My Reply to Questions About the Updated New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Jerry

4-10-23 Reply to Re New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge revised

I posted the following comment in the Logos General Forum:

Mark raised the question above:

“I am sorry, but I am still confused. Please make is clear.  What is the difference between TNTOSK and TUCRT? From your comments, one is contained in the other.  Is TNTOSK contained in TUCRT, meaning the TUCRT is more complete or the other way around?”

Others have also raised interesting questions.

After at least 26 years of pre-digital age meticulous Bible study using such resources in my personal Bible study (see the Bibliography in the New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury), I compiled additional cross references in many of my wide-margin Bibles. I used these as my first basis of increasing the number of cross references given in the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

The original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge content was taken directly from Bagster’s Comprehensive Bible. The cross references in the Comprehensive Bible were taken directly from the cross references supplied by Scott in Scott’s Commentary and Bagster’s Polyglot Bible. Scott’s references were taken from the major reference Bibles available in his day with references supplied by Canne, Blayney, Browne and others.

 

On page 25 of volume one of Scott’s Commentary in a Postscript to the Preface, Scott states in his first paragraph:

“As the Marginal References formed no part of the original plan of this publication, but have, with very great labor, been added to the subsequent editions; it may be proper here to state some particulars respecting them.”

Therefore, to suggest that there is any connection between the references and the opinions expressed by Scott in his commentary and elsewhere to which at least one commentator on this thread objected is mistaken. It is mistaken because Scott himself states where the cross references he furnished for later editions of his Commentary came from. The cross references are given for the Bible text, not the notes in his Commentary.

My New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge was published in 1992. In the early 2000’s Nelson Publisher desired a simplified version of the NTSK which would make for a smaller, shorter volume. I took over two years to produce the requested volume, published in 2007 under the title Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible. To compress the NTSK, I removed nearly all the notes, all the chapter headings, and all the symbols except for the “+” symbol, which means “find more here.” I consolidated redundant cross references where these occurred to over 1800 single main reference points designated by the “+” symbol. Thus, in compressing the NTSK I did not lose any of the cross reference connections found in the NTSK.

Perhaps about 2009 I came upon a discussion thread on the Internet where users of the e-Sword Bible software program were wishing it possible to have the New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge in that software. They were especially interested in having more references to the Old Testament passages for the Sermon on the Mount. I joined in the discussion and indicated that I had been expanding the cross references beyond those I furnished for the New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge for my own use in my personal Bible study.

In 2010 I began preparing a much more complete collection of cross references. I completed the process in 2016. This new work was titled The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. After he completed processing and compiling my Word docx files into software format for e-Sword, Rick Meyers asked me, “Jerry, do you know how many cross references are in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury?” I told him I had no idea, only that I knew there are now about 7000 references just in Psalm 119. He then told me my new work contains over 900,000 references!

In 2022 I was contacted by Thomas Nelson Publishers. They requested my help in bringing The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge back in print. These new people at Nelson were astonished that the Publisher had allowed this reference work to go out of print about 1999. They said they intend to keep it in print from now on.

I offered suggestions as to which printing should be the basis of any new edition so that my previous suggestions and corrections would be preserved. Then they discovered that my Figure of Speech Index did not fully match the content of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. They caught many problems and anomalies I had no way of spotting in the 1980s when I first produced the text and indexes on hundreds of 5 1/4″ floppy disks!

I spent many weeks last year resolving these issues and entering several hundred additional corrections I had marked in my copy of the 1992 edition across the whole text of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Even the Name Index has been corrected with three or so names missed in my first compilation. So for some things, this new edition of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is even more complete and accurate than The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, though it does not have anywhere near the extensive content.

There is absolutely no way using Logos Bible software alone (minus my resource) that anyone could come up with anything approaching the extensive cross references I have hand-collected for over 50 years.

As for the usefulness of such cross references, perhaps no one has said it better than R. A. Torrey in his Introduction to the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

“About twenty years ago I saw for the first time “The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.” I was interested in the book at once, and commenced to use it in my daily study of the Word of God. I went through book after book of the Bible, verse by verse, with the aid of “The Treasury.” I found that it enabled me, better than all the commentaries, to come to a true knowledge of God’s meaning.

“There is no other commentary on the Bible so helpful as the Bible itself. There is not a difficult passage in the Bible that is not explained and made clearer by other passages of the Bible, and this book is marvelously useful in bringing to light those other parts of the Bible that throw light upon the portion that is being studied.

“But not only does the book illuminate the dark places, it also emphasises the truth by bringing in a multitude of witnesses. It also greatly strengthens faith, for one cannot study his Bible with the aid of “The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge” without getting a deeper conviction of the unity of the entire Book. As he compares Scripture with Scripture and sees how what Paul says fits in to what Jesus said, and John said, and Peter said, and Isaiah said, and the Psalmist said; when he sees how every doctrine of the New Testament regarding Christ, His Divine-human nature, His holy character, His atoning death, and His resurrection, ascension, and coming again is enfolded in the types of the Pentateuch, Prophets, and Psalms, he becomes overwhelmingly convinced that the whole Bible has one real Author behind the many human authors. “The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge” enables one, not only to understand the Word, but to feed upon the Word.”

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #737, Matthew 28:7

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Matthew 28:7  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

Some Related Verses:

Matthew 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Mark 16:6  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

More Context:

Mat 27:62  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Mat 27:66  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

The Predicament:

Mat 28:11  Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
Mat 28:12  And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Mat 28:13  Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
Mat 28:14  And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Mat 28:15  So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

The Lie Exposed:

Joh 20:3  Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
Joh 20:4  So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
Joh 20:5  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Joh 20:6  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
Joh 20:7  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Joh 20:8  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

What so impressed John that he responded with belief?

Peter’s immediate reaction is given by Luke:

Luk 24:12  Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Contrast the response of John:

Joh 20:8  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

My Comment:

Peter saw the same evidence John saw, but without the insight John possessed immediately upon viewing the scene carefully. The clothes remained “laid by themselves,” virtually undisturbed, but without the securely wrapped body that they had once contained!

What this proves:

The disciples could not have stolen the body–how could they do that, if they in fact stole the body, leaving the clothes behind, still wrapped like a mummy? If they stole the body, how did they get it out of the grave wrappings–leaving the wrappings behind and undisturbed? If they were intent on removing the body from the tomb, taking care to do so quickly, in a manner not to disturb the sleeping Temple Guards, why not carry off the dead body in its wrapping?

The combined Gospel accounts prove that the tomb was indeed empty, but with evidence that Jesus had been there–for the grave wrappings remained behind undisturbed but without Him in them, a testimony to the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. John saw and believed. So should we.

Posted in Apologetics--Christian, Bible Historicity and Validity, Daily Bible Nuggets | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Who are the Elect?

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Jerry

3-30-23 Who are the Elect

 

Muslim claim:

The ‘elect’ consists of only 144000 people.

Revelation 7

3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”

Do not believe in this verse. It’s basically saying out of billions of people who have ever lived on this planet only 144000 Jewish Christians virgin men enter heaven (reference: revelation 14).

Jesus would open only a small gate for those who believe him:

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ONLY A FEW find it.

Whereas Allah opens 8 gates of Paradise for us:

“Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called Ar-Raiyan through which none will enter but those who observe fasting.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 3257. Book 59, Hadith 67]

 

My Response:

That is not what the Bible teaches. This IS what some false cults, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses, wrongly teach.

The very verse you cite, Revelation 7:4, states these individuals are from all the tribes of Israel. They are all part of a select group present on earth at the same time. They are all from the 12 tribes of Israel. This group of 144,000 is mentioned again in Revelation chapter 14, where at verse 4, we learn they are all men, virgins, who have not been defiled with women.

To suggest that only 144,000 is the total number of individuals who will ever be saved, or as Jehovah’s Witnesses claim, are the only ones who can have a “heavenly hope,” is a very mistaken interpretation of what the Bible actually teaches.

Revelation 7:9 speaks of a great number, so great that no one could count them, who are in heaven.

You may believe that “Allah opens 8 gates of Paradise for us.”

The Bible teaches:

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

King James Version

Does Islam teach anything about the subject of repentance? Jesus did:

Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

For further in-depth study of Revelation 7:4 see the notes and references from The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge or The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury which I share below:

Revelation 7:4
I heard. Rev 9:16, 2Co 12:4.

the number. Num 1:46, +*Psa 68:11; Psa 115:14, +*Isa 27:6; +*Isa 66:19, Eze 36:38, Mic 5:2, Luk 14:22, Act 3:26, Eph 1:10; Eph 3:15.

of them. +*Deut 4:30, Isa 9:6, 7; *Isa 10:21, 22, 23; Isa 46:3, 4, Joe 2:18-32, **Mic 5:2; **Mic 5:3, *Zec 8:6, 7, 8.

which were sealed. Rev 9:4.

an hundred and forty and four thousand. What is the significance of the number? Vincent states this number is symbolical of fixedness and full completion.

Reginald T. Naish, in his volume Spiritual Arithmetic, suggests that since this number contains the square of twelve, it “is naturally associated with that number, which is perfect government. It emphasizes it, and expresses spiritually the fact that perfect government of the life is only possible through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Hence it may well be called, the number of the Spirit-guided life.”

In Gen 1:2, the Hebrew word translated “move” (rachaph) has a numerical value or gematria of 288, or 144 x 2, Its next occurrence is Deut 32:11, where it is translated “fluttered.” Naish states “In both these passages the gracious work of the Heavenly Dove, the Holy Spirit of God, is described.”

Other occurrences of this number are to be found in the word “eastward” (Gen 2:8) in the phrase “eastward in Eden,” showing that God intended man “should live a life of perfect government, a wonderful garden life, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, and finding their chief joy in communion with their loving God.”

The cubic capacity of the ark, found by multiplying its three dimensions of 300 cubits, 50 cubits, and 30 cubits, was 450,000 cubic cubits, a number whose prime factors are 5x5x5x5x5x144.

The number appears here in Rev 7:4 of the number “sealed by the Holy Spirit before God’s judgments fall on earth. It does not of course mean that this identical number are saved in that time of tribulation. It is only using the numbers 144 and 10 in the spiritual sense in which these numbers are used through Scripture to tell of those who by the power of the Holy Spirit are kept from that time of trouble.”

The same number occurs in Revelation 14, “Again, we are given a symbolical picture of those who have yielded their lives wholly to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They are taken up to be with Christ, their Savior, before the actual ’harvest of the earth’ is reaped” (Spiritual Arithmetic, pp. 107-109).

Who are the 144,000? The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the 144,000 is the body of spirit-begotten believers who have a “heavenly hope” (Rom 8:24, Eph 4:4, Col 1:5, Heb 7:19, 1Pe 1:3, 1Jn 3:3). All other believers can have only an “earthly hope” (Job 14:7, Jer 31:17, Act 26:6).

Once the Watchtower organization had more than 144,000 adherents, the teaching was developed that the “great multitude” mentioned later in the chapter (Rev 7:9) referred to those Christians who had only an earthly hope.

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that members of the “great multitude” who have only an earthly hope do not need to be born again (see related note, Joh 3:7).

Peters remarks “It is a matter of amazement how coolly and deliberately men can appropriate Scripture to themselves which relates to the future. Sects, at various times, have professed to be those sealed ones” (Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 2, p. 323, note 1).

Not considering that the number sealed refers to a time yet future, Jehovah’s Witnesses claim the number represents the total number of those who can be born again and have a heavenly hope.

How long would it take for the apostolic church of the New Testament to reach the size of 144,000 converts? Suppose we assume that the first converts were zealous witnessing Christians during the lifetime of the apostles. Suppose each convert was able to win just one person to Christ each year of his new life in Christ, and that each of these converts continued to win an additional convert each year.

Take into account only the growth theoretically possible for the new converts won by the original group of 5,000 converts mentioned in the book of Acts. Exclude from consideration any additional converts won through the ministry of the apostles (Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, and the original twelve disciples) to compensate for any of the original 5000 who may not have been active soul winners.

In the year A.D. 33, the size of the church would be 5,000, In 34 A.D., 10,000; 35 A.D., 20,000; 36 A.D., 40,000; 37 A.D., 80,000; 38 A.D., 160,000—assuming each new convert continued to win one additional convert per year.

Thus before Paul began his first missionary journey in A.D. 45, the New Testament church could easily have surpassed the figure of 144,000 genuine converts. If any converts beyond that figure were limited to an earthly hope without opportunity for new birth and “heavenly hope,” this most certainly would be reflected in the teaching of the New Testament epistles of Peter or Paul. The earliest of Paul’s epistles was written in A.D. 52 or 54, fourteen or more years after the time the New Testament church exceeded the 144,000 maximum number the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach can have a heavenly hope.

Is this situation reflected in the writings of Paul? At the time Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians (A.D. 52 or 54), he specifically confirms that the “falling away” or apostasy had not yet occurred (2Th 2:3). This Scripture evidence would lead us to believe that the vast body of believers had remained faithful. What few that fell away during this time would be more than made up by any converts won beyond the first five years after Pentecost.

If the claim of Jehovah’s Witnesses that the heavenly hope is limited to 144,000 has any validity, the significance of that hope for anyone today is purely historical, for since this number was reached within five years of Pentecost, no person alive today could possibly lay claim to be one of that fixed number, not even the leaders of the Watchtower in Brooklyn, New York.

Following Jehovah Witness doctrine to its logical conclusion, the apostle Paul must have been mistaken in his theology, for he continued to emphasize the “heavenly hope” and the necessity of the “new birth” (2Co 5:17; 2Co 6:2, Gal 6:15) long after the “heavenly class” was complete in number.

The 144,000 of Rev 7:4; Rev 14:1 do not pertain to persons who have lived before now, but to a specific group in the future. The book of Revelation supplies its own outline in Rev 1:19, The 144,000 are mentioned well after Rev 4:1, where the third grand division of the book pertaining to “things which must be hereafter” commences.

Therefore, these events must take place during the “day of the Lord” (Rev 1:10 note), after the rapture of the church (1Th 4:16, 17, 18), and during the Great Tribulation.

The 144,000 are all males (Rev 14:4), and are all Jews (Rev 7:4, “of all the tribes of the children of Israel”).

Scripture speaks of three categories of persons its contents concern: the Jews, the Gentiles, and the church of God (1Co 10:32). What is stated in Rev 7:4 pertains to Israel—it cannot pertain to any other group.

The names of the tribes of Israel are nowhere in Scripture ever applied to the Gentiles or the church of God.

Furthermore, the 144,000 are not the only saints in heaven. They were preceded by all those who died in Christ before the rapture (+*2Co 5:8, 1Th 4:14). They are preceded by those who have been martyred for Christ (*Rev 6:9, 10, 11).

There are five raptures in the first resurrection; the 144,000 constitute only one of these five. The five raptures are:

(1) Christ and the saints in Jerusalem at his first resurrection, 1Co 15:20; 1Co 15:23, Mat 27:52, 53, Eph 4:8, 9, 10,

(2) Afterward, they that are Christ’s at his coming, 1Co 15:23; 1Co 15:51, 52, 53, 54, +*Luk 21:34, 35, 36, +*Joh 14:1, 2, 3, 2Co 5:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Eph 5:27, Php 3:11; Php 3:20, 21, Col 3:4, 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:23, 2Th 2:1; 2Th 2:7, Jas 5:7, 8, 1Pe 5:4, 1Jn 2:28; 1Jn 3:2,

(3) The 144,000 Jews saved in the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation (of Daniel’s 70th week), caught up to heaven as the manchild, Rev 12:5; Rev 14:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Isa 66:7, 8, Dan 12:1,

(4) The great multitude of tribulation saints saved after rapture number two above, during Rev 6:1—Rev 19:21,

(5) The rapture of the two witnesses, ending the first resurrection which began with the resurrection of Christ, Rev 11:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 1Co 15:20; 1Co 15:23.

The 144,000 do not comprise the totality of all saints possessing a “heavenly hope” throughout this age. All of the 144,000 are on the earth at the same time. This is evidenced by the fact that they are as a group “sealed” and protected from the tribulation by the angel.

The 144,000 do not constitute the “little flock.” The “little flock” is comprised of all born-again believers. The flock is little because there are “few that be saved” (+*Mat 7:14). The term “flock” is used in the New Testament for the true church made up of born-again believers (Act 20:28).

The “other sheep” are the Gentile Christians who, in addition to the Jewish believers, are now being constituted one body in Christ, the church (Act 10:45; Act 15:7; Act 15:17, +*Eph 4:4).

The Great Tribulation is still future, and pertains to Israel. The church is raptured prior to the manifestation of the Antichrist, 2Th 2:8 note, and prior to the Great Tribulation (Joh 14:1, 2, 3, 1Co 15:51, 52, Php 3:21, 1Th 4:16, 17, 18, +*2Th 1:7; 2Th 2:1, +*Tit 2:13 note).

Christ’s Second Advent occurs at the end of the tribulation, when Christ personally destroys the Antichrist. Since it is certain that Antichrist is destroyed before the Millennium, this proves absolutely that Christ’s coming is premillennial (2Th 2:8 note).

At the Second Advent, Christ returns visibly in power and great glory (+*Mat 16:27 note) with his saints to rule over His eternal kingdom on this earth (+*Dan 7:13; +*Dan 7:14, Zec 14:5; Zec 14:9, +*2Ti 4:1 note).

Since the rapture of the Church and the Great Tribulation are future, and the 144,000 are protected during the first half of the Tribulation, the 144,000 must constitute a group that is yet future, and cannot pertain to any denomination or other religious group of today. **Rev 14:1; **Rev 14:3, Gen 15:5, Exo 20:6, Deut 1:11, Dan 7:10, *Rom 9:27; *Rom 11:5; *Rom 11:6.

all the tribes. The tribes of Dan and Ephraim are omitted from the list which follows, being replaced by Levi and Joseph. The reason for Ephraim’s omission is suggested by Hos 4:17. For possible reasons for Dan’s omission see the related texts and note (Gen 49:17, Lev 24:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, Deut 29:18, 19, 20, 21, Jdg 5:17; Jdg 18:2-31, 1Ki 12:26-33, 1Ch 7:12 note. Jer 8:16). Dan and Ephraim are included in Ezekiel’s prophecy of their inheritance in the eternal earthly kingdom of Christ (Eze 48:1, 2; Eze 48:5, 6; Eze 48:32), demonstrating God’s faithfulness to his covenant and promise (Lev 26:44, Mal 3:6, Rom 11:29; Rom 15:8). Rev 21:12; Rev 21:17, Gen 28:14; Gen 35:22, 23; Gen 46:8, 9, 10; Gen 49:28, Exo 1:1,2, 3, 4, Num 1:5-15; Num 13:4-13; Num 26:34; Num 26:55, Deut 27:11, 12; Deut 33:6, 7, 8, 1Ki 18:31; 1Ch 2:1, 2; 1Ch 7:12 note. 1Ch 12:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; 1Ch 27:16-22, Ezr 6:17, Eze 47:13; Eze 48:19; Eze 48:31, Zec 9:1, +*Mat 19:28, Mar 13:27, +*Luk 22:30, Act 26:7, Jas 1:1.

children of Israel. Rev 2:14; Rev 21:12, Exo 1:1; Exo 28:21, Num 1:17, 2Ch 11:3, +Act 5:21.

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Daily Bible Nugget #736, Psalm 31:24

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psalm 31:24  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Cross Reference Bible Study from the UCRT:

Psalms 31:24
Be of good courage. *Psa 27:14, *Jos 1:6; +Jos 1:9, *Isa 35:3; *Isa 35:4, Luk 22:31, 32, Heb 12:12, 13, Jas 5:10, 11.

shall strengthen. *Psa 29:11; Psa 112:8; *Psa 138:3, *Luk 22:32, *Col 1:11.

all ye. *Psa 146:5, *Rom 15:12; *Rom 15:13, 1Pe 1:21.

that hope. or, wait. Psa 33:18; Psa 33:22, Job 14:14, T851. +Psa 42:11; Psa 71:5; Psa 94:19, Lam 3:24, Col 1:5; Col 1:23; Col 1:27, *Heb 6:18; *Heb 6:19, *1Pe 1:3; 1Pe 1:13; 1Pe 1:21, *1Jn 3:3.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook Post:

Psalm 31.24 Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; all ye that hope in the Lord.

Be of.
Psalm 27.13-14 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. wait, I say, on the Lord.

Luke 22.31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift as wheat; 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Shall Strengthen
Psalm 29.11 The Lord will give Strength unto his people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 138.3 In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and Strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

Colossians 1.11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness

All Ye
Psalm 146.5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose Hope is in the Lord, his God;

Romans 15.13 Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in Hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1.21 Who by Him do believe in God, who raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory, that your Faith and Hope might be in God.

Blessed Assurance , Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a fore taste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood,
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story , this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long!!!

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #735, Psalm 37:24

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. (KJV)

Psa 37:24 Even if he has a fall he will not be without help: for the hand of the Lord is supporting him. (Basic English Bible)

My Comment:

It was 37 years ago today on March 13, 1986, shortly after 7:15 am, that I was not just “cast down,” I was shot down by an unknown assailant wielding a 9 millimeter handgun. I was shot at point-blank range in the back of my head.

I fell flat into the melting snow and mud of the teachers’ parking lot of Southeastern High School. I was robbed of what little cash I carried–33 dollars. My assailant was upset, saying “Is that all the money you teachers carry?” I refused to hand over my wallet, placing it back in my pocket. My ears were ringing. I did not even notice that my glasses had been knocked off by my fall.

The athletic director brought my broken glasses to me when he visited me in the hospital that morning. He was the one who called an ambulance and, assisted by my physics science teacher friend, Mr. Hackett, carried me to the back of the awaiting ambulance to the jeers of mocking students who saw me.

Mr. Hackett, upset by the despicable and disrespectful attitude of the students, tendered his resignation effective two weeks later. The young lady who processed his paperwork was saddened to learn of what happened to me. I had been her English teacher at Cass Technical High School, also in Detroit.

Mr. Hackett retrieved my teaching materials from my locked classroom closet in room 307 at Southeastern High School. I picked them up some while later from his law office. I am grateful for his help. Not long before, I had told Mr. Hackett of my new project of developing a new and corrected edition of the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. I had remarked that I was about 20% of the way through the task of typing it up. I had asked him to read the “Introduction” and “How to Use This Book” sections of the front matter. He said he thought what I had written should be understandable to any reader. I have never forgotten his comment, “It’s not done until it’s all done.”

Under my doctor’s guidance, I remained away from teaching until the fall of 1990. During that time I finished typing what became The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. It was ultimately published by Thomas Nelson, the world’s largest Bible publisher, thanks to Phil Stoner. Mr. Stoner also arranged for my greatly expanded edition of these cross references to be published as a premium module titled The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for the free e-Sword Bible software.

This month, a newly improved edition of my New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is now available in printed book form anywhere books are sold, including on line at Amazon and Christian Book Distributors (CBD). It is also available in digital format.

Being shot in the teachers’ parking lot on the way into school is not a fun experience. Things did not always go well the next few years. I had accrued well over a hundred “catastrophe days,” sick days accumulated over many years of teaching above and beyond the maximum that could be accrued in my “sick bank.” I had perfect attendance for many, many years. By contract provision, those days were to be used first in the event of a school-related accident or  catastrophe that prevented me from teaching. The Detroit Board of Education refused to draw upon my bank of “catastrophe days” first as the contract clearly stipulated.

My paychecks were initially sent to the wrong school so I did not get them until many weeks later. One time the Board of Education attempted to take back my paycheck by recalling money deposited in my Detroit Teachers Credit Union account. Fortunately, my wife had already accessed these funds and withdrew them before they could be withdrawn. We abruptly closed the credit union account so that could not happen again. These kinds of mishandling of pay due me continued for several years. Finally, the school board took me to court, stating that I hated blacks and that I hated teaching.

I called my former student, Pastor Emery Moss, Jr., to ask for prayer regarding my court appearance. Pastor Moss said, “Absolutely not. I am not just going to pray for you, I am going to be there myself.” Pastor Moss’s wife sat with my wife while Pastor Moss, my attorney, and I were called to a hearing. When Pastor Moss heard the charge by the Board of Education attorney, Pastor Moss politely but firmly dressed him down in a hurry. Pastor Moss related how he went with me to the Green Tree Coffee House on the west side inner city of Detroit on Saturdays when I tutored black students for free using my reading program.

Pastor Moss related how his parents would never allow him as a teenager to enter that neighborhood unless he was in the company of Mr. Smith. “Yet, here was Mr. Smith, week after week, giving of his time to enter this dangerous neighborhood unafraid to help these students improve their reading skills.” Pastor Moss went on to say that a charge that Mr. Smith hates blacks is nonsense. Pastor Moss said, “I could fill this court’s auditorium with former students of his that I know personally who would testify that Mr. Smith loves teaching and loves his black students.”

Then Pastor Moss concluded by testifying that he is an expert witness on the subject of race relations. He stated he has been an instructor teaching race relations at Selfridge Airforce Base for over twenty years. Pastor Moss said, “What I know about race relations I first learned from Mr. Smith.”

Posted in Bible Promises, Christian Living, Daily Bible Nuggets, Education Issues, Principles of Christian Living, The Language Enrichment Program | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #734, Ephesians 5:18

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook post:

1 Thessalonians 5.18 In Everything Give Thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

EVERY.
Eph 5.20 Giving Thanks Always for All things to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4.6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God.

Colossians 3.17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving Thanks to God the Father
through Him.

Psalm 34.1 I will bless the Lord at All times: His Praise shall
continually be in my mouth.

Hebrews 13.15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer
the sacrifice of Praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips,
giving Thanks to His name.

Job 1.21 The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed
be the Name of the Lord.

FOR.
1 Peter 2.15 For this is the Will of God, that by doing good you may
put to silence the ignorance of foolish men

1 Peter 4.2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the
flesh for the lusts of men, but for the Will of God.

1 John 2.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it: but
he who does the Will of God abides forever.

Sweet hour of Prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
thy wings shall my petition bear
to Him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless;
and since He bids me seek His face,

believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my ev’ry care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

Posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Ken Sagely contributions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #733, Proverbs 18:24

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (KJV)

Pro 18:24 A man of many friends will come to ruin but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Darby Bible, 1889)

Pro 18:24 There are friends who may be a man’s destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother. (Basic English Bible)

Pro 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (ESV)

Pro 18:24  Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Pro 18:24  Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 18:24  A man with many friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (TLV, Tree of Life Version)

Pro 18:24  Some friendships don’t last for long, but there is one loving friend who is joined to your heart closer than any other! (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Pro 18:24  A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NIV, New International Version, 1984)

Pro 18:24  There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (NLT, New Living Translation, 2004)

My Comment:

Compare Proverbs 18:24 to 1 Corinthians 15:33,

1 Corinthians 15:33
33  So stop fooling yourselves! Evil companions will corrupt good morals and character.
The Passion Translation

See also Psalm 119:63,

Psa 119:63 I choose as my friends everyone who worships you and follows your teachings. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (KJV)

Always be extremely careful of the friends you choose and of anyone with whom you enter any kind of business relationship!

2 Corinthians 6:14
14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
King James Version

At one time it was possible to find reliable friends who regularly attended a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. Even there you must be careful. It is more likely that you will find those of more mature faith among those who regularly attend prayer meetings and small group Bible studies, not just the Sunday services. Even there you must be careful to find those who are genuinely doers of the Word and not hearers only!

James 1:22
22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
King James Version

Posted in Christian Living, Daily Bible Nuggets, Practical Application Bible Studies, Principles of Christian Living | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Some Atheists still claim Jesus never existed

Posted on March 5, 2023 by Jerry

The Atheist Claim (based on a Dr. Bart Ehrman quotation):

“In the entire first Christian century Jesus is not mentioned by a single Greek or Roman historian, religion scholar, politician, philosopher or poet. His name never occurs in a single inscription, and it is never found in a single piece of private correspondence. Zero! Zip references!” Dr. Bart Ehrman, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

My Comment here (not a part of the Facebook discussion):

On this point, Dr. Bart Ehrman would be rather easy to refute:

(1) Why should it be expected that such a small group of Christian believers in the earliest years of Christianity would be noticed by Greek or Roman historians?

(2) Much of what Greek and Roman historians wrote has been lost. Many works we know were written have not survived to our time.

(3) Consider that Dr. Bart Ehrman argues from the silence of early historians; the argument from silence is a very weak position to hold.

(4) The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence!

(5) Josephus was a Jewish writer who lived at that time and he clearly mentions John the Baptist, James the brother of Jesus, and Pilate who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus.

(6) Tacitus in his writings mentions Christ in his Annals, and Pliny’s letter is well known.

(7) The 27 primary source First Century documents assembled in the New Testament mention Jesus  many times and have no reasonable basis upon which to question their historicity.

My Response (on Facebook) to the Opening Post:

Dr. Bart Ehrman has not thought this through very carefully when he makes such a claim.

 

Response to me by HJH:

he doesn’t have to “think” it through as you put it, he’s not a philosopher, he has fact on his side and is very well sourced.

My response to HJH:

Had he carefully thought this through, he would not have missed the obvious fact that Christianity started out small, and so would not have been particularly noticed by the Roman authorities who thought the Christians were merely a subset of the Jews.

HJH responded to me:

I’m pretty sure he’s aware of that fact. This is just one quote and it’s true, with your superior reading skills, I’m surprised you didn’t think more about context before asserting your own.

My response to HJH:

I have read Dr. Ehrman’s arguments over a good many years.

In short, he started out with full faith in the Bible, but when he learned there are variations in the Greek texts of extant manuscripts, it “threw him for a loop,” so to speak, and he never integrated what appeared to be an irrefutable disconnect between what he was taught about the divine inspiration of the Bible and the fact that we have no original autograph copies of any of the texts of the New Testament with his faith.

Now, he has written a good number of popular books which greatly overstate his arguments and evidence against the integrity and historicity of the New Testament text.

Dr. Ehrman overstates the case about the “400,000 manuscript variations” and makes much more of these than any sensible Bible scholar engaged in textual criticism–the work of determining the original text of the New Testament–would.

His mentor at Princeton University, Dr. Bruce Metzger, was never led to take such a radical position concerning the New Testament text.

Despite Dr. Ehrman’s widely known radical and sensational public stance, he is an acknowledged authority on the text of the New Testament and when he is writing to a scholarly audience he is not so blatantly radical.

MM responded to HJH:

he’s gone back on this statement as of late. When I posted it on his post he blocked me.

Comment by Duane Burgess:

Ehrman is an unbeliever, a false teacher, and has been soundly, biblically refuted.

The OP is another entire waste of time.

 

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Agnosticism, Apologetics Issues--Atheism, Bible Historicity and Validity | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

March is Reading Month!

Posted on March 5, 2023 by Jerry

Don’t complain about the problem. Produce a solution that works. That is what I did.

I posted this comment on Representative Lisa McLain’s Facebook post:

My solution

Thank you for supporting “March is reading month”!

As a former reading specialist in the Detroit Public Schools, I have been on my own “Reading Crusade” for many years.

I am thankful that I had the opportunity to successfully raise the achievement of my students consistently and remarkably for nearly 40 years.

When my high school had a persistent 70% drop-out rate as measured by entering ninth grade classes of 1000 but graduating twelfth grade classes of 300 students, my students maintained good attendance, measurably improved in their reading comprehension, almost never dropped out, and went on to be successful in college and careers after high school graduation.

My secret? I wrote a self-instructional reading program for my students to use. Coaches had their athletes come to me for tutoring. Coach Stuckey at Denby High School shared with me a list of 21 students who received full athletic scholarships to college. As a result of using my book, The Language Enrichment Program, they scored high enough on the SAT or ACT to qualify for the scholarships they received. My book is now available on Amazon. It works for students of any age or grade level, grade 3 to college.

Jo Roderick responded:

Detroit news posted Michigan 4th graders ranked 32nd in 2019 IN THE NATION. Now they are rated 43rd.

If she can’t help them, what would?

She got her photo op, though.

You retired….

Why does lisa brag about children that low in education?

Shelley O’Brien responded to Jo Roderick:

If she had her way, there wouldn’t be a Department of Education. Maybe if she stops voting “nay” for legislation that would support children I might be able to take her concern for them seriously.

My response to Jo Roderick:

After I retired I continued to support a successful reading program that effectively raises the reading comprehension level of students by two years or grade levels on average in less than one semester by placing it on Amazon at considerable expense to me. Now any person can benefit.

I was made a reading specialist at Southeastern High School in Detroit when I was a world and American history teacher. It was discovered that the way I had been teaching history raised my students’ reading achievement on the required standardized achievement tests such that Southeastern was the most improved in reading achievement of Detroit’s 22 high schools.

People need to quit complaining about student low reading achievement when there is a proven solution readily available to any parent or teacher. Just search for “Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program” under “books” on Amazon.

 

 

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Atheists’ claimed Bible contradiction answered

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Jerry

Atheist Meme:

God cannot be seen or heard: Exodus 33:20. John 5:37.

BIBLE CONTRADICTION!

Yes—God has been seen and heard:  Genesis 3:9, 10.  Exodus 33:11.

Atheist Opening Post:

Non sense from the bible

John 1:18

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Genesis 32:30

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Exodus 33:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Exodus 24:9-11

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. KJV

 

Atheist JA response:

If only Duane could ‘splain. I’m sure Woods could in Greek. Kathy can’t touch this. The Mikes, they’re a bipolar neuronal shunt. Now Jerome Smith ! I’m sure he’s got a library of random archaic apologetic authors to sling at this.

My response:

From my book, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, an expansion of my book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, explanatory note on John 1:18,

Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

hath seen God. Note.—That is, hath seen God as He is in Himself, or apart from some form assumed to render Himself visible: and thus this passage and the following references are not contradictory to Gen 32:30, or Exo 24:9, 10, or Exo 33:11, or Mat 5:8, Moreover there is reason to believe that, on the occasions recorded in the Old Testament, it was The Word or Christ who appeared in the form of that nature in which he was afterwards to be revealed. Compare Isa 6:1 with Joh 12:41, and 1Co 10:4; 1Co 10:9 (De Burgh, p. 226). Such pre-incarnate appearances of Christ are sometimes called Christophanies (Joh 8:56; Joh 8:58; Joh 12:41). For Theophanies see +Gen 12:7 and +Gen 17:1). See also Gen 19:24 note and Gen 22:15 note. Joh 5:37; Joh 6:46; Joh 12:45, Gen 16:10; **Gen 17:22; +Gen 32:30, Exo 24:10; *Exo 33:20; **Exo 33:23, Num 14:14, Deut 4:11, 12, *Jdg 6:22; *Jdg 13:22, +1Ki 22:19, Job 42:5, *Ecc 3:11, Eze 10:1, Amos 9:1, Mat 11:27, Luk 10:22, Rom 1:20, *Col 1:15, *1Ti 1:17; +*1Ti 6:16, 1Jn 4:12; 1Jn 4:20, 3Jn 1:11.

 

JA responded:

so you’re saying christ is not god or a god and any one who said they saw god was just seeing the word of god. But I’m sorry, the OT in this specific case is contradictory to the ordinary mind like mine. So to be a true believer requires extensive research by previous true believers, as in your case. So what is the biblical metric of research required to give a dude like me advice, how do you qualify, and where does it say anything about misunderstanding like if you’re a C student (average) versus an A student like yourself.

Because to the limited minds like Rodney and I what seems to be contradictory to the most casual observer, we’re gonna burn in hell forever and ever and ever and ever, to infinity and beyond.

 

My response to JA:

You responded to my commentary by asserting:

(1) “so you’re saying christ is not god or a god and any one who said they saw god was just seeing the word of god.”

What is the basis for such a conclusion on your part?

I did not say Christ is not God. The very Scripture passages I referred to actually prove that our Lord Jesus Christ is God, for He is the One who was seen in His pre-incarnate appearances, called Christophanies. Jesus asserts it is He that was seen by Isaiah:

John 12:41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

Isaiah 6:3

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
King James Version

Isaiah 6:5

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
King James Version

Jesus asserts that it is He whom Abraham saw:

John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Genesis 17:1

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
King James Version

Genesis 17:19

19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
King James Version

Note: Yitzchak, which we change into Isaac, signifies laughter; in allusion to Abraham’s laughing, Gen 17:17, By this Abraham did not express his unbelief or weakness of faith, but his joy at the prospect of the fulfillment of so glorious a promise; and to this our Lord evidently alludes, Joh 8:56.

Genesis 17:21

21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
King James Version

Genesis 18:14

14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
King James Version

Genesis 21:1

1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
King James Version

Gen 21:2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Gen 21:3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Yes, since Jesus is called the Word, when people saw God, they saw the Word of God, as found in John 1:1 and John 1:14,

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

I look forward to responding to more of your comment soon.

 

My further response to JA:

You further responded to my commentary by asserting:

(2) “But I’m sorry, the OT in this specific case is contradictory to the ordinary mind like mine.”

When read with the intent to learn what it says and means, the Bible becomes clearer the more you read and study it.

(3) “So to be a true believer requires extensive research by previous true believers, as in your case.”

The Bible is a self-explanatory Book. Even the Bible itself declares it is understandable. As for the extensive research done by previous believers, we surely can benefit from the results of their studies when we encounter questions that we at first cannot answer ourselves by our own study.

But the best first step is to let the Bible explain itself by reading it and noticing what it says about a subject throughout its text. I did this as a teenager by marking in the margin of my Bible the subject of a verse with a short symbol then reading in sequence where the same subject is mentioned all the verses I found on that subject.

I find it interesting that the very verses cited in the Opening Post are the same verses I have placed on this subject in my published Bible study resource which I cited from above.

(4) “So what is the biblical metric of research required to give a dude like me advice, how do you qualify, and where does it say anything about misunderstanding like if you’re a C student (average) versus an A student like yourself.”

a) The Biblical metric of research required is stated in the Bible itself:

First, we are cautioned to carefully go by the Bible itself as seen in a passage like Isaiah 8:20,

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Second, we are to search the Scriptures, as Jesus stated:

John 5:39

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
King James Version

Those who listened to the teaching of Paul at Berea searched the Scriptures daily to verify the truth and correctness of Paul’s teaching:

Acts 17:11

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
King James Version

b) the metric required to give someone advice is stated in the Bible itself:

1 Timothy 4:16

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
King James Version

2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

c) as to how one qualifies to teach others, the answer is by having come to know the Scripture through careful, systematic, study:

2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

My further response continued:

You ask a most insightful question:

(5) and where does it say anything about misunderstanding like if you’re a C student (average) versus an A student like yourself.

The way to avoid misunderstanding is to do the opposite, namely, get understanding:

Psalms 119:104

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
King James Version

Psalms 119:130

130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
King James Version

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2 Peter 3:18

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
King James Version

 

 

 

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