AWARENESS: Col 1:9  And so, from the day we heard [awareness), we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 

Col 1:10  means to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;…

“Increasing in the (knowledge) of God studying to show one is approved of God…rightly dividing the Word of Truth” [II Timothy 2:15]

Either scripture is without flaw, or it cannot be trusted for anything. Ephesians 4 is powerful instruction but within this chapter, we also find: (KJV Ephesians 4:3-6)

 Endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ‘One’ in Greek (hice) is an absolute. ‘All’ (pas) means “without exception”

Jesus points out in Colossians that Christian growth is a process. The building block or foundation of understanding is knowledge; a knowledge that comes from awareness. Nothing excluded. The Bible is not a book of stories. It is a history. There is but one history of this earth but two powers; good versus evil; and God versus Satan. Dale Carnegie states, from childhood, that “most learning is by association.”  

Example: “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue,” but did you know that between 1492 and 1503 was the Great Catholic Inquisition to purge Spain of Jews? Leave, die, or convert were their only options. Tens of thousands if not more than a million were exported to Aleppo retaining their “sons (tribal name) of Isaac” identities. Many fled to North Africa mixing in with or being re-identified as the Carthaginians, or north toward Scandinavia territories. Some died for their identities. Some changed their names to what King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella considered more (Catholic) or Christian. These Jewish Israelites were allowed to remain in Spain.

KNOWLEDGE: Of the twelve Tribes of Israel (incorrectly lumped in the mind of most, as Jews or Sons of Judah) we have: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulon, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Naphtali, Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim) and Asher. To retain their tribal identities and connections in Spain they opted for so-called “Christian names.”  However, they renamed each family with an acceptable Christian-sounding name using the first letter of their ancestral tribe. (Example only: Reuben could be Robinson or Rupert).

Now we have a technical problem. Both Judah and Joseph begin with the letter “J.” God knew what was in store for the tribes of Israel and the issues they would face. 2,000 years earlier as the Israelites left Egypt, Joseph had relinquished his tribal name to his two sons via Jacob’s blessing on them (Genesis 48:3; Joshua 14:4). This means the duplicate “J” within the Tribes, Judah and Joseph, was no longer an issue 2,400 years later during the Spanish Inquisition. Instead, we have two additional tribal names with first initials that conflict with none of the other tribal name spellings i.e., Manasseh and Ephraim. (R, S, L, J, Z, I, D, G, N, A, M, E). What are the odds of naming 12 sons without duplicating the first letter in each individual name? God knew this issue of name changes that were to be mandated during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492-1503 A.D. 3,000 years after the first son of Jacob was born. Reuben was born around 1590(?) B.C.

Such knowledge puts teeth into scripture being infallible and helps with understanding. What is left of the Colossians 1 reference? DESIRE and ACTION. That begins with an advanced education well beyond bible history. We will be delving into Colossians later. Be reminded or recall that the Apostle Paul did not start or visit the church of Colossae. Credit for that is assigned to Epaphras. It is he who petitions Paul to advise what to do with the issues that were creeping into the Church of Colossae. This was the beginning for denominational difference…all man-manifested.

­­­­Shalom Aleichem.

Rev. Dr. Jstark

“A parable is a fictitious example designed to teach a lesson through comparisons.” When one understands the comparison s/he can better relate it to his or her own grasp of life.

No, this article is not about the does and don’t s, good and bad, of this recently traditional day. It is to timestamp this article for the reader’s sake.

A reader mentioned Acts 16:31 and asked us to expand on its meaning. We all know of men or women turning their lives over to Christ but did not have their family follow. He and his family, including his pastor, think this verse applies to one’s personal household. I fear too many people do not do a respectable job or bother to take the time to follow the Greek on a word-for-word study. It does make a difference. This verse has a profound difference if one only gives it a surface read and his or her first impression of the meaning of this verse. 

Act 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and (deh in Greek) you will be saved, you and (Kayhee in Greek) your household.” 

The first use of the word “and” in this same verse is deh in the Greek.  

Deh: but, and, also, moreover, now… The real question to be answered to understand the meaning of this verse is the word “saved.” We use the word “saved” to mean one thing…born again and now “saved” and outside the judgment of sin. In this verse the Greek word for saved is sode’-zo. Its basic translation is “safe” not salvation. Safe from what? Safe from the Roman military punishment and consequences for a guard who loses a prisoner. This verse says the Jailer will have both his salvation AND be *safe/saved (sode’-zo) from the Roman consequence of allowing or not stopping a prison break. 

*Strong’s G4982: to make safe, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): – heal, preserve, save (self), do well. None of these alternative words suggests salvation. 

Of course, Paul had a card up his sleeve that he had not yet revealed to the Jewish leaders who had originally had him arrested. He was a Roman citizen and KNEW the panic that will set in when he reveals this to the Jewish leadership. They FEARED the Romans. They had zero authority to put on trial and judge a Roman citizen for anything.  

I am confident most do not need a review of the circumstances surrounding this passage in Acts 16. Following the earthquake that dropped the chains on the Apostle Paul and the other prisoners then sprung each jail doors open. The jailer panicked due to the Roman code of punishment for jailers who allowed prisoners to escape; especially those already jailed and chained. The jailer would be executed without a trial and for each added person who escapes, another in his household would be executed. 

… you will be saved, you and (and is Kayhee in Greek) your household.  

Kayhee: even, so, then, too, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet. Each of these words could be substituted for the word “and” when it is Kayhee. Bible translators had to opt for ONE English word. After reviewing over 40 English translations of this verse we found two that came close to being clearer as to what was really being said.  

There are two different “and” in this passage. The first use of the word “and” in this verse is deh in the Greek.  

Deh can be translated: but, and, also, moreover, now… The real question to be answered to understand the meaning of this verse is the word “saved.” We use the word “saved” to mean one thing…born again and now “saved” and outside the judgment of sin. In this verse the Greek word for saved is *sode’-zo. Its basic translation is “safe” not salvation. Safe from what? Safe from the Roman military punishment and consequences for a guard who loses a prisoner. This verse says the Jailer will have both his salvation AND be *safe/saved (sode’-zo) from the consequence of allowing or not stopping a prison break while under his watch. 

*Strong’s G4982: to make safe, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): – heal, preserve, do well. None of these alternative words suggests salvation. 

Even though Paul had a card that he had not yet revealed to the Jewish leaders who had him arrested, he kept it until after the earthquake. He was a Roman citizen and KNEW the panic that would set in when he reveals this to the Jewish leadership. They FEARED the Romans. Such a revelation would put the lives of Paul’s oppressors in jeopardy. 

Rev. Dr. Jstark 
2023 – October 

Paul the Apostle wrote this Book, the Road to Damascus event – about 33/34 A.D.

1. After the death of Judas, the church (totaling about 120 believers) met in Jerusalem to decide who among them would be uniquely qualified to replace him (Acts 1).
   1. Act 1:23 “And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and [their 2^nd choice] Matthias”.
   1. The 12th foundation in the heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14) will have 12 names.
   1. Paul’s Old Testament training – Acts 22:3 (Gamaliel – Acts 5:38-39)
   1. There was no scroll/Bible of the New Testament at this time [33/34 B.C.E.] Believers depended upon the Old Testament for the salvation message. Mostly their study was in Isaiah.
   1. Christianity was only about 18 years in existence at the time of Corinthians
2. To be called an Apostle, one had to be: [*Matthias – Acts 1:12-26]
   1. personally called by Christ,
   1. taught by him directly for several years, as Paul would be for 3 years in the wilderness. (Galatians 1:17-18),
   1. have seen Jesus or had been with him after his resurrection (Acts 1:17, 22, 25).

*Matthias is never mentioned again by name in the New Testament.

Twice in 1 Corinthians Paul identifies as an Apostle. 1 Corinthians 15 deals more with Apostleship. There a many more times he calls himself an “Apostle” when introducing another Book of the Bible he authored.

The Apostle Paul’s calling is like every Christian’s call. It is the effectual call by God Himself. For Paul, it was Jesus Christ’s very appearance that struck him down and humbled him enough to believe in Christ. It was while “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any belonging to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2) but “suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus

Corinthians: Their internal divisions included a lack of church discipline, lawsuits amongst themselves, abuse of Christian liberty, and over-emphasis on the gift of tongues, all illustrate the root problems of the Church in Corinth, AND, in many denominations in today’s modern church.

After Paul began work at Corinth, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, was converted. He was replaced by *Sosthenes. *Is he the same Sosthenes of Acts 18:16? He had a similar job as Paul before Paul’s Road to Damascus experience. This might be why Paul mentions him.

What is the difference between being a Disciple (learner/student) and being an Apostle? Being a disciple means being a follower (student) of Jesus. Being an apostle means being a messenger; one who is sent. Apostle: plenipotentiary/ambassador of a master. [See #2 above]

Are believers saved or in the process of being saved?

1 Corinthians 1:18 – [NASB] For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

KJV:    but unto us which are saved
NKJV: are being saved
YLT:    those being saved
ESV:    are being saved     
HCSB: us who are being saved

50 A.D. is when Paul left Athens and went to Corinth (Acts 18)

Paul’s visit to Corinth coincided with Emperor Claudius’ order for all Jews to leave Rome

Paul reveals to the church their spiritual immaturity.  This caused him to teach (3^rd chapter) them only basic “milk of the word” principles of Christianity. 

The church was originally a secular term referring to “the gatherings of the citizenry in a city-state to discuss and decide on matters of public interest” [William de la Mare], Paul calls the gathering of Christians in Corinth the church of God. This isn’t the gathering of the world, but of God, a gathering place.

The term Korinthiazomai was well known in the Roman Empire and meant “to live like a Corinthian.”

Paul’s major concern: Is the Church of God influencing Corinth or is the city influencing the Church of God? We could easily debate this TODAY as concerns America.

1Co 1:14  I thank God that I have baptized none of you, unless it is Crispus and Gaius. (WHY?)

That Paul did not regard baptism as essential to salvation. We see this in the fact that he did not keep careful track of whom he had baptized. Baptism is a testimony, not the path to salvation. Baptism after salvation is part of the Mark of Christ within a person.

(1Co_1:18) The central point: How the world sees the cross, and how the saved see the cross.

            [world] A crucified man or [believer] the son of God crucified.

Deduction from 1 Corinthians: Satan wants man to dispute every principle offered in the Bible. He wants man to solve all problems through human reasoning.

CHURCH: The Greek word “ecclesia,” from which we get the terms “ecclesial” and “ecclesiastical.” The word was in use centuries before the Christian church appeared on the scene. It referred to a socio-political gathering of citizens, who were called together to attend to the concerns of their city. Ecclesia, Greek Ekklēsia, (“gathering of those summoned”) Homer’s agora: The place and those assembling

A church that upholds doctrinal purity at the expense of showing love is just as flawed as a church that upholds congregational harmony at the expense of truthful teachings

Charles Spurgeon: A blind man is certainly no judge of colors, a deaf man is no judge of sound, and a man who is not quickened into spiritual life can have no judgment as to spiritual things”.