TheosGuy

Prayer to start reading the Word with: Psa 136
Prayer to start the morning: 1 Chronicles 4:10

Tags: Bibliology, Prayer

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

One of the most important rules of hermenuetics (the interpretation of Scripture) is that the scripture must be interpreted in light of its context. Many problems with beliefs of the cults is that they take Scripture out of its context. Following are some examples.

Out of Context: Colossians 2:21 if not quoted with 2:20 is out of context! It can be used to define a system of legalism that is not Biblical.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations; [21] “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, [Col 2:20-21NKJV]

Collapsing Contexts: Two or more verses which have little or nothing to do with each other are put together as if one were a commentary on the other(s). Example: the Mormons associate Jeremiah 1:5 with John 1:2, 1:14 and thus imply that both verses talk about the premortal existence of all human beings. Jeremiah 1:5, however, speaks of God’s foreknowledge of Jeremiah (not his premortal existence) and John 1:2 refers to the pre-existence of God the Son and not to human beings in general.

They also combine with: John 1:2,14; 8:56-58; 16:27-30; 17:3-5; Acts 17:26-29; Heb. 5:8;

Letterism: Letterism is the taking of the literal reading beyond its context. The literal method of interpretation understands based upon the customary usage of language, i.e., it understands that both figurative and non-figurative language is used.

The letterist would imply that God has wings from Psalm 91:4. John 4:10-11; John 7:38 speaks of Jesus as living water. In John 6:48, Jesus says that, “I am the bread of life.” In Matthew 16:18 and 1 Peter 2:7 Jesus is referred to as the Rock. Clearly, Jesus is not a chicken, nor water, nor bread, nor cement. These are figurative words. But the concepts behind them are true. He protects us as a mother bird would protect its little ones. He is the Sustainer (water and bread). The Church is built upon Jesus (the cornerstone) and we can stand firm on this Rock for all that He has promised us.

See post entitled “All Not Everyone.”

Tags: Bibliology