IAUA End Time Ministry
Preparing for the End of Time
The Lord is Coming! Are you ready?
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IAUA End Time Ministry |
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Preparing for the End of Time | |
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The Lord is Coming! Are you ready? | |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in
IAUA (ee-ah-oo-ah) our Father,
Greetings on this day of preparation for the weekly Sabbath. I pray this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of IAUA. This is the 27th day of the 3rd month of the Biblical Calendar in the estimated year 6020 Anno Mundi. The Fall Sabbaths begin in about 13 weeks and 1 day on the 1st day of the 7th month (Saturday, September 3rd of the 2016, Gregorian Calendar, at sunset Friday, September 2nd). On God's Calendar the Biblical month begins on the global day after lunar conjunction and the Biblical year begins with God's New Year's Day (Passover) after the spring equinox (Spring Passover Rule). The Millerite Calendar (Spring New Moon Rule) is a month later this year. The Calculated Rabbinical Calendar is also a month later. Another new website visitor writes: _____ Subject: Question on Knowing Scriptural Terminology Frank T. Clark. Hi. My name is Rory Gaines. I found you from searching online looking for Bible-related sources to help me learn scripture, and I would like to ask some one of your expertise what is the best way to learn Bible terminology. I come from a religious background, but when growing up questioned most or entirely everything I was ever taught, and do not affiliate myself with any religious denomination.. In wanting to know the answers to the big questions in life ("Why am I here?", "What happens after I die?", etc), I've decided to use as the starting point for my search to lifes answers the Bible, since for one thing it was what I grew up on and it's what much of my beliefs, views, and attitudes, etc are centered around (it is also the foundation for some of the world's major religions). I think in order to know the content of the Bible, the first thing to learn and understand the Bible's terminology (truth, faith, righteousness, etc). How can one know the contents of a text without first knowing its terminology? I would appreciate your input on the best way of how to learn scriptural terminology. A fellow truth seeker, Rory Gaines _____ I responded: Rory, It is a pleasure to hear from you. I well understand your search and your questions. You have decided to start at the correct place to learn the truth about our purpose and existence. The Bible teaches us that there is an infinite God who created us and has given His Word to help us understand Him, our creation, and the rise and fall of evil. Skeptics say that believing in the Bible is "circular logic". The Bible says it is true so I believe in the Bible. However, the internal evidence of logic in the Bible proves it is true. Your concern about scriptural terminology is a valid one. We learn the terminology the same way we learn anything by immersing ourselves in the context of what we are studying. Contents are explained and expanded by context. You need to read the whole Bible for a deeper understanding. I assume you have done due diligence by consulting dictionaries. In some cases it is helpful to consult multiple translations. It is also helpful to consult Hebrew/Greek dictionaries of the original words. This is a lot easier than you think with all the amazing modern tools of the Information Age. There is an online Bible website, BibleGateway.com. This online Bible also helps you to compare several versions of the Bible. Comparing the different translations leads to a deeper understanding of the text. I find the New American Standard Bible particularly useful for the section headings, footnotes, and cross-references. There is also a website, BlueLetterBible.org, which contains Hebrew/Greek Concordance cross references to Strong's and other dictionaries. This assists the study of the original Hebrew and Greek word meanings. There is also the downloadable resource e-Sword.net for offline use that also includes many translations, commentaries, dictionaries, and other study tools. I would be happy to discuss with you any other questions you may have. Be at peace, Frank T. Clark - When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth... He will show you things to come. John 16:13 (FTCABE) _____ He wrote: Frank T. Clark. Hi, and thanks for the reply. What I meant by "terminology" was the concepts behind the terms used in the religious text (truth, faith, righteousness, etc). An example is Genesis 15:6 that states Abraham believed in the Creator and He counted it to Abraham for righteousness. How can you understand what that passage means along with the other passages included in the same material/story if you don't understand what the concept of righteousness means in that particular passage? Knowing or not knowing what is correctly meant by the concept of that particular word (and I can't say that I do know) can change one's whole view of that whole story mentioned in that book. One Rabbi, when I asked him what I asked you, told me that the scholar Max Kaddushin (who which the rabbi told me was early to middle 20th Century) coined the term "value concepts" to describe what he thought I mean by "terminology", if that helps you better understand what I was asking. I've had and used the following books for a short period, some much more than the others for studying scripture words: Strong's Concordance The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament coded to Strong's The Englishman's Hebrew Concordance of the Old Testament The Englishman's Greek Concordance of the New Testament But I can't help but question if learning the biblical languages instead of just using all the other tools(concordances, lexicons,etc) would be far faster, much more easier and much more efficient and effective. I've read and been told by some that every translation is a secondary (sometimes tertiary etc.) source for Bible study and every translation is an interpretation, that different translations interprets the Bible differently so the student needs to evaluate them from the standpoint of the original languages. That would include requiring us to look to the original Hebrew language and culture to understand its meaning and intent, since "translations, such as the King James, the Revised Standard, and others currently in print, in whatever languages, from English to Swahili, all contain many errors and are individually unreliable in terms of revealing a complete or TOTALLY inspired knowledge of the truth" and "must be continually updated because they are, by their very nature, INFERIOR to the original language texts from which they are translated". It is from such argument that led me to approach learning that way, right now. I am not at all familiar with Hebrew in any way, English is my only language in which I read,write and speak(and yes, I do live in the U.S.A.). Even if I don't learn the language fluently, (my intent is to learn just how to read it, not learn how to also speak it), if learning just a number of words is what I'm looking to do, I wonder If I were to spend time studying the Hebrew language in, say, only half the time it normally takes to become fluent in that language, if that it would be more than enough time needed in what I'd set out to accomplish. I was born and raised in a Christian environment (with a focus on the New Testament), have lived in a Christian home and attended a Christian church, but when I was in my teens (perhaps it was at 16) I began to question my beliefs and salvation. I think many or most people who go to church/synagogue do not properly read or understand the Bible(regardless of whatever version they use, whether Christian or Hebrew), including even basic concepts like what is faith or righteousness, or spiritual concepts, symbolism or significance of things (example, can most congregation-attending religionists tell you what testament/testaments are being referred by "Old Testament" and "New Testament"?) like scriptural rituals and days of observances. I think their like(and I used to run with this type of crowd so I should have an accurate idea on this) "Well, I'll just say or do what the Pastor or the church says or does without knowing what we're doing or why we're doing it". I think their like(and I used to run with this type of crowd so I should have an accurate idea on this) "Well, I'll just say or do what our religious leader or our congregation says or does without knowing what we're doing or why we're doing it", or just settle in compliance with the response to their Bible-related questions: "Don't question it!". Some time in my 20's I began to scour around (specifically on the internet) for people and sources claiming to know and spread the "truth" in hopes of finding and knowing the answers, and like yourself sought answers from sources that were Non-Christian, that of eastern religions and that used occult practices forbidden by scripture. I found there are plenty of (both former and present) people out there claiming (sometimes solely) to be a light of truth, some claiming only their ministry holds the correct, true teachings of divine inspiration, while differing with one another on different points, contradicting themselves and each other even on things of basic, fundamental nature. And now just recently, at around age 31, I've decided to (finally) go directly to the source (the Bible) and find out the answers for myself. I think I need to start "back to the basics" and I'd say even further back than that, having a fresh perspective, "divorced" from all prior beliefs about what I think the Bible says, as if reading it for the very first time. And in any case, seeking advice from others knowledgeable in such matters (scholars, rabbis, etc) when going about it seems wise: Proverbs 11:14: (KJV) "in the multitude of counsellers there is safety." I hope you welcome questions like these including from lay folk, and I appreciate your suggestions for books and other tools, which I mat use in my future studies, for your encouragement and advice. I hope you're doing well. Cordially, Rory Gaines _____ I responded: Rory, It is a pleasure to hear from you again. I do welcome questions and discussion on Biblical topics. I am a "lay" person, a student of the Bible like yourself. I have never been subjected to theological indoctrination at a seminary. I received more than enough from my denomination. I am not bitter but I recognize that any denomination develops a narrow viewpoint and becomes stagnant and mired in their tradition. Any denomination is a good start but I have found that you must get "back to the basics" as you described it and read the Bible for exactly what it says without prior assumptions. You must be ready to step forward to follow what God says, not a denomination. I recognize in the heart of your concerns a dangerous influence from Biblical elitists, pseudo-scholars, and skeptics. It is important to recognize from the very start that our all-powerful God is able to preserve His Word sufficient for our guidance. The nonsense about poor and better translations casts doubt on the power of God. ALL translations are blessed by God and point faithfully to Him. Any may contain idiosyncrasies and difficult points but the power of God works through them all. Some may be easier to read or understand but all are God's Word. Initial study by simply reading carefully and faithfully through the entire Bible is blessed by God. Further study for a deeper understanding is important and is emphasized by the Bible itself. You are familiar with the tools that can be used to help. Learning more about the Hebrew can be a useful but is not a panacea or required. All of God's Truth is there for the honest reader of any translation. Even with Hebrew there is a tricky problem. Biblical Hebrew (BC) is not the same as Masoretic/Modern Hebrew (AD). My intense studies have led me to some thoughts on that subject, which are described on the websites. My studies into Hebrew related to the Sacred Name are introduced on the first website: http://www.iaua.name/SacredName.html Expanded on the same topic: http://www.sacredname.info/ Then focused on Biblical Hebrew: http://wordiaua.info/ You may find these useful and interesting. A word of caution. I have learned to be wary of rabbis and other mystics mired in their traditions and scholars who tend to be caught up in various types of skepticism in their traditions. These are not following all the truth and must be consulted with care to avoid their lack of faithfulness in following all the Bible says. A paragraph you may have read from my websites. I propose an extension of the original Protestant principle "Sola Scriptura". The original principle was not completely followed. The proposed extension of the principle is "Omnis scriptura et sola scriptura". All scripture and scripture alone. This extension emphasizes that no part of Scripture can be dismissed or ignored. The original Protestants dismissed and ignored the Fourth Commandment teaching of the seventh-day weekly observance retaining the Catholic first-day (Sunday) observance. But, most seventh-day observing Protestants still dismiss and ignore the Law of Moses teaching of the seven yearly holy day observances retaining the Catholic Easter, Christmas, and other holiday observances. I look forward to continuing discussion. Be at peace, Frank T. Clark - When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth... He will show you things to come. John 16:13 (FTCABE) _____ Do you study diligently to understand the terminology and content of the Bible? I pray we may all continue to seek love, peace, and unity in truth preparing for the soon coming of IAUShUO (ee-ah-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God.
Frank T. Clark Next: 2016-06-24 Free Will |
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Revised 2016-06-24 |