Is fasting out of character for us because it was part of the legal system that God instituted?

During the second forty days on the mount, Moses states, "I did neither eat bread nor drink water, because of all your sins" (Deuteronomy 9:18)." TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 9:18). "I fell down before the Lord... because He said He would destroy you" (verse 25). Because the people sinned, he fasted and interceded. Thus we have the practice, but no command.

Israel defeated by Benjamin (Judges 20:26)," TARGET="_blank">Judges 20:26), Jehoshaphat meeting a vast army (2 Chronicles 20:3)" TARGET="_blank">2 Chronicles 20:3) and Esther facing death (Esther 4:15)" TARGET="_blank">Esther 4:15) all fasted. Even the unsaved of Nineveh, on hearing Jonah preach, "believe God, and proclaimed a fast" (Jonah 3:5)." TARGET="_blank">Jonah 3:5). The practice was not limited to the law nor to Israel.

Unless "afflict your souls" (Numbers 29:7," TARGET="_blank">Numbers 29:7, with Psalm 35:13" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 35:13 where "chastened [with fasting]" is the same word as "afflict") commands fasting, no such command seems to be recorded. These passages link fasting with repentance and humility.

E. Doherty
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How can a sinning believer be restored to the Lord?

How can a sinning believer be restored to the Lord?

Both restoration of communion lost through one sin and also restoration from a path of sin involve two principles. First, confession is essential (Jeremiah 3:13;" TARGET="_blank">Jeremiah 3:13; Hosea 14:2;" TARGET="_blank">Hosea 14:2; 1 John 1:9)." TARGET="_blank">1 John 1:9). More than mere words, confession means taking God's view of our sin. Sin is not a weakness or an addiction. It cannot be justified in any way nor its responsibility transferred to someone else or to r circumstances. Its primary shame is not its being "found out..." Sin is a wrong directed against God (Psalm 51:4)," TARGET="_blank">Psalm 51:4), destructive to one's self, and harmful to others. Any unwillingness to forsake the sin nullifies confession. "Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13)." TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 28:13). Confession is not pleading for forgiveness, repeatedly decrying the sin, or making one's self feel "lowly." It is not primarily emotional; it is a statement of submission to God's character.

The second principle is devotion. Restoration is not complete until a believer has returned to feeding on Christ. Only the power of divine life overcomes sin. By daily reading, meditation, and prayer, the believer can yield to the Spirit's working and know the transforming power of resurrection life.

D. Oliver
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Is the Pope the Antichrist?

Is the Pope the Antichrist?

The antichrist is a prophetic figure that the Bible predicts will become the last satanic-inspired dictator of the God-opposed worldwide government of the last days of the Great Tribulation. Some scriptural references to this coming world leader are found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12;" TARGET="_blank">2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 6:1-2;" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 6:1-2; Revelation 13:1-18;" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 13:1-18; Daniel 7:20-27;" TARGET="_blank">Daniel 7:20-27; Daniel 8:1-27." TARGET="_blank">Daniel 8:1-27.

Many Bible scholars have tried to determine who this person may be. Since the times of the protestant revolution, the Pope has been a favorite target because of his name as the “Vicar” of Christ on earth.

The Catholic Church relies on the Pope to be the representative of Christ on earth. This “Vicar of Christ” or “Vicarious Christ” means that he takes the place of Christ. Protestants love to apply this Vicar title to the term “Anti-Christ” since “anti” is the term to mean “takes the place of”. In the sense of the meaning of the word, the Pope takes the place of Christ or becomes the “Antichrist”. This virulent language appeared in Protestant literature since the Protestant Reformation and appeared for centuries in the notes of the popular Geneva Bible published by Protestants in Geneva, Switzerland.

Being the Vicar of Christ, the Pope claims to speak “ex cathedra” or “from the chair” in regards to matters of belief or doctrine. Speaking this way, he claims to be infallible, without error.

Protestants find this teaching to be in grave error. No man is infallible. The apostles words were inspired, but since their passing, Scripture is complete. The extent that the Pope agrees with the Scriptures is the only extent that he speaks the truth. Catholics therefore believe, for example, that Mary ascended to heaven at the end of her life because November 1, 1950, the Pope declared this to be so.

Shad David Sluiter

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Free Tabernacle Model from the Old Testament

3D printable model of the Old Testament Tabernacle that Moses received at Mt. Sinai. This Sunday school activity can be done in about an hour. The tabernacle model is a scale replica of Moses' tabernacle.

Click here for the Tabernacle Model. Requires Acrobat reader.

Also included in this link are lesson plans for the wilderness journeys including Moses' plans to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Materials required include heavy paper, scissors, color printer.

Students will gain an appreciation for the golden furniture, candlestick, altar of incense, brazen altar and the veils of covering that were part of the tabernacle's design. Instead of simply reading the instructions from the book of Exodus, the printable model gives a students a hands-on activity for building their own take-home project.

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Does an elder "assume" the position of leader or is he appointed?

Should the oversight meeting be open to all elder brethren of consistent walk in life, or only to a few, who “assume” the care and rule of the meeting?

I think one qualified by God for such a work would be very slow to “assume” anything;

1 Timothy 3:1-7;" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1: 6-9;" TARGET="_blank">Titus 1: 6-9; and 1 Peter 5:1-5" TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 5:1-5 give us the qualifications of an overseeing elder: first, he must” desire” it (or “stretch forward” to it, as the original expresses). But that is not enough; he may even be “consistent in walk and life,” and yet fail to manifest the necessary qualification for eldership. Does he rule his home well for instance? or is it a matter of common knowledge, that he is ruled in the home? An overseer of this type is a great hindrance, for sometimes it is the power in the home that seeks to rule the church by his means.

Has he a “good report of them that are without”? Does he “hold fast the faithful Word”? Has he a pastor’s heart, to feed the flock of God?

I think one qualified by God for such a work would be very slow to “assume” anything; he would be apt to do the work, show fitness for it, and have a heart for the Lord’s people, but it would not be for him to push himself into a prominent position; rather his fellowship would be sought. Elders caring for the saints should be on the look out for brethren who are manifesting any spiritual activities, and seek to encourage such, remember that age comes on apace, and that soon perhaps their work will need other hands to take it up.

W.H.

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What does the Bible teach about cloning?

Be the first to give an answer to this question. Write an answer in the comment section below. Please provide your name and if you have a website or blog, be sure to include the URL and email address in your answer.

Answers will be reviewed.

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What does the Bible mean about women learning in silence and submission in 1 Timothy 2:12-15?

What does the Bible mean about women learning in silence and submission in 1 Timothy 2:12-15" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 2:12-15?

These verses deal with a woman's role in public testimony. Learning in "silence" and "submissiveness" (verse 11), she is forbidden to "teach," since this exercises authority over man. Usurp authority" suggests that only domineering power is forbidden, but "exercise authority over man" JND and others) is clearer. To preach the gospel, open a Bible Reading, minister the Word or be an overseer involves authority over man, as well as teaching, and thus violates Scripture. The reasons follow: in formation (verse 13), Adam was first; in the fall (verse 14) this order was reversed and Eve was deceived with catastrophic consequences. This implies that a modern reversal of God's order will have similar results. however, verse 15 assures the woman of salvation in its fullness if, while fulfilling her unique role of motherhood, she maintains faith with love, holiness and sobriety.

D. Gilliland

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Did Lazarus die again after being resurrected by Jesus?

Does Hebrews 9:27" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 9:27 ("once to die") mean that those the Lord raised, like Lazarus, did not die again but went to heaven at Christ's ascension?

At the Fall, God appointed death as the one-time penalty for sin (Romans 5:12;" TARGET="_blank">Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:21, 22). That compares to the one-time offering of Christ for sins (verse 28).

This verse states that in the natural course of events, death is a one-time occurrence. At the Rapture, supernatural power will alter this. Living saints will never die (John 11:26)." TARGET="_blank">John 11:26). In the case of those raised from the dead before the Lord's incarnation, during his ministry, and in the apostles' ministry, supernatural power contravened this order. Only a divine intervention can reverse death.

Scripture gives no reason to believe that any raised from death before Christ's incarnation or after His ascension had a miraculous exit from earth. They returned to life in a world ruined by sin; along with Lazarus, they died again.

The Lord is the only One thus far raised "out from death" ("out resurrection," Philippians 3:11)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 3:11). He is alive forevermore (Revelation 1:18)" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 1:18) and is the Firstfruit (1 Corinthians 15:23)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:23) of a new and distinct harvest. Others before Him were raised from the dead. He was raised out from death - a resurrection. At His coming, the sleeping saints will not merely be raised from the dead, they will be resurrected never to die again, having changed bodies like the Lord's body of glory (1 Corinthians 15:51-56;" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:51-56; Philippians 3:21)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 3:21).

D. Oliver
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Does giving thanks for the bread and cup differ from other prayers at the Lord's Supper?

Does giving thanks for the bread and cup differ from other prayers at the Lord's Supper?

When believers gather to break bread on the first day of the week, it is an opportunity to call to remembrance the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 11:24, 25)," TARGET="_blank">I Corinthians 11:24, 25), His deity, incarnation, holy life and testimony, the efficacy of His death and glorious resurrection, His ascension to heaven, and His present position seated at the right hand of God. The words of the Lord Jesus were, "This do in remembrance of Me," not, "This do in remembrance of My death." In the Lord's Supper, we remember the Lord and proclaim His death. The consequence of this causes worship and thanksgiving. Although the Breaking of Bread is never called a "worship meeting," worship is the normal attitude of the individual believer toward God.

In 1 Corinthians 10:16," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:16, the apostle writes, "The cup of blessing which we bless" and "the bread which we break." This is the act of each individual believer. On behalf of the assembly, a brother gives thanks for the bread and the cup, thanking God that He gave His Son in a human body and His Son's blood was shed to make propitiation for sin. These prayers of thanksgiving have a more specific focus than do the other expressions of worship.

J. Abernathy
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Online Bible Text

Resources at the Gospel Hall for online Bible Text

Depending on your search for online Bible text, you may be looking for

Online Bible Text Search in multiple versions. You can read the text of the Bible in multiple Bible versions.
Printed Texts for hanging on the wall. We recommend www.textools.org
Commentaries on the text for reference in Bible Study.
Articles related to gospel themes found in New Testament Bible Study.

The Bible in various versions is available in the form of a full text Bible search.

Instructions for using the Full Text Bible Search in your Bible Study...

1. Select the following link - gen 1:1-5" TARGET="_blank">gen 1:1-5&search=&ver1=kjv&ver2=bbe">Full Text Biible Search .

2. Type in a passage Bible reference such as John 3:1-5" TARGET="_blank">John 3:1-5 as pictured.

3. Choose the one or two Bible versions to search in the Bible text search form.

4. Optionally, you may select the second Bible version to complete the full text search. The second, optional parallel version, is not required to make a full-text search.

5. Click Search to launch the bible text query.

If you enter a text search for a word or phrase, the full text results of your bible search will be different with each Bible version since the language in each Bible version is slightly different.

About the versions of the Bible

The King James or Authorised Version of the Bible is an English translation of the Bible text first published in 1611. The New Testament text was translated from the Textus Receptus (Received Text) edition of the Greek texts, so called because most extant texts of the time were in agreement with it. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text.

Modern English Bibles such as the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version decline to use the Textus Receptus, opting instead for what many modern scholars feel are more reliable critical editions.

The King James Version has had a profound effect on English literature. The works of famous authors such as John Milton, Herman Melville, John Dryden, and William Wordsworth are deeply inspired by it.

The Bible In Basic English (also known as BBE) is a translation of the Bible into Basic English. The BBE was translated by Professor S. H. Hooke using the standard 850 Basic English words. 100 words that were helpful to understand poetry were added along with 50 "Bible" words. The New Testament was released in 1941 and the Old Testament was released in 1949.

The American Standard Version (ASV) of the Holy Bible was first published in 1901. It has earned the reputation of being the Rock of Biblical Honesty. Although the English used in the ASV is somewhat archaic, it isn't nearly as hard to understand as some passages of the King James Version of nearly 3 centuries earlier. This translation of the Holy Bible is in the public domain, since its copyright has expired. You are encouraged to download, copy, publish, and use this translation freely.

John Nelson Darby Version

First published in 1890 by John Nelson Darby, an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher associated with the early years of the Plymouth Brethren. Darby also published translations of the Bible in French and German.

The English Standard Version (ESV) was Published in 2003 as a translation to bridge the gap between the accuracy of the NASB and the readability of the NIV.

The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. As such, its emphasis is on “word-for-word” correspondence, at the same time taking into account differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages. Thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original.

In contrast to the ESV, some Bible versions have followed a “thought-for-thought” rather than “word-for-word” translation philosophy, emphasizing “dynamic equivalence” rather than the “essentially literal” meaning of the original. A “thought-for-thought” translation is of necessity more inclined to reflect the interpretive opinions of the translator and the influences of contemporary culture.

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