TheosGuy

John Piper in his book When I Don’t Desire God provides an acronym for how he prays over the Word in his fight for joy. Or in another context, Piper suggested this method for a person who was wanting to know how to invigorate his desire for the Word. The acronymn for prayer follows the words of the Psalmist.

I — Incline

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! [Psalm 119:36 ESV]

O – Open

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. [Psalm 119:18 ESV]

U – Unite

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. [Psalm 86:11 ESV]

S – Satisfy

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. [Psalm 90:14 ESV]

Tags: Acronymns, Bible, Desire, Piper, Prayer, Word

The Bible clearly indicates God’s knowledge of counterfactuals (i.e., the description of a consequent based upon an antecedent that does not occur). For example, the statement, If you do A(ntecedent) act, then C(onsequent) result will occur. Then, you decide to not perform A(ntecedent) act.

Some denote this as middle knowledge, others reject the name.

Many rejectors do so based upon Luis de Molina’s view that the counterfactual acts would be done with, what would be considered, libertarian free will. Others such as Bruce Ware, John Frame and Terrence Thiessen will use the name, but consider the freedom of the individual to be other than libertarian freedom, such as Freedom of Inclination (Bruce Ware). Nevertheless, the concept of God’s knowledge of counterfactuals is shown in the Bible. For example, the LORD often tells Israel that she lost blessings due to her disobedience, or that she would have been blessed if she had obeyed. These are counterfactuals. Following are a few other specific ones:

Exodus 13:17 NKJV – Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

1 Samuel 23:8-14 NKJV – Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. “Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver you.” So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition. And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

Jeremiah 23:21-22 NKJV – “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings.”

Matthew 11:21-24 NKJV – “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

1 Corinthians 2:8 NKJV – which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

So, we should come away from this with at least two bits of information:

1. God not only knows counterfactuals, but declares them in Scripture
2. When we are discussing the issue with someone, we must ascertain whether they are including libertarian free will as part of the definition of middle knowledge.

Tags: Sovereignty, Ware

The following is taken from William Tyndale’s Prologue to his New Testament translation printed in 1525 A.D. As shown, William Tyndale held a very strong view of God’s sovereignty in the salvation of believers.

When the evangelion is preached, the Spirit of God entereth into them which God hath ordained and appointed unto eternal life; and openth their inward eyes, and worketh such belief in them.

Tags: Bible, Sovereignty

Following is some information on the Book of Psalms. These were in my notes on Psalms; I am not sure of the source of the information.

1. Attributed to David
• David’s Early Life (14)
  Psa 7; 11; 12; 13; 17; 22; 23; 34; 35; 52; 54; 56; 57; 59
• David’s Early Reign (19)
  Psa 8; 9; 10; 15; 16; 18; 19; 20; 21; 24; 26; 29; 36; 58; 60; 68; 101; 108; 110
• From time of his great sin to his flight from Jerusalem (10)
  Psa 5; 6; 32; 38; 39; 40; 41; 51; 55; 64
• Of the Exile (10)
  Psa 3; 4; 27; 28; 31; 61; 63; 69; 70; 143
• David’s Later Reign (3)
  Psa 37; 103; 139
2. Groupings
• Shepherd Psalms: Psa 22-24
• Kingdom Psalms: Psa 46-48
• Hallelujah Psalms – begin with “Halal Yahh”: Psa 111-113; 146-150
• Songs of Ascent – sung on pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feasts: Psa 120-134
• Royal Psalms: Psa 2; 18; 20; 21; 45; 72; 101; 110; 132; 144
• “Pauline” Psalms – forgiveness by faith not works: Psa 32; 51; 130; 143
3. Special Psalms
• 1st singular from the Cross: Psa 22
• Discussion amongst the Trinity: Psa 2
• Shortest chapter in the Bible: Psa 117
• Written by Moses: Psa 90
• Three MOST often quoted in the NT: Psa 22; 69; 110
• Implies Judas was married and had children: Psa 109
• Yields a glimpse of Jesus’ early childhood: Psa 69
• The darkest “doleful” of all: Psa 88
• The “only” psalm: Psa 62
• Martin Luther’s favorite psalm / hymn: Psa 46
• Longest chapter in the Bible: Psa 150
• Refrains “His mercy endureth forever”: Psa 136
• Heralds the attributes of God: Psa 139
• David’s repentance of sin with Bathsheba: Psa 51
• Suggestive of the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb”: Psa 45

Tags: Bible

Do inexact quotations of Old Testament texts in the New Testament show that Scripture is not inerrant? Here is a excerpt of an article by A.A. Hodges and B.B. Warfield in defense of inerrancy.

Nor is quotation to be confounded with translation. It does not, like it, profess to give as exact a representation of the original, in all its aspects and on every side, as possible; but only to give a true account of its teaching in one of its bearings. There is thus always an element of application in quotation; and it is, therefore, proper in quotation to so alter the form of the original as to bring out clearly its bearing on the one subject in hand, thus throwing the stress on the element in it for which it is cited. This would be improper in a translation. The laws which ought to govern quotation seem, indeed, to have been very inadequately investigated by those who please the New Testament methods of quotation against inspiration.

(A.A. Hodge and B.B. Warfield, “Inspiration,” The Presbyterian Review 2/6 (April 1881) 256, emphasis in the original.)

Tags: A.A. Hodge, B.B. Warfield, Bible

The following reading, Christ, Our Life,
is from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

There are many words and phrases that are peculiar to John; for
instance, the double “verily,” “excepts,” and “true” things. John’s
Gospel is peculiar in itself. Matthew shows us Christ as “King,”
Mark as the “Servant,” Luke as the “Man,” and John as the
“Life.” This may be traced right through John.

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 72.

Tags: Bible, Bibliology, Christ, Christian Living, Marsh, Teaching Ideas

At least three books are maintained before God. Revelation 20:12 says “books” which is plural (i.e., at least two) plus the Book of Life. What are the books?

• The Book of Life and the book of deeds. The name “Book of Life” is given in Scripture and is used herin as the title of the book. The “books” that are not the “Book of Life” are not given a specific title or name. However, the dead are judged out of things written in the books, and it is implied from the text that their works are contained therein (at least one or some of them).

(Revelation 20:12 KJV) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

• This could be another reference to the book(s) of deeds. Matthew Henry also brings forth the idea that these books may also include a book of standards (laws) by which the people are judged.

(Daniel 7:10 KJV) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

• Book of Remembrance seems to be a book listing the occurrences of when God’s people spoke about the LORD.

(Malachi 3:16 NKJV) Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.

Tags: Bibliology, Living

Here are some admonitions from God’s Word about not adding anything to it.

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. (Deu 4:2 NKJV)

Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deu 12:32 NKJV)

Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Pro 30:6 NKJV)

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. (Rev 22:18-19 NKJV)

Tags: Bibliology

The Lord uses parables and types (models) to speak to us. Here are some scriptures supporting this statement.

I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets. (Hosea 12:10 NKJV)

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV)

which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— (Galatians 4:24 NKJV)

Tags: Bibliology

The word “all” or “every” does not necessarily mean every single individual entity. It means all or every of whatever the context is talking about. For example, it would be common for someone to say something like, “After church, we all went out to lunch together.” Quite clearly, the person was not speaking of every single individual on the earth. In fact, he probably (although possibly) was not even speaking of every single individual in the church. He was speaking of all of a smaller group defined by the subject of the sentence, “we.” Who is encompassed in the “we” would only be known by the context. This situtation can lead to some problematic interpretations of verses that use the word “all” and “every” in the Bible.

• Gen 6:17; 7:4: All flesh was not destroyed. Nor did everything die. Noah and his family, the animals on the ark and the sea life were not destroyed.
• Dan 4:1; 2:37-40; 4:11-12, 20: Says Nebuchadnezzar was king of ALL the earth. Yet he did not rule over Greece, Rome, Others
• Dan 2:39: Greece did not rule over ALL the earth; e.g., Spain, Italy, others.
• Dan 7:23: Rome did not rule over ALL the earth; China, Japan, etc.
• Mat 3:5-6: Did EVERY single Pharisee and Saduccee get baptized? Not according to Matthew 21:25.
• Luke 2:1-3: Did even the Australian aboriginees get taxed by Rome?
• Rom 1:8; 10:8: Did every single person on the earth hear about the church in Rome?
• Col 1:23: Did the gospel get preached to every ant and worm in the South Pacific?

Many times when the Bible says “all people,” it is referring to:

• Hebrews and Greeks as groups.

[Gal 3:28 NKJV] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• Or all groups of men: Kings, noble, free and slaves.
  

  [1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV] Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, [2] for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. [3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

  Compare the above to 1 Timothy 4:10, where I believe the interpretation is all and everyone, since believers are clearly indicated as a special subset of “all men.”

[1 Timothy 4:10 NKJV] For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach,* because we trust in the living God, who is [the] Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

• Or back to a previously defined group.The “all” in 2 Peter 3:9 most likely by grammatical rules refers back to “us-ward”. The previous verse tells us that Peter is speaking to the “beloved,” i..e, believers.

[2 Peter 3:9 KJV] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

So the context of the paragraph determines to what or who “all” and “every” is referring.

Tags: Bibliology