So it's February 11 and I'm already vastly behind. So I'm going to catch up (at least through all of January). But, instead of reading piecemeal from four books like the plan has me doing, I'm going to go through a book at a time.
Genesis 13 - Abraham & Lot separate.
- Lot chooses what looks good and goes and lives among the cities of the plain, near Sodom. But, "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinning greatly against the Lord" (13:13).
- God tells Abram that all the land he sees will be the property of 'you and your offspring forever'.
- Abram pitches his tent near Mamre at Hebron and builds an altar
Genesis 14 - Abraham rescues Lot from captivity
- Abram is called "Abram the Hebrew". This is the first mention of Hebrew in the Old Testament
- Melchizedek, the king of Salem (Jerusalem) was a priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram and the God Most High. Abram gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Who is Melchizedek?
- Abram refused the goods of the king of Sodom so that the king could not claim to have made Abram rich.
Genesis 15 - God makes a covenant with Abraham
- the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision claiming to be Abram's shield and very great reward. Incredibly, Abram seems upset and able to talk to the vision about being childless. The Lord however promised that he would indeed have a son and his offspring would be more numerous than the stars. "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness" (15:6).
- God then put Abram in a deep sleep and made a covenant with him and told him that his offspring would be enslaved for four hundred years, but would come out of slavery to the land God promised him with 'great possessions'. Why would they be enslaved for 400 years? So that the sin of the Amorites could reach full measure because it hadn't yet. What was the sin of the Amorites?
Genesis 16 - Hagar & Abram
- Sarai, the wife of Abram gives him her servant, Hagar to start a family that way, which seems odd, but was probably culturally acceptable at the time. But, when Hagar was pregnant she began to despise Sarai. Sarai became jealous and angry with Abram and mistreated Hagar with Abram's blessing (or at least indifference).
-Hagar ran away but the angel of the Lord told Hagar to go back to Sarai but promised that Hagar's descendants would be too numerous to count. The angel said to name the son Ishmael, but he would be a wild donkey of a man and be hostile towards basically everyone.
- Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born
Genesis 17 - The covenant of circumcision
- The Lord appeared to Abram at 99 and said to him 'walk before me and be blameless'. He instructed Abram that he was now to be called Abraham and to have everyone of his household and his descendants to be circumcised as it will be the sign of the covenant between Abraham and God.
-Incredibly, like when Abraham received the vision, he talked with God frankly, asking how he would have a son at 100 through his 90 year old wife. He asks God to make the covenant through Ishmael.
-God blesses Ishmael but claims that the covenant will run through his son through Sarah, who they will call Isaac.
-Everyone in Abraham's household, slaves and all, were circumcised.
Genesis 18 - Judging Sodom
- God appeared to Abraham again and they sat down for dinner. (How amazing would that be?) The Lord said he would return in a year and by then they would have a son, Isaac. Sarah laughed at this, but when God called her on it, "Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, 'I did not laugh'. But he said, "Yes, you did laugh" (18:15). I don't blame her, I would have been afraid too.
- The Lord revealed then that he was going down to Sodom to see if the reports of the city's sins were as bad as they seemed. Abraham bargains with the Lord and asks him if he will destroy the righteous with the wicked if 50 good men are found in the city. The Lord says he will spare it for 50, for 45, for 40, for 30, for 20 and even for 10.
Genesis 19 - The destruction of Sodom and Gommorah
- The two angels arrived at Sodom and were invited by Lot to spend the night with him in his house. When they were in the house the men of the city lined up and called out to Lot for him to produce the two men that were staying with him so they could have sex with them. Lot pleaded for them to not do these things and to take his virgin daughters instead. When the people threatened Lot the angels saved him and told them to flee and dragged Lot, his wife and two daughters out of the city and destroyed the cities. What had Lot done to deserve this mercy? Other than providing hospitality for the angels, I don't see much. But, it seems Lot's connection to Abraham is what saved him. "So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived" (Genesis 19:29)
- After the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah things get a bit strange. I'm classifying this as a difficult verses passage so I can study it further. I can't tell if what Lot's daughters did was wicked or not. Of course it's strange and pretty gross, but their reasoning doesn't seem as perverted as the act. They both slept with Lot (after getting him drunk) "Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father" (Genesis 19:33).
- Both daughters had sons who would become the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites.
Genesis 20 - Sister Wife thing again
- Abraham moved into another region of Canaan under the control of King Abimelech. Abimelech took Sarah as they had claimed to be brother and sister. The Lord came to Abimelech and threatened to kill him on account of Sarah, but Abimelech protested his innocence. The Lord agreed and told Abimelech to have Abraham pray for him and not to touch Sarah. Abimelech did this, gave gifts to Abraham and Sarah and Abraham prayed for Abimelech which healed him and his household.
- I always find this and the Egypt story confusing. Abraham kind of gets off on a technicality. "Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife" (Genesis 20:13).
Genesis 21
- Isaac is born and circumcised.
- Sarah becomes jealous of Hagar and Ishmael and tells Abraham to send them away. This distresses Abraham because Ishmael was his son as well, but the Lord tells him to send them away but promises to make Ishmael into a nation as well.
- After the provisions run out, Hagar leaves Ishmael in the bushes because she cannot bear to watch him die. But, the angel of the Lord comes to Hagar and provided for them. "God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt" (Genesis 20:20-21). Even though Ishmael didn't get the same blessing as Isaac, God provided for him.
- Abraham and Abimelech made a treaty not to harm one another. Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time and called upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 22 - The near sacrifice of Isaac
- God calls on Abraham to take Isaac (your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love) as an offering and burn him on a mountain in Moriah. Isaac asks Abraham on the journey, 'I see the wood, the fire and the knife, but uh... where is the sacrifice?' Abraham replies that God himself will provide the lamb. Abraham builds the altar and binds Isaac and is about to sacrifice his son when the angel of the Lord stops him and provides a ram. The Lord then swears on his own self that because Abraham was obedient that He will surely bless Abraham and his descendants. What's interesting here to me is verse 18. "And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me".
- Up until this point, God has been promising Abraham that he will be the father of countless children, a great nation and that even through Ishmael a nation will be born, "He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation" (17:20)
- We are also introduced to Rebekah (the future wife of Isaac) as the granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham's brother
Genesis 23 - The death of Sarah
- Sarah dies and Abraham purchases land from Ephron the Hittite to bury Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.
Genesis 24 - Isaac marries Rebekah
- Abraham makes one of his servants promise to go get a wife for Isaac from his own clan, and not to let Isaac marry one of the Canaanites he was living amongst or to let Isaac leave the land promised to him by God. The servant does this by praying to God and finds Rebekah, Abraham's great-niece by his brother Nahor. Isaac and Rebekah are married in the tent of his mother Sarah. Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother's death.
Genesis 25 - The death of Abraham
- Abraham took another wife who bore him six sons. As Abraham was dying he left everything to Isaac, but gave gifts to all of his other sons and sent them to live in the east. Ishmael and Isaac buried Abrham in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre with Sarah. After the death of Abraham God blessed Isaac.
- Ishmael had twelve sons (the twelve rulers) and died at an old age.
Showing posts with label Melchizedek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melchizedek. Show all posts
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The Uniqueness of Christian Salvation
(Originally written May 3, 2007 in Book 15)
Salvation is unique to Christianity and there is no salvation outside of Christ.
Does this imply conscience faith in Christ or can one be saved through implicit faith?
Old Testament
God's convenient people (Jews) are saved
- Implicit faith in Christ
- Sacrificial system, Temple Cultus, the Law, the Prophets and the writings point to the coming of Jesus Christ
In the Old Testament than are only the Jews eligible for salvation?
1) There are converts
2) Non-Jews that worship the true God, (i.e. Melchizedek, Job, Rahab)
Any person that involves idolatry in their worship cannot be saved. Dos point away from Christ, not towards him.
Ultimately, Idolatry consists of worshipping the creature rather than the creator.
New Testament
Those who have heard the gospel and responded by faith are the ones who are saved.
Who is not saved?
- People who have heard and understood the gospel but have rejected Christ
What about those who have not heard?
- There is a natural revelation and a natural law; but, unfortunately, we all have violated it.
But there are examples in the New Testament of people in the New Testament who are serious about God without having knowledge in Christ who God sends the message of Jesus Christ to (i.e. Apollos, Peter to the centurion, etc.).
Salvation is unique to Christianity and there is no salvation outside of Christ.
Does this imply conscience faith in Christ or can one be saved through implicit faith?
Old Testament
God's convenient people (Jews) are saved
- Implicit faith in Christ
- Sacrificial system, Temple Cultus, the Law, the Prophets and the writings point to the coming of Jesus Christ
In the Old Testament than are only the Jews eligible for salvation?
1) There are converts
2) Non-Jews that worship the true God, (i.e. Melchizedek, Job, Rahab)
Any person that involves idolatry in their worship cannot be saved. Dos point away from Christ, not towards him.
Ultimately, Idolatry consists of worshipping the creature rather than the creator.
New Testament
Those who have heard the gospel and responded by faith are the ones who are saved.
Who is not saved?
- People who have heard and understood the gospel but have rejected Christ
What about those who have not heard?
- There is a natural revelation and a natural law; but, unfortunately, we all have violated it.
But there are examples in the New Testament of people in the New Testament who are serious about God without having knowledge in Christ who God sends the message of Jesus Christ to (i.e. Apollos, Peter to the centurion, etc.).
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Who is saved
(Originally written May 1, 2007 in Book 15)
Class Notes
John 14:6 - No one comes to the Father but by me
Acts 4:12 - There is no other name
I Timothy - One God, One Mediator - The Man Jesus
"If you believe then you will be saved"
does not mean
"If you don't believe, then you will not be saved".
"You will be saved if and only if you believe"
means also
"Since you believe you will be saved"
Romans 10
Old Testament
Who is definitely saved?
- The ones who are in covenant with God
- The sacrifices implicitly direct them to Christ
- Job, Melchizedek, Rahab (worshippers of the true God outside of the covenant), Ruth
Who is definitely not saved?
- Idolaters
Class Notes
John 14:6 - No one comes to the Father but by me
Acts 4:12 - There is no other name
I Timothy - One God, One Mediator - The Man Jesus
"If you believe then you will be saved"
does not mean
"If you don't believe, then you will not be saved".
"You will be saved if and only if you believe"
means also
"Since you believe you will be saved"
Romans 10
Old Testament
Who is definitely saved?
- The ones who are in covenant with God
- The sacrifices implicitly direct them to Christ
- Job, Melchizedek, Rahab (worshippers of the true God outside of the covenant), Ruth
Who is definitely not saved?
- Idolaters
Friday, April 27, 2007
Notes on Genesis 11-23
(Originally written April 27, 2007 in Book 16)
11:1 The whole earth had one language and few words
11:2 Men migrated east and settled in the land of Shinar
11:3 They made bricks and mortar
11:4 They built a city with a tower that's top reached the Heavens to make a name for themselves and so they would not be scattered across the whole earth
11:5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower
11:6 The Lord said that this is the beginning of what man will do and nothing that they propose will be impossible for them
11:7 The Lord decided to confuse their language
11:8 The Lord scattered the men all over the world and they left their city
11:9 Its name is Ba'bel because the Lord confused their language
11:10 These are the descendants of Shem
11:11 Shem lived 502 years after the flood
-7,669 years from Adam to the death of Shem
11:12 Arpach'shad, son of Shem begat Shelah at 35 years old
11:13 Arpach'shad lived 403 years after the birth of Shelah
11:14 Shelah had Eber when he was 30 years old
11:15 Shelah lived 403 years after the birth of Eber
11:16 When Eber was 34 he had Peleg
11:17 Eber lived 430 years after the birth of Peleg
11:18 Peleg had Re'u when he was 30 years old
11:19 Peleg lived 209 years after the birth of Re'u
11:20 Re'u was 32 years old when he had Serug
11:21 Re'u lived 207 years after the birth of Serug
11:22 Serug was 30 years when he had Nahor
11:23 Serug lived for 200 years after the birth of Nahor
11:24 Nahor was 29 when he had Terah
11:25 Nahor lived 119 years after the birth of Terah
11:26 Terah was 70 years old when he had Abram, Nahor and Haran
11:27 These are the descendants of Terah: Jerah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Karan was the father of Lot.
11:28 Haran died before Jerah in Ur of the Chaldeans.
11:29 Abram and Nahor took wives. Abram's wife was Sarai, Nahor's wife was Milcah
11:30 Sarai was barren and had no child
11:31 Terah took Abram (his son), Lot (his grandson) and Sara (his daughter-in-law) from Ur to go to Canaan. But they settled in Haran.
11:32 Terah lived for 205 years and died in Haran
Abraham
12:1 The Lord told Abram to leave his country and his father's house and go to the land that He will show him
12:2 The Lord said He will make a great nation of Abram and make him a blessing
12:3 He promised to bless those who bless him and curse those who cursed him and told him that "by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves"
-1st Messianic Prophecy
12:4 Abram left as the Lord told him to. Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran
12:5 They took all their possessions and left Haran for Canaan
12:6 Abram passed through Canaan to Shechem
12:7 The Lord appeared to Abram and promised this land to Abram's descendants. Abram built an altar to the Lord
12:8 Abram left to the mountain east of Dothal and pitched his tent there. He built an altar to the Lord and called upon his name.
12:9 Abram journeyed on going toward Negev
12:10 There was a famine so Abram went down to Egypt
12:11 When he went to Egypt he told Sarai that she was a beautiful to behold
12:12 He said they will kill me if they know you are my wife
12:13 He said say you are my sister so my life can be spared on your account
12:14 When Abram entered Egypt the Egyptians saw Sarai was very beautiful
12:15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her and praised her to the Pharaoh
12:16 The Pharaoh death well with Abram for Sarai's sake
12:17 The LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai.
12:18 Pharaoh called Abram to him and asked what have you done to me
12:19 He asked why he told him that Sarai was his sister so he took her for his wife
12:20 Pharaoh sent Abram on his way with all his possessions and those he had got in Egypt
13:1 Abram and his family left Egypt and went to Negev
13:2 Abram was now very rich in cattle, silver and gold
13:3 Abram returned to the place he had pitched a tent near Bethel
13:4 Abram called upon the Lord
13:5 Lot also had flocks and herds and tents
13:6 The land could not support both Lot and Abram
13:7 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot
13:8 Abram said to Lot, let there be no strife between us
13:9 He said take the left on the right, I will take the opposite
13:10 Lot saw that the Jordan Valley was good
13:11 Lot chose the Jordan Valley and journeyed east: Lot and Abram separated.
13:12 Abram lived among the cities of the valley and moved his tents near Sodom
13:13 The men of Sodom were great sinners against the Lord
13:14 The Lord spoke to Abram: Look at the place you are at, northward, southward, eastward and westward
13:15 All the land you see I will give to your descendants
13:16 I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth
13:17 Walk the breadth of the land and I will give it to you
13:18 Abram moved his tent and dwelt at Hebron and built on altar to the Lord
14:1 Am'raphal, king of Shiner, Ar'iah, king of Ella'sar, Chhod-or-lao'mer, king of Elam and Tidal, king of Goi'im
14:2 These kings made war with Bara, king of Sodom and Birsha, king of Gomorra, Shinah, king of Admah, Sheme'ber, king of Zeboi'im and the king of Bela
14:3 These kings joined forces in the valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea)
14:4 They rebelled against Chadorlaomer after serving him 12 years
14:5 Chedorlaomer subdued Reph'aim in Ash'teroth Kaprna'im, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emimin Sha'veh-Kiriatha'im
14:6 and the Hornets in Mount Se'ir
14:7 Ched-or-lao'mer turned back to Enmish'pat (Kadesh) and subdued the Amal'ekites and the Amorites of Haz'azon-ta'man
14:8 Then the kings of Sodom and Gommorah, Admah, Zeboi'im and Bela jointed the battle in the Valley of Siddim
14:9 They fought the kings of Elam, Goi'im, Shiner and Ella'sar
14:10 The Valley of Siddim was full of bitamar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and some men fell into these pits
14:11 The enemy took al of the goods and provinces of Sodom and Gomorrah and left.
14:12 They also took Lot and his goods
14:13 One who escaped fled and told Abram the Hebrew, and Marvethe Amorite, Eschol and Aner (allies of Abram)
14:14 Abram led 318 trained men after them as far as Dan
14:15 He divided his forces at night and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus
14:16 He brought back all of the goods and Lot with his goods, and the women and the people
14:17 After returning from defeating Ched-or-lao'men and his allies the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram at the vally of Shaveh
14:18 Melchizedek, king of Salem brought bread and wine. Melchizedek was the pries of God Most High
14:19 Melchizedek blessed Abram
14:20 Melchizedek blessed God Most High. Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe
- This is the God of original monotheism, which is identical to YHWH
14:21 The king of Sodom told Abram to keep the goods, but give him the people
14:22 Abram said he swore to the LORD God Most High
-This verifies 14:20a
14:23 Abram swore he would not take anything that was the king of Sodom because the king of Sodom could claim he made Abram rich
14:24 He said let Aner, Eschol and Mamre take their share
15:1 The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision
15:2 Abram asked what the Lord will give him because was still childless
15:3 He moaned that a slave born in his house would be his heir
15:4 The Lord promised that Abram's son, not the slave would be his heir
15:5 God promised that Abram's descendants will be as numerous as the stars.
15:6 Abram believed the Lord and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness
15:7 The Lord said I am the Lord who brought you from Ur to give their land to you
15:8 Abram asked how he would know that he possessed it
15:9 The Lord said bring me a heifer, a she-goat and a ram three years old, a turtledove and a young pigeon.
15:10 Abram brought them, cut them in two and laid each half over the other, but did not cut the birds
15:11 Abram drove the birds of prey a way from the dead animals
15:12 Abram fell asleep into a deep sleep and great darkness fell on him
15:13 The Lord spoke to Abram and told him that his descendants will be wanderers and slaves in a foreign land for 400 years
15:14 The Lord said he will bring judgment on the enlsavers and his descendants will leave very rich
15:15 He told him that Abram would die of old age in peace
15:16 He said that his descendants will come back here in the 4th generation because the sins of the Amorites are still incomplete
15:17 A smoking fire pot and torch passed by
15:18 The Lord made a covenant with Abram and gave Abram's descendants the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates river
15:19 He gave the land of the Ken'ites, the Ken'izzarites, the Kad'monites, the Hittites, the Per'izites, the Reph'aim
15:20 and the land of the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Gir'gashites and the Jeb'usites
16:1 Sarai had not bore Abram any children. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar.
16:2 Sarai gave Abram Hagar so that she could have children through her
16:3 Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as a wife
16:4 Hagar conceived and Sarai looked at Hagar with contempt
16:5 Sarai became angry with Abram
16:6 Sarai treated Hagar harshly and Hagar fled from Sarai
16:7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring near Shur
16:8 The angel of the Lord asked Hagar where she was going
16:9 The angel of the Lord bid Hagar to return to Sarai
16:10 The angel of the Lord said to Hagar that the Lord will multiply her descendants
16:11 The child of Hagar was to be named Ishmael because the Lord had seen Hagar's affliction
16:12 Ishmael will be a wild man against all men
16:13 Hagar spoke to the angel and wailed, "Have I seen God and remained alive?"
16:14 The well was called Beer-la'hai-roi (the well of the one who sees and lives)
16:15 Hagar bore Abram a son and they named him Ishmael
16:16 Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born
17:1 The Lord commanded Abram to walk before him and be blameless when Abram was 99.
17:2 The Lord made a covenant with Abram
17:3 Abram fell on his face before God.
17:4 The Lord said my covenant is with you and you shall be the father of many nations
17:5 The Lord changed his name from Abram to Abraham
17:6 The Lord said I will make you exceedingly fruitful and things will come from you
17:7 God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants to be their God forever
17:8 God will give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants forever
17:9 God told Abraham that he and his descendants will keep this covenant
17:10 God commanded that every male must be circumcised
17:11 Circumcision is the sign of the covenant
17:12 The males must all be circumcised at 80 days old and all males in Abraham's house must be circumcised now
17:13 The covenant is everlasting
17:14 All who are not circumcised must be cut off from the people because he has broken God's covenant
17:15 God changes Sarai's name to Sarah
17:16 God promises to bless her and give her a son
17:17 Abraham fell on his face and laughed because Abraham and Sarah were old
17:18 Abraham pleaded that Ishmael would live in God's sight
17:19 God says no and says that Sarah will bear a son, called Issac. Issac will receive the covenant of the Lord.
17:20 God promises to make Ishmael a great nation
17:21 But, God will establish his covenant with Isaac.
17:22 God left Abraham
17:23 Abraham had all the males of his house circumcised
17:24 Abraham was 99 when he was circumcised
17:25 Ismael was 13 when he was circumcised
17:26 Everyone was circumcised the day the Lord commanded it
17:27 All of the house were circumcised
18:1 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the door of his tent
18:2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing in front of Him. He ran and bowed to them.
18:3 Abraham pleaded to the Lord not to pass by him
18:4 He pleaded for them to relax under the tree
18:5 Abraham offered them bread
18:6 Abraham ran to Sarah and told her to make cakes
18:7 He ran to the cattle and took a good and tender calf and gave it to the servant to prepare it.
18:8 He took curds, milk and the calf to the men under the tree
18:9 They asked him where Sarah was and Abraham replied in the tent
18:10 The Lord said Sarah will have a baby in the spring. Sarah was listening behind the tent door
18:11 Sarah laughed to herself at hearing this
18:13 The Lord asked Abraham why did Sarah laugh at this?
18:14 He asked is anything too hard for the Lord?
18:15 Sarah denied laughing, but the Lord said that she did
18:16 The men set off for Sodom and Abraham followed
18:17 The Lord asked if He should hide His plans from Abraham
18:18 Abraham is the chosen one who all descendants will come from
18:19 The Lord decided not to hide it from Abraham because he had chosen Abraham
18:20 The Lord said that because of the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah and the outcry against them is great
18:21 I wil go down and see what is happening for myself
18:22 The men went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood before the Lord
18:23 He asked the Lord if He would destroy the wicked and the righteous together
18:24 He asked if the Lord would spare it for 50 righteous men
18:25 He asked the Lord if He would do what is right
18:26 The Lord said he would spare all of Sodom for the sake of 50 righteous men
18:27 Then Abraham said that he is but dust and ashes
18:28 He asked if he would spare Sodom for 45 righteous men. God said he would.
18:29 Abraham asked them for the sake of 40 men would the Lord spare Sodom. God replied he would spare it.
18:30 Abraham asked then for the sake of 30 would God spare Sodom and God said he would.
18:31 Abraham asked then for the sake of 20 would God spare Sodom and God said that he would.
18:32 Then Abraham asked what about for the sake of 10 and God said he would spare it.
18:33 The Lord went his way and Abraham returned to his place.
19:1 The two Angels came to Sodom in the evening and Lot at the gates rose to meet them and bowed before them
19:2 Lot begged them to spend the night at his house and they refused.
19:3 Lot urged them so strongly they agreed and went to his house for a feast
19:4 The men of Sodom, both young and old surrounded Lot's house
19:5 They called to Lot to bring out the men that there staying with them so that they could "know" them
19:6 Lot went out to the crowd
19:7 He bogged them not to act so wickedly
19:8 He offered his two virgin daughters in replace of his guests
19:9 They rushed Lot and drew close to break down the door.
19:10 The guests saved Lot and shut the door
19:11 The angels struck all of the men with blindness
19:12 The angels asked Lot if he had anyone else to bring out of Sodom
19:13 They told him they were about to destroy this place because the Lord sent them to do it.
19:14 Lot told his sons-in-law to be ready to leave because the Lord was giving to destroy this place, but they thought he was kidding
19:15 The angels told Lot to take his wife and two daughters to leave so they would escape the punishment of the whole city
19:16 Lot hesitated and the angels took them by the hands and led them out of the city
19:17 They told them to flee for their lives and not to look back lest they be consumed
19:18 Lot said oh no my lords
19:19 I cannot go into the hills for I will die
19:20 He begged to be able to flee to another city
19:21 Lot went to the city
19:22 They told Lot to hurry to the city called Zo'ar
19:23 The sun had risen when Lot made it to Zohar
19:24 The Lord rained fire and brimstone down upon Sodom and Gomorrah
19:25 The Lord overthrew the whole city and valley and everything that grew on the ground
19:26 Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt
19:27 Abraham rose early in the morning and stood before the Lord
19:28 He looked down at Sodom and Gomorrah and saw the smoke
19:29 God destroyed the cities of the Valley but remembered Abraham and spared Lot
19:30 Lot left Zohar and dwelled in a cave with his two daughters
19:31 The older daughter said to the younger that there is no man to bear us children
19:32 She said let's get Lot drunk and have sex with him so they can have offspring
19:33 So they made Lot drink and the oldest daughter laid with him
19:34 The older daughter said let us make him drink so that you can lay with him tonight
19:35 The younger daughter had sex with him and Lot did not know
19:36 Both Lot's daughters were with child by him
19:37 The eldest daughter gave birth to Moab who is the father of the Moabites
19:38 The youngest daughter gave birth to Ben-ammi, the father of the Ammonites
20:1 Abraham journeyed to Negev and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur
20:2 Abraham told them that Sarah was his sister and Abimelech, king of Gerar, took her as his wife
20:3 The Lord appeared to Abimelech and said you are a dead man for taking Sarah as your wife
20:4 Abimelech asked if the Lord would slay an innocent man because he had not slept with her
20:5 Abimelech pleaded with the Lord because Abraham had said she was his sister.
20:6 The Lord replied that He had not let Abimelech touch Sarah
20:7 The Lord said to return Sarah to Abraham and you will live, otherwise you will die
20:8 Abimelech told his servants this and they are all very afraid
20:9 Abimelech told Abraham that you have done things to me that ought not be done to man
20:10 Abimelech asked why Abraham would do such a thing.
20:11 Abraham replied he did this so he would not be killed
20:12 He also revealed that Sarah is the daughter of his father, but not the daughter of his mother, so he took her as his wife
20:13 He told him that he did it because the Lord told him to do it
20:14 Abimelech gave Abraham sheep and oxen, slaves and restored Sarah to him
20:15 Abimelech offered Abraham wherever he wished to say
20:16 Abimelech said to Sarah that he has now righted his wrong against her
20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech and his house
20:18 The Lord had closed all of the wombs of Abimelech's house because of Sarah
21:1 The Lord visited Sarah and fulfilled his promise
21:2 Sarah bore a son to Abraham as God had promised
21:3 Abraham called his son Isaac
21:4 Abraham circumcised Isaac as God commanded him
21:5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born
21:6 Sarah said God has made laughter for me
21:7 Sarah said I have bore a son to Abraham in my old age
21:8 Abraham made a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned
21:9 Sarah saw Ishmael playing with Isaac
21:10 Sarah demanded that Abraham cast out Hagar and her son
21:11 Abraham was very displeased
21:12 The Lord said to Abraham to do as Sarah asked
21:13 He promised Abraham that He would make a nation of Ishmael
21:14 Abraham gave Hagar bread and water and cast them out. Hagar wandered into the wilderness of Beer-Sheba
21:15 Hagar put the child under the bushes
21:16 She left the child so as not to watch him die. Ishmael cried out and wept for her
21:17 The Lord heard Ishmael and sent an Angel to comfort Hagar
21:18 The angel commanded Hagar to carry the child because he would be the father of a great nation
21:19 God opened her eyes and she saw a well and gave her son a drink
21:20 God was with Ishmael and he grew up strong and became good with the bow
21:21 Ishmael lived in the wilderness of Paran and Hagar took a wife for him from Egypt
21:22 Abimelech and Phicol (the commander of the army) came to Abraham and said God is with you in all you do
21:23 Abimelech asked Abraham to deal with him squarely
21:24 Abraham swore he would
21:25 Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well which had been seized by Abimelech's servants
21:26 Abimelech said he had no knowledge of this
21:27 Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech said he had no knowledge of this
21:28 Abimelech asked what was the meaning of the 7 ewes Abraham had set apart
21:29-30 Abraham replied that these 7 ewes were a sign that Abimelech would know that Abraham had dug this well
21:31 The place was called Beer-Sheba because both men had made a covenant
21:32 Abimelech and Phicol returned to the Land of the Philistines
21:33 Abraham planted a tree in Ber-Sheba and called on the name of the Lord
21:34 Abraham sojourned may days in the land of the Philistines
22:1 God then tested Abraham
22:2 God told Abraham to take Isaac, his only son whom he loved, to Moriah and offer him as a burnt sacrifice
22:3 Abraham took Isaac and two men and left for the place God had told him to go
22:4 Abraham saw the place on the third day
22:5 Abraham left the two men and took Isaac
22:6 Abraham took the word of the offering and laid it on Isaac and took the fire and knife in his hands and traveled to the mountain
22:7 Isaac asked Abraham where the offering was
22:8 Abraham replied that God will provide the offering
22:9 Abraham built an altar and laid Isaac on it and bound him
22:10 Abraham took the knife to kill his son
22:11 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham and he stopped
22:12 The angel commanded Abraham not to harm the boy because the Lord knew that Abraham withheld nothing from him
22:13 A ram was stuck in the bush and Abraham killed and offered the ram to God
22:14 Abraham called the place the Lord will provide
22:15 The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time
22:16 The Lord declared that because Abraham had not withheld his son
22:17 That he will bless Abraham and fulfill the covenant
22:18 Because Abraham obeyed the voice of God all nations will bless themselves through him
22:19 Abraham and Isaac and the two men returned to Beer-Sheba
22:20 Abraham learned that his brother Nahor had children: Uz, Buz and Kemu'el, father of Aram
22:22 Kemu'el also had Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethu'el
22:23 Bethel became the father of Rebekah
22:24 Nahor's concubine Reumah had Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Ma'acah
23:1 Sarah lived 127 years
23:2 Sarah died at Kir'iath-ar' by Hebron in Canaan. Abraham mourned her
23:3 Abraham spoke to the Hittites
23:4 He asked for a place to bury Sarah
23:5 The Hittites answered
23:6 They offered Abraham the best places to bury Sarah
23:7 Abraham bowed to the
23:8 He asked for Ephron, son of Zohar
23:9 He asked Ephron for the cave Mach-pe'lah and he would pay full price
23:10 Ephron was sitting among the Hittites
23:11 Ephron offered the cave and tiled to Abraham for free
23:12 Abraham bowed down before the people of the Lord
23:13 Abraham insisted that he pay
23:14 Ephron answered Abraham
23:15 He said it is worth 400 shekels of silver and asked what is that between us. He insisted that Abraham bury his dead.
23:16 Abraham measured out 400 shekels of silver among the Hittites and paid Ephron
23:17 The field and the cave were given to Abraham
23:18 It was done in front of the Hittites
23:19 Abraham buried Sarah in the cave
23:20 The Hittites sold the land and the cave to Abraham
11:1 The whole earth had one language and few words
11:2 Men migrated east and settled in the land of Shinar
11:3 They made bricks and mortar
11:4 They built a city with a tower that's top reached the Heavens to make a name for themselves and so they would not be scattered across the whole earth
11:5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower
11:6 The Lord said that this is the beginning of what man will do and nothing that they propose will be impossible for them
11:7 The Lord decided to confuse their language
11:8 The Lord scattered the men all over the world and they left their city
11:9 Its name is Ba'bel because the Lord confused their language
11:10 These are the descendants of Shem
11:11 Shem lived 502 years after the flood
-7,669 years from Adam to the death of Shem
11:12 Arpach'shad, son of Shem begat Shelah at 35 years old
11:13 Arpach'shad lived 403 years after the birth of Shelah
11:14 Shelah had Eber when he was 30 years old
11:15 Shelah lived 403 years after the birth of Eber
11:16 When Eber was 34 he had Peleg
11:17 Eber lived 430 years after the birth of Peleg
11:18 Peleg had Re'u when he was 30 years old
11:19 Peleg lived 209 years after the birth of Re'u
11:20 Re'u was 32 years old when he had Serug
11:21 Re'u lived 207 years after the birth of Serug
11:22 Serug was 30 years when he had Nahor
11:23 Serug lived for 200 years after the birth of Nahor
11:24 Nahor was 29 when he had Terah
11:25 Nahor lived 119 years after the birth of Terah
11:26 Terah was 70 years old when he had Abram, Nahor and Haran
11:27 These are the descendants of Terah: Jerah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Karan was the father of Lot.
11:28 Haran died before Jerah in Ur of the Chaldeans.
11:29 Abram and Nahor took wives. Abram's wife was Sarai, Nahor's wife was Milcah
11:30 Sarai was barren and had no child
11:31 Terah took Abram (his son), Lot (his grandson) and Sara (his daughter-in-law) from Ur to go to Canaan. But they settled in Haran.
11:32 Terah lived for 205 years and died in Haran
Abraham
12:1 The Lord told Abram to leave his country and his father's house and go to the land that He will show him
12:2 The Lord said He will make a great nation of Abram and make him a blessing
12:3 He promised to bless those who bless him and curse those who cursed him and told him that "by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves"
-1st Messianic Prophecy
12:4 Abram left as the Lord told him to. Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran
12:5 They took all their possessions and left Haran for Canaan
12:6 Abram passed through Canaan to Shechem
12:7 The Lord appeared to Abram and promised this land to Abram's descendants. Abram built an altar to the Lord
12:8 Abram left to the mountain east of Dothal and pitched his tent there. He built an altar to the Lord and called upon his name.
12:9 Abram journeyed on going toward Negev
12:10 There was a famine so Abram went down to Egypt
12:11 When he went to Egypt he told Sarai that she was a beautiful to behold
12:12 He said they will kill me if they know you are my wife
12:13 He said say you are my sister so my life can be spared on your account
12:14 When Abram entered Egypt the Egyptians saw Sarai was very beautiful
12:15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her and praised her to the Pharaoh
12:16 The Pharaoh death well with Abram for Sarai's sake
12:17 The LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai.
12:18 Pharaoh called Abram to him and asked what have you done to me
12:19 He asked why he told him that Sarai was his sister so he took her for his wife
12:20 Pharaoh sent Abram on his way with all his possessions and those he had got in Egypt
13:1 Abram and his family left Egypt and went to Negev
13:2 Abram was now very rich in cattle, silver and gold
13:3 Abram returned to the place he had pitched a tent near Bethel
13:4 Abram called upon the Lord
13:5 Lot also had flocks and herds and tents
13:6 The land could not support both Lot and Abram
13:7 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot
13:8 Abram said to Lot, let there be no strife between us
13:9 He said take the left on the right, I will take the opposite
13:10 Lot saw that the Jordan Valley was good
13:11 Lot chose the Jordan Valley and journeyed east: Lot and Abram separated.
13:12 Abram lived among the cities of the valley and moved his tents near Sodom
13:13 The men of Sodom were great sinners against the Lord
13:14 The Lord spoke to Abram: Look at the place you are at, northward, southward, eastward and westward
13:15 All the land you see I will give to your descendants
13:16 I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth
13:17 Walk the breadth of the land and I will give it to you
13:18 Abram moved his tent and dwelt at Hebron and built on altar to the Lord
14:1 Am'raphal, king of Shiner, Ar'iah, king of Ella'sar, Chhod-or-lao'mer, king of Elam and Tidal, king of Goi'im
14:2 These kings made war with Bara, king of Sodom and Birsha, king of Gomorra, Shinah, king of Admah, Sheme'ber, king of Zeboi'im and the king of Bela
14:3 These kings joined forces in the valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea)
14:4 They rebelled against Chadorlaomer after serving him 12 years
14:5 Chedorlaomer subdued Reph'aim in Ash'teroth Kaprna'im, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emimin Sha'veh-Kiriatha'im
14:6 and the Hornets in Mount Se'ir
14:7 Ched-or-lao'mer turned back to Enmish'pat (Kadesh) and subdued the Amal'ekites and the Amorites of Haz'azon-ta'man
14:8 Then the kings of Sodom and Gommorah, Admah, Zeboi'im and Bela jointed the battle in the Valley of Siddim
14:9 They fought the kings of Elam, Goi'im, Shiner and Ella'sar
14:10 The Valley of Siddim was full of bitamar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and some men fell into these pits
14:11 The enemy took al of the goods and provinces of Sodom and Gomorrah and left.
14:12 They also took Lot and his goods
14:13 One who escaped fled and told Abram the Hebrew, and Marvethe Amorite, Eschol and Aner (allies of Abram)
14:14 Abram led 318 trained men after them as far as Dan
14:15 He divided his forces at night and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus
14:16 He brought back all of the goods and Lot with his goods, and the women and the people
14:17 After returning from defeating Ched-or-lao'men and his allies the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram at the vally of Shaveh
14:18 Melchizedek, king of Salem brought bread and wine. Melchizedek was the pries of God Most High
14:19 Melchizedek blessed Abram
14:20 Melchizedek blessed God Most High. Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe
- This is the God of original monotheism, which is identical to YHWH
14:21 The king of Sodom told Abram to keep the goods, but give him the people
14:22 Abram said he swore to the LORD God Most High
-This verifies 14:20a
14:23 Abram swore he would not take anything that was the king of Sodom because the king of Sodom could claim he made Abram rich
14:24 He said let Aner, Eschol and Mamre take their share
15:1 The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision
15:2 Abram asked what the Lord will give him because was still childless
15:3 He moaned that a slave born in his house would be his heir
15:4 The Lord promised that Abram's son, not the slave would be his heir
15:5 God promised that Abram's descendants will be as numerous as the stars.
15:6 Abram believed the Lord and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness
15:7 The Lord said I am the Lord who brought you from Ur to give their land to you
15:8 Abram asked how he would know that he possessed it
15:9 The Lord said bring me a heifer, a she-goat and a ram three years old, a turtledove and a young pigeon.
15:10 Abram brought them, cut them in two and laid each half over the other, but did not cut the birds
15:11 Abram drove the birds of prey a way from the dead animals
15:12 Abram fell asleep into a deep sleep and great darkness fell on him
15:13 The Lord spoke to Abram and told him that his descendants will be wanderers and slaves in a foreign land for 400 years
15:14 The Lord said he will bring judgment on the enlsavers and his descendants will leave very rich
15:15 He told him that Abram would die of old age in peace
15:16 He said that his descendants will come back here in the 4th generation because the sins of the Amorites are still incomplete
15:17 A smoking fire pot and torch passed by
15:18 The Lord made a covenant with Abram and gave Abram's descendants the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates river
15:19 He gave the land of the Ken'ites, the Ken'izzarites, the Kad'monites, the Hittites, the Per'izites, the Reph'aim
15:20 and the land of the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Gir'gashites and the Jeb'usites
16:1 Sarai had not bore Abram any children. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar.
16:2 Sarai gave Abram Hagar so that she could have children through her
16:3 Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as a wife
16:4 Hagar conceived and Sarai looked at Hagar with contempt
16:5 Sarai became angry with Abram
16:6 Sarai treated Hagar harshly and Hagar fled from Sarai
16:7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring near Shur
16:8 The angel of the Lord asked Hagar where she was going
16:9 The angel of the Lord bid Hagar to return to Sarai
16:10 The angel of the Lord said to Hagar that the Lord will multiply her descendants
16:11 The child of Hagar was to be named Ishmael because the Lord had seen Hagar's affliction
16:12 Ishmael will be a wild man against all men
16:13 Hagar spoke to the angel and wailed, "Have I seen God and remained alive?"
16:14 The well was called Beer-la'hai-roi (the well of the one who sees and lives)
16:15 Hagar bore Abram a son and they named him Ishmael
16:16 Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born
17:1 The Lord commanded Abram to walk before him and be blameless when Abram was 99.
17:2 The Lord made a covenant with Abram
17:3 Abram fell on his face before God.
17:4 The Lord said my covenant is with you and you shall be the father of many nations
17:5 The Lord changed his name from Abram to Abraham
17:6 The Lord said I will make you exceedingly fruitful and things will come from you
17:7 God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants to be their God forever
17:8 God will give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants forever
17:9 God told Abraham that he and his descendants will keep this covenant
17:10 God commanded that every male must be circumcised
17:11 Circumcision is the sign of the covenant
17:12 The males must all be circumcised at 80 days old and all males in Abraham's house must be circumcised now
17:13 The covenant is everlasting
17:14 All who are not circumcised must be cut off from the people because he has broken God's covenant
17:15 God changes Sarai's name to Sarah
17:16 God promises to bless her and give her a son
17:17 Abraham fell on his face and laughed because Abraham and Sarah were old
17:18 Abraham pleaded that Ishmael would live in God's sight
17:19 God says no and says that Sarah will bear a son, called Issac. Issac will receive the covenant of the Lord.
17:20 God promises to make Ishmael a great nation
17:21 But, God will establish his covenant with Isaac.
17:22 God left Abraham
17:23 Abraham had all the males of his house circumcised
17:24 Abraham was 99 when he was circumcised
17:25 Ismael was 13 when he was circumcised
17:26 Everyone was circumcised the day the Lord commanded it
17:27 All of the house were circumcised
18:1 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the door of his tent
18:2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing in front of Him. He ran and bowed to them.
18:3 Abraham pleaded to the Lord not to pass by him
18:4 He pleaded for them to relax under the tree
18:5 Abraham offered them bread
18:6 Abraham ran to Sarah and told her to make cakes
18:7 He ran to the cattle and took a good and tender calf and gave it to the servant to prepare it.
18:8 He took curds, milk and the calf to the men under the tree
18:9 They asked him where Sarah was and Abraham replied in the tent
18:10 The Lord said Sarah will have a baby in the spring. Sarah was listening behind the tent door
18:11 Sarah laughed to herself at hearing this
18:13 The Lord asked Abraham why did Sarah laugh at this?
18:14 He asked is anything too hard for the Lord?
18:15 Sarah denied laughing, but the Lord said that she did
18:16 The men set off for Sodom and Abraham followed
18:17 The Lord asked if He should hide His plans from Abraham
18:18 Abraham is the chosen one who all descendants will come from
18:19 The Lord decided not to hide it from Abraham because he had chosen Abraham
18:20 The Lord said that because of the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah and the outcry against them is great
18:21 I wil go down and see what is happening for myself
18:22 The men went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood before the Lord
18:23 He asked the Lord if He would destroy the wicked and the righteous together
18:24 He asked if the Lord would spare it for 50 righteous men
18:25 He asked the Lord if He would do what is right
18:26 The Lord said he would spare all of Sodom for the sake of 50 righteous men
18:27 Then Abraham said that he is but dust and ashes
18:28 He asked if he would spare Sodom for 45 righteous men. God said he would.
18:29 Abraham asked them for the sake of 40 men would the Lord spare Sodom. God replied he would spare it.
18:30 Abraham asked then for the sake of 30 would God spare Sodom and God said he would.
18:31 Abraham asked then for the sake of 20 would God spare Sodom and God said that he would.
18:32 Then Abraham asked what about for the sake of 10 and God said he would spare it.
18:33 The Lord went his way and Abraham returned to his place.
19:1 The two Angels came to Sodom in the evening and Lot at the gates rose to meet them and bowed before them
19:2 Lot begged them to spend the night at his house and they refused.
19:3 Lot urged them so strongly they agreed and went to his house for a feast
19:4 The men of Sodom, both young and old surrounded Lot's house
19:5 They called to Lot to bring out the men that there staying with them so that they could "know" them
19:6 Lot went out to the crowd
19:7 He bogged them not to act so wickedly
19:8 He offered his two virgin daughters in replace of his guests
19:9 They rushed Lot and drew close to break down the door.
19:10 The guests saved Lot and shut the door
19:11 The angels struck all of the men with blindness
19:12 The angels asked Lot if he had anyone else to bring out of Sodom
19:13 They told him they were about to destroy this place because the Lord sent them to do it.
19:14 Lot told his sons-in-law to be ready to leave because the Lord was giving to destroy this place, but they thought he was kidding
19:15 The angels told Lot to take his wife and two daughters to leave so they would escape the punishment of the whole city
19:16 Lot hesitated and the angels took them by the hands and led them out of the city
19:17 They told them to flee for their lives and not to look back lest they be consumed
19:18 Lot said oh no my lords
19:19 I cannot go into the hills for I will die
19:20 He begged to be able to flee to another city
19:21 Lot went to the city
19:22 They told Lot to hurry to the city called Zo'ar
19:23 The sun had risen when Lot made it to Zohar
19:24 The Lord rained fire and brimstone down upon Sodom and Gomorrah
19:25 The Lord overthrew the whole city and valley and everything that grew on the ground
19:26 Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt
19:27 Abraham rose early in the morning and stood before the Lord
19:28 He looked down at Sodom and Gomorrah and saw the smoke
19:29 God destroyed the cities of the Valley but remembered Abraham and spared Lot
19:30 Lot left Zohar and dwelled in a cave with his two daughters
19:31 The older daughter said to the younger that there is no man to bear us children
19:32 She said let's get Lot drunk and have sex with him so they can have offspring
19:33 So they made Lot drink and the oldest daughter laid with him
19:34 The older daughter said let us make him drink so that you can lay with him tonight
19:35 The younger daughter had sex with him and Lot did not know
19:36 Both Lot's daughters were with child by him
19:37 The eldest daughter gave birth to Moab who is the father of the Moabites
19:38 The youngest daughter gave birth to Ben-ammi, the father of the Ammonites
20:1 Abraham journeyed to Negev and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur
20:2 Abraham told them that Sarah was his sister and Abimelech, king of Gerar, took her as his wife
20:3 The Lord appeared to Abimelech and said you are a dead man for taking Sarah as your wife
20:4 Abimelech asked if the Lord would slay an innocent man because he had not slept with her
20:5 Abimelech pleaded with the Lord because Abraham had said she was his sister.
20:6 The Lord replied that He had not let Abimelech touch Sarah
20:7 The Lord said to return Sarah to Abraham and you will live, otherwise you will die
20:8 Abimelech told his servants this and they are all very afraid
20:9 Abimelech told Abraham that you have done things to me that ought not be done to man
20:10 Abimelech asked why Abraham would do such a thing.
20:11 Abraham replied he did this so he would not be killed
20:12 He also revealed that Sarah is the daughter of his father, but not the daughter of his mother, so he took her as his wife
20:13 He told him that he did it because the Lord told him to do it
20:14 Abimelech gave Abraham sheep and oxen, slaves and restored Sarah to him
20:15 Abimelech offered Abraham wherever he wished to say
20:16 Abimelech said to Sarah that he has now righted his wrong against her
20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech and his house
20:18 The Lord had closed all of the wombs of Abimelech's house because of Sarah
21:1 The Lord visited Sarah and fulfilled his promise
21:2 Sarah bore a son to Abraham as God had promised
21:3 Abraham called his son Isaac
21:4 Abraham circumcised Isaac as God commanded him
21:5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born
21:6 Sarah said God has made laughter for me
21:7 Sarah said I have bore a son to Abraham in my old age
21:8 Abraham made a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned
21:9 Sarah saw Ishmael playing with Isaac
21:10 Sarah demanded that Abraham cast out Hagar and her son
21:11 Abraham was very displeased
21:12 The Lord said to Abraham to do as Sarah asked
21:13 He promised Abraham that He would make a nation of Ishmael
21:14 Abraham gave Hagar bread and water and cast them out. Hagar wandered into the wilderness of Beer-Sheba
21:15 Hagar put the child under the bushes
21:16 She left the child so as not to watch him die. Ishmael cried out and wept for her
21:17 The Lord heard Ishmael and sent an Angel to comfort Hagar
21:18 The angel commanded Hagar to carry the child because he would be the father of a great nation
21:19 God opened her eyes and she saw a well and gave her son a drink
21:20 God was with Ishmael and he grew up strong and became good with the bow
21:21 Ishmael lived in the wilderness of Paran and Hagar took a wife for him from Egypt
21:22 Abimelech and Phicol (the commander of the army) came to Abraham and said God is with you in all you do
21:23 Abimelech asked Abraham to deal with him squarely
21:24 Abraham swore he would
21:25 Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well which had been seized by Abimelech's servants
21:26 Abimelech said he had no knowledge of this
21:27 Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech said he had no knowledge of this
21:28 Abimelech asked what was the meaning of the 7 ewes Abraham had set apart
21:29-30 Abraham replied that these 7 ewes were a sign that Abimelech would know that Abraham had dug this well
21:31 The place was called Beer-Sheba because both men had made a covenant
21:32 Abimelech and Phicol returned to the Land of the Philistines
21:33 Abraham planted a tree in Ber-Sheba and called on the name of the Lord
21:34 Abraham sojourned may days in the land of the Philistines
22:1 God then tested Abraham
22:2 God told Abraham to take Isaac, his only son whom he loved, to Moriah and offer him as a burnt sacrifice
22:3 Abraham took Isaac and two men and left for the place God had told him to go
22:4 Abraham saw the place on the third day
22:5 Abraham left the two men and took Isaac
22:6 Abraham took the word of the offering and laid it on Isaac and took the fire and knife in his hands and traveled to the mountain
22:7 Isaac asked Abraham where the offering was
22:8 Abraham replied that God will provide the offering
22:9 Abraham built an altar and laid Isaac on it and bound him
22:10 Abraham took the knife to kill his son
22:11 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham and he stopped
22:12 The angel commanded Abraham not to harm the boy because the Lord knew that Abraham withheld nothing from him
22:13 A ram was stuck in the bush and Abraham killed and offered the ram to God
22:14 Abraham called the place the Lord will provide
22:15 The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time
22:16 The Lord declared that because Abraham had not withheld his son
22:17 That he will bless Abraham and fulfill the covenant
22:18 Because Abraham obeyed the voice of God all nations will bless themselves through him
22:19 Abraham and Isaac and the two men returned to Beer-Sheba
22:20 Abraham learned that his brother Nahor had children: Uz, Buz and Kemu'el, father of Aram
22:22 Kemu'el also had Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethu'el
22:23 Bethel became the father of Rebekah
22:24 Nahor's concubine Reumah had Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Ma'acah
23:1 Sarah lived 127 years
23:2 Sarah died at Kir'iath-ar' by Hebron in Canaan. Abraham mourned her
23:3 Abraham spoke to the Hittites
23:4 He asked for a place to bury Sarah
23:5 The Hittites answered
23:6 They offered Abraham the best places to bury Sarah
23:7 Abraham bowed to the
23:8 He asked for Ephron, son of Zohar
23:9 He asked Ephron for the cave Mach-pe'lah and he would pay full price
23:10 Ephron was sitting among the Hittites
23:11 Ephron offered the cave and tiled to Abraham for free
23:12 Abraham bowed down before the people of the Lord
23:13 Abraham insisted that he pay
23:14 Ephron answered Abraham
23:15 He said it is worth 400 shekels of silver and asked what is that between us. He insisted that Abraham bury his dead.
23:16 Abraham measured out 400 shekels of silver among the Hittites and paid Ephron
23:17 The field and the cave were given to Abraham
23:18 It was done in front of the Hittites
23:19 Abraham buried Sarah in the cave
23:20 The Hittites sold the land and the cave to Abraham
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Salvation in Christianity
(Originally written April 22, 2007 in Book 15)
A Tapestry of Faiths
Win Corduan
Is Christianity alone true?
By asking if a religion is true we ask if it is as a whole true, not if it contains some truth.
Pluralism asserts that all truth claims made by all religions are equal.
Hick claims that those Christians who maintain exclusivist theologies must revise their thinking.
Hick's pluralism is however, completely wrongheaded. No religion teaches that it is one way of relating to the Real.
Most, if not all, religions make exclusive claims. This is another point where Hick's theory does not accurately describe religions.
Hick's theory is either false or arbitrary if it is based on data from religion it is obviously false. If it is not then it is simply arbitrary.
Hick also demands that religions, especially Christianity, rewrite themselves to fit his theory. This is absurd.
Rather than an aggressive form of pluralism like Hick's, William P. Alston postulates a more subtle form:
1) Christians basing their beliefs on their mystical experience of God are justified in holding there beliefs.
2) Adherents of different religions basing their beliefs on their mystical experience are justified in holding their beliefs.
3) There is no way of adjudicating between different belief systems.
4) All persons are entitled to their beliefs since their system is coherent and productive.
Alston's theory hinges on mystical experience alone. He ignores any other type of evidence.
There are two component in accepting a belief system as true:
1) Accepting the beliefs as true
2) Justification of the belief system
Some ways of justifying religious beliefs:
1) They are self-evident
2) based on experience
3) superiority of teaching, etc., etc.
Christians can find confirmation for the beliefs in:
1) General revelation and natural theology
2) Fundamental rationality of Christian beliefs (Plantinga's "warrant" or "proper function")
3) Historical and archeological evidence
4) Inner witness of the Holy Spirit
5) Experience of when God manifested himself
Mainly, Christians have grounds for their beliefs that correspond to reality.
Christianity as a belief system based on the New Testament must be either false or exclusively true.
To deny pluralism one must show that it is rational to believe that Christianity is exclusively true.
Establishing Grounds for Answers
The problem of evil has been posed as a loving God is incompatible with the circumstances of this world since the time of Hume. But, Marilyn McCord Adams made the excellent point that: "It does the atheologian no good to argue for the falsity of Christianity on the ground that the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, pleasure-maximizer is incompatible with a world such as ours, because Christians never believed that God was a pleasure-maximizer anyway" (Corduan, 156).
Christian theology must be firmly rooted and wholly based in Biblical revelation. One cannot abstract a specific principle and build from there (a common mistake).
Who is Definitely Saved?
In Old Testament theology those who are the people of God are saved by faith in God. These include the chosen people, converts to the chosen people (i.e. Ruth) and those who helped form the chosen people.
New Testament theology demands personal knowledge of the gospel as a prerequisite to salvation: How can we accept what he does not know?
In addition to knowing the Gospel, one must accept it as true and place trust in the atoning work of Christ.
The New Testament stress the need for missionary work.
The notion of implicit faith in Christ as a way of salvation is oxymoronic. Implicit faith makes as much sense as unfelt pain or inaudible speech.
However, all of these seemingly incoherent expressions are made coherent by mediation. Inaudible speech is made coherent by the usage of sign language. Sign language mediates the speech.
The sacrificial cultus of pre-Christ Jews was the meditation for implicit faith.
Who is Perhaps Saved Before Christ?
In the Old Testament the people of Israel are those who were saved. In the New Testament explicit faith in Christ and his atonement is the criterion for salvation.
To expand either of these criterions require that it is Biblically revealed, not what is merely fair or consistent.
Idolatry, under no circumstances can serve as the mediator in implicit faith. Thus, idolators are not saved.
C.S. Lewis claims that prayers made to false gods in earnest are heard by the true God. But, Lewis cannot substantiate this theory with Biblical evidence.
One argument for idolatry as a mediating device for implicit faith is the relationship of Abram and Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was the priest of El Elyon (God Most Hight) and Abram paid him a tithe for his blessing.
Clark Pinnock makes the claim that El Elyon and YHWH are equivalent. Corduan contends that rather than being equivalent deities, El Elyon and YHWH are identical, two names for the same deity.
This argument (Cordon's) makes sense because Hebrews 7's treatment of Melchizedek as the forerunner of Christ. If Melchizedek were some pagan priest, Hebrews 7 would make no sense.
Melchizedek and others (like Jethro, Moses' father-in-law) are saved by their implicit faith in Christ as mediated by their explicit faith in the God of original monotheism who is identical to the God of Old Testament Israel.
Who is perhaps saved after Christ?
The Jews were no longer saved by being a member of the chosen people because they rejected Christ. Thus, even if Gentiles were worshippers of the original monotheistic God and equivalent to Jews they are no longer saved.
In the New Testament men who worshipped the God of original monotheism were granted the opportunity to have explicit faith in Christ:
1) The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
2) Cornelius, the Roman Centurion (Acts 10)
3) The "God-fearing Greeks" (Acts 17:4)
4) Apollos (Acts 18:24-28)
5) The disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:1-6)
"Natural revelation does not save, but it provides the opportunity for the saving message to be sent to those who respond to it" (Corduan, 168).
Thomas Aquinas believed in this, "God will send the message" theory. Robertson McQuilken and Oliver Buswell also advocate this position.
Epistemologically - Is Christianity alone true?
Metaphysically: Do the effects of Christ's atonement extend only to those who believe in Him?
Yes! But, there is a small amount of room for implicit faith in pre-Christ times.
Ethically: Is a human being required to express faith in Christ in order to be eligible for salvation? Yes.
Subjectively: Is an implicit faith in Christ expressed in actions as valid as an explicit faith? Yes, only in pre-Christ times.
Theologically: Does God's saving love extend to those who do not know of Christ? Yes, but only within the further plan of God.
Socially: Are those who never heard of the gospel without hope of salvation? Yes, but God reaches out in the New Testament to those without limited with natural revelation and why would he stop this practice?
A Tapestry of Faiths
Win Corduan
Is Christianity alone true?
By asking if a religion is true we ask if it is as a whole true, not if it contains some truth.
Pluralism asserts that all truth claims made by all religions are equal.
Hick claims that those Christians who maintain exclusivist theologies must revise their thinking.
Hick's pluralism is however, completely wrongheaded. No religion teaches that it is one way of relating to the Real.
Most, if not all, religions make exclusive claims. This is another point where Hick's theory does not accurately describe religions.
Hick's theory is either false or arbitrary if it is based on data from religion it is obviously false. If it is not then it is simply arbitrary.
Hick also demands that religions, especially Christianity, rewrite themselves to fit his theory. This is absurd.
Rather than an aggressive form of pluralism like Hick's, William P. Alston postulates a more subtle form:
1) Christians basing their beliefs on their mystical experience of God are justified in holding there beliefs.
2) Adherents of different religions basing their beliefs on their mystical experience are justified in holding their beliefs.
3) There is no way of adjudicating between different belief systems.
4) All persons are entitled to their beliefs since their system is coherent and productive.
Alston's theory hinges on mystical experience alone. He ignores any other type of evidence.
There are two component in accepting a belief system as true:
1) Accepting the beliefs as true
2) Justification of the belief system
Some ways of justifying religious beliefs:
1) They are self-evident
2) based on experience
3) superiority of teaching, etc., etc.
Christians can find confirmation for the beliefs in:
1) General revelation and natural theology
2) Fundamental rationality of Christian beliefs (Plantinga's "warrant" or "proper function")
3) Historical and archeological evidence
4) Inner witness of the Holy Spirit
5) Experience of when God manifested himself
Mainly, Christians have grounds for their beliefs that correspond to reality.
Christianity as a belief system based on the New Testament must be either false or exclusively true.
To deny pluralism one must show that it is rational to believe that Christianity is exclusively true.
Establishing Grounds for Answers
The problem of evil has been posed as a loving God is incompatible with the circumstances of this world since the time of Hume. But, Marilyn McCord Adams made the excellent point that: "It does the atheologian no good to argue for the falsity of Christianity on the ground that the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, pleasure-maximizer is incompatible with a world such as ours, because Christians never believed that God was a pleasure-maximizer anyway" (Corduan, 156).
Christian theology must be firmly rooted and wholly based in Biblical revelation. One cannot abstract a specific principle and build from there (a common mistake).
Who is Definitely Saved?
In Old Testament theology those who are the people of God are saved by faith in God. These include the chosen people, converts to the chosen people (i.e. Ruth) and those who helped form the chosen people.
New Testament theology demands personal knowledge of the gospel as a prerequisite to salvation: How can we accept what he does not know?
In addition to knowing the Gospel, one must accept it as true and place trust in the atoning work of Christ.
The New Testament stress the need for missionary work.
The notion of implicit faith in Christ as a way of salvation is oxymoronic. Implicit faith makes as much sense as unfelt pain or inaudible speech.
However, all of these seemingly incoherent expressions are made coherent by mediation. Inaudible speech is made coherent by the usage of sign language. Sign language mediates the speech.
The sacrificial cultus of pre-Christ Jews was the meditation for implicit faith.
Who is Perhaps Saved Before Christ?
In the Old Testament the people of Israel are those who were saved. In the New Testament explicit faith in Christ and his atonement is the criterion for salvation.
To expand either of these criterions require that it is Biblically revealed, not what is merely fair or consistent.
Idolatry, under no circumstances can serve as the mediator in implicit faith. Thus, idolators are not saved.
C.S. Lewis claims that prayers made to false gods in earnest are heard by the true God. But, Lewis cannot substantiate this theory with Biblical evidence.
One argument for idolatry as a mediating device for implicit faith is the relationship of Abram and Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was the priest of El Elyon (God Most Hight) and Abram paid him a tithe for his blessing.
Clark Pinnock makes the claim that El Elyon and YHWH are equivalent. Corduan contends that rather than being equivalent deities, El Elyon and YHWH are identical, two names for the same deity.
This argument (Cordon's) makes sense because Hebrews 7's treatment of Melchizedek as the forerunner of Christ. If Melchizedek were some pagan priest, Hebrews 7 would make no sense.
Melchizedek and others (like Jethro, Moses' father-in-law) are saved by their implicit faith in Christ as mediated by their explicit faith in the God of original monotheism who is identical to the God of Old Testament Israel.
Who is perhaps saved after Christ?
The Jews were no longer saved by being a member of the chosen people because they rejected Christ. Thus, even if Gentiles were worshippers of the original monotheistic God and equivalent to Jews they are no longer saved.
In the New Testament men who worshipped the God of original monotheism were granted the opportunity to have explicit faith in Christ:
1) The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
2) Cornelius, the Roman Centurion (Acts 10)
3) The "God-fearing Greeks" (Acts 17:4)
4) Apollos (Acts 18:24-28)
5) The disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:1-6)
"Natural revelation does not save, but it provides the opportunity for the saving message to be sent to those who respond to it" (Corduan, 168).
Thomas Aquinas believed in this, "God will send the message" theory. Robertson McQuilken and Oliver Buswell also advocate this position.
Epistemologically - Is Christianity alone true?
Metaphysically: Do the effects of Christ's atonement extend only to those who believe in Him?
Yes! But, there is a small amount of room for implicit faith in pre-Christ times.
Ethically: Is a human being required to express faith in Christ in order to be eligible for salvation? Yes.
Subjectively: Is an implicit faith in Christ expressed in actions as valid as an explicit faith? Yes, only in pre-Christ times.
Theologically: Does God's saving love extend to those who do not know of Christ? Yes, but only within the further plan of God.
Socially: Are those who never heard of the gospel without hope of salvation? Yes, but God reaches out in the New Testament to those without limited with natural revelation and why would he stop this practice?
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