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. I developed the other three newer resources with the intent to provide more cross references. The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury has many more cross references and notes than any of the other resources. Having more cross  references gives the user a greater sampling of the other verses in the Bible which explain the verse under study–in this case, Isaiah 26:4.

Here are the cross references given for Isaiah 26:4.

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust: Isa 12:2, Isa 50:10; 2Ch 20:20, 2Ch 32:8; Psa 55:22, Psa 62:8; Pro 3:5, 6

in the: Isa 45:17, Isa 45:24, Isa 63:1; Job 9:19; Psa 46:1, Psa 62:11, Psa 66:7, Psa 93:1, Psa 125:1; Mat 6:13; Mat 28:18; Php 4:13

everlasting strength: Heb. the Rock of ages. Isa 17:10, Isa 32:2; Deut 32:4, Deut 32:15; 1Sa 2:2; Psa 18:2

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust. Is ✓Isa 12:2; *Isa 50:10; 2Ch 13:18; +*2Ch 20:20; 2Ch 32:8; Psa 46:1; Psa 55:22; *Psa 62:8; Psa 91:2; Psa 115:9, 10, 11; Psa 118:8; Psa 118:9; ✓Pro 3:5; Pro 3:6; Rom 4:20; Rom 4:21

for ever. Heb. olam plural, +Psa 61:4. +Psa 9:18 (❅H5703, ad).

in the Lord Jehovah. Isa 12:2; Isa 45:17; Isa 45:24; Isa 63:1; Exo 3:13; Exo 3:14; Exo 6:3; Job 9:19; Psa 46:1; Psa 62:11; Psa 66:7; Psa 83:18; Psa 93:1; Psa 125:1; Mat 6:13; Mat 28:18; *Php 4:13

everlasting strength. Heb. the Rock of ages. ƒ22 (L3), +Deut 32:31. F/L Isa 17:10; Isa 30:29; Isa 32:2; Isa 44:8; Deut 32:4; Deut 32:15; Deut 32:18; Deut 32:30; Deut 32:31 ≥℘. 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 23:3; Psa 18:2; Psa 18:46; Psa 62:1; Psa 62:2; Psa 144:1 mg. Hab 1:12; Mat 6:13; =Mat 16:18; =1Co 10:4; *Php 4:13; Heb 13:8

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust. Is 12:2. 50:10. 2 Ch 13:18. +2 Ch 20:20. 32:8. Ps 46:1. 55:22. 62:8. 91:2. 115:9, 10, 11. 118:8, 9. Pr 3:5, 6. Ro 4:20, 21.

for ever. Heb. olam plural, +Ps 61:4. +Ps 9:18 (S#5703h, ad).

in the Lord Jehovah. Is 12:2. 45:17, 24. 63:1. Ex 3:13, 14. 6:3. Jb 9:19. Ps 46:1. 62:11. 66:7. 83:18. 93:1. 125:1. Mt 6:13. 28:18. Phil 4:13.

everlasting strength. Heb. the Rock of ages. Is 17:10. 30:29. 32:2. 44:8. Dt 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31. 1 Sa 2:2. 2 Sa 23:3. Ps 18:2, 46. 62:1, 2. 144:1 mg. Hab 1:12. Mt 6:13. 16:18. 1 Co 10:4. Phil 4:13. He 13:8.

 

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust. **Isa 12:2; *Isa 50:10; Isa 57:13, Gen 22:3, 2Ch 13:18; 2Ch 14:11; +*2Ch 20:20; 2Ch 32:8, Psa 2:12; Psa 4:5; +**Psa 9:10 note. Psa 11:1; Psa 16:1; Psa 46:1; Psa 55:22; *Psa 62:8; Psa 86:2; Psa 91:2; Psa 112:7; Psa 115:9, 10, 11; Psa 118:8, 9, **Pro 3:5; **Pro 3:6; Pro 16:20; Pro 22:19, Jer 17:7, Rom 4:20, 21.

in the. +*Exo 20:3.

Lord. Heb. Jah. Isa 12:2; Isa 38:11, +Exo 15:2, Psa 68:4.

for ever. Heb. olam plural, +Psa 61:4. +Psa 9:18 (*S# H5703, ad). Deut 33:27, Psa 131:3.

in the Lord Jehovah. Isa 12:2; Isa 45:17; Isa 45:24; Isa 63:1, Exo 3:13, 14; Exo 6:3, Job 9:19, Psa 46:1; Psa 62:11; Psa 66:7; Psa 83:18; Psa 93:1; Psa 125:1, Mat 6:13; Mat 28:18, *Php 4:13.

everlasting strength. Heb. the Rock of ages. FS22L3, +Deut 32:31. F/L Isa 17:10; Isa 30:29; Isa 32:2; Isa 44:8, Deut 32:4; Deut 32:15; Deut 32:18; Deut 32:30, 31 <rp. 1Sa 2:2, 2Sa 23:3, Psa 18:2; Psa 18:46; Psa 59:9; Psa 62:1, 2; Psa 62:7; Psa 144:1 mg. Pro 18:10, Hab 1:12, Mat 6:13; =Mat 16:18, Luk 6:48, Rom 1:20, =1Co 10:4, *Php 4:13, **Heb 13:8.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #804, Isaiah 26:4

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook post:

DAILY LIGHT ISAIAH 26.4
Trust ye in the Lord forever:
for in the Lord Jehovah is
everlasting strength.

Trust Cross references:

Isaiah 12.2
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will Trust and not be afraid;
for Yah, the LORD is my strength and song;

He also has become my salvation.

ISAIAH 50.10
Who is among you fears the Lord?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness And has no light?
Let him Trust in the name of the Lord
and rely upon his God.

2 CHRONICLES 20.20
Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be
established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

PSALM 55.22
Cast your burden upon the LORD,
and He shall sustain you:
He shall never permit the the righteous
to be moved.

PROVERBS 3.5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths

PSALM 46.1
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

PSALM 66.7
He rules by his power forever
His eyes observe the nations;
Do not let the rebellious
exalt themselves.

MATTHEW 28.18
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,
All authority as been given to Me in heaven
and earth.

PHILIPPIANS 4.13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
How Firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What
more can He say than to you He hath said–to you,
for refuge to Jesus have fled?

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Daily Bible Nugget #803, Hebrews 5:7

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Hebrews 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (KJV)

My Comment:

Anyone who has carefully read the New Testament, or even the Bible as a whole, knows immediately as they read Hebrews 5:7 that this verse does not say that Jesus was saved from death, therefore He did not die on the Cross!

Let this be a careful warning to every reader of the Bible that the Bible must be read in its total context.

I encourage everyone to read the New Testament in its entirety for themselves. Yes, contrary to the teaching of some churches and religious organizations, the Bible can be understood by the ordinary person who will read it regularly and faithfully.

Based on my experience going back to August of 1953, I recommend that you read the New Testament long enough each day (at least a total of 20 minutes) and often enough each week (at least four days a week) on a continuing basis to get the great benefit such Bible reading can provide to your life.

The Challenge:

I read an Opening Post that brought up Hebrews 5:7 on a Christian and Muslim discussion site. Muslims make a fatal mistake when reading Hebrews 5:7 by not following the Rules of Interpretation I have discussed here in the October 2010 Archives found on the right-hand side of every page on this site. Many Muslims apparently believe that Hebrews 5:7 proves that Jesus prayed that He would not die, and God answered that prayer and saved Jesus from death on the Cross.

Let me share the discussion I had with the author of the Opening Post. I furnish absolute proof based upon the grammar of the underlying Greek text of Hebrews 5:7 that what Muslims believe about this Bible text is utterly mistaken.

The Discussion:

From the Opening Post:

*During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.(Hebrew 5:7) This verse clearly indicates Jesus was saved.

*There are no single reference where Jesus said “I will be killed” or “I will die for your sin” or any other direct reference to himself. Instead he always said “ Son of Man” which is not a definite evidence of Jesus himself.

Even more interesting is when I ask a Christian to explain it, every Christian will have a different answer. Seems like it’s not important what Bible says or what Jesus said about but it’s all about how to make it look good and logical regardless of verifiable evidence.

 

My Response:

Your interesting questions can be answered by carefully reading and studying the New Testament as well as the Old Testament.

Jesus foretold His manner of death. Jesus predicted He would arise bodily from the dead “on the third day.” This was well-known to His enemies. Otherwise, why did His enemies take special care to guard the tomb where He was placed?

If even His enemies understood this at the time, why is it that you do not understand this now?

Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection.

You think He was wrong in His predictions.

Was Jesus a false prophet?

Post author’s response to me:

if Jesus already knew when and where he will be killed, why he fled to Egypt from King Herod ?
He should have known that his killer is not Herod and not the time yet.

My reply:

The flight to Egypt was advised if not commanded by an angelic message to Joseph when Jesus, humanly speaking, was just an infant.

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

Post author’s response to me:

Angel clearly said Herod planned to kill Jesus and that’s why Jesus went to Egypt

My reply:

Jesus was taken to Egypt to preserve His life as an infant when threatened by Herod. That represents no weakness on the part of our Lord Jesus Christ but prudence on the part of his parents who heeded the warning brought by the angel.

Above, you stated:

“*There are no single reference where Jesus said “I will be killed” or “I will die for your sin” or any other direct reference to himself. Instead he always said “ Son of Man” which is not a definite evidence of Jesus himself. “

You need to read the New Testament in the manner I suggested so you can understand it more accurately:

Read the New Testament long enough each day (at least a total of 20 minutes) and frequently enough each week (at least four days a week) on a continuing basis to get the benefit of the new spiritual life it will bring.

Your statement that “”*There are no single reference where Jesus said “I will be killed” or “I will die for your sin” or any other direct reference to himself” represents a flaw in your logic that is called “the exact word fallacy.” Jesus repeatedly predicted both His death and His bodily resurrection “on the third day.”

Jesus used the title “Son of man” repeatedly of Himself, starting at Matthew 8:20,

Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

When this title is used in the Gospels it is always a reference to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a title taken by our Lord Jesus Christ from Daniel 7:13-14,

Daniel 7:13-14
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
King James Version

Post author’s reply:

God can be threatened by human ?

My Reply:

That may be a “loaded question”!

God the Father can not be threatened by man:

Psa 2:2 Kings take their stands. Rulers make plans together against the LORD and against his Messiah by saying,
Psa 2:3 “Let’s break apart their chains and shake off their ropes.”
Psa 2:4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs. The Lord makes fun of them. God’s Word translation

God the Son, Jesus the Messiah, likewise could not and cannot be threatened by man:

John 7:6
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
King James Version

John 7:30
30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
King James Version

John 8:20
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
King James Version

John 10:17-18
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
King James Version

Post author’s response:

such a long essay to avoid answering
Father can’t be threatened but son can two different types of God ?

My reply:

What I presented is hardly a long essay! I demonstrated that neither the Father nor the Son can be threatened. I gave you direct references quoted in full to support my answer to your challenge.

Now as to “such a long essay”–that well describes your Opening Post.

You refer to Hebrews 5:7 and make the mistaken interpretation that Hebrews 5:7 asserts that Jesus did not die because His prayers were answered.

The problem with that interpretation is that it does not agree with the grammar of the underlying Greek text. Where most English translations read “able to save him FROM death,” the Greek text actually reads “able to save him OUT OF death.”

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (King James Version)

More accurate or more literal translations properly read “out of death”:

Heb 5:7 For during His human life He offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud with tears to Him who was always able to save Him out of death, and because of His beautiful spirit of worship His prayer was heard. (Williams New Testament)

Heb 5:7 Who, in the days of his flesh, having offered up, both supplications and entreaties unto him that was able to save him out of death, with mighty outcries and tears, and been hearkened to by reason of his devoutness, (Rotherham, Emphasized Bible)

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of His flesh, having offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to the One being able to save Him out of death and having been heard because of His obedient fellowship, (Lavender’s New Testament)

The correct translation is not FROM death, for the Greek word is EK, not APO. He went down INTO DEATH but was saved OUT OF (Greek, EK) it by resurrection, as explained in the margin note of the Companion Bible.

Post author’s reply to me:

verse clearly says he left because Herod was planning to kill Jesus

My reply:

I suspect you already said this.

Jesus, according to the New Testament record, was fully human and fully divine. He had two natures in one Person. In theology this is called the hypostatic union.

As an infant, the human Jesus was under the care of Joseph and Mary. This was by divine appointment.

Are you suggesting that Joseph and Mary should have disregarded and disobeyed the warning given to Joseph by the angel that for the child’s safety he and Mary should escape to Egypt until the danger was past?

That would be to tempt God in the same manner the devil or Satan suggested to Jesus during the temptation in the wilderness that Jesus jump off the temple:

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Satan knew how to quote what the Bible says, but in doing so, he revealed that he does not choose to follow the rules of interpretation.

In turn, Jesus answered Satan’s challenge by properly quoting applicable Scripture that settled the matter.

My Conclusion:

It is clear that the Muslim author was not able to follow an argument and answer it.

As part of the Opening Post the Muslim author criticized how Christians have failed to meet his challenges then concluded with a text from the Koran:

Some Christians will come up with a counter question or find every possible excuse to avoid answering. Some Christians will get angry or come up with silly question like “How many wives Muhammad had ?”
I wonder what his marriage has to do with the crucifixion of Jesus ? It’s like asking a woman about her weight. Anger or insult should be expected instead of logical fact based answers. Truth should make me proud and confident facing any difficult questions. If I find myself dodging a question or embarrassed to give a clear honest answer, I can’t claim to defend truth.

This can be summarized by this verse in Quran 4:157,

“those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.”

I find it very interesting that the very criticisms he makes about how Christians fail to meet his arguments or answer his questions are the very things he has done in this discussion with me!

If the Koran teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross, then the Koran contradicts the New Testament record, and on this point at least the Koran is proven wrong.

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Daily Bible Nugget #802, Matthew 24:34

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

My Initial Comment:

This verse (Matthew 24:34) appears to be one of the main “proof texts” of those who believe in a prophetic school known as preterism.

In notes I have provided in my Bible study resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, I describe preterism this way in my note on Revelation 4:1,

Interpreters differ widely in their understanding of the book of Revelation. Four major schools or systems of interpretation have been:

(1) the preterist, which takes all the events in the book to have been fulfilled in John’s own day, the position held by many respected scholars and critics;

(2) the historicist, which understands the prophecy to be in continuous fulfillment from John’s day to the end of history;

(3) the idealist, or spiritual scheme of interpretation, which takes the prophecies not as prophetic of future events but places a “spiritual” interpretation upon them, believing they reveal timeless truth about the conflict between good and evil, the spiritual history of the church, the ultimate victory of Christ over the powers of darkness, and are meant to provide spiritual comfort in times of trial;

(4) the futurist, which holds that the majority of the book deals with end-time events which are still future.

Most Bible-believing Christians today would probably opt either for the historicist or the futurist position of interpretation. The historicist position is reflected in the original notes of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

The historicist position suffers from the inability of interpreters of this school to arrive at provable and consistently agreed upon events in world history which fulfill the prophecies. The method requires the student of Revelation to go outside the Bible and seek for the fulfillment of predictions in the past events of world history, and to one not well taught in history the method is impossible to carry out, leaving the book of Revelation largely closed to the ordinary reader.

The futurist position suffers, in the opinion of some, because it makes the book largely inapplicable to the original readers of the book, or to anyone since then, since the events are all placed in the future. A sufficient answer to such an objection is that the practical object of prophecy is to motivate us to holy living in watchful expectation of our Lord’s return (+**Luk 21:36, **2Pe 3:14), and Scripture itself teaches us that we have “a more sure word of prophecy” to serve as a light in dark times (2Pe 1:19).

All Bible prophecy was written with both a near and a distant vantage point. A prophet predicted some things which transpired during his own lifetime, as verification that he was a true prophet of God (Deut 18:22), but also spoke of things in the distant future, which only the passing of time could verify (see the excellent discussion of these matters in R. B. Girdlestone, The Grammar of Prophecy, Chapter 3, “Tests of the Truth of Prophecy,” pp. 16-24).

The futurist position is the only position which can be entirely consistent in interpreting the prophecies of the book of Revelation in harmony with the rest of the prophecies of the Bible. Any system of prophetic interpretation, to be correct, must follow a consistent principle of literal interpretation for all of Scripture (using the same principle for prophetic as is used for non-prophetic portions), and must appeal to Scripture (not tenuous and unsubstantiated historic parallels) for its justification (+*Isa 8:20).

What John writes in Revelation corresponds to the predictions in the Old Testament (Isa 11:11 note), the prophetic discourses of Christ himself, such as the most significant Olivet discourse in Matthew 24 and parallels [Mark 13 and Luke 21], and the prophetic teaching of the Apostle Paul (Tit 2:13 note).

Futurists, consistent with the divinely provided divisions of the book of Revelation (Rev 1:19), place the events of chapters 4—22 in the future, understanding them to be events particularly connected with the Seventieth Week of Daniel’s prophecy (+*Dan 9:27 note), and the time of the Great Tribulation. Futurists are correct in understanding Bible prophecy to be a self-consistent whole, and interpret the book of Revelation in the light of the rest of the covenants and prophecies of Scripture, and find the explanation of the book of Revelation to be contained in the rest of Scripture, and the method of interpretation which is most satisfactory to be a comparison of Scripture with Scripture (2Pe 1:20 note). **Rev 1:19, *Gen 41:25, >Dan 2:29.

What prompted this post

A very astute friend on Facebook recently created and posted a “meme” consisting of just two Bible references:

Matthew 24:34

Revelation 21:4

When I turned to these two references in my Bible I believe I recognized the point of the meme immediately:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

My Comment:

Full Preterists believe that all the prophecies in the New Testament were completely fulfilled at or by the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, within the time frame of those living when our Lord Jesus Christ predicted in Matthew 24:34–the “this generation,” for a generation is usually said to be 40 years, and these events all took place within 40 years of the time Jesus spoke this prophecy in 30 or 33 AD.

The answer to this very mistaken position is found in Revelation 21:4, where it is very clear that the prophecy given there has not yet been fulfilled:

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

We still have tears. We still experience physical death. We still experience sorrow. We still experience pain. These things have not yet passed away!

Those “preterists” who recognize this take shelter by saying they are “partial preterists.”

I have spent more than a full month of late reading the scholarly volumes written by preterists in support of their position (whether “full” or “partial”). They  think the “futurists” are dead wrong and all mixed up. I believe it is the preterists, of whatever variety, who are themselves dead wrong and all mixed up!

There is an ongoing discussion about these things on this site where a number of preterists among others are discussing these subjects and more. It is in the comment section of the article I wrote about Genesis 12:3. To reach the page, just type into the search box the Bible reference Genesis 12:3.

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #801, Isaiah 40:8

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Isaiah 40:8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (KJV)

Isaiah 40:8  The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. (WEB, World English Bible)

My Comment:

A question came up in an on-line discussion. If we do not have the exact words in the language Jesus spoke them, how do we know what He really said?

The conversation began with this question:

“if bible has all the witnesses, why they had to revise it so many times and 2000 years later still so many different opinions ?”

My Answer:

Bible “revisions” are made periodically so that those who read the Bible in their own language can understand the Bible better. Modern languages change over time. Many readers of the Bible today understand its message better when reading it in a modern English translation.

There are many different “opinions” about what the Bible means or says. Careful study of the Bible will correct most of the mistaken opinions, possibly all of the mistaken opinions. There are rules of interpretation that apply to all written and spoken communication. Mistaken interpretations can be identified because mistaken interpretations violate those rules.

Reply to my comment:

KJV revised 5 times, all English

which is from Jesus ?

Anyone can add or delete any part of it ?

My reply:

The King James Version of the Bible has been revised as many times as it has been to reflect changes in the English language which has changed over the years since 1611 when it was first published.

Revisions also reflect the fact that since 1611 many additional manuscripts of the New Testament have been found. Combining these findings, we now have a more accurate Greek text to work from than the King James translators did.

As for the varying count of how many books are or belong in the Bible, the answer is simple: the Bible contains 66 books. There are 27 primary source first century historical documents which make up the New Testament. There are 39 books in the Hebrew Old Testament as used by the Jews in Israel and our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. Other books included with the Bible by some faith communities are of historical or religious interest but are not counted as divinely inspired Scripture.

Reply to my comment:

if you don’t have the original words that Jesus used, how you can verify accuracy of translation ?

My Answer:

We do have the original words that Jesus used. We have them recorded in the New Testament. Many Bible readers do not realize that Jesus was multi-lingual. He could speak in Greek as well as Aramaic. We know this because Jesus used Figures of Speech as He taught. Those Figures of Speech “work” in Greek but not in Aramaic. This is why careful scholars understand that the Gospel of Matthew, for example, was originally written in Greek, and is not “translation Greek” from another language such as Aramaic.

There seems to be a logical fallacy in the idea that since we supposedly have only the translated words of Jesus, we don’t have the exact words that He spoke. But if we have the translated words, those words reflect what was said in the original language itself. Therefore, with careful study, using the advanced tools we have today, we can get back to what was said in the original language in any case.

Reply to my answer:

every Christian claims to have it but none can give me the link of the original bible

My reply:

If you mean by “original” Bible the original autographs penned by the authors, of course no one today has any of those.

The evidence that we have extremely accurate copies of the originals is that for the New Testament we have ancient manuscripts and manuscript fragments of the 27 first century New Testament writings. When the oldest copies are compared with handwritten copies from later centuries there are no significant differences.

Among the Dead Sea Scrolls there were found manuscript copies and manuscript fragments of all the Old Testament books except the book of Esther. The extreme care and accuracy of the copying process used over many centuries is evident by the fact that there are no significant differences between the Hebrew manuscripts used by the Qumran group which produced, used, and subsequently hid them and the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible used today.

Therefore, all of us can easily obtain a copy of the Bible in our own language or even in Hebrew and Greek should we wish. Our present day copies are so accurate that there is really no concern about their being precisely equivalent to the autographs because they are.

I like to suggest to anyone and everyone that to understand the Bible, take time to read it for yourself.

I suggest that a good practice is to read the New Testament long enough each day (for a total of 20 minutes a day) and often enough each week (at least four days a week) on a continuing basis so that you get the full benefit of the help this will be to your life.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #800, 1 Corinthians 8:6

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

My Comment:

A related verse, a verse that is related to Deuteronomy 6:4, from the New Testament, is found at 1 Corinthians 8:6,

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Many who do not believe in the Trinity refer to this verse to teach there is only one God, the Father. Therefore, they conclude, Jesus cannot be God.

But the fact that Paul refers to Jesus by calling Him the “Lord Jesus Christ” shows that Jesus is included in the Godhead.

Paul affirms the Deity of Christ by calling Him Lord.

When Paul states of the Lord Jesus Christ that by Him “are all things,” Paul refers to our Lord Jesus Christ as the creator of all things. This truth is affirmed in other places in the New Testament. Jesus is called Lord (Luke 2:11. John 13:13. Acts 10:36. 1 Corinthians 12:3). Jesus is called the creator of all things (Colossians 1:16. John 1:3. Hebrews 1:2). Since only God can create, this confirms that Jesus is God.

The Holy Spirit is also called God in the New Testament:

Act 5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Peter said that Ananias had lied to the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. Then Peter said Ananias had not lied to men but had lied to God. Therefore, Peter identified the Holy Spirit as God. Yet the Holy Spirit is not the Father, but a separate person in the Godhead. So since the Holy Spirit is identified as God, and the Father is identified as God, and our Lord Jesus Christ is identified as God, and each of these are individual eternal persons in the Godhead, the doctrine of the Trinity is proven to be the teaching of the Bible.

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Daily Bible Nugget #799, Deuteronomy 6:4

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Deuteronomy 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

The Question:

Can you explain the trinity?

My Answer:

Yes I can!

My Explanation, Part One

The word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, but that does not mean that the Trinity is not taught in the Bible.

Many who do not believe in the Trinity quote a verse like Deuteronomy 6:4 to support their claim:

Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (KJV, King James Version)

Deu 6:4 Hear, Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah; (Darby translation)

In the Hebrew text the word for God is Elohim, the same word used in Genesis 1:1.

In the Hebrew text the word for “one” is echad. Echad means “one” in our numerical sense, as at Ecclesiastes 4:8,

Ecc 4:8  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.  (KJV)

The word echad is also used to express a compound unity, as in Deuteronomy 6:4. It is used as a compound unity in Genesis 2:24 where it refers to one made up of two in the expression “one flesh”:

Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The word echad is used in Genesis 3:22 to refer to one made up of three in the expression “one of us”:

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

The word echad is used in Numbers 13:23 to refer to a bunch or a cluster of grapes. Many grapes made up the cluster:

Num 13:23  And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

In Hebrew, another word, yahed, is used to refer to a single or only one.

It is used in Genesis 22:2 to refer to Isaac as the unique and only son of promise, in the expression “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac”:

Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Yahed is used to refer to a single or only son in Proverbs 4:3 in the expression “tender and only beloved”:

Pro 4:3  For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

Therefore, Deuteronomy 6:4 does not exclude the idea or concept of the Trinity, but carefully affirms it by the Hebrew word choice echad instead of yahed when stating “our God is one Jehovah”:

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: (ASV, American Standard Version)

This confirms there is more than one person in the Godhead.

For example, there are TWO Jehovahs on the scene at the same time at Genesis 19:24,

Gen 19:24 Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven; (ASV, American Standard Version)

One Jehovah is upon earth who rained brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven.

Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;  (KJV, King James Version)

More to come! This is just the start of my answer to your question, “Can you explain the trinity?” to which I answered, “Yes I can. I will come back later and do so for you.”

Thank you in advance for carefully reading my answer so far.

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Daily Bible Nugget #798, Jeremiah 4:10

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Jer 4:10  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

My Comment:

Many verses in the Bible are hard to understand when read by themselves. To understand what a verse means, (1) read the context, (2) recognize the Figures of Speech the writer has used, (3) compare Scripture with Scripture.

A very striking Muslim challenge:

Christianity has a false god a liar god 2 Thessalonians 2:11 and an ignorant god Genesis 18:21, Mar 13:32, and a deceiver god, Jeremiah 4:10. Clearly Christianity has Satan as god and Christians worship Satan not God. Come to Islam.

My Response to Muslim Challenge explaining these verses:

You have made reference to several interesting Bible verses.

(1) 2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

In order to understand this verse correctly you must:

(a) read the verse in context

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The context shows that God has given us free will. We can choose to believe the lie. We can choose not to believe the truth, even love of the truth, truth about our Lord Jesus Christ, truth which must be believed in order to be saved.

(b) Understand the presence of Figures of Speech, such as Idiom, used in 2 Thessalonians 2:8

When the Bible states “God shall send them strong delusion,” the Bible is NOT saying God is a liar. Rather, this is saying God gives permission or freely allows people to be deceived because they loved not the truth. God did not deceive them, but allowed them to be deceived.

(2) Genesis 18:21

Gen 18:21  I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

In order to understand this verse, you must:

(a) Read the verse in context

Gen 18:20  And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
Gen 18:21  I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

The Bible does NOT state that God is ignorant. In context, God most certainly knew what was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. God intervened in response to Abraham’s earnest prayer in behalf of Lot who lived in Sodom. Abraham prayed that Lot would be spared from the destruction God intended for those wicked cities.

(b) Understand the presence of Figures of Speech

When the Bible reports that God said “I will go down,” this is spoken figuratively; and as the Jewish writers speak, according to the language of men. So eyes, ears, hands, and other members of the body are attributed to God, for effecting those things which men cannot accomplish without these members.

When the Bible reports that God said “I will know,” this does NOT mean the Bible teaches God is ignorant! Rather, this is the Figure of Speech called Anthropomorphism, a Figure that attributes human actions to God, here in Genesis 18:21, “knowing,” or the acquiring of knowledge, as if God was before this action ignorant. Figures of Speech are used as a way to emphasize what is said and what is going on.

(3) Mark 13:32

Mar 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

To understand this verse you must:

(a) Read the verse in its immediate context

Jesus is answering one of the three questions the disciples Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked about the striking prophecy Jesus made as reported in Mark 13:2,

Mar 13:1  And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Mar 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

(b) read the verse in its related context:

The disciples then asked Jesus privately three questions:

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, [1] when shall these things be? and [2] what shall be the sign of thy coming, [3] and of the end of the world [Greek, age]?

In answer to “When shall these things be?” Jesus states in Mark 13:32 that only the Father at that time knew the day and hour. In His humanity Jesus was not given to know the day or hour of the fulfillment of His prophecy. Rather, Jesus taught them and us that we are to “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey,”–clearly indicating by “far journey” that considerable time would pass before all of the three predictions were fulfilled. In accordance with the grammar of prophecy seen throughout the Bible, some of a prophet’s predictions would be confirmed in the lifetime of those who heard them (here, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD), to confirm that the prophet was of God. That provided the basis for believing in the fulfillment of those predictions that belonged to the distant future (here, the sign of thy coming and the end of the age).

(4) Jeremiah 4:10

Jer 4:10  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

To understand this verse you must:

(a) read the verse in context

The context will reveal that the false prophets outnumbered Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a minority of one. But truth is not determined by a majority vote! The false prophets proclaimed peace and prosperity were at hand and would continue. Jeremiah, the only true prophet, said the opposite.

(b) Understand the presence of Figures of Speech

When Jeremiah wrote that God had “greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem” he prophesied that this People shall be deceived. By the figure Metonymy of the Subject, the action is put for the declaration concerning it: or where what is said to be done is put for what is declared, or permitted, or foretold as to be done: or where an action, said to be done, is put for the giving occasion for such action. This is also the figure Idiom, whereby active verbs were used by the Hebrews to express, not the doing of the thing, but the permission of the thing which the agent is said to do. Thus here, “thou hast greatly deceived this people” is an idiom for “thou hast suffered this People to be greatly deceived, by the false prophets, saying: Ye shall have peace, etc.” Jer 7:8, +**Amos 3:6.

Thank you for posting a very interesting challenge using some very good verses from the Bible.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget 797, Psalm 119:130

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook Post:

“AND THERE WAS LIGHT “

JOHN 8.12
Then spake Jesus again, unto them,
saying, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD :
he that followeth Me
sjhall not walk in darkness,

but shall have the light of life.

JOHN 9.25
He answered and said,
Whether he be a sinner or no,
that, whereas I was blind,
now I SEE

2 CORINTHIANS 4.6
For God, who commanded the LIGHT
to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts,
to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ

COLOSSIANS 1.12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath qualified us
to share of the inheritance

of the saints in light.

13 For He hath delivered us
from the domain of darkness
and hath transferred us to the

kingdom of His beloved Son.

14 In whom we have Redemption,
the Forgiveness of sins.

HEBREWS 2.3
How shall we escape,
if we neglect so great a salvation?
After it was at first spoken through the Lord,

it was confirmed to us by those who heard..

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee,
Sweetly the light has dawned on me;
There I was blind ,but now I can see;

The light of the world is Jesus.

So Great a Salvation! How shall we escape

if we neglect?
( Whoso Offereth Praise Glorifieth Me!)
PSALM 50.23

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Would You Even Notice If …

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Jerry

 

My Comment:

Many years ago my friend Don Rees remarked that if the Rapture would take place the weekly Sunday routine at church would go on like normal and few would even notice. Ken Sagely’s post begins with a comment that if the Holy Spirit were to be removed, church services would continue as if nothing had happened–He would not be missed.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook Post:

The Indispensable Holy Spirit

Romans 8:1-17
If the Holy Spirit were to suddenly exit this earth, most churches would continue on as if nothing had happened! Yet, those who are tuned to the Scriptures know how INDISPENSABLE the Holy Spirit is.

JOHN 16.8

“And when He is come, He will reprove( convict,convince) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” We cannot be saved apart from the Spirit’s convicting.

JOHN 3.5
” Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” We cannot be regenerated apart from the Spirit.

ROMANS 8.9
” Now if any man have not the Spirit in you, he is none of his.” No one belongs to Christ apart from the Spirit’s indwelling.

ROMANS 8.16

” The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” We cannot enjoy assurance of salvation apart from the Spirit’s inner witness.

1 CORINTHIANS 12.13

“For by one Spirit are (were) we all baptized into one body. “
We cannot be a member of Christ’s Church apart from the Spirit.

JOHN 16.13 1 CORINTHIANS 2.9-13

When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth” . We cannot learn truth apart from the Spirit’s teaching ministry.

GALATIANS 5.22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness. We cannot bear fruit apart from the Spirit’s filling.

PSALM 117.1-2
Oh, Praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye people
2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. PRAISE YE THE LORD.

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