Good Morning Mike,

Thanks for the reply. I had actually found e- sword in a search a few days ago, and attempted to install it, but had some inexplicable difficulty (firewall and browser protection settings I imagine – perhaps not inexplicable at all)

I’ve made the attempt again at your suggestion and was both successful and frankly thrilled at the quality and utility of the software. It’s already saved me hours of research, and countless thumbed pages in Greek/ Hebrew dictionaries.

I know I’ve just scratched the surface of the resources on the web, but e- sword looks already as if it will be my primary study tool.

I had also found some software – bibledatabase – which I have enjoyed, but I can see the great value of Strong’s numbering and the immediate reference to the Greek and Hebrew.

Thank you so very much, Mike.

I’d like to keep in touch. Although I consider(ed) myself a critical atheist, I’m not at all satisfied that I know well enough that which I claimed not to believe… if that makes any sense.

I was scholarly in my atheism (study of objectivism and epistemology), but it seems unfair to declare philosophical victory having never really given the other side a fair shake so to speak. I’ve honed my debating skills, but I really don’t have much else to show for it. Winning debates is sort of like winning at chess – it’s a game, and it really doesn’t matter once all is said and done, unless you are a lawyer.

In fairness to the theology which I had rejected, I will begin a post graduate correspondence course in Christian Apologetics relatively soon, but can see already that the Statement of Faith of the Calvinist school (Trinity) is based on less than scriptural interpretations… perhaps most immediately observable in the name of the school! LOL

It will be an uphill battle for me to maintain my scholarly integrity and still put together an acceptable (to them) thesis, but as a law student, I understand that learning and presenting both sides of any case as fairly as possible, and applying the rules equally is the real challenge. Anyone can attempt to make any argument for anything, but I really just want truth. It is not about the winning for me… well, truth is the real winning, and I the winner if I discern it.

K____

Thanks Again.

Hi K____,

I do not claim to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar. I do not believe that our salvation requires that. I do, however, believe that we ought to “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed but rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

The only tools I have are a KJV Bible, a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, and a Wigram’s Englishman’s Greek, and a Wigram’s Englishman’s Hebrew concordances. The reason for the KJV is simply that it is the most popular and most widely used Bible in history. The reason for the Strong’s Concordance is that Wigram’s is keyed to Strong’s numbers.

The single most helpful tool you can have is e- sword, which you have already downloaded. It is full of different translations and different commentaries. I find that I use these very little. What I do use very much is the Strong’s numbers which give me every entry for any Greek or Hebrew word. E- sword will do more for you than all the other translation and commentaries combined.

If you are willing to take the time to look at every entry for any word in the original Greek and the original Hebrew, you will then know the difference between how the translators have mistranslated that word and the true meaning of that word.

Two verses are paramount to consider if your understanding of scripture is to be truly extant.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

The first verse shows only by God dragging you to him [ the word ‘draw’ here is the same word used elsewhere for ‘drag’] will one come to know Christ and thereby His Father, and the second verse explains why some have understanding and some don’t. I pray that God will open your eyes and ears spiritually and draw you to Him.
Let me hear from you.

Mike

Joh 5:39 – Search the scriptures…

2Ti 2:15 – Study to show yourself approved…rightly dividing the word of truth

2Ti 3:15-17 – …from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation…

Act 17:11 – The Bereans were more noble…because they searched the scriptures daily

Mar 12:24 – Do you not therefore err not knowing the scriptures…?

Anyone with whom God’s Spirit is working wants to know the truth of the Word of God. If that desire to know the mind of God is strong enough, the search for the truth will not be confined to church doctrine nor to any school of thought.

What the local pastor may think or what some popular, well known evangelist or friends and family, whom we love and respect, may think will become completely irrelevant when we grasp the true significance of the words of our Savior; “It is the Spirit that gives life. The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life” (Joh 6:63).

There is a spirit that argues “You are like the Pharisees; you know the letter of the scriptures, but you don’t know the spirit of the scriptures.” Christ said that the Pharisees did not know the scriptures.

Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Had the Pharisees known the scriptures, they would have known Christ. Otherwise, the admonition of Christ to the Pharisees to “search the scriptures…these are they which testify of me” would have been meaningless.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Christ said “words… are spirit.” (Joh 6:63) So if we know God’s word, we will not err.

Now anyone who knows the scriptures at all is aware of the statement of Paul “knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up” (1Co 8:1). Anyone studying the word of God to edify himself obviously doesn’t really know the word of God.

It is not the purpose of this Web page to impute motives to anyone for believing anything. God works with each of his creatures as He sees fit. Only He is sovereign. And it is with that firm conviction that we offer this Web page on how to scripturally study the scriptures.

I am a graduate of a bible college. Yet I always wondered how anyone could say authoritatively “this Greek (or Hebrew) word appears only five times in the original manuscripts and means such and such.” I had learned from a well known evangelist that when the disciples asked Christ “What shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world” (Mat 24:3) that the word here translated “world” was actually the Greek word “aion” meaning “age.” So what the disciples were actually asking was “What shall be the sign… of the end of the age?”

I didn’t just take his word for this. I bought myself a Young’s Concordance, looked up “world” in Mat 24:3 and, sure enough, there it was: 28 entries – “Age, indefinite time, dispensation, aion.” I was content with this knowledge and with my Young’s Concordance for as long as the Lord wanted me to remain content, which was for three more years of my college career.

But eventually, I noticed repeatedly that when I really wanted to find out what the original word was, it was not in my incomplete Young’s. So I graduated to using a Complete and Exhaustive Strong’s Concordance. Strong’s seemed awkward at first, having to find a number before you could find a word. But the assurance that every word in scripture was in there and that all I needed was a question about any word in the King James English Bible and I was sure to find the original word, made it indespinsible.

Then I discovered that the word “worlds” in Heb 1:2 was also actually “aion.” This listing (“worlds”) didn’t even appear in my Young’s, and I had to have it pointed out that there was another English word translated from the Greek word “aion.” Over the next several years, I was to learn that there are thirteen different English words and phrases translated from that one Greek word “aion.” Suddenly, my Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance that I had thought so much of for so long seemed totally inadequate. How was I to do an effective word study with an English concordance when the original Greek or Hebrew or Chaldee might have a dozen different English translations? How was I to know whether or not this was the case for the word translated “work” (Greek: “ergon”)? Did it also have thirteen other English translations? How about the word “comforter” (Greek: “parakleetos”)? Does it also have thirteen English translations? I had become painfully aware of how much I was at the mercy of the translators.

God was saying I was called in Christ “before times eonian” (2 Ti 1:9; KJV “before the world began”). So the eons must have a beginning. But the translators called it “eternal” or “forever” or “world.”

The disciples asked Christ “what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the world?” (Mat 24:3) The word here translated “world” is “aion.” So the eons have an end. But the translators read “world” or “everlasting” or “forever and ever” or “course” or “evermore” or “world without end” and on and on. Thirteen different words and phrases are used for one Greek word. How could this be? By what method or by what authority was this done? Had scripture been allowed to interpret scripture by the translators? Was it possible that the translators of 1611 in the hire of King James had allowed church doctrine or the pressure of their fellow scholars to influence their decisions? Well, I didn’t know the answers to those questions, but thirteen different words and phrases for one word seemed just a bit inconsistent to me.

If only I could know every instance where the Greek word “aion” appeared in scriptures without first having to figure out just how many different English words were used by the translators. It would be cumbersome, but it would be almost like reading the original. “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age” is obviously a much better translation than “end of the world.” God’s own word would be my guide to the best understanding. I would be at the mercy of no man. I would know what God had actually said without the influence and bias of any man or institution! Oh, it would be so nice if someone just had an exhaustive concordance that would give me the original Greek or Hebrew first and then listed all the instances where the original word appeared. This refrain was to become my mantra for close to two decades.

Then one year, I attended a Bible conference in South Carolina. Following the service, I ran my mantra by the Pastor who was hosting the conference.

I said, “You know, it seems to me that there ought to be a book out there somewhere that would list the original first. Then you wouldn’t have to figure out how many different ways the translators saw fit to use the word. You could decide for yourself between God and you what any word meant just by considering the context in which it was used.”

“Isn’t that what Wigram’s does?” he replied, as casually as if he thought everyone was familiar with Wigram’s.

I had never heard of Wigram’s, but if it did do that, I wanted it regardless of price.

This book is actually two volumes; “The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the New Testament” and “The Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance of the Old Testament,” both by George V. Wigram. I immediately called every Bible book store in and around my area. No one that I talked to had even heard of them. In hindsight, I was amazed that my Bible college professors had never referred to them. These invaluable resources have been available since 1843, and generally speaking, only the academic elite are aware of their existence. [Ed note: A set of Wigram’s can be purchased from amazon.com for under $60.00 for the set – 9/7/99; often they can be found on half.com or on eBay for half or less of the retail price.]

I finally found a source and acquired my own copy of each volume. Now, for the first time, I could thoroughly “search the scriptures . . . to see whether these things were so” (Act 17:11) and “try the spirits whether they are of God” (1Jn 4:1). Remember Joh 6:63 – “words . . . are spirit.” To try the spirits, we must know the words of God. In 1Jn 4:6 we read “… he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.” Christ said “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (Joh 8:32). The “us” of 1Jn 4:6 is Christ and the apostles and the prophets (Eph 2:20). The truth of Joh 8:32 is the Bible, the “word” of God (Joh 17:17).

These are powerful truths and promises, but they hinge on our knowledge of His word. If God is talking about an age, and we think he is talking about eternity, we will, like the Pharisees “… err not knowing the scriptures” (Mat 22:29).

If you’re looking for your own copies of these indespensible resources, call your local Christian bookstore. If you have difficulty finding them, then contact T and D Christian Sales Bookstore: P. O. Box 4140 Cleveland, TN 37320. For faster service (orders only) call 1-800-423-9595. [Ed note: Since this writing many bookstores now carry the set of Wigram’s Concordances, also many bible bookstores.]

If you have any comments or questions, please direct them to vinsmike@ gmail. com.

Hi Mike,

Great site! I’m new to “universalism”. For many, many years I was one who thought that this was just another “cult”, seeking to deceive people. But in recent times, The Lord, in many and diverse fashions, has been opening my eyes more and more to the Truth.
I have 2 quick questions:
(1) Can one hold to the teaching of “universalism” and not hold the same “interpretation” of Rev 20:6 of Christ reigning on the earth a 1000 years that you yourself hold? Are there other “UR’s” who believe differently about this?
(2) I recently took an “advice” that you gave to someone else, and purchased the Wigram’s Englishman’s Greek (and the Hebrew) Concordance of the NT (and OT): Coded with Strong’s Concordance Numbers
I followed along what was said and I still don’t get it! For example, I looked up Mat 25:46 and the word “eternal”. Strong’s number was #166. I turned to Wigram’s, looked up #166, and there they had the word as a heading: “aionios”, along with over 50 plus verses with this word “eternal”. But that was it. I thought that I would find the phrases” “age” or “age- abiding”, or “a period of time”, or words to that effect. This is what everybody says that the word “eternal” means. But I’m not seeing this in the “Englishman’s Greek Concordance”. What am I doing wrong? Can you help me?
Thanks again!
K____

Hi K____,
Let’s see what Rev 20:6 says:

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Can one believe in universal reconciliation and not see things as I do? Why, yes they can. As a matter of fact, almost all believers in universal reconciliation do differ with me.
In answer to your second question, I am cutting and pasting a letter I just wrote on this subject. I hope it helps you to see how to use your Wigrams. Wigrams is not a synonym for the holy spirit. You will be taught by the Holy Spirit comparing spiritual with spiritual, or you will not be taught at all. It take studying and prayer.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Be sure you read my paper How To Rightly Divide The Word Using A Principle Only The Apostles Understood. That paper will do you more good than any concordance. The letter about how to use Wigram’s is below.

Mike

J____ wrote:

I was reading your article “How to Scripturally Study the Bible” and was wondering if I should get Wigram’s concordance or Strong’s. I was told that Strong’s exhaustive concordance was invaluable, but the way you are talking, it seems like Wigram’s is better. What’s the difference?

Sincerely,
J____

Hi J____,
Thank you for your question.

You have to have both. Strong’s has an assigned number for every Greek or Hebrew word in the Bible. But Strong’s has the English first. And since the word ‘aion’ is translated with 18 different English words and entire phrases, it is impossible for an English speaking person to know what the Greek word behind the English translation is. One of the 18 different translations for the Greek word ‘aion’ is the English word ‘world.’ However, the Greek word ‘kosmos’ is also translated as world. How, pray tell, is an English speaking person to know which word was used when the Holy Spirit inspired it to first be penned? That is where Wigram’s Concordances come in. The Strong’s number for the Greek word ‘aion’ Isa 165. When an English speaking person turns to the number 165 in his Wigram’s Englishman’s Concordance, he is given every single entry for that Greek word and the ways it has been translated into English. Now for the first time in his life he can see with his own eyes exactly how the Holy Spirit saw fit to use this word. He has before his own eyes every entry where this Greek word was inspired to be used. If he is now willing to read all of those entries he will see how foolish it is to try to make the word ‘aion’ mean eternity or forever or everlasting etc. 18 different ways. It is insane to do what the translators have done. Read all of the entries for any given word. Ask God to give you the wisdom to understand His Word, and He will give you the ability to see what men of ‘higher education’ cannot see. He will show you the “hidden wisdom” of His Word.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [ them], because they are spiritually discerned.

That is how the holy spirit teaches. It compares spiritual with spiritual because it is all really spiritual; a most hated concept in the “historical orthodox Christian church.”

I hope this helps you to see the need for both books.
Mike

Good Morning Mike,

Thanks for the reply. I had actually found e- sword in a search a few days ago, and attempted to install it, but had some inexplicable difficulty (firewall and browser protection settings I imagine – perhaps not inexplicable at all)

I’ve made the attempt again at your suggestion and was both successful and frankly thrilled at the quality and utility of the software. It’s already saved me hours of research, and countless thumbed pages in Greek/ Hebrew dictionaries.

I know I’ve just scratched the surface of the resources on the web, but e- sword looks already as if it will be my primary study tool.

I had also found some software – bibledatabase – which I have enjoyed, but I can see the great value of Strong’s numbering and the immediate reference to the Greek and Hebrew.

Thank you so very much, Mike.

I’d like to keep in touch. Although I consider(ed) myself a critical atheist, I’m not at all satisfied that I know well enough that which I claimed not to believe… if that makes any sense.

I was scholarly in my atheism (study of objectivism and epistemology), but it seems unfair to declare philosophical victory having never really given the other side a fair shake so to speak. I’ve honed my debating skills, but I really don’t have much else to show for it. Winning debates is sort of like winning at chess – it’s a game, and it really doesn’t matter once all is said and done, unless you are a lawyer.

In fairness to the theology which I had rejected, I will begin a post graduate correspondence course in Christian Apologetics relatively soon, but can see already that the Statement of Faith of the Calvinist school (Trinity) is based on less than scriptural interpretations… perhaps most immediately observable in the name of the school! LOL

It will be an uphill battle for me to maintain my scholarly integrity and still put together an acceptable (to them) thesis, but as a law student, I understand that learning and presenting both sides of any case as fairly as possible, and applying the rules equally is the real challenge. Anyone can attempt to make any argument for anything, but I really just want truth. It is not about the winning for me… well, truth is the real winning, and I the winner if I discern it.

K____

Thanks Again.

Hi K____,

I do not claim to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar. I do not believe that our salvation requires that. I do, however, believe that we ought to “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed but rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

The only tools I have are a KJV Bible, a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, and a Wigram’s Englishman’s Greek, and a Wigram’s Englishman’s Hebrew concordances. The reason for the KJV is simply that it is the most popular and most widely used Bible in history. The reason for the Strong’s Concordance is that Wigram’s is keyed to Strong’s numbers.

The single most helpful tool you can have is e- sword, which you have already downloaded. It is full of different translations and different commentaries. I find that I use these very little. What I do use very much is the Strong’s numbers which give me every entry for any Greek or Hebrew word. E- sword will do more for you than all the other translation and commentaries combined.

If you are willing to take the time to look at every entry for any word in the original Greek and the original Hebrew, you will then know the difference between how the translators have mistranslated that word and the true meaning of that word.

Two verses are paramount to consider if your understanding of scripture is to be truly extant.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

The first verse shows only by God dragging you to him [ the word ‘draw’ here is the same word used elsewhere for ‘drag’] will one come to know Christ and thereby His Father, and the second verse explains why some have understanding and some don’t. I pray that God will open your eyes and ears spiritually and draw you to Him.
Let me hear from you.

Mike