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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Jehonadab Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Are names of God important? | Bible general Archive 2 | Jehonadab | 155191 | ||
In the Hebrew Scriptures or "Old Testament" of the Bible, the name of God is found almost 7000 times in the form of the Tetragrammeton, meaning "four letter". This is translatd as "Jehovah". This name "Jehovah" is the best known English pronunciation of the divine name, although "Yahweh" is favored by most Hebrew scholars. The oldest Hebrew manuscripts present the name in the form of four consonants that may be transliterated into English as YHWH (or, JHVH). The Hebrew consonants of the name are therefore known. The question is, Which vowels are to be combined with those consonants? Vowel points did not come into use in Hebrew until the second half of the first millennium C.E. Furthermore, because of a religious superstition that had begun centuries earlier, the vowel pointing found in Hebrew manuscripts does not provide the key for determining which vowels should appear in the divine name. Thus, the name of God as Jehovah is used in many Bibles and has became the accepted pronunciation of the divine name in English. This retains the essential elements of God's name from the Hebrew original. Thus, Exodus 3:15 says: "And God said moreover to Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you. This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." (Darby's Bible ) Even the Greek name Jesus corresponds to the Hebrew Yeshua or Yehohshua and means "Jehovah Is Salvation". | ||||||
2 | Mat. 24:36 | Bible general Archive 2 | Jehonadab | 155298 | ||
In answering the question concerning the " sign of your presence and the conclusion of the system of things" at Matthew 24:3, Jesus gave features that would identify this time period. However, of his "coming", as found at Matthew 24:30, he said that "Concerning that day and hour, noboby knows, neither the angels, nor the Son, but only the Father." Thus, Jesus stated that this event as to when he is to "come" and hence begin the "great tribulation", as found at verses 15-22, was known only by his Father, Jehovah God. To further show that Jesus is not all-knowing, when asked by his disciples after his resurrection: "Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?", Jesus replied: "It does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction." In addition, Jesus sometime earlier had told the Jews: " I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me I speak these things."(John 8:28) Therefore, Jesus shows that he is not omniscient, but rather was taught by and listens to his Father. | ||||||
3 | the word e-phod in exodus. | Bible general Archive 2 | Jehonadab | 155332 | ||
A priestly vestment. The special ephod to be worn by the high priest is described in detail in God's instructions to Moses. It was apparently an apronlike garment, made of "gold, blue thread and wool dyed reddish purple, coccus scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer." It consisted of front and back parts, these being joined together. A girdle of the same material was "upon" it, perhaps fastened to the ephod, holding it close around the waist. In gold settings on the shoulder pieces were two onyx stones, each engraved with the names of six of the sons of Israel. From the gold settings of these stones hung the breastpiece, by chains of gold having the workmanship of a rope. From the bottom corners of the breastpiece blue string ran through gold rings that were fastened to the lower extremity of the shoulder pieces of the ephod just above the girdle. The ephod apparently reached a little below the waist, perhaps not down to the knees.-Ex 28:6-14, 22-28. The ephod was worn by the high priest over the blue sleeveless coat, called the "coat of the ephod," which, in turn, was atop the linen robe. (Ex 29:5) This ephod was not worn on all occasions. When it was necessary to inquire of Jehovah God about a matter of importance to the nation, the high priest wore the ephod and the breastpiece containing the Urim and the Thummim. (Nu 27:21; 1Sa 28:6; Ezr 2:63) On the annual Day of Atonement, after presenting the sin offerings, the high priest would wash and change garments, taking off the pure white garments and apparently putting on his beautiful garments, including the ephod, before offering up the burnt offerings.-Le 16:23-25. |
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4 | how do you explain romans 9:13? | Bible general Archive 2 | Jehonadab | 155409 | ||
Though Esau had the birthright, even before their birth in 1858 B.C.E., God told Rebekah: "Two nations are in your belly, and two national groups will be separated from your inward parts; and the one national group will be stronger than the other national group, and the older will serve the younger.”(Gen 25:23 ) Esau became a skilled and adventurous hunter, “a wild man.” Unlike his brother, “blameless” Jacob, Esau was fleshly-minded and materialistic. (Ge 25:27) Hence, when he came in from hunting and was "tired", he asked Jacob for some of his red lentil stew. Jacob then asked him to sell his birthright, of which Esau showed great disregard, by replying: "Here I am simply going to die, and of what benefit to me is a birthright?” (Gen 25:32 ) He thus sold his sold his birthright for a bowl of stew, showing a complete lack of faith in his Creator, Jehovah God, and was later given the name of Edom, meaning "Red" from the red lentil stew for which he sold his birthright. (Gen 25:30 ) He further continued this unspiritual attitude by marrying "Ju´dith the daughter of Be·e´ri the Hit´tite and also Bas´e·math the daughter of E´lon the Hit´tite", daughters of the land of Caanan. (Gen 28:1 ) These therefore became "a source of bitterness of spirit to Isaac and Re·bek´ah." (Gen 26:34,35 ) Thus, Esau showed great disdain for spiritual things, whereas "blameless" Jacob was blessed with being the progenitor of the nation of natural Israel, through whom the promised "seed", Jesus Christ, came. Yet, even the nation of natural Israel showed disdain for God's "anointed one" Jesus, by seeing that he was put to death on Nisan 14, 33 C.E. Therefore, Jesus had already said of the nation of natural Israel: "This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits."(Matt 21:43 ) | ||||||
5 | Forbidden fruit represents sex? | Gen 3:1 | Jehonadab | 99530 | ||
Eden's fruit trees were all there for man to eat from "to satisfaction." (Ge 2:16) But one tree, that "of the knowledge of good and bad," was placed off limits for the human pair. Eve quoted Jehovah God's prohibition given to her husband as including even the 'touching' of the tree, with the penalty of death to result from disrespect for and violation of the divine law. (Ge 2:17; 3:3) Traditional teachings have attempted to explain the prohibited fruit in a variety of ways: as a symbol of sexual intercourse, represented by an "apple"; as standing for the mere cognizance of right and wrong; and as the knowledge attained upon reaching maturity and also through experience, which knowledge can be put to a good or a bad use. Yet, in view of the Creator's command to "be fruitful and become many and fill the earth" (Ge 1:28), sexual intercourse could not be what the tree's fruit represented, for in what other way could procreation and multiplication have been effected? The mere ability to recognize right and wrong most certainly cannot be meant, for obedience to God's command required of sinless man that he be able to exercise such moral discrimination. Nor could the knowledge attained upon reaching maturity be meant, for it would not be sin on man's part to reach this state, nor would his Creator logically obligate him to remain in an immature state. As to the genus of the tree, the Scriptural record is silent. But it becomes apparent that the tree of the knowledge of good and bad symbolized the divine right, which man's Creator retains, to designate to his creatures what is "good" and what is "bad," thereafter requiring the practice of that which is declared good and the abstaining from that which is pronounced bad in order to remain approved by God as Sovereign Ruler. Both the prohibition and the subsequent pronouncement of the sentence passed upon the disobedient pair emphasize the fact that it was the act of disobedience in eating the prohibited fruit that constituted the original sin.-Ge 3:3. While some modern critics may balk at the very simplicity of the Edenic account, it should be obvious that the actual circumstances made a simple test most fitting. The life of the newly created man and woman was simple, not complicated and encumbered with all the complex problems, predicaments, and perplexity that disobedience to God has since brought to the human race. Nonetheless, for all its simplicity, the test expressed the universal truth of God's sovereignty as well as man's dependence upon God and his duty toward God. The simplicity of the test in Eden illustrates the principle stated millenniums later by God's Son, that "the person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much."-Lu 16:10. Eden's having this "tree of the knowledge of good and bad" within it, however, was clearly not intended to serve as a thorn in the flesh of the human pair, nor was it so designated in order to raise an issue, or to serve as the subject for debate. If Adam and Eve had acknowledged God's will in the matter and had respected his instructions, their garden home would have continued unmarred as a place of pleasure and delight. The record shows that the issue and debate over the tree, along with the temptation to violate God's ordinance, were put upon mankind by God's Adversary, Satan the Devil. (Ge 3:1-6; compare Re 12:9.) Adam and Eve's exercise of their will, as free moral agents, in rebellion against God's rightful sovereignty led to their loss of Paradise and it's blessings. Of even graver consequence, they lost the opportunity to partake of another of Eden's trees, this one representing the right to life everlasting. Thus the account says that Jehovah God "drove the man out and posted at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubs and the flaming blade of a sword that was turning itself continually to guard the way to the tree of life."-Ge 3:22-24. |
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6 | Who created Evil? | Gen 3:1 | Jehonadab | 99533 | ||
Evil or wickedness did not at one exist in the universe. However, after Jehovah God had made Adam and then later Eve, one of God's angels deviated from His holy commands. This spirit creature came to be called Satan the Devil by Jehovah God.He is called "Satan," or "resister," because he has opposed and resisted Jehovah God. This criminal is also called "Devil," meaning "slanderer," for he has blasphemously misrepresented God.The Scriptures indicate that the creature known as Satan did not always have that name. Rather, this descriptive name was given to him because of his taking a course of opposition and resistance to God. The name he had before this is not given. God is the only Creator, and 'his activity is perfect,' with no injustice or unrighteousness. (De 32:4) Therefore, the one becoming Satan was, when created, a perfect, righteous creature of God. He is a spirit person, for he appeared in heaven in the presence of God. (Job chaps 1, 2; Re 12:9) Jesus Christ said of him: "That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him." (Joh 8:44; 1Jo 3:8) Jesus here shows that Satan was once in the truth, but forsook it. Beginning with his first overt act in turning Adam and Eve away from God, he was a manslayer, for he thereby brought about the death of Adam and Eve, which, in turn, brought sin and death to their offspring. (Ro 5:12) Throughout the Scriptures the qualities and actions attributed to him could be attributed only to a person, not to an abstract principle of evil. It is clear that the Jews, and Jesus and his disciples, knew that Satan existed as a person. So, from a righteous, perfect start, this spirit person deviated into sin and degradation. The process bringing this about is described by James when he writes: "Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death." (Jas 1:14, 15) In the course that Satan took, there seems to be, in some respects, a parallel with that of the king of Tyre as described in Ezekiel 28:11-19. The Scriptural account, therefore, makes it plain that it was Satan who spoke through the medium of a serpent, seducing Eve into disobedience to God's command. In turn, Eve induced Adam to take the same rebellious course. (Ge 3:1-7; 2Co 11:3) As a consequence of Satan's use of the serpent, the Bible gives Satan the title "Serpent," which came to signify "deceiver"; he also became "the Tempter" (Mt 4:3) and a liar, "the father of the lie."-Joh 8:44; Re 12:9. Too the term "Lucifer" is not correctly applied to Satan. Rather, this descriptive designation applied to the "king of Babylon." (Isa 14:4, 12) The Hebrew expression thus translated (NW, Ro, Yg) comes from a root meaning "shine." (Job 29:3) The rendering "Lucifer" (KJ, Da) is derived from the Latin Vulgate. The "shining one" is represented as saying in his heart: "Above the stars of God I shall lift up my throne, and I shall sit down upon the mountain of meeting." (Isa 14:13) Biblical evidence points to Mount Zion as the "mountain of meeting." Hence, since stars can refer to kings (Nu 24:17; Re 22:16), "the stars of God" must be the kings of the Davidic line who ruled from Mount Zion. The "king of Babylon" (the dynasty of Babylonian kings), reflecting the attitude of Satan the god of this system of things, indicated his ambition to lift up his throne "above the stars of God" by desiring to make the kings of the line of David mere vassals and then finally to dethrone them. Like stars that shed light, the "king of Babylon" shone brightly in the ancient world and could be termed "shining one." |
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7 | Who created Evil? | Gen 3:1 | Jehonadab | 99574 | ||
At the end of the sixth creative day,after having created Adam and then Eve,our Creator Jehovah God said to them,"Here I have given to you all vegetation bearing seed which is on the surface of the whole earth and every tree on which there is the fruit of a tree bearing seed. To you let it serve as food. And to every wild beast of the earth and to every flying creature of the heavens and to everything moving upon the earth in which there is life as a soul I have given all green vegetation for food." Then the account continues, saying,"After that God saw everything he had made and, look! [it was] very good. And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a sixth day."(Gen 1:29-31) The original sin started in the Garden of Eden,after God's pronouncement of "good", when Satan told a lie to Eve. In using a serpent, he slyly asked her,"Is it really so that God said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?" She replied,"Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat. But as for [eating] of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it that you do not die.'" This now wicked angel told her,"You positively will not die. For God knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad." Hence, Satan told the first lie, for just as Jesus said concerning him,in speaking to some opposers, "You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of [the lie]."(John 8:44) Therefore, Jesus clearly identified "the Devil" as the one who spoke the first "lie" and was "in the truth" prior to his deceiving Eve. Too, the term "Lucifer" is a translation of the Hebrew word heh·lel´,meaning "shining one." Heh·lel´ is not a name or a title but, rather, a term describing the boastful position taken by Babylon's dynasty of kings of the line of Nebuchadnezzar.) (Isa 14:4-21) Since Babylon was a tool of Satan, its "king" reflected Satan's own ambitious desire. And concerning Beelzebub, this is a designation applied to Satan the prince, or ruler, of the demons. The religious leaders blasphemously accused Jesus Christ of expelling demons by means of Beelzebub.-Mt 10:25; 12:24-29. Be·el´ze·bub,is possibly an alteration of Baal-zebub, meaning "Owner of the Flies," the Baal worshiped by the Philistines at Ekron. Alternately, Beelzeboul and Beezeboul, possibly meaning, "Owner of the Lofty Abode (Habitation)"; or, if a play on the non-Biblical Heb. word ze´vel (dung), "Owner of the Dung". Whichever name or title is used, it only brings to the fore, that he is the archenemy of Jehovah God,wishing to thwart God's everlasting purpose for the earth. | ||||||
8 | Why Esau not got his blessing back? | Gen 27:35 | Jehonadab | 155464 | ||
Esau proved that he had no love of God, disdaining even his birthright.(Gen 25:30 ) However, Jehovah God had already spoken prophetically that "the one national group will be stronger than the other national group, and the older will serve the younger.” (Gen 25:23 ) Later, in harmony with the inclination that Jehovah had already foreseen and that had caused him to love Jacob more than he did Esau, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for just a bowl of stew.(Ge 25:29-34).Legally, as Jacob well knew, he was entitled to act in the role of Esau, the firstborn of Isaac.Hence, Esau no longer had the firstborn's rights. But Isaac was unaware that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob when he came in for a blessing, but God was well aware of this and was pleasing to him. Esau later showed further disregard for spiritual things by marrying "Ju´dith the daughter of Be·e´ri the Hit´tite and also Bas´e·math the daughter of E´lon the Hit´tite", Caaanite women that proved to be a "source of bitterness of spirit to Isaac and Re·bek´ah."(Gen 26:34,35 ) Isaac and Rebekah both recognized the badness of the Caananites and commanded Jacob not to seek out a wife from among the, unlike his brother. (Gen 28:1) Exactly why Rebekah and Jacob handled the matter in the way they did, we do not know, except that both of them knew that the blessing belonged to Jacob. Jacob did not maliciously misrepresent himself in order to get something that did not rightfully belong to him. The Bible does not condemn what Rebekah and Jacob did. The outcome was that Jacob received the rightful blessing. Isaac himself evidently saw that Jehovah’s will had been accomplished. Shortly after this, when sending Jacob off to Haran to get a wife, Isaac further blessed Jacob and specifically said: “God Almighty . . . will give to you the blessing of Abraham.” (Ge 28:3, 4) So we properly conclude that the outcome of the matter was what Jehovah purposed. The Bible states clearly the lesson that we should draw from this account, warning that we should be careful “that there may be no fornicator nor anyone not appreciating sacred things, like Esau, who in exchange for one meal gave away his rights as firstborn.”—Heb 12:16. | ||||||
9 | Prophetic perfect tense in other verses? | Ps 102:16 | Jehonadab | 99753 | ||
The New World Translation reads, "For Jehovah will certainly build up Zion; He must appear in his glory." In 607 B.C.E., after Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian World Power, they, the nation of Israel, were deported to Babylonia. For 70 years their God-given homeland, the land of Judah, lay desolate according to the decree of Jehovah God. His earthly arrangement for true worship seemed to be out of existence. But there was a faithful remnant that longed for such a true worship to emerge again. The psalmist expressed their feelings in the 102nd Psalm, looking forward to the time when God will "build up Zion" again, the nation of natural Israel being restored to their homeland in 537 B.C.E.,so that true worship can once again be reinstituted. |
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10 | Prophetic perfect tense in other verses? | Ps 102:16 | Jehonadab | 99860 | ||
Hi Tara1, While many translators favor the pronunciation “Yahweh,” the New World Translation continues to use the form “Jehovah” because of people’s familiarity with it for centuries. Moreover, it preserves, equally with other forms, the four letters of the divine name, YHWH or JHVH. The greatest indignity that modern translators render to the Divine Author of the Holy Scriptures is the removal or the concealing of his peculiar personal name. Actually his name occurs in the Hebrew text 6,828 times as (ha·wah´, "to become", YHWH or JHVH, [the Hebrew letters cannot be processed by this website]), generally referred to as the Tetragrammaton (literally meaning “having four letters”). By using the name “Jehovah,” the New World Translation has held closely to the original-language texts and have not followed the practice of substituting titles such as “Lord,” “the Lord,” “Adonai” or “God” for the divine name, the Tetragrammaton.The divine name is a verb, the causative form, the imperfect state, of the Hebrew verb (ha wah, "to become"). Therefore, the divine name means "He Causes to Become." This reveals Jehovah as the One who, with progressive action, causes himself to become the Fulfiller of promises, the One who always brings his purposes to realization. The practice of substituting titles for the divine name that developed among the Jews was applied in later copies of the Greek Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, and many other translations, ancient and modern.Therefore, A Greek-English Lexicon, by Liddell and Scott (LS), p. 1013, states: “o Ky ri·os,(equals)Hebr. Yahweh, LXX Ge. 11.5, al.” Also, the Greek Lexicon of the Roman and Byzantine Periods, by E. A. Sophocles, Cambridge, U.S.A., and Leipzig, 1914, p. 699, says under (Ky´ri·os): “Lord, the representative of the (Tetragrammaton). Sept. passim [scattered throughout]." Moreover, Dictionnaire de la Bible, by F. Vigouroux, Paris, 1926, col. 223, says that "the Septuagint and the Vulgate contain Ky´ri·os and Dominus, "Lord," where the original contains Jehovah." Regarding the divine name, A Compendious Syriac Dictionary, edited by J. Payne Smith, Oxford, 1979 reprint, p. 298, says that Mar·ya´ "in the [Syriac] Peshita Version of the O. T. represents the Tetragrammaton." Jehovah’s name was first restored to the English Bible by William Tyndale. In 1530 he published a translation of the first five books of the Bible into English. He included Jehovah’s name once, in Ex 6:3. In a note in this edition Tyndale wrote: “Iehovah is God’s name . . . Moreover, as oft as thou seist LORD in great letters (except there be any error in the printing) it is in Hebrew Iehovah.” From this the practice arose among translators to use Jehovah’s name in just a few places, but to write “LORD” or “GOD” in most places where the Tetragrammaton occurs in Hebrew. This practice was adopted by the translators of the King James Version in 1611, where Jehovah’s name occurs only four times, namely, in Ex 6:3; Ps 83:18; Isa 12:2; 26:4. |
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11 | Prophetic perfect tense in other verses? | Ps 102:16 | Jehonadab | 103233 | ||
Yes, I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. And I do appreciate the textual accuracy of the New World Translation. For example,consider the perplexing text at Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” (King James Version) The New World Translation rendered it: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.” The apostle Paul’s admonition rendered “be careful for nothing” (King James Version) was translated: “Do not be anxious over anything.” (Philippians 4:6) And the apostle John’s reference to “the concupiscence of the flesh” (Douay Version) reads, “the desire of the flesh.” (1 John 2:16) Clearly, the New World Translation opened up a new world of understanding. Various scholars were impressed. For example, British Bible scholar Alexander Thomson noted that the New World Translation is outstanding in accurately rendering the Greek present tense. To illustrate: Ephesians 5:25 reads “Husbands, continue loving your wives” instead of saying merely “Husbands, love your wife.” (King James Version) “No other version appears to have exhibited this fine feature with such fulness and frequency,” said Thomson regarding the New World Translation. For one thing, closely related words in the original Bible languages are translated, where possible, by different English words, thus alerting the Bible student to possible different shades of meaning. Thus, syn·te´lei·a is rendered “conclusion” and te´los “end,” although both words are translated “end” in many other versions. (Matthew 24:3, 13) The word ko´smos is rendered “world,” ai·on´ “system of things,” and oi·kou·me´ne “inhabited earth.” Again, many Bible translations use merely “world” to represent either two or all three of these Greek words, although, in fact, there are differences between them.-Matthew 13:38, 39; 24:14. Similarly, the New World Translation carefully notes the difference between gno´sis (“knowledge”) and e·pi´gno·sis (translated “accurate knowledge”)-a difference ignored by many others. (Philippians 1:9; 3:8) It also distinguishes between ta´phos (“grave,” an individual burial place), mne´ma (“tomb”), mne·mei´on (“memorial tomb”), and hai´des (“hades,” referring in the Bible to the common grave of dead mankind). (Matthew 27:60, 61; John 5:28; Acts 2:29, 31) Several Bible translations distinguish between ta´phos and mne·mei´on at Matthew 23:29 but not consistently elsewhere.-See Matthew 27:60, 61, New International Version. Verb tenses are carefully and precisely rendered. For example, in the Revised Standard Version, 1 John 2:1 reads: “If any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Shortly after, the same translation renders 1 John 3:6: “No one who abides in [Jesus] sins.” If no follower of Jesus sins, how does 1 John 2:1 apply? The New World Translation resolves this seeming contradiction. At 1 John 2:1, it says: “I am writing you these things that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one.” John used the aorist tense in this verse, indicating the committing of an isolated sin, the kind of thing all of us do from time to time because we are imperfect. However, 1 John 3:6 reads: “Everyone remaining in union with him does not practice sin; no one that practices sin has either seen him or come to know him.” John here used the present tense, indicating an ongoing, habitual course of sin that would invalidate anyone’s claim to be a Christian. At John 1:1 the New World Translation reads: “The Word was a god.” In many translations this expression simply reads: “The Word was God” and is used to support the Trinity doctrine. Not surprisingly, Trinitarians dislike the rendering in the New World Translation. But John 1:1 was not falsified in order to prove that Jesus is not Almighty God. Jehovah’s Witnesses, among many others, had challenged the capitalizing of “god” long before the appearance of the New World Translation, which endeavors accurately to render the original language. Five German Bible translators likewise use the term “a god” in that verse. At least 13 others have used expressions such as “of divine kind” or “godlike kind.” These renderings agree with other parts of the Bible to show that, yes, Jesus in heaven is a god in the sense of being divine. But Jehovah and Jesus are not the same being, the same God.-John 14:28; 20:17 These are but a few instances to show why the New World Translation is enjoyed by many. |
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12 | What's the sign? | Matt 24:27 | Jehonadab | 155503 | ||
Three days before Jesus was put to death, his disciples asked him: "What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” (Matt 24:3 ) Then, in replying, at Matthew 24:30, Jesus says: "And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Thus, there is the "sign of your (Jesus) presence" and the "sign... of the Son of man coming on the clouds". Hence, there is a difference between these. Some Bibles use the word "coming" at Matthew 24:3. However, the Greek word used there is pa·rou·si´a, meaning "presence", not er´kho·mai, which is a common verb for "come". Therefore, during Jesus pa·rou·si´a or "presence", there are several features Jesus gave to identify his invisible "presence", such as "nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress." (Matt 24:7,8 ) This would extend over a period of time. However, Jesus further said that "For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be. Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together." (Matt 24:27,28 ) Thus, those who have spiritually keen "eyesight", like eagles, are able to discern Jesus invisible "presence". Yet, during Jesus' "presence and of the conclusion of the system of things", but just preceeding Jesus' "coming", that the "sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken."(Matt 24:29 ) The description Jesus gave certainly is closely related to Joel 2:29-31. Here, Joel sees "portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun itself will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah." This "fear-inspiring day of Jehovah" came in 70 C.E., when the Roman armies came against Jerusalem, under the command of General Titus. Likewise, when the "great tribulation" begins, prior to the events mentioned at Matthew 24:29, the militarized “horns” of the international “wild beast” turn on “the great harlot,” Babylon the Great. (Revelation 17:1, 10-16) But many people will remain, for kings, merchants, ship captains, and others mourn the end of false religion. Doubtless many will realize that their judgment will be next.(Revelation 18:9-19.) Doubtless, in the early part of the great tribulation, many luminaries—prominent clergymen of the religious world—will have been exposed and eliminated by “the ten horns” mentioned at Revelation 17:16. No doubt political powers too will have been shaken up. Could there also be frightening events in the physical heavens? We know that in the ancient past, God displayed his power to cause such cataclysmic effects, and he can do so again.—Exodus 10:21-23; Joshua 10:12-14; Judges 5:20; Luke 23:44, 45. At this point all three Gospel writers use to´te (then) to introduce the next development. “Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven.” (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27) Jesus’ true disciples have discerned the composite sign of his invisible presence, like "eagles", while most people have not recognized it.(Matt 24:39 ) But Matthew 24:30 points forward to a further “sign” appearing in the future, that of “the Son of man,” and all nations will be compelled to take note. When Jesus comes with clouds of invisibility, opposing humans worldwide will have to recognize that “coming” (Greek, er·kho´me·non) because of a supernatural demonstration of his kingly power.(Revelation 1:7) Matthew 24:30 uses to´te again to introduce what comes next. Then the nations, sensing the consequence of their situation, will beat themselves and lament, perhaps recognizing that their destruction is imminent. How different with God’s servants, for we will be able to lift our heads up, knowing deliverance is near! (Luke 21:28) | ||||||
13 | where to look next time? | 1 Cor 6:18 | Jehonadab | 99564 | ||
An excellent publication is the The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, which has the modern-language translation of the Westcott and Hort Greek Text, first published by them in the year 1881 C.E. | ||||||
14 | where to look next time? | 1 Cor 6:18 | Jehonadab | 99570 | ||
Yes, it is published by Jehovah's Witnesses. | ||||||
15 | where to look next time? | 1 Cor 6:18 | Jehonadab | 99637 | ||
Dr. Jason BeDuhn, who teaches at the University of Indiana, made this comment concerning The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures,"I have just recently completed teaching a course for the Religious Studies Department of Indiana University, Bloomington, ...This is primarily a course in the Gospels. Your help came in the form of copies of the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures which my students used as one of the textbooks for the class. These small volumes were invaluable to the course and very popular with my students...Simply put, it is the best interlinear New Testament available. I am a trained scholar of the Bible, familiar with the texts and tools in use in modern biblical studies, and by the way, not a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. But I know a quality publication when I see one, and your 'New World Bible Translation Committee' has done its job well. Your interlinear English rendering is accurate and consistent to an extreme that forces the reader to come to terms with the linguistic, cultural, and conceptual gaps between the Greek-speaking world and our own. Your 'New World Translation' is a high quality, literal translation that avoids traditional glosses in its faithfulness to the Greek. It is, in many ways, superior to the most successful translations in use today." |
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16 | where to look next time? | 1 Cor 6:18 | Jehonadab | 99665 | ||
Yes, I am. | ||||||
17 | Specifying sexual sin in 1 Cor 6:18 | 1 Cor 6:18 | Jehonadab | 99745 | ||
1 Corinthians 6:18 according to The Emphatic Diaglott(1942 edition), under the Greek.reads literally, "Flee you the fornication. All sins which if may do a man,outside of the body is; he but committing fornication against the own body sins." Also The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, which used "The New Testament in the Original Greek---The Text Revised by Brooke Foss Westcott D.D. and Fenton John Anthony Hort D.D.(1948 Reprint)reads literally,"Be you fleeing from the fornication; every sinful (thing) which if ever might do man outside of the body it is, the (one) but committing fornication into the own body is sinning." The New World Translation reads, "Flee from fornication. Every other sin that a man may commit is outside his body, but he that practices fornication is sinning against his own body." The Greek word translated "fornication" is por·nei´a. Regarding the meanings of por·nei´a, B. F. Westcott in his book Saint Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians (1906, p. 76) says: "This is a general term for all unlawful intercourse, (I) adultery: Hos. ii. 2, 4 (LXX.); Matt. v. 32; xix. 9; (2) unlawful marriage, I Cor. v. I; (3) fornication, the common sense as here [Eph 5:3]." Bauer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (revised by F. W. Gingrich and F. Danker, 1979, p. 693) defines por·nei´a as "prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse." Porneia is understood to involve the grossly immoral use of the genital organ(s) of at least one human; also there must have been two or more parties (including another consenting human or a beast), whether of the same sex or the opposite sex. (Jude 7) The unlawful act of a rapist is fornication, but, of course, that does not make the person who is forcibly raped also a fornicator. | ||||||
18 | fornication is sin,amen. | 1 Cor 6:18 | Jehonadab | 99747 | ||
A single person who commits fornication with a prostitute makes himself "one body" with that person. Similarly, the adulterer makes himself "one body," not with his legal wife, but with the immoral person with whom he has sexual relations. The adulterer thus sins not only against his own personal flesh but also against his legal wife who until then has been "one flesh" with him. (1Co 6:16-18) For that reason adultery provides a true basis for breaking the marital bond in accord with divine principles, and where such ground exists, a divorce obtained brings about the formal and final dissolution of the legal marriage union, freeing the innocent partner to remarry with honor.-Heb 13:4.The apostle explains that a Christian committing fornication sins against his own body, using reproductive members for a perverted purpose. He is greatly affected spiritually in an adverse way, brings defilement into God's congregation, and lays himself open to the danger of deadly sexually transmitted diseases. (1Co 6:18, 19) He encroaches on the rights of his Christian brothers (1Th 4:3-7) by (1) bringing uncleanness and disgraceful folly, with reproach, into the congregation (Heb 12:15, 16), (2) depriving the one with whom he commits fornication of a clean moral standing and, if that one is single, of being clean when entering into marriage, (3) depriving his own family of a clean moral record, as well as (4) wronging the parents, husband, or fiancé of the one with whom he commits fornication. He disregards, not man, whose laws may or may not condone fornication, but God, who will exact punishment for his sin.-1Th 4:8. |
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19 | Is the sin nature substance or mind set? | Phil 3:9 | Jehonadab | 100513 | ||
Sin is anything not in harmony with, hence contrary to, God's personality, standards, ways, and will; anything marring one's relationship with God. It may be in word (Job 2:10; Ps 39:1), in deed (doing wrong acts [Le 20:20; 2Co 12:21] or failing to do what should be done [Nu 9:13; Jas 4:17]), or in mind or heart attitude (Pr 21:4; compare also Ro 3:9-18; 2Pe 2:12-15). Lack of faith in God is a major sin, showing, as it does, distrust of him or lack of confidence in his ability to perform. (Heb 3:12, 13, 18, 19) A consideration of the use of the original-language terms and examples associated with them illustrates this. The common Hebrew term translated "sin" is chat·ta´th´; in Greek the usual word is ha·mar·ti´a. In both languages the verb forms (Heb., cha·ta´´; Gr., ha·mar·ta´no) mean "miss," in the sense of missing or not reaching a goal, way, mark, or right point. Both of these words were used to mean missing or failing to reach not merely physical objects or goals (Job 5:24) but also moral or intellectual goals or marks. Proverbs 8:35, 36 says the one finding godly wisdom finds life, but the 'one missing [from Heb., cha·ta´´] wisdom is doing violence to his soul,' leading to death. In the Scriptures both the Hebrew and Greek terms refer mainly to sinning on the part of God's intelligent creatures, their missing the mark with regard to their Creator. Man was created in "God's image." (Ge 1:26, 27) He, like all other created things, existed and was created because of God's will. (Re 4:11) God's assigning work to him showed that man was to serve God's purpose on earth. (Ge 1:28; 2:8, 15) According to the inspired apostle, man was created to be both "God's image and glory" (1Co 11:7), hence to reflect the qualities of his Creator, conducting himself so as to reflect the glory of God. As God's earthly son, man should resemble, or be like, his heavenly Father. To be otherwise would be to contradict and reproach the divine parenthood of God.-Compare Mal 1:6. Jesus showed this when encouraging his disciples to manifest goodness and love in a way surpassing that done by "sinners," persons known to practice sinful acts. He stated that only by following God's example in mercy and love could his disciples 'prove themselves sons of their Father who is in the heavens.' (Mt 5:43-48; Lu 6:32-36) Paul ties in God's glory with the matter of human sin in saying that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Ro 3:23; compare Ro 1:21-23; Ho 4:7. Sin occurred first in the spirit realm before its introduction on earth. For unknown ages full harmony with God prevailed in the universe. Disruption came through a spirit creature referred to simply as the Resister, Adversary (Heb., Sa·tan´; Gr., Sa·ta·nas´; Job 1:6; Ro 16:20), the principal False Accuser or Slanderer (Gr., Di·a´bo·los) of God. (Heb 2:14; Re 12:9) Hence, the apostle John says: "He who carries on sin originates with the Devil, because the Devil has been sinning from the beginning."-1Jo 3:8. By "the beginning" John clearly means the beginning of Satan's career of opposition. The conduct of the first human pair,Adam and Eve, immediately revealed this disharmony. Their covering portions of their divinely made bodies and thereafter their attempting to hide themselves from God were clear evidences of the alienation that had taken place within their minds and hearts. (Ge 3:7, 8) Sin thus caused them to feel guilt, anxiety, insecurity, shame. This illustrates the point made by the apostle at Romans 2:15, that God's law was 'written on man's heart'; hence a violation of that law now produced an internal upheaval within man, his conscience accusing him of wrongdoing. In effect, man had a built-in lie detector that made impossible his concealing his sinful state from his Creator; and God, responding to the man's excuse for his changed attitude toward his heavenly Father, promptly inquired: "From the tree from which I commanded you not to eat have you eaten?"-Ge 3:9-11. |
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20 | Husband problems again! | Phil 4:8 | Jehonadab | 155369 | ||
There is evidence that various forms of modern communication may encourage aggressive conduct. Regular exposure to violence depicted on television, in movies, in video games, and on the Internet is said to desensitize the conscience and inspire violent crimes. Dr. Daniel Borenstein, president of the American Psychiatric Association, stated: "At this time there are more than 1,000 studies based on more than 30 years of research demonstrating a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children." Before a U.S. Senate committee, Dr. Borenstein testified: "We are convinced that repeated exposure to entertainment violence in all its forms has significant public health implications." Thus, what we take in through our senses can have a dramatic effect on us , as well those we are close to. Hence, the apostle Paul wrote: "Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits."(1 cor 15:33 ) What we watch, play, in any way socialize with, can therefore have either a good or detrimental effect on us. It is necesary to see the need to follow closely what the apostle Paul said that "whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things." (Phil 4:8 )Thus, if a husband or wife loves their family, then, they will surely consider their feelings and make time to spend with them, trying to imitate the perfect example of Jesus Christ, for Paul wrote: " Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it".(Ephesians 5:25 ) | ||||||
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