COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Mamey     With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [153B]

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.  2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.  3  Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  Acts 14:1 – 3,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, the Apostle Paul was a powerful preacher of the truth, and his enemies, those who hated the inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH) stirred up a violent mob against him as recorded at Acts 14:19 – 22, [AV] “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.  20  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.  21  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,  22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”   

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[2] THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES =  Mamey

Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Mamey,  Mammea Americana, stands almost midway between "major" and "minor" tropical fruits and is unique in remaining virtually static in the past 40 years, receiving little attention at home or abroad. Botanically, it is identified as Mammea americana L., of the family Guttiferae, and therefore related to the mangosteen, q.v. Among alternative names in English are mammee, mammee apple, St. Domingo apricot and South American apricot. To Spanish-speaking people, it is known as mamey de Santo Domingo, mamey amarillo, mamey de Cartagena, mata serrano, zapote mamey, or zapote de Santo Domingo.
This species is often confused with the sapote, or mamey colorado, Pouteria sapota, q.v., which is commonly called mamey in Cuba; and reports of its occurring wild in Africa are due to confusion with the African mamey, M. africana Sabine (syn. Ochrocarpus africana Oliv.).
Description
The mamey tree, handsome and greatly resembling the southern magnolia, reaches 60 to 70 ft (18-21 m) in height, has a short trunk which may attain 3 or 4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) in diameter, and ascending branches forming an erect, oval head, densely foliaged with evergreen, opposite, glossy, leathery, dark-green, broadly elliptic leaves, up to 8 in (20 cm) long and 4 in (10 cm) wide. The fragrant flowers, with 4 to 6 white petals and with orange stamens or pistils or both, are 1 to 1 1/2 in (2.5-4 cm) wide when fully open and borne singly or in groups of 2 or 3 on short stalks. They appear during and after the fruiting season: male, female and hermaphrodite together or on separate trees.
The fruit, nearly round or somewhat irregular, with a short, thick stem and a more or less distinct tip or merely a bristle-like floral remnant at the apex, ranges from 4 to 8 in (10-20 cm) in diameter, is heavy and hard until fully ripe when it softens slightly. The skin is light-brown or grayish-brown with small, scattered, warty or scurfy areas, leathery, about 1/8 in (3 mm) thick and bitter. Beneath it, a thin, dry, whitish membrane, or "rag", astringent and often bitter, adheres to the flesh. The latter is light- or golden-yellow to orange, non-fibrous, varies from firm and crisp. and sometimes dry to tender, melting and juicy. It is more or less free from the seed though bits of the seed-covering, which may be bitter, usually adhere to the immediately surrounding wall of flesh. The ripe flesh is appetizingly fragrant and, in the best varieties, pleasantly subacid, resembling the apricot or red raspberry in flavor. Fruits of poor quality may be too sour or mawkishly sweet. Small fruits are usually single-seeded; larger fruits may have 2, 3 or 4 seeds. The seed is russet-brown, rough, ovoid or ellipsoid and about 2 1/2 in (6.25 cm) long. The juice of the seed leaves an indelible stain.
Climate
The mamey is limited to tropical or near-tropical climates. In Central America, it thrives from near sea-level to 3,300 ft (1,000 m). Three trees at the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead, in southern Florida, were killed by a temperature drop to 28º F (-2.22º C) in January 1940.
Soil
The mamey tree favors deep, rich, well-drained soil, but is apparently quite adaptable to even shallow, sandy terrain, and it grows naturally in limestone areas of Jamaica, also does well in the oolitic limestone of the Bahamas and southeastern Florida.
Propagation
Seeds are the usual means of dissemination and they germinate in 2 months or less and sprout readily in leaf-mulch under the tree. Seedlings bear in 6 to 8 years in Mexico, 8 to 10 years in the Bahamas. Vegetative propagation is preferable to avoid disappointment in raising male trees and to achieve earlier fruiting. In English greenhouse culture, half-ripe cuttings with lower leaves attached are employed. Both Robert Newcomb and Albert Caves of Palm Lodge Tropical Grove, Homestead, successfully grafted the mamey onto self-seedlings.
Culture
The mamey generally receives little or no cultural attention, apart from protection from cold during the first few winters in other than strictly tropical climates. It seems remarkably resistant to pests and diseases.  (source - retrieved from   http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mamey.html  on  1/20/2013)
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].
Tree
The mammee tree is 18–21 m high and is similar in appearance to the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora).[1] Its trunk is short and reaches 1.9-1.2 m in diameter. The tree's upright branches form an oval head. Its dark-green foliage is quite dense, with opposite, leathery, elliptic leaves. The leaves can reach 10 cm wide and twice as long.
The mammee flower is fragrant, has 4 or 6 white petals, and reaches 2.5–4 cm wide when fully blossomed. The flowers are borne either singly or in clusters of two or three, on short stalks. There can be, in a single flower, pistils, stamens or both, so there can be male, female or hermaphrodite flowers on one tree or.
Fruit
The mammee apple is a berry, though it is often misinterpreted to be a drupe. It is round or slightly irregular, with a brown or grey-brown 3-mm thick rind. In fact, the rind consists of the exocarp and mesocarp of the fruit, while the pulp is formed from the endocarp. The stem is thick and short. The mammee apple has more or less visible floral remnant at the apex.
Mammee apples' diameter ranges from 10 to 20 cm. When unripe, the fruit is hard and heavy, but its flesh slightly softens when fully ripe. Beneath the skin, there is a white, dry membrane, whose taste is astringent, that adheres to the flesh. The flesh is orange or yellow, not fibrous, and can have various textures (crispy or juicy, firm or tender). Generally, the flesh smell is pleasant and appetizing.
Small fruits contain a single seed, while larger ones might have up to four. The seeds are brown, rough, oval and around 6 cm long. The juice of the seed leaves an indelible stain.  (source - retrieved from   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammea_americana  on  1/20/2013)
To see pictures of this fruit and the tree, go to,  https://www.google.com/search?q=mammea+americana&start=10&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&source=univ&ei=q2X8ULP4I4K2rQHy3oH4Aw&ved=0CDAQsAQ4Cg&biw=1152&bih=720

The main driving force of water uptake and transport into a plant is transpiration of water from leaves through specialized openings called stomata.  Heat from the sun causes the water to evaporate, setting this ‘water chain’ in motion.  The evaporation creates a negative water vapor pressure.  Water is pulled into the leaf to replace the water that has transpired from the leaf.  This pulling of water, or tension, occurs in the xylem of the leaf.  Since the xylem is a continuous water column that extends from the leaf to the roots, this negative water pressure extends into the roots and results in water uptake from the soil.  [adapted from: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=follow-up-how-do-trees-ca ]

Clearly this clever water transport system shows a superior intelligence of the Creator (YHWH).

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COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]  DISCOURSE ON CANDOR PROVES BIBLE THE WORD OF GOD (YHWH).      With the Scripture of the Day first
.
[1]   SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [155B]

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:   1 Peter 2:21,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, we must become more loving of others and strive to follow Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) example.  We should strive to emulate his primary examples that are:
1) Endurance,
2) Humality,
3) Helpfulness – As shown by how the Angles helped him in his hour of need at Luke 22:43, [AV] “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”
4) Patience, as illustrated a 1 Peter 1:12, [AV] “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 

[2]  DISCOURSE ON CANDOR PROVES BIBLE THE WORD OF GOD (YHWH):

FIRST, The Bible unlike other so called 'holy books' was inspired by God (YHWH) who is NOT a liar or obfuscator so his inspired scribes unlike human writers with their own agenda wrote exactly what happened including their own short comings.   This candor is actually one of the things that clearly shows the Bible to be truly the only book ever inspired by God (YHWH).   The prophets even wrote their own shortcomings/weaknesses down under divine inspiration; this is quite unlike all other ancient writers who always built up themselves and never recorded their own shortcomings.   

SECOND, Genesis 19:30-38 is a special case under a very unusual circumstance which when taken out of context could leave the wrong impression so let's look at Genesis 19:19-38 and learn the facts, " behold now, thy servant hath found favor in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy lovingkindness, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die: 20 behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape thither (is it not a little one?), and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar.  24 Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven; 25 and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.  26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.  27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Jehovah: 28 and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.  30 [b]And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32 come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37 And the first-born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. (American Standard Version; ASV).   Clearly we see here a special circumstance and that Lot was NOT aware of what he was doing as he had been made drunk; but the fact that this was ever recorded once more speaks to the candor and truthfulness of the Bible in that the prophets even recorded their own short comings and wrong doings.   This candor is NOT seen in other so called 'holy books' that were not inspired by God (YHWH).

THIRD,  One individual said, "In Genesis 38:15-18, Judah, a son of Jacob, is supposed to have engaged in sexual relations with his daughter-in-law."
This is another special circumstance showing the short coming of a prophet honestly recorded with honesty and candor in the Bible; whereas, in so called 'holy books' that were not divinely inspired something of this nature would never have been recorded.  Let's look at the circumstances under which this wrong doing took place as circumstances make a major difference in most cases, at Genesis 38:1-30, "And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. And he took her, and went in unto her. 3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. 4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. 5 And she yet again bare a son, and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah. And Jehovah slew him. 8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and he slew him also. 11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.   12 And in process of time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep. 14 And she put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given unto him to wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face. 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee: for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? 17 And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. 19 And she arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not. 21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There hath been no prostitute here. 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, There hath been no prostitute here. 23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be put to shame: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.   24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and moreover, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and the cords, and the staff. 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. 7 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that one put out a hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, Wherefore hast thou made a breach for thyself? Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zerah." (ASV).   Once again we see special circumstances where one of the prophet's son would NOT perform his duty under the ancient Jewish law.   This is made plain when Judah said, "And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more."   So once more we see the honesty and candor of the Bible that clearly show it to be the inspired word of God (YHWH).

FOURTH,  One individual clearly showed that this honesty and candor is NOT found in other so called 'holy books' as follows, "Neither the sons of Jacob, whom the Qur'an mentions as "grandchildren" whose ways should be followed, nor his wives could have engaged such a behavior. Our Prophet explicitly declared that there is not a single case of fornication in his lineage back to Adam, [1] and that all Prophets are brothers descended from the same father. [2] Our Prophet is a descendant of Abraham, as were Judah and the other Israelite Prophets. Thus, how could any of them be the result of an improper sexual alliance?"
Speaks for itself as we all well know there has only been one perfect man who never sinned who walked this earth.

FIFTH, This honesty and candor that differentiates the Bible from other so called 'holy books' and 'knockoffs' is once more shown with respect to King David who under divine inspiration actually wrote part of the Bible, let's look at this candor at 2 Samuel 11:1-27, "And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David send and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, I am with child.  6 And David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess [of food] from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Art thou not come from a journey? wherefore didst thou not go down unto thy house? 11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. 13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.   14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 16 And it came to pass, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah unto the place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; 19 and he charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling all the things concerning the war unto the king, 20 it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? 21 who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 22 So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for. 23 And the messenger said unto David, The men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entrance of the gate. 24 And the shooters shot at thy servants from off the wall; and some of the king's servants are dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another; make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. 26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband. 27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Jehovah" (ASV).   So we can plainly see the Bible is clearly differentiated from other so called 'holy books' in that it is the only one with honesty and candor in reporting the very BAD things done by prophets; none other do as their authors are men who write the thoughts of men and never write about their wrongs.  One individual actually said the following over this bad happening, "David is a Prophet who was given a Divine Scripture (the Psalms) and who is praised in the Qur'an for his sincere and profound devotion to God:

Be patient with them, and remember Our servant David, the man of strength and abilities, who always turned to God in sincere devotion and submission. We made the mountains declare, in unison with him, Our praises, at eventide and at the break of day, and the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with him did turn to Him (in profound devotion). We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and sound judgment (in speech and decision). (38:17-20)

Though a king, he lived a simple life by his own labor. He had such a great awareness of God that he cried a great deal and fasted every other day. Our Prophet recommended this type of fast to some Companions who asked about the most rewarding type of supererogatory fasting. [3] Could such a noble Prophet ever commit adultery with a married woman, plot her husband's death, and then marry her?"

SIXTH, One individual said the following about the king/prophet Solomon, and the fact that it was actually written down in the Bible under divine inspiration by one God (YHWH) used as a scribe to put his thoughts into the words of men.  This clearly shows once more the Bible is the only book ever inspired by Almighty God (YHWH) as no other so called 'holy book' ever showed such honesty and candor.   One individual actually said, "In I Kings 11:1-8, despite God's command: "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods," Prophet Solomon is accused of marrying many foreign women belonging to pagan nations and following their gods and goddesses (idols). Would a Prophet be able to commit such a grievous sin as following the idols and deities of other tribes?"

Here a king/prophet is actually shown violating God's (YHWH's) decree given at Deuteronomy 17:15-17, "thou shalt surely set him king over thee, whom Jehovah thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee; thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee, who is not thy brother. 16 Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; forasmuch as Jehovah hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." (ASV). 

MANY other examples of the outstanding honesty and candor could be sited, but this sampling should be more than sufficient to show that unlike other so called 'holy books' it is the only one ever divinely inspired by God (YHWH) as it is the only one with such honesty and candor.   The following clearly amplify this truth, There are many different writings and books that various groups have considered/believed to be holy books, but why so. Many have been considered holy books based on human tradition such as the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Rig Veda, etc., and others for which divine inspiration are claimed, but which are actually just knockoffs from the Bible such as the writings of David Korash, the Book of Morman, the Quran (Koran), etc. However, there is only one book, actually a book of books, the Bible which actually was written by man acting as scribes who were given the thoughts of God (YHWH) and put them into the words of men.

Specifically, the Bible is NOT the product of one committee or strongman. It has over 40 individual writers who wrote under divine inspiration/guidance 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.

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, and the Book of Wiccim.
Truly, the Bible id differentiated from all other so called 'holy books' by its candor and honesty which are not found in those ones that were NOT divinely inspired by God (YHWH).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG [/b]

COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Mandarin orange    With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [157B]

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  1 Corinthians 3:4 – 6,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

All genuine true followers of the Prince of Peace, Jesus (Yeshua) should seek to let others also know the truth with respect Almighty God’ (YHWH’s) purpose for mankind and not hide their light per Matthew 5:13 – 16, [AV] “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

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THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES -  Mandarin orange

Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Mandarin orange, also known as the mandarin or mandarine (both lower-case), is a small citrus tree (Citrus reticulata) with fruit resembling other oranges. The mandarin orange gained its name from the bright orange robes worn by the mandarins, public officials in imperial China. When exporting began, local Mandarin oranges were named after their port of origin.  Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads. Specifically reddish-orange mandarin cultivars can be marketed as tangerines, but this is not a botanical classification.
The tree is more drought-tolerant than the fruit. The mandarin is tender, and is damaged easily by cold. It can be grown in tropical and subtropical areas. Varieties
The mandarin orange is a variety of the orange family. Cultivars and crosses between the original mandarin and other citrus fruits include:
* Satsuma (Citrus unshiu), a seedless variety, of which there are over 200 cultivars, such as Owari and mikan; the source of most canned mandarins, and popular as a fresh fruit due to its ease of consumption
* Owari, a well-known Satsuma cultivar which ripens during the late fall season
* Clementine, sometimes known as a "Christmas orange", as its peak season is December; becoming the most important commercial Mandarin orange form, having displaced mikans in many markets
* Tangerine sometimes known as "Dancy Mandarin"
Tangor, also called the temple orange, a cross between the Mandarin orange and the common sweet orange; its thick rind is easy to peel and its bright orange pulp is sour-sweet and full-flavored
Canned and peeled mandarin orange segments.
The mandarin is easily peeled with the fingers, starting at the thick rind covering the depression at the top of the fruit, and can be easily split into even segments without squirting juice. This makes it convenient to eat, as utensils are not required to peel or cut the fruit.
Canned mandarin segments are peeled to remove the white pith prior to canning; otherwise, they turn bitter. Segments are peeled using a chemical process. First, the segments are scalded in hot water to loosen the skin; then they are bathed in a lye solution which digests the albedo and membranes. Finally, the segments undergo several rinses in plain water.
Biological characteristics
Citrus fruits are usually self-fertile (needing only a bee to move pollen within the same flower) or parthenocarpic (not needing pollination and therefore seedless, such as the satsuma).
Blossoms from the Dancy cultivar are one exception. They are self-sterile, and therefore must have a pollinator variety to supply pollen, and a high bee population to make a good crop. The fruit is oblate.
Medicinal uses
In traditional Chinese medicine, the dried peel of the fruit is used in the regulation of ch'i, and also used to treat abdominal distension, to enhance digestion, and to reduce phlegm.   Mandarins have also been used in ayurveda (traditional medicine of India).  (source - retrieved from   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_orange  on  1/21/2013)
To see pictures, go to  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Citrus_reticulata

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].

Mandarin is a group name for a class of oranges with thin, loose peel, which have been dubbed "kid-glove" oranges. These are treated as members of a distinct species, Citrus reticulata Blanco. The name "tangerine" could be applied as an alternate name to the whole group, but, in the trade, is usually confined to the types with red-orange skin. In the Philippines all mandarin oranges are called naranjita. Spanish-speaking people in the American tropics call them mandarina. (source - retrieved from  http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mandarin_orange.html  on  1/21/2013)

How this tree and other plants absorb water from the ground.   Plants have developed an effective system to absorb, translocate, store, and utilize water.  Plants contain a vast network of conduits, which consists of xylem and phloem tissues.  These conducting tissues start in the roots and continue up through the trunks of trees, into the branches and then into every leaf.  Phloem tissue is made of living elongated cells that are connected to one another and responsible for translocating nutrients and sugars (carbohydrates), which are produced by leaves for energy and growth.  The xylem is also composed of elongated cells but once the cells are formed, they die.  The walls of the xylem cells still remain intact and serve as an excellent peipline to transport water from the roots to the leaves.

The main driving force of water uptake and transport into a plant is transpiration of water from leaves through specialized openings called stomata.  Heat from the sun causes the water to evaporate, setting this ‘water chain’ in motion.  The evaporation creates a negative water vapor pressure.  Water is pulled into the leaf to replace the water that has transpired from the leaf.  This pulling of water, or tension, occurs in the xylem of the leaf.  Since the xylem is a continuous water column that extends from the leaf to the roots, this negative water pressure extends into the roots and results in water uptake from the soil.  [adapted from: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=follow-up-how-do-trees-ca ]

Clearly this clever water transport system shows a superior intelligence of the Creator (YHWH).

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON THE BIBLE. With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [159B]

And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city. 1 Samuel 20:42, [authorized King James Bible; [Authorized King James; AV]]

Jonathan and David swore to support one another even though Jonathan the son of King Saul knew that David, not he, would become the next king of Israel. Jonathan well knew of 1 Samuel 17:57, [AV] “And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.” He wanted to be in line with the will of Almighty God (YHWH) , clearly showing his subjection to the principle stated at Romans 13:1 – 2, [AV] “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” He sought to keep David safe when his father King Saul sought to kill David, this in keeping with Romans 13:1 -2, realizing is subjection to the Creator came before his subjection to his father. He even said as recorded at 1 Samuel 23:16 – 17, [AV] “And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

[2] DISCOURSE ON THE BIBLE:

INTRODUCTION:
There are many different writings and books that various groups have considered/believed to be holy books, but why so. Many have been considered holy books based on human tradition such as the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Rig Veda, etc., and others for which divine inspiration are claimed, but which are actually just knockoffs from the Bible such as the writings of David Korash, the Book of Morman, the Quran (Koran), etc. However, there is only one book, actually a book of books, the Bible which actually was written by man acting as scribes who were given the thoughts of God (YHWH) and put them into the words of men.
Specifically, the Bible is NOT the product of one committee or strongman. It has over 40 individual writers who wrote under divine inspiration/guidance 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.
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, and the Book of Wiccim.
INSPIRED BY GOD (YHWH) AND NOT BY HUMANS:
All other so called 'holy books' have been inspired by men such as the Rig Veda which is a collection of early writings about nature and life by the early inhabitants of India, or the so called Egyptian Book of the Dead which is of similar nature but deals more specifically with the items of nature that the early Egyptians considered gods such as the sun, frogs, and other things of nature. Now the Bible is a quite different entity which does NOT consider things of nature as gods, but only the Creator of Heaven and Earth a god, Almighty God (YHWH) which Exodus 20:3 says, "Thou hast no other Gods before Me." (Young's Literal Translation; YLT). Clearly showing there is but one true God (YHWH) through whom all came into being at his discretion.
This fact, that the Bible was inspired by God (YHWH) is testified to at 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "Every scripture inspired of God `is' also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." (American Standard Version; ASV); and this is affirmed, also, at 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, `even the word' of God, ye accepted `it' not `as' the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe." (ASV).
MAN WROTE UNDER INSPIRATION FROM GOD (YHWH):
As shown at Exodus 20:1-2, "`And God speaketh all these words, saying, 2 I `am' Jehovah thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of servants." (YLT); and reaffirmed at Isaiah 7:7, "thus saith the Lord Jehovah, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass." (ASV); and the fact that these divinely inspired individuals wrote not their own words, but simply put the thoughts of God (YHWH) into the words of men as testified to by God's (YHWH's) own son, Jesus (Yeshua) at John 14:10, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works." (ASV).
Clearly men were moved to write by God's (YHWH's) spirit as testified to at 2 Peter 1:20-21, "this first knowing, that no prophecy of the Writing doth come of private exposition, 21 for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake." (YLT); and 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, `even the word' of God, ye accepted `it' not `as' the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe." (ASV).
Unlike other so called 'holy books' that were written as men observed nature or were moved by self interest, the Bible was written by men who were moved by God's (YHWH's) spirit as testified to at Acts 3:21, "whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have been from of old." (ASV); and at Acts 28:25, "And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers," (ASV).
NOW WHAT DOES INSPIRATION MEAN:
The dictionary definition, "The infusion or arousal within the mind of some idea, feeling, or impulse, especially one that leads to creative action. 2. The state or quality of being inspired, 3. Divine influence exerted upon the mind or spirit; especially , the divine influence underlying prophetic or scriptural revelation. [source = Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, ISBN # 0-308-10309-2). Now of all these definitions, the one of interest is the third dealing with divine influence
being exerted. This is further defined by Ezekiel 1:3, "the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him." (ASV). This divine inspiration is further testified to at Habakkuk 2:2, "And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it." (ASV); and at Daniel 7:1-2 & 7, "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel hath seen a dream, and the visions of his head on his bed, then the dream he hath written, the chief of the things he hath said. 2 Answered hath Daniel and said, `I was seeing in my vision by night, and lo, the four winds of the heavens are coming forth to the great sea;" and "7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booty unto them?" (ASV).
PROPHECY PROVES THE BIBLE TO BE OF DIVINE ORIGIN:
Whereas, other so called 'holy books' that are NOT knockoffs of the Bible deal mostly with nature and if they deal with prophecy, they deal with it in very general terms; whereas, the Bible gives very specific prophecies that have all come true at the predicted time. As 2 Peter 1:21 says, "For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit." (ASV); and at Isaiah 46:9-10, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; `I am' God, and there is none like me; 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not `yet' done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;" (ASV). Also, this is testified to at many other places in the Bible such as at Deuteronomy 18:22 (part of the Torah), "that which the prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, and the thing is not, and cometh not -- it `is' the word which Jehovah hath not spoken; in presumption hath the prophet spoken it; -- thou art not afraid of him." (ASV); and at John 14:29, "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe." (ASV).
AS an example of this fulfillment of prophecy as given in God's (YHWH's) word, the Bible, just consider some of the prophecies given centuries before the incarnation of his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) that were fulfilled by him as follows:
Prophecy Fulfilled When Jesus Was Crucified:
[ 1. Betrayed by a friend - Psalms 41:9 - John 13:18-27 - 460 BCE ]]
[ 2. Thirty (30) of silver thrown in Temple - Zechariah 11:13 - Matthew 27:3-5 - 518 BCE ]
[ 3. Betrayed for thirty (30) pieces of silver - Zechariah 11:12 - Matthew 26:14-15 - 518 BCE ]
[ 4. Potters field bought for thirty (30) pieces of silver&Zechariah 11:13 - Matthew 27:6-10 - 518 BCE ]
[ 5. Forsaken by His disciples - Zechariah 13:7 - Mark 14:27-50 - 518 BCE ]
[ 6. Falsely accused by false witnesses - Psalms 35:11-21 - Matthew 26:59-61 - 460 BCE ]
[ 7. Remained silent before accusers - Isaiah 53:7 - Matthew 27:12-14 - 732 BCE ]
[ 8. Was wounded and bruised - Isaiah 53:4-6 - 1 Peter 2:21-25 - 732 BCE ]
[ 9. Spit upon and beaten - Isaiah 50:6 - Matthew 26:67-68 - 732 BCE ]
[ 10. Was mocked - Psalms 22:6- 8 - Matthew 27:27- 31 - 460 BCE ]
[ 11. Fell under the cross (stauros) - Psalms 109:24- 25 - John 19:17, Luke 23:26 - 460 BCE]
[ 12. Had hands and feet pierced - Psalms 22:16 - John 20:24-28 - 460 BCE ]
[ 13. Was crucified with thieves - Isaiah 53:12 - Matthew 27:38 - 732 BCE ]
[ 14. Prayed for His enemies - Isaiah 53:12 - Luke 23:34 - 732 BCE ]
[ 15. His own people rejected him - Isaiah 53:3 - John 19:14-15 - 732 BCE]
[ 16. Was hated without cause - Psalms 69:4 - John 15:25 - 460 BCE ]
[ 17. Friends stood aloof - Psalms 38:11 -Luke 22:54; Luke 23:49 - 460 BCE ]
[ 18. People wag their heads - Psalms 22:7; Psalms 109:25 - Matthew 27:39 - 460 BCE]
[19. He was stared at by people - Psalms 22:17 - Luke 23:35 - 460 BCE]
[ 20. Gamblers divided his clothes - Psalms 22:18 - John 19:23-24 - 460 BCE ]
[ 21. He became very thirsty - Psalms 22:15 - John 19:28 - 460 BCE ]
[ 22. He was given gall & vinegar - Psalms 69:21 - Matthew 27:34 - 460 BCE ]
[ 23. He committed himself to God - Psalms 31:5 - Luke 23:46 - 460 BCE ]
[ 24. His forsaken cry - Psalms 22:1 - Matthew 27:46 - 460 BCE ]
[ 25. His bones not broken - Psalms 34:20 - John 19:32-36 - 460 BCE ]
[ 26. Was buried in tomb of a rich man - Isaiah 53:9 - Matthew 27:56-60 - 732 BCE ]
[ 27. A darkness came over the land - Amos 8:9 - Luke 23:44-45 - 804 BCE ]
[ 28. His heart was broken - Psalms 69:20;Psalms 22:14 - 460 BCE ]
[ 29. His side pierced - Zechariah 12:10 - John 19:34-37 - 648 BCE ]
Prophecies Fulfilled Concerning His Birth:
[ 1. Born of the seed of women - Genesis 3:15 - Galatians 4:4 - 1513 BCE ]
[ 2. Born to a virgin Hebrew - Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:18-25 - 732 BCE ]
[ 3. Children are killed by Herod - Jeremiah 31:15 - Matthew 2:16-18 - 580 BCE ]
[ 4. Born of the family line of Jesse - Isaiah 11:1 - Luke 3:32 - 732 BCE ]
[ 5. Born into the Tribe of Judah - Genesis 49:10 - Revelations 5:5 - 1513 BCE ]
[ 6. Born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2 - Matthew 2:1-6 - 717 BCE ]
[ 7. Seed of David - Jeremiah 23:5 - Luke 3:31 - 580 BCE ]
[ 8. Seed of Jacob - Numbers 24:17 - Luke 3:34 - 1473 BCE ]
[ 9. Seed of Isaac - Genesis 21:12 - Luke 3:23-34 - 1513 BCE ]
[ 10. Seed of Abraham - Genesis 22:18 - Matthew 1:1 - 1513 BCE ]
Prophecies on his Personality:
[ 1. His zeal for this Father (YHWY) - Psalms 69:9 - John 2:15-17 - 460 BCE ]
[2. His existence before creation - Micah 5:2 - 1 Peter 1:20 - 717 BCE ]
[ 3. He shall be called Lord - Psalms 110:1 - Acts 2:36 - 460 BCE ]
[ 4. Called Immanuel (God with us) - Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:22-23 - 732 BCE ]
[ 5. Anointed by the Spirit (HS) - Isaiah 11:2 - Matthew 3:16-17 - 732 BCE ]
[ 6. He is a Prophet - Deuteronomy 18:18-19 - Acts 3:18-25 - 1473 BCE ]
[ 7. He will be a Priest - Psalms 110:4 - Hebrews 5:5-6 - 460 BCE ]
[ 8. He will be a Judge - Isaiah 33:32 - John 5:22-23 - 732 BCE ]
[ 9. He will be a King - Psalms 2:6 - John 18:33-37 - 460 BCE ]
Prophecies Concerning his Public Ministry:
[ 1. Will be preceded by a messenger - Isaiah 40:3 - Matthew 3:1-3 - 732 BCE ]
[ 2. He would perform miracles - Isaiah 35:5-6 - Matthew 9:35 & 11:4 - 732 BCE ]
[ 3. Ministry to begin in Galilee - Isaiah 9:1-2 - Matthew 4:12-17 - 732 BCE ]
[ 4. Would teach with parables - Psalms 78:1-4 - Matthew 13:34-35 - 460 BCE ]
[ 5. He would preach in temple - Malachi 3:1 - Matthew 21:10-12 - 443 BCE ]
[ 6. Enter Jerusalem on a donkey - Zechariah 9:9 - Matthew 21:1-7 - 518 BCE ]
[ 7. Stone of stumbling to Jews - Isaiah 28:16; Psalms 118:22 - 1 Peter 2:6-8 - 732 BCE ]
[ 8. Light to Gentiles - Isaiah 49:6 - Acts 13:46-48 - 732 BCE ]
Prophecies Concerning his Resurrection and Ascension:
[ 1. Raised from the dead - Psalms 16:8-11 - Acts 2:24-31 - 460 BCE ]
[ 2. Only begotten Son of God (YHWH) - Psalms 2:7 - Acts 13:32-35 - 460 BCE ]
[ 3. Ascended to God (YHWH) - Psalms 68:18 - Ephesians 2:8-10; John 6:26 - 460 BCE ]
[ 4. Seated at the Right Hand of God (YHWH) - Psalms 110.1 - Hebrews 1:3-13 - 460 BCE]
Another remarkable prophecy that was very specific was the one given at Isaiah 44:28-29, "That saith of Cyrus, `He is' my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." (ASV); and Isaiah 45:1, "Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:" (ASV), which secular history shows was fulfilled over two hundred years in the future as it does of the prophecy about how Cyrus would capture Babylonia at Isaiah 44:27, "that saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers;" (ASV). This fact can be verified in most world history books and in "Ancient Near Eastern Texts," edited by J. Pritchard, 1946, and of course in the Bible.
CANDOR OF BIBLE SCRIBES SHOWS THEIR TRUTHFULNESS:
Unlike writers of so called other 'holy books' the writers (scribes) of the Bible showed outstanding candor in their writings even testifying to their own shortcomings under divine guidance as shown at Numbers 20:12, "And Jehovah saith unto Moses, and unto Aaron, `Because ye have not believed in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore ye do not bring in this assembly unto the land which I have given to them.'" (YLT); and at Jonah 1:1-3, "Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah." (ASV) clearly here the prophet Jonah is testifying in candor to his own lack of faith and wrong doing; and at Mark 14:66-67 and 71-72, "And Peter being in the hall beneath, there doth come one of the maids of the chief priest, 67 and having seen Peter warming himself, having looked on him, she said, `And thou wast with Jesus of Nazareth!'" and "and he began to anathematize, and to swear -- `I have not known this man of whom ye speak; 72 and a second time a cock crew, and Peter remembered the saying that Jesus said to him -- `Before a cock crow twice, thou mayest deny me thrice;' and having thought thereon -- he was weeping." (YLT). Examples such as these are found throughout the Bible of candor on the part of the writers (scribes) which is definitely not found in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Rig Veda, the so called holy book of the Zoroastrians, etc.; once more showing the great difference between the Bible, which is the only book ever inspired by God (YHWH) and so called other 'holy books.'
BIBLE DIRECT GLORY TO GOD AND NOT TO MEN:
Unlike many other so called 'holy books' the Bible directs glory to God (YHWH) and not to men such as the Egyptian Pharaohs, many ancient rulers, and the Roman Emperors that claimed to be gods. This is made vividly clear at Psalms 113:3-5, "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same Jehovah's name is to be praised. 4 Jehovah is high above all nations, And his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like unto Jehovah our God, That hath his seat on high," (ASV); and at Isaiah 40:22-23, "`It is' he that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in; 23 that bringeth princes to nothing; that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity." (ASV); and at 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, "For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, `are called': 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, `yea' and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: 29 that no flesh should glory before God. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (ASV); and at many other places such as Revelation 7:12.
ARCHAEOLOGY HAS CORROBORATED MANY BIBLE ACCOUNTS:
So many Bible accounts have corroborated
so many Bible accounts that it would require many books to significantly deal with them all. However, but a few of these are Genesis 19:24-25, "and Jehovah hath rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah, from the heavens; 25 and He overthroweth these cities, and all the circuit, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which is shooting up from the ground." (YLT) has been corroborated by Geologist recently when they ascertained that the area mentioned had been involved in a catastrophic explosion followed by rain of sulphur. Also, a recent expedition found extensive underwater remnants of a civilization that flourished and died app. 4,000 years ago that now is submerged beneath the south end of the Dead Sea.
Another example is Joshua 1:4, "From this wilderness and Lebanon, and unto the great river, the river Phrath, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great Sea -- the going in of the sun -- is your border." (YLT). This has been confirmed by the discovery at an excavation at Boghazkeui, Turkey, the ancient site of the Hittite capital where over 10,00 clay tablets in the Hittite cuneiform script and other languages have been found.
Another example is 1 Kings 14:25-26, "And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; 26 and he took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made." (ASV). This was verified by a finding in 1830 of writings on the outer wall of Egyptian temple at Karnak that when deciphered was found to be a record of Shishnak's victory.
Another example is 2 Kings 3:4-5, "Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep-master; and he rendered unto the king of Israel the wool of a hundred thousand lambs, and of a hundred thousand rams. 5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel." (ASV). This was verified with the finding of the Moabite stone in 1868 [now preserved in the Louvre, Paris] which gives King Mesha's version of his revolt against Israel.
Another example is 2 Kings 18:13, "Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them." (ASV). In 1847 to 1851, Layard excavated Assyrian King Sennacherib's great palace at Kuyunjik, and uncovered clay cylinders, now called King Sennacherib's Prism, giving his boastful version of the invasion of Judah, [now preserved in the British Museum].

Another example is Acts 17:22, "And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious." (ASV). The Ares, or 'Mars Hill," rocky hill northwest of Acropolis of Athens still remains to confirm the Beble record of setting for Paul's discourse, and a plaque there contains a copy of a part of his speech.
Now if any want to know more, go and read one of the many books written on archaeology corroboration of Bible accounts, many can be found in any large metropolitan library.
THE BIBLE IN HARMONY WITH TRUE SCIENCE:
Let's review a few examples such as Genesis 1:11 & 21 & 25, "And God saith, `Let the earth yield tender grass, herb sowing seed, fruit-tree (whose seed `is' in itself) making fruit after its kind, on the earth:' and it is so." And "21 And God prepareth the great monsters, and every living creature that is creeping, which the waters have teemed with, after their kind, and every fowl with wing, after its kind, and God seeth that `it is' good." And "And God maketh the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, and God seeth that `it is' good.", all of which we all now know to be true do to the findings of scientist.
And Job 26:7, "He is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing." (New World Translation; NWT). For many centuries it was believed that the sun revolved around the earth, and one so called Christian group, actually a counterfeit Christian group, actually burned an individual at the stake on orders from Rome, one Giordano Bruno, executed in 1600 for a belief and teaching of the Copernican's system, the belief that the earth revolved around the sun, as they taught as truth the Ptolemaic system, the belief that the sun revolved around the earth, can you imagine that. Also, some religious groups and so called 'holy books' stated that the earth was supported by a giant turtle, can you imagine such nonsense; but the Bible contains no such nonsense in the legitimate canonical books. And Isaiah 40:22, "`It is' he that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;" (ASV). For many centuries it was believed that the earth was flat and if you traveled too far you would fall off, but the Bible correctly said, "above the circle of the earth" revealing that it was a globe. Once more proving the Bible always was in harmony with true science. Of course this was NOT true for the many so called 'holy books,' the knockoffs from the Bible excluded.

ITS PRESERVATION IN FACE OF SEVERE OPPOSITION SHOWS THAT IT TRULY IS THE WORD OF GOD:
The fact that the Bible still exist after such severe opposition throughout the ages is testimony to the fact that it is the word of God (YHWH). This fact was foretold in advance at Isaiah 40:8, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever." (ASV); and 1 Peter 1:25, "'The saying of Jehovah endures forever." Well, this is the 'saying,' this which has been declared to you as good news." (NWT). Through the ages many efforts were made to eliminate the Bible and many individuals were burned at the stake for either publishing, distributing, and/or possessing a copy of the Bible, but we still have it as God (YHWH) made provisions for its preservation and today it has been translated into over 2,000 languages and more copies are in existence of it than any other book on earth; in fact more copies of it have been printed than all other so called 'holy books' sure says a lot.
ALL OF THE BIBLE IS VALUABLE:
That all of the Bible is beneficial and NOT outdated is brought out at Romans 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope." (ASV); and John 20:31, "but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name." (ASV).
JESUS (YESHUA) AND THE APOSTLES FREELY QUOTED FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT:
Jesus (Yeshua) and his apostles clearly quoted from the Old Testament [Hebrew Testament] clearly showing that they considered all of it as the inspired word of God (YHWH) as it truly is. This is clearly shown at Luke 4:17-21, "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears." (ASV); and at Luke 24:27 & 44-45, "And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." And "And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;" (ASV). Also, there many more scriptures showing that Jesus (Yeshua) and his apostles clearly quoted from the Old Testament.
In fact, many of these scriptures contain examples for our benefit today, one example being shown in Luke 17:26-30, "And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: 30 after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed." (ASV).
BIBLE TO BE VIEWED AS A UNIFORM WHOLE:
The Bible is shown to be clearly a uniform whole at 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is Inspired of God and beneficial." (NWT); therefore, the reading of it on a regular basis is important. This is testified to at Matthew 4:4, "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (ASV); and Deuteronomy 6:4-7, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength. These commandments which I give you this day are to be kept in your heart; you shall repeat them to your sons, and speak of them indoors and out of doors, when you lie down and when you rise." (The New English Bible; NEB); and 2 Timothy 3:15, "You know how, when you were a small child, you were taught the holy Scriptures; and it is these that make you wise to accept God's salvation by trusting in Christ Jesus." (Living New Testament; LNT); and Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
FOR THE RIGHT INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE, WE MUST LOOK TO GOD (YHWH):
We must look to God (YHWH) for the correct interpretation of the Bible and not to men as testified to at Genesis 40:8, "They replied, 'We have each had a dream and there is no one to interpret it for us.'" (NWT); and Daniel 2:28, "but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he discloses to king Nebuchadnezzar what is to happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your brain in bed are these:" (The Bible, A New Translation, by James Moffatt, D.D., D.Litt., M.A.; ANT); and Matthew 11:25, "And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him." (ASV).
Remember that the 'RIGHT' explanation is always harmonious with the rest of God's (YHWH's) word as brought out at 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of maners and discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind." (NET); and Acts 15:14-15, "Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written," (ASV). Also, as brought out by Matthew 16:4, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed." (ASV); and Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (ASV).
EVENTS IN FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY POINT OUT MEANING:
Actually, events in fulfillment of prophecy point out Bible meaning as shown by Matthew 1:18 & 22-23, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit." And "22 Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us." (ASV); and Acts 2:4 & 14-21, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." And "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, `saying', Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is `but' the third hour of the day. 16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: 18 Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable `day'. 21 And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (ASV).
Remember, personal interpretation may lead to twisting of scriptures as shown by 2 Peter 3:15-16, "and the long-suffering of our Lord count ye salvation, according as also our beloved brother Paul -- according to the wisdom given to him -- did write to you 16 as also in all the epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, among which things are certain hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable do wrest, as also the other Writings, unto their own destruction." (ASV). Also, adding to or taking away from the words of the Bible is wrong as shown at Revelation 22:18-19, "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:
19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book." (ASV).
CONCLUSION:
As can be seen from the foregoing, the Bible is truly the word of God (YHWH) and NOT of man as are all the other books in existence. It is the only book God (YHWH) has ever inspired to be written and that God (YHWH) used divinely inspired men to record his thoughts in the words of men. So as we can see, the proposition stated in the introduction has been proved past any reasonable doubt to all individuals who are honest with themselves. Of course there will be many individuals who will not accept this, and this is to be expected; and that is why we have the saying you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink. These are the ones who want to believe myths and legends and figuratively say, 'my mind is made up, please do NOT confuse me with facts.'

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]  TRINITY DISPROVED BY REFUTING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS/ACCUSATIONS BY TRINITARIANS   With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]   SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [161B]

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.   Jeremiah 10:23,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, we should NOT lean upon our own understanding, but search Almighty God’S  (YHWH’S)  word, the Bible to gain understanding and to follow His directions as testified to at Colossians 3:10 – 11, [AV]  “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”    We should keep in mind what is written at James 3:17 – 18, [AV]  “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.   18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
   
[2]   TRINITY DISPROVED BY REFUTING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS/ACCUSATIONS BY TRINITARIANS:

FIRST, Question/Accusation by a Trinitarian:

There are places in the NT that definitely show Jesus to be God and yet some would deny this. To deny the Son is to deny the Father, meaning that those who say that Jesus is no more than Son and not God deny God the Father.

Answer:

Obviously overlooking the fact that Jesus (Yeshua) also is one of God's (Yeshua's) children, the first or only begotten, and that everything he has was given to him. Now, let's look at the facts concerning Jesus's (Yeshua's) incarnation and his status before his incarnation in brief.

HIS INCARNATION:

Now the Bible says at Matthew 1:18-25, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. 24 And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; 25 and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS." (ASV) clearly showing his conception to be through God's (YHWH's) power or Spirit, a miracle. Now some may ask, what is God's (YHWH's) spirit, let's examine this subject and view the evidence. Now what is this Spirit or Holy Spirit that John the Baptist mentioned at John 1:32, ""And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost." (AV)? The Holy Spirit is only God's (YHWH's) active force and not even a spirit being or person. This is clearly shown at Pentecost where the Holy Spirit was poured out onto all there, Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 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." (AV). This entire scripture bespeaks of a force and not a being as you do not get filled with a being! And this fact is reaffirmed at Acts 4:31, ""And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." (AV); And 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, "Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (AV), surely a being would not be in our hearts as that is ludicrous, thus this scripture talks of God's (YHWH's) active force; This is clearly shown at Luke 11:13, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (AV). Once more, why? Why? Do many say they are coequal and coeternal when clearly they are not and the Holy Ghost is just God's (YHWH's) active force? Only to try to give some resemblance of reality to a myth as we shall later see. An interesting note on the Spirit is that the neuter Greek word for spirit (pneu'ma) is used, the neuter pronoun "it" is properly employed. This fact is conveniently over looked or hidden by most Trinitarian translators as admitted in the "New American Bible Catholic Bible," regarding John 14:17: "The Greek word for 'Spirit' is neuter, and while we use personal pronouns in English ('he,' 'his,' 'him'), most Greek MSS [manuscripts] employ 'it.'" So when the Bible uses masculine personal pronouns in connection with pa·ra'kle·tos at John 16:7, 8, it is conforming to rules of grammar, not expressing a doctrine. And in Ancient Hebrew the word here rendered Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, or Spirit which is translated from 'ru'ach' meaning "breath; wind; spirit."

WHO HIS REAL FATHER IS:

The Bible says his Father is Almighty God (YHWH) who we have seen from the foregoing used his power to implant his life force into a virgin Jewish girl named Mary.  Also, that he was supposedly the son of Joseph which is clearly shown at Luke 3:23, "And when He began His Ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, [b]being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli." (New American Standard Bible; NASB).   He was in effect de-facto adopted by Joseph the husband of Mary who DID NOT have relations with Mary until after Jesus' (yeshua's) birth as testified to at Matthew 1:25, " And he knew her not till she brought forth her first born son: and he called his name Jesus." (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB); thus there can not be any doubt that his real Father is none other than Almighty God (YHWH) as clearly shown in the account of his pre-human existence given at Proverbs 8:22-31, "Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, 28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, 29 When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; 30 Then I was by him, [as] a master workman; And I was daily [his] delight, Rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." (ASV).  Which clearly shows that he was the first or beginning of God's (YHWH's) creation and absolutely proves in gross error anyone imputing anything but legitimacy to his birth since in fact he existed long before the earth or his incarnation on earth.

START OF HIS MINISTRY:

Let's also take a brief look at the start of his ministry.   At the age of 30 Jesus (Yeshua) came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by John.  This is detailed in the Bible at Matthew 3:13-17, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. 16 And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (ASV).   . Jesus (Yeshua) was therefore, now, ready and prepared to take up his ministry,  but had not yet received the Holy Spirit with which he would be able to prove that he was the Son of God (YHWH).   Now, at his baptism, his Sonship was confirmed by the Spirit of God (YHWH) descending upon him like a dove, and by the voice from heaven which said "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased". There is beautiful symbolism in the use of a dove to g visibly represent the Spirit of God (YHWH).  Jesus (Yeshua) was to be the mediator through whom peace would be re-established between God and man. Many people find it difficult to associate human nature with its weakness and propensities with Jesus (Yeshua), the Son of God (YHWH).  This association, however, is extremely important since it is only because Jesus (Yeshua) was 'made like his brethren in every respect' as testified to at Hebrews 2:16-18, " For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted." (Revised Standard Version; ASV).   This was so to permit him to represent them perfectly in his sacrifice as shown at Hebrews 4:15-16, "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (RSV) tells us that he was tempted in all ways like we are but without sinning', and because of this he is 'able to help those who are tempted'. We must acknowledge we are all desperately in need of his help.

SECOND, Question/Accusation by a Trinitarian:

1 - 1 John 5:2,3 is saying that if we love GOD we will keep HIS commandments.

2 - John 14:15 shows that if we love JESUS we will keep HIS commandments!

The key is on keeping the commandments. Whose are they?   Answer the question this time.

Answer:

Read Jesus' (Yeshua's) words at John 14:23-24, "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." (American Standard Version; ASV) for your answer. Jesus (Yeshua) clearly answers your question for you and at the same time shows where he receives all from.

Now, to understand 1 John 5:2-3, one need no more than look at it in contest and it actually proves the Trinity impossible,  1 John 5:1-9, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him[Note; Clearly shows that Jesus (Yeshua) is the begotten of God (YHWH) and NOT God (YHWH)]. 2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, [even] our faith. 5 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? [Note, Clearly identifies Jesus (Yeshua) as the Son of God and NOT God (YHWH) or God the Son as would be required for the Trinity to even be plausible]   6 This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. 7 And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 8 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son." (ASV) [Note: Some older translations had an error at 1 John 5:7 that had been deliberately inserted by someone way back, but the finding of older manuscripts has clearly shown this to be a violation of Revelations 22:18 called the Comma Johannenium as this error is so well known it has even been given a name].

THIRD, Question/Accusation by a Trinitarian:

Once again, Almighty God is El Shaddai (not YHWH )  AND Being the SON does not exempt Him from being YHWH, as you assume that is the name of the Father ONLY, which it is not. It is the name of GOD, not the name of the Father ONLY.

Answer:

YHWH is the name of God and in no way used to describe the devil. Now let's consider what the leading expert has to say on the subject, Gérard GERTOUX is a Hebrew scholar, specialist of the Tetragram; He has been president of the Association Biblique de Recherche d'Anciens Manuscrits since 1991. His training as an engineer and teacher has enabled him to compile an amount of information coming from a great diversity of specialized departments. He has written a book, "The Name of God Y.eH.oW.aH Which Is Pronounced As It Is Written I_Eh_Ou_Ah", and it clearly shows what God's (YHWH's) name is, its history, and that it can in no way properly be applied to the Devil.

A short abstract of it appeared in The Wall Street Journal and other publications as follows:

Usually, God's name is presented as fundamental in the monotheistic religions, but its pronunciation is controversial. However, the key to unlock this mystery was provided by the famous Maimonides 800 years ago, when he wrote that the Name 'is read as it is written'. The paradox starts and ends here with these intriguing words...

God's name is fundamental to all monotheistic religions. "May your name be held holy" is the first request for Christians in the Lord's Prayer taught by Jesus (Mt 6:9). "They exult in you, those who love your name" is sung by Jews when they sing the Psalms of David (Ps 5:11). "The hearts of humble ones quiver when the name of God is mentioned" is what Muslims say when they recite certain surahs of the Quran (22:35).

Paradoxically, religions prefer to translate God's name as Yahweh 'He is', Adonay 'my Lord', Allah 'The God', etc., rather than a transcription of the name, which is more usual. This study, initially published in the form of thesis, was greatly appreciated by many renowned specialists, because the subject had never been approached from the historical angle. This work created renewed interest in this fascinating topic -the disappearance of the Name followed by its slow re-emergence- which is relatively unknown.

Eight centuries ago, the famous Talmudist, Moses Maimonides, arrived at the right conclusion: There is no mystical mystery, because God's name is simply pronounced as it is written, that is to say: Y-H-W-H = I-eH-U-A in the same way: Y-H-W-D-H = I-eH-U-D-A.

And other expert critics said this of the book:

From United Bible Societies (Sarah Lind: Editor of the Newsletter)
Gérard Gertoux. 2002. The Name of God Y.EH.OW.AH Which is Pronounced as It is Written I_Eh_oU_Ah: Its Story. University Press of America. Translated from the French Un historique du nom divin. Un Nom Encens (L¹Harmattan, 1999). G. follows Maimonides' teaching that that YHWH "is read as it is written," i.e., yehua, in the same way that yhwdh is vocalized yehuda -applying the (coincidentally correct) Masoretic vowels. G. first considers biblical treatment of "the name": the power of the name; to know God's name; Jesus, Satan, the controversy over the name; and "the name read distinctly" (reconstruction of the reading). Part 2 examines the historical record from Adam to the American Standard Version, and the name of Jesus and its connections to the name. There is a seven part appendix that includes "interpretation of the Hebrew names" and "lack of nomina sacra in the earliest Christian papyrus." G. maintains a website with excerpts at divinename.net. Published in the Translation Information Clearinghouse Talk N°57, 2004.
www.ubs-translations.org/.../tt57.html

From Religious Studies Review (Won W. Lee professor at the Calvin College):
"In contrast to the long-held Jewish tradition, the author claims that the name of God in the HB should be pronounced. His claim is based on Exod 9:16, "... to make my name resound through all the earth" and Maimonides' work stressing the impossibility of a deep, personal relationship with a nameless God. With a survey of the historical record from "Adam" to the American Standard Version, Gertoux argues that the letters Y, W, H are read as the vowels I (or E), U (or O), and A. For the H, a mute e could be added in order to be better heard. The tetragrammaton, YHWH, is therefore read I-eH-U-A (Iehoua), the equivalent of YeHoWaH in Masoretic punctuation. This means that the name is to be pronounced as it is written, or according to its letters. The result is that the tetragrammaton is the only Hebrew name constituted, not of four consonants, but of four vowels, as noted by Josephus. This detailed treatment of the Name is useful for those who are interested in the history of its translation over the centuries." published in the Religious Studies Review Volume 29 Number 3 July 2003 page 285.
www.cssr.org/article.asp?idx=26142

From Seek God Association (Michael John Rood: Messianic Karaite Rabbi)
Emanuel Tov's credentials are numerous and lengthy, but one of the most interesting aspects of Mr. Tov's work is his study on the Masoretic Text and the translation of YHVH. According to postings on various forums, it has been stated that both Emanuel and Nehemiah Gordon believe that the Name of God is closer to Yehowah, which is similar to Jehovah in English, and not even close to Yahweh (...) The Masoretic Text manuscripts tend to vary later on, per Nehemiah Gordon (who also defends Yehovah after extensive study of the Masoretic Text manuscripts). Nehemiah's view, developed quite separately from Gertoux,... based on studying the actual manuscripts under Emanuel Tov, is that Yahweh cannot be defended, and the earlier Masoretic manuscripts all have a Yehowah (or Yehovah) pronounciation, while later on there is a lot of variation.
www.seekgod.ca/roodkaraite.htm

From Golden Age Books (Anthony Byatt: Specialist in English Bibles and Bible Study Material)
The Name of God Y.eH.oW.aH (...): Its Story reflects on God's name as fundamental to all monotheistic religions. Maimonides, 800 years ago, wrote that the Name "is read as it is written." Gerard Gertoux has written a deep treatise with a great deal of factual evidence for Jehovah's name. Contents include The Power of The Name; Jesus and Satan - Their Controversy Over the Name; The Pronunciation of Jesus' Name; Methods to Restore a Pronunciation; and a long section on the historical record from Adam through Bible times and down to the American Standard Version. Many appendices, notes and charts.
www.goldenagebooks.co.uk/...oductID=71

From New Testament Abstracts (Weston Jesuit School of Theology):
Gertoux contends that YHWH, the Tetragram, which is the proper name of God, is pronounced without difficulty because "it is read as it is written" according to the words of Maimonides. He first considers "the name": the power of the name; to know God's name; Jesus, Satan, their controversy over the name; and the name read distinctly. Then he examines the historical record: from Adam to Moses, from Moses to David, from David to Zedekiah, from Zedekiah to Simon the Just, from Simon the Just to Jesus, from Jesus to Justin, from Justin to Jerome, from Jerome to the Masoretes, from the Masoretes to Maimonides, from Maimonides to Tyndale, from Tyndale to the American Standard Version, and the name of Jesus and its connections to the name. Eight appendices are included. Published in the New Testament Abstracts Volume 47 Number 3 (2003) page 553. www.wjst.edu/news/nta/index.htm

From Booknews (Reference and Research Book News)
As indicated in the title, Gertoux concludes that the tetragram YHWH is the proper name of God, and is easy to pronounce because it sounds just like it is written according to the great Maimonides. In order to reach that destination, however, he has examined errors that have accumulated for at least 20 centuries, and wandered through linguistic questions. He posts warnings so non-specialist readers can avoid the very technical bogs. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) www.paratext.com/booknews_intro.htm
Reference and Research Book News 2002 Volume 17 N°1-4. 5739 NE Summer Street, Portland Or 97218 ISSN 0-887-3763

From Old Presbyterian Meeting House (Professor Bruce M. Metzger)
The use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other gods from whom the true God had to be distinguished, began to be discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era (....) for further scholarly information on the origins of sacred names, please visit the pages of Gérard GERTOUX. www.opmh.org/newbibles.htm

FOURTH, Question/Accusation by a Trinitarian:

Only SCRIPTURE can either prove or disprove the deity of Christ!   

Answer:

Is correct, but used often by Trinitarians who get caught in a corner and need to obfuscate the issue.   But common reasoning can go along way to backing up the Bible with regard to the fact that Jesus (Yeshua) is indeed divine and a diety. You should well know the fact that 'like begets like' and know by this law of nature that Jesus (Yeshua) would have to be a diety and not question it; but that in NO way makes him the same spirit being as his Father (YHWH) than it makes any other son the same being as his father.   This fact should be obvious to all.

FIFTH, Question/Accusation by a Trinitarian:

That is not the translation you are referring to. That is the Greek words used in John 1:1 if used OUT OF CONTEXT and SEPARATELY. That is not the meaning of those words. Therefore, it is not an interpretation of John 1:1.  [Referring to, "The Word for Word English Translation from Koine Greek to English from The Vatican Manuscript #1209" done by the great German Bible scholar and translator Dr. J. J. Griesbach]

Answer:

WRONG, The Word for Word English Translation from Koine Greek to English from The Vatican Manuscript #1209 which makes the Emphatic Diaglott so valuable in seeing exactly what the Koine Greek is and its word for word equivalency in English, see below:   

John 1:1-5 & 14, "1 In a beginning was the word, and the word was with the God, and a god was the Word 2 This was in a beginning with the God. 3 All through it was done; and without it was done not even one, that has been done. 4 In it life was, and the life was the light of the men, 5 and the light in the darkness shines, and the darkness it not apprehended." And "14And the Word flesh became, and tabernacied among us, (and we beheld the glory of him, a glory as of an only-begotten from a father,) full of favor and truth," ( The Word for Word English Translation from Koine Greek to English from The Vatican Manuscript #1209" done by the great German Bible scholar and translator Dr. J. J. Griesbach)

Now let's look at how several unbiased translators translated these verses as opposed to the common biased translation:

The Complete Bible: An American Translation. Contributors: Edgar J. Goodspeed - transltr, J. M. Powis Smith - transltr. Publisher: University of Chicago Press. Place of Publication: Chicago. Publication Year: 1939.:
John 1:1-5 & 14, "1  IN THE beginning the Word exist- ed. The Word was with God, and the Word was divine.  2 It was he that was with God in  3 the beginning. Everything came into ex- istence through him, and apart from him  4 nothing came to be. It was by him that life came into existence, and that life  5 was the light of mankind. The light is still shining in the darkness, for the darkness has never put it out." And "14  So the Word became flesh and blood and lived for a while among us, abounding in blessing and truth, and we saw the honor God had given him, such honor as an only son receives from his father."

A New Translation of The Bible by James Moffatt, D.D., D.Litt.:
John 1:1-5 & 14, "The Logos existed in the very beginning, the Logos was with God, the Logos was divine.  2 He was with God in the very beginning:  3 through him all existence came into being, no existence came into being apart from him.  4 In him life lay, and this life was the Light for men;  5 amid the darkness the Light shone, and the darkness did not master it."  And "14 So the Logos became flesh and tarried among us; we have seen his glory-glory such as an only sone enjoys from his father-seen it to be full of grace and reality."

The New English Bible (NEB)
John 1:1-5 & 14, "1 When all things began, the Word already was. The Word dwelt with God, and what God was, the Word was  2 The Word, then, was with God at the beginning, 3   and through him all things came to be; no single thing was created without him. 4 All that came to be was alive with his life, 5 and that life was the light of men.  The light shines on in the dark, and the darkness has never quenched it."  And  "14 So the Word became flesh; he came to dwell among us, and we saw his glory, such glory as befits the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth"

[History of this great translation, "A presbytery in the Church of Scotland in 1946 recommended to the General Assembly that a translation of the Bible be made in the language of the present day because the language in the Authorized Version was archaic and less generally understood. The General Assembly approached other churches. There was a desire that a completely new translation rather than a revision and for a contemporary idiom rather than a traditional Biblical English be used.

It was planned and directed by representatives of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Congregational Church in England and Wales, the Council of Churches for Wales, the Irish Council of Churches, the London Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends, the Methodist Church of Great Britain, the Presbyterian Church of England, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the National Bible Society of Scotland. The Roman Catholic Church in England and Scotland sent representatives as observers.]

PART TWO TO FOLLOW TOMORROW:  162B

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