WELCOME TO SACRED SCRIPTURE/WORD OF GOD/HOLY BIBLE READER'S COMMUNITY. - Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!
"NOW YOU TOGETHER ARE CHRIST'S BODY; BUT EACH OF YOU IS A DIFFERENT PART OF IT. IN THE CHURCH, GOD HAS GIVEN THE FIRST PLACE TO APOSTLES, THE SECOND TO PROPHETS, THE THIRD TO TEACHERS; AFTER THEM, MIRACLES, AND AFTER THEM THE GIFT OF HEALING; HELPERS, GOOD LEADERS, THOSE WITH MANY LANGUAGES." - 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-28 -
HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS (VICAR OF CHRIST) TO THEOLOGIANS: DON'T DO THEOLOGY AWAY FROM PEOPLE. "A THEOLOGY THAT HELPS EVERY CHRISTIAN PROCLAIM THE SAVING FACE OF GOD IS NECESSARY."
FOR POPE FRANCIS (VICAR OF CHRIST), THE THEOLOGIAN ISN'T JUST A SIMPLE SCHOLAR OF GOD, BUT RATHER MUCH MORE. HE OR SHE IS A SCHOLAR AT THE SERVICE OF A PEOPLE, THE CHURCH, TO WHICH HE OR SHE BELONGS AND IS NURTURED BY. THERE'S NO ROOM FOR INDIVIDUALIST THEOLOGIANS WHO COMPETE AMONGST THEMSELVES TO SEE WHO KNOWS MORE.
BEFORE MEMBERS OF THE ITALIAN THEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, THE POPE SAID THEOLOGY MUST BE USED TO HELP EVANGELIZE.
HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS (VICAR OF CHRIST),
"A THEOLOGY THAT HELPS EVERY CHRISTIAN PROCLAIM AND SHOW IS NECESSARY; ABOVE ALL, THE SAVING FACE OF GOD OF THE MERCIFUL GOD, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF SOME UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES THE HUMAN BEING FACES TODAY."
POPE FRANCIS MET WITH THE ORGANIZATION IN HONOR OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. THE ASSOCIATION WAS CREATED WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL. - ROMEREPORTS.COM DECEMBER 29, 2017 -
HENCE, I EARNESTLY AND PROFOUNDLY BELIEVED THAT AS FAR AS SPIRITUALITY IS CONCERN. IT CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD, THE AUTHOR. THUS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING, AS COPYRIGHT, OR IT IS PRODUCED OR WRITTEN BY ME OR IT IS MINE; THE WORD OF GOD, THE SACRED SCRIPTURE/HOLY BIBLE.
"I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE." - JOHN 16:12-15 -
ALL WRITERS, PERTAINING TO SPIRITUALITY WERE DEFINITELY QUOTED OR TAKE FROM HERE AND THERE, WHICH MAY BE ON AND FROM SOME OTHER WRITERS ARTICLES, BOOKS, BLOGS, OR SITES, ESPECIALLY THE "WORD OF GOD" THE SACRED SCRIPTURE/HOLY BIBLE. BUT IN REALITY, IT IS FIRST USED ALREADY, PERHAPS, LONG, LONG TIME AGO.
"THIS DISCIPLE IS THE ONE WHO VOUCHES FOR THESE THINGS AND HAS WRITTEN THEM DOWN, AND WE KNOW THAT HIS TESTIMONY IS TRUE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DID; IF ALL WERE WRITTEN DOWN, THE WORLD ITSELF, I SUPPOSE, WOULD NOT HOLD ALL THE BOOKS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE WRITTEN." - JOHN 21:24-25 -
JUST AS GOD ORIGINALLY INSPIRED THE SACRED SCRIPTURE/HOLY BIBLE. GOD HAS USED THIS MEANS TO PRESERVE HIS 'WORD' FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. BUT BEHIND THE WRITING LAY PERIODS OF TIME WHEN THESE MESSAGES WERE CIRCULATED IN SPOKEN FORM. (ORAL TRADITION) THE STORIES OF THE PATRIARCHS WERE PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION BY WORD OF MOUTH BEFORE THEY WERE WRITTEN. (WRITTEN TRADITION)
THE MESSAGES OF THE PROPHETS WERE DELIVERED ORALLY BEFORE THEY WERE FIXED IN WRITING. NARRATIVES OF THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST JESUS WERE REPEATED ORALLY FOR TWO OR THREE DECADES BEFORE THEY WERE FIXED IN WRITING.
THEREFORE, SACRED SCRIPTURE/HOLY BIBLE QUOTATION, THAT IS, HOW ANYONE AND I PUT WORD OF GOD INTO SENTENCES OR PUT WORDS INTO SENTENCES. REMEMBER ALWAYS! NO MATTER HOW THE "WORD OF GOD" AND WORDS PUT INTO SENTENCES, IN TRUTH, EVERYONE STARTED AND TOOK IT FROM THE MAIN SOURCE, THAT IS, FROM THE WITNESSES AND FROM THE SACRED SCRIPTURE/HOLY BIBLE; "WORD OF GOD."
"IT IS TRUE, GOD SENT HIS WORD TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND IT WAS TO THEM THAT THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE WAS BROUGHT BY JESUS CHRIST - BUT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD OF ALL MEN.
YOU MUST HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE RECENT HAPPENINGS IN JUDAEA; ABOUT JESUS OF NAZARETH AND HOW HE BEGAN IN GALILEE, AFTER JOHN THE BAPTIST HAD BEEN PREACHING BAPTISM. GOD HAD ANOINTED HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH POWER, AND BECAUSE GOD WAS WITH HIM, JESUS WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD AND CURING ALL WHO HAD FALLEN INTO THE POWER OF THE DEVIL.
NOW I, ( SIMON PETER / PETER ) AND THOSE WITH ME, CAN WITNESS TO EVERYTHING JESUS DID THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRYSIDE OF JUDAEA AND IN JERUSALEM ITSELF; AND ALSO TO THE FACT THAT THEY KILLED HIM BY HANGING HIM ON A TREE, YET THREE DAYS AFTERWARDS GOD RAISED HIM TO LIFE AND ALLOWED HIM TO BE SEEN, NOT BY THE WHOLE PEOPLE BUT ONLY BY CERTAIN WITNESSES GOD HAD CHOSEN BEFOREHAND.
NOW WE ARE THOSE WITNESSES - WE HAVE EATEN AND DRUNK WITH HIM AFTER HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD - AND JESUS CHRIST HAS ORDERED US TO PROCLAIM THIS TO HIS PEOPLE AND TO TELL THEM THAT GOD HAS APPOINTED HIM TO JUDGE EVERYONE, ALIVE AND DEAD.
IT IS TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT ALL THE PROPHETS BEAR THIS WITNESS: THAT ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS WILL HAVE THEIR SINS FORGIVEN THROUGH HIS NAME." - ACTS 10:36-43 -
Controversy at Antioch [ The events of this chapter raise several difficulties: 1.- vv. 5-7a repeat vv. 1-2a as if the author, having two different accounts of how the controversy started, decided to give both as they stood. 2.- V. 6 gives the impression that the community leaders held a private meeting but vv. 12, 22 suggest the debate took place the whole Christian assembly. 3.- The meeting issues a decree about how Christian converts from paganism must observe purity rites, and it entrusts this decree to Paul, vv. 22f; later, however (in 21:25), James seems to assume that Paul was then being informed of this decree for the first time. Paul himself does not speak of the decree either in Gal. 2:6 (speaking of the Jerusalem meeting) or in 1 Cor. 8-10; Rom. 14 (discussing similar problems).
4.- Though the decree of Acts 15:29 was primarily intended for the churches of Syria and Cilicia, 15:23, Luke has nothing to say about Paul publishing it when he travelled through those provinces, 15:41. Luke does mention it when speaking about Lycaonia, 16:14, but the terms of 15:19-21; 21:25 suggest that the decree was for all regions. All these difficulties may be explained by supposing that Luke has combined two distinct controversies and their varying solutions (Paul distinguishing them more clearly in (Gal. 2).
One controversy was about the obligations of convert pagans to observe the Law, and Peter and Paul both took part, cf. Gal. 2:1-10; the other controversy which took place later was about the social relations between the groups of Christian converts, those from Judaism and those from paganism, cf. Gal. 2:11-14. In this James, in Peter's absence, took the leading part. Any contact with pagans involved legal impunity for Jews: cf. Acts 15:20+.]
Then some men came down from Judaea [ In Gal. 2;12 there are several of them and they come from James.] and taught the brothers, 'Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.' This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church [ Gal. 2;1-3 mentions Titus who had pagan blood.] should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles [ The apostles who are not mentioned either in 11:30 or in 21:18, are grouped here with the elders, cf. Gal. 2:2-9 where Peter and John are grouped with James, 'brother of the Lord', as authorities in the Jerusalem church.] and elders.
All the members of the church saw them off, [ Others translate 'provided them with all they needed for the journey', cf. 1 Cor. 16:11; Titus 3:13.] and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they told how the pagans had been converted, and this news was received with the greatest satisfaction by the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders, and gave an account of all that God had done with them. - Acts 15:1-4 -
Controversy at Jerusalem
But certain members of the Pharisees' party who had become believers objected, [ In the current text there seems to be no connection between the Pharisees' intervention at Jerusalem and the events that happened at Antioch. The Western Text links them together 'But those who had told them to go up to the elders then stood up...'] insisting that the pagans should be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law of Moses. [ According to Gal. 2:3-5 they are thinking particularly of Titus who had accompanied Paul to Jerusalem.] The apostles and elders [ Add. West. 'and the assembly', cf. v. 12.] met to look into the matter, and after the discussion had gone on a long time, Peter stood up [ Add. West.'(inspired) by the Spirit'.] and addressed them. - Acts 15:5-7 -
Peter's speech
'My brothers,' he said 'you know perfectly well that in the early days God made his choice among you: the pagans were to learn the Good News from me and so become believers. In fact, God, who can read everyone's heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith. [ An interpretation of God's message to Peter, 10:15; 11:9; cf. 10:28; Sirach 38:10.] It would only provoke God's anger [ Lit. 'put God to the test'; that is, to ask God for a miracle to prove his will when this has been made known already - a blasphemous frame of mind. In the present case God had made his attitude clear by sending the Spirit to Cornelius and his family.] if you imposed on the disciples the very burden that neither we nor our ancestors were strong enough to support?
Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus.' [ A straight answer to the assertion in v. 1. The doctrine is that of Gal. 2:15-21; 3:22-26; Rom. 11:32; Eph. 2:1-10; etc. On this score the Jews' position is not privileged, cf. Acts 13:38; Gal. 5:6; 6:15.]
This silenced the entire assembly, [ Western Text 'When the elders had expressed their agreement with what Peter had said, this silenced...'] and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the pagans. - Acts 15:8-12 -
James' speech
When they had finished it was James [ Gal. 2:9 witnesses to the importance of the part played by James.] who spoke. "my brothers,' he said 'listen to me.' Simeon [ Simon Peter's semitic name, cf. 2 Peter 1:1.] has described how God first arranged to enlist a people for his name out of the pagans. This is entirely in harmony with the words of the prophets, since the sacred scriptures say: [ The text is quoted according to the LXX; the argument depends on variants peculiar to that version and probably comes from hellenistic circles, though here it is ascribed to the leader of the 'Hebrew' party.]
and rebuild the fallen House of David;
I shall rebuild it from its ruins
and restore it.
Then the rest of mankind,
all the pagans who are consecrated to my name,
[ Lit. 'on whom my name has been invoked'
(or 'over whom ... pronounced') To invoke the
name of Yahweh over a people, cf. 2 Chr. 7:14, or
over a place, cf. 2 Chr. 6:34 is to consecrate it to him.]
will look for the Lord,
says the Lord who made this known so long ago. [ Lit.
'says the Lord who makes these things known from of old'.
Var. 'says the Lord who does these things. From of old
the Lord knows his work.']
'I rule then, [ James settles the discussion, and the terms of the apostolic letter are those of his own pronouncement. Gal. 2:9 also suggests that James at this period occupied the first place in the Jerusalem church, cf. Acts 12:17+. A variant reduces this impression 'And so, for my part...'] that instead making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, [ The flesh of animal slain for pagan sacrifice, cf. v. 29 and 21:25. See 1 Cor. 8, 10.] from fornication [This word probably refers to all the irregular marriages listed in Lev. 18.] from the meat of strangled animals and read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.' - Acts 15:13-21 -
The apostolic letter
name of Yahweh over a people, cf. 2 Chr. 7:14, or
over a place, cf. 2 Chr. 6:34 is to consecrate it to him.]
will look for the Lord,
says the Lord who made this known so long ago. [ Lit.
'says the Lord who makes these things known from of old'.
Var. 'says the Lord who does these things. From of old
the Lord knows his work.']
'I rule then, [ James settles the discussion, and the terms of the apostolic letter are those of his own pronouncement. Gal. 2:9 also suggests that James at this period occupied the first place in the Jerusalem church, cf. Acts 12:17+. A variant reduces this impression 'And so, for my part...'] that instead making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, [ The flesh of animal slain for pagan sacrifice, cf. v. 29 and 21:25. See 1 Cor. 8, 10.] from fornication [This word probably refers to all the irregular marriages listed in Lev. 18.] from the meat of strangled animals and read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.' - Acts 15:13-21 -
The apostolic letter
Page 51
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Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
