Words

[placebofactor]

I love to study words. How many times do we read through the Bible and not get the full impact of certain words. I found this old article that's been on my website for thirty years now. I think you may enjoy it, so I'll post it.

Words
In Christianity, Satan is our enemy. In Hebrew, Satan is “the adversary.” and comes from the root which means “to persecute.” In its earliest sense, Satan referred only to a human adversary and first appeared as the name of a distinct personality in 1 Chronicles 21:1. “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.”

The devil, in the beginning, meant “slanderer.” Greek is diabolos, while our word angel came from the Greek word angellos meaning “a messenger” or “a herald.” It was through the influence of the Bible that the devil, the angels, and Satan took on the meanings that are now familiar to us. And for the sake of our records, Belial translates from the Hebrew as “worthless” or “wickedness” and Bellzebub meant “God of the flies,” from baal, “god” and zebub, “flies,” for he was the god of the Philistines who could summon or send away the hordes of flies that brought with them the pestilence and the plague.”

The church has many holidays, and in modern-day usage, we make some distinctions between holidays and holy days. The Middle English word “halidai, or holy day is applied to either one, which is not so strange when we consider how many holidays have their origin in some religious observance.

The Middle English period extended roughly from the Norman invasion in 1066 to the time on or about 1500.

There is Easter, once the name of the old Germanic goddess of the dawn and the spring, a name that is connected with the East where the dawn comes up. The festival was celebrated at the time of the spring equinox, and so, by confusion, one of the great Christian holidays bears a pagan name.

Among other special days, there is Halloween and Saint Valentine’s Day.
Halloween stands for, “All-Hollow-Even,” the even of All Saints or All Hallows. The word hallow still survives with us as a verb that means “to make holy” as in the Lord’s Prayer when we say, “Hallowed be Thy name.” According to the old Celtic calendar, the last day in October was New Year’s Eve, but the church imposed All Saint’s Eve on this heathen holiday.

Saint Valentine’s Day is in honor of the Roman Ecclesiastic and Christian martyr who was beheaded in the 3rd century by Emperor Claudius. The practice of sending valentines to persons of the opposite sex grew out of an old belief prevalent even before the time of Chaucer, that the mating season of the birds began on St. Valentine’s Day.

Geoffrey Chaucer was an English poet, born in 1343, and died 1400: his most noted work, is the manuscript of the prologue to “The Canterbury Tales.”

The word for "Christmas" derives from an Old English term that dates back to 1038 A.D., "Cristes Maesse." The term means "The mass of Christ," which is evidence of its Catholic roots. "Mass" comes from the Latin missa, and refers to the service of Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper.

The word sabbath, our one holiday in seven, was spelled “shabath” in Hebrew, and meant “rest.”

The word congregation, Latin con., meaning “with,” and grex, meaning “herd,” the flock that is all “herded” together to be led by its pastor or “shepherd,” in the case of Christians, Jesus Christ is, that Shepherd.
Jeremiah 30:20, the LORD said, “And their congregation shall be established before me.”

The words rapture and rape both mean “overcome,” carried away” and derive from the Latin rapio which also means “to carry off,” and usually by force. Also, a person can look upon a beautiful view with rapture, and be ‘carried away” by it, or, they can be enraptured with beautiful woman and look upon her with rape in their heart.

Also, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we (Christians) which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,”

1 Corinthians 3:18, “If any man among you seems to be wise in this world (age), let him become a fool, that he may be wise.”

Let those who talk too much take care, for the Latin word “follis,” which gave us “fool,” means “a windbag.” Yet there is a more innocent way than this to get the reputation of being foolish. The ancient Greeks called those who didn’t hold public office “idiotes,” and this may be what many of our politicians think of us today.”

Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field”

The Latin “subtilis” originally meant “finespun,” from sub, “beneath,” and tela, “web.” The devil “weaves” his words into delicate and subtle phrases.
Daniel 9:27, “and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.”

To the Greeks and Romans omens were signs of things to come, and in this world of ours many dread the future. When we abominate anything, we use the above Latin phrase, for the word is from ab, “away,” and omen, “omen.” Christians are to hate and loathe abominable things, as in idols. They are evil “omens” and we want them to stay “away” from us. We also discover omen in our English word ominous.

[JehovahsWitness]

..Greek is, prototokos.

QUESTION: What did Paul mean when he refered to Jesus as the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15)?

Some have suggested that since the scriptures have examples of the term "firstborn" (prototokos ) denoting preeminence. Firstly it should be pointed out that the term "firstborn" (prototokos) occurs 128 times in the Septuagint and 8 times in the NT and at no time is it used to denote someone "supreme" or "preeminent" of a group he himself does NOT belong to. In other words, even if Paul *is* saying Jesus is "preeminent" he is still saying he (Jesus) is preeminent in a group he (Jesus) belonged to - in short that Jesus is the GREATEST of all the CREATED beings.


WHY IS DAVID CALLED THE FIRSTBORN (prototokos)?

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth -- Psalm 89:28,

This scripture is clearly not giving a new lexical meaning to prototokos but simply showing that God has the right to put David in the position a firstborn (compare 1 Chronicles 26:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 21:3). Scripturally the firstborn in a family was almost invariably given a position of preeminence but that position was not automatic. Take for example the case of Reuben, Jacob's literal first-born; he lost *pre-eminence* but he continued to be known as the "first-born" (prototokos in the Septuagint) of the family - see Gen. 49:3, 4; 1 Chronicles 5:1-3 RSV. So Psalms is not giving a new or alternative meaning to the world "firsborn" only showing the rights and privileges ATTACHED to that position can on occassion be given (or taken away).

To illustrate: Take the meaning of the word "whore" (or prostitute). The meaning of the word is essentially someone that exchanges sexual favors for money. If a politician, forced to accept illegal money inexchange for political power said that his benefactor is "making a whore out of him" does this mean that the word "whore" can mean prostitute OR politician? Can one legitimately have a definition for whore "one that runs for any kind of political office"? Obviously not, the meaning of the word remains unchanged but the actions have resulted in the subject being submitted to similar feelings of degredation.

That God declared David "firsborn" does not mean the word has two different meanings, only that God's actions have resulted in David having the same rights and privileges of someone who is the born first, even though he was in fact the youngest.


FURTHER READING
http://examiningthetrinity.blogspot.fr/ ... l-115.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200312032221 ... otokos.htm

What I wrote came from two Lexicons. ...

Congratualtions.

Do you have anything to say in response to the points I wrote in the above post?

[placebofactor]

..Greek is, prototokos.

QUESTION: What did Paul mean when he refered to Jesus as the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15)?

Some have suggested that since the scriptures have examples of the term "firstborn" (prototokos ) denoting preeminence. Firstly it should be pointed out that the term "firstborn" (prototokos) occurs 128 times in the Septuagint and 8 times in the NT and at no time is it used to denote someone "supreme" or "preeminent" of a group he himself does NOT belong to. In other words, even if Paul *is* saying Jesus is "preeminent" he is still saying he (Jesus) is preeminent in a group he (Jesus) belonged to - in short that Jesus is the GREATEST of all the CREATED beings.


WHY IS DAVID CALLED THE FIRSTBORN (prototokos)?

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth -- Psalm 89:28,

This scripture is clearly not giving a new lexical meaning to prototokos but simply showing that God has the right to put David in the position a firstborn (compare 1 Chronicles 26:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 21:3). Scripturally the firstborn in a family was almost invariably given a position of preeminence but that position was not automatic. Take for example the case of Reuben, Jacob's literal first-born; he lost *pre-eminence* but he continued to be known as the "first-born" (prototokos in the Septuagint) of the family - see Gen. 49:3, 4; 1 Chronicles 5:1-3 RSV. So Psalms is not giving a new or alternative meaning to the world "firsborn" only showing the rights and privileges ATTACHED to that position can on occassion be given (or taken away).

To illustrate: Take the meaning of the word "whore" (or prostitute). The meaning of the word is essentially someone that exchanges sexual favors for money. If a politician, forced to accept illegal money inexchange for political power said that his benefactor is "making a whore out of him" does this mean that the word "whore" can mean prostitute OR politician? Can one legitimately have a definition for whore "one that runs for any kind of political office"? Obviously not, the meaning of the word remains unchanged but the actions have resulted in the subject being submitted to similar feelings of degredation.

That God declared David "firsborn" does not mean the word has two different meanings, only that God's actions have resulted in David having the same rights and privileges of someone who is the born first, even though he was in fact the youngest.


FURTHER READING
http://examiningthetrinity.blogspot.fr/ ... l-115.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200312032221 ... otokos.htm

What I wrote came from two Lexicons. ...

Congratualtions.

Do you have anything to say in response to the points I wrote in the above post?

Who is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."

Both terms, image and first-born are titles of sovereignty and are related to ancient concepts of kingship.

As the image of the invisible God, the Son is God manifest in the flesh, the bearer of the might and majesty of God, the revealer and mediator of the creating and sustaining power of the Godhead in relation to the world. You're looking at it in the abstract, not the ancient forms of religious thinking where we will find the root of Paul's teaching.

The image of God has Old Testament associations as in the creation story of Genesis 1. Adam was created in God's image and likeness; and is given dominion over the earth. Christ is not made after the image of God: he is the image of God. He is the embodiment of true humanity, as he is, also the embodiment of true kingship.

The term, "firstborn" of the creation does not imply that Christ is himself a part of the creation, he is called (firstborn) not (first created.) Therefore, Jesus Christ is accorded in respect to the created universe the place of honor and sovereignty that belongs to the eldest son in the kingdom.

[JehovahsWitness]

..Greek is, prototokos.

QUESTION: What did Paul mean when he refered to Jesus as the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15)?

Some have suggested that since the scriptures have examples of the term "firstborn" (prototokos ) denoting preeminence. Firstly it should be pointed out that the term "firstborn" (prototokos) occurs 128 times in the Septuagint and 8 times in the NT and at no time is it used to denote someone "supreme" or "preeminent" of a group he himself does NOT belong to. In other words, even if Paul *is* saying Jesus is "preeminent" he is still saying he (Jesus) is preeminent in a group he (Jesus) belonged to - in short that Jesus is the GREATEST of all the CREATED beings.


WHY IS DAVID CALLED THE FIRSTBORN (prototokos)?

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth -- Psalm 89:28,

This scripture is clearly not giving a new lexical meaning to prototokos but simply showing that God has the right to put David in the position a firstborn (compare 1 Chronicles 26:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 21:3). Scripturally the firstborn in a family was almost invariably given a position of preeminence but that position was not automatic. Take for example the case of Reuben, Jacob's literal first-born; he lost *pre-eminence* but he continued to be known as the "first-born" (prototokos in the Septuagint) of the family - see Gen. 49:3, 4; 1 Chronicles 5:1-3 RSV. So Psalms is not giving a new or alternative meaning to the world "firsborn" only showing the rights and privileges ATTACHED to that position can on occassion be given (or taken away).

To illustrate: Take the meaning of the word "whore" (or prostitute). The meaning of the word is essentially someone that exchanges sexual favors for money. If a politician, forced to accept illegal money inexchange for political power said that his benefactor is "making a whore out of him" does this mean that the word "whore" can mean prostitute OR politician? Can one legitimately have a definition for whore "one that runs for any kind of political office"? Obviously not, the meaning of the word remains unchanged but the actions have resulted in the subject being submitted to similar feelings of degredation.

That God declared David "firsborn" does not mean the word has two different meanings, only that God's actions have resulted in David having the same rights and privileges of someone who is the born first, even though he was in fact the youngest.


FURTHER READING
http://examiningthetrinity.blogspot.fr/ ... l-115.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200312032221 ... otokos.htm

What I wrote came from two Lexicons. ...

Congratualtions.

Do you have anything to say in response to the points I wrote in the above post?

The term, "firstborn" of the creation does not imply that Christ is himself a part of the creation...

As far as the biblical usage that is exactly that the term prototokos indicates. You might like to address this point in the post above - start at the number 128

[placebofactor]

Regeneration: Regeneration, reproduction, renewal. In a moral sense, regeneration speaks of a new birth, a change by grace from a carnal nature to a Christian life.

Titus 3:5, “By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

In the sense of renovation, restoration, and restitution, to a former state. The New Testament speaks of the complete external manifestation of the Messiah’s kingdom, when all things are to be delivered from their present corruption and restored to spiritual purity and splendor.

Matthew 19:28, “Ye which follow me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory.” Compare with,

Acts 3:21, “Whom (Christ) the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things.” Also, as the re-occupation of Judea after the exile.

[onewithhim]

..Greek is, prototokos.

QUESTION: What did Paul mean when he refered to Jesus as the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15)?

Some have suggested that since the scriptures have examples of the term "firstborn" (prototokos ) denoting preeminence. Firstly it should be pointed out that the term "firstborn" (prototokos) occurs 128 times in the Septuagint and 8 times in the NT and at no time is it used to denote someone "supreme" or "preeminent" of a group he himself does NOT belong to. In other words, even if Paul *is* saying Jesus is "preeminent" he is still saying he (Jesus) is preeminent in a group he (Jesus) belonged to - in short that Jesus is the GREATEST of all the CREATED beings.


WHY IS DAVID CALLED THE FIRSTBORN (prototokos)?

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth -- Psalm 89:28,

This scripture is clearly not giving a new lexical meaning to prototokos but simply showing that God has the right to put David in the position a firstborn (compare 1 Chronicles 26:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 21:3). Scripturally the firstborn in a family was almost invariably given a position of preeminence but that position was not automatic. Take for example the case of Reuben, Jacob's literal first-born; he lost *pre-eminence* but he continued to be known as the "first-born" (prototokos in the Septuagint) of the family - see Gen. 49:3, 4; 1 Chronicles 5:1-3 RSV. So Psalms is not giving a new or alternative meaning to the world "firsborn" only showing the rights and privileges ATTACHED to that position can on occassion be given (or taken away).

To illustrate: Take the meaning of the word "whore" (or prostitute). The meaning of the word is essentially someone that exchanges sexual favors for money. If a politician, forced to accept illegal money inexchange for political power said that his benefactor is "making a whore out of him" does this mean that the word "whore" can mean prostitute OR politician? Can one legitimately have a definition for whore "one that runs for any kind of political office"? Obviously not, the meaning of the word remains unchanged but the actions have resulted in the subject being submitted to similar feelings of degredation.

That God declared David "firsborn" does not mean the word has two different meanings, only that God's actions have resulted in David having the same rights and privileges of someone who is the born first, even though he was in fact the youngest.


FURTHER READING
http://examiningthetrinity.blogspot.fr/ ... l-115.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200312032221 ... otokos.htm

What I wrote came from two Lexicons. ...

Congratualtions.

Do you have anything to say in response to the points I wrote in the above post?

Who is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."

Both terms, image and first-born are titles of sovereignty and are related to ancient concepts of kingship.

As the image of the invisible God, the Son is God manifest in the flesh, the bearer of the might and majesty of God, the revealer and mediator of the creating and sustaining power of the Godhead in relation to the world. You're looking at it in the abstract, not the ancient forms of religious thinking where we will find the root of Paul's teaching.

The image of God has Old Testament associations as in the creation story of Genesis 1. Adam was created in God's image and likeness; and is given dominion over the earth. Christ is not made after the image of God: he is the image of God. He is the embodiment of true humanity, as he is, also the embodiment of true kingship.

The term, "firstborn" of the creation does not imply that Christ is himself a part of the creation, he is called (firstborn) not (first created.) Therefore, Jesus Christ is accorded in respect to the created universe the place of honor and sovereignty that belongs to the eldest son in the kingdom.

The term "firstborn" does indeed imply that Christ is himself part of the creation. Ancient church "fathers" had trouble with this because it was so obvious that Jesus was created and it went against their teachings. So they started up this fabrication that it doesn't mean he was created but just the oldest Son. "Born" means "existing as a result of birth," according to my dictionary. That is the common meaning of "born." How can someone come into existence as a result of "birth"? They are given life by a parent that causes them to exist. Any other meaning is a long stretch.

[placebofactor]

..Greek is, prototokos.

QUESTION: What did Paul mean when he refered to Jesus as the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15)?

Some have suggested that since the scriptures have examples of the term "firstborn" (prototokos ) denoting preeminence. Firstly it should be pointed out that the term "firstborn" (prototokos) occurs 128 times in the Septuagint and 8 times in the NT and at no time is it used to denote someone "supreme" or "preeminent" of a group he himself does NOT belong to. In other words, even if Paul *is* saying Jesus is "preeminent" he is still saying he (Jesus) is preeminent in a group he (Jesus) belonged to - in short that Jesus is the GREATEST of all the CREATED beings.


WHY IS DAVID CALLED THE FIRSTBORN (prototokos)?

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth -- Psalm 89:28,

This scripture is clearly not giving a new lexical meaning to prototokos but simply showing that God has the right to put David in the position a firstborn (compare 1 Chronicles 26:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 21:3). Scripturally the firstborn in a family was almost invariably given a position of preeminence but that position was not automatic. Take for example the case of Reuben, Jacob's literal first-born; he lost *pre-eminence* but he continued to be known as the "first-born" (prototokos in the Septuagint) of the family - see Gen. 49:3, 4; 1 Chronicles 5:1-3 RSV. So Psalms is not giving a new or alternative meaning to the world "firsborn" only showing the rights and privileges ATTACHED to that position can on occassion be given (or taken away).

To illustrate: Take the meaning of the word "whore" (or prostitute). The meaning of the word is essentially someone that exchanges sexual favors for money. If a politician, forced to accept illegal money inexchange for political power said that his benefactor is "making a whore out of him" does this mean that the word "whore" can mean prostitute OR politician? Can one legitimately have a definition for whore "one that runs for any kind of political office"? Obviously not, the meaning of the word remains unchanged but the actions have resulted in the subject being submitted to similar feelings of degredation.

That God declared David "firsborn" does not mean the word has two different meanings, only that God's actions have resulted in David having the same rights and privileges of someone who is the born first, even though he was in fact the youngest.


FURTHER READING
http://examiningthetrinity.blogspot.fr/ ... l-115.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200312032221 ... otokos.htm

What I wrote came from two Lexicons. ...

Congratualtions.

Do you have anything to say in response to the points I wrote in the above post?

Who is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."

Both terms, image and first-born are titles of sovereignty and are related to ancient concepts of kingship.

As the image of the invisible God, the Son is God manifest in the flesh, the bearer of the might and majesty of God, the revealer and mediator of the creating and sustaining power of the Godhead in relation to the world. You're looking at it in the abstract, not the ancient forms of religious thinking where we will find the root of Paul's teaching.

The image of God has Old Testament associations as in the creation story of Genesis 1. Adam was created in God's image and likeness; and is given dominion over the earth. Christ is not made after the image of God: he is the image of God. He is the embodiment of true humanity, as he is, also the embodiment of true kingship.

The term, "firstborn" of the creation does not imply that Christ is himself a part of the creation, he is called (firstborn) not (first created.) Therefore, Jesus Christ is accorded in respect to the created universe the place of honor and sovereignty that belongs to the eldest son in the kingdom.

The term "firstborn" does indeed imply that Christ is himself part of the creation. Ancient church "fathers" had trouble with this because it was so obvious that Jesus was created and it went against their teachings. So they started up this fabrication that it doesn't mean he was created but just the oldest Son. "Born" means "existing as a result of birth," according to my dictionary. That is the common meaning of "born." How can someone come into existence as a result of "birth"? They are given life by a parent that causes them to exist. Any other meaning is a long stretch.


You need to get a good Lexicon, I would recommend Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Strongs is okay but gives no details if words have 2 or more meanings.

Firstborn speaking of Jesus Christ, but not men. It means the chief, one highly distinguished and preeminent, so of Jesus Christ, as the beloved Son of God before the creation.

Colossians 1:15 collectively with verse 16, K.J.B. "Who (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (preeminent) of every creature:" Note the colon, so verse 16 is a continuation of verse 15. "For by him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones (Kings) or dominions (lords, princes, rulers) or principalities (is the same Greek as "Beginning) or powers (speaks of the celestial and infernal powers, (the underworld) princes, angels, and archangels): all things were created by him."

And Hebrews 1:6, "And again, when He (the Father) brength in the first-begotten into the world, he said, and let all the angels of God worship him." Collectively with verse 5, "For unto which of the angels said he (the Father) at any time, you are my Son, this day have I begotten thee?" To bring in means to introduce into the world. The Father introduced his Son into the world, he did not create him.

About those who follow the Lord Jesus. Romans 8:29, "For whom he (the Father) did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brethren (believers."

It means Jesus is the head of the church, and those who follow him are the body.

[placebofactor]

“Give me that old-time religion!” I like the old-school approach to the Scriptures. Why? because of its simplicity of tradition, and because it’s considered to be the quintessential form of faith and worship.

The word church is derived from the Greek word, "Kuriakon.” A church is, "That which belongs to, or is appropriated to the Lord." It may be a German word meaning, "to elect, choose out," therefore, corresponding to the Greek, (ekklesia) meaning assembly or called together.

A church is understood to be the collective body of Christians or all those who profess to believe in Christ and acknowledge him as their Savior.

Ephesians 3:21, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus"

Ephesians 4:11-12, "And He (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (meaning the church)."

I Timothy 3:15, Paul wrote, "If I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave (conduct) thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God."

In the first and second centuries, Christians worshipped in private homes, fields, or remote areas. They gathered in small groups not to be caught and seized by the Roman state, or the religious Jews. If caught they would be taken in for questioning, possibly tortured, put in prison, or even murdered. It was not until the late third to the fourth century that Christians began to worship Jesus Christ in public places, and without fear.

By the word church, we are to understand the whole body of God's chosen, and in every period.

1. Hebrews 12:23, "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn.” (Speaking of Christ Jesus who is chief, highly distinguished, and pre-eminent over the church).

2. Acts 20:28, Paul wrote, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath make you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He (Jesus) hath purchased with His own blood."

3. Ephesians 1:22, The Father has, "Put all things under His (Jesus) feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church." He is called the first born of the church.

By a particular church, we understand an assembly of Christians united together, who assemble in one place to worship the Lord. It is a congregation of faithful people, in which the true word of God is preached and taught, and the sacraments duly administered, according to Christ's ordinances.

[placebofactor]

Before the foundation of the Earth was laid, the everlasting covenant of divine counsel was set forth. It was a plan of redemption by the highest authority. When the time determined had come, the Lord Jesus undertook a work of redemption that would answer all the demands of the Father’s righteousness.

Redemption’s work from beginning to end, is wholly a system of grace. We must clearly understand that grace works and reigns through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We have been given a promise from the Father concerning His everlasting covenant of righteousness in and through His beloved Son, by which the Father can be ‘Just,’ and the ‘Justifier’ of all who believe in the finished work of the cross.

And concerning all men, we are nothing but sin and iniquity, yet we can look up and plead the righteousness of Jesus as the foundation of our acceptance before the Father. For in this new covenant, the Father made Jesus a sin offering for us, He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness to the Father in him. And by the virtue of our Redeemer’s righteousness, we have been snatched from certain destruction to everlasting life.

[placebofactor]

Hope springs eternal:
There is a movement like never before that the Bible has errors.

There are three tales: one concerns Pandora, and the other two concern Pandora’s Box; this article examines the latter. The myth of Pandora comes from the Greeks, it begs the question, was Pandora created to bring sorrow to the human race? Her name Pandora means ‘All gifted.’ In the home of her husband Epimetheus, was a closed box containing all the evils of the human race, and as long as the box remained closed, humanity was safe. One day, Pandora, out of curiosity, opened the lid, and when she did, all the winged evils that the box contained flew out. Although she closed it quickly, she succeeded only in preventing Hope to escape; Hope remained in the box.

According to the Greeks, humankind is plagued with every known evil and is without Hope! What to do? Alexander Pope, the author, wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast!” But it appears that even Hope has lost its spring today! What is Hope, and where can we find it?

Webster said, “Hope is the desire for some good accomplished with at least some expectation of obtaining it or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wishing and longing.

Scriptures tell us, “Hope that is seen is not hope at all.” Christians' Hope is in the resurrection, and in salvation through Christ Jesus. Our eternal life and happiness, and united by faith and trust, and we know that Jesus Christ is the author and source of all our Hope.

“God is the author and source of our faith and hope.” Here is where a faithful Christian draws the line. Are we to believe the Greek myth that every evil is upon us, and because Pandora closed the box on Hope, there is no hope?

The Almighty is Hope’s author, source, and finisher; He has power over everything. With this said, am I to believe the Lord God cannot keep his Holy Word perfect without error? And because every word without exception is said to be “God-breathed.” Can I hope that the Holy Spirit has the power to keep it that way in the past, now, and in the future? As for me, this is my Hope; it’s a hope of trust, a hope that I can find only in the pages of the Bible. I can trust it, for it is truth because it is “God-breathed.”

But some like Pandora desire to open the lid on everyone else’s box and to let hope out. They have opened theirs already and have destroyed either in part or all their Hope and now desire to destroy the Hope of others. How? By claiming the word is not from God. God is not to be mocked, nor is He to be tested.

Two choices stand before us: either the Scriptures are from God, or not of God. There are no shadows here; it’s all black or white.

Jehovah’s witnesses claim John 1:1 is misleading, and that Jesus is not God but “a god.” Mormons have added to the Scriptures. The Way International claims the Holy Spirit is a force, nothing but the breath of God, an “It,” as do the Witnesses. Others claim Jesus remained in the grave, that he will not return, that the creation story found in Genesis 1 is false and that the story of Jonah is only a myth, as is the flood.

If the Scriptures are not infallible, where can anyone seek the truth? If there is one error in the testimony of Jesus, we can throw out the whole testimony. Believe what you will, but as for me, the Word of God is pure and clean, holy and without error.

The Pandora’s Box that sits before my shelf remains closed, and the Hope, that is, will conquer all the evils within.

[onewithhim]

“Give me that old-time religion!” I like the old-school approach to the Scriptures. Why? because of its simplicity of tradition, and because it’s considered to be the quintessential form of faith and worship.

The word church is derived from the Greek word, "Kuriakon.” A church is, "That which belongs to, or is appropriated to the Lord." It may be a German word meaning, "to elect, choose out," therefore, corresponding to the Greek, (ekklesia) meaning assembly or called together.

A church is understood to be the collective body of Christians or all those who profess to believe in Christ and acknowledge him as their Savior.

Ephesians 3:21, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus"

Ephesians 4:11-12, "And He (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (meaning the church)."

I Timothy 3:15, Paul wrote, "If I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave (conduct) thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God."

In the first and second centuries, Christians worshipped in private homes, fields, or remote areas. They gathered in small groups not to be caught and seized by the Roman state, or the religious Jews. If caught they would be taken in for questioning, possibly tortured, put in prison, or even murdered. It was not until the late third to the fourth century that Christians began to worship Jesus Christ in public places, and without fear.

By the word church, we are to understand the whole body of God's chosen, and in every period.

1. Hebrews 12:23, "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn.” (Speaking of Christ Jesus who is chief, highly distinguished, and pre-eminent over the church).

2. Acts 20:28, Paul wrote, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath make you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He (Jesus) hath purchased with His own blood."

3. Ephesians 1:22, The Father has, "Put all things under His (Jesus) feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church." He is called the first born of the church.

By a particular church, we understand an assembly of Christians united together, who assemble in one place to worship the Lord. It is a congregation of faithful people, in which the true word of God is preached and taught, and the sacraments duly administered, according to Christ's ordinances.

I see something lacking. "According to Christ's ordinances" would include worshipping his Father, as he indicated many times in the Scriptures. He quoted Deuteronomy when he said to Satan, "You must worship Jehovah your God, and it is to him ALONE you must render sacred worship." (Luke 4:8; see Deuteronomy 10:20,21) Remember when you look at those verses that wherever you see "LORD" in all capital letters, that is where the name of God appears in the original language text. It is represented by the Tetragrammaton YHWH, and is translated by many Bible versions as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." (Young's Literal Translation; the Living Bible; the American Standard Version; the Divine Name King James Bible; the Jerusalem Bible.) We always know that it is there, wherever the LORD appears in upper-case letters.

Jesus thought that his Father's name was important. He taught us, in the Lord's Prayer, to pray that his Father's name be honored, and to pray only to Him (Matthew 6:9,10). When he prayed to his Father (John 17:3) he said that he would make His name known and continue to make it known. (vs.6,26) Why don't some Christians do this?