Published on 18:47, 08/24,2010
If you had to guess, who exactly are the twelve patriarchs? And, what exactly is the Testament of the 12 Patriarchs?
To answer, one would need to know what a patriarch is, officially. In secular terms, a patriarch is just a male leader/ head of an extended family. In Biblical terms, it could mean a number of things- all affiliated with the Old Testament. One definition I’ve seen is that there are 20 “patriarchs” in the Old Testament; they are the 20 generations from Adam down through Abraham. These are part of the official bloodline that will beget Jesus through Mary and Joseph many years later.
But, how can one leave Moses and Joshua and even King David out of the discussion? Or even Job?
Well, according to the apocryphal “Testament of the 12 Patriarchs”, both of those lists and names are incorrect. In this non-canonical Book, the twelve are the 12 sons of Jacob- which of course includes the very holy and acclaimed Joseph. These twelve did in fact grow into the 12 tribes of ancient Israel; they certainly were instrumental in growing the Earthly nation of God.
Most Christians have never heard of this Book, and let me be clear that it is not part of the Bible and has never really been thought of as part of the God-breathed canon, by any denomination. However, it has been used throughout some of Jewish and Christian history to help teach people, especially young adults and teenagers, the Faith and the appropriate ways to live a holy life.
For instance-
(Excerpt from the Book of Joseph) If ye also, therefore, walk in the commandments of the Lord, my children, He will exalt you there, and will bless you with good things for ever and ever. And if any one seeketh to do evil unto you, do well unto him, and pray for him, and ye shall be redeemed of the Lord from all evil. (**Authors note- how could Joseph declare that people should follow the commandments, when he lived before the 10 Commandments were given to Israel?)
From the sound of it, it reads very closely to much of what you what see in the Wisdom Books of the Bible. The Testament of the 12 Patriarchs includes what is alleged to be the final/dying words of each of the twelve sons of Jacob, and each man is speaking about one life issue/vice in particular. After reading it, one will see that it is quite vivid and relevant for Godly instruction.
It was likely written sometime between 150 BC and 70 CE (far, far after the actual lives of the twelve), and it was written by Jewish scholars and/or priests based on Old Testament knowledge as well as some internal Jewish tradition at the time. There are some items written within that most Biblical scholars and readers will know are not part of acceptable Biblical theology. However, that does not mean the text has no value.
Proof of the antiquity of this Book comes in part from tradition of the early Christian and Jewish churches but also from the fact the one of these Books (one of the 12) was found as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls which was discovered in 1947.
For any interested parties, especially youth group leaders and other evangelists, who may be interested in reading through this Book and expanding your “extra-Biblical” knowledge, the online version can be found via different Christian and other websites for free, and I’m sure that a printed version of the text can also be found and bought.
Published on 06:27, 07/03,2010
Most people consider Paul as the 13th apostle, as he is often group together with the Twelve. But, I would argue that he may be the 14th. The 13th apostle was a man named Matthias- who replaced the traitor Judas after Judas had fled and eventually killed himself in shame and guilt.The eleven apostles felt that they needed to continue as a group in the same fashion as when Jesus had initially gathered them. Twelve has always been a key number in the Jewish and Christian history, and as such these eleven men needed to select another man to help establish this young and fledgling Church. Certainly there was some pressure on the eleven, as well as the man who would soon be chosen.[Writer’s Sidebar: Much confusion exists in regards to the words “disciple” and “apostle”. The two are often used interchangeably- but here is a quick definition of the two: Apostle- one who is sent as Jesus was sent by the Father, and as he sent his chosen disciples to preach the Gospel to the whole world (sent out/ evangelizing, preaching)Disciple- those who accept Jesus’ message to follow him (learning, accepting, following) ]
Matthias was one of the seventy disciples of Jesus and had been with Him from His baptism by John to the Ascension. It is noted in Acts Chapter 1 that Peter proposed to the brethren that they needed to select one man to replace the fallen Judas Iscariot. Two disciples, Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias were selected, and lots were drawn, with the result in favor of Matthias, who then became one of the Twelve Apostles.
Imagine being either Matthias or Joseph in this circumstance. First, quite an honor to be nominated (to steal a popular line from the Oscar’s). Then, as both men were deemed worthy there was no clear way to make the final decision. As such, lots were drawn. Meaning, the final election of the Twelfth Aspostle was chosen (in part) by random chance. Seems a bit odd, but again we do not understand or need to understand all of God’s actions.
At that time, if you were this Joseph, how would you feel? If he was truly a pious man I suppose he would not care much about being left out of this enigmatic inner circle. But I would have to believe that at times throughout the rest of his life he would question to God why he was not chosen, etc. We will never know, until we are able to meet Joseph in the New Heaven and the New Earth in time- along with the other early Church leaders.
What of Matthias, who may be the least written about Apostle in the New Testament? Where did his life lead exactly, after this profound appointment?
Historical records have proved very contradictory. Truly, there is no real way to tell. Very little is written within the Bible, and different early Church Fathers and leaders (up through the 3rd century) had different information and history they relayed about the Apostle. Among the rumors of his life are:
· Preached in Judea and Ethiopia
· Was crucified
· Died at Sebastopolis
· Stoned in Jerusalem, and then beheaded
· Relics moved to Rome
· Wrote the apocryphal “Gospel of Matthias”
· Cast into prison and was rescued by the Apostle Andrew
In any event, Matthias, like the other Apostles, had his life quickly changed and was called to do the important work of Jesus. This could only happen because he was already following and living in the same circles as the Apostles and the Lord himself. Essentially, he was surrounding himself with the right people. In life, if we do not surround ourselves with the right crowd and the correct teachings, we will not be blessed as we should be. Always listen for and seek the calling out of the Lord.
Published on 12:56, 05/23,2010
Today, May 23rd, is the celebration of Pentecost. The “Birth of the Church”, when the Holy Spirit first came to the Apostles and set them on fire with the zeal to expand Christ’s Church throughout the lands. As I was sitting in the pews, I noticed there were many, many people there; it was a full house. More than usual. Was this because it’s an important day for all Christians? Or because it’s a day of “obligation” within our denomination? Or something else?More importantly, what will all these people in the congregation do with the story and the edict of Pentecost? Is it the beginning of just another typical week, or will they seek to truly bring Christianity to people in their own lives and circles that need it?Unfortunately, I think the answer for most there is that after a week or two, people will be living and acting in the same exact ways as prior to Pentecost. No big revivals in the immediate future. I pray that I am wrong.Many Christians I know long for that zeal- the zeal to evangelize openly. But, they just don’t have a close enough relationship with Jesus and/or they do not feel confident enough about their Faith and basic Christian theology. Both of these are prerequisites I believe to being a strong evangelist.Approaching non-believing (and sometimes hostile) folks and talking about Jesus is frightening for many people. I could use some improvement in this area myself. I suppose there are numerous reasons for not speaking openly about our Faith to others- but we do need to overcome those excuses. That is what God has declared we MUST do.Another key reason why many do not try to win conversions is because we, ourselves, have major doubts about it all. About the Resurrection, and about even the very existence of the one supreme God. If we live everyday with major doubts, we will not be able to convincingly argue the reality of Christianity. One great website that I must share is the following: http://www.proofgodexists.org/anthropic_principle.htm . This is a fairly scientific approach to why God must exist. For many of you that have a strong technical or cynical attitude towards your Faith, a few of these associated links and examples provide some great talking points to think about, but also to discuss with non-believers.In the end, Pentecost is about reaching out to the world and trying to bring Jesus into every home as their personal Savior. You don’t have to go on a mission’s trip to Africa to accomplish this. In your very neighborhood, and probably in your own family, you know there are people that could use some relevant Christian information- in a loving and gentle manner. Let’s hope and pray that this occasion of Pentecost will change the way many think and act about their duties as a member of the one true Church.Ken Lambert lives with his wife in southern NH, and is active in his local congregation. For more info and articles, please see his Blog at http://kql314.christianblogsites.com/blog/
Published on 04:03, 05/22,2010
Lately I've been reading and studying, and praying about, the Book of Sirach. This is an excellent work, written in the 2nd century BC. Catholics acknowledge it within their Old Testament canon, while Protestant just claim it to be Apocryphal. Some Bible versions will not even have Sirach within any of their pages, so its quite possible some have never heard of this Book.
This Book was written by the son or grandson of a man named Sirach- who was a pious and learned Jew who knew much about the Israelite history and the Law. When reading this Book, I found it very similar to Books such as Proverbs, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes. Sirach is about teaching proper direction to all peoples- this is something that is assuredly needed in today's world, for people of all ages and ilk.
If the Book is not found within your Bible, it is easy to find online in full translation. I suggest you put in on your "list".
Published on 04:58, 04/19,2010
We all know what denomination we are part of, even if it is “nondenominational” or “interdenominational”. Webster’s Dictionary defines “denomination” as ‘a religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative body a number of local congregations.’ I then looked into the Bible to see what the Biblical definition was.But, of course, there is no mention of denominations in the Bible, per se. I scanned Nave’s Topical Bible, and that word was not written at all in the Old or New Testament. Why then does society currently have numerous denominations? And how many are there?First, the easy question. The numbers. In fact, this is not a clear-cut answer for various reasons. However, it’s estimated that there are: 41 Orthodox denominations, 30 Catholic denominations (yes, it is not ALL the Roman Catholic Church), 38 mainline Protestant denominations, and over 80 “independent” Pentecostal/Evangelical denominations. That’s a lot. Why so many?Paul and other New Testament writers warned against “schisms”- divisions within THE Church (the “universal Christian church”). He said repeatedly to avoid schisms and heresies. It’s pretty clear by the list and numbers above that we as Christians have failed in this arena. Books and dissertations have been written about what exactly is the one “true” church; we will not be able to expound on that much here. But one must analyze that history in order to determine why one group of people breaks from another. Throughout Christian history, we have many. The Roman Catholic church (“catholic” = universal) had first the Great Schism in the 11th century whereby a large group left to form what are now the Orthodox churches. Then of course the RCC went through the Reformation period where she did make a handful of reforms- but not enough to prevent the Protestants from leaving and starting new denominations in Germany and England- amongst others. And from these early large Protestant groups still smaller subdivisions have occurred since the 1500’s and 1600’s. Some churches claim to be apostolic, others do not, and many do not care that they are not. An apostolic church has as one of its main claims to legitimacy the fact that its leaders have a direct and straight lineage from the Apostolic Age, or from the Apostles themselves. Many churches believe without this trait, a church cannot be “true”. Is that specifically what is said in the Bible?Churches also disagree on Creeds, and some will split based on that. The Nicene Creed is one of the most spoken declarations of faith there is. Some churches will disagree on a few lines within a Creed, and other groups do not believe that a person or congregation should be forced into saying any rote Creed at all.And today, we have a large part of the Episcopal Church potentially breaking off into its own denomination over differences in the consecration of openly gay bishops. It seems the Christian divisions never end.Reality and society show us that these divisions (denominations) will never end, until the time of the second coming of Christ. At that point, He will become the clear, on Earth, leader of the only Church. True believers will align with Him, and petty and historical differences that have divided us will pass away. What a wonderful day that will be.
Published on 04:06, 03/24,2010
I’ve always had a special place in my heart and mind for the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. And now I feel even moreso due to the fact that I lead a small group of high school students at our local church.In a perfect world (or country), reading and understanding Proverbs should be a prerequisite for high school graduation. Of course in these days where it is nearly illegal to merely bring a Bible into a public school, this wish will never be granted- at least in the public sector. But, why not in religious high schools, or even private secular high schools? It is quite clear that, especially in this and the past generation, young people (call it ages 14-25) desperately need more wisdom and guidance. Ask any teacher, parent, grandparent, boss, pastor, or policy-maker. It seems many parents (even those who go to church on a semi-regular basis) do not impart much godly wisdom or even practical knowledge on their teenage children. These teenagers then typically make very bad decisions which can put them on the fast track to a difficult and sinful life.So, what is the point of (Biblical) proverbs?“A wise man by hearing them will advance in learning, an intelligent man will gain sound guidance.” (Prov. 1: 5) Sounds good to me….“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.” (Prov. 1: 7) This one verse is so powerful in many ways; a high school class could spend a day on it.A few other miscellaneous Proverbs/ verses which I have selected just give a snapshot of the brilliant advice within this Book:“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching;” (1: 8) Every parent should post this verse on their refrigerator.“Happy the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding! For her profit is better than profit in silver, and better than gold is her revenue;” (3: 13-14)“The path of the wicked enter not, walk not on the way of evil men; Shun it, cross it not, turn aside from it, and pass on. For they cannot rest unless they have done evil;” (4: 14-16)“With closest custody, guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life. Put away from you dishonest talk, deceitful speech put far from you.” (4: 23-23)And lastly, some good advice for any boyfriend or married man-“The lips of an adulteress drip with honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, as sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, to the nether world her steps attain;” (5: 3-5)Of course there are many more fine examples, but just from these it is clear that whether you are a Christian or not, the Book of Proverbs gives sound advice and instruction. This- in a world that has been trying to achieve morality without God and has done a terrible job. The more one ponders this fact the more one sees that it is impossible to achieve righteousness and morality, and ethical decisions, without God. Of course, this kind of talk is the very reason why we will never see a mandatory study on Proverbs in our public high schools- even if it brings us the results that we all long for. A bit ironic, isn’t it?
Published on 15:44, 02/21,2010
Some readers may have heard of Rev. Matthew Henry, and in fact some may have used and read some of Mr. Henry’s biblical commentaries. In fact, Matthew Henry (d. 1714) is one of the most respected biblical scholars of the past three hundred years; his work is exhaustive- yet inspired and relevant.Most people do not know the trials and sufferings of Mr. Henry, and as such this short article aims at touching upon that. For upon knowing these biographical details, Matthew Henry’s life and Christian accomplishments are all the more meaningful.Mr. Henry was born 1662 in England, and his infancy was marred with sickness and frailty. His brother had died of similar circumstances, as an infant. In those days, as would become evident to Matthew himself later on, many newborns and young children did not make it. In some ways, that was a part of life for so many parents in those days before penicillin and other basic treatments.Over the course of his adult life, Mr. Henry would experience six different premature deaths that undoubtedly haunted him as he struggled to believe and trust in the Almighty God, and His ultimate plan. These unfortunate deaths included:His first wifeA young daughterA second young daughter (just 1 year after the first had passed)His two middle-aged sisters (during the same year)A third daughterAnd, his own life was not spared certain physical suffering. Matthew Henry died at the relatively young age of 52 (not so uncommon in those days though) after a terrible disease and sickness took him during the last two to three years of his life.When tragedy strikes, most people are led to one of two distinct directions: Being close to God, and running very far away from Him. Many readers have never felt the kind of sorrow and angst that Mr. Henry had weathered. Losing a young and new wife is certainly a terrible loss. And there is nothing worse than losing your own child- especially at a young age. Matthew Henry lost three daughters, and that pain at times must have been nearly unbearable.What did he do as a result? He was in the public eye as a scholar and a minister. Did he denounce the Lord? Did he become ever-spiteful? Did he leave the ministry?Matthew Henry did none of those things. It is human nature to become angry at times, and I’m quite sure there were times that he was even angry at God. However, anger is an emotion that passes. It is not a way of life or a way of thinking. Mr. Henry marched on with his ministry, and his Bible study. His works include a 6-volume, very thorough and practical commentary on the entire Bible. He poured over each Chapter and Verse, prayed about it, and wrote what he deemed to be the meaning and the inspiration behind these stories and books. His works have stood the test of time and are still read and used today.It is easy to be a Christian when everything is going well, and when your life here on Earth is truly blessed (from the outward appearance). It is quite another task to be a true and faithful Christian servant (and leader) when this life has brought major setbacks and sorrows that some may call “undeserved”. For this, admiration is due for Mr. Henry- who joins a long list of Christian men and women through the ages who have exemplified Christ and have shown undying faith and trust in God the Father above.
Published on 19:04, 01/30,2010
Does God perform miracles today? Do you believe all the Biblical miracles written 2,000 years ago? Do you believe that in the centuries since the New Testament that people have been raised from the dead, due to the powers of God?These are key questions that can have a profound impact on any believer. What do the experts say? What does the Bible say? What does other history say?First, I believe that we as Christians, must believe that God did perform, and STILL DOES perform miracles- which in some rare cases DOES include the raising of the dead. It appears that over the past 2 centuries, especially the past 50-60 years, man has become increasingly reliant on our own abilities (medical, scientific, etc), and has turned away in many aspects from trusting and relying on the Lord. This fact has in turn led many away from the Church; our society is not in the same place it was 800 years ago. In another way, we- even Christians- have become more skeptical of the stories of miracles- be it in the Bible or in other Church history. In fact, since the late 17th century there was a large movement- within and apart from the Church- to largely discredit Biblical miracles. They were trying to remove the supernatural from the Bible- the Word of God. That was a very dangerous and faulty undertaking that has mostly subsided- but its effects have been long-lasting for many.What does the Bible say about miracles, including the ultimate miracle- raising the dead? Here are a few verses from the New Testament that would seem to clearly answer the question:“Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?” –Acts 26: 8“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils; freely have you received, freely give.” –Matthew 10: 8“Amen, amen I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do.” – John 14: 11-12If you believe in the Bible, then you must believe that in Biblical times Jesus and his disciples DID in fact raise the dead and perform other miracles. You also would have to infer that it’s likely that later devout followers of Jesus also performed miracles. On this subject, there is one great book out there with research involving many “proven” occurrences of the dead being raised in various times of Church history. If interested, please read Saints Who Raised the Dead, by Father Albert Hebert (Tan Books and Publishing). This book has so many stories and details that most people would find it hard to say that EVERY story listed is a farce or a fraud or merely an exaggerated myth. This book was written by a Catholic priest- which some may claim is self-serving to the Catholic Church specifically. However, most noted miracles (of saints and other religious persons) were performed well before the Protestant Reformation- and as such these noteworthy “saints” were truly part of the history of the Universal Church.One fact that cannot be ignored from this book specifically is that there are not many listed after the 1600’s, and very few listed in the last 125 years. There lies the question- why did God stop performing miracles? Well, I don’t believe he stopped; he may have slowed down a bit. I don’t have the complete answer to this question, but I have a hypothesis. Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world- with 2.1 billion people. Most of the significant miracles from the earlier years of the Church were performed via missionary priests in areas very hostile to Christianity. In some ways, raising the dead was one of the only ways to “prove” that we were following the one true God. This helped lead the Church from a group of 12 men to a group of over two billion. Recently, maybe God’s “need” for such miracles is not as strong?However one look’s at this subject, believing in true miracles is part of Christianity. If one tries to remove the power of God and answer all of life’s questions via man’s finite knowledge, trouble can soon arise. This trouble has led many away from His Church. Therefore, do your own research. Pray about it.Miracles can, and do, still happen.
