The Hungry Hearts Bible Commentary

Matthew 5:17-19 Did Jesus' Fulfillment of the Law Do Away with It?

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy rather to fulfill [1] ^{satisfy
[the requirements of the Law] Colossians 2:14} 18: For truly I say to you Till heaven and earth pass one yod or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be satisfied ^{John 19:30} [2] 19: Whosoever then shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach any so they shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven [3]

[1] ^{Matthew 5:17} Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law. Did he do that? Which part[s] did he fulfill?

While Jesus hung on the cross, he cried out “It is finished, paid, completed, fulfilled.” What did he mean by that?

[2] ^{Matthew 5:17-18} Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements of the Law. Did he?

Paul wrote that these requirements were against us ^{Colossians
2:14}.

Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements of the Law (pay the debt), and he did that with his death on the cross ^{John 19:30}.

[3] ^{Matthew 5:19} Before the cross, Jesus had not yet satisfied all the requirements of the Law ^John
19:30. Context: In Matthew 5:17-19 (and in Luke 16:17), he was speaking from the position of still being under the Law. The requirements/sin debt had not yet been paid when he said this.

To say that after the requirements were satisfied [the debt was paid] at the Cross ^{John 19:30}, all are still required to observe the Mosaic Law which guarded and protected until faith came, misleads by taking this statement of Jesus out of context. When Jesus said he had not come to abolish the Law, he was clarifying his motivation. He then stated his purpose, which clarified the fine line between destroying something and fulfilling it. Jesus came to fulfill the requirements of the law that were against us, to take them out of the way by nailing them to his cross (Colossians 2:14). Did he accomplish his purpose?

Galatians 3:24-25 the Law ^nomos was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith 25: But after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster [1]

[1] Galatians 3:24-25 is not speaking of the traditions of the elders. It was the acts of the law ^nomos that led to Christ and not the extra scriptural traditions. Nomos was the schoolmaster that pointed to the Messiah. No tradition of the elders could ever do that. Jesus said the traditions nullified the Word of God and made it of no effect.

New Covenant believers, first called Christians at Antioch, have never been required to perform the acts of the law. The Bible says God's Law is written on our hearts. Jesus said when we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and we love our neighbors as ourselves, then we have fulfilled all the Law ^nomosand all the prophets. This is the Law ^nomou of Love (Romans 13:10).

Acts 15: Believers Dispute About the Law of Moses

[1] ^{Acts 15:1} Almost the entire chapter is about a dispute concerning observance of the Law of Moses for salvation. Verse one says this clearly. The text says nothing about ritual purity so gentiles can attend synagogue with the Jews. Nowhere in the New Testament is the subject of ritual purity addressed in reference to the Body of Christ.

The text of the entire chapter is below the commentary

[2] ^{Acts 1:6} The apostles and elders, at this point, were all Jews. The issue of observance and circumcision had obviously not come up with Peter and the conversion of Cornelius and his family ^{Acts 10} . Everyone accepted them as Born Again sisters and brothers in Christ. It is known that Peter became intimidated by the Jews at some point, and until he was publicly confronted by Paul at Antioch, began to display a hypocritical attitude in making a difference between believing Jews and what appears to be unobservant gentiles. He would socialize and eat with non-Jewish believers until certain Jewish believers came around ^{Galatians 2:11-14}, then would withdraw from the non-observant gentile believers and pretend to be something he was not ^{Galatians 2:14}. It is entirely possible that Cornelius and his house were circumcised and became observant, but in light of Peter’s statement in Acts 15:7-11, it is doubtful. Paul and Barnabus hotly debated the issue with throughout their ministry.

[3] ^{Acts 15:10} The “yoke” Peter refers to is the yoke of the Mosaic Law. Verse one set the agenda and confirms the entire conference was about salvation ^{Acts 15:1,5, &11} through circumcision and observance of the Law of Moses. This conference was not about ritual purity so Jews and gentiles could worship together in the synagogues.

[4] ^{Acts 15:20} All of these things have to do with participation in idol worship and not about observing the Law.

[5] ^{Acts 15:21} Believers preach Jesus and not Moses. James' statement about Moses being taught in every town and in every traditional Jewish synagogue was descriptive and not prescriptive.

[6] ^{Acts 15:24-30} Gentile believers were told the decree of the council would serve them well. There was no qualification that it would serve them well only until they matured. This is not a bait and switch passage, telling new believers that their immaturity in Christ is the reason for them not being required to become observant to the Law of Moses...just yet. They were never required to become observant. From the beginning of the debate [clarified in Acts 15:1,5,&11], the issue was about salvation and not about ritual purity for synagogue worship. There is no such concept of ritual purity in the New Covenant. Jesus, the Only Begotten, the Lamb of God, made a New Covenant with the Body of Christ and ratified it through his own blood.

[7] Acts 15:31 The gentile believers were so relieved! They had been told by the pharisaical Jewish believers that they were not saved because they were non-observant. The apostles and the elders, who had never placed such requirements on non-Jews anyway, were finally forced to address the issue officially. And the conclusion was that salvation was not dependent on observance of the Mosaic Law.

Now we know that Peter [and likely others] still struggled with peer pressure against the official position of the apostles and elders [that observance to the Law of Moses was not necessary for gentile believers]. We know this because of Paul’s confrontation with Peter on a later visit to Antioch. Paul described the confrontation in his letter to the gentile believers in Galatia.

Acts 15

1: And certain ones which came down from Judaea taught the brethren and said Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses you cannot be saved ^:5 [1] 2: When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question 3: And being brought on their way by the Out-Called passed through Phenice and Samaria declaring the conversion of the Gentiles and they caused great joy to all the brethren 4: And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received by the Out-Called and by the apostles and elders and they declared all things that God had done with them 5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed saying That it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses ^:1 6: And the apostles and elders [2] came together for to consider of this matter 7: And when there had been much disputing Peter rose up and said to them Men and brethren you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe 8: And God who knows the hearts bore them witness giving them the Holy Spirit even as he did to us 9: And put no difference between us and them ^{Galatians 3:28} purifying their hearts by faith 10: Now therefore why do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear [3] 11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they 12: Then all the multitude kept silence and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them 13: And after they had held their peace James answered saying Men and brethren listen to me 14: Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name 15: And to this agree the words of the prophets as it is written 16: After this I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down and I will build again the ruins thereof and I will set it up 17: That the residue of people might seek after the Lord and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called says the Lord who does all these things 18: Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world 19: Wherefore my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God 20: But that we write to them that they abstain from pollutions of idols and from fornication and from things strangled and from blood [4] 21: For Moses since old time has in every city them that preach him [5] being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day 22: Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole Out-Called to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas namely Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas chief men among the brethren 23: And they wrote letters by them after this manner The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia 24: Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls saying You must be circumcised and keep the law to whom we gave no such commandment 25: It seemed good to us being assembled with one accord to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul 26: Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 27: We have sent therefore Judas and Silas who shall also tell you the same things by mouth 28: For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things 29: That you abstain from meats offered to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication from which if you keep yourselves you shall do well [6] Fare ye well 30: So when they were dismissed they came to Antioch and when they had gathered the multitude together they delivered the letter 31: Which when they had read they rejoiced for the consolation [7] 32: And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves exhorted the brethren with many words and established them 33: And after they had tarried there a space they were let go in peace from the brethren to the apostles 34: Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still 35: Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also 36: And some days after Paul said to Barnabas Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they do 37: And Barnabas determined to take with them John whose surname was Mark 38: But Paul thought not good to take him with them who departed from them from Pamphylia and went not with them to the work 39: And the contention was so sharp between them that they separated one from the other and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus 40: And Paul chose Silas and departed being recommended by the brethren to the grace of God 41: And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the Out-Calleds

Did the Disciples Meet on the First Day of the Week? Acts 20:7

"Upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together..."

In biblical Greek and Hebrew, the word "week" always appears to be translated from some form of the word sabbath, so there is no reason to believe that verses such as Acts 20:7 or 1 Corinthians 16:2 are heretical mistranslations stemming from Roman Catholic influence.

Comparison to other verses, such as Genesis 29:27, Leviticus 12:5, and John 20:19, lays to rest the idea that the earliest Christians met only on the seventh day sabbath, or only the high feast days, which were high sabbaths.

Something else to consider when tempted to translate the word week as sabbath (in the sense of the seventh-day or feast day) is that some high sabbaths (Feasts of the Lord) consisted of only one day, so in addition to there being no first day of the seventh day sabbath, there is also no "first day" of the sabbath for one-day feasts, but there is always a first day of the week.

The word "Sunday" may be pagan in origin, but the first day of the week is not a cursed heretical day in and of itself. In Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:12, we have the testimony of Luke and Paul as well as the context and language of the text in declaring the earliest believers met regularly on the first day of the week, which was the day of our lord Jesus' resurrection, which was foretold in the Feast of First Fruits, which always falls on the first day of the week.

1 John Chapter 5: Commentary

1: Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten out of God and every one that loves the one begetting loves him also that is begotten out [of] God 2: By this we know that we love the off-springs of God when we love God and keep his precepts 3: For this is the love of God that we keep his precepts and his precepts are not grievous 4: That all, the ones having been begotten out of God are conquering the system and this is the conquest that conquers the system even our faith 5: Who are the ones conquering the system if not the ones believing that Jesus is the Son of God 6: This is he that came by water and blood even Jesus the Christ not by water only but by water and blood And it is the Spirit that bears witness because the Spirit is Truth [1] 7: For there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word ^{John 1:1,14} and the Holy Spirit and these three are one [2] 8: And there are three that bear witness in earth the spirit and the water and the blood and these three agree in one 9: If we receive the witness of mortals the witness of God is greater for this is the witness of God ^YHWH which he has testified of his Son 10: The ones believing on the Son of God have the witness in themselves The ones that believe not God have made God a liar because they believe not the record that The God gave of his Son. 11: And this is the record that The God gives to us eternal life and this life is in his Son. 12: They that have the Son have life and they that have not the Son of God have not life. 13: These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14: And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us 15: And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him 16: If any see their brother [or sister] sin a sin which is not unto death they shall ask and God shall give them life for them that sin not unto death There is a sin unto death I do not say that they shall pray for it. 17: All unrighteousness is sin but there is a sin not unto death 18: We know that whoever is born of God does not practice sin but they who are begotten out of God guard themselves and that wicked one touches them not 19: And we know that we are of God and the whole world lies in wickedness. 20: And we know that the Son of God is come and has given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ This One is the true God ^{Godhead/Jesus is Jehovah} and the life eternal. 21: Little off-springs guard yourselves from the idols. Amen.

[1] ^{1 John 5:6} The Spirit is Truth; ^{1 John 4:8} God is Love; ^{John 1:1} Jesus is the Word

[2] ^{1 John 5:7} is also known as the Johannine Comma or Comma Johanneun. Some claim the “Comma” was not present in any manuscript dating prior to the 16th century. If that is true…:

· How could it have been found in a Syriac manuscript dated from around A.D. 170 (2nd century), or in a Latin manuscript from around 200 A.D. (3rd century)?

· How could it have been included in resolutions made at the Counsel of Carthage in A.D. 415 (5th century)?

· How could Cassiodorus have quoted it in A.D. 480 (5th century)?

· How could 400 Bishops have quoted, and discussed it at length, in their defense of the trinity in A.D. 484 (5th century)?

Cyprian wrote about it around A.D. 250 (3rd century), “The Lord says, ‘I and the Father are one’ and likewise it is written of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ‘and these three are one.’”

The truth is, that 1 John 5:7 has been found in manuscripts and quotes dating from the 2nd century. So, any claims that it cannot be found before the 16th century are blatantly irresponsible and false.

Subscribe to Jocelyn Andersen’s Updates & Newsletters: http://eepurl.com/dgDt6b

Matthew 5:17-19 commentary

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill ^{satisfy [the requirements of the Law] Colossians 2:14} For truly I say to you Till heaven and earth pass one yod or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be satisfied ^John
19:30 [1] Whosoever then shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach any so they shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven [2]

[1] ^{Matthew 5:17-18} Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements of the Law.

Paul wrote that these requirements were against us ^{Colossians
2:14}.

Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements (pay the debt), and he did with his death on the cross ^{John 19:30}.

[2] ^{Matthew 5:19} Before the cross, Jesus had not yet satisfied all the requirements of the Law ^John
19:30. Context: In Matthew 5:17-19 (and in Luke 16:17), he was speaking from the position of still being under the Law. The requirements/sin debt had not yet been paid when he said this.

To say that after the requirements were satisfied [the debt was paid] at the Cross ^{John 19:30}, all are still required to observe the Mosaic Law, misleads by taking this statement of Jesus out of context.

Author and speaker, Jocelyn Andersen, is an eclectic Christian writer. She is a Bible teacher who writes about many subjects including equality of the sexes. She is best known for her advocacy in domestic violence awareness. Her book, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, has been a staple in the library of resources on that subject.

To receive Jocelyn's newsletters, subscribe HERE.

To receive an announcement from Amazon whenever a new book is released by Jocelyn Andersen, subscribe to Her Amazon author's page.

To Contact Jocelyn: Use the contact form in the sidebar of her blog at www.jocelynandersen.com to leave comments on her books, to reach her with questions, or to request for her to come and speak at your group meeting or event.

1 John 2 Commentary

1: My little children these things write I to you that you sin not And if ever any sin we have an advocate with the Father [1] Jesus Christ the righteous 2: And he is the appeasement for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 3: And hereby we do know that we know him ^Jesus if we keep his ^Jesus’ commandments [2] 4: They that say I know him and keep not his commandments are liars and the truth is not in them 5: But whoso keeps his word in them truly is the love of God perfected this is how we know that we are in him ^{In Christ} 6: They that say they abide in him ought themselves also so to walk even as he walked [3] 7: Brothers and sisters I write no new commandment to you but an old commandment which you had from the beginning The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning 8: Again a new commandment I write to you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is past and the true light ^Jesus now shines 9: They that say they are in the light ^{in Christ} and hate their brothers [and sisters] are in darkness even until now 10: They that love their brothers [and sisters] abide in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in them 11: But they that hate their brothers [and sisters] are in darkness and walk in darkness and know not where they go because that darkness has blinded their eyes 12: I write to you little boys and girls because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake 13: I write to you fathers because you have known him that is from the beginning ^{John 1:1} I write to you youths because you have overcome the wicked one I write to you little children because you have known the Father 14: I have written to you fathers because you have known him that is from the beginning I have written to you youths because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and you have overcome the wicked one 15: Love not the [world]-system neither the things that are in the system If ever any love the system the love of the Father is not in them 16: For all that is in the [world]-system the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life ^Genesis
2 is not of the Father but is of the [world]-system 17: And the world-system passes away and the lust thereof but they that do the will of God abide forever 18: Little children it is the last time ^{last days} and as you have heard that antichrist shall come even now are there many antichrists this is how we know that it is the last time ^{Last days} 19: They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest ^exposed that they were not all of us 20: But you have an unction from the Holy One and you know all things 21: I have not written to you because you know not the truth but because you know it and that no lie is of the truth 22: Who is a liar but they that deny that Jesus is the Christ They are antichrist that deny the Father and the Son [4] 23: Whoever denies the Son the same has not the Father (but) they that acknowledge the Son have the Father also 24: Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son and in the Father 25: And this is the promise that he has promised us even eternal life 26: These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you [5] 27: But the anointing which you have received of him (Jesus) abides in you and you need not that any teach you but as the same anointing teaches you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him 28: And now little children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming [6] 29: If you know that he is righteous you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him

[1] ^{Matthew 1:18-20} 18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child by the Holy Ghost…the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Ghost.
^{see also Luke 1:35}

Mary got pregnant by the Holy Spirit. That makes the Holy Spirit Jesus’ father. Yahweh is the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Father. Jesus is the Everlasting Father. Jesus is YHWH. Jesus is God.

[2] ^{1 John 2:3} It is Jesus’ commandments John is telling us to keep. What are Jesus’ commandments (see notes on Matthew 5:17-19)?

[3] 1 John 2:6 John is not commanding believers to be observant. Jesus was observant because he was a man born under the Law ^{Galatians 4:4}.

Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements (pay the debt), and he did by his death on the cross ^{John 19:30}.

What about what Jesus said in [3] Matthew 5:19? Before the cross, Jesus had not yet satisfied all the requirements of the Law ^{John 19:30}. Context: In Matthew 5:17-19 (and in Luke 16:17), he was speaking from the position of still being under the Law. The requirements/sin debt had not yet been paid. To say that after the requirements were satisfied [the debt was paid] at the Cross ^{John 19:30}, all are still required to observe the Mosaic Law is misleading and takes the words of Jesus out of context.

[4] ^{1
John 2:22} How can anyone say Christians and Muslims worship the same God when Allah has no son?

[5] ^{1 John 2:26} What are they being seduced with? In most of the New Testament, we read of believers being seduced with returning to the requirements of the Law.

[6] ^{1 John 2:28} Why would a believer be ashamed before Christ at his coming unless they had fallen away? This must be a reference to his 2^nd Coming.

To receive Jocelyn's newsletters, subscribe HERE.

To receive an announcement from Amazon whenever a new book is released by Jocelyn Andersen, subscribe to Her Amazon author's page.

2 Peter Chapter 1 commentary

1: SimOn Petros a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and our Savior [1] ^{Isaiah
43:10-11} Jesus Christ 2: Grace to you and peace be multiplied through the knowledge of God and Jesus the Lord of us [2] 3: According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of the one [3] calling us to glory and excellence [4] 4: Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through evil desires 5: And besides this giving all diligence add to your faith excellence/valor [5] and to excellence [acquired] knowledge [6] 6: And to knowledge self-control [7] and to self-control endurance and to endurance devoutness [8] 7: And to devoutness brotherly kindness and to brotherly affection, love ^agape 8: For [if] these to you [are] possessing and increasing [we shall] neither [be] unactive nor yet unfruitful into the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 9: But they that lack these things are blind and cannot see afar off and have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins 10: Wherefore the rather brothers and sisters give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you do [9] these things you shall never fall 11: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 12: Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though you know them and be established in the present truth 13: Yes I think it appropriate as long as I am in this body to stir you up by putting you in remembrance 14: Knowing that shortly I must put off this my body even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me ^{John 21:18-19} 15: Moreover I will endeavor that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance 16: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of his majesty 17: For he received from God the Father honor and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 18: And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount 19: We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto you [will] do well that you take heed as unto a lamp that shines in a squalid/dingy place until the day dawns and the light-bringer should be rising in your hearts 20: Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation 21: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of mortals but holy ones of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit

[1] ^{2 Peter 1:1} Peter called Jesus his God and Savior ^{John 20:28}. What Jew has two Gods ^Isaiah
44:6 or two saviors ^{Isaiah 43:11}? Jesus is YHWH.

[2] ^{2
Peter 1:2} Peter, the Jew, wrote this. He was not speaking of an earthly kuriou [lord], but of a Heavenly, for what Jew has two ADONAY’s in Heaven?

In Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul (the Jew) wrote: There is one body and one SPIRIT even as you are called in one hope of your calling One LORD one faith one baptism One GOD and GENERATOR of all Who is above all and CAUSE [of] all and in you all.

Now read this in a way a Jew might perceive it: One RUWACH. One ADONAY. One YHWH. One ELOHIM and GENERATOR [CREATOR ^{Jesus, John
1:1-3}]. The ABOVE all. And CAUSE ^DIA [OF] all. In ALL of you.

Is it not RUWACH (the Holy Spirit) who is in every believer?

References to GOD in the Greek Texts, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the GODHEAD, and not to just one member of the GODHEAD. There is no first, second, or third person of the GODHEAD. To refer to it as such, denotes a hierarchical created order that finds no basis in scripture. The three-fold being that is ONE—ELOHIM—is the CREATOR ^{Genesis 1:1}

Is it possible for finite mortals to reason out the nature of an infinite GOD? The scripture never commands us to do so…only to believe. And Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”

YHWH = GODHEAD

ELOHIM = GODHEAD

ADONAY = GODHEAD

THE FATHER IS YHWH ()

THE SON IS YHWH (1 Timothy 3:16 ^RT)

THE SPIRIT IS YHWH (Acts 5:3-4)

ELOHIM = CREATOR (Genesis 1:1)

YESHUA = CREATOR (John 1:3)

YESHUA = FATHER (Isaiah 9:6)

Who is the FATHER of YESHUA?

RUWACH participated in the conception of MESSIAH. The power THE HIGHEST ^the ^GODHEAD overshadowed Miriam when the WORD entered the kosmos (world-system), becoming the Son ^{Psalm 2/Hebrews 1 “This day
have I begotten thee”}, when he entered Miriam’s womb (Luke 1:35).

The entire GODHEAD participated in the miracle of GOD becoming a mortal. This in no way diminished the GODHEAD. Neither was the mortal SON OF GOD diminished in his person and position and intrinsic being as GOD, for ALL the fullness of the GODHEAD resides in Jesus in physical form ^{Colossians 2:9}.

[3] ^{2 Peter 1:3} Where is the first place we look to gain knowledge of God? …Our Bibles.

It is a mistake for believers to depend on teachers and Bible studies created by others for all their Bible knowledge. Yes, enjoy them and benefit from them. There is good reason our loving Creator gives the ministry gift of teachers. But this should be in addition to regular personal Bible reading and personal, independent, study—not instead of. The only way we can know if someone is teaching Truth, is if we have an extensive and first-hand knowledge for ourselves of what the Bible says. The only way to get that is by reading it through, over and over again.

Just read it.

Do not limit ourselves to only one Bible teacher or to those who teach from an identical point of view. One scholar wisely said that if there is no discussion of various viewpoints, then there is no such thing as a Bible teaching ministry.

In the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Even with daily Bible reading and personal study, no one person will ever understand, in its fullness, everything the Bible says, but we can certainly know what it doesn’t say, and that is one point on which [with the help of the Holy Spirit] God’s people are kept safe from error. God gives called and anointed teachers…but never to replace personal reading and study. The moment we allow someone else’s teaching to replace our own personal reading and Bible study, we have already veered off into error.

Are you a spiritual hitchhiker? Via their teaching, do you ride the coattails of someone else’s relationship with the Savior by exclusively listening to the studies of others or exclusively reading the devotions of others while never or rarely feeding yourself from his eternal Word?

Absolutely enjoy the teachings of fellow Christians. Benefit from insights he gives other believers. But to grow in your own walk with God, we must read his love-letter—the Bible—for ourselves. We must get to know him for ourselves, and that can only happen if we read his Word on a daily basis. And why wouldn’t we…when God claims to honor Word above his name?

Read your Bible every day, always picking up today where you left off yesterday.

[4] ^{2 Peter 1:3} Aside from 2 Peter 1:3-4, The Greek word translated as virtue (G703), is used only twice in the New Testament, Philippians 4:8 and 2 Peter 2:9. Excellence is a more accurate translation

[5] ^{2 Peter 1:4} The word generally translated as virtue in this verse is arete (G703), more accurately translated as excellence. Some scholars translate the word as valor.

[6] ^{2 Peter 1:5} The word knowledge in this verse is gnosis (G1108), meaning acquired knowledge, science, intelligence, and understanding. First and foremost, this means acquiring knowledge of God. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Everything else we learn must be put to use in the service of our loving Creator, and we do this through serving others. Whatever we do, wherever we go, our focus must be on loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength. Secondly, loving others as ourselves. David “served his generation,” and so should we.

[7] 2 Peter 1:6 The Greek word sometimes translated as temperance in this verse is egkrateia (G1466), meaning self-control: one who masters desires and appetites.

[8] 2 Peter 1:6 The Greek word translated as knowledge in this verse is gnosis (G1108), meaning acquired knowledge, science, intelligence, and understanding.

First and foremost, this means acquiring knowledge of God. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. In life, everything else we learn must be tempered by and put to use in the service of our Creator. This will be reflected in our service to others, through serving our generation. Whatever we do, wherever we go, our focus must be on loving [and serving] God with all our heart, soul, and strength. When we do that, we will love [and serve] others as ourselves.

How might that look? It will look different for each of us, as we are called. The Bible says, David “served" his generation. Before that happened, we know that he acquired gnosis, knowledge. Some of David's writings were holy writ. But before that, he knew what had already been written. He knew the scriptures well.

Want knowledge? Start at the beginning of knowledge. Read your Bibles every day, always picking up today where you left off yesterday.

[9] ^{2 Peter 1:10} The things we must do is to intentionally and diligently add to our faith the things listed in verses :4-5.

Pages