From Gary.... My Must's...

Coffee, oh, how I love coffee!!!  Truth is, I have always loved it- in my youth, to EXCESS.  In my 20's it was very common for me to drink 15-20 cups a day (with a minimum of three teaspoons of sugar for each cup, I might add).  Over the years, I have cut my consumption down to two cups a day, with a measured amount of creamer and "Nectaresse" (thank you Dr. Oz!).  Today, as I write this, I am enjoying my third cup (and feeling a little guilty about it).  But, today, I absolutely, positively, had to have that third cup!!!  It wasn't that I wanted it- it was a MUST HAVE!!!  And how many things can you put in THAT CATEGORY???!!! Humm, I wonder.... did Jesus have any things that were imperatives to him; things he must have, must do, must be???  Here is but one I thought of...

Luke, Chapter 2

 39  When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.  40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.  41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 

  42  When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,  44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.  45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.  46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” 

  49  He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”   50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.  51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus needed to be in the temple, listening, learning and growing.  With zeal like that, do you suppose he missed a single synagogue service???  And yet on Sunday morning, many people elect NOT to go to Bible class, and the same can be said for the evening assembly.  We can all learn how important it is to BE THERE from Jesus himself.  A long time ago, while I was in my last year of preaching school, our preacher (Max T. Neel) asked me what I was going to do that upcoming weekend.  I told him that I had to preach at (I don't remember which congregation) a local church.  His response was swift and to-the-point- "You don't have to, you have the honor of"!!!!  Somehow, those words reverberate in my mind,  each time I decide to leave for church services.  As good as coffee is, it will never get me to heaven; but learning what God has to say.... well, you get the idea.  And the good news is - there is no caffeine or sugar involved at all!!!!  Well, that's not the whole "good news", but you get the idea!!!

From Mark Copeland... Paul's Second Prayer For The Ephesians (3:14-21)

                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS"

             Paul's Second Prayer For The Ephesians (3:14-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the previous lesson we saw where Paul was about to start his
   second prayer for the Ephesians in Ep 3:1...
   a. However, he interrupts himself when describing himself as "the
      prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles"
   b. Lest they be troubled at whatever tribulations he endured as a
      prisoner (Ep 3:13), Paul stresses the fact that:
      1) His apostleship to the Gentiles (even with its tribulations)
         was a gift to him through the wonderful grace of God - Ep 3:2-7
      2) His purpose was to "preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
         riches of Christ" - Ep 3:8-11
      3) That in Christ he had "boldness and access with confidence
         through faith" in Christ - Ep 3:12

2. Having completed his brief interruption, in Ep 3:14-21 Paul now 
   continues with his second prayer for the Ephesians (the first having
   been in Ep 1:15-23)

3. The phrase "For this reason..." (Ep 3:14; also 3:1) indicates 
   that Paul expresses his prayer in response to those things mentioned 
   earlier, such as:
   a. The wonderful salvation by grace through faith - Ep 2:1-10
   b. The work by Christ on the cross whereby Gentiles can now become 
      "fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise" 
      - Ep 2:11-22; 3:6

[With gratitude in his heart for God's grace toward the Gentiles, Paul 
now prays in their behalf, starting with...]

I. THE "INVOCATION" (14-15)

   A. POSTURE IN PRAYER...
      1. In this prayer, Paul "bows the knee", a posture in prayer 
         commonly found throughout the Scriptures - cf. Lk 22:41; Ac 9:40; 20:36; 21:5
      2. However, there does not appear to be an "official posture" when 
         it comes to prayer...
         a. Solomon "stood" when he prayed to dedicate the temple - 1 Kin 8:22
         b. David "sat" before the Lord when he prayed about the future 
            of his kingdom - 1 Chron 17:16
         c. Jesus "fell on His face" when He prayed in Gethsemane - Mt 26:39

   B. THE ADDRESSEE IN PRAYER...
      1. The pattern and example of prayer in the New Testament church 
         was:
         a. "To" the Father - Ep 3:14; 5:20
         b. "In the name of" or "through" the Lord Jesus Christ - Ep 5:20; Col 3:17
         c. And "in" the Spirit - Ep 6:18; Jude 20; cf. Ro 8:26-27
      2. There is little evidence of anyone praying "to" Jesus, and even
         less of praying "to" the Holy Spirit; clearly it is the Father
         to whom we are to address our prayers - cf. Mt 6:9

[To the Father, then, Paul addresses his prayer.  The prayer itself is
divided into three parts (indicated in the Greek by the word "hina"),
and is like a staircase with three steps, each step leading to the
next...]

II. THE "PETITION" (16-19)

   A. TO BE STRENGTHENED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD... (16-17)
      1. Paul had mentioned earlier about God's power "toward us who
         believe" - Ep 1:19
      2. Now he prays that the Ephesians might be "strengthened with
         might"
      3. Such strength is "according to the riches of His glory"
      4. God's strength is administered "through His Spirit in (lit.,
         into) the inner man"
         a. A Christian's body is "the temple of the Holy Spirit who is
            in you" - cf. 1Co 6:19
         b. One design of the indwelling Spirit is to help one "put to
            death the deeds of the body" - cf. Ro 8:11-13
      5. But the purpose of such "strengthening" by the Spirit in our
         text is for a different purpose, first hinted at in verse
         17...
         a. First, that "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith"
            1) To the degree God strengthens (by the Spirit) the
               believer's "inner man", so it is said that Christ Himself
               indwells the heart of the believer
            2) Thus the Spirit is the instrumental agent by which Christ
               indwells the believer, just as Ep 2:22 suggests the
               Spirit is instrumental agent by which God inhabits His
               church
         b. Second, that they may be "rooted and grounded in love"
            1) One work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer
               is to instill the love of God in the heart - cf. Ro 5:5;
               Ga 5:22
            2) When strengthened by God through the Spirit in the inner
               man, one becomes "rooted and grounded in love"

   [Strengthened by God through His Spirit, so that Christ is dwelling
   in our hearts and we are well-established "in love", the next step
   is ...

   B. TO COMPREHEND THE LOVE OF CHRIST... (18-19a)
      1. "may be ABLE..."
         a. The word "able" means "to be eminently able; to have full
            strength"
         b. Thus the prayer for strength in the first part of the prayer
            - Ep 3:16
      2. "...to comprehend"
         a. I.e., to understand, to grasp
         b. As Paul says later in verse 19, "to know..."
      3. It is the "love of Christ" that Paul is praying that we be 
         strong to grasp...
         a. He wants us to know everything about this wonderful love 
            ("width and length...")
         b. But this love of Christ is something which "passes 
            knowledge"!
            1) How is it possible for us to "know" the love of Christ, 
               if it "passes knowledge"?
            2) Only in the sense that no matter how much we learn about 
               Christ's love, even with the strength God's Spirit 
               provides, there is always much more to grasp!
            3) "...there is a real knowledge of Christ's love possible 
               to us, a knowledge that is capable of increase as we are
               the more strengthened by power in the inner man, while a 
               complete or exhaustive knowledge must ever remain beyond 
               our capacity." (The Expositor's Greek Testament, W. 
               Robertson Nicoll, editor, vol. 3, p. 316)

   [It is only as we begin to know the love of Christ that passes 
   knowledge that we are beginning to experience the last step for which
   Paul is praying...]

   C. TO BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD... (19b)
      1. This is the objective, the goal, of all that was said 
         previously
      2. One begins to be filled with "all the fullness of God"...
         a. As they are strengthened by God (i.e., the Father)
         b. Which is through His Spirit (i.e., the Holy Spirit)
         c. Whereby in their hearts may dwell the Christ (i.e., the Son)
      3. With the help of the all members of the Godhead, then, one is
         "filled" the more they begin to comprehend the wonderful "love
         of Christ" ("For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead
         bodily" - cf. Col 2:9)

[Such is the petition that Paul makes on behalf of the Ephesians...

   1. That they be strengthened by the Spirit of God
   2. So they can comprehend the love of Christ
   3. And thus be filled with all the fullness of God

Is God "able" to fulfill this petition?  There is no doubt in Paul's
mind, as we see how he closes the prayer...]

III. THE "DOXOLOGY" (20-21)

   A. GLORY TO GOD, FOR WHAT HE IS ABLE TO DO! (20)
      1. As Paul ascribes praise to God, he does so for what he 
         confident God is able to do
      2. As expressed by Paul, God's "ability to do" is...
         a. "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (far
            beyond our imagination!)
         b. "according to the power that works in us" - cf. Ep 1:19; 
            3:16
   
   B. GLORY TO GOD, IN THE CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS FOREVER! (21)
      1. Paul sees "the church" as the means by which much glory can be 
         given to God
      2. Certainly if Paul's prayer is answered...
         a. That "all the saints" may be able to comprehend the love of 
            Christ - Ep 3:18
         b. That they may all be 'filled with all the fullness of God" - 
            Ep 3:19
         ...the church will have the potential to bring much glory to
         God! - cf. 2Th 1:11-12
      3. Of course, such potential is to come only "by Christ Jesus";
         but if it does, then it will be "throughout all ages, world
         without end"!

CONCLUSION

1. Do we desire to give God glory throughout all ages, world without
   end?
   a. We ought to, in view of all things we have considered in Ep 1-3
   b. If so, then it must be "by Jesus Christ", and that can be only as
      we...
      1) Come to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge
      2) Allow ourselves to "be filled with all the fullness of God"

2. How can we be sure to be filled with all the fullness of God?
   a. For one who is already a Christian, we should follow Paul's
      example and start with prayer (such as the one in our text)...
   b. For one who is not a Christian, then one needs first to become a
      child of God - cf. Ga 3:26-27

In our next lesson, we will begin to consider how we can "walk" so as to
bring glory to God...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan.... CHRISTIAN HOPE & HISTORY WILL RHYME

CHRISTIAN HOPE & HISTORY WILL RHYME

The famous Irish poet and playwright, Nobel Prize winner, Seamus Heaney, died recently. What prize did he not win? Google him and see for yourself. I’m not competent to judge the structure and depth of great poets but I know what I like; I know what moves, inspires and enriches me and much of the little I’ve read of him did just that.

Some years back he adapted a play of Sophocles ("Philoctetes"). The central character is Philoctetes, a Greek hero who possessed a charmed bow and arrows given to him by Hercules. On the island of Lemnos a serpent bit him and his foot began to rot. The intolerable pain made him scream all the time and the stench from the foot became unbearable to those around him so they deserted him. He endured ten years of loneliness, pain and the anguish of betrayal. Days became weeks, weeks became months and months became years and hope of rescue faded as his bitterness grew.

But an oracle told the Greeks they couldn't take Troy without the bow of Philoctetes so they went back to ask him if he would go with them. His years of disappointed hope were over and when he emptied himself of the bitterness that had built up inside him the cripple marched off with them to glory.

Heaney puts these words in the mouths of the chorus at the end of the play:

           History forbids us to hope this side of the grave. But once in a lifetime, the longed-for tide of justice can arise and hope and history rhyme.

 

With Northern Ireland as its setting, with its long history of feuds and killings, dashed hopes, treachery and unfulfilled promises, Heaney's call was well contextualized. Don't cease to hope for one day hope and history will rhyme and crippled truths will walk!  [To a marked degree that has indeed happened in Northern Ireland.]

Much of history is humdrum. When isolated and seen as a long series of independent happenings it is meaningless! Much of it forbids us to hope any side of the grave. Some biblical history [isolated or thrown together] shares this feature since it too shares a God-denying look as much of modern daily living does.

Not every event recorded in the Bible is filled with theological significance but here and there, an event or a cluster of events seizes our attention and God has reached from behind the curtain of his hiddenness and in these events we catch a glimpse of him. And once we've seen him we can't unsee him. In light of those events the entire history of humanity is given a different complexion.

The Exodus shoves the curtain aside and generations live in the strength of that vision. The Incarnation catches us by the breath and the Cross of the Christ drives us to joyful amazement. Paul, on whom the shadow of the cross fell, was driven, careering off across half a world to proclaim triumph and hope in the name of the God who was hung on a public gallows. And when friendly hands would try to slow Paul down, telling him to take it easy, he would shrug them off and say: "I can't be different, the love of Christ compels me and the world needs hope." (2 Corinthians 5:14)

And it doesn't matter that we moderns hang Christ again and again, thinking we've got rid of him, he's been there and done that!

Christ can't be harmed by crucifixion.

In fact there's every reason to believe that he is never as powerful as he is when he's weak so to crucify him over again is in some ways to turn him loose on society.

Even to watch him die (as, for example, when we seriously trouble the church, which is his body—2 Corinthians 4:7-12) is to put ourselves in danger of being drawn to him because he said when he was "lifted up from the earth" he would draw all men unto him [John 12:32].

The mourning and lamentation [and in some quarters, almost panic] about the dwindling number of believers is pathetic in many ways. Believers, don't you know, aren’t to be excused when they turn from the Lord Jesus [either in an overt act of rejection or in the more subtle loss of spirit that wishes Jesus well but cares little to run the race with and for him and the world he so loves]. The Church of Jesus Christ has been called to be a faithful steward of the gospel but its weakness won’t lead God to vanish in a puff of purple smoke.

There’s always that cross...that strange cross.

And then there’s always that Sunday morning: “Good morning!” [Matthew 28:9]

One day history and the Christian hope will rhyme and nail-pierced Truth will walk.

©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.

From Ben Fronczek.... I’m Only Human

I’m Only Human

 Acts 14:8-20    

(based on a sermon by Steve Shepherd)

There was a preacher who was an avid golfer. Every chance he got, he could be found on the golf course swinging away. It was his obsession. One Sunday was a picture-perfect day for golf. The sun was out, no clouds in the sky, and the temperature was just right. The preacher was in a quandary as to what to do. The urge to play golf overcame him. He called his assistant minister and told him that he was sick and could not attend church. Then he packed up the car, and drove three hours to a golf course where no one would recognize him. Happily, he began to play the course.

An angel up above was watching the preacher and was quite perturbed. He went to God and said, “Look at the preacher. He should be punished for what he’s doing.” God nodded in agreement.

The preacher teed up on the first hole. He swung, and the ball sailed effortlessly through the air and landed right in the cup three hundred and fifty yards away. A perfect hole-in-one. The preacher was amazed and excited. The angel was a little shocked. He turned to God and said, “Begging Your pardon Lord, I thought you were going to punish him.” God smiled. “Think about it — who can he tell about that shot?”

Is it possible that a preacher would miss church for a game of golf? Or for something else: fishing, hunting, a ball game, etc.? Possibly. Depending on the preacher. And why would he do such a thing as that? BECAUSE PREACHERS ARE ONLY HUMAN, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!

Have you heard that phrase used before by anyone? “I did thus and so but it’s just because I’m only human.”Is that an excuse or an admission? I think many people use that expression as an excuse for any wrongdoing or error in their life. And it is true that preachers are just human like everybody else. But honestly, don’t we generally expect a little more from a preacher? That is, don’t we expect him to be more faithful, more committed, more serving, more dedicated than the average person? We probably do expect more from the preacher but that doesn’t mean it will happen. Some are even worst than others in the church.

Also, another problem that comes with being in front of people is the temptation of wanting and hungering after praise. Some televangelists seem like they “eat up” this praise and sometimes get to the point where some almost act like they can do nothing wrong.

In our text we have Paul and Barnabas doing something good by the power of God and the people wanting to give them the credit for it. Paul was quick to say, “Wait a minute here, just wait, we are only human like you.”  He was honestly trying to get the people to realize that it was God who deserved the glory and not him.As we look at this text, I’d like to consider what good we “humans” can do in life and what the proper attitude we should have as we look here at Paul and Barnabas..   

Read Acts 14:1-10  “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.”

I. WE MUST DO GOOD
 
ILL.- The story is told about a fellow who opened a delicatessen where there was 2 other delis in the same neighborhood. One promoted his line of baloney with this line of baloney: “Finest in the world!”The other delicatessen declared, “Best in the Universe.”The last put up a sign reading: “Nicest in the neighborhood!”

What about you? Are you the nicest person in the neighborhood? Are you kind and courteous toward others? Here in verses 9 and 10 we see Paul doing a really good deed. He saw this man who had never walked in his whole life, that he had faith enough to be healed, and so he blessed him by telling him to stand up on his feet.  Vs. 10 says that at once he jumped up and began to walk. Can you just imagine the scene, and how that man felt. God used Paul to bring healing to the lame man. Paul was God’s instrument of kindness, of doing good. There have been times when I wish that I could bring physical healing into a person’s life like this but that has never happened. However, just because God doesn’t heal someone through my prayers like this doesn’t mean I can’t still do good to people in some form or another.

Gal. 6:9-10 says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Here he said, ‘Don’t give up doing good.’ Others will be blessed by our good deeds and we will too! As a man soweth that shall he also reap. It is sometimes easy to give up on certain people but we must never give up doing good. Some people will respond in different ways than others. I’ve been disappointed by some but also surprised by some others.Paul also said, “As we have opportunity..” We all have opportunity every day to do something good for someone. We need to stay awake to these opportunities. Our goodness may lead to godliness. That is, doing good to others may lead some to Christ, which should be our ultimate goal in life!

In Eph. 2:10 Paul also wrote  

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

So based on this verse I guess God always had in mind for us to do good works.

In Acts 10:38 Peter characterized Jesus as a man who went about doing good because God was with Him. And the same should be true of us! If God is with us and working in us through His Spirit  we should be doing good things to others and for them!

ILL.- When Charles Schwab was 70 years old, he made the following statement. He said, “I’d like to say here in a court of law, and speaking as an old man, that 9/10ths of my troubles are traceable to my being kind to others. Look you young people, if you want to steer away from trouble, be hard-boiled. Be quick with a good loud ’no’ to anyone and everyone. If you follow this rule, you will seldom be bothered as you tread life’s pathway. Except you’ll have no friends, you’ll be lonely, and you won’t have any fun!”

And I’d like to add, you won’t honor Christ either. We all need to be open to opportunities to doing good for others, even if it’s just something simple like opening a door for someone or saying a kind word or offering a friendly smile. And don’t forget that laughter is not only good medicine, it’s also a great witness for Christ!

II. Regarding the attitude we should have: WE MUST BE HUMBLE     

Read Acts 14:11-16 “When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way.”

“We’re only human…like you!”

ILL.- George Gordon Liddy, a Watergate conspirator, once said: “I have found within myself all I need and all I ever shall need. I am a man of great faith, but my faith is in George Gordon Liddy. I have never failed me.”

Perhaps you’ve met someone like this in your life, a person who was completely sold on themselves. They had all the answers and thought they knew everything. No matter how good we are or no matter how good we think we are, we should never get a “big head” over anything we do in life. We are only able to live and serve and do by the grace of God.

In I Tim. 1:15-17, Paul wrote,  ”Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

No matter how much good Paul did in life he still felt as though he was a sinner, the worst of sinners. Most people, however, don’t like to admit they’ve ever done anything wrong in their life. We prefer to think of ourselves as being pretty good people.

However, Solomon wrote  “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”. (Proverbs 16:18)

In I Peter 5:5-6 Peter wrote “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”

I’d rather be humble and receive God’s grace than have him upset with me for having a proud or haughty attitude. In our text, after the healing of the lame man, Paul was humble and quick to give God the credit, “We too are only men, human like you.” And then he pointed to the God of heaven as being the author of that good healing.    There it is! That’s the right spirit! The right attitude! The right way to think! Be humble! Give God His rightful glory.   And then…..

III. WE SHOULD EXPECT SOME OPPOSITION

Here’s the part I don’t like. If you do good in this world and live for Christ, some will oppose you.

Read 14:18-20 “Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.  Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.”

Wow!;  they STONED HIM, THINKING HE WAS DEAD.
Brothers and Sisters, I’m not afraid to die but I’m not in a hurry to go to my grave either. That’s one reason I don’t intend to preach the gospel in a country like Turkey. And it may have been that bad for the apostle Paul as he went place to place.

2 Timothy 3:10-15 says  “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Opposition will come to you no matter what you do or how kind you are. If you live for Christ opposition will come. If you are kind and present a witness for Christ out in the world some people will frown at you, some will merely pass you by but others may accuse you of being stupid or even worse. Some accused

Jesus of being in league with the devil.

But How do we silence our opponents?

One day a man met preacher Charles Spurgeon on the street, took off his hat and bowed, and said, “The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon–a great humbug!” Spurgeon took off his hat and replied, “Thank you for the compliment. I am glad to hear that I am a great anything!”

How do we silence our opponents? It’s best to respond in as positive a manner as possible. Instead of fighting fire with fire, just laugh and be positive. It will confuse them for sure.

ILL.- While contending with all kinds of problems in the building of the Panama Canal, Colonel George Washington Goethals had to endure criticism of countless busybodies back home who freely predicted that he would never complete his great task. But the determined builder pressed steadily forward in his work and said nothing.  Someone asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer your critics”. “In time,” Goethals replied. “How?” The great engineer smiled. “With the canal,” he replied.

How do we silence our opponents and critics? Just keep on doing our work and doing what’s right. People will see the truth and come to believe in time.  (That’s what Paul did)

CONCLUSION: I’m only human. I’m just a man. Yes, we are just human but we are God’s people and that makes a difference in our lives. Because we belong to the Lord, we should be different people, better people, kinder people, thoughtful of others. We should be going around doing good.

In Eph. 3:7-8 Paul wrote “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Did you hear it? Although I am less than the least, God still gave me His grace to preach. The same is true of you. No matter who you are or what you think of yourself, God gives you His grace to do good, to serve, to give, to love, etc. and in order that ultimately He might be glorified. We may be only human but we serve a divine and all-powerful God!

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Gary.... Bible Reading and Study October 5

Bible Reading and Study    

October 5

The World English Bible

Oct. 5

Psalms 135-137

Psa 135:1 Praise Yah! Praise the name of Yahweh! Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,

Psa 135:2 you who stand in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of our God's house.

Psa 135:3 Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

Psa 135:4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself; Israel for his own possession.

Psa 135:5 For I know that Yahweh is great, that our Lord is above all gods.

Psa 135:6 Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;

Psa 135:7 who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; who makes lightnings with the rain; who brings forth the wind out of his treasuries;

Psa 135:8 Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal;

Psa 135:9 Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants;

Psa 135:10 who struck many nations, and killed mighty kings,

Psa 135:11 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan,

Psa 135:12 and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people.

Psa 135:13 Your name, Yahweh, endures forever; your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations.

Psa 135:14 For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants.

Psa 135:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Psa 135:16 They have mouths, but they can't speak. They have eyes, but they can't see.

Psa 135:17 They have ears, but they can't hear; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

Psa 135:18 Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them.

Psa 135:19 House of Israel, praise Yahweh! House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!

Psa 135:20 House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!

Psa 135:21 Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise Yah!

Psa 136:1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psa 136:2 Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psa 136:3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:4 To him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:5 To him who by understanding made the heavens; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:6 To him who spread out the earth above the waters; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:7 To him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:8 The sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:9 The moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:10 To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:11 And brought out Israel from among them; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:13 To him who divided the Red Sea apart; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:14 And made Israel to pass through its midst; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:16 To him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:17 To him who struck great kings; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:18 And killed mighty kings; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:19 Sihon king of the Amorites; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:20 Og king of Bashan; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:21 And gave their land as an inheritance; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:22 Even a heritage to Israel his servant; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:23 Who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:24 And has delivered us from our adversaries; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:25 Who gives food to every creature; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psa 136:26 Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psa 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

Psa 137:2 On the willows in its midst, we hung up our harps.

Psa 137:3 For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

Psa 137:4 How can we sing Yahweh's song in a foreign land?

Psa 137:5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.

Psa 137:6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you; if I don't prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Psa 137:7 Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, "Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!"

Psa 137:8 Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who rewards you, as you have served us.

Psa 137:9 Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock. 

 

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.

Psalms

 

Psalms 135 1

Praise Yah! Praise the name of Yahweh! Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,

Hallelujah! Praise the name of Jehovah; praise, ye servants of Jehovah,

Praise ye Jah! Praise ye the name of Jehovah, Praise, ye servants of Jehovah,

Psalms 135 2

You who stand in the house of Yahweh, In the courts of our God`s house.

Ye that stand in the house of Jehovah, in the courts of the house of our God.

Who are standing in the house of Jehovah, In the courts of the house of our God.

Psalms 135 3

Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

Praise ye Jah; for Jehovah is good: sing psalms unto his name; for it is pleasant.

Praise ye Jah! for Jehovah [is] good, Sing praise to His name, for [it is] pleasant.

Psalms 135 4

For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself; Israel for his own possession.

For Jah hath chosen Jacob unto himself, Israel for his own possession.

For Jacob hath Jah chosen for Himself, Israel for His peculiar treasure.

Psalms 135 5

For I know that Yahweh is great, That our Lord is above all gods.

For *I* know that Jehovah is great, and our Lord is above all gods.

For I have known that great [is] Jehovah, Yea, our Lord [is] above all gods.

Psalms 135 6

Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;

Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, he hath done in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and

all deeps;

All that Jehovah pleased He hath done, In the heavens and in earth, In the seas and

all deep places,

Psalms 135 7

Who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings with the rain; Who brings forth the wind out of his treasuries;

Who causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; who maketh lightnings for

the rain; who bringeth the wind out of his treasuries:

Causing vapours to ascend from the end of the earth, Lightnings for the rain He

hath made, Bringing forth wind from His treasures.

Psalms 135 8

Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and animal;

Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast;

Who smote the first-born of Egypt, From man unto beast.

Psalms 135 9

Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, Egypt, On Pharaoh, and on all his  servants;

Who sent signs and miracles into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and upon all

his servants;

He sent tokens and wonders into thy midst, O Egypt, On Pharaoh and on all his servants.

Psalms 135 10

Who struck many nations, And killed mighty kings,

Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings,

Who smote many nations, and slew strong kings,

Psalms 135 11

Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, All the kingdoms of Canaan,

Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan;

Even Sihon king of the Amorite, And Og king of Bashan, And all kingdoms of Canaan.

Psalms 135 12

And gave their land for a heritage, A heritage to Israel, his people.

And gave their land for an inheritance, an inheritance unto Israel his people.

And He gave their land an inheritance, An inheritance to Israel His people,

Psalms 135 13

Your name, Yahweh, endures forever; Your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations.

Thy name, O Jehovah, is for ever; thy memorial, O Jehovah, from generation to generation.

O Jehovah, Thy name [is] to the age, O Jehovah, Thy memorial to all generations.

Psalms 135 14

For Yahweh will judge his people, And have compassion on his servants.

For Jehovah will judge his people, and will repent in favour of his servants.

For Jehovah doth judge His people, And for His servants comforteth Himself.

Psalms 135 15

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men`s hands.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men`s hands:

The idols of the nations [are] silver and gold, Work of the hands of man.

Psalms 135 16

They have mouths, but they can`t speak; They have eyes, but they can`t see;

They have a mouth, and they speak not; eyes have they, and they see not;

A mouth they have, and they speak not, Eyes they have, and they see not,

Psalms 135 17

They have ears, but they can`t hear; Neither is there any breath in their mouths.

They have ears, and they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouth.

Ears they have, and they give not ear, Nose -- there is no breath in their mouth!

Psalms 135 18

Those who make them will be like them; Yes, everyone who trusts in them.

They that make them are like unto them, -- every one that confideth in them.

Like them are their makers, Every one who is trusting in them.

Psalms 135 19

House of Israel, praise Yahweh! House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!

House of Israel, bless ye Jehovah; house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah;

O house of Israel, bless ye Jehovah, O house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah,

Psalms 135 20

House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!

House of Levi, bless ye Jehovah; ye that fear Jehovah, bless Jehovah.

O house of Levi, bless ye Jehovah, Those fearing Jehovah, bless ye Jehovah.

Psalms 135 21

Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise Yah! Psalm 136

Blessed be Jehovah out of Zion, who dwelleth at Jerusalem! Hallelujah!

Blessed [is] Jehovah from Zion, Inhabiting Jerusalem -- praise ye Jah!

Psalms 136 1

Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; For his lovingkindness endures forever.

Give ye thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever:

Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 2

Give thanks to the God of gods; For his lovingkindness endures forever.

Give thanks unto the God of gods, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

Give ye thanks to the God of gods, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 3

Give thanks to the Lord of lords; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

Give thanks unto the Lord of lords, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.

Give ye thanks to the Lord of lords, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 4

To him who alone does great wonders; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

To him who alone doeth great wonders, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever:

To Him doing great wonders by Himself alone, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 5

To him who by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

To him that by understanding made the heavens, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

To Him making the heavens by understanding, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 6

To him who spread out the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters, for his loving-kindness [endureth]

for ever;

To Him spreading the earth over the waters, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 7

To him who made the great lights; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

To him that made great lights, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

To Him making great lights, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 8

The sun to rule by day; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

The sun for rule over the day, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

The sun to rule by day, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 9

The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

The moon and stars for rule over the night, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever:

The moon and stars to rule by night, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 10

To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

To Him smiting Egypt in their first-born, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 11

And brought out Israel from among them; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

And brought out Israel from among them, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

And bringing forth Israel from their midst, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 12

With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

With a powerful hand and with a stretched-out arm, for his loving-kindness [endureth]

for ever;

By a strong hand, and a stretched-out-arm, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 13

To him who divided the Red Sea apart; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

To him that divided the Red sea into parts, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

To Him cutting the sea of Suph into parts, For to the age [is] His kindness,

Psalms 136 14

Made Israel to pass through the midst of it; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

And caused Israel to pass through its midst, For to the age [is] His kindness,

Psalms 136 15

But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

And overturned Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, for his loving-kindness [endureth]

for ever;

And shook out Pharaoh and his force in the sea of Suph, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 16

To him who led his people through the wilderness; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

To him that led his people through the wilderness, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

To Him leading His people in a wilderness, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 17

To him who struck great kings; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

To him that smote great kings, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

To Him smiting great kings, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 18

And killed mighty kings; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

And slew famous kings, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

Yea, He doth slay honourable kings, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 19

Sihon king of the Amorites; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

Even Sihon king of the Amorite, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 20

Og king of Bashan; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

And Og king of Bashan, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

And Og king of Bashan, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 21

And gave their land as an inheritance; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

And gave their land for an inheritance, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,

And He gave their land for inheritance, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 22

Even a heritage to Israel his servant; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

An inheritance unto Israel his servant, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever:

An inheritance to Israel His servant, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 23

Who remembered us in our low estate; For his lovingkindness endures forever;

Who hath remembered us in our low estate, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

Who in our lowliness hath remembered us, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 24

And has delivered us from our adversaries; For his lovingkindness endures forever:

And hath delivered us from our oppressors, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever:

And He delivereth us from our adversaries, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 25

Who gives food to every creature; For his lovingkindness endures forever.

Who giveth food to all flesh, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.

Giving food to all flesh, For to the age [is] His kindness.

Psalms 136 26

Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; For his lovingkindness endures forever. Psalm 137

Give ye thanks unto the ·God of the heavens; for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.

Give ye thanks to the God of the heavens, For to the age [is] His kindness!

Psalms 137 1

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

By rivers of Babylon -- There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

Psalms 137 2

On the willows in the midst of it, We hung up our harps.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

On willows in its midst we hung our harps.

Psalms 137 3

For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded

songs of joy: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that made us

wail [required] mirth, [saying,] Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.

For there our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers -- joy: `Sing ye

to us of a song of Zion.`

Psalms 137 4

How can we sing Yahweh`s song in a foreign land?

How should we sing a song of Jehovah`s upon a foreign soil?

How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?

Psalms 137 5

If I forget you, Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill.

If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [its skill];

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth!

Psalms 137 6

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, If I don`t remember you; If I don`t prefer

Jerusalem above my chief joy.

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to my palate: if I prefer not Jerusalem

above my chief joy.

My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt

Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Psalms 137 7

Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, The day of Jerusalem; Who said, "Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!"

Remember, O Jehovah, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Lay [it]

bare, Lay [it] bare, down to its foundation!

Remember, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, `Rase,

rase to its foundation!`

Psalms 137 8

Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, He will be happy who rewards you, As you have served us.

Daughter of Babylon, who art to be laid waste, happy he that rendereth unto thee that

which thou hast meted out to us.

O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to

thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us.

Psalms 137 9

Happy shall he be, Who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock. 

Psalm 138 

By David.

Happy he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.

O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!

 Study Questions

What is everlasting? 135:13

Why should we give thanks? Psa 136:1-3

His ____________ is everlasting? Psa 136

Your lovingkindness is? 138:2 and 8

Describe the presence of the Spirit? 139:7-16

The World English Bible

 

Oct. 5

Galatians 2

Gal 2:1 Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

Gal 2:2 I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

Gal 2:3 But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Gal 2:4 This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

Gal 2:5 to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.

Gal 2:6 But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn't show partiality to man)--they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

Gal 2:7 but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision

Gal 2:8 (for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);

Gal 2:9 and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

Gal 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor--which very thing I was also zealous to do.

Gal 2:11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.

Gal 2:12 For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

Gal 2:13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

Gal 2:15 "We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners,

Gal 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

Gal 2:17 But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!

Gal 2:18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.

Gal 2:19 For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Gal 2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

 

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.

Galatians

 

Galatians 2 1

Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

Then after a lapse of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking

Titus also with [me];

Then, after fourteen years again I went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, having

taken with me also Titus;

Galatians 2 2

I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain;

and I went up according to revelation, and I laid before them the glad tidings which I

preach among the nations, but privately to those conspicuous [among them], lest in any

way I run or had run in vain;

and I went up by revelation, and did submit to them the good news that I preach

among the nations, and privately to those esteemed, lest in vain I might run or

did run;

Galatians 2 3

But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

(but neither was Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, compelled to be circumcised;)

but not even Titus, who [is] with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised --

Galatians 2 4

This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

and [it was] on account of the false brethren brought in surreptitiously, who came in

surreptitiously to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might

bring us into bondage;

and [that] because of the false brethren brought in unawares, who did come in

privily to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, that us they might

bring under bondage,

Galatians 2 5

to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

to whom we yielded in subjection not even for an hour, that the truth of the glad tidings

might remain with you.

to whom not even for an hour we gave place by subjection, that the truth of the

good news might remain to you.

Galatians 2 6

But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn`t show partiality to man) -- they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

But from those who were conspicuous as being somewhat -- whatsoever they were, it

makes no difference to me: God does not accept man`s person; for to me those who were

conspicuous communicated nothing;

And from those who were esteemed to be something -- whatever they were then, it

maketh no difference to me -- the face of man God accepteth not, for -- to me those

esteemed did add nothing,

Galatians 2 7

but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the

uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel for the circumcision

but, on the contrary, seeing that the glad tidings of the uncircumcision were confided to

me, even as to Peter that of the circumcision,

but, on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the good news of

the uncircumcision, as Peter with [that] of the circumcision,

Galatians 2 8

(for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);

(for he that wrought in Peter for [the] apostleship of the circumcision wrought also in

me towards the Gentiles,)

for He who did work with Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, did work

also in me in regard to the nations,

Galatians 2 9

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

and recognising the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were

conspicuous as being pillars, gave to me and Barnabas [the] right hands of fellowship,

that *we* [should go] to the nations, and *they* to the circumcision;

and having known the grace that was given to me, James, and Cephas, and John,

who were esteemed to be pillars, a right hand of fellowship they did give to me,

and to Barnabas, that we to the nations, and they to the circumcision [may go],

Galatians 2 10

They only asked us to remember the poor -- which very thing I was also zealous to do.

only that we should remember the poor, which same thing also I was diligent to do.

only, of the poor that we should be mindful, which also I was diligent -- this very thing -- 

to do.

Galatians 2 11

But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to [the] face, because he was to be condemned:

And when Peter came to Antioch, to the face I stood up against him, because he

was blameworthy,

Galatians 2 12

For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

for before that certain came from James, he ate with [those of] the nations; but when they

came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those of [the] circumcision;

for before the coming of certain from James, with the nations he was eating, and

when they came, he was withdrawing and separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision,

Galatians 2 13

The rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so much that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

and the rest of the Jews also played the same dissembling part with him; so that even

Barnabas was carried away too by their dissimulation.

and dissemble with him also did the other Jews, so that also Barnabas was carried

away by their dissimulation.

Galatians 2 14

But when I saw that they didn`t walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

But when I saw that they do not walk straightforwardly, according to the truth of the

glad tidings, I said to Peter before all, If *thou*, being a Jew, livest as the nations and not

as the Jews, how dost thou compel the nations to Judaize?

But when I saw that they are not walking uprightly to the truth of the good news,

I said to Peter before all, `If thou, being a Jew, in the manner of the nations dost

live, and not in the manner of the Jews, how the nations dost thou compel to

Judaize?

Galatians 2 15

"We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners,

We, Jews by nature, and not sinners of [the] nations,

we by nature Jews, and not sinners of the nations,

Galatians 2 16

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

but knowing that a man is not justified on the principle of works of law [nor] but by the

faith of Jesus Christ, *we* also have believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified

on the principle of [the] faith of Christ; and not of works of law; because on the principle

of works of law no flesh shall be justified.

having known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not

through the faith of Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we

might be declared righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by works of law,

wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.`

Galatians 2 17

But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? God forbid!

Now if in seeking to be justified in Christ we also have been found sinners, then [is]

Christ minister of sin? Far be the thought.

And if, seeking to be declared righteous in Christ, we ourselves also were found

sinners, [is] then Christ a ministrant of sin? let it not be!

Galatians 2 18

For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.

For if the things I have thrown down, these I build again, I constitute myself a

transgressor.

for if the things I threw down, these again I build up, a transgressor I set myself forth;

Galatians 2 19

For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.

For *I*, through law, have died to law, that I may live to God.

for I through law, did die, that to God I may live;

Galatians 2 20

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That

life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, *I*, but Christ lives in me; but [in] that I

now live in flesh, I live by faith, the [faith] of the Son of God, who has loved me and given

himself for me.

with Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in

me; and that which I now live in the flesh -- in the faith I live of the Son of God,

who did love me and did give himself for me;

Galatians 2 21

I don`t make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [is] by law, then Christ has died

for nothing.

I do not make void the grace of God, for if righteousness [be] through law -- then

Christ died in vain.

 Study Questions

Why didn't Paul yield to the false teachers? 2:4-5