Daily Bible Nugget #939, 1 John 3:3

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (KJV)

1Jn 3:3 and every one who is having this hope on him, doth purify himself, even as he is pure. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

1Jn 3:3 And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure. (LITV, Literal translation of the Holy Bible)

1Jn 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in him tries to make himself as pure as He is. (Williams NT)

1Jn 3:3  And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure). (NET Bible)

1Jn 3:3  So all people who have this confidence in Christ keep themselves pure, as Christ is pure. (GW, God’s Word translation)

1Jn 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in him makes himself holy, even as he is holy. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

1Jn 3:3 And every one that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as *he* is pure. (Darby)

1Jn 3:3  He is pure, and everyone who has this hope in him keeps themselves pure like Christ. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

1Jn 3:3 This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

All who have “this hope” take great care to keep themselves holy. The purpose of studying Bible prophecy (reflected in the reference to “this hope”) is to motivate ourselves to a life of holiness (Titus 2:11, 12), without which “no one shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). The proper study of Bible prophecy does not lead to sensationalism. Proper study of Bible prophecy does not lead to date setting. Proper study of Bible prophecy does not focus on speculating who the Antichrist is, supposing the Antichrist is alive and well on planet earth today.

Dig deeper into the themes mentioned in 1 John 3:3 by reading and studying the cross references below taken from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

1 John 3:3
every man that. Rom 5:4, 5; +Rom 15:4, Php 1:27, *Col 1:5, 2Th 2:16, *Tit 3:7, *Heb 6:18, Rev 19:7.

hath. +Mat 17:20 note. Jhn 16:22.

this hope. John’s only reference to Christian hope (Vincent). Psa 71:14, +*Pro 14:32, Act 24:15, Rom 5:2; Rom 8:24; Rom 12:12; Rom 15:12, 1Co 13:13, Gal 5:5, Eph 1:18; +**Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4, Php 1:27, +*Col 1:23, 1Th 1:3; +*1Th 2:13; 1Th 5:8, 2Th 2:16, 1Ti 4:10, +*Tit 1:2; +*Tit 2:13, Heb 6:11, 1Pe 1:3; 1Pe 1:13.

in him. or, set on Him. or, resting upon Him. Luk 5:5, Rom 15:12.

purifieth. Gr. hagnizō (S# G43, Jhn 11:55). Present tense, active voice, indicative mood verb. 1Jn 5:18, Exo 19:10, 11, Pro 21:8, +*Mat 5:8, Jhn 11:55; Jhn 15:5, *Act 15:9; Act 21:24; Act 21:26; Act 24:18, *+2Co 7:1, Eph 4:24, Php 2:12, 13 note. Php 3:13, 14; +*Php 4:8, 1Ti 1:5; +*1Ti 4:12; 1Ti 5:22; 1Ti 6:14, 15, 16, 2Ti 2:21, Tit 2:14, Heb 10:19, 20, 21, 22; +**Heb 12:14, Jas 3:17; **Jas 4:8, 1Pe 1:15; 1Pe 1:22; 1Pe 3:2, 2Pe 1:4; **2Pe 3:14.

even. 1Jn 3:5, *1Jn 2:6; 1Jn 3:7; 1Jn 4:17, +*Mat 5:48, *Luk 6:36, *Heb 7:26, 1Pe 1:15.

he. Gr. ekeinos. +1Jn 3:5. 1Jn 2:6.

is. In respect of His true humanity it can be said of Him that “He is pure,” and not only that “He was pure.” The result of the perfection of His earthly discipline (Heb 5:7 ff.) still abides in His glorified state (see Westcott). +*1Ti 2:5.

pure. Gr. hagnos (S# G53, 2Co 7:11). Heb 7:26.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #938, 1 John 3:2

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (KJV)

1Jn 3:2 beloved, now, children of God are we, and it was not yet manifested what we shall be, and we have known that if he may be manifested, like him we shall be, because we shall see him as he is; (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

1Jn 3:2 My beloved, now are we the sons of God; and hitherto, it hath not appeared what we are to be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be in his likeness, and we shall see him as he is. (Murdock NT)

1Jn 3:2  Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. (NET Bible)

1Jn 3:2 Dearly beloved, we are now God’s children, but what we are going to be has not been unveiled. We know that if it is unveiled, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. (Williams New Testament)

1Jn 3:2  My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.  (GNB, Good News Bible)

1Jn 3:2  Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is. (GW, God’s Word translation)

1Jn 3:2 My loved ones, now we are children of God, and at present it is not clear what we are to be. We are certain that at his revelation we will be like him; for we will see him as he is. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

1Jn 3:2  Dear friends, now we are children of God. We have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him. We will see him just as he is. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

1Jn 3:2 My dear friends, we are already God’s children, though what we will be hasn’t yet been seen. But we do know that when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

This verse and the following verse give encouraging insight about what we will be like when Jesus returns. These verses also give us the reason we should be studying Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy was not written primarily to satisfy our curiosity about coming future events. Bible prophecy has been recorded to motivate us to live lives that are pleasing to God. The Bible has the power to transform our lives so that we become more like our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dig deeper into what the Bible says about subjects mentioned in 1 John 3:2 by reading the cross references available for this verse:

From the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge,

1 John 3:2
now are we the: 1Jn 3:1, 1Jn 5:1; Isa 56:5; Rom 8:14, 15, Rom 8:18; Gal 3:26, Gal 4:6

it: Psa 31:19; Rom 8:18; 1Co 2:9, 1Co 13:12; 2Co 4:17

what: Psa 17:15; Rom 8:29; 1Co 15:49; Php 3:21; 2Pe 1:4

when: Mal 3:2; Col 3:4; Heb 9:28

for: Job 19:26; Psa 16:11; Mat 5:8; Jhn 17:24; 1Co 13:12; 2Co 3:18, 2Co 5:6, 7, 8

From The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury,

1 John 3:2
now are we the the sons. See on 1Jn 3:1, 1Jn 5:1, Gen 23:6 mg. Deut 14:1, Isa 56:5, Hos 1:10, Mat 13:38, Rom 5:1; *Rom 8:14; *Rom 8:15; *Rom 8:18; Rom 9:8, 2Co 6:18, *Gal 3:7; *Gal 3:26; *Gal 3:29; Gal 4:5, 6, Eph 1:5; Eph 5:1, *Heb 2:10, 11, 12, 2Pe 1:4.

it doth not yet appear. Gr. phaneroō (S# G5319, 2Co 2:14). Aorist tense, passive voice, indicative mood verb. The force of the aorist tense is, was never manifested on any occasion (Vincent). Exo 28:2, 1Ki 10:7, 2Ch 9:6, Job 37:19, Psa 31:19; Psa 83:3, **Isa 64:4, Mat 7:11; Mat 17:4; Mat 22:30, Mrk 9:5; +*Mrk 10:30, Luk 20:36, *Rom 8:18; *Rom 8:23, **1Co 2:9; *1Co 13:9; *1Co 13:12; 1Co 15:37, 38; 1Co 15:53, **2Co 4:17; **2Co 4:18; 2Co 5:1; 2Co 12:4, +*Php 3:21, Col 3:3; Col 3:5, 6, Heb 10:34, 1Pe 1:5.

what we shall be. This what suggests something unspeakable, contained in the likeness of God (Bengel, cited by Wuest). *Psa 17:15, Mat 22:30, Mrk 12:25, Jhn 14:2, +*Rom 8:23; +*Rom 8:29, 1Co 15:49, *2Co 4:6, *Php 3:21, Jas 1:9, 2Pe 1:4.

we know. Gr. oida, Jhn 8:55 note. 1Jn 3:14, 1Jn 5:2; 1Jn 5:15; 1Jn 5:18, 19, 20, Jhn 19:35; Jhn 21:24, 2Co 5:1.

when. Gr. ean, if. FS184C, Mat 4:9. +1Jn 2:28, Mal 3:2, Mat 19:28, *Col 3:4, +*Heb 9:28 note.

shall appear. Gr. phaneroō (S# G5319, 2Co 2:14). 1Jn 3:5, +1Jn 2:28, Psa 73:25, Jhn 2:11; Jhn 7:4; Jhn 14:3; Jhn 17:6; Jhn 21:1, +*Act 1:11, 1Co 1:7, 2Co 5:8, +*Col 3:4, 1Ti 6:14, +*Tit 2:13, 1Pe 5:1; 1Pe 5:4, Rev 1:7.

like. Gr. homoios (S# G3664, Mat 11:16). This likeness has to do with physical likeness, not spiritual likeness (see Wuest). =Exo 28:2; Exo 28:41, Psa 90:17, Zep 3:13, Jhn 8:55; Jhn 15:18, +*Rom 8:4; Rom 8:19; **Rom 8:29, 1Co 15:44; 1Co 15:49; 1Co 15:53, **2Co 3:18; 2Co 4:11, **+Php 3:21, Tit 2:14, 1Pe 2:22, **2Pe 1:4, Rev 1:13; Rev 1:15; Rev 4:3; Rev 9:7; Rev 9:10; Rev 9:19; Rev 13:4; Rev 18:18.

for we shall see. 1Jn 3:6, %Exo 33:18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, Num 14:14, *Job 19:26, +*Psa 16:11; Psa 17:15, Isa 33:17, *+Mat 5:8, Luk 9:32, Jhn 17:24, **1Co 13:12, 2Co 3:18; **2Co 5:6, 7, 8, Eph 1:18, +**Heb 12:14, +*Rev 1:7; Rev 21:23; Rev 21:27; *Rev 22:3; *Rev 22:4.

as. or, even as. 1Jn 2:6.

he is. Exo 29:43.

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Some help for understanding Bible prophecy better

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Jerry

 

To properly understand Bible prophecy as it relates to the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must learn what the Bible teaches about a number of other related subjects.

One of the most important subjects to learn thoroughly is the various provisions of the Covenants God made with Abraham (Genesis 12:3) and also with David (2 Samuel 7:10).

Much of Bible prophecy discussed or presented in the Bible relates to the provisions of the Abrahamic and the Davidic Covenants.

Another important subject to know about is the Kingdom of God.

Almost all current well-known Bible scholars are very mistaken about just what is the Kingdom of God.

(1) The Kingdom of God is NOT “within you.” (Luke 17:21)

(2) The Kingdom of God is NOT present now but is entirely future. (Matthew 6:10)

(3) The Kingdom of God is NOT in heaven; it takes place on this earth when Jesus returns at the Second Advent or Second Coming. (Revelation 5:10)

(4) The Kingdom of God is NOT limited to a 1000 year long Millennial reign of Christ.

(5) This earth will never be totally destroyed. This earth will abide forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4). Jesus will reign forever in His eternal Kingdom of God on this earth (Luke 1:33), NOT the third heaven.

(6) When Jesus said in John 18:36 that “My kingdom is not of this world” He did not mean that His kingdom was “spiritual” or would not be established on this earth. Later in John 18:36 Jesus qualifies His statement with the words “But now is my kingdom not from hence.” The plain inference is that at some future time His servants would fight.

(7) The Rapture takes place before the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 with 1 Thessalonians 5:2), before the Great Tribulation, NOT in the middle of the Great Tribulation or after the Great Tribulation.

This is just the beginning of what is involved when the Bible is studied carefully to learn about the Second Coming of Christ.

Each of the above 7 points can be studied much further by using The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge or the much more complete Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury where I give many Bible cross references and explanatory notes.

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Eight Verses for Cross Reference Bible Study

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Jerry

 

I shared the following information with my late brother Mark (Martin) Smith, Pastor Cheatham, and Pastor Wade the year before I began posting on this Real Bible Study site. I trust it will be a blessing also to you. It is meant to encourage Cross Reference Bible Study by suggesting verses I have found most helpful to study this way.

These suggestions apply to using the newest edition (2023, 2024) of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as well as the digital Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury (2016, an eSword premium module). Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible is out of print and no longer available.

 

On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 10:06 PM Jerome Smith wrote:

Dear Mark [and also Pastor Cheatham and Pastor Wade!],

 

You may want to both save this email and attached file as well as print out the attached file to keep with your Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

 

In my list of “hidden” features in the Cross Reference Guide I list 8 passages of Scripture I have found contain especially helpful cross references:

 

(1) 2 Timothy 1:7. This is the very first passage I looked up the references to when I was still a teenager, using the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

 

(2) Colossians 1:10. I have shared this reference with many, and they have thanked me, saying it is most instructive and inspirational.

 

(3) 2 Corinthians 6:2. The cross references at this passage focus on the subject of salvation.

 

(4) Hebrews 6:9, 10. At Hebrews 6:9 I placed many cross reference passages that stipulate what are the things that “accompany salvation.” Verse 10 continues the theme of how genuine salvation results in specific fruits and qualities in our life. The references within these two passages would make a good “discipleship manual” based entirely on Scripture.

 

(5) Psalm 34:4. Sometimes we need encouragement when we encounter reversals and disappointments in life, and the references here are encouraging.

 

(6) Psalm 40:17. Should we ever come to feel that God just doesn’t really notice us, these references emphasize the truth that “the Lord thinketh upon me.”

 

(7) 1 Peter 3:15. This verse tells us to be ready always to have an answer for anyone who asks concerning our faith in Christ.

 

(8) Romans 15:7. These cross references form a unique and complete study of the importance of “receiving one another.”

 

Now all you have to do is get your Bible out and look up all the cross references given in the 8 passages indicated. By doing so you would certainly be blessed spiritually!

 

I attempted to keep the list of ‘hidden’ features to a single page (see the attached file).

 

Of course there are many more important topics to be found and studied from the Bible using Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible. The indexes in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge will usually work for the Cross Reference Guide as well. I did not usually move major reference points, though when I did, I tried to keep the original link alive by using the “+” symbol to get the user to the new location. For example, in the New Treasury I had a note and extensive references on the two ages, “this age,” and “the age to come,” at John 6:54, originally at the keywords last day. The references are no longer given there (since the note was removed), but the references are to be found at +Matthew 12:32, a reference given at the keywords last day. Every once in a while I run across a passage that still leads to +John 6:54, but for the serious student who will turn to +John 6:54 in the Cross Reference Guide by duly following the “+” sign reference, they will still be directed to the full set of references at the new key reference point, +Matthew 12:32  (keywords in this world and the world to come) from there.

 

When using Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible, you will find it most essential to follow the “+” signs in this manner to get the most out of what is in the book. I assumed that the diligent user would be able to get to everything by following the “+” symbol up to three “jumps,” as it were.

 

You mentioned looking up John 10:8. The first keyword, All, is given the cross reference +Exodus 9:6. This reference with a “+” prefixed, given for a single word, lets you know it is likely not a subject or topic reference, but a key word reference, as explained under “Conventions,” next to the last bulleted paragraph at the beginning of the book (following the Introduction). At Exodus 9:6 you will find the keyword all with numerous references to other passages which contain the same or a similar usage of “all.” But notice the reference given there to +Ge 41:56. When you turn to that reference in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible, you will find an extensive note, where Exodus 9:6 occurs with the explanation that “all” sometimes has reference to “most or the majority, or the greater part (+Ex 9:6).” In this usage, “all” is not absolute. In the New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge more information is given, indicating this is an example of Hyperbole or Overstatement; it is also an example of the figure of speech Synecdoche of the Genus, where “all” is put for the greater part.

 

I like the idea you shared, how that you showed a person at church today Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible while waiting for another meeting to finish, then actually showed him how the book worked using John 10:8 as an example. It was good to hear about his excited reaction upon actually consulting the cross references given. It is, indeed, most important to share the book with young people so that they can benefit from using the book for a good portion of their lives yet ahead of them. So many think that the book is exclusively of interest to pastors, or perhaps also to Sunday school teachers. It ought to be used by every Christian who reads the Bible, and that is supposed to be all of them (2 Peter 2:2)!

 

Just lately I tried to find a suitable reference that focuses on the central issue of justice, certainly a major and important Bible theme. Of course Micah 6:8 would be a clear reference; Isaiah 1:17 might be another; so also Luke 16:10 or even Malachi 3:5, not to mention Jeremiah 22:15, 16. The cross references gathered for +Micah 6:8 appear to be the most comprehensive. No reference is given at Mic 6:8 to Mal 3:5, but if one follows the “+” signs at +Mic 6:8, there is a reference to +Luke 16:10, and turning to those references, under the keywords he that is unjust, there is given a reference to +Mal 3:5. Therefore, starting at +Mic 6:8, and following the “+” references, will take you to much of what is in the Bible on the subject of justice.

 

Using the Cross Reference Guide in this way works for me as effectively as a complete concordance to find a verse I want, even when I cannot remember any of the words used in the verse, provided I recall any other verse that is on a similar theme. You can’t do that with a concordance!

 

In the Introduction I make reference to the Bible verse references Psalm 9:10; Luke 4:18; Acts 17:3; John 5:39; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; Joshua 1:8; Acts 17:11. These would also be excellent verses to look up using the Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

 

I hope these hints prove helpful. Thank you for your efforts to let others know about Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

 

Jerry

 

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A Comparison of Cross Reference Bible Study Resources

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Jerry

 

Here is an example taken from successive editions of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge so you can see directly:

Romans 15:7 and its cross references constitute a Bible study of major importance, and must not be missed! This is a passage I have spent some time studying and researching. You can see the progression when you compare the references in the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge with those given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible, and finally, compared to those now newly given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

 

Original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

  1. receive. ch. Ro 14:1-3. Mat 10:40. Mar 9:37. Lu 9:48. [4 cross references]

 

The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

  1. receive. Ro 12:10. *Ro 14:1-3. +Mal 3:16. *Mt 10:40. Mt 25:40. *Mk 9:37-41. *Lk 9:48. 10:38, 39. Jn 13:34. *Ac 9:26-28. *Ac 11:25, 26. *Ac 16:15. 17:7. +*2 Cor 6:9. Ga 6:1, 2. He 13:1, 2. +*1 P 4:9, 10. 1 J 3:14. %2 J 10. %3 J 9, 10. [20 cross references: +Mi 3:16 has been corrected to read +Mal 3:16; the “%” indicates a contrasting reference]

 

Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible:

  1. receive. Ro 12:10, 13. 14:1-3. 16:2. Ps 119:74. +Mal 3:16. Mt 10:14, 15, 40, 42. 18:5. 25:35, 40, 43, 45, 46. Mk 6:11. 9:37-41. Lk 9:5, 48. 10:8, 10, 38, 39. Jn 13:20, 34. Ac 9:26-28, 43. 11:25, 26. 16:15. 17:7. +2 Cor 6:9. 7:2, 13. Ga 6:1. Php 2:29.Col 4:10. Phm 12, 17. He 13:1, 2. +1 P 4:9, 10. 1 J 3:14. 2 J 10. 3 J 8-10. [40 cross references]


The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Romans 15:7
receive. %Rom 1:31 mg, Rom 12:10; Rom 12:13; *Rom 14:1, 2, 3; Rom 16:2, Exo 20:12, Lev 19:3, Job 19:3; +*Job 31:32, **Psa 15:1; **Psa 15:4; %+*Psa 31:11; Psa 34:21; Psa 91:1 note. +**Psa 119:63; Psa 119:74; Psa 133:1; +*Psa 142:7, **Jer 15:16 note. **Jer 37:14 note. Ezk 34:4, Mal 1:6; +*Mal 3:16, *Mat 10:14; *Mat 10:15; *Mat 10:40, 41, 42; Mat 18:5; Mat 25:35; Mat 25:40; Mat 25:43; Mat 25:45, 46, Mrk 6:11; *Mrk 9:37, 38, 39, 41, *Luk 9:5; *Luk 9:48; Luk 10:8; Luk 10:10; Luk 10:16; Luk 10:38, 39; Luk 15:2, Jhn 13:20; Jhn 13:34, *Act 9:17; *Act 9:26, 27, 28; *Act 9:43; *Act 11:1; *Act 11:25; *Act 11:26; Act 15:4; *Act 16:15; Act 17:5; +Act 17:7; Act 21:17, +*1Co 12:21, +*2Co 6:9; +*2Co 6:17; 2Co 7:2; 2Co 7:15, Gal 6:1, Php 2:29, Col 2:19 note. Col 4:10, 1Ti 5:17, Phm 1:12; Phm 1:17, Heb 13:1, 2, 1Pe 2:17; 1Pe 3:8; +*1Pe 4:8, 9, 10, **1Jn 1:3 note, 1Jn 1:7 note. 1Jn 3:14, %2Jn 1:10; %2Jn 1:11, %3Jn 1:8, 9, 10.

 

You can see the progression from 4 to 20 to 40 to 75 cross references given for the keyword receive.

 

By devastating personal family experience, I can testify to how crucial the Bible truth conveyed by this set of cross references is.

It is no fun to be “frozen out of the fellowship.” Both pastor and people must learn to receive one another, and particularly newcomers to the fellowship. In our mobile society people often end up far from their “home church,” and when they attempt to establish a connection to a new church home, it can be exceedingly difficult to find genuine Christian friendship and fellowship in a new setting.

That is not the fault of the newcomer, but the fault of the church and its sociological structure, known technically as a “village church,” often relatively small, where one evidently must be born into the church community to be received into its fellowship. This ought not to be. On judgment day, heads will roll over this one! The other type of church is known, sociologically speaking, as a “camp church.” Such a church is constituted of believers who are there for fellowship and spiritual growth as a result of a vibrant salvation experience, and they experience a warm welcome, and are cared for, sometimes through effective small group ministry, sometimes through the ordinary church structures like the Sunday school and a loving pastor who is genuinely a shepherd of his sheep.

In the heavily Roman Catholic neighborhood where I now have lived since 1975 there are no such Bible believing churches that I could find. I was politely “ushered out” of the one local church that looks to be like a Bible believing church, but apparently is not a genuine one, but is merely a “village church,” all form and no spiritual depth or growth or fellowship to be found. I was accused by the pastor the first time he visited my home, who said, “Jerry, you talk too much about the Bible and too much about the Lord.” I guess Malachi 3:16 is not found in his Bible, or else he hadn’t discovered it yet. Shameful!

A related issue is distinguishing between the major and minor issues of Bible doctrine. We ought not to break fellowship over non-essential issues upon which good men of sound character and spirituality differ. Such non-essential issues would include differences in opinion about Bible prophecy; differences in opinion regarding the mode of water baptism. Now, on the major issues, such as the full deity and humanity of Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and other clearly taught essential matters in the Bible, there can be no equivocation about these. Even so, though, when a person appears to be mistaken, Scripture by example and direction declares we should reach people who differ from us by very patient (2 Timothy 2:24, 25) teaching in order to win them to the truth (Acts 18:26. 1 Timothy 4:16).

 

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Victory despite tragedy

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Jerry

 

It was on this date back in March 13, 1986, on a Thursday morning at 7:15 am, when I was shot in the back of my head at point-blank range in the teachers’ back parking lot of Southeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan.

My career as a reading specialist abruptly ended that morning.

Mysteriously, I had been warned by one of my nicest students about three weeks before that I was in danger of being killed and should immediately transfer for my safety to another school. I took the warning with a grain of salt at the time, but have often wondered since just what and how that student knew what he did.

Sometimes God allows our lives to be interrupted. At the time of the interruption we may have no idea why He allows things to happen the way He does.

If we are living for Him, sometimes we later see why God has allowed these interruptions and, in the long term, used them for our good and for the blessing of others.

In my case, nearly five years away from teaching provided the time to type up and greatly expand the Bible cross references originally given in The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to create The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, which was published in 1992.

My return to teaching in the Fall of 1990 at Denby High School in Detroit provided me a much better environment to teach because the school was under much better control. I no longer was harassed by “hall wandering” students to the degree that I was at Southeastern High School. I continued to teach at Denby until my retirement from teaching.

I can look back over many years past and see how the Lord used what seemed bad at the time for His good in the long term. When I began teaching, I was involved in a roll-over accident in my brand-new VW. I was taken to Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan. I left in a cast on my right hand and had to learn to write with my left hand. Because of my cast, I was off teaching for a month. I was taking courses at Wayne State University. One of my professors, Dr. Donald J. Lloyd, suggested I take the Greyhound bus to East Lansing where he would meet me. He wanted to see the programmed instruction units I had been writing to help my students read and write better. He introduced me to Dr. John Ball, who when he saw what I was writing, said “You’re hired!” I was not expecting to have another job, but I was able to work during summer vacations for Resources Development Corporation writing programmed instruction modules for large corporations.

My reading program is now available on Amazon in printed book format or Kindle format under my name (Jerome Smith), titled The Language Enrichment Program. It constantly amazes me how concerned parents want reading help for their students, but can’t find my program. Whole school districts and even states claim to be so concerned about how students are falling behind in reading skills as measured by the nationally administered reading assessments in the fourth and eighth grade testing and they can’t find it either. They have spent millions of dollars to fix the problem, with little success in most cases.

I already solved the reading achievement problem with my carefully tested program that actually works, yet only a very few copies of my program have been sold. My program raises reading achievement by an average (actually, by a median) of two years in grade level for reading comprehension. Some students improve so much that they are as many years ahead of grade level as they had been behind after using my program. I appreciate what my former chief administrator for the Language Arts department for the school district of Detroit, whose birthday happens to be today, said about me in reference to my reading program. He said, “If Jerry says it works, it works.”

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #937, Psalm 34:22

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:22  The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (KJV)

Psa 34:22  The Lord will claim his servant as his own; they go unreproved that put their trust in him. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:22  The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of those that hope in him shall go wrong. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:22 (34:23) The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:22  The LORD rescues his servants; all who take shelter in him escape punishment. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:22  Yahweh redeems the life of his servants, and none who take refuge in him will incur guilt. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

Psa 34:22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall bear guilt. (Darby translation)

Psa 34:22 Yahweh ransometh the soul of his servants, And none shall be held guilty, who seek refuge in him. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:22  The LORD will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:22  The LORD protects the souls of his servants. All who take refuge in him will never be condemned. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:22 The Lord will be the saviour of the souls of his servants, and no one who has faith in him will be put to shame. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:22  The LORD saves his servants. All who go to him for protection will escape punishment. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:22 The LORD saves the lives of his servants. Run to him for protection, and you won’t be punished. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Psalm 34:22 connects to many additional passages which touch upon the themes mentioned in this verse. These themes may be studied to quite some depth by means of doing word studies for the key words in the original underlying Hebrew language. The word “redeemeth” is the King James Version rendering of the Strong’s Concordance Lexicon number H6299. Strong’s Lexicon gives this as the Hebrew word padah. It is translated by several different English words in the KJV:  deliver, ransom, redeem, rescue. The word means to sever, ransom, release, deliver. Why is this important to know? As far as I can see, this word for “ransom” has nothing to do with any payment but has to do with deliverance. This word is translated “redeemed” in Deuteronomy 7:8, where the meaning is that the Lord delivered Israel out of the hand of Pharaoh; the Lord did not pay any fee to Pharaoh in the process! This may shed some light on the Atonement of Christ (Mark 10:45; Matthew 20:28). Our Lord Jesus Christ did not pay for our sins; His Atonement delivers us from sin and its consequences.

Of course, the other way to dig deeper into Psalm 34:22 is to read and study the cross references which have been gathered for this verse. I have collected these over time and share below the references from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. For this post, I have added some new references that are not given there.

Psalms 34:22
redeemeth. Psa 25:22; Psa 31:5; Psa 71:23; Psa 72:14; Psa 103:4; Psa 106:10; +*Psa 107:2; +*Psa 130:8; Psa 136:24, Gen 19:16; Gen 48:16, Exo 13:13, *2Sa 4:9, Ezr 8:22, Job 5:15, 1Ki 1:29, Lam 3:58, Act 12:11; Act 16:26, Tit 2:14, 1Pe 1:18, 19, Rev 5:9.

soul. Heb. nephesh, +Gen 12:13. *Psa 49:15.

of his servants. +Rom 1:1.

none. Psa 9:9; +*Psa 9:10; *Psa 84:11; *Psa 84:12, **Jhn 10:27, 28, 29, *Rom 8:31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, *1Pe 1:5.

that trust. or, take shelter. Psa 2:12; Psa 5:11, 12; Psa 31:19; Psa 56:4, 2Sa 22:31, **Isa 26:3, Jer 39:18, Dan 3:28.

desolate. Psa 23:1; Psa 34:21;  Psa 121:7, *Isa 49:23, Joh 10:28.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #936, Psalm 34:21

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:21  Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. (KJV)

Psa 34:21  Villainy hastes to its own undoing; the enemies of innocence will bear their punishment. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:21  The death of sinners is evil: and they that hate righteousness will go wrong. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:21 (34:22) The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:21  Evil shall slay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous shall be destroyed. (Lamsa translation)

Psa 34:21 Evil doth put to death the wicked, And those hating the righteous are desolate. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:21  Evil will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will incur guilt. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

Psa 34:21  Evil people self-destruct; those who hate the godly are punished. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:21  But the wicked commit slow suicide. For they hate and persecute the lovers of God. Make no mistake about it, God will hold them guilty and punish them; they will pay the penalty! (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Psa 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:21  Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punished. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:21  Evil will kill wicked people, and those who hate righteous people will be condemned. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:21 Evil will put an end to the sinner, and those who are haters of righteousness will come to destruction. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:21  But troubles will kill the wicked. The enemies of those who live right will all be punished. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:21 Wicked people are killed by their own evil deeds, and if you hate God’s people you will be punished. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I have found, in the past, that the subjects of Psalm 34:21 are not popular with many Christians. But God’s Word is very clear about the fate of the wicked and the fate of unbelievers in this life. I had a geometry teacher when I was a student at Cass Technical High School in Detroit. He often quoted Proverbs 13:15, “The way of transgressors is hard,” as he paced around the room keeping an eye on the work we were doing. In one home Bible study some became quite upset when our studies led us to Isaiah 66:24. There are some unpleasant warnings in the Bible. It is best if we heed them!

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:19 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psalms 34:21
Evil shall slay. Psa 5:10; Psa 37:30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40; Psa 55:23; *Psa 94:23; Psa 140:11; *Psa 145:20, Num 31:8; +**Num 32:23, Est 7:10, Pro 3:31, Isa 3:11, 1Th 2:16, **2Th 1:9.

the wicked. or, a lawless one. Hebrew, rasha’. H7563. Psa 94:13.

they that hate. Psa 21:8; Psa 37:12, 13, 14, 15; Psa 40:15; Psa 86:17; Psa 89:23; Psa 129:5, 1Sa 19:4, 5; 1Sa 31:4, 1Ki 22:8; 1Ki 22:37, 2Ch 18:7, Luk 19:14; Luk 19:27; Luk 19:41, 42, 43, 44, John 7:7; *John 15:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, +**Rom 15:7, 1Th 2:15, 16, 2Th 1:6, 7, 8, 9.

the righteous. or, the Just One. Bishop Horsley renders, “God shall slay the ungodly, and they that hate the Just One shall be made desolate.” Psa 34:19 note. Psa 97:11 note. Zec 9:9.

desolate. or, guilty. Exo 20:7. Psa 18:39, 40; Psa 20:8, %John 5:24, %Rom 8:1.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #935, Psalm 34:20

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. (KJV)

Psa 34:20  Under the Lord’s keeping, every bone of his is safe; not one of them shall suffer harm. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:20  He keeps all their bones: not one of them shall be broken. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:20 He is keeping all his bones, One of them hath not been broken. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:20  He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:20 Keeping all his bones, Not, one from among them, is broken. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:19  Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all;
Psa 34:20  the LORD preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:20  The LORD guards all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:20  God will be your bodyguard to protect you when trouble is near. Not one bone will be broken. (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Psa 34:20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:20  He will protect them completely. Not one of their bones will be broken. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:20 Not one of their bones will ever be broken. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Reading the dozen different translations cited above shows that different translation styles (like literal or dynamic equivalence) affect the English meaning of Psalm 34:20.

“Dynamic equivalence” refers to translating the idea the translators believe is in the underlying original language text into English rather than attempting to translate the original language word for word.

The more literal translations preserve the distinctions (such as singular and plural) of the underlying original text. This is a very important matter at times.

John in his Gospel quotes this text (John 19:36) and applies it to our Lord Jesus Christ. The singular renderings make it easier to see how John could apply this verse that way.

From all this, we can learn that studying the Bible from any of the more literal translations is a must.

The modern English translations are valuable to increase our understanding, but sometimes fail to preserve figures of speech, Bible types, and Bible prophecies which sometimes depend upon literal translation for readers to see and better understand them.

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:19 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Psalms 34:20
He keepeth. Psa 35:10; Psa 37:28; Psa 89:35; Psa 91:12; *Psa 97:10, Pro 1:33, Dan 6:22, 22, 23, 24, Mat 4:6, John 19:31, 32, 33, 2Co 1:10, Eph 5:30.

not one. Gen 22:12, Deut 6:4, Mat 10:29, 30, 31.

of them. Psa 37:15, Mat 4:6.

broken. T1974 (Messiah’s bones were not to be broken). Psa 22:14, 15, 16, 17; %Psa 51:8; Psa 69:20, **Exo 12:46, Num 9:12, +*Luk 24:44, $*>John 19:36 note.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #934, Psalm 34:19

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. (KJV)

Psa 34:19 Though a hundred trials beset the innocent, the Lord will bring him safely through them all. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:19 (34:20) Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:19  Many are the distresses of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

Psa 34:19 Many are the misfortunes of the righteous, But, out of them all, doth Yahweh rescue him. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:19 Many are the evils of the righteous, Out of them all doth Jehovah deliver him. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:19 Many are the adversities of the righteous, but Jehovah delivereth him out of them all: (Darby translation)

Psa 34:19  The godly face many dangers, but the LORD saves them from each one of them. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:19  Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all; (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:19  Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones, the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face. (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Psa 34:19  The righteous person has many troubles, but the LORD rescues him from all of them. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:19 Great are the troubles of the upright: but the Lord takes him safely out of them all. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:19  Good people might have many problems, but the LORD will take them all away. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

The longer we live, the more problems, troubles, bad things, dangers, adversities, afflictions, evils, misfortunes, distresses, and trials we are likely to experience or witness. Sometimes we are rescued or delivered. There will be times when such events or circumstances test our patience. We grow stronger and wiser by having gone through them.

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:19 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psalms 34:19
Many are the afflictions. Psa 34:21. Psa 25:17; Psa 71:20; Psa 73:14; Psa 119:50; +*Psa 119:75; Psa 119:107; Psa 129:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Gen 12:10; Gen 42:36, Ruth 1:3; +**Ruth 1:13, 1Sa 30:3, 2Sa 20:1, Job 1:18, 19; *Job 5:19; Job 30:9, etc. *Job 42:12, Pro 12:21; *Pro 24:16, Isa 54:11, Dan 3:23, Mat 5:10, 11, 12, Luk 16:20, *John 16:33, +*Act 14:22, **Rom 5:3, 2Co 4:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; *2Co 4:17; +*2Co 11:23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 1Th 3:3, 4, *2Ti 3:11; *2Ti 3:12, Heb 11:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, Jas 1:2; Jas 5:10, 11, 1Pe 1:6; *1Pe 4:12; *1Pe 4:13, Rev 7:14, 15, 16, 17.

the righteous. or, the Just One. Bishop Horsley renders, “Great are the troubles of the Just One, but Jehovah delivereth him out of all” (Nine Sermons, p. 246, footnote). Psa 34:21, *Psa 97:11 note. Pro 12:13. Zec 9:9.

delivereth. T768 (Deliverance from trouble). Psa 34:4; *Psa 34:6; *Psa 34:17. Psa 18:1, title, Psa 18:27; Psa 18:28, Psa 25:17; *Psa 30:5; Psa 32:10; *Psa 35:10; *Psa 37:24; +*Psa 40:17; Psa 41:1; Psa 42:11; Psa 54:7; Psa 68:13; Psa 71:20; Psa 107:19; Psa 119:153; *Psa 126:5; *Psa 126:6; Psa 129:2; Psa 143:11; Psa 146:8, 1Sa 19:10; 1Sa 19:12, 2Sa 22:1, 1Ki 1:29, *Job 8:20; *Job 8:21; *Job 11:16; Job 36:16, Pro 11:8; *Pro 12:13; Pro 24:16, Jer 29:11; +*Jer 30:7; *Jer 31:12; *Jer 31:13, *Dan 3:26; *Dan 3:27, Hos 6:1, Act 16:26; *Act 26:17, 2Co 1:10, Php 2:27, 2Ti 3:11; 2Ti 4:17, 2Pe 2:9.

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