Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we continue the study of the Book of Genesis chapter 1.
1:5 God called: This act demonstrates His sovereign dominion over His Creation. In the Semitic world the naming of something or someone was the token of lordship. Reuben changed the names of the cities of the Amorites after he had conquered them (Numbers 32:38). Likewise, Pharaoh Necho changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim after he defeated the Judean king (2 Kings 23:34). Day (Hebrew yom): Apart from the use of the word day in verses 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, and 31, where it describes the days of Creation, it is used in at least four ways in the first two chapters of Genesis: (1) the 12-hour period of daylight as opposed to night (verses 14, 16, 18); (2) a solar day of 24 hours (verse 14); (3) the period of light that began with the creation of light on the first day (verse 5); and (4) the entire, six-day creative period (2:4). Everywhere in the Pentateuch the word day when used (as here) with a definite article or numerical adjective means a solar day or a normally calibrated, 24-hour day. Thus, the biblical account of Creation clearly indicates that God created the world in six lateral days (Exodus 20:11).
1:6 Firmament is an "expanse" between the waters suspended by God in vapor form over the earth. Most likely, approximately half of the waters upon the earth were supernaturally elevated above the atmosphere, perhaps in the form of an invisible vapor canopy. This would have trapped the earth's heat with a "greenhouse effect" and would have provided a uniformly tropical climate everywhere, until it collapsed upon the earth during the universal rainfall at the time of the great Flood (7:11). This might explain the longevity described in Genesis 5, in addition to providing a water source for the Flood of chapters 6-9.
1:11 Contrary to the modern evolutionists (who insist that all plants and animals developed over hundreds of millions of years from a single speck of life in the ocean) and theistic evolutionists (who claim the Bible allows for such processes by use of such phrases Let the earth bring forth), Genesis not only dates the creation of marine life (verse 20) as being after the creation of plants and fruit trees, but also reveals that fruit trees were created already bearing fruit whose seed is in itself. God produced a functioning and mature Creation. Plants were created full-grown, as mature and adult organisms, with a superficial appearance of age. Similarly Adam and Eve were created as adults. The phrase after his [or their] kind is repeated 10 times in this chapter, and demands that adults of each "kind" would have to be created supernaturally to begin the life cycle. Moses uses the word kind 30 out of 31 times it appears in the Old Testament. The word may not require the separate creation of each species by God, but it does require at least the separate creation of families within orders.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the Book of Genesis chapter 1.
1:1 In the beginning (Hebrew bereshit): Creation marks the absolute beginning of the temporal and material world. The traditional Jewish and Christian belief is that Genesis 1:1 declares that God created the original heaven and earth from nothing (Latin ex nihilo) and that verse 2 clarifies that when it came to the Creator's hand, the mass was "without form, and void," unformed and without any life. The rest of the chapter then explains the process of Creation in detail. There is no evidence in the Hebrew text for long ages of evolutionary development or a gap of time between verse 1 and verse 2. God (Hebrew Elohim): This form of the divine name occurs 2,570 times in the Old Testament. The plural ending im indicates a plural of majesty and takes a singular verb. This verb is used exclusively with God as its subject. It refers to the instantaneous and miraculous act of God by which He brought he universe into existence. Thus, the Genesis account of Creation refutes atheism, pantheism, polytheism, and evolution.
1:2 Without form, and void (Hebrew tohu wabohu, "unformed and unfilled") describes the condition of earth after the initial act of Creation. It does not describe a chaotic condition as a result of judgment. Thus was (Hebrew hayetah) is correct and should not be translated became. How the earth became formed and filled is described in verses 3-31. Darkness is not always a symbol of evil (Psalms 104:19-24). Here it simply refers to the absence of light. Deep refers to the waters covering the earth, not some primitive cosmogony. The Spirit of God is a clear reference to the creative activity of the Holy Spirit. John 1:3 indicates that Christ actually created all things for the Father. Thus, all three persons of the Trinity are active in the Creation. This undoubtedly accounts for the plural pronouns us and our in verse 26 which take singular verbs in expressing the tri-unity of God.
1:3 And God said: This is the first of a highly structured series of succinct and formulaic sentences expressing the creative commands of God. Thus, Creation is accomplished by His word. Each command consists of (1) an announcement, "God said"; (2) a creative command, "Let there be"; (3) a summary word of accomplishment, "And it was so"; (4) a descriptive word of accomplishment, "The earth brought forth"; (5) a descriptive blessing, "God blessed."; (6) an evaluative approval, "It was good"; and (7) a concluding temporal framework, numbering each day.
1:4 Light: Not the sun which was created on the fourth day (verse 16), but some fixed light source outside of the earth. The earth passed through a day-and-night cycle in reference to this light. Good: The word contains less an aesthetic judgment than a designation of purpose and correspondence to God's will, indicating the moral goodness of the Creation.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the second Epistle of Thessalonians chapter 3.
3:2, 3 For all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful: The unfaithfulness of men provides a contrast to the faithfulness of God, a favorite topic of Paul's (1 Corinthians10:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Timothy 2:13). Keep means "guard." Evil or "evil one": The reference is to Satan.
3:6 Command, used above in verse 4, is a very strong, authoritative term. Since it is buttressed by an appeal to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, one cannot miss the seriousness of the apostle here. Withdraw literally means "dissociate." This is the only time this term is used in the New Testament to mean church censure. Walketh disorderly indicates a pattern of life not in conformity to the Word of God.
3:10-12 Paul expounds his simple and straightforward work ethic: If a person will not work, he should not eat! The Thessalonians' diversion encouraged their meddlesome ways, demonstrating that "idle hands are the Devil's workshop."
3:14, 15 This instruction falls short of excommunication. Paul intends his readers to shame the brother, who is not an enemy, into obedience.
3:17 Salutation of Paul: Paul's seal in his own handwriting indicates the authenticity of this letter. This was necessary, since apparently some forged documents claiming to be from his pen were circulating (2:2). Paul makes clear how they can identify his genuine writings.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the first Epistle of Thessalonians chapter 5.
5:1 Times (Greek chronos) denotes "periods of time" as opposed to seasons (Greek kairos), which are specific points of time.
5:2 The day of the Lord is an all-encompassing term to describe the period that begins with the Great Tribulation, and includes the second coming of Christ and the millenial kingdom. This Old Testament expression is here identified with the parousia already introduced. It will begin unexpectedly (Matthew 24:37).
5:3 Peace and safety were slogans of the Roman Empire.
5:4-9 But ye: In contrast to the wicked, for whom Christ's coming will be an hour of destruction, these believers are children of light who will not face God's wrath, but will be saved at the time of the parousia. Not appointed us to wrath: The wrath is the agony and tribulation occurring at the beginning of the day of the Lord. The believer is spared this, however (1:10; Revelation 6:16).
5:12 Are over you indicates a governing leadership, and refers to spiritual leadership such as elders and pastors. The people are to respect and regard them highly for their labor of love.
5:17 The Greek word here rendered without ceasing is used in secular literature to denote a man suffering from an intermittent cough--one that is not continuous, but occurs at intervals. Just as this individual has the tendency to cough, though does not always do so audibly, so the believer ought to remain in the attitude of prayer though not always praying audibly.
5:18 In every event or circumstance (thing) the Christian is to give thanks to God for the good He can bring out of the event, even should the event be unpleasant. The constant attitude of prayer, mentioned in verse 17, will help the believer to maintain gratitude in the face of adversity.
5:19 Quench means putting out fire in Matthew 12:20, Ephesians 6:16, and Hebrews 11:34. Here it is employed metaphorically to mean "stifle" or "suppress." The Christian can stifle the Holy Spirit's workings by hindering Him from leading the believer to rejoice (verse 16), to pray (verse 17), to give thanks in adversity (verse 18), and by despising prophetic utterances (verse 20) inspired by the Spirit.
5:23 This verse does not form a definition of the constituent parts of man, but is a Hebraism to denote the whole man.
5:26 The holy kiss was a Jewish custom of welcome. (See Luke 7:45; 22:48.) It was also used by the early Christians (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14).
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we continue with the first Epistle of Thessalonians chapter 4.
4:13 I would not have you to be ignorant is simply Paul's way of saying, "I have something I want to tell you" (Romans 1:13; 11:25; 1 Corinthians 10:1; 2 Corinthians 1:8). Asleep is a euphemism for "dead". It is used often of believers in the New Testament (Matthew 27:52; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 15:20). That ye sorrow not is in the present tense: "So you will not continue to grieve." Apparently these believers were concerned about their loved ones who had died in the Lord, especially in view of Christ's promised second coming (verses 14, 15). Hope (Greek elpis) means "certain expectation."
4:14 Jesus died and rose again: The certainty of the believer's hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Bring: This presupposes that those who sleep in Jesus are with Him, and when He comes they will come with Him. Them also which sleep in Jesus can be translated, "those who were put to sleep by Jesus." As a parent lovingly puts a child to bed when tired, so Jesus just as lovingly takes His saints from this life ("were put to sleep") at the right time.
4:15 Prevent (Greek phthano, "precede"): The Greek emphasizes that the living will have the no advantage over the dead when Christ returns.
4:16, 17 The order of events at the time of Christ's coming is clearly given: (1) the Lord will descend with a shout, accompanied by the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God (1 Corinthians 15:52); (2) the dead in Christ will be resurrected; and (3) then those remaining will caught up with them in the clouds. Dead in Christ is technical expression for believers of the church age. Caught up (Greek harpazo, "to seize,"snatch"): The Latin word for carry off is raptus, from which we get rapture. The doctrine of the Rapture of the church is given its clearest expression in this verse.
4:18 Comfort: The Christian's hope of resurrection brings solace in the face of death--in contrast to the hopelessness of the heathen.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the first Epistle of Thessalonians chapter 4.
4:1 Furthermore (Greek loipos) marks a key transition in the book. Here Paul introduces his exhortation on practical Christian living.
4:2 Commandments we gave you: Paul appeals to his apostolic authority, speaking as a representative of the Lord Jesus.
4:3 Sanctification (holiness): The New Testament delineates three kinds of holiness: (1) positional holiness (1 Corinthians 6:11); (2) progressive holiness (Romans 6:12-23); and (3) perfected holiness (3:13). The second kind is in view here. Fornication (Greek porneia) means any form of sexual impurity.
4:4 This verse can be read, "that each of you know how to control his own vessel [i.e, body] in holiness and honor." Some believe vessel refers to one's wife. The verse would then advocate maintaining proper sexual relations with her to avert immorality.
4:6 Go beyond means overstep this moral law. Defraud means literally "take advantage of," "rob," or "cheat." In any matter (or, "in this matter") refers to the sexual misconduct deplored in the previous verses. It could refer to infidelity to one's spouse, or to an unmarried person committing adultery.
4:8 Despiseth: Paul's language here seems to echo Jesus' words in Luke 10:16.
4:11 Study literally means "aspire" or "determine." Work with your own hands: This and 2 Thessalonians 3:11 suggest that some believers had abandoned their occupations, believing Christ's second coming was near at hand.
4:12 Lack of nothing: The biblical means of supplying one's needs is to work. Verses 11 and 12 are important for the Christian work ethic.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the first Epistle of Thessalonians chapter 3.
3:1 Left at Athens alone: Apparently Silas was not with him at that time. It is not possible to determine his whereabouts with certainty.
3:2 Timothy: See the Introduction. Minister of God is a variant reading, probably substituted for "God's fellow workers" (1 Corinthians 3:9).
3:5 Know your faith: Paul was anxious to know the spiritual condition of this assembly. The tempter is another name for Satan (2:18).
3:9 Render (Greek antapodidomi) has the sense of paying back something owed. Paul repays God in the currency of thanksgiving.
3:10 Perfect (lit., "complete"): Paul's stay with the Thessalonians was so brief (see Introduction) that he could not complete the work to his satisfaction. He longed for the opportunity to remedy the deficiencies (that which is lacking) in their faith.
3:13 Coming of our Lord: Again Paul uses the term parousia to refer to Christ's second coming, repeating it for special emphasis. Saints, used here in the masculine plural, refers to holy people. These may be believers (see Ephesians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:14) or angels (see Mark 8:38). In light of the problem cited in chapter 4, the former idea is likely in view here.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we continue the first Epistle of Thessalonians chapter 2.
2:14 Followers (imitators): As the Thessalonians imitated the apostles in their commitment to the Lord (1:6), they also imitated the Judean churches, since they also suffered at the hands of their own people.
2:15 Killed the Lord Jesus: If the Lord was not exempt from persecution, His followers could hardly expect to escape it. They please not God: Throughout this passage Paul shows that while his Jewish enemies think they are serving God, they really are not.
2:16 Fill up their sins: This expression parallels Genesis 15:16. Often God allows His people to suffer the indignation of others simply because He is longsuffering toward the sinner, “not willing that any should perish.” Consequently, some will repent, and others will fully justify their condemnation.
2:17 Being taken from you: The Greek term (aporphanizo) is intensely passionate. It is related to our word “orphan,” and could be translated “since we have been torn apart.”
2:19 At his coming (Greek parousia): This was a common term in the Hellenistic world for formal visits by royalty. It became a technical term in the New Testament for the second coming of Christ. As such, it is used 18 times (seven in the Thessalonian epistles). This is the first time Paul uses it in his writings.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
