Is the Criticism Leveled Against the Christian Faith Justified?

One of the complaints most frequently heard against those who are ‘Christians’ or members of any theistic religion, is that there is no rational basis for belief in God or any Deity outside the act of creation as a whole entity in itself; and being as it were, just the most random and logical arrangement of violent, unseen cosmic forces (energy and dark matter) which shaped and gave birth to ‘Life’ in the Universe; without the intervention of some invisible, immortal, transcendent, purely Spiritual, Celestial Being called “God” or the Creator.

Perhaps the closest embrace of this concept of a Divine Intelligence is in Aristotle’s “The Unmovable Mover” where this Greek Philosopher postulates that since God is changeless, then some other Divine Being must have created [through change, movement] the Universe; namely, the one which he refers to as the “Demiurge.” The argument won’t be settled in this article but there are some interesting points that are worth considering, and that is, can the Gospel message be presented in a rational basis and secondly, is it anathema [a curse, essentially] to use your intelligence when the Word is taught?

The book entitled, “The Christians as the Romans Saw Them,” by Robert L. Wilken, offers valuable insight into how Christians were looked upon in contemporary Roman and Greek society from the first century onward.

16. Another Roman historian, friend and correspondent of Pliny, Suetonius mentions the Christians in passing in his book, Lives of the Caesars, where he wrote, “Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition’ (Nero 16). The term superstition referred to beliefs and practices that were foreign and strange to the Romans. This was a designation of the kinds of practices and beliefs associated with cults that had penetrated the Roman world from surrounding lands such as the Celtic religion from the British Isles, the practice of Germanic tribes in northern Europe, and the customs of the Egyptians.

17. Suetonius (Claudius 25) mentions a certain Chrestus and states, “Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus (impulsore Chrestus), he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome (Cp. Acts 18: 1-2). Suetonius may have been speaking of Christians in Rome who were followers of Christ and were not distinguished from Jews.

22. According to Plutarch (50-120 C.E.), “Superstition sets people apart from the rest of society because the superstitious person does not use his intelligence in thinking about the gods... The atheist thinks there are no gods but the superstitious person believes in them against his will, *for he is afraid not to believe.”* (p. 61)

24. The Christians were seen as religious fanatics, self-righteous outsiders, arrogant innovators, who thought that only their beliefs were true.

27. Galen, the famous physician and native of Pergamum in Asia Minor (born 130C.E.) mentioned the Christians in some of his writings on other matters. Galen, speaking about the opinions of certain physicians, says, “They compare those who practice medicine without scientific knowledge to Moses, who framed the laws for the tribe of Israel, since it is his method in his books to write without offering proofs, saying God commanded, God spoke.” (On Hippocrates Anatomy). Galen’s concern was that Christian and Jewish schools did not live up to the intellectual ideal appropriate to philosophers, and instead, appealing to “faith” and the authority of their teachers.

28. Marcus Aurelius (Meditations 11.3) seemed to think that the Christian attitude towards death, illustrated by the behavior of martyrs, was at odds with a genuinely philosophical life. To Marcus, the Christians appeared fanatical and foolish; one might even say ‘superstitious.' Their presumed lack of fear in the face of death did not [appear to] rise out of genuine self-control, or out of an understanding of the self, or out of free will, but from mere obstinacy based on irrational beliefs.

29. Galen found Christian and Jewish teaching objectionable, dogmatic, and uncritical. They were unwilling to submit their beliefs to philosophical examination. They asked people to accept their doctrines solely on ‘faith’.

30. Celsus, a Greek philosopher in the year 170 C.E wrote a major book devoted solely to Christians, called “True Doctrine.” In one passage he mentions that the Christian Scriptures provided justification for eschewing appeals to reason and argumentation. ‘Some [Christians],’ says Celsus, “do not even want to give or to receive reason for what they believe, and use such expressions as ‘Do not ask questions, just believe’ and ‘Your faith will save you.’ Others quote the apostle Paul, “The wisdom of the world is evil and foolishness a good thing” (I Corinthians 1:25-26; Celsus 1.9).

31. Celsus goes on to say that some Christians are arrogant and contemptuous of the opinion of others; they keep to themselves and appeal to people’s fears and ignorance.

32. Christians had the reputation of being gullible and credulous. “The poor wretches,” writes Lucian, “have convinced themselves . . . that they are going to be immortal and live for all time. . . They despise all things indiscriminately and consider them common property, receiving such doctrines traditionally without any definite evidence. (Peregrinus 1.3)

With this lengthy historical backdrop, it is prudent to introduce some Scriptural references to prove that conveying the Gospel message isn’t just about preaching and teaching by rote without using one's intelligence and oratory to persuade and convince; as evidenced by the Apostle Paul.

Acts 17: 1-3
And for three Sabbaths, Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures in Thessalonica.
16-17
Paul was in Athens, reasoning in the synagogues with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles.
Acts 18: 4
Paul was in Corinth, reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to convince [persuade] Jews and Greeks.
19
Paul entered the synagogue in Ephesus and reasoned with the Jews.

Acts 19: 8-10
Paul entered the synagogue [again] in Ephesus and for three months, reasoned about the kingdom of God. He later withdrew from the synagogue and was reasoning daily for 2 years in the school of Tyrannus.

NOTE: In all probability this was a school that taught [Greek] Philosophy, and the Apostle Paul spoke Greek (Cp. Acts 21: 37)

According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary:
1 reason: b; a rational ground or motive c: a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense. esp.; something (as a principle or law) that supports a conclusion or explains a fact.

2 a(1): the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking esp. in orderly rational ways; INTELLIGENCE.

Also, as was presented in the previous History lesson, the Romans perceived the early Christians as ‘superstitious,’ and perhaps among quite a few, the judgment was true. I have another definition, which is, “faith in the absence of reason or intelligence becomes superstition,” and I totally agree with (excerpt 22).

In II Timothy it states: For God has not given us a spirit of fear [superstition??], but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. It is the responsibility of the believer to live in such a way that we are not perceived as neurotic, paranoid, irrational, vacillating, arrogant, isolationists, condemning so many things in life as sinful; but rather be more life-affirming and ready always to give an answer [logical/rational] to everyone of the hope that is within us (Cp. I Peter 3: 15).


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 31, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Just what is God’s Name?

From the earliest Biblical account, after the birth of Seth’s son Enosh, men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Cp. Genesis 4: 26). The Scriptures do not indicate what the Name of God was at this time. The next person to call upon the Name of God was Abram or Abraham (Cp. Genesis 13: 4) followed by his son Isaac (Cp. Genesis 26: 25). The story of Jacob is a curious one because there is no record of him calling upon the Name of the Lord but rather that he sets up a stone pillar or builds an altar as a memorial to God, and either pours a drink offering upon it or oil (Cp. Genesis 28: 18; 35: 1, 7, 14).

Now, when Moses asks God what to say to the children of Israel when they inquire as to the Name of the God who sent him to deliver them from Egyptian bondage, God says, “I AM WHO I AM;” and He said, “Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel,‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “(Cp. Exodus 3: 13-14). God further instructs Moses that the Lord God was the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but that this Name [previously mentioned] is His memorial Name to all generations (Cp. Exodus 3: 15). God had appeared to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty (El-Shaddai), but was unknown by the “Name” which He revealed to Moses (Cp. Exodus 6: 3). This is interesting because “El-Shaddai” was mentioned in Isaac’s blessing of Jacob (Cp. Genesis 28: 3), and in His appearing to Abraham (Cp. Genesis 17: 1), Jacob (Cp. Genesis 35: 11), but there is no record of God appearing to Isaac as “El-Shaddai;” unless it is inferred to have happened, which is certainly plausible.

When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, one of the prohibitions was in taking the Name of the Lord in vain (Cp. Exodus 20: 7). There is also the curious statement in Exodus 23: 20-23 where God tells Moses that He is going to send an Angel before them and drive out all the nations in Canaan but He also states that, “My name is in Him.” Is this Exalted and special One the same Angel who wrestled with Jacob
(Cp. Genesis 32: 24, 29) and the same one who visits Manoah (Judges 13: 16-18)?
When Jacob asks his nighttime Celestial visitor (Angel of the Lord??) and wrestling opponent His Name, he doesn’t get an answer; but when Manoah asks the same thing, the Angel of the Lord replies, “Why do you ask My Name, seeing that it is ‘Wonderful.’" This obscure statement doesn’t give the fullest impact of the Name but a more refined version seems to convey a better rendering, and that is; God’s Name is ineffable, unpronounceable, or better yet, “beyond comprehension."

At the Last Supper before Jesus and His disciples entered the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent me. “And I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it. . . (Cp. John 17: 25-26a; also verse 6). In Matthew 6: 9b, it reads: “Hallowed be Thy Name;” but it does not reveal what that most sacred, cherished, revered, and Holiest of Name’s is. There are those who believe that the name of God is Jehovah, but studying the Transliteration of the Hebrew/English Alphabet, all the equivalent English consonantal sounds from Hebrew to English exclude C, J, W, and X; so not only is it unlikely that the Divine name is Jehovah, but neither would it be Jahveh. Of course the inclusion of vowels sounds added by Jewish scholars to the Old Testament Scriptures is helpful, and perhaps the closest approximation to the Name of God is again found in Exodus 3: 14, which uses the Hebrew verb ‘hayah’ (“to be”). This verb and its equivalent occur approximately 5,200times in the Jewish Old Testament Scriptures (SEE http://www.hebrew4christians.com). It is from this verb that the Tetragrammaton or 4 letters (YHVH) are used as symbols of the unpronounceable Divine Name. If vowel soundings are placed between the 4 consonants, then one could conceivably come up with the name “Yahveh”; which is close to what the Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah wrote.

Psalms 8: 1
O Lord, our God, How excellent is Your Name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens.

68: 4
Sing to God, sing praises to His Name; Extol! Him who rides on the clouds; by His Name ‘Yah’, and rejoice before Him.

NOTE: In praising God the word (Allelujah), ‘Allelu-Yah’ forms a part, and not the traditional “Jah” like in ‘Hallelujah.’

Isaiah 12: 2
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for ‘Yah,’ the Lord, is my strength and song.

26: 4
Trust in the Lord forever, for in ‘Yah,’ the Lord, is everlasting strength.

John 17: 6a, 26
I have manifested Your Name to the men You have given Me out of the world. And I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.

This interestingly abbreviated study, though far from exhaustive, does reveal from the internal Biblical evidence as well as an external source what an approximate or derivative of the Divine Name of God might be like.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 31, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Just What is the Woman’s Role in the Church?

There are an ever-growing number of women clergy in the Christian Church to include, Pastor, Reverend, Evangelist, Bishop, and Minister; among other official religious titles. Gone are the days when women merely taught children’s Sunday School, Vacation Bible School classes, assisted in the preparation of the Lord’s Supper, directed the Church Choir, worked in the Church Nursery, assisted with the baptismal garments [for the female converts] or were the white-glove wearing Church ushers.

Women have had a steady but gradual evolution from assisting at the Lord’s Table (“Holy Communion”) and collecting the Church Tithes to speaking in the Church body through reading Church announcements, leading Prayer and invocations at the altar, and finally, Preaching the word to the entire Congregation of believing men and women. It does seem to be such a waste of valuable spiritual resources if only the men were allowed to minister to the saints for edification as well as preaching the Gospel to those who have not accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ. What are the instructions written for the Church in its infancy and are these practices binding for modern Christians today? The Apostle Paul writes:

Galatians 3: 26-27, For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

However, this same Paul writes in I Timothy 2: 11-12: Let a woman quietly receive instructions with entire submissiveness [to her husband??]. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over the man, but to remain quiet. He continues on with the next couple of verses, “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.

NOTE: The implication may be that if Eve hadn’t been busy running her mouth in a conversation with that crafty Serpent, and checked everything with Adam first before she ate of the fruit of the Garden, then “Pandora’s Box” would not have been opened and all these evils and sin would not have come into the world.

Again Paul says in I Corinthians 14: 34-35: Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law (where ??) also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

NOTE: Perhaps the Christian Church in the beginning was modeled after rabbinical, orthodox Judaism or Islam, with a separate area for the women to worship God separate from the men. The women could offer prayers and sing songs of devotion to God in silence but not aloud, thereby disrupting the proceedings of the men.

Even the Apostle Peter takes a similar position in I Peter 3: 1-2, 4-6:

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some don’t obey the word, they without a word [from you], may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear [reverence]. . .rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror [of your husbands or God??].

Peter also instructs the husbands, thus (verse 7), Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

Paul’s and Peters injunction to Love, Honor, and Obey would seem to go counter to the modern, politically-correct and believing women of the Western Hemisphere, especially in America. Either the new trend within the body of Christ is part of a greater understanding of equipping all the saints of God for the mission of the Church, or what these two Apostles wrote are so absurd as to be dismissed outright; because such nonsense belongs to another time and place where the cultural, social, and religious rules don’t apply; or the Church has some serious work to undue.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 27, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

The Christian Church When Her Pillars Are No More

The Church must have had a glorious and exciting beginning with all the miraculous healings and the subsequent supernatural phenomenon which gave it the necessary confirmation and validation in the early beginning. There was an “Apocalyptic” fervor and expectation of a cataclysmic final battle between good and evil, culmination in the end of the world and a resurrection of those who died to stand before the great God and Judge of Heaven and Earth, to receive the reward of damnation or everlasting life. This belief was bolstered by persecutions and the martyrdom of many saints as well as those who were eyewitnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ and Savior when he walked and taught among those in the region of the Sea of Galilee. The preaching of the gospel and a resurrected Jewish rabbi put to death by Pontius Pilate but believed to be the Son of God spread not only throughout Judea, but as far as Turkey, Italy, the Balkans, Yugoslavia, Northern Africa, the Adriatic Seacoast and the Mediterranean.

Like any great religious or social movement, there has to be a continuity plan in place for such an event to continue its momentum and not run out of steam; becoming nothing more than a footnote in history and a momentary distraction from the real problems people might have been facing at that time. The Apostle Paul mentions James, Cephas, and John as ‘pillars’ of the Church (Galatians 1: 9), but his importance to what we know as Christianity cannot be overstated and is of enormous value because much of what is known and taught doctrinally is largely based upon his letters in the New Testament. Over the span of Paul’s [Saul of Tarsus] life, some interesting changes had taken place. At first, he had an almost irrational zeal bordering on insanity (Acts 26: 9-11; Galatians 1: 13) to destroy it but became instead one of its greatest defenders.

Paul becomes acquainted with Barnabas after arriving in Jerusalem from Damascus, after his conversion to the faith (Acts 9: 22-31). Paul and Barnabas work together until they have a serious blowup over taking John Mark with them on the “SECOND EUROPEAN MISSION”; who was coincidentally, Barnabas’ cousin (Cp. Colossians 4: 10). From this point the Biblical record does not mention anything more about Barnabas and Paul having any more contact with each other; nor is there anything more about Barnabas other than he parted from Paul and set sail to Cyprus with John Mark (Acts 15: 40).

Next, he teams up with Silas next (Acts 15: 40) and they work together for several years, and Silas and Timothy came down to Paul in Ephesus (“ASIA”) from MACEDONIA (“Thessalonica”) as recorded in Acts 18: 5-11. The last time any correspondence from Paul that mentions Silas is in II Corinthians 1: 19; which means, that Silas and Timothy must have joined Paul in Corinth after the work in Ephesus. Interestingly, Silas (“Silvanus”) shows up again, but this time he is associated with the Apostle Peter who assists in the writing of this letter (I Peter 5: 12). The dating between the Corinthian letter and the epistle of Peter is around ten years, so it is curious why Silas is spending time with the Apostle Peter instead of continuing to accompany Paul; although Paul it seems, didn’t suffer from a lack of having a supply of people to choose from to help him in the ministry.

As the years roll on, the mortality of its pillars become a reality, as with the Apostle Paul (II Timothy 4: 6; Philemon 9), and the Apostle Peter (II Peter 1: 14), and with some departing from the ‘faith,’ how would the Church be guided in the future, and by whom? There aren’t any Scriptural records of the activities of the Church in Judea, Galilee, Samaria, Syria beyond the little information presented in the book of ACTS in those early years, and with the death of the Apostles and prophets of that generation, the Church might have reverted wholly back to orthodox Judaism, rabbinic, Talmudic, Essenes or some other religion altogether. The same might be said about a few of the congregations started by the Apostle Paul, but there is some indication that a few individuals might have carried on the work; namely, Timothy, Aristarchus, Tychicus, and Titus. Timothy and Titus were addressed to in letters called ‘Pastoral Epistles,’ which seem to indicate that Paul expected them to exercise some kind of ecclesiastical authority among the believers as they went to correct false teaching or ordain church leaders. Tychicus must have been someone of importance because he was mentioned quite often as well as Aristarchus.

Perhaps what is not so readily apparent is that all of the aforementioned individuals are Greeks, and the unforeseen consequences is that a Greek conceptual framework will encompass Jewish theology that is most probably different from the original Aramaic or Hebrew thought. It is indeed ironic that someone who considered himself as in his own words, “A Hebrew of Hebrews” (Cp. Philippians 3: 5) and brought up in the strictest sect of the Pharisees (Cp. Acts 26: 5), would have entrusted the interpretation and teaching from the Jewish Sacred Scriptures to those who were not even proselytes or God-fearing Greeks, to be some of the ones responsible for the dissemination of this ‘TRUTH’ to future generations of believers; Jews and Gentiles alike.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 25, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Is it Wrong to Use Musical Instruments in Church Services?

The worship of God could not be experienced more profoundly without offering up to Him songs of praise, devotion, love, thankfulness, and reverence for all the many blessings which has been bestowed upon those who are His children. Many Christian Churches have choirs who edify the flock with special renditions of praise through songs they have rehearsed and dedicate to the glory of God, while a few others offer praises to God through songs sung by the entire congregation of worshippers. Yet within the body of Christ there are a small minority who take a theological position that it is “sinful” or without Biblical authority to use mechanical instruments of music in the worship of the Lord God. To these strict interpreters of the Bible, acappela singing is the only acceptable manner that is pleasing in the sight of God. It is prudent therefore to examine the Holy Scriptures to determine the proper guidance in this matter of faith practice.

I Chronicles 13: 8
Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and on trumpets.

I Chronicles 15: 16
Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.

I Chronicles 16: 5b, 7
Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals. On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren to thank the Lord (Cp. verses 8-36).

Psalms 150: 1-6
Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with the stringed instruments and flute! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with the clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

Ephesians 5: 19
Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

This last reference is used to strengthen the position supporting the unauthorized use of musical instruments because these proponents say that the passage does not say, “Play and sing.” Keeping that point in mind, it is necessary to look at I Corinthians 13: 1, where the Apostle writes, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not love, I have become sounding brass [gong] or a clanging symbol. Additionally, I Corinthians 14: 26a mentions about those coming together in the Church and one has a psalm, teaching, revelation, etc.

NOTE: These Churches in Ephesus and Corinth were started from within Jewish synagogues (Cp. Acts 18: 8-11, 18; 19: 8-10).

In fact, Sosthenes the leader of the Jewish synagogue in Corinth was baptized and his entire household (Acts 18: 8a). Since it seems that the Christian community grew out from the synagogues, it stands to reason that the Church would have continued to use musical instruments in the worship of God just like it was practiced in the Old Testament. Certainly it cannot be argued against that ‘psalms’ were specifically composed to be accompanied with a musical backdrop.

Lastly, here’s the scare tactic that is used in the pronouncement of a “woe” to those who would use musical instruments in their worship services, as found in
Amos 6: 5, which says, “[Woe to them] Who improvise to the sound of the harp, and like David have composed songs for themselves.

NOTE: There are a couple of things to consider when reading this passage, and that is, the context; reading further in verses 7 and 14, Amos declares, “Therefore, they will now go into exile at the head of the exiles, and the sprawlers’ banqueting will pass away. “For behold, I am going to raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord of Hosts, and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah.”

The prophecy of Amos 6 is also mentioned in Jeremiah 52 and II Chronicles 24 and 25. Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon took Jehoiachin King of Judah into captivity and later laid siege against the city of Jerusalem, taking King Zedekiah bound into Babylon plus thousands of Jewish captives from the region. The people suffered this fate because like in times past, they had forgotten about the Lord God, worshipped idol gods and were comfortable with their lives for the moment; until disaster came upon them. The religious songs they composed would certainly not be acceptable under their false worship, no matter if accompanied by musical instruments or sung acappela style.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 25, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

The Jewish Roots of the Christian Church

It goes without saying that were it not for the Jewish Scriptures, Christianity as it has been known for two-thousand years wouldn’t even exist; at least, in the form that it is today. The expected Jesus of Nazareth, Messiah, and descendant of King David and Savior of the world as prophesied in the sacred and inspired Jewish Old Testament writings, is the head of the Church which bears His name. And yet, the Christian Church essentially jettisons the Old Testament in favor of the New Testament, which is akin to tossing out the baby with the bath water. In reality, Christianity is not separate from Judaism; it is the spiritual culmination of it. This point is essentially Paul’s argument in the book of GALATIANS (2: 16 – 5: 6). Furthermore, the inauguration of the Church or “The Great Commission” started in Jerusalem of Judea (Cp. Luke 24: 46-48; Acts 1: 4-5, 8).

In the beginning of the Christian Church, it started in Jerusalem with about one-hundred and twenty disciples of Jesus Christ, including Jesus’ mother and brothers; mostly of whom are probably Galileans (Acts 1: 14-15, 2: 7). The Church came under persecution in Jerusalem and so the believers scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria (Acts 8: 1). Philip, one of the leading brothers from the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 6: 5) preaches the word to the city of Samaria (“Sebaste”) in SAMARIA (Acts 8: 12-13), and converts are made there. Philip reaches Caesarea in GALILEE and preaches the word there (Acts 8: 40), and in all probability makes converts in that city, too. There are other places where the Apostle Peter met disciples; the towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa (Acts 9: 32, 35, 38, 43); all of which were in the region of Judea. In Damascus of Syria there was a Jewish synagogue where a disciple named Ananais was associated with (Acts 9: 1). This particular passage just cited is important because it goes to the heart of what is forgotten in Christian theology, and that is of a Jewish foundation.

In fact, the very person credited with the theology of Western Christianity, the Apostle Paul, would doubtless be surprised at the separation of the Church today because he wrote in Ephesians 2: 11-14: Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh; who are called uncircumcision by what is called ‘the Circumcision’ made in the flesh by hands; that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Jesus Christ you who were once afar off have brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both [“Jew and Gentile”] one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation. Not only that, but the European Missions that the Apostle Paul embarked upon and made converts in the various cities and towns was the result of proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues by quoting and teaching from the Old Testament Scriptures.

Acts 13: 14-15, 48-49
Arriving at Pisidian Antioch [“Galatia”] on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them and asking if they had any words of exhortation.
The Gentiles began glorifying the word of God and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed, and the word of the Lord was spread throughout the region.

Acts 14: 1, 6-7
At Iconium (“Galatia”) they entered a synagogue of the Jews and a great multitude believed, both Jews and Greeks. They fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe (“Galatia”) preaching the gospel.

NOTE: Although the author doesn’t say that they went to the Jewish synagogues in these places, you can be for sure that if one was located there, this is where they would have gone.

Acts 16: 12-13-15, 27-33
And from there to Phillipi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

NOTE: There is supposedly a Jewish custom where if a city or town doesn’t have a synagogue, then you are to meet by a riverside for prayer and religious instruction.

Acts 17: 1-2, 4
Now when they came to Thessalonica (MACEDONIA) where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths, reasoned with them from the Scriptures (II Timothy 1: 5; 3: 15). And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

Acts 17: 10-12
And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea (MACEDONIA); and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily (II Timothy 1: 5; 3: 15), to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

Acts 18: 8, 11
And he departed from there and went to the house of a certain man named Titius Justus, a worshipper of God whose house was next to the synagogue. And Crispus the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Acts 18: 19
And they came to Ephesus (“ASIA”), and he left them (“Prisca and Aquila;”18: 18a) there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Acts 19:1
And it came about while Apollos was at Corinth (GREECE), Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus (ASIA)

8-10
And he entered the synagogue and continued and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of ‘the Way’ (“Ha-Derekh”) before the multitude, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

It seems clear, after all the internal Scriptural evidence, that Christianity in the beginning was the product of Jewish theology emanating from the temple in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; and then, from the various synagogues in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Syria, and from the ones in Europe. So closely was the Christian Movement associated with Judaism (perhaps a more radical form), that a certain attorney named Tertullus, accused the apostle Paul before the judgment seat of Felix, Governor of Caesarea, as being the ringleader of “the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 23: 33; 24: 1-6). That this group of believers is Christian and connected with Judaism and the Old Testament, there can be no doubt; based upon Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa and Festus the Governor(at this time).

Acts 24: 14-16
But this I admit to you, that according to ‘the Way’ (“haDerekh;” Cp. 19: 10: 10, 23) which they call a “sect” I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Acts 26: 23, 24b-25, 27-29
That the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He should be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles. Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But he said, “I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.” “King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know you do. And Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to be a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

The evidence is irrefutable and if it were presented in a Court of Law the jury and Judge would see that it contain more than enough to get a conviction; far exceeding the legal threshold of ‘reasonable doubt’ to almost ‘absolute certainty.' The Jewish and Christian communities really need to come together on this issue because this is what the cross of Christ is about, too; and not just for the remission of sins. Lastly, in Ephesians 2: 15b, 16, it states: …that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile] into one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 24, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

The Forgotten Women of Galilee

There is an old saying in Christian circles, which is, “women are the backbone of the Church;” and nothing is probably truer than that. In the letters written by the Apostle Paul, several women of the Christian Church are mentioned with the highest respect or support, namely, Phoebe (Romans 16: 1), an unknown Mary (Romans 16: 6), Chloe (I Corinthians 1: 11), Euodia &; Syntche (Philippians 4: 2-3), Nympha (Colossians 4: 13), and others who are either brother and sister or husband and wife. It is curious that the New Testament Scriptures are silent about the lives of the very women who walked, talked, supported the earthly ministry of Jesus, followed Him to ‘Golgotha Hill,’ wept as He was crucified, saw Him after He was resurrected, and one unmarried virgin maiden even carried the infant Jesus in her womb and raised Him; are almost a footnote in Church history.

The gospel sources list a few of the women who financed the work of proclaiming the kingdom of God, such as Mary called Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s Stewart, Susanna, and many others (Luke 8: 2-3). There was also Mary the mother of James and Joses (Jesus’ siblings; Cp. Matthew 13: 55-56; 27: 56), the mother of Zebedee’s sons (Matthew 20: 20-21; 27: 56); Mark 15: 40 mentions Salome; Joanna and the mother of James [son of Alphaeus; Matthew 10: 3-4??] are mentioned in
Luke 24: 1, 10. In Matthew 28: 1, “another Mary” is mentioned and in John 19: 25, standing by the cross of Jesus was His mother, His mother’s sister (??), and Mary the wife of Clopas. It is even more surprising that Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist and cousin [“relative”] of Jesus’ mother Mary (Luke 1: 26-44) is not mentioned as a disciple, let alone that she was absent at the crucifixion.

In Acts 1: 14-15, there was a gathering of about 120 persons of whom are Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers and the women, who are unfortunately not mentioned. It seems reasonable to assume that in that gathering are the same women and the others who supported the Galilean ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is amazing that the one individual (Mary Magdalene; Cp. John 11: 1-2) who showed the greatest ‘faith’ and of whom Church History has dishonored by branding an adulteress or a harlot. In Matthew 26: 10, 12-13, Jesus said, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. “For when she poured this perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare for My burial. “Truly I saw to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall be a memorial to her.” What a shame that such an act of love and devotion should be marred and scandalized by the salacious label of sexual promiscuity.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 20, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Did Luke the Physician Write the Book of Acts?

Tradition has it that the author of the gospel of “LUKE” and “ACTS” of the Apostles were written by the same individual, and that is by, Luke the ‘beloved’ Physician. Although it is difficult to prove with absolute certainty, there may have in fact been more than just a single source for the events recorded in the book of ACTS. Almost the entire first half of the book highlights the ministry of the Apostle Peter, and there is no internal or external evidence that Peter and Luke ever knew each other.

Not only that, but the author of ACTS would most likely be acquainted with both Peter and Paul. Some have argued that the Greek text used in the gospel of LUKE and ACTS is more of the classical style and more advanced than some of ‘KOINE’(common Greek) used in other New Testament writings; but considering Paul’s ministry and making converts from Hellenistic Jews among the epicenter of Greek culture in Europe and the civilized world at that time, then it should not come as too much of a surprise.

Luke is first mentioned in the book of COLOSSIANS, which is well after the events covered in ACTS and at this time the Apostle Paul is already a prisoner in Rome (??). There is a possible clue to figuring out who Paul’s biographer is during the Second Missionary journey as recorded in Acts 15: 36 thru 16: 10. Up until that time, everything in ACTS had been recorded in the ‘third person,’ but after arriving in Troas and on to Macedonia, the verb tense shifts to the ‘first person’ (“we, us, our”). This pattern continues in the following passages in ACTS 16: 10; 20: 5-7, 13-15; 21: 1, 3-8, 10-18; 27: 1-7, 18-20, 27, 29, 37; 28: 1-2, 10, 12-16.

All of Paul’s other friends and helpers who accompanied him at this time are accounted for, such as Gaius and Aristarchus (Acts 19: 29), who is included with Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, Secundus of the Thessalonians, Timothy; Tychicus and Trophimus (Cp. 21: 29) of ASIA (Cp. Acts 20:4). In the next verse (20: 5) the author writes: But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. One could point out that Silas might be the author, but he is included in previous narratives.

Again, the city of Troas comes up and the only other person mentioned in the New Testament with regard to the city of Troas is none other than Titus (II Corinthians
2: 12-13); although he isn’t mentioned specifically by name in ACTS (“we?”;16: 10). Perhaps this circumstantial evidence is not enough to dissuade the strong opinion that holds firmly to the traditional viewpoint and although it may not conclusively certify Titus as one of the authors of ACTS, it certainly casts some doubt on whether or not Luke the Physician is the author of the book.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
pbks@hotmail.com

Studies in GENESIS 1-5

The Jewish and Christian Old Testament book of GENESIS is often referred to as the “beginning,” but it can also refer to origin, descent, or generations. Upon examining selected passages in this study, the internal evidence suggests that embedded within certain sections is another interwoven narrative that runs parallel to the main story. It seems as though there are at least two versions of the same or similar ancient historical account of the creation of the universe, the earth, and the human race; better known as “Cosmology.”

PART I
1.1
In the beginning, God (Elohim??) created the heavens and the earth.
1.2
The earth was formless and void, darkness was over the face of the deep. The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
1.26
Then God said, Let Us (??) make man in Our image, according Our likeness; and let them rule over..."
1.27
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.
1.29
Then God said, "I have given you every plant-yielding seed that is on the surface of the earth and every tree which has fruit-yielding seed; it shall be food for you".
1.30And to every beast of the field, every bird of the sky and everything that moves on the earth that has life. I have given every green plant for food.
2.01 THUS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE COMPLETED AND ALL THEIR HOSTS.
2.02 The seventh day God completed His work and rested on the seventh day.
2.03 God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it....
NOTE: There is no mention of God planting a garden or anything about a talking serpent (“shining one”), tree of life or tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve were only told to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it. Also, there was no mention of Eve taken from Adam’s rib (tsala).

PART II (NOTE: In this following section, the Divine name is the Lord God.)
2.04
THIS IS THE ACCOUNT OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WHEN THEY WERE CREATED, IN THE DAY THAT THE LORD GOD MADE THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS.
2.05
Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, no plant had sprouted, for the Lord God (YHWH??) had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground.
2.07
The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (“neshamah”), and man became a living being (“nephesh”).
2.08
The Lord God planted a garden toward the east in Eden; there He placed the man whom He had formed.
2.09
Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
2.10
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. . .
2.17
The Lord God commanded the man saying...."from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat (Cp. 1: 29), for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die".
2.18
The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him".
2.20
But for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
2.21
The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept. Then He took one of his ribs (tsala), and closed up the flesh at the place.
2.22
And the Lord God fashioned (built) into a woman the rib which He took from the man, and brought her to the man.
2.23
The man said, "This is now flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone; She shall be called Woman (Ishah) because she was taken out of Man (Ish)".
3.01
Now the serpent was more subtle (subtil?) than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made and he said to the woman, "Indeed has God not said you shall eat from any tree of the garden"? (Cp. 2: 17)
3.03
The woman said, "But from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, you shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die".
NOTE: Mother Eve had it totally twisted (Cp. 2: 09, 17), and besides all that, God commanded Adam about the tree (Cp. 2: 16- 17)
3.04
The serpent said to the woman, “you shall not surely die".
3.05
"For God knows that in the day that you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil". NOTE: the serpent didn’t say the Lord God
3.06 The woman saw that the tree was good for food, it was a delight to the eyes, and that it was desirable to make one wise (1John2:16), she took from its fruit and ate; She also gave to her husband with her, and he did eat.
3.07
Then the eyes of them were both opened, and they knew they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
NOTE: Adam and Eve most likely ate some figs and not the proverbial apple as tradition says.
3.09
Then the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you"?
3.10
And he said, "I heard the sound of Thee, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself... NOTE: In a sense, both the Lord God and the serpent were right because in that day Adam and Eve sinned, they died to spiritual innocence (??); though they did not die physically on that very day.
3.21
And the Lord God made garments of skin (not fur or wool ??) for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
3.23
And the Lord God said, "Behold the man has become like one of Us (??), knowing good and evil, now lest he stretch forth his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.
4.17-23, 25-26
And Cain knew his wife and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city and named it after his son. Now to Enoch was born Irad; and Irad became the father of Mehujael; and Mehujael became the father of Methushael; and Methushael became the father of Lamech. And Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. And Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of those who play the lyre and pipe [flute??]. As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech . . .
And Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel; for Cain killed him.” And to Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

PART III
5.01
THIS IS THE BOOK OF THE GENERATIONS OF ADAM IN THE DAY WHEN GOD CREATED MAN. HE MADE HIM IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD.
5.02
He created them male and female and named them “Adam” in the day they were created.
5: 3
When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth (5: 3b).
5: 6
And Seth lived one hundred and five years, and became the father of Enosh.
5: 12
And Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel (Cp. 4: 18a).
5: 15, 18
And Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared (Cp. 4: 18a). And Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years and became the father of Enoch (4: 17)
5. 21-22
And Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah (Cp. 4: 18b). Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.
5.24, 25
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Heb. 11:5). And Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech (4: 18b??)
5: 28-29
And Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son (Cp. 4: 19-22??). Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord had cursed.

In Part III, the sons of Cain are reworked into the descendants of Seth, the substitute son to replace Abel, whom Cain killed (Cp. 4: 8, 10). The names of Seth’s descendants, Mahalalel, Jared, Methuselah, are linguistically, phonetically, and philologically the same as the descendants of Cain; namely, Irad, Mehujael, Methushael. Of course, both descendants of Adam’s sons Cain and Seth use the names Enoch and Lamech. From this point onward the storyline continues through Seth, whom, according to the sacred text was in Adam’s own image and likeness (Cp. 5: 3b).


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 18, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Studies in I Chronicles 2: 9-42, 54; 3: 15-16

There is perhaps no more intriguing study of genealogy than what is found in this book of the Old Testament. It appears to be more than one ancestral history interwoven within the framework of another, with the attempt to appear as one continuous narrative.

I Chronicles 2: 9-13a, 15
Now the sons of Hezron, who were born to him, were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. And Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nashon, leader of the sons of Judah; Nashon became the father of Salma, Salma became the father of Boaz, Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse; and Jesse became the father of Eliab, his first-born. . . Ozem the sixth; and David the seventh.

2: 18
Now Caleb the son of Hezron had sons by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.

2: 25-27
Now the sons of Jerahmeel the first-born of Hezron were Ram the first-born, then Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. And Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. And the sons of Ram, the first-born of Jerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.

2: 28, 32-33
And the sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada; . . . And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai were Jether and Jonathan, and Jether died without sons. And the sons of Jonathan were Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel (??).
NOTE: One could argue that the phrase “son of, or sons of” could mean an ancestor; although convenient, would make it difficult to establish the specific familial relationship if that were the case.

2: 31, 34-41
And the son of Appaim was Ishi. And the son of Ishi was Sheshan. And the son of Sheshan was Ahlai(Cp. verse 36; I Chronicles 11: 41??). Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters(??). And Sheshan had an Egyptian servant whose name was Jarha. And Sheshan gave his daughter(which one??) to Jarha his servant in marriage, and she bore him Attai. And Attai became the father of Nathan(I Chronicles 29: 29??), and Nathan became the father of Zabad, and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jehu(II Chronicles 15: 1??), and Jehu became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah, and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Jekemiah, and Jekemiah became the father of Elishama.

2: 42
Now the sons of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, were Mesha his first-born, who was the father of Ziph; and his son was Mareshah, the father of Hebron.

2: 54
The sons of Salma were Bethlehem and the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.

I Chronicles 3: 15-16
NOTE: It is confusing because it says that Zedekiah was the third son of Josiah; then in the next verse it says that Zedekiah was the son of Jeconiah [“Jehoiachin”], which contradicts II Kings 24: 17 where it says that Zedekiah [“Mattaniah’] was Jehoiachin’s [“Jeconiah”] uncle.

Christian apologists will undoubtedly vigorously defend the truthfulness of the sacred Scriptures, but there is a difference between purposely misleading someone by knowingly perpetrating falsehood as opposed to honestly trusting the source material to be free from translation or transcription mistakes. It is true that a popular biblical name is used quite often but that is only half the story. Some designations can be tribe or clan names which can span many generations or it could also be a special calling such as in the Messianic expectations associated with “Jesus son of David.” In the words of Isaiah the prophet, “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.” (Cp. Isaiah 28: 10)


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 18, 2008

The Christian Mega-Churches: A Sign of the Times?

It seems that believers and proselytes to the Christian "faith" want something different, new, and exciting in their worship and it appears that the Mega-Church is a wonderful fantasy, a spiritual dream-come-true to some. It is an ever-growing and popular alternative to the traditional hellfire and brimstone services of the past which pronounce damnation to the sinners who don’t accept the salvation offered only in the name of Jesus; amid the tears of repentance, public confessionals, and feelings of guilt and shame.

Today, this atmosphere of political-correctness has brought about a fundamental change in the faith practices and behavior of many Bible-believing Christians, serving up a smorgasbord of options for worship; including participation in “virtual churches,” and cyber-congregations thanks to the Internet. The appeal of these emerging and larger-than-life edifices dedicated to the Lord’s glory (??) has to be reexamined in the light of Scripture, to determine if this is the best way to convert the lost and edify the body of Jesus Christ.

Jesus says in John 15: 18-20, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it has hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me they will also persecute you. . .

I John 2: 15-16
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Romans 12: 2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is; that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 16: 17-18
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Jesus Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

II Timothy 4: 3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

Titus 2: 1, 7, 11-12
But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.

Philippians 3: 18-19
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, and whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

II Corinthians 11: 3-4
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received [from us], or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may well put up with it!

Galatians 1: 6-7, 9
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

I John 4: 1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Proverbs 14: 12
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

This is certainly not an indictment of any Church, whether it is Mega or mini, but rather an admonition to be careful because one can be mislead with all the dozens of programs, ministries, activities, missions, technology, and the BARNUM & BAILEY circus-under-the ‘Big Tent’ type atmosphere; which can be a distraction from the simplicity and genuineness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and godly reverence due to the heavenly Father. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: “The world loves its own;” therefore if something is popular and widely accepted and since the whole world is in spiritual darkness, when the gospel shines the light of truth upon it, the reaction should be a lot different; and not so accommodating and pleasing. Lastly,let it not be said of the clergy as in Micah 3: 11a: Her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 12, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

How Strong Would Your Faith Be?

There are many instances of Jesus performing miraculous healings, driving out demons and evil spirits, even raising the dead, but there are a few unforgettable instances in the New Testament gospels that are so incredible, that they required an especially rare and special gift of ‘grace’ to act on their personal belief in the healing power of Jesus.

Hebrews 11: 6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who [diligently] seek Him.

Matthew 15: 21-28
Jesus went out from there [Gennesaret] and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A woman of Canaan came from the region and came crying to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” He answered her not a word. The disciples wanted Jesus to send her away, but He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She came and worshipped Him, and said, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Mark 7: 32-35
And they brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they entreated Him to lay His hand upon him. And He [Jesus] took him aside from the multitude by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”

Mark 8: 22-23
And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him, and entreated Him [Jesus] to touch him. And taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting upon his eyes, and laying His hands upon him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?”

John 9: 1-3, 6-7
And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and [Jesus] said to him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated; “Sent”). And so he went away and washed and came back seeing.

The aforementioned are memorable examples of the kind of unselfish ‘faith’as well as total surrender which results in efficacious and lasting healing. When self [ego] and unbelief are removed, then God’s work results in miraculous cures. On the other side of the coin, hardness of heart can limit the bestowal of grace as recorded in Mark 6: 5-6: Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.

Finally, there are some who are in need of healing but their ‘faith’ is predicated upon intellectual rationalization or ethnocentric pride as in the case of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army who although was plagued with leprosy, thought in his own mind how he should have received healing (Cp. I Kings 5: 1-15).


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 12, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Was the Apostle John the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved?

According to Church tradition, and from Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting, the youthful and almost feminine-looking male on Jesus’ right side at the “Last Supper,” is identified as none other than John; the son of Zebedee and brother of James. This same John is credited with authoring the gospel of JOHN as well as the letters of I, II, III JOHN of the New Testament writings also. It is of course true that John, along with his brother James and Peter spent the most intimate and special times of healings with the Lord, and accompanied Jesus on the “Mountain of Transfiguration” and was present in those final, agonizing moments that the Lord Jesus Christ faced in the garden of Gethsemane; it still does not prove that he [John] was the ‘beloved’ disciple. There are however, scriptural references that portray John as anything but ‘loveable.’

Luke 9: 46-48
And an argument arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great.”

Luke 9: 49-50
And John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to hinder him because he does not follow along with us. “But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”

Mark 3: 16a, 17
And He appointed the twelve; . . . and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”).

Luke 9: 51-55
And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go toward Jerusalem; and he sent messengers on ahead of him. And they went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him. And they did not receive Him because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”]

Luke 22: 36-38
And He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one. “For I tell you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

NOTE: Although there no proof that John was one of those who had a sword, still it might not be much of a surprise if he did have one; considering that he was one of the “Sons of Thunder.” Not only that, but it seems that his brother James, coincidentally, was killed with the sword by King Herod (Cp. Acts 12: 1-2).

Luke 18: 15-16
And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Mark 10: 35-38a, 40-41
And James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Him, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us, whatever we ask of You.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him, “Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and one on Your left.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking for. . .” “But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John.


After Judas left to betray the Lord Jesus Christ (John 13: 21, 26-27), Jesus gave a “New Commandment” to the remaining apostles, which He repeated at least three times (Cp. John 13: 34; 15: 12, 17), and that was to, ‘love one another.’ All the disciples were flawed, damaged, petty, selfish, bickering among themselves, and John was no exception. Perhaps the only person who would qualify as someone whom Jesus loved would be the social friendship of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; of whom it is reported that Jesus loved Lazarus, most especially.

John 11: 1, 3, 5
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

John 11: 20-21, 32-36
Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him; but Mary still sat in the house. Martha therefore said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her, also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. And so the Jews were saying, “Behold, how He loved him!”

NOTE: The Scriptures don't give up too much more information on this special social relationship between Jesus and Lazarus' family.

So, the internal evidence does not suggest or point to the Apostle John as having an especially close relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ that would afford him such an honor. Of course, Jesus had no greater love than He would lay down His life for His friends, but that He singled out any particular one of His closest associates and disciples who demonstrated such a unique quality and 'spirit' to be cherished throughout generations as a "Beloved Disciple" is not in the Biblical record.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 12, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

The Deity of Jesus Christ

According to “Wikipedia,” the Emperor Constantine convened the First Council of Nicea in Bithynia, Turkey (325 A.D.) to help resolve the issue among the Bishops of the Christian Church over the Deity of Jesus Christ. What the controversy was about centered on the interpretation of two Greek words, ‘homoousian,’ and ‘homoiasian.’ The former word is translated “same,” and the latter, as “similar.” The Bishop of Alexandria and others favored the opinion that Jesus Christ was of “similar” substance as God the Father, but the Council ended with the unanimous consensus which adopted the theological and doctrinal use “same;” which has been the traditional teaching in the Western Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Churches ever since.

John 1: 1-3, 14
In the beginning was the “Word,” and the ’Word,’ was with God, and the ‘Word,’ was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. And the “Word” became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

1: 18
No one has seen God at any time (Cp. I John 4: 12a; Hebrews 3a). The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

6: 22
And they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

8: 42
Jesus said to them, “If God was your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

10: 32-33
Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a man, make Yourself God.”

14: 8-10
Phillip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known Me, Phillip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father (Cp. Colossians 1: 20; 2: 9); so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? . . . but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

17: 3
“And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, ‘the only true God,’ and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.”

Romans 8: 29
For whom He [God the Father], foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, the He [Jesus] might be the firstborn [from the dead] among many brethren (Cp. I Corinthians 15: 20, 23).

I Corinthians 15: 24-25, 27-28
[And] then comes the end; when He [Jesus] delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He [God the Father] puts an end to all rule and all authority and all power. For He [Jesus] must reign until He [God the Father] has put all enemies under His [Jesus] feet (Cp. Psalms 110: 1; Hebrews 1: 13). For “He [God the Father] has put all things under His [Jesus] feet;” But when He [God the Father] says “all things are put under Him [Jesus],” it is evident that He [God the Father] who put all things under Him [Jesus] is accepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him [God the Father], then the Son will also be subject to Him [God the Father] who put all things under Him [Jesus], that God [the Father] may be all in all.

Philippians 2: 5-8
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery [or better; a thing to be grasped or understood] to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Cp. John 10: 15, 17-18).

Colossians 1: 15-17, 18b, 19-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth (Cp. Genesis 1: 1-2) visible and invisible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him
(Cp. John 1: 1-3). And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence (Cp. I Corinthians 15: 20, 23; Revelations 1: 5-6)). For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness [of the “Godhead”] should dwell [bodily] (Cp. Colossians 2: 9).

I Timothy 6: 13, 15-16
I urge you in the sight of God [the Father] who gives life to all things
(Cp. Luke 20: 38), and before Christ Jesus, who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, Which He [God the Father] will manifest in His own time (Cp. Matthew 24: 36), He [God the Father] who is the blessed and only Potentate/Sovereign, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords (Cp. Revelations 19:
11, 13, 16??), who alone has immortality (Cp. John 5: 26??), dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

I Timothy 1: 17
Now to the King eternal, immortal (Cp. John 5: 26??), invisible, the only God
(Cp. John 1: 17; 16: 3-4; Jude 25), be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

In a latter passage (Cp. Philippians 2: 6), Jesus is mentioned as being “in the form of God,” which is significant. There is however persuasive philosophical argument that postulates how can a ‘Being’ who is by His very nature pure spiritual substance, ineffable, immortal, and transcendent, can become involved in “Matter;” as presented in Aristotle’s ‘Unmovable Mover.’

Malachi 3: 6a,
“For I, the Lord, do not change. . .”

Hebrews 13: 8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever (Cp. 1: 12).

‘Paul Younan’, a scholar in modern times has translated texts of the “Peshitta” an Aramaic version of the New Testament, which gives a little bit more clarity and consistency to difficult passages which the Greek to English editions may obscure. In the gospel of JOHN, an interesting Aramaic word is used for the Greek, “Logos" [Word], and that is the word “Miltha.” The translation can be ‘Word,’ in the normal use, but in a deeper and more spiritually and theologically significant way, two words come to mind; namely, “Manifestation” or “Substance.” Also, Andrew Gabriel Roth, Aramaic scholar and Netzari,("Nazarene")brings out a few other interesting points, that in Yeshuah Maschiah ("Jesus the Messiah")the divine Name is revealed.

This is further supported beginning back in Exodus 3: 14, where, "I AM THAT I AM" contains the Hebrew verb 'hayah'("to be"). Since Hebrew contains only consonants, one is left with YH; root of the unpronouncable, ineffable and sacred Name of God represented by the letters YHVH, or the "Tetragrammaton." In Psalms 68: 4, the Name of God as YaH is used, and it is where the word 'Hallelujah' is derived. A more exact rendering should be, "Allelu-YaH," or "praises to YaH." This same Name is also recorded in Isaiah 12: 2; 26: 4. Therefore, Y'sHuaH does reveal the sacred Name as the vowel "u" could easily be replaced with "v;" thus rendering Y'sHVaH. The angel in MATTHEW correctly named the holy Child because the Name 'Jesus' or rather,("Yeshuah") literally means, "God saves."

NOTE: The "V" is more symbolically correct but "U" is easier grammatically.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 1, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com