The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the REVISED STANDARD VERSION ( RSV ).  Judges 6:24-27 read as follows:

"Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it, The LORD is peace.  To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.  That night the LORD said to him, 'Take your father's bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order; then take the second bull, and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.  So Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had told him; but because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night."

The word "Asherah" is defined as follows:  "A fertility goddess, the mother of Baal, whose worship was concentrated in Syria and Canaan and the wooden object that represented her. . . ."  [  See HOLMAN BIBLE DICTIONARY, HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, Copyright 1991 Holman Bible Publishers, p. 111.  ]

     Moreover, Jeremiah 10:8 ( NKJV; with center-column references ) reads as follows:  "But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish; a wooden idol is a worthless doctrine."  The phrase "worthless doctrine," in this passage from the Holy Bible, has an equivalent translation, which is "vain teaching."  We see just how worthless the Asherah was, since the LORD commanded ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, Ecclesiastes 12:13, and 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, for example ) Gideon ( see verses 24 and 25 ) to offer the second bull as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah ( see verse 26 ).  See also Matthew 28:18, John 1:1, 14; 3:16, 17; 5:26, 27; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17; Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, Titus 1:1, 2, James 4:7, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example.

     Additionally, the first commandment reads as follows:  "You shall have no other gods before Me" ( see Exodus 20:3; NKJV; with center-column references ).  Jesus ( see Matthew 4:10 ) said to the devil ( see Matthew 4:8 ), the following:  "Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve'" ( see Matthew 4:10; NKJV; with center-column references ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

     A Bible video ( associated with the following link ) has been included for you, the reader, to view.  Please click on the link below:

<https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwt40y5qiELlVXdSNHhGNEtmdWc/edit?usp=sharing>.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>

<Russell E. Willis>

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a version of the New Testament, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE.  Ephesians 5:21-33 read as follows:

"Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord; for the man is the head of the woman, just as Christ also is the head of the church.  Christ is, indeed, the Saviour of the body; but just as the church is subject to Christ, so must women be to their husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for it, to consecrate it, cleansing it by water and word, so that he might present the church to himself all glorious, with no stain or wrinkle or anything of the sort, but holy and without blemish.  In the same way men also are bound to love their wives, as they love their own bodies.  In loving his wife a man loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own body : on the contrary, he provides and cares for it; and that is how Christ treats the church, because it is his body, of which we are living parts.  Thus it is that (in the words of Scripture) 'a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become a single body'.  It is a great truth that is hidden here.  I for my part refer it to Christ and to the church, but it applies also individually : each of you must love his wife as his very self; and the woman must see to it that she pays her husband all respect."

In this passage from the New Testament, we see that the husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church: Jesus ( see Matthew 1:16; RSV, for example ) died for the church ( see also Acts 20:28, Romans 3:21-31 ( especially verses 24 and 25, for example ), Philippians 2:5-8 ( especially verse 8, for example ), Colossians 1:9-20 ( especially verses 13 and 20, for example ), and Hebrews 9:12-18 ( especially verses 14 and 15, for example ), for example ).  Thus, the husband must love his wife enough to be willing to die for her.

     Wives must be subject to their husbands "as to the Lord" ( see verse 22 ), and "in everything" ( see verse 24 ).  With these two phrases in mind, the wife does not have to submit to her husband if he threatens her with physical harm ( see Matthew 22:39 and verse 28 ( above ), for example ), or if he commands her to do something sinful ( see Matthew 6:33, Acts 4:19; 5:29, and 1 John 3:4, for example ), for example.  Finally, incidents of domestic violence can be avoided if the husband will "love his wife as his very self" ( see verse 33 ), and if the wife will "pay her husband all respect" ( see verse 33 ).

     A slide presentation ( associated with the following link ) has been included for you, the reader, to view ( and there is a brief lesson regarding husbands, wives, and younger widows included in this study of the book of 1 Timothy ).  Please click on the link below:

<https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-zC2Vu1AHUn2xo9DkWoLWyjVEkcGy_ykqle4nTOTGUM/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000>.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>

<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  To exit the slide presentation, you will need to click on the "home" button in your web browser.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please send them to my e-mail address as well.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the New Testament, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the New Testament:

"This translation of the New Testament (to be followed in due course by the Old Testament and by the Apocrypha) was undertaken with the object of providing English readers, whether familiar with the Bible or not, with a faithful rendering of the best available Greek text into the current speech of our own time, and a rendering which should harvest the gains of recent biblical scholarship.  It is just three hundred and fifty years since King James's men put out what we have come to know as the Authorized Version.  Two hundred and seventy years later the New Testament was revised.  The Revised Version, which appeared in 1881, marked a new departure especially in that it abandoned the so-called Received Text, which had reigned ever since printed editions of the New Testament began, but which the advance of textual criticism had antiquated.  The Revisers no longer followed (like their predecessors) the text of the majority of manuscripts, which, being for the most part of late date, had been exposed not only to the accidental corruptions of long-continued copying, but also in part to deliberate correction and 'improvement'.  Instead, they followed a very small group of manuscripts, the earliest, and in their judgement the best, of those which had survived.  During the eighty years which have passed since their time, textual criticism has not stood still."  [  See New Testament, THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1961, Copyright THE DELEGATES OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS AND THE SYNDICS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1961, p. vii.  ]

The word "homily" is defined as follows:

"n.   pl.  -lies   1  A didactic sermon on some text or topic from the Bible. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 463.  ]

Additionally, the word "didactic" is defined as follows:

"adj.  1 Pertaining to or of the nature of teaching; intended to instruct; expository. . . ."  [  Ibid., p. 272.  ]

     Thus, with the two above-given definitions in mind, a homily is a sermon, of a teaching nature, on some text or topic from the Bible.  Matthew 5:1, 2 read as follows:  "WHEN HE SAW the crowds he went up the hill.  There he took his seat, and when his disciples had gathered round him he began to address them.  And this is the teaching he gave" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Moreover, Matthew 7:28, 29 read as follows:  "When Jesus had finished this discourse the people were astounded at his teaching; unlike their own teachers he taught with a note of authority" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  The word "teaching" is used at the beginning of the sermon on the mount, and the word "taught" is used at the end, therefore, we can rightly conclude that the sermon on the mount was a homily.

     Within this homily, Jesus ( see Matthew 4:19 ) said the following in Matthew 5:10:  "How blest are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of right; the kingdom of Heaven is theirs."  Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ) will suffer persecution for the cause of right.  We must not become discouraged when this happens.  The apostle Paul recorded the following in 2 Timothy 3:10-12:  "But you, my son, have followed, step by step, my teaching and my manner of life, my resolution, my faith, patience, and spirit of love, and my fortitude under persecutions and sufferings-all that I went through at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, all the persecutions I endured; and the Lord rescued me out of them all.  Yes, persecution will come to all who want to live a godly life as Christians."  We must remember that the Lord will deliver us out of all of our persecutions.  Jesus said we are blest when we suffer persecution for the cause of right.  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>

<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE: The apocryphal books are not inspired by God ( see 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, for example ).  An explanation of the apocryphal books will be provided in a future entry to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ( NASB ).  Judges 6:11-16 read as follows:

"Then the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites.  And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, 'The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.'  Then Gideon said to him, 'O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?  And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, '"Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?"'  But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.'  And the LORD looked at him and said, 'Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian.  Have I not sent you?'  And he said to Him, 'O Lord how shall I deliver Israel?  Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house.'  But the LORD said to him, 'Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.'"

In this passage from the Holy Bible, we see that the LORD chose Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, and He assured him that He would be with him, and that he could do it ( see verses 14 and 16 ).

     A Bible video ( associated with the following link ) has been included for you, the reader, to view.  Please click on the link below:

 <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwt40y5qiELlVWx1S0FySlNpLUk/edit?usp=sharing>.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>

<Russell E. Willis>

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the REVISED STANDARD VERSION ( RSV ).  Of the letters written by the apostle Paul, 2 Thessalonians is the ninth: it is the fourteenth book of the New Testament, and the fifty-third of the sixty-six canonical books in the entire Holy Bible.  The book of 2 Thessalonians consists of three chapters; having a total of forty-seven verses, divided up among the chapters as follows:  chapter one has twelve verses, chapter two has seventeen verses, and chapter three has eighteen verses.  As with 1 Thessalonians, this entire book can also be read in a relatively short period of time.
     A slide presentation ( associated with the following link ) has been included for you, the reader, to view.  Please click on the link below:

<https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lOkWy9ZftKDpmj4ZgbnImk_6AEk9jTbH-R9CklO4Lko/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000>.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  To exit the slide presentation, you will need to click the "home" button in your web browser.  Please feel free to send comments or suggestions to my e-mail address as well.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as The Amplified Bible.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:

"IN 1958 The Lockman Foundation and Zondervan Publishing House issued the first edition of THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT.  The enthusiasm with which it has been received (more than one million copies are now in print) attests to its usefulness as a means of better understanding the Word of God.  THE AMPLIFIED OLD TESTAMENT, Part 1 - Genesis to Esther - was published in 1964, and THE AMPLIFIED OLD TESTAMENT, Part 2 - Job to Malachi - in 1962.  Both volumes have received the same degree of acceptance as that accorded earlier to THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT."  [  See The Amplified Bible, ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, Copyright 1965 by Zondervan Publishing House, PREFACE.  ]

Furthermore, the following explanations are provided:

"PARENTHESES ( ) and DASHES - -: signify additional phases of meaning included in the original word, phrase or clause of the original language.

TITLES OF DEITY: are set off, however, only with commas.

BRACKETS [ ]: contain justified clarifying words or comments not actually expressed in the immediate original text.

ITALICS: point out certain familiar passages now recognized as not adequately supported by the original manuscripts.  Also, 'and,' 'or' and other connectives in italics indicate that the word itself is not in the original text, but it is used to connect additional English words indicated in the same original word.

CAPITALS: are used in names and personal pronouns referring to Deity, but sparingly elsewhere.

REFERENCES: are intended to cover any part of the preceding verse to which they apply.

SYNONYMS: are limited to what the text seems to warrant, both as to number and wording."  [  Ibid., EXPLANATION of ARBITRARY PUNCTUATION.  ]

     Galatians 1:11-13 read as follows:  "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel - a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard.  For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it; [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  You have heard of my earlier career and former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted and abused the church of God furiously and extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it and destroy it."  The apostle Paul ( see Galatians 1:1 ) recorded for us how he "tried to destroy" the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28 ( see Acts 20:28 ( NKJV; with center-column references ) where the equivalent translation for the phrase "of God" is "of the Lord and God" ), Romans 16:16, and Ephesians 1:17-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ) in verse 13 ( RSV, for example ).  The Bible video ( associated with the following link ) is included for you, the reader, to view.  Please click on the link below:

<https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwt40y5qiELlTVc4TEZKazhXbDQ/edit?usp=sharing>.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE: Keep in mind that The Amplified Bible is not a traditional translation of the Holy Bible ( God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, Matthew 28:18, John 1:1, 14; 3:16, 17; 5:26, 27; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17; Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, Titus 1:1, 2, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ).  [  Ibid., PUBLISHER'S FOREWARD.  ]
Also, there are two explanations regarding Acts 20:28 ( NKJV; with center-column references ).  To begin with, the equivalent translation "of the Lord and God" ( for the phrase "of God" ) indicates that the church belongs to both God, the Father and God, the Son ( Jesus ( see Matthew 1:16 )); the concept of the Godhead being involved here ( recall John 10:30, for example ).  Since Jesus is the Son of God ( see Luke 4:35-41 ( especially verse 41, for example ), for example ), and the church belongs to Him ( recall Matthew 16:18, for example ), the church of God is the church of Christ.  Secondly, we can simply consider the immediate context of this passage, and rightly conclude that Jesus ( God, the Son ) is implied here ( the phrase "with His own blood" has a cross-reference to Hebrews 9:14, which reads as follows:  "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" ).  Whatever the case may be, the phrase "church of God," in the Holy Bible, is not a reference to the church of God "religious" denomination: it is a reference to the New Testament church ( the church of Christ ).

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the REVISED STANDARD VERSION ( RSV ).  Of the letters written by the apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians is the eighth: it is the thirteenth book of the New Testament, and the fifty-second of the sixty-six canonical books in the entire Holy Bible.  The book of 1 Thessalonians consists of five chapters; having a total of eighty-nine verses, divided up among the chapters as follows: chapter one has ten verses, chapter two has twenty verses, chapter three has thirteen verses, chapter four has eighteen verses, and chapter five has twenty-eight verses.  The entire book can be read in a relatively short period of time.
     A slide presentation ( associated with the following link ) is included for you, the reader, to view: it is a brief lesson regarding the book of 1 Thessalonians.  Please click on the link below:
<https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1w0culGWvYGBjrqlibwRs7un3LP6QatB7Kn7ZB9ctEIc/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000>.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE: To exit the slide presentation, you will need to click on the "home" button in your web browser.  Please feel free to send comments or suggestions to my e-mail address as well.