From Gary... Bible Reading and Study, Jun 5

Bible Reading and Study

June 6

1 Samuel 5, 6

1Sa 5:1 Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

1Sa 5:2 The Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

1Sa 5:3 When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

1Sa 5:4 When they arose early on the next day morning, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands lay cut off on the threshold; only the stump ofDagon was left to him.

1Sa 5:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.

1Sa 5:6 But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.

1Sa 5:7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is sore on us, and on Dagon our god.

1Sa 5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.

1Sa 5:9 It was so, that after they had carried it about, the hand of Yahweh was against the city with a very great confusion: and he struck the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.

1Sa 5:10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. It happened, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.

1Sa 5:11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

1Sa 5:12 The men who didn't die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

1Sa 6:1 The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

1Sa 6:2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place."

1Sa 6:3 They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty; but by all means return him a trespass offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you."

1Sa 6:4 Then they said, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

1Sa 6:5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

1Sa 6:6 Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn't they let the people go, and they departed?

1Sa 6:7 Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;

1Sa 6:8 and take the ark of Yahweh, and lay it on the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by its side; and send it away, that it may go.

1Sa 6:9 Behold; if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it was a chance that happened to us."

1Sa 6:10 The men did so, and took two milk cows, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;

1Sa 6:11 and they put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.

1Sa 6:12 The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

1Sa 6:13 They of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

1Sa 6:14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to Yahweh.

1Sa 6:15 The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh, and the coffer that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.

1Sa 6:16 When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

1Sa 6:17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

1Sa 6:18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Yahweh, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

1Sa 6:19 He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh, he struck of the people fifty thousand seventy men; and the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.

1Sa 6:20 The men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

1Sa 6:21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down, and bring it up to yourselves.

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 5 1

Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Eben-ezer to Ashdod.

And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer to Ashdod.

And the Philistines have taken the ark of God, and bring it in from Eben-Ezer to Ashdod,

1 Samuel 5 2

The Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

and the Philistines take the ark of God and bring it into the house of Dagon, and set it near Dagon.

1 Samuel 5 3

When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

And when they of Ashdod arose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

And the Ashdodites rise early on the morrow, and lo, Dagon is fallen on its face to the earth, before the ark of Jehovah; and they take Dagon, and put it back to its place.

1 Samuel 5 4

When they arose early on the next day morning, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [lay] cut off on the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him. 

And when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the fish-stump was left to him.

And they rise early in the morning on the morrow, and lo, Dagon is fallen on its face to the earth, before the ark of Jehovah, and the head of Dagon, and the two palms of its hands are cut off at the threshold, only the fishy part hath been left to him;

1 Samuel 5 5

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon`s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any that come into Dagon`s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

therefore the priests of Dagon, and all those coming into the house of Dagon, tread not on the threshold of Dagon, in Ashdod, till this day.

1 Samuel 5 6

But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and the borders of it.

And the hand of Jehovah was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he laid them waste, and smote them with hemorrhoids, -- Ashdod and its borders.

And the hand of Jehovah is heavy on the Ashdodites, and He maketh them desolate, and smiteth them with emerods, Ashdod and its borders.

1 Samuel 5 7

When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is sore on us, and on Dagon our god.

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is severe upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

And the men of Ashdod see that [it is] so, and have said, `The ark of the God of Israel doth not abide with us, for hard hath been His hand upon us, and upon Dagon our god.`

1 Samuel 5 8

They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. They carried the ark of the God of Israel [there].

And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about [thither]. 

And they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines unto them, and say, `What do we do to the ark of the God of Israel?` and they say, `To Gath let the ark of the God of Israel be brought round;` and they bring round the ark of the God of Israel;

1 Samuel 5 9

It was so, that after they had carried it about, the hand of Yahweh was against the city with a very great confusion: and he struck the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.

And it came to pass that, after they had carried it about, the hand of Jehovah was against the city with very great panic; and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and hemorrhoids broke out upon them.

and it cometh to pass after they have brought it round, that the hand of Jehovah is against the city -- a very great destruction; and He smiteth the men of the city, from small even unto great; and break forth on them do emerods.

1 Samuel 5 10

So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. It happened, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.

And they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, when the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.

And they send the ark of God to Ekron, and it cometh to pass, at the coming in of the ark of God to Ekron, that the Ekronites cry out, saying, `They have brought round unto us the ark of the God of Israel, to put us to death -- and our people.`

1 Samuel 5 11

They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it kill us not, and our people. For there was deadly alarm throughout the city: the hand of God was very heavy there;

And they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines, and say, `Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and it turneth back to its place, and it doth not put us to death -- and our people;` for there hath been a deadly destruction throughout all the city, very heavy hath the hand of God been there,

1 Samuel 5 12

The men who didn`t die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

and the men that died not were smitten with the hemorrhoids; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

and the men who have not died have been smitten with emerods, and the cry of the city goeth up into the heavens.

1 Samuel 6 1

The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

And the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

And the ark of Jehovah is in the field of the Philistines seven months,

1 Samuel 6 2

The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place."

And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of Jehovah? tell us wherewith we shall send it to its place.

and the Philistines call for priests and for diviners, saying, `What do we do to the ark of Jehovah? let us know wherewith we send it to its place?`

1 Samuel 6 3

They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don`t send it empty; but by all means return him a trespass-offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you."

And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; ye must at any rate return him a trespass-offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

And they say, `If ye are sending away the ark of the God of Israel, ye do not send it away empty; for ye do certainly send back to Him a guilt-offering; then ye are healed, and it hath been known to you why His hand doth not turn aside from you.` 

1 Samuel 6 4

Then they said, "What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, [according to] the number of the lords of the

Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

Then they said, What is the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? And they said, Five golden hemorrhoids, and five golden mice, the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague is upon them all, and upon your lords.

And they say, `What [is] the guilt-offering which we send back to Him?` and they say, `The number of the princes of the Philistines -- five golden emerods, and five golden mice -- for one plague [is] to you all, and to your princes,

1 Samuel 6 5

Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

And ye shall make images of your hemorrhoids, and images of your mice that destroy the land, and give glory to the God of Israel: perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

and ye have made images of your emerods, and images of your mice that are corrupting the land, and have given honour to the God of Israel; it may be He doth lighten His hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land;

1 Samuel 6 6

Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn`t they let the people go, and they departed?

And why will ye harden your heart, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their heart? When he had wrought mightily among them, did they not let them go, and they departed?

and why do ye harden your heart as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their heart? do they not -- when He hath rolled Himself upon them -- send them away, and they go?

1 Samuel 6 7

Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cattle, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cattle to the cart, and bring their calves home from them; 

And now make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there has come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;

`And now, take and make one new cart, and two suckling kine, on which a yoke hath not gone up, and ye have bound the kine in the cart, and caused their young ones to turn back from after them to the house,

1 Samuel 6 8

and take the ark of Yahweh, and lay it on the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by the side of it; and send it away, that it may go.

and take the ark of Jehovah, and lay it upon the cart, and the golden jewels, which ye return him as a trespass-offering, put in the coffer by the side thereof; and send it away that it may go.

and ye have taken the ark of Jehovah, and put it on the cart, and the vessels of gold which ye have returned to Him -- a guilt-offering -- ye put in a coffer on its side, and have sent it away, and it hath gone;

1 Samuel 6 9

Behold; if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth-shemesh, then he has done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it was a chance that happened to us."

And see, if it go up by the way of its own border to Beth-shemesh, it is he who has done us this great evil; if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that touched us; it was a chance [that] happened to us.

and ye have seen, if the way of its own border it goeth up to Beth-Shemesh -- He hath done to us this great evil; and if not, then we have known that His hand hath not come against us; an accident it hath been to us.`

1 Samuel 6 10

The men did so, and took two milk cattle, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;

And the men did so, and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

And the men do so, and take two suckling kine, and bind them in the cart, and their young ones they have shut up in the house;

1 Samuel 6 11

and they put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.

And they laid the ark of Jehovah upon the cart, and the coffer with the golden mice and the images of their sores.

and they place the ark of Jehovah upon the cart, and the coffer, and the golden mice, and the images of their emerods.

1 Samuel 6 12

The cattle took the straight way by the way to Beth-shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn`t turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth-shemesh.

And the kine went straight forward on the way to Beth-shemesh; they went by the one high way, lowing as they went; and they turned not aside to the right hand or to the left;  and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

And the kine go straight in the way, on the way to Beth-Shemesh, in one highway they have gone, going and lowing, and have not turned aside right or left; and the princes of the Philistines are going after them unto the border of Beth-Shemesh.

1 Samuel 6 13

They of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

And [they of] Beth-shemesh were reaping the wheat-harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

And the Beth-Shemeshites are reaping their wheat-harvest in the valley, and they lift up their eyes, and see the ark, and rejoice to see [it].

1 Samuel 6 14

The cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cattle for a burnt offering to Yahweh.

And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemeshite, and stood there; and a great stone was there. And they clave the wood of the cart, and offered up the kine as a burnt-offering to Jehovah.

And the cart hath come in unto the field of Joshua the Beth-Shemeshite, and standeth there, and there [is] a great stone, and they cleave the wood of the cart, and the kine they have caused to ascend -- a burnt-offering to Jehovah.

1 Samuel 6 15

The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh, and the coffer that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.

And the Levites took down the ark of Jehovah, and the coffer that was with it, in which were the golden jewels, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered up burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Jehovah.

And the Levites have taken down the ark of Jehovah, and the coffer which [is] with it, in which [are] the vessels of gold, and place [them] on the great stone; and the men of Beth-Shemesh have caused to ascend burnt-offerings and sacrifice sacrifices in that day to Jehovah;

1 Samuel 6 16

When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

And the five lords of the Philistines saw [it], and returned to Ekron the same day.

and the five princes of the Philistines have seen [it], and turn back [to] Ekron, on that day.

1 Samuel 6 17

These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; 

And these are the golden sores which the Philistines returned as a trespass-offering to Jehovah: for Ashdod one, for Gazah one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

And these [are] the golden emerods which the Philistines have sent back -- a guilt-offering to Jehovah: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

1 Samuel 6 18

and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Yahweh, [which stone remains] to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.

and the golden mice, [according to] the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and villages of the peasantry; [and they brought them] as far as the great [stone of] Abel, whereon they set down the ark of Jehovah, [which] is to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemeshite.

and the golden mice -- the number of all the cities of the Philistines -- for the five princes, from the fenced city even unto the hamlet of the villages, even unto the great meadow on which they placed the ark of Jehovah -- [are] unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-Shemeshite.

1 Samuel 6 19

He struck of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh, he struck of the people fifty thousand seventy men; and the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.

And he smote among the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, and smote of the people seventy men; and the people lamented, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter.

And He smiteth among the men of Beth-Shemesh, for they looked into the ark of Jehovah, yea, He smiteth among the people seventy men -- fifty chief men; and the people mourn, because Jehovah smote among the people -- a great smiting.

1 Samuel 6 20

The men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

And the men of Beth-Shemesh say, `Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? and unto whom doth He go up from us?`

1 Samuel 6 21

They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come you down, and bring it up to you. 

And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of Jehovah; come down, fetch it up to you. 

And they send messengers unto the inhabitants of Kirjath-Jearim, saying, `The Philistines have sent back the ark of Jehovah; come down, take it up unto you.`

Study Questions...

What happened to the image of Dagon? 5:2-4

Why did the Philistines want to send the ARK of the LORD away? 5:11-12

Why were 50,070 men killed? 6:19

From Mark Copeland... Two Great Commandments

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                   Two Great Commandments (12:28-34)

INTRODUCTION

1. Having silenced the Pharisees,  Herodians, and Sadducees, Jesus was
   approached by a scribe...
   a. Who asked which is the first (foremost) commandment of the law
      - Mk 12:28
   b. Jesus replied by offering two great commandments - Mk 12:29-31
   c. With which the scribe agreed with grace and wisdom - Mk 12:32-33
   d. Prompting Jesus’ comment:  "You are not far from the kingdom of
      God" - Mk 12:34

2. Though part of the Law, these "Two Great Commandments" are very
   important to Christians...
   a. For they have their counterpart in the New Covenant
   b. And keeping the commandments of God is just as important now - cf.
      1Co 7:19; 1Jn 5:3

[Therefore it is proper to ask, do we love God and our neighbor?  Do we
understand what is involved?  By reflecting upon these "Two Great
Commandments" we can find the answer to such questions...]

I. THE COMMAND TO LOVE GOD

   A. UNDER THE OLD COVENANT...
      1. The Israelites were expected to love God (Deu 6:5)...
         a. "with all your heart"
         b. "with all your soul"
         c. "with all your strength"
         d. "with all your mind"
         e. Emotionally, physically, intellectually, they were to love
            God
      2. Thus they were to love God with their whole being, not like
         some who...
         a. Serve God emotionally, while committing intellectual suicide
         b. Serve God intellectually, but with no emotion
         c. Serve God emotionally and intellectually, but with no actual
            obedience requiring the exercise of strength (i.e., action)

   B. HOW WE ARE TO LOVE GOD TODAY...
      1. Does God expect any less of us?  Of course not!  We are to love
         God:
         a. With all our heart - cf. 1Co 16:22 (note the use the word
            "phileo")
         b. With all our soul (body and mind) - cf. Ro 12:1-2
         c. With all our strength - cf. He 10:36
         d. With all our mind - cf. Col 3:1; Php 4:8
      2. We demonstrate our love for God through keeping His
         commandments
         a. This is the love of God - 1Jn 5:3
         b. This is evidence that we love Jesus - Jn 14:15

   C. HOW TO GROW IN OUR LOVE FOR GOD...
      1. By letting God’s love for us to move us - cf. 1Jn 4:9-10; Ro 5:8
      2. By asking God to help us grow in love - cf. 2Th 3:5
      3. By praying, and growing in love when He answers - cf. Ps 116:1-2
      4. By keeping the word of God - cf. 1Jn 2:5

[Do we love God any less than what was expected of the Israelites?  We
certainly have compelling reasons to love Him even more (e.g., the gift
of His Son)!  Now let’s consider...]

II. THE COMMAND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR

   A. ENJOINED UPON CHRISTIANS...
      1. We owe it to love our neighbor - Ro 13:8
      2. When fully applied, it fulfills what the Law required - Ro 13:8-10
      3. Five of the Ten Commandments spoke to working no ill toward our
         fellow man
      4. If one truly loves his neighbor, he will not kill, commit
         adultery, lie, steal, etc.

   B. ENHANCED BY A NEW COMMAND...
      1. Jesus taught us to love one another - Jn 13:34-35
      2. This new command takes our love to a higher level
      3. No longer do we just love one another as we love ourselves
      4. We must love one another as Christ loved us! - cf. Jn 15:13;
         2Co 8:9

   C. EXPERIENCED WHEN WE KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS...
      1. We demonstrate true love of one another by keeping the
         commandments of God - 2Jn 1:5-6
      2. This is how we know that we really love one another - 1Jn 5:2
      3. Not by just claiming to love one another
      4. But by setting the proper example, and encouraging each other
         by the example we set!

   D. EDUCATED BY THE EXAMPLE OF GOD...
      1. We develop love for one another by being taught of God - cf.
         1Th 4:9-10
      2. The Thessalonians had been taught of God to love their brethren
      3. They did so remarkably, though there was always room for
         improvement
      4. Jesus by His own example demonstrates what true love is - 

         1Jn 3:16-18
      5. If we wish to learn how to love one another properly, look to
         God and Jesus!

CONCLUSION

1. How great were these two commandments...to love God, and to love your
   neighbor?
   a. "There is no greater commandment than these." - Mk 12:31
   b. "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
      - Mk 22:40
   c. "Love is the fulfilling of the Law." - Ro 13:9

2. When one truly loves God, and loves his neighbor as himself...
   a. They are on the path that leads to the kingdom of God! - cf. Mk 12:34
   b. They are on the road that leads to eternal life! - cf. Lk 10:28

If you wish to receive eternal life, and become a citizen of the
kingdom, then demonstrate your love for God by obeying His commands (cf.
Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:16), and live a life of faith in Jesus that is
focused on loving God and others...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Are mixed marriages sinful?

Are mixed marriages sinful?

You understand, it may be very unwise for a Christian to marry a non-Christian; it may even be contrary to the will of God but we don't have the right to say it is by using texts that have nothing to do with the matter. A truth may be taught by verses A and B and C but that's no excuse for saying it's taught by verse D when D has nothing to do with the issue. It's critically important for those of us who stress the importance of having textual support for our views to make sure the texts we're using to support ours really do that!

I believe in relying on the drift of scripture or the big picture or the principle as part of our approach to learning but what can't be supported by some actual texts, well handled, should be viewed with suspicion.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 has this trenchant opening sentence: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." The entire paragraph is required reading. Does this text forbid marriage to a non-believer?

Paul doesn't say he's speaking of marriage

Some commentators aren't sure what else Paul means when he forbids this yoke but they're sure beyond persuasion that he means marriage even though he doesn't spell out what he has in mind. Since he doesn't say he's talking about marriage its risky business to say he is and its risky to say he isn't talking about business ventures, investment agreements or any other legal/moral agreement that a Christian could conceivably enter with a non-Christian.

The stakes are too high for us to settle for educated guesses and what makes sense. To tell sensitive, godly men and women that God forbids them to marry a non-Christian is a very serious step to take. Who knows what doors we're shutting and what hope we might be killing?

Paul deals with marriage in 1 Corinthians 7

There's no certainty that marriage is in Paul's mind in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 but we're certain he has marriage in mind in 1 Corinthians 7 where he deals with it from all angles. In the place where he expressly deals with marriage he says nothing about marriage between a believer and a non-believer being forbidden. There he even takes time to give his opinion on certain marital issues which he says they can take or leave; but he says nothing about marrying an unbeliever as an insult to God and a shaming of Jesus and his Church.

There he deals with people remaining single, he deals with widowers and widows, with divorce involving two Christians, with divorce involving a Christian and a non-Christian, with divorce where the believer does the putting away, with divorce where the believer is put away, with virgins contemplating marriage, with fathers or fiances wondering about a marriage and about widows thinking of remarrying--and more. But he says not a word about a Christian marrying a non-Christian as forbidden, nothing to suggest that a Christian who is a temple of God must not marry a non-Christian who is an idol temple. Nothing!

I accept that that doesn't settle the question about the yoke in 2 Corinthians 6:14 but--and especially in light of the fact that we can't be sure he's talking about marriage--it does appear that 1 Corinthians would have been the place to speak such strong doctrine.

1 Corinthians 6 speaks of individual Christians as temples

The above is all the more persuasive to me since he has already spoken in 1 Corinthians 6:13-20 about a Christian's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (something he implies in 2 Corinthians 6:16). No word there about marriage to non-believers as a crime against Jesus Christ though he speaks of sexual immorality with temple prostitutes. [I'll return to the temple-prostitutes connection later.] Chapter 6 would have been the perfect place to say that marriage to a non-believer forces Jesus into union and harmony with Satan or that marriage with a non-believer was a Christian temple denigrating itself to the level of a pagan temple. [In fact, I personally know of a number of teachers who taught that 1 Corinthians 6:16 teaches that sex with a woman constitutes marriage to that woman.]

Chapter 6 would have been a perfect place to speak of marriage with a non-believer as a uniting of Christian and pagan temples; but there's not a word about that. Since that discussion is followed by a full length discussion of marriage questions it is more than surprising to find not a word about it being sinful to marry a non-Christian.

This makes it very difficult for me to believe that he speaks of marriage in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; add to that the fact that he doesn't say he is speaking about it. 

The principle of separation

But some, finding that 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 won't stand on its own to make the case on mixed marriages, appeal to "the principle of separation". They interpret the forbidden yoke on that basis.

God has always required his people to keep themselves separated from unbelievers, so its obvious he would be opposed to their marrying them.

As reflected in Ezra and Nehemiah and passages such as Deuteronomy 7:3 God forbade Israel to marry with the nations around them. The returnees from Babylon married foreign women and were led into abominable practices and this put the nation at risk. Ezra and Nehemiah required that the remnant cut off all ties with foreigners and to put away their foreign wives and so they did if they wanted to remain as part of the Israelite community (Ezra 10:1-11; Nehemiah 13:23-30).

[This might be the background to the questions about the mixed couples in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16. Are those married to outsiders required to terminate the marriages? might have been one of their questions (see 1 Corinthians 7:1). Paul says no! The believer was not to terminate the marriage but if the non-believer insisted on terminating the marriage the believer is to let them (a concessive imperative is used).]

There are some unresolved issues about the OT teaching on mixed marriages. There are the war-brides taken as captives by the troops and the Lord's regulation of their marital status. It might be important, too, to say that God didn't forbid Israel to marry unbelievers--he forbade them to marry foreigners, that is, the non-elect nations. Jethro and his descendants may well have been believers but would the marriage prohibition include them since they were Abraham's descendants though not the elect line? Moses marriage to a Cushite (Numbers 12:1) would perhaps need to be examined. Was she an Ethiopian or an Arabian Cushite and does that have any bearing on this matter?

Still, the marital prohibition is clear and separation is stressed!

But there's this: the separation teaching was not confined to marriage. Israel was to do nothing that promoted the welfare of foreign nations (Deuteronomy 23:6, with Ammon and Moab particularly in view). See also Exodus 34:12,15, Deuteronomy 7:3, Judges 1:272:3 and Joshua 9 and elsewhere).

There's no denying the doctrine of separation for Israel but it isn't easy to tell how far-reaching it was and how it affected the respectful aliens that lived with Israel and how Israel's separation instruction should be brought over to the Christian context.

In the NT the Christians are repeatedly taught that they're a separated people and they're called to live as separated people but that truth needs to be worked out with sensitivity and care rather than following closely Israel's model--which Christians don't, of course.

We do hear preachers say that Christians should avoid close ties with non-Christians because bad companions corrupt good morals (Paul's 1 Corinthians 15:33 has a less general point). This is sensible, especially for the young and vulnerable who wish to spend a lot of time with people who are mentally and emotionally stronger than them but there are definite limits to this kind of thing, especially since were told to live out and proclaim the gospel among the nations.

Paul firmly denies that he taught Christians not to associate with the sexually immoral or greedy or swindlers. He said he wasn't talking about non-Christians; he was talking about professing Christians! (See 1 Corinthians 5:9-11.) Then you have Jesus who was always in trouble with the good people for spending so much time with the bad people (see Luke 15:1-2).

Jesus knew all about separation but look how he lived it out! His understanding of what separation meant and why God called for it but he lived it out by forever making friends of outsiders--Jewish and foreign. So what exactly is at the heart of the separation principle?

The trouble with basing our teaching on "principles" is that principles are slippery and hard to find and even when found they have to be applied and it's the application of principles that generates serious difficulties.

God says to Israel, Don't marry foreigners and don't seek their welfare (Deuteronomy 7:3 and 23:6). Are those texts "principles" Christians are to follow or God's specific instruction for a specific people? When Ezra and Nehemiah call the nation to obey those specific instructions are they acting on "a principle" or abiding by specific teaching?

Specific instructions and universally binding principles

It's a dangerous procedure to take specific instructions and turn them into universally binding principles.

The NT calls Christians to be a separate people but the writers aren't calling on a universal principle--they are declaring the will of the Lord in a new age for his new people. How that call to separation is to be understood and lived out is a matter of heart and prayerful, careful reflection and experience in living in our world in light of Jesus Christ.

[The rich young ruler was told to sell all he had, give it to the poor and follow Jesus. Certainly there's truth in that that speaks to us in any age; but what is it exactly and how do we know what it is? Will we bind what we think it is on others without some other supporting text?]

Some people practice NT separation in such a way that they won't use modern equipment or make business agreements with people outside their own community. This may be a legitimate way to interpret separation but is it the only way? Some question even the correctness of that way. I say this only to make the point that, in practice, there is uncertainty about what separation means even among those who believe with conviction that believers should be separate.

Ezra and Nehemiah understood that God had commanded the separation of Israel--a separation that included marriage but wasn't confined to it (again, we have no grounds for thinking they thought it was a principle). How did they apply that truth of separation? They said it was to cease and they commanded Jews to divorce their foreign wives.

Is that a principle? Is their interpretation of what separation meant for Israel to be the model for Christians?

Certainly, Paul wants the Corinthians to come out from them and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). Is he commanding Christians to divorce their unbelieving spouses? Should we? He told Christians not to divorce their unbelieving spouses (1 Corinthians 7:12-14).

(To be continued, God enabling)

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.