Joan Berry – Page 7 – The Original Love, Learn, Live in Christ

September 16, 2019April 18, 2020

Our Father Who art in Heaven

In the beginning, the focus was on God creating the material world including mankind. Man, made in God’s image was given sovereignty over the newly created world (*NKJV,* 2007, 1995, p. 7).

God is introducing Jesus Christ as the Servant-Messiah who would bring the world to knowledge of God. God is asserting his authority in v. 5 by announcing that he the source of physical and spiritual life (*NIV Study Bible*, 1995, p.1102-1103)

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The Word was Christ and he was with God, the Father, before Creation. The world was created through God, the Creator Son (*NKJV*, 2007, p. 1656); John records a great tragedy in that humankind did not recognize their own creator (Barton et al., 2001, p. 365). “

In the call to praise the Creator, it is a call to praise God for all creation from the heavens to the human heart. It is the call for the heavens to praise him, for the elements of earth to praise him, and for the people to praise him (*NIV Study Bible*, p. 982; *NKJV,* p. 960).

Moses had been speaking to the Israelites at the Jordan River, but before they crossed, he made an intercession prayer to God for the Israelites by appealing to God’s faithfulness, mercy, and honor. He reminds God of his redemption of the Israelites, his promises, and his reputation among all nations and his election of Israel (*NKJV*, 2007, p. 286).
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A highway makes traveling easier and the “way of holiness” was a road built up between temples where only the holy and redeemed could walk on because they had to be ceremoniously clean. Wild animals made travel dangerous but the redeemed would be safe. The redeemed are those God redeemed from bondage and they are to enter the gates of Zion pursued only by gladness, not wild animals. Sorrow will flee (*NIV Study Bible,* 1995, p. 1058).

The psalmist considers his own faults, hidden and presumptuous, and asks to be delivered from them. He calls upon God as his rock and redeemer to redeem him *(NIV Study Bible*, 1995, p. 796).

The Christian is no longer under the control of evil, but under the benevolent will of Jesus Christ, the redeemer. The believer is delivered freed, redeemed from the penalty of sin by the payment of Jesus’ death on the cross (NIV Study Bible, 1995, p. 1815).

*Jesus is telling his followers of the signs that will precede his second coming and refers to himself as their redeemer (NIV Study Bible, 1995, p. 1579).*

September 16, 2019April 18, 2020

The Three Persons of the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity that is central to the Christian faith was not articulated in Scripture, but rather by the church in the first centuries following the writing of the New Testament and before the Council of Chalcedon (circa 100-451), (Grenz, 2000, p. 76; Grenz & Franke, 2001, p.172). The scope of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is beyond human intellect to accurately explain. However, scholars have attempted to express the Trinity as being economic, essential, and social and this essay will follow that train of thought in examining this view (GCU, 2011, para. 14).

In common knowledge, the trinity is often thought as the Father being the creator and provider, the Son as mediator of salvation, and the Holy Spirit as the activator of salvation. Other Thoughts regarding the trinity are Immanent or essential trinity is that in which ‘God exists internally, separated from history, time and space; and Essential trinity said to be focused on the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Among the trinity members, their relationship is known as social trinity.

Dawson McAllister, in his 1997 article, “I Don’t Understand the Trinity,” for Campus Life, explains the concept in answer to a student who asked him the following questions: What exactly is the Trinity? How can God be three people at once? Which one should I pray to? And what does each of the three do? McAllister answers the student’s first and second questions with scripture by quoting Matt. 28: 18-20 NIV: ^18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” McAllister again quotes Matthew to answer the question about prayer: ^6”But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you,” (V.6 NIV). In answer to the question about what role each of the Trinity plays, McAllister gives a fuller answer: From God, the Father, things originate and are generated. He is equal to the Son and the Holy Spirit and he is responsible for sending the Son (John 3:16-17 NIV) and the Holy Spirit (John 14:26 NIV) into the world. God, the Son, was sacrificed to cover our sins and open the door to salvation. He also is our advocate before the Father (I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1). God, the Holy Spirit, has many responsibilities because he helps us pray, comforts us, opens our minds to God’s Word, lifts up Jesus, convicts us of our sins and guides us toward righteousness (Rom. 8:26-27; John 3: 3-6, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-11, Rom. 15:16 NIV). In addition, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, helps us witness to others, and is faithful to give us joy, love, kindness, peace, and self-control (Rom. 8:11; Acts 1:8; Gal. 5:22-23 NIV). McAllister admits that we cannot precisely define the Trinity or God and leaves the student with this truth: “Who among us can know the mind of the Lord?” (Rom. 11:34), (p.80).

Steve Berg, in 2001, also writing for Campus Life, told why he believed in the Trinity even after being told that if something could not be explained, one should not believe it. He posits that just because the Trinity cannot be fully explained, it was not impossible for it to exist (p.42). Berg asserted that if the Trinity was biblical, then it is true. He pointed out Old and New Testament scripture to back up his claim – Deut. 4:35; John 17:3; and I Cor. 8:6 NIV) – God, the Father. Other scripture that Berg pointed to were Paul’s writings for God, the Son, in Col. 2:9, Titus 2:13, John 1 NIV. For reference to the Holy Spirit, Berg used the examples of Act 5, and I Cor. 3:16 where it said “Christians are God’s temples – the place where God’s Spirit lives.” He also used the examples of the Nicene and Apostles creeds and the names under which we were baptized as proof they were based on the Word of God (p.42).

Cappadocian author, Gregory of Nazianzus, wrote in circa 380 that the nature of the Godhead evolved in the three stages and he also revealed why he believed the doctrine of the Trinity was not clearly stated in the Scriptures (McGrath, 2011, p.163). According to Gregory, the Old Testament spoke of the Father openly, but the Son vaguely. The New Testament revealed the Son openly and gradually revealed the divinity of the Holy Spirit (p.163). Gregory posits that since the Spirit indwelled the believers, they could see this more clearly. Gregory believed that it was proper for God, the Father, be recognized first, God, the Son revealed, once the Father was clearly revealed, and then the Holy Spirit acknowledged (p. 163). He argued that it was a gradual progression in order to clarify the understanding of the Trinity through God’s divine self-revelation (p. 163).

Conclusion

Although it is impossible for us to accurately and fully describe the Holy Trinity, we can have a certain amount of understanding about the Godhead. We can understand from the Scriptures that all things are generated by the Father, the Son is our mediator or salvation, and the Holy Spirit is the activator of our salvation and comforter. God has revealed the Trinity in an orderly manner throughout the Scriptures to help bring understanding to us about the Trinity as he uses self-revelation in nature and the Bible.

References

Grenz, S. (2000). Theology for the community of God. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Grenz, S. J. & Franke J. (2001). Beyond foundationalism: Shaping theology in a postmodern context. Louisville, KY: Westminister John Knox

Life Application Study Bible –New International Version (NIV). (2005). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers

McGrath, A. (2011). Christian Theology: An introduction. (5^th ed.). West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

McGrath, A. (Ed.) (2011). The Christian theology reader. (4^th ed.). West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

Electronic sources:

Berg, S. (2001). Why believe in the trinity? Campus Life, 60(1), 42. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/eds/detail?sid= . . .

Allister, D. (1997). I don’t understand the trinity. Campus Life, 56(4), 80. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebsohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/eds/detail?vid=30&sid=ee871674-a82a-4a0c-. . . ty(c,b,g

August 26, 2019April 18, 2020

Two Bethlems in the Holy Land: Comment

Two Bethlems in the Holy Land: Comment

It came to my attention lately about two communities in the Holy Land being named Bethlehem. It is not a secret by any means that both claim to be the birth place of Jesus. And just as we have cities throughout our country bearing the same name, so do other countries. The Bethlehem we are most familiar with is the one about five miles south of Jerusalem on Israel’s West Bank; the other one is located about eight miles from Nazareth and about 100 miles north from the one near Jerusalem. Bethlehem is mentioned in Joshua 19: 15 as Bethlehem of Zebulun (tribe allotted this land). In what we know as Judah, Bethlehem was formally known as Ephrath (Gen. 35: 16 and 19). Rachael gave birth to Benjamin near the Bethlehem near Nazareth where she died, but her shrine is located near Jerusalem

Argument #1: Because Jesus’ family was centered in Nazareth; many archeologists believe that he was born in the Bethlehem in Galilee. Also, the ministry of Jesus was mainly in Galilee and the Kineret (Aviram Oshri of the Israeli Antiquities Authority).

“Mary rode on top of the donkey at the end of her pregnancy – and I asked myself, what are the chances that the baby would still be alive if she rode all the way to Bethlehem in Judea ?” said Dr. Oshri. “Zero. Whereas the distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is possible.”
“If you ask me, Jesus was born in Nazareth,” said archaeologist Dr Uzi Dahari. “At that time in the Roman period, people didn’t move from place to place. All of his family is from Nazareth.”

Archaeologists also report that no archeology evidence has been found to prove that the Bethlehem in Judea was the birth place of Jesus. Where as the one in Galilee has produced finds from the time of Jesus as well as a fortified wall mentioned in ancient documents. Excavation of both Bethlehems is ongoing. (Dr Uzi Dahar).

There is an excellent report on this topic at that I highly recommend.

https://hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/Bethlehem-Israel#mod_24867621 (scroll down to Rachael’s tomb)

https://www.npr.org/2012/12/25/168010065/dig-finds-evidence-of-pre-jesus-bethlehem

Argument #2

Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

Situated on the main highway to Egypt, it was known variously as Ephrath (Genesis 35:16), Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Bethlehem-Judah (1 Samuel 17:12), and “the city of David” (Luke 2:4).

Argument #3

A general summary is that the birth of Jesus was written in the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries, well past anyone living at the time of Jesus. The Matthew 2: 6 verse does not occur in Old Testament prophesies as it is presented in Matthew. As to Rachael’s tomb, only a shrine to her is located seven miles south of Jerusalem. Her tomb is located near the Bethlehem in Galilee where she died. She died too far from family burial caves near Jerusalem to be interred there. At the time of Rachel, the main highway known as the Patriarch’s Thoroughfare went through the Nazareth area. Also, in Rachael’s time, the Bethlehem in Judea did not exist. The Bethlehem of Galilee was a thriving town in the 1^st century (Oshri, 2012).

Further information: The seven differences between Judea and Galilee

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/7-differences-between-galilee-and-judea-in-the-time-of-jesus/ M

August 9, 2019April 18, 2020

Japheth : Son of Noah

Japheth : Son of Noah

Japheth is one of the three sons of Noah and progenitor of the Aryan race. He and his descendants fathered Europe and East Asian peoples. His name means “God will enlarge.” Arabic records show his name as Yafeth bin Nuh. The Japhethites were characterized as intellectual people. Japheth fathered seven sons: Gomer, Magog, Tobal, Mechech, Madi, Javen, and Tiras.

Nations Founded by Japheth and Sons.

Japheth (Aryan race) King of Turkey

Gomer (Celts/Cimmerians) settled north of the Black Sea and later spread to Germany, France, Spain and the British Isles. His son, Ashkenaz, fathered Nysia, and Phygia: Japheth’s son Rephath settled Riphaeon; and Japheth’ son, Togarmah fathered Armenia.

Magog founded the Scythians and settled north of the Caspian Sea. Magog is not Russia, but Turkey. See note and White’s research https://hightimetoawake.com/princes-of-turkey/

Many biblical scholars jumped to the conclusion that Rosh meant Russia. This was improper research and nowhere else is it used – trying to find similar words in English. In its proper Hebrew language “rosh” means first, primary, and prominent. Magog is the most prominent son of Japheth, Magog, Tubal, and Mechech were first to settle Turkey.

Madi fathered the Medes and settled south of the Caspian sea.

Javan, whose name means Greek, produced four sons: Elishah, whose people became the Aeolians; Tarshish fathered Tarterssus; Kittim settled Cyprus; and Dodanim fathered the Trojans.

Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras Connection to Turkey:

Father is Japheth (Aryan race) King of Turkey

Tubal is associated with the Iberians (the Prince of the province) and settled near where Georgia is today and then became a prince of Turkey.

Tiras is associated with Turkey (a Prince) and controlled the province westward to Urartu and Armenia. His domain was known as Trace that was bordered by Dinaric Alps, Greek Plateau, and between the Black and Caspian Seas.

Mechech is connected to Turkey as a Prince. Tubal, Mechech and Tubal were mariners who had extensive trade routes and their tribes were very warlike.

NOTE: Gog and Allies Attack Israel; connection of Gog and Assyrians in end times

Ezekiel 38:1–3 the New King James Version

38 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²^a“Son of man, ^bset your face against ^cGog, of the land of ^dMagog, ¹the prince of *Rosh, ^eMeshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, ³and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. [Rosh is Hebrew for first; Magog was the first son to settle in Turkey and Magog/Gog was the name of the province ; this was a mistranslation of the word “rosh” and many biblical scholars make the of mistake of assuming it is Russia. Nowhere in the Table of Nations or anywhere else does Russia occur. The names and places discussed are a part of Turkey].

Sources

Berry, J. (2019). Noah Before and After the Great Flood. Hamilton, OH: “The Original Love, Learn, Live in Christ” website by joan-berry.com

Book of Noah

Books used from Bibles: Genesis, I Chronicles, Psalms 105: 23, 27; 106: 22; Ezekiel 38.

Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text. (1957). Lamsa, G. M. (trans). New York, NY: Harper –Collins Pub.

Josephus: The Complete Works. (1998). (trans.) Wm. Whiston, A. M. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

Kaffi, A. (2000). Rethinking the significance of the Black Presence in the Pentateuch for Translation Study Bible.

Kass, L.P. (1992 & 2001). Seeing the Nakedness of His Father: Part 1. American Community, Vol. 3, Is. 93, 7p.

Life Application study Bible. (NIV, 2005). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois

New King James Version Study Bible. (2007). Pub. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Sadler, R.S. Jr. (n.d.). Can a Cushite Change His Skin Color? “Racial Othering” and the Hebrew Bible. Charlotte, NC: Union-PSCE.

The Amplified Bible. (1987). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House

The Torah and its Commentary (Revised Ed.) (2005). New York, NY: Union for Reform Judaism

White, C. C. (2019). Princes of Turkey; in High Time to Awake. https://hightimetoawake.com/princes-of-turkey/ (also recommended about Turkey are https://hightimetoawake.com/erdogan-is-the-antichrist/; https://hightimetoawake.com/the-assyrian-is-the-antichrist/).

Williams, T. D. (2018). The Bible is Black History ISBN-13: 978-1792125881 ISBN-10: 1792125887 . c