How to Enjoy the Bible Camp '70 (Session 3 part 2)
Publication Date: 07-05-1970
On Ephesians 4:25 where I want to begin tonight, or where we will begin tonight , the first part of what the Research Team gave me is the work that Walter Cummins published in our wonderful Way Magazine on "The Spoken Word." Also, as we cover Ephesians 4:28 tonight, I had all the information in front of me from another article that Walter Cummins has in the... has had in the Magazine. The first article on Ephesians 4:25 is entitled "The Spoken Word." The one on Ephesians 4:28 is "Workers for God." Both of these pieces of work by Walter are absolutely superb. And I believe that they should appear and will appear in our research journal GMIR whenever we begin publishing that. {GMIR Aramaic word meaning ' to perfect, accomplish , mature, complete, arithmetically to be divisible without any remainder.}
And I noticed again that some of the things that were stated are just so beautifully and logically presented, I'm truly thankful for, not only Walter, but the whole Research Department. I think our Biblical Research Department is just second to none. And it' s even going to be better by God' s mercy and grace next year and in years to come than it is at this time. And right now I do not believe that our Biblical Research Department needs to take a back seat for any academic institution or work in the world.
And I thought today, I have never... I've never thought of Walter Cummins in any other capacity than to be my assistant. I know Vince Finnegan, you know, on the books is my assistant. And that' s great. But I've never thought of Walter Cummins in any other capacity for so many years as always being my assistant. And I think he' s just the most wonderful person that any president could have as his assistant. And also to be chairmen of the Department of Greek, and then the coordinator of the Biblical research of The Way International. For any one man to have that position and that responsibility is an awesome reality and I'm real proud of Walter and real thankful for him. But I am also thankful for the rest of our wonderful men and women in the Research Department.
I would like for the Corps all over the country to go to the Magazine and find "The Spoken_Word," that's the title of it, dealing with Ephesians 4:25 and other scriptures, and before the next Corps meeting next week, you endeavor to master that great piece of work by Walter Cummins. It's just, you know, the spoken Word. Over fifty Greek words are used in the New Testament in connection with the faculties of utterance. Over fifty. And then he takes the most important ones and he lists them and it' s just. .. it' s just a piece of research work that you should really as a Corps master in your heart and in your life.
Ephesians 4:25 in the King James reads, Wherefore put away lyin g, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
The ' putting away' was interesting to me again because of the Greek word aniko, a-n-i-k-o.
And this word is ' the putting away,' this word ' put away,' aniko, is the same root word as in 4:22, where we use the word ' rest,' meaning ' to rest.' Is that right? Yep, that is right. I taught you that,
didn't I? Did I or didn't I? Doesn't look right to me. It is the same root. What chapter am I missing? Am I missing anything? I don't know. Right now I'm screwed up, ha ha. First time today. You check the word again and I'll do that, too and see what I'm missing here.
But a-n-i-k-o is the word for ' putting away from you. ' To put away. And it' s the same root as the word ' rest.' I don't know where the word appears, but it's got to be in there.
Now, that word ' speak,' every man speak. That word ' speak ' is from the Greek word
laleo, l-a-l-e-long-o. And that' s where Walter' s article on "The Spoken Word"_c omes in because that is.. .he uses that word laleo in here, which I teach in Corinthians when I teach the Foundational Class. And he says the word is employed 24 times in I Corinthians chapter 14. I had forgotten that.
This word is truly significant. I couldn' t quite understand it Research Department, what you said on page 26B 16, where you defined it ' to make vocal utterance,' ' to babble,' 'to talk,' 'to exercise the faculty of speech without reference to the words spoken.' I just wondered if there might not be another word that could be substituted or utilized at this point. I know that Zachariah 8:16 is the quotation that is used here, or spoken of. And that Zachariah 8:16 adds force to what is said by using a quote, a quotation. That' s why my question to the Research Department is, How can it be without reference to what is spoken if it is truth plus the quotation of the Word of God that's given. It doesn't quite fit for me.
'With his neighbor' has to be a believing neighbor. This 'speak truth with his neighbor' is a figure of speech gnome, g-n-o-m-e, which simply is a citation. And that' s a citation from Zachariah 8:16.
There are a series of figures of speech, Corps, in chapter four which just put the 00mph, the highlight, to the particular things that are set whereby you put off the old man. This phrase here 'speak every man truth with his neighbor' is one of them. The other one appears in verse 26, 'be angry and sin not.' ' Steal no more' is another one. 'Corrupt communication' is the fourth one. 'Grieve not the holy spirit' is the fifth one. ' All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking' is the sixth. And then ' be kind' and so forth, is the seventh.
You see, the last phrase in that verse, in King James, For we' re members one of what? [Another] And it' s relative to the neighbor. Now you just look at that. Wherefore put away lying, speak every man truth with his what? [Neighbor] For we are members one of another. That doesn't mean just a neighbor who lives next door, but it has to be a believing neighbor because we are members one of what? [Another]. You could not be a member ' one of another' ifhe was an unbeliever. That's how I know this is going to work. This tells me that the neighbor is a believer. And this ' we' re members one of another' continues the imagery of the Body of Christ.
The literal according to usage of this verse is as follows: Wherefore put away the lie... and I believe in my heart, before I go on with the literal that until man is born again, it's all a lie anyways. And that' s why I believe that this translation will fit in the light of that knowledge. Because when a man is not born again, his whole life is just a lie. Now you're born again, and that ' s why I think the text states it ' wherefore put away the lie,' the life you' ve been living , the screwed up life you have lived outside of God. It' s been just a life of a lie. It' s not truth. It' s just the opposite of truth and that's my reason for translating it this way... Wherefore put away the lie.
You've got to go with that translation. You have no other text to go by both from Aramaic and Greek it's 'lie.' Not 'lying.' If the Research Department has anything to share in the light of that, I'd be blessed to hear, but you' ve heard my reasons for translating it, Research Department, this way.
Now since they're born again, their whole life is changed, so the life of lying, and living a lie, and being a lie, and being false, is to be put away.
And every man... this is the translation ... and everyone, everyone. The word ' man' you could use because it's an inclusive noun, but I prefer to use the word ' one.'
Wherefore put away the lie and everyone speak the truth with his neighbor for we are members one of another. That is literal according to usage.
Now for the expanded according to understanding. It's not bad. Because of this... What we coughing for? Everybody sick?...Because of this... and the reason I went in the expanded along this line is because verse 24 last week told us that we are created by God in righteousness and in true purity, through holiness. Twenty four.
That's why 25, Wherefore ... 'wherefore' can be translated 'because of this.' Because of this what? Being created in righteousness and truly pure. See it's an inside job.
Because of this being created in righteousness and truly pure by the grace and the love of
God.. .Because of this being created in righteousness and truly pure, you put away, completely lay to rest the lie that you have been and were living and each one of you speak the truth using a quotation from the Word with his believing neighbor for we are members one of another in the Body of the Church.
Robinson {Edward} said, he translated, 'speak every man truth with his neighbor' and he said it's from Zachariah 8:16 which adds force to what is said by using a quote. That's why I translated that. I think that' s great. It adds force to what is said. If you're speaking to someone, it adds force to what you say by using a quote, a quotation from God's Word. In other words, ' you share the Word with them.' That' s why I went with that translation. I want to give it to you again in this sense.
Speak the truth using a quotation from the Word, which means 'share the Word.' Quote the Word to them. Tell them what the Word says, with his believing neighbor. Why? For we are members one of another in the Body of the Church. This verse is just mind blowing.
Here, you have a born-again believer neighbor who needs to grow up a little more. So what do you do? Each one speak the truth to that neighbor, that believer, using the Word, quoting the Word because we' re members one of another in the Body of the Church. It's a real positive thing to do.
Verse 26 in King James reads, Be angry.. .ha ha... we like that one, don't we. Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
Here is a verse of Scripture that' s very, very difficult for most people. And it' s not too easy for us either. But I think we are able to share the truth of the greatness of this and it's been burning in my heart for a long time to do this with our people.
Everybody has problems with ' how can you be angry and not sin?' You know, how can raise hell with something and not be sinful in doing it? Teed off and not be sinful. And how can you go... and what does it mean 'don't let the sun go down upon your wrath?' See.
In the context, here, verses 26 and 27 deal with your believing neighbor, specifically. Then the Greek word for ' anger' which is from the root orge, o-r-g-long-e means 'anger together with the desire of revenge .' That' s bad. That' s a heavy. The Hebrew word means ' to kill, and all the tumults of passion that terminate in killing.' So it's a real heavy word when it said ' be angry.'
And the way I believe it's used in God' s Word, ' be ye angry' means ' it's a long time anger with your believing neighbor until a change has ensued.' The desire to... of revenge is a change. And I, knowing the Word in the light of the new birth, it's where a change finally comes about. Until that time, you just, long-term, you just stay put witnessing the Word, sharing the Word. You do not dislike the believing neighbor; you simply dislike that he is not fully accepting the Word and walking on it. So it' s a long-term anger until a change has ensued. You just stay faithful.
I don't know what else to do with those words. It is a righteous anger. Yet it is a righteous anger without sin.
Among the scholars, there is a disagreement on these words. Well, I don't know about my being a scholar; that I don' t anything about being about. But it's simple to me because righteous anger is commanded by God's Word when it says ' be ye angry.' Well, the scholars can fight about it. I don' t care. It' s a command. Not just permitted to get teed once in a while when somebody' s off of God' s Word, a believer is off of God's Word. You' re always teed off righteously at any believer, born-again believer, who is off of God' s Word. And for those of us in the Way Ministry, it' s been a lifetime.
Get into it with them on... Oh what subject do you want to talk about? Baptism? Food? One God? See. All that stuff.
The Aramaic is accurate in the words ' and sin not.' It literally translates ' and you will not sin.' Again, this ' be angry and sin not' is that figure gnome. Quotation. A citation from the Old Testament. It' s from Psalm 4:4. But in King James, Psalm 4:4, it's translated 'stand in awe.' The real sense of the Hebrew is ' one of admonition;' sin not. Where we' re admonished to not sin. Sin not.
' Let not the sun go down on your wrath. ' Ha ha. That again is beautiful. People went to bed when the sun went down, when it got dark. That's when they went to bed. So what that simply is saying, ha ha, ' don't go to bed teed off.' Don' t let the sun go down on your wrath. In other words, go to bed; don' t go to bed mad. ' When you go to bed' is what it means. Let not the sun go down when you go to bed. And they went to bed when the sun went down. When it got dark, they went to bed, see.
' Upon your wrath.' And the word ' wrath' here is basically ' irritation.' Ha ha. Previously when I taught Ephesians, I made mention of this fact, ' don' t let righteous anger shake you, wondering if it was right on. When you go to bed, go to sleep.'
Now, this is what we have done with it in the literal, ha ha, according to usage. I got more papers up here than Carter has liver pills, or something. Then, I can' t find my... whatever it is I take off of it.
Okay, verse 26. You be righteously angry.. .this is literal according to usage.. .and you will not be sinning. Don't go to bed even with a momentary irritation, ha ha.
I don't think you get nearly as much fun out of this as I do. It's neat. It's absolutely scrumptious, see. At the opening, is that heavy word, remember? Anger. So it's a real heavy time. So what he is saying, in the heavy time, when your standing on God' s Word and sharing that with the believing neighbor, you' re righteously angry... you're not sinning. And you don't even go to bed with a momentary irritation. In other Words, when you go to bed, thank God the day is over. Say your last prayer and start snoring.
Boy, that would save a lot of sleeping pills, wouldn' t it? Practicing that principle. Boy, oh boy, what a tremendous Word. And hardly anybody understands verse 26. They argue about it, but they don' t get the understanding.
Now this is the expanded one according to understanding, I hope. And again, I would like to just lay some things before the Corps, and especially before the Research Department. I translated the first part of verse 26, You always stay angry with an all-out desire to have them to change which anger will not be sin on your part.
Then I have another translation of that first part of it: You be righteously angry, 'teed off' with sin... 'Teed off' I put in quotes. But don't you sin by acting ' holier than thou' vaunting yourself by acting so righteously like you never sin.
I do not know which one of those two the Research Department feels would be the better. The last part of the phrase that I translated which would go with both of these that I have given you here on the expanded one for understanding. This, the last part, goes with that first one and with the second ... also.. .even if it is only a momentary irritation. When you go to bed, go to sleep. That's what I did with it.
Now, verse 27. King James says, Neither (or neither) give place to the Devil. The word 'place' is simply a portion, a part. No believer will give full place to the Devil, but he may be giving a part, a portion. He' ll mark off a spot, ' this is Devil' s permission over here, over here, no permission, you know. And you really give the Devil a portion or a spot if you stew about it after you go to bed and you toss and you tum and can' t sleep.
This word 'the Devil,' ' the Devil' in the Aramaic is a very interesting and exciting Word to me and it blesses my heart. It' s a compound word where the first part means ' to eat' or ' to devour.' The latter
' to slander' or ' to accuse. ' So when I got to translating this, literally according to usage, verse 27 reads: Do not give any portion or space or an opportunity to the Devil. So I used those three words synonymously: portion, space, opportunity. Do not give any portion or space or an opportunity to the Devil.
The expanded according to understanding: And you will not give a toehold, an opportunity or an occasion for the Devil to eat you. Ha ha. I get more fun than you ever will out of working this stuff, huh.
You see, and to me, that communicates to my understanding. John 10:10. The thief cometh not but for to what? [Steal, kill, and destroy] Right. To eat you out. To beat you. And that's why that Aramaic word, on the word ' Devil' really thrilled me.
And that ' s why I put it into the expanded translation: And you will not give a ' toehold.' Now, at L.E.A.D., you know how important it is to get a what? [Toehold] Ha ha. And when you' re really climbing in, you' re blessed for a toehold. How thankful you are when you get a foothold. Now the adversary can never get a foothold in a believer' s life until he first has a toehold. That's why I translated it that way.
Do not give... and you will not give a toehold ... shave all the rocks off... an opportunity or an occasion for the Devil to eat you. And that' s exactly what he likes to do to believers.
Now we go to verse 28. King James says, Let him that stole steal not more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. And here again, is another great work that I believe should be in our research journal GMIR, Walter' s work on " Workers for God."
It' s just tremendous where he... you know... he just goes into God' s men are called many things in the Word. They' re called: fellow workers, ministers, or servants, slaves, fellow slaves, partners, messengers, soldiers, fellow soldiers, athletes, fellow athletes, stewards, ambassadors, witnesses, all of those. And he covers them so beautifully. And I love very much how he covered the word ' slave,' because it' s a much stronger word than to be a minister, or to be a servant. It is to be one who is branded, marked out, sold out. And baby, from that day on, there are no ifs, and' s, or but' s. You never budge on it. You are branded. Most believers are never branded. They may be servants, they may be ministers, but they are not branded. When you' re branded, you stay faithful. You do not budge. You do not change. You stay put. If all hell breaks loose, you still live the believing Word.
I think the prophet once said, If I was in the midst of hell, God I know you' d be there. (Psalm 139:8) He' d be there. That' s the doulos. That, of course, is just a tremendous piece of work.
And the other great part that I think... and this is a second piece that I want the Corps to master before next Wednesday night, " Workers for God," the work on ' witness.' You see, it's the same word basically that's translated ' martyr,' see. And we got a lot of those canonized. That's not at all what a witness is. A witness is a living example, not a dead one. The word 'martyr' simply means that you lay down your life in witnessing. And boy, when you put the doulos together with ' witness,' then you' ve got power for abundant living. It's just a fantastic work by Walter and I' m real grateful that it was published. Because once it' s in print, people can take a look at it if they want to.
I'd like a cup of coffee, please.
Now, we are in verse 28. The Aramaic translation is ' and he who was stealing.' I understand it from the English, ' let him that stole,' past tense. The Aramaic is real simple, real strong. ' And he, the one who is born again, who was, past tense, stealing.'
Thank you.
His whole life was one of those before he was born again.
Whenever you bring a cup of coffee to a right-hand man, you put the handle to the right. When you serve a cup of coffee to a left-hand man, you put it on the left-hand side and put the handle to the left. Corps principle number seven or something, ha ha. Mrs. Wierwille would say, Well, be thankful you even get a cup of coffee. [Laughter] Ah, you're wonderful.
See, ' let him who stole, steal no more.' 'Stole and steal,' that' s a figure of speech and is polyptoton p-o-l-y-p-t-o-t-o-n. It' s a repetition of the same root word in different parts of speech or reflections. But, that's not earth shaking right now in my heart.
You see, in some Eastern culture, it was not considered a sin or a shame to steal because that's the way they lived, the only way they lived. Somebody told me... or not only told me, one of our people, but it was in a national magazine, that the basic culture of Russia today is to steal. And in some respects I can understand this. If you don't have anything and you're starving to death and there' s a loaf of bread you can get a hold of... steal the dam thing. I understand that.
So this verse is really sharp, really sharp. Let him who stole, even though that man previously considered it the way to live and there was no shame in it, no sin in it. He said, Well, let that fellow who stole, steal no more. Something has happened on the inside of that man. Something that happened, where He is able to meet all of our need according to His riches in glory. Christ in you, the hope of glory. More than conquerors.
A record in the Old Testament, I forget where it is, but it's in there, that it' s never, you never need to borrow or steal bread or... what is that in the Old Testament? Begging bread. One person stand and tell me. {Psalm 37:25, I have been young and now am old; yet have I seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread.} Psalm 27:25 who? {Psalm 37:25} 37:25. All the years, he's never seen the righteous to have to do what? {Beg bread} Beg bread.
First of all, I wish the Christian world could hear this. Secondly, I wish our government in the United States could understand it. The Word says, If you don't work, you don' t eat. A lot of that stuff. Well, what we've been doing is stealing from the people who are willing to work to give to the people who don' t want to work. That's a bunch of crap. That's stealing. That's why this verse is so hot in my soul tonight. Let him who stole, quit stealing, dang it. See.
Many years ago I was really knocked for a loop along some of this line in India, from Dr. Williams. I think he loved India maybe like I love the United States, I don' t know. Because only a man knows how much he loves his own country, I guess.
But... as we were traveling together, he said to me, Dr. Wierwille, I hear you have whores in the United States.
You know, I never had given it a thought. I just took it for granted. [Laughter] And I said, yeah. He said, Why does a rich country like the United States have whores?
And I said, I don't know.
And he said, I can't understand it. Cannot your women make enough money to live? Yeah, but they figure that' s cheaper and more pleasurable or something, I don' t know. And he said, Well, I think it's sinful that the United States has whores.
And I said, What do you mean?
And he said to me, why, I can understand India. He said we don' t enough food, we don' t have enough of anything hardly for a lot of people. And we have whores because that' s the only way they can continue to live physically.
And I thought to myself, well boy, that' s slapping me in the face good. And I took it as a wonderful lesson. There is no excuse in the United States for any women being a whore because she doesn' t need to get screwed and paid for it in order to get money so she can live. There's plenty of work available and if there isn' t she ought to get born again, then there' s a guarantee of work. ..other work, available. I tell you, when you' re honest, some of these men in other countries have some real logic behind their thinking. How would you have liked to have handled that? I just simply admitted, Well, I think we' re wrong in the United States. But I said, I think you' re wrong in India, too, because no reason to have whores here if you get them born again.
So I don' t know. But this verse today as I worked the final working on this verse 28 is when my heart really went back and burned with that truth that Dr. Williams had stated. Because in many Eastern cultures, it was not considered as sin or as shame to steal, if it was a matter of livelihood. You sometimes wonder who will live in the greatest condemnation before God and justice and judgment when the time comes.
For in most of what are called poor countries even, there is sufficient money, food, and other things for the people to live if those in positions of authority were not so selfish and egotistical, and want it for themselves , and let the rest of the world die... or a country die.
The word ' labor' in verse 28 is the word which literally means ' hard work resulting in fatigue.' That's how I felt coming from the woods last night. And I didn' t do anything. It was just hard work being there with the rest of you. Today I got so tired of being with some, I came home. Ah, you' re wonderful.
' Working with his hands' is an Eastern cultural type of thing. Today in our culture, you could have it, you know, the truth is working with your mind or working with your hand, whatever you' re working at. But in Eastern culture, every son was to be trained to work with his hands, even if he was the son of a king. Had to learn a trade, a profession of business.
Jesus Christ was a saddle maker. He made them to ride, I guess, what do you want? Tennessee Walkers , or? See. I think not only did he do that, Paul did it, too, you know. Someday I'm going to find a...or Walter, or some of those, are going to find me a manuscript to prove it. .. and a wonderful carpenter by trade. Many times doing carpentry work and being a saddle maker were sort of in the same household, because building carpentry and having saddles to use for their business and carrying on, were very, very closely aligned. Well, I won' t argue the point, but I wish we' d keep looking.
II Thessalonians.. .Do your hands ever get so dry you can hardly hold anything? Golly, mine are so dry tonight, I wonder why? II Thessalonians, chapter 3:10... this we commanded you that if any would not work, neither should he what? [Eat] Right. Even unemployment is no excuse for stealing. He just doesn' t eat. Goes and gets work. Boy, when I first saw the greatness of these principles many years ago, and then of course, I uniquely by God' s grace, inculcated that into our W.O.W. program and very dynamically in the Corps leadership.
(Luk 24:32); 2Ti 2:15; 2:1-10
2Ti 2:11-19; Eph 4:11-14; Joh 7:16; 8:28, 47; 12:49; 14:10, 24; 17:8; 1Co 2:13; 1Pe 3:19; Track E: 1Pe 3:14-20; 2Pe 2:4, 5; Jud 6; (Gen 1:1; 3:15)
1Pe 3:19-21; (1Co 2:8); Mat 22:32; 1Pe 1:7, 11, 19-21; 2:20-24; 4:6, 13, 19; 5:1, 10; (Luk 23:46); Col 2:14, 15
In dealing with how to enjoy the Bible in this camp, I gave you yesterday what I think is the foundation of all biblical work and that is simply to read, to enjoy it. I wouldn’t even mind if you read other translations at times, but I think there is one translation you ought to read or one version, and that is the King James. But it doesn’t hurt you when you are really interested in getting into the in-depth accuracy of the Word to read Phillips, to read Goodspeed and Smith, Dr. Lamsa’s Bible. Because the more you read, the more the whole of the Word of God gets into you because you’re not just paying attention to the individual specific word. After you have an overall feeling of the Word, what I would call a spiritual perception of the whole Word. And when you read the Word, let me say, you never read the Word without prayer before you read it. You never read without thanking the Father that He will enlighten you and give you understanding. Like it said Jesus walked with the two to the road to Emmaus and he opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. You know, you can read the Bible a lifetime just as words and never get an understanding; you got to get God to blow your mind and get rid of those negatives and all of that tradition and all of that baloney, I guess. Especially the adults have put up there and you young people aren’t far behind because you’ve been trained by us adults. So, we have to get rid of all of that. And I always pray to the Father that my mind will be sharp, that it will be quick, that I will be able to perceive and understand what he has written. Because when we in the Way Ministry come to the Word to read it’s not like reading a newspaper or a book, it’s like reading God’s Word. For the Word is as much God as God is God.
Once you have that overall picture, then I begin working what I call the scope or the context. Dr. Bullinger calls it the scope, and if you have How to Enjoy the Bible, you might want to read along the line of the scope, he makes a differentiation between scope and context; I do not. He says that the scope is what it is all about and that the context simply is the sense of the passage. I do not go along with that, although the breakdown is okay as far as my own way of thinking. Put the context and the scope — The scope, what’s it all about, what’s [the] sense of the passage so that I can enjoy the actual meaning of the separate words. But Dr. Bullinger is very good in that section and you ought to read it. You see there is an immediate context; there is a remoter context. And when I speak of remoter context in my mind always flips the word remoter, remoter, remoter context. Which in my thinking means having read the whole Bible and enjoyed the whole Bible, I remember what it says in Genesis 3:15 so when I get to I Peter, I found out what it says in I Peter it is built upon what it said in Genesis 3:15, that’s what I mean by the remoter, remoter, remoter context. I suppose in truth I could say in line with what the whole Bible says. I think I say that in the class on those foundational principles on how the word interprets itself.
When it comes to the Word of God, the disciples, the followers of the Lord Jesus
Christ, like Ananias, their primary responsibility is simply to read the Bible to enjoy it. Their first obligation is to read it, just read it to enjoy it. They are never given by God to work out the Word in its accuracy. The accuracy of the Word has to be worked by men who are called of God who have been given ministries in the Body. That’s why the men with ministries have a far greater responsibility than hardly any of them realize. It is his job if God gave him the ministry of teaching, it’s his job to rightly divide that Word; he is responsible before God for every soul he leads astray, every one of them. In II Timothy 2, in this chapter is that great scripture that we hit so hard in the Foundational class where it says we:
II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto [who?] God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of [what?] truth.
Now I want to show you this morning specifically to whom it is addressed. That is why — Father just showed it to me because again it’s in the since, the Ananias’ carry out the Word, they read the Word to enjoy it and they simply are obedient to God’s Word. But it’s men of God who have been called with ministries who have to study to show themselves approved unto God, in the minute accuracy of the greatness of the Word.
II Timothy 2:1
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And to be strong in the grace is in the renewed mind.
II Timothy 2:2
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,…
Paul taught him the word. he says you Timothy do what with?
II Timothy 2:1 continued
…the same [he says you Timothy, do what with?] commit thou to [what?] faithful men,…
Faithful men are men who don’t trip out on the Word every two seconds and go start their own fellowship; and start their own little group out in left field some place in competition with the what the body of believers is endeavoring to do. Now, to find these faithful men in our country is a job because of the type of freedom of mind that our country teaches. But that’s what the Word says, that’s what it means. That we who teach are supposed to teach the Word to faithful men and women, that’ s why you hear me say in the classes time and time again, I only want to teach people who want to utilize what I teach. And the reason we do these things in the Foundational class is because I believe in my heart that God has raised us up at this time that a lot of you boys and girls, young men, young women and adults, you are the ones that God is called to teach the Word. We are to commit this to:
II Timothy 2:1 continued
…faithful men who shall be able to teach others [what?] also.
Amen. Faithful, who are able to teach others. Thou therefore — Timothy had a ministry, I hope I don’t have to read that all to you. You know how they laid hands on him and prophesied this was his ministry.
II Timothy 2:3, 4
Thou therefore [Timothy, you] endure hardness, as a good soldier of [of whom?]Jesus Christ.
[That’s why verse 4:] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
That’s our job, we don’t entangle ourselves with the affairs — We only get those things which we need and we let the devil have the surplus which entangles people. And most people are still entangled in the material world. I said to someone recently who was complaining about his life, I said, “Well why don’t you give it back to the credit company.” That’s right. He has the automobile mortgage where he has to pay $97.50 a month, they got the washer machine mortgage he’s got to pay $13.50 a month, they are so mortgaged to the finance company I said, “Well, give them the whole lousy stuff.” That’s right. Then buy yourself an automobile that gives you the transportation that you only have to pay $10 a month on. But you get entangled in the affairs of life and then you can’t war a good warfare. If you’re going to be a soldier for the Lord Jesus Christ you got to stay untangled. You got to travel fast and far and to do that, you got to travel how? Light. Amen, you can’t get entangled. And if a man also strive for mastery remember he is not crowned except he strive how? Lawfully. And that’s according to the Word. Striving according to the Word.
II Timothy 2:6
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
How do you know the peas are good unless you have eaten the peas? How do you know the Word of God is good unless you first have eaten yourself and you’re walking on it? Don’t try to teach it to anybody else unless you are walking on it. You have applied it, you’ve made it work, that’s what that verse means.
II Timothy 2:7
Consider what I say;…
By the way, these words “consider what I say” are the most accurate translation of that word in the Old Testament, you see it at the end of some verses, called selah. That’s what the word means at the end in Old Testament; Selah means “consider what I say.”
II Timothy 2:7b
…and the Lord give thee understanding in all [what?] things.
It says the Lord gives you understanding, not people.
II Timothy 2:8, 9
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer [he suffered trouble; they said he was an evil doer], even unto bonds [threw him jail]; but the word of God is not [what?] bound.
Even where? In jail.
II Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
What a man!
II Timothy 2:11, 12
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall [absolutely] also [what?] live with him:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
That doesn’t mean we will lose our salvation; we just won’t get the rewards.
II Timothy 2:13
If we believe not,…he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
His word is his will. It will stand if nobody believes it.
II Timothy 2:14
Of these things put them [the people, the disciples, the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ; you put them] in remembrance [remind them of these things], charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit,…
Boy, how a group of Christian people can sometimes get together and still argue about words that have no profit, you know, don’t do anything for you; you just spend till three o’ clock in the morning “tripping out” as I call it. And next morning you are tired and you wonder why. Well, you weren’t on the meat of the Word, you were out in left field. If you’re on the meat of the Word, the Word is your strength, it’s your life, it’s your meat.
Then comes this great verse:
II Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved…
Who is it addressed to? Specifically who? [Timothy.] That’s right, and he had a ministry in the Body, the man of God. And he says to the man of God, study. Then if the man of God studies and rightly divides the Word and teaches it to the believers then the believers will believe the right Word, and they will carry it out. That man of God has the greatest responsibility in the whole world. He’s got to be right; he’s got to be right. Then he say:
II Timothy 2:16
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
You know they are running off with the mouth.
II Timothy 2:17-19
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is [this old fellow] Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth [how?] sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let [man] that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Well, it’s a tremendous book, but I just wanted to show you the difference between the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and men with ministries. And by the way, you know that is over in Ephesians 4:11.
Ephesians 4:11, 12a
And he gave some [what?], apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the [what?] saints,…
The body of believers, to perfect them. Not spiritually, because if they’re believers, they are already spiritually perfect right? But where aren’t they perfect? Right, the trouble is never with the Lord, it’s with the above the ears place with believers, born again. So, we have to train them, it’s for the edifying, the building up strengthening of the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
And that’s at his return, so until his return there are five ministries and it’s our job to perfect the saints to edify the body.
Ephesians 4:14
That we [the believers] … be no more [what?] children [not kids], tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
So, when you go to the scope and the context of the Word of God to enjoy it there are a number of other things that perhaps you ought to know. First of all, there are two words for the word “word” or “words” in the Bible. One is the word logos, the other is rhēma. Now, the minute distinction between just these two words is that like the word logos it’s simply a word made up of letters, L-O-G-O-S. It’s just made up of letters, while the word rhēma is a saying made up of words. And seven times in the word of God Jesus Christ declares himself as giving the truth of God not as the logos because he was the word but as the rhēma, the saying, never as the logos. I think I will give you those this morning. I checked them out. John 7:16, (Now let’s pick up different ones then I don’t have to look them all up – then you read them loud enough so I can hear them.) John 7:16, 8:28, 47, John 12:49, 14:10, 24 and John 17:8. These are the seven times they are used in the word and if you got them differently I will listen to what you have to say. John 7:16, who has it?
John 7:16
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Right, he declares that his doctrine, his teaching was not his own but it was the one who what? Sent him. It was God’s Word then that he was speaking. That’s the declaration of that particular scripture, and you’ll see it develop.
John 8:28
Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Right, the Father taught it and he spoke these things of the Father. Now read verse 47.
John 8:47
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Right because he was speaking who’s word? God’s Word. Now, look at chapter 12:49. Who has it please? Alright.
John 12:49
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
I have not spoken of my, what? Myself. He spoke the words which God wanted spoken. Now, 14:10 – who has that?
John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Right, the words that speak I speak not of myself but of the Father, it’s the rhēma, the saying, understand the words? The saying. All of these are along this line. Verse 24.
John 14:24
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Right, and the words which you hear are not mine but the Father, which what? Sent me. Now, chapter 17, verse 8.
John 17:8
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me;…
Right, again the saying, the rhēma. He as the logos, the word, always gave sayings. And the sayings were God’s W-O-R-D-S. Now, what about the critics then that take a crack at Jesus? Well, they can go pop because this stuff over here tells us exactly from the inherit accuracy of the Word that whenever Jesus spoke, he didn’t speak of his own, he spoke W-O-R-D-S, the sayings that God wanted what? That’s right. In I Corinthians 2:13, read it to me, alright.
I Corinthians 2:13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Right, they are words which the holy ghost, what? Teaches, they are sayings; not just individual letters but sayings which the holy ghost teaches. Well, now people, when we are dealing with sayings that the holy ghost teaches we better be right. If we’re going to teach someone else. And we better study that so we can communicate it. That’s why you have to go in your how to enjoy your Bible to reading everything in the scope or in the light of its context, what is it all about? What is it trying to say? I want to show you one of the very difficult ones in the Word of God, in I Peter 3:19. Now, working the
principles of the foundation that I’ve just laid with you here this morning to make this now applicable to this particular verse 19, because it’s a very difficult verse for most people.
I Peter 3:19
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
This verse 19, is usually taught and used by people in the sense that Jesus went and preached to those who had died who were evil people therefore they had a second chance. It’s used by the second chance boys, that’s right, who teach that everybody will be given a second chance and this is the verse they use as their proof text. First of all if you just flip up one verse, 18, what does that verse start with? [audience response] No it doesn’t. It starts with one word, what? For. That word alone – that word alone, tells me that verse 19, cannot stand by itself in an isolated form. Those of you have been in Keys to Research know that when the “for” precedes it, it ties together something, right? Okay, now you go back to verse 17, what does it start with? For. Okay, you just keep going back to finding where does the immediate context really start? Where does it really begin? Well, it goes back to the immediate context, it goes back to verse 14 and that’s where I want to start because it deals—
I Peter 3:14-17
But and if ye suffer for [what? It’s suffering for] righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man [who] asketh you a reason of the hope that is [where?] in you with meekness [with humility and reverence] and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as [what?] of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
For [here it is:] it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for [what?] evil doing.
That’s the whole context, the whole scope is suffering for well doing rather than suffering for what? Evil doing, right.
I Peter 3:18, 19
[Therefore] Christ also hath once suffered for sins, [did he suffer for the well doing or evil doing?] the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by [what?] the Spirit:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
You see, verse 19 is not isolated, it is a part of the reason. For the suffering for righteousness sake. If you suffer for righteousness sake, then you get what verse 18 talks about.
I Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to [what?] death in the flesh, but [what?] quickened by [what?] the Spirit [quickened by God]:
He was made what? Alive. Jesus Christ was resurrected and we (the dead in Christ) shall rise and the believers living at the time shall be changed. That’s why it’s better to suffer for just than unjust because God did what for him? Raised the lord Jesus. There is the guarantee of the resurrection in Christ. Being put to death in the flesh, but God what? Raised him, God quickened him in the spirit. God quickened him by his own spirit. God raised him. By which—by which what? By the resurrected body, that quickened body, by which his resurrected Body. See the context? The word “preached” is not the word. The word is proclaimed or witness. I think the Greek word is kerusso, I believe it is. When they blow those big long horns, you know, they are witness to the race starting. That’s called kerusso, just proclaiming – just proclaiming. It wouldn’t do any good to preach to those because these birds we’re going to read about you can’t convert. No use at preaching the Word to somebody you can’t convert; God wouldn’t be that stupid. He had Jesus Christ in his resurrected body, by the which his resurrected body, he went and witnessed unto the spirits in where? Prison. Now, who or what are those spirits that are in prison. In II Peter 2:4.
II Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels [the spirits] that [what?] sinned, but cast them down to [Tartarus],…
How’s it spelled? You got it in Bullinger, there I’m sure, in the margin. The word for hell in verse 4 of II Peter. [T-A-R-T-A-R-U-S] Right. Tartarus – Tartarus is the only place where the Bible mentions where spirits are kept in chains, where they are in prison. It says He:
II Peter 2:4b, 5
…delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto [what?] judgment;
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth…
These are the imprisoned spirits that Jesus went to witness to. In Jude, now you see how I am working context and scope. But this scope is really fabulous, because in order to work this Word accurately I have to remember perhaps about as far as I can remember. This is perhaps one of the most extensive scopes or contexts in the whole Word, I will show you after a bit; it starts way back in Genesis 1. And we’re now in the book of Jude, and we are in verse 6.
Jude 6
And the angels [the spirits] which kept not their first estate, [those who did not stay loyal to the Lord God], but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains [unto] darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Now, the judgment of the great day, I know, is in the book of Revelation, where those great judgments are. Therefore, these imprisoned spirits of verse 19 of Peter, Jesus Christ in his resurrected body by which he went and witnessed onto those imprisoned spirits who were imprisoned since God placed them in chains at the time of Noah. It says so in verse 20.
I Peter 3:20
[The imprisoned spirits, or spirits in prison which—the spirits] which sometimes were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of
Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by [what?] water.
Now, those spirits are in chains, those specific spirits who were responsible for all the wickedness and the big overthrow at that time, God put them in chains. That means they are simply bound not to roam the old earth today and hurt people. So, when we talk about devil possession, the spirit world, that bunch should never have any trouble with it. Because God has already (because of what they did) reserved them for future judgment according to Word. Knowing this from Genesis chapter 1 and 2 and 3 where the serpent really got to Eve, knowing then about their rejection in heaven, you know, and their overthrow between [Genesis] 1:1 and 1:2 and that they were booted, then they became the devil spirits, evil spirits, some of those that were cast out (1/3 of the spirit world) some of those are the ones that really went to work on Noah and that whole gang of people. And the reason Satan worked so hard is because he knew the promise of [Genesis] 3:15, he knew this already. And Satan knew that God would have to bring this child through a human being. So, what does he do? He trips up every human being he can, and he trips up everybody except one man, who? Noah. That’s how close he got, that’s why last night when I was teaching some of this stuff in six, you know, I knew where I was going this morning. I was just getting you ready for this morning. See, I didn’t tell them all of that but I knew where it was going because—It says it came to pass when, the man Adam, his progeny began to multiply. Well, what did they multiply in? Wickedness. Who caused this? Satan. Because he’s after God. If he can get everybody to trip out, then God doesn’t got anybody to bring that promised seed of Genesis 3:15.
So, he really worked on them and he got everybody and some of you have been in the Foundational class, you have that chart that I made up where I showed you how many people there were don’t you? I tell you Satan had a good old day didn’t he? He had millions upon millions of people he tripped out. And only one man stood and how long did he stand? For 120 years, I know while the ark he was preparing, for 120 years he stood alone and nobody believed but he. Boy I want to tell you, I understand this imprisoned bit, I understand this 6th chapter, and so forth, of Genesis and I understand the greatness of a man standing. Well, now I think you’ll appreciate 19 a little more [I Peter 3:19]. In his resurrected body, he went down and showed himself to those imprisoned spirits and he said here you are you so and so and so. You tripped up everybody except old Noah, and you thought you were going to beat the true God, but here I am, God raised me from the dead, here is my spirit body which is indicative that your head has been injured. That’s why God sent him down to the place where the spirits are bound. Not where dead people are, no. It’s where the spirits were kept and just those spirits that had so enslaved all of those people and turned them all toward the devil except Noah; there it is. And they are still there reserved until the day of judgment. To those who went down, he didn’t preach to them, he couldn’t get them converted, you know, he simply witnessed in his resurrected body that God had what? Putting that together with what you know about Corinthians had Satan known this he would not have what? See it? When I tie all of that together, this is about the remoter, remotest context I know. Then the whole thing just meshes and I have an overall beautiful enjoyment of the picture that God sets in His Word.
I Peter 3:20
Which sometime were disobedient [which sometime ago, you know, years ago
were disobedient], when once the longsuffering of God waited [He sure waited] in the days of Noah, while the ark [is] preparing wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by [what?] water.
How the poor Baptists can use this for immersion, I just for the life of me, isn’t that pitiful? It’s really pitiful. Because they use [verse] 21 with it saying: the like figure which also baptism does also now save us. Not water baptism, but what? Christ in you the hope of glory. Baptized in the name, what he is in you. Is a guarantee that if you suffer for righteousness sake, if you got killed for righteousness sake, you would be where? In the gathering together, don’t you see it? That’s why it’s better to suffer for righteousness sake than evil. Because they suffered for evil and they’re held in chains, that’s why it’s set in that context, isn’t that beautiful? That’s why it’s better for us to suffer even to die for righteousness sake, because we have baptized with his presence, not water, Christ in us, which guarantees us the gathering together.
You know, I wouldn’t even have to go so far back but I did it just for you to show you how to enjoy the Bible in that overall scope. But boy, it’s even in the book. Remember how we teach this principle but much more simply in the Foundation class, when we read about the resurrection. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you know, that scripture in Matthew, what’s it saying? “God is not the God of the dead but of…” what? [Living.] In the Foundational class, dig the people, and say let’s go back and read the verses and it’s talking about the resurrection (see) and show them that Abraham is dead, Isaac is dead and Jacob is dead. God is not the God of the dead but of what? Therefore Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have to someday what? At what time? I do this but only, simply and easily not in the greatness of what I am doing it here with you in this How to Enjoy the Bible Class this morning. We do the same thing on the fields, the wheat and the tares, remember? I trip everybody up and I say what’s the field and they guess like crazy. You know. But right here in chapter 1 of Peter, let me show you suffering for righteousness sake, got it? That’s why it’s better to suffer for righteousness sake then for evil, I Peter 1:7.
I Peter 1:7
That the trial of your [believing], being much more precious than of gold that [what?] perisheth, though it be tried with [what?] fire,…
I Peter 1:11 (not KJV)
Searching what [searching out or seeking out] unto the time the spirit which was upon them which did signify, of Christ which testifies beforehand the sufferings of [what?] Christ, and the glory…
There you are, suffering for righteousness sake and glory again.
I Peter 1:19-21
But with the precious blood of Christ [suffering], as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your believing and hope might be in [who?] God.
Look at chapter 2:20.
I Peter 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
Again talking about suffering.
I Peter 2:21-23
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin,
Who, when he was reviled, reviled [what?] not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
There you might note, Luke 23:46 in connection with that 23rd verse; I guarantee you most likely it’s not in your center reference.
I Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins [suffering for righteousness sake]…
See how I go to context all the way through? I always go to context. You can’t – you can’t ever understand the words (W-O-R-D-S) in a verse unless you relate the individual word to the words in that verse, the verse to the context, the context to the remoter context, you just keep working it. Because if it’s God’s Word, it will have to fit all the way through like a hand in a glove. And the other phrase you know too. Chapter 4 is a dandy. Boy it’s beautiful, 4:6. For this cause—
I Peter 4:6
For for [not “to for” but “for for”] this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but [they] live [again] according to [the will of] God in…spirit.
That’s why they suffered, because they’ll live again.
I gave you the accurate translation of the latter part of it.
I Peter 4:13
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s [what?] sufferings;...
I Peter 4:19
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of [what?] God…
Sure. Chapter 5:1.
I Peter 5:1
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of [what?] Christ…
Sure.
I Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, [and what?] settle you.
Grounded. Suffering for righteousness sake is the whole tone of the whole thing, rather than suffering for evils sake. That’s why those imprisoned spirits who are reserved for what? That’s why verse 19 of that Peter section is so beautiful.
I’d like to close with giving you the greatness of the epistles of this truth in Colossians. This one you all know it, but you will love it again. Colossians 2:14.
Colossians 2:14, 15
[When Christ was nailed to the cross, remember, he blotted out] the handwriting of [what?] ordinances that was [contrary to us which was] against us, which was contrary to us, [he] took it out of the way, nailing it to [the what?] his cross;
And having spoiled [put off from himself] principalities,…powers, he made a shew of them [what?] openly…
He made a show of them. He showed himself unto them, how? Openly in his resurrected body, which is the record in I Peter.He showed himself openly in his resurrected—
Colossians 2:15b
…triumphing [what?] over them [what?] in it.
That’s right. He went and witnessed to the imprisoned spirits in his resurrected body and he said well here I am what are you going to do about it. See. God has raised me from the dead. See. He triumphed over them in it and if he triumphed over them in it, this is good teaching now, Christ is in us and we have the power to triumph. See. That’s the great way in which to enjoy the Bible when you do the scope or the context and handling it so that the whole thing fits.
[Prayer]—Father I thank You for the morning and for the greatness of Your Word again. And how we love You and we love Your Word; and how we love the simplicity of it and that we can understand it. Through Jesus Christ our lord, Amen.