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.