What is a woman's "meek and quiet spirit" in 1 Peter 3?

What is a meek and quiet spirit, spoken of in 1st Peter 3:4" TARGET="_blank">1st Peter 3:4?

Peter uses Sarah as an example for godly wives. The recorded occasion when she called Abraham "Lord" (Genesis 18:12)" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 18:12) took place when her husband and their guests discussed Sarahs having a child in her old age. She laughed at the impossibility of such a thing, but was to learn the value of not unresisting Gods ways with her. This is meekness. It is not an undesirable feature that grows in the garden of weakness. It is the strength that responds submissively to the Lords way of accomplishing His will in us.

True beauty of spirit embraces Gods ways with us as being only good. A number of translations use the word "gentle" for "meek." Respect for the Lord, rather than fear of others, produces this gentleness. Societys view of a meek woman pictures her as being afraid because she dare not do otherwise. Scriptures view of a meek woman presents her as willingly bowing to the Lord, because she knows His ways are best.

The word translated "quiet" has the thought of tranquility, peace. Her quiet spirit is at peace in the enjoyment of the Lords presence.

These are features unknown or unappreciated in the world, but regarded by the Lord as "an ornament of great price."

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Is "the destroyer" (Exodus 12:23) a destroying angel?

Is "the destroyer" (Exodus 12:23)" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 12:23) a destroying angel?

"The destroyer" is actually a verb form and could be translated "that which causes destruction." Strong’s Lexicon relates it to "destroyer" in verse 13, "the plague shall not . . . destroy you." This suggests that the plague itself is "the destroyer."

Support for the widely-accepted thought of "the destroying angel" apparently comes from Psalm 78:49," TARGET="_blank">Psalm 78:49, "He cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, . . . by sending evil [harmful] angels among them." The previous verses (verses 43-48) review the plagues prior to the Passover in Egypt.

Verse 51 deals with the Passover, but verse 50, the intervening verse, seems to indicate that verse 49 reflects back on the plagues prior to the Passover. It states, ". . . He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence." The only time this word "pestilence" appears in Exodus is regarding the plagues before the Passover. It never refers to the Passover in the rest of the Old Testament. One time (1 Chronicles 21:12)," TARGET="_blank">1 Chronicles 21:12), the pestilence is equated with the angel of the Lord’s "destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel" after David’s sin in numbering the people. This however seems to be a weak link.

Scripture affirms that the plague destroyed the firstborn but doesn’t clearly support that an angel was the destroyer.

D. Oliver

Other pages in this section

About this site

What is Deliverance Ministries

"Deliverance" ministers address personal problems in people that are believed to be caused by demons or Satan. The routine for binding a demon is something like a psychiatrist practicing exorcism.
First the deliverance minister may ask a few questions about the person and his/her problems. "How long has this been occurring?" "When is it most frequent?" etc.

It is assumed that the person needs deliverance from a demon to cure the problem whether it be unexplained pain or a bad habit such as alcoholism.
The deliverance ministries approach then tries to begin a conversation with the demon trying to evoke a response from the demon. If this begins to sound like a prohibited practice in scripture, then you are correct. Notice a few verses from the Bible here:

Leviticus 19:31" TARGET="_blank">Leviticus 19:31 "Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12" TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 18:10-12 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer (11) or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, (12) for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.

Leviticus 20:27" TARGET="_blank">Leviticus 20:27 "A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them."

1 Corinthians 10:20-21" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:20-21 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

The minister of a deliverance ministry may then try to intimidate the demon through speaking loudly, commanding in an authoritative voice, invoking the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If there are not quick results, the practitioner may schedule future sessions to talk to the demons again.
Other forms of deliverance may be in the attempts to bind Satan from entering into a new church or preventing him from attacking a house.

One may seriously question whether such practices border on the spells and charms that cults prefer to practice rather than praying to the Lord to protect and prosper.

If you are feeling the need of God's protection, pray directly to Him, not to Satan or to his demons. The Lord's own example of prayer for the Disciples includes the phrases:

"lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:9-13)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 6:9-13)

Some verses for you to read for comfort include:

Psalm 139" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 139 – the omnipresent, omnipotent God of the Universe knows you better than you know yourself.

Psalms 91:1-4" TARGET="_blank">Psalms 91:1-4 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (3) For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. (4) He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

The most important protection that God can provide is the salvation of your soul. See other questions regarding salvation for eternal security.

I know Christ took our sins on the cross, but for some reason I'm not sure if I'm saved.

Other pages in this section

About this site

What does the Bible phrase mean - the redemption of their soul is precious?

Please explain Psalm 49:8" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 49:8

Psalm 49:8" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 49:8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

Verses 6 and 7 circumscribe the power of riches; for all the wealth of the world cannot redeem a brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. The word for “redeem” is not the more usual word gã’al (subst. go’el. Job 19:25;" TARGET="_blank">Job 19:25; Jeremiah 50:34)," TARGET="_blank">Jeremiah 50:34), but pãdãh—to loose, hence to redeem by paying a price, to let go—preserve (Numbers 18:15;" TARGET="_blank">Numbers 18:15; Psalm 25:22)." TARGET="_blank">Psalm 25:22). The word for “ransom” is the atonement word—Kopher.
Now comes the subject of the question (v. 8): “For the redemption (pidyon, same root as pãdãh) of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever.” This certainly seems ambiguous, but the R.V. is an improvement, if more correct: “For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be let alone for ever.” This almost goes back to the English version known as “the Great Bible” brought out in 1539, under the superintendence of Miles Coverdale (subsequent to his own well-known translation), the Psalter of which is still found embedded in the “Book of Common Prayer” of the “Established Church.” This version runs: “It cost more to redeem their souls, so that he must let that alone for ever.” The meaning then seems plain; Redemption is beyond man’s means, so it is wiser to let that alone. But verse comes in as the positive solution. “But God will redeem (pãdãh) my soul from the power of the grave, for He will receive me.”
W.H.

Other pages in this section

About this site

Is it right to teach that Satan fell first of all in Eden

Is it right to teach that Satan fell first of all in Eden’s garden?

Perhaps there is scarcely any subject which lends itself more readily to speculation, and concerning which speculation ought to be more carefully avoided, than the mysterious fall of Satan. No fact is more clear; hardly one mentioned with more reserve. If the above question means whether his fall took place in the actual Garden of Eden of Genesis 2" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 2: , the answer can only be, “No.” Satan comes on the scene in it as a fallen being, already the enemy of God and man. His fall had taken place long before, and, as I believe, in another scene. This fall is referred to by our Lord in Luke 10:18" TARGET="_blank">Luke 10:18: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” This would indicate that heaven was his original abode. The reason of his fall is given in 1 Timothy 3:6," TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:6, to be pride, but nothing is said specially of his pride in the Eden episode. His fall is referred to also in Isaiah 14," TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14, in words which must go far beyond the Assyrian: “How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning!” Again in Ezekiel 28," TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28, his fall is described, no doubt in symbolic language: “By the multitude of thy merchandise, they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned” (Ezekiel 28:16)." TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28:16). “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness” (v. 17). Pride, corruption, and violence characterised his fall, as they have also our fallen race. What has probably given colour to the idea referred to above are the words in Ezekiel xxviii. 13 addressed to Satan concerning his fall:
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God.” If God prepared for Adam, the head of the earthly creation, a delightful abode suitable for his highest enjoyment, is it not likely that He would do the same for the head of the angelic creation? Just as there is now, besides the earthly paradise that was, a heavenly paradise, so there may have been two Edens. It has been suggested that Lucifer’s Eden may have occupied the same site in the original earth of Genesis 1:1," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 1:1, as the Eden of the Adamic earth. Some think there would be a fitness in this. Certainly heaven and earth were not so wide apart once as now, but the idea seems to lack direct scriptural support. W.H.

Other pages in this section

About this site

What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?

What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?

Should a Christian date or marry someone from another race? Does skin color matter in a Christian marriage? Does the Bible forbid a black person from marrying a white person or an Asian or Hispanic?

The Bible teaches that there is no such thing as different "races". We are all from one race – the human race. There exits many different cultures, different external physical characteristics and languages in the world, but there is only one human race. It is more accurate to say that there are different people groups based on nationality and culture, but biologically speaking, there is only one race of humans on the earth.

Adam and Eve are the parents of all human descendents.

Gen 3:20" TARGET="_blank">Gen 3:20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

1Co 15:45" TARGET="_blank">1Co 15:45 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

All humans share another common ancestor in Noah and his family. Noah's three sons and daughters-in-law were told to leave the ark and re-populate the globe.

Genesis 8:16-18" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 8:16-18 "Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh--birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth--that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him.

The New Testament also confirms the fact that we are all one race. Paul was preaching in Athens to a group of Greeks and other groups when he said…

Acts 17:26-27" TARGET="_blank">Acts 17:26-27 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (27) that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Modern biologist have discovered through the Human Genome Project that the differences between people within the same people group are about the same as variations between them and others outside of their group. Skin color is a very minor difference genetically speaking.

But what do Bible verses mean in regards to the prohibition of marriage between the ancient Jews and the surrounding nations?

In the case of King Solomon, he disobeyed the word of the Lord when he married women from other nations. His disobedience was not because of a difference of race, but because the new wives (which also is poligamy) brought him into idolatry.

1 Kings 11:1-2" TARGET="_blank">1 Kings 11:1-2 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, (2) from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love.

Deuteronomy 17:17" TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 17:17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

In the days of Nehemiah, there was a mixture of marriages between Israel and surrounding nations. The problem was the same – foreign religions caused the people of Israel to forsake God.

Nehemiah 13:23-26" TARGET="_blank">Nehemiah 13:23-26 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. (24) And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. (25) And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. (26) Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.

The New Testament equivalent command for Christian marriage is found in

2 Corinthians 6:14-17" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 6:14-17 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (15) What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? (16) What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

A Christian should not marry an unbeliever. It does permit that a Christian marry someone from another nationality or another ethnic group or culture.

But is it wise to marry someone from another culture?

Every marriage faces challenges because of differences of opinion and different assumptions about the other person. Differences in age, culture, language, family environment all need to be considered and discussed before committing to marry one another. These obstacles may be anticipated and overcome. If you are planning to be married, you should get to know your spouses family very well ahead of time. Your spouse learned a great deal of how a family functions (or malfunctions) from his/her parents. If your fiancé is from another country or culture, you should take your time to adapt yourself to the other culture and make adjustments.

Shad David Sluiter

Other pages in this section

About this site

What should a believer do when others speak against fellow believers ?

What should a believer do when others speak against fellow believers ?

Believers often discuss assembly activities and therefore the Christians involved. As always, the fear of God should govern our tongues at such times. Romans 16" TARGET="_blank">Romans 16 shows us the sweetness of Paul’s spirit; his remarks express appreciation for assembly saints and their labors for God. Appreciate God's grace seen in others (Acts 11:23)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 11:23). "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil 2:3)." TARGET="_blank">Phil 2:3).

Malicious conversation against fellow saints, particularly overseers, is unacceptable (Eph 4:30-32)." TARGET="_blank">Eph 4:30-32). A response upholding these believers may silence such criticism. At the least, you can express your disagreement by silence or a quiet suggestion that we "speak not evil one of another" (James 4:11)." TARGET="_blank">James 4:11). In addition, privately express your concern to the offender in an inoffensive way that encourages submission.

Deliberate malice to blemish the character of another believer is very serious. Those speaking against others require shepherd visitation (1 Thessalonians 5:14)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 5:14). Failure to respond to such shepherding invites the extreme, sad discipline of excommunication as a railer (1 Cor 5:11)." TARGET="_blank">1 Cor 5:11).

J. Smith

Other pages in this section

About this site

How is the Lord Jesus Christ a priest like Melchisedec?

What is the significance of "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Psalm 110:4)" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 110:4)?

Aaronic priests served in an earthly sanctuary with repeated sacrifices under an old covenant. By comparison and contrast, Christ’s priesthood is linked with a heavenly sanctuary, a final sacrifice, and an eternal covenant (Hebrews 7-10)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 7-10). Israel’s high priest transferred his office to his son. Our Great High Priest (4:14) is unique. Melchisedec, like the Son of God, did not derive His office from ancestors nor delivered it to successors, since his genealogy and posterity are not recorded (Genesis 14:18;" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:3)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 7:3). The Bible’s first priest, Melchisedec, is from a mold into which no one else fits. The original (the mold), in God’s purpose, is His Son.

Melchisedec was both a priest and king. The meaning of his name and title, King of Righteousness, King of Peace (7:2) is significant (Psalm 72:3;" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 72:3; Isaiah 60:17)." TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 60:17). He appears after the Bible’s first war and battle, involving a confederacy of kings (Genesis 14;" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 14; Psalm 2:2)." TARGET="_blank">Psalm 2:2). He assures Abram of God’s ability to give him the land of promise. All of this reminds us of a coming day when our Lord will be a priest on His throne (Zechariah 6:13)." TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 6:13). Until then, we enjoy the benefit of His priesthood.

The single, defining act of Melchisedec’s priesthood was blessing Abram (Hebrews 7:1)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 7:1). By lifting Abram’s vision to "the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth," he strengthened the pilgrim’s faith to withstand the coming trial.

Assured by an oath of the immutable God (Hebrews 7:21)," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 7:21), our Lord’s priesthood "after the order of Melchisedec" is non-transferable, eternal, millennial, and spiritual, strengthening faith in the Unseen.

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Do differences in the manuscripts mean that our Bible is not totally reliable?

Do differences in the manuscripts mean that our Bible is not totally reliable?

The Lord in His wisdom did not preserve to us the original autographs of the Scriptures. Our translations have come from manuscripts formed from documents which may be many copies removed from the originals. These documents have been found in many places and in varying conditions. Finding them, evaluating their authenticity, and assessing their accuracy is a complex science. There are some variations in the manuscripts. W.E. Vine quotes men considered experts in the text saying that the variations are "formed in great part by changes of order and other comparative trivialities." Further, these men tell us "the amount of what can in any sense be called substantial variation . . . can hardly form more than a thousandth part of the entire text." Mr. Vine concludes, as do others, "There is no doctrine in Scripture which would be affected if all the various readings were allowed or if all the disputed words, or those about which there is any doubt, were omitted." (W. E. Vine, "The Divine Inspiration of the Bible, Ritchies’ Christian Book Service, pp. 27, 28.)

Our Lord asserts the exact inspiration of the original words (Matthew 22:29-32;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 22:29-32; John 10:35)." TARGET="_blank">John 10:35). Their precise truth has been divinely preserved (Psalm 119:89; 117:2;" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 119:89; 117:2; 1 Peter 1:25)." TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 1:25). We build safely on the reliability of God’s immutable Word (Matthew 7:24-25)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 7:24-25).

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Why did God wait 400 years to give Abraham the promised land?

Abraham believed God as to his seed, and it was “counted unto him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6)," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:6), but when promised the land he asked for a sign. Would he not have had it at once had he believed, without having to wait four hundred years for his descendants to inherit it?

I do not think there was necessarily any unbelief in Abraham’s asking whereby he should know that he should inherit it. God often dealt thus with his servants of old—with Moses, Gideon, Hezekiah, etc., and granted them signs to strengthen their faith. As a matter of fact, Abraham did not ask for a sign. His question brought out the basis on which God was acting, namely, on the ground of covenant. The heifer, the she-goat, and the other sacrificial victims, all spoke of Christ the One true covenant Victim. Verse i8 makes it clear that the terms of this covenant assured the land, not personally to Abraham, but to his seed, and this was, we need not doubt, the original purpose of God. Stephen understood it so, for he emphasises the fact that “God gave Abraham none inheritance in the land, no, not so much as to set his foot on” (Acts 7:5)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 7:5), nor does He in any way attribute this to Abraham’s unbelief. It would clearly have been premature for a single family to inherit a vast territory, like that indicated in Genesis 15:18-21;" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:18-21; nor had God’s time come to expel the owners of the soil, for “the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full.”

W.H.

Other pages in this section

About this site

Main Menu