Discuss Acts 17


Acts 17 KJV Bible discussions
 
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 3 days ago
    Hey Sonofman 1973

    God's eternal purpose

    Jesus the Messiah/Christ God's only begotten Son is the purpose, I do not know if I am reading your question correctly, may you and others have more or different understandings.

    1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have the mind of Christ, but no one can know the mind of God. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus. All began with Jesus; Jesus is the beginning of God's plan. Isaiah 45:18 Isaiah 46:8-10 God and there is none like Him, He declared the end from the beginning His counsel (His purpose and plan by His will) shall stand and God will do all His pleasure, Psalms 33:11.

    God is not in our time the end of His plan is as the beginning God's plan was completed when He made it, we have the Bible, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit His plan is made known to us as our time comes to be, as in Ephesians 1:10-12 to be the praise and glory to God.

    God declared from the very beginnings of history, Acts 17:24-26 there is but one human race, we all are of the same blood, and in Jesus Christ we become brothers and sisters. In God's plan, it is finished, nothing will change. In God, it is finished already to Him who is from everlasting to everlasting, Psalms 90:2 and how He can "calleth those things which be not as though they were." Romans 4:17-18.

    Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

    Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 month ago
    Chris

    Part two

    Vs 5 The plan of God, predetermined glory, Jesus knew the Scriptures. All that was to happen to Him and the glory He would receive after He suffered on the cross had already been spoken by the prophets in the past tense as though they had already happened.

    As Jesus was on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:25-26, He talks about them not believing what the prophets had written about what was to happen to Jesus. The first man to be raised from the dead in a glorified body and God placed Him on His right hand on the throne a man, not a god.

    Jesus was a man who was tempted like us and fulfilled all His Father asked Him we see hundreds of prophecies Jesus fulfilled and the man Jesus did it without one sin. Only a man could undo what the first man did. God could not do that because He cannot sin or die. The law was made for man and the curse of sin was on man, not God.

    In Verses 20-22, Jesus had not yet been crucified and the glory the Father had given Him Jesus has given it to us today "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;" This glory we will receive when Jesus returns and we are resurrected in our glorified bodies, we have it now, but it will not be manifest until Jesus returns.

    If Jesus was a co-equal God in the three-person God, how could He be given anything He would already have it? Malachi 3:6 says God does not change so God cannot change, Numbers 23:19 Isaiah 46:10 Psalm 33:11 Acts 17:26 The glory Jesus was asking for, He would receive when He resurrected.

    The Spirit could not be given because Jesus had not been glorified (resurrected) John 7:39 Things were hidden from the disciples until Jesus was glorified (resurrected) John 12:16.

    2 Timothy 1:9-10 It was given before creation so, John 17:24 we will be where He is when we are resurrected, Jesus was given glory with the Father before all creation in God's mind and plan. Ephesians 1:4

    I hope this makes sense I am not the best at this.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 month ago
    Hey Chris.

    Part one,

    As I said I am not the best in explaining my understanding and I will try, I feel you deserve it, for you have been gracious to even discuss this with me.

    1 Corinthians 15:47 This is after Jesus was raised from the dead and Paul is saying our Lord. First the earthy the first Adam then the spiritual the last Adam Jesus who did come from heaven when Jesus, God's Son was conceived in Mary's womb.

    We see in Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Jesus defeated death because He was without sin the firstborn from the dead the only man who lived a perfect life. After He was baptized and anointed God gave Him authority John 5:26-27.

    Matthew 1:20 Acts 17:31 Rev. 12:5 My understanding is the preexistence of Jesus was in God's plan before anything was created. A man caused sin to enter mankind and it had to be a man to live a perfect life to fulfill and make void the law, God could not do that.

    Hebrews 1:5 Jesus is not a God there is only one true God, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. a man who is God's Son conceived in Mary, who God raised in a glorified body and placed Him on His right side on His throne above all that is in heaven and earth and under the earth.

    See part two.
  • Chris - 1 month ago
    To Brother Ronald Whittemore & others. I'm unable to respond to Ronald's last response to me, as the Reply button is missing (probably purposely done to limit the comments in that thread). So this one comes as a new Thread to address those matters.

    Page 1.

    Thanks again Ronald, and I note that you would like a recess on this discussion. But if I might briefly address the Scriptures you shared & why I believe that they don't answer the question, 'was Jesus' first appearance only from the womb of Mary, or did He exist in another Form within the Person of God?'

    To your references:

    1 Corinthians 15:47: "the second man is the Lord from Heaven" (not a Man Who became Lord, Who went into Heaven & then returned to Earth as Lord from Heaven - but the Lord Who was in Heaven & came to Earth, unlike the first man, Adam, Who was created from the Earth & back to the Earth he went).

    1 Timothy 2:5: yes, Jesus is the Mediator now between God & mankind after His ascension.

    Matthew 1:20, Acts 17:31, Revelation 12:5: yes again, all point to Jesus as a Man/Babe Who came from God - but no direct reference to any previous existence.

    Hebrews 1:5: indeed, Jesus became the Son of God by virtue of this miraculous Birth, but then God would have created another god, because 'all the angels of God are to worship Him'; & none can receive worship but God alone. You asked, "How could God say I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son if Jesus eternally existed with the Father?" Because God took His Word & gave Flesh to that Word, and this Flesh was brought into the World by the Work of God, which made this One called Jesus, God's Son. Jesus only became the Son of God at the Incarnation.

    Hebrews 2:7: Jesus was made "a little lower than the angels" by virtue of His Humanity. It seems there is an order of created beings before God: the angels being above humanity, of which Jesus was made, thus subjecting Him to being our equal.

    Onto Page 2.
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 2 months ago
    Hey Adam,

    There is much in this chapter, your question is God in this verse the Godhead or the Father?

    To answer; in context Jesus was telling parables and the Pharisees, and the Sadducees were trying to trip Jesus up. These verses were about the resurrection, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but the Sadducees did not. In verse 31 Jesus asked them haven't you read; Job 19:25-27 Psalm 17:15 Psalm 49:15 "which was spoken unto you by God" so Jesus is referring to His Father who is God.

    What does the word Godhead mean? Does it mean a Triune God? It is in three verses, Acts 17:29 Rom. 1:20 Col. 2:9. Translated from Greek words which means divine, divinity, or deity, that was replaced with another English word that was not a word until the 1500s and placed only in these three verses and the reason is questionable.

    Study for your conscience in prayer with an open mind and through the Holy Spirit, God will show you the truth.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Momsage - In Reply - 2 months ago
    Hi Jema: I know I'm a bit late replying to this but I just now read the whole thread of what happened and I am so glad you and GiGi and Giannis are good to go with each other and I'm sorry my reaction was so strong and I caused trouble. I'm trying not to do that again. I am back to discussing the Sabbath with Giannis again, unless he doesn't want to then I won't. The only reason I continue to discuss the Sabbath is because (I'm not insulting Giannis, only stating my perception of these discussions and why I'm hanging on like a Pitbull LOL.) I don't feel like he has responded to my questions about why he believes that the breaking of bread can only mean the weekly service of the Early Church - that there can be no other possible interpretation. All his beliefs in the Early Church abandoning the Sabbath for Sunday worship are based on the breaking of bread premise that it had to only mean that it refers to the weekly meeting of the Early Church. Some scriptures do state that the Church met on the first day of the week, Sunday but that could just simply mean the church met on Sunday at different times other then on the Sabbath just as churches meet on different days today. For example, John 20:19 (the Church gathered together on the first day of the week because they were afraid of the Jews, not because it was time for church.) Giannis also used historical writings to back up his belief that the Early Church stopped worshipping on the Sabbath and I couldn't agree to that. (Giannis if you read this post, please don't think I am talking behind your back. I would never do that I am just trying to explain why I haven't given up on the Sabbath.) He asked me to provide scripture that validated they didn't give up on the Sabbath and I gave him a lot but he just wouldn't accept them with no real response why. All you have to do read these few and you can see that the Early church was keeping the Sabbath holy.. Acts 17:2, Acts 13:14, Acts 15:21, Acts 18:4. God Bless :)
  • Momsage - In Reply - 2 months ago
    Genesis 2: 2-3 Exodus 30: 8-11 Mark 2:27-28 Mark 4:16 Acts 13: 14-15, 27, 42-44, Acts 15:21

    Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2 Acts 18:4

    "Protestants do not realize that by observing Sunday they accept the authority of the Spokesperson, the Pope." ( Our Sunday Visitor February 5, 1950.)
  • Adam - In Reply - 3 months ago
    John 10:34- seems to be a popular verse here. People want to believe they are a god, is that what's happening here? That would be a gross misinterpretation. You know this is a quote with a question mark at the end, right? Let's be honest about it. Here's the commentary for that:

    Christ's argument is: If your law calls judges gods, why should I be held guilty of blasphemy for saying that I am the Son of God?

    As per the other argument trying to discredit the word "one" sounds like your argument is that one doesn't really mean one, because Jesus used it to describe believers being one. I don't see how being one in unity as Christ's body somehow means that all the Bible verses about Jesus being God and divine suddenly don't apply? The verse about the Father and Son being one is only one of MANY verses competing the picture. The Bible already says Jesus the Word is God so how can you disregard that?

    God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 KJV

    You: Word was "NOT" God?

    "Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." John 8:19 KJV

    Have you thought about how your belief reconciles with verses like this above?

    Isaiah 7:14 -

    Yes, Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us". People called Jesus "God". He's King of King and Lord of Lords. Alpha and Omega, first and last. Do you believe Jesus is Lord? I believe that is a requirement for even being a Christian. A Christ follower should know who Christ is.

    1 John 5:7-8

    John 10:30

    John 8:19

    Genesis 1:26

    Genesis 11:6-7 (plural "us" which includes Jesus, as per John 1:1)

    Philippians 2:5-8

    2 Corinthians 5:19

    John 1:3

    Matthew 28:19

    1 Peter 1:2

    2 Corinthians 13:14

    Deuteronomy 6:4

    John 14:10

    John 20:28

    1 John 2:22-24

    Matthew 1:23-25

    Colossians 2:9

    Acts 17:29

    Romans 1:20

    Isaiah 7:14

    Hebrews 1:8

    Isaiah 44:6

    Isaiah 43:11
  • VALMAR - In Reply - 4 months ago
    Thanks for your comment to post. Unfortunately, in my response to Chris's post, I forgot to mention the fact that I can also know why God gave us/me His Spirit when I came to Him as a repentant sinner. Because the Spirit is within me to do God the Father's will. The Spirit directs my path, convicts my conscience, and reassures me that when I sin and confess, God forgives and we continue on. He corrects me, humbles me before I get in trouble and is my everyday companion, though sometimes I may not act like He's around. He points me to Jesus always, and Jesus points me to His Father and tells me to keep going and not quit.

    One of my many favorite stories in the Word is where Paul is in Athens at Mar's Hill and preaches to them the fact that God is not far from any of us ( Acts 17:27), He's only a prayer away from the vilest sinner and that was me at one time. Thank you, Shabbat Keeper, for allowing me to correct myself, and blessings to you.
  • Oseas - 4 months ago
    Acts 17:30-31

    30And the times of this ignorance GOD winked at;but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

    31Because He hath appointed a Day,in the which He will Judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto ALL men,in that He hath raised him from the dead.

    Mat.28:18-And JESUS came and spake unto them,saying,All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

    Luke 10:19-20

    19Behold,I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,and over ALL the power of the enemy:and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

    20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,that the spirits are subject unto you;but rather rejoice,because your names are written in heaven.

    Joel 2:1-11

    1Blow the trumpet in Zion,sound an alarm in my holy mountain:let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:the Lord's Day comes...

    2A Day of darkness and of gloominess,a Day of clouds and of thick darkness...a great people and a strong there has not been ever the like,neither shall be any more after it...

    3A fire devoures before them;and behind them a flame burns:the land is as the garden of Eden before them,and behind them a desolate wilderness...

    5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoures the stubble,as a strong people set in battle array.

    6Before their face the people shall be much pained...

    7They shall run like mighty men;they shall climb the wall like men of war;and they shall march every one on his ways,and they shall not break their ranks:

    8...and when they fall upon the sword,they shall not be wounded.

    9They shall run to and fro in the city;they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses;they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

    10The earth shall quake before them...

    11And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army:His camp is very great:He is strong that executes His Word:the Day of the Lord is great,very terrible;and who can abide it?
  • SolaScrip - In Reply - 5 months ago
    "Richard H Priday

    INVISIBLE; NO IMAGE; NO IMAGINATION OF MAN

    Acts 17:29

    states:

    Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

    God has many warnings in scripture regarding not making idols of created beings or heavenly objects such as the moon and stars. This verse shows how God cannot be reduced to a man made concept or picture."

    Would you not then agree that the concept of the trinity falls under such category as an "IMAGE and IMAGINATION OF MAN"?

    If the concept is not taught anywhere in the Bible, that succinctly defines it as a creation/imagination of man.

    The concept of God being three persons is an IDOL, it is an IMAGE created by the IMAGINATION OF MAN.

    This IDOL has been sold to the masses, it has been delivered to hundreds of millions, if not billions, who accept and embrace it without question or personal investigation into its Scriptural authenticity.

    It is a lie of man.
  • Richard H Priday - 5 months ago
    INVISIBLE; NO IMAGE; NO IMAGINATION OF MAN

    Acts 17:29 states:

    Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

    God has many warnings in scripture regarding not making idols of created beings or heavenly objects such as the moon and stars. This verse shows how God cannot be reduced to a man made concept or picture.

    Colossians 1:15 states: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." This verse is discussing Christ who although He came in a man is part of the Godhead; so certainly we shouldn't have images of Him either; especially to be venerated or worshipped. As to whether; say a stained glass window is equally offensive we have to look to the heart of those who are attending a church service; as sadly some even with such an object as that will find some feature that seems to have some supernatural light in the image which is idolotry. The same could be said for the Apostles on such imagery; a Protestant wouldn't have any desire normally to make it an idol; but other denominations such as Greek Orthodox have statues of "saints" which clearly constitute worship that is against scripture.

    John 1:18 states that no man has ever seen God but in Christ we in a sense see Him. His attributes including the Godhead are said to be clear from creation ( Romans 1:20). This was said to be known from the time of Creation according to the beginning of this verse. This shows that only later the nations departed from the knowledge that Adam and his immediate descendants would have instilled in them; there was deliberate rebellion against the Creator throughout the earth; both after the garden and after the flood with the tower of Babel and then God confusing the languages and scattering men throughout the earth (see Genesis 10:25 on likely splitting off of continents and dispersion of men).
  • Koosees - 6 months ago
    My question is it literal or figurative?

    Is says earth, most cases referring to the ground we walk on. Did God divide the earth as in the continents or placed them in land already separated (continents) as they are today? Like the world, 5 Hebrew translations, 3 Greek. Earth though all refer to the ground, dirt, soil in all three translations.

    1 Chronicles 1:19 - And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.

    Genesis 10:25

    "And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan."

    Genesis 10:32 - These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

    Genesis 11:16-19 - And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

    Deuteronomy 32:8 - When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

    Luke 3:35-36 - Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,

    Acts 17:26 - And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

  • [Comment Removed]
  • Jim Miller - 6 months ago
    Always verify what clergy tries to teach you via the bible itself..

    Acts 17:11 (KJV) 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

    Like Ronald Reagon once said "trust, but verify!"
  • Richard H Priday - 6 months ago
    Moral dilemmas: Knowing the difference between right and wrong.

    The scriptures have situations where God accomplishes His purposes despite the behaviors of His messengers or those fulfilling His will. We see Sampson; and his attraction to Philistine women which eventually degraded to being involved with Delilah; a prostitute that brought him shame and ruin ( Judges 16). God eventually used this to allow Sampson to be humbled through blindness then deliberately end his life and thus defeat more Philistines than he did all his life ( Judges 16:29).

    We see Jonah and his deliberate disobedience in going to Tarshish rather than Nineveh. God somehow used his message to not only convince repentance from the top leadership to the common people in Nineveh; but also for those he was travelling with on the ship after they were forced to toss Jonah into the sea to save themselves from shipwreck.

    Even the story of Esther is questionable from what some interpret happened in a Harem type situation; she also took over as wife of the king which would be considered adultery. It could still be considered as a second wife since divorce is NEVER mentioned in the Bible except Joseph's consideration of it with Mary. It was discussed as an action that could be taken in Deut. 24 but no saints of God or anyone else are mentioned even among pagans that did such a thing. Food for thought....

    God would wink at certain things in the past but now of course we are at a higher standard under Christ. ( Acts 17:30). No doubt rewards were lost for those who weren't dealt with in this life if repentance didn't occur; we don't see specific chastising mentioning the particular sins of Sampson (perhaps implied in his death); and for Jonah there seems to be no indication that he ever had the love for the Ninevites at the end of the story; we only see God's rebuke for him feeling sorry for a plant instead.

    In upcoming posts we will consider situations where right and wrong appear nebulous.
  • Richard H Priday - 6 months ago
    God's plan for the nations (Part 3).

    I ended my last post briefly discussing the Persian; Greek and Roman empires which would all have a part of history when they affected Israel. In the Persian empire Cyrus the Great (see Ezra) would allow the Temple to be rebuilt even though he didn't know the Lord he showed favor to Israel. ( Isaiah 45:4-6). Later Antiochus Epiphanes as a type of Antichrist would during the intertestamental period take over the Temple (actually part of the Syrian empire but also spread Greek cultural ideas). God through the Macabees fought back and eventually they were defeated. Finally; of course the Roman empire would have a tenuous existance with the Jewish nation; and be a part of Christ's crucifixion. They also; (until today's modern version still forming) would be defeated.

    We see examples of God working with Nebuchadnezzar to bring about true conversion. We also see examples such as Naaman the Syrian in 2 Kings 5 who God healed; as well as the story of Jonah with the Ninevites who repented and God spared for a time of judgment; but in the book of Nahum God's patience ran out and they were destroyed. We also see examples such as Ruth who was a Gentile that came to believe and became part of the royal lineage and even Rahab in the same light. In general though God winked at certain things in the past but ( Acts 17:30-31) but now in New Testament times there were stricter standards.

    Christ would also begin with only ministering to the "lost sheep of Israel". ( Matthew 15:24 but mentioned earlier when the 70 were sent out). In this case a Gentile woman showed great faith and Christ healed her daughter. The plan now was to fulfill the prophecies in Isaiah 42:1-9 about being a light to the Gentiles. This began with Christ spending much time with the Samaritan woman and others possessed by demons which added to crowds from surrounding nations; and showed the lack of faith in his own hometown as a contrast ( Mark 6:4).
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 7 months ago
    Hi Ronald.

    I agree with Gigi, We are to gather from those who are gifted to teach, preach, and proclaim.

    Jesus said; He is truth!

    He also said, "My sheep hear my voice!

    When truth is proclaimed it's Christ spirit in us that discerns it.

    In 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 Paul illustrates this concept of teaching.

    We are to do as the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and test the scriptures to see if these things be true.

    I believe we should approach the scripture as babes in Christ and not just examine others doctrine but also constantly examining our own, testing scripture with scripture and applying proper hermeneutics.

    We take what we have learned from others and see if it holds up over time as we grow.

    God bless.
  • Jesse - 7 months ago
    INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY (Part 3):

    And so, Timothy was considered Jewish. And in case some of the Hebrew and Jewish people would hear that he's Jewish as he's traveling and wanted to corner him and pin him down as to whether he's been circumcised, and whether he's been through the synagogue ceremonies, Paul had him circumcised so that he would be free to preach the gospel in the synagogues.

    Timothy was ordained by Paul and the Presbytery ( I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6).

    He accompanies Paul on his third missionary trip ( Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4; II Corinthians 1:1, 19).

    Timothy ministered in at least five churches as Paul's representative. He sent Timothy to:

    1) Thessalonica ( I Thessalonians 3:2, 6).

    2) Corinth ( I Corinthians 4:17; 16:10; II Corinthians 1:19).

    3) Philippi ( Philippians 2:19-23).

    4) Berea ( Acts 17:14).

    5) Ephesus ( I Timothy 1:3).

    Timothy was with Paul during Paul's first imprisonment ( Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1) and went to Philippi after Paul's release ( Philippians 2:19-23).

    After Paul's release from his first imprisonment ( Acts 28:30), he revisited several cities leaving Timothy at Ephesus.

    Paul went on to Macedonia from where he wrote Timothy this letter ( I Timothy 3:14-15).

    Timothy was around 35-years of age when Paul wrote I Timothy.

    Paul was arrested in Troas and taken to Rome and imprisoned for the second and last time.

    Timothy also suffered imprisonment ( Hebrews 13:23).
  • Jesse - 7 months ago
    INTRODUCTION TO 1 TIMOTHY (Part 5):

    Timothy ministered in at least 5 churches as Paul's representative:

    1) Thessalonica ( I Thessalonians 3:2, 6)

    2) Corinth ( I Corinthians 4:17; 16:10; II Corinthians 1:19)

    3) Philippi ( Philippians 2:19-23)

    4) Berea ( Acts 17:14)

    5) Ephesus ( I Timothy 1:3)

    So, here's somebody who spent 15-20 years with Paul all the time. He knew his teaching. He was able to live with him and watch his walk with the Lord, and he was sent out as Paul's representative to these different churches.

    Timothy was with Paul during Paul's first imprisonment ( Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1) and went to Philippi after Paul's release ( Philippians 2:19-23). After Paul's release from his first imprisonment ( Acts 28:30), he revisited several cities leaving Timothy at Ephesus.

    Paul went to Macedonia where he wrote Timothy this letter ( I Timothy 3:14-15). Timothy was around 35-years old when Paul wrote I Timothy. Timothy also suffered imprisonment ( Hebrews 13:23).

    IV. DATE OF THE LETTER:

    Written around 62 - 63 A.D. between Paul's first and second imprisonment. Paul wrote both 1 Timothy and Titus during this time. Paul was arrested again sometime after 64 A.D. and condemned to death. July, 64 A.D was when Rome was burned by Nero and blamed on the Christians. So, from 64 A.D. onward, Christianity was an illegal religion.

    That's why there was persecution all the way from 64 A.D. to 313 A.D. Christians were persecuted and put to death because Christianity was an illegal religion until Constantine decided to bring Christianity from the underground and make it a legal religion.

    Christianity joined Constantine's sun worship religion, which is why we have a lot of the traditions we have in the church today. It hasn't come from the bible. It hasn't come from the Christian church in the first 300 years. It came from Constantine's false religious system.

    Paul wrote this letter during his second imprisonment; he also wrote II Timothy.
  • Jesse - 7 months ago
    INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS (Part 1):

    We find in 2 Thessalonians that Paul's going to say that if anybody comes to you, whether it's through a spirit, making reference to somebody giving "personal revelation," by a spirit! Or whether it's through a letter, and 2 Thessalonians was written because a false letter was being circulated by false teachers that had Paul's name on it.

    So, he says even if it's through a letter, or through a spirit, and it counters and contradicts what we're saying, it's false! Of course, how would the Christians in Thessalonica know that some of the things went against what Paul taught? And that's why he hurried and turned around and wrote a second letter to the Christians in Thessalonica.

    I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

    Paul and his companions Silvanus and Timothy ( II Thessalonians 1:1; 3:17). Paul's inscription is on all thirteen of his letters.

    II. TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN:

    To the believers in Thessalonica who were made up of mostly Gentiles, but some Jews believed also (Acts17:4).

    III. THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN THESSALONICA:

    Paul evangelized the area of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea during his Second Missionary journey along with Silvanus and Timothy ( Acts 17:1-9).

    Paul ministered in Thessalonica for at least three weeks ( Acts 17:2).

    Unbelieving Jews stirred up the unbelieving Gentiles against Paul ( Acts 17:5-9).

    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy left Thessalonica and went on to Berea ( Acts 17:10).

    Hostile Thessalonian Jews followed Paul to Berea and stirred up the people against Paul ( Acts 17:13).

    Paul left Silvanus and Timothy in Berea while he went on to Athens ( Acts 17:14).

    Paul sent for Silvanus and Timothy to join him in Athens ( Acts 17:15).

    From Athens, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the welfare of the believers there ( I Thessalonians 3:1-2).

    Paul also sent Silvanus back to Philippi while he went on to Corinth ( Acts 18:1).

    Silvanus and Timothy rejoin Paul in Corinth ( Acts 18:5).
  • Jesse - 7 months ago
    INTRODUCTION TO 1 THESSALONIANS (Part 1):

    I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

    Paul and his companions Silvanus and Timothy ( I Thessalonians 1:1; 2:18). Again, Paul's inscription is on all thirteen of his letters. He personally wrote 1 Thessalonians, but he has Silvanus (and we see that he's the same as Silas in the scriptures), and then Timothy. They traveled with him during his 2nd missionary trip. And so, they are with Paul in Corinth when he is writing this letter back to the Christians in Thessalonica.

    II. TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN:

    To the believers in Thessalonica who were made up of mostly Gentiles, but some Jews believed also. Acts 17:4 tells us about Paul's ministry there in Thessalonica.

    III. THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN THESSALONICA:

    Paul evangelized the area of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea during his Second Missionary journey, along with Silvanus and Timothy. That's recorded in Acts 17:1-9.

    Paul ministered in Thessalonica for at least three weeks ( Acts 17:2).

    Unbelieving Jews stirred up the unbelieving Gentiles against Paul ( Acts 17:5-9).

    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy left Thessalonica and went on to Berea ( Acts 17:10).

    Hostile Thessalonian Jews followed Paul to Berea and stirred up the people against Paul ( Acts 17:13).

    Paul left Silvanus and Timothy in Berea while he went on to Athens ( Acts 17:14).

    Paul sent for Silvanus and Timothy to join him in Athens ( Acts 17:15).

    From Athens, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the welfare of the believers there ( I Thessalonians 3:1-2).

    Paul also sent Silvanus back to Philippi while he went on to Corinth ( Acts 18:1).

    Silvanus and Timothy rejoin Paul in Corinth ( Acts 18:5).

    After Silvanus and Timothy returned, Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians based on Timothy's good report ( Acts 18:5).
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 7 months ago
    Hi CJF,

    Godhead is a word that is in 3 verses in the KJV. Acts 17:29 Romans 1:20 and Colossians 2:9. Godhead comes from an Old English word godhede in 1200 AD. In Acts it is the Greek word theios that means divine, manifesting the characteristics of God's nature. In Romans, it is the Greek word theiots that means divinity, divine nature. In Colossians, it is the Greek word theots that mean deity, fulness of deity.

    These are three different Greek words that the translators chose to translate Godhead. You ask is the Godhead one God or three persons? Some use this word to refer to the doctrine of the Trinity but in the context of the chapters this word is used, does not refer to that.

    Godhead is God the Father himself, it pleased him to have all His divine fullness to dwell in His only begotten Son. The meaning for the word Godhead is the divine nature of God that was manifested in His only begotten Son, John 10:38 John 14:10.

    Your question is more about the doctrine of the Trinity I am sure others would reply on that.

    I hope this helps,

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Scotty McScottish - In Reply - 8 months ago
    FYI: The KJV in many places is a 'free translation'. the LXX [Septuagint] is an even more free translation of the Hebrew and yet the apostles quote the LXX is very many places in the NT. Additionally, Paul quotes a pagan poet in Acts 17:28.

    The KJV is itself went through a number of revisions. The version currently published by the Trinitarian Bible Society contains [rightly or wrongly] words and phrases found in NO GREEK MANUSCRIPT.

    My earlier question re the source of the words "of Christ" in Romans 1:16 is an example of this issue.

    As far as I am able to ascertain NO Greek MS has those words. The earliest I have found is in the 1519 Greek and Latin New Testament of Erasmus. Those words, "of Christ" in Romans 1:16 may be one of Erasmus's 'conjectural emendations'.

    I will continue to research that source.

    Allow me to add that the translation philosophy employed by the translation committees of the KJV is probably THE BEST POSSIBLE, notwithstanding the occasional failures in applying that philosophy.

    NUNC VIVAMUS
  • Frankie J - In Reply - 8 months ago
    Friend,

    Quoting you;

    Pay attention to v25, "AND THIS WORD WHICH BY THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED TO YOU." so it means literally the Word of God, not Christ, etc"

    Isa 49:8 "for a covenant to the people"

    1 Pet 1:23, says 'LIVETH & ABIDED FOR EVER" the Scriptures are the words of God that became the letter from what the apostles lived, wrote & preach from under the inspiration of the Spirit. 2Cor 3:4-6 The letter of any dispensation kills, it the Spirit along that gives Life, 1Cor 15:45

    Paul says, Gal 1:12, but came by Rom 10:17 that was in his Rom 10:8 this is Word of Faith, the gospel that he preached.

    He received it by the Grace of God that appears in his heart, bringing him & the rest the Word of Salvation.

    This is the revelation of Jesus Christ in every heart, Christ preaching the Gospel to them diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge, to those who believe it becomes an aroma unto life, to the unbelieving an aroma unto death.

    The incorruptible Seed by which we maybe born again, if received & no one is born again until they received Him in this manner of His spiritual appearances within their heart.

    Jesus takes personal responsibility of us, to teach us Himself in the way that He, Himself live, walk & overcame all the temptations of the devil,. It's the Good News that the angel proclaim to the Sheppard's. Hebrews 1:2 Spoken unto us through His Son, the 1John 2:27

    1Pet 1:24 is man preaching the incorruptible words of God, which in his human wisdom, learning & knowledge he contradicts, for he neither knows them because he doesn't obey them, although he professes them 1John 2:3-6

    Friend, I understand were your coming from, this way of believing & living, at one time turn my world upside down.

    Acts 17:6 I've had always been dull of hearing & slow of heart to believe all the Holy Spirit ever spoke to me. Now I am paying attention, as for as offenses, I'm dead to that part within me. 2Cor 10:3 . Ephesians 6:12 who seek to rule in the hearts & minds of mankind.
  • Chris - In Reply - 9 months ago
    Page 2. Cheryl1655

    The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 2:14,15, that the Gentiles who did not have God's Law served to them, do by instinct that which the Law contained - that Law (in some perceptive form) is written on their hearts & their consciences. So man, whether Jew or Gentile already had received knowledge of right & wrong, of the True God & false gods, of that knowledge pricking his heart when he knew he had done wrong, but he chose to suppress that knowledge & create his own beliefs, gods, & values. He may not know all about the True God, as Israel had known God, but each person had the evidence of God's essential requirements in their hearts; and this should cause them to turn to this 'unknown God' to worship & for help in dealing with sin that affected their hearts & consciences (even as some of the Athenians did in Acts 17:22-34).

    And so the great need for the Gospel of Salvation is to go out into all the world ( Matthew 28:19,20), so that both the Jew under the Law & the Gentile without the written Law, might hear of the forgiveness, cleansing & redemption found only in Christ Jesus. There were Gentiles in the Old Testament days that were touched by God (e.g. those of Nineveh, Huram (king of Tyre), the Queen of Sheba, King Darius, etc.); they may not have fully turned from their gods to follow the True God, but we do see that Gentiles were also in God's Mind in those days, so none was without excuse.

    But now through the Gift of His Son, God has reached out to ALL men everywhere, that they may find spiritual healing & a restored relationship through faith in Jesus' Name ( Acts 17:30).
  • Richard H Priday - 9 months ago
    John 16:8 conclusions (for now).

    I thought it fitting to also point out how those in leadership will also be held accountable on this subject. There are few in ministry who will ask the congregation to pray for their needs; or who will openly acknowledge when they have done something amiss. Specifically; it is methodologies that are often held from worldly experience that are used to build up ministries; such as slick advertising campaigns. I prefer to hold to the seeker unfriendly camp; or perhaps what has been coined "your worst life now". Such advice is exemplified in Paul's harsh retort to the Corinthians who were living "like kings" at the time ( 1 Cor. 4:8). Sounds familiar; right? It would be wonderful to see the Gospel preached out of envy ( Philippians 1:15-16). That would be the case if the world was being turned "upside down" ( Acts 17:6); but in truth there are few that want to go down in a blaze of glory which the martyrdom at the time exemplified.

    Exhortation; or iron sharpening iron ( Prov. 27:17) is also becoming a rare art heading toward extinction. Sin may be covered by the blood; but undoubtably still can lead to death; at least as far as the body is concerned. Such is the case with 1 Corinthians 11:30. For us to not have some awareness of the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin after salvation ignores passages such as Galatians 5:17. It is easy to ignore the desires of the Holy Spirit in the contentious struggle and just focus on the struggle with the flesh; for conflict to occur evidence of the Spirit's sanctification must be present. Again; without such things all of our "good deeds" simply are a remake of our actions to satiate God to the best of our ability; without ceding control to the Lord's authority and power. His RIGHTEOUSNESS is the only way we are going to want to obey His commandments; the whole emphasis of Psalm 119 as an example. And the Bema Seat keeps us humble now; every action is judged ( 1 Cor. 3:13)
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 9 months ago
    Hi S Spencer

    We are not in the millennium it is after His second coming. He defeats the ten kingdoms/countries the army of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet at Armageddon the great supper of God, Rev. 16:12-16 Rev,17:12-14 Rev. 19:11-2. Then Satan is put in the bottomless pit, Rev 20:1-3.

    Judgment of those in the first resurrection who will reign with Jesus Rev. 20:4-6, the kingdom is set up and will last for 1000 years, then Satan is released and deceives the world and gathers them, the number as the sands of the sea around the camp of the saints at Jerusalem to the last battle. Fire comes down from heaven and devoured them and Satan is cast into the lake of fire,

    Then the white throne judgment of all who were not in the first judgment will be judged and all whosoever was not found in the Book of Life were cast into the lake of fire. Dan. 12:1-3 Matt. 12:36 John 5:28-29 Acts 17:31 Eccl. 12:14

    We cannot put the people in 70 AD and the prince in the future. The door of the ark, the men of the city, the lambs of the flock, these things cannot be separated. It is the people that shall come, who are of the prince and this prince is not some future being who had nothing to do with 70 AD.

    We know by scripture Jesus confirmed the covenant and we know by scripture He was cut off/crucified and we know by scripture by His death there is no more offering for sin, they ceased, Heb. 10:14-18

    Matt. 24:14-15 can also have been for those in 66-70AD history records the believers in Jesus got out and went to Pella, Luke 19:43-44 Luke 21:20-21. My other posts should show my understanding is Dan. 9 does not apply to the end times it was a prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus, and the amount of time given to Daniel's people, the city of Jerusalem, and the temple, and the judgment for their abominations.

    After the 70 weeks, the mystery of the Gospel that was hidden was revealed to the Gentiles, Acts 8:54-57 Acts 9:3-15 Acts 10:9-16 Rom. 11:25

    God bless,

    RLW
  • David0921 - 9 months ago
    The Bible (part 2)

    Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

    Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures

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

    Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

    Psalms 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

    Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

    Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

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

    2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

    Revelation 22:18,19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 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.

    These are just a sampling of the many verses that speak about the scriptures, the Bible, the Word of God. They should be examined both in their immediate context and the context of the entire Bible if we are to come to Truth regarding the true nature of the Bible.
  • Richard H Priday - 9 months ago
    True Christ vs. Imaginary (further examination of confessors vs. possessors)

    The parable of the wheat and the tares should be alarming to everyone; and necessary instruction. ( Matt. 13:24-30). It is said that the wheat and tares are indistinguishable from one another before they are fully ripened. It appears from this parable that God has His purposes for these two groups to remain until the end of the age. Most probably; this is testing for those who ARE true believers to ensure that they won't fall for the temptations of this world as well as false or compromised doctines as well as a lifestyle of sin. Again; our society in general doesn't seem to be finding too many newcomers to churches because of it is a novel practice; or the world is being turned upside down ( Acts 17:6) which were characteristic of the church in Apostolic times.

    However; the "damnable heresies" ( 2 Peter 2:1) are increasing along with 1 Timothy 4:1-2; etc. are invading former solid denominations so that a person can have a sense of respectability and pride in church attendance that tells them what they want to hear. Part of this; of course is the result of decades of permissive society and decline of morals; both within and without the church walls; I have stated before no doubt that the destruction of marriages is what I consider to be the primary initial cause especially post World War 2 of what we see today.

    A primary example here is how people look at 1 John 2:1-2 on confession of sin and forgiveness. While it is true that Christ's death took care of all sin; past and future; we still have to confess sin; and if someone has the Holy Spirit in them they cannot be content with sin ( Galatians 5:17). a LIFESTYLE of sin such as continual adultery; theft; fornication; and other actions means that ultimately we don't trust God as to His warnings such as in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 as to reaping what we sow; and don't trust Him to be in the driver's seat in our lives and our souls.


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