Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 35 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and five amazing great grandchildren. He has written several books, including two that are available on Amazon - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles.

Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Genesis 17

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highy significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

Here is an another example. The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which I like the best. It is available in print or as part of Logos Bible Software.

Septuagint MT Significance

1 Abram became ninety-nine years old, and the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am your God. Be pleasing in my presence and be blameless, 2 and I will establish my covenant between me and you, and I will increase you very much.” 3 And Abram fell on his face, and God spoke to him, saying, 4 “And as for me, look, my covenant is with you, and you will be a father of many nations. 5 And your name will no longer be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, because I have made you a father of many nations. 6 And I will increase you very much, and I will make you into nations, and kings will come from you. 7 And I will set up my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, for their generations, as an ongoing covenant, to be your God and your offspring’s God after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land that you inhabit, all the land of Canaan, as an ongoing possession, and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:1–8 (LES2)

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:1–8 (NKJV)

In verse one, the MT uses YHVH, the tetragrammaton, for “Lord;” whereas, the LXX sticks with the Greek kurios or Lord. Then the MT uses El Shaddai, translated as Almighty God, but the LXX simply uses theos, God. In the Kabbalah, El Shaddai has various meanings, primarily being that this “being” said, “Enough,” limiting God with respect to mankind, which is not able to understand Ein Sof, the transcendent God. It is a name associated with breasts, which brings up a suspicious connection with Baphomet, a transgender “god” which is highly regarded by Satanists. I find it highly instructive that Jesus, the one closest to God the Father, gave us no other name than Abba Father. It seems like he should know. What do you think? Do you think he wants us debating the proper pronunciation of YHVH, like so many do, as if that is even important. The devil is trying to draw people into Kabbalistic magical thinking in which saying names correctly unleashes occult power.

Modern Hebrew was created well after the Torah was given to Moses, who wrote it in paleo-Hebrew, a pictograph script similar to Phoenician. While in Babylon, the Rabbis began to assimilate aspects of Babylonian mysticism and paganism, as evidenced in the Babylonian Talmud and the Kabbalah. By the time of Christ, Jesus’ judgment of Talmudic rabbinic Judaism was that its leaders were children of the devil (John 8:44) who were leading the people astray from God (Luke 11:52, Matthew 23:15). Modern rabbinic Judaism uses three primary books, which are, in order of importance to them, the Talmud, the Kabbalah, and the Torah. It is a far cry from what Moses and the early Israelites believed and practiced.

Since the oldest translation of the ancient Hebrew scriptures is the LXX, and it contains no references to the tetragrammaton and other Hebrew names of God, we should be very wary of Kabbalistic influences in the MT. To support this assertion, Jesus gave us no other name for God than the Greek words theos (God) and kurios (Lord) and Abba (Father). Of course, being trinitarian, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are included, too. It is my contention that anything beyond this is not from God. The modern fad of trying to ascertain the proper translation of YHVH is a Kabbalistic lure. There is nothing magical about that name.

In the rest of this passage, the LXX and MT essentially agree. Again, it is important to understand that the word translated as “offspring” and “descendants” is the Greek word sperma, which is singular, as is the Hebrew zera in the MT. In Galatians 3:16, Paul taught that the “seed” is Christ. A New Testament understanding of this truth is that the generation of descendants to whom this promise was made are those born again through faith who are in Christ through the New Covenant.

9 And God said to Abraham, “You will maintain my covenant, you and your offspring after you, for their generations. 10 And this is the covenant that you will maintain between me and you and your offspring after you for their generations: Every male of yours will be circumcised, 11 and you will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Genesis 17:9–11 (LES2) 

9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Genesis 17:9–11 (NKJV) 

The LXX and MT essentially agree, except that the MT uses yet another name for God, elohim, which is a plural. When I thought the MT was our best Old Testament source translated directly from the original paleo-Hebrew, not something concocted centuries later, I thought this was a veiled allusion to the Trinity. Now I am suspicious. The Kabbalah teaches that elohim, which is associated with God’s judgment, limits or conceals God’s (Ein Sof’s) infinite light. 

The LXX sticks with theos – God. How refreshing, especially in light of the New Testament.

12 And a young boy of eight days will be circumcised by you, every male for your generations, the home-born servant of your house and the one purchased from any son of a foreigner who is not of your offspring. 13 The home-born servant of your house and the one purchased will be circumcised with a circumcision, and my covenant will be upon your flesh as an ongoing covenant. 14 And an uncircumcised male who does not have the flesh of his foreskin circumcised on the eighth day, that soul will be utterly destroyed from his family because he has rejected my covenant.” Genesis 17:12–14 (LES2)

12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” Genesis 17:12–14 (NKJV) 

 I see very little difference here.

15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai, your wife, her name will be called not Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and I will give you a child from her, and I will bless him, and he will give rise to nations, and there will be kings of nations from him.” 17 And Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said in his mind, saying, “Will a son really be born to someone a hundred years old, and how will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Let this Ishmael live before you.” 19 God said to Abraham, “Yes, look, Sarah, your wife, will bring forth a son for you, and you shall call his name Isaac, and I will set up my covenant with him as an ongoing covenant, and for his offspring after him. Genesis 17:15–19 (LES2) 

15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” 19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. Genesis 17:15–19 (NKJV) 

The most significant difference is that the LXX, in verse 16, says “I will bless him;” whereas, the MT says, “I will bless her.”  See bold text. 

Once again, keep in my that “offspring” and “descendants” are plurals, but the original word is singular – seed, referring to Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

20 Regarding Ishmael, look, I have listened to you, and I have blessed him, and I will make him increase, and I will multiply him very much. He will bring forth twelve nations, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bring forth for you at this time, in another full year.” 22 He finished speaking to him, and God went up from Abraham. Genesis 17:20–22 (LES2)

20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. Genesis 17:20–22 (NKJV) 

The LXX says that Ishmael will beget twelve nations. The MT says 12 princes. 

I think it is quite interesting, in light of biblical cosmology, that God went “up” from Abraham after speaking to him. 

The MT uses elohim for God, but the LXX sticks with theos.

23 And Abraham took Ishmael, his son, and all his servants and all the ones purchased with silver and every male of the men who were in the house of Abraham, and he circumcised their foreskins at the appointed time of that day, just as God told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin; 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 At the appointed time of that day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son; 27 and as for all the men of his house and the servants and those bought with silver from foreign nations, he circumcised them. Genesis 17:23–27 (LES2) 

23 So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; 27 and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him. Genesis 17:23–27 (NKJV) 

 The only thing to point out here is the MT use of elohim for God again.

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

More articles on the Septuagint
Share this post...

The Genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11

Septuagint

The startling difference between the MT and LXX is clearly revealed in the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11. 

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highy significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

Here is an another example. The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which I like the best. It is available in print or through Logos Bible Software.

Septuagint MT Significance

1 This is the book of the generation of humans on the day when God made Adam, he made him according to the image of God. 2 He made them male and female. He blessed them, and he named their name Adam on the day when he made them. 3 Adam lived two hundred and thirty years and fathered a child according to his appearance and according to his image, and he named his name Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were seven hundred years, and he fathered sons and daughters. 5 And all the days of Adam that he lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. Genesis 5:1–5 (LES2) 

If we continue to compare these genealogies, we will discover that the MT removed a total of 1300 years from the LXX.

1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. 3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died. Genesis 5:1–5 (NKJV) —

The LXX says that this is book of the genesis (Greek) of men – Greek: anthropos. That is different wording entirely. Hopefully you care about that sort of thing. The LXX uses an active verb – “he made them;” whereas, the MT uses a passive one – “they were created.” 

Here the MT shaves 100 years off of when he fathered Seth. Barry Setterfield gave reasons for this in one of his articles on the Septuagint. Below is a summary.

Therefore, the summary of the answer to your question is this: the basic reason why the Council of Jamnia changed the chrono-genealogies in Genesis 5 and 11 was to bolster Akiba’s traditions about Noah being the Second Adam and Shem being Melchizedek. In order to do this exactly, Akiba had to omit 600 years from Genesis 5 and 700 years from Genesis 11. He had the precedent of the Samaritan Pentateuch to back him up since the Samaritans had changed their text of Genesis 5 in a similar way in order to accommodate a strange tradition that they held, so he felt he could act in a similar way.

It should be obvious that the motivation would be to destroy Paul’s claim that Jesus is the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:47) and the argument in Hebrews that Melchisadek was a type of Christ. (Hebrews 7:20-22)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
     
     
     

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

More articles on the Septuagint
Share this post...

Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Genesis 15

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highy significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

Here is an another example. The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which I like the best. It is available in print or through Logos Bible Software.

Septuagint MT Significance

1 After these words, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am shielding you. Your reward will be very abundant.” Genesis 15:1 (LES2)

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1 (NKJV) 

The MT changes “After these words (rhema)” to after these things. This many not seem significant, but any translator who feels free to substitute a different word, perhaps with good intentions, is not a trustworthy servant of God. God said it the way he meant for us to read it. Secondly, the LXX using a present tense verb to describe God’s active protection of Abram and a future tense verb to promise a great reward. This very different from identifying God as permanently being those two things.

It has become apparent to me that the MT translators, having been expelled from their ancient land and having no temple, used the MT to lay a theological groundwork for their still being God’s chosen people with a title to the land, something Zionist supported Dispensational Theology would later teach in contradiction to long accepted covenant theology, which gave rise to Christian Zionism and the fusion of US foreign policy with that of modern Israel.

2 Abram said, “Master and Lord, what will you give me? I am departing childless, except for the son of Masek, my house servant, this Eliezer of Damascus.” 3 And Abram said, “Since you have not given to me offspring, my house servant will be my heir.” 4 And at once the voice of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, rather one who will come from you, he will be your heir. 5 He led him outside and said to him, “Look up now to the heavens and count the stars, if you can count them.” And he said, “Your offspring will be like this.” 6 And Abram trusted God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:2–6 (LES2)

2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:2–6 (NKJV)

The first thing we see is how Abram addressed God. The LXX says, “Master (despotes) and Lord (kurios).” The MT uses the Hebrew names Adonai and YHWH, which are never used in the LXX. Some think these names came to be emphasized when the Babylonian occult Kabbalah gained wide acceptance in Rabbinic Judaism, a position it still occupies today in modern Judaism. Jesus taught us to address God as Abba, Father. He gave us no other name. We should beware using MT names for God in my opinion.

Secondly, the MT replaces “depart” with “go.” Once again, this seemingly innocuous change reveals a looseness with God’s Word that is not good. Depart emphasizes Abraham’s coming death; whereas, go indicates merely his present status. Also, the MT leaves out Masek’s name for some reason.

Thirdly, the MT changes “come from you” to “come from your own body.” Another minor change that, when added together with countless others, makes me increasingly leery of the MT.

I am not sure why the MT leaves out the word “up” when God told Abraham to look toward heaven. The Up-Down aspect of theology is significant and is repeated all the way through the New Testament. Perhaps the MT thought it was obvious that “up” was implied, but why leave out a word inspired by the Holy Spirit? 

In both the LXX and MT, the singular “seed” is translated as descendants, which is translator’s bias in operation. Although, “seed” implies its multiplication into many, the singular aspect of the Word is emphasized by Paul when he wrote that the seed is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) By changing “seed” to “descendants,” it makes it more difficult to see this wonderful Christological truth.

Genesis 15:6 is directly quoted by Paul from the LXX in Romans 4:3. Thankfully the MT agrees with the LXX here.

7 And he said to him, “I am the God who brought you out of the territory of Chaldeans to give you this land to inherit.” 8 He said, “Master, Lord, how will I know that I will inherit it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer and a three-year-old goat and a three-year-old ram and a turtledove and a pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these and divided them down the middle and set them facing one another, but he did not divide the birds. 11 Birds came down on the carcasses, the halves, and Abram sat down with them. 12 About sunset, a trance fell on Abram, and look, a great dark fear fell upon him. 13 And it was said to Abram, “Knowing, you will know that your offspring will be foreign in a land not its own, and they will afflict it, and they will enslave them, and they will humble them for four hundred years. 14 I will judge the nation that they serve; after these things they will come out here with much baggage. 15 You will depart to your ancestors with peace, after growing to a good old age. 16 The fourth generation, they will be brought back here; for the sins of the Amorites have not yet become enough.” Genesis 15:7–16 (LES2)

7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” 8 And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” 9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Genesis 15:7–16 (NKJV) 

The MT changes “territory” to “Ur.” Once again, as mentioned above, Abram uses “Master” and “Lord” to address God in the LXX, but Adonai and YHVH in the MT. According the New Testament, the approved way of addressing God, according to Christ, is “Abba” or “Father.” Any emphasis on using other Hebrew names for God is likely rooted in the Kabbalah.

The passage regarding dividing the animals is essentially the same.

In verse 11, the MT departs from the LXX by changing birds to vultures and replacing “Abram sat down with them” to “Abram drove them away.” Once again, we must ask ourselves if making the story sound better justifies changing divinely inspired words. As I get older, I have become more and more concerned with wanting to know exactly what it says.

In verse 12, the MT replaces “trance” or ekstasis in Greek with “deep sleep.” They seem like two very different things to me. Ekstasis is the same Greek word used in Acts 10:10 when Peter had the vision of a sheet lowered from heaven. He certainly was not in a “deep sleep.”

In verse 13, the MT leaves out “humble them.”

Verse 15 changes “growing to a good old age” to “buried at a good old age.” 

Verse 16 changes “enough” to “complete.” The meaning is very close but not exact.

17 When the sun approached the west, there was a flame and look, a smoking oven and torches of fire that went through between their divided parts. 18 God established a covenant with Abram in that place, saying, “I will give your offspring this land from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates; 19 the Kenites and the Kenizzites and the Kadmonites 20 and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaim and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Euaians and the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” Genesis 15:17–20 (LES2) 

17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” Genesis 15:17–21 (NKJV) 

“The sun approached the west” is different from “the sun went down.” The LXX wording is consistent with biblical cosmology. According to Psalm 19:6, the sun makes a circuit over the earth. 

The MT leaves out “there was a flame.” Why leave out this mysterious sentence? Just to make the text flow? The MT also changes “torches of fire” to the singular. Why? Preachers have made much over there being a single torch, but according to the LXX there were several.

In verse 18, the LXX says that God established a covenant “in that place,” but the MT says “on that day.” Why? The LXX says that God “will give your seed this land,” meaning it will eventually belong to Jesus, the promised one. The MT changes that to “have given,” which promotes the idea of a permanent possession, a dear claim for Zionists who want us to believe that Palestine still belongs to biological descendants of Abraham rather than to the seed, Christ. 

(Read “Five Ways Dispensationalism Opposes the New Covenant.”)

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

More articles on the Septuagint
Share this post...

Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Psalm 138:1-2

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highly significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

Here is an another example. The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which I like the best. It is available in print or through Logos Bible Software.

Masoretic Text Septuagint Significance

1 I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. 2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138:1–2 (NKJV)

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart, because you heard the words of my mouth; and before angels I will sing psalms to you. 2 I will worship at your holy temple, and I will give thanks to your name, for your mercy and your truthfulness, because you magnified your holy one above every name. Psalm 137:1–2 (LES2) 

A case can be made that the MT introduces Kabbalistic names of God into the text; whereas, the LXX sticks to Lord and God. This is significant in that it agrees with what Jesus taught us. He told us to address our God as Abba – Father or Daddy. Never once in the New Testament are we taught to use any of the MT names of God.

Secondly, David sings before angels rather than “gods” or “elohim.” 

Thirdly, and directly to the point of this article, verse two in the LXX is a Christological verse quoted by Paul in Philippians 2:9.

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11 (NKJV) 

By changing the MT text of Psalm 138:2, the rabbis removed this obvious reference to the risen and glorified Christ. Instead they gave us a confusing verse that makes no sense whatsoever and has been used by “name it and claim it” preachers to promote that false doctrine. God would never magnify his word above his name. Jesus is the Word made flesh. The Word and the Name are the same.

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

More articles on the Septuagint
Share this post...

Have We Sacrificed God’s Word to a False God?

nasa

In the early days of the Christian church an angel appeared to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, and told him, “Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.” (Acts 11:14) Not surprisingly, Cornelius immediately obeyed. Peter, with a group of men who accompanied him, visited Cornelius’ home, preached the words of the gospel to them, and watched somewhat dumbfounded as the Holy Spirit “fell upon” their listeners in the same way as had happened to the disciples in the upper room on Pentecost! As Jesus previously promised Peter, the Holy Spirit used that man to unlock the door of salvation to the Gentiles. A Jewish man, who had to be convinced by a vision repeated three times that he even was permitted to go into the home of a Gentile, was the one God used! God loves to use the most unlikely people to accomplish his will. Peter thought that salvation was for the Jews only, something that Jewish tradition steadfastly held and still does. But it was a lie. God’s purpose was always to include in his kingdom those from every people group. Peter, like many others, was reluctant to let go of such a dearly held belief that exalted his people, but once he did, he realized how much more glorious is the New Covenant compared to the old one. Paul showed how God’s promise of including the Gentiles went all the way back to Abraham. 

8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:8–9 (NKJV) 

When God opens our hearts to the truth of his Word, it can turn our lives upside down and bring down persecution upon us.

It certainly was so for Peter and the other disciples. Christ’s death and resurrection was the greatest story ever told. I could not be kept quiet. As those early disciples preached the good news, two things happened. Some believed and were saved. Others were incensed by the gospel and persecuted anyone who preached or believed it.

Truth brings division between those who love and receive it and those who hate and reject it.  

It is seldom easy for us to accept a new way of seeing things. We just naturally cling to our traditions and long held beliefs, even though they may be in error. That’s just part of what it means to be human. Jesus said:

39 “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’ ” Luke 5:39 (NASB95) 

When God restored the ancient truth of justification by faith during the Protestant Reformation, those steeped in the traditions and practices of the Roman Catholic Church reacted by persecuting those that promoted this new/old doctrine. When the Anabaptists took hold of the early Christian practice of believer baptism, those who held to the long accepted tradition of infant baptism, both Catholic and Protestant, persecuted, sometimes to death, those who held firmly to the new, yet old, way of baptizing people after they confess Christ is Lord.

Any time God restores truth to his church, we can be sure that the resistance will be fierce. 

Today we do not see persecution in the West regarding justification and believer baptism, but the fight for the restoration of old truth continues. There are other hotly contested issues presently before the church that divide people – abortion, LGTBQ+, Christian Zionism, and biblical cosmology, to list a few. Few in the early church had doubts about any of these hotly contested issues, but now they have become battlegrounds that require people to make a decision.

Truth, until it becomes commonly accepted, always causes conflict.

Mark Twain is reputed to have said, “It is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” Our pride finds it to becounterfeit quite difficult to admit we were conned. God did not deceive the Jews when he chose them for the glorious privilege of being his special people to receive his precious promises and be the bloodline for the coming Messiah. The Lord gave them plenty of hints that ultimately his plan was to save the world, not just the descendants of Abraham, but when we have a certain way of looking at things ingrained into us, it can be almost impossible to escape the power of that tradition. Today, despite the clear teachings of the New Testament to the contrary, many Christians have been deceived into believing that Jewish people are “God’s chosen people” just because of physical descent from Abraham. In the New Testament, there are no such distinctions. All that now matters is the new birth through faith in Christ, but old traditions die hard and tons of people refuse to let go of the lie of Christian Zionism.

It is sinful to adamantly cling to a lie when we are confronted by God’s truth, but we all are prone to it.

Only the Holy Spirit can set us free from powerful deceptions.

Simply by believing the words of life contained in the gospel message, Cornelius and his household were saved that day, which was confirmed by their speaking in tongues, an unmistakable sign of their having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Peter correctly reasoned that only born again children of God can receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13); therefore it became crystal clear to him that, in the New Covenant, God no longer makes a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. All that matters now is faith in Christ, which includes publicly acknowledging him as the risen Lord.

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV) 

Isn’t it amazing that we can be forgiven, made right in God’s eyes, receive eternal life, and become part of God’s family simply by believing words that come from God?

Believing what God says not only saves us but also greatly honors God. Disbelieving him is a betrayal of the very worst sort. It is the same as calling him a liar.

Therefore, believing God’s words is our highest calling and poses the greatest test we will ever face.

Adam and Eve failed to believe God when confronted by Satan’s clever lie. They did not pass the test, but now we have the opportunity to honor God by holding what he has spoken in the highest esteem, even in the face of the devil’s most convincing lies to the contrary. 

4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” Luke 4:4 (NKJV)

Jesus told us that we are to live by every single word that God has spoken. Not a single one is unimportant or can be discarded or rendered meaningless through artful manipulation.

Jesus reprimanded the Jews for doing just such a thing. (Mark 7:13) Yet, today many in the church practice the same sort of self-deception by changing the clear meaning of scripture to make it agree with a lie.

If we allow some other belief or criteria to determine how we understand and interpret the Bible, we have committed a form of idolatry.

The Holy Spirit inspired Moses to write Genesis. Chapter One describes the creation of the heavens and earth. Moses, the ancient Israelites, and the early church, including our Lord Jesus who created it all, believed the Genesis account to be literally true. But today, we prefer the theories developed by men who contradict the biblical account and have influenced God’s people to abandon the literal truth of the Word of God.

Anything that contradicts God’s Word is a lie by definition.

God did not hide the truth of his creation from his people so that later ungodly men could figure it out, proving that the Bible is false. Satan told Adam and Eve that God lied to them and was hiding the truth. He claims he can give us access to previously hidden (occult) knowledge that defies the Bible. He did it in the garden and repeated that ruse again through Copernicus, Newton, Einstein, Hawking, et al.  We should know his ways by now, but wordshuman beings fall for the same old tricks over and over. We desperately need a Savior and the Word of God!

God never authorized us to select which words of the Bible to believe and which to reject. Unless the context of a passage demands us to do so, we are not permitted to designate some verses as metaphorical only, phenomenological, or merely poetic. God regards us as his children. He would not lie to us.

God did not inspire words that have no credibility in the “real world.”

God never plays with words. He doesn’t use poetry to describe what he knows is not real. He uses poetry to reinforce and beautify the truth. He says what he means and means what he says. He never misleads us. He always speaks the truth, even when he employs poetry. Anyone who says otherwise is calling God a liar and trying to deceive us.

160 The beginning (Greek - arche) of your words is truth, and for eternity are all the judgments of your righteousness. Psalm 118:160 (LES2) [This is Psalm 119 in the MT]

1 In the beginning (Greek - arche) was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1–2 (NKJV) 

The beginning of God’s Word in the Bible is Genesis. God wants us to know that the first book of the Bible is the truth, not “just poetry” or phenomenological language that describes false appearances.

Try to imagine that we are obliged to trust without reservation a God who misleads us in the very first chapter of his book! God is not like that! We trust him because he is faithful and true always.

In the beginning, Jesus, the Word made flesh, was present as the Creator. (John 1:3) Our Lord Jesus said we are not permitted to “break” any word of God, meaning we have no authority to alter it in any way. (John 10:35) Only God has the right to tell us how to interpret his Word. There is no higher authority than the Holy Spirit when it comes to teaching us what it means.

It is a violation of the highest order to allow the devil or men or science so-called to dictate how the Scriptures must be interpreted. The Holy Spirit shows us how scripture interprets scripture.

The Bible proclaims that Jesus rose physically from the dead. It claims that his resurrected body later physically ascended into heaven, where he now sits on God’s throne, waiting for his Father to give him the “green light” to return to earth as the Judge of the living and the dead. That is quite a claim, isn’t it? It is every bit as “unbelievable” as the Genesis account of creation, the flood of Noah, the parting of the Red Sea, and the taking of Elijah physically into heaven. Yet, without hesitation, many of us ask people to believe that these gospel claims are 100% true, while at the same time waffling on the Genesis account’s truthfulness. What is wrong with us? Can we not see that if Genesis is not true, nothing is believable after that?

The devil laughs at such duplicity in the church. He and the atheists know that we don’t really believe the whole Bible after all, just the parts we like.

Every generation has its giants to confront and idols to smash. Moses had to face down Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. Joshua fought the Canaanites and the Anakim. David slew Goliath. Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and Jezebel. Jesus stood firm against Satan himself. Paul refused to flinch before the persecutions of Rabbinic Judaism and heathen Rome. Some of the early Christians had to choose between death or bowing to Caesar’s claim to be lord. The reformers stood against the behemoth of the Roman Church, and many died upholding the right to have the Scriptures in our own language. 

What are the giants confronting the church today? One way to tell is by seeing what makes people mad.

During COVID, anyone who refused to go along with “trusting the science” was persecuted. The anger of the compliant against those who stood their ground against the government’s lies was tangible.

Science, or more properly the religion of scientism, has become a huge idol in our country and the world. Anyone who dares stand against it will suffer the consequences.

Many have allowed this god to dictate what we can believe in the Bible and what must be relegated to myth and poetry. Obeying this false god is a great sin which many, many Christians continue to commit.

The words of Nathan the prophet still boldly ring out to all who allow science to displace God’s Word in regard to creation. “You are the man!” We commit idolatry if we revere the authority of science more than God and his Word!

Since when does any worldly belief system have the right to tell us how to interpret the Bible? Since when do we have the authority to determine what parts of God’s Word can be believed and what parts can be winked at? Did God give us this freedom? Not to my knowledge. Why do we so easily betray our Reformation heritage of Sola Scriptura? Are we really so spineless that we cannot make a stand? Are we embarrassed by God’s Word? Are we afraid of being thought a fool? If so, let us consider Paul’s words.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court... 1 Corinthians 4:3 (NKJV) 

Do we think the credibility of the gospel improves by our agreeing that Genesis is not a trustworthy account of creation? Is the resurrection more believable if we at the same time we insist that the Bible is wrong when it says God’s throne is right above us atop the firmament? Can the resurrection be real if heaven and earth are not what the Bible says they are? Isn’t it time for the church to throw caution to the wind and embrace God’s Word without reservation or qualification? I wonder what would happen? I hope we find out.

Share this post...

Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Genesis Chapter One

Septuagint

In this article, I compare the Masoretic Text (MT) to the Septuagint (LXX) in Genesis Chapter One to help the reader see that there are differences. I plan to extend this series to include several more sections of the Old Testament.

Masoretic Text Septuagint Significance

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1–2 (NASB95) 

1 In the beginning, God made the heavens and the earth. 2 But the earth was unseen and unprepared, and darkness was upon the deep. And the spirit of God rushed upon the water. Genesis 1:1–2 (LES2) 

 Little things matter. God warned us not to add to or subtract from God’s Word. The LXX uses better words to describe the earth in the beginning – unseen and unprepared. The MT adds  the word surface to deep. Rushed upon carries a different idea than moving over.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. Genesis 1:3–5 (NASB95) 

3 And God said, “Let light come into being.” And light came into being. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good. And God made a separation between the light and the darkness. 5 And God named the light day and the darkness he named night. And there was evening, and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:3–5 (LES2) 

 I see little difference between the MT and LXX in this passage.

6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. Genesis 1:6–8 (NASB95) 

6 And God said, “Let a firmament come into being in the midst of the water, and let a separator be in the midst of the water.” And so it happened. 7 And God made the firmament, and God made a separation in the midst of the water that was under the firmament and in the midst of the water that was upon the firmament. 8 And God named the firmament heaven. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning, the second day. Genesis 1:6–8 (LES2) 

 The MT uses the Hebrew word raqia for the solid firmament, which the NASB translates as expanse in order to conform God’s Word to the heliocentric theory. The LXX uses the Greek word stereoma, which connotes something solid, just like raqia. The MT makes water plural, but the LXX uses the singular. I suppose this is because before the creation of the firmament on day two, there was simply water, not more than one. After the separation, there were waters above and below. The MT says the upper waters were above the firmament, but the LXX says upon the firmament. The MT leaves out God calling the firmament good.

9 Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day. Genesis 1:9–13 (NASB95) 

9 And God said, “Let the water that is under the heavens be gathered together into one assembly, and let the dryness appear.” And so it happened. And the water under the heavens was brought together into their assembly, and the dryness appeared. 10 And God named the dryness earth, and the assemblies of the waters he named seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout fodder plants, sowing seed according to kind and according to likeness, and fruit-bearing tree making fruit whose seed is itself in the tree, according to kind in regard to likeness upon the earth.” And so it happened. 12 And the earth brought forth fodder plants, sowing seed according to kind and according to likeness, and the fruit-bearing tree making fruit whose seed is itself in the tree, corresponding to its kind upon the earth. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning, the third day. Genesis 1:9–13 (LES2) 

 The MT leaves out a repetition in verse 9. Instead of dryness, the MT uses dry land. It also uses gathered instead of assembled, which carries a slightly different connotation. The LXX calls vegetation fodder plants yielding seed according to kind and likeness. The MT leaves out according to kind and likeness. The MT leaves out words in verse 11 concerning fruit trees, too. The MT makes for easier reading, but we are not supposed to omit words that God spoke. 

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. 17 God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. Genesis 1:14–19 (NASB95) 

14 And God said, “Let luminaries come into being in the firmament of the heavens for illumination of the earth and rule the days and the nights and make a separation in the midst of the day and in the midst of the night. And let them be for a sign and for seasons and for days and for years. 15 And let them be for illumination in the firmament of the heavens so that they might give light upon the earth.” And so it happened. 16 And God made the two big luminaries, the big luminary to have authority over the day, and the little luminary to have authority over the night and the stars. 17 And God placed them in the firmament of the heavens so that they might shine upon the earth 18 and rule over the day and the night and to make a separation in the midst of the light and in the midst of the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning, the fourth day. Genesis 1:14–19 (LES2)

 The luminaries or lights were set in the solid firmament to illuminate the earth, but the MT leaves out this phrase and the phrase to rule the days and nights. The MT does include their separating role, however. Both versions call both the sun and moon lights or luminaries, contradicting modern science’s claim that the moon is merely a reflector. The LXX seems to indicate the moon has authority over the stars, but the MT changed the wording to be that God created the stars, which, of course, he did. 

20 Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” 21 God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. Genesis 1:20–23 (NASB95) 

20 And God said, “Let the water bring forth living, creeping things and birds flying above the earth in relation to the firmament of the heavens.” And so it happened. 21 And God made the very large fish and every life of living creeping things that the water brought forth according to their kind and every bird with wings according to kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Increase and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply upon the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning, the fifth day. Genesis 1:20–23 (LES2)

 Let the waters teem is quite different from let the water bring forth. The MT adds and let birds fly, whereas the LXX seems to indicate the water also brought forth the birds. The MT says that the birds fly above the earth in the face of the firmament (NKJV), whereas the LXX uses the Greek word kata, which means in relation to, under, or before the firmament. The NASB once again employs eisegesis to make the words agree with the heliocentric lie. The MT uses the words sea monsters. The LXX uses the Greek word ketos, which can mean huge fish or sea monsters. 

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so. 25 God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; 30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.  Genesis 1:24–31 (NASB95) 

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth a living creature according to kind, quadrupeds and creeping things and wild animals of the earth according to kind.” And so it happened. 25 And God made the wild animals of the earth according to kind and the livestock according to kind and all the creeping things of the earth according to their kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 And God said, “Let us make humankind according to our image and according to our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the livestock and all the earth and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth.” 27 And God made humankind; he made him according to the image of God; he made them male and female. 28 And God blessed them, saying, “Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and gain dominion over it, and rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and all the livestock and all the earth and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth.” 29 And God said, “Look, I have given to you every herb that has sowable seed that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has sowable seed in its fruit will become food for you, 30 and for all the wild animals of the earth and for all the birds of the heavens and for every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth that has soul of life in itself. And all green fodder will be for food.” And so it happened. 31 And God saw everything that he made, and look, it was very good! And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:24–31 (LES2) 

 The MT uses the word cattle, but the LXX uses quadrupeds, which is a much broader term. For some reason the MT repeats the phrase made them in his own image. In verse 30, the LXX uses the term “soul of life” instead of simply the word life, as is found in the MT. 

Conclusion

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highly significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

More articles on the Septuagint
Share this post...

When it comes to lying, go big or go home.

nasa

Propagandists know that when it comes to lying, a big lie is often more readily believed than a small one. Most of us cannot imagine that anyone or any group would attempt to lie on a grand scale and be able to pull it off. Common wisdom is that it cannot be done, but it happens all the time.

A minority in possession of a convincing lie often is able to deceive the majority, especially if it uses trusted spokespeople to repeat that lie until it becomes regarded as the truth.

counterfeitOver time, such lies, though initially resisted by those who understand what is happening, become accepted by the majority after the resisters die out. Those who believe the lie ironically become its ardent defenders, thus making the deception self-propagating. Once it becomes a settled belief among the majority, it is very difficult for us to entertain or accept an opposing version of things. This is one reason why brainwashing works so well. Children can be easily taught to believe a lie, since they have no adult ability to properly weigh evidence. Once they embrace the deception at a young age, they will simply continue to believe as adults, unless someone is able to show them the truth in a way they can receive it.

It seems that it is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.

A counterfeitcontemporary example of the use of propaganda to plant and perpetuate a lie is the history of how Darwin’s theory of evolution over time has become accepted as proven “science” by a majority (approx. 75%), even though it is inherently untestable, is without confirming physical evidence, runs contrary to the established law of entropy, and flatly contradicts the Bible. The quote on the left above shows how propagandists “mess with” our minds. Tyson knows the difference between a theory and a fact, but he equates the two to fool the ignorant masses. As we all should know, theories, by definition, are unproven, and any that have remained unproven for as long as these two theories have are essentially unprovable and, therefore, unscientific. Yes, things fall down, but it is not mass attracting mass. Electromagnetism, combined with the principles of buoyancy and density, adequately explains reality.

Satan’s lies are meant to make us question God’s integrity and accept a version of reality that contradicts God’s Word in order to convince us to transfer our allegiance to him. This goes all the way beck to Eden.

Satan asked Eve, “Why did God say not to eat from every tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 LXX) Rather than question the serpent’s motives and truthfulness, Eve was tricked into questioning God’s integrity and the truth of God’s warning. The arch-deceiver accused God of being a liar.

When it comes to lying, Satan’s motto seems to be, “Go big or go home.”

Darwin provided an alternate version of origins that contradicts the Bible but satisfies man’s sinful desire to be free from any acknowledgement of or responsibility to a Creator. Today the theory of evolution, which is really an untestable hypothesis, has been so widely accepted that the “educated” feel free to mock and resist any attempt to introduce biblical creationism into a science curriculum. The widespread acceptance of the theory of evolution proves that lying on a grand scale definitely exists and that such lies work extremely well against those who imagine that so-called science is the highest form of truth.

One of Satan’s most subtle tricks is to convince Christians to reinterpret God’s Word to force it to agree with his lies.

This clever ruse continues to make fools of many who profess devotion to the Bible. Anyone who thinks the Big Bang theory or heliocentrism can somehow co-exist with God’s description of creation in Genesis Chapter One and the biblical heavens and earth described throughout the Bible have fallen for this deception. (Approximately 71% are convinced that heliocentrism is true, and around 50% believe in the Big Bang.) Those who practice this dishonest form of Bible interpretation (Matthew 15:6) betray their loyalty to the Scriptures while being convinced of their devotion to God and his Word. 

We should be very careful about interpreting God’s Word in such a way to make it conform to outside criteria, such as what science tells us, instead of letting it speak for itself. 

spider web

We should also avoid making our own logic or experience the measuring stick for what is true. God’s Word is true, period.

Satan knows how to appeal to our imaginations in a way that makes his counterfeit of God’s truth powerfully appeal to our fleshly hearts and minds. For a great example, consider what a grip the science fiction of outer space has on many people, who seem to prefer Satan’s version of the cosmos to God’s truth as revealed in the Bible. To illustrate the irony of all this, many Christians who love God, when confronted with biblical cosmology, insist that the pagan universe of modern astrophysics glorifies God more than the heavens and earth revealed in the Bible! This is alarming, ironic, and profoundly sad. The true heavens proclaim the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). Satan’s fake universe insinuates that there is no God. Only the Holy Spirit can impart to us a love of God’s truth and set us free from the devil’s web of deception. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Even though Satan was defeated by our Lord, he should never be taken lightly. Jesus warned us that he deceives the entire world (Revelation 12:9), but sadly most Christians vastly underestimate the scope of his lies.

Satan encourages us to believe that we are capable of figuring out the answers to the big questions of life – how things came to be, what is our purpose and destiny, what is the nature of the cosmos, and how does everything work without our needing any help from God. This attitude gained traction during the Enlightenment when the great thinkers of that age did their best to “unchain” us from dependence upon the Bible as our highest source of truth. 

The truth is that we seldom discover truth all by ourselves, if ever.

Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge either come from God, or we get a falsified occult version from the pit of hell. (Proverbs 2:6)

Satan seems to be more than willing to let us believe that the “insights” he provides come from our own brilliance. I have come to believe that anyone whom the world labels a “genius” is probably an agent of Satan. The etymology of that word gives it away. It comes from Latin and refers to a guardian spirit associated with the person. Many would be shocked to discover that Isaac Newton and Copernicus were influenced heavily by Egyptian hermeticism which is connected with sun worship. There is truly nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

How shocking it is to discover that modern astrophysics is a form of paganism that Bible loving and God-revering Christians ardently defend as if it were God’s truth, while relegating God’s Word in Genesis Chapter One and elsewhere to the realm of rather meaningless poetry.

Yes, lies on a grand scale exist and prosper today. All it takes is for Satan to convince us that what is called science has greater authority than the Bible so that we reinterpret what God said to match what godless men say. Go big or go home.

The unwavering truth is that any so-called scientific breakthrough that contradicts God’s written Word is, by definition, a lie. This basic principle never changes. 

Satan has counterfeited a great number of extremely important foundational ideas: God, creation, how to reach our full potential as human beings, cosmology, the Old Testament, God’s chosen people, Israel, and eschatology. I will briefly comment on each one below and provide links to other articles in which I go into greater depth.

  • God. In the garden of Eden, Satan introduced himself as an alternate god, asking Adam and Eve to believe and follow him instead of their Creator. Over the centuries, all sorts of other false gods have arisen, each being a counterfeit designed to take glory and our allegiance from the true God and and give them to demons. According to God’s Word, anyone who rejects Christ is not serving the true God. Go big or go home.
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:22–23 (NKJV) 
  • Creation. As mentioned above, the theory of evolution seeks to replace the Creator with a quasi-scientific explanation of how all life came into being. Going beyond Darwinism, the Big Bang theory purports to give us a godless way the entire universe came into being. The purpose of these evolutionary lies is tempt us to deny God’s existence, absolve ourselves of any responsibility toward him, and steal from us any sense of meaning and purpose beyond the experience of pleasure and the acquisition of wealth and power. Embracing such lies results in the loss of the ability to properly reason, as has become somewhat obvious, it seems. Go big or go home.
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, Romans 1:21–22 (NKJV) 
  • Reaching our full potential. Jesus said he came to provide us with abundant life (John 10:10) if we place our faith and allegiance in him. Satan offers an alternate path to “godhood” that is based on the acquisition of knowledge, which will ultimately lead to our destruction. The truth is that we can only become what God intends by submitting our lives to Christ and learning to live through the power of his indwelling Holy Spirit. Conversely, the serpent told Eve that she could become “like God” by independently partaking of what the devil promised would provide her with hidden (occult) and forbidden knowledge. Through the centuries this lie has taken many forms including the heresy of Gnosticism (knowledge), Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age paganism, the Jewish Kabbalah, Trans-humanism, etc. The rise of modern theoretical “science,” which should be called the religion of “Scientism,” to the exalted status it has acquired today is a result of believing this lie. Science has become one of our greatest false gods that many Christians believe has greater authority than the Bible. Go big or go home.
  • Cosmology. Satan introduced an esoteric or occult cosmology during the Enlightenment. I have written extensively on this subject. If you wish to read more, click here for a list of articles. Once again, the purpose of this counterfeit is to “disprove” the Bible, eliminate the need for God’s existence, steal his glory, and alienate mankind from our Creator. Go big or go home.
  • The Old Testament. The Alexandrian Septuagint (LXX) was translated from paleo-Hebrew into Greek by 70 or 72 Jewish scholars at the request of King Ptolemy of Egypt. It was completed over 200 years before Christ and was the most accepted version of the Hebrew scriptures in the Greek speaking world. It was the version quoted in the New Testament and by the Jewish historian SeptuagintJosephus. The Masoretic text (MT) was introduced after the resurrection of Christ and appears to have been used to cast doubt upon some of the verses quoted in the New Testament that show that Jesus is the Christ. In around the year 300, a great controversy arose resulting in the Western church’s moving toward acceptance of the MT over the Septuagint, which was set in stone by Jerome’s using it to translate the Vulgate into Latin and the Reformers accepting it as being more reliable than the more ancient LXX. The Eastern Orthodox Church, to its credit, has retained the LXX to this day. I have been diligently comparing the LXX to the MT and find that there are many minor and major differences. My position is that I believe the LXX is to be preferred because it is validated by the New Testament and is an older translation. I find it somewhat shocking that the Western church could be led astray in this matter. Go big or go home. If you wish to read my article on this subject, click here.
  • God’s Chosen People, Israel, and Eschatology. I put these three together because the false teaching of Dispensationalism is responsible for the lot. John Nelson Darby and C.I. Scofield introduced the Dispensational heresy in the late 1800’s, which contradicted the covenant theology held by the church for the previous 1800 years. Dispensationalism makes modern Israel the focus of the end times and insists that the natural descendants of Abraham are still God’s chosen people, even though they refuse to acknowledge Christ. This false teaching, which contradicts Paul’s and Jesus’ clear words about the kingdom of God, the identity of true Jews, and the church, became widespread due to the publishing of the Scofield Reference Bible by Oxford University Press in the early 20th century and its distribution to seminaries all over the USA. This project was underwritten by Jewish Zionists, particularly Samuel Untermeyer, as a way to garner support for the establishment of the modern nation state of Israel. Believing this lie has resulted in the growth of Christian Zionism, which holds that Christians have a moral obligation to support the nation of Israel in all things, including its genocide of the Christians in Gaza, lest we forfeit our blessings from God. This contradicts the New Testament which clearly states that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. (Ephesians1:3) This has produced an Israel-focused eschatology (doctrine of the end times) rather than a Christ-centered one and has deceived Christians into unreservedly supporting a nation that is decidedly against (anti-) Christ.

Much more could be written about these things, but I hope you have read enough to make you want to investigate further. Do not take my word for it. Search the scriptures to see of these things are true. Resolve to study God’s Word so that you can recognize and refute Satan’s counterfeits. It is time for a brand new Reformation in which we recapture the Reformer’s creed – Sola Scriptura! Let’s go big after God’s Word and send the devil’s lies packing.

Click here to go to series home page.
Share this post...

Five Men Who Loved Israel

temple

This article focuses on the testimony of five men who loved Israel – Jesus, John, Peter, Stephen, and Paul. All were Jews who made great sacrifices to demonstrate their love for the people of Israel. I will focus on Jesus, Stephen, and Paul, but mention Peter and John in passing. Jesus died for the Jews and the whole world. Stephen died while pleading for that nation to repent and believe the gospel. Paul experienced all sorts of persecution and suffering at the hands of the Jews as he fearlessly sought to persuade them to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Their loving and truthful testimony concerning Israel is therefore significant.

Jesus

No one loved Israel more than our Lord Jesus. In the face of an increasing hostility from Jewish leaders, against him and his mission, he fearlessly testified to his identity as the Messiah and did not flinch from an excruciating atoning death to open a path to forgiveness and a right standing with God the Father. He demonstrated his love by laying down his life quite literally as God’s Lamb. The Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse into his compassionate soul in the following verse.

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Matthew 23:37 (NKJV) 

As opposition mounted and the time of his crucifixion drew near, Jesus told the Jewish leaders that God, his heavenly Father, would destroy them, the city of Jerusalem, and the temple as a just punishment for the terrible crime of killing God’s own Son.

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41–44 (NKJV) 

By laying out for them the exact reason for this coming desolation, the Lord left them without excuse.

33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. Matthew 21:33–46 (NKJV) 

By refusing to acknowledge their Messiah, not only would the Jews lose their temple and city, the kingdom of God also would be transferred to another people, whom the Bible clearly identifies in the words of another Jewish disciple of our Lord Jesus who loved Israel, whose name was Peter.

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:7–10 (NKJV)

Peter here refers to the mystery of Christ, that one new man (Ephesians 2:15) has been created in Christ of all who put their faith and allegiance in him, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and free. (Ephesians 3:4-6)

In his great mercy, God included the entire world in his redemptive plan. Jesus came from the Jews, but he died for the world.!

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV) 

Jesus’ loving yet stern testimony was that his own people, those who steadfastly refused to acknowledge him, would be destroyed for not believing and receiving him as their Messiah. The gospel continues to beckon all those who are willing to repent and believe its message, both Jew and Gentile. Those who reject that message will be lost, both Jew and Gentile. God is no respecter of persons.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17–18 (NKJV) 

John the apostle, another Jewish man who loved Israel, penned these words of Scripture. There is no other name under heaven by which anyone can be saved – not in the name of Abraham, Moses, or Israel, only by the name of Jesus. The following is the apostle Peter’s declaration.

10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10–12 (NKJV) 

Stephen

Stephen was a Jewish disciple of our Lord who became the first martyr as a result of honestly testifying to the Jewish leaders regarding their continued resistance to the truth. As he preached his last sermon, which provoked the Jews around him to murder him in a paroxysm of anger, these were the key words.

51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” Acts 7:51–53 (NKJV)

These convicting words were uttered in a kind of “tough” love . When we truly love someone, we tell him what he needs to hear, even if for the moment it is painful. Jesus did this when he confronted the Pharisees in John Chapter 8. He told those men, who thought they already had their tickets punched for the kingdom of God, that the devil was their father! (John 8:44) This offended and angered them, but it was the truth. Jesus wanted them to wake up and repent for their idolatry, but they loved something else more than God.

Stephen accused the Jews of an ongoing idolatry that manifested itself at Mount Sinai during their desert wandering and continued to Stephen’s day.

38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, 39 whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’ Acts 7:38–43 (NKJV) 

This idolatry got so bad in Elijah’s day that the prophet thought he was the only true worshiper of God left, but God informed him that israelthen, as now, God always reserves an elect group for himself. For the rest, however, idolatry and disobedience were the norm.

Stephen’s reference to the star of Remphan, which is identified as Chiun in Amos 5:26, is none other than Saturn, part of the “host of heaven,” whose hexagonal symbol is found throughout the occult world and today decorates the flag of the nation of Israel. David had no star associated with his name. Solomon, his son, fell into gross idolatry during his reign. Perhaps that star relates to him, but it is definitely found in the occult Jewish book of mysticism called the Kabbalah.

Modern Israel does not serve the God of the Bible. The Word of God clearly states that those who reject the Son, Jesus, also reject the Father.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:22–23 (NKJV) 

Israel has been an anti-Christ nation since it put to death the Messiah. Their hatred of our Lord, his followers, and his gospel continues to this day.

There is no such thing as a Judaeo-Christian tradition. The only thing shared is the Old Covenant scripture with its legal system.

The New Covenant is a clear departure from the Old Covenant of the Jews. The resurrection and crowning of Jesus as Lord of lords has made the two irreconcilable, which Paul clearly demonstrated, notwithstanding the deception of the Jewish Roots Movement.

The Jews’ continued derogation of Christ makes Judaism absolutely incompatible with Christianity. 

The need for preachers to confront those Jews who continue to resist the gospel as Stephen did still exists. But what do we have today? Christians are telling anti-Christ Jews that they are God’s chosen people, a title which they gladly claim for themselves, making them more or less untouchable and irreproachable. Nothing could be farther from the truth, however. Nothing could inure Jews into unbelief more than such a claim.

Nothing could guarantee their eternal damnation more than telling them that they who reject Christ are God’s special people.

Stephen had to know that his words would provoke his hearers to fury, but he loved them enough to tell them the truth. He faced his death with courage and forgiveness in his heart toward his tormentors. His last words were a plea for God to forgive his enemies. (Acts 7:60) His prayer was heard. One of those who stood by as an assenting witness to his martyrdom was a man named Saul of Tarsus.

Paul

Little did Stephen know that God had already chosen this man Saul, who was later renamed Paul, to be one of his most important preachers and apostles. Stephen’s forceful words and his courageous death must have greatly impacted this young Pharisee; although the results were not seen immediately. In the short run, Saul became the church’s greatest persecutor who hunted down Christians in order to imprison, torture, and put them to death. Paul later testified that one of his goals was to coerce them into denying Christ.

9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Acts 26:9–11 (NKJV) 

But God… Those are two of the most important words in the Bible. But God had other plans, which were set into motion as Paul rode to Damascus in pursuit of followers of Christ. God literally knocked Paul off his high horse and revealed Christ to him. Paul repented on the spot and believed on the name of the Lord Jesus. Our Lord warned him quite plainly that suffering would accompany his future testimony and ministry, but he did not flinch from it. Over the course of his remaining life he experienced suffering on many different levels – physical, emotional, and spiritual. One of his greatest torments was knowing that his people, the Israelites, were sentencing themselves to an eternity without God by rejecting the gospel. (Acts 13:46) In the following passage he expresses just how much he loved his natural people.

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Romans 9:1–5 (NKJV) 

The Jews had every advantage and should have recognized and received Jesus as their Messiah. In their ongoing rebellion against God, they murdered Jesus and continue to persecute his followers. Near the end of Paul’s life, he wrote the following summary statement regarding the Jews.

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. 1 Thessalonians 2:14–16 (NKJV) 

Today the pro-Israel Jewish Anti-defamation League would label Paul as an antisemite because of these words. Nevertheless, they are true and come from someone who loved his countrymen enough to wish himself accursed by God if it would bring about their salvation. Paul’s words agree with Stephen’s and our Lord’s.

  • They killed the Lord and his prophets. Jesus said that the blood of all righteous men murdered by the Jews cried out for vengeance, which he said would befall that generation.
47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. Luke 11:47–51 (NKJV) 

This was Paul’s and the Holy Spirit’s evaluation of those Jews who actively resist the gospel and deride Christ. To paint them as God’s beloved chosen people is not true to Scripture or to reality. As I have written elsewhere, there is only one chosen people, those God elected in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:3-4), which includes both Jews and Gentiles.

Jewishness has been redefined in the New Covenant. It no longer is based upon biology but upon the new birth. Today, the only true Jew is the person who puts his or her faith in our Lord Jesus.

Anyone who claims to be a Jew based upon descent from Abraham, without believing in Christ, is not a true Jew.

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to
 them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of 
Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the 
truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the 
deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of 
fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God 
were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from
 God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not 
understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you 
want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in 
the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he 
speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 
John 8:39–44 (NKJV) 

28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:28–29 (NKJV) 

6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Romans 9:6–8 (NKJV) 

7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:7–9 (NKJV) 

Some of you, my readers, may be angry at me at this point. If so, it is likely because you have believed the lie that love for God requires supporting those who do not love him, the unrepentant Jews. You may have become guilty of adding to the gospel by claiming that faith in Christ alone does not save us. Rather we must also bless the nation of Israel, a people who oppose the gospel. You may have believed that your spiritual blessings hinge upon being a blessing to unbelieving Jews. If so, you have become guilty of nullifying God’s Word, which says that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. Period. (Ephesians 1:3-4)

It is true that God has redeemed many Jewish people by drawing them to Christ, and it is my hope and prayer that multitudes of those descended from Abraham will one day confess Christ is Lord. When that happens, they will be included in the “one new man” in Christ. (Ephesians 2:15) Until that takes place, however, Jews are just as much on the outside looking in as are unbelieving Gentiles. There is only one way to God, and his name is Jesus. God is no respecter of persons.

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV) 

10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10–12 (NKJV) 

The Jews do not have their own covenant with God and can by-pass faith in Christ. It is an outright lie with a political agenda. The nation of Israel is trying to build and earthly kingdom without ever submitting to Christ, but with Christian support, but our Lord taught that his kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36) May God release his people from the false teachings of Dispensationalism and the Judaizers.

Share this post...

Whose Reputation Are We Trying to Protect?

nasa

Many people regard the Genesis version of creation and the shape of the heavens and earth, which is called biblical enclosed cosmology, as a foolish conspiracy theory or government psy-op that does not even warrant investigation.

Imagine a Christian saying that God’s Word is a psy-op! And, yet, that is exactly what a pastor friend said as much to me.

Many Christians do not want to be associated with what some call “flat earth” because they think that linking the gospel to such a controversial topic as what the Bible teaches in Genesis would place an unwelcome hurdle in front of God seekers. Do we really believe that the Genesis account of creation is more incredible than Noah’s  flood, the ten plagues in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, Joshua stopping the sun and moon, God making the shadow go backwards, the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the ascension of Christ into heaven, where he currently sits enthroned at God’s right hand?

Are we going to ignore the constant reference throughout the Bible of heaven being up, the earth below, and Sheol underneath?

God has built enough mystery into his creation and our experience of life that we are required to exercise faith in something – either what God has said or what scientists or occultists tell us.

Often the latter two options are one and the same. Science pretends to explain everything away, reducing life and creation to materialism, completing excluding the spiritual side of things, which the Bible says came first and is more real. Science has become an idol for many.

Satan desires to strip away our childlike faith in God’s words and replace it with the god of human reasoning.

Nowhere is this more apparent than when cosmology is discussed.

I have been warned by well-intentioned friends that my reputation and standing as a Bible teacher in the body of Christ has been damaged by my public profession that I believe that the Genesis account of creation is literally true.

Never would I have thought that believing the Bible is literally true would compromise my reputation with other Christians. What does that say about the condition of the modern church?

Should I be concerned about this? Would God’s honor be increased if I retracted and said that I no longer believe that what Genesis says is actually true but only has an appearance of truth? That is what the popular phenomenological interpretation tells us. Would God be glorified if I announced that Genesis is not supposed to be taken as literally true; rather, it is meant to be enjoyed as a poetic description of creation to tide us over until brilliant astronomers would discover the truth? Will God be pleased if I to put more trust in men who contradict the Bible than I do in what is written in the Scriptures?

Would not such a flip flop be detrimental to God’s honor and reputation as a truth teller?

reputationFor the sake of us Christians who live post-Enlightenment, should not the Holy Spirit have inspired Moses to write something more scientifically accurate in Genesis that would agree with modern astrophysics? Or could it be that God wrote exactly what he meant for us to know and believe because it is the truth?

God put his honor and reputation on the line in Genesis by telling us that he created everything in six days, including a heaven-earth-Sheol system enclosed in a solid dome called the firmament.

It is my privilege to stand up for what God wrote and defend his integrity and honor before a mocking world. How about you? Whose reputation are we trying to protect anyway? Ours or God’s?

Share this post...

Beware the Real Alien Invasion

nasa

The world is abuzz with all kinds of rumors and expectations for some kind of government disclosure regarding the existence of aliens. We have been set up for this for decades. Werner von Braun warned his secretary that this would be the last card played by NASA, which was founded by occultists and designed to deceive the masses. The Israelites worshiped the host of heaven. Are we really much different when we flock to theaters to have our imaginations sparked with false ideas of outer space and planetary travel?

Many of us love science fiction so much that we gladly change the meaning of God’s Word to accommodate our fantasies.

alienBut God…. God is restoring the truth about this earth on which we live.

Having a biblical understanding of cosmology acts as an antidote to the infection of space alien hysteria.

We have been lied to for five hundred years ever since the introduction of heliocentric sorcery by disciples of occult Egyptian hermeticism and alchemy – Copernicus and Newton.

The Bible, which is God’s infallible truth, was cast aside to make room for the hidden (occult) knowledge provided by theoretical astrophysicists.

If we take God at his Word, which is the wise person’s choice, rather than hurtling through the dangerous void of outer space having twelve separate motion vectors, we live on an enclosed circular plane with a solid firmament above us, atop which sits God’s throne.

deception

That is what the Bible teaches, and, if we fail to believe God, we will believe almost anything else.

cosmologyRecently I have seen some Facebook ads promoting Steven Spielberg’s new movie, Disclosure Day.

ChristiansWe are told that after watching this production, Christians will question their faith in God. Why is it that followers of Christ are particularly targeted? Could it be that the Bible is true, and Jesus is really Lord of lords and King of kings? Could it be that the Jews’ and the world’s hatred of Jesus continues to this day, spilling over against his present followers? The answer to these questions is a resounding, “Yes!”

When Jesus walked this earth some two thousand years ago, the Jewish leaders hated him. Our Lord gave us the reason for their antipathy: they hate God and want to rule over his creation themselves.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!” Luke 20:13–16 (NKJV) 

The Jewish leaders were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and afraid that his favor with the people would turn into a popular uprising to throw off Roman rule. Not wishing to lose their preferred status and place with that foreign government, they elected to murder Jesus for the “good of the nation.” Beware nations that kill their people for the common good!

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” John 11:47–50 (NKJV) 

They did not realize that murdering God’s Son would result in the complete destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, and the sacrificial system when God brought justice. God shut down the Old Covenant and transferred the kingdom to a brand new group – the New Covenant born-again ones, Humanity 2.0, the church, the one new man in Christ, the Israel of God.

43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. Matthew 21:43–46 (NKJV) 

Adam and Eve betrayed God in the garden. By the time Jesus arrived from heaven, mankind’s hatred of God had grown to the point that the Jews killed their Messiah, God in the flesh.

Their hatred of our Lord and his followers has not diminished. The Talmud claims that Jesus right now is boiling in liquid excrement as punishment for his blasphemy. Therefore, it is not surprising that the movie industry would target Christians. In fact, Jesus warned us that people in general would hate us.

17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. Luke 21:17 (NKJV) 

This hatred of Christians derives from mankind’s hatred of God in general and of Jesus in particular.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18–19 (NKJV) 

Luciferians are attempting to create a transhumanist perversion of mankind by combining sorcery, genetic manipulation, and nano-technology. God beat them to it, however. He already created a new version of humanity through what is called the new birth.

The reason the world hates us is because we who follow Christ have become alien to the world and its satanic system.

We are strangers in a strange land waiting for the return of our Lord and Savior.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:13 (NKJV) 

Jesus is a true alien in the Biblical sense. He plainly stated that he is not of this world, but came down from heaven.

23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. John 8:23 (NKJV) 

shapeThose who know that the heavens and earth are exactly as the Bible describes understand that heaven sits atop the solid dome of the firmament. There is no “outer space,” only the “outer darkness” inhabited by fallen angels, demons, and people who refuse God’s mercy offered in the gospel. People who believe in the science fiction that our “planet” revolves around the sun (Helios, Sol, or Satan), along with other so-called “planets” all named after pagan gods, will likely fall prey to the psy-op currently in progress to convince us that space aliens exist and perhaps are a threat to us.

It could be that the greatest danger is that these so-called “aliens,” whatever they may be, will attempt to seduce us into denying Christ in favor of some occult universal religion. Apparently this what Spielberg expects.

The Bible says that God sits on his throne in heaven looking down on us. (Isaiah 40:22) Jesus, seated at God’s right hand, will return when God rolls back the firmament with a thunderous roar.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10–13 (NKJV) 

Jesus’ return is the only “alien” invasion about which anyone should be concerned.

As we wait for his certain return, let’s remember that Christians are special targets for persecution because we know and follow the one called the Truth – Jesus the risen Lord. Our allegiance to the one the world hates brings their hatred upon us. It is our privilege to acknowledge him before men, with the hope that we can persuade others to confess him as Lord before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

Share this post...
Share this post...