Christian Doctrine

         Doctrine must be based on the Bible only, and not on traditions, the declarations of self-appointed "prophets" or mystics, and not on the decisions of scholars or councils. Doctrine must not be declared based on individual verses taken out of the context in which they appear. Doctrine should be interpreted by its consistency with the totality of scripture. Knowledge of biblical languages, history, culture, science, religious traditions, and other religions are all extremely useful but must never, by themselves, determine doctrine.

        We must reject any doctrine derived from eisegesis (doctrine read into the scriptures) and accept any doctrines only if they are derived from exegesis (from or out of the scriptural texts). Any doctrines which we derive from the scriptural texts must be consistent with the full body of scripture to be sure that we are not misreading the intent of the texts.

        We have allowed the progressives ("Progressive" is their current self identification. They have also been known as liberals and relativists) to define themselves as "mainstream" or "moderate." They insult historical Christianity by labelling it as backward, racist, reactionary, homophobic, sexist, intolerant,  irrelevant to the modern world, judgmental, imperialistic, sexist, anti-intellectual, etc., etc., etc. Yada, yada, yada. Blah, blah, blah. You get the picture.

        Historical Christianity is none of these things. Part of the reason that this insulting situation has arisen is that many churches have not adequately fulfilled their function to hand on the faith to the following generations. A helpful start would be a renewed emphasis on Christian education in history, doctrine, interpretation,  apologetics, and application of the Christian message in day to day life. We need to be equipping modern day Christian warriors. (Ephesians 6:13-18)

        (... but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks         you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 1 Peter 3:15)

        Historical Christianity is the "mainstream."  Absolute agreement on all points of discussion among Christians is not required. There is a small remnant of true Christians in every truly Christian body. The Lord knows those who are his. Those who wish to redefine the faith are the ones who are creating another doctrine. Many have already crossed the threshold and have effectively left the mainstream historical faith.

Was Bill O'Reilly Divinely Inspired to Write Killing Jesus?

The Fox News Channel political commentator Bill O’Reilly was a high school history teacher before he embarked on his television career. He has written numerous books such as Killing Kennedy, Killing Lincoln, The Last Days of Hitler, and Killing Patton.   He is a Roman Catholic believer and has said that he thinks he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write his excellent Killing Jesus. This set off a firestorm of criticism with some people saying that they think he is insane or blasphemous. I think he is probably correct that he was inspired.

I know the implications of what I am saying. I also think that this blog is inspired by God. Of course, it is not inspired on the same authoritative level as Scripture. That idea is the core heresy which led to modern Mormonism. The canon of scripture and doctrinal interpretation is closed. 

The Bible clearly states that each of the Saints (us, not a special class of extra-holy people) is divinely inspired. We  have the Mind of Christ. We have a direct link to the Holy Spirit who indwells, leads, instructs, and counsels individual believers.

Of course He leads us. Of course He inspires us. If He does not, then the problem is with us. We are not listening.

If you do not feel the Holy Spirit moving in your life, now is the time, today. If you are a Christian, ask Him, then listen.

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A general caution: books may give you wonderful new insights and explanations of subjects, but you should never base your Christian beliefs on any one book or the teachings of one person, no matter who they are. All teachings must be consistent with scripture. Read as the Bereans did, with discernment. “… for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 NASB

Any doctrines must be consistent with the historical full body of Christian thought. Doctrines or teachings inconsistent with scripture in any way must be rejected. You would not eat cheese which had a fuzzy fungus growing on it.

Messianic Prophecies from the Bible: Links to Several Posts

Recently, there has a major burst of interest in the post on this blog about the messianic prophecy of the Star of Bethlehem.  Christians traditionally have believed that the Old Testament is full of references to Jesus and prophecies about Him.  Jewish scholars, of course, deny this and accuse Christians of misinterpreting scripture.  They say that we take words and phrases out of the context of the surrounding text.  Essentially, they are saying that we are practicing eisegesis.

Eisegesis (εἰς, eis, Greek = “into.”) is the process of interpreting a text or portion of text using one's own presuppositions, agendas, or biases. This is commonly referred to as reading your prior suppositions into the text.

Christian biblical scholars stress the need to practice exegesis of biblical texts and not eisegesis.  (Exegesis ἐξηγεῖσθαι (exegeisthai) The English meaning of this Greek word is “to explain,” or “to interpret.”  The idea is that the interpretation comes from within the text. This comes from the etymology of the word: ek (out) plus egeisthai (to lead), “to lead out.”

So, when Christians search the Old Testament for messianic prophecies about Jesus, are we guilty of practicing eisegesis?  The short answer is no and this is because Jesus Himself told us to do this.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.” John 5:46

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27

Listed below are the messianic prophecies discussed so far on this blog.  There will be others.  Click on the link to go to the post.

The Star of Bethlehem

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2012/07/messianic-prophecies-from-bible-star-of.html

He Will be Called Out of Egypt

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2010/02/messianic-prophecies-from-bible.html

He is the Light of the World

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2010/02/messianic-prophecies-from-bible_24.html

Herod’s Slaughter of the Children of Bethlehem

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2010/03/messianic-prophecies-from-bible.html

He Will Be from Nazareth

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2010/04/messianic-prophecies-from-bible.html

They Will Give Him Vinegar for His Thirst

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2010/06/messianic-prophecies-from-bible.html

A Prophecy Not Yet Fulfilled

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2010/07/messianic-prophecies-from-bible_29.html

He Will be Sold for Thirty Pieces of Silver

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2010/10/messianic-prophecies-from-bible.html

He Will Bring Light to the Lands of Zebulon and Naphtali

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2011/09/messianic-prophecies-from-bible-he.html

He Will Die Among the Wicked But be Buried With a Rich Man

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2012/01/messianic-prophecies-from-bible-he.html

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2012/05/messianic-prophecies-from-bible-he.html

God Has a Son

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2012/04/messianic-prophecies-from-bible-what-is.html

  

His Body Will Not Decay

http://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/2012/12/messsianic-prophecies-acts-1610.html

Biblical Sources of Phrases in Common Use: A Drop in the Bucket

The English language idiom, "a drop in the bucket," is used to refer to something which is insignificant when compared to what is actually needed.  The nations of the Earth are of meaningless value when compared to the magnificence of God.

"Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing." Isaiah 40:15

הֵן גּוֹיִם  כְּמַר  מִדְּלִי,  וּכְשַׁ חַק מֹאזְנַיִם נֶחְשָׁבוּ; הֵן אִיִּים, כַּדַּק יִטּוֹל.

A literal English language translation of the first sentence of Isaiah 40:15 is: “Behold the nations a drop a bucket a speck the scales regarded.” (from biblehub.com)  I have added spaces between the three words "kamar mideli ukasahaq/ a drop a bucket a speck") in the Hebrew text above.

Use Any Combination of Coins

On a newspaper vending machine I saw this printed instruction: “Use any combination of coins.  Do not use pennies.”

What?  Although it is obvious that the writer meant “use any combination of coins, except pennies,” that is not what was said.  What was said was a logical inconsistency, an impossibility.

We must make sense in what we say and do.  This applies to Christians especially because “they” ARE watching us and listening to us.  We will be most effective when we are clearly understood, even though that will sometimes bring hostility to us.

When speaking to unbelievers we must talk to them in ways which they will understand.  To begin immediately quoting scripture to them will usually leave them absolutely cold because they do not recognize the authority of scripture.

The first step is to logically and coherently convince the unbeliever that there is a real “problem” in the world.  Many will not readily admit this.  Before we can present the solution which we know to be true, we must convince the unbeliever that everything is not OK as it is.  There can be no real listening without that recognition. We must also convince unbelievers that the solution to what is wrong does not lie with things which are, of themselves,  positive: education, social justice,  benevolent government, the elimination of poverty and hunger, science, the eradication of racism, better hygiene, environmentalism, the curing of diseases, respect for animals, etc.  Luckily for us, we are merely the instruments.  The Holy Spirit does the real work within the unbeliever.

Remember that we must be wise warriors.  Although, our ultimate adversary is, of course, Satan the Accuser, the prince of this world, the individual battles are not with enemies but with potential brothers and sisters. 

Swearing on the Bible

On Monday, 21 January 2012, Barack Obama was sworn in for his second term as President of the United States of America.  For the oath, the President placed his hand on the family Bible of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. which was sitting on top of a Bible which was owned by the United States President Abraham Lincoln.  The King Bible was on loan from the family of the civil rights leader.  The Lincoln Bible was the one used in President Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration and  is preserved in the Library of Congress. 

United States Presidents being sworn into office upon the Bible is a tradition from the earliest days of the Republic.  Only four presidents, Franklin Pierce, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson, were sworn in without the use of a Bible.

Swearing on the Bible is used in courts for witnesses before they testify.  Many Christians refuse to do this, as do believers in other faiths.  In the United States and some other countries, it is acceptable to decline to swear on the Bible.  Members of other faiths may use the holy text of their faith if the court is notified beforehand.  In the case of a declination, the witness must affirm that he or she will tell the truth.  Any of these methods places one “under oath.”  Lying “under oath” is perjury, a crime punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.

 Dr Helmut Thielicke, in Life Can Begin Again (1963), says that an oath is insulting because it assumes that otherwise the witness would lie. 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths (Here, Jesus is referencing Deuteronomy 6:13):  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.  

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matthew 5: 33-37  The verb in verse 37, ἔστω, translated into English as “let it be,” is in the present active imperative form, a command. ἔστω δὲ ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν ναὶ ναί, οὒ οὔ· τὸ δὲ περισσὸν τούτων ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐστιν.

James, Jesus’ brother, echoed Jesus, “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12

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While preparing this post I found this on the website of conspiracy theorist David Icke posted by someone calling himself (or herself) MALKOR.  There is always at least one:

 “There is a bit of irony there … swearing to tell the truth while placing your hand on a book of lies.” 

Recognizing the Scriptures

From yesterday’s post, Paul said: “Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”  Acts 13:35

Paul here did not give a page and verse citation for the quotation.  Those would not exist for centuries.  Instead, Paul assumed that his listeners would be familiar with the verse.  Jewish men of Paul’s day could be expected to know the passage, having spent every Sabbath listening to scripture reading in the synagogue.

The books (actually the scrolls) of Scripture did not have names but were known by the first few words of the first sentence.  The listeners had heard the readings so many times that they knew the book and the passage being disvcussed as soon as the words were spoken.

How many modern Christians (or Jews) can identify the book and passage from which a random scripture text is taken? 

A Biblical View of Drug Use

Below are several links concerning a biblical view of drug use.

http://www.gotquestions.org/sin-drugs.html

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/marijuana.html

http://www.bible.ca/s-marijuana.htm

http://www.watton.org/drugsinfo/biblicalview/index.shtml

http://www.truthortradition.com/iphone/index.php?option=com_content&%20view=article&%20id=65:what-does-the-bible-say-about-drugs-and-drinking-alcohol&%20catid=36:faqs&%20Itemid=59

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110103145708AA6D2I3

http://celticanglican.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/where-in-the-bible-might-there-be-scriptures-regarding-drug-use/

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/CBNTeachingSheets/Drugs.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_drugs

Definition: Hermeneutics

Reading books about biblical interpretation, one often comes across the word “hermeneutics.”  The word comes from the Greek word ἑρμηνεύω (ermeneuō, "translate", or "interpret").  Hermeneutics is the science of the interpretation of written texts and theories about how this should be done.

Some writers think that the word derives from the name of Hermes, the messenger of the Greek gods.  Hermes, in ancient Greek mythology, was the inventor of language and speech.

A specialized subset of the science is Biblical Hermeneutics, the study of the interpretation of the text of the books of the Bible.  Obviously for believers, the scriptures are more than just “text,” but a reverent study of the scriptures should include a study of everything about the scriptures.  An attempt must be made to understand the books of the Bible as one would other texts.

When was the text written? Where was it written?  By whom was it written?  To whom was it written?  What was the historical situation in which it was written?  Is it poetry, history, allegory, a song, a sermon, an expository treatise, or something else?  What was the original language and what special characteristics does that impart to the meaning of the text? 

Unusual Christian Places: Lexington Ice Center Miniature Golf

Lexington Ice Center Miniature Golf  in Lexington, Kentucky (USA) is described by Entertainmentdesigner.com  as “a mini-golf course God himself would be proud of. … we consider it kooky and memorable enough to make the top ten”

The complex is built around an ice skating/hockey rink to which has been added three 18-hole biblically themed miniature golf courses.  The three themes are : the New Testament, the Old Testament, and the Miracles course.  The individual holes are each based on a verse or passage of scripture, such as Jonah and the Whale, Mount Sinai, or the River of Blood.  

For those unfamiliar with miniature golf, it is usually played on short themed putting tracks which incorporate odd angles, obstacles, and themed characters or objects placed along the course.  At one famed course in Florida (USA) there once was a giant monkey whose tail swept regularly in front of the hole.

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Update: 27 July 2026: YouTube seems to have removed or blocked the previously attached video clip.

Obedience

"... salvation apart from obedience is unknown in the sacred scriptures."  A.W. Tozer

The Arrangement of the Books of the New Testament

The order of books in the modern Bible shared by Protestants and Catholics has the Gospels first (plus Acts, written by Luke), followed by the letters of Paul (listed by descending length of the text), then books written by others (Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2,and 3 John, etc), capped at the end by the Book of Revelation.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

This is a convenient arrangement, and really, the arrangement has always been artificial.  The scholars who made the list collected all the known books and letters used by the Christian ἐκκλησία, rejected some, and set the order that we still use.  They did not have the benefit of 2000 years of discussion and study about the internal evidences used to deduce the dates.  Also, their main concern was about which books should be included and which should not.

The probable order in which the books and letters were written is different from the listing above.  The list below is by the probable dates of composition of the works.

Galatians               49

1 Thessalonians    51

2 Thessalonians    51

Philippians            55

1 Corinthians        55

2 Corinthians        56

Romans                57

Ephesians             58-59

Luke                     ca 58-67

Colossians            60-62

Philemon              60-62

Acts                      60-64

Mark                     62-70.

James                    62

1 Peter                  64-95

1 Timothy            65

Hebrews              65

2 Timothy            66

Titus                    66

Matthew              before 70

Jude                     80

Revelation           81-96

1 John                 90

2 John                 90

3 John                 90

John                    90-100

2 Peter                100-125

Biblical Sources of Phrases in Common Use: Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone

In two places in the Bible, Jesus is recorded as saying that "Man shall not live by bread alone ..."  We have more than merely physical needs.  Jesus said it, but he was quoting from the scriptures.

"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

"And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke 4:4

"And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Definitions: Exegesis and Eisegesis

All of the numerous approaches involved in biblical interpretation actually reduce down to two; exegesis and eisegesis.  These are not actually hard concepts to understand when you look into the etymology of the words involved.  Etymology is just a fancy word for the study of word origins.  The origin of the word "etymology" is from Greek, meaning "true word."

The word "eisogesis," from the Greek "to lead into," means to carry a preconceived meaning into the biblical text and then looking for proofs.  I think that many systematic theologies make this error, forcing their conclusions into the text rather than letting the text speak for itself.   Examples are Marxist, feminist, capitalist, extreme Calvinist, extreme Arminian, historical, New Age, social justice, liberation, and many cultic theologies.  These suspect theologies tend to ignore any biblical texts which don't fall into line with the point they are trying to make.  Often Bible verses are quoted entirely out of context and sometimes only a portion of the verse is quoted.  In modern terms, think "cut and paste."

"Exegesis" (from Greek words meaning "to lead out;" reading theology out from the biblical text; letting the text speak for itself) while praying for illumination by the Holy Spirit is the preferred method.  Any doctrinal statement in this method of interpretation must be consistent with the totality of scripture and should take into account the original intention of the text rather than our modern concerns.

Book Comment: If the Church Were Christian, Chapter 1, Part 4

If you are joining this book review series mid-stream , you can read the comments from the beginning by going to the LABELS section following the last post on this page and clicking on PHILIP GULLEY.


If the Church Were Christian. Chapter 1, Part 4; in a chapter by chapter series of posts in response to the book by Pastor Philip Gulley. Chapter One: Jesus Would Be a Model for Living Rather Than an Object of Worship.


The reason Pastor Gulley and others of his persuasion question the divinity of Jesus is that their primary source for interpretation is not scripture, but human reason and the wisdom of Christ is folly to man.


To Pastor Gulley, most Christians spend so much time worshipping Jesus ("believers") that they forget to follow His example ("followers"). This is a valid criticism but the question has already been resolved. James and Paul went round and round about it, coming at it from different angles and arriving at essentially the same conclusion. Both were correct. We are saved by faith ("believers") and not by works; faith without works ("followers") is dead. One without the other is deficient.

On the Human Knowledge of Christ, Part 2

      "Unless he was human to the lowest depths of his conscious and unconscious life, he was not truly human at all." John Knox said this and then went on to declare that we can't really say that Jesus was sinless without separating him from true manhood.  If, in any respect, even in sinning, Jesus did not share with us , he only seemed to be human.

     Aside from rejecting the idea that Jesus ever sinned (see Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15), I must also quarrel with Knox on another point.  He seems to take the viewpoint that sin is an attribute of human nature.  An attribute is an essential characteristic of a thing or person which cannot be altered  and still have the one to which it is attributed remain the same person or thing.

     Sin is not an attribute of human nature.  It is a gangrene attacking human nature; it is not essential to it.  Jesus, in His life, showed for all time that it is possible to be sinless and fully human at the same time.

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     The question of Jesus' human knowledge has been presented as have been several possible approaches to the discussion.  IT would now be fruitful to begin our study by examining several possible sources of Jesus' human knowledge, for the time being ignoring and supernatural source.

     P. J. Temple says that there were three major sources of knowledge open to every Israelite; cultural traditions, nature, and the Scriptures.  It is obvious from His actions and His teachings that Jesus was intimately familiar with the Law and the Prophets, the Psalms, and Daniel.

     At least one scholar, the Unitarian theologian, Charles Francis Potter, makes much larger claims for Jesus' education.  He feels that Jesus obviously knew classical Hebrew and the commonly spoken Aramaic as well as the surrounding culture's Koine Greek.

     With this supposed knowledge of Greek "Jesus could ransack some of the chief depositories of religious books in Galilee.  These repositories were in the private houses of well-to-do people, in the meeting places of various religious circles or sects whose books were held in common, as well as in the synagogues."  Potter comes to dubious conclusion; Jesus became an Essene from studying their literature and that Christianity is an Essene sect.

Stasis

      Everyone, especially Christians, needs to learn something new each day. If you're not learning and growing, you become static and eventually dormant.  Stasis implies not moving, not changing, just like a stone or a weight.  Christians should be learning daily about living the Christ-filled life through prayer, meditation, and Bible study.  They also need to work to increase their knowledge of current events, science, the arts, grammar, philosophy, history, politics, and other subjects. Christians should take a back seat to no one intellectually.  Three verses of scripture are especially relevant here:

     A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels.  Proverbs 1:5 (KJV)

     But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and ... be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you of a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.  1 Peter 3:15

     For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  Hebrews 5:13-14

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     Something to learn today: why did I use "needs" instead of "need" in the first paragraph?