The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the King James Version ( KJV ).  Ephesians 1:1-12 read as follows:

"PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  3 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: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."

The phrase "in whom also we have obtained an inheritance," in verse eleven ( above ), has a cross-reference to Romans 8:17.  Romans 8:12-17 read as follows:

"12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

     The Greek word ( Greek [ 2818 ] ) for the word "heirs," in verse seventeen ( above ), is defined as follows:

"a sharer by lot, i.e. an inheritor (lit. or fig.)."  [  See ABINGDON'S STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE, STRONG, JAMES, S.T.D., LL.D., ABINGDON PRESS, NASHVILLE, Copyright, 1890, by JAMES STRONG, MADISON, N.J., ( A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek/New Testament with their Renderings in the King James Version, p. 55. ).  ]

If you, the reader, will notice, an inheritance is a right of a Christian ( see Acts 2:38, 41, and 47; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ); 11:19-30 ( especially verse 26, for example ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, Colossians 1:1-23 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ), for example ), as is implied in verse seven ( above ).  However, this right of inheritance is conditional upon our willingness to suffer with Christ ( as we read in verse seventeen, above ).

     Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, 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: Please read the Thursday, July 23, 2015 entry to this weblog to find additional facts regarding our right, as Christians, to suffer in the kingdom of heaven.

NOTE2: As of Saturday, March 19, 2016, Ephesians 2:18 ( NCV ) reads as follows: "18 Yes, it is through Christ we all have the right to come to the Father in one Spirit."  Thus, as Christians, we also have this right ( see also John 10:9, for example ).  The statement, in the Thursday, July 23, 2015 entry to this weblog, that we have no rights in the kingdom of heaven except to suffer for Christ, is not correct, to the degree that we have more than one right as Christians.  The positive aspect of this observation is that I am growing "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( see 2 Peter 3:18; NCV, for example ).

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Revised Standard Version ( NRSV ).  Genesis 35:16-21 read as follows:

"16 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor.  17 When she was in her hard labor, the midwife said to her, 'Do not be afraid; for now you will have another son.'  18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.  19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day.  21 Israel journeyed on, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder."

The word "womanly" is defined as follows:

". . . adj.  Having the qualities natural, suited, or becoming to a woman; feminine.  -adv.  In a feminine manner; like a woman. . . ."  [  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. 1132.  ]

     Womanliness is truly demonstrated in the act of childbirth, for no man can literally do this ( see Galatians 4:19, for example ).  As a Christian ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), I am not pro-life: I am pro-Holy Bible.  Some who claim to be pro-life condemn abortion, except in the cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life will be at risk at the time of childbirth.

     Abortion is always murder ( see Exodus 20:13, and Romans 13:9; 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), for example ).  Some mothers may choose to abort their unborn baby that they might live.  That is not what the Holy Bible teaches: Rachel died that her son Benjamin might live ( as we read in verses sixteen through twenty, above ).

     In Rachel we see a courageous woman: she was willing to die while giving birth to her son.  Perhaps this act was a feminine foreshadowing of the self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary ( see Matthew 1:16 ( KJV, for example ), Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) and Hebrews 7:20-28 ( especially verse 27, for example ), for example ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, 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>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  Romans 6:15-19 read as follows:

"15 What then?  Are we to sin, because we are not under law but under grace?  Of course not.  16 You know well enough that if you put yourselves at the disposal of a master, to obey him, you are slaves of the master whom you obey; and this is true whether you serve sin, with death as its result; or obedience, with righteousness as its result.  17 But God be thanked, you, who once were slaves of sin, have yielded whole-hearted obedience to the pattern of teaching to which you were made subject, 18 and, emancipated from sin, have become slaves of righteousness 19 (to use words that suit your human weakness) - I mean, as you once yielded your bodies to the service of impurity and lawlessness, making for moral anarchy, so now you must yield them to the service of righteousness, making for a holy life."

If you, the reader, will notice, the use of the word "emancipated," in verse eighteen ( above ), is an error in translation.

     The heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ) never issued an emancipation proclamation to anyone.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, 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: Please read the Friday, July 10, 2015 entry to this weblog to find additional facts regarding why the use of the word "emancipated" is an error in translation.  This observation does not cast doubt on the Holy Bible as God's word ( compare the above-given passage with the same passage in the King James Version ( KJV ) of the Holy Bible, which is the standard by which all English versions of the Holy Bible are measured ).

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  Luke 20:1-8 read as follows:

"ONE DAY, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling them the good news, the priests and lawyers, and the elders with them, came upon him 2 and accosted him.  'Tell us', they said, 'by what authority you are acting like this; who gave you this authority?'  3 He answered them, 'I have a question to ask you too: tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from God or from men?'  5 This set them arguing among themselves: 'If we say, "'from God'", he will say, "'Why did you not believe him?'"  6 And if we say, "'from men'", the people will all stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.'  7 So they replied that they could not tell.  8 And Jesus said to them, 'Then neither will I tell you by what authority I act.'"
Additionally, 1 John 4:1 reads as follows: "BUT DO NOT TRUST any and every spirit, my friends; test the spirits, to see whether they are from God, for among those who have gone out into the world there are many prophets falsely inspired."
     If you, the reader, will notice, Jesus ( see verse eight, above ) tested the priests, lawyers, and elders ( see the first verse one, above ) by asking them a question ( see verses three and four, above ).  Their response was one of dishonesty ( see verses five through seven, above ).  He refused to answer their question ( again, as we read in verse eight, above ).

     One important lesson to be learned, here, is that, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we are not to discuss the word of God with dishonest people: it would be a sin to do so ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 8:26; 10:30; 17:1, 3, 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, and 1 John 3:4; 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example )), and a waste of time ( see Ephesians 5:15, 16 ( KJV, for example ), for example ).  We must test the spirits just as Jesus did.  If they respond with dishonesty, then we must reject them as He did with the priests, lawyers, and elders.

     Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, 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:  Credit is given where it is due ( see 2 Corinthians 10:16, for example ), with regard to some statements contained in this weblog posting.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  John 17:1-17 read as follows:

"AFTER THESE WORDS Jesus looked up to heaven and said: 'Father, the hour has come.  Glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee.  2 For thou hast made him sovereign over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him.  3 This is eternal life: to know thee who alone art truly God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.  4 'I have glorified thee on earth by completing the work which thou gavest me to do; 5 and now, Father, glorify me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world began.  6 'I have made thy name known to the men whom thou didst give me out of the world.  They were thine, thou gavest them to me, and they have obeyed thy command.  7 Now they know that all thy gifts have come to me from thee; 8 for I have taught them all that I learned from thee, and they have received it: they know with certainty that I came from thee; they have had faith to believe that thou didst send me.  9 'I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, because they belong to thee.  10 All that is mine is thine, and what is thine is mine; and through them has my glory shone.  11 'I am to stay no longer in the world, but they are still in the world, and I am on my way to thee.  Holy Father, protect by the power of thy name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are one.  12 When I was with them, I protected by the power of thy name those whom thou hast given me, and kept them safe.  Not one of them is lost except the man who must be lost, for Scripture has to be fulfilled.  13 'And now I am coming to thee; but while I am still in the world I speak these words, so that they may have my joy within them in full measure.  14 I have delivered thy word to them, and the world hates them because they are strangers in the world, as I am.  15 I pray thee, not to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  16 They are strangers in the world, as I am.  17 Consecrate them by the truth; thy word is truth.'"

Jesus ( see verse one, above ) teaches, here, that the heavenly Father's ( again, see verse one ) word is truth ( as we read in verse seventeen, above ).  Therefore, we can trust His word ( the Holy Bible - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151 and 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).  Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding the subject of biblical criticism:

<http://1drv.ms/1JS7EAq >.

     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: You will need to click on the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  Colossians 3:18-4:1 read as follows:

"18 WIVES, BE SUBJECT to your husbands; that is your Christian duty.  19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for that is pleasing to God and is the Christian way.  21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, for fear they grow disheartened.  22 Slaves, give entire obedience to your earthly masters, not merely with an outward show of service, to curry favour with men, but with singlemindedness, out of reverence for the Lord.  23 Whatever you are doing, put your whole heart into it, as if you were doing it for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that there is a Master who will give you your heritage as a reward for your service.  Christ is the Master whose slaves you must be.  25 Dishonesty will be requited, and he has no favourites.  [ 4:1 ] Masters, be just and fair to your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven."

The word "boss" is defined as follows:

"boss [ 1 ] . . . n.  1  U.S. Colloq.  A superintendent or employer of workmen; manager; foreman.  2  Any employer or any director of the work of others.  3  U.S.  An organizer or dictator of a political party.  See synonyms under MASTER. . . ."  [  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. 119.  ]

If you, the reader, will notice, the work relationship is described in terms of masters and slaves ( as we read in verses twenty-two through chapter four, verse one, above ).

     Our boss is our master ( as seen in the above-given definition of the word "boss" ), and we are the slaves.  The apostle Paul ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 4:18, for example ) in verse twenty-two that we are to give entire obedience to our earthly masters: he ( see Ephesians 1:1 ) adds ( cf. Ephesians 6:21, 22 and Colossians 4:7, 8 ) the phrase "as serving Christ" in Ephesians 6:5 and, similarly, the phrase "out of reverence for the Lord" ( as we read in verse twenty-two, above ) and, thus, any command from them to do something sinful is excepted ( see John 10:30, Acts 5:17-29 ( especially verse 29, for example ), 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, Hebrews 1:1-9 ( especially verses 8 and 9, for example ), and 1 John 3:4; 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ).  In writing to "God's people at Colossae, brothers in the faith" ( see 1:2 ), Paul teaches that, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26 and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ), Christ is our Master, and we must be His slaves ( as we read in verse twenty-four, above ).

     Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, 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>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  Luke 9:23 reads as follows:

"23 And to all he said, 'If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must leave self behind; day after day he must take up his cross, and come with me.'"

The word "right" is defined as follows:

". . . . -n. . . . .   2  A just and proper claim or title to  anything, or that which may be claimed on just, moral, legal, or customary grounds: often in the plural. . . ."  [  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, pp. 832, 833.  ]

     As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we have no rights in the kingdom of heaven ( see Matthew 18:1-7 ( especially verse 3, for example ), Mark 4:10-12 ( especially verse 11, for example ), Luke 18:15-17 ( especially verse 16, for example ), and 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ( especially verses 12 and 13 ( ESV, for example ), for example )), except to suffer for Christ ( see Matthew 1:16 ( KJV, for example ) and Philippians 1:27-30 ( especially verse 29, for example ), for example ): Jesus ( see verse ten ) said we are to "leave self behind" ( as we read in verse twenty-three, above ).  Moreover, He ( see Mark 10:42 ) said in ( verse forty-five ), "'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many.'"  The Son of Man ( see John 10:30, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godheaad" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) came to earth to be a slave, and to offer up His life as a ransom for many: we are His slaves ( see Leviticus 25:39-55 ( especially verses 44-46, for example ), Matthew 11:25-30 ( especially verses 28-30, for example ), Acts 2:38, 41, and 47 ( KJV, for example ); 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ); 20:28, Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ); 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), Colossians 1:13-20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ), for example ).

     Our sole responsibility in this life is to fear God and obey His commands ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13, for example, and please also read verse fourteen to get the immediate context ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russsell E. Willis>.