Friday, February 28, 2014

"The Word of the Lord" as Used in the New Testament

posted 9/12/14

In the Old Testament the phrase "the word of the LORD" or "the word of Jehovah/Yahweh" is frequently used. Sometimes it describes a supernatural being rather than merely a propositional message from Jehovah. For example, when God called Samuel (1 Sam. chapter 3). Verse one connects visions with the coming of "the word of Jehovah." Implying that a being named the word of Jehovah often arrived with a message (compare verse 7). Verse 10 states, "And the Jehovah came and stood, calling as at other times..." This suggests that the word of the Jehovah was a being who could stand and is Jehovah Himself. There are other examples that could be pointed out in the Old Testament and an argument could be made that that "word of Jehovah" was the pre-incarnate Christ. Nevertheless, the point of this particular blog is different.

The New Testament's use of the phrase "the word of the Lord" often doesn't distinguish between it being a message from Jesus or a message from God. As some of the following list of verses show. The fact that the New Testament writers were fine and comfortable with that is consistent with a belief that Jesus is Jehovah Himself. So, it wouldn't matter if the message was specifically from the Father or from the Son since both are Jehovah even though they are not the same person (though are the same being).

Ps. 119:11  "Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee."

Col. 3:16a "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..."

Isa. 40:8  "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever."

Matt. 24:35  "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."


 Using the American Standard Version:


Luke

22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice.
In this instance it's clear that the phrase refers to a statement by Jesus while on earth.


Acts

8:25  They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

11:16  And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The above verse probably refers to a statement by Christ while on earth. Notice that the verses in Acts below could be referring to the message of Christ (i.e. His Gospel and their Gospel), or about Christ or from/of the Father, or of the Father through Christ. The ambiguity is best consistent with a Trinitarian or Modalistic understanding.
13:49  And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.

15:35  But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

15:36  And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare.

16:32  And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house.

19:10  And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

19:20  So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.

1 Thessalonians

1:8  For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.

2 Thessalonians

3:1  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also [it is] with you;

1 Peter

1:25  But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.





Edward Henry Bickersteth's Book In Defense of the Trinity

originally posted 9/12/14

The following are links to two books by Bickersteth in defense of the doctrine of the Trinity. From what I can tell they are the same book under two different titles or two different books that are very similar. I'll also include links to other works that Bickersteth recommended and from which he acknowledges he gleaned from.

I read Bickersteth's book on the Trinity 20 years ago and looking back it is not without some problems. It commits some of the mistakes I mention HERE.

Nevertheless, Bickersteth's book is still a very good introduction in defense of the Trinity based primarily on Scripture rather than theology or history or even philosophy (which themselves have a place in the discussion).

See also my main Resources in Defense of Trinitarianism


The Trinity by Edward Henry Bickersteth
https://ia600303.us.archive.org/6/items/TheTrinityByEHBickersteth/TheTrinity-E.hBickersteth.pdf
or
http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/the_trinity.pdf
or
http://sophiamission.org/files/documents/pdf/free_theology_books/T/the_trinity_e_h_bickersteth.pdf


The Rock of Ages; or, Scripture Testimony to the One Eternal Godhead or The Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost by Edward Henry Bickersteth
http://books.google.com/books?id=YKIOAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
http://books.google.com/books?id=U3MYAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BookList/RockofAgesbyEdwardHenryBickersteth1871/tabid/286/Default.aspx
(↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ digital version that's able to be copy and pasted ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑) 

Unfortunately, this digital version alters the text so that where the original had "Jehovah" it has "Lord." Thus removing instances when Bickersteth specifically intends refer to the tetragrammaton. At the very least they should have replaced it with "LORD" (all caps) or "YHWH" or "Yahweh." Though I personally prefer, but don't insist on, "Jehovah."



Recommended books by Bickersteth:

Supreme Godhead of Christ by William R. Gordon
https://archive.org/details/supremegodheadc00gordgoog


The Catholic Doctrine of A Trinity
http://books.google.com/books?id=LC4-AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
https://archive.org/details/catholicdoctrine00jon


Horae Solitariae; Or, Essays Upon Some Remarkable Names and Titles of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit Occurring in the Old and New Testaments, And Declarative of Their Essential Divinity and Gracious Offices in the Redemption and Salvation of Men
http://books.google.com/books?id=3IpAAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[the above link contains both volumes in one book]
Only Volume 2 on the Holy Spirit
http://books.google.com/books?id=6WrdMeMMRWUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
http://books.google.com/books?id=ZWcrAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
http://books.google.com/books?id=NglMAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false


The Scripture Testimony to the Messiah by John Pye Smith
http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-scripture-testimony-to-messiah-by.html


Vital Christianity by Alexander Vinet
http://books.google.com/books?id=Rm5GAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
https://archive.org/details/vitalchristiani00turngoog
or
https://archive.org/details/vitalchristianit00vine





Sunday, February 2, 2014

The Names of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit by Elmer L. Towns


The following two books by Elmer L. Towns weren't written to prove the Divinity of Christ or of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, these books provide additional supplementary evidence by collecting the names, titles and descriptions of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Some of which imply their full deity. In these books Towns includes some names which I personally think should be reserved for God the Father alone. Also, some of the names gleaned from the text of the Bible are kind of a stretch. While others do seem to be Old Testament r'mazim hinting at Christ or the Holy Spirit respectively. Having given those caveats, I recommend them as resources that can lead to further supporting evidence for the full deity of both Christ and the Holy Spirit.


The Names of Jesus by Elmer L. Towns [ over 700 names]
http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The_Names_Of_Jesus%5BETowns%5D.pdf

The Names of the Holy Spirit by Elmer L. Towns
http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The_Names_Of_Jesus%5BETowns%5D.pdf





Saturday, February 1, 2014

Trinitarian Related Debates

Some interesting debates.


 Dr. Edward Dalcour vs. Muslim apologist, Sadiq Abdul Malyk

Deity of the Messiah Debate between Unitarians Buzzard/Goode vs. Trinitarians White/Brown
PART 1 http://youtu.be/Yn-grOfPDi0
PART 2 http://youtu.be/M38rQXLq29g

or here: https://youtu.be/L2gf9gO4bGc


Dr. James White vs. Sir Anthony Buzzard on the topic of the Trinity on Justin Brierley's radio show Unbelievable http://youtu.be/SY7_EtcIeOQ