The Correct Principles of Biblical Interpretation...!!! Part 2

The Correct Principles of Biblical Interpretation...!!!

Let's bow our heads in a word..of prayer,, shall we..??!

Merciful Father,, how excellent is Thy Name,, in all the earth!!

We bow before Thy Throne..in adoration. There is none...like Thee..!!

Make our hearts (minds).. receptive to the Teaching of Truth derived in Thy Word..in Jesus Christ mighty Name we ask...Amen..

Psalms 119:105,,serves as our Scriptural Reference tonight as we look into these Principles of Interpretation...

And it declares.. ( obviously in the KJV..)..😉

"Thy Word..is a LAMP unto my FEET,... and a ..LIGHT..unto my PATH ....( emphasis is mine...!)..!!"...

Now...as you may...or may not know..,,

The Bible was written by approximately 40 men,,over a period covering about,, 1500 years..!

And since the last writer of the Bible has been dead for over more than..1900 years..there are definite problems in understanding the..

exact meaning of certain passages of the Bible!!!

So...there's a need to interpret CLEARLY,, certain passages of the Bible... because there's a gap...

between the way we think and the WORDS we use today,,and the words used by those Bible writers,, thousands of years ago.!

Most Bible Scholars have pointed out that there are ...

Language gaps.., ie..differences in words that we use:

There are also...

Cultural gaps... because,, different customs were in vogue,, back then..!!

There are...

Geographical gaps,,... certain rivers that are spoken of in the Bible,, have long since..dried up!!

Now some..places..spoken of frequently in the Bible...

are NOT on our modern maps..!!

And then ..

there are Historical gaps ...eg..the Bible speaks of kings and empires which existed only years ago..!!

Therefore...there is need...for..

Correct Biblical interpretation !!!

So...this is what you have been waiting for...

Let's look at these Principles in greater detail..shall we...

1#...ALWAYS...remember that the Bible is Gods 

INFALLIBLE ,,INERRANTLY ,,INSPIRED Word of God...!!

iow...There are NO..mistakes in the Bible..!

God has included everything in the Bible...thats necessary for you...to know.,,concerning Salvation..and your..Christian life..!

2#...Interpret the Bible in the light of its..

Historical background ..!!

Here are three aspects...of this:

2.a)#...Study the Personal circumstances of the writer..!!

e.g...when studying the Book of Revelation..it is very important to understand WHERE John was and WHAT he was doing when God gave him..this marvelous revelation!!

2b)#...Next...Study the culture and customs of the country at the time...the story was taking place...e.g..

When studying about Ruth...its important to note..the customs concerning widows...

redemption of property ...,etc..as they are explained in the Book of Leviticus 25...and Deut 25...respectively..!!

2c)#..and the third aspect..of THIS Principle is to Study and Interpret the Bible in light of the actual historical situation..and events that were taking place..at the time...of the Story.!!

e.g...when Studying about the Gospels....it is important to REALIZE that the entire land of Palestine and all of the Jews were being governed and oppressed by the Roman Empire...AT THAT TIME...!!!

So...tonight we have just focused on these Two Main..Principles of Correct Biblical Interpretation..

and..this...is where we shall...PAUSE..

Just for tonight..in order to allow all this to digest in be absorbed..until its crystal clear..!!

We WILL look at more Principles...tomorrow..!!

Let us pray...

Father...indeed...Thy Word...IS...a Lamp..

Thank YOU...Lord ..for enlightening...our minds..thus far.!!

We look forward to learning MORE...of Thy Powerful...Word..!

May..we apply...what we have learned..up until..now..in Jesus Name..Amen.

God bless..you all..

A GREAT AND FEARFUL DAY ! ! !

... A third of the sun was struck, ...and a third of the stars,  so that a third of  them turned dark.  ...”(Revelation 8: 12)

In May 1984 National Geographic showed through color photos of the swift and terrible destruction that wiped out the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D.79.  The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden, those residents were killed while in their daily routine men and women were at the market, the rich in their luxurious baths, slaves at toil.  They died amid volcanic ash and super heated gases. Even family pets  suffered the same quick and final fate.  It takes little imagination to picture the panic of that terrible day.  The saddest part is that these people did not have to die.  Scientists confirm what ancient Roman writers record - week of rumblings and shakings preceded the actual explosion.  Even an ominous plume of smoke was clearly visible from the mountain days before the eruption.  If only they had been able to read and respond to Vesuvius’ warning!

Dear friends, there are similar rumblings in our world now warfares, earthquakes, the nuclear threat, economic woes, breakdown of the family and moral standards.  While not exactly  new, these things do point to a coming Day of Judgment. 

Let us not be caught unprepared, for the Word of God warns us of all these things that would happen at the end times. 

The prophet Joel prophesied, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”  Zechariah 14: 6 says, “On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost.  It will be a unique day, without daytime or night- time - a day known to the Lord.” 

Jesus Himself said in Luke 21: 26,27  “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” 

 He has warned us in John 16: 4, “I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.” So, let our whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians 5: 23)

PRAYER :   Almighty God, there are so many incidents happening in this world which point out that Your coming is very very near.  The prophesies in the Bible warn me, and  You Yourself have talked about Your return. So let me not be caught unprepared when You come in glory.  Amen.

STATUTES and ORDINANCES of the LORD!!

Scriptural References:

Exod 20:8--11.., Exod 16:26.., Lev 23:2-3..,Deut 5:14..,and Ezek 46:1.

Let's bow our heads in prayer, shall we...

Father in heaven..,yet again we approach Thy Holy throne, and praise Thee for watching over us during these trying times!

We plead that the promised strength and mercy would be our portion, as we...,Students of Thy Holy Word,... peruse and make application, of that which we discover as gems of Truth, in the Name of Yahushua we pray, Amen.

🙏🏻..

Introductory Comments and Welcome:

As Chancellor of this Institution, I wish to welcome each TOBI Student back to our Main Campus, and it is my sincere prayer, that we all experience the joys of amazing discovery, as together, we search the Scriptures!!

Since February, this year,..the whole world, has been in a crisis, so to speak!

Mixed emotions run wild, as people still grapple with the after effects of...a so called.. Pandemic!!

I say.so called, because... right now..there are 95% of folk who DON'T know what's really goin on...,ONLY 4%...who apparently DO...(know).., and 1%..,who are orchestrating and scrambling for World wide Rule and Dominion!

This is serious indeed!!

Fear tactics have been implemented, to control and manipulate citizens of the countries of the world,... and for the genuine/true child of Elohim,..

FEAR IS.NOT AN OPTION!!

Isn't it amazing, just how many folk are absolutely terrified, with what's goin on at present?

But when one weighs evidence, one must only come to the conclusion that all this was strategically planned, many years in advance, by that very 1% ELITE group of people ( so called)!!

I shall NOT.., however, be dwelling on such details..., as yet, but rather, let us take a look at what the Creator PLANNED, thousands of years ago,... shall we??!

Referring to Malachi 4:4--5..,the prophet Malachi calls or should I rather say..appeals, to us, to.

"..REMEMBER ye ( that's all of us) ,the law of Moses ( Hebrew=Mosheh).., My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for ALL Israel.. WITH the Statutes and Judgements..!!"

Then.the next verse (5) continued to speak of the Elijah Warning Message, that must be proclaimed, just prior TO the actual return of the LORD!!

REMEMBER the Sabbath Day..,to keep ( ie.guard, protect) It HOLY ( sanctified, or set apart for a holy purpose)!!

One more thing TO remember,...

Mosheh... ( I simply love using his original.., Hebrew name).. Mosheh DIDN'T command Israel to keep it,..the LORD ( ELOHIM) DID!!

And so..WE...remember the Sabbath EVERY seventh day, just as Elohim..instructed Mosheh, not only in Exod 20:8--11, but also in those above mentioned Scriptural references, already given.!!

When the Apostle Paul, writes his Epistle ( ie.. Letter) TO young Timothy, he ( Paul) reminds Timothy of the impending conflicts and doom of the last days...

Paul spoke of..

"..PERILOUS TIMES ( or seasons) ,that.SHALL come..!!"

Did it not occur to you, that we are NOW.IN those very times??

WE ARE NOW living..."..( just).. BEFORE the great and dreadful day of the LORD..!!"

Mal 4:5.

Take note of this next commentary....

"..Christ gave to Moses.. religious PRECEPTS, which were to govern the EVERYDAY LIFE. THESE STATUTES were explicitly given to GUARD ( PROTECT) the Ten Commandments. They were NOT shadowy types, to pass away with ( or AT) the death of Christ! They were to be binding upon MAN in EVERY AGE, AS LONG AS TIME should last!!"

---Review and Herald, May 6 th,1875..

Since this needs to be well researched, we will pause here for now, and gladly continue, in due course!!

We ARE.living i.those very end times, which the prophet Malachi spoke about!!

And, that which PAUL also spoke of!!

So.just how important are those Statutes??

In our next Lecture, we SHALL discover more!!

Stay tuned!!

Let's pray:

Father,. we thank You for this opportunity to learn wondrous things out of Thy Word, in the name of Yahushua,.. Amen!!

May.Elohim's blessings be yours, now and always.

Much love,..

Professor ( Emeritus) Leon.

The Chancellor of TOBI.

🙏🏻🎺🎺🎺🙏🏻

Correct Biblical Principles -TOBI ( Bible Study )

For the sake of New Students/ Readers, ,I'm go in to begin with a Bible Lecture on..

Correct Biblical Principles.... (Especially in Studying God's Word,, as well as your deep, Theological Studies

 

Prayer:

Father in heaven. Please open our understanding, to clearly...Perceive Thy Word, in Jesus' Mighty Name...we pray. Amen

 

Here's the Scriptural Reference for our Lecture :

KJV ( 2 Timothy 3:15-16 ) “15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise Unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..”

 

This is our Introductory Bible Lecture. As part of a Series, dealing with..Correct Biblical Interpretation...!!!

Stay tuned for next  Lecture,

 Now...listen carefully,, the Bible is the greatest of all books, ever Written God Himself speaks to men. As a book... Of divine instruction,, It offers comfort in sorrow, Guidance in perplexity,, advice and counsel for our problems, reproof and rebuke for our sins,,..and daily inspiration for our every need!!

Actually,, It's not just simply one book. It is an entire Library of books.. covering a wide range of Literature.

 It includes history,, poetry,, drama,, biography,Prophecy,,philosophy,,science,,as well as inspirational reading!! Little wonder,,then,,that all or Part of the Bible has been translated into more than..1200 languages,,and every year...more Copies are sold.. than any other single book.!!

 

The Bible alone...is capable of providing answers to the greatest questions that folk through out All ages have asked..e.g..

Where have I come from...?? Where am I go in? Why am I here?? And How can I know the Truth??....

 

You see...It's the Bible,,only,,that reveals the Truth about God..

(that's why...we studying Theology,, Right????)

The Bible explains the origin of man...explains that age-old problem of sin,,and suffering.. THEN,,points out the ONLY Way to Salvation and Eternal Life...!!!

 

The Great Subject of all the Bible,,is..

The Lord Jesus Christ and His Work of Redemption for all mankind!!!

Thus,,the Person and Work..(which we endeavour to study thoroughly,,this year)...are promised,, prophesied,,and pictured in the Types (ie Typology,,come on,,stay close with me here..)..and Symbols of the Old Testament...!!!

(Any wonder,,why we're studying,,Old Testament History???...)

And we shall deal more carefully and in depth when we look at..

Old Testament Apologetics!!

In all of His Truth and Beauty,,the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed (so remarkably)..in the Gospels!!

And the full meanings of His Life,,His Death,,and His Resurrection,,are explained in the Epistles (or Letters)..!

Then..His...

Glorious,,imminent Return (..Second Coming)...to this earth in the not so distant future,,,is Unmistakably foretold in the Book of Revelation...!!!

Thus..the Great Purpose of the Written Word..is no doubt,,to reveal the...

Living Word,,the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!!!

(Look at..John 1:1--18..as our Scripture Reference)..!!

Now..before I wrap up...the Lecture..

Allow me...to outline the following...Which I wish to call..

The Seven Great Things,,that The Bible does for our Individual( Study) Benefit:

1#...The Bible helps us discover and bring conviction of..SIN.

2#...It helps to CLEANSE us..from sin's pollution.!

3#...It IMPARTS Strength..!!

4#...It Instructs us...in WHAT to do.!!

5#...It Provides us with a Sword for Victory over sin!!

6#...It makes our lives Fruitful!!

7#...It gives us,,POWER to Pray more effectively!!

May God bless you as you pledge to further study thoroughly His Holy Word,,as you,,as a Fellow

Disciple and Minister of the Gospel,,prepare to serve in God's Vineyard!!!

Amen.

 

Let's bow our heads as we pray..

Father,,,gentle take each one of us by the hand and lead us through,,the Journey of Discovery,,

Of Thy Eternal Truth,,may..Whilst It works IN us,,work also THROUGH us,,in Thy Precious Name,,

The Mighty Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,,Amen...

 

Our next Lecture,,will deal more with Correct Biblical Interpretation,,in greater details

 

The Desires Of Your Heart

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalms 37:4)

Good morning beloved. What are your desires today?

Psalms 37:4 says that if you delight in the Lord, He’ll give them to you.

Isn’t that a wonderful promise? We get to delight in the Lord, and because of that, He gives us all that we desire.

 

Imagine your boss at work telling you to go spend more time and have fun with your loved ones, and because of that, he’ll give you a promotion, a raise, and a big bonus. Wouldn’t that be great?

But how do we actually go about delighting in the Lord?

If we look at the definition of the word ‘delight’, we can see that basically means to ‘experience great pleasure’.

Putting this in context, the psalmist is telling us to rejoice, to be happy, to enjoy the presence of the Lord.

And this comes from knowing who God truly is…

Knowing that He loves you so deeply that nothing can ever come between you and His love.

Knowing that He’s so powerful that nothing can ever stop Him from helping you.

 

Knowing that He’s already given you every good thing.

Now many of us usually ‘delight’ after we have our desires. It seems to be the ‘natural’ sequence.

But God’s Word is telling us to delight in Him first, and then we’ll have our desires.

So essentially, we do not need to have our desires physically in our hands first in order to rejoice.

God is saying that we should rejoice, be happy, take great pleasure in Him, before we have our desires physically, because He is the source of our desires. He is our strength. He is our joy. He is our provider. He is our healer. He is our protector. He is our redeemer. He is the source of everything good thing that we could ever want or need.

So take pleasure in the Lord today! Rejoice, be happy, and delight in the Lord! And you shall have your heart’s desires.

Be Greatly Blessed!

 *Action Steps:

Delight in the Lord today. Remember who He is to you. What He’s done for you.

Take pleasure in the fact that He’s already given you every good thing.

Enjoy His presence. Soak in the fountain of His blessings.

Praise Him. Worship Him. Give thanks to Him.

Lift up your spirits, for He is our wonderful, merciful saviour.

Our Abba Father God.

Let’s pray…

 *Prayer:* 

 Father! As I open my eyes today, I’m once again amazed by the beauty of your wonderful work.

I love so much to linger in your presence. To soak in your bountiful blessings.

You’ve given me so much and I’m only just beginning to understand the width and depth of your promises.

You O Lord are the source of all my desires.

When I’m in your presence, I already have every good thing I can ever want or need.

How great are you Lord, that the angels worship you and the stars sing praises to you.

And yet you hold me in your arms and number the hair on my head.

I’ll continue to dwell in your loving presence today Lord.

I’ll delight myself in you.

For you’re my joy, my desire, my love.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

AMEN!

Who Is A God Like You?

 ‘Who is a God like you…’  (Micah 7:18)

Who is like Jehovah? Found at the beginning of the book of Micah, and at the end of the book, Micah sums up with, “Who is a God like you?”

Well, this is a question that people should ponder daily, for the Lord is incomparable to all things, big and small.

He is incomparable in His holiness, His power and His love.”

 

There is none like Him.

So then, the answer to the question that Micah asks is, “No one is a God like you.”

He is the One true and only Living God.

Our relationship with the LORD is crucial to our overall choices in this lifetime. How we live in this world is dependent on what we belive in. It’s dependent on who we believe in.

What we do, what we say, what we believe, and how we bring the Gospel of Jesus into our lives, are key components to being people of faith, and a followers of Christ.

All that we do should be a reflection of Him and His ways. His light shines through us and from within us; “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

Our lives should align with the Word of God, and our acts should always reflect the goodness of the Lord, our God.

This can be expressed in a variety of ways; the way in which we live our life, the way in which we give to others, the way in which we act toward others, and the way in which we respect and love others, all of these examples are reflections of the LORD, and ways in which we honor God and stay be the overflow of His blessings and love for the world.

‘Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.’ (Micah 7:18)

Be Greatly Blessed!

 Prayer:

Father, who is a God like you?

A God who loves me so much He makes the ultimate sacrifice for my sake.

A God whose holiness, power, and love are beyond comparison.

A God who promises to always be with me. To never leave me nor forsake.

Great are you Lord, the King of kings, the Lord of lords.

In all your majesty and glory, you’ve chosen to love a wretched soul like I once was.

You’ve cleansed and redeemed me, that I can now proudly stand in your presence as your royal child.

Thank You for Your promises, and the assurance of knowing that your covenant with me will never change.

Thank you for giving us the inheritance as your children.

Thank you for your unchanging character and your unfathomable love.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

AMEN!