Wednesday, November 08, 2017

The Deaths of the Apostle Paul & Apostle Peter

Encountering page 347

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
Rome: Facebook
Biblehub.com

Once again, with this review of the 'Encoutering' text, in particular the text images; the historicity of Christianity is demonstrated from Biblical, New Testament and Church Father sources.

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Encountering Hebrews & James

Encountering page 330

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

Hebrews, although with no definitive, documented author, is considered part of the New Testament canon. It is universally accepted within orthodox Christianity, as being produced from the group of New Testament era disciples of Jesus Christ, Apostles and scribes.

Further, it receives intellectual support from early Church Fathers.
Encountering page 338: It is good to read scholarship that states the truth that Scripture, at times, makes generalizations. It is generally true is regard to the rich/wealthy, but not always. This may smack against some theologies of fundamentalism, but this is important to realize for the sake of avoiding theological error. At times, some within the Church fail to intellectually embrace the truth that although all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3), and is inerrant and infallible in the original documents, some contexts are presenting what is generally true. In contrast, as examples, the eternal, infinite nature of God, God's triune nature, and God's plans of salvation for those in Christ, through the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, are universally true doctrines. Biblical context determines general truths from universal truths.

Monday, November 06, 2017

False deities of the New Testament

Encountering page 300
ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

False deities of the New Testament

Bible Gateway.com

Cited

'Dictionary of Bible Themes Scripture index, Martin H. Manser, 2009. As Editor, Martin Manser wishes to thank all those who compiled or edited the NIV Thematic Study Bible, on which this work is based.'

Cited

8747 false gods

Any gods other than the Lord himself. Some of these divinities took the form of images, others were mythical. Some Israelites became involved in idolatrous worship of such gods.'

'The first Christians were confronted with the worship of Greek and Roman deities Zeus and Hermes Ac 14:12 Zeus was the patron god of the city of Lystra and his temple was there. Paul was identified as the god Hermes (the Roman Mercury), Zeus’attendant and spokesman. Artemis Ac 19:24-28 Artemis was the Greek name for the Roman goddess, Diana. Castor and Pollux See also Ac 28:11 the two “sons of Zeus”, regarded as the guardian deities of sailors'

'Attempts to deify human beings Ac 12:21-22; Ac 14:12-15; Ac 28:6'
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Satan/The Devil

2 Corinthians 4: 2-4: New American Standard Bible )NASB)

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled [a]to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this [b]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving [c]so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
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Satan, the Devil, although a finite and fallen creation of God (Genesis 1-3, Revelation 12) within God's sovereign control, is in a sense, the god of this present fallen realm. Satan is also the prince of the powers of the air (Ephesians 2: 2 from NASB). He should never be confused for infinite, almighty God.

Sunday, November 05, 2017

Temple Warning

Encountering page 293
Temple Warning

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

Temple Warning

A warning notice from the barrier between the Court of the Gentiles and the Court of the Women at the temple in Jerusalem, First-century A.D. (293).

Bible History.com
From a New Testament perspective:

Galatians 3:23-28

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [a]tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is [b]neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Footnotes: Galatians 3:25 Lit child-conductor Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female

Hebrews 8-10: Describes the New Covenant

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8:13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

9:11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[d] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[e] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[f] so that we may serve the living God!

Hebrews 9:11 One early ms to come Hebrews 9:11 Or sacred tent Hebrews 9:12 Or obtaining Hebrews 9:13 I.e., ashes mixed in water Hebrews 9:13 Lit purity Hebrews 9:14 Or His eternal spirit 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
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This short article used as source for a larger article on academia.edu on 20250301