This is written to let you know that the Holy Bible is like no other books because it is the Book of God with the central message of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind. The Word of Jesus is the Word of God, ABSOLUTE, INFALLIBLE, SUPREME, ULTIMATE, AND ETERNAL. Heavens and Earth will pass away, but the Word of God will never pass away.
The Holy Bible is One, consists of the Old Testament written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. The Old Testament is composed of 39 books, and the New Testament is comprised of 27 books; a total of 66 books. The Holy Bible is the sole basis upon which Christianity is built on. Like Luther and all true Christians, I believe in Sola Scriptura (which means by Scripture alone). Sola Scriptura means that Scripture alone is the authoritative guide for the faith and practice of all Christians. The Bible is complete, authoritative, absolute, perfect, supreme, infallible, eternal and true because it is the Word of God. The Word of God cannot be violated.
There is no danger in believing Sola Scriptura just as there is no danger in believing One and True God. The God of the Holy Bible is Omniscient, Omnipotent, All Wise, Self-Existent, Eternal God. The Word of God is therefore infallible and eternal. Beware of false teachers who pretend to be Christians, yet they intend to destroy the Word of God with false science, false teachings, false theology, false doctrines, and heresies. There are many websites that pretend to be Christian but they are diabolical.
It is of utmost important to know the miracles of God are supernatural in nature, no scientist or anyone can use the natural principles to explain the supernatural. The Word of God is truth and does not need to be confirmed or validated by scientists or anyone. Miracles are the acts of God do not need to be explained by scientists. Actually scientists cannot use the natural to explain the supernatural. For example, some scientists use the “red tides” to explain Exo 7:17,”This is what the Lord says: By this you shall know that I AM the Lord: behold, I am going to strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned into blood.” The Lord said the water of Nile turned into blood, not the “red tides.” So scientific explanation of the supernatural is useless. Scientists are humans, fallible and mortal. They do not even know when they are going to die.
The most famous English Bible was the 1611 King James Version, the originally published KJV text from 1611 A.D. using archaic English. However, the first English translation was completed by John Wycliffe who was an English philosopher, theologian, biblical translator, and a seminary professor at the University of Oxford. What is the difference between translation and version?
“According to Ethnologue, there are currently 7,106 living languages in the world. As of 2020 the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages. The New Testament has been translated into 1,551 languages and parts of the Bible have been translated into 1,160 additional languages.”
According to:
https://www.wycliffe.net/
According to http://infomory.com/numbers/number-of-bibles-printed/
How many Bibles have been printed? 6,001,500,000
According to Webster’s New Word College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, “translation implies the rendering from one language into another of something written or spoken (a German translation of Shakespeare); version is applied to a particular translation of a given work, spec. of the Bible (the King James Version).”
I recommend this Dictionary to all my students, except Taiwan is not a nation, but a province of China.
For practical reasons since then there have been many English translations the English Bible, including the following translations and version available:
King James Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, New International Version, English Standard Version, Christian Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, New English Translation, Revised Standard Version, American Standard Version, Young’s Literal
Translation, Darby Translation, Webster’s Bible, Hebrew Names Version,
provided free by https://www.blueletterbible.org; although I personally and preferably use the NASB. When it does not seem clear to me or it has some flaws, I consult also other translations and versions, or I make translations myself through the study of the original words.
As far as I know, God did not and does not grant any individual, group, or institution the right and privilege to translate the Holy Bible. For that reason, I strongly believe it is wrong and corrupt to copyright the Bible for business purposes. It is un-scriptural and wrong for any individual, group, or institution to make, publish, and merchandise the Holy Bible for high profit. Some famous and infamous individuals through greed and covetousness they used with feigned words and private interpretations to make merchandise of the Bible and sell them to make profits. I believe such rendering the Bible for the purpose of merchandising is wrong and corrupt. For that reason, we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation.
For those who study the Word of God and those who learn the English language, the Holy Bible is the greatest world’s masterpiece. When I was a boy learning the English language and used the English Bible as a textbook, it was difficult because the Bible of King James English was archaic. Now the English Bible is blessed with many modern and contemporary English versions which are very helpful and useful and beautiful and powerful. I often thought what China could have been if men like Confucius, Lao Zi, etc. had read the Holy Bible. The new versions of the Holy Bible include New King James Version, New Living Translation, New International Version, English Standard Version and New American Standard Bible 2020. Without doubt, these new versions of the Holy Bible express the most beautiful and powerful English. There is no book like the Bible which contains the Gospel and Parable, Philosophy and Theology, Doctrine and Discourse, History and Literature, Prophecy and Poetry, Monologue and Prologue, Biography and Autobiography, Treatise and Teaching, Sign and Miracle, Law and Grace, Heaven and Hell, Sin and Salvation, Maxim and Proverb, God and Devil, Time and Eternity, Material and Spiritual, Flesh and Spirit, Children of God and Children of the Devil, Good and Evil, the Righteous and the Wicked, this World and the World to come, etc.
This article is written so that you may know the Holy Bible is not like any other book. The Holy Bible is the Book of God, God speaks to mankind, the whole world. Human books are originated by men, great and small, famous and infamous. There are many useful books. Good books are few. Great books are rare. The Bible is the greatest Book of all times. The Bible is the sole Book whereby Christianity is built and based upon. The Bible or the Scripture claims to be the Word of God, although holy prophets and holy apostles were moved and wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and wrote them down. The Bible is right because God cannot be wrong. It simply means the Bible is not the teaching of man; it is the revelation of God. The Holy Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the basis of Judaism, mainly the Mosaic Law and the Prophets – from Genesis to Malachi, a set of 39 book. The New Testament is the basis of Christianity, written by apostles after the ascension of Jesus Christ – from Matthew to Revelation, a set of 27 books. Thus, the Bible is composed of 66 books.
Unfortunately, the Jews still wait for the Messiah, they do not know or believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who was God and became Man some 2,000 years ago. For this reason the Jews believe only the Old Testament. Christians believe in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament because Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. All the prophets spoke about the Messiah fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is not like other books, it is the message of God to mankind. The central message of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent into the world to die for our sins, rose from death for our justification. He ascended to the highest Heaven sitting at the right hand of God, and He is coming again to reign with the saints forever and ever. Some humanists and modernists and unbelievers out of their evil heart of unbelief want a ‘different and better Bible’. There is no other Bible, there is no better Bible, there is only one Bible which is the Word of the Lord. Men may fake a Good Book. There is no other Good Book, the Bible is the only Good Book because it has the Word of life, and it teaches the Way of God in truth.
The Bible was not conceived by man, or woman, or men. The Bible was not invented by human being or human beings. The Bible was not made by an institution or institutions. The Bible was not a product of culture, tradition, religion, custom, experience or experiment, discovery or wisdom of human beings. The Bible was not a fable, composition, novel, anthology, essay, philosophy of human mind. The Bible is the Holy Scripture, the Word of God.
Jhn 10:35 ,“If he called them gods, to whom the Word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).” The Bible, the Scripture and the Word of God are synonymous. Word in Greek is logos which means speech, a living voice, a conception or idea, what is said, decree, dictum, mandate, declaration, instruction, reason, revelation, oracle or utterance, the sayings of God, the moral precepts given by God, doctrine, teaching, the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal Wisdom and Power in union with God; – it occurs 334 times in the New Testament. The Word of God came to holy prophets and apostles. To be broken means to be nullified or violated. The Word of God cannot be nullified or violated.
Luk 3:2 ,“In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the Word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.”
Luk 5:1 ,“Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the Word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.”
The Word of Jesus is the Word of God.
Jhn 1:1 ,“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Mat 24:35,“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
To pass away in Greek is parerchomai which means to perish, go out of existence, end, come to an end; – it occurs 46 times in the New Testament. If Heaven and earth will pass away, how much sooner the American imperialism, Islamic terrorism and the empire of Japan? All things will pass away; the Words of Jesus will never pass away. The Word of God will not pass away.
The Word of God reveals God to mankind. Scripture in Greek is graphē which means a writing, thing written, the book itself, or its contents; a certain portion or passage or section of the Holy Scripture; – it occurs 51 times in the New Testament. To break in Greek is lyō which means to dismiss, break up, annul, subvert, undo, do away with, deprive of authority, demolish, destroy, overthrow, do away with; – it occurs 45 times in the New Testament. The Word of God cannot be nullified or violated.
Psa 119:89 , “Lamedh.
Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in Heaven.”
Word in Hebrew is dabar which means speech, saying, utterance, discourse, edict, oracle; – it occurs 1,414 times in the Old Testament. To settle in Hebrew is natsab which means to stand firm, establish, station, set, fix, put, place; – it occurs 79 times in the Old Testament. The Word of God is settled in Heaven where no missile, rocket, warplane, radar, etc. can reach. Whatever the rich and powerful do on earth does not affect the Word of God fixed in Heaven one bit.
To say the Bible says is the same to say the Scripture says. To say in the Bible is the same to say in the Scriptures. To say according to the Bible is the same to say according to the Scriptures. The Holy Bible means the Holy Scriptures. To say the Word of the Lord is the same as the Word of God. When Jesus speaks, God speaks. The Word of Jesus is the Word of God. The Holy Bible is the Holy Scripture and the Word of God.
Luk 24:25-27, “And He (Jesus) said to them: “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
Note: All the Scriptures proclaim one central message of the Bible which is Jesus Christ. Foolish in Greek is anoētos which means unintelligible, not understanding, unwise; – it occurs 7 times in the New Testament. To explain in Greek is diermēneuō which means to unfold the meaning of what is said, expound; – it occurs 6 times in the New Testament.
There is no such a thing called a liberal interpretation of the Bible, a broad interpretation of the Bible, or a rigid interpretation of the Bible, a narrow interpretation of the Bible, etc. There is only one correct interpretation of the Bible is to explain it accurately.
To begin with there are millions of Christians who do not know how to search the Scriptures. For example, they remember the Bible says about all things work together for good of Christians, they do not know exactly the Book and the Verse. If you remember the Scripture cited is in the New Testament may help you a lot. Here is the tool how you can find the Scripture you are looking for: You need a computer (or cellphone) with Internet access. You visit the following address: https://www.blueletterbible.org/
When it opens up, on your left the top click on Search, there are many versions of the Bible, such as
KJV, NKJV, NLT, NIV, ESV, CSB, NASB
NET, RSV, ASV, YLT, DBY, WEB, HNV
I usually pick NASB (NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE) because it is my opinion that the translation is more accurate and the language is more American. There is no perfect translation.
Then you remember the key words: ‘all things’. In the box Search the Bible, you enter all things and click the arrow on your right. It opens up many Scriptures with the words “all things.” If you know the verse is in the New Testament, you just scroll down to click on 2. Immediately you will see:
Rom 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
I hope this illustration may help you henceforth easy to find the Scriptures you are looking for with ease. The Holy Bible is a treasure you can find spiritual truths for your whole life.
1. The Word of the Lord.
Specifically at a point in time God spoke to a particular person or group of people, it can be cited as the Word of the Lord.
Gen 15:1 ,“After these things the Word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Note: Word in Hebrew is dabar which means speech, saying, utterance, something said; – it occurs 1,439 times in the Old Testament. Vision in Hebrew is machazeh which means in the ecstatic state; – it occurs only 4 times in the Old Testament.
Gen 15:4 ,“And behold, the Word of the LORD came to him, saying: This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
Note: The Word of God often explains and gives instruction or command. God told Abram (later became Abraham) specifically that Ishmael shall not be his heir, but Isaac who will come from his own body shall be his heir.
Exd 8:1 ,“And the LORD spoke to Moses: Go to Pharaoh and say to him, Thus says the LORD: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”
Note: The Lord told Moses to say to Pharaoh: Thus says the Lord. The standard formula was used by all prophets who spoke for God to anyone from king to the Israelites: Thus says the Lord.
Exd 9:20 ,“He who feared the Word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses.”
Note: The LORD said to Moses that tomorrow He would cause very heavy hail to rain down throughout the land of Egypt. Those servants of Pharaoh who feared the Word of the Lord made their servants and their livestock flee to the houses. Those who did, did not die in the field. Those who did not died.
Num 3:16 ,“So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the Word of the LORD .”
Note: Command in Hebrew is tsavah which means to order, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to; – it occurs about 494 times in the Old Testament. Moses took a census of the Israelites as God commanded him. To obey God’s Word is to obey God’s command. To obey God’s command is to obey God.
Num 15:31 , “Because he has despised the Word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.”
Note: Despise in Hebrew is bazah which means to hold in contempt, disdain, regard with contempt, figuratively to trample with the feet, make light of; – it occurs about 43 times in the Old Testament. To despise the Word of the Lord is to despise the Lord, a very serious sin. Anyone who breaks the Lord’s commandment, that person shall be completely cut off. To be cut off is to be killed.
Num 22:18 ,“Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak: Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the Word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. ”
Note: Silver and gold stands for money. Almost all sins ever committed have been committed for the love of money. In fact the love of money is the root of all evils. No prophet can go beyond the Word of the Lord, to do more or less.
Go beyond in Hebrew is `abar which means to pass over, cross, cross over, march over; pass beyond, violate, overlook or neglect, bypass, omit, supersede; – it occurs about 559 times in the Old Testament. This is a core principle: Preachers cannot and must not go beyond the Word of the Lord as it written in the Bible. Speculation or private interpretation of the Bible is strictly forbidden.
Question: How does a prophet of God speak for God?
Num 22:38 ，“And Balaam said to Balak: Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The Word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak. ”
Note: Balaam was bad in other things, but he was right that what God put in his mouth that he must speak. All preachers must not use their imagination to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ; they must adhere to what the Bible clearly teaches. For example, some false preachers teach that God is love therefore there is no hell. But Jesus Christ says, Mat 10:28 , “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him (God) who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
Note: God destroys the body and soul of the wicked or unbeliever in Hell, but the body and soul do not die (cease to exist) but suffer for eternity.
2Pe 2:15, “They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.”
Note: Wages in Greek is misthos which means dues paid for work, reward: used of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and labors; – it occurs about 29 times in the New Testament. This Scripture says that Balaam loved the wages of wickedness; therefore do not follow the way of Balaam. The way of Wall Street is the way of Balaam who loved the wages of wickedness. Hedge fund managers who do nothing productive but gambling on investors’ money make several billions a year can be called the wages of wickedness. Doctors and hospital owners who become filthy rich by predatory and fraudulent practices can be called the wages of wickedness. Corrupt politicians and bureaucrats also love the wages of wickedness.
Jud 1:11 ,“Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.”
Note: Balaam’s error was that he rushed for profit. You can observe how government officials and business executives, institutions and individuals, etc. rush for profit in a capitalistic society. The financial and economic crisis created by Wall Street in 2008 was caused by Balaam’s error, those who loved the wages of wickedness and defrauded the world more than US $50 trillion dollars.
Rev 2:14 ,“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.”
Note: The teaching of Balaam entices people to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Some false Chinese preachers teach it is o.k. to worship ancestors and eat food offered to ancestors or idols. Some false teachers say it is o.k. to divorce and remarry. Certain minority groups covertly consent their church leaders to have extramarital or homosexual affairs. Any teaching entices idolatry is the teaching of Balaam. In the West, few worship idols; but prosperity gospel preachers encourage people to love money. Col 3:5, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Note: Earthly nature includes sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed. Greed is idolatry. Capitalism is based on greed; therefore it is not compatible with Christianity. Western values are based on the love of money, power and sex; therefore they are not compatible with the Christian values of faith, hope and love. Wall Street people are experts in greed.
Deu 5:5-7 ,“At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the Word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain. And He said: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Note: Moses stood before God and the Israelites to declare the Word of God to them. Moses symbolizes the model of God’s servants.
Deu 30:14 ,“But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.”
Note: If the Word is in your heart and in your mouth, it is very near you. It is our duty to meditate on the Word of the Lord day and night.
Deu 34:5 , “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the Word of the LORD .”
Note: Moses died in the land of Moab was a historical fact. Everything written in the Bible is according to the Word of the Lord. What the Lord says is so, historically and spiritually true.
2Sa 7:4-5 ,“But it happened that night that the Word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David：This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build Me a house to dwell in?”
Note：David wanted to build a house for the Lord. Even what you wanted to do may be good; you better listen to what the Lord says. So the Word of the Lord came to Nathan the prophet, Nathan told David what the Lord said. The Word of the Lord is the supreme and final authority.
2Sa 22:31, “As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
Note: Proven means refined, pure, can be trusted. The Word of the Lord is proven true all the time.
Psa 33:4 ,“For the Word of the LORD is right , and all His work is done in truth.”
Note: Right in Hebrew is yashar which means straight, upright, correct, straightforward, just, fitting, proper, righteous, true; – it occurs about 119 times in the Old Testament. The Word of the Lord is forever right, men are usually and repeatedly wrong.
Psa 33:6 , “By the Word of the LORD the Heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”
Note: Heavens in Hebrew is shamayim visible heavens, as abode of the stars, the visible universe, the abode of God and holy angels; – it occurs about 420 times in the Old Testament. which means The Word of the Lord is so powerful that the heavens (universe) were made by the Word of Lord. There are three heavens, the first is the sky where birds and planes fly; the second is the universe where countless stars and galaxies are; the third heaven if the abode of God and holy angels.
Act 8:25 , “So when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”
Note: Word in Greek is logos which means what someone has said, speech, the sayings of God, the doctrine concerning the attainment through Jesus Christ salvation in the Kingdom of God; – it occurs about 330 times in the New Testament. Many preachers do not know how to preach the Word of the Lord which is the Gospel, so they preach how to win friends and influence people, how to get rich, etc.
Act 13:48 ,“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Note: The Word of the Lord that made me glad is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Glorify in Greek is doxazō which means to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, honor, do honor to, hold in honor, make glorious, cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged; – it occurs about 62 times in the Old Testament. Believers honor and magnify the Word of the Lord. Appoint in Greek is tassō which means to arrange, ordain, order, decree; – it occurs only 8 times in the New Testament. As many as were appointed or ordained by God to obtain eternal life believed. This does not mean God predetermines some to go to heaven and others to go to hell. Heaven or hell, you have a choice. You have a choice does not mean you can save yourself by your own merit or good deed, for no one is good enough in the sight of God. That is why God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for sinners, so that all who accept and believe in Jesus Christ may be saved by faith through grace of God. God’s love is for everyone, but not everyone would accept and believe. A boy of a Chinese church was taught that Jesus loved him because he had good points. No, God loved sinners not because they are worthy. No one deserves the love of God. No one is worthy the grace of God. God knows from ages past who would believe and who would not believe. Jesus Christ says,
Jhn 8:24 , “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the One I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” Jhn 5:40, “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” Are you willing to believe and be saved?
Act 15:35 , “Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.”
Note: Teach in Greek is didaskō which means to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses, impart instruction, instill doctrine into one, explain or expound a doctrine; – it occurs about 97 times in the New Testament. Preach in Greek is euaggelizō which means to announce or proclaim glad tidings, in the New Testament it is used especially of the good news of the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the world, how Christ died for sinners to atone our sins and rose from death for our justification. The word ‘evangelism’ is derived from the Greek word. Preaching is focused on those who have not known the Lord, while teaching is to provide instruction for believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Word of the Lord is right and true.
Mar 16:15 , “And He said to them: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
Note: In obeying the command of the Lord, I proclaim the Gospel to the world through the Internet my website, not for money or praise of man.
2. The Word of the Lord is also called the Word of God.
1Sa 9:27 ,“As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul: Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. And he went on. But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the Word of God. ”
Note: Announce in Hebrew is shama` which means to cause to hear, call to hear, summon, give heed, make proclamation; – it occurs 1,159 times in the Old Testament. To announce the Word of God was a serious and solemn matter, much more than the practice of announcing the Chinese imperial decree because Israel was then ruled by theocracy.
1Ki 12:22-24 , “But the Word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying: Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, Thus says the LORD: You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me. Therefore they obeyed the Word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the Word of the LORD.”
Note: Obey in Hebrew is shama` which means to hear with attention or interest, listen to, yield to, be obedient to, give heed to; – it occurs about 1,159 times in the Old Testament. The Word of God came to the man of God. The man of God spoke what God spoke. What God spoke people must obey. The Word of God stopped the war between king of Judah and king of Israel.
Pro 30:5 ,“Every Word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”
Note: Pure in Hebrew is tsaraph which means refined, purified, tested, proven true; – it occurs about 33 times in the Old Testament. For this reason, filthy and corrupt people do not like the Word of God. Crooks and criminals and corrupt officials do not like the Word of God.
Mar 7:13 , “Making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Note: Tradition in Greek is paradosis which means a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing, tradition by instruction, precept, narrative, etc., of the body of precepts, especially ritual, which in the opinion of the later Jews were orally delivered by Moses and orally transmitted in unbroken succession to subsequent generations, which precepts, both illustrating and expanding the written law, as they did were to be obeyed with equal reverence; – it occurs about 13 times in the New Testament. Traditions of man may be opposite to the divine teachings. In Jesus’time, Pharisees used rituals and traditions to nullify the Word of God. The Chinese have many customs and traditions which are contrary to the Word of God. You cannot call yourself a Christian and worship idols as the leader of Taiwan does. If you are a Buddhist or Taoist, then you are not a Christian. Buddhists and Taoists may become Christians, Christians can never become Buddhists or Taoists or other religions.
Isa 40:8 ,“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.”
Note: Men are like grasses wither, beautiful women are like flowers fade.
Stand in Hebrew is quwm which means to stand up, maintain oneself, endure, persist, establish, stand firm, be valid, stand fast; – it occurs 628 times in the Old Testament. Empires crumble, riches fly away, everything in the world passes away, but the Word of God stands forever.
Luk 3:2 ,“While Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the Word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”
Note: For a prophet, the most important thing is that the Word of God comes to him, it does not matter where he is, city or wilderness. Now the revelation of Jesus Christ is complete, no one can say the Word of God comes to him which is different from what is already written in the Bible. It still can happen from time to time God may speak to individuals in terms of special revelation. A special revelation cannot contradict the general revelation. For example, if you claim God spoke to you that Jesus Christ will return on July 11, 2011 – you must be a false prophet because Jesus Christ makes it clear,
Mat 24:36 ,“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” When Jesus Christ made this statement He was in a humble state on earth, I believe after the resurrection and ascension the exalted Jesus Christ knows that day and hour when He returns. For Jesus Christ says,
Rev 22:12 ,“And behold, I AM coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Work in Greek is ergon which means an act, deed, thing done; – it occurs about 176 times in the New Testament. The Lord will judge people according to his thought, word and deed.
Luk 5:1 ,“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the Word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret.”
Note: Press in Greek is epikeimai which means to be urgent; – it occurs only 7 times in the New Testament. When Jesus Christ spoke, God spoke. The Word of Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Do you feel urgent to know the Word of God?
Luk 8:11 ,“Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. ”
Note: Parable in Greek is parabolē which means a placing of one thing by the side of another, comparison of one thing with another, similitude, an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning; – it occurs about 50 times in the New Testament. When the Bible says it is a parable, it should be treated as a parable. Jesus Christ compares the Word of God with the seed. The seed is serving as the figure of the Word of God. The explanation below given by Jesus Christ is most interesting and instructive. What kind of people are you?
Luk 8:12 , “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”
Note: The work of the devil is to take the Word out of the hearts of men. Make sure you do not have an evil heart of unbelief, so that you should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:21 ,“But He answered and said to them: My mother and My brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.”
Note: Jesus Christ elevates those who hear the Word of God and do it as His mother and brothers. Obedience to God is much more important than human relationship.
Luk 11:28 ,“But He said: More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it! ”
Note: Keep in Greek is phylassō which means to guard i.e. care for, take care not to violate, observe; – it occurs about 30 times in the New Testament. Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it. Spiritual blessings are much more than material blessings.
Act 4:31,“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.”
Note: Boldness in Greek is parrēsia which means freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, openly, frankly, i.e. without concealment, without ambiguity or circumlocution, fearless confidence; – it occurs about 31 times in the New Testament. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not to display one’s special status or superiority before God, it is to receive power from above to speak the Word of God with boldness. The Bible says: all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; there is no exception, including you and me, including Gandhi or your country most revered leader. The wages of sin is death; if you have no sin you will not die. You will die because you have sinned; but the gift of God in Christ is eternal life. We should speak the Word of God with boldness.
Act 6:2, “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said: It is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables.”
Note: Desirable in Greek is arestos which means pleasing, agreeable, fit, proper; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Few things are desirable; most things are undesirable in this world. To preach the Word of God is most desirable, this does not mean everyone is going to be a preacher or pastor. Not everyone is called to be a preacher, but every Christian is a witness for Christ. The Twelve Apostles were very special, called and chosen by God to preach the Word of God. For them to do anything else would be not desirable, not proper; it does not mean to serve tables are undesirable. Whatever God appoints you to do is desirable and proper. In Jesus time there were slaves, there were slaves who became Christians, but they were the Lord’s slaves.
Act 6:4 , “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word .”
Note: Ministry in Greek is diakonia which means service of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote the Gospel among men, the office of the apostles and its administration; – it occurs about 34 times in the New Testament. Apostles were called to the ministry of the Word, engaged in the work of inducing men to embrace the offered reconciliation with God through the redemption of Jesus Christ. There are people today who are called to preach the Word. Occupational preachers are miserable people; preachers of prosperity gospel are false preachers. Those who merchandise the Gospel for profit are the enemies of the cross.
Act 6:7 ,“Then the Word of God spread , and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
Note: Multiply in Greek is plēthynō which means to increase, abound; – it occurs about 12 times in the New Testament. There are preachers who evangelize in order to build themselves spiritual empires as inheritance to their children. There are preachers who build mega-churches for money and glory. The Word of God is spread so that people can be saved, and believers become obedient to the faith. Faith is demonstrated and proven by obedience.
Act 10:36 ,“The Word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.”
Note: Lord in Greek is kyrios which means the title given to God, the Messiah; – it occurs about 748 times in the New Testament. It is much more than the relationship between a master and his slaves. Jesus Christ is the Lord of all, the Lord of the universe.
Jhn 3:34 , “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”
Note: Measure in Greek is metron which means limited quantity or quality, determined extent; – it occurs about 13 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ has power, wisdom, honor, glory, etc. without measure. Without measure means cannot be measured.
Act 11:1,“Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God. ”
Note: Receive in Greek is dechomai which means to take hold of, take up, give ear to, embrace, accept, make one’s own; – it occurs about 59 times in the New Testament. Gentiles are all non-Jews. The Gospel must be received by the Jews and Gentiles alike in order to be saved.
Act 12:24 ,“But the Word of God grew and multiplied. ”
Note: The Word of God is alive and powerful; it can grow and multiply. Grow in Greek is auxanō which means to increase, become greater; – it occurs in the New Testament about 22 times. Now you ask: Can the Word of God grow? Remember to apply the principle of letting the Bible to interpret the Bible. Do you remember the Word of Jesus?
Luk 8:11 ,“Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.” It means the number of people who believed in Jesus Christ grew and multiplied.
Act 13:5 ,“And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.”
Note: In the beginning Jesus Christ taught in the temple and Jewish synagogues. The apostles and early disciples also preached the Word of God in the temple and synagogues of the Jews and also at homes and everywhere. Christian meeting places were later established separate from the synagogues of the Jews.
Act 13:7 ,“Who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God. ”
Note: Intelligent in Greek is synetos which means having understanding, wise, learned, prudent; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Seek in Greek is epizēteō which means to seek for, search for, seek diligently, wish for, crave; – it occurs about 14 times in the New Testament. An intelligent man should seek to hear the Word of God.
Act 13:44 ,“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God. ”
Note: For the Jews, Sabbath was a good day because it was a day of rest to come together to hear the Word of God. It was remarkable that almost the whole city of Antioch came together to hear the Word of God via evangelists Paul and Barnabas even without the organization of an evangelistic campaign, without inviting dignitaries, movie or sport stars, and without entertainment. American mega-churches use Hollywood style entertainment to attract crowds.
Act 13:46 ,“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said: It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”
Note: Reject in Greek is apōtheō which means to thrust away, push away, repel, repudiate, refuse; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. Those who reject the Word of God judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life. It is not God who rejects anyone; it is those who reject the Word of God judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life. Terrible is the truth that it is possible to judge yourselves unworthy, count yourselves out, condemn yourselves to eternal punishment.
Rom 9:6-8 ,“But it is not that the Word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, in Isaac your seed shall be called. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”
Note: This Scriptures explain why some Jews rejected Christ and why many Gentiles do not believe. The seed of Abraham means the descendant of Abraham. It is not that the Word of God is not effective, it is because they are not all Israel who are of Israel. If you do not believe because you are not a sheep of Jesus, you are not a child of God. The children of the flesh are not the children of God. There are only two kinds of people in the world: the children of the flesh and the children of God. If you are a child of the flesh, you are not a child of God.
2Cr 2:17,“For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”
Note: Peddle in Greek is kapēleuō which means to be a retailer, make money by selling anything, trade in the Word of God, try to get base gain by teaching divine truth; corrupt, adulterate; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. It is sinful to handle the Word of God deceitfully as many theologians and Bible scholars do today. I believe it is wrong to trade in the Word of God, or to try to get base gain by teaching the divine truth. For example, it is wrong to copyright the Bible, it is also wrong to adulterate the Word of God by making your special version of the Bible to make money – the Bible according to guru so and so. Something is seriously wrong with any preacher or Bible scholar who gets rich by peddling the Word of God. There were so many who did that during Paul’s times, there are even more today in particular in the United States – the cesspool of capitalism.
Eph 6:17 ,“And take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. ”
Note: Sword in Greek is machaira which means a weapon for making or repelling an attack, a weapon of war; – it occurs about 29 times in the New Testament. The sword of the Spirit is the sword with which the Spirit subdues the impulse to sin and proves it power and efficacy in destroying false doctrines and falsehoods. Jesus defeated the temptations of the devil by the Word of God.
1Ti 4:5 ,“For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.”
Note: The Word of God has power to sanctify our hearts and souls. The best of books may inspire people, but never sanctify people. The worst of books indulge people to sin and lust and greed.
2Ti 2:9 ,“For which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained. ”
Note: Chain in Greek is deō which means to bind, tie, fasten with chains, hinder; – it occurs about 44 times in the New Testament. There is nothing in the world which can bind, chain or hinder the Word of God. Why?
Hbr 4:12 ,“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: Living in Greek is zaō which means having vital power in itself, to be in full vigor, strong, efficient, active, powerful, efficacious; – it occurs about 143 times in the New Testament. Powerful in Greek is energēs which means active, effectual; – it occurs only 3 times in the New Testament. There exists division of soul and spirit, but we do not know about it. We do not know much about earthly things, we do no know even more heavenly things. Discerner in Greek is kritikos which means fit for judging, skilled in judging; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. A person who is skilled in the Word of God is also skilled in judging between truth and falsehood, right and wrong, good and evil.
3. The Word of God is also called the Word.
Mar 4:19 ，“And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Note: There are three things that choke the Word and make it unfruitful: the cares of this world, the deceitful of riches, and the desires for other things. Choke in Greek is sympnigō which means to press round or throng one so as almost to suffocate; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. The more a person is worldly, the more a person loves the world and the things of the world, the less likely he becomes a fruitful believer. For this reason, Jesus says,
Mar 10:25 , “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” A thousand richest people in America have more money than one billion poorest people in the world. There maybe some Christians among the thousand richest persons in America, will these Christians give away their wealth for the cause of Christ? On the contrary, there are millions who want to be rich believing God would prosper them if they give offerings as many prosperity preachers suggest.
Jhn 1:14 , “And the Word became 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.”
Note: Although the word “Word” used in Mar 4:19 and Jhn 1:14 are the same word logos in the original language, but it has a different meaning. It is important to distinguish the Word as the Written Word – usually refers to as the Scripture or Scriptures or the Bible, the Word of God. The Word also means Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word of God, God who became Man – the Living Word. Mar 4:19 refers to the Word of God that came out of the mouth of God, while Jhn 1:14 refers to the Second Person of the Trinity who became Man. Jesus Christ is the Word of God.
Rev 19:13 , “He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” One of the names of Jesus Christ who died for sinners is called The Word of God. As the Bible is the Written Word of God, so Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God. The Living Word of God is the Eternal Word of God.
Col 4:3 ,“Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.”
Note: Mystery in Greek is mystērion which means the hidden or secret thing, God’s plan of providing salvation for mankind through Jesus Christ was once hidden but now is revealed; – it occurs about 27 times in the New Testament. To speak the Word of the Gospel is to speak the mystery of Christ.
1Ti 5:17 , “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine.”
Note: Doctrine in Greek is didaskalia which means that which is taught, instruction, body of Christian faith; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. Those who truly preach Jesus Christ and labor in teaching and instructing people the Word of God and doctrine of Jesus Christ are worthy of honor.
2Ti 4:2 , “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Note: Preach in Greek is kēryssō which means to proclaim, publish; – it occurs about 61 times in the New Testament. In obedience to Christ and in a humble way, I preach the Word by proclaiming and publishing through the Internet. The methodology of preaching is to convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. Convince in Greek is elegchō which means to convict, refute, confute, bring to the light, expose, find fault with, show one his fault, correct; – it occurs about 17 times in the New Testament. Rebuke in Greek is epitimaō which means to chide, reprove, censure severely, admonish or charge sharply; – it occurs about 29 times in the New Testament. Exhort in Greek is parakaleō which means to admonish, address, speak to with directness; – it occurs about 109 times in the New Testament. You can see why preaching against sin cannot make one popular. That is why no American preachers preach against the sins and crimes of American presidents and politicians.
Tts 1:3 , “But has in due time manifested His Word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.”
Note: Manifest in Greek is phaneroō which means to make known by teaching; – it occurs 49 times in the New Testament. The Word of God can only be made known by preaching and teaching. God our Savior commands believers to preach the Gospel to every creature.
1Pe 2:2 , “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.”
Note: Just as the infant needs milk to grow, so the babes in Christ need the pure milk of the Word to grow thereby. It is the task of preachers to preach the fundamentals of the Christian faith. There are so many failed preachers in many churches because the congregations are not fed with the pure milk of the Word.
Eph 4:15 ,“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all things into Him who is the Head, into Christ.”
Note: We are to grow up in all things into Him who is the Head. The Head of the church is Jesus Christ, not the pope or any man.
2Pe 3:7 , “But the Heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
Note: Christ holds the Heavens (universe) and earth together by His power. The heavens and earth will be burned up by fire on the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Perdition in Greek is apōleia which means utter destruction, ruin, the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell; – it occurs about 20 times in the New Testament. All who rejected Christ are ungodly men. The end of ungodly men is perdition.
1Jo 2:5 , “But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Note: To love God you must keep His Word. Keep in Greek is tēreō which means to observe, preserve and stand firm, hold fast, follow; – it occurs about 75 times in the New Testament. Jesus says,
Jhn 14:15 , “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Col 4:3 , “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.”
4. The Word of God is the Word of truth.
2Ti 2:15 , “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Note: Rightly divide in Greek is orthotomeō which means to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course, make straight and smooth, handle aright, teach the truth directly and correctly; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Many false teachers err in dividing the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is important to know the Old Testament was the dispensation of law, while the New Testament is the dispensation of grace.
Psa 119:160 , “The entirety of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
Note: The Bible does not only contain truth, the Bible is truth.
2Cr 6:7 , “By the Word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.”
Note: The Bible is the Word of truth. Scientific truth is temporal and tentative, the truth of God is absolute and eternal.
Eph 1:13 , “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Note: The Gospel of your salvation is the Word of truth. The only proof that you are saved is that you are sealed with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit lives in you.
Jam 1:18 , “ Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
5. The Word of God is the Word of salvation.
Act 13:26 , “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the Word of this salvation has been sent.”
Note: Salvation in Greek is sōtēria which means salvation as the present possession of all true Christians as forgiveness of sins and new birth (salvation of soul); future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills of body, to enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal Kingdom of God; – it occurs about 45 times in the New Testament. The Word of salvation explains the way of salvation. The way of salvation is the way of God. Salvation is not what man can earn by merit or good deeds. No one is good enough to go to heaven; everyone is bad enough to go to hell. There is no difference whether it is Gandhi or Lincoln. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Salvation if a gift of God to whoever accepts and believes in the Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
6. The Word of God is also called the Word of the Kingdom.
Mat 13:19,“When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”
Note: The Kingdom is the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven. The wicked one does not want you to enter the Kingdom of God.
Jhn 18:36 , “Jesus answered: My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here.” If you seek the kingdom of this world, you are not following Jesus. For that reason, imperialists, colonialists, hegemonists, capitalists, monopolists, terrorists, etc. are not Christians and cannot be Christians.
Rev 11:15 ,“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” America, Britain, China, India, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Australia, etc. will soon vanish and disappear and become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.
Human knowledge is of this world, the knowledge of God is heavenly and eternal.
7. The Word is also called the Word of His grace.
Act 14:3 , “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Note: Grace in Greek is charis which means the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, makes them grow in Christian faith, knowledge, love, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues; – it occurs about 156 times in the New Testament. The Word of God is the Word of His grace because by which we are saved in Jesus Christ. Although nowadays signs and wonders are granted sparingly and rarely, but there is no reason why you do not accept the Word of His grace.
Poor sinners do not know God has grace for them. No one deserves the grace of God. All you need to do is to believe and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your God and Savior.
8. The Word is also called the Word of the Gospel.
Act 15:7 , “And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.”
Note: Dispute in Greek is syzētēsis which means mutual questioning, disputation, discussion; – it occurs only 3 times in the New Testament. There are people who want to demonstrate their intelligence; they like to argue about everything, they want to argue with God. There have been heated arguments about healthcare reform in America, but few dare to speak the truth and point to the fraudulent and predatory nature of healthcare system as the root cause of the high costs of American healthcare.
Col 1:5 , “Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the Word of the truth of the Gospel.”
Note: The hope of believers is laid up in heaven, not on the earth. Peoples of nations are desperate because they do not see hope in their future. The Gospel of Jesus is the Word of the truth.
9. The Word is also called the Word of life.
Phl 2:16 , “Holding fast the Word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
Note: Those who hold fast the Word of life, do not run in vain or labor in vain. Those who live without God and without the Word of life, someday will discover they have run in vain or labored in vain. Isn’t it terrible to come to the end, the rich and powerful of the world realize they have run in vain and labored in vain. Those who seek money, power and sex will run in vain and labor in vain in the end.
10. The Word of God is also called the Scriptures.
The Bible is the Word of God, a single passage or verse is called Scripture, and the whole body of holy writings is called the Scriptures.
Dan 9:2 , “In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the Word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.”
Note: Scriptures in Hebrew is cepher which means books, scrolls, a scroll of a book, books of prophecy, books of the canon, holy books; – it occurs about 184 times in the Old Testament. The same original word is used in
Exd 17:14 , “Then the LORD said to Moses: Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under Heaven.”
Note: This was the origin of the Bible, God told Moses to write it. The same word is used in
Exd 24:7 ,“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said: All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.”
Note: A portion of the Old Testament was called the Book of the Covenant. The same word is used in
Deu 31:24-26 ,“So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying: Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you.”
Note: Probably by this time, the Penteteuch (five books of Moses) was completed. The same word is used in Jos 1:8 , “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Note: By the time of Joshua, the successor of Moses, the Penteteuch or the Book of the Law must have been completed. So the books of Moses were called the Book of the Law, or the Book of the Law of Moses, or the Book of the Law of God, or the Book of the Law of the LORD, or the Scriptures. Other books mentioned in the Old Testament such as the Book of Jasher, the Book of Nathan, the Book of Gad, the book of Shemaiah, etc. were authentic historical books, but they were not treated as the Scriptures. Prosper in Hebrew is tsalach which means to make progress, succeed, be profitable, go on well; – it occurs about 65 times in the Old Testament. To have good success in Hebrew is sakal which means to be successful in doing anything; – it occurs about 63 times in the Old Testament.
Dan 10:21 , “But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.”
Note: Scripture in Hebrew is kathab which means writing, a book; – it occurs about 17 times in the Old Testament. The Bible is the Scripture of Truth.
2Ki 23:21, “Then the king commanded all the people, saying: Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”
Note: As it is written becomes known as referring to the Scriptures. Nothing else written is more important than what is written in the Bible.
Mat 21:42 , “Jesus said to them: Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”
Note: Read in Greek is anaginōskō which means to know accurately, recite; – it occurs about 33 times in the New Testament. Reading is a profitable activity; it should be cultivated from childhood. Nowadays too much time is wasted on watching TV. Reading the Scriptures has benefits for this life and the life to come. Scriptures in Greek is graphē which means the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents, a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture; – it occurs about 51 times in the New Testament. The same original word used in Mat 21:42 is also used in
1Cr 15:3-4, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Everything we believe is according to the Scriptures. Christianity is based totally on the Scriptures. The two Scriptural truths are the foundation of Christianity: Jesus Christ died for our sins and He rose from death for our justification.
Jhn 6:45, “It is written in the prophets: AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
Note: Jesus often uses the formula, ‘It is written’. But careful, the devil can also use the same formula to distort the Word of God.
Mat 22:29 , “Jesus answered and said to them: You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God.”
Note: To be mistaken in Greek is planaō which means to lead away from the truth, lead into error, deceive, err; – it occurs about 39 times in the New Testament. People who do not know the Scriptures or the power of God are wrong or bound to be wrong. Unbelieving and arrogant scientists do not know that they are mistake.
Mat 26:56 ,“But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”
Note: Fulfill in Greek is plēroō which means to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish; – it occurs about 90 times in the New Testament. True prophecies always came true, false prophecies never come true.
Mar 15:28 , “So the Scripture was fulfilled which says: And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
Note: The transgressors refer to the two robbers; Jesus was crucified among the two robbers.
Luk 24:27 ,“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
Note: From Moses to all the prophets in all the Scriptures, Jesus Christ is the central message of God to mankind – the Messiah, the Christ.
Jesus Christ used the Bible (the Old Testament, at that time the New Testament did not exist yet) to explain the things concerning Himself. The central message of the Bible is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was sent to the world to die for the sins of mankind so that those who repent and believe in Him may have the eternal life by the grace of God.
Luk 24:45 , “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
Note: Open the mind in Greek is dianoigō which means to open the mind of one, i.e. to cause to understand a thing; – it occurs only 8 times in the New Testament. This explains why otherwise intelligent scientists and scholars could not understand the Scriptures.
2Cr 4:4 ,“Whose minds the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Understand in Greek is syniēmi which means to bring together, put the perception with the thing perceived, set or join together in the mind, spiritual insight; – it occurs about 26 times in the New Testament. No matter who you are, unless the good Lord opens your mind, you cannot understand the Scriptures. The Scriptures are divine; the carnal mind cannot understand it.
Jhn 2:22 ,“Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the Word which Jesus had said.”
Note: The Christian faith is based on the Scripture (the Old Testament) and the Word of Jesus (the New Testament).
Jhn 5:39 ,“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”
Note: Search in Greek is eraunaō which means to examine into, look through, examine closely and carefully; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. All the articles I have presented on my website are based on the methodology of searching what the Scriptures say about the subject matter. Testify in Greek is martyreō which means to bear witness, certify as true, affirm by divine inspiration or revelation; – it occurs about 79 times in the New Testament. The Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) testify about Jesus.
Jhn 7:38 , “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Note: As the Scripture has said, it is so. As it is written, it is so.
Jhn 7:42 , “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
Note: What the Scripture has said about David was true; David was a real historical person. What the Scripture has said about Bethlehem was true because Bethlehem was and is a real place.
Jhn 10:35 , “If He called them gods, to whom the Word of God came and the Scripture cannot be broken.”
Note: Break in Greek is lyō which means to break up, dismiss, annul, subvert, do away with, demolish, overthrow, destroy, deprive of authority; – it occurs about 43 times in the New Testament. You can burn the Bible, but you cannot destroy it. You can tear the Bible to pieces, but you cannot demolish it. The Scripture cannot be broken, cannot be annulled.
Jhn 13:18 , “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.”
Note: Jesus knew from the beginning whom would betray Him. Everything happened as the Scripture said it would happen so that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Jhn 17:12 , “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”
Note: None of believers in Christ would be lost except the son of perdition, the traitor Judas. If you reject Jesus Christ, you will be a child of perdition too.
Jhn 19:28 , “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst!”
Note: Divine knowledge is perfect knowing, knowing the end from the beginning. Nothing takes God by surprise; everything that must be accomplished was accomplished or will be accomplished.
Jhn 19:36 , “For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled: Not one of His bones shall be broken.”
Note: The Roman soldiers broke the legs of the two robbers; they did not break the bone of Jesus because the Scripture predicted not one of His bones would be broken.
Psa 34:20 ,“He guards all His bones; not one of them is broken.”
Jhn 20:9 , “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”
Note: As yet the disciples did not know or understand the Scripture that Christ the Savior must die and rise again from the dead. They did not know the Scripture that Jesus died as the Lamb of God for sinners in order to obtain forgiveness and rose from death for our justification before God.
Act 8:32 , “The place in the Scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”
Note: Later the disciples knew the Scripture.
Act 8:35 , “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”
Note: If a preacher does not preach Jesus Christ, everything else he preaches would not matter. Some preachers like to preach stories of Old Testament because they do not know how to preach the Gospel of Jesus.
Act 17:11 , “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”
Note: Eagerness in Greek is prothymia which means zeal, spirit, inclination, readiness of mind; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. Examine in Greek is anakrino which means to investigate, inquire into, scrutinize, sift, question, look through, search after; – it occurs about 16 times in the New Testament. It is noble-minded to believe the Scriptures and examine to see whether things were so as the Scriptures say. You must not blindly accept what your minister or preacher says, you need to examine whether they are according to the Scriptures. When a preacher says the Bible is not clear whether it is wrong to worship ancestors, he is mistaken and does not know the Scripture. Those pastors who support a political leader who claims to be a Christian and yet he publicly worships idols are mistaken. The right way to examine the Scriptures is to see what the Scriptures say, not what you want to say, not what you think it should say. You must not be guilty of making the Bible to say what the Bible does not say, or make void what the Bible clearly says. Eagerness in Greek is prothymia which means inclination, readiness of mind, zeal, spirit, willingness; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. We must accept the Bible as it is.
Act 18:28 , “For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”
Note: Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures means he was excelling in the knowledge of the Scriptures. Refute in Greek diakatelegchomai which means to confute with rivalry and effort, prove a person to be in error; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Demonstrate in Greek is epideiknymi which means to exhibit, show, prove; – it occurs about 9 times in the New Testament. Every preacher should be able to prove by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ – the Messiah. The central message of the Bible is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Rom 4:3 , “For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Note: For all Christians, the most important question is: What does the Bible say? It is not what theologians say, it is not what the pastor says, it is not what the leader says, etc. Believe in Greek is pisteu which means to think to be true, place confidence in, trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something or saving; – it occurs about 248 times in the New Testament. Account in Greek is logizomai which means to reckon, count, impute, consider, deem, take into account, make account of; – it occurs about 41 times in the New Testament. Abraham believed in God, and God counted him or credited to him as righteousness. So man is justified (counted as righteous) by faith in Christ Jesus who died for sinners to fulfill the righteousness of God.
Rom 1:2 , “Which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”
Note: Holy in Greek is hagios which means worthy of veneration, most holy thing, sacred to God; – it occurs 229 times in the New Testament. Holy Scriptures are the Word of God and should be treated as holy. For that reason Christians should not make fun of the Word of God and quote the Bible in a jest.
Rom 9:17 ,“For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh: For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
Note: The Scripture says, the same way we say the Bible says. The Scripture says what God says. The Scripture exalts the power of God.
Rom 10:11, “For the Scripture says: Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
Note: When we do not quote the Bible exactly with the book and verse, we can say the Scripture says, or the Bible says. Whoever in Greek is pas which means all, every, any, everybody; – it occurs about 1,243 times in the New Testament. God’s grace is for everyone, everyone or anyone (without restriction) who believes in Jesus Christ will not be put to shame. Anyone and everyone who comes to Jesus Christ for salvation will not be cast out. For Jesus assures the world,
Jhn 6:37 ,“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
No matter how wicked and sinful you are, if you repent and believe in Jesus Christ, He will not throw you out but save you and save you to the end. John Calvin was wrong. The one who comes to Christ He will by no means cast out.
Gal 3:8 , “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying: In you all the nations shall be blessed.”
Note: Foresee in Greek is proorao which means to see before as respects to time or place, know beforehand, see ahead; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. God foresees everything from beginning to the end. There is nothing that takes God by surprise. God preached the Gospel to Abraham. All who believe like Abraham believed would be justified or to be counted as righteous before God.
Gal 3:22 , “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Note: Confine in Greek is sygkleiō which means to shut up together, enclose, shut up on all sides, shut up completely, consign, include; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Sin is like a big prison, the Scripture has put all in the prison of sin; for all have sinned.
1Ti 5:18 , “For the Scripture says: You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain, and, the laborer is worthy of his wages.”
Note: The evil of capitalism has a lot to do with unfair wages. Wall Street hedge fund managers gamble on others’money and make several billion a year. Corporate executives give themselves hefty compensations and perks and bonuses. Doctors and hospital owners suck the blood of patients with predatory and fraudulent practices. Lawyers by monopoly and flawed legal system get big pay, capitalizing on crime and kangaroo courts. Most government and unionized workers and white workers are overpaid, blacks are given preferential treatment because of Affirmative Action, all the rest have been underpaid. There are still millions who earn the minimum wage of $7.30 to $10 an hour. When I worked my way through college, the minimum wage was $1.25 an hour.
2Ti 3:16 ,“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Note: Given by inspiration of God in Greek is theopneustos which means inspired by God; it occurs only once in the New Testament. The contents of Scripture are inspired by God. Even the best and greatest books in the world cannot be said to be inspired by God. Profitable in Greek is ōphelimos which means gaining or yielding benefit; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Doctrine in Greek is didaskalia which means systematized teaching or instruction, that which is taught as a creed or fundamental principle or precept of faith; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. Inspiration of the Bible, Pre-existence of Christ, Incarnation, the Virgin Birth, the Divinity of Christ, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, Justification, Regeneration, Sanctification and the Second Coming are basic doctrines of Christianity. Reproof in Greek is elegchos which means conviction, the inward result of proving; – it occurs only twice in the New Testament. The Scripture is the effective tool or the Sword of the Spirit to convict a man of his sins. Correction in Greek is epanorthōsis which means restoration to an upright or right state, rectification, improvement of life or character; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Instruction in Greek is paideia which means the whole training and education of children, whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions; instruction which aims at increasing virtue; admonition; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament.
Jam 2:8 , “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture: You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well.”
Note: The royal law means the chief or principal law according to the Scripture. The royal law is to love your neighbor as yourself. If you fulfill the royal law, you do well. Compare the religions of hatred and hostility and revenge with the Christian law of love, you should be able to know the truth. Imperialism, colonialism, hegemonism, capitalism, terrorism, etc. are contrary to the royal law of the Scripture.
Jam 4:5 , “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?”
Note: The Scripture never says in vain. What man says may be in vain, what God says has consequence.
Jhn 8:24 ,“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He (Christ), you will die in your sins.” If you do not believe in Jesus Christ, you will die in your sins. This is not what I said; this is what Jesus Christ said. If you do not believe it, you take the risk on your life. Not only you will die in your sins, you will suffer for eternity. Why not turn around and have the hope of glory? Jesus Christ is coming again soon to reign with the saints forever and ever.
11. The seriousness and sanctity of the Word of God.
Deu 4:2 ,“You shall not add to the Word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Note: Add in Hebrew is yacaph which means to increase, change the quantity and size, change the total effect; – it occurs about 213 times in the Old Testament. Take from in Hebrew is gara` which means to diminish, subtract, restrain, withdraw, abate, keep back, do away, take from, clip, scrape off; – it occurs about 21 times in the Old Testament. Years ago the Reader’s Digest published a condensed Bible. I believe they had violated the commandment of God.
1Sa 3:1 , “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the Word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”
Note: This Scripture gives a background situation of the period when Eli was the priest. The Word of the Lord was rare and there was no widespread revelation. Rare in Hebrew is yaqar which means scarce, uncommon, infrequent; – it occurs about 36 times in the Old Testament. Widespread means frequent. Revelation in Hebrew is chazown which means a divine revelation, an oracle, vision; – it occurs about 35 times in the Old Testament. When God was displeased with Eli, the Word of the Lord was rare and divine revelation was infrequent. When God is displeased with a church, the church is without the power from on high and the preacher is useless.
1Sa 3:7 ,“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the Word of the LORD yet revealed to him.”
Note: Reveal in Hebrew here is galah which means to uncover, disclose, discover, lay bare, make known a secret, show, manifest; – it occurs about 188 times in the Old Testament. Little boy Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the Word of the Lord yet revealed to him. Those who do not know the Lord also do not understand the Word of God. Christianity is the revealed religion; you cannot know Jesus Christ by your own effort or wisdom or intelligence.
1Sa 15:23 , “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
Note: Rebellion in Hebrew is mĕriy which means contumacy, insubordination, disobedience, stubborn refusal to submit; – it occurs about 23 times in the Old Testament. Witchcraft in Hebrew is qecem which means divination, it occurs only 11 times in the Old Testament. Stubbornness in Hebrew is patsar which means insolence, arrogance, presumption; – it occurs only 7 times in the Old Testament. Iniquity in Hebrew is ‘ aven which means wickedness, trouble, sorrow, emptiness, vanity; – it occurs about 78 times in the Old Testament. Idolatry in Hebrew is tĕraphiym which means a kind of idol used in household shrine or worship, of human figure and stature; – it occurs about 15 times in the Old Testament. It should be noted, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. In the New Testament, greed is as the sin of idolatry. Reject in Hebrew is ma’ac which means to refuse, despise, loathe, abhor; – it occurs about 76 times in the Old Testament. Saul rejected the Word of the Lord, and the Lord also rejected him from being king over Israel. Those who reject the Word of the Lord will be rejected by the Lord.
1Ki 13:26 , “Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said: It is the man of God who was disobedient to the Word of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the Word of the LORD which He spoke to him.”
Note: How serious is the Word of the Lord: The man of God who was disobedient to the Word of the Lord, therefore the Lord delivered him to the lion which had torn him and killed him according to the Word of the Lord which He spoke to him. In fact, the first sin committed by Adam and Eve was not eating the forbidden fruit; they were disobedient to the Word of the Lord. Disobedience to God’s Word is disobedient to God.
1Ki 17:16,24 ,“The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the Word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah…
Then the woman said to Elijah: Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the Word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth.”
Note: The miracle of the bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry was very interesting. All was done according to the Word of the Lord which is the truth.
1 King Chapter 22 is a very interesting historical chapter about the evil king of Israel Ahab who did not want to listen to the Word of God. King Ahab put the prophet Micaiah in prison and ordered to feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction.
1Ki 22:28 ,“But Micaiah said: If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said: Take heed, all you people!” To make the long story short,
1Ki 22:37-38 ,“So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the Word of the LORD which He had spoken.” What happened to the evil king Ahab was according to the Word of the Lord which He had spoken. Not only Ahab died, he died according to the Word of the Lord the way he died.
2 King Chapter 9 records how Jezebel the wicked wife of Ahab died as the Word of the Lord said.
2Ki 9:33-37 ,“He said: Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. Then he went in and ate and drank; and he said: See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter. But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. When they came back and told him, he said: This is the Word of the LORD, which He spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say: Here lies Jezebel.”
Note: Curse in Hebrew is ‘arar which means to lay under a curse, put a curse on, be made a curse, abhor, detest; – it occurs about 63 times in the Old Testament. The Word of the Lord always came true. Probably Jezebel was the most evil woman – abusive of power, greedy, wicked, merciless, unjust, corrupt and hostile to God – in the history of mankind with most tragic end.
Zec 12:1 ,“The burden of the Word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.”
Note: The prophet Zechariah through the Word of Lord knew about God stretching out the Heavens (universe) some 500 B.C. long before the scientists who recently discovered the expanding universe.
Mat 4:4 , “But He answered and said: It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Note: It is true the Bible is affected by language and culture of the nation. Jesus said: Man shall not live by bread alone because the Jews ate bread. If Jesus said: Man shall not live by rice alone, the Jews would not understand. So the word ‘bread’ simply means food. Man does not live by food alone, although many live to eat. Linguistic limitation and cultural inadequacy do not limit the Word of God. The Word of God proceeds from the mouth of God, so it is most serious and sacred. Men must heed and obey the Word of God.
Jud 1:11，“Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”
Note: Cain, Balaam and Korah serve as historical warnings to those who rejected and rebelled against the Word of God.
1Jo 3:12 , “Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” Western imperialism and hegemonism, and all terrorism are the way of Cain. Power politics is the way of Cain. Wall Street has run greedily in the error of Balaam, for profit they defrauded and looted the world. The error of capitalism is the error of Balaam for profit. Prosperity gospel preachers and followers and those who merchandise the Gospel have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit. Rebellion in Greek is antilogia which means opposition, gainsaying, resistence to authority, contradiction; – it occurs 4 times in the New Testament. This was how Korah and his household and followers perished in rebellion:
Num 16:30-33 ,“But if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD. Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.”
Note: Those who rebel against God and reject the Lord Jesus Christ will be swallowed up in Hell for eternity.
12. No Scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:20-21 , “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The Bible makes it clear; holy men of God (prophets and apostles) spoke and wrote the Bible. Private in Greek is idios which means pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self; – it occurs 113 times in the New Testament. A private interpretation is an interpretation which one thinks our for oneself, opposed to that which the Holy Spirit teaches. Move in Greek is pherō which means to prompt, press on; – it occurs about 64 times in the New Testament. No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private interpretation. If you want to argue with God, that is not my problem. The Bible is not a matter of private interpretation. The Bible speaks and interprets itself. As an illustration, a black preacher preached political gospel based on his private interpretation. Now his followers admitted he was no saint but a sinner, but his cause was holy. Anyone who preaches a false gospel cannot have a holy cause. Affirmative Action is unholy travesty of justice. No racial group is entitled to preferential treatment. When a race is given preferential treatment, all other races suffer injustice. Black preferential treatment is just as bad as white supremacy. All are equal under God, all are equal under the law. Political gospel, social gospel, feminist gospel, prosperity gospel, possibility gospel, etc. are all false gospels base on private interpretations of false prophets and false teachers. Many false theologians like to transmogrify the Word of God.
2 Pe 3:16, “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort to their own destruction, as they do also the other Scriptures.”
Note: Hard to understand in Greek is dysnoētos which means difficult to be understood; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Apostle Peter talked about the writings of Apostle Paul containing some things that are hard to understand. Even to the great apostle Peter, there were some things in the Bible hard for him to understand. Do hydrocephalic self-conceited unbelieving scientists and obscure scholars think they could understand everything? Ignorant and unstable people distort the Bible as they do the other Scriptures will bring their own destruction.
Mat 7:15 ,“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Note: Beware of ravenous wolves who appear in sheep’s clothing means people who pretend to be Christians but they are not, pretend to have knowledge of the Bible but they do not, and pretend to be servants of God but they are actually agents of Satan. Ravenous wolves are savage wolves.
Rev 22:18-19 ,“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the Holy City, which are written in this book.”
Note: The Word of God strongly warns and condemns those who add and delete what the Bible says in the form of private interpretation. Years ago the Reader’s Digest published a condensed bible which I believe also violated what this Scripture forbids by “taking away from the words” from the Good Book.
A false Pentecostal preacher not the first time made private interpretations of the Bible by saying divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s is justifiable because the disease is “a kind of death.” What a false preacher teaches is not important, what Jesus Christ says matters for time and eternity. Jesus Christ says:
Mat 5:32 ，“But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”
Mat 19:9 ,“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
Mar 10:9-12 ，“Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them: Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Luk 16:18 , “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.”
Christians, there are so many false prophets, false preachers, and false teachers today. Do you follow false preachers or the Lord and Savior?
13. The Words of Jesus will not pass away.
Mat 24:35 , “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Note: Pass away in Greek is parerchomai which means to perish, go past, pass by, pass over; – it occurs about 31 times in the New Testament. Everything you have, see, enjoy, etc. will go pass, pass by, pass over, and pass away that means to perish. Everyone and everything in the world will pass away – what people cherish such as money, power and sex will pass away. You may burn the Bibles, but no one can do away the Words of Jesus. Heaven and earth will pass away because there will be a new heaven and a new earth; but the Words of Jesus will by no means pass away. Christians will not kill anyone who burns the Bible; because the Word of God is the Word of truth which fire cannot burn. Science and medical knowledge will also pass away.
Psa 119:89 ,“Lamedh. Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in Heaven.”
Note: Settle in Hebrew is natsab which means to stand, station oneself, take an upright position, stand firm, fix, establish; – it occurs about 75 times in the Old Testament. What God has established no one can destroy.
Isa 40:8 ,“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.”
Note: Stand in Hebrew is quwm which means to rise up, stand up, maintain oneself, endure, make binding, preserve, continue; – it occurs about 628 times in the Old Testament. Men die, beautiful women fade, empires fall, but the Word of God stands forever.
Luk 1:2 , “Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word delivered them to us.”
Note: Eyewitness in Greek is autoptēs which means seeing with one’s own eyes, one who has seen or heard something; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Minister in Greek is hypēretēs which means a servant, any one ministering or rendering service, any one who aids another in any work, an assistant, the preacher of the Gospel; – it occurs in the New Testament 20 times. The apostles were from the beginning eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word. The Gospels and the Epistles (from Matthew to Revelation) were written by early apostles and disciples who were with the Lord from the beginning, and they were first hand witnesses and ministers of the Word. Thus it is impossible for anyone later to claim new revelation.
Luk 24:19 ,“And He said to them: What things? So they said to Him: The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and Word before God and all the people.”
Note: Jesus of Nazareth was a Prophet mighty in deed and Word before God and all the people. Mighty in deed because of the countless miracles that Jesus performed. Mighty in Word because there is power in the Word of Jesus. For example: The wind and sea obeyed Jesus. Demons obeyed Jesus’command. Jesus raised Lazarus from death by His Word.
Jhn 15:3 ,“You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you.”
Note: Clean in Greek is katharos which means pure, purified, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit; – it occurs about 28 times in the New Testament. The Word of Jesus has power to cleanse us and make us fit to serve the Lord.
Eph 5:26 , “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word.”
Note: Sanctify in Greek is hagiazō which means to separate from profane things and dedicate to God, purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin, purify internally by renewing of the soul; – it occurs about 29 times in the New Testament. Cleanse in Greek is katharizō which means to make clean, free from defilement of sin and from faults, purify from wickedness; – it occurs about 30 times in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus sanctifies and cleanses the church with the washing of water by the Word – by the Word of God.
Luk 9:26 , “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
Note: The Words of Jesus are mostly written in the Gospels. Whatever Jesus says is so. I have no respect for those pseudo-intellectuals who call themselves Christians and at the same time declare they believe in evolution. Jesus Christ confirms the creation of Adam and Eve by God’s direct act. Jesus Christ confirms the creation of the universe by God.
No ‘big bang’ or ‘small bang’ can invalidate the Words of Jesus. No scientists or any men can annul the Words of Jesus.
Jhn 6:68 ,“But Simon Peter answered Him: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life.”
Note: Why there is singular for “word” and plural for “words”? Are there any difference? It is not that I am not aware of the English grammar regarding singular and plural of a noun. I believe what the Scriptures say are far above the elements of linguistic. Whether Jesus says about some specific teaching – word, or a bunch of related teachings – words, it is our duty to listen, believe and obey. Jesus Christ has the Words of eternal life, scientists don’t even know the day of their deaths.
Jhn 20:29 , “Jesus said to him: Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Note: Blessed are those who believe in the Words of Jesus because they are the Words of eternal life.
Act 20:35 ,“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the Words of the Lord Jesus, that He said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Col 3:16 , “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Note: Those who are rich in the Word of Christ and in all wisdom is much better than those who are rich in material things. The best kind of singing is singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
14. The Lord revealed Himself by the Word of the Lord.
1Sa 3:21 , “Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the LORD.”
Note: Reveal in Hebrew is galah which means to uncover, disclose, make known, show, make bare; – it occurs about 188 times in the Old Testament. This is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity: No one can discover God by his own efforts or wisdom. You cannot discover God unless God reveals Himself to you. God reveals Himself through His Word. Little Samuel did not know God, but God revealed Himself to Samuel by the Word of the Lord. The Bible is the revealed Word of God. The main function of the Word of the Lord is to reveal the Lord.
Deu 29:29 , “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Note: There are two types of thing in the world: the knowable and the unknowable. The secrets things are unknowable and they belong to the Lord our God. God revealed certain things to the children of men through His Word. The Old Testament and the New Testament reveal the secret things that belong to the Lord.
Jhn 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” This Scripture explains succinctly the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was about the law of Moses. The New Testament is about grace and truth in Jesus Christ. What cannot be fulfilled by the law is fulfilled by grace in Jesus Christ.
Rom 16:25 , “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.”
Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ was a mystery kept secret since the world began, it was made known when God became Man in Jesus Christ. Revelation in Greek is apokalypsis which means laying bare, making naked, disclosure of things before unknown; – it occurs about 18 times in the New Testament. Revelation is a disclosure of divine things before unknown, especially those things relating to the Christian salvation, to be received by faith in Jesus Christ, and through the operation of the Holy Spirit. The revelation was completely written by the early disciples and apostles who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Gal 1:12 , “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Note: The original revelation of Jesus Christ cannot be taught; it must be given or made known by the revelation of Jesus Christ. The holy apostles who wrote the New Testament did not receive it from men, nor was they taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. The revelation of Jesus Christ was completed some two thousands years ago as it is written in the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. No one can add to it or subtract from it. It is completed. There cannot be any new revelation contrary to what is already written in the Bible.
Rev 1:1 , “THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.”
Note: Revelation focuses mainly on two subjects, salvation and prophecy. Salvation covers salvation of the soul – the first mission of Christ’s first advent, and the salvation of the body – the second mission of Christ’s second coming. Prophecy covers things to come. The most important event to happen in the universe is the second coming of Christ and eschatology regarding things to happen in the last days.
Luk 2:32 , “The light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Note: Jesus Christ is the Light that brings revelation to the Gentiles and Israel.
Eph 1:17 ,“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
Note: To know God you need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Unbelieving scientists and scholars do not have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that is why they are ignorant about spiritual things.
1Cr 14:26 , “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”
Note: The word ‘revelation’here is the same word used in Rom 16:25. It is important to know that the general revelation was completed as it is written in the New Testament, while the Holy Spirit still may give a special revelation or shed light on a Scripture to any individual. The special revelation will not contradict the general revelation. For example,
Luk 2:26 , “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. It was a special revelation, and that did not contradict in any way the general revelation about the coming of the Messiah, or the Person and work of the Messiah.
Mat 11:27 ,“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
Note: This Scripture states the futility of human mind and human efforts to acquire divine knowledge. God is the greatest mystery, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and the one whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Jesus Christ reveals God, to know Jesus Christ is to know God.
Psa 98:2 , “The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.”
Note: God has made known His salvation in Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God has been revealed to the nations.
Isa 40:5 , “The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Note: The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Jesus Christ when He appeared on earth, and the glory of the Lord shall be fully revealed when Jesus Christ returns to reign with the saints forever and ever.
Rom 1:17 ,“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: The just shall live by faith.”
Note: This is a cardinal doctrine of Christianity: The Lord reveals Himself through His Word. Without the revelation, the wisest people grope in darkness. The righteousness of God cannot be accomplished by keeping the law of Moses, for no one is able to keep all the law all the time. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith because those who put their faith in Christ are counted righteous by God. To be counted righteous is to be counted not guilty. Not by work, but by grace, we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ who fulfilled the righteousness of God for sinners who come to Him to have life.
Rom 3:21 ,“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.”
Note: The Law and the Prophets witness that God has revealed the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ apart from the law which is available to all who come and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
1Cr 2:10 ,“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
Note: The Holy Spirit was sent to witness for Jesus Christ, to reveal that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and all who believe may receive the eternal life. Do you know the deep things of God? For example, God loves the humankind, but human beings are sinful, unworthy, undesirable, and unlovable. God’s love for unworthy sinners is one deep thing of God. The love of God was demonstrated in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins; this is a deep thing of God. The fact the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ was decreed by God before the world began is a deep thing of God. The fact that the universe is expanding without countless stars and galaxies and the heavens are too vast and impossible to measure is a deep thing of God. The fact the triune God is Self-existent, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, holy and true, righteous and good, without beginning and without ending, forever and ever is a deep thing of God. With God, nothing is impossible; this is a deep thing of God.
Eph 3:5 , “Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”
Note: The way of salvation or the Gospel of Jesus Christ was not known in ages past, but the Holy Spirit revealed to the holy apostles and prophets who were inspired to write the Bible, the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
Col 1:26 , “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.”
Note: Mystery in Greek is mystērion which means hidden thing, a hidden purpose or counsel; – it occurs about 27 times in the New Testament. God’s plan of providing salvation for men through Jesus Christ was once hidden but is now revealed. Jesus Christ is the mystery of God which has been hidden from ages past, but now has been revealed to His saints. His saints are His followers dead or alive. Dead saints are those who have fallen asleep in Christ. Living saints are those who are still alive on earth.
1Pe 1:5 ,“Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Note: In the first advent, Jesus Christ came to save our souls. When Christ returns the second time, the redemption or salvation of the bodies of the saints will be revealed in the last time. The bodies of the saints will be transformed into spiritual and glorious and immortal bodies. Then the blessed Kingdom of God will be consummated with power and glory forever and ever. Scientific truth is acquired by discovery, the truth of God is obtained by revelation as it is written the Bible.
15. There are many false teachings about the Bible.
There are infinite varieties of crooked ways; there is only one straight way. There are unlimited false teachings about the Bible; there is only one correct doctrine as the Bible claims to be the Word of God. All false teachings about the Bible are private interpretations. Private interpretations are inspired by the evil spirit and personal ambition of men. Among those false teachings are:
A. ”The Bible is a book written by men.”
2Pe 1:21 , “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
No. The Bible is not a book written by men. The Bible was written not by ordinary men of their own imagination, they were holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Question: How did the Bible come about?
Act 1:16 , “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”
Note: Foretell in Greek is prolegō which means to say before, say beforehand i.e. before the event, predict; – it occurs only 3 times in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit told David beforehand concerning Judas. The Holy Spirit spoke to David because David was a prophet. In fact, the Bible was made up of all the things God told the prophets and apostles over the ages through the Holy Spirit and had them written down, from Moses of the Penteteuch to John of the Revelation.
Eph 3:5 ,“Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:”
Note: Reveal in Greek is apokalyptō which means to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up, make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown; – it occurs about 26 times in the New Testament. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was not made known in ages past, it has now been revealed by the Holy Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. For that reason the Bible is not a book written by men.
2Pe 3:2 , “That you may remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.”
Note: Remember in Greek is mimnēskomai which means to remind one’s self of, be mindful of; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. Commandment in Greek is entolē which means collectively the whole body of moral precepts of Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ and His apostles; – it occurs 71 times in the New Testament. All the words or sayings and the commandments written in the Bible are called the Scriptures for Christians to observe and follow.
B. “The Bible contains the Word of God.”
The Bible is the Word of God. The Bible contains some what the devil and men and angels said, but God said that they said them. This is the most vicious false doctrine that pretends to believe by saying the Bible contains the word of God. The Bible is the Word of God, and it contains what God said about what other people also said. God says the fool says there is no God.
Jos 14:6 , “Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: You know the Word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.”
Note: The Pentateuch (the five books of Moses) is the Word which the Lord said to Moses.
1Ki 12:22 ,“But the Word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying.”
Note: The Word of God came to the prophet, the prophet could only say what God said.
1Ki 13:21-22 ,“And he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying: Thus says the LORD: Because you have disobeyed the Word of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the LORD said to you, Eat no bread and drink no water, your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.”
Note: Prophets were spokesmen of God. All prophets would declare to the people: Thus says the Lord.
1Ch 17:3 , “But it happened that night that the Word of God came to Nathan, saying:”
Note: The Word of God came to a prophet not that the prophet had expected. It happened when God wanted it to happen.
2Ch 11:2 , “But the Word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying.”
Luk 4:3 ,“And the devil said to Him: If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Note: It is true, this was what the devil said to Jesus: If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. The Word of God said that the devil said so.
Luk 1:34-37, “Then Mary said to the angel: How can this be, since I do not know a man? And the angel answered and said to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Note: ‘I do not know a man’ means I do not have sex with a man. The angel Gabriel was sent by God to speak to Mary of the virgin birth, Mary was puzzled because how could a virgin to have a child. Gabriel as an archangel of God, empowered to give explanation to Mary. Gabriel said what God wanted him to say.
Mat 19:4 ,“And He answered and said to them: Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female.”
Note: Jesus Christ affirms and confirms the Old Testament was written as the Word of God. Jesus also confirms and validates the fact that Adam and Eve were created by God’s direct act as it is written. There is an American president who advertised himself as born again, and yet he is an evolutionist. You cannot be a Christian and an evolutionist at the same time. Evolution is a scientific theory that contradicts the teaching of Jesus Christ. A Christian does not and cannot contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Word of Jesus Christ which will never pass away.
Mar 12:26 , “But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?”
Note: Jesus Christ unequivocally reaffirms the Old Testament is the Word of God.
Mar 12:10 ,“Have you not even read this Scripture: The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.”
Note: A passage of the Bible is called a Scripture. Jesus Christ validates a passage written in the Old Testament as the Scripture.
Luk 1:19 ,“And the angel answered and said to him: I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.”
Note: Angels are messengers of God. Prophets are spokesmen of God. Both angels and prophets speak only what God told them to speak.
Luk 3:2 , “While Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the Word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”
Note: John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way for the Son of God. The Word of God came to John in the wilderness. The Word of God did not come to the palace, the seat of power, wealth and glory. Do you know any seat of power, wealth and glory which receives the Word of God?
Jhn 10:35, “If He called them gods, to whom the Word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).”
Note: The Word of God did not come to just any person. Jesus Christ verified and validated that the Word of God came to the holy men (prophets) in the past.
Luk 24:27 , “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
Note: Expound in Greek is diermēneuō which means to unfold the meaning of what is said, explain, interpret; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. All the Scriptures mean the Old Testament because the New Testament was not written at the time of the resurrection of Christ. The central message of Moses and all the Prophets was the Messiah, the Son of God who came to the world to die for sinners.
Act 13:44 , “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God.”
Note: Sabbath was the day of rest for the Jews, most suitable to come together to hear the Word of God. Later Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and assembled on Sunday to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Word of God, and sing praises and worship God.
Act 28:23 ,“So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.”
Note: Paul was a great apostle who received the revelation directly from Jesus Christ. Paul was also a great preacher, he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Now it is much easier to preach the Gospel because the whole New Testament explains it. Explain in Greek is ektithēmi which means to metaphorically set forth, declare, expound, make clear or understandable; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Testify in Greek is diamartyromai which means to confirm a thing by testimony, cause it to be believed; – it occurs about 15 times in the New Testament. All the apostolic instruction boiled down to testimony respecting things they themselves had seen or heard, or which had disclosed to them by divine revelation. Persuade in Greek is peithō which means to induce one by words to believe, inspire confidence, cause to believe, cause to have faith; – it occurs about 55 times in the New Testament. What the apostles could do are not what present day evangelists and preachers can. The apostles had power, first-hand experience, had seen the Lord and could perform miracles.
When the Bible says the devil said, the devil did say so. When the Bible says angels said, angels did say so. When the Bible says a certain individual says something, that individual did say just that. Whatever the Bible says is so because God says so. Thus the Bible is the Word of God.
C. “The Bible is full of allegories, illusions, legends, mythologies, myths, parables and stories.”
The Bible is not a history textbook, but it is historically correct. When the Bible speaks of an individual like David and a place like Bethlehem, David was a real historical person, not a fiction; Bethlehem was and is a real place even today. The Bible is not a scientific textbook, but it is scientifically correct. When the Bible says it is a parable, it is a parable. There is no legend, mythology or myth in the Bible. What is plain is plain. What is a figure of speech is a figure of speech.
Mat 22:42-45 , “Saying: What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He? They said to Him: The Son of David. He said to them: How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
Note: The Bible is not a scientific textbook, but it is scientifically correct. When God revealed to Jeremiah more than 2,000 years ago about the expanding universe, it was and it is scientifically correct.
True, the Bible contains parables, allegories, and stories. When the Bible says it is a parable, it should be taken literally as a parable.
Eze 17:2 , “Son of man, set forth a riddle and tell the house of Israel a parable.”
Note: Riddle in Hebrew is chiydah which means difficult question, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question, dark obscure utterance, dark speech, hard question; – it occurs about 17 times in the Old Testament. Parable in Hebrew is mashal which means proverbial saying, aphorism, similitude, byword; – it occurs about 39 times in the Old Testament. When the Bible says it is a riddle, it is a riddle. When the Bible says it is a parable, it is a parable. However, the Bible is not made of riddles and parables.
Jdg 14:12 -14 , “Then Samson said to them: Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. And they said to him: Pose your riddle, that we may hear it. So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. Now for three days they could not explain the riddle”
Note: Samson’s riddle was very interesting. Yes, the Bible contains riddles, but the Bible is not made of riddles.
Mat 13:36, “Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying: Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
Note: Jesus tells many parables as they are written in the Gospels. Parable in Greek is parabolē which means comparison of one thing with another, likeness, similitude, an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning; – it occurs about 50 times in the New Testament. The explanations of the parable are plain truths, no parable:
Mat 13:37-42 ,“He answered and said to them: He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” These are sober truths.
Gal 4:24 ，“Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.”
Note: Allegory in Greek is allēgoreō which means speaking allegorically or in a figure; – it occurs only once in the New Testament.
Pro 1:6 , “To understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.”
Note: Figure in Hebrew is mĕliytsah which means an obscure saying, what needs an interpretation; – it occurs only 2 times in the Old Testament.
Jhn 10:6 , “Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what He was telling them.”
Note: Figure of speech in Greek is paroimia which means any dark saying which shadows forth some didactic truth, a symbolic or figurative saying, speech or discourse in which a thing is illustrated by the use of similes and comparisons, extended and elaborate metaphor; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament.
Jhn 16:29 ,“His disciples said to Him: See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!”
Isa 30:10, “Who say to the seers: You must not see visions; and to the prophets, You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.”
Note: Illusion in Hebrew is mahathallah which means deception, deceit; – it occurs only once in the Old Testament.
Luk 24:11 , “And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.”
Note: Idle tale in Greek is lēros which means idle talk, nonsense; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. At first the disciples who had not seen the risen Lord did not believe the women who had seen the Lord; their words seemed to them like idle tales.
1Ti 1:4 , “Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.”
Note: Fable in Greek is mythos which means a fiction, myth, invention, falsehood, legend; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. The Word of God edifies and builds you up in the faith.
1Ti 4:7 , “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”
Note: Godliness in Greek is eusebeia which means piety towards God; – it occurs about 15 times in the New Testament. Exercise in Greek is gymnazō which means to strive earnestly, train vigorously like those in a school of gymnastics; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Godliness is some virtue that Christians must strive, train and practice vigorously.
2Ti 4:4 , “And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
Note: The Bible is truth, against fables. So it is impossible for the Bible to be made of fables.
Tts 1:14 , “Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.”
Note: The Jewish fables were propagated by Pharisees and scribes.
When Jesus says, I am the door of the sheep; it is a figure of speech. Jesus is not a door made of wood or steel. But Jesus is the door in the sense without going through Jesus you cannot enter the sheepfold.
Jhn 14:6 ,“Jesus said to him: I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Note: The statement above is plain truth which is spiritually true: Jesus is the Way to God, no one comes to the Father except through Him. That Jesus is the Way to God is the Truth. Those who believe the truth in Christ has eternal life.
2Th 2:11 , “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.”
Note: God is against delusion and lie. Delusion in Greek is planē which means error, wrong opinion relative to morals or religion; – it occurs about 10 times in the New Testament. Many white supremacists and uninformed Americans believe in the delusion that America is exceptional, chosen by God to rule the world. It is a lie, a big lie that deceives white and black supremacists.
Lam 2:14 , “Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captives, but have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.”
Psa 4:2 , “How long, O men, will you turn My glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah.”
Jer 14:14 , “Then the LORD said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.”
Note: The Bible is against false and deceptive visions; false prophecies and delusions; false gods; divinations, idolatries and the delusions of the minds of the wicked.
Delusion in Hebrew is tormah which means treachery, fraud, deceit, deceitfulness; – it occurs only 6 times in the Old Testament. Delusions of the minds are most destructive. ‘White man’s burden’ is a fraud. Evolution is a delusion of the mind. Power is a delusion of the mind. Wealth is a delusion of the mind. Pleasure is a delusion of the mind. Because God is love, therefore there is no hell – a big illusion and delusion of the mind.
1Ti 1:4 , “Nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the divine training that is in faith.”
Note: Myth in Greek is mythos which means a fiction, fable, invention, falsehood; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. Speculation is ekzētēsis which means subtle inquiry, dispute; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Unbelieving scholars and modernists are good at making subtle inquiries such as so-called ‘historical Jesus’,‘textual criticism’, etc. The Bible is against all kinds of myths, endless genealogies and speculations. All private interpretations of the Bible are speculations at the least, and heresies at most.
1Ti 4:7 , “Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourself in godliness.”
Note: There is infinite variety of godless and silly myths. One silly myth is if you go to the pulpit and kneel down there, God will be nearer to you and answer your prayer. Some Chinese churches are like Buddhist temples, those who go to church have some silly Buddhist practices. Catholics have many silly myths; they kiss the statue of Mary or cross to get healing. Catholics believe in the myth that Mary is the mediator between God and men. Westerners are superstitious about the number 13. Chinese believe the number 8 brings them good luck and good fortune – all these silly myths Christians have nothing to do with them.
Tts 1:14 ,“Instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth.”
Note: If you give heed to Jewish myths and scientific myths or to commands of men, you will reject the truth because they are not compatible with the Word of God.
2 Pe 1:16 , “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
Note: The most cunningly devised fables are evolution and the “big bang” devised by unbelieving scientists. Apostles were eyewitnesses of Christ’s resurrection, power and majesty. All plain statements of the Word of God are not parables, fables, mythologies or myths, dreams, delusions, allegories, tales or stories. Plain statement should be taken as plain statements. Plain statements of the Bible are plain truths. Western leaders and politicians also have cunningly devised fables like democracy, human rights, freedom, justice — because they never practice them, and the peoples of their nations do not have them.
16. The Bible Speaks and Interprets Itself.
2Pe 1:20 ,“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Interpretation in Greek is epilysis which means a loosening, unloosing, explanation, exposition; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. The Bible makes it clear; holy men of God (prophets and apostles) spoke and wrote the Bible. No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private interpretation. If you want to argue with God, that is not my problem. The Bible is not a matter of private interpretation. The Bible speaks and interprets itself.
Question: How Does the Bible Interpret Itself?
The following are examples of ways in which the Bible interprets itself.
A. Biblical Definitions
The Bible provides many definitions which are vital to understand the Word of God. If you do not know the definition of the Bible on a certain topic, it means you may know the word and still do not understand what the Bible is talking about. Here only a few topics with explanations are cited to aid in forming Biblical Theology about God, sin, Christ, hell. Biblical definitions are God’s definitions, not the definitions of theologians, scholars or scientists.
(1). God
Jhn 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Note: Spirit in Greek is pneuma which means the life giving spirit, the essence of God; – it occurs about 385 times in the New Testament. Jesus further explains,
Luk 24:39 ,“See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” A spirit does not have flesh and bones, that is definitive. Thus the Bible interprets what does it mean that God is Spirit. This is the primary meaning. Spirit also has secondary meaning. True, God is Spirit. The Bible also says,
Hbr 12:29 ,“For our God is a consuming fire.” God is a consuming fire, but fire is not God. To believe in fire god is pantheism. Those who worship fire god do not know the true God. The Bible also says,
1Jo 4:8 , “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
God is love, but love is not God. Those who worship the goddess of love are pagans, not Christians. Thus if you gather all the Scriptures that say about God in one place, sort them out and study them systematically, and present them in a cohesive manner it forms Biblical Theology. That is how the Bible interprets itself. You cannot single out one passage of the Scripture to contradict other Scriptures. The unity of the Word of God presents the central message of God to mankind, and rejects any private interpretation.
(2). Sin
1Jo 3:4 ,“Whoever commits sin violates also the law: for sin is the violation of the law.”
Note: Sin is the violation of the law, that is one definition. Sin is judged according to the law of Moses – the law that God gave to Moses. This is the fundamental definition of sin. Without the law, you would not know what sin is. The law says,
Exd 20:17 ,“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Rom 7:7 ,“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said: You shall not covet.” However, that is not all the Scriptures say or define about sin.
Rom 14:23 ,“But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.” Whatever is not of faith is sin, that brings a broad perspective of what sin is. Probably the greatest of all sins is not to believe in God. The fools says in his heart there is no God.
You sin if you live not by faith, but by feeling. Furthermore,
Jam 4:17 ,“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” This is the sin of omission; most sins are confined to commissions. You are rich, you are able to do good but you do not, that is sin. You have power to right the wrong, but you do not, it is sin. You are a politician, you know your colleagues violate the law and commit corruption, you say and do nothing, it is sin. You are a doctor, you know the healthcare system defraud and overcharge patients, you say and do nothing, it is sin. You are a Wall Street executive, you know the financial system systematically defraud and loot the world, but you say and do nothing, it is sin.
1Jo 5:17 ,“All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
All unrighteousness covers a lot of sins: Lie, murder, robbery, terrorism, lawlessness, riot, looting, adultery, fornication, superstition, greed, violence, fraud, corruption, oppression, arson, rape, drunkenness, prostitution, pimping, injustice, theft, false witness, false accusation, fake news, fake documentation, fake report, fake license, counterfeit money, discrimination, pride, lust, arrogance, jealousy, envy, conflict, false claim, taking advantage of others, rumor, slander, evil thought, disobedience, rebellion, and a million other things are unrighteousness.
For example, to give tax cuts to the wealthy and powerful is unrighteousness, all unrighteousness is sin. From general to the specific,
Col 3:5 ,“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
This Scripture defines covetousness (greed) as idolatry. In America very few people worship idols, but most Americans worship money (the love of money) which is greed. Wall Street is a definitive demonstration of greed, and capitalism is made of greed and infected the whole world with frauds and all sorts of evils.
Rom 6:23 ,“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Note: The fact we will all die because we have all sinned. If you have not sinned, you will not die. Since Adam, there is no one who has not sinned. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(3). Christ
Mat 16:16 , “Simon Peter answered and said: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Note: Christ in Greek is Christos which means ‘anointed’, the Messiah, the Son of God; – it occurs about 569 times in the New Testament. Christ the Messiah is the Son of the living God. It refers to Jesus only, Jesus as the Christ (Messiah), the proper name Jesus Christ.
Mat 23:10 ,“And do not be called masters; for One is your Master, the Christ.”
Note: Master in Greek is kathēgētēs which means a guide, teacher, the supreme leader who has authority and power; – it occurs only 3 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the Master like no one. Many heresies were born because certain puffed-up and hydrocephalic individuals wanted to be masters and formed a theological school of thought based on their private interpretations of the Word of God.
Mar 1:1 ,“The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Note: Jesus Christ is the beginning of the Gospel, without Jesus Christ there is no Gospel.
Luk 2:11 , “For there is born to you this day in the city of David the Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Note: Savior in Greek is sōtēr which means deliverer, preserver, redeemer, through whom God gives salvation; – it occurs about 24 times in the New Testament. Lord in Greek is kyrios which means the Ruler of the universe, this title is given to: God, the Messiah; – it occurs about 748 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the Savior, the Lord just as God is the Lord.
Luk 24:46 ,“Then He said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.”
Note: The Jews and the disciples had a wrong idea about the Messiah. They thought the Christ must remain forever, not knowing that it was necessary for Christ as the Lamb of God to suffer and die for sinners in order to save them. If only death, then there would be no salvation; for Christ rose from the dead for our justification.
Jhn 1:17 , “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Note: Since man cannot obtain the righteousness of God through keeping the Law, so God provide grace for all who come to Christ for salvation. The righteousness of God is awarded freely to all who trust in Christ, this is the truth.
Jhn 1:41 , “He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him: We have found the Messiah (which is translated, the Christ).”
Jhn 4:42 , “Then they said to the woman: Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Note: Jesus indeed is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Truth is exclusive; there is only one Messiah, the Savior of the world. A spouse is also exclusive; you cannot have more than one spouse.
Jhn 6:69 , “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Note: In secular things you know and believe. In divine things you believe and know. Come to believe is come to know.
Jhn 17:3 , “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Act 2:36 , “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Act 2:38 , “Then Peter said to them: Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Remission in Greek is aphesis which means forgiveness, pardon of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed); – it occurs about 17 times in the New Testament.
Rom 1:16 ,“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Note: The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, to both the Jews and the Gentiles. Gentiles can be saved just as the Jews can be saved.
Rom 2:16 ,“In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.”
Note: The day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ is when He returns to reign with the saints. Ah, do you know that God knows your secrets? God knows the secrets of America, EU, UK, Canada, France, Australia, Japan and all nations. God also knows the secrets of all national leaders and politicians. God also know all corporate secrets and the secrets of corporate leaders and executives. The leader of a nation has many secrets, God knows them. A nation has many secrets or classified information because its leaders and officials have done many evil things, God knows them. A corporate executive has many secrets how he looted the corporation, God knows them. Doctors and hospital owners have defrauded and overcharged patients for many years, God knows all their secrets. Whatever you have done and think no one knows about, God knows the secrets of men.
Rom 3:22 ,“Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.”
Note: The righteousness of God is not possible to obtain through the law is given freely to all through faith in Jesus Christ.
Rom 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Note: End in Greek is telos which means termination, that by which a thing is finished, the end to which all things relate; – it occurs about 42 times in the New Testament. This is a vital truth: Christ is the end of the law. Roughly there are two dispensations: law (Old Testament) and grace (New Testament). The dispensation of law was ended; the dispensation of grace began when Christ first appeared on earth and lasts until Christ returns to reign. Now is the dispensation of grace. The righteousness of God which man cannot obtain through the law is given by grace to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Christ fulfills and completes the law for righteousness to everyone who believes in Him as Lord and Savior.
1Cr 1:24 , “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Note: Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1Cr 10:4 , “And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
When Jesus Christ says,
Mat 16:18 ,“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Note: You see the Bible interprets itself. Peter was not the rock, that Rock was Christ. The Bible does not contradict itself. The Roman Catholic Church teaches Peter as the rock of the church although they know the Bible says that Rock is Christ.
1Cr 12:27 , “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
Note: The Scripture provides the definition of the Church. Believers are the body of Christ, and members individually. The Church is the body of Christ.
1Cr 15:3-4, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Note: The Scriptures cited are the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. Christ died for our sins and He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
1Jo 1:7 ,“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Christianity is based on the Scriptures, the Word of God. Christ rose from the dead for our justification, so that all believe in Him may be counted as righteousness. The substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the right and left sacred pillars of the truth of Christianity. Without Jesus Christ dying for sinners, sinners cannot be redeemed. Without resurrection of Jesus Christ, sinners cannot be justified or counted righteous before God. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ completed the redemption of our souls; the second coming of Christ will complete the redemption of our bodies, from mortal to immortal, from inglorious to glorious. Only Christianity has the empty tomb, for our Redeemer lives forever. The dead leaders of many religions could not even save themselves. Recently a Hindu guru worshiped by millions died at 84. The Hindu guru died because he was also a sinner. If he was not a sinner, he would not have died. Death is the destiny of all men. For the wages of sin is death.
(4). Hell
Hell is not a state of mind; it is a real place of suffering, eternal suffering.
Deu 32:22 , “For a fire is kindled in My anger, and shall burn to the lowest Hell; it shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
Note: The Chinese concept of 18-floor hell is a pure imagination, but the Bible does say about the lowest hell. Apparently people who are sent to the lowest hell are the most wicked and will suffer the most. The lowest hell is the bottomless pit. Apparently the hell ( shĕ’owl ) of the Old Testament has been moved to the hell ( hadēs ) described in Rev 20:14 after Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended to the highest Heaven. We should not speculate what is not spelled out in the Bible.
Psa 9:17 ,“The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
Note: All the nations that forget God shall be turned into hell, including nations that call themselves ‘Christian’ but practices wickedness and unrighteousness.
Psa 55:15 ，“Let death seize them; let them go down alive into Hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.”
Pro 5:5 ,“Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of Hell.
Pro 7:27 ,“Her house is the way to Hell, descending to the chambers of death.”
Note: Her refers to prostitute and bad woman. The house of prostitution is the way to Hell.
Pro 27:20 , “Hell and Destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.”
Note: Hell is never full because it is the Bottomless Pit.
Eze 31:16 , “I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to Hell together with those who descend into the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the depths of the earth.”
Mat 5:22 , “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of Hell fire.”
Mat 5:29 , “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Hell.”
Mat 5:30 ,“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Hell.”
Mat 10:28 , “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
Note: This Scripture answers the question how is that the suffering in Hell is forever, because they shall be tormented both soul and body. The body of the wicked after resurrection can feel the pain of fire and worm, it is continuously dying but never dies, there is no ending. The suffering in Hell involves body and soul of the wicked or unbeliever.
Mat 23:15 ,“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of Hell as yourselves.”
Note: There are bad and false preachers who make believers their disciples. Remember, a true preacher makes believers the disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ calls the evildoer, a son of Hell. Truth is offensive. Something is seriously wrong with you if you think the truth of God must please you. You study the Bible not to find whether it pleases you or not. You study the Word of God to find out whether you please God or not.
There are many sons of Hell making Hell on earth; someday the sons of Hell will be tormented in Hell forever and ever. A greedy capitalist that robs and loots the world is a son of Hell. A warmonger that starts war of aggression is a son of Hell. A CORRUPT doctor and hospital owner who defraud and prey on patients are sons of Hell. A lawyer who practices legal terrorism is a son of Hell. A terrorist is a son of Hell…
Mat 23:33 ,“Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of Hell.”
Note: Some people think Jesus was too kind and only spoke kind words, but He calls the wicked, serpents, brood of vipers.
Mar 9:43, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to Hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—.”
Note: Hell fire is worse than nuclear fire, fire produced by fission or fusion. Hell fire is eternal, and suffering in Hell is also eternal.
Luk 12:5 , “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into Hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
2Pe 2:4 ,“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.”
Note: It appears God has sent the angels who sinned and maybe the wicked also who died to chains of darkness. After judgment, the Lake of Fire (Hell) will be the final place of punishment for them. If God did not spare the angels who sinned, don’t think you are better than an angel can escape God’s judgment.
B. The Unity of the Word of God.
The Word of God gives one consistent message, the work of the devil is trying to cast doubt or distort the Word of God. The Bible does not contradict itself.
Mat 7:15 , “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Note: Jesus Christ calls false prophets ravenous wolves. Those ravenous wolves come to you in sheep’s clothing. There are many false prophets who appear in cathedrals, seminaries, megachurches, etc. False prophets are ravenous wolves because they deceive people and destroy their faith.
In America a false prophet who deceived people repeatedly about the Day of Judgment is very rich because fools gave him their money and assets.
Mat 24:11 , “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”
Note: Preachers of prosperity gospel are false prophets, they deceive many by teaching if you give your money to them as investment, God will open up heaven and pour down material blessings on you so that you prosper and become rich.
Mat 24:24 ,“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Note: False christs and false prophets can also show great signs and wonders to deceive people.
Luk 6:26 , “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
Note: Some false prophets and false teachers have fallen from grace and disgraced themselves. Some may be well received in palaces, white house, big mansions, big institutions, big firms, etc.
2Cr 11:13 , “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.”
Note: These deceitful workers may claim to be apostles of Christ. Since the Twelve, Judas lost his and replaced by Paul, all the apostles had gone to heaven; there will never be another apostle. If anyone declares himself to be a modern day apostle of Christ, you can be sure he is a false apostle.
Gal 2:4 , “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage).”
2Pe 2:1 , “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
Note: Those who insist they have power to make private interpretation of the Word of God, they will bring swift destruction upon themselves. You cannot use the words of man to measure the Word of God; you must measure the words of man by the Word of God. All false prophets and false teachers deny Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God who became Man.
2Pe 3:16 ,“He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
Note: Destruction in Greek is apōleia which means a perishing, ruin, the destruction which consists of eternal misery in Hell; – it occurs about 20 times in the New Testament. Apostle Peter talked about the writings of Apostle Paul containing some things that are hard to understand. Ignorant and unstable people distort the Bible as they do the other Scriptures will bring their own destruction. There is such a thing that people do bring or cause their own destruction.
Rev 20:10 ,“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Note: The Scripture cited explains the end of the evil trinity, the devil, the beast and the false prophet – tormented in hell forever and ever.
Eph 4:5 -6 ,“One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Note: The Bible presents one Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith (not denominations), one baptism; one God and Father of all. The Father and Son are One. All believers in Christ are one.
C. The Word of God centers on Jesus Christ.
Jhn 1:45 ,“Philip found Nathanael and said to him: We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Note: Find in Greek is heuriskō which means to find by inquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, find out, come to know, find by chance; – it occurs about 178 times in the New Testament. Messiah whom Moses and the prophets wrote about had been expected by the Jews for thousands of years. Have you found out what is the most important thing in your life?
Luk 24:27 ,“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
Note: The things concerning the Messiah the Christ are written in the books of Moses and all the Prophets (the Old Testament).
Luk 24:44 , “Then He said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
Note: The three major portions of the Old Testament are the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms – in fact the whole Old Testament was written about Jesus Christ – the Messiah. The Book of Psalms is very useful to teach believers how to pray, how to communicate with God.
Mat 3:17 ,“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Mat 17:5 ,“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
Mar 9:7 ,“And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Luk 9:35 , “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Note: The central message of God to mankind is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God’s beloved Son, hear Him, listen to Him, accept Him, believe in Him, obey Him, and love Him.
2Pe 1:17 , “For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Note: God is the Excellent Glory, Jesus Christ is His beloved Son.
1 Cr 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Note: Everything else you know is useless if you do not know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, died for your sins and rose from death and He is able to save you to the end.
Act 4:12 , “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Note: This Scripture is very clear: there is no salvation in any other, there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. No matter who you are, Gandhi or Lincoln, you need Jesus to save you. No one is good enough to go to heaven.
1Cr 3:11 ,“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Note: Foundation in Greek is themelios which means the thing laid down as a foundation; – it occurs about 16 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christianity, the Rock of the Church.
1Ti 1:3-4 , “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia–remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.”
1Ti 2:5 , “For there is one God, and one Mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Note: Jesus Christ is the Mediator between God and men. It is not Mary, it is not apostles, it is not angels, and it is not any man.
D. The Way.
Jhn 14:6 ,“Jesus said to him: I AM the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.”
Note: Way in Greek is hodos which means a traveled way, road, by which one passes; – it occurs about 102 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the way with whom all who seek approach to God must enter into closest fellowship. Jesus Christ is the way to God, there is no other way. This is the truth if you want to receive life. Truth is not narrow-mindedness. Truth is exclusive, not inclusive. Think about this as the most important thing: If Jesus Christ is right, then all religions are false. However, there is religious freedom, you may receive or reject Jesus Christ; but you will not escape the consequence. The Bible has made it clear about the consequences of unbelievers. What you decide will determine your eternal destiny. I had made choice long ago; I accept and believe Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, no regret whatsoever.
Mat 7:13 -14 , “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Mat 22:16 , “And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying: Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.”
Note: Truthful in Greek is alēthēs which means true, speaking the truth; – it occurs about 25 times in the New Testament. To be partial means to regard the person, pay attention to who is the person, or regard the position of man. Jesus Christ does not regard whether you are the president of America, the prime minister of Britain, or the king of any nation. In the sight of God, man is nothing, less than nothing.
Luk 1:79 ,“To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Note: Those who walk in darkness, such as Wall Street crooks, corrupt officials, fraudulent doctors and hospital owners, predatory lawyers, etc. do not know the way of peace.
Isa 57:21, “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.” God says: There is no peace for the wicked.
Luk 20:21 , “Then they asked Him, saying: Master, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth.”
Note: Do not show personal favoritism means not being partial to any. To teach the way of God in truth, one cannot show personal favoritism. Jesus Christ is the way, the narrow way, the way of peace, the way of God in truth, the way of salvation, the way of the Lord, the way of God.
Act 9:2 ,“And asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”
Note: The word ‘way’used in Act 9:2 is the same original word used in Jhn 14:6. Whether used it favorably or unfavorably, Christianity is the Way. Christians are people of the Way – the Way of God.
Act 16:17 , “This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying: These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way of salvation.
Act 18:25-26 ,“This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.”
Note: The more knowledge you have of the Word of God, the more accurately you explain the Way of God, the way of salvation.
Act 19:9 ,“But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.”
Note: Do not be surprised if some hardened unbelievers speak evil of the Way. The enemies of the cross oppose the Way of God.
E. The Door.
Jhn 10:1 ,“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
Note: Leaders of false religions are actually thieves and robbers because they misled the people with the wrong way.
Jhn 10:2 , “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”
Jhn 10:7 ,“So Jesus said to them again: Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”
Jhn 10:9 , “I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Note: Jesus Christ is the door of salvation, enter by Jesus means to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and you will be saved.
Gen 7:13-16, “On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark– they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.”
Note: To shut in means the door is closed. Now the door of salvation is open, now you can be saved. The day is coming when the door of salvation is shut, then you cannot enter.
Gen 19:10-11 ,“But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.”
Note: The Old Testament story cited above is very interesting and illustrates the importance of the door.
Act 14:27 , “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”
Note: God has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles and the Jews. All may come in and be saved.
Col 4:3 , “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.”
Note: Pray God to open to us a door for the Word through the Internet to reach millions with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jam 5:9 ,“Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door
Rev 3:20 , “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Note: Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of your heart, open your heart and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. The most wonderful garage door leads you only to a car. White house door cannot lead you to heaven. Congressional door cannot lead you to heaven. Palace door does not lead you to paradise. Jesus is the door that leads you to God and heaven.
17. What to Do with the Word of God.
Peoples of the world and Christians are at least told to do the following. The Word of God speaks two groups of people: believers and unbelievers. What the Word of God tells Christians to do, unbelievers cannot do.
A. Hear the Word.
Isa 28:14 , “Therefore hear the Word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem.”
Isa 66:5 , “Hear the Word of the LORD, you who tremble at His Word: Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said: Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy. But they shall be ashamed.”
Jesus says, Mat 13:9 , “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Rom 10:17 , “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Note: Hear the Word means to listen to what God says and obey the Word of God.
B. Pay attention to the Word.
2Pe 1:19 , “And we have the Word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Note: Pay attention in Greek is prosechō which means to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive, give attention to, take heed, devote thought and effort to; – it occurs about 24 times in the New Testament. You do well to pay attention to the Word of God which a light like the morning star that shines in your hearts.
C. Believe the Word.
Act 4:4 , “However, many of those who heard the Word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
Note: Believe in Greek is pisteuō which means to think to be true, to be persuaded of, place confidence in, trust in Jesus or God as able to aid; – it occurs about 248 times in the New Testament. To believe the Word is to take God at His Word.
Act 15:7 ,“And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.”
Note: It is the duty of man to hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.
Eph 1:13 , “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Note: To hear the Word of truth, the Gospel of our salvation and believe is to be sealed to receive the Holy Spirit.
D. Receive the Word.
Act 8:14 , “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.”
Note: Receive in Greek is dechomai which means to take hold of, take up, give ear to, embrace, approve, make one’s own; – it occurs 59 times in the New Testament. We must receive the Word of God.
Act 17:11 , “These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
Note: Readiness in Greek is prothymia which means readiness of mind, eagerness, zeal, spirit, inclination; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. Search the Scriptures and receive the Word with readiness of mind and eagerness.
1Th 1:6 , “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: For followers of Jesus Christ to receive the Word in affliction means to suffer for the Lord and to be with joy of the Holy Spirit.
1Th 2:13 , “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
Note: The Word of God is the word of truth.
E. Desire the Word.
1Pe 2:2 , “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.”
Note: Desire in Greek is epipotheō which means to long for, pursue with love, long after; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. As newborn babes desire the milk so Christians should desire the pure milk of the Word. The Word is vital for spiritual growth. Christians are to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. Knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God are essential for Christian growth.
F. Taste the Word.
Hbr 6:5 , “And have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come.”
Note: Taste in Greek is geuomai which means to try the flavor of, partake of, enjoy, feel and experience; – it occurs about 15 times in the New Testament. The taste of the Word of God is good because of its promises and blessings. If you are a child of God, you must have experienced the divine providence and how God has blessed and helped you in many ways.
G. Keep the Word.
Luk 11:28 , “But He said: More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”
Note: Keep here in Greek is phylassō which means to guard, watch, keep watch, guard i.e. care for, take care not to violate, observe; – it occurs about 30 times in the New Testament.
1Jo 2:5 , “But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Note: Keep in Greek is tēreō which means to attend to carefully, take care of, observe of God’s or Christ’s command; – it occurs about 75 times in the New Testament. To keep the Word is to obey the commandments of God and do the will of God.
H. Remember the Word.
Jhn 15:20 , “Remember the Word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also.”
Note: Remember in Greek is mnēmoneuō which means to be mindful of, call to mind, hold in memory, keep in mind, make mention of; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. Christians must remember the Word that Jesus said in the New Testament and keep it. To remember the Word of Christ you have to keep it in your heart. Here “yours” refers what the apostles later said and wrote in the New Testament. It does not mean what church leaders, theologians or pastors say.
I. Obey the Word.
Jos 24:24 , “The people said to Joshua: We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice. ”
Note: Obey in Hebrew is shama` which means to hear, listen to, consent, agree, yield to, be obedient, give heed; – it occurs about 1,159 times in the Old Testament. God’s voice and God’s word mean the same. To obey God’s voice is to obey His Word.
2Th 1:8 , “Dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
Note: Obey in Greek is hypakouō which means to be obedient to, submit to, harken to a command; – it occurs 21 times in the New Testament. To obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is to obey the Word. Those who do not obey will receive retribution. Retribution in Greek is ekdikēsis which means vengeance, punishment; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. What punishment for those who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ says, Mat 25:46 , “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Punishment in Greek is kolasis which means correction, penalty; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. What is eternal punishment? Body and soul suffer in Hell forever.
J. Be doers of the Word.
Jam 1:22 , “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Note: Doer in Greek is poiētēs which means a performer, practitioner, one who obeys or fulfills the law; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. One who hears the Word, but does not do it, deceives himself. A good illustration is the Western powers that claim to be Christian, but they practice imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, and hegemonism which are totally contrary to the Word of God.
Luk 6:46 , “Why do you call Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Be doer of the Word is to do what the Lord says.
K. Hold firm the Word.
Phl 2:16, “Holding out the Word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
Note: Hold out in Greek is epechō which means to have or hold upon, hold toward, hold forth; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament.
Tts 1:9 ,“Holding firm the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
Note: Hold firm in Greek is antechō which means to hold to firmly, cleave to; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Believers must hold out and hold firm the Word of life in this ungodly world.
L. Speak the Word.
Act 4:31 , “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.”
Note: Speak in Greek is laleō which means to utter a voice or emit a sound, use the tongue or the faculty of speech, talk, tell, use words in order to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thoughts, make known by speaking; – it occurs about 296 times in the New Testament. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not meant to speak in tongues, but to speak the Word of God with boldness. Boldness in Greek is parrēsia which means freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, open, frankly, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, assurance; – it occurs about 31 times in the New Testament.
Act 16:32 ,“Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.”
Phl 1:14 , “And most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.”
Note: What is the difference between speaking the Word and preaching the Word. Speaking the Word is informal, preaching the Word is formal. We should pray that the Word of God can be proclaimed everywhere without fear. In some countries that have state religion, you will lose your life to preach the Word of God. If one of their citizens is converted to Christianity, he/she will be beheaded. That kind of oppressive religion should be outlawed in all civilized nations. Religious freedom should mean preaching and practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ without fear. Hold firm the truth of Christ means you do not let go, do not stray into falsehood.
M. Preach the Word.
Act 8:4 , “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.”
Note: Preach in Greek is euaggelizō which means to evangelize, bring good news, announce glad tidings, proclaim glad tidings; – it occurs about 55 times in the New Testament.
Act 8:25 ,“So when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”
Act 15:35 ,“Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.”
2Ti 4:2, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Note: Here the word ‘preach’ is kēryssō which means to be a herald, to officiate as a herald, publish, proclaim openly; – it occurs about 61 times in the New Testament. The Gospel of Jesus Christ can be preached by TV, radio, movie, printed matter, record, DVD, and the Internet.
N. Spread the Word.
Act 13:49, “And the Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.”
Note: Spread in Greek is diapherō which means to bear or carry through any place, carry in different directions, to different places, spread abroad; – it occurs about 13 times in the New Testament. Preachers must preach the Gospel; all Christians must spread the Word. Today the Internet is the most effective and fastest means of spreading the Word of the Lord throughout the world, and the cheapest means.
O. Bear witness to the Word.
Act 14:3 ,“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Note: Bear witness in Greek is martyreō which means to testify, affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, be a witness of the truth; – it occurs about 79 times in the New Testament. Every born-again Christian is a witness to the Word of His grace; even most believers do not have the gift of performing signs and miracles. A Christian life is a living testimony to the grace and power of God.
Outside the Holy Bible, here is a list of some noteworthy historical people, excluded myself, who said somethings about the Bible worth listening to:
Martin Luther, “Let the man who would hear God speak, read Holy Scripture.” Here alone, in the pages of the Bible, God speaks with final authority.
Isaac Newton, “We account the scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.”
Immanuel Kant, “I believe that the existence of the Bible is the greatest benefit to the human race. Any attempt to belittle it, I believe, is a crime against humanity.”
Abraham Lincoln, “I am busily engaged in the study of the Bible. I believe it is God’s word because it finds me where I am.”
“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good of the Savior of the world is communicated to us through the Book.”
Patrick Henry, “The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.”
George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
St. Jerome, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
Sir Ambrose Flemming, “We must not build on the sands of an uncertain and everchanging science…but upon the rock of inspired Scriptures.”
Jean Jacques Rousseau, “Jewish authors would never have invented either that style nor that morality; and the Gospel has marks of truth so great, so striking, so utterly inimitable, that the invention of it would be more astonishing than the hero.”
Robert E. Lee, “In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.”
Woodrow Wilson, “When you have read the Bible, you know it is the word of God, because it is the key to your heart, your own happiness, and your own duty.”
Theodore Roosevelt, “A thorough understanding of the Bible is better than a college education.”
Daniel Webster, “I believe that the Bible is to be understood and received in the plain and obvious meaning of its passages; for I cannot persuade myself that a book intended for the instruction and conversion of the whole world should cover its true meaning in any such mystery and doubt that none but critics and philosophers can discover it.”
“Education is useless without the Bible.”
John Wesley, “This book had to be written by one of three people: good men, bad men or God. It couldn’t have been written by good men because they said it was inspired by the revelation of God. Good men don’t lie and deceive. It couldn’t have been written by bad men because bad men would not write something that would condemn themselves. It leaves only one conclusion. It was given by divine inspiration of God.”
Concerning the Bible, Edward Meyer said:“…There is no ground at all for refusing to accept these oldest traditions as historically trustworthy in all essentials, and in their chronological ordering of history.”
Francis Bacon, called the Bible: “The book of God’s word.”
Goethe, “I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus Christ.”
Augustine, “The Holy Scriptures are out letters from home.”
Willie Wong, “The Holy Bible is not like any other book. It gives me life, light, comfort, inspiration, joy, strength, and hope that I find only in Jesus Christ.”
P. Teach the Word.
Act 18:11 ,“And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.”
Note: Teach in Greek is didaskō which means to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses, impart instruction, instill doctrine into one, explain or expound a thing; – it occurs about 97 times in the New Testament. The strangest things are professors of theology and ministers who do not know the Word but teach everything to deny and repudiate the Word. Such are false teachers. You wonder why they exist in seminaries and churches today. Actually it is a fulfilled prophecy,
Jud 1:4 , “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2Pe 2:1 ,“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” Any doctrine that denies Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world is a destructive heresy and false doctrine.
Q. Labor in the Word.
1Ti 5:17 ,“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine.”
2Ti 2:15 , “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Note: Labor in Greek is kopiaō which means to toil with wearisome effort; – it occurs about 23 times in the New Testament. What I am trying to do is to put the Word and fundamental doctrines of Christianity on the Internet absolutely free, rightly dividing the Word of truth, proclaiming and promoting the Kingdom of God and Christ. Rightly dividing in Greek is orthotomeō which means to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. To explain the differences between law and grace, between work and gift, between reward and punishment, between Heaven and Hell, between this life and the life to come, between things below and things above, between the worldly and the spiritual, between the eternal life and eternal punishment, etc. is rightly dividing the Word of truth. Among those who labored in the Word and doctrine that I admire most are G. Campbell Morgan, J. C. Ryle, John Bunyan, etc.
R. Glorify the Word.
Act 13:48 ,“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Note: Glorify in Greek is doxazō which means to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, honor, do honor to, hold in honor, make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor, render it excellent or illustrious; – it occurs 62 times in the New Testament. There is nothing like the Holy Bible because it is the Word of God. There is nothing like the Word of God because it is truth, nothing but the truth, trustworthy to accept and believe. To glorify the Word of the Lord is to glorify God. Those who glorify the Word of God do not commit idolatry (bibliolatry). To glorify the Word of God you cannot glorify the words of men. Those who glorify the words of men are guilty of idolatry. The church of Jesus Christ must obey the Word of God. Christians glorify the Word of God, not the words and teachings of any man.
Now you have learned a lot about the Holy Bible, the Word of God. The central message is Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. Christianity is solely based on the Holy Scripture, the ultimate authority for faith and practice.
If you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, you will have eternal life, as it is written.
N.B.
Like Martin Luther, I believe in Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone).
I am grateful to those who provide free online access to Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon. My research and study of the Bible cannot be done without it. My knowledge of the original words of the Scriptures is based on the Hebrew and Greek Lexicon. I thank God for this worthy and noble ministry. I hope every Bible student and preacher knows about this and uses this indispensable Bible study tool.
I am an old man and I have studied many books. There is no book like the Holy Bible because it is the World of God. I have no reason to lie to you because I am not selling anything or getting money from you or anyone else. Besides the salvation offered in Jesus Christ, the benefits I have received from the Holy Bible lasts for time and eternity. I am glad to glorify the Holy Bible.
Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon
http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 4, 2025
https://williewong.cw.center/wp-admin
*ACCORDING TO
*Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation. We only want you to know the truth.
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, the meaning of “according to” is “in conformity with”.
According to Collins Dictionary, it means “in accordance with”.
Gen 1:11, “Then God said, “Let the earth sprout
vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit according to their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.”
Kind in Hebrew is mîn which means species. According to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, form hence species, kind, sort.
God created fruit trees according to their kind with seed in them.
Gen 1:12, “The earth produced vegetation, plants
yielding seed according to their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, according to
their kind; and God saw that it was good.”
The taxonomy of God was good.
Gen 1:21, “And God created the great sea creature
and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and
every winged bird according to its kind; and God saw that it was good.”
Gen 1:24, “Then God said, “Let the earth produce
living creatures according to their kind: livestock and crawling things and animals of the earth according
to their kind”; and it was so.”
Gen 1:25, “God made the animals of the earth
according to their kind, and the livestock according
to their kind, and everything that crawls on the ground according to its kind; and God saw that it was good.”
“Top 10 Most Startling Stats
- Of the Total of 8.7 Million Species, 2.16 Million Are Animal
- 68.7% of All Animals Are Invertebrates
- More Than 75,923 Vertebrate Species Have Been Identified
- The Estimated Species of Insects Is 1.053 million
- The Described Species of Birds and Reptiles are 11,195 and 12,263, Respectively
- About 6,736 Described Species of Mammals Exist in the World
- Approximately 300 Species of Amphibians Are Found in the US
- The Estimated Number of Fish in the World Is 3.5 Trillion
- 86% and 91% of All the Land and Sea Species Respectively Have Not Been Discovered
- There Is a Greater No. of Chickens on the Earth Than Humans.”
Gen 1:26, “Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.”
God only created mankind in His image, according to His likeness.
According to https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/the-image-of-god-11580158.html
“It would be difficult to overstate the centrality of the image of God as a crucial theme in Biblical theology. From the beginning of the end in Genesis (protology) to the end of the beginning in Revelation (eschatology), the image of God is crucial for understanding the flow of redemptive history. God creates humans in his image, justly punishes them for rebellion, yet graciously provides redemption from that rebellion, and then finally consummates redemptive history by transforming the whole creation into new heavens and a new earth.
It would be difficult to overstate the centrality of the image of God as a crucial theme in Biblical theology. From the beginning of the end in Genesis (protology) to the end of the beginning in Revelation (eschatology), the image of God is crucial for understanding the flow of redemptive history. God creates humans in his image, justly punishes them for rebellion, yet graciously provides redemption from that rebellion, and then finally consummates redemptive history by transforming the whole creation into new heavens and a new earth.
Genesis 1:26-27 indicates that God created humankind as male and female in his image (tselem [,l,x]) and likeness (demut [tWm.D]). It is doubtful that distinctions between the meanings of these two words are to be pressed. Rather, the pair of words convey one idea through a literary device known as hendiadys. Later, in Genesis 5:1-3, after God’s image-bearers had sinned against him, the language of Genesis 1:26-27 is repeated as a prelude to a list of Adam’s posterity. Significantly, this passage links God’s original creation of humans in his likeness with the subsequent human procreation of children in Adam’s image and likeness. Following the Genesis narrative further, after the flood of Noah, Genesis 9:6 indicates that due to the image of God, capital punishment is required in cases of murder. To murder a creature who images God is tantamount to an attempt to murder the God who created the image-bearer, and the heinous nature of this offense warrants the forfeiture of the murderer’s life as well.”
Gen 5:3, “When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- in his own likeness, after his image] Cf. Genesis 1:26. Man was made in God’s image, after His likeness; he begets a son, in his own likeness, after his image. Many Heb. MSS., however, only read “in his image.” On the words “image” and “likeness,” see note on Genesis 1:26. The phrase here is evidently intended to shew that the elements of resemblance to the Divine image, which at the first were implanted in man’s nature, were communicated from father to son.
That the priestly document contained any tradition respecting the Fall, or the murder of Abel, seems improbable.
Seth] See note on Genesis 4:25. The father here gives the name; the mother’s name is not mentioned in this genealogy.”
Gen 6:20, “Of the birds according to their kind, and of the animals according to their kind, of every crawling
thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
20. Of the fowl, &c.] The order in which the animals are here mentioned is deserving of notice; first the fowls, then the cattle, and finally the creeping things. What is the reason of this order? Probably the order of the account of the Creation in chap. 1 is followed, where the creation of the fowls is recorded in Genesis 1:20-22, and of the cattle and creeping things in Genesis 1:24. The same order is maintained in Genesis 1:26.
kind] The same word as in Genesis 1:12 (P).
cattle] as in Genesis 1:24, denoting domestic animals generally. The only group of animals mentioned in Genesis 1:21; Genesis 1:24, which is here omitted, is “the beast of the earth,” i.e. “the wild beast.” Is this intentional? The LXX adds, after “every creeping thing,” καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν θηρίων = “and of every wild beast.”
creeping thing] See note on Genesis 1:24. The exact phrase “everything that creepeth upon the ground after its kind” is reproduced from Genesis 1:25.
Genesis 6:20.”
Gen 10:5, “From these the people of the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every
one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.”
Thus, we have discovered the ancient seats of Japheth, Iapetos – , around the Caspian, the Euxine, the Aegean, and the north of the Mediterranean. From these coastlands they seem to have spread over Europe, northern, western, and southern Asia, and, both by Behring’s Straits and the Atlantic, they at length poured into America. So true is it that Japheth was enlarged, and that by them were “the isles of the nations divided.”
In their nations. – We here note the characteristics of a nation. First. It is descended from one head. Others may be occasionally grafted on the original stock by intermarriage. But there is a vital union subsisting between all the members and the head, in consequence of which the name of the head is applied to the whole body of the nation. In the case of Kittim and Dodanim we seem to have the national name thrown back upon the patriarchs, who may have themselves been called Keth and Dodan. Similar instances occur in the subsequent parts of the genealogy. Second. A nation has a country or “land” which it calls its own. In the necessary migrations of ancient tribes, the new territories appropriated by the tribe, or any part of it, were naturally called by the old name, or some name belonging to the old country. This is well illustrated by the name of Gomer, which seems to reappear in the Cimmerii, the Cimbri, the Cymri, the Cambri, and the Cumbri. Third. A nation has its own “tongue.” This constitutes at once its unity in itself and its separation from others. Many of the nations in the table may have spoken cognate tongues, or even originally the same tongue. Thus, the Kenaanite, Phoenician, and Punic nations had the same stock of languages with the Shemites. But it is a uniform law, that one nation has only one speech within itself. Fourth. A nation is composed of many “families,” clans, or tribes. These branch off from the nation in the same manner as it did from the parent stock of the race.”
Nations were formed according to their families and language.
According to https://blog.rosettastone.com/how-many-languages-are-there
“Today there are 7,164 languages spoken across the world. However, these languages are not evenly distributed across populations. Over 3.6 billion people speak the 20 most spoken languages in the world, accounting for only 0.3% of the world’s total languages.”
2Pe 2:5, “and did not spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.”
1Pe 3:20, “who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through
the water.”
Gen 7:13 , “On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark.”
Note: Ark in Hebrew is tebah which means a chest, coffer; the ship which Noah made like a chest or coffer; – it occurs 28 times in the Old Testament.
Something is most interesting and amazing about the Chinese character for ship. Chinese characters are square. The etymology of the Chinese word
” ship ” 船 , 舟 (big boat)
八 (eight), 口 (mouth). One mouth means one person. So the Chinese character
船 means in a big boat, there were 8 mouths or 8 persons. Thus ship
is written with “boat” on the left, “eight mouths” on the right. In the big ship there were 8 persons, one mouth stands for one person. In counting population, you count how many mouths. It is historically significant because Noah, his wife, their three sons and three daughters-in-law made up a family of 8 persons who entered the Ark and were saved from the Flood or the Deluge. And so the Chinese character “ ship ” is written that there are 8 mouths in the Ark.
Gen 6:22, “So Noah did these things; according
to everything that God had commanded him, so he did.”
Genesis 6:22. Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him — And that both as to the matter and manner of it. And when we consider how laborious, tedious, and dangerous a work the building of the ark was, and what ridicule he would have to encounter from the ungodly and profane, while engaged in a business apparently foolish, and that for so many scores of years together, we shall not wonder that the faith whereby he surmounted all these difficulties should be so celebrated in the Scriptures. See Hebrews 11:7.”
Heb 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence
prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”
Noah was a righteous man because he did everthing according to that God had commanded him.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
7. warned of God] The same word is used as in Hebrews 8:5, Hebrews 12:25.
moved with fear] Influenced by godly caution and reverence; the same kind of fear as that implied in Hebrews 5:7.
condemned the world] His example was in condemning contrast with the unbelief of the world (Matthew 12:41; Luke 11:31).
of the righteousness which is by faith] Rather, “which is according to faith” (comp. Ezekiel 14:14). Noah is called “righteous” in Genesis 6:9, and Philo observes that he is the first to receive this title, and erroneously says that the name Noah means “righteous” as well as “rest.” St Paul does not use the phrase “the righteousness according to faith,” though he has “the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:13). “Faith” however in this writer never becomes the same as mystic oneness with Christ, but means general belief in the unseen; and “righteousness” is not “justification,” but faith manifested by obedience. Throughout this chapter righteousness is the human condition which faith produces (Hebrews 11:33), not the divine gift which faith receives. Hence he says that Noah “became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith,” i.e. he entered on the inheritance of righteousness which faith had brought him. In 2 Peter 2:5 Noah is called “a preacher of righteousness;” and in Wis 10:4 “the righteous man.”
Gen 19:31, “Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to have relations with us according to the custom of all the earth.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And the firstborn said unto the younger,…. That is, the firstborn of those two, or the elder of them; for, if Lot had other daughters that were married in Sodom, it is probable they were elder than either of these: Aben Ezra intimates, that Lot had another wife, who died first, and these were by his second; the following motion is made by the eldest of them to the youngest, as being bolder, having more authority, and a greater influence to persuade:
our father is old; if he was fifty years of age when he was taken captive by the kings, as says the Jewish chronologer (q) he must now be sixty five, since the destruction of Sodom, according to Bishop Usher (r), was fifteen years after that:
and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth; to marry them, cohabit with them, and procreate children of them, which was the common way of the propagation of mankind in the earth; they thought the whole world was destroyed by fire, as it had been by a flood; they understood it would be no more consumed by water, but they had been told it would be by fire, and they imagined the time was now come, and this was the case; that not only Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire, and that by this time the fire had reached to Zoar, and had consumed that, but that the whole earth was destroyed, and not a man left but their father, and therefore thought it could be excusable in them, and lawful for them to take the following method to repopulate the world; or else they supposed there were none in the land, the land of Canaan, not of any of their kindred and relations, for they might be ignorant of Abraham and his family, or however of any good man that they knew of, that they could be joined to in marriage; for as for the inhabitants of Zoar, they had just left, they were as wicked as any, and therefore could not think of living with them in such a near relation: but all this is not a sufficient excuse for contriving and executing what is after related; for they should have inquired of their father, who could have informed them better.”
Sometimes we must do according to the custom of all the earth. Sometimes we must not do according to the custom of the world. The first born did not ask the opinion of her father first because she knew what would be the answer.
Exo 12:35, “Now the sons of Israel had done
according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing.”
Verse 35. – The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses. See above, Exodus 11:2. They borrowed. On this mistranslation, see the comment upon Exodus 3:22. It is plain that the gold and silver articles and the raiment, were free-will gifts, which the Egyptians never expected to see again, and which the Hebrews asked and took, but in no sense “borrowed.” Hengstenberg and Kurtz have shown clearly that the primary meaning of the words translated “borrowed” and “lent,” is “asked” and “granted,” and that the sense of “borrowing” and “lending” is only to be assigned them when it is required by the context. Exodus 12:35.”
According to https://www.apmex.com/gold-price
“Gold Spot Price
$3,344.20 USD – ($93.40) USD -2.72% 1WAsk: $3,344.30 USD Bid: $3,323.30 USD Change: + $1.40 USD +0.04%
Silver Spot Price
$38.39 USD – ($1.07) USD -2.71% 1WAsk: $38.39 USD Bid: $38.02 USD Change: – ($0.01) USD (-0.03%)”
Exo 16:14-16, “When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Everyone gather as much as he will eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And when the children of Israel saw it,…. As they could not but observe it, it being spread over the face of the wilderness; and besides, as they were told, that in the morning they should have bread to the full, they were up early to look after it:
they said one to another, it is manna; not such as is known by that name now, which is only used in medicine; nor anything that was then known by any such name; but so they called it, because it was, as Jarchi says, a preparation of food, or food ready prepared for them, from “manah”, which signifies to appoint, prepare, and distribute, see Daniel 1:5, so Christ is appointed of God, and prepared in his purposes and decrees, and delivered out, by his grace as proper food for his people, who have everyone their portion in due season: for Kimchi and Ben Melech give the sense of the word, a gift and portion from God; and such is Christ, the gift of his grace, and an unspeakable one. Some think these words were spoken by the Israelites on first sight of the manna, by way of question, “Man hu, what is it?” and so Josephus (o) says it signifies in their language; but it does not appear that the word is so used in the Hebrew tongue, though it might in the Syriac or Chaldee, which was more in use in the times of Josephus. But it can hardly be thought that the Israelites could speak in either of these dialects at this time; it is much more probable what others say, that it so signifies in the Egyptian tongue; and it is not at all to be wondered at that Israel, just come out of Egypt, should use an Egyptian word: and this best agrees with the reason that follows, “for they wist not what it was”; which contradicts our version; for if they knew not what it was, how came they to call it manna? but taking the above words as an interrogation, asking one another what it was, those come in very pertinently, and assign a reason of the question, because they were ignorant of it, having never seen any such thing before; and this sense is confirmed by what Moses says in the next clause, telling them what it was: and thus Christ is unknown to his own people, until he is revealed unto them; not by flesh and blood, by carnal reason or carnal men, but by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; and he remains always unknown to natural men, though ever so wise and prudent:
and Moses said unto them, this is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat; which he had promised them the day before, and which he had now rained in plenty about them; and which they had as a free gift of his, without any merit and desert of theirs, and without their labour, diligence, and industry, and which they had now power from him to eat of freely and plentifully.”
Exo 17:1, “Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink.”
Exodus 17:1. The children of Israel journeyed — By divers stations, recorded Numbers 33:12-13, but here omitted, because nothing extraordinary happened in them. According to the commandment of the Lord — Signified either by word, or by the motion or rest of the pillar of cloud and fire. Although led by this, they came to a place where there was no water for them to drink — We may be in the way of our duty and yet meet with troubles, which Providence brings us into for the trial of our faith.”
There is no guarantee that Christians who obey the commandment of the Lord is free from trouble. The Lord may want you to campt where there was no water to drink. But those who obey the Lord will see miracles:
Exo 17:6, “Behold, I will stand before you there on the Rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”
You may drink water that comes out of Rock.
1Co 10:4 “and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a Spiritual Rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”
Exo 21:31, “Whether it gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.”
Long before the woman right, God treated male and female according to the same rule.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter,…. A little son or daughter, and both Israelites, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; this is observed, because only a man or woman are made mention of in Exodus 21:29 persons grown up; and lest it should be thought that only adult persons were intended, this is added, to show that the same regard is had to little ones as to grown persons, should they suffer by an ox in like manner as men and women may. The Targum of Jonathan restrains this to a son or daughter of an Israelite; but the life of everyone, of whatsoever nation, is equally provided for, and guarded against by the original law of God:
according to this judgment shall it be done unto him; to the owner of the ox that has gored a child, male or female; that is, he shall be put to death, if he has been warned of the practice of his ox for three days past, and has took no care to keep him in; or he shall pay the ransom of his life, as it has been laid by the court, with the consent of the relations of the children.”
According to https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2017-01-20/timeline-the-womens-rights-movement-in-the-us
“Historians describe two waves of feminism in history: the first in the 19th century, growing out of the anti-slavery movement, and the second, in the 1960s and 1970s. Women have made great strides – and suffered some setbacks – throughout history, but many of their gains were made during the two eras of activism in favor of women’s rights.”
God treats male and female according to the same rule.
Deu 12:15, “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, whatever you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as the gazelle and the deer.”
From the beginning, God has ordered that the Jews may eat the clean and unclean meat according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates,…. They might kill such cattle that were allowed for food, and eat the flesh of them in theie own cities and houses in which they dwelt; they were not obliged to bring these to the place God should choose, and kill them there, as they had been wont to bring them to the tabernacle while in the wilderness:
whatsoever thy soul lusteth after; whatever they had a mind to, or their appetite craved, and were desirous of, provided it was not any thing forbidden, but was allowed to be eaten:
according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee; which it was in the power of their hands to procure for themselves; they might live according to their abilities, and keep a table answerable to what God had blessed them with; from which they were so far from being restrained, that it was rather commendable in them so to do, provided they did not indulge to luxury and intemperance:
the clean and the unclean may eat thereof; that is, such in their families who laboured under any ceremonial uncleanness by the touch of a dead body, or by reason of issues and menstrues; these, as well as those who were free from anything of this kind, might eat of common food in their houses, though they might not eat of the holy things; see Leviticus 7:20.
as of the roebuck, and as of the hart; that is, as those were clean creatures, and allowed for food, Deuteronomy 14:5 so they might eat of oxen or sheep, or lambs or rams, and goats, though they were creatures used in sacrifice.”
Jos 1:7, “Only be strong and very courageous;
be careful to do according to all the Law which
Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve
success wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:7. Commanded thee — Remember, that though thou art the commander of my people, yet thou art my subject, and obliged to observe all my commands. To the right hand or to the left — That is, in any kind, or upon any pretence; which plainly shows, that God’s assistance, promised to him and the Israelites, was conditional, and might justly be withdrawn upon their breach of the conditions. Whithersoever thou goest — That is, whatsoever thou doest. Men’s actions are often compared to ways, or steps, by which they come to the end they aim at. This charge, given by God himself to Joshua, highly deserves our notice. Though Joshua was to be, in his place, as great a man as Moses; though the Lord was to do signs and wonders by him, as he did by the hand of Moses; and though he was to settle the people in the promised land, which Moses was not allowed to do, yet he was to do according to all the law which Moses had commanded. And we find that, amid all his successes, and all the wonders that the Lord did by him, Joshua made the book of the law the guide of his conduct, strictly adhering to it in every point, and always recommending the strict observation of it to the people. In this he is an example worthy of the imitation, as of all professors of Christianity in general, so of all Christian magistrates and generals, in particular, who are under equal obligations to make God’s laws or revealed will the rule of their conduct, in all affairs, public and private. For no man’s dignity or dominion, how great soever, sets him above the law of God.”
According to https://www.fcgchurch.org/Messages/Pages/Human%20Vs%20Divine%20Success.html
“The two kinds of success in the world are human and divine, but only divine success is safe. Human success leaves God out of our plans and always leads to problems. If there is no change or conversion, human success will lead us to the lake of fire. It is not God’s will that we have any lack or meet with any defeat, because we were created to be successful in the Christian life.”
Jos 8:34, “Then afterward he read all the words of the Law, the blessing and the curse, according to everything that is written in the Book of the Law.”
Joshua 8:34-35. Afterward — After the altar was built, and the stones plastered and written upon; he read — That is, he commanded the priests or Levites to read, Deuteronomy 27:14. Blessings and cursings —
Which words come in, not by way of explication, as if the words of the law were nothing else besides the blessings and curses; but by way of addition, to denote that these were read, over and above the words of the law. There was not a word which Joshua read not — Therefore, he read not the blessings and curses only, as some think, but the whole law, as the manner was when all Israel, men and women, were assembled together. The strangers that were among them — Who were proselytes, for no others can be supposed to have been with them at this time. Thus, after Joshua had gained these victories, and had had such manifest proofs that God was with the Israelites, and was fighting for them, he laboured the more earnestly to set before them the whole of their duty, and to engage them to walk therein, that they might in that way testify their thankfulness to God at the same time when he was fulfilling his promises to them. Reader, learn from his example thy duty to those whom God hath committed to thy care and government, and endeavour that thy own faith and confidence in the divine goodness, as well as theirs, may thus work by love!”
The Word of the Lord is the whole thing, not what some “pick and choose.”
1Ki 2:3, “Do your duty to the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.”
Cited above is the last word of King David to his son Solomon. Today, a father can say to his son the last time, “Do your duty to the Lord your God, according to what is written in the New Testament.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3. keep the charge of the Lord] The word rendered ‘charge’ here has no connexion with the verb used in 1 Kings 2:1, but is the customary expression in the Book of Numbers for the care and oversight of the Tabernacle and other things committed to the Levites. (See Numbers 1:53; Numbers 3:7-8 &c.) It is used also of other sacred offices and the duties attached thereto. Thus is imported into the word a solemn signification, though in etymology it is connected with the word which precedes it, rendered ‘keep’.
to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgements] These words appear to refer to the three portions of the divine law, the ceremonial, the moral, and the judicial ordinances revealed by God in the Mosaic code; while testimonies may be interpreted of those evidences of God’s will towards man which are made clear by His dealings with bygone generations. Thus God in His word bears witness to Himself.
as it is written in the law of Moses] The allusion is to Deuteronomy 17:18-20, where the king, in time to come, is bidden to keep a copy of the Law, and to study it, that so his days may be prolonged.”
1Ki 17:5, “So he went and did everything according to the Word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.”
Elijah was a great prophet because he did everything according to the Word of the Lord. Where is Elijah today?
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
17:1-7 God wonderfully suits men to the work he designs them for. The times were fit for an Elijah; an Elijah was fit for them. The Spirit of the Lord knows how to fit men for the occasions. Elijah let Ahab know that God was displeased with the idolaters, and would chastise them by the want of rain, which it was not in the power of the gods they served to bestow. Elijah was commanded to hide himself. If Providence calls us to solitude and retirement, it becomes us to go: when we cannot be useful, we must be patient; and when we cannot work for God, we must sit still quietly for him. The ravens were appointed to bring him meat, and did so. Let those who have but from hand to mouth, learn to live upon Providence, and trust it for the bread of the day, in the day. God could have sent angels to minister to him; but he chose to show that he can serve his own purposes by the meanest creatures, as effectually as by the mightiest. Elijah seems to have continued thus above a year. The natural supply of water, which came by common providence, failed; but the miraculous supply of food, made sure to him by promise, failed not. If the heavens fail, the earth fails of course; such are all our creature-comforts: we lose them when we most need them, like brooks in summer. But there is a river which makes glad the city of God, that never runs dry, a well of water that springs up to eternal life. Lord, give us that living water!”
Ezr 2:69, “According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold
drachmas, five thousand silver minas, and a hundred priestly garments.”
In the Old Testament people gave according to their ability and there was the treasury. In the New Testament Christians also give according to their ability. Be particularly careful, there is no Treasury in the New Testament. The pleas of a false teacher are still ringing in my ears. There are so many false prophets and false teachers who ask for your tithes and donation.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the world threescore and one thousand drachms of gold,…. These “darcemons or darics” were a Persian coin; one of which, according to Brerewood (k), was of the value of fifteen shillings of our money, and so this quantity of them amounted to 45,750 pounds; but according to Bishop Cumberland (l) they were of the value of twenty shillings and four pence of our money, and so came to upwards of 61,000 pounds; these everyone, according to his ability, put into the common stock or treasury for the work of building the temple; the Vulgate Latin (m) reads 40,000:
and five thousand pounds of silver; and an Hebrew “mina”, or pound, being of our money seven pounds, ten shillings, according to Brerewood (n), amounted to 31,250 pounds: but others (o), reckoning a drachm of gold at ten shillings, and a mina or pound of silver at nine pounds, make the whole to amount only to 75,500 pounds of our money:
and one hundred priests’ garments; which, as they were laid up among treasures, so were necessary for the service of the temple.”
Ezr 7:18, “And whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God.”
I have known preachers who got money to build institutions in their names and pass it on to their decendants; moneys to educate their children, not one penny to the children of missionaries; and also those who receive offerings as their own money. You must give to the preaching of the Gospel according to the will of God. Just take a glance, there are so many on the Internet who demand your offerings and donations boldly and shamelessly.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
14. sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors—This was the fixed number of the privy council of the kings of Persia (Es 1:10, 14). The document describes, with great clearness and precision, the nature of Ezra’s commission and the extent of power and prerogatives with which he was invested. It gave him authority, in the first place, to organize the colony in Judea and institute a regular government, according to the laws of the Hebrew people, and by magistrates and rulers of their own nation (Ezr 7:25, 26), with power to punish offenders by fines, imprisonment, exile, or death, according to the degree of their criminality. Secondly, he was empowered to carry a large donation in money, partly from the royal treasury and partly raised by voluntary contributions among his countrymen, to create a fund out of which to make suitable provision for maintaining the regular worship of God in Jerusalem (Ezr 7:16, 17). Thirdly, the Persian officers in Syria were commanded to afford him every assistance by gifts of money within a certain specified limit, in carrying out the objects of his patriotic mission (Ezr 7:21).”
Job 4:8, “According to what I have seen, those who plow wrongdoing and those who sow
trouble harvest it.”
The Word of God is supreme, but it can be confirmed by OBSERVATIONS and EXPERIENCES.
Verse 8. – Even as I have seen; rather, according as I have seen – so far, that is, as my observation goes (see the Revised Version, which is supported by Professor Lee and Canon Cook). They that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same (comp. Proverbs 22:8; Hosea 8:7; Hosea 10:13; Galatians 6:7, 8). The words translated “iniquity” and “wickedness” express in the original both moral and physical evil. Men sew the one and reap the other. Eliphaz extends this general rule into a universal law, or, at any rate, declares that he has never known an exception. He has not, therefore, been grieved and perplexed, like David, by “seeing the ungodly in such prosperity” (Psalm 73:3). He would seem not to have been a man of very keen observation. Job 4:8.”
Psa 7:17, “I will give thanks to the LORD
according to His righteousness and will sing
praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”
Psalm 7:17. I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness — I will give him the glory of that gracious protection under which he takes his afflicted people, and of the just vengeance with which he will pursue them that afflict them; and will most thankfully acknowledge, not only the power, but the just judgment of God, and his faithfulness to his word. “Whatever doubts may at present arise in our minds concerning the ways of God, let us rest assured that they will receive a solution; and that the
‘righteousness’ of the great Judge, manifested in his final determinations, will be the subject of everlasting hallelujahs.” — Horne.”
Righteousness is an attribute of God. We praise God according to His excellent greatness and according
to the abundance of His mercies.
Psa 25:7, “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoings; Remember me according to Your faithfulness, for Your goodness’ sake, LORD.”
As Augustine said, “non secundum iram, qua ego dignus sum, sed secundum misericordiam tuam, quae te digna est.” — not according to the anger of which I am worthy, but according to Your mercy, which is worthy of You.
Remember not the sins of my youth – In strong contrast with God, the psalmist brings forward his own conduct and life. He could ask of God Psalm 25:6 to remember His own acts – what “He himself” had done; but could not ask him to remember His conduct – His past life. He could only pray that this might be forgotten. He did not wish it to come into remembrance before God; he could not ask that God would deal with him according to that. He prays, therefore, that he might not be visited as he advanced in life with the fruits of his conduct in early years, but that all the offences of that period of his life might be forgiven and forgotten. Who is there that cannot with deep feeling join in this prayer? Who is there that has reached the period of middle or advanced life, who would be willing to have the follies of his youth, the plans, and thoughts, and wishes of his early years brought again to remembrance? Who would be willing to have recalled to his own mind, or made known to his friends, to society around him, or to assembled worlds, the thoughts, the purposes, the wishes, the “imaginings” of his youthful days? Who would dare to pray that he might be treated in advancing years as he treated God in his own early life? Nay, who would venture to pray that God would treat him in the day of judgment as he had treated the friends of his childhood, even the father who begat him, or the mother who bore him? Our hope in regard to the favor of God is that he will “not” summon up the thoughts and the purposes of our early years; that he will “not” treat us as if he remembered them; but that he will treat us as if they were forgotten.
Nor my transgressions – The sins of my early years.
According to thy mercy remember thou me – Deal with me, not according to strict justice, but according to mercy. Deal with me indeed according to thy nature and character; but let the attribute of mercy be that which will be the guide rather than the attribute of justice.
For thy goodness’ sake – In order that thy goodness or benevolence may be displayed and honored – not primarily and mainly that I may be saved, but that thy character may be seen to be good and merciful.”
No one can stand or survive if God remembers the sins of our youth or our wrongdoings.
Psa 51:1, “For the music director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, God,
according to Your faithfulness; according to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.”
Verse 1. – Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness. It is observable that the whole psalm is addressed to God (Elohim), and not to Jehovah (the “Lord” in ver. 15 is Adonai), as though the psalmist felt himself unworthy to utter the covenant-name, and simply prostrated himself as a guilty man before his offended Maker. It is not correet to say that “loving-kindness implies a covenant” (Cheyne), since God is “good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:9). According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. David’s first prayer is for pity; his second, to have his offences “blotted out,” or “wiped out” – entirely removed from God’s book (comp. Exodus 32:32; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22). He says “my transgressions,” in the plural, because “his great sin did not stand alone – adultery was followed by treachery and murder” (Canon Cook). Psalm 51:1
Sinners can only beg God for grace and mercy. Had God dealt with us according to our sins and rewarded us according to our guilty deeds, we would have all perished.
Jer 25:14, “For many nations and great kings will make slaves of them, even them; and I will repay
them according to their deeds and according
to the work of their hands.)’”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also,…. Take their cities, seize upon the kingdoms, spoil them of their wealth and riches, and bring them into servitude to them: these “many nations”, which should and did do all this, were the Medes and Persians, and those that were subject to them, or were their allies and auxiliaries in this expedition; and the “great kings” were Cyrus and Darius, and those that were confederate with them:
and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands; as they have done to others, it shall be done to them; as they have served themselves of other nations, other nations shall serve themselves of them; as they have cruelly used others, they shall be used with cruelty themselves; and as they have made other countries desolate, their land shall become desolate also; not only their tyranny and cruelty, but all their other sins, shall receive a just recompence of reward.”
Leaders of many nations think they can get away with murders. God will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands; and according to their ways God will judge them.
Mat 9:29, “Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done for you according to your faith.”
Then touched he their eyes – Simply to indicate that the power proceeded from him. Compare Matthew 8:3.
According to your faith … – That is, you have “believed” that you could be healed, be healed accordingly. Your faith covered the whole extent of the work respecting my power and the absolute restoration to sight, and that power is exerted accordingly, and your sight is restored. So with the sinner. If he has faith in the Son of God; if he believes that he is able and willing to save him: and if he earnestly desires to be saved, the power of Jesus will be put forth to the full extent of his faith.”
Mat 25:15, “To one He gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and He went on His journey.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And unto one he gave five talents,…. A “talent” with the Jews, if of silver, was, according to Brerewood (w), of the value of 375 l. of our money; according to Bishop Cumberland, 353 l. 11 s. 10 1/2 d.; and if of gold, was equal to 4500l. and, according to the latter, 5075 l. 15 s. 7 1/2 d.: so that five of these talents, if of silver, were 1875 l. and if of gold, 22,500 l. according to Brerewood; a very large sum for one servant to be intrusted with. The Persic version reads “pounds”, as in Luke 19:13. By these talents, special grace is not meant; for the parable speaks not of what was wrought in these servants, but of what was committed to their trust, and of what might lie useless by them, and be taken away from them; whereas special grace is internal, something, implanted in man, and is an incorruptible seed, that can never be lost, or will be taken away; and it is certain, that one of these servants had not special and saving grace, but was wicked, slothful, and unprofitable, and was cast into utter darkness: but outward gifts are designed by the talents; and these not merely the gifts of natural knowledge and riches, the gifts of nature and of providence; nor the external ministry of the word, Gospel ordinances, and opportunities of enjoying them; but ministerial gifts, such as fit and qualify men to be preachers of the Gospel, as appears from their name, “talents”: they being the greatest gifts for usefulness and service in the church, as talents were the greatest of weights and coins among the Jews; from the nature of them, being what may be improved or lost, and for which men are accountable; from the persons to whom they were delivered, the servants of Christ; from the time of their delivery, when Christ went into a far country, to heaven, when he ascended on high, and received gifts for men, and gave them to them; and from the unequal distribution of them, being given to some more, and others less; all which perfectly agree with ministerial gifts: for it follows,
to another two, and to another one; and these were given
to every man, according to his several ability, or “according to his own power”; his proper power that belonged to him, as the Lord of these servants: for the sense is, not that he gave these talents, or gifts, according to the different capacities, abilities, stations, and employments of these men; but according to that power and authority which he, as Mediator, had, to dispense these gifts to each as he would; to some more, others less, as he knew would best serve his interest and kingdom:
and straightway took his journey; after he had signified, that all power in heaven and earth was given to him, by virtue of which he ordered them to go into all the world, and preach his Gospel, and administer his ordinances; for which he had, and would abundantly qualify them; with a promise of his presence with them to the end of the world; he took his leave of them, blessed them, and was parted from them, and went up into heaven.”
Act 13:23, ““From the descendants of this man,
according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus.”
Acts 13:23-25. Of this man’s seed — From that rod out of the stem of Jesse, that branch out of his roots; hath God, according to his promise, (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5-6,) raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus — So long foretold in the sacred oracles. When John had first preached, before his coming — Greek, προ προσωπου της εισοδου, to introduce his appearance: (so Doddridge:) the baptism of repentance — Even that baptism which, in token of their repentance, they were commanded by God to receive. Of John’s preaching, see the notes on Matthew 3:1, &c.; Luke 3:7-17. He mentions the preaching of John in this incidental manner as a thing already known to them. And so, doubtless, it was: for it gave so loud an alarm to the whole Jewish nation, as could not but be heard in foreign countries, at least as remote as Pisidia. As John fulfilled his course — His work was quickly finished, and, therefore, might well be termed, a course, or race: he said, Who think ye that I am? I am not he — I am not the person whom you suppose me to be, that is, the Messiah. See the notes on John 1:20; John 1:27.”
Rom 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish
you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long
ages past.”
Eph 3:4-6, “By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which in other generations was not made known to
mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy
apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members
of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”
Rom 1:4, “who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- declared] Better, defined, marked out by sure signs. Same word as Hebrews 4:7 (“He limiteth a certain day”). His Resurrection shewed Him to be none other than the Son. The same Greek word is used in e.g. Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; and rendered there “ordained;” perhaps rightly so. But obviously its meaning will slightly vary as connected with the Sonship or with the Judgeship of Christ.
the Son of God] Cp. Acts 13:32-33, for a close parallel; one of the many between St Paul’s Discourses and Epistles. The Sonship of the Redeemer, the truth proclaimed at His baptism (Matthew 3:17), is enforced and illustrated through the N. T. In this Epistle see especially cch. Romans 5:10, Romans 8:3; Romans 8:29; Romans 8:32.
with power] Lit. in power. Cp. 1 Corinthians 15:43. Power attended and characterized His Resurrection, both as cause and as effect. The practical reference here is to the fulness of the proof of the fact. The true Resurrection was not such as that imagined by e.g. Schleiermacher; the creeping forth of a half-slain Man from his grave. It was miracle and triumph.
according to the Spirit of holiness] This phrase presents two questions: (1) what is “the Spirit of Holiness”? (2) what is meant by “according to”? We take them in order. A. “The Spirit of Holiness” must mean either the Holy Paraclete, or the sacred Human Spirit of Christ, or His Deity regarded as (what it is, John 4:24,) Spirit. The reference here seems to be to the Paraclete; for (1) in this Epistle He is very frequently referred to, in a way which makes an initial reference here highly probable; (2) the expression “Holy Spirit” is so closely akin to “Spirit of Holiness” that any reference of the words other than that to the Paraclete would need special evidence; and such evidence can hardly be found in St Paul. (See 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; for the nearest approaches to it in N. T.) B. The words “according to” may refer to the Paraclete, either (1) as the Agent in the Incarnation (Luke 1:35), or (2) as concerned in the Resurrection (see Romans 8:11 for a very partial parallel), or (3) as the Inspirer of the Prophets. Of these possibilities (1) is most unlikely, for the Sonship of Christ here in question is plainly the Eternal Sonship (see Romans 9:5), not that of the Incarnation; (2) accords better with Scripture usage; but (3) far more so, in view of the frequent mention of the Holy Spirit as the Inspirer. See Acts 20:23; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:15, (and cp. 1 Peter 1:11); for places where “the Spirit” is evidently the Holy Spirit as the Author of Prophecy. The present passage will thus mean: “He was declared to be the Son of God, with power, (even as the Holy Ghost foretold,) in consequence of the resurrection.”
by the resurrection] Lit. out of, from; i.e. in consequence, as a result, of. The same construction and meaning occur e.g. 2 Corinthians 13:4, where lit. “He was crucified out of weakness; He liveth out of the power of God; we shall live out of, &c.” The grand result of the resurrection here stated is that His prophesied character and dignity were, by the resurrection, made unmistakably clear.”
This is the Gospel: Jesus the Savior is the Son of God, the Messiah promised by God, who died for sinners and rose again by the power of God, as foretold by the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:27, “and He who searches the hearts
knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Spirit of Truth, not only will guide believers into all the truth (Jhn 16:13), He will also intercede for the saints according to the will of God.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- He that searcheth the hearts] Certainly here, the Father. But it is the more noteworthy that the same words are used of the Son, Revelation 2:23.—“The hearts” here are human hearts. In them the Father sees, below the surface of “ignorance what to pray for as they ought,” the sacred longings which are the expression of the Spirit’s influence.
knoweth] And meeteth with a corresponding answer; crossing perhaps the saint’s explicit prayer, but granting the implicit.
the mind] The whole Aim and Choice of the great Intercessor.
because] If this rendering is kept, the connexion is; “The Father knows (and welcomes) the ‘mind of the Spirit,’ because in its requests it is in Divine harmony with His own.”—But it is better to render that. “The Father knows the mind of the Spirit; He knows that He intercedes in harmony with His Own will and purpose, and for His Own children.”
the saints] Lit. saints (without article). Such is the character of those for whom He pleads.
according to the will of God] Lit. according to God; in unerring coincidence with the Father’s will. The words are used in emphatic contrast to the possible errors in detail of the saint’s unaided desires and prayers.”
1Co 15:3-8, “For I handed down to you as of first
importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was
buried, and that He was raised on the third day
according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared
to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and
sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to
James, then to all the apostles; and last of all,
as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”
This is the essence of the Gospel according to the Scriptures: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, raised on the third day, appeared to all the apostles.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received] The close resemblance of this passage to the Apostles’ Creed shews that this summary of the doctrines of our faith is actually what it professes to be, a short compendium of Apostolic teaching. Irenaeus, a writer in the second century, and a careful observer of Apostolic tradition, gives a very similar summary in his treatise against Heresies, Book iii. c. 4. Dean Stanley calls attention to the fact that this bold affirmation of the truth of the Resurrection, possibly the earliest we have (see above ch. 1 Corinthians 11:23) was written barely twenty-five years after the event St Paul does not state here from whom he received his doctrine, but he must have acquired some elementary instruction in the first principles of the Christian faith from his intercourse with the disciples (Acts 9:19), and even at his admission into the Christian body. And what he had received from others he tested by examination of the Scriptures, by prayer and silent communing with God, till it became his own, by revelation and by that inward conviction which none but God can give. See Galatians 1:12; Galatians 1:16.
died for our sins] Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 8:11. Also St Matthew 20:28; St Mark 10:45; Romans 5:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 1:19, &c.
according to the scriptures] What Scriptures? Those of the O. T., clearly. Those of the New (see ch. 1 Corinthians 4:6 and note) were hardly any of them in existence. If it be asked what Scriptures of the O. T. are meant, we may refer to Psalms 22.; Isaiah 53., as well as to Genesis 22.; Deuteronomy 9:24-26; Zechariah 12:10. For the same words in the next verse see Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10; Hosea 6:2; Jonah 2:10. This latter passage having been applied to the Resurrection by Christ Himself (St Matthew 12:40; Matthew 16:4), may not unnaturally be conceived to be among those St Paul had in his mind here.”
1 Corinthians 15:4. Ἐτάφη, He was buried) Matthew 12:40. [Here the burial of Christ is more closely connected with His resurrection, than with His death. Assuredly, about the very moment of His death, the power of His life incapable of dissolution exerted itself, 1 Peter 3:18; Matthew 27:52. The grave was to Christ the Lord not the destined receptacle of corruption, but an apartment fitted for entering into life, Acts 2:26.—V. g.]—ἐγήγερται, was raised again [rose again]) This enlarging on the resurrection of Christ is the more suitable on this account, that the epistle was written about the time of the passover; ch. 1 Corinthians 5:7, note. We must urge the weight of the subject of the resurrection, inasmuch as it is one which is made light of in the present day under various pretexts.—κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς, according to the Scriptures) which could not but be fulfilled.”
Verse 5. – Was seen of Cephas (Luke 24:34). The appearances to the women (John 20:14, etc.) are omitted, as being evidential rather to the apostles than to the world. The twelve (John 20:19, 26). Some officious scribes have in some manuscripts altered the word into” the eleven.” But “the twelve” is here the designation of an office, and great ancient writers are always indifferent to mere pragmatic accuracy in trifles which involve nothing. To witness to the Resurrection was a main function of “the twelve” (Acts 2:23; Acts 3:15; Acts 10:40, etc.). 1 Corinthians 15:5.”
Verse 6. – Above five hundred brethren at once. We cannot be certain whether this memorable appearance took place in Jerusalem or in Galilee. It is, however, most probable that this was the appearance on the mountain (Matthew 28:16, 17; comp. Matthew 26:32). Of whom the greater part remain unto this present. This sentence – a confident contemporary appeal to a very large number of living witnesses, by one who would rather have died than lied – is of the highest evidential value. It shows that the Resurrection was not “a thing done in a corner “(Acts 26:26). Fallen asleep. The beautiful and common word for death in the New Testament (Matthew 27:52; John 11:11; Acts 7:60, etc.). Hence the word “cemetery” – “a sleeping place.” 1 Corinthians 15:6.”
Verse 7. – Seen of James. The “James” intended is undoubtedly the only James then living, who was known to the whole Christian Church, namely, “the Lord’s brother,” the author of the Epistle, and the Bishop of Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9; Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18). James the son of Zebedee had by this time been martyred, and James the son of Alphaeus was never much more than a name to the Church in general. There is no mention of this appearance in the Gospel; but in the Gospel of the Hebrews was a curious legend (preserved in St. Jerome, ‘De Virr. Illust.,’ 2.) that James had made a vow that he would neither eat nor drink till he had seen Jesus risen from the dead, and that Jesus, appearing to him, said, “My brother, eat thy bread, for the Son of man is risen from the dead.” The truth of the appearance is strongly supported by the fact that James, like the rest of the Lord’s “brothers,” “did not believe” in Christ before the Crucifixion, whereas after the Resurrection we find him and the rest of “the Lord’s brothers” ardently convinced (John 12:3-5; Acts 1:14; Acts 9:5, etc.). Of all the apostles (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:50). James the Lord’s brother was only an apostle in the wider sense of the word. 1 Corinthians 15:7.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- of me also, as of one born out of due time] Deed borun, Wiclif. The word here (after Tyndale) translated born out of due time refers to a birth out of the usual course of nature (cf. Psalm 58:8), about which there is therefore, (1) something violent and strange. Such was the nature of St Paul’s conversion, an event unparalleled in Scripture. Moreover, (2) such children are usually small and weakly, an idea which the next verse shews St Paul also had in mind. St Paul saw the Lord on more than one occasion. See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 9:1.”
The historical Jesus was born the Son of God, died for our sins, buried, rose from the death on the third day by the power of God, ascended to the highest Heaven and seated on the right hand of God. He is coming again to reign because He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
2Co 7:10, “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading
to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces
death.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- For godly sorrow worketh repentance] Rather, For the sorrow which is according to God (that is aftir God, Wiclif) worketh change of mind. The difference between the true repentance and the false remorse may be illustrated by the cases of David and Saul, St Peter and Judas.
to salvation not to be repented of] Or not to be regretted, the word here used involving the idea of sorrow or anxiety. It is by most commentators connected with salvation, as though that were the result not to be regretted. But it may as naturally be referred to the change of mind. “The beautiful law is,” says Robertson, “that in proportion as the repentance increases, the grief diminishes. ‘I rejoice,’ says St Paul, ‘that I made you sorry, though it were but for a time.’ Grief for a time, but repentance for ever.”
but the sorrow of the world] i.e. of the world untouched and un-regenerated by the Spirit of God—the sorrow of the natural man, “the opposite of the sorrow according to God.” Stanley. See 1 Corinthians 2:14.
worketh death] Death of the body, sometimes, as when despair tempts to suicide, or brings on deadly sickness. Death of the soul, when sorrow fails to melt the heart, but leads it to that state of rebellious stubbornness, of entire alienation from God, which is expressed in the words “hardness of heart and contempt of His word and commandment.” Cf. Proverbs 17:22.”
No godly sorrow, no true repentance.
Gal 3:29, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
3:26-29 Real Christians enjoy great privileges under the gospel; and are no longer accounted servants, but sons; not now kept at such a distance, and under such restraints as the Jews were. Having accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and relying on him alone for justification and salvation, they become the sons of God. But no outward forms or profession can secure these blessings; for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. In baptism we put on Christ; therein we profess to be his disciples. Being baptized into Christ, we are baptized into his death, that as he died and rose again, so we should die unto sin, and walk in newness and holiness of life. The putting on of Christ according to the gospel, consists not in outward imitation, but in a new birth, an entire change. He who makes believers to be heirs, will provide for them. Therefore our care must be to do the duties that belong to us, and all other cares we must cast upon God. And our special care must be for heaven; the things of this life are but trifles. The city of God in heaven, is the portion or child’s part. Seek to be sure of that above all things.”
Whenever I meet Jewish people, I tell them I am also a descendant of Abraham.
Phl 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Christians, do not worry about your life.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- But] R.V., “And.” But surely there is a slight contrast meant, to an implied wish that he could send back some material requital of his own to alleviate their “deep poverty” (2 Corinthians 8:2).
my God] Words deeply characteristic of St Paul. See on Php 1:3 above. Bp Lightfoot well remarks that the phrase is specially in point here; the Apostle is thinking of what God on his behalf shall do for others.
shall supply] Promise, not only aspiration. He is sure of His faithfulness.—“Supply”:—lit., “fill,” pouring His bounty into the void of the “need.”
all your need] R.V., somewhat better, every need of yours. See again, 2 Corinthians 8:2, where the exceptional poverty of the converts of Northern Greece is referred to. The prominent thought here is, surely, that of temporal poverty. Cp. particularly 2 Corinthians 9:8, where the first reference seems to be to God’s ability to supply to His self-denying servants always more from which they may still spare and give. But neither here nor in 2 Cor. are we for a moment to shut out the widest and deepest applications of the truth stated.
his riches in glory] His resources, consisting in, and so lodged in, His own “glory” of Divine power and love. Cp. Romans 6:4, and note in this Series, for a similar use of the word “glory.”—Bp Lightfoot prefers to connect “shall supply, in glory, your need, according to His riches,” and he explains the thought to be, “shall supply your need by placing you in glory.” But we venture to think this construction needlessly difficult.—Anything in which God is “glorified” (see e. g. Galatians 1:24) is, as it were, a reflection of His holy glory, and a result of it. Tender providential goodness to the poor Philippians would be such a result.
On St Paul’s love of the word “riches” in Divine connexions, cp. Ephesians 1:7, and note in this Series.
in Christ Jesus] “in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead,” “in whom” the saints are “filled,” as regards all their needs (Colossians 2:9-10). The “glory” of both grace and providence is lodged, for His people, in Him.”
Tit 3:7, “so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
That being justified by his grace – Not by our own works, but by his favor or mercy; see the notes at Romans 3:24.
We should be made heirs – See the notes at Romans 8:15, Romans 8:17.
According to the hope of eternal life – In reference to the hope of eternal life; that is, we have that hope in virtue of our being adopted with the family of God, and being made heirs. He has received us as his children, and permits us to hope that we shall live with him forever.”
Heb 7:16, “who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.”
Eternal life is an indestructible life.
2Pe 3:13, “But according to His promise we are looking for New Heavens and a New Earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth] The promise of which the Apostle speaks is that of Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22, where we have the very words, “new heavens and a new earth,” the context there connecting it with the restoration of Israel to their own land and the renewed glory of Jerusalem. The same hope shews itself in the visions of the Apocalypse (Revelation 21:1) as connected with the “new Jerusalem” coming down from God, and appears in a fuller and more expanded form in the Apocryphal Book of Enoch. “The former heaven shall pass away and a new heaven shall shew itself” (chap. xcii. 17). “The earth shall be cleansed from all corruption, from every crime, from all punishment” (c. x. 2–7).
wherein dwelleth righteousness] This again reproduces the thought of Isaiah (Isaiah 65:25) that “they shall not hurt (LXX. “act unrighteously”) nor destroy in all my holy mountain,” and St John’s account of the new Jerusalem that “there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth” (Revelation 21:27). It is implied in St Paul’s belief that “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21). Earth itself, purified and redeemed, is to be the scene of the blessedness of the saved, as it has been, through the long æons of its existence, of sin and wretchedness.”
1Co 2:9, “but just as it is written: “THINGS WHICH
EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN
HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
Jhn 14:2, “In My Father’s home are many mansions; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
I believe with all my heart, the Holy City, New Jerusalem, Rev. Chapter 21, is the place Jesus Christ has prepared for the saints.
God’s promise for His children are New Heavens and a New Earth. Rev. Chapter 21, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. Please read https://williewongthought.hpage.com/the-kingdom-of-heaven.html
Verse 1. – And I saw. The usual introduction to a new vision (cf. Revelation 20:11, etc.). Having described the origin and progress of evil in the world, the final overthrow of Satan and his adherents, and the judgment when every man is rewarded according to his works, the seer now completes the whole by portraying the eternal bliss of the redeemed in heaven (cf. on Revelation 20:10). The description is based upon Isaiah 60. and Ezekiel 40, et seq.; especially the latter, which follows the account of God and Magog, as does this. A new heaven and a new earth. The dispute as to whether a new creation is intended, or a revivified earth, seems to be founded on the false assumption that the dwellers in heaven must be localized in space (cf. Isaiah 65:17, “I create new heavens and a new earth;” also Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13). For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. The Revisers follow B and others in reading ἀπῆλθον, and render it by the English perfect tense. In א, A, is read ἀπῆλθαν, while other manuscripts give ἀπῆλθεν and παρῆλθε. The first heaven and earth; that is, those now existing pass away as described in Revelation 20:11. And there was no more sea; and the sea no longer exists. The threefold division of heaven, earth, and sea represents the whole of this world (cf. Revelation 10:6). Some interpret the sea symbolically of the restless, unstable, wicked nations of the earth, which now exist no longer; others understand the absence of sea to typify the absence of instability and wickedness in the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:1.”
The grace of God prompts you to repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus as your God and savior in order to get forgiveness of sins and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. You must not neglect so great a salvation.
You can do it now. For today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late for you.
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to receive the eternal life.
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 3, 2025
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