Muslims claim Paul is a false apostle Part 3

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Jerry

Muslim claim:

Evidences that Paul was a False Prophet

1– Glorifying Jesus Christ!

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-14 ESV)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—” (Galatians 3:13 ESV)

My response:

As for “Evidences that Paul was a False Prophet,” you claim as such evidence:

1- Glorifying Jesus Christ!

You cite John 16:13, 14, which have no evident connection with your claim. These are good verses, but they show that the Holy Spirit would guide into all truth and would also glorify Christ, not Himself. The Holy Spirit did just those things as He guided the Apostles of Christ in their teaching and writing ministry. What we have of their writing ministry is found exclusively in the 27 primary source first century documents which we have in the New Testament.

Additionally, you cite Galatians 3:13,

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—” (Galatians 3:13 ESV)

You fail to show what connection this may have with Paul being a “False Prophet.” Certainly in the case of Galatians 3:13 Paul is citing Old Testament Scripture to correctly teach what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for those who believe and exhibit allegiance to Him.

Jesus Himself told us:

Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Jesus further said:

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Muslim claim:

2– Hypocrisy (Lying Techniques)

Jesus Christ said:

“Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you.”(Matthew 7:15 CEVDCI)

“Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.” (John 18:20 ESV)

But Paul said:

“When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to win Jews. They are ruled by the Law of Moses, and I am not. But I live by the Law to win them. And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ. When I am with people whose faith is weak, I live as they do to win them. I do everything I can to win everyone I possibly can.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-22 CEVDCI)

My response:

2- Hypocrisy (Lying Techniques)

Your citation of 1 Corinthians 9:20, 21, 22 is very misleading (itself a “Lying Technique!”) because you fail to take into account the immediate and near context of the passage. Paul states at the beginning of the chapter:

1Co 9:1 I am free. I am an apostle. I have seen the Lord Jesus and have led you to have faith in him.
1Co 9:2 Others may think that I am not an apostle, but you are proof that I am an apostle to you. (CEV)

Paul’s proof that he was genuinely an Apostle of Christ was that the Corinthians owed their faith in Christ to Paul because it was through the ministry of Paul that they had become followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul asserts this same truth in another passage in his second letter to the Corinthians:

2Co 13:3  Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
2Co 13:4  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Paul asserts that the evidence that our Lord Jesus Christ spoke through him was the fact that it was through Paul’s ministry of preaching the Gospel of Christ to them that they had become Christians. Paul tells them to examine themselves: are they Christians? If and since they are, that is the proof that Christ had spoken to them through Paul.

Back to the text you cite, 1 Corinthians 9:20-22, the context shows Paul is explaining why he did not charge for his services as he preached the Gospel of Christ. Paul shows that even the Scripture teaches he had a right to be paid for his ministry, but he chose to teach and preach the Gospel for free so that he would not be under any possible obligation to those who supported him financially. That way, he would gain the more:

1Co 9:16 I don’t have any reason to brag about preaching the good news. Preaching is something God told me to do, and if I don’t do it, I am doomed.
1Co 9:17 If I preach because I want to, I will be paid. But even if I don’t want to, it is still something God has sent me to do.
1Co 9:18 What pay am I given? It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge and not to use the privileges that are mine because I am a preacher.
1Co 9:19 I am not anyone’s slave. But I have become a slave to everyone, so that I can win as many people as possible. (CEV)

Paul then explains just what he does to win as many people as possible. When ministering to the Jews, he was in a position to present himself as one of them because by birth, background, and training he was

Philippians 3:5
5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
King James Version

And so for each of the other groups he mentions, he used great tact in reaching out to them so as not to hinder his opportunity to share with them the Gospel of Christ.

Read in its proper context then, Paul is not exhibiting hypocrisy nor is he using lying techniques as you mistakenly suppose.

Muslim claim:

As for “Evidences that Paul was a False Prophet,” you claim as such evidence:

3– Saw Satan:

Jesus Christ said:
“Jesus told them: I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” (Luke 10:18 CEVDCI)
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:23-24 ESV)
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, who didst claim the Gentiles as an inheritance!” (Isaiah 14:12 JUB)
“What a comedown this, O Babylon! [Rome] Daystar! Son of Dawn! Flat on your face in the underworld mud, you, famous for flattening nations!” (Isaiah 14:12 MSG)

My response:

I see absolutely no legitimate connection the verses you cite with any possible claim that Paul was a false prophet. You are welcome to enlighten me by explaining your line of reasoning.

I see you supplied the added text in your next comment below:

But Paul said:
“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:3-5 ESV)

Any connection of the texts you cited to the record of Paul’s conversion to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is extremely tenuous indeed. The conversion of Paul on the Damascus Road constitutes one of the most remarkable proofs of the truth of Christianity. How else but by the miraculous encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ Himself can we account for such a change from the chief persecutor of the Christians then known as followers of the Way to the most effective and successful propagator of the Gospel to both Jew and Gentile?

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #705, Proverbs 15:29

Posted on September 24, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Proverbs 15:29  The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

My Comment:

The Bible again tells us that God hears the prayers of the righteous. In a prior post in this series about what delights God, I shared the Bible evidence that declares that “the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Proverbs 15:8).

Here are the cross references as I have collected them in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for Proverbs 15:29 for the key words he heareth:

he heareth. *Pro 15:8, 1Sa 1:13, Psa 6:8; Psa 10:17, 18; +*Psa 34:15, 16, 17; Psa 38:9; Psa 65:2; +**Psa 66:18; +**Psa 66:19; *Psa 145:18; *Psa 145:19, Isa 30:18; Isa 38:14; Isa 58:8, 9, Lam 3:56, Luk 18:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, +*Joh 9:31, *Rom 8:26; *Rom 8:27, *Jas 5:16, 17, 18, *1Pe 3:12, +*1Jn 5:14; +*1Jn 5:15.

Here is the full text of several of the above cross references:

Psalms 34:15-17
15  The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
King James Version

This remarkable promise ought to alert those who would treat the righteous unfairly or unjustly. In our day there has been a serious limiting of our freedoms and liberty manifested by increasing censorship, lawfare waged against individuals who have been outspoken in support of the truth, unjust imprisonment of what might as well be termed political prisoners without any effort to provide speedy trials because of alleged crimes of those who peacefully assembled at the Capitol of this country to support the rule of law and call attention to flagrant election improprieties. When I served as the Union Representative at Southeastern High School in Detroit I witnessed repeated and flagrant disregard of the provisions of the teacher contract by administrators. I can attest that God indeed works to punish those who engage in injustice and unfair treatment of others. We all need to stand firm in support of the truth and proper rule of law, and resist instances of lawlessness when we encounter them.

Psalms 66:18
18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
King James Version
Psalms 66:19
19  But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
King James Version

God may not immediately answer each of our prayer requests. I presented here a very extensive series of posts about why we sometimes, even perhaps often, experience the problem of unanswered prayer in a careful study of Psalm 66:18.

Daily Bible Nugget #108, Psalm 66:18

In this series about what delights God, you will recall I posted an extensive study of the silence of God. I recall hearing a most unforgettable study and testimony by Pastor Cole on the Moody Broadcasting Network; Pastor Cole said it had been his experience to see many remarkable answers to prayer early in his Christian life, but as he grew older in the Lord as well as chronologically, such remarkable answers were experienced less often.

1 Peter 3:12
12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
King James Version

1 John 5:14
14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
King James Version
1 John 5:15
15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
King James Version

A very important part of all our requests to God is to always stipulate “if it is according to Your will.”

I have only skimmed the surface of these important Bible truths. You will find it both instructive and encouraging to check out all the cross references I have shared above.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #704, Proverbs 15:8 Part 3

Posted on September 23, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

My Comment:

There are many spiritual riches found throughout the Bible that you likely will only discover by making use of the links to this verse found in the cross references given for Proverbs 15:8.

It is encouraging to study the cross references to the key words the prayer of the upright as presented in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

the prayer. *Pro 15:29, Gen 18:32; Gen 20:17, 1Ch 21:26; *1Ch 29:17, 2Ch 33:18, 19, Job 16:17, Psa 17:1; +*Psa 19:14; +*Psa 141:2, Song 2:14, *Isa 45:19, Dan 10:12, Act 9:11; Act 10:4.

Proverbs 15:29
29  The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
King James Version

Reading the cross references for Proverbs 15:29 provides additional insight. I may share them in a subsequent post soon. The point is, despite how we may personally feel, God asserts in His word in the Bible that He most certainly is listening to our prayers.

Genesis 18:32
32  And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
King James Version

If you turn to the  passage in Genesis where this account is given of Abraham interceding for his nephew Lot and his family in Sodom, you will read of this remarkable interchange between Abraham and God. Despite Abraham’s intercession and God’s promise, there were not even ten righteous persons to be found in Sodom. This may be a prudent warning of the power of the kind of sin Lot’s city of residence is noted for.

Genesis 20:17
17  So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
King James Version

Notice the remarkable character of Abraham and the power of his intercessory prayer for the divine healing of others.

1 Chronicles 21:26
26  And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
King James Version

King David is also remarkable for his prayers and the answer from heaven by fire he received.

1 Chronicles 29:17
17  I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
King James Version

Another remarkable prayer of David.

And so it is possible to learn from these remarkable instances and examples of the prayer of the righteous by following each cross reference given. To keep this post from becoming too long, I’ll focus on just some of the rest of the references given.

Psalms 19:14
14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
King James Version

Yet another example of the prayer of David found in a very remarkable Psalm.

Daniel 10:12
12  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
King James Version

God heard the prayer of Daniel at the very instant he offered his prayer, though the evil powers of darkness did their best to delay God’s messenger’s effort to come directly with the answer.

Acts 9:11
11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
King James Version

God was listening to the prayers of Saul of Tarsus as he prayed in his physical blindness that resulted from his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.

Acts 10:4
4  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
King James Version

God heard and remembered the prayers of Cornelius and responded by sending an angel with the important message that ultimately resulted in Cornelius being the first Gentile convert to Christ.

These many examples demonstrate that God listens to and is delighted in every prayer of the upright made to Him.

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Daily Bible Nugget #703, Proverbs 15:8 Part 2

Posted on September 18, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

My Comment:

This verse in Proverbs contains an amazing amount of instruction and encouragement. It also links to much additional truth found in the rest of the Bible.

Comparatively few Christians make it a practice to study their Bibles. Fewer still study their Bibles by means of consulting what are called cross references. Cross references are links to other verses in the Bible on the same subject.

The Bible does not present its teachings systematically topic by topic all in one place. To find out what the Bible teaches it is necessary to discover all that the Bible says about a subject.

This can be done to a limited extent by using a concordance to track where the same word is used elsewhere. But using just a concordance to trace a theme through the Bible will miss many other verses which shed light on that theme that use a different word.

The Bible can be studied topically using a topical Bible. But topical Bibles are limited in the range of topics and subtopics they contain and are harder to use when studying the Bible verse by verse.

I have learned since I was a teenager that using a collection of cross references like those found in the book titled The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge furnishes a far better and more complete way to carefully study any Bible verse and its related passages.

And if I as a very ordinary teenager could figure out how to look up Bible cross references, you can be very sure that you can learn to enjoy doing the same.

Proverbs 15:8 tells us “the prayer of the upright is his delight.”

What does the rest of the Bible have to say about this? To find out, read the cross references I have collected for this verse as presented in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

his delight. 1Ki 3:10, Job 22:3, Psa 51:16; Psa 141:2; Psa 145:18, Song 2:14; Song 4:11, *Dan 9:23; Dan 10:12, Joh 4:23, 24, Rom 8:26, 27, +*Php 4:6, Heb 4:16; Heb 10:19, 20, 21, 22, Jas 4:8, +*1Pe 3:12, Rev 8:4.

I have given many more cross references to other key words in this verse, but these cross references tie in to the theme I have been tracing regarding what the Bible teaches about what delights God. It should be very clear that God delights to hear our prayers.

When we read and study God’s Word, the Bible, He talks to us.

When we pray to God, we talk to Him.

When we obey God’s Word others will notice our life and character are different from others who do not follow God’s Word and will sometimes ask us what makes us different. When we answer, we get to talk for God as we share our faith with others (1 Peter 3:15).

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Daily Bible Nugget #702, Proverbs 15:8

Posted on September 17, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. (KJV)

Pro 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright is His delight. (Young’s Literal Translation)

Pro 15:8 The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight. (Basic English Bible)

Pro 15:8  The LORD is pleased when good people pray, but hates the sacrifices that the wicked bring him. (Good News Bible)

Pro 15:8  A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the LORD, but the prayers of decent people please him. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 15:8 The LORD is disgusted by gifts from the wicked, but it makes him happy when his people pray. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Does God really care if we pray? Does it make any difference to Him? So often it may happen that our prayers are met with the answer “No” or “Wait” instead of “Yes.” Yet the Apostle Paul advises us to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

More than a century ago, Sir Robert Anderson wrote a book titled The Silence of God. He addressed the issue, especially near or at the end of his book, by pointing out some relevant passages from the Bible. This important issue is addressed even more completely in the notes and cross references available in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and more completely in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 50:3
3  Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
King James Version

not keep silence. Now He is keeping silence. But He will speak again, and here we are told what He will say (CB). The silence of God is spoken of under several different terms and in some other not so obvious ways. The silence of God is spoken of in reference to prayer, when prayer is unanswered (**Psa 28:1; +**Psa 66:18). Today it may be that in mercy God is intentionally silent such that we do not see the miraculous interventions experienced in certain periods of Old Testament history and in the beginning of the church in Acts when its membership was still entirely Jewish and God still extended His mercy to the nation of Israel if they would repent (Acts 3:19, 20, 21). Miracles of healing were prominent in the early ministry of Peter (Acts 5:15; Acts 9:34) and Paul (Acts 19:11, 12; Acts 20:10). But Paul later left Trophimus at Miletum sick (2Ti 4:20). Peter and Paul experienced miraculous Divine Intervention earlier in their ministries when they were released from prison (Acts 12:5-10; Acts 16:25-40), but Paul later spent much time in jail. A clue as to why God does not now intervene in such outwardly visible ways in answer to prayer may be suggested by the manner in which Jesus read aloud the Scripture from Isaiah as recorded in Luke 4:18, 19, 20, where Luke records “And he closed the book.” Jesus stopped reading at a most significant place in Isa 61:2, in the middle of the verse, for He did not read “and the day of vengeance of our God,” which came next. This stopping point in the text of Isaiah is one of many places where there is an unannounced time gap in the prophecy (See the notes and references at Isa 61:2 note). The stopping point may also signify that when God next visits this earth it will be for judgment, not mercy. In accordance with that promise, His silence now exhibits His mercy. Peter speaks of this very matter when he says God’s apparent “slackness” is rather evidence of His mercy, for He is “not willing that any should perish” (2Pe 3:9). Study of the cross references given for such texts as 2Pe 3:9 and the subject of God’s longsuffering (see also the cross references at +**Mat 17:20; Mat 21:43; Mat 23:39) may further explain the nature and reasons for God’s present public silence. Psa 50:21, +Psa 28:1; Psa 83:1; Psa 109:1, Exo 19:16, 2Ki 19:7, Job 16:21, Isa 8:17; *Isa 42:13; *Isa 42:14; *Isa 65:6; *Isa 65:7, +*Hab 1:13.

Isaiah 8:17
17  And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
King James Version

hideth. In reaction to the silence of God, the Israelites yielded to the temptation to look elsewhere for supernatural guidance and revelation (Isa 8:19, **1Sa 28:6; **1Sa 28:7). They turned to the occult and to extra-biblical sources of revelation, a practice some follow today when they heed supposed supernatural revelation claiming to be Jesus speaking. God is not providing any new revelation today; He has said all He plans to say in His Word, the Bible, until Christ returns in person to establish His Kingdom. Isa 1:15; Isa 45:15; +*Isa 54:8; Isa 57:17; **Isa 59:2; +**Isa 61:2 with Luk 4:20, Isa 64:7, Deut 22:1; +*Deut 31:17; +*Deut 31:18; Deut 32:20, +*1Sa 28:6; +*1Sa 28:7, Job 13:24; Job 23:9; *Job 34:29, Psa 10:1; Psa 10:11; Psa 13:1; *Psa 22:24; Psa 27:9; Psa 30:7; Psa 44:24; Psa 60:10; Psa 69:17; Psa 88:14; +*Psa 89:46; Psa 102:2; Psa 104:29; Psa 143:7, Song 5:6, Jer 33:5, Eze 7:22; **Eze 39:23; **Eze 39:24, Mic 3:4, +*Mat 21:43; Mat 26:29, Mar 14:25, **Luk 4:18, 19, 20; Luk 22:18, **Act 19:11; **Act 19:12, **2Ti 4:20, Heb 1:1, 2, +*Jud 1:3 note.

Isaiah 61:2
2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
King James Version

and the day of vengeance. The connection here to what is stated at Psa 2:5 illuminates the subject of the “silence of God” by connecting “the day of vengeance” with “Then shall he speak to them in his wrath,” confirming the fact that when God next speaks it will be in judgment, therefore He is indeed silent now. Isa 34:8; Isa 35:4; Isa 59:17, 18; Isa 63:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Isa 66:14, *Deut 32:41, +*Psa 2:5; Psa 110:5, 6, Jer 46:10; +Jer 50:15; Jer 51:24, *Nah 1:2, *Mal 4:1, 2, 3; *Mal 4:6, *Luk 21:22, 23, 24, 1Th 1:10; 1Th 2:16, **2Th 1:7, 8, 9, *Heb 10:30; *Heb 10:31, Rev 6:10.

As you can readily see, there is much to learn as we study the Bible diligently using methods I call Real Bible Study! Since God declares prophetically that He has stopped speaking for now, any religion or denomination that claims to have received additional divine revelation since the completion of the New Testament is clearly mistaken. Thus, the Koran and the book of Mormon cannot be genuine additional revelation from God. Nor can any Church claim additional divine revelation preserved in its claimed “sacred traditions,” for such would be a direct violation of the Bible affirmation found in Jude 1:3,

Jude 1:3
3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
King James Version

the faith. FS121R2, +Act 6:7, The faith was complete and entire in Jude’s day; it is now contained in the written Scriptures of the NT, with no need for additional revelation or doctrinal development. Jud 1:20, Isa 26:2, +*Luk 18:8, Act 6:7; Act 13:8; +*Act 14:22; Act 24:24, Rom 1:5; Rom 1:12; Rom 10:8, Gal 1:23; Gal 3:23; Gal 3:25; Gal 6:10, Eph 4:5; Eph 4:13, Php 1:27, +*Col 1:23, 1Ti 3:9; +*1Ti 4:1 note. +*1Ti 6:10; 1Ti 6:12; 1Ti 6:21, 2Ti 1:13; +*2Ti 3:8; 2Ti 4:7, +*Tit 1:9, Heb 13:9, 2Pe 1:1, Rev 2:13.

once. lit. once for all. Gr. hapax (S# G530, Heb 6:4). The body of doctrine embodied in the faith is not properly subject to any addition or modification: it was complete as delivered from the Apostles (Heb 1:2). Casaubon remarks, “Divine words, few in number, but rich in meaning. If rightly understood and duly obeyed, these words would put an end to all modern controversies, and restore peace to the Church. Do we desire to know what the true faith is? St. Jude here tells us—that which was once, and once for all delivered to the saints. Every doctrine which can be shown to be posterior to that faith is new; and every doctrine that is new is false” (cited in Lange). Jud 1:5, Heb 9:26, 27, 28, 1Pe 3:18.

delivered. or, communicated. Gr. paradidōmi (S# G3860, Mat_5:25), to surrender, that is, yield up, intrust, transmit (Strong). Communicated not immediately by God, but by the Apostles, cf. 2Pe 2:21; 1Co 11:2; 1Co 11:23; 1Co 15:3; Luk 1:2 (see Lange). Note that “the faith” is a complete, not developing, body of truth delivered in complete form “once for all,” “unto the saints,” not a church hierarchy, but very ordinary believers. Jud 1:17, Deut 9:10; Deut 31:9, *Act 20:27, Rom 16:17, +*1Co 11:2; +*1Co 11:23; +*1Co 15:3, Gal 1:9; Gal 1:14; Gal 2:5, Col 2:8, 2Th 2:15; 2Th 3:6, 1Ti 1:3; 1Ti 4:6; 1Ti 6:20, +*2Ti 2:1; 2Ti 2:2; 2Ti 4:3, 4, +*Tit 1:9, 2Pe 2:21; *2Pe 3:2.

to the saints. 1Sa 2:9, +Psa 16:3, Act 9:13; Act 9:32, Rom 8:27; Rom 15:26, 1Co 1:2, +2Co 1:1, See on Eph 1:1; Eph 1:15; Eph 1:18; Eph 2:19; Eph 3:8; Eph 3:18, Php 1:1, *Col 1:2; *Col 1:12; Col 3:12, Heb 3:1; Heb 6:10, 1Pe 1:15, 16.

Since I have just gotten started on what Proverbs 15:8 teaches about how much God delights to hear our prayers, I’ll have to write Part 2 next!

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Daily Bible Nugget #701, Proverbs 11:20

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 11:20  They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. (KJV)

Pro 11:20 An abomination to Jehovah are the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way are His delight. (Young’s Literal Transation)

Pro 11:20  An abomination of Yahweh are the crooked of heart, but his delight are those with blameless ways. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

Pro 11:20 The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Pro 11:20  The LORD hates evil-minded people, but loves those who do right. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Pro 11:20  Devious people are disgusting to the LORD, but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 11:20 The LORD hates sneaky people, but he likes everyone who lives right. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Continuing my topical study of what delights God, Proverbs 11:20 gives the added idea that God delights in (1) everyone who lives right, (2) those whose ways are innocent, (3) those who do right, (4) those whose ways are without error, (5) those with blameless ways, (6) the perfect of the way, (7) such as are upright in their way.

To Dig Deeper:

Consult carefully the much fuller set of cross references which I have presented below:

Pro 11:20  They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

 

Proverbs 11:20

of a froward. Pro 3:32, *Pro 6:14; *Pro 6:16, 17, 18, 19; *Pro 8:13, Psa 18:25, 26. Psa 101:4, 1Pe 2:18.

abomination. +Pro 3:22; Pro 15:8, 9; Pro 15:26; Pro 15:29, Psa 11:5, 6, 7.

upright. *Pro 2:7; *Pro 15:8; Pro 16:17; Pro 21:29, 1Ch 29:17, Job 22:3, Psa 7:10, Psa 11:7; *Psa 51:6; Psa 140:13.

in their way. Psa 37:23, +*Psa 119:1.

his delight. Pro 12:22, *Pro 15:8, Psa 37:23, Psa 147:11, Psa 149:4, Zep 3:17.

Notice that this verse and its additional cross references for the key words his delight teach that God is delighted by (1) those who are upright in their way, (2) they that deal truly, (3) the prayer of the upright, (4) the steps of a good man as they are ordered by the Lord, (5) those who fear or reverence Him, (6) those who hope in His mercy, (7) those who are meek and (8) and are His people.

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Daily Bible Nugget #700, Proverbs 11:1

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 11:1  A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. (KJV)

Pro 11:1 Balances of deceit are an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight is His delight. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Pro 11:1 False balances are hateful to Jehovah, but a perfect stone is His delight. (LITV, Literal translation of the Holy Bible)

Pro 11:1  A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight. (WEB, World English Bible)

Pro 11:1  Dishonest scales are disgusting to the LORD, but accurate weights are pleasing to him. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 11:1 The LORD hates anyone who cheats, but he likes everyone who is honest. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

God hates cheaters. God delights in everyone who is honest. Proverbs 11:1 is another passage about what God delights in, and is one of the cross references given at Proverbs 12:22, the subject of my last post, Daily Bible Nugget 699.

Here is the cross reference Bible study to be found in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is. Heb. Balances of deceit are. Pro 16:11; Pro 20:10; Pro 20:23; Pro 26:24, +Exo 20:15, Lev 19:35, 36, *Deut 25:13, 14, 15, 16, *Psa 66:18, Hos 12:7, Amos 8:5, 6, Mic 6:10, 11, *Mat 7:12, *Php 4:8, 1Th 4:6.

abomination. +Pro 3:32; Pro 6:16; Pro 17:15, Deut 17:1; Deut 25:16.

a just weight. Heb. a perfect stone. FS121D7, +Exo 7:19, Stone put by the Figure Metonymy (of Cause) for the weight it represents. Pro 16:11; Pro 20:10; Pro 20:23, Lev 19:36, Deut 25:13, 14, 15, 2Sa 14:26, 1Ch 23:29 note. Eze 45:10, 11, 12, Mic 6:11, +*Php 4:8.

is his delight. Pro 12:22, Job 22:3, +*Psa 37:23.

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Daily Bible Nugget #699, Proverbs 12:22

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 12:22  Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. (KJV)

Pro 12:22 An abomination to Jehovah are lying lips, And stedfast doers are his delight. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Pro 12:22 False lips are hated by the Lord, but those whose acts are true are his delight. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Pro 12:22  Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight. (WEB, World English Bible)

Pro 12:22  Lips that lie are disgusting to the LORD, but honest people are his delight. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 12:22 The LORD hates every liar, but he is the friend of all who can be trusted. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Starting at this verse (Proverbs 12:22), it is possible to greatly increase our understanding of the nature of God.

In part, this can be done by comparing several English translations. But this is only a start to uncovering some of the treasures in God’s Word, the Bible, that are topically connected with this verse.

My focus here will be in what the Bible tells us about what God delights in. This can readily be explored by studying the cross references given for the final key words his delight:

his delight. *Pro 11:1; *Pro 11:20; *Pro 15:8, *Jer 9:24.

To study this theme accurately it is best to use a more literal translation such as the King James Version. A more literal translation will consistently use the term “delight.” Other translations in modern English may be more understandable, but because they are not always consistent in the way they translate the original language, tracking a theme across Scripture is more difficult using them.

Once you have read the four references given for his delight it is possible to greatly expand this study by checking the cross references given at each of those four verses. I share these four verses below. I use multiple English translations when the King James Version wording may not be clear to modern readers.

Proverbs 11:1
1  A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
King James Version

Proverbs 11:20
20  They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
King James Version

Proverbs 11:20
20  Devious people are disgusting to the LORD, but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent.
GOD’S WORD

Proverbs 11:20
20 The LORD hates sneaky people, but he likes everyone who lives right. Contemporary English Version

Pro 12:22  Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Proverbs 15:8
8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
King James Version

Proverbs 15:8
8  A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the LORD, but the prayers of decent people please him.
GOD’S WORD

Proverbs 15:8
8 The LORD is disgusted by gifts from the wicked, but it makes him happy when his people pray.
Contemporary English Version

Jeremiah 9:24
24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
King James Version

These five passages provide a very helpful basis for studying what delights the Lord. In summary fashion we see that the Lord delights in (1) honest business practices–fair weights and measures; (2) everyone who lives right; (3) those who deal truly with others; (4) the prayers of His people; (5) our understanding God’s true character in showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone.

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Daily Bible Nugget #698, Hebrews 6:10

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (KJV)

Heb 6:10  God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Heb 6:10 For God is not so unjust as to forget the work you have done and the love you have shown His name in the service you have rendered for your fellow-Christians, and still are doing. (Williams NT)

Heb 6:10 For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Heb 6:10 God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won’t forget the love you have shown his people. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

It is easy in life to get discouraged. It may be that we do not see answers to prayer that we feel we need. What good does it do to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) if we don’t see any answers to our prayers? It may be that in our present situation we cannot do anything that seems significant for God.

As for our prayers, God delights in the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:8). And as for God’s remembering anything we may have done for Him, even the smallest  matter (Mark 9:41), God will never forget. Not everyone can be in the spotlight and have all this world’s attention, and for some who seek and attract such attention, Jesus warned that “they have their reward” already (Matthew 6:2). Remember that Jesus taught that we should pray in secret and for that God will reward us openly (Matthew 6:6), not always here and now, but certainly hereafter.

It is easy, if you are the one who does all the work in the kitchen, to misunderstand the words of Jesus to Martha (Luke 10:41, 42) when Martha complained (Luke 10:40) that Mary, who was sitting at Jesus’ feet (in the place where she could hear and concentrate on what He taught), –that Mary was shirking her duty to help in the kitchen. Martha’s efforts in the kitchen in that day may well have been much more burdensome without the modern electric conveniences we enjoy today! Jesus seems to have rebuked Martha for attempting to distract Mary from listening to Jesus. What if Martha followed Mary’s example and did not make any preparation for a meal? Yet we read in Luke 10:38 that it was Martha who received Jesus into her home.

But we are told explicitly, if not emphatically, that Jesus loved Martha (John 11:5). The New Testament writers portray these individual persons as real persons, not mythology developed over many years after these events happened.

The character traits of these individuals are consistent as recorded across the New Testament writings, which is positive evidence for their historicity. So the proper interpretation of the words of Jesus to Martha faithfully recorded by Luke must be understood by the equally faithful record in John’s Gospel who gives us the “rest of the story” about the resurrection or resuscitation of Lazarus after Lazarus had been dead for four days.

Recall the consternation of Martha who said, when Jesus commanded the stone to be removed which blocked the tomb, “Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39). Jesus replied, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”

Jesus lovingly corrected Martha on both occasions, not to disparage those who do the necessary work of the household kitchen, but lovingly to help Martha overcome her tendency to be worried and upset about so many things: “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things,” (Luke 10:41, CEV). There is nothing in the New Testament account to suggest that Martha was unable to handle her task alone. The double use of the name Martha involves a Figure of Speech that conveys the emotion and caring concern of this tender reply.

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Daily Bible Nugget #697, Proverbs 14:23

Posted on September 7, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 14:23  In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. (KJV)

Pro 14:23  In hard work there is always something gained, but idle talk leads only to poverty. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 14:23 Hard work is worthwhile, but empty talk will make you poor. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

The Bible is very emphatic about both the rights and responsibilities of labor. Those in management positions could learn much about how to do their job right by studying what the Bible teaches.

I believe the Marxist tendencies evident in popular and general culture are most certainly the wrong direction to take. Learn the wisdom taught in the Bible if you really want to be successful in life and culture.

Dig deeper through cross reference Bible study:

Here are the cross references careful Bible scholars have found for Proverbs 14:23 as taken from:

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Proverbs 14:23

all: Pro 12:24, Pro 28:19; Joh 6:27; Heb 6:10-11

but: Pro 10:10; Ecc 5:3; 2Th 3:10-12; 1Ti 5:13

The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: 

Proverbs 14:23

all labor. Pro 12:24; +*Pro 22:29; Pro 28:19; *Gen 3:19; 1 Ki 11:28 mg. Psa 90:17; Ecc 2:24; Mat 11:12; *Luk 10:7; *Joh 6:27; +*1Co 15:58; *Col 3:22-24; 2Th 3:10; 2Th 3:12; +*Heb 6:10; Heb 6:11

but. Pro 10:10; Ecc 5:3; Jer 12:2; +*Luk 6:46; 2Th 3:10-12; 1Ti 5:13

Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible: 

all labor. Pr 12:24. +Pr 22:29. 28:19. Ge 3:19. 1 Ki 11:28 mg. Ps 90:17. Ec 2:24. Mt 11:12. Lk 10:7. Jn 6:27. +1 Cor 15:58. Col 3:22-24. 2 Th 3:10, 12. +He 6:10, 11.

but. Pr 10:10. Ec 5:3. Je 12:2. +Lk 6:46. 2 Th 3:10-12. 1 Ti 5:13.

The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

Proverbs 14:23

In all labour. Pro 12:24; +*Pro 22:29; Pro 28:19, *Gen 3:19, 1Ki 11:28 mg. Psa 90:17, Ecc 2:24, Mat 11:12, +*Luk 10:7, *Joh 6:27, +*1Co 15:58, *Col 3:22, 23, 24, 2Th 3:10; 2Th 3:12, +*Heb 6:10; +*Heb 6:11.

but. Pro 10:10, Ecc 5:3, Jer 12:2, +*Luk 6:46, 2Th 3:10, 11, 12, 1Ti 5:13.

The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury Expanded:

Proverbs 14:23

In all labour. Pro 12:24; Pro 16:26. +*Pro 22:29; Pro 28:19, *Gen 3:19, Jdg 19:16. 1Ki 11:28 mg. Psa 90:17, Ecc 2:24, Isa 19:15. Mat 11:12, +*Luk 10:7, *Joh 6:27, +*1Co 15:58, **Eph 4:28. *Col 3:22, 23, 24, 2Th 3:10; 2Th 3:12, +*Heb 6:10; +*Heb 6:11.

there is profit. Pro 24:4. Pro 28:19. Ecc 3:9. **1Co 15:58. *Col 3:23, 24. **Heb 6:10.

but the talk. Pro 10:10, Ecc 5:3, Jer 12:2, +*Luk 6:46, 2Th 3:10, 11, 12, 1Ti 5:13.

tendeth only to penury. Pro 10:8. Pro 12:11. Pro 28:19.

 

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