Today I received the following message from Andreea R., thank you! I think this is a good lesson for everyone, but especially for me!
An american christian author has published an "Autobiography in fife short chapters". We reproduce it:
Chapter 1
I walk on a street.
In the middle of the sidewalk there is a deep hole.
I fall into it.
It´s not my mistake.
It will take me long time to be able to get out there.
Chapter 2
I walk on the same street.
In the middle of the sidewalk there is a deep hole.
I do as if I didn´t see it.
I fall into it again.
I can´t believe that I am at the same place again, but it´s not my fault.
It will still take me a lot of time to get out there.
Chapter 3
I walk on the same street.
In the middle of the sidewalk there is a deep hole.
I see that it´s there.
Nevertheless, I fall into it...it has become a habit by the time.
My eyes are opened.
I know where I am.
It´s my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk on the same street.
In the middle of the sidewalk there is a deep hole.
I walk beside it.
Chapter 5
I walk on another street.
From the book "Between smile and sob" - Petru Lascau
December 2, 2008
October 3, 2008
Why Jesus is unique!
1. He is the only, unique Son of God (Psalm 2:7, 11-12; John 1:14; Luke 1:35).
2. He is eternal. He existed from eternity past, He exists in the present, and He will exist for all eternity in the future (John 1:1-3, 14; John 8:58).
3. Jesus alone is the One who bore our sins so that we could have forgiveness and be saved from them (Isaiah 53; Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3).
4. Jesus is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5); there is no other way to salvation. He is the only righteous One who exchanged that perfect righteousness for our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
5. Jesus alone had power over His own death and the ability to take back His life again (John 2:19; 10:17-18). Note: His resurrection was not a “spiritual” one, but was physical (Luke 24:39). His resurrection from the dead, never to die again, distinguished Him as the unique Son of God (Romans 1:4).
6. Jesus alone accepted worship as an equal with the Father (John 20:28-29; Philippians 2:6), and indeed God the Father states that the Son is to be honored as He is honored (John 5:23). All others, whether Jesus’ disciples or angelic beings, rightly reject that worship (Acts 10:25-26; Acts 14:14-15; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 19:10; 22:9).
7. Jesus has the power to give life to whom He wills (John 5:21).
8. The Father has committed all judgment to Jesus (John 5:22).
9. Jesus was with the Father and directly involved in the creation, and it is by His hand that all things are held together (John 1:1-3; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:8-10; Colossians 1:17).
10. It is Jesus who will rule the world at the end of this present age (Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:35, 44; Revelation 19:11-16).
11. Jesus alone was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-35).
12. It is Jesus who demonstrated that He had the attributes of God [e.g., the power to forgive sins and heal the sick (Matthew 9:1-7); to calm the wind and waves (Mark 4:37-41; Psalm 89:8-9); to know us, being perfectly acquainted with us (Psalm 139; John 1:46-50; 2:23-25), to raise the dead (John 11; Luke 7:12-15; 8:41-55), etc.]
13. There are a great number of prophecies concerning the Messiah’s birth, life, resurrection, person, and purpose. All were fulfilled by Him and no other (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Psalm 22; Zechariah 11:12-13; 13:7; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:10).
2. He is eternal. He existed from eternity past, He exists in the present, and He will exist for all eternity in the future (John 1:1-3, 14; John 8:58).
3. Jesus alone is the One who bore our sins so that we could have forgiveness and be saved from them (Isaiah 53; Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3).
4. Jesus is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5); there is no other way to salvation. He is the only righteous One who exchanged that perfect righteousness for our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
5. Jesus alone had power over His own death and the ability to take back His life again (John 2:19; 10:17-18). Note: His resurrection was not a “spiritual” one, but was physical (Luke 24:39). His resurrection from the dead, never to die again, distinguished Him as the unique Son of God (Romans 1:4).
6. Jesus alone accepted worship as an equal with the Father (John 20:28-29; Philippians 2:6), and indeed God the Father states that the Son is to be honored as He is honored (John 5:23). All others, whether Jesus’ disciples or angelic beings, rightly reject that worship (Acts 10:25-26; Acts 14:14-15; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 19:10; 22:9).
7. Jesus has the power to give life to whom He wills (John 5:21).
8. The Father has committed all judgment to Jesus (John 5:22).
9. Jesus was with the Father and directly involved in the creation, and it is by His hand that all things are held together (John 1:1-3; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:8-10; Colossians 1:17).
10. It is Jesus who will rule the world at the end of this present age (Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:35, 44; Revelation 19:11-16).
11. Jesus alone was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-35).
12. It is Jesus who demonstrated that He had the attributes of God [e.g., the power to forgive sins and heal the sick (Matthew 9:1-7); to calm the wind and waves (Mark 4:37-41; Psalm 89:8-9); to know us, being perfectly acquainted with us (Psalm 139; John 1:46-50; 2:23-25), to raise the dead (John 11; Luke 7:12-15; 8:41-55), etc.]
13. There are a great number of prophecies concerning the Messiah’s birth, life, resurrection, person, and purpose. All were fulfilled by Him and no other (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Psalm 22; Zechariah 11:12-13; 13:7; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:10).
June 11, 2008
Prayer
What does the Bible tell us about prayer? When do we have to pray, how often, in which position, what is the purpose of praying, etc. ?
What does PRAYER mean?
- a child addressing his father (Rom. 8:15)
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
- the prayer of a child who listens to his father (Acts 9:6)
"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
- a child who wants to be always with his father (1 Chr. 4:10)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
- a child who asks his father for something (1 Kings 8:35-36)
"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
- a child who awaits in silence his father’s answer (Ps. 10:17)
"You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, "
Conditions for praying, so that God will listen to the prayer:
- Faith (Heb. 11:6)
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
- Without cease (Acts 12:5, James 5:17)
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.”
- Decision (Matt. 7:11)
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
- Belief (Mark 11:24)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
- Submission (1 John 5:14-15)
”This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
- Through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:18)
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
- When you don’t permit yourself to sin (Isa. 59:1-2)
“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
- When you forgive everyone who hurt you (Matt. 5:22-24)
“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
- Good family relationship (1 Pet. 3:7)
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
- It shouldn’t be egoistic (James 4:3)
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
- To remain in His Word (John 15:7)
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
Ways of prayer:
- Adoration (1 Chr. 29:11, Ps. 145:1-6)
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”
“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.”
- Confession (Ps. 32:5, 1 John 1:9)
”Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"— and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
- Thanking (Eph. 5:20)
„always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Asking (Matt.7:7-8)
”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
- Intercession (1 Tim. 2:1)
” I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone”
Position during prayer:
- Standing (Gen. 24:12-14, Mar. 11:25)
”Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." ”
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
- Lifting up your hands (1 Kings 8:22, Ps. 134:2, 1 Tim. 2:8)
”Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven”
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.”
” I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
- On your knees (Dan. 6:10, Mar. 1:40, Acts 20:36)
”Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." “
“When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.”
- With your face on the ground (Mat. 26:39)
”Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." “
Intensity and volume of prayer:
- In silence (Gen. 24:12-14)
”Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." ”
- Moving your lips (1 Sam. 1:12-13)
”As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk“
- Weeping (1 Sam. 1:10)
”In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.”
- With a loud voice (Eze. 11:13)
”Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?" “
- With loud cries and tears (Heb. 5:7)
”During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Modalities of prayer:
- Personal prayer (Matt. 6:6)
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
- Prayer in congregation (Acts 1:14)
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
Time of prayer:
- Continually! (1 Thes. 5:17)
”pray continually;“
Place of prayer:
- House of God (1 Sam. 1:9-10)
“Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.”
- Garden (Matt. 26:36)
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." ”
- Field (Matt. 14:19)
“And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”
- Mountain (John 4:20, Matt. 14:23)
“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,“
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." John 4:21-26)
June 4, 2008
BIBLE - Contradictions...?
Have you ever been confronted with the claim that there are contradictions in the Bible? I have been confronted with this quite a few times. Here is an explanation for one so-called "contradiction" out of the many claims that the Bible has errors or contradiction within it. Read and judge yourself if this is a contradiction or not!
Matthew records Jesus saying that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come, while John seems to record John the Baptist denying it. The reason for this apparent inconsistency is a lack of contextualization by readers.
The priests and Levites came to John the Baptist and asked him if he was Elijah. Quite a funny question to ask someone, unless you know the Jewish Scriptures. For God says through the prophet Malachi that He will send Elijah to the people of Israel before a certain time. Therefore as the Jewish people were expecting Elijah, the question is quite logical.
John was about 30 years when he was asked this question. His parents were already dead; he was the only son of Zechariah from the tribe of Levi. So when asked if he was Elijah who ascended up into heaven about 878 years earlier, the answer was obviously "No, I am not Elijah."
Jesus also testifies, albeit indirectly, to John not being Elijah in Matthew 11:11 where he says that John is greater than all people who have ever been born. Moses was greater than Elijah, but John was greater than them both.
So what did Jesus mean when he says of John "he is the Elijah who was to come"? The angel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic) speaks to Zechariah of his son, John, who was not yet born, saying "he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17)
The Angel refers to two prophecies, Isaiah 40:3-5 (see Luke 3:4-6 to see this applied again to John the Baptist) and Malachi 4:5-6 mentioned above, which says "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers". Gabriel unmistakably says that John is the "Elijah" whom God foretold through Malachi the prophet.
So, was John Elijah? No. But had the priests and Levites asked him, "Are you the one the prophet Malachi speaks of as 'Elijah'?" John would have responded affirmatively.
Jesus in Matthew 17:11-13 says that the prophecy of Malachi is true, but Elijah had already come. He says that this "Elijah" suffered, like he, Jesus will suffer; "the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist". Therefore, once we understand the context it is clear; John was not the literal Elijah, but he was the Elijah that the prophecy spoke of, the one who was to (and did) prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world", John 1:29.
Source: http://debate.org.uk/topics/apolog/contrads.htm
If you don't have a Bible to look up the Bible passages mentioned below, then go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/
- John the Baptist was (Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13) or was not Elijah to come (John 1:19-21)?
Matthew records Jesus saying that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come, while John seems to record John the Baptist denying it. The reason for this apparent inconsistency is a lack of contextualization by readers.
The priests and Levites came to John the Baptist and asked him if he was Elijah. Quite a funny question to ask someone, unless you know the Jewish Scriptures. For God says through the prophet Malachi that He will send Elijah to the people of Israel before a certain time. Therefore as the Jewish people were expecting Elijah, the question is quite logical.
John was about 30 years when he was asked this question. His parents were already dead; he was the only son of Zechariah from the tribe of Levi. So when asked if he was Elijah who ascended up into heaven about 878 years earlier, the answer was obviously "No, I am not Elijah."
Jesus also testifies, albeit indirectly, to John not being Elijah in Matthew 11:11 where he says that John is greater than all people who have ever been born. Moses was greater than Elijah, but John was greater than them both.
So what did Jesus mean when he says of John "he is the Elijah who was to come"? The angel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic) speaks to Zechariah of his son, John, who was not yet born, saying "he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17)
The Angel refers to two prophecies, Isaiah 40:3-5 (see Luke 3:4-6 to see this applied again to John the Baptist) and Malachi 4:5-6 mentioned above, which says "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers". Gabriel unmistakably says that John is the "Elijah" whom God foretold through Malachi the prophet.
So, was John Elijah? No. But had the priests and Levites asked him, "Are you the one the prophet Malachi speaks of as 'Elijah'?" John would have responded affirmatively.
Jesus in Matthew 17:11-13 says that the prophecy of Malachi is true, but Elijah had already come. He says that this "Elijah" suffered, like he, Jesus will suffer; "the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist". Therefore, once we understand the context it is clear; John was not the literal Elijah, but he was the Elijah that the prophecy spoke of, the one who was to (and did) prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world", John 1:29.
Source: http://debate.org.uk/topics/apolog/contrads.htm
May 26, 2008
Blessed are...
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:3-12
May 4, 2008
Samson and Delilah
(RT == Readers' Theater: requires little or no memorization,little or no rehearsal. An indefinite number of reporters aresalted throughout the audience.)
SAMSON -- (enters wearing tunic and sandals, eyes blackened,feels his way to the podium with a long stick) My name is Samson, son of Manoah, I am the judge of Israel appointed by the God ofIsrael. They told me in the jail (points with thumb) that you are newspaper reporters and that you wanted to ask me somequestions.
REPORTER -- You're not at all what I expected.
REPORTER -- Me either.
SAMSON -- I'm sorry, what were you expecting?
REPORTER -- First of all, what happened to your hair?! According to legend, your hair has never been cut since you were born.
SAMSON -- That was true until recently. When I was born, my parents took the Nazirite vow on my behalf and then when I was old enough I took the Nazirite vow on my own behalf. One of the,requirements of Nazirites is that we never cut our hair. Another,requirement is that we never drink wine or fermented beverages.
REPORTER -- So, who cut your hair?
SAMSON -- A woman named Delilah shaved my head one night while I,was sleeping. As You can see, my hair has begun to grow out,again since I've been in jail.
REPORTER -- Why were you in jail?
SAMSON -- As many of you know, I have been fighting the,Philistines for many years. But because of my great strength, I,always escaped capture in the past.
REPORTER -- You'll pardon me for saying so, but you don't look,like a particularly muscular person.
SAMSON -- I'm not. My strength came from the Lord.
REPORTER -- But you lost your strength?
SAMSON -- That's right.
REPORTER -- Can you tell us HOW you lost your strength?
SAMSON -- Well, I'd like to tell you that my strength was,somehow related to the length of my hair, because I always,boasted about my Nazirite vow whenever possible. But I must tell,you frankly that I'm quite sure I lost my strength when I,defiled my body by sleeping with that woman Delilah who was notmy wife.
REPORTER -- I have a long list of atrocities you've committed,but quite frankly, fornicating with a woman does not seem to be,very high on the list. Why would God remove your strength for,something as common as fornication?
SAMSON -- Our God, the God of Israel uses the marriage,relationship as a model of intimacy and devotion between God and,his people. When I slept with a woman I was not married to, I,cheapen my people's view of that relationship. God could not,allow me to get away with denigrating his most sacred,relationship.
REPORTER -- Is it true that you once killed a lion with your,bare hands?
SAMSON -- That's true. I not only killed it, I tore it limb from, limb.
REPORTER -- Why would you be so brutal?
SAMSON -- Back then, I took my job as judge of Israel more, seriously. When that lion attacked be, he attacked God's, annointed leader among men. I couldn't let him get away with that.
REPORTER -- Is it true that you once started a brush fire that burned out almost all of Philistia?
SAMSON -- That's true.
REPORTER -- How did one man burned down an entire country?
SAMSON -- I captured 300 foxes and tied them in pairs by their tails, then I tied each pair to a lighted torch and set them all free. It was the foxes trying to escape each other and the fire that spread the fire far and wide.
REPORTER -- Why would you do such a thing?!
SAMSON-- Once again, it was because of the marriage vow. I took a Philistine woman to be my wife. But a few of the Philistines who opposed me tried to get even with me by defiling her. I could not allow the Philistines to cheapen the marriage relationship.
REPORTER -- But the Philistines are gentiles. They don't cherish the marriage relationship the way you Jews do. Did they seek revenge?
SAMSON -- Of course. And, using the strength that God gave me, I killed all the Philistines who came after me.
REPORTER -- How many was that?
SAMSON -- Over a thousand.
REPORTER -- You killed a thousand men single handedly?
SAMSON -- If you ignore the power of God, I suppose you could call it single-handedly.
REPORTER -- There is a legend that you didn't use a sword inthis battle.
SAMSON -- That's right. At that point I didn't have a sword.
REPORTER -- What weapon did you use?
SAMSON -- I found the jawbone of a decomposing donkey and I used that as a weapon.
REPORTER -- To kill a thousand men?!
SAMSON -- With the Lord on my side, it could have been a toothpick. As I look back on that battle, I see now that if I had used a sword, I would have been declared as some kind of war hero, skilled in battle. But I'm no war hero. Everything I have comes from the Lord.
REPORTER -- Is it true that you once tore the gates off the city walls of Gaza and carried them all the way to Hebron?
SAMSON -- That's true. But I would rather forget that incident.
REPORTER -- Why would you steal the city gates?
SAMSON -- To taunt the Philistines. They had surrounded the city and were going to attack me at dawn. But I escaped at night and took the city gates with me just to embarrass them. Looking back, it would have been better if I had been punished.
REPORTER -- But why?
SAMSON -- Because again I was sleeping with a woman who was not my wife. I tarnished God's most sacred relationship. I deserved to be punished.
REPORTER -- Speaking of punishment, was it the Philistines who blinded you?
SAMSON -- Yes. After they captured me at Delilah's house, they gouged out my eyes.
REPORTER -- Is there any connection between your capture and the big celebration today at the Philistine temple?
SAMSON -- Yes. That assembly is to celebrate my capture. They intend to parade me around the crowd and show them how harmless I've become.
REPORTER -- Have you learned your lesson yet?
SAMSON -- Yes. Yes, I have. I have confessed my sins to God and apologized to him for my rebellion.
REPORTER -- What will happen to you after the celebration at the Philistine temple?
SAMSON -- There won't be any AFTER.
REPORTER -- What do you mean?
SAMSON -- I'm sorry, I can't be very specific about what willhappen there, except to tell you that I'll bring the house down. (exits)
©2006 Bob Snook.
Conditions for use:
Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it.
Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances.
You may reproduce and distribute this script freely,but all copies must contain this copyright statement.
http://www.fea.net/bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net
SAMSON -- (enters wearing tunic and sandals, eyes blackened,feels his way to the podium with a long stick) My name is Samson, son of Manoah, I am the judge of Israel appointed by the God ofIsrael. They told me in the jail (points with thumb) that you are newspaper reporters and that you wanted to ask me somequestions.
REPORTER -- You're not at all what I expected.
REPORTER -- Me either.
SAMSON -- I'm sorry, what were you expecting?
REPORTER -- First of all, what happened to your hair?! According to legend, your hair has never been cut since you were born.
SAMSON -- That was true until recently. When I was born, my parents took the Nazirite vow on my behalf and then when I was old enough I took the Nazirite vow on my own behalf. One of the,requirements of Nazirites is that we never cut our hair. Another,requirement is that we never drink wine or fermented beverages.
REPORTER -- So, who cut your hair?
SAMSON -- A woman named Delilah shaved my head one night while I,was sleeping. As You can see, my hair has begun to grow out,again since I've been in jail.
REPORTER -- Why were you in jail?
SAMSON -- As many of you know, I have been fighting the,Philistines for many years. But because of my great strength, I,always escaped capture in the past.
REPORTER -- You'll pardon me for saying so, but you don't look,like a particularly muscular person.
SAMSON -- I'm not. My strength came from the Lord.
REPORTER -- But you lost your strength?
SAMSON -- That's right.
REPORTER -- Can you tell us HOW you lost your strength?
SAMSON -- Well, I'd like to tell you that my strength was,somehow related to the length of my hair, because I always,boasted about my Nazirite vow whenever possible. But I must tell,you frankly that I'm quite sure I lost my strength when I,defiled my body by sleeping with that woman Delilah who was notmy wife.
REPORTER -- I have a long list of atrocities you've committed,but quite frankly, fornicating with a woman does not seem to be,very high on the list. Why would God remove your strength for,something as common as fornication?
SAMSON -- Our God, the God of Israel uses the marriage,relationship as a model of intimacy and devotion between God and,his people. When I slept with a woman I was not married to, I,cheapen my people's view of that relationship. God could not,allow me to get away with denigrating his most sacred,relationship.
REPORTER -- Is it true that you once killed a lion with your,bare hands?
SAMSON -- That's true. I not only killed it, I tore it limb from, limb.
REPORTER -- Why would you be so brutal?
SAMSON -- Back then, I took my job as judge of Israel more, seriously. When that lion attacked be, he attacked God's, annointed leader among men. I couldn't let him get away with that.
REPORTER -- Is it true that you once started a brush fire that burned out almost all of Philistia?
SAMSON -- That's true.
REPORTER -- How did one man burned down an entire country?
SAMSON -- I captured 300 foxes and tied them in pairs by their tails, then I tied each pair to a lighted torch and set them all free. It was the foxes trying to escape each other and the fire that spread the fire far and wide.
REPORTER -- Why would you do such a thing?!
SAMSON-- Once again, it was because of the marriage vow. I took a Philistine woman to be my wife. But a few of the Philistines who opposed me tried to get even with me by defiling her. I could not allow the Philistines to cheapen the marriage relationship.
REPORTER -- But the Philistines are gentiles. They don't cherish the marriage relationship the way you Jews do. Did they seek revenge?
SAMSON -- Of course. And, using the strength that God gave me, I killed all the Philistines who came after me.
REPORTER -- How many was that?
SAMSON -- Over a thousand.
REPORTER -- You killed a thousand men single handedly?
SAMSON -- If you ignore the power of God, I suppose you could call it single-handedly.
REPORTER -- There is a legend that you didn't use a sword inthis battle.
SAMSON -- That's right. At that point I didn't have a sword.
REPORTER -- What weapon did you use?
SAMSON -- I found the jawbone of a decomposing donkey and I used that as a weapon.
REPORTER -- To kill a thousand men?!
SAMSON -- With the Lord on my side, it could have been a toothpick. As I look back on that battle, I see now that if I had used a sword, I would have been declared as some kind of war hero, skilled in battle. But I'm no war hero. Everything I have comes from the Lord.
REPORTER -- Is it true that you once tore the gates off the city walls of Gaza and carried them all the way to Hebron?
SAMSON -- That's true. But I would rather forget that incident.
REPORTER -- Why would you steal the city gates?
SAMSON -- To taunt the Philistines. They had surrounded the city and were going to attack me at dawn. But I escaped at night and took the city gates with me just to embarrass them. Looking back, it would have been better if I had been punished.
REPORTER -- But why?
SAMSON -- Because again I was sleeping with a woman who was not my wife. I tarnished God's most sacred relationship. I deserved to be punished.
REPORTER -- Speaking of punishment, was it the Philistines who blinded you?
SAMSON -- Yes. After they captured me at Delilah's house, they gouged out my eyes.
REPORTER -- Is there any connection between your capture and the big celebration today at the Philistine temple?
SAMSON -- Yes. That assembly is to celebrate my capture. They intend to parade me around the crowd and show them how harmless I've become.
REPORTER -- Have you learned your lesson yet?
SAMSON -- Yes. Yes, I have. I have confessed my sins to God and apologized to him for my rebellion.
REPORTER -- What will happen to you after the celebration at the Philistine temple?
SAMSON -- There won't be any AFTER.
REPORTER -- What do you mean?
SAMSON -- I'm sorry, I can't be very specific about what willhappen there, except to tell you that I'll bring the house down. (exits)
©2006 Bob Snook.
Conditions for use:
Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it.
Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances.
You may reproduce and distribute this script freely,but all copies must contain this copyright statement.
http://www.fea.net/bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net
March 8, 2008
The Crucifixion of Jesus - Fact or Fiction?
One of the main controversies between Christians and the Moslems is the authenticity of the crucifixion of Christ. Since the crucifixion is a main doctrine of the church as a whole, I would like to invite you the reader to survey with me the following testimonies.
1. The Testimony of History
Cornelius Tacitus (55 A.D.) a heathen historian, who is considered to be one of the greatest historians of ancient Rome, recorded Christ’s crucifixion in detail as seen in his annals contained in 18 volumes.
Josephus (37-97 A.D.) A Jewish historian who wrote the history of his people in 20 volumes recorded the account of the life of Christ, His teaching, His miracles, and the detailed account of His crucifixion, which was ordered by Pontius Pilate. He mentioned also that Christ appeared to the disciples alive on the third day.
Lucian, the Greek, an outstanding Greek historian, wrote on the crucifixion of Christ and of the Christians who were willing to die for their faith in the Christ.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor sent to Tiberius Caesar a full report of the crucifixion of Christ. This report was one of the documents with which Tertullian, a Christian scholar, supported his famous defense of the Christians.
2. The Testimony of the Talmud
The Talmud is a holy book for the Jews. A copy published in Amsterdam in 1943 states the following information: “Jesus was crucified on the eve of the Passover.’ This information is found on page 42.
3. The Testimony of the Old Testament Prophecies
There are over forty-seven prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the death of Christ on the cross, all of which were literally fulfilled.
Some of these is Isa 53: 3-12. Other prophecies fulfilled are found in the following passages:
Prophecy - Fulfillment
Sold with 30 pieces of sliver - Zack. 11:12 - Matt. 26: 15
Hated without a cause - Psa. 35:19 - John 15: 25
His disciples left Him and ran away - Zack. 13:7 - Matt. 16: 31-56
His pierced hands and feet - Psa. 22:16 - Luke 23: 33
Casting lots for His garments - Psa. 22:18 - John 19: 23-24
His serve thirst - Psa. 22: 15 - John 19: 26
Given vinegar in His thirst - Psa. 59: 21 - Matt. 27: 34
His acquaintances forsook Him - Psa. 31: 11 - Matt. 14: 48-50
Piercing of His side - Zech. 12: 10 - John 19: 34-37
He bore the sin of many - Isa. 53: 12 - Heb. 9: 28
Intercession for His enemies - Isa. 53: 12 - Mark 15: 28
Not one of His bones was broken - Ex. 12: 46, Psa. 34: 20 - John 19: 33-36
4. The Testimony of Christ Himself
The death of Christ on the cross plays the most important and climactic role in His life. For this reason the writers of the Gospels gave considerable attention to this matter. In fact, more so than any other part of His ministry. Before His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus spoke on many occasions about His death on the cross and His resurrection. For He said, ‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death.” (Matt.20: 18). “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day”. (Matt. 16:2).
For more detail please read these verses: Matt. 17: 22; Mark 8: 31; 9: 31; 10: 32b-34; Luke 9: 22; 18: 31-33; John 3: 14-17; 10: 11; 12: 32-33.
5. The Testimony of the Gospel
One half of the Gospel of John and one third of the Gospel of Mark, Matthew, and Luke are designated to the crucifixion of Christ.
6. The Testimony of John the Baptist
The message of John the Baptist was: “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1: 29)
For up until then there had been many lambs, but now there is just one lamb – “the Lamb”.
Up until then there had been many lambs chosen by men, but now there is one lamb sent by God “Behold the Lamb of God”.
Up until then there had been lambs that covered sin, now this lamb “takes away sin”.
Up until then we had many lambs for the nation of Israel, now we have one lamb for the whole “world”.
In Genesis chapter four we read about one lamb for one person. In Exodus chapter twelve we read about one lamb for the whole family. In Leviticus we read about one lamb for the whole nation, but now Christ, the Lamb of God, for the sin of the whole world.
7. The Testimony of Moses
In Deut. 18: 15 Moses spoke about Christ and this prophecy was fulfilled in Acts 3: 22
8. The Testimony of the Nicea Creed
In the year 325AD a group of Christian bishops gathered in the city of Nicea from all over Christendom and pinned down the Christian creed, which summarizes the doctrine of the church. The purpose of this creed was to guard against the heretics, which arose in the Christian church, in the creed they mentioned that Jesus was crucified during the time of Pontius Pilate.
9. The Testimony of the Symbol and Sign of the Cross
The cross-had been the emblem of the Christian church since its inception. They have raised it on the sleepless of their churches and engraved it on their tombs. Their kings wore it on the top front of their crown to remind them of the greatest love of God in the redemption of mankind. Such a symbol is also etched in a great number on the walls of the catacombs in Rome.
10. The Testimony of the Words of Christ on the Cross
No one else but the Lord Jesus would have uttered the words from the cross. For who can say “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23: 34)
11. The Testimony of Joseph of Arimathea
When Joseph of Arimathea asked Pontius Pilate for the body of Jesus, his request was granted (Mark 15: 42-46), and if the body, which Joseph took from the cross, was not the body of Christ, surely Joseph would have known.
12. The Testimony of Judas Iscariot
The theory, which states that Judas was crucified in the place of Jesus, could not be true for the following reasons:
1. This will make God a deceiver.
2. The prophecy of taking the 30 pieces of silver from the chief priest would not have been fulfilled (Zech. 11: 12 and Matt. 26: 15).
3. The prophecy of taking the money and buying the potter’s field would not have been fulfilled. (Zech 11: 13 and Matt 27: 7).
4. Judas would have protested by saying I am not Jesus.
13. The Testimony of the Jews
The Jews asked Pilate to seal the tomb not for fear that Christ might come out, but they were afraid that His disciples might come and steal his body and say that He had risen.
14. The Testimony of the Lord’s Supper
“The Lord Jesus the same night He was betrayed took bread and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said. Take eat this is my body which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me… Foras oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup. Ye do shew forth the Lord’s death until He comes” (1Cor. 11: 25b-26).
Throughout history, Christians all over the world gather together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a reminder of God’s most wonderful act of love—that Jesus Christ shed His own blood as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of all mankind.
15. The Testimony of the Apostles’ Teaching
The teachings of the apostles were rooted in their firm belief in the death of Christ on the cross and in His resurrection. There will not be enough room to enumerate the apostles’ teaching in the epistles about Christ’s death and resurrection. Peter in his sermon on the day of Pentecost said to the Jews: ‘Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know; Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” (Acts 2: 22-23).
16. The Testimony of the Believers
Baptism When the believer is baptized he is testifying that he died with Christ, was buried and rose again into the newness of life. (Rom. 6: 3-6)
17. The Testimony of the Animal Sacrifices of the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, on the Day of Atonement. Sacrifices were required as redemption for the soul (Lev 17: 11). Jews, Christians, and Moslems have the doctrine of the atonement. The Jews celebrate the Passover, the Christians celebrate the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and the Moslems celebrate the Al-Adha. Christ, the Lamb of God became the ultimate sacrifice who gave meaning to all these sacrifices. If these sacrifices are not only the shadow of the real sacrifice, which Christ offered at the cross – then they are rendered meaningless.
18. The Testimony of the Death of the Apostles
It is a well-known fact that all the apostles of Jesus, except for John, died as martyrs because of their faith in the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection.
The question is asked: “Could all these evidences be wrong and the Quran alone be right?”
May God help you in making the right decision.
‘Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you… that Christ died for our sin according to the scriptures.” (Acts 3: 13-15).
“Being justified freely by his grace though the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 3: 24)
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5: 6-8)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10: 9).
“ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1Cor. 1: 18)
“For I determined not to know anything about you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1Cor. 21: 1-2).
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." (1Cor. 5: 7)
For more information please read the following verses: Acts 2: 36; 3: 13-15; 4: 10; Rom. 1: 4; 3:24; 4: 24-25; 5: 8; 6:3-4; 6:10; 10:9; 1Cor. 1:18, 23; 2:2; 5:7; 6:14; 11:26; 15:3-4, 17, 20; 2Cor. 4:10-14; 13:4; Gal. 2:20; 4:4; 6:14; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; 5:2; Col. 1:18, 20; 2:12, 14; 3:1; Phil. 2:6-8; 3:18; 1Thess. 1:10; 4:14; 5:10; 1Thim. 2:6; 2Tim. 2:11, 18; Heb. 2:9, 14-15; 5:8; 9:12, 14; 10:10, 14; 12:2; 13:12; 13: 20; 1Peter 1:3; 1:11, 18-19; 2:21-24; 3:18; 4:1; 5:1; 1John 1:7; 3:16; 4:10; Rev. 1:5-7; 5:9, 11
(Bold, italic and highlight color are my emphasis.)
1. The Testimony of History
Cornelius Tacitus (55 A.D.) a heathen historian, who is considered to be one of the greatest historians of ancient Rome, recorded Christ’s crucifixion in detail as seen in his annals contained in 18 volumes.
Josephus (37-97 A.D.) A Jewish historian who wrote the history of his people in 20 volumes recorded the account of the life of Christ, His teaching, His miracles, and the detailed account of His crucifixion, which was ordered by Pontius Pilate. He mentioned also that Christ appeared to the disciples alive on the third day.
Lucian, the Greek, an outstanding Greek historian, wrote on the crucifixion of Christ and of the Christians who were willing to die for their faith in the Christ.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor sent to Tiberius Caesar a full report of the crucifixion of Christ. This report was one of the documents with which Tertullian, a Christian scholar, supported his famous defense of the Christians.
2. The Testimony of the Talmud
The Talmud is a holy book for the Jews. A copy published in Amsterdam in 1943 states the following information: “Jesus was crucified on the eve of the Passover.’ This information is found on page 42.
3. The Testimony of the Old Testament Prophecies
There are over forty-seven prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the death of Christ on the cross, all of which were literally fulfilled.
Some of these is Isa 53: 3-12. Other prophecies fulfilled are found in the following passages:
Prophecy - Fulfillment
Sold with 30 pieces of sliver - Zack. 11:12 - Matt. 26: 15
Hated without a cause - Psa. 35:19 - John 15: 25
His disciples left Him and ran away - Zack. 13:7 - Matt. 16: 31-56
His pierced hands and feet - Psa. 22:16 - Luke 23: 33
Casting lots for His garments - Psa. 22:18 - John 19: 23-24
His serve thirst - Psa. 22: 15 - John 19: 26
Given vinegar in His thirst - Psa. 59: 21 - Matt. 27: 34
His acquaintances forsook Him - Psa. 31: 11 - Matt. 14: 48-50
Piercing of His side - Zech. 12: 10 - John 19: 34-37
He bore the sin of many - Isa. 53: 12 - Heb. 9: 28
Intercession for His enemies - Isa. 53: 12 - Mark 15: 28
Not one of His bones was broken - Ex. 12: 46, Psa. 34: 20 - John 19: 33-36
4. The Testimony of Christ Himself
The death of Christ on the cross plays the most important and climactic role in His life. For this reason the writers of the Gospels gave considerable attention to this matter. In fact, more so than any other part of His ministry. Before His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus spoke on many occasions about His death on the cross and His resurrection. For He said, ‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death.” (Matt.20: 18). “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day”. (Matt. 16:2).
For more detail please read these verses: Matt. 17: 22; Mark 8: 31; 9: 31; 10: 32b-34; Luke 9: 22; 18: 31-33; John 3: 14-17; 10: 11; 12: 32-33.
5. The Testimony of the Gospel
One half of the Gospel of John and one third of the Gospel of Mark, Matthew, and Luke are designated to the crucifixion of Christ.
6. The Testimony of John the Baptist
The message of John the Baptist was: “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1: 29)
For up until then there had been many lambs, but now there is just one lamb – “the Lamb”.
Up until then there had been many lambs chosen by men, but now there is one lamb sent by God “Behold the Lamb of God”.
Up until then there had been lambs that covered sin, now this lamb “takes away sin”.
Up until then we had many lambs for the nation of Israel, now we have one lamb for the whole “world”.
In Genesis chapter four we read about one lamb for one person. In Exodus chapter twelve we read about one lamb for the whole family. In Leviticus we read about one lamb for the whole nation, but now Christ, the Lamb of God, for the sin of the whole world.
7. The Testimony of Moses
In Deut. 18: 15 Moses spoke about Christ and this prophecy was fulfilled in Acts 3: 22
8. The Testimony of the Nicea Creed
In the year 325AD a group of Christian bishops gathered in the city of Nicea from all over Christendom and pinned down the Christian creed, which summarizes the doctrine of the church. The purpose of this creed was to guard against the heretics, which arose in the Christian church, in the creed they mentioned that Jesus was crucified during the time of Pontius Pilate.
9. The Testimony of the Symbol and Sign of the Cross
The cross-had been the emblem of the Christian church since its inception. They have raised it on the sleepless of their churches and engraved it on their tombs. Their kings wore it on the top front of their crown to remind them of the greatest love of God in the redemption of mankind. Such a symbol is also etched in a great number on the walls of the catacombs in Rome.
10. The Testimony of the Words of Christ on the Cross
No one else but the Lord Jesus would have uttered the words from the cross. For who can say “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23: 34)
11. The Testimony of Joseph of Arimathea
When Joseph of Arimathea asked Pontius Pilate for the body of Jesus, his request was granted (Mark 15: 42-46), and if the body, which Joseph took from the cross, was not the body of Christ, surely Joseph would have known.
12. The Testimony of Judas Iscariot
The theory, which states that Judas was crucified in the place of Jesus, could not be true for the following reasons:
1. This will make God a deceiver.
2. The prophecy of taking the 30 pieces of silver from the chief priest would not have been fulfilled (Zech. 11: 12 and Matt. 26: 15).
3. The prophecy of taking the money and buying the potter’s field would not have been fulfilled. (Zech 11: 13 and Matt 27: 7).
4. Judas would have protested by saying I am not Jesus.
13. The Testimony of the Jews
The Jews asked Pilate to seal the tomb not for fear that Christ might come out, but they were afraid that His disciples might come and steal his body and say that He had risen.
14. The Testimony of the Lord’s Supper
“The Lord Jesus the same night He was betrayed took bread and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said. Take eat this is my body which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me… Foras oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup. Ye do shew forth the Lord’s death until He comes” (1Cor. 11: 25b-26).
Throughout history, Christians all over the world gather together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a reminder of God’s most wonderful act of love—that Jesus Christ shed His own blood as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of all mankind.
15. The Testimony of the Apostles’ Teaching
The teachings of the apostles were rooted in their firm belief in the death of Christ on the cross and in His resurrection. There will not be enough room to enumerate the apostles’ teaching in the epistles about Christ’s death and resurrection. Peter in his sermon on the day of Pentecost said to the Jews: ‘Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know; Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” (Acts 2: 22-23).
16. The Testimony of the Believers
Baptism When the believer is baptized he is testifying that he died with Christ, was buried and rose again into the newness of life. (Rom. 6: 3-6)
17. The Testimony of the Animal Sacrifices of the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, on the Day of Atonement. Sacrifices were required as redemption for the soul (Lev 17: 11). Jews, Christians, and Moslems have the doctrine of the atonement. The Jews celebrate the Passover, the Christians celebrate the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and the Moslems celebrate the Al-Adha. Christ, the Lamb of God became the ultimate sacrifice who gave meaning to all these sacrifices. If these sacrifices are not only the shadow of the real sacrifice, which Christ offered at the cross – then they are rendered meaningless.
18. The Testimony of the Death of the Apostles
It is a well-known fact that all the apostles of Jesus, except for John, died as martyrs because of their faith in the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection.
The question is asked: “Could all these evidences be wrong and the Quran alone be right?”
May God help you in making the right decision.
‘Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you… that Christ died for our sin according to the scriptures.” (Acts 3: 13-15).
“Being justified freely by his grace though the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 3: 24)
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5: 6-8)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10: 9).
“ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1Cor. 1: 18)
“For I determined not to know anything about you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1Cor. 21: 1-2).
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." (1Cor. 5: 7)
For more information please read the following verses: Acts 2: 36; 3: 13-15; 4: 10; Rom. 1: 4; 3:24; 4: 24-25; 5: 8; 6:3-4; 6:10; 10:9; 1Cor. 1:18, 23; 2:2; 5:7; 6:14; 11:26; 15:3-4, 17, 20; 2Cor. 4:10-14; 13:4; Gal. 2:20; 4:4; 6:14; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; 5:2; Col. 1:18, 20; 2:12, 14; 3:1; Phil. 2:6-8; 3:18; 1Thess. 1:10; 4:14; 5:10; 1Thim. 2:6; 2Tim. 2:11, 18; Heb. 2:9, 14-15; 5:8; 9:12, 14; 10:10, 14; 12:2; 13:12; 13: 20; 1Peter 1:3; 1:11, 18-19; 2:21-24; 3:18; 4:1; 5:1; 1John 1:7; 3:16; 4:10; Rev. 1:5-7; 5:9, 11
(Bold, italic and highlight color are my emphasis.)
February 14, 2008
Computer Psalm (Ps.23)
The Lord is my Operating System, I shall not hang. He makes me to boot normally without errors. He loads my routing table with cool links; he restored my path. He routed me to the server of righteousness, for His domain sake. Even though I browse hackers’ sites, I will fear no attack, for he is my Firewall. Thy antivirus and Intrusion Prevention System, they comfort me. Thou preparest a link before me in the presence of time-outs; thou connected my links with fiber optics. Surely solid connection and replies shall follow me all the period of my pings. And I shall telnet from the server of the Lord for ever and ever.
Amen
Amen
February 11, 2008
The Gospel of Barnabas: Bad News for Muslims and Christians
The purpose of this paper is to present in a limited fashion the results of the internal and external evidences which show that this gospel does not make a convincing or credible claim to be the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. All references to The Gospel of Barnabas will be notated with the abbreviation GB followed by the numerical chapter of the book; e.g. (GB 52) for The Gospel of Barnabas, section 52.
Internal Evidence
Historical setting
With even a superficial reading, The Gospel of Barnabas cannot be said to breathe the first century atmosphere. It bears too many traces of European Medieval times, some of which are:
1. The mention of casks of wood or barrels washed and refilled with wine (GB 152)*. In the days of Jesus skins were used for wine. Casks or barrels of wood were unknown in ancient Palestine.
2. ‘The Virgin’ (GB 219) as a title was not given to the mother of Jesus before 300AD.
3. Expressions (words and phrases) well known in Italy from the Italian poet Dante who lived 1265-1321 are scattered throughout the book (GB 23, 59, 60, 78, 217).
4. Adam and Eve were commanded by God to do penance (GB 41), a practice of the Middle Ages, not of New Testament times.
5. Reference to court procedure of the Middle Ages is given where a prisoner is questioned by a magistrate while a notary records the evidence (GB 121).
6. Reference is also made to a duel between two rival lovers which reminds one of the age of chivalry In Medieval Europe (GB 99).
7. Among the clearest of all European traces are those of feudalism. The Gospel of Barnabas represents Mary, Martha and Lazarus as feudal lords of whole villages (GB 194, 122).
8. The picturesque description of the summer season in the fields and valleys (GB 169) is much more suggestive of beautiful Italy than of Palestine in summer when the fields are utterly burnt dry.
9. Asceticism and other traces of Medieval society, customs, times and beliefs appear throughout the book, e.g. (GB 150) taking the habit of a monk-like Pharisee and dwelling in seclusion for 30(?) years.
Historical Errors
The Gospel of Barnabas is filled with errors such as:
1. When Jesus was born ‘Pilate was governor in the priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas’ (GB 3). These men did not come to office until later - Annas 6 AD, Caiaphas 8 AD, Pilate 26 AD.
2. "...in the time of Elijah, friend and prophet of God, there were twelve mountains inhabited by seventeen thousand Pharisees..," (GB 145). There were no Pharisees in the days of Elijah. History first knows about Pharisees seven centuries later in the period between 135-104 BC.
3. The Gospel of Barnabas erroneously quotes Jesus as saying that the Year of Jubilee came every 100 years (GB 82, 83). From the time of Moses (Leviticus 25: 11 ) the Year of Jubilee came every 50 years. There was only one time in history that the festival was known to have fallen in 100 year cycles. That was when Pope Boniface VIII (about 1300 AD) announced that it should be celebrated every 100 years. Pope Clement VI (1343 AD) rescinded Boniface’s order and returned the celebration to every 50 years as it had always been. The Gospel of Barnabas was written, therefore, sometime after Pope Boniface 1300 AD for certain, not during the 1st century.
4. The Gospel of Barnabas records (GB 92) that Jesus and his disciples kept "the 40 days" at Mt. Sinai. The context clearly shows that this refers to the period of Lent before Easter. The Church meditates at this time on the suffering of Christ and his resurrection, which was obviously unknown when Christ was still alive. And it is most unlikely that Jesus and his disciples would have gone some 450 KM away to observe a fast of 40 days.
5. The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 80) has the Prophet Daniel only two years old when taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Since he interpreted the king’s dream In the 2nd year of the king’s reign (Daniel 2: 1), this would make Daniel only 3 or at the most 4 years old at the time. This is an impossibility, for the king immediately made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon. Daniel was then still a young man, but not that young.
6. It was Darius who committed the Prophet Daniel to the lions’ den, not Cyrus as The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 50) states. Jesus as prophet would have been accurate in quoting from Daniel 6.
7. The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 54) has Jesus saying: ‘For he who would get in change a piece of gold must have sixty mites.’ The Italian version of the book divides the golden "denarius" into 60 "minuti." These coins were actually of Spanish origin during the Visigothic Period and betray a Spanish background to the manuscript.
Geographical Errors
1. Jesus traveled to Nazareth by ship (GB 20). This cannot be, for Nazareth is on a hill in Galilee at 2000 ft. elevation and half a day’s march from the sea.
2. The next section (GB 21) confirms the confusion where it is stated that Jesus went up to Capernaum (from Nazareth). Of course it is just the reverse. He would have landed at Capernaum (the seaport), gone up to Nazareth and then down again to Capernaum.
3. The mistake is further compounded, for the incident which is reported to have taken place in Capernaum in fact occurred on the other side of the lake (Sea of Galilee) in the region of Gerasenes (Mark 5: 1).
4. The same mistake is made again when Jesus comes to Nazareth (GB 143), gives a long uninterrupted discourse (GB 144-151 ) and then embarks on a ship (GB 151) and arrives (by ship?) at Jerusalem (GB 152), also far inland.
5. The Prophet Jonah (GB 63) mistakenly flees and sails to Tarsus (In present-day Turkey) instead of to Tarshish (present-day Spain) as in Jonah 1: 3.
6. Then the fish that swallowed Jonah cast him out near Nineveh (GB 63). It is well founded that Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and was built on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, not on the Mediterranean coast.
Is the Gospel of Barnabas consistent with the Bible and the Qur’an?
Following are only some of its contradictions of one or of both:
1. Muhammad is referred to as the Messiah (GB 42). To be the Messiah, Muhammad would have to have been a Jew. Both the Bible (John 1:41) and the Qur’an (Al Imran 45; Maida 72) state that Jesus is the Messiah.
2. Mary gave birth to Jesus without pain (GB 3). The Qur’an (Maryam 23) states that Mary gave birth to Jesus with pain.
3. Only one wife is permitted (GB 115). The Qur’an says that a man may take 3 or 4 wives (Al Nisa 3).
4. The accounts of the Day of Judgement in the Qur’an and Gospel of Barnabas contradict each other (GB 53 vs. Surahs ‘Abasa 80:33-37 and Al-Haqqa 69:13-18).
5. There are nine heavens (GB 105,178), following Dante. The Bible states three heavens (2 Cor. 12:2). The Qur’an states seven (Surahs, Nuh, 71:15; Aal-Mulk 67:3; Al-Mu’minun 23:86; Ha-Mim Al-Sajda 41:12; Bani Israil 17:44; Al-Talaq 65:12; and Al-Baqara 2:29).
6. Ishmael was offered on the altar by Abraham (GB 44). The Bible names Isaac (Gen. 22; James 2:21). The Qur’an infers Isaac as well who is twice named in the surah (Saffat 100-113).
7. Circumcision is necessary for eternal salvation (GB 23). The Bible teaches that circumcision is not necessary for eternal salvation (Acts 15: 1-16).
8. A Biblical quotation from the Prophet Ezekiel (33: 11) is attributed to the Prophet Joel (GB 165), and a prophecy mistakenly attributed to Ezekiel (GB 67) is actually from the Prophet Jeremiah (31: 31). Also attributed to the Prophet Daniel is an historical account found much earlier in I Kings 22. It is strange that Jesus, knowing the Old Testament so well, does not correct ‘Barnabas’, if he were indeed the author of the record.
9. God is said to be the "God of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac" (GB 212). The Old Testament consistently reads the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob".
10. Adam circumcised himself (GB 23). The Bible declares Abraham to be the first man circumcised (Gen. 17: 24).
11. The Gospel of Barnabas totally ignores the existence of the Prophet John the Baptist (Yaha Ibn Zakariyya), so prominent in both the Bible and the Qur’an, yet the very words of John (John 1: 27) are put into the mouth of Jesus (GB 42,96), an obvious plagiarism.
12. Jesus supposedly relates a dialogue between the Prophet Elijah and a blind man that nowhere exists in Biblical history (GB 116,117).
13. Stranger still is the statement in The Gospel of Barnabas that the Jewish high priest, and perhaps also Herod and Pilate, wished ...to bow himself down and worship Jesus...(GB 93). The high priest, it should be remembered was the chief enemy of Jesus and would not be about to worship Him for two reasons: I) He considered Jesus guilty of blasphemy (Mark 14:63,64). 2) Jesus constantly convicted the priests of hypocrisy.
Other distortions and perversions in The Gospel of Barnabas could be exposed, but the above internal evidence ought to be sufficient to convince anyone of the false nature of this book. However, there are additional facts to be considered.
Internal Evidence
Historical setting
With even a superficial reading, The Gospel of Barnabas cannot be said to breathe the first century atmosphere. It bears too many traces of European Medieval times, some of which are:
1. The mention of casks of wood or barrels washed and refilled with wine (GB 152)*. In the days of Jesus skins were used for wine. Casks or barrels of wood were unknown in ancient Palestine.
2. ‘The Virgin’ (GB 219) as a title was not given to the mother of Jesus before 300AD.
3. Expressions (words and phrases) well known in Italy from the Italian poet Dante who lived 1265-1321 are scattered throughout the book (GB 23, 59, 60, 78, 217).
4. Adam and Eve were commanded by God to do penance (GB 41), a practice of the Middle Ages, not of New Testament times.
5. Reference to court procedure of the Middle Ages is given where a prisoner is questioned by a magistrate while a notary records the evidence (GB 121).
6. Reference is also made to a duel between two rival lovers which reminds one of the age of chivalry In Medieval Europe (GB 99).
7. Among the clearest of all European traces are those of feudalism. The Gospel of Barnabas represents Mary, Martha and Lazarus as feudal lords of whole villages (GB 194, 122).
8. The picturesque description of the summer season in the fields and valleys (GB 169) is much more suggestive of beautiful Italy than of Palestine in summer when the fields are utterly burnt dry.
9. Asceticism and other traces of Medieval society, customs, times and beliefs appear throughout the book, e.g. (GB 150) taking the habit of a monk-like Pharisee and dwelling in seclusion for 30(?) years.
Historical Errors
The Gospel of Barnabas is filled with errors such as:
1. When Jesus was born ‘Pilate was governor in the priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas’ (GB 3). These men did not come to office until later - Annas 6 AD, Caiaphas 8 AD, Pilate 26 AD.
2. "...in the time of Elijah, friend and prophet of God, there were twelve mountains inhabited by seventeen thousand Pharisees..," (GB 145). There were no Pharisees in the days of Elijah. History first knows about Pharisees seven centuries later in the period between 135-104 BC.
3. The Gospel of Barnabas erroneously quotes Jesus as saying that the Year of Jubilee came every 100 years (GB 82, 83). From the time of Moses (Leviticus 25: 11 ) the Year of Jubilee came every 50 years. There was only one time in history that the festival was known to have fallen in 100 year cycles. That was when Pope Boniface VIII (about 1300 AD) announced that it should be celebrated every 100 years. Pope Clement VI (1343 AD) rescinded Boniface’s order and returned the celebration to every 50 years as it had always been. The Gospel of Barnabas was written, therefore, sometime after Pope Boniface 1300 AD for certain, not during the 1st century.
4. The Gospel of Barnabas records (GB 92) that Jesus and his disciples kept "the 40 days" at Mt. Sinai. The context clearly shows that this refers to the period of Lent before Easter. The Church meditates at this time on the suffering of Christ and his resurrection, which was obviously unknown when Christ was still alive. And it is most unlikely that Jesus and his disciples would have gone some 450 KM away to observe a fast of 40 days.
5. The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 80) has the Prophet Daniel only two years old when taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Since he interpreted the king’s dream In the 2nd year of the king’s reign (Daniel 2: 1), this would make Daniel only 3 or at the most 4 years old at the time. This is an impossibility, for the king immediately made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon. Daniel was then still a young man, but not that young.
6. It was Darius who committed the Prophet Daniel to the lions’ den, not Cyrus as The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 50) states. Jesus as prophet would have been accurate in quoting from Daniel 6.
7. The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 54) has Jesus saying: ‘For he who would get in change a piece of gold must have sixty mites.’ The Italian version of the book divides the golden "denarius" into 60 "minuti." These coins were actually of Spanish origin during the Visigothic Period and betray a Spanish background to the manuscript.
Geographical Errors
1. Jesus traveled to Nazareth by ship (GB 20). This cannot be, for Nazareth is on a hill in Galilee at 2000 ft. elevation and half a day’s march from the sea.
2. The next section (GB 21) confirms the confusion where it is stated that Jesus went up to Capernaum (from Nazareth). Of course it is just the reverse. He would have landed at Capernaum (the seaport), gone up to Nazareth and then down again to Capernaum.
3. The mistake is further compounded, for the incident which is reported to have taken place in Capernaum in fact occurred on the other side of the lake (Sea of Galilee) in the region of Gerasenes (Mark 5: 1).
4. The same mistake is made again when Jesus comes to Nazareth (GB 143), gives a long uninterrupted discourse (GB 144-151 ) and then embarks on a ship (GB 151) and arrives (by ship?) at Jerusalem (GB 152), also far inland.
5. The Prophet Jonah (GB 63) mistakenly flees and sails to Tarsus (In present-day Turkey) instead of to Tarshish (present-day Spain) as in Jonah 1: 3.
6. Then the fish that swallowed Jonah cast him out near Nineveh (GB 63). It is well founded that Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and was built on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, not on the Mediterranean coast.
Is the Gospel of Barnabas consistent with the Bible and the Qur’an?
Following are only some of its contradictions of one or of both:
1. Muhammad is referred to as the Messiah (GB 42). To be the Messiah, Muhammad would have to have been a Jew. Both the Bible (John 1:41) and the Qur’an (Al Imran 45; Maida 72) state that Jesus is the Messiah.
2. Mary gave birth to Jesus without pain (GB 3). The Qur’an (Maryam 23) states that Mary gave birth to Jesus with pain.
3. Only one wife is permitted (GB 115). The Qur’an says that a man may take 3 or 4 wives (Al Nisa 3).
4. The accounts of the Day of Judgement in the Qur’an and Gospel of Barnabas contradict each other (GB 53 vs. Surahs ‘Abasa 80:33-37 and Al-Haqqa 69:13-18).
5. There are nine heavens (GB 105,178), following Dante. The Bible states three heavens (2 Cor. 12:2). The Qur’an states seven (Surahs, Nuh, 71:15; Aal-Mulk 67:3; Al-Mu’minun 23:86; Ha-Mim Al-Sajda 41:12; Bani Israil 17:44; Al-Talaq 65:12; and Al-Baqara 2:29).
6. Ishmael was offered on the altar by Abraham (GB 44). The Bible names Isaac (Gen. 22; James 2:21). The Qur’an infers Isaac as well who is twice named in the surah (Saffat 100-113).
7. Circumcision is necessary for eternal salvation (GB 23). The Bible teaches that circumcision is not necessary for eternal salvation (Acts 15: 1-16).
8. A Biblical quotation from the Prophet Ezekiel (33: 11) is attributed to the Prophet Joel (GB 165), and a prophecy mistakenly attributed to Ezekiel (GB 67) is actually from the Prophet Jeremiah (31: 31). Also attributed to the Prophet Daniel is an historical account found much earlier in I Kings 22. It is strange that Jesus, knowing the Old Testament so well, does not correct ‘Barnabas’, if he were indeed the author of the record.
9. God is said to be the "God of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac" (GB 212). The Old Testament consistently reads the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob".
10. Adam circumcised himself (GB 23). The Bible declares Abraham to be the first man circumcised (Gen. 17: 24).
11. The Gospel of Barnabas totally ignores the existence of the Prophet John the Baptist (Yaha Ibn Zakariyya), so prominent in both the Bible and the Qur’an, yet the very words of John (John 1: 27) are put into the mouth of Jesus (GB 42,96), an obvious plagiarism.
12. Jesus supposedly relates a dialogue between the Prophet Elijah and a blind man that nowhere exists in Biblical history (GB 116,117).
13. Stranger still is the statement in The Gospel of Barnabas that the Jewish high priest, and perhaps also Herod and Pilate, wished ...to bow himself down and worship Jesus...(GB 93). The high priest, it should be remembered was the chief enemy of Jesus and would not be about to worship Him for two reasons: I) He considered Jesus guilty of blasphemy (Mark 14:63,64). 2) Jesus constantly convicted the priests of hypocrisy.
Other distortions and perversions in The Gospel of Barnabas could be exposed, but the above internal evidence ought to be sufficient to convince anyone of the false nature of this book. However, there are additional facts to be considered.
External evidence
Can be found here: http://www.spotlights.org/BarnabasTOC.htm
OTHER HELPFUL BOOKS AND BOOKLETS CONCERNING THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS
Abdul-Ahad, Selim, and Gairdner, W.H.T. "The Gospel of Barnabas: An Essay and Inquiry." Hyderabad: Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic Studies, 1985.
Campbell, William F. "The Gospel of Barnabas: Its True Value." Rawalpindi: Christian Study Centre, 1989.
Gilchrist, John. "Origins and Sources of the Gospel of Barnabas." Brighton: FFM Publications, 1980.
Jadeed, Iskandar. "The Gospel of Barnabas: A False Testimony." Rikon, Switzerland: The Good Way.
Sox, David. "The Gospel of Barnabas." London: George Allen & Unwin, 1984.
"The Gospel of Barnabas." Edited and translated by Lonsdale and Laura Ragg. Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1907.
(bold, italic and highlight color are my emphasis)
February 7, 2008
Nehemiah - Life without compromise
King Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:3b) and Nehemiah wanted to rebuild its broken wall (2:5b).
He prayed before starting doing this work (1:4-11a).
He sacrificed his work as the king’s cupbearer (1:11b) and the king permitted him to go to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (2:6b).
But some enemies (Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem) were furious as they heard that Nehemiah wants to rebuild the wall and conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem to create confusion (2:10,19; 4:1-3,7-8,11). Nehemiah prayed to God (4:4,9) and God had brought their plot to nothing (4:15a).
Nehemiah also faced other troubles while rebuilding the wall: half of the servants worked at construction, while the other half were armed to defend themselves from their enemies (4:16,21); there was a great outcry of the people (5:1-13); and all the time while being appointed to be their governor (12 years!), he did not demand the governor’s provisions (5:14), because of the fear of God (5:15b) and because the bondage was heavy on the people (5:18b). But in spite of all these, Nehemiah did not compromise himself, not even once. He continued the work he had started!
When the enemies had seen that Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall, they tried to stop him from his work. Sanballat invited Nehemiah to leave his work and go down to meet him (6:2). But Nehemiah did not compromise himself and sent him the following message: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down…” (6:3). Nehemiah did not compromise himself! Even if Sanballat sent him this message 4 times (6:4).
Then Sanballat tried to intimidate Nehemiah through a letter (6:6-7). But Nehemiah recognized that what was written in the letter was not true (6:8). Nehemiah again did not compromise himself!
Sanballat and Tobiah wanted to cheat Nehemiah by hiring a Jew (6:12-13) who should talk to him in God’s name (6:10b). But Nehemiah who knew the Scriptures very well, knew that only the priest is allowed to go into the temple, and he was not a priest (6:11-12). Nehemiah did not compromise himself!
So the wall was finished (6:15) and the enemies have been humiliated and recognized that this was God’s work and that Nehemiah was God’s man (6:16).
He prayed before starting doing this work (1:4-11a).
He sacrificed his work as the king’s cupbearer (1:11b) and the king permitted him to go to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (2:6b).
But some enemies (Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem) were furious as they heard that Nehemiah wants to rebuild the wall and conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem to create confusion (2:10,19; 4:1-3,7-8,11). Nehemiah prayed to God (4:4,9) and God had brought their plot to nothing (4:15a).
Nehemiah also faced other troubles while rebuilding the wall: half of the servants worked at construction, while the other half were armed to defend themselves from their enemies (4:16,21); there was a great outcry of the people (5:1-13); and all the time while being appointed to be their governor (12 years!), he did not demand the governor’s provisions (5:14), because of the fear of God (5:15b) and because the bondage was heavy on the people (5:18b). But in spite of all these, Nehemiah did not compromise himself, not even once. He continued the work he had started!
When the enemies had seen that Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall, they tried to stop him from his work. Sanballat invited Nehemiah to leave his work and go down to meet him (6:2). But Nehemiah did not compromise himself and sent him the following message: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down…” (6:3). Nehemiah did not compromise himself! Even if Sanballat sent him this message 4 times (6:4).
Then Sanballat tried to intimidate Nehemiah through a letter (6:6-7). But Nehemiah recognized that what was written in the letter was not true (6:8). Nehemiah again did not compromise himself!
Sanballat and Tobiah wanted to cheat Nehemiah by hiring a Jew (6:12-13) who should talk to him in God’s name (6:10b). But Nehemiah who knew the Scriptures very well, knew that only the priest is allowed to go into the temple, and he was not a priest (6:11-12). Nehemiah did not compromise himself!
So the wall was finished (6:15) and the enemies have been humiliated and recognized that this was God’s work and that Nehemiah was God’s man (6:16).
February 4, 2008
Life without compromise
Joseph did not compromise himself, not even once in his life, although he went through many difficult moments. His brothers hated him (Gen.37:4,8), then he had been cast into a pit (Gen.37:24) and was then sold to the Ishmaelites (Gen.37:28) who took him to Egypt where they sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh (Gen.37:36).
The Lord was with Joseph (Gen.39:2) and he found favor in his master’s sight (Gen.39:4) who made him overseer of his house and all that he had (Gen.39:5-6a).
But his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph and said to him: “Lie with me.” (Gen.39:7) but he refused (Gen.39:8,10), although she spoke to Joseph day by day! Joseph did not compromise himself! Even though he was young and handsome in form and appearance (Gen.39:6b), he was far away from home (Gen.37:28b,36; 39:1), and he could have said to himself that no one is seeing him and no one would know what he is doing there. But Joseph said to his master’s wife: „How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen.39:9b)
Even if he did not compromise himself, Joseph was put into prison (Gen.39:20) where he stayed more than ten years, but even there he found favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (Gen.39:21,22) because the Lord was with Joseph (Gen.39:23b).
Joseph had the Spirit of God in him (Gen.41:38) and thus the Pharaoh put him over his house and all his people were ruled according to his word (Gen.41:40).
That way God raised Joseph and he reigned over his father and over his brothers (Gen.43:26,28; 44:14) as he had dreamt when he was living in the land of Canaan (Gen.37:5-11).
God blessed Joseph and brought his father Jacob and his brothers to live with him in the land of Egypt (Gen.47:11-12) and Joseph forgave his brothers for the evil they had done to him in the past (Gen.50:15-21).
The Lord was with Joseph (Gen.39:2) and he found favor in his master’s sight (Gen.39:4) who made him overseer of his house and all that he had (Gen.39:5-6a).
But his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph and said to him: “Lie with me.” (Gen.39:7) but he refused (Gen.39:8,10), although she spoke to Joseph day by day! Joseph did not compromise himself! Even though he was young and handsome in form and appearance (Gen.39:6b), he was far away from home (Gen.37:28b,36; 39:1), and he could have said to himself that no one is seeing him and no one would know what he is doing there. But Joseph said to his master’s wife: „How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen.39:9b)
Even if he did not compromise himself, Joseph was put into prison (Gen.39:20) where he stayed more than ten years, but even there he found favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (Gen.39:21,22) because the Lord was with Joseph (Gen.39:23b).
Joseph had the Spirit of God in him (Gen.41:38) and thus the Pharaoh put him over his house and all his people were ruled according to his word (Gen.41:40).
That way God raised Joseph and he reigned over his father and over his brothers (Gen.43:26,28; 44:14) as he had dreamt when he was living in the land of Canaan (Gen.37:5-11).
God blessed Joseph and brought his father Jacob and his brothers to live with him in the land of Egypt (Gen.47:11-12) and Joseph forgave his brothers for the evil they had done to him in the past (Gen.50:15-21).
February 2, 2008
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Please hold on a moment and think about something… I know that you are a busy person living in a busy world, who probably has to go to school or work day by day, and this takes away almost all your time… but how do you spend your free time? How do you use your talents and your money? What kind of treasures do you store up for yourself?
Think about the following:
Do you prefer reading the Bible?
Or do you prefer reading a novel (which is very often just an invented story)?
Do you prefer meditating about a Bible verse?
Or do you prefer meditating about what you read in the newspaper in the morning?
Do you prefer praying to the Almighty God?
Or do you prefer chatting with you friends?
Do you prefer going to church on Sunday morning?
Or do you prefer sleeping longer?
Do you prefer spending time with your spouse and kids?
Or do you prefer going out with your colleagues?
Do you prefer spending your money in helping poor people?
Or do you prefer buying for yourself more and more things which you do not need?
Do you prefer helping someone who is in need?
Or do you prefer saving your money?
Do you prefer going to visit someone who is in hospital and who needs maybe an encouragement from you?
Or do you prefer staying at home watching TV without being disturbed?
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(Matthew 6:19-21)
Think about the following:
Do you prefer reading the Bible?
Or do you prefer reading a novel (which is very often just an invented story)?
Do you prefer meditating about a Bible verse?
Or do you prefer meditating about what you read in the newspaper in the morning?
Do you prefer praying to the Almighty God?
Or do you prefer chatting with you friends?
Do you prefer going to church on Sunday morning?
Or do you prefer sleeping longer?
Do you prefer spending time with your spouse and kids?
Or do you prefer going out with your colleagues?
Do you prefer spending your money in helping poor people?
Or do you prefer buying for yourself more and more things which you do not need?
Do you prefer helping someone who is in need?
Or do you prefer saving your money?
Do you prefer going to visit someone who is in hospital and who needs maybe an encouragement from you?
Or do you prefer staying at home watching TV without being disturbed?
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(Matthew 6:19-21)
February 1, 2008
Jesus - Son of God
Many people do not understand how Jesus was a human being, but is at the same time the "Son of God"... such people are especially Muslims, who try to understand this fact from a physical point of view and not in a spiritual sense. But to be able to understand God (although the human mind is able to understand only a little part of God's greatness!) you have to think spiritually! If you do this and if you are honest, then I'm sure God will guide you to the right way, the way which leads directly to Him!
I will show you now a brief explanation by Abdullah Ibrahim , which was originally written for Muslims, but anyone who does not understand how Jesus was a human but is at the same time also the "Son of God", is welcome to read the following:
*****************************************
JESUS - SON OF GOD! AN EXPLANATION FOR MUSLIMS
By Abdullah Ibrahim
Christians do not believe that Jesus is the son of God in a physical sense. God forbid that he should take a wife! That would be blasphemy. However, they do believe that Jesus is the Son of God in a spiritual sense. Arabs, for example, are commonly known as "sons of the desert". Nobody would ever think that the desert would have given physical birth to the Arabs. No, the term "sons of the desert" has to be understood in a spiritual sense. Arabs know the desert in and out; they are one with it, that is why they are called "sons of the desert." In the same way the Quran calls a wayfarer a "son of the road", "ibn as sabeel" (Surah 2, Al Baqarah, verse 177) The Arabic word "ibn" is used in a figurative sense as opposed to "walad" which is used in a physical way.
Besides having many other titles, such as "Messiah" or " Son of man", Jesus calls himself "Son of God" because he knows Him in a profound way, he is one with Him in essence.
They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He (Jesus) replied, "You are right in saying I am." (Luke 22:70)
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father..." Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father ... Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?" (John 14:8-10)
Because God is so much greater than man, He chooses to express Himself in human terms so that we can understand Him. When Surah 22, Hajj, verse 61 says that Allah sees and hears, it does not mean He has ears and eyes. Rather He is expressing a spiritual truth in such a way that we can understand that He is All-knowing. Similarly, behind the title "Son of God" is a spiritual truth expressed in human terms.
The Bible calls a number of people "sons of God" but Jesus is addressed as such in a particular way:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The Greek word for "one and only son", "mono-genes", means literally, "one in kind, unique" and has sometimes been incorrectly translated into Enlish as "only begotten". This rendering is wrong because "Mono-genes" is also used in Hebrews 11:17 to describe Isaac as Abraham's "one and only son", namely the one who was promised by God to Abraham and his wife Sarah. (Genesis 15) Since Ishmael too was Abraham's son, but through his servant Hagar (Genesis 16), the term "one and only" distinguishes Isaac as being uinque in his kind but not as the only begotten.
Furthermore, the Hebrew word used to describe Isaac in the Old Testament story as "only son" in Genesis 22:2 is completely different from the word "begotten" used, for example, in Psalm 2:7 :
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father (or, I have begotten you).
"In the ancient Near East the relationship between a great king and one of his subject kings, who ruled by his authority and owed him allegiance, was expressed....also by "father" and "son"." (N.I.V. Studybible, Zondervan Bible Publishers, U.S.A., 1985, footnote) Psalm 2:7 is applied to the relationship between God and Jesus in a filial not in a carnal sense in Acts 13:33 as having been a fulfilled prophecy through his resurrection.
Just as other people are called "one and only sons" in the Bible because of their uniqueness in some ways, Jesus too is called exclusively "one and only son of God." On a number of occasions he made statements to prove this fact:
All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Luke 10:22)
Nobody else has ever used such language to speak about himself!
(For more examples see: John 5:22-23, Luke 20:9-19, Matthew 3:17)
Jesus, the Son of God, has come to show us what God is like:
No-one has seen God; but God's only Son, He who is nearest to the Father's heart, he has made him known. (John 1:18)
For questions, comments, more information, a free Bible in the language of your choice or a free Bible correspondence course please write to Abdullah Ibrahim at AAbraham@biblicalchristianity.freeserve.co.uk
This article may be reproduced in any manner without permission from the author, provided the meaning of the content is not changed.
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(bold,italic and highlight color are my emphasis)
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For reading the highlighted passages from the Bible (green color) , go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/
For reading the highlighted passages from the Quran (blue color), go to: http://www.islamicity.com/QuranSearch/
I will show you now a brief explanation by Abdullah Ibrahim , which was originally written for Muslims, but anyone who does not understand how Jesus was a human but is at the same time also the "Son of God", is welcome to read the following:
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JESUS - SON OF GOD! AN EXPLANATION FOR MUSLIMS
By Abdullah Ibrahim
Christians do not believe that Jesus is the son of God in a physical sense. God forbid that he should take a wife! That would be blasphemy. However, they do believe that Jesus is the Son of God in a spiritual sense. Arabs, for example, are commonly known as "sons of the desert". Nobody would ever think that the desert would have given physical birth to the Arabs. No, the term "sons of the desert" has to be understood in a spiritual sense. Arabs know the desert in and out; they are one with it, that is why they are called "sons of the desert." In the same way the Quran calls a wayfarer a "son of the road", "ibn as sabeel" (Surah 2, Al Baqarah, verse 177) The Arabic word "ibn" is used in a figurative sense as opposed to "walad" which is used in a physical way.
Besides having many other titles, such as "Messiah" or " Son of man", Jesus calls himself "Son of God" because he knows Him in a profound way, he is one with Him in essence.
They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He (Jesus) replied, "You are right in saying I am." (Luke 22:70)
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father..." Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father ... Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?" (John 14:8-10)
Because God is so much greater than man, He chooses to express Himself in human terms so that we can understand Him. When Surah 22, Hajj, verse 61 says that Allah sees and hears, it does not mean He has ears and eyes. Rather He is expressing a spiritual truth in such a way that we can understand that He is All-knowing. Similarly, behind the title "Son of God" is a spiritual truth expressed in human terms.
The Bible calls a number of people "sons of God" but Jesus is addressed as such in a particular way:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The Greek word for "one and only son", "mono-genes", means literally, "one in kind, unique" and has sometimes been incorrectly translated into Enlish as "only begotten". This rendering is wrong because "Mono-genes" is also used in Hebrews 11:17 to describe Isaac as Abraham's "one and only son", namely the one who was promised by God to Abraham and his wife Sarah. (Genesis 15) Since Ishmael too was Abraham's son, but through his servant Hagar (Genesis 16), the term "one and only" distinguishes Isaac as being uinque in his kind but not as the only begotten.
Furthermore, the Hebrew word used to describe Isaac in the Old Testament story as "only son" in Genesis 22:2 is completely different from the word "begotten" used, for example, in Psalm 2:7 :
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father (or, I have begotten you).
"In the ancient Near East the relationship between a great king and one of his subject kings, who ruled by his authority and owed him allegiance, was expressed....also by "father" and "son"." (N.I.V. Studybible, Zondervan Bible Publishers, U.S.A., 1985, footnote) Psalm 2:7 is applied to the relationship between God and Jesus in a filial not in a carnal sense in Acts 13:33 as having been a fulfilled prophecy through his resurrection.
Just as other people are called "one and only sons" in the Bible because of their uniqueness in some ways, Jesus too is called exclusively "one and only son of God." On a number of occasions he made statements to prove this fact:
All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Luke 10:22)
Nobody else has ever used such language to speak about himself!
(For more examples see: John 5:22-23, Luke 20:9-19, Matthew 3:17)
Jesus, the Son of God, has come to show us what God is like:
No-one has seen God; but God's only Son, He who is nearest to the Father's heart, he has made him known. (John 1:18)
For questions, comments, more information, a free Bible in the language of your choice or a free Bible correspondence course please write to Abdullah Ibrahim at AAbraham@biblicalchristianity.freeserve.co.uk
This article may be reproduced in any manner without permission from the author, provided the meaning of the content is not changed.
*****************************************
(bold,italic and highlight color are my emphasis)
*****************************************
For reading the highlighted passages from the Bible (green color) , go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/
For reading the highlighted passages from the Quran (blue color), go to: http://www.islamicity.com/QuranSearch/
Hebrew Grammar
Did you know?
The Hebrew grammar has submitted itself to God's commandments.
Our grammar says: I (= my ego), You (= our neighbour), He (= God),...
Their grammar says: He (= God), You (= our neighbour), I (= my ego),...
The Hebrew grammar has submitted itself to God's commandments.
Our grammar says: I (= my ego), You (= our neighbour), He (= God),...
Their grammar says: He (= God), You (= our neighbour), I (= my ego),...
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