Daily Bible Nugget #764, Genesis 2:7

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

My Comment:

I have noticed that even contemporary scholarship, not to mention false cults and those who adopt a materialist theology, often get this verse and especially its terms wrong.

To properly understand terms of theological importance as they occur in the Bible it is necessary to do a careful, thorough, and complete examination of all the evidence in the Bible.

I have presented cross references and notes in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and its expansion in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for many of the critical Bible terms I encountered in my four year study with Jehovah’s Witnesses in my home. We met for several hours of study and discussion every Monday night.

Two of my Sunday school high school students, Sandy and Colleen, asked for my help after the Jehovah’s Witnesses made repeated visits to their homes. Colleen and Sandy said they had adequate answers for the Jehovah’s Witnesses based on what I had already taught them in Bible studies and our Sunday school class, but they felt the Jehovah’s Witnesses did not take their answers seriously because they were just girls.

One of my students asked me to meet with the Jehovah’s Witness in her home. Long story short, I met the Jehovah’s Witness, and he invited me to learn more about the Bible in my own home where he would conduct a Bible study with me. I agreed, saying “I believe the Bible, and will believe anything you can prove by the Bible.”

That is how I placed so many notes in my book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, about correcting the mistaken beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

At the time I participated in these studies, there was very little information available to me in published resources to refute the many Watchtower errors in Bible doctrine and interpretation.

Now you and any Bible reader can have access to the answer to the mistaken doctrinal positions taught by the Jehovah’s Witnesses and many others.

Should you say or think, “I have no need for such information,” you reveal a most important fact about your own spiritual life and outreach: you have not been engaged in personal witnessing to others about your own Bible-based faith! (Proverbs 11:30. 2 Timothy 2:2. Jude 1:3.)

Select references and notes for Genesis 2:7 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

formed. Gen 2:19, 2Ki 19:25, Psa 94:9; Psa 95:5; Psa 100:3; Psa 139:14, 15, Isa 45:18; Isa 64:8. Note that man’s body was formed, but soul and spirit were created, Gen 1:26, 27, proving man is a compound being.

man. Gen 2:8; Gen 2:15, Note man is a compound being consisting of body and spirit, +*Job 14:22, +*Ecc 12:7, +*Mat 10:28, Luk 8:55, 1Co 5:3; >1Co 15:45, 2Co 5:6; 2Co 5:8, %1Th 5:23, %Heb 4:12, 3Jn 1:2.

breath. Heb. neshamah. *S# H5397. Gen 7:22, Deut 20:16, Jos 10:40; Jos 11:11; Jos 11:14, 2Sa 22:16, 1Ki 15:29; 1Ki 17:17, Job 4:9; Job 26:4; *Job 27:3; Job 32:8; Job 33:4; +*Job 34:14; Job 37:10, Psa 18:15; Psa 150:6, Pro 20:27, Isa 2:22; Isa 30:33; Isa 42:5; Isa 57:16, Dan 5:23; Dan 10:17.

Note that “spirit” or “soul” are not merely “breath.” “Breath” constitutes function, “spirit” and “soul” often designate “being,” or the immaterial part of man. “Breath” is distinct from “spirit” and “soul” as it cannot substitute for these terms in the following passages: Gen 34:3; Gen 41:8, Lev 20:27, Deut 2:30, 1Sa 1:15; 1Sa 28:7, 1Ki 21:5; 1Ki 22:21, 22, 23, 24, Job 34:14, Psa 16:10; Psa 19:7; Psa 34:18; Psa 106:15, Pro 16:18, 19; Pro 18:14, Ecc 1:14, Isa 29:24; Isa 58:5, +*Mat 10:28, Luk 12:19, Joh 4:23, Act 23:8, 9, Eph 4:23, 1Th 5:23, Heb 4:12, 1Jn 4:1, Rev 6:9, 10, 11; Rev 20:4.

Note also that the human soul or spirit is distinguished from the divine Spirit from whom it proceeded, thus refuting pantheism, 1Co 2:11. Soul or spirit is distinguished from the body it inhabits, refuting materialism, Gen 35:18. *1Ki 17:21, +*Job 14:22, +*Ecc 12:7, +*Zec 12:1 note. +**Mat 10:28 note. Jas 2:26.

living. Gen 1:21; Gen 1:24; Gen 2:19, Job 27:3; Job 32:8; Job 33:4. Note man’s body is vitalized by a single principle, the living soul. See notes on Dichotomy at Gen 41:8; Num 27:16; Romans 8:10. See notes on Trichotomy at 1 Th 5:23 and Heb 4:12.

soul. Heb. +S# H5315, nephesh. +Gen 1:20; +**Gen 12:5; Gen 35:18, Num 16:22; Num 27:16, *1Ki 17:21, 2Ki 4:27, +*Job 14:22; Job 34:14, Psa 63:1, Pro 20:27, +*Ecc 12:7, *Isa 10:18, *Dan 7:15, Zec 12:1, +*Mat 10:28 note. *Mar 12:26; *Mar 12:27, 1Co 15:45, 1Th 5:23, +*Heb 12:9, Jas 2:26, +*1Pe 3:4.

Note that Scripture uses the terms “soul” and “spirit” interchangeably in such passages as Gen 41:8 with Psa 42:6:

Both depart the body at death: Gen 35:18 with Psa 146:4, 1Sa 30:12 with Lam 1:11 mg.

Both are affirmed to be within man: Job 14:22 with Zec 12:1, Mat 10:28 with Mat 27:50, Joh 12:27 with Joh 13:21, Heb 12:23 with Rev 6:9.

Both ’soul’ (nephesh, +Gen 23:8) and ’spirit’ (ruach, +Gen 26:35) are rendered mind: Eze 23:18; Eze 23:28 with Eze 20:32.

Both are used of the departed: 1Pe 3:19 with Rev 20:4.

Both are used of sadness or sorrow: 1Ki 21:5 with Psa 62:11, Mat 26:28 with Joh 13:21, Isa 26:9 a with Isa 26:9 b. Luk 1:46 with Luk 1:47, Php 1:27 a with Php 1:27 b.

An examination of its lexical uses shows immediately that nephesh is used with a broader range of meaning than the more theological English term “soul.” The 754 occurrences of the Hebrew word nephesh (most often rendered “soul”) may be classified as to its lexical uses as follows:

(1) +Gen 2:19, used of lower creatures;

(2) +Gen 9:15, used alike of lower creatures and man, rendered “creature,” “life” (Lev 17:11), “soul” (Num 31:28);

(3) +Gen 12:5, used of man as an individual person;

(4) +Gen 12:13, used of mortal man, as though the soul could die or be destroyed; also rendered “life” (+Gen 44:30), “ghost,” etc. (+Num 23:10);

(5) +Gen 17:14, used of man as being “cut off” by God;

(6) +Gen 27:31, used of man, exercising certain powers, or performing certain acts, often rendered by emphatic pronouns;

(7) +Gen 34:3, used of man, exercising mental faculties, rendered “soul,” “mind” (+Gen 23:8), “heart” (+Exo 23:9), “lust,” etc. (+Exo 15:9); also used of God Himself, +Lev 26:11;

(8) +Lev 19:28, used of man actually dead;

(9) +Num 11:6, used of man as possessing animal appetites and desires;

(10) +Jos 10:28, used of man being slain or killed by man.

(11) +Psa 30:3, used of man as going to a place described by the word “grave,” etc.

Compare the classification of the corresponding New Testament term psychē at Mat 2:20 note. For “spirit,” Heb. ruach, see Gen 6:3 note.

Several faith groups, and some individuals, are most mistaken in their understanding of “soul” and “spirit” as used in the Bible, for they have failed to make a complete induction from all the evidence. All the evidence, a complete induction, is given immediately above under eleven lexical categories for the term “soul.”

Posted in Apologetics--Christian, Bible Study Tools, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, False Religions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #763, Numbers 27:16

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Num 27:16  Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

Cross reference Bible study for Numbers 27:16 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Numbers 27:16
the Lord. Note: Heb. Yehowah elohey haroochoth lechol basar, “Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh.” This address sufficiently proves, that this holy man believed man to be compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct.

Either the materiality of the soul [the belief of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and others, who believe the soul dies when the body dies, and is a part of the body, not a separate entity that has conscious existence after death (Luk 23:43 note)] is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, Moses did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit.

There is a similar form of expression in Num 16:22 : “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh”; and in Job 12:10, “In whose hand is the soul (nephesh) of all living; and the spirit (ruach) of all flesh of man.” These seem decisive proofs, among many others, that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man; for though ruach sometimes denotes breath or wind, yet it certainly has not that signification here, nor in the other passages cited. +Gen 2:7, Jer 38:16, Eze 18:4.

the God. +*Num 16:22, +*Ecc 12:7, +*Zec 12:1 note. +Heb 12:9.

spirits. Heb. ruach, +Num 16:22, Isa 28:6, Zec 4:6.

of all flesh. Jer 32:27, Act 1:24; Act 17:25.

set a man. T#1599, Num 13:8; Num 13:16; Num 20:28, Deut 31:14, Jos 1:2, 1Sa 12:13, 1Ki 5:5, 2Ki 2:9, Jer 3:15; Jer 23:4, 5, Eze 34:11-16; Eze 34:23; Eze 37:24, Hos 13:1, Mat 9:38, Joh 10:11, =Joh 14:16, 17, 18, Act 1:24; *Act 20:28, 1Th 2:4, 2Ti 2:7, 1Pe 5:2, 3, 4.

Posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #762, Luke 23:43

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Luk 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The Berean Challenge:

Much of the misunderstanding of this verse stems from the placement of the comma. Modern translations predominately place a comma after the word “you,” giving the impression that the remaining phrase—”today you will be with Me in Paradise”—means that the criminal to whom Jesus was speaking would be with Him in Paradise later that day. However, it must be remembered that none of the ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament contain any punctuation—various translators added it centuries later. Thus, without punctuation, Luke 23:43 reads, “And Jesus said to him assuredly I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

On the surface, putting a comma after the word “you” seems harmless enough. However, if He indeed had meant that the criminal would be in Paradise with Him that very day, He would have contradicted Himself and the Bible on numerous accounts! Jesus Himself was not in Paradise that day but was dead and buried, awaiting His resurrection three days and three nights later. However, this apparent dilemma is easily resolved if the comma is placed after the word “today.” Properly punctuated, Luke 23:43 reads, “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.'”

— David C. Grabbe

My Comment:

Do you detect the doctrinal error in today’s “Daily Verse” from The Berean?

If you missed the error of this message, listen (or rather, read) up!

My Answer:

Though long (it almost always takes more words to answer an error than to state the error), this error is fully answered in my note for Luke 23:43 as given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Luke 23:43
Verily. Luk 4:24; Luk 12:37; Luk 18:17; Luk 18:29; Luk 21:32, +*Mat 5:18, +Mar 3:28, +Joh 1:51.

To day. Jesus “promises him immediate and conscious fellowship after death with Christ in Paradise which is a Persian word and is used here not for any supposed intermediate state, but the very bliss of heaven itself” (Robertson, Word Pictures, vol. 2, pp. 286, 287).

“A common method of dealing with this text is by altering the punctuation. They would have us read the words, ’Verily I say unto thee today: thou shalt be with me in Paradise.’ But the order of the words in the sentence is all against them. With the emphasis they give it, sēmeron ’today’ should precede the verb. As compare in the Greek, Mat 16:3; Mar 14:30; Luk 19:5; Luk 19:9; Act 13:33; Heb 3:7; Heb 3:15. But, beside this, the Lord is answering a prayer in which a time wherein the thief sought to be remembered was expressed. He had said, ’Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom.’ The Lord says virtually, ’You shall not wait for that: today you shall be with Me.’ This is the simple, intelligible reason for the specification of time: ’Today,’ not when I come merely, ’shalt thou be with me in Paradise’” (F. W. Grant, Facts and Theories as to a Future State, p. 148).

Another authority, Dr. Bartlett (Life and Death eternal, p. 205, et seq.) is cited by Rev. D. B. Byers (Physical Death not the Penalty; A Complete Refutation of the Doctrine of Annihilation, pp. 95, 96): “The representation is sometimes made, that, so far as the language is concerned, this is a simple question of punctuation; whether a comma shall be put before or after to-day (semeron). This is a mistake. It is a question of Greek collocation and emphasis. The Greek language does not involve the ambiguity which exists in the English in this respect. It is admitted on both sides that the semeron (to-day) is strongly emphatic… As a strongly emphatic word, according to the usage of the Greek language, its position conclusively determines that it does not qualify the words ’I say,’ but the words ’thou shalt be with me;’ the strongly emphatic word in any clause preceding the less emphatic. In the Greek, it occupies precisely the position to be the most emphatic word of the last clause; but if transferred to the first clause, to be the least emphatic of the whole. And, as both sides admit its highly emphatic character, the case is settled.” **Luk 9:31 note. +*Deut 4:26, Jer 42:21, +Mar 14:30, Heb 4:7.

shalt thou be. Luk 15:4, 5; Luk 15:20, 21, 22, 23, 24; +*Luk 19:10, =Gen 40:13, 2Ch 33:13, Job 33:27, 28, 29, 30, *Psa 32:5; +*Psa 50:15, *Isa 1:18; *Isa 1:19; *Isa 53:11; **Isa 55:6, 7, 8, 9; +*Isa 65:24, *Mic 7:18, Mat 20:15, 16, *Rom 5:20; *Rom 5:21, *1Ti 1:15; *1Ti 1:16, **Heb 7:25.

with me. This promise certainly declares the conscious existence of the individual after death: how else would the thief know he was with Christ unless he were conscious? **Luk 9:31 note. Gen 5:24, **1Sa 25:29; 1Sa 28:12 note. *2Sa 12:23, *Zec 3:2, Mar 5:18, Joh 11:25; +*Joh 14:3; Joh 17:24, +*2Co 5:8, +*Php 1:23.

in paradise. “This Persian word was used for an enclosed park or pleasure ground (so Xenophon). The word occurs in two other passages in the N.T. (2Co 12:4; Rev 2:7), in both of which the reference is plainly to heaven” (Robertson, Word Pictures, vol. 2, p. 287). Luk 16:22, Gen 2:8, Neh 2:8, **Psa 73:24; **Psa 73:25, Ecc 2:5, Song 4:12, 13, Isa 51:3, Act 2:31, **2Co 12:2; **2Co 12:4 g. Eph 4:9, Php 1:21; Php 1:23, *Rev 2:7 g. Rev 7:13, 14, 15, 16, 17; +*Rev 14:13.

Posted in Apologetics--Christian, Bible Promises, Bible Study Tools, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Jerry

 

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook post:

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN

ROMANS 5.20-21 Moreover the law entered in that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, Grace abounded much more.
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so Grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Titus 2.11 For the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Acts 15.11 But we believe that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.

Romans 3.24 Being justified freely by the His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 3.7 That being justified by His Grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Ephesians 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to riches of his Grace.

Philippians 4.19 But my God shall supply all your needs according to his Riches in glory in Christ Jesus

1 Timothy 1.14 And the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Marvelous Grace pf our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary ‘s a mount out-poured –
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Sin and despair, like the seawaves cold,
threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater yes grace untold
points to the Refuge the mighty Cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
what can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide–
whiter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite matchless grace,
freely bestowed on all who believe!
You who are longing to see His face
will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within:
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Posted in Bible Promises, Ken Sagely contributions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Apologetics--Christian, Bible Study Tools, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“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.

Posted in Education Issues, The Language Enrichment Program | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

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.

Posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Politics and the Bible, Principles of Christian Living | Tagged , , | Leave a comment