Early Life of Jesus

I had read and always assumed that James, brother of Jesus was younger than Jesus, but have recently read that Catholics believe that Mary was always a virgin. What about Jesus’ other brothers and sisters. Were they a product of a former marriage of Joseph. Are there any books that discuss the early life of Jesus, or times that he spent with the Essenes? Thank you, Marla Rasnick The Catholics are mistaken about Jesus’ mother being a perpetual virgin; the Gospel records teach otherwise. Please visit the articles below for a fuller answer to that question. https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2003/oct/page18.htm https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/1999/may/page14.shtml#sin https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/1999/jun/page5.shtml https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2004/jan/page4.htm https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2004/may/page7.htm https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2005/dec/page15.htm The Bible says nothing of any “former marriage of Joseph.” The only authoritative book on the “early life of Jesus” is the Bible (especially the Gospel records). Frankly, not much about the early life of Jesus appears in the Bible excepting his birth and later his visit to the Temple at the age of 12. The next 18 years of Jesus’ life are summarized thus: “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:51-52). Further, there is neither biblical nor extra-biblical evidence that Jesus ever spent time with the Essenes, which Jewish sect is not directly mentioned in the Bible at all. However, Jesus may have censured the Essenes through contradicting one of their popular doctrines. …

Praying Loudly (Shouting) in Worship

Obviously, a man leading a public prayer should pray loudly enough that those who are assembled with him and on whose behalf he is praying can adequately hear the prayer. How else could they acknowledge the appropriateness of and express their agreement with the prayer by saying “Amen”? A pray would be indiscernible not only if it were spoken in a language the hearer did not understand, but also if it were spoken quietly enough that the hearer could not make out the words (1 Corinthians 14:16). Certainly, lacking a public address system, one would need to speak more loudly than if a public address system were available. However, purposely making a spectacle or unnecessary show while praying by shouting (praying much more loudly than required for the circumstances) is another matter. Scribes in Jesus’ day were condemned by our Lord for their showmanship while making public prayers; maybe loud, their prayers were also unnecessarily “long.” Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.” (Luke 20:46-47) One should pray loudly enough and for the right purpose. More than that is not authorized by Holy Scripture.

Conservative and Liberal

A reader inquires about “conservative” and “liberal” members of the churches of Christ. Really, nothing has changed since the first century when the New Testament was penned. The New Testament was penned largely to address problems among Christians in the first century. In the first century, so-called “liberal” Christians were loosing what God had not loosed and making their own church laws. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. (Colossians 2:18) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. (Col 2:21-23) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing …

Word Wisdom

Much of the diversity of beliefs, radical extremism or liberalism, division, etc. have arisen because of the wisdom of man inserted into the Gospel of Christ. Paul faced this problem early on in the church of Christ in Corinth, and he wrote, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect” (1 Corinthians 1:17). What is “wisdom of words” (word wisdom), that it could nullify the purpose and effect of the cross? A perfect example of “word wisdom” and its cross-nullifying effect is noted in Acts 15:24 and this written statement: “…we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law…’” The “unsettling words” in this case was the word wisdom of false brethren who wrested the Scripture, lifting words out of their scriptural context to bind what they in their wisdom thought ought to be inserted into the Gospel of Christ. In so doing, they nullified the effect of the cross of Christ, causing their auditors to fall from grace (cf. Galatians 5:2-4). The big battle in which the church of Christ in Corinth was engaged was to stop the word wisdom of the philosophers of their day from becoming entrenched in the all-sufficient Gospel of Christ and having the same effect as the word wisdom of the Judaizing teachers in the …

I Know That’s What the Bible Says, But Don’t You Think…?

Part Two In follow-up to the article in January 2006, several more commonly asked questions about God and his word will be addressed. We live in a world that is bombarded daily with teachings and philosophies based on the commandments and doctrines of men. However, the bottom line is, whether we believe it or not, whatever the Bible says on any issue–that settles it! “I know what the Bible says about hell, but don’t you think hell is the grave?” What does the Bible, the Word of God, say? “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15). That settles it! “I know what the Bible says about truth, but don’t you think truth is relative because truth cannot really be known?” What does the Bible, the Word of God, say? “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160). “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). That settles it! “I know what the Bible says about righteous living, but don’t you think situation ethics dictate morality?” What does the Bible, the Word of God, say? “Do you not …

Who Is Your Pastor?

This writer once heard a prominent “religious” radio personality quote from Ephesians 4:11 in this fashion, “And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastor-teachers.” His quotation did not accurately reflect what is written. The final three words of this text are “pastors and teachers” (poimenas kai didaskalous), not “pastor-teachers.” What he was attempting to do was to read into the passage something which he already believed and practiced. Having already accepted for himself the title of “pastor,” and being likewise a “teacher,” he combined the two–not to make sense of the passage, but to reflect the modern blend of the pastor/preacher concept. Therefore, the true meaning of “pastor” (along with its distinction from the other terms in the passage) was lost due to a common misconception (a.k.a., a false tradition, Matthew 15:3; Colossians 2:8), of affixing the title “pastor” to anyone who stands behind a lectern or pulpit with a Bible in hand. In the most widely accepted translations of Scripture, the English noun “pastor” is only used once, in the above mentioned passage (Ephesians 4:11). However, it is also translated–when used as a verb–by the word “feed” (poimainein, Acts 20:28; poimanate, 1 Peter 5:2). In this instance, it is often connected–by men like Jesus, Luke, Paul and Peter–to plural noun forms (poimnion, poimne), translated “flock” (cf. Matthew 26:31; Luke 2:8; 1 Corinthians 9:7). So the primary New Testament use of this Greek term reflects the familiar word picture of a Palestinian …

Is God Dead?

Back in the 1960’s, American Protestantism became totally confused when T.J.J. Altizer of Emory University announced that God is dead. Many Evangelicals around the nation went ballistic and responded in all kinds of ways, some honorable and some strange. Having read Dr. Altizer’s book, we are not so sure he meant what people thought he meant. However, whatever he meant, Americans, for the most part, are now living as if God were dead. One regularly reads articles from the hands of various Evangelicals in which they call their own churches, or other churches, to task for not being what they once were. They throw charges and counter charges at one another regarding the inspiration of the Scriptures, ordaining homosexual ministers, of both sexes and many other issues that seem to be tearing them apart rather than giving them solidarity. In the 1960s, at the behest of certain immoral gurus, American youth turned to Zen, drugs, sex and New Age to take the place of God, and these things have now done that to the point that we have reared a generation of people who practice, what one observer called “anonymous Christianity,” which resulted in many church buildings that were once packed with worshipers now stand mostly empty, trying all sorts of bizarre things to attract people who are no longer interested, because for them, God is dead. In the place of the Gospel of Christ, men have substituted a social welfare Gospel trying to build new houses, new neighborhoods and …

An Unequal Yoke

For the first several years of my preaching life, I refused to perform a marriage ceremony with one person who was a member of the body of Christ and another who was not. Second Corinthians 6:14 says, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?” A more intensive study of God’s Word and an unfruitful effort to solve some intellectual or theological problems created by that position made me modify my position somewhat. Part of my problem was that it seemed unreasonable to me for a Gospel preacher to take a position that it is sinful for a person to get into a relationship, but not sinful to stay in that same relationship. Yet, I could find no Scripture authorizing persons who were in that kind of relationship to divorce. I did find one that instructed them to abide in it (1 Corinthians 7:13). It is not our purpose to deal in depth with that aspect of the question at this time. Having considered this passage for over 40 years, we suggest that many make a mistake in their exegesis of it because they apparently overlooked the force of the expression “unequally yoked.” Some say the passage had no reference to marriage at all; others say it means not to get married to an unbeliever. We believe both to be wrong, unless the first concept means, “It was not talking directly or solely about marriage.” This word heterozugountes, …

007 in Dothan

A Frustrated Sovereign Scripture describes it as attempted guerilla warfare. Ben-hadad tried to carry out a series of assaults against the citizens of Israel (2 Kings 6:8). “Tried” is the operative word, because every time the king of Syria sent out a war party in ambush, he found enemy troops inexplicably guarding the camp he had intended to capture (vv. 8-10). The inspired text says this happened “not just once or twice”(NKJV), but that Ben-hadad’s plans were foiled repeatedly. The monarch came to the conclusion that there was either (a) a spy, or at the very least, (b) an intelligence leak within his own war cabinet. Somebody was obviously “feeding” Jehoram, his Israelite counterpart, information, so he summoned his military counsel together in an effort to expose the traitor (vv. 11-12). Ben-hadad inquired, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” (v. 11b). As it turned out, no one from Syria had disclosed the king’s plans. The informant was actually Elisha, the prophet from Israel, in HIS (God’s) Majesty’s secret service. Like a character from a James Bond movie, the man of God had a divine “surveillance camera” (cf. Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; Zechariah. 4:10) in the king’s bedchamber and was therefore privy to his most secret conversations (v. 12). Every strategy concocted within Ben-hadad’s heart was revealed to Elisha by God who, in turn, conveyed such to the Israelite king in Samaria. Armed with this new information, Ben-hadad turned his attention away from attacking a nation to capturing an individual (v. …

Does the Old Testament Promise a Future Life?

If one restricts himself to some verses of the Old Testament, he could reasonably conclude that no future life beyond the grave is taught, for “man has no preeminence above the beasts” (Ecclesiastes 3:19). Human beings and “the beasts that perish” are equal (Psalm 49:12, 20). Both people and animals “all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again” (Ecclesiastes 3:20; cf. Genesis 3:19). But there is something in a human that the above Old Testament verses do not mention, something that does not “turn to dust” when he dies. That something, invisible, intangible, unweighable, is called man’s “spirit” (Isaiah 57:16) or “soul” (Leviticus 17:11). “As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all” ( Ecclesiastes 11: 5). All you know is that God “forms” ( yasar, as a potter) “the spirit” within the embryo (Zechariah 12:1). The prophet Samuel “died” and was “buried” at Ramah (1 Samuel 25:1). But the spirit that God had formed within his embryonic self in Hannah’s womb, being immortal, had not died (Matthew 22:32)! And, in his case, his spirit, his soul, returned from the spirit-world and had a conversation with King Saul (1 Samuel 28:8-19). This information, that the spirits (souls) of people are alive and conscious after the death of their bodies, helps us to understand that when an Old Testament …

A Noble People

In Acts 17:11 (ASV), we read; “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica.” Why would such a statement be made regarding the people of Beroea? What is involved in being noble? One definition of the word ‘noble’ is. “having or showing high moral qualities or ideals, or greatness of character; lofty” (Webster’s Dictionary). This understanding has nothing to do with one’s birth or ancestry. This is dealing with the moral fiber of an individual. There are many noble people from various backgrounds simply because they possess a worthy heart that is honest, fair, understanding and receptive to new and lofty ideals. The same writer that declared the people in Beroea noble also informs us why he did so. In the remainder of Acts 17:11 we read “that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The first important ingredient in one’s being noble is to possess an open heart, a receptive mind. That is basically what Luke means when he wrote that the people “received the word with all readiness of mind.” There is a great need today for people to be intellectually honest with themselves and the Word of God. A person may be honest in his dealings with others yet refuse to have that integrity of heart that is needed to receive the teachings of God. It is easier sometimes to be fair and honest in business dealings than to be open-minded when it comes to a …

Chased or Chaste?

Warmer months are quickly approaching, and with the warm weather comes the challenge of modesty. I’m not going to lecture or give you my “opinion.” I don’t want to set your standards for you, and tell you what you can or cannot wear. All I want to do is ask you to read God’s Word and then answer a question. First, God’s Word. Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14). Thou shalt not covet your neighbor’s wife (Exodus 20:17). Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Flee youthful lust (2 Timothy 2:22). Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14). Thou shalt not covet your neighbor’s wife (Exodus 20:17). Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Flee youthful lust (2 Timothy 2:22). Possess your vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passionate lusts (1 Thessalonians 4:4-5). Women should dress in modest apparel, dress that professes one’s godliness (1 Timothy 2:9-10).  Let us resolve not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way (Romans 14:13). Now then, the question. Does the way you dress cause the opposite sex to think you are “chaste,” or does it cause them to think you want to be “chased?” Honest self-evaluation, virtue and an unrelenting desire to be pleasing …

When to Remember and When to Forget

“Proper equipment in life demands a good memory, likewise the ability to forget” (N.B. Hardeman, Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 3). We do not always exercise our memories in ways that are best suited to our best development spiritually. We forget those things we should remember and we treasure up those things we should let fly. Someone wrote: Forget each kindness that you do as soon as you have done it; Forget the praise that falls to you the moment you have won it; Forget the slander that you hear before you repeat it; Forget each slight, each spite, each sneer where ever you may meet it. Remember every kindness done to you, whate’er the measure; Remember praise by others won, and pass it on with pleasure; Remember every promise made and keep it to the letter; Remember those who lend you aid and be a grateful debtor; Remember all the happiness that comes your way in living; Forget each worry and distress, be hopeful and forgiving; Remember good, remember truth, remember heaven’s above you, And you will find, through age and youth that many hearts will love you. I sit beside my lonely fireAnd pray for wisdom yet:For calmness to rememberOf courage to forget.-Charles Hamilton Aide

A Dove, an Eagle and a Net

One of the ways that people in Old Testament times hunted for doves was with other birds. They would use falcons or eagles to chase the dove. The falcon or eagle was trained to chase the dove in a certain direction. The hunter would have nets ready. When the dove came close, the hunter would throw the net in the air and catch the dove. In Hosea 7:11 through Hosea 8:1, we get a picture of such hunting. But in these verses, God is talking about how he will punish Israel. He says Israel is like the dove without heart. ‘Heart’ is a word for understanding. So Israel is without understanding of what is about to happen to it. He says when Israel goes, he will spread his net and catch it. In 8:1, God says he will come upon Israel like an eagle. He will fly rapidly down upon them and chase them into the nets he has prepared for them. In 7:13, God says Israel ‘fled’ from him. The word ‘fled’ is a Hebrew word which was used for the rapid fluttering of a bird’s wings. It was used to describe a flock of birds wildly flying in every direction when surprised by danger. Israel would fly from God as he came down upon them like an eagle. But, they would be caught by his nets. We learn from other books of the Bible that the northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive by other nations. Great numbers …

Elijah and the Ravens

Elijah was one of the great prophets of God. We are introduced to Elijah in 1 Kings Chapter Seventeen. God was displeased with Israel. King Ahab was very wicked. In fact, in 1 Kings 16:30, we are told that he was wicked “above all that were before him.” Elijah is sent by God to tell Ahab that there would be no rain for several years. Then, God tells Elijah to go and hide himself by the brook Cherith, which is near the river Jordan. God tells him that he has commanded ravens to feed him while he is there. We are told in verse six of Chapter Seventeen that the ravens bring Elijah bread and flesh in the morning and in the evening. Elijah was able to drink water from the brook until it dried up. It is interesting that God chose ravens to feed Elijah. According to Leviticus 11, ravens were unclean. They were not to be eaten. In Proverbs 30:17, ravens are depicted as eating the eyes of those that would mock their father and disobey their mother. The raven was a scavenger and thus was looked upon as an unclean animal. There is a possibility that God intended to say something by having ravens feed Elijah. There was a spiritual famine in Israel. God was making a physical famine by not allowing it to rain. God was demonstrating to Elijah that he is over all creation. He was demonstrating that those who follow him would get physical …

The Only Testament of Jesus Christ

Is there any new revelation from God available to mankind since the completion of the New Testament? Many sincere religious people answer, “Yes!” Are there modern-day prophets or apostles receiving new revelation from God in our time? Again, many people today believe God is still giving mankind new revelation. Is there “another testament of Jesus Christ”? One religious group advertises on television that they have “another testament of Jesus Christ.” Visiting various Scripture references quickly counters a popular denominational claim that there is “another testament of Jesus Christ” (and the additional claims of others respecting new revelation today) by emphasizing the finality of the New Testament revelation from God to man. Clearly, the answers to these questions lie within the pages of the Bible. Unfortunately though, most religious people today know so little of the Bible that they fail to distinguish the respective roles of the Old and New testaments. Further, many people know so little about the New Testament that they can neither implement it in their lives nor do they know if they should expect continual revelation from God, such as “another testament of Jesus Christ.” Yet, the Bible is not so difficult to understand or vague that one cannot discern between genuine revelation from God and pretended revelations from God. First, it is important to know the respective roles of the Old and New testaments. Second, it is imperative that one knows whether the New Testament is God’s final revelation to mankind. Fortunately, both the Old and New testaments provide …

The Strait Gate

Matthew 7:13-14 In this article, we hope to define the carefulness with which Christians need to purposely prepare for eternity. After all, no one will awake on eternity’s dawn to find that he or she accidentally arrived within heaven’s eternal refuge. Only those who with carefulness and purpose navigate successfully the obstacles and temptations of this sin-forlorn (Romans 5:12) and devil-ruled world (2 Corinthians 4:4) will achieve heaven hereafter. Hapless masses of humanity who wander through life aimlessly (or even obstinately, Jeremiah 6:16) will not experience God’s heaven. Our Lord Jesus Christ stated publicly in his Sermon on the Mount that comparatively few souls will pursue the narrow, difficult highway to heaven with enough determination to actually arrive within the confines of God’s eternal home (Matthew 7:13-14). Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 are a double statement of the futility of mortal man choosing for himself his own pathway through this life. Let’s consider Matthew 7:13 more carefully: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” First, we come to the phrase, “Enter ye in.” The Greek word for “in” at this place means “through.” “Enter ye in” is no mere mental assent, but actual activity, howbeit a physical illustration represents necessary spiritual activity to be saved. Next, we encounter an interesting word, “Strait.” This word is only used by Jesus, twice in Matthew 7:13-14 and once in Luke 13:24 on …

The Unknown God

Paul was traveling on his second missionary journey when he arrived in Athens around A.D. 54. The account we are about to study takes place on Mar’s Hill in Athens. Athens was the “seat of Greek literature and art during the golden period of Grecian history”(Rushmore 4). The Athenians were also known for their great interest in worshiping gods (Rushmore 4). The altar to which Paul is referring when he makes his speech is probably just one of the several altars with the same inscription (Rushmore 4). In Acts 17:22, Paul began his speech by accusing the Athenians of being “too superstitious.” The word “superstitious” properly means “reverence for the gods.” In a positive sense, it denotes a suitable fear and reverence for the gods, while a negative sense indicates an excessive dread of anger from the gods (Barnes’). Whether or not one looks at the word “superstitious” in a positive or negative light, it is preceded by the word “too.” This word indicates an abundant amount of that superstition. Paul was simply stating that the Athenians had an excessive amount of reverence and fear for their gods. Paul reached the above conclusion by perceiving and beholding the numerous altars and the religious actions of the Athenians. The word “perceived” in 17:22 indicates that he came to a conclusion based on evidence (Barnes’). The word “beheld” in 17:23 means that he “looked again” or “considered” what he saw (Biblesoft’s). Their “devotions” were their acts of worship (Biblesoft’s). Undoubtedly, he noticed their varying …

A Way of Life

Christianity hasn’t become important enough to any Christian who has not made the practice of Christianity a way of life. Christianity is not some social club with which a person can innocently amuse himself from time to time, when he feels like it. For instance, if one’s Christianity is only vibrant on those occasions he congregates for worship and assembles for Bible classes with other Christians, then his Christianity has no practical application in his life, and will not transport him from this habitation to an eternal heaven with God. For one’s Christianity to be of much use in this life and respecting preparation for eternity, it must be the driving force, the overriding principle and the single-mindedness that governs one’s every waking moment. Truly, one fully converted is no longer the person he or she once was, but the Christian is one whose life has been transformed into something that it was not formerly (Romans 12:2). To be “conformed” is to be fashioned like something else, but to be “transformed” is to become something else. The Greek word for “transformed” in Romans 12:2 is metamorphoo, from which we have the English word metamorphose, which describes the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. When Christianity becomes a way of life with a person, he will not argue with the Lord who bought him with his life’s blood (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 6:20), but will do what he says without quibbling (Luke 6:46). When Christianity becomes a way of life with a person, he …