June 30, 2021

John's First Letter Introduction by Charles Hess

https://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Hess/Charles/Albert/1929/Comments/123John/intro.html

WHAT FIRST JOHN IS ABOUT
John forcefully warns against all sinning. He points out that "there is a deadly sin" (1Jo 5:16).^[ 1 ] He stresses love, truth, righteous living, walking in the light and obeying commandments. One cannot be a faithful Christian without these. He discusses at length the nature and mission of Christ. A sharp distinction is made between true and false believers.

Chart
TOPICS IN 1 JOHN
Prologue--the Word of life (1Jo 1:1-4).

Walking in the light (1Jo 1:5-2:2).

Keeping His commands (1Jo 2:3-11).

New status of believers and their relation to the world (1Jo 2:12-17).

Warning against antichrists (1Jo 2:18-27).

The hope of God's children (1Jo 2:28-3:3).

Sinlessness of God's children (1Jo 3:4-10).

Brotherly love the mark of a Christian (1Jo 3:11-18).

Assurance and obedience (1Jo 3:19-24).

The spirits of truth and falsehood (4:1-6).

God's love and the love of Christians (1Jo 4:7-12).

Assurance and love (1Jo 4:13-5:4).

The true faith confirmed (1Jo 5:5-12).

Christian certainties (1Jo 5:13-21).

(from I. Marshall 26)

A WORD ABOUT TRANSLATIONS

Before proceeding,^[ 2 ] a word about translations from the Greek is in order.^[ 3 ] In notes on some other epistles I have relentlessly pointed out apparent errors in several versions. The NIV has been mercilessly singled out again and again because of paraphrases that are, in my judgment, inexcusable. However, to give credit where credit is due, the NIV translator of the epistles of John did a pretty good job. Nevertheless, I still intend to call attention to error if I find it.

THE WRITER

Although his name does not appear in the letter, the apostle John is undoubtedly the writer.^[ 4 ] His mother Salome followed and ministered to or waited on Jesus when He was in Galilee (Mt 27:55, 56; Mk 15:40, 41; Lu 8:2, 3; 23:55, 56; Joh 19:25). His fisherman father Zebedee had hired servants, an indication of prosperity (Mk 1:19, 20). John may have been in his late teens when Jesus called him. His brother James ^[ 5 ] was probably a little older.^[ 6 ] The two brothers were partners in the fishing business with Simon ^[ 7 ] (Lu 5:9, 10). Bethsaida in Galilee, the city of Andrew and Peter, was probably John's second home (Joh 1:44). Young John was known to the high priest (Joh 18:15). After the crucifixion, he took Mary "into his own home" (Joh 19:27 ASV; compare Lu 18:28; Joh 16:32).

Chart
JOHN'S CHARACTER TRAITS
With mother Salome and brother James, asked for high kingdom positions (Mt 20:21; Mk 10:35).

Was prosperous (implied by Mk 1:20; Joh 18:15).

A "Son of Thunder" (Mk 3:17).

Tried to hinder a follower of Jesus (Mk 9:38; Lu 9:49).

Said, "Lord, will You that we bid fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" (Lu 9:54).

Soon after Pentecost, John was put in prison with his good friend and fellow-apostle Peter (Ac 4:3, 8, 13). The two also went to Samaria together in order to impart miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and to preach (Ac 8:14-25). Along with James and Cephas, John earned the reputation of being a "pillar" in the early Jerusalem church of Christ (Ga 2:9).

TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING

Clues as to the time of writing of the letter of 1 John are so scarce that any attempt to set a date be would only a guess.^[ 8 ] It was written after the church was established and before John's death. I cannot say exactly when. I am not even certain that 1 John was written before 2 and 3 John. Some take the references to Gnosticism to indicate a late date but recent documents have discounted that contention.^[ 9 ] I am not even certain when John was banished to the island of Patmos (see chart JOHN'S BANISHMENT AND DEATH). The times usually fall between AD 85 and 100.^[ 10 ] Others assign a date prior to AD 70. At the early date suggested, was the message of the epistle really needed? Yes it was (see note below on TO WHOM WRITTEN). John is believed to have lived in Ephesus in his later years.^[ 11 ] He may have been there when he wrote the book.

Chart

JOHN'S BANISHMENT AND DEATH
(Re 1:9)
Banished by Claudius before AD 70? (Grotius). [Claudius died AD 54].

Banished by Nero before AD 70? (Sir Isaac Newton). [Nero died AD 68]?

Banished by Domitian about AD 95? [Domitian died 9/18/96].

According to some ancients, John died at Ephesus about AD 100? [third year of emperor Trajan].

TO WHOM WRITTEN

Nowhere in 1 John does the writer designate his readers. It is assumed he wrote for a general audience. The warning against idols brings to mind Gentiles (see 1Jo 5:21). The content of the letter answers the false doctrines of Docetism ^[ 12 ] and Gnosticism.^[ 13 ] It also answers heretics Marcion ^[ 14 ] and Valentinus.^[ 15 ] Since the second century, the epistles of John, Jude, James and Peter have frequently been called "catholic"^[ 16 ] meaning general or universal. However, other letters to specific churches (for example, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians and Romans) are somewhat general in application. Also the "general" letters of 2 and 3 John are not so very general. They are specifically addressed to "the elect lady" and "the beloved Gaius" (2Jo 1; 3Jo 1).

STYLE

John's style reminds one of the Psalms or Proverbs with their characteristic Hebrew "poetic" style (see charts SYNONYMOUS PARALLELISMS and ANTITHETIC PARALLELISMS). Some of his sentences have three parts,^[ 17 ] others four.^[ 18 ]

Chart
SYNONYMOUS PARALLELISMS
He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing causing offence in him (1Jo 2:10).

We know love because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1Jo 3:16).

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, and whoever loves Him who gives birth, loves him also who is born of Him (1Jo 5:1).

The letter of 1 John has been unjustly criticized as being disjointed and without any logical sequence of ideas. For example, one writer said, "John's thoughts are not arranged logically and systematically."^[ 19 ] If the reader would carefully peruse Robert Law's study on the first epistle of John, The Tests of Life, he could easily see its beautiful organization and symmetry. He wrote, "It is perhaps venture-some, therefore, to express the opinion that the more closely one studies the Epistle the more one discovers it to be, in its own unique way, one of the most closely articulated pieces of writing in the New Testament; and that the style, simple and unpremeditated as it is, is singularly artistic."^[ 20 ] I trust that Mr. Law will forgive me for borrowing several of his rich ideas, especially for the charts on testing.^[ 21 ]

Chart
ANTITHETIC PARALLELISMS
And the world is passing away, its lust also. But he who does the will of God continues forever (1Jo 2:17).

Everyone who remains in Him does not keep on sinning. Everyone who keeps on sinning, has neither seen Him nor known Him (1Jo 3:6).

We know that we have passed from death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love, remains in death (1Jo 3:14).

GNOSTICISM
Much of what John writes in this letter answers false teachers who were upsetting the young churches (see 1Jo 2:18, 22-24; 4:3; 2Jo 7). These false teachers are usually called "Gnostics." Gnosticism is difficult to define in a brief paragraph because it includes several branches of philosophical thought that existed in cults even before Christ. As early as the first century, it was introduced into various churches of Christ. One of its false ideas was that the world was created by a lesser deity called Jehovah who was different than the primary or true God. A further teaching was that matter is evil and that emancipation or salvation came only by "gnosis" or the esoteric ^[ 22 ] knowledge of spiritual truth. Not unlike modern "faith only" teachers, some of the Gnostics misapplied John 17:3 and taught that "knowledge only" was all that was necessary for salvation!

Since Gnostics taught that matter is evil, according to them, the human body had to be evil.^[ 23 ] With this faulty reasoning, they argued that God could not have dwelt in the "evil" body of Jesus. Some said His body was only a body in appearance. As a result, they denied that Christ came in the flesh (1Jo 4:2, 3; 5:1). They said He did not perform the deeds attributed to Him in the Gospels but they were only imaginary.^[ 24 ] They denied that His death was for the sins of the world (compare 1Jo 2:2). They denounced the bodily resurrection and claimed that baptism was their only resurrection. Some of them opposed wine and even thought marriage was wrong. Others engaged in sins of the flesh without any compunction. Because it was important that the teaching of Christ be kept pure and true, John urged that the false "spirits" be tried (1Jo 4:1).

CERINTHUS
The Cerinthians and Ebionites ^[ 25 ] were, in some respects, different from those mentioned above but they were just as bad. They admitted the deeds of Christ but denied He was the Son of God (see 1Jo 2:22). They had a preconceived notion of what God should be like and found it impossible to reconcile the revealed truth with that, so they rejected the revealed truth. A notorious Gnostic was named Cerinthus. He was a Jew who was educated at Alexandria, Egypt, but he lived in or near Ephesus during John's stay there.^[ 26 ] He said the world was not created by "the primary God" but by an offshoot power. He denied the miraculous conception and virgin birth. He taught the doctrine of "adoptionism" that after Jesus' baptism, "the Christ" descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove and that He then announced the "unknown Father" (the primary God) and performed miracles. He further taught that near the end of His ministry "the Christ" withdrew from Jesus who then suffered, died and rose from the dead.^[ 27 ] All the while, the separate "Christ" remained apart and incapable of suffering because He was a spiritual being.^[ 28 ]

Footnotes:

^[ 1 ] The basic text in these notes on the letters of John is the Old Paths Version (OPV). Quotations from 1, 2 and 3 John and from Colossians are from the OPV unless otherwise noted.

^[ 2 ] Greek transliteration follows the BibleSoft method. Many quotations in charts and paragraphs not from the OPV are from an updated but unpublished ASV.

^[ 3 ] The total vocabulary of the Greek NT is 5437 different words, of which, in his three epistles, John employs only 303 (I. Marshall 2). In this respect, these letters are considered to be the easier NT letters to translate.

^[ 4 ] In all the books attributed to John, his name only occurs five times, all in the book of Revelation.

^[ 5 ] James the brother of John was martyred under Herod Agrippa (Ac 12:2).

^[ 6 ] Suggested by the mention of James before John (Mk 1:19).

^[ 7 ] The remains of Simon Peter's "lake-front" property in Capernaum indicate that he was well-to-do. However, in the early days of the Jerusalem church, neither he or John had silver or gold (Ac 3:6).

^[ 8 ] The Anti-Marcionite Prologues (AD 150/180) state: "Later John the apostle, one of the Twelve, wrote the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos, and after that the Gospel" (Roberts 11).
^[ 9 ] See footnote on Valentinus on a following page.

^[ 10 ] Some ideas about the date of the writing of 1 John are: probably AD 68 or 69 (Adam Clarke); before the destruction of Jerusalem [AD 70] (Macknight); AD 90 or about AD 90 (Ellicott Harrison, Woods); 85-90 (Introduction in NASB; Almanac); no date given or entirely conjecture (Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry; B. W. Johnson); late first century, cannot be sure (Zondervan).
^[ 11 ] Eusebius, Church History 3.23.4 (compare Irenaeus, Against Heresies 2.22.5; Clement, Who is the Rich Man? 42.1). Irenaeus died about 202 AD, Clement of Alexandria about 211 AD and Eusebius 340 AD.

^[ 12 ] Docetism was a heresy that afflicted early churches. The Greek word for "seem" is DOKEOO and the Greek for Docetists is DOKEETAI. This probably accounts for the name of this false doctrine that included the ideas that Christ only seemed to have a human body and only seemed to die on the cross.

^[ 13 ] The term "Gnosticism" is derived from the Greek word GNOOSIS knowledge.
^[ 14 ] Marcion was a wealthy shipowner of Sinope (northern Turkey) and the son of a bishop. About 138-140 he came to Rome with a large monetary contribution to the church which he later recovered. He presented a collection of so-called contradictions and other statements to the presbyters but was not satisfied with their reply. He died about AD 160 but the sect he started survived long afterward. His "unanswered" contradictions led him to the hypothesis that there were two gods. He considered the Jewish Creator God to be inferior to the Supreme Christian God revealed through Christ (Davies 74, 75).

^[ 15 ] Valentinus' late second century teachings had infected some of the churches of Christ long before his time as suggested by the discovery of Gnostic documents from Nag Hammadi in Egypt (Roberts 1).

^[ 16 ] Greek KATHOLIKOS, catholic or general. Clement of Alexandria also called the letter recorded in Acts 15 "the catholic letter of all the apostles given to the faithful" (from Vincent 2.303).

^[ 17 ] See 1Jo 1:3; 2:7.

^[ 18 ] See 1Jo 2:18; 5:4, 5;

^[ 19 ] Roberts 28.

^[ 20 ] Law 2.

^[ 21 ] In addition to Robert Law's "spiral" outline of 1 John, other interesting and acceptable patterns have been observed by A. E. Brooke, C. H. Dodd, A. Feuillet, P. R. Jones (similar to R. Law's), E. Malatesta (also similar), I. Howard Marshall and R. Schnackenburg.

^[ 22 ] Esoteric knowledge is that which supposedly can only be understood by a select group.

^[ 23 ] Traces of Gnosticism are seen in the NIV and other versions of the Bible, especially in the book of Romans, where "flesh" is rendered "sinful nature."
^[ 24 ] Basilides and others, including the Docetists and Phantasiatists, taught the deeds of Christ were imaginary. These sects were termed "antichrists" by John in 1 John 4:3. An argument for a late date for the writing of 1 John is that Basilides, Cerinthus and others did not arise until after AD 70. I tend to discount this argument because their false teachings were extant before that. (Macknight 647, 649).

^[ 25 ] The Jews called a poor person "ebion." The poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were sometimes called Ebionites but not all of them held to "Ebionism" which is a poor doctrine about Christ, especially, the teaching that Jesus was only human. Irenaeus, who wrote in AD 176 or 177, listed the Ebionites between the Cerinthian and the Nicolatian heretics (Macknight 648).
^[ 26 ] Irenaeus, a pupil of Polycarp, who was himself a student of John, relates that Polycarp told him that the apostle, "The disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bathhouse without bathing, exclaiming, `Let us fly, lest even the bathhouse fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within'" Against Heresies 3.3, 4 from Woods 206).
^[ 27 ] B. Horsley (Letter 14 to Dr. Priestly) said, "The Cerinthians held, that Christ being restored to Jesus after His resurrection, it rendered the man Jesus an object of divine honors" (Macknight 647).
^[ 28 ] Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.26.1, 2; Vincent 2.339.

Charles Hess

Copyright ©1998, Charles Hess, Ridgefield, Washington, U.S.A.
This material may be copied for personal study only.
It may not be distributed or published in any form whatever
without the copyright owner's written permission.
This copyright notice must be included on all copies made.

The basic Scripture text in this commentary is
The Old Paths Archive^® Version of the Holy Scriptures (OPV),
Copyright © 1997,1998, Roy Davison, Belgium. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com)

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

https://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2016/10/

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

What is the purpose of miraculous signs? Are miraculous signs occurring today?

John 2:1-11.....11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

The first miraculous sign Jesus performed was turning water into to wine. It confirmed His glory. He was the Son of God.

John 6:2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He performed on those who were sick.

Jesus healed the sick to confirm that He was the Son of God.

John 3:1-2....this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

Jesus performed signs to confirm that He came from God.

John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Jesus performed signs to confirm that He was the Son of God. The Bible has been written so men might believe and have life in the name of Jesus. Jesus is not coming back to earth to perform more signs. Jesus has already proved He the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior of all who believe and meet God's terms for pardon. Signs were to confirm that Jesus was the Son of God and that the Bible was God's message about salvation for mankind.

MIRACULOUS SIGNS AFTER THE DEATH OF JESUS

Mark 16:16-20......17 These signs will accompany those who have believed in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover."......20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirm the word by the signs that followed.

Those who believed and were baptized performed miraculous signs to confirm the word of God. Are Christians today performing miraculous signs to confirm the word of God? NO, THEY ARE NOT. We have the written word of God to confirm that Jesus was the Son of God. We do not need miraculous signs today. The church of Christ was well established by the first one hundred fifty years. We have a completed Bible.

If miraculous signs were available today these things would be occurring in every church of Christ congregation.
1. Some would be casting out demons.
2. Some believers would be speaking with new tongues.
3. Some would pick up poisonous snakes and not be hurt.
4. Some believers could drink poison without being affected.
5.Some could lay hands on the sick and heal them.
Is this happening in every single Christian congregation in the world? No, it is not occurring in any of the Lord's churches anywhere.

Hebrew 2:1-4....3...if we neglect a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs, and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

God has already confirmed (past tense) our salvation by signs, wonders, and miracles. It is recorded in the Bible so we can believe and be saved.

God is not going to send Jesus to reconfirm that Jesus is His Son. God is not reconfirming His church and the gospel by using the contemporary churches with miraculous signs. We have a completed Bible with all the miraculous signs to confirm that Jesus is the Son of God.The Bible has the gospel plan of salvation.

THERE ARE NO MODERN-DAY APOSTLES. THERE ARE NO MODERN-DAY CHRISTIANS PERFORMING MIRACULOUS SIGNS!

The Divide Between Politics and Christianity by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://thepreachersword.com/2020/09/01/the-divide-between-politics-and-christianity/#more-17199

The Divide Between Politics and Christianity

Susan Eisenhower has recently written a book about her grandfather, Dwight D. Eisenhower, entitled “How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower’s Biggest Decisions.”

Cal Thomas recently reviewed the book in one of his columns and referenced Susan’s admiration for what she called Ike’s pursuit of “the middle way.” In the book is this quote from a letter that Eisenhower wrote to a friend in California in 1954.

“I developed a practice which, so far as I know, I have never violated. The practice is to avoid public mention of any name unless it can be done with favorable intent and connotation; reserve all criticism for the private conference; speak only good in public.”

While Thomas expressed his respect and appreciation for the late President, saying he demonstrated “good character,” and his method worked in the military, didn’t believe his approach was successful in the political arena.

Cal writes, ”There’s a cliché about sports: ‘It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game.’”

“In politics it’s about winning, and if you don’t win, how you played the game won’t matter.”

During the next 63 days until the November 3rd until the Presidential election the game is going to get rough and tough. The players will get down in the trenches trying to deliver their best blow. There will be some really hard hits. No flags will be thrown for unsportsmanlike conduct.

We’re bound to hear a lot of name calling. There will be charges. And counter charges. The venom and vitriol will spew forth from both parties. People will be unfairly labeled. Positions will be assigned that the other party disavows. And does anyone believe every ad is going to be accurate? Incriminating innuendoes will abound. Truth will be sidelined. And lies will fly through the airwaves.

The challenge for Christians, especially those who feel compelled to publicly express support for their candidate, will be to live, speak and act on a higher plane. Not to hurl sarcastic insults. Not to speak contemptuously of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Not to engage in nasty-name calling. Not to post disparaging remarks about others on social media. And not to display a hostile and hateful attitude toward those with whom we disagree.

While I understand there are issues of paramount importance facing us today, and moral matters that are on the ballot, we don’t get a pass from “speaking the truth in love” (Eph 4:16). No matter how serious we deem the political choices, we’re not exempt from showing mercy. Demonstrating compassion. And treating others with respect.

Jesus’ principle, called the golden rule, applies even during elections. “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).

What if we applied these two Bible passages in all our interactions with others, including facebook posts, regarding political issues?

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32).

“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col 4:5-6).

Emulating the current culture of political discourse is not conducive to our Christian influence in the world. Instead let’s emulate Christ. Let’s rise above the fray. Let’s do better. And be better.

The world is watching us. What will they see? And what will they hear?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN" The New Birth (3:1-21) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"


The New Birth (3:1-21)

 

INTRODUCTION

1. A commonly used phrase is "born again Christian"...
   a. Often in the context of distinguishing between Christians who are
      "born again" and those not
   b. Which is a really an incorrect distinction, for all true
      Christians have been "born again"
   -- But what does it mean to be "born again"?

2. The Bible uses the expression "born again" only a few times...
   a. Jesus in His conversation with Nicodemus - Jn 3:3,5,7
   b. Peter in his first epistle - 1Pe 1:3,23
   -- Although the idea of being "born" of God is used many times 
      - e.g., Jn 1:13; 1Jn 5:1

[In His discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being "born
again."  With His comments as the basis of our study, let's examine what
the Bible reveals about "The New Birth".  After we are introduced to
Nicodemus (cf. also Jn 7:50; 19:39), we observe Jesus emphasizing...]

I. THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH (1-3)

   A. NECESSARY TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD...
      1. Unless one is born again, he cannot see (enter) the kingdom - cf. Jn 3:3,5,7
      2. What is the kingdom of God?  In brief...
         a. The rule and reign of God in the person of Christ

            cf. Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36; Re 1:4
         b. A spiritual kingdom not of this world - cf. Jn 18:36; Lk 17:20-21
         c. A kingdom made up of faithful subjects (i.e., the church) 
            - cf. Col 1:13; Re 1:6,9
         d. A kingdom both present and future - cf. Mt 13:41-43; 1Co 15:24-26
      -- Do you wish to be in the kingdom now and hereafter?  You must
         be born again!

   B. NECESSARY TO BE SAVED...
      1. To be in the kingdom is to be saved from the powers of darkness cf. Col 1:13
      2. Salvation requires a rebirth, a regeneration - cf. Tit 3:5
      -- Do you wish to be saved from your sins?  You must be born again!

[Nicodemus is confused, assuming that Jesus has in mind a physical
birth.  So Jesus explains...]

II. THE NATURE OF THE NEW BIRTH (4-5)

   A. INVOLVES BOTH WATER AND THE SPIRIT...
      1. Note carefully:  one birth involving two elements - water and the Spirit
         a. Not two births (born of water and born of the Spirit)
         b. But one birth (born of water and the Spirit)
      2. Compare Paul's description - cf. Tit 3:5
         a. A washing of regeneration (water)
         b. And renewing of the Holy Spirit (Spirit)
      3. An obvious reference to baptism
         a. "There can be no doubt, on any honest interpretation of the
            words, that gennethenai ek hudatos (born of water) refers to
            the token or outward sign of baptism, gennethenai ek
            pneumatos (born of Spirit) to the thing signified, or inward
            grace of the Holy Spirit.  All attempts to get rid of these
            two plain facts have sprung from doctrinal prejudices, by
            which the views of expositors have been warped." - Alford(Greek Testament)
         b. "By water, here, is evidently signified baptism." - Albert Barnes
         c. "Baptism by water, into the Christian faith, was necessary
            to every Jew and Gentile that entered into the kingdom of
            the Messiah." - Adam Clarke
         d. "There is not any one Christian writer of any antiquity in
            any language but what understands it of baptism....I believe
            Calvin was the first that ever denied this place to mean
            baptism.  He gives it another interpretation, which he
            confesses to be new." - William Wall (History of Infant Baptism)
      -- The new birth occurs when one is baptized, for in that simple
         act of faith they are born not only of the water out of which
         they arise, but also born of the Spirit (regenerated) by the
         working of God at that moment - cf. Col 2:12-13
   
   B. INVOLVES THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. One is born again by the Word - 1Pe 1:23
         a. The incorruptible Word that is preached - cf. 1Pe 1:25
         b. The instrument through which the Spirit convicts the sinner
            - cf. Jn 16:7; Ep 6:17
         c. Which includes the command to be baptized - cf. Mk 16:16;

Ac 2:38; 22:16
2. Jesus sanctifies and cleanses His church by the washing of
water by the word - Ep 5:26
a. The "washing of water" is another allusion to baptism
- Jameison, Fausset, Brown
b. Yet baptism must be administered in conjunction with the
Word of God to be of benefit
-- The new birth involves several elements (water, Spirit, Word of
God), all coming together when one responds to the gospel in
baptism - e.g., Ac 2:37-39

[While there is evidence that one is born of water as they rise from the
watery grave of baptism, the evidence of their being born of the Spirit
comes later...]

III. THE EVIDENCE OF THE NEW BIRTH (6-8)

A. SEEN BY THE EFFECT OF THE SPIRIT...
1. We should expect that what the Spirit produces is spirit (i.e.,spiritual) - Jn 3:6
2. Like the wind (the same Greek word as Spirit), we do not see
the Spirit itself but the effect that it produces
-- Has one been truly born of the Spirit (i.e., born again)? With
time there should be clear evidence that a change has occurred- e.g., 1Jn 3:14

B. SEEN BY THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT...
1. Paul describes the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit - Ga 5:22-23
2. Which comes not only being born of the Spirit, but walking in the Spirit - Ga 5:16,25
-- Where the fruit does not appear, either there was never any
rebirth or one is walking after the flesh, not the Spirit! - cf. Ga 5:17

[As the discussion continues (Jn 3:9-13), it soon turns into a
discourse (Jn 3:14-21), the latter in which Jesus describes...]

IV. THE BASIS FOR THE NEW BIRTH (14-18)

A. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST...
1. Jesus compares His eventual crucifixion to Moses' lifting up of
the serpent - Jn 3:14; Num 21:4-9
2. So people would be saved from perishing by believing in Jesus - Jn 3:15
-- Without redemption from sin, regeneration would be meaningless;
the new birth provides both! - cf. Ac 22:16; Tit 3:5

B. THE LOVE OF GOD...
1. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that
those who believe might have everlasting life (i.e., enter the
kingdom of God) - Jn 3:16
2. God does not want anyone to perish or be condemned, but to be
saved - Jn 3:16b-17
-- God's love for man is what makes Christ's sacrifice and the new
birth possible! - cf. 1Jn 4:9-10

C. THE FAITH OF MAN...
1. Those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but have
everlasting life - Jn 3:15-16
2. They will not be condemned, unlike those who do not believe - Jn 3:18
-- The new birth requires faith in Jesus; without faith, being
born of water is meaningless, and born of the Spirit impossible
- cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 8:24; Ac 8:36-37

[Christ's sacrifice and God's love, in cooperation with man's faith,
makes the new birth possible. Yet many remain condemned for lack of
faith in Jesus. Why? Jesus offers one reason for...]

V. THE REJECTION OF THE NEW BIRTH (19-21)

A. MANY LOVE DARKNESS MORE THAN LIGHT...
1. Light (Jesus) has come into the world - Jn 3:19a; 1:5,9; 8:12
2. There are those who love the darkness instead, because of their
evil deeds - Jn 3:19b
-- Their love for things of the world cause them to reject the
light of Jesus - e.g. Lk 16:14

B. MANY DO NOT WANT TO BE EXPOSED BY THE LIGHT...
1. They know that coming to Jesus will expose their evil deeds Jn 3:20; cf. Ep 5:13
2. But those willing to obey (does the truth), do not fear the light - Jn 3:21
-- Unwilling to give up their evil deeds, they are unwilling to
submit to the new birth which acknowledges one's sinfulness and
requires repentance - e.g., Ac 2:36-38

CONCLUSION

1. In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being born again...
a. The necessity of the new birth (one cannot be a Christian unless "born again")
b. The nature of the new birth (a birth involving both water and the
Spirit, i.e., baptism)
c. The evidence of the new birth (observable by its effects, i.e.,
the fruit of the Spirit)
d. The basis of the new birth (Christ's sacrifice, God's love, man's faith)
e. The rejection of the new birth (why many refuse to submit to it)

2. What about you? Have you been born again...?
a. Born of water and the Spirit (i.e., a washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit)?
b. Born through the Word of God (i.e., by responding to the gospel message)?
c. Responding to God's love and Christ's sacrifice by expressing your
faith in baptism?

Remember the words of Jesus...

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does
not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16:16)

"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"
(Jn 3:7)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

Taking Cues from Nature’s Designer by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1878

Taking Cues from Nature’s Designer

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

The field of biomimicry (copying biological systems) is beginning to see an influx in funds and research as scientists across the globe recognize its potential. In a recent article titled “Scientists Taking Cues From Nature,” Associated Press writer, Greg Bluestein, noted that many scientists are beginning to look to biomimicry to help them solve perplexing technological problems, such as helping bipedal robots to walk more fluidly and less robotically.

In the course of the article, Bluestein interviewed Marc Weissburg, the co-director of the new Georgia Tech’s Center for Biologically Inspired Design. In his comments, Weissburg suggested that evolution is responsible for the amazing abilities we find in the natural world. He stated: “If you think of organisms as products, all the bad ones have been recalled. Those that have survived evolved over millions of years” (Bluestein, 2006).

Weissburg also commented on the superior abilities that biological systems maintain compared to many of the ones humans have made. He said: “It really captures the imagination to show how much better organisms are at doing things. The natural world doesn’t waste energy, accumulate a large amount of toxins or produce more materials than it uses” (Bluestein, 2006).

But is seems that Weissburg, like many of his evolutionary colleagues, has missed the implication that follows from his line of work. If brilliant scientists spend decades of their lives attempting to identify and mimic superior design found in the natural world, then a conscious intellect—the Designer of nature—must maintain a superior intellect than the scientists who are attempting to mimic His systems.

Ironically, the very last sentence of Bluestein’s article is a quote from Weissburg saying: “Every organism is designed to solve a problem.” How can a person make such a statement and miss the fact that if every organism is “designed,” then that design demands a Designer? Weissburg is exactly right, every organism was designed to solve a problem. One of the main purposes for the intricate, complex organisms Weissburg and his fellow scientists are studying is to prove to such men that a superior Intellect does exist. All those who fail to make the proper connection between the magnificent world of nature and the Designer’s hand in the process will ultimately be “without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

REFERENCE

Bluestein, Greg (2006), “Scientists Taking Cues From Nature,” [On-line], URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060619/ap_on_hi_te/nurturing_nature;_ylt= AtCpSxfCdFaFLwCMytY1XoGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3cjE0b2MwBHNlYwM3Mzg-.

Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3725

Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design

by	Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

The Great Designer designed designers. An exploding mass cannot design anything, much less design a designer. Genesis 1:28 confirms concerning mankind: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the Earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the Earth.’” Thus began the field of engineering. Using our ingenuity, humans have since engineered many ways to fulfill the commands to “subdue” and have “dominion over” the Earth, from harnesses for oxen to automobiles to space shuttles and beyond. God created the Universe with potential for infinite growth in human knowledge that can lead to many improvements in living conditions when we learn to harness and utilize the phenomena God designed and implemented on Earth for us to discover. Consider the effect that harnessing the power of electricity, magnetic fields, nuclear reactions, and chemical reactions has had on life as we know it. Unfortunately, as the poison of atheism becomes more prevalent in society, encroaching into the field of engineering, we can be guaranteed that progress will be slowed, and eventually, stopped or even reversed.

An image of an artificial heart exhibited at the London science museum.

A few years ago, I attended a Bio-engineering seminar concerning design improvements on artificial hearts for use in transplants. After the presentation, during the question and answer period, a professor stood up and asked the presenter a question that went something like this: “Has nature optimized the heart yet after all of these millions of years of its evolution, or is it still necessary for us to help it along with our designs?” At that moment, it struck me how dangerous the Theory of Evolution can be if allowed to run rampant in the field of engineering. Those who follow out the implications of the Theory of Evolution could cause not only a hindrance to scientific and technological progress, but could actually place us in mortal danger. How so?

If engineering design is approached from an evolutionary perspective, the above question is appropriate. Has nature optimized the ______, or do we need to fix it? If the Theory of Evolution is true, there should be a multitude of examples in the physical world of creatures and plants, and the components that comprise them, that are sub-optimal—since they are all in the process of evolving to better states. [NOTE: Such is not the case, which is further proof that the Theory of Evolution cannot effectively account for the state of the world.] After all, an explosion, plus a series of random accidents, no matter how many, do not produce optimized systems. Vast improvements would be necessary. Thus, the intelligence, experience, and wisdom of mankind could improve the condition of the system that “Mother Nature” dealt us. [Also note: the fact that we have the ability even to consider improving nature, implies that we as humans are too advanced to be the result of a series of random accidents. Nature could not create and then improve us to the point that we can take over and improve it. Mother Nature could not produce an entity greater than herself. The effect cannot be greater than the cause.]

However, if the Theory of Evolution is false, and the God of the Bible is the Chief Engineer of the Universe, an evolutionary approach could be very dangerous. To tamper with the design of the Almighty Engineer of the Universe would be tantamount to placing oneself above Him in knowledge and declaring oneself to be omniscient. Consider also that science is constantly evolving as research is conducted. Views once held as fact have been radically revised or even abandoned. Though some people for centuries held that the Earth was flat, modern science has proven that the Earth is spherical. The medical practice of “bleeding” a sick patient to eliminate ailments in the blood was common only 200 years ago. However, through further research and scientific investigation, and following many deaths, such a practice now seems barbaric.

Now consider an example that could be directly relevant today. If humans become arrogant enough to think that we have the knowledge necessary to improve the design of the heart, act on those feelings, and then find out through further research that the design of the heart was actually already optimal, what damage could have been done in the process? Those whose hearts had been “improved” by the wisdom of mankind, could have shorter life spans or suffer major physical complications due to the arrogance of atheistic engineers. Thus, humans could potentially be harmed due to atheist engineers making design decisions without adequate understanding of the intricacies of God’s design! No wonder Almighty God, by the hand of Paul, warned: “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile’” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21).

Many other examples illustrate the dangers of atheistic engineering. Since sin entered the world in Genesis three and mankind was evicted from the Garden of Eden, the pristine conditions of life on Earth have severely deteriorated. The Earth, as well as the general condition of the human body, is running down as the Second Law of Thermodynamics implies. Disease and genetic mutation, for example, attest to this. Isaiah declared: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the Earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke. The Earth will grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner....” (51:6). We have used God-given engineering abilities to combat some of this decline through designs of our own, including, for example, medicine to combat disease, and sophisticated structures to withstand the forces of natural calamity. However, with a warped perspective about Who the Author and Designer of the Universe is, mankind could attempt to fix things that do not need fixing, and thereby bring calamity, suffering, and unhappiness.

Now consider: If engineers would respect the Chief Engineer Who has surrounded us with amazing prototypes—an engineering school into which we have all been admitted—they could make quicker and better advancements in technology. Engineers of the past understood this. The Wright brothers, for example, analyzed birds to determine how to get an airplane to stay in the air (Fausz, 2008; Root, 1905), thereby achieving their objective. However, evolutionists will tend not to use God’s optimized designs since, to them, there is no ultimate Engineer to mimic. Rather, they are the results of a multitude of random accidents. Evolutionists would, therefore, have to recognize that optimized designs could not possibly come from an explosion. [NOTE: Ironically, many evolutionists openly gape at the amazing complexity and seeming design of the world, and yet fail to recognize the implications of their awe (Block, 1980, p. 52; Jastrow, 1981, pp. 96-97; Lipson, 1980, 31:138; Wylie, 1962, p. 25).] Thus, technological advancement is slowed and designs often will fail to reach their potential.

If scientists fail to ask the right question, we will begin to see notable deleterious effects in the field of engineering. If engineers ask the right question, they, and indirectly we, will continue to have major advancements in technology as blessings from the Chief Engineer. What is the right question? The correct question to ask is, “Why did the Chief Engineer do it that way?” Studying that question will help us to have better “dominion” over the Earth. He designed the Earth, and we can be assured that His design, and the rationale behind His design, will be very useful. After all, who could possibly out-design the Chief Engineer of the Universe?

REFERENCES

Block, Irvin (1980), “The Worlds Within You,” Science Digest, special edition:49-53,118, September/October.

Fausz, Jerry (2008), “Designed to Fly,” Reason & Revelation, 28[2]:9-15, February, [On-line], URL: http://apologeticspress.org/articles/3599.

Jastrow, Robert (1981), The Enchanted Loom: Mind in the Universe (New York: Simon and Schuster).

Lipson, H. S. (1980), “A Physicist Looks at Evolution,” Physics Bulletin, 31:138, May.

Root, Amos Ives (1905), “First Published Account of the Wright Brothers Flight,” Gleanings in Bee Culture (Medina, OH: A.I. Root Company), [On-line], URL: http://www.rootcandles.com/about/wrightbrothers.cfm.

Wylie, Evan M. (1962), Today’s Health, July.

Telling People What to Think by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=941

Telling People What to Think

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Dan Barker, the ex-preacher who deconverted to atheism, is most famous for his book Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist. In this treatise against God and religion, Barker discussed a book that he wrote for children that contained these words: “No one can tell you what to think. Not your teachers. Not your parents. Not your minister, priest, or rabbi. Not your friends or relatives. Not this book. You are the boss of your own mind. If you have used your own mind to find out what is true, then you should be proud! Your thoughts are free!” (1992, p. 47). Noble sentiments indeed!

But, as one digs deeper into Barker’s book, it quickly becomes clear that those sentiments do not find a willing practitioner in the person of Dan Barker. In his chapter on prayer, Barker wrote:

Don’t ask Christians if they think prayer is effective. They will think up some kind of answer that makes sense to them only. Don’t ask them, tell them: “You know that prayer doesn’t work. You know you are fooling yourself with magical conceit.” No matter how they reply, they will know in their heart of hearts that you are right (1992, p. 109, emp. in orig.).

From Barker’s statement about what should be “told” to those who believe in prayer, it is easy to see that he does not necessarily believe his previous statement that “no one can tell you what to think,” or that a person should use his own mind “to find out what is true.” In fact, what Barker is really trying to say is that a person should only think for himself if such thinking will lead him to believe that there is no God, or that prayer does not work, or that all religion is nonsense. If thinking for himself leads a person to believe in the efficacy of prayer or the existence of God, then that person should be “told” what to believe.

In truth, the Bible demands that each person weigh the evidence for himself or herself. First Thessalonians 5:21 states: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” Among those things that should be tested are the writings of skeptics like Barker. When blatant inconsistencies pepper their pages like so many spots on a Dalmatian, then those writings should not be “held fast.”

REFERENCE

Barker, Dan (1992), Losing Faith In Faith—From Preacher to Atheist (Madison, WI: Freedom from Religion Foundation).

June 28, 2021

Precious by Gary Rose

Harold Ogilbee ( 2012 picture )

Unlike most days, today’s post did not begin with a picture; that came later. Rather, it began with a phone call and the news; Harold is dead. I didn’t say anything at first, I just couldn’t speak. Funny, I don’t remember a great deal of the conversation after the news; I was shocked at the news of his death.

Harold Ogilbee was an older brother in Christ; in his late seventies I think. He had driven a tractor trailer most of his life and so had spent a lot of time away from home. However, he was blessed by a wife that loved the LORD and did everything she could to raise her children to be faithful Christians. Her efforts proved to be successful, for her efforts even turned Harold to the LORD. And, as long as I have known him ( a little more than a decade, think ) Harold has remained faithful.

A great man is not truly measured by his intellect, talents or accomplishments, but rather by how much he is loved by others. All the things that the world holds to be of importance- power, riches, beauty, accomplishments and intellect; these fade, but LOVE abides forever. Harold loved God and his brethren and that love was returned by those who knew him.

The Bible says…

Psalm 116 ( World English Bible )

¹⁵Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints.

I loved Harold. He was ( is ) my brother, my friend and a shining example of what a Christian should be. The Scripture says that those who die in the LORD ( saints ) are precious. I never told Harold he was “precious”; I wish I had.

See you later Harold! “I love you- deal with it”

Gary

Bible Reading for June 28 and 29 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading for June 28 and 29

World English Bible

June 28

1 Kings 1-3

1Ki 1:1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat.

1Ki 1:2 Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.

1Ki 1:3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

1Ki 1:4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn't know her intimately.

1Ki 1:5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

1Ki 1:6 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.

1Ki 1:7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

1Ki 1:8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

1Ki 1:9 Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants:

1Ki 1:10 but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he didn't call.

1Ki 1:11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it?

1Ki 1:12 Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon.

1Ki 1:13 Go in to king David, and tell him, Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign?

1Ki 1:14 Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.

1Ki 1:15 Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

1Ki 1:16 Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. The king said, What would you like?

1Ki 1:17 She said to him, My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.

1Ki 1:18 Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don't know it:

1Ki 1:19 and he has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn't called Solomon your servant.

1Ki 1:20 You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

1Ki 1:21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

1Ki 1:22 Behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

1Ki 1:23 They told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. When he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

1Ki 1:24 Nathan said, My lord, king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?

1Ki 1:25 For he is gone down this day, and has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest; and behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, Long live king Adonijah.

1Ki 1:26 But he hasn't called me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.

1Ki 1:27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven't shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

1Ki 1:28 Then king David answered, Call to me Bathsheba. She came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

1Ki 1:29 The king swore, and said, As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

1Ki 1:30 most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place; most certainly so will I do this day.

1Ki 1:31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live forever.

1Ki 1:32 King David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. They came before the king.

1Ki 1:33 The king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

1Ki 1:34 and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow the trumpet, and say, Long live king Solomon.

1Ki 1:35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.

1Ki 1:36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so too.

1Ki 1:37 As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

1Ki 1:38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

1Ki 1:39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon.

1Ki 1:40 All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound of them.

1Ki 1:41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

1Ki 1:42 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.

1Ki 1:43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king:

1Ki 1:44 and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule;

1Ki 1:45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.

1Ki 1:46 Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

1Ki 1:47 Moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne: and the king bowed himself on the bed.

1Ki 1:48 Also thus said the king, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it.

1Ki 1:49 All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

1Ki 1:50 Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

1Ki 1:51 It was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.

1Ki 1:52 Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.

1Ki 1:53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.

1Ki 2:1 Now the days of David drew near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying,

1Ki 2:2 I am going the way of all the earth: you be strong therefore, and show yourself a man;

1Ki 2:3 and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself.

1Ki 2:4 That Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you, said he, a man on the throne of Israel.

1Ki 2:5 Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was about his waist, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

1Ki 2:6 Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don't let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1Ki 2:7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

1Ki 2:8 Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.

1Ki 2:9 Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.

1Ki 2:10 David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

1Ki 2:11 The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty-three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

1Ki 2:12 Solomon sat on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

1Ki 2:13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, Do you come peaceably? He said, Peaceably.

1Ki 2:14 He said moreover, I have something to tell you. She said, Say on.

1Ki 2:15 He said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: however the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his from Yahweh.

1Ki 2:16 Now I ask one petition of you; don't deny me. She said to him, Say on.

1Ki 2:17 He said, "Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you 'no'), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife."

1Ki 2:18 Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you to the king.

1Ki 2:19 Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

1Ki 2:20 Then she said, I ask one small petition of you; don't deny me. The king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you.

1Ki 2:21 She said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.

1Ki 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother, Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

1Ki 2:23 Then king Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.

1Ki 2:24 Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

1Ki 2:25 King Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.

1Ki 2:26 To Abiathar the priest said the king, Go to Anathoth, to your own fields; for you are worthy of death: but I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.

1Ki 2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill the word of Yahweh, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

1Ki 2:28 The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

1Ki 2:29 It was told king Solomon, Joab is fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.

1Ki 2:30 Benaiah came to the Tent of Yahweh, and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. He said, No; but I will die here. Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

1Ki 2:31 The king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house.

1Ki 2:32 Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn't know it, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.

1Ki 2:33 So shall their blood return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever: but to David, and to his seed, and to his house, and to his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Yahweh.

1Ki 2:34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

1Ki 2:35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the army; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

1Ki 2:36 The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and don't go forth from there any where.

1Ki 2:37 For on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall surely die: your blood shall be on your own head.

1Ki 2:38 Shimei said to the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.

1Ki 2:39 It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, Behold, your servants are in Gath.

1Ki 2:40 Shimei arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

1Ki 2:41 It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

1Ki 2:42 The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Didn't I adjure you by Yahweh, and protest to you, saying, Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die? and you said to me, The saying that I have heard is good.

1Ki 2:43 Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have instructed you with?

1Ki 2:44 The king said moreover to Shimei, You know all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you did to David my father: therefore Yahweh shall return your wickedness on your own head.

1Ki 2:45 But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Yahweh forever.

1Ki 2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

1Ki 3:1 Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of Jerusalem all around.

1Ki 3:2 Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Yahweh until those days.

1Ki 3:3 Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

1Ki 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer on that altar.

1Ki 3:5 In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give you.

1Ki 3:6 Solomon said, You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

1Ki 3:7 Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I don't know how to go out or come in.

1Ki 3:8 Your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can't be numbered nor counted for multitude.

1Ki 3:9 Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people?

1Ki 3:10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

1Ki 3:11 God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;

1Ki 3:12 behold, I have done according to your word: behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.

1Ki 3:13 I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.

1Ki 3:14 If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.

1Ki 3:15 Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

1Ki 3:16 Then there came two women who were prostitutes, to the king, and stood before him.

1Ki 3:17 The one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

1Ki 3:18 It happened the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also; and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

1Ki 3:19 This woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it.

1Ki 3:20 She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

1Ki 3:21 When I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.

1Ki 3:22 The other woman said, No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. This said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king.

1Ki 3:23 Then said the king, The one says, This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead: and the other says, No; but your son is the dead, and my son is the living.

1Ki 3:24 The king said, Get me a sword. They brought a sword before the king.

1Ki 3:25 The king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

1Ki 3:26 Then spoke the woman whose the living child was to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.

1Ki 3:27 Then the king answered, Give her the living child, and in no way kill it: she is its mother.

1Ki 3:28 All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.

June 29

1 Kings 4-6

1Ki 4:1 King Solomon was king over all Israel.

1Ki 4:2 These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;

1Ki 4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;

1Ki 4:4 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

1Ki 4:5 and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, and the king's friend;

1Ki 4:6 and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.

1Ki 4:7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.

1Ki 4:8 These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;

1Ki 4:9 Ben Deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;

1Ki 4:10 Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (to him pertained Socoh, and all the land of Hepher);

1Ki 4:11 Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as wife);

1Ki 4:12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;

1Ki 4:13 Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; even to him pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);

1Ki 4:14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;

1Ki 4:15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife);

1Ki 4:16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;

1Ki 4:17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;

1Ki 4:18 Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;

1Ki 4:19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer who was in the land.

1Ki 4:20 Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.

1Ki 4:21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

1Ki 4:22 Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal,

1Ki 4:23 ten head of fat cattle, and twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl.

1Ki 4:24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides around him.

1Ki 4:25 Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

1Ki 4:26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

1Ki 4:27 Those officers provided food for king Solomon, and for all who came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month; they let nothing be lacking.

1Ki 4:28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they to the place where the officers were, every man according to his duty.

1Ki 4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore.

1Ki 4:30 Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

1Ki 4:31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations all around.

1Ki 4:32 He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were one thousand five.

1Ki 4:33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fish.

1Ki 4:34 There came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

1Ki 5:1 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

1Ki 5:2 Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

1Ki 5:3 You know how that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet.

1Ki 5:4 But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence.

1Ki 5:5 Behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your room, he shall build the house for my name.

1Ki 5:6 Now therefore command you that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants; and I will give you hire for your servants according to all that you shall say: for you know that there is not among us any who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.

1Ki 5:7 It happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Yahweh this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.

1Ki 5:8 Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have heard the message which you have sent to me: I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

1Ki 5:9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you shall receive them; and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

1Ki 5:10 So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire.

1Ki 5:11 Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

1Ki 5:12 Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

1Ki 5:13 King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

1Ki 5:14 He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.

1Ki 5:15 Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains;

1Ki 5:16 besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.

1Ki 5:17 The king commanded, and they cut out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.

1Ki 5:18 Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did fashion them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

1Ki 6:1 It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.

1Ki 6:2 The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, its length was sixty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.

1Ki 6:3 The porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was its length, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was its breadth before the house.

1Ki 6:4 For the house he made windows of fixed lattice work.

1Ki 6:5 Against the wall of the house he built stories all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side chambers all around.

1Ki 6:6 The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around, that the beams should not have hold in the walls of the house.

1Ki 6:7 The house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

1Ki 6:8 The door for the middle side chambers was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle story, and out of the middle into the third.

1Ki 6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.

1Ki 6:10 He built the stories against all the house, each five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

1Ki 6:11 The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,

1Ki 6:12 Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.

1Ki 6:13 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

1Ki 6:14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

1Ki 6:15 He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.

1Ki 6:16 He built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls of the ceiling: he built them for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.

1Ki 6:17 The house, that is, the temple before the oracle, was forty cubits long.

1Ki 6:18 There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

1Ki 6:19 He prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.

1Ki 6:20 Within the oracle was a space of twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in its height; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.

1Ki 6:21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.

1Ki 6:22 The whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold.

1Ki 6:23 In the oracle he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.

1Ki 6:24 Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing to the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

1Ki 6:25 The other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.

1Ki 6:26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.

1Ki 6:27 He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

1Ki 6:28 He overlaid the cherubim with gold.

1Ki 6:29 He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside.

1Ki 6:30 The floor of the house he overlaid with gold, inside and outside.

1Ki 6:31 For the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive wood: the lintel and door posts were a fifth part of the wall.

1Ki 6:32 So he made two doors of olive wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim, and on the palm trees.

1Ki 6:33 So also made he for the entrance of the temple door posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part of the wall;

1Ki 6:34 and two doors of fir wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

1Ki 6:35 He carved thereon cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work.

1Ki 6:36 He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams.

1Ki 6:37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Yahweh laid, in the month Ziv.

1Ki 6:38 In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all its parts, and according to all its fashion. So was he seven years in building it.

Jun. 28, 29

Acts 2

Act 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

Act 2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

Act 2:5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.

Act 2:6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

Act 2:7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren't all these who speak Galileans?

Act 2:8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

Act 2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

Act 2:10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

Act 2:11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!"

Act 2:12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?"

Act 2:13 Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."

Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

Act 2:15 For these aren't drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.

Act 2:16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

Act 2:17 'It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

Act 2:18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

Act 2:19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

Act 2:20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

Act 2:21 It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Act 2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know,

Act 2:23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;

Act 2:24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.

Act 2:25 For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

Act 2:26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

Act 2:27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

Act 2:28 You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

Act 2:29 "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Act 2:30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

Act 2:31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.

Act 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.

Act 2:33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.

Act 2:34 For David didn't ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit by my right hand,

Act 2:35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '

Act 2:36 "Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Act 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself."

Act 2:40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"

Act 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

Act 2:42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

Act 2:43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Act 2:44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common.

Act 2:45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

Act 2:46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

Act 2:47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

Bible Reflections

June 30, 2021

John's First Letter Introduction by Charles Hess

Copyright ©1998, Charles Hess, Ridgefield, Washington, U.S.A.
This material may be copied for personal study only.
It may not be distributed or published in any form whatever
without the copyright owner's written permission.
This copyright notice must be included on all copies made.

The basic Scripture text in this commentary is
The Old Paths Archive^® Version of the Holy Scriptures (OPV),
Copyright © 1997,1998, Roy Davison, Belgium. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com)

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

The Divide Between Politics and Christianity by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

The Divide Between Politics and Christianity

"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN" The New Birth (3:1-21) by Mark Copeland

Taking Cues from Nature’s Designer by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Taking Cues from Nature’s Designer

REFERENCE

Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design

REFERENCES

Telling People What to Think by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Telling People What to Think

REFERENCE

June 28, 2021

Precious by Gary Rose

Bible Reading for June 28 and 29 by Gary Rose

June 30, 2021

Copyright ©1998, Charles Hess, Ridgefield, Washington, U.S.A.This material may be copied for personal study only. It may not be distributed or published in any form whateverwithout the copyright owner's written permission.This copyright notice must be included on all copies made.

The basic Scripture text in this commentary is The Old Paths Archive® Version of the Holy Scriptures (OPV), Copyright © 1997,1998, Roy Davison, Belgium. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com)

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

Taking Cues from Nature’s Designer

REFERENCE

Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design

REFERENCES

Telling People What to Think

REFERENCE

June 28, 2021

Copyright ©1998, Charles Hess, Ridgefield, Washington, U.S.A.
This material may be copied for personal study only.
It may not be distributed or published in any form whatever
without the copyright owner's written permission.
This copyright notice must be included on all copies made.

The basic Scripture text in this commentary is
The Old Paths Archive^® Version of the Holy Scriptures (OPV),
Copyright © 1997,1998, Roy Davison, Belgium. All rights reserved. Used by permission.