Daily Bible Nugget #657, Proverbs 1:10

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Proverbs 1:10  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

My Comment:

This is one of the verses that impressed and guided me when I was a new Christian.

Don’t follow the crowd. Do not go by majority opinion. Do not go by what you see or read in the media. Very often I find that their experts are “bought and paid for” and are not telling the truth.

If something violates what the Bible teaches, avoid it.

Do your own research. Do not depend upon those search engines on the Internet that are designed to skew the results or designed to hide accurate research.

Memorize Proverbs 1:10 and always keep it in mind every day.

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Daily Bible Nugget #656, John 5:24

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

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. (KJV)

Joh 5:24 “I most solemnly say to you, whoever listens to me and believes Him who has sent me possesses eternal life, and will never come under condemnation, but has already passed out of death into life. (Williams NT)

Joh 5:24 `Verily, verily, I say to you–He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who sent me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that he that hears my word, and believes him that has sent me, has life eternal, and does not come into judgment, but is passed out of death into life. (Darby Translation)

Joh 5:24  I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life. They won’t be judged because they have already passed from death to life. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Joh 5:24 I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

On the morning of November 7, 1953, I was out delivering the papers for my Detroit Shopping News paper route. We were not allowed to use a bicycle to deliver the papers. My route was a good five mile walk and I delivered the paper to about 300 homes. That Saturday was a cool, cloudy day.

As I walked my paper route I was thinking about the many verses I had been reading from my pocket New Testament.

As I crossed Lumpkin Street in the middle of the block, I asked myself the question, “If I died right here, am I sure I would go to heaven?”

Thinking back over the years I had attended Sunday school and church, and now just briefly a few weeks of youth fellowship on Sunday evenings, I could not think of a single experience where I had accepted Christ as my Savior.

As I folded the next paper for delivery while under a young oak tree, I prayed silently and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Can you really know for sure that you are saved from the penalty of sin?

Can you really know for sure that you have eternal life now and will go to heaven when you die?

On the authority of what Jesus said as recorded in John 5:24, I say you most certainly can know for sure that you are saved and now have eternal life.

Contrary to the teaching of some churches and denominations, the Bible clearly states that you can really know for sure that you are saved and that you have eternal life here and now in this life and forever.

You do not have to wait until after you die to find out.

If you are not sure about your eternal destiny, do what I did 68 years ago and commit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Ask Him to come into your life. Ask Him to save you and guide you for the rest of your life. If you do this, you will forever be thankful to God that you did.

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Daily Bible Nugget #655, Proverbs 8:22

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 8:22  The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.  (KJV)

Pro 8:22 “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. (ESV)

Pro 8:22  The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works. (LXX, Brenton translation)

Pro 8:22  “The LORD already possessed me long ago, when his way began, before any of his works. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 8:22 From the beginning, I was with the LORD. I was there before he began
Pro 8:23 to create the earth. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Those who believe that Jesus is not God often refer to Proverbs 8:22 to show that Jesus was the first of God’s created beings. Here is the evidence I submitted in a continuing discussion that I believe refutes this view:

Pro 8:22  The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

possessed. Heb. acquired. S# H7069. Rendered “possessed” at Psa 139:13; Pro 8:22; Jer 32:15.

This verb occurs elsewhere in Proverbs in the following passages: Pro 1:5; *Pro 4:5; *Pro 4:7; Pro 15:32; Pro 16:16; Pro 17:16; Pro 18:15; Pro 19:8; Pro 20:14; Pro 22:23.

It is frequently rendered by “get” or “buy” (Pro 4:5; Pro 4:7; Gen 4:1, Pro 23:23; Gen 47:19; Rth 4:4; Rth 4:8; Jer 32:7, 8; Jer 32:8; Jer 32:25).

The Syriac (compare Lamsa’s rendering: “The Lord created me as the first of his creations”) and LXX. (compare Charles Thomson’s rendering: “The Lord created me, the beginning of His ways, for His works” or the rendering in Bagster’s LXX.: “The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works”) render it “created.” This rendering is significant to the Arian controversy of the fourth century and since: is Wisdom a personification of Christ? and if so, is Christ then a created being? If Christ is a created being, then he could not be eternal, or God, as the second member of the Trinity. Since the Hebrew verb does not mean “create,” as an examination of its occurrences and renderings will show, this text does not furnish evidence to support the notion that Jesus Christ is, in his pre-incarnate nature, a created being.

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Daily Bible Nugget #654, Revelation 3:14

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

 My Comment:

Revelation 3:14 was brought up as a verse which proves Jesus could not be God. Jesus did not always exist, but had a beginning.

Here are my notes that I have placed in my two published Bible study reference books, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for Revelation 3:14,

Revelation 3:14

the angel. Rev 1:11; +Rev 1:20; Rev 2:1, Eze 44:15, 1Th 5:12, Phm 1:2.

of the Laodiceans. or, in Laodicea. About forty miles east of Ephesus (Vincent). An important city of Phrygia, a few miles west of Colosse. Rebuilt by Antiochus II, and named after his wife, Laodice (CB). The city was destroyed in AD 62 by an earthquake, but was speedily rebuilt (Lange). +Rev 1:11, %Dan 11:6 note. Col 1:7; *Col 2:1; *Col 4:12; *Col 4:13 note, Col 4:14, 15, 16, 2Ti 4:3.

write. Rev 1:4; *Rev 1:7; Rev 1:11; Rev 19:9; Rev 22:19, 2Co 3:3.

These things saith. Mat 24:35, Joh 3:3; Joh 3:11.

the Amen. Used only here as a proper name (Vincent). >Isa 65:16, Jer 28:6, +Mat 6:13, Joh 8:14, *2Co 1:20.

the faithful. Rev 3:7, *+Rev 1:5; Rev 19:11; Rev 21:5; Rev 22:6, >Psa 89:37, *Isa 11:5, Jer 42:5, 2Ti 2:11; 2Ti 2:13.

and true. +Rev 3:7, Pro 8:7, *Isa 65:16, Joh 14:6, 2Co 1:18, 1Jn 5:20.

witness. Rev 22:18, Psa 89:37, Isa 55:4, Jer 29:23, +*Mat 24:35 note. Joh 1:18; Joh 3:11; Joh 3:32, 33; Joh 5:31; *Joh 18:37, 1Ti 6:13.

the beginning. or, source. This is a favorite Arian proof text, cited to prove that Jesus is not eternal, but had a beginning, Jesus being understood by them to be the first-created creature of God, through whom God created all else in the universe.

The underlying Greek word, archē, may be understood in a passive sense, and rendered “the beginning,” as the A.V., or more correctly understood in the active sense, and rendered “the beginner,” source, origin, or principle of creation.

Since God is eternal, and Jesus is God, the passive sense is not suited to the context, as being out of harmony with the many representations of Christ John has already given, whereby he in citing or alluding to Old Testament passages has applied to Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation what is in the Old Testament spoken of Jehovah (see related notes at Act 11:21 note. Col 1:16 note. +*1Pe 2:3 note).

Herman Gebhardt states “that qualities, actions, and conditions which belong specifically to God, are also ascribed to Christ, and to Him only,” and “in Old Testament expressions things which otherwise belong to God are frequently affirmed of Christ. It is said of Christ that ’His head and His hairs were white like wool,’ Rev 1:14; and in Dan 7:9, God is so represented. The eyes of Christ are as a flame of fire, Rev 1:14; Rev 2:18; Rev 19:12; and in the same words God’s omniscience is symbolized as directed with holy indignation against all unrighteousness, Dan 10:6. The feet of Christ are ’like unto fine brass, as if they burned in an oven,’ Rev 1:15; Rev 2:18; the same image represents God’s power in treading down the wicked, Dan 10:6; Eze 1:7, The voice of Christ is as the voice of many waters, Rev 1:15; and we find a similar representation of God’s power against His enemies, Dan 10:6; Eze 1:24; Eze 43:2; Psa 93:3. Christ’s countenance is as the sun shining in his strength, Rev 1:16; and so it is said of God, Dan 10:6 (compare Jdg 5:21). The seer fell down before Christ as if dead, Rev 1:17; a similar effect was wrought by the appearance of God, Exo 33:20; Isa 6:5; Eze 1:28; Dan 8:17, 18; Dan 10:7, 8, 9. Christ says, ’I am He that searcheth the reins and hearts, and will give unto every one of you according to your works,’ Rev 2:23; and we read that ’the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins,’ Psa 7:9, and that He ’renders to every man according to his work,’ Psa 62:12. Christ says, ’As many as I love I rebuke and chasten,’ Rev 3:19; and in Pro 3:12 we read ’whom the Lord loveth He correcteth.’ Christ calls Himself ’the Amen,’ Rev 3:14; and the same expression is used of God, Isa 65:16. The Lamb has ’seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth,’ Rev 5:6; and in Zec 4:10 we read of ’the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.’ According to Rev 7:17, the Lamb will feed His people, and lead them to fountains of living waters; and the same thing is said of Jehovah in Isa 49:10. What is said of the anger of Christ, Rev 19:15 (compare Rev 14:10; Rev 14:14, 15, 16), is drawn from a similar passage respecting God in Isa 63:1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6. The ’vesture dipped in blood,’ worn by Christ, Rev 19:12, is said to have been worn by God, Isa_63:1, 2” (The Doctrine of the Apocalypse, pp. 85, 86). Gebhardt asks, “What exposition is demanded by the laws of language? Without further delay I reply, that had the seer written ’the beginning of the creatures (ktismata) of God,’ or had he written ’the first, or the first-born, or the first-fruit (protos, prototokos, aparxē) of the creation of God,’ then the expression might be understood to denote the first created, or that which precedes all things, the first creature in time and rank. But the seer has written ē arkē tēs ktiseos tou theou, which can mean nothing else than principium creationis, the principle, the en o, di ou, eis o, of the creation of God. After this affirmation of the literal sense, I may remark that it finds confirmation in Rev 1:17, 18; Rev 2:8″ (p. 92, 93). “Are not all the expressions concerning Christ, quoted above, so many proofs that John, by ’the beginning of the creation of God,’ cannot have meant the earliest and greatest of creatures, but a Being above creation?” (Gebhardt, The Doctrine of the Apocalypse, p. 93). Waterland defines Arkē (beginning), “that is, author or efficient cause” (Works, vol. 2, p. 53). T961x. Rev 21:5, 6; Rev 22:13, Gen 1:1; Gen 49:3, LXX. Deut 21:17, >Pro 8:22, Isa 43:10, +%*Joh 1:1; %Joh 1:2; %Joh 1:3; Joh 1:18; Joh 5:17; Joh 5:19; %+*Joh 8:35, **1Co 8:6, 2Co 5:17, Gal 6:15, Eph 3:9, *Col 1:13; >Col 1:15; Col 1:16; Col 1:18, Heb 1:2; Heb 1:10; Heb 12:2, 2Pe 3:4.

of the creation. Gen 1:1, 2Pe 3:4.

of God. Pro 8:22.

This is a long read for a post here (on Facebook today), but you may appreciate how thoroughly I studied this verse to produce these notes and references.

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Bible Verses Christians Ignore

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Lev 11:10  But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you.

Lev 11:11  You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. (ESV)

Opening Post Comment:

Don’t eat shellfish!

Further Bible evidence that violation of dietary laws will be severely judged in the future is shown by Isaiah 66:17, an obvious unfulfilled prophecy at this time, thus proving dietary laws are still in force and have not been abrogated.

Isa 66:17  They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

My Response here:

Isaiah 66:17 is a prediction that pertains to the Jews. The Jews are still under the provisions of the Mosaic Law. The dietary restrictions of the Mosaic Law have been abrogated by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as recorded in the New Testament for those who believe in Him.

My Comment:

In answer to the opening post, maybe we should consider Bible verses Muslims ignore:

Mark 7:19,

Mar 7:19  Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?  (KJV, King James Version)

Mar 7:18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,
Mar 7:19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) (ESV, English Standard Version)

Mar 7:18 He answered, “Don’t you know what I am talking about by now? You surely know that the food you put into your mouth cannot make you unclean.
Mar 7:19 It doesn’t go into your heart, but into your stomach, and then out of your body.” By saying this, Jesus meant that all foods were fit to eat. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

1 Timothy 4:1-5,

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit distinctly declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, because they continuously give their attention to deceiving spirits and the things that demons teach
1Ti 4:2 through the pretensions of false teachers, men with seared consciences,
1Ti 4:3 who forbid people to marry and teach them to abstain from certain sorts of food which God created for the grateful enjoyment of those who have faith and a clear knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 4:4 For everything in God’s creation is good, and nothing is to be refused, provided it is accepted with thanksgiving;
1Ti 4:5 for in this way it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. (Williams New Testament)

Based upon God’s Word as it is declared in 1 Timothy 4:1-5, one mark of false teaching, even called demonic teaching, is the mistaken emphasis on teaching Christian believers to abstain from certain sorts of food.

To require Christians to observe the Old Testament dietary restrictions is apostacy, a mark of those who have departed or turned away from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1, 2).

There are other passages in the New Testament that also show that Bible believing Christians are no longer obligated at all to refrain from certain specific foods, but I chose these two passages because they are the clearest on this subject.

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Daily Bible Nugget #653, Psalm 37:12-13

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psa 37:12  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Psa 37:13  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. (KJV)

Psa 37:12 Merciless people make plots against good people and snarl like animals,
Psa 37:13 but the Lord laughs and knows their time is coming soon. (CEV)

My Comment:

Despite all the negative and downright false news offered every day from our major news sources, don’t be discouraged. More people are waking up every day to recognize the falsehood of what is being promoted.

It is time to recognize that people who know and believe the truth outnumber those promoting and enforcing falsehood by as much as 100 to 1, according to the estimates I have heard and read.

Now if that estimate is too optimistic, just follow the advice found at Proverbs 11:30 in your Bible:

Pro 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (KJV)

Pro 11:30  The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise. (GW)

Pro 11:30 Live right, and you will eat from the life-giving tree. And if you act wisely, others will follow. (CEV)

If each person who believes in Christ would reach just one other person so that they believe in Christ, we would double our numbers!

Reach others with the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Paul wrote in the first chapter of Romans that he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, and neither should we be ashamed:

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (KJV)

Rom 1:16  I’m not ashamed of the Good News. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well. (GW)

Rom 1:16 I am proud of the good news! It is God’s powerful way of saving all people who have faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. (CEV)

Jesus Himself spoke plainly about the negative consequences of being ashamed of Him or His words:

Mar 8:38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (KJV)

Mar 8:38  If people are ashamed of me and what I say in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes with the holy angels in his Father’s glory. (GW)

Mar 8:38 Don’t be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people! If you are, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (CEV)

In my experience, I have found that if I live my life in accordance with what the Bible teaches people will come to me and ask about what makes me different from others they see and know. That opens the door for me to share with them about my faith in Christ and the source of that faith as found in the Bible. You can easily to the same. I believe that because few Christians are doing what I have done, many people who could be reached are not being reached and that has led to the mess we are in now.

Follow our Lord Jesus Christ and be part of the solution not the problem.

Though the wicked are busy plotting against the just, remember that the Lord shall laugh at them. It is a very interesting Bible study to see what the Bible teaches about what the Lord laughs at. If you make that study, you will quickly realize that when God laughs it is not funny at all:

Psalms 37:13

The Lord. S# H136. Psa 2:4; Psa 16:2; Psa 22:30; Psa 35:17.

laugh. FS22C8, +Psa 2:4. *Psa 2:4; Psa 59:8, *Pro 1:26, Luk 19:41, 42.

his day. FS121P3, +Deut 4:32. Day put by the Figure Metonymy (of Adjunct) for the judgment then to be executed (CB): day of punishment and retribution (Young). Exo 32:34, Num 16:29, *1Sa 26:10, Job 18:20, Isa 2:12; Isa 9:4; Isa 10:3; Isa 13:9, Jer 50:27, Eze 21:25; Eze 21:29, Dan 5:26, Luk 16:25.

is coming. Heb. will come.

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Daily Bible Nugget #652, Isaiah 10:1-4

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Isa 10:1  How horrible it will be for those who make unjust laws and who make oppressive regulations.
Isa 10:2  They deprive the poor of justice. They take away the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and rob orphans.
Isa 10:3  What will you do on the day you are called to account for these things, when the disaster comes from far away? Where will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
Isa 10:4  Nothing’s left but to crouch among prisoners and to fall with those who are killed. Even after all this, his anger will not disappear, and he is still ready to use his power. (GW, God’s Word translation)

My Comment:

Isaiah warns how horrible it will be for those who make unjust laws and oppressive regulations.

Unfortunately for them, our legislators have not read and taken to heart the warning God has given in His Word, the Bible. The day is coming when they will wish they had taken proper heed to the Word of God.

Notice that Isaiah’s warning is directed equally to those who make oppressive regulations. Those who write such regulations will share equally in the punishment God will subject them to for all of eternity. It is obvious in our day that unjust laws and oppressive regulations are imposed upon the people every day. Here in the United States it appears to me that few in government at any level know how to read well enough to discern what is constitutional and what is unconstitutional.

This has been a long time in coming. I saw it first in my field of education in the 1960s when I was told not to emphasize or spend much time reading or teaching American literature from the Colonial Period. Yet, that was the title of our textbook: The Early Years of American Literature. I continued to emphasize the literature of the early period. Students need to know from the writings of those who first came here why they came and the struggles they endured to found this nation.

In either the late 1960s or early 1970s I was made acutely aware of the efforts to literally “dumb down” the curriculum when we were required to set aside the textbook, Insights into Literature, for a series of small paperbacks which contained material that was no match in terms of literary quality to the set aside textbook. I saw the same thing happen in the Social Studies Department in the 1980s.

In the 1990s I witnessed first hand the removal of any requirement to write a term paper or research paper. Furthermore, teachers were required to teach lock-step according to an official Pacing Chart which dictated exactly what was to be taught each day and from what page in the textbook. Of course, such regulations had lost sight of the notion that not all students are prepared to read the material for the grade they are in. The powers that be also lost sight of the fact that teachers are often expert in some areas of the curriculum they teach and benefit the students when they can teach to their expertise. This represents a great loss to the students who no longer have the benefit of learning to a greater depth of understanding content that otherwise could have been taught to them.

According to what I have been reading in the professional journals for my teaching fields for the past twenty years since my retirement from teaching, there has been a distracting intrusion of philosophical ideas such as “critical race theory” which occupies the attention of  professional educators which leads our efforts to teach young people far astray from the knowledge they most need to have taught to them.

As I see it, some of these past trends are bearing evil fruit today in the quality and competency of our educational and political leaders who seem unable to solve problems we face. I learned long ago that sometimes there is a motive to not solve problems, because if problems are solved and overcome, the funding stops!

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Daily Bible Nugget #651 Psalm 82:6

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

My Comment:

One of my Facebook friends asked for someone to explain Psalm 82:6. She mentioned that some in the Word of Faith movement have taken this verse and the use Jesus made of it way out of context to suggest that we as believers in Christ can become gods. I, personally, have had very little contact with this movement, so I have no direct knowledge of the sense in which they take these Bible passages. But in any case, here is my answer to her question. Good thing I saved what I had written because when I posted my reply her question and my response disappeared from my screen.

My Response:

This is a very difficult and obscure passage of Scripture. I placed a note in my Bible study resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, which may provide some help in beginning to understand what it means:

Psalms 82:6

I have said. Psa 82:1, Exo 21:6; Exo 22:8, 9; **Exo 22:28, *Joh 10:34, 35, 36.

gods. Heb. elohim. Here there is a special use of elohim (just as at Psa 8:5 there is another and different special use of elohim), where elohim refers to divinely appointed magistrates, kings, or judges, as “gods.” These officials were not considered deity, for it is explicitly stated (Psa 82:7) that they shall die like men, and are rulers of the people, Exo 22:28. As rulers in Israel only, not the nations, they were “the Lord’s anointed,” and were thus types of Christ, the great anointed one. If Christ were not truly God, they could not in type have been called gods. In contrast, when Christ is called God, it is in reference to his true deity, in combination with an attribute or action belonging only to the supreme God. William Kay notes that they are called “gods” because God’s word came to them (Joh 10:35), “investing them with his prerogative of judgment.” Dr. Michael Heiser in his study, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, more accurately sets forth the Biblical uses of elohim in six categories:

(1) Yahweh [or Jehovah], the God of Israel, Gen 2:4, 5; Deut 4:35; [Gen 1:1; +Gen 19:29; +Exo 2:24; 1Ki 8:23; Neh 9:6, +Psa 45:6; Psa 95:3; *Psa 97:9];

(2) The members of Yahweh’s council [the Divine Council], Psa 82:1; Psa 82:6;

(3) Gods and goddesses of other nations, Jdg 11:24; 1Ki 11:33;

(4) Demons (Hebrew: shedim, Deut 32:17; Psa 106:37);

(5) The deceased Samuel, 1Sa 28:13;

(6) Angels or the Angel of Yahweh, Gen 35:7 (page 30).

What all the figures on the list have in common is that they are members of the spiritual world (page 31). Thus the elohim in Psa 82:6 are divine beings, not human judges. +Psa 82:1, Psa 86:8; %Psa 96:4; %Psa 96:5; +*Psa 138:1, Gen 3:5; Gen 6:2, Exo 4:16; Exo 7:1; +Exo 12:12; Exo 22:8, 1Sa 28:13, 2Ch 24:23, Isa 36:13, Joh 1:1; +*Joh 10:30; +*Joh 10:33; +*>Joh 10:34, *Rom 9:5, *Tit 2:13, 1Jn 5:20.

children. or, sons (Young). Psa 9:20; Psa 29:1,  2; Psa 58:1, Gen 6:2, Deut 14:1; Deut 32:19, Job 1:6; Job 2:1, +*Mat 5:9, Luk 6:35, +1Jn 3:1.

most High. +Psa 7:17; Psa 18:13; Psa 47:2; Psa 78:17; *Psa 83:18; Psa 92:1, +**Gen 14:18, +Num 24:16, Deut 32:8, +Mar 5:7.

The ESV translates what in the KJV is “congregation” as “in the divine council” at Psalm 82:1. This “divine council” is seen in many other places in the Bible as given in my cross references at Psalm 82:1. Not included among those references but should also be considered is the “let US” make man in “OUR image.” While Genesis 1:26 is usually understood as a reference to the Trinity, it is possible that it is a reference to the “divine council.”

How all this contributes to understanding what Jesus meant when He cited this verse at John 10:34 would take further careful study and comparison of Scripture with Scripture.

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Daily Bible Nugget #650, Proverbs 14:24

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Proverbs 14:24  The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. (KJV)

Pro 14:24 Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Pro 14:24  A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil. (Brenton, LXX)

Pro 14:24  The crown of wise people is their wealth. The stupidity of fools is just that-stupidity!  (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 14:24 Wisdom can make you rich, but foolishness leads to more foolishness. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Keil and Delitzch remark that “while wisdom is adorned and raised up by riches, folly on the other hand remains, even when connected with riches, always the same, without being either thereby veiled or removed – on the contrary, the fool, when he is rich, exhibits his follies always more and more.”

Should it ever happen that you receive a large sum of money, don’t squander what you have received. Money goes way faster than it comes!

To dig deeper, study the cross references I share below for Proverbs 14:24 which I just now expanded even beyond what I placed in The New Treasury or The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

Proverbs 14:24

crown of the wise. Pro 12:4. See on +Pro 14:18, Pro 17:6. 1Ki 3:13, Psa 112:9, Ecc 7:11, 12, Isa 33:6, Luk 16:9.

is their riches. Pro 3:16.

foolishness. Pro 16:22. Pro 27:22, *Psa 49:10, 11, 12, 13, Luk 12:19, 20; Luk 16:19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.

Posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Practical Application Bible Studies | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Sabbath and Lawlessness

Posted on September 11, 2021 by Jerry

 

My good friend Pastor Robert Anderson posted a video on Facebook on September 3, 2021 at 6:00 pm. Before the video actually “aired,” there were some individuals posting comments about it. So, I entered the discussion. Pastor Anderson titled his video presentation “Israel is not the Church.”

Comment by WFIII:

The bible disagrees with you. Along with your false lawless doctrine

38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Acts 7:38 KJV

 

I commented:

WFIII, It may help to read your Bible better. I trust Pastor Robert Anderson will have some helpful things to say. We must always have a teachable spirit and the openness to learn something new or receive correction.

WFIII responded:

Jerome Smith, This man doesn’t have any understanding. He doesn’t keep the commandments of God

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 111:10 KJV

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:104-105 KJV

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Proverbs 6:23 KJV

Any person that doesn’t keep the law are void of Light!!

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 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.

Isaiah 8:16, 20 KJV

 

I responded:

WFIII, You have presented much good Scripture. Some of the passages you cite are among my favorite verses. I believe, however, that you have misapplied some of the Bible passages you have quoted. To understand the Bible correctly, we must compare Scripture with Scripture. We must carefully consider the context of each Bible passage we quote. We must carefully follow the rules of Bible interpretation. I have discussed these things at my little “blog” since 2010. I invite you to participate there by making a comment on anything I have posted there. There is more room there for careful discussion than on FB. Visit Real Bible Study dot com. I have posted much there for everyone’s edification.

WFIII responded:

Jerome Smith, We also need to make sure that we’re not twisting Paul’s epistles to teach lawlessness. Paul states time and times again he taught and kept the law. That’s why he took a nazarite vow (Numbers 6) proving he kept and taught the law. People lied on Paul back then. The same way they do today

18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

Acts 21:18-24 KJV

 

I commented in return:

WFIII, Of course, Paul was responding to a specific situation in that given cultural context at that time in history. He was in background a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, who had advanced much further in his Jewish faith than others of his own age. Paul warned us against the Judaizers who attempted to teach that one must “be circumcised after the manner of Moses” or you cannot be saved (see Acts 15:1 and the whole chapter). See also Galatians 4:9-11.

You can readily determine who is teaching correct Bible doctrine by whether the teaching represents the balance of emphasis found in the New Testament. Emphasis upon law-keeping, such as an insistence that one must assemble for Christian worship on the Seventh Day Sabbath.

 

WFIII responded:

You’re teaching another Jesus and gospel. Anybody teaching against the law is a heretic!!!

4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:4, 13-15 KJV

Sunday Christians today are no different than Pharisees. They both teach traditions of men. Sunday Christians observe pagan holidays, eat unclean foods and etc…

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Mark 7:6-9 KJV

 

I commented:

WFIII, Once again, I kindly would advise you to be very careful who you accuse of teaching false doctrine. Have you visited my Real Bible Study site yet? You will find that I have discussed this particular issue more extensively than you are likely to find anywhere else.

Let my comment just above about how to determine who is teaching false doctrine sink in. Anyone who overemphasizes a Biblical theme by giving it an importance beyond the emphasis it is given in the New Testament is very likely to be teaching false doctrine.

Please furnish me a verse from the New Testament written in the form of a commandment to Christians that requires Christians to observe the Fourth Commandment.

 

WFIII responded:

Jerome Smith, Right here! This is after the death of Jesus.

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Luke 23:55-56 KJV

Jesus’s death ushered in the new covenant. You’re without excuse!!!!

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Hebrews 9:16-17 KJV

 

Pharisees were zealous after traditions of their fathers..

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Galatians 1:13-14 KJV

These are Christians that believe in Jesus and zealous for the law not traditions of men

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Acts 21:20 KJV

True Saints believe in Jesus and keep the commandments

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 KJV

 

I responded:

WFIII, The verse you cite is not a commandment directed to Christians. It is a historical reference to what Jewish believers who followed Jesus did or did not do on His behalf upon His death on the cross.

I look forward to your presentation of a verse from the New Testament that is written in the form of a command to Christians directing Christians to observe the Sabbath Commandment. To qualify, the verse must be in the imperative mood, the mood of command, not the indicative mood, the mood of reality or historical reference.

 

WFIII responded:

Jerome Smith, The first Christans were Jews.

19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Acts 11:19, 26 KJV

 

You have all Roman Christianity education. Yet! The book  sealed to you. You have zero understanding of the scriptures…smh. YOU’RE DRUNK OFF FALSE DOCTRINE

9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

Isaiah 29:9-11 KJV

 

I responded to WFIII:

Without question you are correct that the first Christians were Jews. As Jews, they were obedient to the Mosaic Law. Some Gentiles, as “God-fearers,” attended synagogue worship on the Sabbath, obviously because that is the day that Jews met for worship. But none of this establishes that Christians have ever in the New Testament been commanded to observe the Fourth Commandment.

You have yet to furnish me a single verse of command in the New Testament in the imperative mood that directs Christians to worship on the Seventh Day Sabbath in accordance with the Fourth Commandment.

 

WFIII responded:

Gentiles were given 4 commandments. We know people can’t lie, steal, kill, and etc. Those commandments weren’t mentioned. Verse 21 clearly states Gentiles would learn the rest of the law on the sabbath not Sunday

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Acts 15:19-21 KJV

This is prove Gentiles and Jews met up in the synagogues on the sabbath not Sunday.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Acts 18:4 KJV

 

I responded to WFIII:

You are very good at supplying Bible references pertaining to Sabbath observance. But as of yet, not ONE verse in the New Testament have you produced that constitutes a direct statement of command in the imperative mood addressed to Christians commanding them to observe the Seventh Day as their specific day for Christian worship.

Until you DO produce such a verse, it is obvious that the doctrine you are promulgating is not in agreement with the doctrine carefully proclaimed in the New Testament.

 

WFIII responded to me:

You’re a [wolf]  in [sheep’s]  clothing. I see right through you. You couldn’t refute any of those passages..smh

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:15 KJV

You’re teaching against the commandments. Even if you believe the sabbath is a least commandment. You won’t get into the kingdom. You’re a modern day Pharisee teaching traditions of men

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:19-20 KJV

Since you’re teaching lawlessness, condemnation awaits you. I’ve already proven using Luke 23: 56 the sabbath is a commandment in the new covenant

1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

James 3:1 KJV

 

I responded to WFIII comment (now missing!) about the Council of Laodicea:

I am not appealing to the Council of Laodicea which took place long after the New Testament was completed.

I have asked you to do a very simple thing: Produce even a single verse stated as a command in the imperative mood in the New Testament that directs all Christian believers to worship on the Seventh Day Sabbath in accordance with the Fourth Commandment.

If this issue is as important as you seem to think, then there surely ought to be at least one verse in the New Testament that says so.

I believe that it is extremely important that we are strictly Biblical in our formulation of Bible and Christian doctrine.

As you have so far not produced the requisite text from the New Testament that commands all Christians to strictly observe the Seventh Day Sabbath Commandment, I must conclude that it is you, not me, who has been promulgating false doctrine.

 

WFIII responded:

You’ve been warned! REPENT!! Before its too late. My job here is finished!!!!

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Matthew 7:6 KJV

 

In response, I commented to WFIII:

If that is the best you can do in answer to my simple and straightforward challenge, your position is sadly lacking in terms of Biblical warrant.

Your repeated use of ad hominem remarks is very telling.

I trust you will continue to study your Bible so that you may become better grounded in its truth.

 

WFIII’s (concluding) reply to me:

Truth is when a believer in Christ keeps the law. Unlike you!!

142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

Psalm 119:142, 150 KJV

The bible calls you a liar because you’re lawless. Take it up with God not me. You have a reprobate mind. Read Romans 1…

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 2:3-4 KJV

My Comment:

That is where our discussion ended.

There is another question which may be asked: Can you find one instance of specifically Christian worship (involving taking the Lord’s Supper) on the Seventh Day Sabbath recorded in the New Testament?

Yet another question may be asked: If keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath is so very crucially important, can you find any statement of warning that this is the case within the New Testament?

I have been reading and studying the Bible for a good long time, and I have not found any such statements in the New Testament. But I am still reading, and always willing to learn something new.

Perhaps some reader here can help me out on these for me as yet unanswered questions.

I believe that it is important that we focus our attention and emphasize the truths that the New Testament does and with the same balance of attention and emphasis. It appears to me that the New Testament is strikingly silent on this matter of requiring Christian believers to observe the Fourth Commandment regarding the Seventh Day Sabbath.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Doctrinal Discussions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly, Sabbath Issues | Tagged , , | Leave a comment