From Mark Copeland... Who Do You Say That Jesus Is? Mark 8:27-30

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                Who Do You Say That Jesus Is? (8:27-30)

INTRODUCTION

1. On the road from Bethsaida to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His
   disciples two questions...
   a. "Who do men say that I am?" - Mk 8:27-28
   b. "But who do you say that I am?" - Mk 8:29-30

2. The responses to such questions concerning Jesus' identity...
   a. Have been many and varied
   b. Both in Jesus' day and today

[It is the most important question people could ask themselves, for
their response determines their destiny both in this life and the life
to come.  Let's take a look at...]

I. WHAT PEOPLE SAID THEN

   A. JOHN THE BAPTIST...
      1. King Herod thought this when he heard about Jesus - Mk 6:14
      2. Perhaps motivated by guilt for having beheaded John - Mk 6:16

   B. ELIJAH...
      1. Likely based on their misunderstanding of Malachi's prophecy
         - Mal 4:5
      2. Which Jesus explained referred to John the Baptist - Mt 17:10-13

   C. JEREMIAH...
      1. As mentioned in Matthew's account of this conversation - Mt 16:14
      2. Who some Jews expected to be resurrected as a precursor to the
         Messiah

   D. ONE OF THE PROPHETS...
      1. One of the old prophets risen again
      2. As mentioned in Luke's account of this conversation - Lk 9:19

   E. BEELZEBUB...
      1. Some had identified Jesus with Beelzebub, that is, Satan - Mt 10:25
      2. So thought some of the scribes and Pharisees - Mk 3:22; Mt 12:24

   F. MENTALLY DERANGED...
      1. So thought some of His family - Mk 3:21; cf. Jn 7:5
      2. As did many others - Jn 10:30

   G. CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD...
      1. As per Mark's gospel, Peter said "You are the Christ" - Mk 8:27
         a. Christ (Greek) = Messiah (Hebrew)
         b. Meaning, "the Anointed One"
      2. As per Matthew, Peter added "The Son of the living God" - Mt 16:16
         a. God's Son in an unique sense, not true of any mortal
         b. As confessed by others (Nathanael, Martha, John)  - Jn 1:49;
            11:27; 20:31

[Opinions of Jesus' identity were quite diverse during His ministry.
Today, it is not much different...]

II. WHAT PEOPLE SAY TODAY

   A. FABRICATION...
      1. Some skeptics deny He ever existed
      2. Yet the Encyclopedia Britannica uses 20,000 words to tell about
         Jesus and never hints that He did not exist

   B. GOOD MAN...
      1. Many say He was simply a good man, a good teacher, akin to
         Mahatma Gandhi
      2. Yet the Biblical claims do not leave us this option:  "You can
         shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a
         demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.
         But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His
         being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.
         He did not intend to." - C. S. Lewis

   C. PROPHET...
      1. Many believe He was a prophet of God, but not the Son of God
      2. So teaches the religion of Islam

   D. CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD...
      1. As professed by Christians today, and to them He is so much
         more!
      2. As indicated by this list:

              * 100 Biblical Names And Titles Of Jesus *

CONCLUSION

1. We have seen what people said about Jesus...
   a. Then - during His earthly ministry
   b. Now - by atheist, agnostic, skeptic, and believer

2. But the key question today is this:  "Who do YOU say that Jesus
   is...?"
   b. Your answer will determine your eternity - cf. Mt 10:32-38; Ac 17:30-31
   a. Your answer will determine how you live today - cf. Mt 28:18-20

My prayer is that you would join with Peter and countless others and
confess to Jesus:

            "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Why not confess Jesus now, as you obey the gospel of Christ (e.g., Ac
8:35-38).  For you will either confess Him now, or confess Him later
when it is too late...! - cf. Php 2:9-11

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Jim McGuiggan... 1 Corinthians 10.13 and God's Faithfulness

1 Corinthians 10.13 and God's Faithfulness

A reader was wondering about 1 Corinthians 10:13. "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able." Does this mean that God promises to limit the temptations we face based on our ability to resist them?

I wouldn’t understand the promise in just that way. Before I begin these remarks I need to tell you that I believe that God is faithful and provides the help his people need when faced with temptation of all kinds, anytime and anywhere. But I believe it's a richer and more complex subject than it looks on the surface. (It makes contact with how God answers prayer which is another rich and complex matter.)

This is a difficult passage although it appears straightforward. I think we need to recognise that in 1 Corinthians 10 Paul is not only saying that Israel sinned, but that they sinned and fell (fell away from God) and so lost the inheritance. The larger context of chapter 10 (see especially the later verses and the OT texts Paul quotes) is not simply about human moral weakness and the "inevitable" sins that will occur—it has to do with a much more fundamental kind of sinning. Apostasy, fellowship with demons and provoking God is in his mind. The Corinthian cultural/civil/social setting plus their own limitations were such that the temptation to depart from God was very strong. My suspicion is that that is what Paul has in mind in 10:13.

There was to be no whining as if they couldn't be faithful to God. The history of the people of God shows that what the Corinthians faced was no different than what God’s elect had faced down the centuries. Be that as it may, no one is to excuse himself by saying he had to sin.

[I believe that to be true though I think there are exceptional circumstances where a Christian may be faced with a choice between two evils. The heart would renounce both movements so the evil done does not have the believer's heart's consent. Let's leave that topic for a while. It would take us a bit off the track we're on right now. We can, God enabling, take it up later.]

If a temptation is a temptation then by its very nature it is not beyond us. If what came at us simply coerced us, made us behave in this way or that, it isn't a "temptation". God has structured the living of life (not just specific moments in our lives) so that we cannot be coerced into sinning. What does not have our heart's consent should make us question the sinful nature of the act. [That thought needs development though I'm certain of its truth.]

So that when Paul says God will not permit us to be tempted above our capacity for resistance he isn't talking about particular moments of divine intervention—he's speaking about God's pervasive providence. To me it makes no sense to say, "There’s a temptation that is absolutely beyond resisting." That is, when the temptation occurs, the human simply isn't capable to resist it. That isn't temptation, it's an "overwhelming". What I think Paul is saying is that God has not left his people powerless and fated to go down.

I can't help thinking that there's something self-defeating in saying that God enables a believer to resist provided that the believer is able to resist in order to cash in on that enabling. It's sounds a bit like offering a roadmap to a man in chains in prison to use once he gets himself out of prison. "I’m enabling you to resist temptation if you’re able to take my enabling." Hmmm.

And if 10:13 is saying nothing more than, "There is always another course of action open to a Christian when a temptation comes," then he has said nothing. It's certainly true that there is always another course of action; but that's true for any human under any circumstance—even if the person is a degenerate rebel. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to have Paul say, "God is faithful...there's always another course of action." Of course! But is that what Paul is saying?

Still, let me plainly insist that God is faithful and he does provide a way of escape and he has so structured things that we don't have to go down in sin.

So how does he do that? Moment by moment? Situation by situation? Or does Paul think of God's faithful providence on a broader base? God enables us to resist temptation in many ways and some of them have existed before we were born. His whole work of redemption, his entire work of grace with humanity is the groundwork and expression of his faithfulness. To understand Paul as saying less than that, I think, is to miss his richness here.

We make a mistake, I judge, by making every verse a commentary on moment by moment existence as if we lived that way—we don't! Every word in an author's book is written by him and has its place as part of the entire book, but it doesn't function as an independent word, isolated from all others in the book. It's as much a part of the book as any other word, as much a part of the book as all the other words together but it doesn't stand alone and shouldn't be treated as if it did. We tend to see life as a long series of independent moments, situations and experiences and we think God speaks to it in that way. I don’t believe that’s true.

Nevertheless, God does deliver us from specific temptations (that is, he enables us to honourably resist them) and we should thank him for it. But when we do, we need not think that only an hour ago (when we were faced with the awful temptation) he acted on our behalf. His enabling work—and it is his enabling work—was already in operation on our behalf long before the temptation arrived. We felt the power of his aid on Thursday at 4 p.m. but we aren't to suppose that God only began to act around that time. (Though I’m not forbidding him to do so.)

Nor should we think that he weakens the temptation by doing something to the temptation itself—he provides and protects us by doing something to us. The "ten pounds of pressure temptation" isn't made less by God as if temptations existed as objective realities independent of us. It doesn't happen (to use imagery) that Satan is heading our way with a fifty pound temptation and God forbids it by saying, "No, make that a forty-pounder." Temptations don't exist as already made realities, delivered like packages to this person and that. They're a combination of realities that includes our inner structure. Without us there is no temptation.

I think Paul is saying that God does not leave his people helpless but that he provides what they need to be his people and to be faithful as his people. I don’t believe he ever leaves any of his people helpless in the face of temptation (praise his name!).

I don’t think we should use this text to prove the theoretical possibility of our never sinning. That’s not what the text is there for. My present understand of biblical writers is that they don’t waste their time talking about interesting and theoretical questions. Paul knows they will sin and he everywhere writes with that in mind. I think the context here is their flagrant arrogance and the danger of their going down in apostasy.

©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 Gary... Perfection Personified

This picture reminded me of Mother's day (as if I needed any reminding) and its "cute" factor is way up there.  Some mom's (and Grand-Mom's are excellent; others, well, not so much.  But, face it- we wouldn't be here without them.  In thinking about mom's, I naturally thought of this chapter from the book of Proverbs...

Proverbs, Chapter 31

 1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him. 

  2 “Oh, my son!

Oh, son of my womb!

Oh, son of my vows!

  3 Don’t give your strength to women,

nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

  4 It is not for kings, Lemuel;

it is not for kings to drink wine;

nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

  5 lest they drink, and forget the law,

and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

  6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish;

and wine to the bitter in soul:

  7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

and remember his misery no more.

  8 Open your mouth for the mute,

in the cause of all who are left desolate.

  9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

  10 Who can find a worthy woman?

For her price is far above rubies.

  11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.

He shall have no lack of gain.

  12 She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

  13 She seeks wool and flax,

and works eagerly with her hands.

  14 She is like the merchant ships.

She brings her bread from afar.

  15 She rises also while it is yet night,

gives food to her household,

and portions for her servant girls.

  16 She considers a field, and buys it.

With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.

  17 She arms her waist with strength,

and makes her arms strong.

  18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.

  19 She lays her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

  20 She opens her arms to the poor;

yes, she extends her hands to the needy.

  21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household;

for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

  22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

  23 Her husband is respected in the gates,

when he sits among the elders of the land.

  24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

and delivers sashes to the merchant.

  25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.

She laughs at the time to come.

  26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.

Faithful instruction is on her tongue.

  27 She looks well to the ways of her household,

and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.

  28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.

Her husband also praises her:

  29 “Many women do noble things,

but you excel them all.”

  30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;

but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.

  31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!

Let her works praise her in the gates!

This level of perfection reminds me of that old commercial  where a very attractive Woman says something like: I can bring home the bacon n' fry it up in a pan- an never ever let you forget you are a man-- because I am a W-O-M-A-N... .  Well, I think most women can not fulfill all Lemuel's mother's requirements, or be an equal to the "bacon frying" woman of the 70's, but almost every GRAND-MOM seems that way to her grand-kids!!!  Fact is- whatever their capabilities, THANK GOD FOR THE WEAKER SEX!!!  Their role in society is absolutely necessary and to be praised as often as possible!!!  Even those with a shape like a rotary phone!!!!

From Gary... Far and Near

Spring has arrived in Florida!!!  The grass is turning green again and the flowers are blooming in all their glorious splendor!!!  Some of you out there might not think a lot of this, as Spring comes EVERY YEAR!!!  To those people I say - get a life, look around- there is beauty everywhere.  And the closer you look, the more you will be amazed at what you see, because life is simply W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L !!!!  The same is true in the spiritual realm as well.  Some people (like those who would just look at the topmost picture) consider God from a distance and just do not want to get involved.  Others, may see the possibility of fellowship with God, but just not sit down and spend some time with HIM (check out the bench).  Still others may associate with HIM somewhat, but just will not immerse themselves in HIS fellowship (like getting into a swimming pool).  Lastly (and best of all) are those who want to know every little thing about HIM and get close enough to see the majesty and glory of knowing him.  And so, with all this in mind, I came to the second chapter of Ephesians...

Ephesians, Chapter 2

  1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,  2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience;  3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,  5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;  8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  9 not of works, that no one would boast.  10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. 

  11  Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”, (in the flesh, made by hands);  12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.  14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition,  15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;  16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby.  17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.  18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,  20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;  21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;  22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. 

When you come close to God the father, you do it through obeying from the heart the Gospel of Jesus. It does not matter if you were a Jew or a Gentile, rich or poor, slave or free, young or old, male or female- If you are IN JESUS (Galatians 3: 22-29); then you are REALLY IN!!!!  And the more you grow in Christ,  the more spiritual insight you develop and the more love and effort you will expend in building up the household of God.  Today, spend some real quality time alone with God; ask for guidance and just one thing to do in order to express your love for HIM.  Even if it is something as simple as viewing a leaf and seeing it for the marvelous jewel that God has made - ask!!!  God will listen and you will be amazed how alive you will feel!!!

From Gary.... Bible Reading and Study, May 11

Please note that I have combined the daily Bible reading of the World English Bible with that of The Composite Bible and its daily study questions into one post!!!

May 11

Joshua 3, 4

Jos 3:1 Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They lodged there before they passed over.

Jos 3:2 It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;

Jos 3:3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall move from your place, and follow it.

Jos 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Don't come near to it, that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before."

Jos 3:5 Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you."

Jos 3:6 Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people." They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

Jos 3:7 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

Jos 3:8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.' "

Jos 3:9 Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of Yahweh your God."

Jos 3:10 Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you.

Jos 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.

Jos 3:12 Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.

Jos 3:13 It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap."

Jos 3:14 It happened, when the people moved from their tents to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people,

Jos 3:15 and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark had dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest),

Jos 3:16 that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over right against Jericho.

Jos 3:17 The priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.

Jos 4:1 It happened, when all the nation had completely passed over the Jordan, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,

Jos 4:2 "Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,

Jos 4:3 and command them, saying, 'Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging place, where you will lodge tonight.' "

Jos 4:4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man.

Jos 4:5 Joshua said to them, "Pass over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;

Jos 4:6 that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do you mean by these stones?'

Jos 4:7 then you shall tell them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.' "

Jos 4:8 The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as Yahweh spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

Jos 4:9 Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

Jos 4:10 For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over.

Jos 4:11 It happened, when all the people had completely passed over, that the ark of Yahweh passed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.

Jos 4:12 The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.

Jos 4:13 About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho.

Jos 4:14 On that day, Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Jos 4:15 Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,

Jos 4:16 "Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan."

Jos 4:17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up out of the Jordan!"

Jos 4:18 It happened, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up to the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.

Jos 4:19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

Jos 4:20 Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.

Jos 4:21 He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean?'

Jos 4:22 Then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

Jos 4:23 For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you had passed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over;

Jos 4:24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.' "

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

Joshua

Joshua 3 1

Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel; and they lodged there before they passed over.

And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

And Joshua riseth early in the morning, and they journey from Shittim, and come in unto the Jordan, he and all the sons of Israel, and they lodge there before they pass over.

Joshua 3 2

It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp; 

And it came to pass at the end of three days, that the officers went through the camp;

And it cometh to pass, at the end of three days, that the authorities pass over into the midst of the camp,

Joshua 3 3

and they commanded the people, saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it.

and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then remove from your place, and go after it;

and command the people, saying, `When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then ye journey from your place, and have gone after it;

 Joshua 3 4

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: don`t come near to it, that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way heretofore.

yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Ye shall not come near it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

only, a distance is between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure; ye do not come near unto it, so that ye know the way in which ye go, for ye have not passed over in the way heretofore.`

Joshua 3 5

Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you.

And Joshua said to the people, Hallow yourselves; for to-morrow Jehovah will do wonders in your midst.

And Joshua saith unto the people, `Sanctify yourselves, for to-morrow doth Jehovah do in your midst wonders.`

Joshua 3 6

Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and go over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

And Joshua speaketh unto the priests, saying, `Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people;` and they take up the ark of the covenant, and go before the people.

Joshua 3 7

Yahweh said to Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

And Jehovah said to Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee.

And Jehovah saith unto Joshua, `This day I begin to make thee great in the eyes of all Israel, so that they know that as I was with Moses I am with thee;

Joshua 3 8

You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.

And thou shalt command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, stand still in the Jordan.

and thou, thou dost command the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye come unto the extremity of the waters of the Jordan -- in the Jordan ye stand.`

Joshua 3 9

Joshua said to the children of Israel, Come here, and hear the words of Yahweh your God.

And Joshua said to the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of Jehovah your God.

And Joshua saith unto the sons of Israel, `Come nigh hither, and hear the words of Jehovah your God;

Joshua 3 10

Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite.

And Joshua said, Hereby shall ye know that the living ·God is in your midst, and [that] he will without fail dispossess from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

and Joshua saith, `By this ye know that the living God [is] in your midst, and He doth certainly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite:

Joshua 3 11

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going over before you into the Jordan.

lo, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into Jordan;

Joshua 3 12

Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man. 

And now take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.

and now, take for you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, one man -- one man for a tribe;

Joshua 3 13

It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.

And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan, the waters flowing down from above, shall be cut off, and shall stand up in a heap.

and it hath been, at the resting of the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of Jehovah, Lord of all the earth, in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan are cut off -- the waters which are coming down from above -- and they stand -- one heap.`

Joshua 3 14

It happened, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people;

And it came to pass when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, that the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were before the people;

And it cometh to pass, in the journeying of the people from their tents to pass over the Jordan, and of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,

Joshua 3 15

and when those who bore the ark were come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest,)

and when they that bore the ark were come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (and the Jordan is full over all its banks throughout the days of harvest),

and at those bearing the ark coming in unto the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark have been dipped in the extremity of the waters (and the Jordan is full over all its banks all the days of harvest) --

Joshua 3 16

that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

the waters which flowed down from above stood [and] rose up in a heap, very far, by Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan; and those that flowed down towards the sea of the plain, the salt sea, were completely cut off. And the people went over opposite to Jericho.

that the waters stand; those coming down from above have risen -- one heap, very far above Adam the city, which [is] at the side of Zaretan; and those going down by the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, have been completely cut off; and the people have passed through over-against Jericho;

Joshua 3 17

The priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan.

And the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan. And all Israel went over on dry ground, until all the nation had completely gone over the Jordan.

and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stand on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan -- established, and all Israel are passing over on dry ground till that all the nation hath completed to pass over the Jordan.

Joshua 4 1

It happened, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,

And it came to pass when the whole nation had completely gone over the Jordan, that Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying,

And it cometh to pass, when all the nation hath completed to pass over the Jordan, that Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua, saying,

Joshua 4 2

Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 

Take you twelve men out of the people, one man out of every tribe,

`Take for you out of the people twelve men, one man -- one man out of a tribe;

Joshua 4 3

and command you them, saying, Take hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests` feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where you shall lodge this night.

and command them, saying, Take up hence out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests` feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place where ye shall lodge this night.

and command ye them, saying, Take up for you from this [place], from the midst of the Jordan, from the established standing-place of the feet of the priests, twelve stones, and ye have removed them over with you, and placed them in the lodging-place in which ye lodge to-night.`

Joshua 4 4

Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:

And Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had appointed of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe;

And Joshua calleth unto the twelve men whom he prepared out of the sons of Israel, one man -- one man out of a tribe;

Joshua 4 5

and Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;

and Joshua said to them, Pass before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and lift up each of you a stone [and put it] upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,

and Joshua saith to them, `Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God unto the midst of the Jordan and lift up for you each, one stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel,

Joshua 4 6

that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, What do you mean by these stones?

that this may be a sign in your midst. When your children ask hereafter, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

so that this is a sign in your midst, when your children ask hereafter, saying, What [are] these stones to you?

Joshua 4 7

then you shall tell them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.

then ye shall say to them, That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it went through the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

that ye have said to them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off, at the presence of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; in its passing over into the Jordan were the waters of the Jordan cut off; and these stones have been for a memorial to the sons of Israel -- to the age.`

Joshua 4 8

The children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Yahweh spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

And the children of Israel did so, as Joshua had commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging-place, and laid them down there.

And the sons of Israel do so as Joshua commanded, and take up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah hath spoken unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, and remove them over with them unto the lodging-place, and place them there,

Joshua 4 9

Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there to this day.

And twelve stones did Joshua set up in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant had stood firm; and they are there to this day.

even the twelve stones hath Joshua raised up out of the midst of the Jordan, the place of the standing of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, and they are there unto this day.

Joshua 4 10

For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hurried and passed over.

And the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Jehovah had commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. And the people hasted and passed over.

And the priests bearing the ark are standing in the midst of the Jordan till the completion of the whole thing which Jehovah commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua, and the people haste and pass over.

Joshua 4 11

It happened, when all the people had completely passed over, that the ark of Yahweh passed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.

And it came to pass, when all the people had completely gone over, that the ark of Jehovah went over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

And it cometh to pass when all the people have completed to pass over, that the ark of Jehovah passeth over, and the priests, in the presence of the people;

Joshua 4 12

The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them:

And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, went over in array before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them.

and the sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, pass over, by fifties, before the sons of Israel, as Moses had spoken unto them;

Joshua 4 13

about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho.

About forty thousand armed for military service passed over before Jehovah to the war, unto the plains of Jericho.

about forty thousand, armed ones of the host, passed over before Jehovah for battle, unto the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 4 14

On that day Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

On that day Jehovah magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.

On that day hath Jehovah made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel, and they reverence him, as they reverenced Moses, all days of his life.

Joshua 4 15

Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,

And Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying,

And Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua, saying,

Joshua 4 16

Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.

Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.

`Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony, and they come up out of the Jordan.`

Joshua 4 17

Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come you up out of the Jordan.

And Joshua commanded the priests, saying, Come up out of the Jordan.

And Joshua commandeth the priests, saying, `Come ye up out of the Jordan.`

Joshua 4 18

It happened, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests` feet were lifted up to the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.

And it came to pass when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah had come up out of the midst of the Jordan, [when] the soles of the priests` feet were lifted up on to the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and they flowed as previously, over all its banks.

And it cometh to pass, in the coming up of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the midst of the Jordan -- the soles of the feet of the priests have been drawn up into the dry ground -- and the waters of the Jordan turn back to their place, and go as heretofore over all its banks.

Joshua 4 19

The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the eastern extremity of Jericho.

And the people have come up out of the Jordan on the tenth of the first month, and encamp in Gilgal, in the extremity east of Jericho;

Joshua 4 20

Those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal.

And those twelve stones which they had taken out of the Jordan did Joshua set up in Gilgal.

and these twelve stones, which they have taken out of the Jordan, hath Joshua raised up in Gilgal.

Joshua 4 21

He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?

And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children hereafter ask their fathers, saying, What [mean] these stones?

And he speaketh unto the sons of Israel, saying, `When your sons ask their fathers hereafter, saying, What [are] these stones?

Joshua 4 22

Then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

then ye shall let your children know, saying, On dry land did Israel come over this Jordan;

then ye have caused your sons to know, saying, On dry land Israel passed over this Jordan; 

Joshua 4 23

For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you were passed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over;

because Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye had passed over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over;

because Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan at your presence, till your passing over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red Sea which He dried up at our presence till our passing over;

Joshua 4 24

that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.

that all peoples of the earth might know the hand of Jehovah, that it is mighty; that ye might fear Jehovah your God continually.

so that all the people of the land do know the hand of Jehovah that it [is] strong, so that ye have reverenced Jehovah your God all the days.`

Study Questions...

How was Israel to know that God was with them? 3:9-13

How did Israel pass over the Jordan river? 3:14-17

The twelve stones were to be a remembrance of ..? 4:3-7