temsmail's Xanga

Confluences

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:39:00 GMT

I like to read multiple books at the same time. I am currently reading Dan Brown's page turner "The Lost Symbol," with "The Complete Sherlock Holmes," and "The Chronicles of Narnia; The Magician's Nephew;" and some other (theological) books too. I really like the Barnes and Nobel leather bound series of books, they are leather bound, with a matching placekeeper ribbon, and very inexpensive. I want to get some more books from the series, great quality for a nice price!

Here is the first interesting confluence. Sir Conan Doyle wrote the first Sherlock Holmes story "A Scandal in Bohemia" in 1887. In that story Doyle introduced Dr. Watson, Holmes faithful recording companion. Dr. Watson was medically retired from the British Army due to a leg wound received in (wait for it ... here it comes) the Afghan Wars! 122 years later, guess where one of America's wars is continuing? Wait for it, I'm not talking about Iraq ... but ... Afghanistan!

The second interesting confluence is in the opening pages of Lewis' "The Magician's Nephew." Do you know what the time period selected for this "children's book" was? Guess. You'll never guess: Lewis said that the events took place at about the time that Sherlock Holmes was living in and working from 221b Baker Street.

Sorry, no link to "The Lost Symbol" yet; maybe later in the book. Although it's a page turner, I really question the accuracy of his details to make the story line "work." His other books were page turners too, but wow, were they ever wanting in their details!

Hallelujah!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:02:57 GMT

I am preaching from the Psalms now. I have been since before Easter. One of the things I like to do is research the words and phrases in the original languages. Of course, Psalms were written in Hebrew; but, about 400 years before Christ the Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew into Greek.

The translation was necessary because Alexander the Great conquered the then known world and mandated that Greek be used everywhere. Letters, contracts, and laws, everything was to be in Greek. As a result, the Jews were losing their ability to read the Scriptures. The Rabbi’s decided to give the people the Scriptures in the language they spoke, thus we have the Septuagint (LXX). This gives us light on their understanding of the Old Testament as we compare the Hebrew with the Greek.

The Psalm I used Last Sunday was Psalm 113:

[1] Praise the LORD!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

Praise the name of the Lord.

[2] Blessed be the name of the Lord

From this time forth and forever.

[3] From the rising of the sun to its setting

The name of the Lord is to be praised.

[4] The Lord is high above all nations;

His glory is above the heavens.

[5] Who is like the Lord our God,

Who is enthroned on high,

[6] Who humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in heaven and in the earth?

[7] He raises the poor from the dust

And lifts the needy from the ash heap,

[8] To make them sit with princes,

With the princes of His people.

[9] He makes the barren woman abide in the house

As a joyful mother of children.

Praise the LORD!

The opening and closing phrases of the Psalm are the same: “Praise the LORD!” I’ve blogged before about the all caps “LORD” being the Divine Name, this time I want to focus on the phrase “Praise the LORD.”

In the Hebrew (without vowel points) Praise the LORD is הללו יה. The KJV, the NIV, and the NASB all translate the phrase accurately as “Praise the LORD.” The Divine Name is represented in the phrase in its ending; the phrase ends with the ending of the Tetragrammaton; יה. The entire name is not there, but it is represented in the ending.

I mentioned the Greek LXX in order to bring a different slant on the phrase. Our modern translations correctly translate the words as Praise the LORD. But that is not what the Jewish scholars did with their translation into Greek; let me show you the Greek: αλληλουια. You can read that word if you don’t let yourself be intimidated by the Greek; and if you just anglicize the letters, its “Hallelujah!”

The Hebrew says “Hallelujah!” The Jewish scholars that translated the LXX from the Hebrew did not translate the words, but chose to transliterate them so the Hebrew sounds were brought over into the Greek text phonetically. The Greek language gained a new word! The meaning is the same, but the Hebrew pronunciation is the preserved.

Well that made me curious, so using BibleWorks8, I did a search on the word “Hallelujah.” It’s a common enough word in our hymns and praise songs, I figured the word would be all over the place in the Bible, especially the Old Testament and even more so in the Psalms and Proverbs. Not so! In the English translations, Hallelujah occurs four times, all in Revelation chapter 4 (verses 1, 3, 4, & 6). But even a search of the Hebrew only produced 23 hits in 23 verses, and ALL of those were limited to the Psalms. None in any of the recorded prayers of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, Eli, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, David (except the Psalms) or any of the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, or any of the others! I was shocked.

Are there worship words and phrases that God intended for worship alone?

Study Bible?

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:18:38 GMT

Over the course of may years as a Christian, Bible teacher, and pastor, I have acquired several study Bibles.

If you like your compu, you may want to look at something basic that is expandable like Quickverse, or Wordsearch. They have multiple translations of the Bible, and commentaries from the public domain, and more recent ones for purchase at modest prices. Do an Internet search on either title, or go to ChristianBook.com and use their site's search engine for them.

If you have the cha-ching for it, I love and use BibleWorks8 all the time. This does not have the commentaries and devotionals, but has some amazing scholarly tools for only $399; but that is for the more serious Bible scholar or pastor. If you can handle the Greek and Hebrew, this is my tool of choice.

On the other hand, however, if you want something in your hand, I recommend and have used the Thompson Chain Reference Bible for many years. It is for purchase in most of the modern translations including the NASB, NIV, and of course the standard KJV. Prices will vary depending on the type of cover you get with it. Again ChristianBook.com or DiscountBible.com will have them.

Age must be making me Sentimental

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:14:53 GMT

As I age, I find more and more things that move me deeply.

Today it was this video about wedding vows, and I thought ya'll would enjoy this too.

Christian Singleness

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:04:58 GMT

I just read a great article in Christianity Today about singleness.

I recommend this article because of I have more than skin in this game, I have flesh and blood. Then, I also have devout and wonderful Christian Xanga friends that also are working with these issues, or these issues are working them over.

The article and the book called Singled Out are written by two mature Christian women who happen to be single.

The problem, as they describe it, is that marriage is viewed as the ideal state for everyone, when Paul clearly says that some are called to singleness. Also that marriage is the example used by Paul to describe the relationship between Christ and the church.

However, singleness should not be viewed as abstinence waiting for marriage, but as chastity because of devotion to Christ: there are things a single person can do for God that a married person cannot do, a la Lottie Diggs Moon and missions to the Chinese before the Communist takeover. Lottie Moon gave away her personal wealth, and even her own food, for the people she served in China. Lottie Moon died of starvation in Kobe Harbor, JA on Christmas Eve, weighing only 50 pounds because she gave away her own food.

This article and book may be worth checking out by heartbroken Christian singles who are waiting for their Christian mate, and/or their loving and concerned friends.

John Piper also recently wrote about this, quoting C.S. Lewis. He said something we have often counseled married couples with: in marriage the husband's position of "headship" is to reflect that of Christ and the church. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;" (Eph 5:25　NAS).

When Christ gave himself up for the church, he DIED for her. Husbands, guys, this is a lot more than our western model of being in charge; this is a model of suffering, of service, of tolerance and acceptance; grace, mercy, and forgiveness. All of these are attributes of Christ toward the church, for which He 'gave Himself up.' Husbands, guys, if we would love our wives sacrificially as Christ loved (that is, loves) the church, there would not be all the divorces we see among Christians (or should I say 'christians?'). I have heard Christian ladies say that would make it easy for them to fulfill their part in the Eph 5 passage; to be subject to their husbands.

I pray for my single friends and my 'skin.'

Random Masterpiece

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:07:18 GMT

This Random Masterpiece video illustrates the illogic of evolution, without proving creation.

A great Greek Bible Study website

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:48:43 GMT

Okay, I have posted more today than I have in a very long time. I hope those of you who read my posts will put up with one more.

While I was looking for a Greek text to use in my other posts, texts that would not require special fonts, I found the Greek Bible Study website. It has the KJV, NASB, ESV, and Greek text side-by-side, with loads of tools for the Greek. Pick an OT passage and the LXX appears for the Greek, along side the other translations you chose. It also has the Spanish Reina Valera edition. Learn to read the Bible in Spanish & Greek!!

You do have to have a membership, but that's free. There is also supposed to be a link to allow you to hear the text read, but I think the Vista system is gobbling that up and I can't hear it just now. Try it, you'll like it!

Greek Bible Study

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:51:09 GMT

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=16bfb07c7f3bf96d8854&utm_source=newsletter0722&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

Famous Failures.

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:49:28 GMT

This goes well with the video I put up a few days ago.

Sola Scriptura or Scripture + Tradition?

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:17:56 GMT

Of the 16 occurrences of “tradition” or “traditions” in the NASB Bible, all but three of them are negative in tone or meaning. The three that are positive point to the tradition received from the Apostles by word of mouth (orally) or in writing (Scripture). Just in case you are interested, here are those verses. If not, please skip below them to read the rest of this posting.

Isa 29:13 NASB - "Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned {by rote,}"

Mat 15:2 NASB - ""Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.""

Mat 15:3 NASB - "And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"

Mat 15:6 NASB - "he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And {by this} you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition."

Mar 7:3 NASB - "(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, {thus} observing the traditions of the elders;"

Mar 7:5 NASB - "The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?""

Mar 7:8 NASB - ""Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.""

Mar 7:9 NASB - "He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition."

Mar 7:13 NASB - "{thus} invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.""

1Cr 11:2 NASB - "Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you."

Gal 1:14 NASB - "and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions."

Col 2:8 NASB - "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."

2Th 2:15 NASB - "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word {of mouth} or by letter from us."

2Th 3:6 NASB - "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us."

What tradition did Paul advocate? That which he passed on to the churches verbally in person, or in his absence in writing. Sadly, we have very little of Paul’s oral “tradition,” but we have a great deal of his written tradition: most of the NT epistles. Paul summarized that tradition in this: 1 Cor 15:1-5 NASB - Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

In 1 Cor 11, Paul also says that he received the instruction for the Lord’s Supper (Communion, Eucharist, whatever your tradition calls it), from the Lord Jesus; but even the details for that are sparse enough to accommodate most forms observed by the church catholic (small “c” on purpose).

The problem with tradition comes in the changing of times. For instance, once upon a time an American woman would never allow her ankles to show below her dress; now, even 'Christian' women think nothing of flashing their cleavage about to anyone willing to look (contra 1 Tim 2:9 NASB - "Likewise, {I want} women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, … ,"). Among Roman Catholics it has been in my lifetime (Vatican II, 1962 - 1965) that the tradition of the Latin Mass was replaced with the vernacular mass, among other things. Then, the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Assumption of Mary became elevated from long held informal tradition to official Church dogma by a Papal Bull. This doctrine was dogmatically and infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus. I have also heard some Roman Catholics argue that we would not even have a canon of Scripture if it were not for the bishops of the Church getting together to hash out the content of the canon, thus the Scriptures as we know them would not exist if not for the work of the traditions of the church. I also have heard that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the blood of Jesus which washes away the sins of the world flows through the fingers of Mary; can anyone verify that for me?

In my own denomination (SBC) the tradition of not ordaining women is being challenged; partly by liberal feminism (boo - hiss) and partly because the teaching of Paul in the NT, especially 1 Tim 2:12 "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet," is not in line with the practices described in the NT, especially Acts 21:9 where the four daughters of Philip the evangelist are described as "prophetesses," προφητεύουσαι. This "Philip the Evangelist" was the deacon that had lead the Ethiopian eunich to the Lord and baptized him along the Gaza road, (BTW, without specific authority from any church). By the time Paul wrote Romans, the office of ‘Deacon’ was an established office of the church; Paul described Phoebe with that title in Romans 16:2, διάκονον. We Baptists must be careful to not allow liberal readings and exegesis of the Bible to infiltrate through this argument into the hermeneutics we practice, even though that would make it easier to make the case for ordaining women. There is work yet to be done in the exegesis of the passages, and we must be careful not to practice eisegesis, in support of traditions either new or old.

The elder’s tradition was condemned by Jesus because it negated God’s Law; God condemned the traditions of Isaiah’s time because the tradition had become rote, and the rote tradition had become traditional ritual; and, Paul condemned the traditions of men because they negated the Gospel he had received from Jesus and had passed on to the churches. So we see the problem with tradition as a source of authority.

In matters of faith, the only reliable remaining source of authority in the faith once received is Scripture, thus Sola Scriptura. Scripture does not change. We need to compare Scripture with Scripture, and be informed by the best and the brightest scholars and holy men of God from the Scriptures. In this we need to be like the noble Bereans: Acts 17:10-11 - The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily {to see} whether these things were so.