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Author Topic: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible  (Read 5737 times)

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AGelbert

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The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« on: June 03, 2017, 01:42:47 pm »

Book of Proverbs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Proverbs" translates the Hebrew word mashal, but "mashal" has a wider range of meaning than the short catchy sayings implied by the English word. Thus, while roughly half the book is made up of "sayings" of this type, the other half is made up of longer poetic units of various types. These include "instructions" formulated as advice from a teacher or parent addressed to a student or child, dramatic personifications of both Wisdom and Folly, and the "words of the wise" sayings, longer than the Solomonic "sayings" but shorter and more diverse than the "instructions".[7]

The Book of Proverbs (Hebrew: מִשְלֵי, Míshlê (Shlomoh), "Proverbs (of Solomon)") is the second book of the third section (called Writings) of the Hebrew Bible and a book of the Christian Old Testament.[1] When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms: in the Greek Septuagint (LXX) it became Παροιμίαι Paroimiai ("Proverbs"); in the Latin Vulgate the title was Proverbia, from which the English name is derived.

Proverbs is not merely an anthology but a "collection of collections" relating to a pattern of life which lasted for more than a millennium.[2] It is an example of the Biblical wisdom tradition, and raises questions of values, moral behaviour, the meaning of human life, and right conduct.[3] The repeated theme is that "the fear of God (meaning submission to the will of God) is the beginning of wisdom".[4] Wisdom is praised for her role in creation; God acquired her before all else, and through her he gave order to chaos; and since humans have life and prosperity by conforming to the order of creation, seeking wisdom is the essence and goal of the religious life.[5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Proverbs

Agelbert NOTE: Great scientists who pioneered the scientific method, unlike many present scientists, who worship at the atheist Darwinian altar, knew that Nature, that complex and magnificently ordered life matrix we observe, admire and totally depend on for our survival, also called the biosphere, must be obeyed. Francis Bacon, a wise man who WAS NOT an atheist, understood the message of Proverbs quite well.


FRANCIS BACON: GOD AND ATHEISM

Sir Francis Bacon was critical in the development of the scientific method, and, thus, being a philosophical/scientific giant, atheists have attempted to recruit him as a supporter of unbelief. Again they do so in vain, as Bacon made his religious views quite clear in some of his works, and they are clearly reflective of Christian beliefs. Ironically, he also expressed his disdain for atheism, as shown below.

Quote
"It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy brings about man's mind to religion: for while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no further; but when it beholdeth the chain of them confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity."(Bacon, 64)

“They that deny a God destroy man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts in his body; and, if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature.” (Bacon, 67)

“It is better to have no opinion of God at all, than such an opinion as is unworthy of him: for the one is unbelief the other is contumely; and certainly superstition is the reproach of the Deity.” (Bacon, 68)
_________________

Bacon, F. The Essays of Lord Bacon. London: Longman  and Green Co., 1875.

http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/francis_bacon.htm
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2017, 12:26:16 pm »
Agelbert NOTE: The parables taught by Jesus Christ have been frequently misinterpreted or even used to rationalize doing the opposite of what Christ actually taught. I am posting the following over several days in order to help clear up any misunderstandings among people of good will, along with eliminating self-serving rationalizitions often used by people of bad will.

Matthew 13:1-58

Eight parables are found here. In the first instance the parable is of the sower. The sowing of the seed refers to the Word of God.


The seed, having grown in the good soil, becomes not only one but many believing witnesses cast into the world. Jesus explained that "the good seed are the children of the kingdom".

These parables are given so that we as the children of the kingdom in the world may know that we must expect opposition from the devil and his children.

In these parable, we are given the negative reaction to Christian action.

We must not try to uproot the weeds, representative of the evil ones in the world, because of our inability to judge rightly without the possibility of making a mistake. The ultimate disposition of the evil ones in the world will be accomplished by angels who are going to be sent by the Lord (v. 41) at the consummation of the age. Actually, the angels are designated as the final reapers of the harvest of our labor (v. 39).


Quote
35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” - Matthew  12:35-37

Enjoy this Country Western style singing of a Psalm David wrote:     

Continued tomorrow
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2017, 01:35:14 pm »
Agelbert NOTE: The parables taught by Jesus Christ have been frequently misinterpreted or even used to rationalize doing the opposite of what Christ actually taught. I am posting the following over several days in order to help clear up any misunderstandings among people of good will, along with eliminating self-serving rationalizitions often used by people of bad will.

Matthew 13:1-58

Eight parables are found here. In the first instance the parable is of the sower. The sowing of the seed refers to the Word of God.


The seed, having grown in the good soil, becomes not only one but many believing witnesses cast into the world. Jesus explained that "the good seed are the children of the kingdom".

These parables are given so that we as the children of the kingdom in the world may know that we must expect opposition from the devil and his children.

In these parable, we are given the negative reaction to Christian action.

We must not try to uproot the weeds, representative of the evil ones in the world, because of our inability to judge rightly without the possibility of making a mistake. The ultimate disposition of the evil ones in the world will be accomplished by angels who are going to be sent by the Lord (v. 41) at the consummation of the age. Actually, the angels are designated as the final reapers of the harvest of our labor (v. 39).


Enjoy this Country Western style singing of a Psalm David wrote:     

Continued tomorrow

Parable no. 2 (vv. 24-30 the wheat and the tares) and parable no. 7 (the net which catches both good and bad fish) are illustrative of the fact that, as a result of the witnessing of children of the kingdom in this dispensation, there will be both genuine wheat and good fish, as well as tares and bad fish.

Not all who are caught in the net of evangelism are genuinely saved. The unsaved will be made manifest in the Day of Judgment at the consumation of the age.

Neither we nor angels, no matter how hard we try, wil be able to put the devil out of commision until the appointed time. The disciples wanted to pull out the tares planted by the devil, but were told not to do so until harvest time when the tares were going to be uprooted and utterly burned. See Jude v. 9.

Agelbert NOTE: It is one thing to not go out and kill the people you believe are pseudo-Christians dedicated to evil, but that doesn't mean we are not given sufficient discernment to know who they are. I am firmly convinced that Pat Robertson, Vice President Pence (and many other public figures that claim to be "Christians") are in the category of tares and bad fish. You know them by their empathy deficit, despicable, evil, destructive, hateful, war loving, rotten fruit.

Trump gets along great with those hypocrites. Is Trump the same as them?


As for Trump, he doesn't have the remotest idea of what Christianity is, and never has entertained one single thought of accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, except as a pose to con voters.

To non-believers, the difference between the Trumps and Pences of this world is irrelevant because they both obviously are people dominated by evil desires.

But according to Holy Scripture, the Trumps of this world, who never even looked at the seed of the Gospel or were never caught in the Gospel net of sound doctrine, are less guilty than people like Pence, Gorsuch, etc. et al, who drive potential converts to Christianity away with their in-your-face greed, lack of compassion, racism and bigotry while they simultaneously and shamelessly parade their sanctimonious guise of "Christian" beliefs.

Judgment begins in the House of the Lord.

Quote
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? - 1 Peter 4:17 KJV

Continued tomorrow
« Last Edit: August 13, 2017, 02:47:20 pm by AGelbert »
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2017, 01:17:04 pm »
Agelbert NOTE: The parables taught by Jesus Christ have been frequently misinterpreted or even used to rationalize doing the opposite of what Christ actually taught. I am posting the following over several days in order to help clear up any misunderstandings among people of good will, along with eliminating self-serving rationalizitions often used by people of bad will.

Matthew 13:1-58

Eight parables are found here. In the first instance the parable is of the sower. The sowing of the seed refers to the Word of God.


The seed, having grown in the good soil, becomes not only one but many believing witnesses cast into the world. Jesus explained that "the good seed are the children of the kingdom".

These parables are given so that we as the children of the kingdom in the world may know that we must expect opposition from the devil and his children.

In these parable, we are given the negative reaction to Christian action.

We must not try to uproot the weeds, representative of the evil ones in the world, because of our inability to judge rightly without the possibility of making a mistake. The ultimate disposition of the evil ones in the world will be accomplished by angels who are going to be sent by the Lord (v. 41) at the consummation of the age. Actually, the angels are designated as the final reapers of the harvest of our labor (v. 39).


Enjoy this Country Western style singing of a Psalm David wrote:     

Continued tomorrow
Parable no. 2 (vv. 24-30 the wheat and the tares) and parable no. 7 (the net which catches both good and bad fish) are illustrative of the fact that, as a result of the witnessing of children of the kingdom in this dispensation, there will be both genuine wheat and good fish, as well as tares and bad fish.

Not all who are caught in the net of evangelism are genuinely saved. The unsaved will be made manifest in the Day of Judgment at the consumation of the age.

Neither we nor angels, no matter how hard we try, wil be able to put the devil out of commision until the appointed time. The disciples wanted to pull out the tares planted by the devil, but were told not to do so until harvest time when the tares were going to be uprooted and utterly burned. See Jude v. 9.

Agelbert NOTE: It is one thing to not go out and kill the people you believe are pseudo-Christians dedicated to evil, but that doesn't mean we are not given sufficient discernment to know who they are. I am firmly convinced that Pat Robertson, Vice President Pence (and many other public figures that claim to be "Christians") are in the category of tares and bad fish. You know them by their empathy deficit, despicable, evil, destructive, hateful, war loving, rotten fruit.

Trump gets along great with those hypocrites. Is Trump the same as them?


As for Trump, he doesn't have the remotest idea of what Christianity is, and never has entertained one single thought of accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, except as a pose to con voters.

To non-believers, the difference between the Trumps and Pences of this world is irrelevant because they both obviously are people dominated by evil desires.

But according to Holy Scripture, the Trumps of this world, who never even looked at the seed of the Gospel or were never caught in the Gospel net of sound doctrine, are less guilty than people like Pence, Gorsuch, etc. et al, who drive potential converts to Christianity away with their in-your-face greed, lack of compassion, racism and bigotry while they simultaneously and shamelessly parade their sanctimonious guise of "Christian" beliefs.

Judgment begins in the House of the Lord.

Continued tomorrow

In parable no. 3 (vv, 31,32), we have a mustard seed which is the smallest of the seeds taking itself an unnatural growth. Many confuse this parable with the often quoted "Faith as a mustard seed" teaching by Christ. Faith as a mustard seed is a good thing worthy of being sought out. But the parable of the kingdom, as related to a mustard seed's growth, is a prophecy of the corruption of the Church when it becomes unnaturally large.


 The tremendous growth of a tiny mustard seed to a plant nearly 12 feet tall is a metaphor for the secularization of the Christian Church. Christ never meant His Church to wield organizational power.

Bigness is unnatural in the kingdom of God but Christ told us what to expect. In these parables we have the history of the witness of the children of the kingdom foretold, just as in Rev. 2-3 the history of the church is foretold.

The birds of the air are a metaphor for evil, just as they are in the parable of the sower.


See Rev. 18 where a false church is called Babylon. God's genuine people are admonished to separate themselves from this church (Rev. 18:4).

Continued Tomorrow
« Last Edit: August 14, 2017, 03:03:43 pm by AGelbert »
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2017, 01:23:21 pm »

Continued from the previous post on this thread:

Parable no. 4 ( Matthew 13:33) about the hidden yeast represents the subtle influence of evil (the yeast) in the bread. In spite of the onfluence of the yeast, the bread is still useful for feeding and nourishment.

The metaphor of bread containing yeast (notice that leavened bread grows LARGE while unleavened bread does not) represents the Church influenced by evil.

Some use this parable to justify pointing at the mainstream nominally Christan Church as the tainted, but still most important, source of the spiritual food and strength of Christ in the world. That is an erroneous, and altogether too modern mainstream church self serving, assumption. This parable clearly points to a remnant within, but by no means excluding the remnant without, the Church that together constitutes the Spiritual Body of Christ (i.e. Christ's Church on earth). The tremendous expansion of bread when it contains yeast is a metaphor for the secularization of the Christian Church. Christ never meant His Church to wield organizational power. Bigness is unnatural in the kingdom of God but Christ told us what to expect.

The Body of Christ is certainly not limited to the organized Church.


In fact, in these dark times, I believe a greater part of the Body of Christ exists outside the organized Church "bread" hampered by the evil "yeast" than within it. Christ did not actually used the word "mix" in regard to the yeast; He used the word (when translated to Greek) "krypto", which means, "to hide or conceal". 


If you are in a Church where the yeast has taken over, I am certain that Christ does not want you there. These churches prosper economically, grow massively and gain respect and approval from the secular government they serve. 

If you can manage to not get thrown out, even when you call out the behavior of the "yeast" in that Church, then stay. But if you are coerced to applaud a corrupted, prospertiy preaching, war loving, flag worshipping Orwellian version of Christ's teachings (by remaining silent before organizational church false doctrine), staying puts your Salvation in jeopardy.

The people in those yeast leavened organizational churches have gained the world, only to lose their soul. Tell them why you are leaving, pray for them and flee!


Continued tomorrow
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2017, 02:23:03 pm »

Continued from the previous post on Matthew 13:1-58


Parable no. 5 (v. 44), the hidden treasure found in the field, is a metaphor for the people in the world in whom Christ establishes His kingdom. In order to possess them, He gave His own life. He hides this treasure, God's redeemed saints, in the world until He redeems or purchases the whole world when He will come again to liberate not only the believer within the world but the world itself (Rom. 8:19-26; Rev. 21).



Parable no. 6 (vv, 45-46) is similar to the fifth parable, with the pearl symbolizing the sinner. The pearl at its heart is a grain of hard and lifeless sand, even as the sinner is dead in his sins and trespasses.

But when the sand comes in touch with the living organism, the oyster, the sand becomes transformed into a pearl. As a result of this contact, it becomes a thing of exquisite beauty and precious indeed.

Thus, the precious pearls in the world are the sinners who, because of having become absorbed into the Spiritual Body of Jesus Christ, have become His kingdom (Rev. 1:6). For this to be accomplished, Jesus Christ had to sacrifice His own life, but He arose from the dead to be forever the living organism in whom we dwell.

The hair splitters out there might argue that the oyster is simply responding to an irritant by covering that irritating particle with the same type of exquisite Calcium Carbonate (i.e. mother of pearl) that said oyster uses to build its own shell, as these bivalves are DNA programmed to do.

Quote
A pearl is created in the mantle of a mollusk when an irritant particle is surrounded by layers of nacre. Although most bivalves can create pearls, oysters in the family Pteriidae and freshwater mussels in the families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae are the main source of commercially available pearls because the calcareous concretions produced by most other species have no lustre. 

As a result of the oyster's biological immunological response, a pearl is formed. Also, the irritating particle is not necessarily a grain of sand, as oysters often simply push most grains of sand out of their shell.

True, the oyster is certainly not celebrating the presence of an irritant, but the point is that something of exquisite value is formed from something lacking value. 

Furthermore, the fact is that an irritating particle (most naturally-occuring pearls are formed around a tenacious parasite) is an appropriate metaphor for a sinner. The parasite's modus vivendi is an appropriate analogy for evil caused spiritual death, even more so than the lifeless grain of sand. As the parasite is encased, it dies and a beautiful pearl replaces it.

In addition, the shell that protects the pearl as it is being formed is an excellent analogy for Christ's protection while we grow spiritually. Also, the fact that pearls are only produced by oysters in unpolluted, pristine water is analogous to spiritual protection beyond the shell itself.

Finally, the oyster, because it suffers to produce that pearl, is an appropriate symbol of Christ's suffering to redeem us from evil. 

So, though all metaphors and analogies have their limits, the parables of the buried treasure and the pearl evidence the boundless love and compassion that Christ has for us in suffering for us and in caring for us while we grow spiritually (by hiding us to protect us from spiritual harm).   


Continued tomorrow:
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2017, 09:59:34 pm »

Continued from the previous post on Matthew 13:1-58


Parable no. 7 (Matthew 13:47-50 KJV) about the net represents the fishwermen or sons of the kingdom in the sea of humanity. They catch fish which prove to be both good and bad, edible and inedible. This is similar to parable no. 2 about the wheat and the tares.


Matthew 13:30 KJV Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.



The separation ultimately will be done by the angels and not the believers down here. In this dispensation, the genuine and the hypocrite, true believer and the fraud, will jointly inhabit the world until God's appointed time.

Matthew 13:47-50 KJV

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,




50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.




Last parable in this teaching tomorrow:
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2017, 06:23:41 pm »

Final post on Matthew 13:1-58 (continued from the previous post).


In parable no. 8 (Matthew 13:52 KJV), we have the execution of the responsibility of the sons of the kingdom to accomplish their work through sacrifice.



The believer's treasures have to be spent so that the Gospel can be preached in this generation.

The disciples asked Christ why He taught using parables. His answer (Matthew 13:10-17) reveals a hard truth that many nominal Christians out there do not want to hear. Those are the "Christians" who prefer to view Jesus Christ's work as a free lunch providing sinners the "grace" (i.e. "It's under the blood so let's party." ) to get to heaven regardless of their refusal to make daily Holy Spirit guided efforts to avoid being willingly enslaved to whatever sin the natural man desires.   


The passages in Matthew 13:10-17, along with Mark 4:10-12, are some of the most difficult sayings of the Lord Jesus. The clue to understanding is found in the correct translation of a Greek word, mēpote (Mt 13:15; Mk. 4:12), usually translated "lest." However,it should be translated as a suppositional particle, "if perhaps."

Christ's reasoning was this,
Quote
"If I speak plainly to these people knowing they are going to continue to reject what I say to them, their understanding of will increase their guilt. They would be rejecting not what they do not understand, but what they do understand. If I speak to them in parables, and they do not understand what I am saying, then their rejection is based on their lack of understanding and it will diminish their guilt. Their guilt is not based upon whether they understand or not, but on their rejection of God and Me, not because of what I say, but because of what I am, which should have been clear enought to them."

It is inherent in the entire teaching of the Bible that God will not hold us responsible for what we do not know or understand, but for what we do know and understand (Romans 2:12-20; 4:15). The nonunderstanding of some of the words of Christ in reality alleviates unbelievers of their guilt for the rejection of Jesus Christ. Every human on earth has an inner consciousness of God's requirement of him (Rom. 2:15; John 1:9).


As one knows and understands more, his responsibility increases proportionately. This applies to everyone, many in the degree of their punishment in hell (yes readers, there ARE DEGREES of punishment in hell, just as there is a hierarchy of reward in heaven), and the remnant in the degree of their heavenly reward.

Hiding the meaning of the depths of God by Jesus Christ to unbelievers is an act of mercifulness toward them in reducing their comprehension of His words.

Yes, Christ is merciful, but He is not now, or ever was, wishy washy about sin and the existence of Heaven and Hell, as well as who would be sent to one of those two places. It wasn't some "fire and brimstone Old Testament fundamentalist preacher whacko" that said the following, it was the Lord of Creation, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Matthew 13:41-43 KJV

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.


After Christ explained the paraples to His disciples, He said:

Matthew 13:51 KJV

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.


After this tremendous teaching spree by Christ, you would think that the remaining verses would  document evidence of a subsequent great spiritual victory, but the exact reverse is what happened.

Matthew 13:53-58 KJV

53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.


In closing, let me say that when I read these passages I understand more clearly why Jesus was known as the Man of Sorrows. It's not just that He knew His destiny; it's the in-your-face unbelief of so much family around Him that must have weighed heavily on Him.

See that your unbelief does not limit what Christ does in your life. Repent of your sins, ask God to forgive you, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

If you believe you are a Christian but can sin all you wish, you have never been anything but a fraud.

Any person who has never heard a word about the Gospel of Jesus Christ has  a greater opportunity to shine like the sun than you.

Christanity is not a get out of hell free card; it's a call from our Creator to be the person He wants us to be in this valley of tears. The Grace our Lord Jesus Christ obtained for us by His Sacrifice on the Cross does not absolve us of our responsiblity to respect others as we respect ourselves.

May God Bless you by granting you the wisdom to do the right thing.

"Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun  in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." -- Matthew 13:43 KJV
« Last Edit: August 20, 2017, 08:56:34 pm by AGelbert »
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2017, 06:06:03 pm »
Medieval Gospel Commentary, lost for 1500 years :o – now translated and online 
 

AUGUST 23, 2017 BY MEDIEVALISTS.NET

SNIPPET:

The earliest Latin Commentary on the Gospels, lost for over 1500 years, has been rediscovered and made available in English for the first time, thanks to research from the University of Birmingham.



“This sheds new light on the way the Gospels were read and understood in the early Church, in particular the symbolic reading of the text known as ‘allegorical exegesis’. There are also moments of insight into the lives of fourth-century Italian Christians, as when the bishop uses a walnut as an image of the four Gospels or holds up a Roman coin as a symbol of the Trinity.’

The English translation, produced as part of the COMPAUL project funded by the European Research Council, is available online as a free, open-access download.

http://www.medievalists.net/2017/08/medieval-gospel-commentary-lost-1500-years-now-translated-online/
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2017, 01:50:57 pm »
Agelbert NOTE: Although now we think of the end of things and massive destruction when this word is used, the word "Apocalypse" actually means "Revelation". 

Quote
The ancient narrative describes the secret teachings of Jesus to his brother James, in which Jesus reveals information about the heavenly realm and future events, including James’ inevitable death.

Early medieval writings of the First Apocalypse of James discovered

DECEMBER 4, 2017 BY MEDIEVALISTS.NET

The first-known original Greek copy of an early Christian writing describing Jesus’ secret teachings to his brother James has been discovered at Oxford University by scholars from The University of Texas at Austin.

A page from the Coptic translation of the First Apocalypse of James from the Coptic Museum in Cairo, Egypt. Digitized by Claremont College. Photo credit: Nag Hammadi Library, Oxford University. (at article link)

To date, only a small number of texts from the Nag Hammadi library — a collection of 13 Coptic Gnostic books discovered in 1945 in Upper Egypt — have been found in Greek, their original language of composition. But earlier this year, UT Austin religious studies scholars Geoffrey Smith and Brent Landau added to the list with their discovery of several fifth- or sixth-century Greek fragments of the First Apocalypse of James, which was thought to have been preserved only in its Coptic translations until now.

“To say that we were excited once we realized what we’d found is an understatement,” said Smith, an assistant professor of religious studies. “We never suspected that Greek fragments of the First Apocalypse of James survived from antiquity. But there they were, right in front of us.”

The ancient narrative describes the secret teachings of Jesus to his brother James, in which Jesus reveals information about the heavenly realm and future events, including James’ inevitable death.

“The text supplements the biblical account of Jesus’ life and ministry by allowing us access to conversations that purportedly took place between Jesus and his brother, James — secret teachings that allowed James to be a good teacher after Jesus’ death,” Smith said.

Such apocryphal writings, Smith said, would have fallen outside the canonical boundaries set by Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, in his “Easter letter of 367” that defined the 27-book New Testament: “No one may add to them, and nothing may be taken away from them.”

With its neat, uniform handwriting and words separated into syllables, the original manuscript was probably a teacher’s model used to help students learn to read and write, Smith and Landau said.

“The scribe has divided most of the text into syllables by using mid-dots. Such divisions are very uncommon in ancient manuscripts, but they do show up frequently in manuscripts that were used in educational contexts,” said Landau, a lecturer in the UT Austin Department of Religious Studies.

The teacher who produced this manuscript must have “had a particular affinity for the text,” Landau said. It does not appear to be a brief excerpt from the text, as was common in school exercises, but rather a complete copy of this forbidden ancient writing.

Smith and Landau announced the discovery last month during the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature and are working to publish their preliminary findings in the Greco Roman Memoirs series of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri.

http://www.medievalists.net/2017/12/early-medieval-writings-first-apocalypse-james-discovered/
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2017, 08:54:35 pm »
To those Mammon worshipping relatives who colluded and conspired for several years, with malice aforethought, to methodically defraud me of the inheritance I was due from my parents:

Quote
Proverbs 18:19  A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

Quote
Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city. Something must be supplied on which the comparative notion min, "than," depends. So we may understand "resists more," or something similar. A brother or a once close friend, when injured or deceived, becomes a potent and irreconcilable enemy. The idea of the preceding verses is carried on, and the primary thought is still concerning lawsuits and matters brought before a judge. This is shown in the second clause by the use of the word "contentions" (midyanim). And their contentions are like the bars of a castle. They close the door against reconciliation, shut the heart against all feeling of tenderness. True it is, Ξαλεποὶ πόλεμοι ἀδελφῶν (Eurip., 'Fragm.'). And again, 'Iph. Aul.,' 376 -

Δεινὸν κασιγήτοισι γίγνεσθαι λόγους
Μάχας θ ὅταν ποτ ἐμπέσωσιν εἰς ἔριν.
Aristotle also writes thus ('De Republ.,' 7:7): "If men receive no return from those to whom they have shown kindness, they deem themselves, not only defrauded of due gratitude, but actually injured. Whence it is said, 'Bitter are the quarrels of friends;' and, 'Those who love beyond measure also hate beyond measure.'" An English maxim gloomily decides, "Friendship once injured is forever lost." Pliny ('Hist. Nat.,' 37:4), "Ut adamas, si frangi contingat malleis, in minutissimas dissidit crustas, adeo ut vix oculis cerni queant: ita arctissima necessitudo, si quando contingat dirimi, in summam vertitur simultatem, et ex arctissimis foederibus, si semel rumpantur, maxima nascuntur dissidia." Ecclus. 6:9, "There is a friend, who being turned to enmity will also discover thy disgraceful strife," i.e. will disclose the quarrel which according to his representation will redound to thy discredit. The last clause is rendered in the Vulgate. Et judicia quasi vectes urbium; where judicia means "lawsuits," legal disputes; these bar out friendship.

For the pseudo-Christian Mammon worshippers, it is oh, so convenient, to brazenly claim the brother they perversely harmed economically, while defaming him as a matter of empathy deficit disordered routine, should forgive them and move on because that's what a "Christian" must do.


But, but, what about the Lord's Prayer and the request to have our trespasses forgiven, as we forgive those who trespass against us? Isn't that a conditional statement? Doesn't that mean our trespasses will not be forgiven unless we forgive any and all trespasses against us?

Nope. We are not to be bitter and we are not to take revenge, but we certainly are not to pretend the offense did not occur. The "forgive and forget" notion is an even greater trespass because, unconditional forgiveness (i.e. no repercussions for the trespass) encourages MORE of the original trespass!

The forgiving we engage in with the Lord's prayer is an act of acceptance that God is a Just Judge and has the full picture on 'who did what' that we will never be privy to in this life.

This does not mean we give the "benefit of the doubt" to a blatant trespass. If that was true, then Jesus would NOT have said what He quite clearly said in Matthew 18:17 (see below) and also in the instructions given to his Apostles (Luke 9:5) when they were refused friendly hospitality (There are several other Scriptures on this issue, but I will limit myself to just the two dicussed here).

Quote
Luke 9:5 (KJV)
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

The Mammon worshippers immediately quote scripture about "Do not judge, lest ye be judged". This a deliberate Orwellian distortion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

To begin with, the ones, in my case, who DID the sinful JUDGING are the ones who sinned against their brother by entering into a conspiracy to defraud their brother of his inheritance with the help of corrupt Judges, Banking officials and Court auction and "mediation" (see Orwell) officials. They DECIDED (with the cooperation of my father) that I was not "worthy" of the inheritance. IOW, they JUDGED me, and knowing the law was on my side, deliberately proceeded, once their decision (i.e. cheap rationalization) to defraud me was agreed on, to game the Legal system to achieve their goal.

When I learned of this attempt to defraud me, I simply pointed out to the Court (and later on to the FBI) that this was a crime of financial fraud. I did not "judge" anybody by stating the truth; I did what any Christian is obligated to do when he learns of a fraud; defend the truth and expose the lie.

I had warned my family members, over the phone, on more than one occasion, NOT to engage in fraud against my person. They, of course, said they would never do anything like that but they could "not control" one of my brothers and my "father". That was a lie when they said it and I told them so. They stopped direct communication except for occasional threats to my person (My oldest sister said that the brother running the inheritance "operation" said there were "too many" heirs in a very strange tone of voice over the phone in a conference call) and to my economic well being (My oldest sister mendaciously claimed I would have to pay ALL the legal fees if they were "forced" to sue me), followed shortly thereafter (because I did not bend to their ex-curia demands) by the legal documents.

Jesus Christ was quite clear about that. He said that IF a brother sins against you, you are to tell them about it and ask them to repent. IF said brother or sister REFUSES to repent, or claims they do "repent" without making absolutely any effort to make restitution (at LEAST 2 fold for the injury), then you are to no longer associate with them, PERIOD.

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Matthew 18:17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

God will NOT forgive sin if there is no honest attempt at making RESTITUTION. WHY? Because there is no genuine repentence if there is no restitution.

So please do not bother to send me Christmas Cards claiming you "miss" your kid brother or you are "praying that you will see me soon". 

I may be a poor old washed up failure economically, but I am still a Christian and, consequently, cannot countenance hypocrisy.

Beyond these occasional posts, that I have no idea whether anyone in my family reads, which I post so others may learn of my experiences, direct communication with my brothers and sisters is not going to happen. My father died at the ripe old age of 96 back in 2008. One of the ringleaders of the fraud tried repeatedly to get me to sue my father. I refused. But it didn't matter. The brother ringleader just wanted to turn my father totally against me. That was accomplished when I told the truth in motions presented (filed) to the the court, in defense of the truth, when my father and my siblings (all 6 of them) sued me.

Of course I am not going to be bitter about having experienced this legal travesty at the hand of my brothers and sisters. They are the ones in the hot seat, not me. They are the ones who refuse to repent. They are the ones who will have to explain why the poorest member of their family was not worthy of being treated equally by them and why they, particularly the ones among them that call themselves "Christians", entered into a criminal conspiracy in which they willingly agreed to be accesories to the crime of financial fraud.

As far as the world is concerned, they got away with it. The FBI thanked me for the info and I haven't heard from them since (years have passed). The Bank Corrupted Court sided with them and the fake mediation and the fake foreclosure and the fake auction took place just as they had planned it from the start.

May God have mercy on my corrupt relatives. I hope they all manage to genuinely repent (i.e. make at least 2 fold restitution) of their trespass against God (all trespasses against people are, in the final analysis, against God) before they leave this valley of tears. Because, if they don't, the Holy Scriptures make it quite clear that God won't cut them any slack whatsoever.

     
« Last Edit: December 22, 2017, 11:43:33 pm by AGelbert »
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2018, 06:01:59 pm »


FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #12 on: June 06, 2018, 08:58:52 pm »
Eddie said:
Quote
America doesn't have poor people. We have people who are waiting on the Lotto to make them rich.

I resemble that remark. I may have a small pension that keeps my wife and I just above the poverty level in our 980 sq.' manufactured home, being reasonably independent and decently clothed and fed due to the frugality my wife and I practice, but nobody would call us middlle class or above. Yes, that isn't the "poor" destitution that often motivates people to go out and steal out of desperation, but it is still technically "poor".

I ain't waitin' fer da lotto. We don't even play it. We are not the only poor Americans with principles, Eddie.

This is my guiding principle/prayer:

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Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.  - Proverbs 30: 7-9

We are poor but we are not greedy.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #13 on: June 06, 2018, 10:56:00 pm »
Eddie said:
Quote
America doesn't have poor people. We have people who are waiting on the Lotto to make them rich.

I resemble that remark. I may have a small pension that keeps my wife and I just above the poverty level in our 980 sq.' manufactured home, being reasonably independent and decently clothed and fed due to the frugality my wife and I practice, but nobody would call us middlle class or above. Yes, that isn't the "poor" destitution that often motivates people to go out and steal out of desperation, but it is still technically "poor".

I ain't waitin' fer da lotto. We don't even play it. We are not the only poor Americans with principles, Eddie.

This is my guiding principle/prayer:


Quote
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.  - Proverbs 30: 7-9

We are poor but we are not greedy.

No, you're not greedy. You too, are being noble. Well done.

I was referring to the vast numbers of anonymous other people out there who outnumber you a zillion to one, who ARE.  They're out there.

Not all, no. Certainly not. Lots of frugal good people who are that way for ethical reasons.. But not big numbers in the overall scheme of things.


True, those of us who take morality seriously are always pretty much in the minority. Thanks for the compliment, but I prefer to label my behavior as just being practical. As somebody said in an old movie, "A man's gotta know his own limitations." I have learned mine pretty well. ;)

I really do believe that money above a certain threshold is counterproductive to happiness, makes one overly territorial of the stuff one accumulates (i.e. loves them more than friends or family = idolatry) and leads to unrestrained greed = unhappiness.

IOW, it's not just a religious thing for me. I've seen enough people in my family become morally depraved after becoming stock market millionaires to accept the very real possibility that I would have been morally ruined too. There, but for the grace of God, go I.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: The Wisdom of the Books of the Bible
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2018, 02:47:32 pm »
Agelbert NOTE: Who was King Lemuel's Mother? ??? Nobody knows, but her advice is still wrongly ignored. The writer here covers it pretty well. However, I disagree that everyone who self-medicates becomes an addict. Most people who self-medicate do not. It is Biblically OKAY to self-medicate to mitigate the pain of sickness and/or poverty. It is just wrong to condemn everyone who self-medicates. Too many Christians have a stuffed shirt, overly judgemental, attitude towards drinking. There is NO Biblical basis for claiming Christians should not drink fermented beverages. The Biblical admonition, in several places in Scipture, is to avoid getting drunk, not to abstain totally from drinking.

But, since "Evangelical Christians" have an irrational prejudice against drinking, they try to spin the Bible to make it look like Scripture prohibits drinking booze.

All that said, it is to the writer's credit (though he wrongly tries to spin the good advice for the poor as "irony") that he admits that the advice of King Lemuel's mother is sound. King Lemuel's mother 🕊 makes it quite clear that the pain and misery of the sick and/or those in poverty is ample justification for self-medication.

As you can see from the vulgar, arrogant and totally unprincipled government leaders 🦀🐉🦕🦖 we are cursed with today, the elites continue to ignore this timeless advice.  :(


Proverbs 31:1-9: Lemuel’s Mother And The Duties Of Kings

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Nathan Albright

The identity of King Lemuel is unknown. Some people think that Lemuel is a pen name of King Solomon, the author of most of Proverbs, but like Agur, the author of Proverbs 30 [1], he may simply be an otherwise unknown wise man whose wisdom remains in the Bible even after he has been forgotten by history. In this case, the wisdom was (according to Proverbs) originally the wisdom of Lemuel’s mother. Unfortunately, Lemuel’s mother, who was presumably a princess or queen herself, has not been recorded in scripture, and as Lemuel’s identity or his realm is forgotten, Lemuel’s mother also has been consigned to historical oblivion.

Nonetheless, what is most important about King Lemuel and his mother is not their identity, or what realm they ruled over, but the worthiness and implications of the advice itself on the duties and responsibilities of kings. Needless to say, the subject is of considerable interest to me. Of course, when the Bible speaks about kings and their duties and responsibilities, kings is a title that refers to civil rulers and leaders in general and is not limited to monarchy, though it is of course applicable at all places and all time.

There are three pieces of advice given to Lemuel by his mother and then recorded in scripture. Let us examine each of them in turn and see what sort of relevant advice we can glean from them. The first piece of advice is recorded in Proverbs 31:1-3: “The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.” It is ironic that Lemuel’s mother tells him not to give his strength to women nor his ways to that which destroys kings. What is meant here? Given the context, that Lemuel is the son of his mother’s womb and vows, that Lemuel was a queen, the lawfully wedded wife of her husband, presumably a king. Giving your strength to women means collecting and being ensnared in a harem by women scheming for influence for themselves and their children. What destroys kings is the luxuriant and corrupt and decadent lifestyle that most monarchs live–a way that destroys them mind, body, and spirit. So, lesson number one for leaders is: don’t amass a harem; stick with one godly wife.

The second piece of advice is found in Proverbs 31:4-7: “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” This is a wise command, but one that is seldom heeded by rulers. Far too often those who consider themselves elites enjoy parties and banquets and luxury. The Bible forbids leaders from drunkenness (including religious leaders) because it interferes with the duties of a leader to discern and judge justly. Intriguingly, Lemuel’s mother recommends drink for those who are perishing, whose lives are full of misery, so that they can forget their misery for a little while. This seems to be a major reason why people self-medicate their problems and become alcoholics. It is not clear whether this advice is ironic, and intended to point out that drunkenness reflects misery rather than happiness, vanity and futility rather than the proper purposeful life of a ruler, but it is sound advice anyway. Lesson number two for leaders is: stay sober and sober-minded.

The third lesson from Lemuel’s mother is contained in Proverbs 31:8-9: “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Most kings and rulers may wish to be seen as defending the cause of their people, but in reality most of them plead the cause of elites, be they military leaders or aristocrats or palace courtiers or wealthy businessmen. Elites do not need for rulers to speak on their behalf. They have their own power, their own lobbyists and lawyers and other backers, and do not need the power of the throne to support their interests. Rather, it is the poor and needy and speechless, those who do not have a voice in the corridors of power, nor can afford those to speak on their behalf, that require the support of the ruler. And this support cannot merely be lip service, but needs to be the expenditure of actual political capital and effort on their behalf, for the cause of justice within a realm. Most rulers and leaders, whatever their inclinations, are unwilling to crusade for justice within their realms and institutions, but are content to go with the flow and enjoy the perks of office as well as the benefits of associating with those who are already powerful and well-connected, rather than to disrupt that equilibrium for the sake of justice and equity. Lesson number three for leaders is: godly leaders speak for the powerless and poor, not for the elites.

All of these pieces of advice for leaders cut against the grain of how leaders generally behave. If there are three sins of leaders that are extremely common, the sins of sexual immorality, luxuriant decadence, and casual injustice are high among them. These are especially omnipresent evils in monarchies whose focus is on splendor and luxury and where the power of the monarch and his inner clique is bolstered by some kind of bogus divine right view of leadership and where the responsibility of rulers to uphold constitutional standards is weak or nonexistent. We ought to be careful when we see such standards present to ensure that such rulers are made aware of their obligations to the people and cease from serving only themselves and their favorites. Lemuel’s mother gave immensely wise advice, and advice that is sadly seldom heeded by leaders, whether crowned monarchs or not, to this day. Let it not remain so.

[1] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/seven-things-i-learned-from-the-wisdom-of-agur/

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

 

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