Do not sacrifice what you know, for what you do not know

Vancouver, 2018

Do not sacrifice what you know, for what you do not know 

The verse that is cited in the video below:

John 9:25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

To paraphrase the statement I have heard Pastor Courson provide over the years:

Do not sacrifice what you know, for what you do not know.

In contrast to Pastor Courson's description of Billy Graham and this late evangelist's stated, supposed, lack of academic background in his dialogue with the late Charles Templeton; I have a formal academic background with religious studies and philosophy of religion. I have academically reviewed various historical, theological and philosophical intellectual objections to biblical Christianity and reviewed various Christian views, both in formal Canadian and British academia and on websites.

The description of Billy Graham's approach could be without absolute precision, coined as the use of a 'bible only' paradigm to Christian faith. 'Bible only' is not a precise term, because even those within 'bible only' movements may at times, minimally appeal to other sources. I do not view 'bible only' approaches when they use scripture accurately, in context, as wrong, but they are certainly intellectually limited. Again, all truth is God's truth, even as the scripture is the final authority on religious matters within Christian faith and philosophy. This is the only legitimate revealed word of God. (note: Billy Graham has written books for teaching)

Pastor Courson is a fine, verse by verse, contextual, biblical teacher and has produced what I consider is an excellent biblical commentary series that I have cited on this website work. So, to be clear, Pastor Courson is not strictly a 'bible only' pastor, he has written a biblical commentary and consults commentaries. Rather, as I have listened to Pastor Courson since 1987, and use his commentaries, he would use philosophical theology and related philosophy and philosophy of religion, minimally at best.

Objections to biblical Christianity can be reviewed and reasonably answered. This is true, as Christian scholars, even when guided by the Holy Spirit, are finite (permanently) and tainted by sin in this present fallen realm. (see Romans for the universal fall of humanity and the remedy through Christ's atoning and resurrection work applied to believers)

Billy Graham's approach to Christian faith, described in the video, with Charles Templeton's objections and eventual apostasy, by simply trusting in the bible, is not the only palatable, reasonable approach within biblical Christianity. These types of objections can also be handled reasonably and successfully, academically, within biblical studies, theology, philosophy of religion and other academic disciplines, while at the same time staying true to scripture in context and not sacrificing what one knows, for what one does not know.

For balance, I can definitely appreciate Pastor Courson's advice for his listeners, and most people within the Church are not led to take theology, philosophy and bible degrees, and write related websites.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

Revelation 11: The two witnesses: non-exhaustive

Revelation 11: The two witnesses: non-exhaustive

This is another fine teaching video from Mr. Bruce Gore. I appreciate his academic, preterist perspectives on the Book of Revelation, which at least warrant significant consideration on many points. In regards to much of the Book of Revelation, Mr. Gore favours, based on his contextual understanding, a symbolic, metaphorical interpretation of the verses under consideration, which from his video are Revelation 11: 1-8. In particular...

Revelation 11: 3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

This is approximate, as three and a half years. The scripture is noted to document approximates.

To paraphrase Mr. Gore from the video, these two witnesses are within scholarship, generally considered to represent:

The Law: Moses

The Prophets: Elijah

Staying true to Mr. Gore's largely symbolic and metaphorical interpretations of eschatology from Revelation, he views these two witnesses as representing the early New Testament Church that lived and witnessed the Gospel work of Jesus Christ, and the new covenant, which replaced the old covenant from the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The Book of Hebrews presents the theology of the new covenant thoroughly and Jesus Christ mentions it in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 22:20

English Standard Version (ESV)

20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.[a]

Footnotes: a Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts omit, in whole or in part, verses 19b-20 (which is given… in my blood)

Hebrews 8:6 as example

English Standard Version (ESV)

6 But as it is, Christ[b] has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

b Hebrews 8:6 Greek he

Based on what Gore presents in his video, the New Testament Church presents the new covenant to Jersusalem until the fall of Jerusalem; until the fall of the city to Rome, in AD 70.

Revelation scholar Robert H. Mounce explains that 'There is little doubt that the witnesses are modelled after Moses and Elijah.' (222). Mounce's view basically agrees with Gore's on the two witnesses as Mounce writes: '...that they are not two individuals but a symbol of the witnessing church in the last tumultuous days before the end of the age.' (223). Mounce states that some scholars limit this symbolic witness to those in the early Christian Church that are martyred. (223).

The two witnesses are killed by the beast (v7), which is interpreted as the Roman Empire by Gore, and God after 3 and half days brings them back to life (v 11). Again in basic agreement with the views of Gore, Mounce views this as the resurrection of the Church (228) and that God demonstrates that he has ultimate power over life and death, (228). Those persecuted and killed within the early Church and throughout Church, history will one day be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 20-22, my add).

Pastor and scholar, David Hocking documents there has been a wide variety of interpretations regarding the identity of the two witnesses. (379). There is a symbolic view relating to Israel and the Church (379), another view is that they are Israel and the Word of God (379). Further, there is a view that these might be Zerubbabel and Joshua (Gore mentions these two) which would represent the Law and the Prophets, respectively. (379). Some have suggested that they are two unknown individuals that never existed before. (379).

But Hocking appears to lean toward a more literal interpretation, being that Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Prophets. (379). He reasons that the supernatural, miraculous powers mentioned in Revelation 11: 6,  point to Moses and Elijah being the two witnesses, as the miraculous works in Revelation are similar to their supernatural works done through God in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Please see Elijah: First and Second Kings and Moses: Exodus.

Revelation 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

Courson in his commentary agrees that the description in Revelation 11 matches Elijah and Moses (1726-1727), and similarly to Hocking, but perhaps with more certainty, based on his commentary, appears to take the view that Elijah and Moses will be literally present. "The witnesses are examples of what you can be in the last days in which we live'. (1727). The Christian can have a revived faith (1727), just as the two witnesses are revived in Revelation 11: 12 is the practical theology, I reason.

Greek New Testament

Bible Hub

Marshall on page 747 with dusin martusin (two witnesses) is in basic agreement with the majority of Greek New Testament readings from my the first link (my two witnesses) and the Greek rendering from the second link I present from Bible Hub (two...a witness).

The Greek New Testament website does offer an alternative but very similar rendering from the Byzantine Majority Text. dusi martusi (my two witnesses).

The symbolic, metaphorical language of eschatological concepts in Revelation, for accuracy, requires consideration while allowing for degrees of literalness with interpretation and theology. Mounce has stated in regards to the new creation (Revelation 21-22). 'Interpreters understand these figures with varying degrees of literalness.' Mounce (369).  This is true in regards to eschatological biblical texts, including significant parts of Revelation.

Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice

Ernest Hepnar photo

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

HOCKING, DAVID (2014) The Book of Revelation, Tustin, California, HFT Publications. 

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

My suggestion

New York Post: April 26, 2020

Cited

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is either dead, brain-dead or just fine, depending on which Asian media report you believe.

Cited

A Hong Kong broadcast network claimed Saturday that Kim died, citing a “very solid source.” A Japanese magazine, meanwhile, reported late Friday that he is in “a vegetative state.” On Kim’s home turf, the North Korean media has acted as if everything is perfectly normal.

Satirically, 'a way' to make much sense of these three reports is to assume...

a) The Hong Kong broadcast is correct, Kim is dead.

b) The Japanese magazine is correct, Kim is in a vegetative state.

c) The North Korean media is correct, Kim is perfectly normal.

My suggestion

Kim Jong Un (Kim Jong-un) is now a zombie...

(That can pass as 'normal' in a communist state if the state-controlled media states it is so)

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Facebook has in error blocked my second Blogger website, Satire Und Theology from posting entries on my Facebook business page, Russell Norman Murray, PhD. Facebook falsely claims I violated community standards with a recent entry where Kenneth Copeland is on a YouTube video stating...

Quote: The Devil's tryin' to give me the flu

Further, the Blogger entry and the associated Facebook entry contained the following comments from me:

Presumptive theology in regards to God, Satanic beings and humanity, and making money in the process.
---

Obviously, my entry was not supporting Kenneth Copeland's claim.

I have made four requests from Facebook for clarification regarding community standards. No reply.

Therefore I publish this entry on this website that can be posted on my Facebook business page.

Quote: Such diversity of purpose

Kelowna 2018

Quote: Such diversity of purpose

Preface

I listened to a well-reasoned, good, online sermon today. I agree with the theology presented that God wills evil at times but in pure motives.

To paraphrase, the pastor mentioned that very often, the reasons for specific divinely willed (directly or indirectly/allowed by God, my add) evils and sufferings upon human beings are difficult to humanly understand.

I will add that apart from biblical teaching, at least typically, human beings are not provided with God's specific reasoning in particular situations and events.

I reason, in agreement with the pastor, (paraphrased) that far too often, many evangelicals, typically,
oversimplify problems of evil and problems of suffering in their attempts to help remedy the suffering (s) of persons and/or to set people and especially the sufferer, 'straight'.

It is actually a reasonable biblical, contextual understanding and Reformed theology that can set people straight.

I can acknowledge that philosophical theodicy, using theology and philosophy of religion does not take the place of effective practical theology that can assist a sufferer in having a true Christian religious experience.

From

2003 The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives: MPhil thesis, Bangor University 

God wills evil, but with pure motives

Calvin discussed in The Institutes the case of the Chaldeans attacking Job, that God, Satanic beings and human beings can all participate in the same evil acts:

Cited

How can we attribute the same work to God, to Satan, and to man, without either excusing Satan by the interference of God, or making God the author of the crime? This is easily done, if we look first to the end, and then to the mode of acting. The Lord designs to exercise the patience of his servant by adversity; Satan’s plan is to drive him to despair; while the Chaldeans are bent on making unlawful gain by plunder.

Such diversity of purpose makes a wide distinction in the act. . . . We thus see that there is no inconsistency in attributing the same act to God, to Satan, and to man, while, from the difference in the end and mode of action, the spotless righteousness of God shines forth at the same time that the iniquity of Satan and of man is manifested in all its deformity.

Calvin’s idea is that free human actions were first willed and determined by God. Calvin (1543)(1996: 37-40). God’s motives in willing an action were always pure, working toward the greater good even while human beings freely sinned. (1543)(1996: 37-40).

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter