July 16, 2014

From Gary... FUNNY, you say...

What makes something humorous? And why do we laugh? Probably for a variety of reasons, depending on the circumstances. And for that matter, are there "restrictions" on what a Christian should find laughable?  Today, as I began my daily search for a post, I came across this picture and pondered these things.  Relax, I have no intention of telling you what to laugh at or not, as I think humor is a very personal thing. But, I do think the Scriptures give us a few general guidelines...
Galatians, Chapter 5 (NASB)
(Gal 5:16)  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
(Gal 5:17)  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

(Gal 5:18)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

(Gal 5:19)  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

(Gal 5:20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

(Gal 5:21)  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(Gal 5:22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

(Gal 5:23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.


(Gal 5:24)  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

(Gal 5:25)  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Generally, if we find humor in the things of the flesh (from the list above), I think its time to ask yourself WHY you are laughing. Instead, look for gentle, subtle humor that is harmless. To me, Verse 25 above says it all. If anyone has thoughts on this, I would appreciate your comments....

From Gary... Bible Reading July 16

Bible Reading 
July 16

The World English Bible


July 16
1 Chronicles 10-12

1Ch 10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.
1Ch 10:2 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
1Ch 10:3 The battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers.
1Ch 10:4 Then said Saul to his armor bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.
1Ch 10:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died.
1Ch 10:6 So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together.
1Ch 10:7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
1Ch 10:8 It happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
1Ch 10:9 They stripped him, and took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people.
1Ch 10:10 They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
1Ch 10:11 When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
1Ch 10:12 all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
1Ch 10:13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh, which he didn't keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby,
1Ch 10:14 and didn't inquire of Yahweh: therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
1Ch 11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
1Ch 11:2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel: and Yahweh your God said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.
1Ch 11:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh by Samuel.
1Ch 11:4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.
1Ch 11:5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, You shall not come in here. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
1Ch 11:6 David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.
1Ch 11:7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David.
1Ch 11:8 He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
1Ch 11:9 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him.
1Ch 11:10 Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.
1Ch 11:11 This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
1Ch 11:12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
1Ch 11:13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
1Ch 11:14 They stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory.
1Ch 11:15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
1Ch 11:16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
1Ch 11:17 David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
1Ch 11:18 The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh,
1Ch 11:19 and said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
1Ch 11:20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
1Ch 11:21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the first three.
1Ch 11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
1Ch 11:23 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
1Ch 11:24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.
1Ch 11:25 Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
1Ch 11:26 Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
1Ch 11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
1Ch 11:28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
1Ch 11:29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
1Ch 11:30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
1Ch 11:31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
1Ch 11:32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
1Ch 11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
1Ch 11:34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
1Ch 11:35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
1Ch 11:36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
1Ch 11:37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
1Ch 11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
1Ch 11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
1Ch 11:40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
1Ch 11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
1Ch 11:42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
1Ch 11:43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
1Ch 11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
1Ch 11:45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
1Ch 11:46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
1Ch 11:47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
1Ch 12:1 Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.
1Ch 12:2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow: they were of Saul's brothers of Benjamin.
1Ch 12:3 The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite,
1Ch 12:4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,
1Ch 12:5 Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
1Ch 12:6 Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,
1Ch 12:7 and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
1Ch 12:8 Of the Gadites there separated themselves to David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains;
1Ch 12:9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
1Ch 12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
1Ch 12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
1Ch 12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
1Ch 12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
1Ch 12:14 These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army: he who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.
1Ch 12:15 These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
1Ch 12:16 There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David.
1Ch 12:17 David went out to meet them, and answered them, If you be come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if you be come to betray me to my adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
1Ch 12:18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you." Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
1Ch 12:19 Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they didn't help them; for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
1Ch 12:20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh.
1Ch 12:21 They helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army.
1Ch 12:22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.
1Ch 12:23 These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of Yahweh.
1Ch 12:24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.
1Ch 12:25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
1Ch 12:26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
1Ch 12:27 Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron; and with him were three thousand and seven hundred,
1Ch 12:28 and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty-two captains.
1Ch 12:29 Of the children of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.
1Ch 12:30 Of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses.
1Ch 12:31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.
1Ch 12:32 Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment.
1Ch 12:33 Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, with all manner of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and who could order the battle array, and were not of double heart.
1Ch 12:34 Of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.
1Ch 12:35 Of the Danites who could set the battle in array, twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
1Ch 12:36 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand.
1Ch 12:37 On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred twenty thousand.
1Ch 12:38 All these being men of war, who could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
1Ch 12:39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had made preparation for them.
1Ch 12:40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and cattle, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.
Jul. 16, 17
Acts 11

Act 11:1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
Act 11:2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,
Act 11:3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"
Act 11:4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
Act 11:5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.
Act 11:6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
Act 11:7 I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!'
Act 11:8 But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'
Act 11:9 But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, 'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.'
Act 11:10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
Act 11:11 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.
Act 11:12 The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.
Act 11:13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, whose surname is Peter,
Act 11:14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.'
Act 11:15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
Act 11:16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'
Act 11:17 If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"
Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!"
Act 11:19 They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
Act 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Act 11:21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Act 11:22 The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,
Act 11:23 who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.
Act 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
Act 11:25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.
Act 11:26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. It happened, that for a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Act 11:27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Act 11:28 One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.
Act 11:29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
Act 11:30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

From Mark Copeland... The First Day Of The Week (Acts 20:7)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                   The First Day Of The Week (20:7)

INTRODUCTION

1. For almost 2000 years, Christians have assembled on Sunday to observe
   the Lord's Supper...
   a. Why on Sunday (the first day of the week)?
   b. Why not on the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week)?

2. In Ac 20:7, we find the first reference to worship on a Sunday...
   a. When disciples came together to break bread
   b. When Paul spoke to them 

[Some might wonder whether this passage refers to a weekly observance,
and whether Christians did in fact assemble on the first day of the
week to partake of the Lord's Supper.  Consider the evidence for...]

I. THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SUPPER

   A. THE BIBLICAL EVIDENCE...
      1. When the church began, they continued steadfastly in "the
         breaking of bread" - Ac 2:42
      2. Disciples came together on the first day of the week to "break
         bread" - Ac 20:7
      3. "Breaking bread" is likely a reference to the Lord's Supper 
         - cf. 1Co 10:16-17
      4. Other indications of a weekly observance:
         a. The church at Corinth was coming together to eat the Lord's 
            Supper, though they were abusing it - cf. 1Co 11:17-22
         b. Instructions concerning the collection suggest their coming
            together was on the first day of the week - cf. 1Co 16:1-2
      -- Seemingly slight, the Biblical evidence weighs more than any
         human opinion

   B. THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE...
      1. The earliest historical evidence outside the Bible confirms the
         day and frequency
         a. The Didache (ca. 95 A.D.) indicates Christians were to come
            together on the first day of the week to break bread 
            - Didache 14:1
         b. Justin Martyr (ca. 150 A.D.) records how Christians assembled
            on Sunday and partook of the Supper - Apology I, 67
         c. "...the early church writers from Barnabas, Justin Martyr, 
            Irenaeus, to Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Cyprian, all 
            with one consent, declare that the church observed the first
            day of the week. They are equally agreed that the Lord's 
            Supper was observed weekly, on the first day of the week." 
            - B. W. Johnson, People's New Testament
      2. Religious scholars confirm this was the practice
         a. "As we have already remarked, the celebration of the Lord's
            Supper was still held to constitute an essential part of 
            divine worship every Sunday, as appears from Justin Martyr
            (A.D. 150)..." - Augustus Neander (Lutheran), History Of 
            Christian Religion And Church, Vol. I, p. 332
         b. "This ordinance (the Lord's Supper) seems to have been
            administered every Lord's day; and probably no professed 
            Christian absented themselves... - Thomas Scott 
            (Presbyterian), Commentary On Acts 20:7
         c. "This also is an important example of weekly communion as the
            practice of the first Christians." - A. C. Hervey 
            (Episcopalian), Commentary On Acts 20:7
         d. "It is well known that the primitive Christians administered
            the Eucharist (the Lord's Supper) every Lord's day." - P. 
            Doddridge (Congregationalist), Notes On Acts 20:7
         e. "We understand v. 7 to indicate that the Breaking of Bread on
            the first day of the week was customary during the apostolic
            period." - F. F. Bruce, (Open Brethren), New International 
            Bible commentary (p. 1302)
      -- The overwhelming consensus of extra biblical sources supports
         the conclusion that the Biblical practice was to observe the 
         Lord's Supper each first day of the week

[But as asked in the introduction, why Sunday?  Why not the Sabbath Day?
Consider the following regarding...]

II. THE DAY OF THE OBSERVANCE

   A. WHY THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK...?
      1. Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday - Mt 28:1; Mk 16:2,9; Lk 24:1; Jn 20:1
      2. Jesus appeared to His disciples on Sunday - Jn 20:19
      3. The church began on Pentecost, which was on a Sunday - Ac 2:1-42
      4. The command to lay by in store was to be carried out on a
         Sunday - 1Co 16:1-2
      5. Jesus appeared to John on "the Lord's Day", later understood to
         be Sunday - Re 1:10
      -- The Scriptures do not explicitly declare the above to be reasons
         why Christians assembled on the first day of the week, but it 
         might indicate why they did

   B. WHY NOT THE SABBATH...?
      1. The Sabbath was the sign of the Mosaic Covenant (Exo 31:16,17;
         Neh 9:14; Eze 20:12), whereas Christians are under the New 
         Covenant (2Co 3; He 8)
      2. There is no NT command to keep the Sabbath
      3. The first command to keep the Sabbath was not until the time of
         Moses (Ex 16:23-30; 20:8)
      4. The Jerusalem Council (Ac 15) did not order Gentile believers to
         keep the Sabbath
      5. Paul never cautioned Christians about breaking the Sabbath
      6. The NT explicitly teaches that Sabbath keeping was not a
         requirement (Ro 14:5; Ga 4:10-11; Col 2:16-17)
      -- The above reasons are from The MacArthur Study Bible (Acts 20:7), 

         For why Scripture does not require Christians to observe
         the Saturday Sabbath

   C. AS PER ENCYCLOPEDIAS...
      1. "Sunday, first day of the week; in Christianity, the Lord's Day,
         the weekly memorial of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead.
         The practice of Christians gathering together for worship on 
         Sunday dates back to apostolic times..." - Encyclopedia
         Britannica
      2. "From the apostolic era to the present it has been customary
         for Christians to assemble for communal Sunday services..." 
         - Encyclopedia Americana
      3. "The celebration of the Lord's Day in memory of the resurrection
         of Christ dates undoubtedly from the apostolic age. Nothing 
         short of apostolic precedent can account for the universal 
         religious observance in the churches of the second century. 
         There is no dissenting voice. This custom is confirmed by the 
         testimonies of the earliest post-apostolic writers, as Barnabas,
         Ignatius, and Justin Martyr." - History Of The Christian Church,
         Philip Schaff, vol. 1, pg. 201-202
      -- Both internal and external evidence from the Bible indicates
         that Christians met together on the first day of the week, i.e.,
         Sunday

CONCLUSION

1. Again from Philip Schaff, History of Christian Church, Vol. 1, pg.
   478-479...
   a. "...it appears, therefore, from the New Testament itself, that
      Sunday was observed as a day of worship, and in special 
      commemoration of the Resurrection, whereby the work of redemption 
      was finished."
   b. "The universal and uncontradicted Sunday observance in the second
      century can only be explained by the fact that it has its roots in
      apostolic practice."

2. Some may say that the Biblical evidence is scarce...
   a. But a whisper of God's Word is worth more than a blast of man's
      opinions
   b. The apostolic example is more authoritative than any human 
      tradition

If you are a disciple of Christ, do you assemble with other Christians
on the first day of the week to break bread (observe the Lord's Supper)?
If not, why not...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013

The Genealogies of Matthew and Luke by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/AllegedDiscrepancies.aspx?article=932

The Genealogies of Matthew and Luke

by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

One of the charges of contradiction brought by skeptics against the Bible is the surface appearance of contradiction between Matthew’s genealogical list (1:1-17) and the one provided by Luke (3:23-38). As is always the case, the charge of contradiction is premature and reflects an immature appraisal of the extant evidence. In every case of alleged contradiction, further investigation has yielded additional evidence that exonerates the Bible and further verifies its inerrancy. The alleged discrepancies pertaining to Matthew and Luke’s genealogies were explained and answered long ago (e.g., Haley, 1977, pp. 325-326; McGarvey, 1910, pp. 344-346; McGarvey, 1974, pp. 51-55; cf. Lyons, 2003).
When one places the two genealogical lists side by side, several factors become immediately apparent that combine to dispel the appearance of conflict.
Genealogies Chart
Click for Larger Image (132 Kb)
First, Matthew reported the lineage of Christ only back to Abraham; Luke traced it all the way back to Adam. Second, Matthew used the expression “begat;” Luke used the expression “son of,” which results in his list being a complete reversal of Matthew’s. Third, the two genealogical lines parallel each other from Abraham to David. Fourth, beginning with David, Matthew traced the paternal line of descent through Solomon; Luke traced the maternal line through Solomon’s brother, Nathan.
A fifth factor that must be recognized is that the two lines (paternal and maternal) link together in the intermarriage of Shealtiel and Zerubbabel. But the linkage separates again in the two sons of Zerubbabel—Rhesa and Abiud. Sixth, the two lines come together once again for a final time in the marriage of Joseph and Mary. Joseph was the end of the paternal line, while Mary was the last of the maternal line as the daughter of Heli.
The reason Joseph is said to be the “son” of Heli (Mary’s father) brings forth a seventh consideration: the Jewish use of “son.” Hebrews used the word in at least five distinct senses: (1) in the sense used today of a one-generation offspring; (2) in the sense of a descendant, whether a grandson or a more remote descendant many generations previous, e.g., Matthew 1:1; 21:9; 22:42 (“begat” had this same flexibility in application); (3) as a son-in-law (the Jews had no word to express this concept and so just used “son”—e.g., 1 Samuel 24:16; 26:17); (4) in accordance with the Levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; cf. Matthew 22:24-26), a deceased man would have a son through a surrogate father who legally married the deceased man’s widow (e.g., Ruth 2:20; 3:9,12; 4:3-5); and (5) in the sense of a step-son who took on the legal status of his step-father—the relationship sustained by Jesus to Joseph (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Luke 3:23; 4:22; John 6:42).
Notice carefully that Joseph was a direct-line, blood descendant of David and, therefore, of David’s throne. Here is the precise purpose of Matthew’s genealogy: it demonstrated Jesus’ legal right to inherit the throne of David—a necessary prerequisite to authenticating His Messianic claim. However, an equally critical credential was His blood/physical descent from David—a point that could not be established through Joseph since “after His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18, emp. added). This feature of Christ’s Messiahship was established through His mother Mary, who was also a blood descendant of David (Luke 1:30-32). Both the blood of David and the throne of David were necessary variables to qualify and authenticate Jesus as the Messiah.
Once again, the Bible’s intricate complexities shine forth to dispel the critic’s accusations, while simultaneously demonstrating its own infallible representations. The more one delves into its intricacies and plummets its intriguing depths, the more one is driven to the inescapable conclusion that the Bible is, indeed, the Book of books—the inspired Word of God.

REFERENCES

Haley, John W. (1977), Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).
Lyons, Eric (2003), The Anvil Rings (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).
McGarvey, J.W. (1910), Biblical Criticism (Cincinnati, OH: Standard).
McGarvey, J.W. (1974 reprint), Evidences of Christianity (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate).

From Jim McGuiggan... NON SEQUITORS*


NON SEQUITORS*

“Non sequitur” is Latin. It means: it doesn’t follow. It’s usually used when someone makes an argument to prove something he/she is proposing that doesn’t support that proposal. In the past I’ve been the “king of non sequiturs” and I’m trying hard to lose my title. It’s a question of linkage.
For example I say: “We don’t really know how the ancients got those huge blocks to the top of the pyramids.” You say: “So?” I say: “Therefore they must have been built by beings from outer space.” You jeer at me and speak Latin: “Non sequitur!”
Part of the problem in non sequitur proposals is that the first claim may well be true and we’re fooled by that and don’t notice that the therefore is a lousy link; the truth of the first part doesn’t lead to the claim in the second part.
We hear non sequiturs all the time.
“Natural selection operates in the world therefore there is no God.”
Or: “Scientists can manipulate genes and affect human life therefore God didn’t create genes (or humans).
Or: “Scientists can routinely produce amino acids, the building blocks of life therefore there probably is no God.”
Or: “Scientists can imitate the first seconds after the Big Bang therefore God probably didn’t create the universe.”
Or: “If we spend gazillions of dollars and brain-power on space probes we might find the building blocks of carbon-based life on other planets and that will explain how we got here and it will help us get out of the mess we’re always in.”
Hmmm.
You hear this kind of thing from religious people as well.
“In the OT God blessed polygamous people therefore God approved of polygamy therefore God approves of polygamy today.”
“In the OT God gave laws regulating slavery therefore slavery had God’s approval and therefore God would approve of Christians having slaves today.”
“In the OT God gave laws regulating divorce ‘for any cause’ therefore God approved of it and therefore Christians have a right to divorce ‘for any cause’.”
“In the OT God regulated the drinking of intoxicating wine therefore it’s the Christian’s freedom to support the modern booze industry.”
“In the OT God gave “wine” (yayin, oinos) as a gift to mankind therefore he gave intoxicating wine to mankind as a gift.”
“God has given humanity intoxicating drink as a gift therefore the booze industry is doing us a favour by getting it into our hands therefore it's the irresponsible drunks who should be castigated and not the booze industry.”
“In the NT Jesus made barrels of wine (oinos) and shared it therefore it’s a Christian’s freedom to own bars, sell and promote the sale of booze (including whiskey, rum, brandy and the rest).
 
Hmmm.