- Admin
- Administrator
Offline - From: Lake Park, Florida
- Registered: 10/02/2012
- Posts: 2,012
Re: Scripture of the Day
THIS VOL 760B COMBINATION OF (1) INTERESTING VIDEOS AND TALKING SHOWING WONDERS OF ALMIGHTY GOD’S CREATION, AND ANOTHER INTERESTING TALKING VIDEO, [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A LINK TO A BIBLE STUDY, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF EZRA: [3] COMMENTARY OF THE HACKBERRY TREE, [4] AN ARTICLE ON, COURAGE, [5] A TALKING VIDEO OF Is TRUTH IMPORTANT ANYMORE?
(1) TO VIEW WAS IT DESIGNED OR CREATED, VIEW THE SHORT VIDEO, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER THE FOLLOWING,
NOW VIEW A SHORT ARTICLE ON,WHEN WILL THE END COME? WHAT JESUS SAID,
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY, [3] VIDEO - One Man, One Woman, AND [3] THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [760B]
‘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)
Almighty God (YHWH) has already intervened in a remarkable way to help and comfort humans. Everyone on earth today has inherited sin—a chronic failure to measure up perfectly to God’s requirements. However, Through his Son, Jesus’ sacrificial death, God makes it possible for us to have forgiveness of sins, a clean conscience, and the hope of eternal life in a peaceful new world. * But is that sacrifice merely for the human race as a whole or does it reflect Almighty God’s (YHWH;s) interest in you personally? Remember, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11, [AV].
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
TO VIEW INTRODUCTION TO THE OF BOOK OF EZRA, CLICK OR ENTER IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING:
TO ENJOY AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY CALLED “FOLLOW THE CHRIST”: CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING.
[3] COMMENTARY OF THE HACKBERRY TREE
Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Hackberry tree, which originally I was not planning to cover, but one reader expressed an interest in, so here is the data on this popular, but by no means rare fruiting tree. However, the fruit of most Hackberry trees is only suitable for consumption by birds and NOT by humans. The problem in covering the Hackberry tree is the term actually refers to over 70 different but related species of the genus Celtis. So the term Hackberry is confusing and giving specifics on any particular member of this genus is impossible.
One source says, “Hackberry is a tree with an elm-like form and is, in fact, related to the elm. The wood of hackberry has never been used to any large extent due to its softness and an almost immediate propensity to rot when in contact with the elements. However, Celtis occidentalis is a forgiving urban tree and is considered tolerant of most soil and moisture conditions.
Hackberry forms a rounded vase reaching a height of 40 to 80 feet, is a rapid grower, and transplants easily. The mature bark is light gray, rough and corky and its small berry like fruit turns from orange red to purple and is relished by birds. The fruit temporarily stains walks.
Common Names: common hackberry, sugarberry, nettletree, beaverwood, northern hackberry.
Habitat: On good bottom-land soils it grows fast and may live to 20 years.
Description: Hackberry is planted as a street tree in midwestern cities because of its tolerance to a wide range of soil and moisture conditions.
Uses: used in inexpensive furniture where a light-colored wood is desired.
Hackberry is widely distributed in the eastern United States from the southern New England States through central New York west in southern Ontario to North and South Dakota. Northern outliers are found in southern Quebec, western Ontario, southern Manitoba, and southeastern Wyoming. The range extends south from western Nebraska to northeastern Colorado and northwestern Texas, then east to Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, with scattered occurrences in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
Hackberry grows naturally in moist bottomland soil but will grow rapidly in a variety of soil types from moist, fertile soils to hot, dry, rocky locations in the full sun. Hackberry is tolerant of highly alkaline soil whereas Sugarberry is not. It is wind, drought, salt and pollution tolerant once established and is considered a moderately tough, urban-tolerant tree. Skilled pruning is required several times during the first 15 years of life to prevent formation of weak branch crotches and weak multiple trunks.
It was extensively used in street plantings in parts of Texas and in other cities as it tolerates most soils except extremely alkaline, and grows in sun or partial shade but branches may break out from the trunk if proper pruning and training is not conducted early in the life of the tree. Even slight injury to the trunk and branches can initiate extensive decay inside the tree. If you use this tree, locate it where it will be protected from mechanical injury. Best for low-use areas such as along the edge of woods or in an open lawn, not for along streets. The tree is very susceptible to damage in an ice storm.
One especially nice cultivar is Prairie Pride, a quick-growing tree with a uniform, upright, compact crown. Prune and thin the canopy to prevent formation of weak, multi-trunk trees.
Pests: The most common insect on Hackberry causes the Hackberry nipple gall. A pouch or gall forms on the lower leaf surface in response to feeding. There are sprays available if you care to reduce this cosmetic problem. Scales of various types may be found on Hackberry. These may be partially controlled with horticultural oil sprays.
Diseases: Several fungi cause leaf spots on Hackberry. The disease is worse during wet weather but chemical controls are seldom needed. Witches broom is caused by a mite and powdery mildew. The main symptom is clusters of twigs scattered throughout the tree crown. Prune out the clusters of twigs when practical. It is most common on Celtis occidentalis. Powdery mildew may coat the leaves with white powder. The leaves may be uniformly coated or only in patches. Mistletoe is an effective colonizer of Hackberry, which can kill a tree over a period of time. It appears as evergreen masses several feet in diameter scattered about the crown. on 11/11/2013]”
In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV) [for more details, go to www.jw.org].
Pictures and additional information on the Hackberry can be found at
More information, Celtis, commonly known as hackberries, is a genus of about 60-70 species of deciduous trees widespread in warm temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, in southern Europe, southern and eastern Asia, and southern and central North America, south to central Africa, and northern and central South America. The genus is present in the fossil record at least since the Miocene of Europe.
Previously included either in the elm family (Ulmaceae) or a separate family, Celtidaceae, the APG III system places Celtis in an expanded hemp family (Cannabaceae).
The generic name originated in Latin and was applied by Pliny the Elder (23-79) to the unrelated Ziziphus lotus.
Celtis species are generally medium-sized trees, reaching 10–25 m (33–82 ft) tall, rarely up to 40 m (130 ft) tall. The leaves are alternate, simple, 3–15 cm (1.2–5.9 in) long, ovate-acuminate, and evenly serrated margins.
Small monoecious flowers appear in early spring while the leaves are still developing. Male flowers are longer and fuzzy. Female flowers are greenish and more rounded.
The fruit is a small drupe 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) in diameter, edible in many species, with a dryish but sweet, sugary consistency, reminiscent of a date.
Selected species
* Celtis africana Burm.f. – White Stinkwood
* Celtis australis L. – European Hackberry, European Nettle Tree or Lote tree
* Celtis balansae Planch. (NEW CALEDONIA (AUSTRALIA))
* Celtis biondii
* Celtis brasiliensis Planch.
* Celtis bungeana L. – Bunge's Hackberry
* Celtis caucasica L. – Caucasian Hackberry
* Celtis cinnamonea
* Celtis conferta
* Celtis durandii Engl.
[ syn. C. gomphophylla Bak. ]
* Celtis ehrenbergiana (Klotzsch) Liebm. – Spiny Hackberry, granjeno (Spanish) (SOUTHERN US, MEXICO, GREATER ANTILLES, NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA)
* Celtis glabrata
* Celtis hypoleuca Planch. (NEW CALEDONIA (AUSTRALIA))
* Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sarg. – Iguana Hackberry (FLORIDA (USA), MEXICO, CARIBBEAN, C and SOUTH AMERICA)
* Celtis integrifolia L. – African Hackberry
* Celtis jessoensis Koidz. – Japanese Hackberry (JAPAN, KOREA)
* Celtis koraiensis L. – Korean Hackberry
* Celtis labilis L. – Hubei Hackberry
* Celtis laevigata Willd. – Southern Hackberry or Sugar Hackberry, (SOUTHERN US / TEXAS) Sugarberry (E USA, NE MEXICO)
* Celtis lindheimeri Engelm. ex K.Koch – Lindheimer's Hackberry (TEXAS (USA), COAHUILA (MEXICO))
* Celtis loxensis
* Celtis luzonica Warb. (PHILIPPINES)
* Celtis mildbraedii Engl.
* Celtis occidentalis L. – Common Hackberry, Northern Hackberry, False Elm (E NORTH AMERICA)
* Celtis pallida – Desert Hackberry, Shiny Hackberry (SOUTHWESTERN US / TEXAS, N MEXICO)
* Celtis paniculata (Endl.) Planch. (E MALESIA, E AUSTRALIA, MICRONESIA, W POLYNESIA)
* Celtis reticulata Torr. – Netleaf Hackberry (W North America)
* Celtis schippii
* Celtis sinensis Pers. – Chinese hackberry, Chinese nettle-tree or Japanese hackberry (CHINA, JAPAN)
[ syn. C. japonica Planch.; C. sinensis var. japonica (Planch.) Nakai; C. tetrandra ssp. sinensis (Roxb.) Y.C.Tang ]
* Celtis tala Gillet ex Planch. – Tala (SOUTH AMERICA)
* Celtis tenuifolia Nutt. – Dwarf Hackberry (E NORTH AMERICA)
* Celtis tetranda Roxb.
* Celtis timorensis Span.
* Celtis tournefortii L. – Oriental Hackberry
* Celtis triflora
* Celtis trinervia
Uses and ecology
Several species are grown as ornamental trees, valued for their drought tolerance. They are a regular feature of arboreta and botanical gardens, particularly in North America. Chinese Hackberry (C. sinensis) is suited for bonsai culture, while a magnificent specimen in Daegu-myeon is one of the natural monuments of South Korea. Some, including Common Hackberry (C. occidentalis) and C. brasiliensis, are honey plants and pollen source for honeybees of lesser importance. Hackberry wood is sometimes used in cabinetry and woodworking.
The berries are often eaten locally. The Korean tea gamro cha (???, ???) contains C. sinensis leaves.
Lepidoptera
* Celtis species are used as foodplants by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera. These include mainly brush-footed butterflies, most importantly the distinct genus Libythea (beak butterflies) and some Apaturinae (emperor butterflies) ) [source - retrieved from on 11/11/2013
[4] AN ARTICLE ON, AN ARTICLE ON, COURAGE.
5] A TALKING VIDEO OF Is TRUTH IMPORTANT ANYMORE?
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
- Admin
- Administrator
Offline
- From: Lake Park, Florida
- Registered: 10/02/2012
- Posts: 2,012
Re: Scripture of the Day
THIS VOL 761B COMBINATION OF (1) INTERESTING VIDEOS AND TALKING SHOWING WONDERS OF ALMIGHTY GOD’S CREATION, AND ANOTHER INTERESTING TALKING VIDEO, [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A LINK TO A BIBLE STUDY, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH: [3] PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER AGAINST SEX ABUSE, EDUCATE: [4] CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR FUTURE—WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS , [5] A TALKING VIDEO OF Is TRUTH IMPORTANT ANYMORE?
(1) TO VIEW WAS IT DESIGNED OR CREATED, VIEW THE SHORT VIDEO, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER THE FOLLOWING,
NOW VIEW A SHORT TALKING ARTICLE ON, KINDNESS?—ESSENTIAL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [3] PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER AGAINST SEX ABUSE – EDUCATE:
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [761B]
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12 – 14 (Authorized King James Bible; AV)
When we feel lost, Jehovah does not give up on us. Every “one of these little ones” is precious to God. How does God “search for the one that is straying”? According to the scripture quoted at the outset, Jehovah draws people to him.
Consider how God took the initiative to draw sincere individuals. In the first century C.E., God sent the Christian disciple Philip to intercept an Ethiopian official’s chariot and discuss the meaning of a Bible prophecy that the official was reading. (Acts 8:26-39) Later, God directed the apostle Peter to visit the home of a Roman officer named Cornelius, who had been praying and striving to worship God. (Acts 10:1-48) God also guided the apostle Paul and his companions to a river outside the city of Philippi. There, they met “a worshipper of God” named Lydia, and “Jehovah opened her heart wide to pay attention.”—Acts 16:9-15.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
TO VIEW INTRODUCTION TO THE OF BOOK OF NEHEMIAH, CLICK OR ENTER IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING:
TO ENJOY AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY CALLED “FOLLOW THE CHRIST”: CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING.
[3] PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER AGAINST SEX ABUSE - EDUCATE:
INTRODUCTION:
Today, we are faced with the fact that there are many WICKED men and women in the world that prey on very young girls because they are sexually aroused by them, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN EUROPE WHERE MUSLIMS HAVE FORMED RAPE GANGS TO RAPE YOUNG GIRLS IN UNPROTECTED SEX OF HOST COUNTRIES. Should be surprised at this? NO, as the Bible, the word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, predicted this sad state for the time of the end at 2 Peter 3:3-7, "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (Authorized King James Bible; AV).
Now many young girls are easy victims for these WICKED ones because their parents have NOT given them a suitable education with respect what these wicked seek to do. Parents often shrink back from telling them the facts of life with respect sexual desires of these WICKED ones as they find it embarrassing to talk about sex with very young girls. This is very unfortunate since failure to do so keeps them innocent and over-trusting of the many WICKED men and women in the world that prey on very young girls because they are sexually aroused by them.
THE BIBLE AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO PROTECT YOUNG GIRLS AGAINST WICKED ONES:
The Bible is an excellent tool for teaching very young girls the reality and dangers of WICKED ones who are sexually aroused by them. However, some parents are against using this excellent tool as they WRONGLY believe keeping their daughters ignorant of the dangers is best. This is just plain STUPID, and is like turning your head when danger is headed your way instead of trying to escape from it.
One individual on the Internet during December 2006 answered one of these individuals who believes in keeping his daughter ignorant and away from the word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, said,
<<<"You criticize using the Bible to teach daughters that there are wicked men out there who get sexually aroused by 6 year olds and sexually molest them by rubbing their pee pee [[A childs name for the male gentile organ.]] between their legs and/or fingering them up.">>>
Now, let's look at the facts as revealed by this individual,
<<<"I don't agree with that either. So what does this do for Muhammad? He's still a bizarre 53 year old man having sex with a nine year old. But here's the interesting part, not only did he consummate with her at nine, he was actually sexually aroused by her. Sorry, but a man can't successfully copulate like a woman can unless he was aroused, There are also hadiths that say he used to stick his pee pee between her legs and get off that way before she reached puberty. So he found a 7 year old girl to be sexually arousing. That is the only way he could become erect. They didn't have viagra back then.>>>
This highlights the need to use the Bible, the word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, to instruct your young daughters as soon as they are old enough to understand the spoken word as it will inform them there are WICKED men out there who get sexually aroused by very young girls, even ones as young as six [[Actually the Internet poster was in error with respect the girl's age as she was actually 6, not 7.]], who will sexually molest them. Why the Bible? Because, as I have previously said, many parents find it very uncomfortable to speak with their daughters about sex and this is especially so at a very young age. This is unfortunate since many pedophiles are just lurking around to take advantage of innocent young girls; they might even end up killing them so they can not tell who molested them and/or for a perverse sexual 'rush.'
To help protect young girls against these wicked men, it is highly important that they be given accurate information on how wicked these men can be and what they seek to do to young girls. Keeping young girls ignorant on this subject may lead to their being sexually molested and/or killed by wicked men who get sexually aroused by very young girls.
To help protect young daughters against wicked men who get sexually aroused by very young girls it is imperative that they be made aware of the realities of life so they can take protective measures when confronted by these WICKED men.
The Bible, the word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, is an excellent tool to use with respect training young girls on the wickedness of some men so they are aware of what can happen and are not so innocent as to readily be mislead to their own lasting injury or death by these WICKED men.
Of all the so called religious books of the world, only the Bible, the word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, contains real life examples of wrong doing to inform young girls of what can happen so they realize the need to be very careful and avoid WICKED ones who are sexually aroused by very young girls.
Keeping very young girls ignorant of the realities of life is for sure NOT doing them a favor, but putting them at great risk.
CONCLUSION:
Use the Bible, the word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, to teach your daughters the need to be cautious so as NOT to become victims of these WICKED ones.
[4] CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR FUTURE—WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ,
5] A TALKING VIDEO OF Is TRUTH IMPORTANT ANYMORE?
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
- •
Thread Starter- Admin
- Administrator
Offline
- From: Lake Park, Florida
- Registered: 10/02/2012
- Posts: 2,012
Re: Scripture of the Day
THIS VOL 762B COMBINATION OF (1) INTERESTING VIDEOS AND TALKING SHOWING WONDERS OF ALMIGHTY GOD’S CREATION, AND ANOTHER INTERESTING TALKING VIDEO [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A LINK TO A BIBLE STUDY, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ESTHER: [3] DISCOURSE ON BAD ASSOCIATIONS: [4] DOES THE BIBLE PROMOTE TOLERANCE? [5] A TALKING VIDEO OF Is TRUTH IMPORTANT ANYMORE?
(1) TO VIEW WAS IT DESIGNED OR CREATED, VIEW THE SHORT VIDEO, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER THE FOLLOWING,
NOW VIEW A SHORT TALKING ARTICLE ON, THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVESCAN LOVE CONQUER HATRED?
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [3] DISCOURSE ON BAD ASSOCIATIONS:
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [762B]
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 1 Corinthians 14:33 [American Standard Version; ASV]
Like the righteous spirit creatures in heaven, the physical heavens are superbly organized, per Isaiah 40:26, “Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and for that he is strong in power, not one is lacking.” [ASV]. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that Jehovah would organize his servants on earth. He wants them to maintain good order, and that is vitally important because they have so much important work to do. The splendid record of faithful service established by Jehovah’s worshippers past and present provides powerful evidence that he has been with them and that he is “a God not of disorder but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
TO VIEW INTRODUCTION TO THE OF BOOK OF ESTHER, CLICK OR ENTER IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING:
TO ENJOY AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY CALLED “FOLLOW THE CHRIST”: CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING.
[3] DISCOURSE ON BAD ASSOCIATIONS:
The Bible shows us that bad associations can spoil useful habits and cause problems at James 4:5-5, " Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God. 5 Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?"(American Standard Version; ASV); and states that his true followers, would be per John 17:16, ' They are not of the world even as I am not of the world."(ASV). This same point, that true Christians are no part of this world, yet in it is made at John 15:19, " If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."(ASV); clearly showing we must keep apart from the world's system of action and bad associates.
True Christians should NOT seek out association with worldly people or share in their WAY OF LIFE as testified to at 1 John 2:12-17, " I write unto you, [my] little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (ASV); and at 1 Peter 4:4-5, " wherein they think strange that ye run not with [them] into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [of]: 5 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead." (ASV). And at Ephesians 4:17-20, " This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; 19 who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye did not so learn Christ; 21 if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 22 that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23 and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.”(ASV), clearly showing we should not go along with their way of life; Of course that does NOT mean avoiding association with your own family who may not yet be true Christians and/or your other close friends. However, it does mean not participating in their wrong ways, but setting an example for them to follow. This point is made clear at Ephesians 5:6-12,]" Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them; 8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; 12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.’”(ASV), which clearly shows we should not be partakers with them in unrighteousness and should not copy their bad habits. This is reaffirmed at Psalms 119:115, " Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God."(ASV).
Of course this clearly does not mean avoiding all contact with unbelievers as previously mentioned as some contact obviously is necessary in secular work and in preaching as brought out at 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, " I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; 10 not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: 11 but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat."(ASV). In fact Jesus (Yeshua) specifically requested his Father (YHWH) not to, per John 17:14-16, " I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world" (ASV). Jesus (Yeshua) made it clear that we must assist these ones with respect learning about him and his Father (YHWH) and to do so, naturally requires contact with them, at Matthew 28:19-20, " And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (ASV). So it is the type of association that we have which is important. We should NOT PARTICIPAGE WITH THEM WITH RESPECT WRONG DOING, BUT WE MUST SEEK TO SHOW THEM A BETTER WAY BY BOTH OUR WORD AND OUR ACTION.
[4] A TALKING VIDEO ON, GOOD RELIGION PROMOTES BROTHERLY LOVE,
5] A TALKING VIDEO ON, DOES THE BIBLE PROMOTE TOLERANCE?
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
- •
Thread Starter- Admin
- Administrator
Offline
- From: Lake Park, Florida
- Registered: 10/02/2012
- Posts: 2,012
Re: Scripture of the Day
THIS VOL 763B COMBINATION OF (1) INTERESTING VIDEOS AND TALKING SHOWING WONDERS OF ALMIGHTY GOD’S CREATION, AND ANOTHER INTERESTING TALKING VIDEO [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A LINK TO A BIBLE STUDY, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO BOOK OF JOB : [3] STRANGE, MANY DOUBT IF JESUS (YESHUA) REALLY EXISTED : [4] DOES THE BIBLE PROMOTE TOLERANCE? [5] A TALKING VIDEO OF Is TRUTH IMPORTANT ANYMORE?
(1) TO VIEW WAS IT DESIGNED OR CREATED, VIEW THE SHORT VIDEO, CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER THE FOLLOWING,
NOW VIEW A SHORT ARTICLE ON, IS SOCIAL MEDIA HARMING YOUR CHILD?—HOW THE BIBLE CAN HELP PARENTS,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE FOLLOWING WILL SET HISTORY STRAIGHT WITH RESPECT JESUS (YESHUA), AND SHOW THAT THE HISTORY REVISIONIST SUCH AS HINDUS, ATHEIST, MEMBERS OF ISLAM, ANIMISTS, ETC. JUST DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT REAL HISTORY. YES, THIS IS NO SURPRISE AS ONE MUSLIM, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAN, ALSO A HISTORY REVISIONIST DID NOT EVEN WANT TO ACCEPT THE REALITY OF THE HOLOCAUST.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [3] STRANGE, MANY DOUBT IF JESUS (YESHUA) REALLY EXISTED. THE AWAKE MAGAZINE NO. 5 OF 2016 HAD AN ENTIRE ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT THAT CAN BE READ AT . AN ARTICLE, THE HISTORIC JESUS (YESHUA) CHRIST GOES INTO CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AND PROOF THAT HE ACTUALLY EXISTED.
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [763B]
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Ephesians 4:17 – 19, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
And 1 Peter 4:3, [AV] “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:” shows we should give up our wrong ways. Yes, many of those doing what Almighty God (YHWH) does not want knew who He is , but as stated at Romans 1:21, [AV] “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Yes, all need to per Acts 26:18, [AV] “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” For those not wanting to be obedient to him, He per Romans 1:28, [AV] “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” So we should per Isaiah 56:11 - 12, [AV] “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
TO VIEW INTRODUCTION TO THE OF BOOK OF JOB, CLICK OR ENTER IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING:
TO ENJOY AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY CALLED “FOLLOW THE CHRIST”: CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING.
]3[ STRANGE, MANY DOUBT IF JESUS (YESHUA) REALLY EXISTED.
THE AWAKE MAGAZINE NO. 5 OF 2016 HAD AN ENTIRE ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT THAT CAN BE READ AT . AN ARTICLE, THE HISTORIC JESUS (YESHUA) CHRIST GOES INTO CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AND PROOF THAT HE ACTUALLY EXISTED.
THIS IS STRANGE AS MANY OF THE HISTORIC PERSONAGES OF HIS TIME ON WHICH VERY LITTLE PROOF OF THEIR ACTUAL EXISTENCE ARE NEVER QUESTIONED WITH RESPECT WHETHER THEY ACTUALLY EXISTED. NOW LET’S READ:
The Historic Jesus (Yeshua) Christ: (presented with detailed evidence and proofs:
INTRODUCTION:
Worldly critics do not want to accept the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, and are always trying to find fault with it and failing to apply the constraints given in it when applying logic and reasoning. In fact, they sometimes even label events whose understanding is simple if you apply the constraints therein given by calling them contradictions which they are not.
In addition, they often claim, without proof of course, that accounts about him by contemporary historians have been "doctored". Why, because they want to justify their none belief in their Creator, Almighty God (YHWH).
<<<"Interestingly, the first type of records comes from what are known commonly as "hostile" sources-writers who mentioned Jesus in a negative light or derogatory fashion. Such penmen certainly were not predisposed to further the cause of Christ or otherwise to add credence to His existence. In fact, quite the opposite is true. They rejected His teachings and often reviled Him as well. Thus, one can appeal to them without the charge of built-in bias. " [source - Apologetics Press :: Reason & Revelation, The Historical Christ-Fact or Fiction? by Kyle Butt, M.A., sub-part HOSTILE TESTIMONY]>>>.
Interestingly, as noted by E.P. Sanders in his book, "The Historical Figure of Jesus," at page 49, he noted that most of the First Century literature that survives unto today that mentions Jesus (Yeshua) was written by a small elite class of Romans that detested him and considered him as "merely a troublesome rabble-rouser and magician."[source - The Historical Figure of Jesus, by E.P. Sanders 1933, at page 49].
With respect C. Tacitus, It is well known that he hated Jesus (Yeshua) and regarded him as a troublesome rabble-rouser and had nothing positive to say about what he referred to as a "deadly superstition," but readily admitted that this individual that he hated had existed as we have seen previously. <<<" His testimony establishes beyond any reasonable doubt that the Christian religion not only was relevant historically, but that Christ, as its originator, was a verifiable historical figure of such prominence that He even attracted the attention of the Roman emperor himself!" [source - Apologetics Press :: Reason & Revelation, The Historical Christ-Fact or Fiction? by Kyle Butt, M.A., sub-part HOSTILE TESTIMONY]>>>.
Therefore the only conclusion is that Jesus (Yeshua) was a real person, and that more has been written about him than any other person in human history. <<<" Critics do not like having to admit it, but they cannot successfully deny the fact that Jesus had a greater impact on the world than any single life before or after. Nor can they deny the fact that Jesus died at the hands of Pontius Pilate." !" [source - Apologetics Press :: Reason & Revelation, The Historical Christ-Fact or Fiction? by Kyle Butt, M.A., sub-part HOSTILE TESTIMONY]>>>.
Michael Grant stated (in 1977) that the view is derived from a lack of application of historical methods: <<<"...if we apply to the New Testament, as we should, the same sort of criteria as we should apply to other ancient writings containing historical material, we can no more reject Jesus' existence than we can reject the existence of a mass of pagan personages whose reality as historical figures is never questioned. ... To sum up, modern critical methods fail to support the Christ myth theory. It has 'again and again been answered and annihilated by first rank scholars.' In recent years, 'no serious scholar has ventured to postulate the non historicity of Jesus' or at any rate very few, and they have not succeeded in disposing of the much stronger, indeed very abundant, evidence to the contrary." [source - M. Grant, Jesus: An Historian's Review, pp. 199-200 , as provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, on 03/19/2008]>>>.
And the New Testament is full of eyewitness accounts by the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus (Yeshua) that associated with him during his life and no such account exist for any other personage of antiquity.
THE REALITY:
WITH RESPECT FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS:
Worldly critics make the false claim which on the surface sound valid, but on closer examination are not. Let's look at one of these:
<<<" The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, writing during the second half of the first century CE, produced two major works: History of the Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews. Two apparent references to Jesus occur in the second of these works. The longer, and more famous passage, occurs in Book 18 of Antiquities and reads as follows (taken from the standard accepted Greek text of Antiquities 18:63-64 by L. H. Feldman in the Loeb Classical Library):
About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and as a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvellous things about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.
This passage is called the Testimonium Flavianum, and is sometimes cited by propagandists as independent confirmation of Jesus' existence and resurrection. However, there is excellent reason to suppose that this passage was not written in its present form by Josephus, but was either inserted or amended by later Christians:
1. The early Christian writer Origen claims that Josephus did NOT recognize Jesus as the Messiah, in direct contradiction to the above passage, where Josephus says, "He was the Messiah." Thus, we may conclude that this particular phrase at least was a later insertion. (The version given above was, however, known to Jerome and in the time of Eusebius. Jerome's Latin version, however, renders "He was the Messiah" by "He was believed to be the Christ.") Furthermore, other early Christian writers fail to cite this passage, even though it would have suited their purposes to do so. There is thus firm evidence that this passage was tampered with at some point, even if parts of it do date back to Josephus.
2. The passage is highly pro-Christian. It is hard to imagine that Josephus, a Pharisaic Jew, would write such a laudatory passage about a man supposedly killed for blasphemy. Indeed, the passage seems to make Josephus himself out to be a Christian, which was certainly not the case.
Many Biblical scholars reject the entire Testimonium Flavianum as a later Christian insertion. However, some maintain that Josephus's work originally did refer to Jesus, but that Christian copyists later expanded and made the text more favorable to Jesus. These scholars cite such phrases as "tribe of Christians" and "wise man" as being atypical Christian usages, but plausible if coming from a first century Palestinian Jew. Of course, a suitably clever Christian wishing to "dress up" Josephus would not have much trouble imitating his style.
Philip Burns (pib@merle.acns.nwu.edu) has provided some of the following material on the following alternate versions or reconstructions of the Testimonium Flavianum.
One possible reconstruction of the Testimonium Flavianum, suggested by James Charlesworth, goes like this, with probably Christian interpolations enclosed in brackets: [source - not given by worldly critic posting same]>>>.
Now on close examination of this critics writings we see internal problems as follows to their false contentions regarding Jesus (Yeshua).
<<<" The early Christian writer Origen claims that Josephus did NOT recognize Jesus as the Messiah[[Thereby testifying to his real existence]][[Of course Josephus did not recognize him as the Messiah, but that is far different from that of recognizing his existence and is like saying an American did not recognize Adolph Hitler as his leader which in no way implies none recognition of his having existed.]][[As to calling him the Messiah, that would be like historian H.G. Wells calling Adolph Hitler the leader of the Axis Powers, and in no way implying his belief in him as his leader]], in direct contradiction to the above passage, where Josephus says, "He was the Messiah." Thus, we may conclude that this particular phrase at least was a later insertion. (The version given above was, however, known to Jerome and in the time of Eusebius[[Early scholars did not question whether Jesus (Yeshua) had existed, only later critics far removed in time from his day did]]. Jerome's Latin version, however, renders "He was the Messiah" by "He was believed to be the Christ.") Furthermore, other early Christian writers fail to cite this passage, even though it would have suited their purposes to do so. There is thus firm evidence that this passage was tampered with at some point, even if parts of it do date back to Josephus. ">>>.
Now let's look at another passage in Josephus' "Antiquities of the Jews" found on page 598 of "The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus,
<<<"Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the Sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned; but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done; they also sent to the king [Agrippa], desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for that what he had already done was not to be justified; nay, some of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria, and informed him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a Sanhedrim without his consent." [source - The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus, translated by William Whiston, A.M. and Published by The John C. Winston Company, and containing the "Antiquities of the Jews" and the "Wars of the Jews" and other items, page 598]>>>.
Also, these critics willfully overlook what Josephus said with regard to John the Baptist as follows,
<<<"2. Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and as to come to baptism; for the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, bty sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it should be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him." ." [source - The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus, translated by William Whiston, A.M. and Published by The John C. Winston Company, and containing the "Antiquities of the Jews" and the "Wars of the Jews" and other items, page 540.]>>>.
SEE PART 2
PART 2 OF 763B
And now let's look at the passage in the Antiquities of the Jews that the critics like to claim was doctored in context, but goes right in the flow with everything else Josephus wrote,
<<<"...So he bid the Jews himself go away; but they bodily casting reproaches upon him, he gave the soldiers that signal which had been beforehand agreed on; who laid upon them such greater blows than Pilate had commanded them, and equally punished those that were tumultuous, and those that were not; nor did they spare them in the least; and since the people were unarmed, and were caught by men prepared for what they were about, there were a great number of them slain by this means, and others of them ran away wounded. And thus an end was put to this sedition.
3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was {the} Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him are not extinct at this day.
4. About the same time also another sad calamity put the Jews into disorder, and certain shameful practices happened about the temple of Isis that was at Rome. I will now first take notice of the wicked attempts about the temple of Isis, and will then give an account of the Jewish affairs. ..." [source - The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus, translated by William Whiston, A.M. and Published by The John C. Winston Company, and containing the "Antiquities of the Jews" and the "Wars of the Jews" and other items, page 535]>>>.
Now, Yes, Flavius Josephus was a Jew and almost certainly did not believe in Jesus (Yeshua) as the Christ, but he was employed by the Roman Army as a historian and dutifully recorded reality whether he agreed religiously with it or not, just as well-known Roman Chatholic historian Will Durant did, who wrote, "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it ... pagan cultures contributed to the syncretist results. From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity ... [Caesar and Christ, page 595) (Lamson, Newton & Durant)]. The problem is critics do NOT want to recognize the objectivity of good historians and compilers of facts, but wish to unjustly use their objectivity to claim their works have been doctored and/or are just plain wrong.
Some claim what Josephus wrote are forgeries, but an examination of his work quickly shows this can not be the case. Let's look at some of what he wrote in brief:
<<<"Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others [or, some of his companions]: and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, [source - "Antiquities of the Jews, from The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus as translated by William Whiston, A.M., published by the John C. Winston Co., of Philadelphia, page 598.]>>>.
And
<<<"2. Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from god, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the baptist; for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards god, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified before hand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it should be too late. [source - "Antiquities of the Jews, from The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus as translated by William Whiston, A.M., published by the John C. Winston Co., of Philadelphia, page 540.]>>>.
And,
<<<"3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher os such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned his to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. Ant the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day. [source - "Antiquities of the Jews, from The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus as translated by William Whiston, A.M., published by the John C. Winston Co., of Philadelphia, page 535.]>>>.
And,
<<<"Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus recorded information pertaining to Jesus, thus removing the only supporting source for His existence as being in the New Testament. In 115 A.D., Tactius wrote about the great fire in Rome, "Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberious at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths, Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed."
It is believed by some scholars that Tactius gained his information about Christ from official records, perhaps actual reports written by Pilate. Tactius also wrote about the burning of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans in 70 A.D. The Christians are mentioned as a group that were connected with these events. "All we can gather from this reference is that Tactius was also aware of the existence of Christians other than in the context of their presence in Rome," states Habermas. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas, chief secretary of Emperor Hadrian, wrote, "Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from the City." Chrestus is a variant spelling of Christ. Suetonius refers to a wave of riots that broke out in a large Jewish community in Rome during the year 49 A.D. As a result, the Jews were banished from the city....
WITH RESPECT P. CORNELIUS TACTIUS (AD 56 - C. 120):
(Cornelius Tacitus), c.A.D. 55-c.A.D. 117, Roman historian. Little is known for certain of his life. He was a friend of Pliny the Younger and married the daughter of Cnaeus Julius Agricola. In A.D. 97 he was appointed substitute consul under Nerva, and later he was proconsul of Asia. The first of his works was the Dialogus [dialogue], a discussion of oratory in the style of Cicero, demonstrating to some degree why Tacitus was celebrated as an eloquent speaker; this work was long disputed, but his authorship is now generally accepted. Tacitus then wrote a biography of Agricola, expressing his admiration for his father-in-law as a good and able man. His small treatise De origine et situ Germanorum [concerning the origin and location of the Germans], commonly called the Germania or Germany, supplies (along with the earlier account of Julius Caesar) the principal written material on the Germanic tribes. Archaeology bears out the accuracy of Tacitus, but the work is not objective; it is a picture of the simple Germans glorified by comparison with the corruption and luxurious immorality of the Romans. This moral purpose and severe criticism of contemporary Rome, fallen from the virtuous vigor of the old republic, also underlies his two long works, commonly called in English the Histories (of which four books and part of a fifth survive) and the Annals (of which twelve books-Books I-VI, XI-XVI-survive). The extant books of the Histories cover only the reign of Galba (A.D. 68-69) and the beginning (to A.D. 70) of the reign of Vespasian but give a thorough view of Roman life-persons, places, and events. The surviving books of the Annals tell of the reign of Tiberius, of the last years of Claudius, and of the first years of Nero. The account contains incisive character sketches, ironic passages, and eloquent moral conclusions. The declamatory writing of the Dialogus is replaced in the historical works by a polished and highly individual style, a wide range of vocabulary, and an intricate and startling syntax.[source - The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07].
And another encyclopedia said, <<<" Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca. 56 - ca. 117) was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works-the Annals and the Histories-examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those that reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors. These two works span the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus in 14 AD to (presumably) the death of emperor Domitian in 96 AD. There are significant lacunae in the surviving texts.
Other works by Tacitus discuss oratory (in dialogue format, see Dialogus de oratoribus), Germania (in De origine et situ Germanorum), and biographical notes about his father-in-law Agricola, primarily during his campaign in Britannia (see De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae).
Tacitus' historiographical style in his major works is annalistic. An author writing in the latter part of the Silver Age of Latin literature, his work is distinguished by a boldness and sharpness of wit, and a compact and sometimes unconventional use of Latin."[source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]>>>.
Now let's look at what this none Christian worshipper of the Unconquered Sun had to say about Jesus (Yeshua). <<<" The Roman historian Tacitus, writing in his Annals (c. 116) about the Great Fire of Rome (64), included an account of how the emperor Nero blamed the Christians in Rome for the disaster and initiated the first known persecution of early Christians by the Romans. This has become one of the best known and most discussed passages of Tacitus' works.[1] Although partly aimed at showing the inhumanity of the emperor, Tacitus' remarks have been studied more by modern scholars for information about his own religious attitudes and about the early history of Christianity.
Tacitus describes the support for the homeless provided by Nero and the rebuilding of the city, then refers to religious rituals carried out based on a consultation of the Sibylline Books.[2] However, none of this did away with the suspicion that the fire had been started on Nero's orders:
Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.
Tacitus then returns to the topic of Nero's reputation and the effect on it of these events: "Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed."[3]
References:
1. ^ Syme 533 n. 5 ("This famous chapter has provoked an enormous literature...").
2. ^ Tacitus, Annals 15.39-43.
3. ^ a b Tacitus, Annals 15.44, translated by Church and Brodribb.
[source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]>>>
The Catholic Encyclopedia said the following on C. Tactius,
<<<" We possess at least the testimony of Tacitus (A.D. 54-119) for the statements that the Founder of the Christian religion, a deadly superstition in the eyes of the Romans, had been put to death by the procurator Pontius Pilate under the reign of Tiberius; that His religion, though suppressed for a time, broke forth again not only throughout Judea where it had originated, but even in Rome, the conflux of all the streams of wickness and shamelessness; furthermore, that Nero had diverted from himself the suspicion of the burning of Rome by charging the Christians with the crime; that these latter were not guilty of arson, though they deserved their fate on account of their universal misanthropy. Tacitus, moreover, describes some of the horrible torments to which Nero subjected the Christians (Ann., XV, xliv). The Roman writer confounds the Christians with the Jews, considering them as a especially abject Jewish sect; how little he investigated the historical truth of even the Jewish records may be inferred from the credulity with which he accepted the absurd legends and calumnies about the origin of he Hebrew people (Hist., V, iii, iv)..
AND, Those who regard the passage as spurious,
First, there are those who consider the whole passage as spurious. The principal reasons for this view appear to be the following:
* Josephus could not represent Jesus Christ as a simple moralist, and on the other hand he could not emphasize the Messianic prophecies and expectations without offending the Roman susceptibilities;
* the above cited passage from Josephus is said to be unknown to Origen and the earlier patristic writers;
* its very place in the Josephan text is uncertain, since Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., II, vi) must have found it before the notices concerning Pilate, while it now stands after them.
But the spuriousness of the disputed Josephan passage does not imply the historian's ignorance of the facts connected with Jesus Christ. Josephus's report of his own juvenile precocity before the Jewish teachers (Vit., 2) reminds one of the story of Christ's stay in the Temple at the age of twelve; the description of his shipwreck on his journey to Rome (Vit., 3) recalls St. Paul's shipwreck as told in the Acts; finally his arbitrary introduction of a deceit practised by the priests of Isis on a Roman lady, after the chapter containing his supposed allusion to Jesus, shows a disposition to explain away the virgin birth of Jesus and to prepare the falsehoods embodied in the later Jewish writings.".[source - The Catholic Encyclopedia]>>>.
OTHER EARLY PAGAN WRITERS ON CHRIST:
Here is what some other early pagan writers who lived in the First Century had to say about Christ,
<<<"B. Suetonius, Another Roman writer who shows his acquaintance with Christ and the Christians is Suetonius (A.D. 75-160). It has been noted that Suetonius considered Christ (Chrestus) as a Roman insurgent who stirred up seditions under the reign of Claudius (A.D. 41-54): "Judaeos, impulsore Chresto, assidue tumultuantes (Claudius) Roma expulit" (Clau., xxv). In his life of Nero he regards that emperor as a public benefactor on account of his severe treatment of the Christians: "Multa sub eo et animadversa severe, et coercita, nec minus instituta . . . . afflicti Christiani, genus hominum superstitious novae et maleficae" (Nero, xvi). The Roman writer does not understand that the Jewish troubles arose from the Jewish antagonism to the Messianic character of Jesus Christ and to the rights of the Christian Church.
C. Pliny the Younger
Of greater importance is the letter of Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Trajan (about A.D. 61-115), in which the Governor of Bithynia consults his imperial majesty as to how to deal with the Christians living within his jurisdiction. On the one hand, their lives were confessedly innocent; no crime could be proved against them excepting their Christian belief, which appeared to the Roman as an extravagant and perverse superstition. On the other hand, the Christians could not be shaken in their allegiance to Christ, Whom they celebrated as their God in their early morning meetings (Ep., X, 97, 98). Christianity here appears no longer as a religion of criminals, as it does in the texts of Tacitus and Suetonius; Pliny acknowledges the high moral principles of the Christians, admires their constancy in the Faith (pervicacia et inflexibilis obstinatio), which he appears to trace back to their worship of Christ (carmenque Christo, quasi Deo, dicere).
D. Other pagan writers
The remaining pagan witnesses are of less importance: In the second century Lucian sneered at Christ and the Christians, as he scoffed at the pagan gods. He alludes to Christ's death on the Cross, to His miracles, to the mutual love prevailing among the Christians ("Philopseudes", nn. 13, 16; "De Morte Pereg"). There are also alleged allusions to Christ in Numenius (Origen, "Contra Cels", IV, 51), to His parables in Galerius, to the earthquake at the Crucifixion in Phlegon ( Origen, "Contra Cels.", II, 14). Before the end of the second century, the logos alethes of Celsus, as quoted by Origen (Contra Cels., passim), testifies that at that time the facts related in the Gospels were generally accepted as historically true. However scanty the pagan sources of the life of Christ may be, they bear at least testimony to His existence, to His miracles, His parables, His claim to Divine worship, His death on the Cross, and to the more striking characteristics of His religion." ).[source - The Catholic Encyclopedia]>>>.
JEWISH SOURCE OF THE FIRST CENTURY ON CHRIST:
<<<"Philo, who dies after A.D. 40, is mainly important for the light he throws on certain modes of thought and phraseology found again in some of the Apostles. Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., II, iv) indeed preserves a legend that Philo had met St. Peter in Rome during his mission to the Emperor Caius; moreover, that in his work on the contemplative life he describes the life of the Christian Church in Alexandria founded by St. Mark, rather than that of the Essenes and Therapeutae. But it is hardly probable that Philo had heard enough of Christ and His followers to give an historical foundation to the foregoing legends." ).[source - The Catholic Encyclopedia]>>>.
And,
<<<"The historical character of Jesus Christ is also attested by the hostile Jewish literature of the subsequent centuries. His birth is ascribed to an illicit ("Acta Pilati" in Thilo, "Codex apocryph. N.T., I, 526; cf. Justin, "Apol.", I, 35), or even an adulterous, union of His parents (Origen, "Contra Cels.," I, 28, 32). The father's name is Panthera, a common soldier (Gemara "Sanhedrin", viii; "Schabbath", xii, cf. Eisenmenger, "Entdecktes Judenthum", I, 109; Schottgen, "Horae Hebraicae", II, 696; Buxtorf, "Lex. Chald.", Basle, 1639, 1459, Huldreich, "Sepher toledhoth yeshua hannaceri", Leyden, 1705). The last work in its final edition did not appear before the thirteenth century, so that it could give the Panthera myth in its most advanced form. Rosch is of opinion that the myth did not begin before the end of the first century.
SECOND PART OF STRANGE, MANY DOUBT IF JESUS (YESHUA) REALLY EXISTED. THE AWAKE MAGAZINE NO. 5 OF 2016 HAD AN ENTIRE ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT THAT CAN BE READ AT . AN ARTICLE, THE HISTORIC JESUS (YESHUA) CHRIST GOES INTO CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AND PROOF THAT HE ACTUALLY EXISTED. (704a) a repeat of [VOL. 667A] (PART 2 IS VOL 668A; WHEREAS, PART 1 WAS VOL 667A).
[4] A TALKING VIDEO ON, GOOD RELIGION PROMOTES BROTHERLY LOVE,
5] A TALKING VIDEO ON, DOES THE BIBLE PROMOTE TOLERANCE?
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
- •
Thread Starter