COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]  THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS IS NOT AN INSPIRED WRITING 


[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 997A]

All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.   Psalms 145:10, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, all his works are perfect and this is testified to at Psalms 103:21 – 22, [AV] “Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.  22  Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.”  And at Psalms 104:1 – 6, [AV] “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.  2  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:  3  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:  4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:  5  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.  6  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.” 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO, 

1) WWW.JW.ORG

2) https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/religioustruths/ 

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5) https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/online-lessons/

6) http://religioustruthsbyiris.createmybb3.com/ 

7) http://religioustruths.forumotion.com/ 

To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study 

Your Friend in Christ Iris89 

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2]   THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS IS NOT AN INSPIRED WRITING:

The Gospel of Judas is NOT an Inspired Writing of the Bible.  Let's look at the facts with respect Aprocypha Books such as the Gospel of Judas.

THE APROCYPHA OR DEUTERCANONICAL BOOKS:

First, let's consider what they are as defined by the Columbia Encyclopedia, sixth edition, by Columbia University Press.   This encyclopedia defines the Apocrypha as, "(pk´rf) (KEY)  [Gr.,=hidden things], term signifying a collection of early Jewish writings excluded from the canon of the Hebrew scriptures.   It is not clear why the term was chosen."   In reality they were nothing but uninspired writings, many purporting to be written by other than who was actually their author, or basically illegitimate and lacking credence.   In fact, the real author of only one of the Apocrypha is actually known.   Some religions, unfortunately, have included some of the Apocrypha in their Bibles, but even these were few in number.   A list of most of the Apocrypha follows:

1 Clement, 1st Apocalypse of James, 2 Clement, 2nd Apocalypse of James, 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Acts of Andrew, Acts of Apollonius, Acts of Carpus, Acts of John,Acts of Paul, Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas, Acts of Peter, Acts of Peter and the Twelve, Acts of Pilate, Acts of the Apostles, Acts of Thomas, Additions to the Book of Esther, Anonymous Anti-Montanist. Anti-Marcionite Prologues, Apelles, Apocalypse of John, Apocalypse of Peter, Apocryphon of John, Apollonius, Apology of Aristides, Aristo of Pella, Ascension of Isaiah, Athenagoras of Athens, Authoritative Teaching, Bardesanes, Baruch, Basilides, Eel and the Dragon, Book of Elchasai, Book of Thomas the Contender, Books of Jeu, Caius, Celsus, Christian Sibyllines, Claudius Apollinaris, Clement of Alexandria, Colossians, Coptic Apocalypse of Paul, Coptic Apocalypse of Peter, Dialogue of the Savior, Diatessaron, Didache, Didascalia, Dionysius of Corinth, Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth, Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony, Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, Egerton Gospel, Epiphanes On Righteousness, Epistle of Barnabas, Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, Epistula Apostolorum, Excerpts of Theodotus, Fayyum Fragment, Fifth and Sixth Books of Esra, Fronto, Galen, Gospel of Judas, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Philip, Gospel of the Ebionite, Gospel of the Egyptians, Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of the Nazoreans, Gospel of the Savior, Gospel of Thomas
Gospel of Truth, Hegesippus, Heracleon, Hippolytus of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Infancy Gospel of James, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Inscription of Abercius, Irenaeus of Lyons, Isidore, Judith, Julius Cassianus, Justin Martyr, Kerygmata Petrou, Letter from Vienna and Lyons, Letter of Jeremiah, Letter of Peter to Philip, Lost Sayings Gospel Q, Lucian of Samosata, Mara Bar Serapion, Marcion, Marcus Aurelius, Martyrdom of Polycarp, Maximus of Jerusalem, Melchizedek, Melito of Sardis, Muratorian Canon, Naassene Fragment, Octavius of Minucius Felix, Odes of Solomon, Ophite Diagrams, Origen, Oxyrhynchus 1224 Gospel, Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel, Pantaenus, Papias, Passion Narrative, Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs , Philostratus, Pistis Sophia, Pliny the Younger, Polycarp to the Philippians, Polycrates of Ephesus, Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews, Prayer of Manasseh, Preaching of Peter, Ptolemy, Quadratus of Athens, Rhodon, Secret Book of James, Secret Mark, Serapion of Antioch, Shepherd of Hermas, Signs Gospel, Sophia of Jesus Christ, Suetonius, Susanna, Tacitus, Tatian's Address to the Greeks, The Additions to the Book of Daniel, Tertullian, Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Theophilus of Antioch, Theophilus of Caesarea, Tobit, Traditions of Matthias, Treatise on the Resurrection, Trimorphic Protennoia, Valentinus, Victor I, Wisdom of Solomon, etc.

As can be seen many of these none illegitimate books try to give themselves credence by closely mimicking the names of actual legitimate canonical books of the Bible.  These books are often called the pseudepigrapha?  The term is a transliteration of the Greek plural noun that literally means "with false superscription".  According to Webster's Third New International Dictionary  (p. 1830), the term can be defined as, "spurious works purporting to emanate from biblical characters".  The Random House Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language defines the term as, "Certain writings (other than the canonical books and the Apocrypha) professing to be Biblical in character, but not considered canonical or inspired.  These are NOT lost books, just NOT legitimate books of Bible cannon.

THE EXTERNAL BOOKS QUOTED IN THE BIBLE:

There are many external books quoted by inspired Bible writers as references.   Many are, "not aware that the Old Testament authors depended upon other writings as their sources which they freely admit.  Among these are: the Book of the Wars of Yahweh (Num. 21:14), the Book of the Jashar  (Josh 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18), the Book of the Acts of Solomon (1 Ki 14:19; 2 Chr 33:18), the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah (1 Ki 14:29, 15:7), the Annals of Samuel the Seer (1 Chr 29:29), the History of Nathan the Prophet (2 Chr 9:29), the Annals of Shemaiah the Prophet and Iddo the Seer (2 Chr. 12:15), the Annals of Jehu the Son of Hanani (2 Chr. 20:34), and others.    Some teach that Moses compiled the Book of Genesis from other writings that surely had to have been handed down and preserved by his forefathers.  Genesis can be broken down into eleven separate history books, each being separated by colophons at the conclusion of  the books.  This is known to have been a popular style for such ancient writings.  ...According to this theory we have eleven separate books having the following authors: Adam, Noah, and eight other authors which Moses merely compiled into one book.  [source= Ronald G. Fanter Cutting Edge Ministries].

One of these books is still existent today, the Book of Jashar or as it is sometimes called the Book of  the Just, and another, the Book of the Wars of Yahweh, is actually thought my most scholars to actually be the Book of Jashar.    The Book of Jashar is quite interesting, but one must be careful in obtaining a copy as there are counterfeit books masquerading as the Book of Jashar which are not.   Also, there is a counterfeit Book of the Wars of Yahweh which is of course a fake since as previously said, this book is thought to just be another name for the Book of Jashar.

THE 4 BOOKS OF MACCABEES:

This is by far the strangest case of all.   The 4 Books of Maccabees are ranked by many as part of the Apocrypha; however, they should be ranked as history books of the 1 st. and 2 nd. Century roughly before the incarnation of  our leader and savior, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ.   Very strange is the fact that the Catholic church accepted only two of them into their Canon of Bible Books; whereas, there are four of them.  The Greek Orthodox, however, accepted three of them, and only the Cathars accepted the fourth.   Strange to say the least, but none should have been accepted as canonical as they are history books, and one would NOT THINK of accepting H. G. Wells, 'Outline of History," into the Bible cannon; we are getting into the absurd.  However, they make excellent reading as history books that fill in the history of these two centuries.

WHAT IS AN INSPIRED BOOK?

First, The Bible is NOT the product of one committee or strongman. It has over 40 individual writers who wrote under divine inspiration/guidance putting the thoughts of God (YHWH) into the words of men much as transcribing secretaries today taking transcription and then later typing it out. In other words one real author, God (YHWH), and many scribes each of whom wrote in his own style over a period of approximately 1,600 years. All of what people call or consider inconsistencies are really not such, but most often just a problem of translation and/or understanding, i.e., lack of understanding of what the original writer writing in his own language and culture meant/said in his original writing. What is remarkable, is the writers over such a period of time all wrote in harmony when even most posters on threads on this forum can not even stay on track or subject over a period of a few days and/or weeks at most with the original subject of the thread. This fact of harmony over a period so great as to almost stagger the imagination shows that it had one guiding force or author who divinely inspired its writers as humans of their own volition can not keep on track over short periods of time.


Second, To wit, the Bible is the ONLY book God (YHWH) ever inspired men to write as his scribes. In other words, God is its author and men only put his thoughts given to them by divine inspiration into their own words, the words of men. Not only that, all the other writers of later so called religious guidance books borrowed from it and made changes in accord with their strong man or so called prophet. Take the example of Joseph Smith who borrowed from it to write the Book of Mormon, but failed to give credit or source to the Bible and twisted some borrowed things into bizarre distortions. Other examples are of course the bizarre writings of David Koresh the Prophet of the Branch Dividians of Waco, Texas; and the Quran, etc. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]   A WRITTEN SERMON ON THE WICKEDNESS OF ADULTERY, FORNICATION, AND OTHER FORMS OF IMMORALITY 


[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 999A]

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.  28  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.  29  And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.   Acts 26:27 – 29,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Here, the Apostle Paul is appearing before King Agrippa to make his defense for spreading the truth of Almighty God (YHWH) to many in ancient Jerusalem.  In his defense as recorded at Acts 26:1 - 8, [AV] he says, “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:  2  I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:  3  Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.  4  My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;  5  Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.  6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:  7  Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.  8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO, 

1) WWW.JW.ORG

2) https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/religioustruths/ 

3) http://religioustruths.boardhost.com/ 

4) http://religioustruths.forumsland.com/ 

5) https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/online-lessons/

6) http://religioustruthsbyiris.createmybb3.com/ 

7) http://religioustruths.forumotion.com/ 

To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study 

Your Friend in Christ Iris89 

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2]   A WRITTEN SERMON ON THE WICKEDNESS OF ADULTERY, FORNICATION, AND OTHER FORMS OF IMMORALITY:

Dear Truth Seeker:

Today many immoral things are practiced by a great number of people, but this widespread committing of wickedness does not make it any less wrong.  In fact, this condition, now existing, was foretold long ago in the Holy Bible at 2nd. Timothy 3:1-5 which reads as follows, "Do not forget this: there will be terrible times in the last days...Men will be lovers of self...They will be treacherous, reckless, pompous, lovers of pleasure rather than of God as they make a pretense of religion but negate its power..." (NAB).  Immorality in its many forms is unlike other sins in that it is a sin against one's own body as shown at I Corinthians 6:18-19, "...Every other sin a man commits is outside his body, but the fornicator sins against his own body...(NAB).  In fact, the truth that fornication is a sin against one's body can readily be seen from recent medical reports even without recourse to the Bible, God's written instructions for us.  Specifically, reports about many types of diseases transmitted by illicit sexual relationships of various forms such as adultery, fornication, and other forms of immorality are much in the news.  Who has not heard of AIDS, Herpes, Gonorrhea, etc. that plague homosexuals and other promiscuous individuals?  Thus, obviously all forms of illicit sexual relationships, homosexual or heterosexual, are indeed sins against one's own body.

All forms of illicit sexual relationships are clearly works of the flesh and the Apostle Paul said, "Now the work of the flesh are..adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness..." (Galatians 6:18-19 per KJV).  God does not view these unclean "works" of the flesh with pleasure no matter who may endorse them be he/she a high governmental official, a church leader, a community leader, or a common citizen.  These works remain condemned by God as shown by the Apostle Paul at I Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye...the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God...be not deceived: neither fornicators,...nor adulteress, nor effeminate,...shall inherit the Kingdom of God." (KJV).  In fact is plainly recorded that God will judge all adulteresses and fornicators at Hebrews 13:4 which reads, "...God himself will judge those who traffic in the bodies of others or defile the relationship of marriage." (TNTMB).  This fact that God will punish those who practice illicit sexual relationships is made very clear by his actions in the past as shown by his destruction of the inhabitants of ancient Sodom for the practice of immoral sex relations both heterosexual and homosexual.  Their sinful practices of adultery, fornication, and homosexuality were so salient that Moses wrote at Genesis 14:13 under God's inspiration, "...the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the Lord." (NAB).  Their evil practices of various forms of illicit sexual relationships  were so flagrant they even tried to have homosexual relationships with materialized angles of God as recorded at Genesis 19:1-7, "The two Angles reached Sodom in the evening...Before they went to bed, all the townsmen of Sodom,...closed in on the house.  They called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to your house tonight?  Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them.'" (NAB).  Because of their wicked action with respect illicit sexual relationships of various types, i.e., homosexuality, adultery, and fornication, God destroyed the Sodomites as recorded at Genesis 19:24, "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom...brimstone and fire...out of heaven;" (KJV).

Sex relations of course in the right context are not wrong.  In fact, the Bible recommends that each person have his/her own marriage mate, "God went on to bless Noah and his sons and to say to them. 'Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth," Genesis 9:1 (NWT).  It also recommends that each adult having sexual desires should, "Because of the prevalence of fornication, let each man have his own wife and each women have her own husband.  Let the husband render to his wife her due; but let the wife also do likewise to her husband...that Satan may not keep tempting you for your lack of self-regulation," 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NWT).  What is wrong, sinful, etc. is illicit sexual relations of all types, not proper sexual relations between husband and wife.  Illicit sexual relations include sexual relations before marriage as clearly shown, as follows, "This is what God wills...that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in covetous sexual appetite such as also those have which do not know God; that no one go to the point of harming and encroach upon the rights of his brother in this matter, because Jehovah is one who exacts punishment for all these things, just as we told you beforehand and also gave you a thorough witness.  For God called us, not with allowance for uncleanness, but in connection with sanctification.  So, then, the man that shows disregard is disregarding, not man, but God, who puts his holy spirit in you," 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NWT).  Note: the Greek word translated as "fornication" is por-nei'a, and refers to sexual intercourse between unmarried persons, and to married persons having sexual intercourse with other than their mate.  Since marriage is the official union of a man and a women to live together as husband and wife according to standards outlined in the Holy Bible; it is a divine institution.  The Apostle Paul in one of his writings stated, "Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers," Hebrews 13:4 (NWT).  Thus, getting legally married plays an important part in having a marriage that is accepted as being "honorable," and is part of being in subjection to the superior authorities in keeping with Titus 3:1 (NWT) which states, "Continue reminding them to be in subjection and obedient to governments and authorities as rulers."  The Apostle Peter states, "Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, that, in the thing in which they are speaking against you as evildoers, they may as a result of your fine works...glorify God in the day for his inspection," 1 Peter 2:12-15 (NWT).   

Therefore let no one deceive you--illicit sexual practices bring God's disfavor as shown by many passages in God's written work, the Holy Scriptures.  This point is made clear at Romans 1:24-25, "In consequence, God delivered them up in their lusts to unclean practices; they engaged in the mutual degradation of their bodies, these men who exchanged the truth of God for a lie....: (NAB).  Rightly, as stated in the Bible at Ecclesiastes 7:29, "...God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans." (NWT).  These works or plans of the fallen flesh are clearly identified, and I Corinthians 6:13 states, "...God will do away with them in the end--but the body is not for immorality; it is for the lord...." (NAB).  In addition, I Corinthians 6:18 warns all wishing to win God's favor to, "Shun lewd conduct." (NAB), since this sin is within the body; whereas, "Every other sin a man commits is outside his body." (NAB).  Also, I Corinthians 7:2 warns us to avoid illicit sexual relations in the following words, "But to avoid immorality...." (NAB).  The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians warned at Colossians 3:5, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence..." (KJV).

Since as can be plainly seen from the foregoing we should strive not to be a part of the wrong doing of this sinful generation noted at Mark 8:38, "...this faithless and corrupt age..." (NAB), where all sort of uncleanness exist as noted at Ephesians 4:19 as follows, "Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort...." (NWT).  We should take heed to abstain from these things by noting what is God's will as expressed at I Thessalonians 4:3-5, "It is god's will that you grow in holiness: that you abstain from immorality, each of you guarding his members in sanctity and honor, not in passionate desire as do the Gentiles who know not God." (NAB).  Not only must we not commit adultery, fornication, homosexuality (sodomy), and other illicit forms of sexual relationships; we must not as recorded at Matthew 5:28, "...look at a women lustfully...." (TNTMB).  Specifically we must guard against committing any form of illicit sexual act as God wants us as shown at Hebrews 12:16, "that there may be no fornicator nor anyone not appreciating sacred things...." (NWT) among you; but wishes all to stop these wicked practices and repent as noted at Acts 26:20 as follows, "...they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (KJB)>

However, for those who refuse to repent and turn aside from wicked acts of illicit sexual relationships such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality (sodomy), beastality, etc., and as directed at Romans 6:6, "...our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed and we might be slaves to sin no longer." (NAB).  For those who refuse to repent and stop these things a certain judgment awaits as God will give them up to destruction as shown by what he did to Sodom.  Also, as shown y his action at Sodom, he can deliver the righteous as recorded at 2 Peter 3:7, "He did deliver Lot...." (NAB).  Thus in closing it is imperative to recall to memory that he destroyed Sodom as an example to the ungodly per 2nd Peter 3:6, "And turning the cities of Sodom...into ashes condemned them...making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly." (KJV).  To emphasize this he caused to be recorded for our guidance a warning with respect to what will come to pass on those rejecting his teachings and practicing wrong acts such as sodomy at Matthew 10:15 which reads, "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom...in the day of judgment, than for that city."  Be of good cheer win God's approval by rejecting wickedness.

NAB ----- The New American Bible, St. Joseph Edition (Catholic Book Publishing Company)

KJV ----- King James Version of the Holy Bible

TNTMB --- The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips

NWT ----- The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures by The New World      Bible Translation Committee 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]  DISCOURSE ON PHILIPPIANS 2:5-7 - OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY MANY  With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 1B]

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  1 John 4:10,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, Almighty God (YHWH), loves us, and this love is first from Him as made clear by 1 John 4:16, [AV] “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”  His  greatest attribute is love as shown by 1 John 4:19, [AV] “We love him, because he first loved us.”  And He will remember our works of love as revealed at Hebrews 6:10, [AV] “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” 

[2]  Discourse on Philippians 2:5-7 - Often Misunderstood by Many:

INTRODUCTION:

Let's look at the scripture Philippians 2:5-7, " Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.' (Revised Standard Version; RSV).   As can be seen, it is a rather short group of three scriptures.   So let's view it in context:

Philippians 2:1-11, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (RSV).

VERSE 5 - AN EXPLANATION:

Likewise some do not understand verse 5 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" .   Yet the understanding of this verse really is quite simple as here the Apostle Paul points to Christ as the example of humility and consecration to the good of others.   On this the great Bible scholar, John Gill, says, "Let this mind be in you...
The Arabic version renders it, "let that humility be perceived in you". The apostle proposes Christ as the great pattern and exemplar of humility; and instances in his assumption of human nature, and in his subjection to all that meanness, and death itself, even the death of the cross in it; and which he mentions with this view, to engage the saints to lowliness of mind, in imitation of him; to show forth the same temper and disposition of mind in their practice,

which also was in Christ Jesus;
or as the Syriac version, "think ye the same thing as Jesus Christ"; let the same condescending spirit and humble deportment appear in you as in him. This mind, affection, and conduct of Christ, may refer both to his early affection to his people, the love he bore to them from everlasting, the resolution and determination of his mind in consequence of it; and his agreement with his Father to take upon him their nature in the fulness of time, and to do his will, by obeying, suffering, and dying in their room and stead; and also the open exhibition and execution of all this in time, when he appeared in human nature, poor, mean, and abject; condescending to the lowest offices, and behaving in the most meek and humble manner, throughout the whole of his life, to the moment of his death.[source - The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernised]

Another great Bible Scholar, Theodore.Beza, said, " He sets before them a most perfect example of all modesty and sweet conduct, Christ Jesus, whom we ought to follow with all our might: who abased himself so much for our sakes, although he is above all, that he took upon himself the form of a servant, that is, our flesh, willingly subject to all weaknesses, even to the death of the cross. [source - Beza, Theodore. "Commentary on Philippians 2". "The 1599 Geneva Study Bible". 1600-1645]

Yet another, A. R. Fausset, AM, Said, "The oldest manuscripts read, "Have this mind in you," &c. He does not put forward himself Philippians 1:24) as an example, but Christ, THE ONE pre-eminently who sought not His own, but "humbled Himself" (Philippians 2:8), first in taking on Him our nature, secondly, in humbling Himself further in that nature (Romans 15:3)." [source - Fausset, A. R., A.M. "Commentary on Philippians 2". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible".  1871].

VERSE 6 - AN EXPLANATION:

Likewise some do not understand verse 6 "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,"  but  let's look at several different major translations rendering of this and then an explanation.

Philippians 2:6   who, although He existed in the from of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.  (New American Standard Bible [Reference Edition by Moody Press, Chicago]; NASB-MP)

Philippians 2:6  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  (New American Standard Bible [The Lockman Foundation, version]: NASB-TLF)

Philippians 2:6   Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
(Authorized King James; AV)

Philippians 2:6   who, although he existed in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.  (New World Translation; NWT)

Philippians 2:6   who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,  (Revised Standard Version; RSV)

Philippians 2:6   who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.  (The Holoman Christian Standard Bible)

Philippians 2:6   who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,   (American Standard Bible; ASB)

Interesting scripture in that it is translated many ways, but to understand it, we need to look at it in context.   Let's look at what follows in the Authorized King James Bible, Philippians 2:7-11, "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion F7 as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (AV).  Here we see that he was an obedient Son to his Father (YHWH).   He also, "and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death," and for being obedient, His Father (YHWH) has, "highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."   But the real key is "and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Clearly Philippians 2:11 shows that God (YHWH) was very proud of his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), and counted praise given to his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), as glory being given to him.   Rightly so, since he, Jesus (Yeshua) was his only begotten, as shown at Colossians 1:15, "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"   He, God (YHWH) created him in his image in that he gave him some of his power and his attributes.   This was also testified to at Revelations 3:14, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" which shows him as the first of God's (YHWH's) creation.  In fact, when Jesus (Yeshua) was ascending to be with his Father in heaven, he prayed, as recorded in John 17:5, "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (AV).   Showing he was returning to where he had been before with his Father (YHWH), see John 6:62, "What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending where He was before?" (NASB-MP).  Once returned to heaven, God's (YHWH's) Son, Jesus (Yeshua) is, 1 Peter 3:22,  "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him" (AV)..

As we note in this scripture, his Father (YHWH) has given him authority and power over everything including the angels; but, Colossians 1:16-19, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" (AV), and the Bible reaffirms the Father (YHWH) was pleased to let "in him should all fullness dwell."   In 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (AV), testifies that God (YHWH) had given his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) over all except himself when the scripture says "it is manifest that he is excepted."   Thus these scriptures clearly show that Jesus (Yeshua) and his Father (YHWH) are two separate beings; one having always existed and having created the other as his only begotten Son.

Of this scripture, Philippians 2:6, "The Wycliffe Bible Commentary," says, 'Being in the form of God (AV).  Better, through in his pre-incarnate state he possessed the essential qualities of God, he did not consider his status of divine equality a prize to be selfishly hoarded (taking harpagnos passively).  'Morphe', form, in verse 6 and 7 denotes a permanent expression of essential attributes; while 'schema', fashion, refers to outward appearance that is subject to change."  ["The Wycliffe Bible Commentary," edited by Charles F. Pfeiffer (OT) and Everett F. Harrison (NT), published by Moody Press, a div. Of Moody Bible Institute of Chicago].

Thus we can see Jesus (Yeshua) was a separate individual from his Father (YHWH), but was completely loyal and obedient to him.   He, Jesus (Yeshua) stated at John 14:28, "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (AV); Clearly if Jesus (Yeshua) said " for my Father is greater than I" we should believe him.   He further reaffirmed this at John 5:19, "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (AV).   And the scripture continues on, John 5:20, "For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." (AV), so much so as to show him, Jesus (Yeshua) greater works.


Also, another Bible scholar, Barton W. Johnson, said, "Who, being in the form of God. He refers to the state of our Savior before he took human form. His form was divine. "He had a glory with the father before the world was." See John 1:1; 2 Cor. 4:4; Heb. 1:3, etc. Thought it not robbery to be equal with God. The Revision says, "Counted it not a prize." The meaning is not entirely clear, but probably is that "Having a form of glory like God, he did not count it a prize which must be clung to tenaciously, especially when he appeared upon the earth, that he should be equal with God, that is, appear in a divine form, but was willing to lay aside his glory and make himself a servant." [source - Johnson, Barton W. "Commentary on Philippians 2". "People's New Testament". 1891].


VERSE 7 - AN EXPLANATION:

Seems clear enough, but look at verse 7 "7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" which many do NOT understand that all this verse refers to is that Jesus (Yeshua) Christ gave up his heavenly forum and permitted his Father, God (YHWH) to put his life force into a virgin women on earth as recorded at Matthew 1:18-25, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus." (RSV).   Strangely this fact from the Bible was even copied by Muhammad into the Quran, Sura 3:47, "She said, "My Lord, how can I have a son, when no man has touched me?" He said, "GOD thus creates whatever He wills. To have anything done, He simply says to it, `Be,' and it is." (the Quran).

Another Bible Scholar, Theodore Beza, said, "(g) He brought himself from all things, as it were to nothing.
(h) By taking our manhood upon him.' [source - Beza, Theodore. "Commentary on Philippians 2". "The 1599 Geneva Study Bible". 1600-1645]
 
Yet another, Barton W. Johnson, said, "Emptied himself. Of the divine form and glory, and took the form of a servant, of our own race, a race whose duty it is to serve God. The divine glory was exchanged for human lowliness." [source - Johnson, Barton W. "Commentary on Philippians 2". "People's New Testament". 1891].

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF PHILIPPIANS 2:5-7:

Here is a technical analysis of Philippians 2:5-7 from Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament.
Verse 5
Have this mind in you (touto proneite en umin). "Keep on thinking this in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (o kai en Cristwi Ihsou). What is that? Humility. Paul presents Jesus as the supreme example of humility. He urges humility on the Philippians as the only way to secure unity.
Verse 6
Being (uparcwn). Rather, "existing," present active participle of uparcw. In the form of God (en morph qeou). Morph means the essential attributes as shown in the form. In his preincarnate state Christ possessed the attributes of God and so appeared to those in heaven who saw him. Here is a clear statement by Paul of the deity of Christ. A prize (arpagmon). Predicate accusative with hghsato. Originally words in -moß signified the act, not the result (-ma). The few examples of arpagmoß (Plutarch, etc.) allow it to be understood as equivalent to arpagma, like baptismoß and baptisma. That is to say Paul means a prize to be held on to rather than something to be won ("robbery"). To be on an equality with God (to einai isa qeoi). Accusative articular infinitive object of hghsato, "the being equal with God" (associative instrumental case qewi after isa). Isa is adverbial use of neuter plural with einai as in Revelation 21:16. Emptied himself (eauton ekenwse). First aorist active indicative of kenow, old verb from kenoß, empty. Of what did Christ empty himself? Not of his divine nature. That was impossible. He continued to be the Son of God. There has arisen a great controversy on this word, a Kenosiß doctrine. Undoubtedly Christ gave up his environment of glory. He took upon himself limitations of place (space) and of knowledge and of power, though still on earth retaining more of these than any mere man. It is here that men should show restraint and modesty, though it is hard to believe that Jesus limited himself by error of knowledge and certainly not by error of conduct. He was without sin, though tempted as we are. "He stripped himself of the insignia of majesty" (Lightfoot).
Verse 7
The form of a servant (morphn doulou). He took the characteristic attributes (morphn as in verse Revelation 6) of a slave. His humanity was as real as his deity. In the likeness of men (en omoiwmati anqrwpwn). It was a likeness, but a real likeness (Kennedy), no mere phantom humanity as the Docetic Gnostics held. Note the difference in tense between uparcwn (eternal existence in the morph of God) and genomenoß (second aorist middle participle of ginomai, becoming, definite entrance in time upon his humanity).[source - Home > Commentaries > Robertson's Word Pictures > Philippians >
Chapter 2 > Verse 7 [source - Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament, Broadman Press 1932,33]
CONCLUSION:

In the above discourse we have dealt with the fact that the Son of God (YHWH), Jesus (Yeshua) Christ having shown his humility and obedience to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) - Creator of all that exist.   Thou Jesus (Yeshua) Christ existed in the form of God (YHWH) - was the first created spirit being by his Father (YHWH), i.e., the beloved only begotten Son , he willfully submitted to his Father's (YHWH's) will and did NOT try and usurp his Father's (YHWH's) position as did another spirit son of God (YHWH), namely the covering Cherub, Satan, who became the Devil.   This obedient beloved only begotten Son of God - the first of creation per Colossians 1:15, "He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;" (RSV), as pointed out previously, humbly permitted - or emptied - himself to his Father's (YHWH's) will and willfully let his Father (YHWH) put his life force into the womb of a virgin human woman, Mary to be born as a human being.   A fact acknowledged in both the Bible and in the Quran.   Yet some misguided ones seek to give all kinds of twist to Philippians 2:5-7 and turn it in to a mystery to support human myths, legends, and agendas in keeping with what the Bible denounces at 2 Corinthians 4:4, "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God." (RSV).

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND  [2]  A BIOLOGIST LOOKS AT EVOLUTION/CREATION.     With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 3B]

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Rough times are shortly to come as prophised in Matthew 24:29 - 31, [AV] “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”  Even Jesus (Yeshua), the Son of God does not know when the culmination of the end times will occur as revealed at Matthew 24:36, [AV] “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” 

Almighty God (YHWH), shall bring them on in his due time just as Matthew 24: 37 – 39, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” 

[2]  A BIOLOGIST LOOKS AT EVOLUTION/CREATION:

A biologist sent me an email on how he looks at evolution/creation that all should read and learn from as it shows why from a point of reason that he believes in Creation and NOT Evolution:

As a biologist I am often saturated by evolutionary teachings. I don’t know much about textual criticism but I do know evolution/creation.  So I thought I would share thoughts about what I know:

according to some evolutionary theories our ancestor that branched into the human lineage and chimp lineage existed seven million yrs ago. it is also stated that we have about 3 billion base pairs in our dna which 3% or 90 million is expressed or used. compared to chimps there is only about a 1% difference from our base pairs to theirs.  In other words their dna matches ours
by about 99% which accounts for similarities.  So only only 1% of 90 mill or about 90,000 base pairs in our dna is really what makes us human.

well to many this proves evolution, it doesn't, according to this there were 90,000 mutations in only 7 mill yrs. all these mutations had to be profitable (mutations are harmful the majority of the time i.e. cancer, they had to be retained and passed on to the next generation.  This is so unlikely. if we had a mutation in our pelvis/spinal column that favored permanent upright mvt or a mutation is our skin cells that shed all our chimp hair how did the mutations migration into our sperm/ovaries. mutations anywhere else would simply die with us. they would have to occur in the sex cells to be passed on. not to mention the present rate of mutation in our sex cells is about 1/10,000 or 1/100,000 generations so it is impossible to have occurred in 7 mill yrs. some who try and say evolution is a product of god use this to show only divine intervention could of made such mutations.........i feel this proves it is impossible.

so why do we resemble lower animals? it is simple: we all came from the SAME god and were created by the SAME elements and live in the SAME environment so we should expect such similarities.

now my question: could someone give me a pretty good list of stative verbs or is "was" and "is" the only ones? and what exactly qualifies something as a predicate nominative ? is it simply they are connected by stative verbs? my question stems from a point Broth Stafford made that many examples people use to show the nwt is not faithful to there translation principle of an anarthrous theos are not predicate nominatives and so i want to know what makes something such?................................................thanx

Thus, we see even reasonable men of science thou not knowing much with respect know much about textual criticism still discerns the Truth with respect Creation from what he knows about science and mathematics.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - GO TO WWW.JW.ORG

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]  APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN THE BIBLE COMPARED TO REAL ONES IN THE QURAN AND THE BOOK OF MORMAN.   With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 5B]

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  9  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,  10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,  11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.  12  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  Acts 2:6 – 12,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

What had occurred?  Almighty God’S (YHWH’S) Holy Spirit was poured out on them as testified to at Acts 2:2 – 4, [AV] “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  His active force, the Holy Spirit, had caused all here gathered to speak in foreign tongues to enable people from all lands gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost to gain understanding of divine things.  This was In fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, at Joel 2:28 – 32, [AV] “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  29  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  30  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.  32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”  Yes, this prophecy had been fulfilled.

[2]  APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN THE BIBLE COMPARED TO REAL ONES IN THE QURAN AND THE BOOK OF MORMAN:

It is high time that some start to realize that there are only apparent contradictions in the Bible, but when examined closely we find that these are all due to failure to comprehend what is being said, failure to understand the writing styles of the time the item was written, failure to understand the sentence construction of the ancient language, errors in translation, and biases on the part of the translator.

LET'S LOOK AT ONE EXAMPLE, MATTHEW 12:37-40 FROM WELL KNOWN:

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and {yet} no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (New American Standard Bible; NASB)

"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (New International Version; NIV)

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (New King James Bible; NKJB)

"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (King James Version; KJV)

APPARENT CONTRADICTION AND ITS EXPLANATION WITH REGARD TO MATTHEW 12:37-40:

Some see an error or contradiction in these scriptures related to the amount of time Jesus (Yeshua) was in the grave, but there is NONE. The true facts are:
"Yes, it does seem that way. We must remember that the Bible was written in other languages by cultures far removed from ours. Most alleged contradictions stem from a misunderstanding of certain terms and phrases. For example, Jesus predicted that He would be in the grave for "three days and three nights"(Matt.12:40). When we read the passion narratives, we see that He was crucified late Friday afternoon and that He rose from the dead, early on Sunday morning. It is impossible to get three days and three nights out of this, and I have seen many atheists refer to Jesus' prophecy as a "blatant error which completely destroys the credibility of the Bible."[source - I'd Like To Believe In Jesus, But...By Bob Siegel , Published by Campus Ambassador Press, A ministry of Mission To the Americas Wheaton, Illinois]

COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 12:37-40 EXPLAINING THESE SCRIPTURES:

For those who want a more detailed explanation, here is an exert from a well known commentary, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament:

Verse 37
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Speech is one of the greatest endowments of humanity; and the greater the gift, the greater the sin of perverting it to unworthy purposes. It would be impossible to sum up all the sins of mankind in the area of sinful speech. It must appear even to casual thought of it that words, as used by millions, constitute the bulk of human shame and wickedness. James said, "If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also" (James 3:2). Beyond everything else, man should watch what he says. One's words can justify when they confess Christ, or teach the truth, or serve to make peace, bestow a blessing, or give encouragement; but on the other hand, when words condemn, cast a reflection, subvert the truth, utter profanity, vulgarity, hatred, or malice, or any one of a million other evil things - then such words bring the condemnation of those who speak them.


Verse 38
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.
This arrogant request came from a group who had already accused Jesus of being in league with the devil and who had already seen signs aplenty; but in this case, they were demanding a sign of their own choosing. Luke stated that they sought a "sign from heaven" (Luke 11:16). By that, they no doubt meant some spectacular wonder without moral value but which would appeal sensationally to a man's curiosity. Christ always rejected that type of sign, as, for example, when he refused to jump from the pinnacle of the temple (Matthew 4:6). In fact, there is more than a suggestion that the Pharisees' request for a sign was but a renewal of Satan's temptation of the Lord in the wilderness. Christ always refused to perform wonders for his enemies like Herod or the Pharisees. He did work miracles for the benefit of John's disciples (Luke 7:18-22), and raised Lazarus that the people might believe (John 11:42). For more on "a sign from heaven," see under Matthew 16:1.


Verse 39
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
The "adulterous generation" refers not merely to the morals of the people but to the rejection of Israel's covenant with their God. Barnes wrote:
The relation of the Jews to God was represented as a marriage contract with God as the husband and the Jewish people as his wife (Isa. 57:3; Hosea 3:1; Ezek. 16:15). Hence, their apostasy and idolatry are often represented as adultery.
The "sign of the prophet Jonah" refers to the resurrection of Christ, the greatest and most wonderful miracle of all time. Jesus' announcement of this "sign" at that time was actually a prophecy of his death, burial and resurrection. The Old Testament had plainly indicated the Messiah would rise from the dead (Psalms 16:10); but, in keeping with his usual methods, Christ again laid claim to Messiahship, but in such terminology, and in such analogies, that his enemies would not see it, or if they did, would be unable to prove what he meant!


Verse 40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The use of "whale" in this verse is in error; the Greek word is "sea-monster," as a glance at the English Revised Version (1885) margin will show; not that there is any essential difference, for the Bible states that "God prepared" a great fish (Jonah 1:17). In the book of Jonah is related also how God "prepared" a gourd (Jonah 4:6), a worm (Jonah 4:7), and a sultry east wind (Jonah 4:8)! Why it should be considered for God a more difficult matter to prepare a great fish than any of those other "preparations" is surely a mystery!
Regarding the truth of the Jonah narrative, it appears absolutely incredible that Christ, one of the Godhead, would have made a mere folk tale the principal prophecy and sign of his resurrection from the dead. We here register a protest against those expositors who are so wise above their Saviour in casting a reflection of doubt upon this astounding incident from the Old Testament. From Jesus' reference to it here, it appears that the experience of Jonah was an authentic event which God "prepared" to be a prophecy of a still greater one, the resurrection of Christ.
The question of "three days and three nights," as signifying the time of our Lord's remaining in the tomb, is one of the most widely discussed issues in the New Testament. An overwhelming number of scholars hold the conviction that the expression is a Hebrew idiom referring to any part of three days and nights which included an entire day, the two nights on either side of it, and portions of the other two days. The present custom of accepting a month to be 28, 30, or 31 days is held to be similar to the Hebrew custom of so loosely determining "three days and three nights." The traditional view that Christ was crucified on Friday and raised on Sunday draws its principal support from Matthew's word that Christ should be raised "the third day" (Matthew 16:21). This view asserts that if he was crucified on Thursday, and raised on Sunday, then he would have been raised on the fourth day.
In spite of the fact that a good case can be made out for the above explanation, some very respected students of God's word take another view. Torrey said, "There is absolutely nothing in favor of Friday crucifixion, but everything in Scripture is perfectly harmonized by Wednesday crucifixion." F12 Torrey's argument is the following: (1) Christ was crucified the day before the sabbath (Mark 15:42). (2) This does not necessarily mean the day before the ordinary sabbath, because the Jews always honored the day before the Passover (15th of Nisan) as a special "high" sabbath, no matter what day of the week it fell upon (Exodus 12:6; Leviticus 23:7; Numbers 28:16-18). (3) The truly important question is, therefore, whether "day before the sabbath" refers to an ordinary Saturday, or the special "high" sabbath related to the Passover, and occurring on any day of the week, depending where the 15th of Nisan fell. (4) John's gospel plainly says it was "the preparation of the Passover" (John 19:14), and that it was "an high day" (John 19:31). These Scriptures plainly show that the ordinary sabbath was not meant. (5) Thus, Christ was crucified on the day before the "high day," or first day of Passover. Since the Passover (15th of Nisan) in the year 30 A.D. fell on Thursday, the "day before" would make it Wednesday on which Christ was crucified. (6) Scriptures supporting this view are: Christ said he would rise "after three days" (Mark 8:31). "After three days" he would rise again (Mark 9:31; 10:34). "This is now the third day since these things were done" (Luke 24:31). Whatever one thinks of Torrey's argument, it must be admitted that it is supported by more Scriptures than the traditional view.
Warning: devout souls will not be troubled by this question; for, if it had been necessary to know the day of the week, the Lord would have revealed it. Furthermore, to resolve this question finally and dogmatically, it would be positively necessary to know the exact year of our Lord's passion; and THAT is not certainly known. Not even the exact year of his birth can be determined. It can never be known what day of the week was the 15th of Nisan until the overriding question of WHAT YEAR is fixed. This, of course, is the weakness of Torrey's position. He takes the year 30 A.D. as the base of his calculations.
The heart of the earth is a figurative expression for the grave which is also called "the lower parts of the earth" (Psalms 63:9; Ephesians 4:9).[source - Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, by Coffman, James Burton, Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.]

OTHER, SO CALLED HOLLY BOOKS, HOWEVER HAVE REAL CONTRADICTIONS, NOT JUST APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS:

Let's look at other so called Holy Books and see some real contradictions.

The eastern "scriptures" have no interest in history, because this is the world of illusion from which we are to be delivered. Ancient polytheistic religions likewise had no interest in history. Their gods acted only in myths, removed as far as possible from real history.

The Koran is almost entirely assertions of Allah. It has very little historical interface, and what there is contains clear inaccuracies.

Sura 26:55-60 says that the Israelites under Pharaoh were but "a scanty band" (in contrast to the multitude mentioned in Ex. 1:9) and that in leaving Egypt they forsook "their gardens and fountains and splendid dwellings" (in contrast to their slavery and hardship mentioned Ex. 1:11-14). This renders the whole motive for Israel's deliverance obscure.

Sura 5:119 reflects Muhammad's gross misunderstanding of the Trinity-that it is composed of the Father, Jesus and Mary.

The Book of Mormon makes many historical references, but it too is full of historical anachronisms and geographical inaccuracies.

1 Nephi 2:5-8 states that the river Laman emptied into the Red Sea. But there has never been any river that emptied into the Red Sea, either in historic or prehistoric times.

Alma 46:15 states that believers were called "Christians" back in 73 BC-fully seven decades before Jesus was even born![source - Xenos Christian Fellowship Christian Principles Unit 3: Provisions for Spiritual Growth]

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