Ephesians chapter 4: Baptism of the Holy Spirit / Did Jesus Suffer in Hell / Five-Fold Ministry

        1: I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called 2: With all lowliness and meekness with longsuffering forbearing one another in love 3: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ^{Romans 12:18} 4: There is one body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling 5: One Lord one faith one baptism[1] 6: One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all 7: But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ 8: Wherefore he says When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to audawm[2] 9: Now that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth[3]  10: He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that all things [be] fulfilled 11: And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers 12: For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ 13: Until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God into fully mature individuals  unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ[4] 14: That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive 4:15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things who is the head even Christ 16: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies according to the effectual working in the measure of every part makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love[5] 17: This I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other ethnos walk in the vanity of their minds 18: Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts 19: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness 20: But you have not so learned Christ 21: If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus 22: That you put off concerning the former manner of life the old audawm which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts 23: And be renewed in the spirit of your minds 24: And that you put on the new audawm which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness 25: Wherefore putting away lying speak every one truth with their neighbors for we are members one of another 26: Be angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath 27: Neither give place to the devil ^{2 Kings 18:17-20 We cannot give in to Satan enough. He always wants more.} 8: Let them that stole steal no more but rather let them labor working with their hands the thing which is good that they may have to give to them that need 29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers 30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God in whom you are sealed till the day of redemption[6] 31: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice 32: And be kind one to another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you

---

[1] It is the Baptism of the Spirit—not water baptism—that translates the saved from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear son. All Christians are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit ^{1 Corinthians 12:13}.

[2] Before the resurrection of Christ, when the body died, the souls of the righteous were carried by the angels to a place called Paradise or Abraham’s Bosom. The souls of the unrighteous went directly to hades and were tormented ^{Luke 16:19-31, 23:43}. The righteous dead were held captive, for their protection, in a place called Abraham’s Bosom, which was located somewhere in the heart of the earth. This place was beautiful enough to be called paradise, but it was not Heaven ^{Luke 16:22-25, Ezekiel 31:16, Job 14:13}. 

   When Jesus ascended into Heaven, after his resurrection, he took these captive souls with him, but first he had to descend into the “lower parts of the earth” to get them ^{Ephesians 4:8-10}. We read in scripture, that Jesus was quite busy during the three days his body lay in the tomb, and he did not spend any of that time burning in hell fire ^{Luke 23:43, 1 Peter 3:19-20}. 

   Another proof that Jesus never suffered in hell, was when he told the thief who was crucified with him, that they would be together in Paradise—on the very day they both died.

   Remember, according to his own words, the price was completely paid while he was still hanging on the cross.

   Had Christ failed in his mission and refused to die on the cross during that long-ago Passover, possession of the captive souls in Abraham’s Bosom/Paradise would have defaulted to Satan, and they would have been doomed forever.

   Not only would they have been left without hope, but the entire human race, throughout all of history (past, present, and future), would be without hope as well.

[3] While Christ’s body lay in the grave, sleeping, he (Christ) was preaching to the spirits who were in prison (that’s another study), the disobedient ones (Fallen Angels) from the days of Noah ^{John 8:56, 1 Peter 3:18-20}.

   Jesus never suffered in hell during the three days his body laid in the grave. The Bible does not teach the concept of penance and Jesus never did penance in Hades. His redemptive work was completed before he was ever taken down from the cross. His suffering was over the moment he gave up the ghost. He said so himself when he cried out, “It is finished (paid) ^{John 19:30}!” 

[4] Verse :13 dispels the myth that the ministry gifts of apostle and prophet were only available to the early church. All the ministry gifts were given to the Body of Christ for the purpose of building and edifying the Body of Christ throughout the entire dispensation of grace (the time of Christ IN You, which will be completed and consummated when the First Resurrection is initiated by the dead IN CHRIST coming out of their graves and those who are alive and remain caught up with them to meet them in the air) ^{1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52}. 

God has given ministry gifts to the Body of Christ—his Church (which is a dynamic living organism, not a static, man-made--organization), in the form of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Those who possess these gifts are instructed to use them for the feeding of the sheep (all believers) ^{John 21:16-17} the equipping of the Saints (all believers), the service of God, and the building up of the Body of Christ ^{Ephesians 4:11-13}. The illustration of Jesus distributing to his disciples and the disciples then distributing to the people, cannot be taken to mean that Jesus came to set up a hierarchal New Covenant system with an inviolable separation between laity and clergy. It does mean that those called of God to win souls and feed God’s flock, should take that calling seriously, remain humble, and remember that they will answer to God for how they did or did not obey him in serving those under their care or within their spheres of influence. The New Covenant (Received Text) instructs all believers—Older, younger, pastors, church members, men, women, etc.—to be subject to one another (meaning to yield to/prefer one another before themselves) ^{1 Peter 5:5}.

For Luke to state (in the book of Acts) that Phillip’s daughters were New Testament prophets ^{Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-13}, means the gifts of the Holy Spirit and calling of God on these women in ministry was recognized and respected. Some denominations define prophesying as preaching. So be it. The daughters of Phillip the evangelist were preachers. They spoke publicly and authoritatively to anyone God called them to speak to—including men. Nowhere in scripture, do we read that the gifts and callings of the Holy Spirit are distributed according to gender.

[5] Jesus is the creator. He is before all things and all things are made by him. He used a building metaphor in referring to himself as the Chief Cornerstone (Capstone [which is a primary angle]). When Paul writes of his function as “head,” he uses building and physical body metaphors which clarify that he is referencing the creation of the Church, building and encouraging its universal membership, and nourishing the health of his entire “Body” (which is his ekklesia). The only male in the history of the universe who can claim “Headship” over anything, is Jesus, because he is the only one in whom we live and move and have our being.

[6] This is a scripture referenced by those teach eternal security (once saved always saved).

1 Corinthians Chapter 15: Rapture Women Preaching

 

1: Moreover brethren I declare to you the good news which I preached to you which also you have received and in which you continue 2: By which also you are saved if you keep in memory what I preached to you unless you have believed in vain 3: For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins agreeing to the scriptures 4: And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures 5: And that he was seen of Cephas[1] then of the twelve [2] 6: After that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once of whom the greater part are alive to this present [day] but some are fallen asleep [have died][3] 7: After that he was seen of James then of all the apostles 8: And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time 9: For I am the least of the apostles that am not fit to be called an apostle [4] because I persecuted the Out-Called of God 10: But by the favor of God I am what I am and his favor which is in me be not in vain but I labored more abundantly [than] they all yet not I but the favor of God which is in me [5] 11: Therefore whether it were I or they so we preach and so you believed 12: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead 13: But if there be no rising again of death then is Christ not risen 14: And if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain 15: Yes and we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so be that the dead rise not [6] 16: For if the dead rise not then is not Christ raised 17: And if Christ be not raised your faith is vain you are yet in your sins 18: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 19: If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all people most miserable 20: But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits [7] of them that sleep 21: For since through a mortal came death through a mortal also the resurrection of the dead 22: For as in the '‘âdâm [the mortal] all die thus also in the Christo shall all be made alive 23: But each in their own order Christ the firstfruits afterward the Christ’s at his coming 24: Thereafter the consummation, when he shall have entrusted the kingdom to God and Father when he shall have put down all sovereignty and all authority and powers 25: For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet [8] 26: [The] last enemy abolished… THE Death [9] 27:  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28: And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him The God / Ho Theos[10] may be all in all 29: Else what poieo baptizo for the dead if the dead[11] rise not at all tis kai baptizo for the dead 30: And why stand we in jeopardy every hour (if the dead are not raised) 31: I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord I die daily 32: If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what [does it] advantage it me if the dead rise not let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die[12] 33: Be not deceived malicious speakings corrupt good morals 34: Awake to righteousness and sin not for some [of you] have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your rebuke 35: But some will say How are the dead raised up and with what body do they come 36: You fools That which you plant is not made alive except it die [first] 37: And that which you sow you sow not that body that shall be but bare corn I mean of wheat or of some other grain 38: But God gives it a body as [he] desires and to every seed its own body 39: All flesh is not the same flesh but there is one kind of flesh of humans / audawm[13] and another flesh of beasts another of fishes and another of birds 40: There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial but the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another 41: There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars for one star differs from another star in glory 42: So also is the resurrection of the dead It [our physical body] is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption 43: It is sown in dishonor [14] it is raised in glory It is sown in weakness it is raised in power [15] 44: It is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body[16] There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body 45: And so it is written The first man ‘âdâm was made a living soul the last ‘âdâm was made a life-giving spirit 46: Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual but that which is natural and afterward that which is spiritual 47: The first man out of the earth [is] earthy the second man is the Lord from Heaven [17] 48: As is the earthy such are they also that are earthy and as is the heavenly such are they also that are heavenly 49: And as we have borne the image of the earthy we shall also bear the image of the heavenly[18] 50: Now this I say brethren that flesh and blood [has] no power [to] inherit the kingdom of God[19] neither doth corruption inherit incorruption 51: Behold I shew you a mystery We shall not all sleep [die] but we shall all be changed 52: In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed ^{1 Thessalonians 4:15-18} 53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality 54: So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 55: O death where is thy sting hades where is thy victory 56: The piercing of death is the missing [the mark of God’s will?] and the strength of the missing is the law 57: But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 58: Therefore my beloved brethren be ye steadfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord

---

[1] In 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Paul defined the GOOD NEWS ^{The Gospel} as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Mary who was first at the tomb that resurrection morning—not Peter. Mary was the first preacher of the gospel. Peter [along with the other disciples] heard the gospel for the first time from a woman, Mary, who heard it from the angel.

Paul proved himself to be a supporter of women in ministry, examples being his equal treatment of Priscilla, Phoebe, and Junia. He learned from Priscilla. He called Phoebe a deacon. He called Junia an apostle. Paul had to know it was Mary, called the Magdalene (because she was from Magdala), who saw Jesus first after his resurrection, and not Cephas. For some reason, he drew a curtain of invisibility over the fact that it was a woman who first saw Jesus and preached the GOOD NEWS that Jesus alive after his crucifixion.

Most scholars agree that the gospels were written after the epistles. That being the case, the writers of the gospels, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, made certain that all the world would know it was a woman who first saw Jesus alive after he had been laid in the grave, and also that it was a woman who was the first preacher the New Testament gospel.

[2] The twelfth being Matthias, who had been with the disciples from the time Jesus was baptized by John until he died, was buried, and rose again –Acts 1:21-26

[3] Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Only the bodies of believers sleep in death. The doctrine of souls sleeping is not scriptural. Upon the death of the body, the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 3:21). The soul is immediately either with the Lord, in Heaven, or in the hellish dimension of Hades or Sheol ^{Luke 16:22-23}.

[4] The ministry gift of apostle did not pass away with the original twelve as some say. In fact, it was the group of the original twelve that passed away with the suicide of Judas. Matthias replaced Judas in the number of The Twelve. From that moment, the group was no long the “original” twelve but continued to be called, The Twelve.

Paul was never numbered among The Twelve. When he wrote to the Ephesians about the ministry gifts, there were already more than twelve recognized as apostles, including himself, Jesus’ brother James, a woman named Junia, and more. 

[5] 1 Corinthians 15:10, tells us that no one is beyond the reach of our loving Creator. Paul imprisoned and participated in the murders of the earliest Believers. He hated Jesus, and he hated His followers. Paul was a man of incredible hatred and anger before Jesus kept a Divine Appointment with him on the road to Damascus. God turned the greatest enemy the first Christians had into their greatest friend.

No one has gone too far or done too much that God cannot change them and use them. He has a divine appointment for you. Don’t walk away from it.

[6] The Bible says believers who have died are sleeping. The same language is used of the resurrection from the dead.

The literal translation of the Greek says that after Jesus died, he was “roused.” When someone is roused, they are awakened from sleep. Those who are “In Christ” who sleep in death will also be “roused.”

The resurrection from the death is a physical event.

The same bodies that “fell asleep” in death will wake up. The fact that bodies will be decomposed does not change this fact. It will be those same bodies that will rise as glorious bodies that will never die again. Job knew this when he said though this body would be destroyed (died and decayed), with his own eyes, he would see God.

There is a physical resurrection from the dead. 

Do you know for sure that after your body falls asleep in death that you will be roused in the Resurrection of Life to  live forever? Eternal Life is found only one place...not in any theology or religious organization or denomination but in a person, the person of Jesus the only Christ. Do you believe he is the Son of God? Do you believe God raised him from the dead?  Have you called on him to save you from your sins? Do it NOW. No one has the promise of tomorrow.

[7] 1 Corinthians 15:20 is a reference to fulfilled prophecy. The Feast of the Lord called firstfruits foretold the physical resurrection of Jesus. Each one of the seven Feasts of the Lord foretold some aspect of the redemption wrought through the person and work of Yeshua.

[8] 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 is a reference to the end of first thousand years of Messiah’s Kingdom. His his Kingdom is forever, but it does have stages. The Kingdom of Christ will exist for eternity in the New Heavens and the New Earth. All his enemies [both mortals and angels] will be put down, forever, at the end of the thousand years when death shall be abolished.

[9] 1 Corinthians 15:26 is not just speaking of physical death. THE Death, is something much worse. Here, the apostle writes of a time when never again will anyone be destroyed from the presence of God and his power.  THE Death, will be abolished.

[10] John 1:1,12 says that Jesus, The Word, is God (Jehovah), and that God himself became flesh and dwelt among us. Colossians 2:9 says that all the fullness of the Godhead (Jehovah) resides in Jesus in physical form.

[11] Baptizing for the dead must be part of Jewish Tradition, as it is found nowhere in the Old Covenant scriptures, the Torah, Psalms, or prophets. The only place it is seen in the written Word of God, is this one mention to what must have been a common practice among the Jews at that time. On more than one occasion, Paul quoted Jewish Tradition in his letters. Tradition is not authoritative, no matter how widely accepted it may be, and no matter who quotes it, and this one statement, about baptizing for the dead, cannot be taken to mean the dead can be saved after they have died in their sins. When Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I AM you shall die in your sins,” he left no question that dying in one’s sins was a final and terrible fate. “It is appointed to man once to die and after that the judgement.”

[12] Hope of the resurrection—the knowledge of standing before the Judge of all the Earth—is powerful incentive to live responsibly and do good. The idea of unaccountability, gives rise to wasted lives, selfishness, and worse.

[13] The word, audawm, is the phonetic spelling of the Hebrew word, 'âdâm, the name God gave to his entire human creation—both female and male ^{Genesis 5:2}. For a full explanation of the use of the word “audawm,” throughout this work, see “Untranslated Words” under “Special Features.”

[14] The Fall [sin] dishonored the bodies of the first humans. A dishonoring physical change was made to human DNA when death was introduced into the bodies of the first couple through sin. This corruption of their perfect DNA was passed to all of their descendants.

At the resurrection, our original perfect DNA will be restored. We will become immortal. Those who die “In  Christ” will be raised never to die again.

[15] The Psalmist wrote, What are mortals that you are mindful of them the children of ‘âdâm [humanity] that you visit them a For you have made them a little lower than Elohim and are crowning them with glory and honor (Psalm 8:4-5 is a prime example of English-translation-theology).

[16] Spiritual bodies are just as real and tangible as natural bodies, the difference between the two, is that natural bodies, those that are subject to the laws of physics (space, time, energy, matter), cannot always see spiritual bodies, which are not subject to known laws of physics.

The corruptible natural body of Jesus, was raised as a glorious, indestructible, spiritual body. But that does not negate his physical resurrection, or the physical resurrections of those who belong to him. Rather, it elaborates and sheds light upon the magnificent nature of it.

His physical body was raised from the dead, and during that instantaneous process ^{1 Corinthians 15:52}, it was gloriously changed from a body subject to the natural laws of physics into a body that could transcend space, time, energy, and matter. The body of every believer will also be raised in such a manner ^{1 John 3:2}.

[17][17] How many Lords are there in Heaven?

[18] In this chapter, Paul is speaking of the condition of our bodies in the resurrection. In Genesis chapter one, where it states that audawm (every human) is created in the image of Elohiym—who is an awesome, transcendent, being—the reference is not to physical bodies, or even behavior, but rather to an intrinsic state of being. In 1 Corinthians 15:49, where the apostle states that audawm bears the image of God’s first human creations, he is referencing the condition of the mortal body—which, because of sin, is subject to the second law of physics, the law of decay. But the assurance is, that mortal condition will not be permanent. One day, all who belong to Christ, will have glorious resurrected bodies. Just like Jesus, our resurrected bodies will never die, and will no longer be subject to the current laws of physics. 1 Corinthians 15…  

Being “created in” the image of God, is intrinsic to all humans, and not affected by whether one is saved or unsaved*. “Bearing” the image of the first fallen humans, is also intrinsic to all humans. Both states of being are intrinsic—meaning they are who we are, not something we do—not sets of behaviors or banners that we bear and wave around for all to see. 

The common saying, that we are “image bearers” of God, places an erroneous twist on God’s Words, by suggesting that the image of God is something to be portrayed, rather than a state of being. Should our lives be examples of godly, Christlike living? Absolutely. But whether lifestyles portray good or evil, whether one is born again or not, all people are created in the image of God, and bear the image of his fallen earthly creation, as well. The good news is, the hope of the resurrection belongs to “whosoever” hears and responds in the affirmative to God’s invitation to LIFE ^{John 3:16}.

*That is why it is such a grievous thing when murder is committed**. Either in the womb or out, whether a person acknowledges God or not, if a person is murdered, it is the image of God that has been maliciously destroyed.

**Judicial execution is not murder. However, the Bible clearly states the prerequisites for condemning offenders to death, and strongly condemns unrighteous judgements, where either justice is not attempted at all, or where the travesty occurs that innocent people are condemned instead of the guilty.

[19] The first 1 000 years of Christ’s Kingdom, is only the first part of the inheritance for the living survivors of the Great Tribulation and Judgement of the nations, who will enter into Life* in their mortal conditions. Just as the first resurrection occurs in phases, the Kingdom of God has phases as well. The Kingdom of Christ, once initiated, will never end. Jesus said the Kingdom of God would first manifest [on earth] in the spiritual realm, but would surely be followed by the physical. We are currently in phase one, where the Kingdom of God has yet to become a physical reality, but resides within every believer, and produces righteousness, peace, and joy by the Holy Spirit ^{Luke 17:20-21, Romans 14:17}. Phase two of the Kingdom of God, will begin with the physical, visible, return of Jesus to the earth, where he will defeat his enemies at the Battle of Armageddon ^{Luke 17:24, Revelation 19:11-21}, and will continue through the first 1000 years of his reign. 

The last days include both phase one and two of the Kingdom. During phase two, the Word of God will flow from Jerusalem and knowledge of God will fill the whole earth ^{Isaiah 2:2-3, Habakkuk 2:14}. At that time, there will still be mortals in Christ’s kingdom. We know this, because the Bible says they will marry, give birth, and even die ^{Isaiah 11:6-10 & 65:18-25}. 

The third and final phase, will begin at the end of the 1000 years, when Jesus will root out, expose, and destroy every enemy. It is then that all remaining mortals who survived the Great Tribulation, Judgement of the Nations, and remained faithful to him throughout the first 1000 years of the Kingdom Age, will be changed (from mortal to immortal) and saved from the fiery purge that will initiate the creation of the New Heavens and the New Earth. These will be inhabited forever by the saved from all the ages. It is to the final and permanent manifestation of the Kingdom that Paul refers to when he wrote that flesh and blood would not inherit the Kingdom of God ^{2 Peter 3:7-13}.

*1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 establishes that “Life” consists of living in the presence and power of God. Jesus will be present during his millennial reign, sitting upon the throne of David. Those who made the choice to lose limbs rather than take the Mark of the Beast, but somehow manage to make it, alive, to witness the physical, visible, return of Jesus at the end of the Great Tribulation, will enter into Life (the millennial Kingdom) in their mortal bodies ^{Matthew 18:8, Mark 9:43} We know those horribly maimed by the Man of Sin, during his reign of terror, will not remain so. Healing is a prominent feature of Christ’s Kingdom ^{Isaiah 35:4-6}. Survivors who may not have professed Christ during the Great Tribulation, but provided aide to persecuted Jews and Christians, during the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, will survive the Judgement of the Nations and enter into the Joy of the Lord, in their mortal bodies ^{Matthew 25:31-39}.  

Luke Chapter 16

    1: And he said also to his disciples There was a certain rich man who had a steward and the same was accused to him that he had wasted his goods [misappropriated funds and/or mismanaged resources] 2: And he called him and said to him How is it that I hear this of you give an account of your stewardship[1] for you may be no longer steward 3: Then the steward said within himself What shall I do for my lord takes away from me the stewardship[2] I cannot dig[3] to beg I am ashamed[4] 4: I am resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses[5] 5: So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him and said to the first How much do you owe  to my lord 6: And he said An hundred measures of oil And he said unto him Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty 7: Then said he to another And how much do you owe And he said n hundred measures of wheat And he said to him Take your bill and write eighty 8: And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light 9: And I say to you Make to yourselves friends of the riches of unrighteousness that when you fail they may receive you in to everlasting habitations 10: They who are faithful in that which is least are faithful also in much and they who are unjust in the least are unjust also in much 11: If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous riches who will commit to your trust the true 12: And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's who shall give you that which is your own 13: No servants can serve two masters for either they will hate the one and love the other or else they will hold to the one and despise the other You cannot serve God and riches 14: And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him 15: And he said to them You are they who justify yourselves before people but God knows your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among anthropos is abomination in the sight of God 16: The law and the prophets were until John since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every one presses into it 17: And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail^{Galatians 3:24/Hebrews 10:1} 18: Whoever sends away his wife and marries another commits adultery and whoever marrieth her that is sent away from her husband commits adultery[6] 19: There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day 20: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus[7] who was laid at his [the rich man’s] gate full of sores 21: And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table moreover the dogs came and licked his sores 22: And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom[8] the rich man also died and was buried 23: And in hades he lifted up his eyes being in torments[9] and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom 24: And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame[10] 25: But Abraham said Son remember that you in your lifetime received your good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and you are tormented 26: And besides all this between us and you there is a great chasm permanently established so that they who would pass from here to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from there[11] 27: Then he said I ask you then father that you would send him to my father's house 28: For I have five brothers that he may testify to them lest they also come into this place of torment[12] 29: Abraham said to him They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them[13] 30: And he said No, father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent 31: And he said to him If they hear not Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead

Special Features of the HHBC

The basis of this commentary is the Received Text (Textus Receptus) of the NT and the Ben Chayyim Masoretic text of the OT as found in the Original *Strong’s Concordance, 1894, by James Strong, and compared diligently with the work of respected scholars.

The AV is followed where the language and sense of the translation is clear to the modern reader.

Where a Hebrew or Greek word would serve better than an attempt at translation, the original word is left untranslated, in italics, with the *Strong’s Greek [G] or Hebrew [H] reference number notated beside it.

The words of Jesus are in bold print

Cross-references are noted in line with the text

There is no punctuation in the scripture text

Brackets [ ] indicate alternate rendering or commentary

*20^th Century editions of this work, such as, The New Updated Strong’s, and, The Strongest Strong’s, are not referenced in the HHBT as they do not relate to the Textus Receptus or the Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text this commentary is based upon.

List of Untranslated Words in the HHBT                                     

Anthropos G444 usually referring to a human being either female or male: Sometimes referring to angels who are always identified as males.

Hades G86 The nether world; the realm of the dead; the lower regions  

---

[1] Turn over your books and explain the state of my finances!

[2] The only way I am able to make a living

[3] A reference to being unable to physically perform manual labor?

[4] Begging was an option for him, which indicates that he did have a physical handicap of some kind which would qualify him to beg legally. We see an example of this in the story of Blind Bartemaeus, who, in a moment of great faith in Jesus’ ability and willingness to give him sight, threw off his [begger’s] cloak [which showed his legal right to panhandle for a living] when Jesus summoned him and asked what it was he wanted. 

[5] Continue to do business with me

[6] The habit among Jewish men in antiquity was to repudiate their wives [for most any reason they chose regardless of how minor] without divorcing them in order to avoid paying divorce settlements. So Jesus pointed out the obvious that it would be adultery to marry another in that case, as all parties would already be married to someone else. God condemned this practice under the Old Covenant as well through the prophet Malachi (Malachi 2:14-17). This statement of Christ also serves to condemn the practice of polygamy and is backed up by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:2.

[7] This parable is a true story. We know this because Jesus gave the personal name of Lazarus as he revealed the after-life experiences of two real men.

[8] Lazarus’ poverty did not earn him the comfort of eternal paradise, but rather his righteous faith towards God.

[9] It was not wealth which condemned the rich man to eternal torments, but rather a lack of faith towards God

[10] The torment of Hades is real as will be the flames of the Lake of Fire. Jesus spoke of this more than any other. Though this awful punishment was not intended for humans, many will be condemned to it. Matthew 25:41, 46, Revelation 20:15

[11] Acknowledging the sovereignty of God in sending any messenger he chooses for his good purposes, this statement of Abraham’s puts to rest any notion that the dead can be summoned at the will of those with familiar spirits (a practice forbidden to believers) to visit those living on earth, although familiar spirits can and do imitate the dearly departed.

[12] The rich man, self-centered and unbelieving in his earthly life of privilege, becomes evangelical in his zeal to win his family over to God, and this after his own opportunity to serve God with faith and humility—and win souls—is over. Although there is no hope left for him, he is tormented over what he knows is in store for family members he still cares about even in his own wretched condition. His eternal lot is not only to be tormented by flames [of Hades and later the Lake of Fire] and regrets over his own wasted life but also wasted opportunities to influence loved ones still on earth with the hope of eternal life.  It is tragic that after a lifetime of catering to wealth and influence—to the exclusion of God with all his own hope gone—the only thing this formerly rich man cares about, aside from personal relief, is being a soul winner.   

[13] Jesus is speaking here of the scriptures which contain the inspired words of God through Moses and the Prophets (later through the Apostles). Simply reading these has power to save if read with faith, humility, and obedience.