Hi,

I have a question about temptation.  Jesus prayed to the Father and asked him not to lead us into temptation (Mat 6:13), but there is a Bible verse that says God doesn’t tempt man (Jas 1:13).  If God doesn’t tempt man, then why did Jesus ask the Father not to lead us into temptation?

Regards,

L____

Hi L____,

Thank you for your question.

You said:

“My question is about temptation.  Jesus prayed to the Father and asked him not to lead us into temptation (Mat 6:13), but there is a Bible verse that says God doesn’t tempt man (Jas 1:13).  If God doesn’t tempt man, then why did Jesus ask the Father not to lead us into temptation?”

Here are both of the verses you reference, which seem to contradict each other:

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

This King James translation of Jas 1:13 mistranslates the Greek word ‘hautou’ as ‘he’ when it should have been translated as “Himself”.

Here is Strong’s definition of that Greek word:

G848
αὑτοῦ
hautou
how-too’
Contraction for G1438; self (in some oblique case or reflexive relation): – her (own), (of) him (-self), his (own), of it, thee, their (own), them (-selves), they.

Here is a much better translation of this verse of scripture:

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

Every apparent contradiction of scripture is easily cleared up when we consult “the sum of [God’s] Word”, and if we do so “line upon line and precept upon precept”. God’s Word is intentionally written in this way for this express purpose:

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ESV)

Isa 28:13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. 

What this tells us is that Christ, the Word who was also “the cloud” that led Israel out of Egypt, is darkness and a snare to our old man in the middle of the day, while at the same time, He is bright daylight to our new man in the middle of the night:

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 

It is the same ‘cloud’ which is being ‘seen’ by “them” and “these”, yet their perceptions are complete opposite.

Here are the verses immediately preceding the revelation that God’s words are “a snare” to our old man:

Isa 28:9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 
Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

There is a paper on the iswasandwillbe.com web site which demonstrates with the scriptures how the writers of the scriptures handled the Word of God. Christ and His apostles set us an example of how we are to approach and understand His Words, and we would do well to follow their example and use God’s words in the same manner in which Christ and His apostles used His Words.

Here is the link to that paper: Rightly Dividing the Word

God’s Word is a book that is to add verse to verse.

So we are to never make the mistake of attempting to understand why one verse seems to contradict the other. We are always to seek to see what is the sum of God’s Word, and in this particular case we discover that While the Father Himself tempts no man, God does indeed send His angels to tempt men many times. Here are but a few examples of where we are plainly told that God led men into temptation:

Gen 22:1  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Taking this verse by itself, it appears to be a direct contradiction of Jas 1:13, but later in this same story we learn that it was a messenger of the Lord who spoke these very same words to Abraham:

Gen 22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
Gen 22:12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

It is the angel of the Lord who says “now I know…” because the angel is speaking for the Lord, and God the Father Himself is not tempting Abraham, but has sent an angel to do so.

The Lord led  Joseph’s brothers to sell him into Egypt:

Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6  For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

It was the spirit of God that drove Christ into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil:

Mat 4:1  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 

Mar 1:13  And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Yes, He was “tempted of Satan”, but Mark repeats for us that it was the spirit of God that drove Christ into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Mar 1:12  And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 
Mar 1:13  And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Luke confirms that it was the spirit that “led” Christ to His temptation by the devil:

Luk 4:1  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 
Luk 4:2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

The Lord tempted David to number the people of Israel:

2Sa 24:1  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. 

But applying the principle of adding the verses of scripture together in a way that brings harmony to the Word of God we discover who the Lord actually used to “move David against [Israel]”:

1Ch 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 
1Ch 21:2  And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

I hope all of this demonstrates that this is what is actually being said here in James one when it is properly translated:

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: 

The scriptures may seem many times to contradict themselves. But the Truth is they never do:

Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

If ever there appears to be a problem with the scriptures, that problem is never with the scriptures themselves but it is in our lack of understanding,. We are never to even “think above what has been written”:

1Co 4:6  And, brothers, I transferred these things to myself and Apollos because of you, that in us you may learn not to think above what has been written, that you not be puffed up one over the other.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Hi Mike,

Hope all is going well with you and yours. I was recently reading Mark 14:21, and a question arose which I hope you can help me with.

The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

I believe Judas will be cleansed in the Lake of Fire and therefore ultimately be given eternal life. If this is true, why would Jesus say it would have been better if Judas had never been born?

As always, Mike, thanks for your time and dedication.
Your brother,

S____

Hi S____,

Far be it from me to deny that the words here are “good were it for that man if he had never been born”. That is what Christ said. Christ also ‘commended an unjust steward’ who had stolen from his master:

Luk 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Of course the point is that “He had done wisely” in preparing for his future, not that he had been dishonest and was a crook. Nevertheless we could ignore all the rest of scripture and insist that the Bible says “The Lord commended the unjust steward…” and in doing so we would miss the overall message of Christ’s gospel.

In another instance Christ also said, ‘You knew I was a hard man reaping where I had not sown…’

Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

If we took verse 26 by itself, we could use it to prove that God is a hard man who reaps where He has not sown. After all, Christ Himself said “… I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed”. However, we know from the rest of scripture that He had sown a talent to that particular servant.

Of course there are a thousand other false doctrines which we can prove by taking a scripture and keeping it isolated from the rest of the Bible. I will give just two more examples.

Luk 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

That verse taken by itself tells us all to ‘sell our garments and buy a sword’, and considering the fact that Christ gave his disciples those instructions on the night He was apprehended by the chief priests, has led many to believe that Christ was urging His disciples to defend Him and themselves.

Nothing could be further from the Truth. By simply reading the next two verses it is clear that self-defense was not on Christ’s mind at all, and that the necessity of fulfilling the scriptures was what was on His mind.

Luk 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Luk 22:38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

“Two swords” were enough? Yes, that was enough to cause the scriptures to be fulfilled, and that was Christ’s point, even though He told them all to “Sell your garment and buy a sword.” Yes, it says ‘Sell your garment and buy a sword’, but that is not the message of ‘the sum of God’s Word’.

Here is one last example of how we can misunderstand the scriptures so very easily. In Christ’s so-called ‘sermon on the mount’, He tells us “resist not evil”.

Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

It may seem unbelievable to many, but whole sermons have been preached using that verse to tell those listening that they should just quit resisting sin in their lives because Christ has died for your sins. Of course that simply justifies continuing in sin, when the point Christ is making is that we are not to resist the evil which this world perpetrates upon us. Here are the next two verses:

Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

“If any man sue you… whosoever shall compel you…” So “resist not evil” is speaking only of sin being perpetrated upon us. It is not speaking of inward sin of which we are all specifically instructed:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Now it is true that the context of some of these examples makes the meaning clear, while the very next verse in Mark 21 does not make it clear that Judas will be saved in the end.

Mar 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
Mar 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Nevertheless we must never forsake the principle of “the sum of thy word is truth”.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

The sum of God’s Word concerning the salvation of Judas is contained in all the verses which declare that “As in Adam all die, so in Christ will all be made alive. I know you already are familiar with these verses:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

“All” certainly includes Judas, and Judas was certainly “in Adam”.

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Again, “all men” would include Judas.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Christ’s life is worth more to His Father than all physical life on earth. Nevertheless, it is only through the work Judas was predestined to accomplish that Christ became “the propitiation for… the sins of the whole world”.

That being so, why did Christ say, “Better it would have been for him if he had not been born?” He said that for the same purpose He told the “wicked and slothful servant… you knew I reaped where I sowed not and gathered where I had not strawed.” Christ was speaking to that servant according to the idol of his heart. That servant saw his master as a hard man, so that is how God showed Himself to that man.

Psa 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

So for all who believe in the monstrous, demonic doctrine of eternal torment, He is doing the same here in this verse. God himself has deceived the whole world into believing that He is a hard man and that those who do not choose to believe in Christ, here and now, in this life will burn in hell for all eternity.

Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
Eze 14:10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

We all “bear the punishment of our iniquity”.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

These people, including you and me at our own appointed time, have no use for “The sum of thy word”, and they want to cling to that demonic doctrine, giving them an excuse to continue in “the stumbling block of their iniquity.”

Eze 14:2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

The doctrine of eternal torment is an “idol of the heart” of all orthodox Christianity. It is ‘all of God’, nevertheless, it must be lived out in each of us. “I the Lord have deceived that prophet” applies to us all in our own appointed time.

I hope this helps you to understand that ‘better were it for him if he had not been born’ is the same as saying ‘the Lord commended the unjust steward… sell your garments and buy a sword… you knew I gathered where I had not sown”, etc. Christ spoke in a way that is designed to deceive those who are intended to be ‘deceived by ‘the Lord himself’. Mark 14:21 is no exception to that Truth.

Truth was never intended to be found in any single verse. It can only be found in “the sum of thy word” (Psa 119:160 ASV).

Here is the URL for a letter that may also help in answering your question:
The Sum of Thy Word

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hi,

This is a small detail, but I thought it may be worth mentioning anyway.
On this page:
http:// iswasandwillbe. com/ understandingbible. php
You write:
“To the righteous of the day, He was a great disappointment, picking corn on the Sabbath, healing on the Sabbath and then telling a man to pick up his bed and carry it on the Sabbath.”
The last two I agree with, of course.
But when I read the corn- picking passages closely, it seems to me that only the disciples were picking corn/ grain, and Jesus, while with them, did not condemn them, did not even rebuke them, but He did not pick corn for Himself either. At least it is not recorded for us.

Mat 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
Mat 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
Mar 2:23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
Mar 2:24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
Luk 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
Luk 6:2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

Small point perhaps, but I found it interesting.
C____

Hi C____,

Thank you for bringing this “small detail” up, because it gives me the opportunity to point out that we are never to be found guilty of pitting one section of scripture against another. Rather we are always to put the scriptures together to arrive at what is actually being said. I certainly am not accusing you of pitting one verse of God’s Word against another verse of God’s Word, I just want to take this opportunity to demonstrate that when we fail to consider the sum of God’s Word, and we attempt to establish doctrine based upon isolated verses of scripture, what we are doing is tantamount to “taking away from the words of this prophecy”, which we are solemnly warned will bring a terrible curse upon us. Here is that solemn warning:

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

“The things which are written in this book” includes “all things… the world… life, death, things present and things to come, all are yours”.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

So when we read anything in God’s word, even if it includes “the world”, or even “death”, it is still ‘ours’. It is not just someone else’s. It is also ours.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The Truth is not to be found in ‘some of God’s words’; rather it is only to be found in “the sum of thy Word”.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

It is true that Mat 12:1-2 and Mar 2:23-24 may appear to some to be saying that Christ Himself did not eat the corn on the sabbath day. Luke however, is worded in such a way as to make clear that the spirit does not, in this instance, exclude Christ from the actions of His disciples:

Luk 6:2 But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye [ Christ and His disciples] that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?

So the holy spirit does not separate the actions of Christ’s disciples, in this instance, from Christ Himself. That Christ Himself “broke the sabbath” is simply not in doubt as far as the inspired Word of God is concerned. Only the most severely spiritually blinded mind, wanting to remain under the law, will deny the message of this verse of scripture concerning He who so clearly, and so often said “Ye have heard it said by them of old time… but I say unto you…”

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Yes, it appears from the wording of Matthew’s gospel and Mark’s gospel that it was only the disciples who broke the sabbath by eating the grain in the field on the sabbath day. But Christ not only “did not even rebuke them”, as you so rightly put it, He went way beyond just ‘not rebuking them’, because “not only had He broken the sabbath”, but He also actually defended His disciples for doing so, and He did this all “for our admonition” (1Co 10:11).
So whether Christ Himself actually ate of the grain of that field that day is a moot question. He plainly confesses to having done that “which was not lawful for him…” and He confesses to having “profaned the sabbath” just as if He had picked the corn, and just as if He were one of the physical Levitical, Aaronic priests which, being of the tribe of Judah, He certainly was not.

Mat 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Mat 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
Mat 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
Mat 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Christ’s defense was not, ‘But I myself did not eat’, it is rather simply “That in this place is one greater than the temple”. You talk about nerve! Christ had surely been given “the spirit without measure” to make such a defense. He had come as a reformer, and He was in the process of reforming things.

Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Heb 9:10 Which [ sacrifices in the first tabernacle] stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

I hope this helps you to see that in this instance, Christ and His disciples are a unit, and that Christ considered those accusing His disciples of breaking the sabbath as an attack upon Himself, who made no pretense of keeping the physical weekly sabbath day.

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

God bless you for your care in handling His Word.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Mike,

This may seem like a dumb question, but what is the doctrine of Christ?

Thanks,
S____

Hi S____,
Thanks for your question.
You ask:

This may seem like a dumb question, but what is the doctrine of Christ?

That is not a dumb question at all. It is one that deserves an answer, but before I give you Christ’s own answer to that question, let’s notice what it is not.
One thing for certain is that “the doctrine of Christ” is not to be found in the “statement of beliefs” of any denomination known to man. If any of us have a “statement of beliefs” which is anything less than “the sum of thy word”, then that denomination has no idea what is “the doctrine of Christ”, because the doctrine of Christ is the Truth, and the Truth is “the sum of God’s Word” and not just ‘some of God’s Word’, which is at best, what any “statement of beliefs” is. That being the case, this is “the doctrine of Christ.”

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ESV)

Add to that these words of our Lord Himself, and you have the short answer to your question:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

So when you tell the whole world that your statement of beliefs is thus and such, and you leave out any single word that Christ spoke, or you twist His words to make them conform to your “statement of beliefs,” as does each and every man- made denomination, then “out of your own mouth” you have acknowledged that you do not believe the doctrine of Christ. Instead you have your own “statement of beliefs” which leaves out many of “the words that proceed out of the mouth of God.”
Just a few examples will suffice to make clear this point. For example, how many churches who publish a “statement of beliefs” agree with Christ and so states in their statement of beliefs, that we are expected to “love our enemies?”

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
Mat 5:44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
Mat 5:45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?

I suppose that there are a few who do make that point in their statement of beliefs, but they would be few indeed in these days of “the war on terror”.
But how many of those who would agree that we are not to kill our fellow man under any circumstances, would agree with Christ that His children “know the truth?” How many of those whose statements of beliefs state that we are to love our enemies, will agree with Christ that His followers know what is not true and are therefore of one doctrine?

Joh 8:31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;
Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Let no man ever tell you otherwise. “You shall know the Truth.” Any one who ever says otherwise is a liar.

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

The last example which will prove that those who have a published “statement of beliefs” cannot be familiar with “the doctrine of Christ,” is that no such church knows what is “the love of God.” There is not one Christian in a thousand who knows that the love of God is the keeping of His commandments, and that the only way to know that you love your brothers is to obey God and keep His commandments.

1Jn 5:2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

“Hereby we know that we love the children of God…” Nothing less than obedience to God’s commandments makes clear that we love the children of God. If we ignore one word that proceeds out of the mouth of God via his prophets and apostles, then we do not love the children of God. While many claim to “keep his commandments”, in reality they most often actually despise His commandments, and would not keep them under any circumstance. The manifest truth is that if Jesus were here teaching the same doctrine He taught 2000 years ago, it would be “those Jews which believed in Him,” who would again crucify Him and nail Him to the cross to keep from having to listen to “the doctrine of Christ.”

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [ then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of [ your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Those who have “the doctrine of Christ” believe His doctrine, and to this very day are “hated of all men.”

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Christ is His doctrine, and “His name’s sake” is being faithful to that doctrine.
There is much, much more that can be said to demonstrate that those who publish a “statement of beliefs,” and those who teach “agreement in the essentials and tolerance in the nonessentials,” don’t have a clue what is “the doctrine of Christ.”
What, pray tell, is “nonessential” in these words which truly are “the doctrine of Christ.”

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

I hope this helps you to see that we all need to be in our Bibles and getting to know the Truth. Christ assures us “we shall,” if we are to be made free from all the false doctrines of men, because the doctrine of Christ is not any man’s limited statement of beliefs, but is rather “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” There is not one “nonessential” word that ever came out of the mouth of Christ or any of those who He has inspired to write His Words. Christ is The Truth, and all of His words are His doctrine:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Know God’s Word, and you will know the doctrine of Christ:

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your [ spiritual] house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hello Mike,

2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

2Sa 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

I was wondering if there could be any explanation for the discrepancy concerning the above two verses conveying on the one hand that Michal had no children in 2Sa 6:23 but on the other hand 2Sa 21:8 goes on to say that she had five sons. As always, your thoughtful answer would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards.

YBIC,

M____

Hi M____,

Thank you for your question concerning this apparent contradiction in scripture. Here again are those two verses:

2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
2Sa 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.

As is pointed out below “”Had no child unto the day of her death” may mean simply “had no child henceforward.” Here is the sequence of events:

1Sa 25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

This Isa 1 Samuel, which ends with the death of King Saul after giving David’s wife, Michal, to another man.

Several years later, in 2 Samuel, we are told David demanded his wife back, but this was after running from Saul for several years and then finally being established as the king.

2Sa 3:12 And Abner [King Saul’s captain of the host] sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
2Sa 3:13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
2Sa 3:14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
2Sa 3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

After being established as the king of all of Israel, David sends to Shiloh, and after making some very serious mistakes in the handling of the ark of God, He finally brings the ark into Jerusalem. It is at this joyous time that King David dances before the ark, and Michal despises her husband and accuses him of exposing himself to the women of Jerusalem. It is at this point that we read:

2Sa 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
2Sa 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
2Sa 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
2Sa 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
2Sa 6:19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
2Sa 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
2Sa 6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
2Sa 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

It is much later that we encounter this story where Michal is said to have “brought up five sons” of her older sister Merab. It is these five sons of Merab, who Michal had “brought up”, who are delivered to the Gibeonites to be hanged. It is obvious that “Adriel, the son of Barzillai” had five sons by Merab, who had apparently died before King David demanded to have Michal back. These were not Michal’s sons at all but were the sons of her sister who she “had brought up for Adreil the son of Barzallai the Meholathite [ Michal’s brother in law].

These children were all born while David was hiding from King Saul.

“… and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:”

We know this to be the case because of these verses which tell us of how popular David was with all Israel after he killed Goliath. But they also tell us that King Saul’s daughter Merab, was promised to David, before she was given to Adriel, by whom the five sons in question were born.

1Sa 18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1Sa 18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
1Sa 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
1Sa 18:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
1Sa 18:20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
1Sa 18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

So the statement that “Michal had no children” is obviously to be understood as being children of her own, not the children of her sister and brother in law who we are told Michal had “brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:” her brother in law, whose wife, Michal’s sister, Merab, had apparently died.

There are several scriptures just like this one which are always resolved when it is realized that there are many facts surrounding the alleged discrepancy, which must be made known in order to see what is the Truth. But there are time when the Hebrew letters involved are so similar that a sleight scribal error can completely change the name or object under consideration.

Here is what ‘Alleged Discrepancies of The Bible’ has to say about these two verses:

“Michal’s sons, 2Sa 21:8 and 2Sa 6:23 (“Had no child unto the day of her death” may mean simply “had no child henceforward.”  Ewald and DeWette say, with the greatest probability, that Michal, in the first passage, is a copyist’s mistake for Merab).”

There are human scribal errors in the copying of the Bible, but no such error ever takes away from “the sum of God’s Word”.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

I hope this helps you to see that Michal had been taken by her father, King Saul, and given to another man and that the children mentioned had been born to Merab and Adriel, Michal’s sister and brother in law, and were called Michal’s children only because she had “brought them up for Adriel” her brother in law.

Above all, I pray this all serves to demonstrate that the Word of God is always, in its sum, to be our rock, and all men are to be considered liars when they dare to, in any way, belittle or contradict the sum of God’s Word.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Hi Mike:

Just a quick question that has been on my mind. How do we reconcile these scriptures:

Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

… and then:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Thanks,
L____

Hi L____,

Thank you for your question. As is always the case, the Truth of God’s Word lies within “the sum of His Words”.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

The answer, hard as it is to believe for the natural man, is that flesh, in scripture is actually at times a type of the spirit. That is clearly the case in Job and in Eze 36 and 37, where the carnal mind is portrayed as a “heart of stone” and the mind of the spirit, by comparison, is likened to a fleshy heart.
Look at these verses in Eze 36 which make this very clear.

Eze 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [ am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

This is done in other places within the scriptures, where the same symbol is used as a type of both the good and the evil. In Gen 50, the Pharaoh is used of the holy spirit as a type of the Father who has given His kingdom to Joseph as a type of Christ.

Gen 50:5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
Gen 50:6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
Gen 50:7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

But look at how Pharaoh is used of the holy spirit in the very next chapter of scripture:

Exo 1:8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
Exo 1:9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
Exo 1:10 come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.
Exo 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store- cities, Pithom and Raamses.

In going from one chapter to the next, the symbolism of Pharaoh has changed from that of the heavenly Father to that of the man of sin who oppresses and afflicts the people of God.
So it is in Ezekiel 36, in one verse the flesh is carnal and is symbolized by “a heart of stone” and in the very next verse, “a heart of flesh” is used of the holy spirit to symbolize “putting my spirit within you”.
In Job’s case, Job at first did not sin by accusing God falsely, but in chapter 27 he does just that by usurping God’s righteousness as his own, and accusing God of taking away his judgment, even as God was in the process, in type and shadow, of judging Job.

Job 27:2 [ As] God liveth, [ who] hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, [ who] hath vexed my soul;
Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach [ me] so long as I live.
Job 34:5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

This is a perfect example of what Ezekiel 36 calls “a stony heart”. What does God say to Job?

Job 40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [ him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

In type and shadow, God is replacing Job’s “stony heart” with “a heart of flesh”, which is a type of “putting His spirit within Job”.
So then when Job says “Yet in my flesh shall I see God” the sum of God’s Word reveals the word ‘flesh’ here to be a type of the spirit, and the sinews and flesh of Eze 37 are both simply a type of God putting His spirit into those who he raises up from the dead as “a spiritual body”.
Our Lord is our final word on this subject, so it is just as Christ told Nicodemus, and just as the apostle Paul explains to us in 1Co 15.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [ was made] a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Be sure to read this article to see how a resurrected spiritual body can materialize, whereas a natural body cannot become spirit except after a resurrection from the dead.
Spiritual Bodies Can Materialize and Still Be Spiritual
I hope this all answers your questions. If not, please feel free to write again.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hi Mike,

Do you think it will be a delusion if I discovered that God has granted me a certain gift; spiritual or physical? Or maybe it’s an idol of the heart? God is the creator of things. I don’t believe in dreams, doctrines of the world, idols, observing of months, days or festivals. God has granted me faith not to give up in any physical disease. When it comes to beasts within, I need strength to possess my soul. I do believe in total God’s operation, and I am not leaning on my own understanding. We are all clays, and he is the Potter. Knowledge and understanding is from God. You remain in my prayers. I thank you. God bless.

YBIC,
N____

Hi N____,
God has granted us all gifts of one type or another.

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Paul goes on to enumerate some of the gifts of the ministry, but he certainly is not saying that these are the only gifts of God. In fact in this same chapter he makes it clear that we all contribute to the health of the body of Christ in some way.

Eph 4:14  That we [ henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [ and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [ even] Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

So my answer to your question is to come to “know God and Jesus Christ who He has sent.” That is done through the study of His word. When you come to know God and His word, then you can “try the spirits” to see whether they are of God”, and God will reveal any idols of your heart to you. He will even chasten you and burn those idols out of you. Ask Him, and He will answer every sincere prayer.

Joh 11:22  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Of course the principle of “the sum of Thy word”, applies to all of our requests, and it is clear that God will not give us any request that is contrary to His will.

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

So ask God for the ability to discern spirits to see whether they are of God.

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [ men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

I hope these scriptures all help you to decide whether you are being given a gift or an idol of the heart.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Updated October 2, 2023

Hey, Mike,

Your site has really been a great tool for me in learning the nature and purpose for God and Life. Thanks so much. I was reading up on a bit of Greek words, and I came upon this website and saw this commentary on the words aion and the adjective form aionios.

This does conflict a bit with your paper on “What is Life Aionios?”, but I would really like to hear what you think. I’ve copied the text below. God bless you Mike!

M____

Hi M____,

I am pleased to know you have benefited from the site.

Thank you for your question. You have sent me a link that disagrees with the letter entitled What Is Life Aonios? and you ask what I think of what he says. What I think is that this person is more of an historian than he is a student of the bible, the name of his website notwithstanding.

I could not help but notice that I was over three-quarters of the way down the page before I encountered the first and the last scripture which was:

Mat 25:46 Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

The story of the laws of Sparta was very interesting, but it all amounted to human reasoning as opposed to allowing the scriptures to interpret themselves.

Here are all the various English translations for the Greek noun G165, ‘aion’ in the King James Version of the New Testament:

Total KJV Occurrences: 101
ages, 2
Eph_2:7; Col_1:26

began, 3
Luk_1:70; Joh_9:32; Act_3:21

course, 1
Eph_2:2

end, 2
Eph_3:21(2)

eternal, 2
Eph_3:11; 1Ti_1:17

ever, 44
Gal_1:5(2); Php_4:20(2); 1Ti_1:17(2); 2Ti_4:18(2); Heb_1:8(2); Heb_7:24; Heb_13:21(2); 1Pe_4:11(2); 1Pe_5:11(2); Jud_1:25; Rev_1:6(2); Rev_4:9(2); Rev_4:10(2); Rev_5:13(2); Rev_5:14(2); Rev_7:12(2); Rev_10:6(2); Rev_11:15(2); Rev_14:11(2); Rev_15:7(2); Rev_19:3(2); Rev_20:10(2); Rev_22:5(2)

forever, 20
Luk_1:33; Luk_1:55; Joh_12:34; Rom_1:25; Rom_9:5; Rom_11:36; Rom_16:27; 2Co_9:9; Heb_5:6; Heb_6:20; Heb_7:17; Heb_7:21; Heb_13:8; 1Pe_1:23; 1Pe_1:25; 2Pe_2:17; 2Pe_3:18; 1Jn_2:17; 2Jn_1:2; Jud_1:13

forevermore, 2
2Co_11:31; Heb_7:28

never, 2
Joh_8:52; Joh_13:8

standeth, 1
1Co_8:13

world, 20

Mat_24:3; Act_15:18; Rom_12:2; 1Co_1:20; 1Co_2:6(2); 1Co_2:7; 1Co_2:8; 1Co_3:18; 1Co_10:11; 2Co_4:4; Gal_1:4; Eph_1:21; Eph_3:9; Eph_6:12; 1Ti_6:17; 2Ti_4:10; Tit_2:12; Heb_6:5; Heb_9:26

worlds, 2
Heb_1:2; Heb_11:3

Here are all the various English translations for the Greek adjective, G166, ‘aionios’ in the King James Version of the New Testament:

Total KJV Occurrences: 47

began, 3
Rom_16:25; 2Ti_1:9; Tit_1:2

eternal, 31
Mat_19:16; Mar_10:17; Luk_10:25; Luk_18:18; Joh_6:68; Act_13:48; Rom_2:7; Rom_5:21; Rom_6:23; 2Co_4:17; 2Co_4:18; 2Co_5:1; 1Ti_6:12; 1Ti_6:19; 2Ti_2:10; Tit_1:2; Tit_3:7; Heb_5:9; Heb_6:2; Heb_9:12; Heb_9:14; Heb_9:15; 1Pe_5:10; 1Jn_1:2; 1Jn_2:25; 1Jn_3:15; 1Jn_5:11; 1Jn_5:13; 1Jn_5:20; Jud_1:7; Jud_1:21

everlasting, 12
Joh_3:36; Act_13:46; Rom_6:22; Rom_16:26; Gal_6:8; 2Th_1:9; 2Th_2:16; 1Ti_1:16; 1Ti_6:16; Heb_13:20; 2Pe_1:11; Rev_14:6

forever, 1
Phm_1:15

I will demonstrate with the scriptures below that this Greek noun, ‘aion’ and its Greek adjective, ‘aionios’ have both a beginning and an end… “What will be the sign of they coming and the END of the world” [Greek: G165, ‘aion’ (Mat 24:3) ‘Eternity’ has no “end”.] “We were called in Christ before the world [aion] began” [G165: ‘aion’ – ‘Eternity’ has no beginning]

This man doesn’t take the time to discuss the fact that Christ refers to this life as “the dead.”

Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Nor does he even consider that life aionios refers to being sealed with the spirit of life while in this aion, as opposed to receiving life in the lake of fire through aionios punishment. There are only two resurrections mentioned in scripture and Christ never revealed this while He was yet in the flesh. In fact just before His crucifixion He made it very clear that He had many things to reveal to His disciples but they were not yet capable of receiving those truths.

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

It wasn’t just one or two things, it was “many things” which he later reveals through the epistles of Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude.

This man is totally unaware of “the sum of thy word is truth” (Psa 119: 160 ASV).” He seems to think that history and human reasoning is where truth is to be found.

He does point out that an adjective is a word that describes a noun, but what he fails to point out is that his definition of the adjective ‘aionios’ defies the laws of grammar which state that no adjective can have a meaning greater than its derivative noun. Hourly refers to something that is concerned with an hour, daily with a day, weekly with a week, monthly with a month, yearly with a year, and aionios with and aion. You would never use the word hourly to describe a day, daily to describe a week, weekly to describe a month, etc., and you would never use the word aionios to talk about immortality.

In other words, it would make no sense at all to ever use an adjective to describe anything that is greater than it derivative noun, all the human reasoning to the contrary. It has no basis in scripture. That is the very reason you see so many scriptures used in that letter entitled What Is Life Aionios?” and so few scriptures used in his paper.

I hope this helps you to see the dire need to “let God be true and every man a liar.” God is His Word, and it is always “the sum of His word” that constitutes Truth. This paragraph is not based in scripture but it is based in unBiblical, fallacious and faulty human reasoning, which is full of self-contradictions.

Together, AIONIOS ZOE is Eternal Life, an unknown and unquantifiable duration of an immeasurable vast quality of life. Life perpetual. AIONIOS KOLASIS is Eternal Punishment, an unknown and unquantifiable duration of reformation and repentance. Since correction will end in Christ, and life begins in Christ, the duration of punishment will end, but the duration of life is perpetual.”

It is not history or human reasoning that make up Truth. It is only the sum of the Word of God,

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ESV)

It is “Thy Word” which demonstrates for us that this word ‘aion‘ has both a beginning and and end. It is this writer who is guilty of the very thing he is condemning, and that is reinventing the definition of this word ‘aion.’

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [Greek: aion]?

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, [Greek, before – chronos aionios]

Whatever this word means it has both a beginning and an end. Life aionios never means anything greater than its derivative noun. Life aionios has to do with receiving life (in downpayment form) while yet in this eon. Aionios life is only in downpayment form in this aion/eon, and while many may think they are partakers of life aionios, the truth is that it is very few who receive life aionios in downpayment form while yet in these vessels of clay in this eon.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few chosen.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest [ Greek, downpayment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

“The redemption of the purchased possession” is immortality at a resurrection from among the dead. This particular resurrection is that of those who received life in downpayment form while in this aion, “ Until the redemption of the purchased possession.”

Here is how the apostle John expresses this same message:

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

We are “now sons of God” because we have received life in downpayment form of receiving the spirit of God while yet in these aionian vessels of clay. “But it does not yet appear what we will be… until the redemption of the purchased possession.”

I hope this helps to Biblically clarify the meaning of this word for you.

God bless you as you seek to know His mind and His thoughts.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal [Greek: zoe aionios], that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

“Zoe aionios” is “that they may know you” now. “ Now are we the sons of God.” This word ‘aionios‘ biblically has nothing to do with eternal or perpetual, as his paper purports.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Hi Mike,

Here I am one again. I thank you for your answers to my last questions. They certainly cast more light into my dim mind. I do not believe in the Trinity, but I am struggling to know exactly how to define what I believe. The article I have enclosed brings out the dilemma that I have. It goes like this. The Father and the Son are distinct Beings. There is the Father who in His sphere is described as God and then there is Jesus who is described as divine (and called God (and given the name of Almighty God by Almighty God) in his sphere. Clearly the Father is greater than Christ and is Christ’s Head and God, and Christ the Son of God is man’s Head and God. How does one describe this? One God in two persons who because they share the same spirit (mind or essence) are described as One God? In whatever way one understands the Father and Son, even as a Family, they are two divine beings. This must surely make a ‘Binity’. How do you define the Godhead in the light of these features?
Here is a quote from the article:

“So does that make Trinitarians and anyone else who thinks that Jesus is God polytheists? It sure does! One God plus One God equals TWO GODS. “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Joh 17:3). Jesus’ own words.”

Blessings,
B____

Hi B____,
It’s good to hear from you again. I’ll start with your quote above:

“So does that make Trinitarians and anyone else who thinks that Jesus is God polytheists? It sure does! One God plus One God equals TWO GODS.
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Joh 17:3). Jesus’ own words.”

There are several Biblical principles given to us to help us see the things of the spirit. One of those principles is that no prophecy is to be taken by itself.

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Here is a much clearer version of what the Greek is saying in 2Pe. 

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.

So scripture is always to be taken in its sum, its totality.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

So when we take Joh 17:3 and use it in this way…:

“So does that make Trinitarians and anyone else who thinks that Jesus is God polytheists? It sure does! One God plus One God equals TWO GODS.
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Joh 17:3). Jesus’ own words.”

… is this person trying to make Christ contradict Himself when He says:

Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

As you point out, those are Christ’s own wors. God has not placed upon any man the responsibility of giving any other person the ability to either believe or understand spiritual matters. But God has given to me the ability to see that Christ and you and I can all become God’s sons and still not impinge upon the oneness of God. The scriptures plainly state:

1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called [ by God, Joh 10:34] gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1Co 8:7 (a) Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge…

Paul had no problem understanding that Christ had a God and a Father, and at the same time He understood that God’s children were, by their heavenly Father’s own declaration, lesser gods.

Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

As I pointed out in that paper entitled Is God a Trinity, Christ’s defense for claiming to be the son of God was his quoting of Psa 82:6.

You ask:

I do not believe in the Trinity but I am struggling to know exactly how to define what I believe.  The following article brings out the dilemma that I have. It goes like this.  The Father and the Son are distinct Beings.  There is the Father who in His sphere is described as God and then there is Jesus who is described as divine and called God (and given the name of Almighty God by Almighty God) in his sphere.  Clearly the Father is greater than Christ and is Christ’s Head and God, and Christ the Son of God is man’s Head and God.  How does one describe this?  One God in two persons who because they share share the same spirit (mind or essence) are described as One God?  In whatever way one understands the Father and Son, even as a Family, they are two divine beings.  This must surely make  a Binity?  How do you define the Godhead in the light of these features?

I hope the verses I have quoted, which are inspired of the holy spirit, will help you to see that “I [ God] have said, Ye are gods… there are [ according to God] gods many… [ as “sons of God,” and of the same God family] but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and [ besides this “one” Father God] there is one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.”
That makes perfect spiritual sense to me just as there is only one Adam, out of whom Eve came and we all subsequently by her.

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Paul here, and Christ, in Joh 17:3, both think it is extremely important that we understand this principle, revealed at the beginning of this 11th chapter of 1 Corinthians:

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

This was written many years after Christ’s ascension to the right hand of His Father, and yet we are told “the head of Christ is God.” That doesn’t sound like a ‘binity’ to me. In scriptural terms “there are Gods many… [ yet] but one God of whom are all things.”
Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Hi Mike,

Hope all is well with everyone. Thanks for answering my question about Elijah. I wanted to share an observation I had today. I’ve heard people say that it’s a good thing to just read the words in red in the Bible. I thought that today would be a good day to do that. I didn’t get any further than Mat 4:19: “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  The next verse says that Peter and Andrew “straightway” left their nets and followed Jesus.  

I had heard a lot of people talk about why Peter and Andrew responded immediately to Jesus’ request. However, what I seemed to be drawn to was what ‘fishers of men’ meant. It turns out, as you may well know, eSword says that fishers means sailors who fish in salt water. I was curious to see whether or not the sea of Galilee was a salty lake. It’s not; it’s a sweet water lake. I launched into an all- day study about salt and covenants of salt. I was just wondering — do you think the reason Andrew and Peter responded so quickly was because they knew about the covenant of salt that God had with King David?
Thanks for your response.

J____

Hi J____,
Thank you for your question.
You ask:

Do you think the reason Andrew and Peter responded so quickly was because they knew about the covenant of salt that God had with King David?

The answer to your question is, perhaps Peter and Andrew his brother and James and John, Peter’s business partners, did understand the meaning of the covenant of salt that God had with King David, but at this point it would have taken much more than that to have convinced these carnal men that this neighbor of theirs was the Messiah connected to the covenant of salt that God had with King David.
Before I give you the scriptures which show the real reasons they “forsook all and followed Him,” I want to demonstrate for you why we must always allow “the sum of Thy Word” to be our guide.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

As a friend of mine told me, “It says ‘the sum of Thy Word is Truth,’ not ‘ some of Thy Word is Truth.’ I know you already know this, but I will take this letter of yours as an opportunity to demonstrate how helpful it is to be careful to always apply this principle as we seek the mind of God through our studies.
Let’s start with Matthew’s account of this event:

Mat 4:18 And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.
Mat 4:21 And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Mat 4:22 And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Mark’s account is very similar:

Mar 1:16& Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mar 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Mar 1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Mar 1:19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the [ son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
Mar 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

If all we had were these two accounts of this event concerning the calling of Christ’s disciples, we might well think that four complete strangers were summoned by Christ to become His disciples and they just blithely left everything and everyone they had ever known, their families and their livelihood, with no concern for the consequences, and followed Christ.
But look at what actually led up to this day:

Joh 1:29 The next day John [ the baptist] seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Joh 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Joh 1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Joh 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
Joh 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
Joh 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Joh 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
Joh 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
Joh 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
Joh 1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

So now we have a much clearer picture of what led up to Christ telling Peter and Andrew and James and John “follow Me.”
Andrew and another unnamed disciple heard the biggest star of their day, John the baptist, declare Christ to be “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Now we know that all of these disciples, Phillip, Andrew, Peter, James and John and apparently Nathaniel too, were all of the city of Bethsaida, “the city of Andrew and Peter.” The fact that we are told that Christ “finds Phillip and says to him, “follow Me” indicates that Christ already knew Phillip and went and ‘found him’ and told him to come and be His disciple.
But there is one more very interesting reason why Andrew, Peter, James and John in particular, would be willing to forsake their nets to follow Christ. Here is that story:

Luk 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, [ The Latin, Roman name for the Sea of Galilee]
Luk 5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. [ Just as we are told in Matthew and Mark]
Luk 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Luk 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Luk 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Luk 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Luk 5:7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Luk 5:8 When Simon Peter saw [ it], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Luk 5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
Luk 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Luk 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

We know from John’s account of this calling of the disciples, that this all happened in the city of Bethsaida, and we know that Andrew and Peter were partners in their fishing business with James and John. Since Phillip apparently already knew Christ, and since Phillip lived in the same city as Andrew and Peter, he very likely knew about the miracle of the loading down of the two ships with fish.
Two ships full of fish was enough to supply the needs of all these families for a long time. I’m not saying they were not exercising a degree of faith, but it is very obvious that Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts of Christ calling His disciples needs to inculcate Luke’s account of this event, as well as John’s.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

I would love to know what you have learned about the covenant of salt, and I hope this helps to give you a fuller view of why Andrew, Peter, James and John, were willing to forsake their nets and follow Christ. We all demand a sign at the beginning of our walk because we are all without faith to begin with.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign ; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mar 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike