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- ) Art is cultural presentaion, cultural presentation may be art. For art to be of any value, it must be real and beautiful.
- ) The most ferocious and vicious people in American corporations are psychotic supervisors. They think, speak and act as if they own the companies.
- ) Every unjust man is unjust against the will of God.
- ) Money-makers are organized companies, as they have no standard but greed.
- ) To live is a gift of God.
- ) Plato was a very intelligent man. He said wrongly, “The soul of man is immortal and imperishable.”
The Bible says,
Mat 10:28, “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear
Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
Mat 16:26, “For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?”
Mat 26:38, “Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
Luk 12:20, “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?”
Act 3:23, “And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.”
1Th 5:23, “Now may the God of peace Himself
sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Plato however smart, he did not receive the divine Revelation that man has spirit and soul and body. It is the spirit that “is immortal and imperishable.”
I say, long dripping water becomes a force, through persistence it can hollow out stone.
- ) Someone said, “All things change, nothing perishes.”
The Living God does not change, it is written:
Heb 13:8, ”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”
During the Flood, everything that was on the earth
perished.
Deu 28:22, “The LORD will strike you with consumption, inflammation, fever, feverish heat, and with the sword, with blight, and with mildew, and they will pursue you until you perish.”
No doubt, people perish because of consumption, inflammation, fever, feverish heat, and the sword.
Historically, the entire house of Ahab perished.
Job 8:13, “So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish.”
Psa 1:6, “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psa 49:12, “But man in his splendor will not endure;
he is like the animals that perish.”
Psa 104:29, “You hide Your face, they are terrified;
You take away their breath, they perish and return
to their dust.”
2Th 2:10, “and with all the deception of wickedness
for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.”
2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”
9.) Someone has well said, “If you are not ready today, you will be even less so tomorrow.”
It is written, Heb 3:13, “But encourage one another
every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
10.) Someone has well said, “If you want to be loved, be lovable.”
Mat 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
Mat 5:46, “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
Mat 22:37, “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Mat 22:39, “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jhn 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Jhn 15:12, “This is My commandment, that you love
one another as I have loved you.”
11.) Someone said wisely, “Make good use of your time, it flies fast.”
It is written, Eph 5:16, “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
1Pe 1:17, “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.”
1Pe 4:2, “so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.”
12.) There is a Latin saying, “Nothing is so high and above all danger that is not below and in the power of God.”
Mat 22:29, “But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not
understand the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
According to Jesus, a person can be mistaken for not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.
1Co 1:24, “but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
1Co 2:5, “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.”
The Christian faith does not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.
13.) Safety lies in the middle course.
That falls within the Chinese philosophy.
In the human matters there may be a middle course.
In Christian faith there is no middle ground.
Mat 12:30, “The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.”
14.) Ovid said, “All things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.”
Psa 73:18, “You indeed put them on slippery ground;
You dropped them into ruin.”
Most people do not know that wealth, fortune, fame, position, power, honor, property, and the like are slippery grounds.
Pro 10:10, “He who winks the eye causes trouble,
and a babbling fool will come to ruin.”
Pro 18:24, “A person of too many friends comes to
ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Pro 24:20-22, “For there will be no future for the evil person; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not get
involved with those of high rank, for their
disaster will rise suddenly, and who knows
the ruin that can come from both of them?”
Job 21:13, “They spend their days in prosperity,
and suddenly they go down to Sheol.”
15.) The American Heritage Dictionary (Fifth Edition) says. “In Christianity, Jesus is seen as Christ and as the Son of God.” One point is missiong.
Jhn 4:42, “and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world.”
For me, Jesus is my God and Savior.
16.) Ovid said, “Let the poor man mind his tongue.”
It is not only the poor man, everyone should mind his tongue.
Pro 21:23, “One who guards his mouth and his tongue,
guards his soul from troubles.”
Jas 1:26, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
1Pe 3:10, “For,“THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND
SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.”
1Jo 3:18, “Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
17.) Ovid said, “A light breath fans the flame, a violent gust extinguishes it.”
To know how much is too much, and how little is not enough makes a wise man. The goal determines the measure of activity. A little anxiety is required for one to prepare for an exam, too much anxiety may cause negative result.
Pro 25:16, “Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, so that you do not have it in excess and vomit it.”
18.) Someone said, “Each man is capable of doing one thing well.”
If that is the case, every man will be famous. Masterpiece would not require a genius. A farmer may do farming well, but farming will never make him famous. A fisherman may do fishing well, but fishing may never get him anywhere. It is not enough just doing one thing well, it is necessary to do the most important thing well. If you could paint better than all painters, if you could sculpture better than any sculptors — then and may be then you will become somebody. If you could cook better than all cooks, you may become a chef.
Mat 5:41, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”
You may be different, if you volunteer to go the second mile.
19.) Plato said, “It is better to be wise, and not to seem so, than to seem wise, and not be so; yet men, for the most part, desire the contrary.”
1Sa 16:7, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Jhn 7:24, “Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Jas 1:11, “For the sun rises with its scorching
heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.”
20.) Plato said, “The purpose of education is to give to the body and to the soul all the beauty and all the perfection of which they are capable.”
Act 26:24, “While Paul was making this defense, Festus said loudly, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great education is turning you toward madness.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And as he thus spake for himself,…. Asserting the integrity and innocence of his past life and conversation, in proof of which he appealed to the Jews themselves; setting forth the prejudices to the Christian religion he had been under; declaring the heavenly vision that had appeared to him, and the divine orders he had received; alleging, that in his ministry there was an entire harmony between him, and the writings of Moses, and the prophets, for which the Jews professed a veneration; as he was thus vindicating himself, ere he had well finished his apology,
Festus said with a loud voice; that all might hear, and being moved with resentment at what he had heard; and it may be, he was displeased with Paul that he took so much notice of Agrippa, and so often addressed him, and appealed to him, when he scarce ever turned to, or looked at him:
Paul, thou art beside thyself; not in thy senses, or right mind, to talk of such an appearance and vision, and especially of the resurrection of a person from the dead. This is no unusual thing for the ministers of the Gospel to be reckoned madmen, and the doctrines they preach madness and folly: our Lord himself was said to be beside himself, and to have a devil, and be mad; and so were his apostles, Mark 3:21 and it is not to be wondered at that natural men should entertain such an opinion of them, since what they deliver is quite out of their sphere and reach: Festus added,
much learning doth make thee mad; the apostle was a man of much learning, both Jewish, Greek, and Roman; and Festus perceived him to be of great reading by his making mention of Moses, and the prophets, writings which he knew nothing at all of. And as this sometimes is the case, that much reading, and hard study, do cause men to be beside themselves, he thought it was Paul’s case: so the philosopher (f) suggests, that men of great wit and learning, and who are closely engaged in study, whether in philosophy, or politics, or poetry, or in technical affairs, are inclined to be melancholy, and phrenetic.”
Act 4:13, “Now when they saw that Peter and John were without fear, though they were men of no
education or learning, they were greatly surprised; and they took note of them that they had been with Jesus.”
Boldness – This word properly denotes “openness” or “confidence in speaking.” It stands opposed to “hesitancy,” and to “equivocation” in declaring our sentiments. Here it means that, in spite of danger and opposition, they avowed their doctrines without any attempt to conceal or disguise them.
Peter and John – It was they only who had been concerned in the healing of the lame man, Acts 3:1.
And perceived – When they knew that they were unlearned. This might have been ascertained either by report or by the manner of their speaking.
Unlearned – This word properly denotes “those who were not acquainted with letters, or who had not had the benefit of an education.”
Ignorant men – ἰδιῶται idiōtai. This word properly denotes “those who live in private, in contradistinction from those who are engaged in public life or in office.” As this class of persons is commonly also supposed to be less learned, talented, and refined than those in office, it comes to denote “those who are rude and illiterate.” The idea intended to be conveyed here is, that these men had not had opportunities of education (compare Matthew 4:18-21), and had not been accustomed to public speaking, and hence, they were surprised at their boldness. This same character is uniformly attributed to the early preachers of Christianity. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:27; Matthew 11:25. The Galileans were regarded by the Jews as particularly rude and uncultivated, Matthew 26:73; Mark 14:17.
They marvelled – They wondered that men who had not been educated in the schools of the rabbis, and accustomed to speak in public, should declare their sentiments with so much boldness.
And they took knowledge – This expression means simply that riley knew, or that they obtained evidence that they had been with Jesus. It is not said in what way they obtained this evidence, but the connection leads us to suppose it was by the miracle which they had performed, by their firm and bold declaration of the doctrines of Jesus, and perhaps by the irresistible conviction that none would be thus bold who had not been personally with him, and who had not the firmest conviction that he was the Messiah. They had not been trained in their schools, and their boldness could not be attributed to the arts of rhetoric, but was the native, ingenuous, and manly exhibition of a deep conviction of the truth of what they spoke, and that conviction could have been obtained only by their having been with him, and having been satisfied that he was the Messiah. Such conviction is of far more value in preaching than all the mere teachings of the schools; and without such a conviction, all preaching will be frigid, hypocritical, and useless.
Had been with Jesus – Had been his followers, and had attended person ally on his ministry. They gave evidence that they had seen him, been with him, heard him, and were convinced that he was the Messiah. We may learn here:
(1) That if men wish to be successful in preaching, it must be based on deep and thorough conviction of the truth of what they deliver.
(2) they who preach should give evidence that they are acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ; that they have imbibed his spirit, pondered his instructions, studied the evidences of his divine mission, and are thoroughly convinced that he was from God.
(3) boldness and success in the ministry, as well as in everything else, will depend far more on honest, genuine, thorough conviction of the truth than on the endowments of talent and learning, and the arts and skill of eloquence. No man should attempt to preach without such a thorough conviction of truth; and no man who has it will preach in vain.
(4) God often employs the ignorant and unlearned to confound the wise, 1 Corinthians 1:27-28. But it is not by their ignorance. It was not the ignorance of Peter and John that convinced the Sanhedrin. It was done in spite of their ignorance. It was their boldness and their honest conviction of truth. Besides, though not learned in the schools of the Jews, they had been under a far more important training, under the personal direction of Christ himself, for three years; I and now they were directly endowed by the Holy Spirit with the power of speaking with tongues. Though not taught in the schools, yet there was an important sense in which they were not unlearned and ignorant men. Their example should not, therefore, be pled in favor of an unlearned ministry. Christ himself expressed his opposition to an unlearned ministry by teaching them himself, and then by bestowing on them miraculous endowments which no learning at present can furnish. It may be remarked, further, that in the single selection which he made of an apostle after his ascension to heaven, when he came to choose one who had not been under his personal teaching, he chose a learned man, the apostle Paul, and thus evinced his purpose that there should be training or education in those who are invested with the sacred office.
(5) yet in the case before us there is a striking proof of the truth and power of religion. These men had not acquired their boldness in the schools; they were not trained for argument among the Jews; they did not meet them by cunning sophistry; but they came with the honest conviction that what they were saying was true. Were they deceived? Were they not competent to bear witness? Did they have any motive to attempt to palm a falsehood onto people? Infidelity must answer many such questions as these before the apostles can be convicted of imposture.
Act 22:3, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia by birth, but I had my education in this town at the feet of Gamaliel, being trained in the keeping of every detail of the law of our fathers; given up to the cause of God with all my heart, as you are today.”
2Ti 3:16, “Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness:”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
16. All scripture] The word for ‘Scripture’ occurs fifty-one times in N.T., always, except 2 Peter 3:16, of the recognised Old Testament Scriptures, the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa, or of one or more of them; in 2 Peter 3:16 the reference is to St Paul’s epistles and to ‘the other Scriptures.’ The A.V. of a.d. 1611 is therefore not wrong (though many printed copies have altered it) in rendering the word as ‘Scripture’ with a capital S; for it is by itself the recognised technical term.
We should translate Every Scripture probably, as is the proper rendering when there is no article. The word ‘Scripture’ is without the article also in John 19:37; 1 Peter 2:6; 2 Peter 1:20. Those who retain the rendering ‘All Scripture’ with A.V. would lay stress on the technical use of the word shewn above, so that it may be treated as a proper name, comparing Acts 2:36, ‘all (the) house of Israel.’ But this is unnecessary, especially as the three places where the word occurs without the article in the singular have the meaning ‘a Book or passage of Scripture’ and they are in date as late as or later than this Epistle.
given by inspiration of God] One word in the original, a passive verbal, occurring only here in N.T., and meaning ‘filled with the breath of God’ so as to be ‘living oracles,’ Acts 7:38. Cf. 2 Peter 1:21, ‘holy men of God moved by the Holy Spirit.’ Compare also the following passage written about a.d. 95, at the same time as the last N.T. book, St John’s Gospel: ‘Search the Scriptures, the true Scriptures, the Scriptures of the Holy Ghost: ye know that there is nothing unrighteous, nothing counterfeit written in them.’ Clem. Rom. ad Cor. c. 45.
There are two ways of taking this adjective, either as an attribute (so R.V.) or a predicate (so A.V.); either ‘Every Scripture, inasmuch as it is inspired of God, is also useful &c.’ or ‘Every Scripture is inspired and is profitable &c.’ In the latter case the second predicate comes in tamely. In the one case inspiration is assumed, in the other it is asserted.
profitable for doctrine] For teaching.
for reproof] The noun occurs only Hebrews 11:1, ‘the proving of things not seen.’ The corresponding verb is used five times by St Paul in these epistles, e.g. 2 Timothy 4:2.
correction] Only here in N.T. though a good classical word, cf. Dem. c. Timocr. 707, 7 ‘they shall lose their promotion to the Areopagus for putting down the amendment of the laws.’
for instruction in righteousness] Lit. discipline which is in righteousness; the verb ‘disciplining’ has occurred, 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:25, where see notes. It occurs with ‘reprove’ in the letter to the church at Laodicea, Revelation 3:19, where R.V. ‘chasten.’ ‘Which is in righteousness’ just as ‘faith which is in Christ Jesus’ above; the definite article indicates the definite sphere of exercise for the discipline and the faith. See note on 1 Timothy 1:2, where without the article the preposition and its case are shewn to be very nearly equivalent to an adjective. Ellicott well sums up the meaning ‘that Holy Scripture teaches the ignorant, convicts the evil and prejudiced, corrects the fallen and erring, and trains in righteousness all men, especially those that need bringing to fuller measures of perfection.’”
21.) Ovid said, “At times it is folly to hasten at other times, to delay. The wise do everything in its proper time.”
No one controls events. No one controls timing. It is most difficult to know the appointed time of anything.
No one knows the time of his death.
Gen 29:7, “Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.”
Wise is the man who know it is time or it is not time.
What you do in the time of rejoicing, you cannot do in the time of mourning. The Lord may set a definite time.
Who can pay for the loss of time? Time flies, it does not return. If you do nothing during sowing and plowing time, can you expect something in harvest time? If you do not study hard when you are young, it is no use to regret when you are old.
Mat 13:30, “Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Mat 24:45, “Who then is the faithful and sensible
slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time?”
Mar 1:15, “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Mar 13:33, “Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is.”
Luk 8:13, “Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and yet
these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away.”
1Ti 6:15, “which He will bring about at the proper
time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Tit 1:3, “but at the proper time revealed His Word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
according to the commandment of God our Savior.”
22.) Ovid said, “The lamp burns bright when wick and oil are clean.”
Psa 19:9, “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring
forever; the judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.”
Psa 24:4, “One who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to deceit and has not
sworn deceitfully.”
Psa 51:7, “Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
cleanse me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
Jhn 15:3, “You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you.”
Rev 19:8, “It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
1Th 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual
Immorality.”
1Th 4:4, “that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- Should know.—The clause is simply parallel to the last, and, with it, explains the word “sanctification.” The Bulgarian Father, Theophylact, says pointedly in reference to the word “to know” or “understand,” “He indicates that chastity is a matter that requires self-discipline and study.” (Comp. Ephesians 5:17.)
To possess his vessel.—The word rendered “to possess” should rather be translated, to procure, win, gain possession of. The word “vessel” here has been interpreted in two ways: (1) “his wife;” (2) “his body.” In favour of (1) it is argued that (while “gaining possession of one’s own body” is unintelligible), “acquiring a wife of one’s own” is an ordinary Greek expression; that in this context, “a vessel,” or “instrument,” is an expressive and natural metaphor; that the word was familiar to Hebrew speakers in that sense (e.g., Ahasuerus says of Vashti, in one of the Targums, “My vessel which I use is neither Median nor Persian, but Chaldee”); that St. Peter (1Peter 3:7) uses the word of the wife. But it may be answered that this interpretation does not suit our context; first, because it would be laying an emphatic and binding veto upon celibacy, if “each one” is “to acquire a wife of his own;” secondly, because of the verb “to know,” it certainly being no part of a religious man’s duty “to know how to procure a wife;” thirdly, because the Greek cannot be translated “a vessel (or wife) of his own,” but “his own vessel” (or wife)—literally, the vessel of himself—and to speak of “procuring” the wife who is already one’s own seems unmeaning. Furthermore, although the quotations from the Targums are certainly to the point, that from St. Peter distinctly points the other way, inasmuch as the wife is called “the weaker vessel of the two,” evidently meaning that the husband is also “a vessel.” Thus we are driven to suppose that (2) the “vessel” is the man’s own self. This usage also is well supported. In 1Samuel 21:5, it is used in precisely this sense, and in the same context, as well as in 1Peter 3:7. The passages, however, usually quoted in support of this interpretation from 2Corinthians 4:7, Philo, Barnabas, Lucretius, &c, do not seem quite parallel; for there the word signifies a “vessel,” in the sense of a receptacle for containing something; here it is rather “an instrument” or “implement “for doing something. Hence it approaches more nearly to the use in such phrases as Acts 9:15, “a vessel of choice,” or even (though the Greek word is different) to Romans 6:13. “The vessel of himself” (the “himself” being in the Greek strongly emphasised) means, not “the vessel which is his own,” but “the vessel or instrument which consists of himself.” Thus the body, which of course is chiefly meant here, is not dissociated from the man’s personality, as in the fanciful Platonism of Philo, but almost identified with it: the Incarnation has taught us the true dignity of the body. Thus it becomes easy to understand what is meant by “knowing how to gain possession of” such an instrument as the body with its many faculties, rescuing it from its vile prostitution, and wielding it wisely for its proper uses. So the same Greek verb is used, and mistranslated in our version, in Luke 21:19, “In your patience possess ye your souls.”
In sanctification and honour.—The circumstances in which—almost the means by which—the man may acquire and keep this skilful power over his instrument:—“in a course of self-purification and of self-reverence.” The reverence due to the instrument is brought out in a passage of St. Peter evidently modelled upon this (1Peter 3:7). (Comp. also 2Timothy 2:21, “an instrument for honourable purposes, and to be honourably treated, consecrated, and handy for its owner’s use.”).”
1Th 4:5, “not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
Psa 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- Create in me] Rather, Create me, i.e. for me. The word is used of the creative operation of God, bringing into being what did not exist before: and so in the parallel line renew should be rather make new (Vulg. innova better than Jer. renova). It is not the restoration of what was there before that he desires, but a radical change of heart and spirit. A right spirit should rather be a stedfast or constant spirit (Psalm 57:7; Psalm 78:37; Psalm 112:7), fixed and resolute in its allegiance to God, unmoved by the assaults of temptation. Such a clean heart and stedfast spirit, the condition of fellowship with God (Matthew 5:8), the spring of a holy life, can only come from the creative, life-giving power of God. Cp. the prophetic promises in Jeremiah 24:7; Jeremiah 31:33; Jeremiah 32:39; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 18:31; Ezekiel 36:26; and see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:24.”
23.) Pascal said, “Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.”
Jhn 7:17, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will
know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself.”
Jhn 8:32, “and you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- And ye shall know the truth.—In the great Intercessory Prayer of John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples: “Sanctify them in the truth: Thy word is truth” (John 8:17). In the answer to the question of Thomas in John 14, He declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 8:6). It is this thought that is present in the connection between continuance in His word and knowledge of the truth here. These Jews professed to know the truth, and to be the official expounders of it. They had yet to learn that truth was not only a system, but also a power; not only something to be written or spoken, but also something to be felt and lived. If they abide in His word they will indeed be His disciples; living the life of truth, they will gain perception of truth. “Being true,” they will “in love grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
And the truth shall make you free.—Here, as in John 17:17, truth and holiness are spoken of as correlative. The light of truth dispels the darkness in which lies the stronghold of evil. Sin is the bondage of the powers of the soul, and this bondage is willed because the soul does not see its fearful evil. When it perceives the truth, there comes to it a power which rouses it from its stupor, and strengthens it to break the fetters by which it has been bound. Freedom from the Roman rule was one of the national hopes bound up with Messiah’s Advent. There is indeed a freedom from a more crushing foe than the legions of Rome. (Comp. Mark 5:9; Luke 8:30.).”
Jesus says,
Jhn 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.”
24.) Pascal said, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
If Pascal had not said anything true and important before, this statement alone is more than enough to make him worthy.
Rom 3:22, “but it is the righteousness of God
through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”
Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace
through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
Rom 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Rom 5:11, “And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
Rom 5:17, “For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
Rom 5:21, “so that, as sin reigned in death, so also
grace would reign through righteousness to eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Rom 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised
Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised
Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Rom 16:27, “to the only wise God, through Jesus
Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”
1Co 8:6, “yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
But to us – Christians. We acknowledge but one God, Whatever the pagan worship, we know that there is but one God; and he alone has a right to rule over us.
One God, the Father – Whom we acknowledge as the Father of all; Author of all things; and who sustains to all his works the relation of a father. The word “Father” here is not used as applicable to the first person of the Trinity, as distinguished from the second, but is applied to God as God; not as the Father in contradistinction from the Son, but to the divine nature as such, without reference to that distinction – the Father as distinguished from his offspring, the works that owe their origin to him. This is manifest:
- Because the apostle does not use the correlative term” Son” when he comes to speak of the “one Lord Jesus Christ;” and,
- Because the scope of the passage requires it. The apostle speaks of God, of the divine nature, the one infinitely holy Being, as sustaining the relation of Father “to his creatures.” He produced them, He provides for them. He protects them, as a father does his children. He regards their welfare; pities them in their sorrows; sustains them in trial; shows himself to be their friend. The name “Father” is thus given frequently to God, as applicable to the one God, the divine Being; Psalm 103:13; Jeremiah 31:9; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2, etc. In other places it is applied to the first person of the Trinity as distinguished from the second; and in these instances the correlative “Son” is used, Luke 10:22; Luke 22:42; John 1:18; John 3:35; John 5:19-23, John 5:26, John 5:30, John 5:36; Hebrews 1:5; 2 Peter 1:17, etc.
Of whom – ἐξ οὗ ex hou. From whom as a fountain and source; by whose counsel, plan, and purpose. He is the great source of all; and all depend on him. It was by his purpose and power that all things were formed, and to all he sustains the relation of a Father. The agent in producing all things, however, was the Son, Colossians 1:16; see the note at John 1:3.
Are all things – These words evidently refer to the whole work of creation, as deriving their origin from God, Genesis 1:1. Everything has thus been formed in accordance with his plan; and all things now depend on him as their Father.
And we – We Christians. We are what we are by him. We owe our existence to him; and by him we have been regenerated and saved. It is owing to his counsel, purpose, agency, that we have an existence; and owing to him that we have the hope of eternal life. The leading idea here is, probably, that to God Christians owe their hopes and happiness.
In him – (εἰς αὐτόν eis auton); or rather unto him: that is, we are formed for him, and should live to his glory. We have been made what we are, as Christians, that we may promote his honor and glory.
And one Lord … – One Lord in contradistinction from the “many lords” whom the pagans worshipped. The word “Lord” here is used in the sense of proprietor, ruler, governor, or king; and the idea is, that Christians acknowledge subjection to Him alone, and not to many sovereigns, as the pagans did. Jesus Christ is the Ruler and Lord of his people. They acknowledge their allegiance to him as their supreme Lawgiver and King. They do not acknowledge subjection to many rulers, whether imaginary gods or human beings; but receive their laws from him alone. The word “Lord” here does not imply of necessity any inferiority to God; since it is a term which is frequently applied to God himself. The idea in the passage is, that from God, the Father of all, we derive our existence, and all that we have; and that we acknowledge “immediate and direct” subjection to the Lord Jesus as our Lawgiver and Sovereign. From him Christians receive their laws, and to him they submit their lives. And this idea is so far from supposing inferiority in the Lord Jesus to God, that it rather supposes equality; since a right to give laws to people, to rule their consciences, to direct their religious opinions and their lives, can appropriately pertain only to one who has equality with God.
By whom … – δἰ οὗ di’ hou. By whose “agency;” or through whom, as the agent. The word “by” (δι ̓ di’) stands in contradistinction from “of” (ἐξ ex) in the former part of the verse; and obviously means, that, though “all things” derived their existence from God as the fountain and author, yet it was “by” the agency of the Lord Jesus. This doctrine, that the Son of God was the great agent in the creation of the world, is elsewhere abundantly taught in the Scriptures; see the note at John 1:3.
Are all things – The universe; for so the phrase τὰ πάντα ta panta properly means. No words could better express the idea of the universe than these; and the declaration is therefore explicit that the Lord Jesus created all things. Some explain this of the “new creation;” as if Paul had said that all things pertaining to our salvation were from him. But the objections to this interpretation are obvious:
(1) It is not the natural signification.
(2) the phrase “all things” naturally denotes the universe.
(3) the scope of the passage requires us so to understand it. Paul is not speaking of the new creature; but he is speaking of the question whether there is more than one God, one Creator, one Ruler over the wide universe. The pagan said there was; Christians affirmed that there was not. The scope, therefore, of the passage requires us to understand this of the vast material universe; and the obvious declaration here is, that the Lord Jesus was the Creator of all.
You have learned a lot of Bible knowledge. Knowledge requires action. To receive Jesus Christ is to receive eternal life. Would you repent of you sins and believe in the Lord Jesus as your Savior? You can do it now.
Willie Wong Thought
Willie Wong
September 11, 2025
https://williewong.cw.center/wp-admin
Copyright © 2018 – 2025 by Willie Wong
ARE DEPORTATION EFFORTS HURTING THE ECONOMY? WRONG QUESTION. RIGHT QUESTION: ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS HURTING AMERICA? Most of illegal aliens are on welfare, there are 45 million unlawful migrants already residing in America, including their children born in America who are not citizens. America needs to deport illegal aliens without further delay. To warn Mexico not to be an unlawful door for unlawful migrants to invade America, America needs to drop a few bombs on Mexico City to DETER them.
ON September 3, 2025 for China to mark 80th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression and fascism is a historical necessity and hard-earned victory. All foreigners who heroically sacrificed their lives for China in their fight against Japanese aggression must individually be commemorated and remembered, their relatives are eternal friends of China. I have never seen such a great parade before, the size and scope of it would overwhelm your mind; every aspect of it was systematically planned, every step of male and female soldiers was of uniform procedures, every military vehicle with all nuclear missiles and every war airplane in the sky well performed; the words such as grand, massive, superb, magnificent fail to describe the whole celebration. I wholeheartedly salute every Chinese military man and woman who participated. From 1931-1945, the brutal behavior of Japanese and its inhuman atrocities were worse than wild beasts and deserve ten atomic bombs in recompense. Even today Japanese government and leaders do not admit and repent of their war crimes, they worship executed war criminals as their national heroes and living gods. Japan never apologizes and pays compensation for killing 35 million Chinese, made hundreds of thousands sex slaves, millions of labor slaves and untold atrocities. Never again will China be oppressed. I am sure the militant Japan is deterred, but America is on the wrong side of history. Thank God it did not rain.
The mayors of Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Chicago are for crooks and criminals, they must be dismissed and deported. All the facts point to the need, Ukraine must be destroyed and its leader executed in order to end the war. Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis are terrorists and the countries that harbor them must be destroyed all together.
Since Gaza, West Bank, etc. are the Jewish lands, Palestinians must evacuate from all Jewish lands and flee to Arab lands where they are safe to receive international aid and build a Palestinian state of their choice.
The leader of Ukraine is corrupt and evil. Ukrainians are stupid to follow the path of destruction. He was the one who instigated war with Russia. Now he asks for security guarantees. The nincompoop should be executed to end the war.
Palestinians, Africans, and others serve as example of peoples who want to eat and do not want to work. UN, WHO, EU, etc. champion their cause. Palestinians do not want evacuate from Gaza, Jewish lands to resettle in Arab lands. Because they will lose their status as refugees where they can get their food, fuel, water, medicine and everything for free from international community. These problems multiply with the passage of time.
UN, EU, GERMANY, UK, FRANCE, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZELAND, ETC. are strange and unreasonable peoples. Who is stopping Palestinians to build a Palestinian state in an Arab land? It is wrong and illegal to build a Palestinian state in Jewish land (Gaza, West Bank, etc.). That is the cause of conflict.
The fact that National Guards have to patrol Washington, D.C. with weapons speaks loudly and badly of the capital. The mayor of Washington, D.C. should be dismissed and deported. All the more urgent the national capital should move to Lincoln, Nebraska, without delay.
The mayor of Washington, D.C. bowed to the illegal acts of street people who set up tents on public streets. She should be dismissed and deported. The National Guards are empowered to trash the tents, clear the streets and vanish street people. Los Angeles is a disgraced city because the California Governor and Los Angeles mayor failed to solve the problems of street people who not only set up tents on public streets, but also urinate and defecate. All the more urgent for the national capital to move to Lincoln, Nebraska. In the face of national debt exceeding $37 trillion, the people can save money by abolishing the House, retain the unicameral legislation of Senate to move also to Lincoln Nebraska. All this can be accomplished legally by a national referendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrificed their lives for China in the war against Japanese aggression should be celebrated and remembered. The descendants of them are eternal friends of China. Descendants of American Flying Tiers whose forefathers had sacrificed their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinese government must treat them as eternal friends, and they are welcome to China anytime. Such blood bonds must be appreciated and maintained forever.
The world wrongly marks the anniversary of dropping atomic bomb on Hiroshima while neglecting the Japanese aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN over–appointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much coverage to unworthy black spoke-persons. It is amazing no matter how beautifully white organizations and individuals hail human rights, civil rights, democracy, development, technology, benefits, justice, etc., what they are actually after is MONEY. This can be said equally true about blacks.
Pet economy is wasted economy. Money should better be spent on nutrition and education of children and orphans. In cities all dogs must have annual license of Y5,000, cats Y4,000, and birds Y3,000. It is exempt for rural areas. If a dog defecates in public place, it shall be fined Y3,000 plus cleanup by owner or walker.
Global media highlight the number of Palestinians who have died, but fail to consider why Palestinian Authority and Palestinians do not want to evacuate from Jewish land and resettle in Arab land. Palestinians, men and women, young and old, are shameless beggars. They remain in Gaza to qualify for refugees so that they can get everything free from international community. The international community is ignorant of the fact that GAZA and related territories all belong to the Jews. Israel has every right to take back and take over Gaza and related territories. Palestinians must evacuate and relocate to Arab lands, make a living and establish its own Palestinian state without further delay.
French nincompoop Macron recognized Palestine as a state but failed to know that Palestine does not have territory and sovereignty. Leaders of UK, GERMANY, AUSTRLALIA would commit the same mistake by supporting terrorists. Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis are wicked terrorists, they should be destroyed without mercy. Leaders of Palestinian Authority are guilty for the death and malnutrition of children because they lead Palestinians to the path of destruction. They could have led Palestinians to lands of Arabs to earn a living and build their own Palestinian state. Palestinians (young & old, man & woman) are most shameless beggars for food & water, they don’t want to go to an Arab land to earn a living and build their own Palestinian state. Africa amid famine has the most fat people in the world, they are also shameless beggars. Ukrainians are shameless beggars for weapons, they do not have reason for existence. Harvard though the richest university in the world is a shameless beggar for US aid. Japan claims to practice democracy, its ruling party lost election miserably, yet its prime minister shamelessly wants to stay in power. The world must realize years of aid to Africa produced nothing, trillions of dollars went to black holes. Africa is corrupt, unmotivated and useless. Black leaders and politicians take advantage of it; dress well, eat well, and live a luxurious life style. Black problems can be solved only by Blacks. Let Africa alone to survive on its own. Blacks create most of the problems in the world, given too much coverage and platform in world media, over–appointed and given too many spokespersons and positions in UN. Any nation who shares destiny with Africa will be doomed. Nothing good comes out of Africa: primitive religion, superstition, spiritism, orgies, black magic, tribalism, voodooism.
If the Texas flooding is an act of God; Ukraine conflict, and conflicts of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis must be acts of the devil.
India must coexist with China, at the same time India and South Africa must be expelled from BRICS besause they do not remain true to BRICS’ founding mission, they do not belong, must be replaced by Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. US and EU must not rearm Ukraine, let Russia destroy it, and never to be rebuilt. The leader of Ukraine must also be executed.
Palestinian Authorities are guilty for leading Palestinians to a path of death, children died and suffer malnutrition. Palestian Authorities do not lead Palestinians (who are Arabs) to a land of Arabs to work for a living and build the Palestinian state.
American forces have successfully wiped out three Iranian nuclear sites through B-2 bombers. The “everlasting consequence” is Iran cannot be a nuclear threat anymore. I stand with the overwhelming majority of Dutch people to demolish NATO — the war machine.