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Title: God's Perfect Justice Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 FCF: We often struggle believing that God's justice is perfect when we suffer for His name. Prop: Because God's justice will punish the guilty and reward the righteous, we must trust in His perfect justice. Scripture Intro: ESV [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. In a moment we'll begin reading from the English Standard Version starting in verse 5. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. After greeting them and thanking the Lord for their growth and endurance in suffering, Paul wants to attack a couple topics all at once. First, he wants to comfort them in the midst of their persecution and second, he wants to clear up some teaching on the Day of the Lord. For the next two chapters, this will be his objective. This passage is riddled with interpretational difficulties, which could keep us from seeing it's comforting and impactful application. But this gives me a chance to teach a lesson alongside the message of this text. When we come to passages that are difficult to interpret, there are two dangers that we could run into. First, is the danger of ignorance. When you only read 1 study bible or only have one commentary, or only rely on what you think the passage says – then you'll never even know the interpretational options that have been posited down through the church age. The danger here is that the interpretation that you arrived at may be poorly attested for several reasons, or as you engage with others on the passage you might be overcome with pride and dismiss any other option than what you've seen. The second danger is the danger of getting bogged down in the details. We might even get discouraged when we see that there is really no clear-cut way to understand the passage. But it has been my experience that even passages that have no settled interpretation down through the church age – ultimately the basic meaning of the text… what bible interpreters call the telos… remains the same. For the purposes of this sermon, I intend to present a focused interpretation driving to the telos of the passage so we can apply it to our lives today. That is my goal. I will mention options of interpretation and briefly defend why I am interpreting the text in a specific way. But I do not intend to provide the full argument of each view. Now if you are one of those people who just has to know the details, I've done my homework. I've spent hours researching this and most of what I found is not going to make it into this sermon. But I promise, if you ask or come to prayer group and bible study Thursday – We'll talk about it. That being said, we have… A LOT to get to. So please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Perfectly Just God, You are perfect in all your ways. We do not have any trouble appreciating Your delay in justice when it is applied to our account. For had You not been merciful to us while we were yet sinners, we would have been cast from Your presence long ago. Yet when we see Your mercy applied to those who hate us, those who harm us, those who abuse us, those who slander us, or even those who spit on your laws and abuse others, we often are tempted to doubt that Your justice is perfect. Forgive us this treachery Lord. May we believe that Your justice is perfect. May we hope and trust in it. And if there are those who are not Your children here today, may You give them a new heart to fear Your justice and repent and believe on Your Son. Meet with us today Lord, and assure us of Your perfect justice. We pray this In Jesus' name, amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “Without justice, what are kingdoms but great banditries?” Augustine of Hippo “Justice always makes mercy dumb when sin has made the sinner deaf.” Thomas Brooks “The bible insists that God is entirely just, and that therefore ultimately justice will be done and will be seen to be done.” D.A. Carson “Belief in a just God is not optional.” Jay Poppinga “Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” Thomas Jefferson Let these thoughts prepare you for the exposition of the text this morning. I.) God will repay those who harm us and give us rest when Christ is revealed, so we must trust His righteous justice. (5-7) a. [Slide 4] 5 - This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, i. Right off the bat we have an interpretational issue. ii. Paul begins this sentence with the word “evidence.” The words, “this is” have been added by the ESV primarily to help it feel more natural in English. iii. So, what is the evidence of the righteous judgement of God? iv. Well, before we address that, we should probably try to understand what God's righteous judgment is, since figuring that out will help us determine what could be the evidence for it. v. Even a cursory reading of this text forces us to see God's righteous judgment as His holy and right application of justice, both in meting out judgment to the wicked and in rewarding the righteous. vi. But perhaps even more correctly, we might say that Paul is talking about God's delayed but assured righting and reordering of the world to the way it should be. vii. So now that we understand what God's righteous judgment is… let's look at the options for what the evidence of it could be… viii. There are two different interpretations. 1. The biggest category is that the evidence is something that the apostle has already said. This actually divides into four different views, really debating on how far we go backward. 2. The second option is that Paul is not referring to something that has been said but is about to present the evidence of God's reordering of the world to the way it should be. 3. In my opinion, the only real option that actually gives evidence that God is reordering the world to be as it should is that the Thessalonians, former pagans and idol worshippers, are growing abundantly and enduring suffering. This proves that God is in the process of reordering the world. ix. But what will be the end of that process for the Thessalonians? They might be wondering this because they are currently enduring a lot of persecution for their faith. What is God's plan for justice for them? b. [Slide 5] that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, i. God's reordering of the world to reward the righteous and to punish the wicked has the outcome of the Thessalonians being counted worthy of the Kingdom of God. ii. God has begun a process which He will complete. He has not forgotten them just because He is delaying justice upon those who are afflicting them. iii. God doesn't begin people on the road to Christlikeness whom He does not intend to finish. He will perfect them and transfer them into His Kingdom. A Kingdom… c. [Slide 6] for which you are also suffering— i. They are enduring suffering primarily because they have declared their loyalty to Christ and His Kingdom. ii. Paul recognizes this and wants to assure the Thessalonians that God's justice is not doubtful because they are suffering. iii. The Day of the Lord has not already happened, and those opposing them won't get away with it. iv. No, they haven't yet gotten their reward for following Him. v. But their growth and endurance is the evidence they should look to that God who began a good work in them, will complete it. vi. Jesus Himself said that those who endure suffering for His sake are blessed indeed. vii. And Paul assures the Thessalonians that they are indeed blessed. So blessed, that they will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which they suffer. d. [Slide 7] 6 - since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, i. Paul begins this next verse with the word “Since.” ii. This poses a challenge for us because it is the beginning of an “if…then” statement but Paul never actually gives us the “then.” iii. I would encourage us to think that the then has already been stated. iv. Paul's “then” is the fact that God is in the process of reordering the world with the assured outcome that the Thessalonians will be counted worthy of the kingdom they are suffering for, which is evidenced by their growth and endurance in faith and love. So, what must be true for all this to be the case? v. Paul points to the Old Testament teaching of retribution. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. vi. Now we've seen, even in Paul's last letter, that it is inappropriate for the church to have this philosophy. We must return good for evil. We must forgive. We must love our enemy. We must turn the other cheek. vii. But God… God is a different story. viii. God is the ultimate keeper of the teaching of retribution. He will take what has been taken. He will give what has been given. He will punish and reward exactly what has been earned. No more and no less. And He alone is in a position to do this perfectly. ix. Since God sees justice this way – His justice is perfect, and He won't ignore the fact that they suffer for His Kingdom. x. But what else is true that assures the outcome of verse 5? e. [Slide 8] 7 - and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels i. In the law of retribution God also rewards what has been earned. ii. The reward for the Thessalonians is that they are counted worthy of the Kingdom. Which is the outcome of God setting things right as evidenced by their lives being transformed. iii. And Paul actually lumps himself and Silas and Timothy in this too. They too will get relief. They will be given rest by God. iv. But we see the timetable for this, clearly spelled out. v. When? When will God finally afflict those who are afflicting His people and give rest to the afflicted? When? vi. When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. vii. When Jesus returns, that will be when the world is finally put to order. That will be when all things will be set right. viii. This then, is clear indication that the Day of the Lord… has not happened yet. Which is Paul's thrust all the way through chapters 1 and 2. ix. The reason they are still experiencing this affliction and persecution… is not because the Day of the Lord has come… instead it is because the Day of the Lord has not yet come. f. [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Paul's point here is really to provide encouragement and assurances to the Thessalonian church. He wants them to understand that their suffering is not something that slipped by the Lord, it isn't something the Lord can do nothing about, and it isn't something the Lord is ambivalent toward. God's justice is right, holy, multifaceted, and executed in His perfect timing. He will repay those who harm His people and He will give His people rest when Christ is revealed. Why? Because His justice is right and good. Indeed, God has already begun His reordering of the world and the evidence is in our hearts growing to be more like Him and enduring through suffering for His name. So, we must trust His perfect justice. Its extent and its timing. He is good and He is just. Transition: [Slide 10 (blank)] Paul begins with the Thessalonians personally as a church, but he wishes to zoom out and show the greater principle of the Lord's Justice and reordering the whole world. II.) God will punish the wicked and reward the righteous when Christ is revealed, so we must trust His righteous justice. (8-10) a. [Slide 11] 8 - in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. i. Here we see our second and third interpretational issue in the first three words of verse 8. ii. Since there are Old Testament prophesies concerning the Day of the Lord which suggest that the vengeance of Yahweh comes in flaming fire, I see the fire as part of His vengeance. This actually solves both the interpretational issues in one fell swoop. iii. So, what is Paul saying? iv. Paul now is addressing all of humanity under the law of retribution. All the wicked and all the righteous will be judged at the coming of Christ. v. First, Paul focuses on the wicked. Jesus will come with a flaming fire to repay and punish a certain group of people. vi. Some commentators see two groups of people here, but really there is just one. vii. Over the next three verses Paul will have a triad of couplets which are designed in parallelism to explain who or what is happening. viii. The group whom the Lord will inflict vengeance on and repay for their wickedness is those who do not know God and those who have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ. ix. Jesus said that there is no way to the Father but through Him. He also said that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father. Jesus' words are very clear and we noticed this in Acts as well. The chokepoint for knowing Yahweh… is through believing on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. x. But what do we do with this phrase, obey the gospel? Isn't the gospel by grace, through faith, in Christ and not of works? If we are obeying the gospel, doesn't that mean we are earning it somehow? xi. [Slide 12] Paul addresses this in Romans 10:16. xii. Paul, speaking of the hope for salvation for the Jews, says this… “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord who has believed what he has heard from us?” So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” xiii. So, we see here very clearly that to not obey the gospel is to not believe the word of Christ as communicated from Christ to His apostles. xiv. And the gospel does demand belief or unbelief from every single man, woman, and child. You cannot hear the gospel and leave undecided. Why? Because even faith is a gift of God. The gospel is either embraced or it is rejected. There is no third option. xv. All who do not believe the gospel and submit to Christ as their Savior and their Lord, do not know God, and all will fall to the flaming fire of Christ's vengeance. xvi. But what will be the outcome of the flaming fire punishment? Is this just speaking of physical death? b. [Slide 13] 9 - They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, i. This verse is incredibly important to a proper understanding of the fate of the unbeliever. IT IS HUGE! ii. To help us I've broken the verse in to two parts so we can get everything out of it we need to. iii. There is a movement growing in Christendom, affecting even those in our circles of theology. iv. It is the belief in annihilationism. This belief is that the punishment that God gives to unbelievers is designed to burn away their sin debt to the extent that when it is finally paid, they would be consumed and cease to exist. v. They cite God's love and mercy and show how many passages that refer to this judgment reference fires burning for eternity but not necessarily those who are in those fires being consumed eternally. vi. This verse is an absolute wrecking ball to that belief. vii. Let's break this down word by word. 1. They – This is the subject of the sentence. Those who do not know God because they have not obeyed the gospel. 2. Will suffer – This is a future active indicative verb, there is no suggestion of conditionality here, meaning it isn't uncertain or possible only when certain conditions are met. To suffer means to pay, to experience, to atone for or to endure. 3. destruction – This is not the next word in the English sentence but this is the direct object. This is what they will suffer or endure. Destruction here means ruin, corruption, or death. I do grant that ruin, corruption, and death, at least as we know it, all end. A think cannot be in the process of ruining forever. Eventually it comes to ruin. I grant this… but let's keep going. 4. The punishment – This is an adverbial accusative. Meaning it modifies the verb to suffer while also applying to the direct object. What are they suffering? A certain kind of destruction. What kind? Punishment means: Penalty, or the consequences of their actions. A corruption, ruin, or death that is just or right. It is fitting. They suffer what they have earned. 5. Eternal – This is an adjective, meaning it modifies a noun. Eternal modifies the direct object, destruction in this sentence. Eternal means without end, perpetual, everlasting, or for an age. 6. Proponents of the annihilationist view suggest that the meaning “for an age” should be taken here and this supports their view. However, nothing in scripture indicates to us that the next age ever ends. In fact, the scripture seems to tell us that the next age is forever. Which doesn't actually help prove their case. 7. So, the ruin they suffer, the death they experience, the corruption they endure… is everlasting or perpetual or for the entire duration of the next age which is unending. 8. Meaning what? 9. Those who do not obey the gospel and know God, will endure everlasting death as the righteous consequence of their unbelief. Even though we see death as an end… the adjective “everlasting” means by definition that it does not end. 10. Therefore, they will not be annihilated. 11. When we've been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun… they will have been there 10,000 years no closer to paying for what they've done. 12. And remember how Paul said that God considers the teaching of retribution to be just… if indeed God requires eternal death from those who are unbelievers, that means that sin in general, especially the sin of rejecting Christ, is a sin that cannot ever be paid by humans. Even if they were given an eternal age to do so. 13. This should sharpen our understanding of God's perspective of sin. viii. But now Paul adds another phrase that is just as important for us to dissect. And it is still in verse 9. ix. I told ya – HUGE VERSE. c. [Slide 14] away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, i. First, observe that this is another couplet. The presence of the Lord and the glory of His might are parallel in their structure. The glory of His might is necessarily part of and an expression of His presence. ii. But again, we see another interpretational difficulty. iii. What is meant by “away from.” iv. There are three basic options but in a sense all of these say essentially the same thing. v. In my opinion what makes the most sense given the rest of the context of the New Testament, is that eternal death and being separated eternally from the presence of God are in essence the same thing. vi. However, arriving at this conclusion poses a small dilemma for us. vii. We often confess that God is omnipresent. What does that mean? viii. Well, the prefix omni means all and the suffix, present, means at a particular place. When we combine those thoughts, we get the idea that God is everywhere. And this also includes that God is not only every place but every place at every time. God is everywhere and everywhen. ix. God's presence then is not able to be limited by any created limitation. Time, Space, Matter- were all created by God and cannot limit His presence. x. This is all well and good – but what do we make of this verse? xi. If unbelievers suffer the penalty of eternal destruction which is being “away” from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, where and when in creation is God not present? xii. Does this mean that God is not truly omnipresent? xiii. No. It doesn't. There are two clues in this verse that help us here. xiv. First, and less obvious, is the parallel phrase “and from the glory of His strength,” 1. Paul's inclusion of this phrase requires us to think of God in parts and pieces. He is a unified God and is One, but the unbeliever is specifically away from an aspect of God's character. Specifically, His glorious strength. 2. Meaning what? 3. He won't rescue them. God will never choose to use His strength to save them. 4. Well, how could He if He isn't present with them? 5. Exactly… xv. [Slide 15] But the best clue is actually the word translated here “presence.” xvi. But this word is not merely being in the same place. Instead, this word is, being in front of or face-presence. 1. Consider this, if you walk in the break room at your job and 1 person is facing the coffee machine getting coffee and another person is staring at some posters on the wall, and another is playing on their phone – would you conclude as you walked in that these co-workers were enjoying each other's company? 2. No. Of course not. Its possible they hate each other and are trying hard to ignore each other. 3. If you walked in and they were all sitting around a circle table looking at each other… before you even knew if they were talking to each other, you'd assume some level of closeness or comradery. xvii. Paul is not saying that the unbeliever will be cast away from the spatial presence of God. For God is everywhere. As David says, if I make my bed in hell, you are there. xviii. Instead, Paul is saying that the KIND of God's presence is radically different than the presence He gives to His elect. More on that in a moment. xix. His presence to them is also now, tragically, different than the kind of presence He had for them on earth. xx. God sends rain upon the just and the unjust. He causes the sun to shine on the wicked and the righteous. God's presence in the lives of the unbeliever in this life is one of relative closeness. Paul told the Athenians at the Areopagus that the Lord is not far off. xxi. But after the Lord Jesus returns, part of the flaming fire, part of the eternal destruction, is being cast away from the benevolent and powerful presence of God. xxii. In other words, God is still present. But He limits His presence there. It is not a merciful presence. It is not a saving presence. It is, instead, only a presence of justice and wrath. xxiii. So, we've seen the fate of the wicked. What about the fate of the righteous? What is their rest? d. [Slide 16] 10 - when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. i. This is the third couplet Paul introduces in as many verses. Therefore, we should not assume that the saints and the believers are two different groups but just like those who disobey the gospel are the same as those who do not know God, and just as the glory of God's might is an expression of His presence, so also saying “all who have believed” is another way of describing Christ's holy ones. ii. Notice too here that eternal death is to be cast away from the face-presence of God and His saving power… while eternal life is… what? What is the “rest” of the believer? iii. John 17:3 says that eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. iv. Can you know Christ and God better than when you see Him face to face? So, what is eternal life? v. It is Christ. It is seeing Christ face to face. vi. Indeed, the glory of Christ is on display in the very presence of His saints. They glorify Him. All those who believed on Him will marvel at Him on that day. vii. And in that glory and marveling, they will know eternal life. They will know eternal rest in His presence. And as Paul said in the previous letter, they will never be apart from Him ever again. viii. Then notice that Paul returns to the Thessalonians. He's been speaking in broad terms since verse 8. But He brings it all the way back to them… ix. Paul actually interrupts his thought to tell them “and that is you! You believed! You will join us there too!” When? x. On that day. On the day of the Lord when Jesus is revealed from heaven. e. [Slide 17] Summary of the Point: So, Paul's second point is an expansion of His first point. God will punish the wicked and reward the righteous when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven. And if this is true, then God's judgments are indeed just and he will count the Thessalonians worthy of that kingdom because they are showing the evidence that He is already reordering their lives by their growth in faith and love and endurance through suffering for His kingdom. So, what must we do? We must trust that the justice of the Lord is right. We must comfort, hope, and even fear that He will give to every man what they have earned on that great and terrible Day of the Lord. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC that refines our beliefs and guides how we live? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 18] Paul expresses his pastoral care for the Thessalonian church who though growing leaps and bounds in their faith, are experiencing increased persecution because of it. In his desire to comfort them and address their concerns about the Day of the Lord, he explains to them that their growth is evidence that God is reordering the world and will count them worthy of His kingdom. Afterall, if God considers the law of retribution to be right, he will repay those who afflict them and give them rest. In fact, God considers the law of retribution right to such a degree, that He will judge all men and rightly reward them for what they have done whether punishment for wickedness or reward for righteousness. He will do this at the Day of the Lord and the revelation of Christ from heaven. In that sense then, Paul challenges the Thessalonians to trust in the perfect justice of God. Not just in who He gives what, but also in His timing of that justice. We too must trust in the perfect justice of God. But what does it mean to trust in His justice? What does this passage mean for us? 1.) [Slide 19] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the justice of God is perfect. a. As I mentioned in the opening prayer, we usually have no complaints about God's justice when it is delayed in mercy for us. b. Isn't that interesting? c. When I am the sinner who has wronged another… when I am the wretch who has fallen into sin again and must repent and turn back to the Lord… d. I have no complaints about the mercy of God to delay justice for me. e. When we were first converted to Christ, we had no complaints about the delayed merciful justice of God so that He could lavish grace upon us to call us to Himself through faith in Christ. f. Typically, the only time we have complaints about the justice of God, is when we are the ones being abused and harmed by others. When we are being afflicted or persecuted – that is when we wonder if God is ever going to do something. g. In this regard, we are like little children. Trust me I know. h. I know what it is like to be the one who is the judge and who is responsible to dole out justice and attempt to set things in order the way they should be. i. But I also have two little sinners in my home who are constantly complaining about how I implement justice. j. Of course, my justice is NOT perfect. So, maybe they have something to complain about. k. But God's justice… l. Oh friends. m. His Justice is perfect. Not only in its timing but also in its extent. God will not punish the righteous to the same extent as the wicked. n. And don't forget that on the other side of mercy is wrath. God mercifully permitting others to afflict us or persecute us is also storing up wrath for themselves on the day of judgement. o. Though God defers justice, He never cancels it. Though God transfers justice, He never skips it. p. Even our sins were not canceled or skipped. Our sins were paid for. The suffering of eternal death… was paid for at the cross by Christ. Christ could pay the eternal death for His people because He was God. And God only accepted His payment because He was human. q. God is always Just. And His Justice is always perfect. 2.) [Slide 20] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm our growth in faith, love and endurance through suffering are evidences of God's reordering of the world. a. God's justice is also a long game. b. If we take the idea of Justice and keep ourselves from defining it too narrowly as only punishment, we can see that God's justice is actually the reordering and righting of a world gone topsy turvey. c. In that sense, when the Lord grows us in His grace to deepen our faith and knowledge of Christ and expand our love for one another, and produce steadfastness and endurance through trials, afflictions, and persecutions… d. When God does this in us and we see genuine spiritual growth in our lives – this is the evidence that God is truly and perfectly just. e. Why? f. Because He is reordering… you. g. How are we described prior to conversion? h. We are described as dead in sin, lost, lame and blind. i. But now we are not only alive but growing, we have been found, we are walking in a new life, and we have seen the light. j. God brings order to our chaos. k. God's justice is really nothing more than this. l. God will have His creation ordered, one way or another. m. One way or another all people will kneel before Christ and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. n. But my friend, if He is not doing this in your life today… If he is not reordering you… today… o. If God is, for now, showing you mercy and allowing you to sin and to reject Him… 3.) [Slide 21] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that God's delay in justice implies His approval. a. Be warned friends. b. Be warned straying Christian. Be warned Christian in name only. Be warned unbeliever. c. God's permittance of your sin… is not approval. It is mercy. d. Mercy is when you do not get what you have earned. e. What have we earned by sinning against a holy God? f. What is sin? g. Sin is any lack of conformity to or breaking of the law of God. Sin is also idolatry which is rejecting or ignoring God in the world He created and instead worshipping something He created. h. How should sin be dealt with? i. If I created a pot for holding water and it no longer held water… If I designed an app to calculate tips and it always calculated it wrong… If I wrote a book about fixing toilets that was completely false and outdated – what should I do with the things I created? j. Since they aren't good for anything … They are only good for garbage. k. The rightful reaction God should have toward us in sin is to immediately and eternally punish us with death. l. God's mercy is allowing people to sin and even endure in sin without immediately casting them into the lake of fire. m. He withholds that justice – not because He approves of what we are doing, but because He is merciful. n. Don't be fooled that what you can get away with is somehow ok with God. o. We have a culture built on the delusion that God permits things BECAUSE He is loving and accepting. This is a lie. God permits things in mercy, and also in wrath. p. God did not destroy the Amorites until what… until their sins earned their destruction. q. Sometimes God, mercifully, allows us to sin, so that we EARN our destruction. r. That is why I say mercy and wrath are a two-sided coin. They go hand in hand. s. Sometimes, especially for God's people, mercy is NOT letting us get away with something sinful. t. The point is… God's delay in Justice isn't always what it seems. We don't know the mind of God. u. So, what should we do? 4.) [Slide 22] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” As believers, we must trust every aspect of God's perfect justice. a. God has given us explicit promises and commands that we should trust and follow – regardless of what is happening around us or in us. b. We are commanded to walk worthy of the calling we've been given. c. My friends… God's justice is always perfect. So, we should trust that HE WILL SORT IT OUT. d. Let's not worry about who is getting away with something or who is hiding something. e. This is a general caution to all those conspiracy theorists out there. f. Listen, I don't really care if you believe in conspiracies. I don't really care if you think that there is a secret world government steeped in devil worship and paganism. Because you know what – you might be right! g. But don't spend a lot of time worrying, fretting, or mobilizing to fight against it. Why? h. God's justice is perfect. How are YOU going to improve on it? Exactly? i. What DOES God require of you? Live righteously, humbly, and be merciful. Grow in faith, in love for one another, and endure trials and hardships with dependance on Christ. j. And then couple this holy living with gospel witness. Make disciples. k. This job description of the church as a whole is able to be applied both in a society built on the bible and a society that worships Satan and everything in between. l. God is reordering YOU. He is executing His justice on YOU. And that is all the evidence you need to trust that He will reorder the whole world when the Lord Jesus returns. m. Be what God has called you to be and trust that God will sort out who gets what… at the end of the age. n. But remember genuine Christ follower… 5.) [Slide 23] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God will reward His people with eternal life, seeing Christ face to face and knowing Him. a. Eternal life is knowing God and His Son. b. In many ways that begins today. For today you can know God and His Son through the gospel and His revealed Word. c. But in another way, real and true knowledge of God and His Christ happens especially, and fully when we see Him face to face. d. John says that when we see Him, we will be like Him. e. Paul says when we see Him He will be glorified in us as we marvel at His splendor. And we will always be with Him from that day forward. f. Oh Christian… one day, you will know justice. All will be right. And because of what Christ has done, you will be rewarded with His glorious and wonderful presence. g. That is what that New Kingdom is all about. God living among His people… forever. h. What a comfort. Just a few more weary days… i. But what if you are a Christian in name only? What if you are an unbeliever? It is just a few more empty days… until what? 6.) [Slide 24] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” God will punish unbelievers with eternal death away from His merciful and saving presence. a. Friends, I don't want you to suffer eternal punishment. Why? b. Not because God is a big meanie who will dole it out. Not because God is unjust to require eternal punishment for sin. Not because God sacrifices Love in order to punish. c. God is merciful, just, and love and will still punish unbelievers with eternal death. And His doing so is still merciful, loving, and just. d. Why don't I want you to suffer eternal punishment? e. Because that was my fate too. f. I was on my way to destruction too. With each sin, I ran hastily and greedily to the fires of hell, tripping over God's mercy and correction, until finally His grace stopped me in my tracks and showed me His love for me. g. God will punish unbelievers with eternal death. h. Every human being's life has been filled, whether they recognize it or not, with the mercy and saving power of God all around them. God gives common grace to all men and allows them to live in His creation – even if they reject or ignore Him. i. But one day He will remove that merciful and saving presence and will only surround the wicked with His Just and wrathful presence. j. My friends, let today be the day of your salvation. If your heart is stirred to fear and shame… If you are afraid of the just punishment of God and ashamed of your sin against Him… If you recognize all that Christ did for you by taking your punishment and providing your righteousness… then I implore you to cry out to Him in faith. k. Confess that He is Lord, believe He is the risen Savior, appeal to Him in trust and dependance… And you will know the justice of God as He begins to reorder your life to fit His Kingdom. l. It is not too late. m. Talk to an Elder after the service, even before I am finished. Talk to an Elder if you need to obey the gospel. [Slide 25 (end)] Let me close in a prayer by the reformer Myles Coverdale. An English reformer who helped William Tyndale translate the bible into English and actually produced the first printed and complete English translation of the bible called, The Coverdale Bible. O merciful God, preserve our hearts from pride, conceit, and shameful covetousness. Give us grace to abide in your holy work assignment, and to be thankful for your grace. As we keep in mind how easy it is to fall, help us to walk in your fear before you. For if we stand, we must be careful not to fall, and not look down on those who as yet do not stand. Help us to continue in your grace, for we have nothing that we did not receive from you. And if, in weakness, we do fall, put your hand under us, Lord. Do not let us despair in sin, but cause us with repentance and sorrow for our offense to turn back to you. Keep us from despair and from betraying your dearly beloved Son. You send him to us through your gospel. And without him we have no safeguard, but only eternal death and damnation. Keep us from that, good Lord! For your mercies' sake. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: May He Who is your light, your strength, your song and cornerstone, Prepare you for the fiercest drought and storm; Quiet your fears and cease your strivings; That you may know the heights of His love And the depths of His peace. Until we meet again, Grace and Peace to you.

Text: Psalm 121 This sermon examines Psalm 121. It is a promise that God will be your helper and defender into eternity. One of the most notable features is that the Psalmist uses the word "keep" six times. Keep is an interesting way to translate this word, and it dates back at least to 1535 and the publication of the Coverdale Bible. But keep is an incomplete understanding of what the Psalmist is saying; he is saying that the Lord is our constant guardian, persistent and active. As we think about how this Psalm relates to Christ and points to him, his person, and his work, perhaps the most obvious way is how in the totality of his humanity Jesus was fully dependent upon God-the-Father's protection. He did this perfectly, fully away that the LORD shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth for evermore. Psalm 121 reminds us that in season and out of season, no matter where we go, the Lord is our protector, our steadfast guardian.

A brief history of the English Bible is given from a bible-beliving perspective. John Wycliffe, Johannes Gutenburg, Desiderius Erasmus, William Tyndale, Miles Coverdale, John Rogers/Thomas Matthews, and king James are discussed. The Tyndale Bible, Gutenburg Bible, Coverdale Bible, Matthews Bible, Great Bible/Chain Bible, Geneva Bible, Bishops Bible, and the Authorized Version of 1611 (King James Bible) are all covered. The catholic Douay-Rheims is also discussed.

The printing of the Coverdale Bible was made possible due to the support of English merchants and reformist sympathizers abroad. It made the scriptures accessible to English speakers, marking a significant moment in the Reformation and the spread of ...

Friday, 11 August 2023   So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. Acts 19:20   The construction of the Greek is unusual and is widely translated, but a literal translation would be, “Thus, according to might, the word of the Lord: growing and availing” (CG).   Also, depending on the Greek text, the two main thoughts are reversed –   “Thus, according to might, the word of the Lord: growing and availing.” “Thus, according to the might of the Lord, the word: growing and availing”   The first will be used for the evaluation.   In the previous verse, the believers who had been meddling in the world of superstition and the occult had brought their books and burned them up, despite the high value that they could have been sold for. With that, it now says, “Thus, according to might.”   The construction of the Greek almost demands that a preposition and a noun be taken together adverbially, as in “And so mightily grew.” Others use the preposition “with” and translate it as “And with might.” However, the word kata doesn't mean “with.” Rather, it literally means “down from,” as if coming from a higher to a lower plane. As such, the meaning is more like “according to.” To retain the structure, it will be rendered this way, “Thus according to might.”   Therefore, it means that there is power in what is being referred to, which is “the word of the Lord.” Despite the Greek which clearly says, “Lord,” some translations like the KJV say “the word of God.” This error goes back to at least the Tyndale Bible of 1526. It was then corrected by the Coverdale Bible of 1535, but the error was reintroduced in later versions.   Hence, it is not Scripture, the word of God, but the doctrine about Christ, the word of the Lord, that is being referred – His name, His deeds, etc. Further, it is according to might that it is then said to be “growing and availing.”   Again, the words are widely translated. The first, auxanó, is completely ignored by the KJV. It means to cause to increase, to increase, become greater, or grow. The second word is ischuó. It means to have strength, be strong, be in full health and vigor, and even to prevail. For this reason, many translations say, “prevailing.”   It is defined by HELPS Word Studies, noting that for the believer it “refers to the Lord strengthening them with combative, confrontive force to achieve all He gives faith for. That is, facing necessary resistance that brings what the Lord defines is success (His victory...).” As such, the word availing seems appropriate.   The might of the word of the Lord is what is useful in causing the desired outcome to occur. This is just what had been happening with the believers that had heard about the power of the Lord and dedicated themselves more fully to Him. Taking the first clause of the previous verse and connecting it to the words of this verse, the progression is more perfectly seen –   “And many of those who had practiced the meddlings, having collected the books, were burning them before all. ... Thus, according to might, the word of the Lord: growing and availing.”   The might, the word of the Lord, was the impetus for the growing and availing of the faith of those who heard it. It proceeded to win out over the false doctrines and names of the enchanters. The believers, in turn, acted upon their increased faith through a demonstration of the change that occurred in them.   Life application: Do you feel ineffective in your walk with the Lord? The words of this verse provide the solution. You are not going to become an effective Christian by watching TV all day. You will not become an effective Christian by listening to life application sermons that build you up for a particular aspect of your life unless they are wholly rooted in the word of God. And even then, you will need to hear and also remember a life application on every possible contingency that life throws at you to be able to apply what you are told in any given situation.   What you really need is to read the word, the Holy Bible, and to contemplate what it says. You must be aware of the power of Jesus, the Lord incarnate, as it is revealed there. From there you can understand what He means in relation to our sinful state. You can consider the covenant faithfulness of God, understanding that when you fail Him, He will never fail you. When you are faithless, He will remain faithful because He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).   In other words, if you have believed the gospel, you have been saved. You are now “in Christ.” Because of this, He cannot deny the relationship that exists. You are a part of Him and He cannot deny this. Understanding such things will allow you to grow and to avail in Him because you understand the might of the word of the Lord. In summary: Read your Bible.   Lord God, help us to devote our time wisely by spending time in Your word. Give us the strong and burning desire to know You and to be more like You from day to day. It is Your word that will instruct us in this, and so give us this wisdom and ability that we ask for. Amen.

Monday, 24 July 2023   he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2   The previous verse noted that Paul had arrived in Ephesus and met some disciples. That thought continues now, saying, “he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit.'” The text does not say why Paul asked this, but there is obviously something that made him suspect concerning their walk that must have precipitated the question. Further, there is no article before Holy Spirit. As Bengel notes, “the language is indefinite, to accord with the part (pro parte) of those who are being interrogated.”   With that understood, Paul next says what should be the case. Though this is a descriptive account, it carefully details what is normative with the words, “when you believed?” It is obvious that Paul understands that belief equates to reception. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the two. The verb is an aorist participle, “when you believed,” or more exactingly, “having believed.”   This is in accord with the words of Ephesians 1:13, 14 –   “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”   It should be noted that Paul's words of Ephesians, being a written epistle, are prescriptive. They outline what is always to be the case. Belief means sealing. It does not necessarily include what will occur in the coming verses in Acts. In other words, what occurs in these coming verses is a description of what happened at that time but it is not something that should necessarily be expected to occur. The only thing that can be expected is the sealing of the Spirit which occurs upon belief. Expressed more fully, Paul's words in Acts show that it is normative that the Spirit is received upon belief. That is confirmed in Ephesians. However, what occurs beyond that cannot be taken as normative, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying. These outward demonstrations that take place are described by Luke, but they are not to be taken as normative events. If they were, then Paul's words of Ephesians would include that as well.   This is the problem with Charismatic and Pentecostal churches. They mix what is prescriptive and what is descriptive and they also take what is not normative and they assume it is normative. In this, they fail to rightly divide Scripture. This results in faulty theology. As for the account now, it continues with, “So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.'”   In these words, it appears to be saying that they didn't know of the existence of the Holy Spirit. This is not the intent of what is said. Rather, it was that they had not heard He had been given to the people of God. As Bengel says –   “...they could not have followed either Moses or John the Baptist, without hearing of the Holy Spirit Himself. [Therefore what they were ignorant of was, the effusion of the Holy Spirit peculiar to the New Testament.—V. g.]”   For example, the Holy Spirit is mentioned explicitly in Psalm 51:11, but He is inferred as far back as Genesis 1:2. He is referred to in verses such as Numbers 11:17 as well. When John the Baptist came, he spoke of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:11 and elsewhere. Thus, it could not be that they did not know of the existence of the Holy Spirit but of the reception of Him by believers. John 7:39 gives the sense –   “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”   The word “given” is inserted for clarity in this verse. It simply says, “the Holy Spirit was not yet.” Therefore, a translation such as the ERSV gives the sense of this verse in Acts –    “Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given.”   What is being detailed here begins to explain why the account of Apollos was given just prior to this account now. If the narrative is closely analyzed and properly understood, there would not be as much poor doctrine permeating the church as there is.   Apollos “had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord” (Acts 18:25), even if he had not yet received the baptism Jesus spoke of. These disciples have not been so instructed. Thus, the account in Acts 19 is given to reveal to us what occurred as the church began (describing events as they happened) and to form a normative or not-normative basis for future events during similar circumstances.   In this case, it is normative and expected that when a person rightly believes, he will be sealed with the Holy Spirit. It is not normative, however, that external evidences of this sealing will occur. Further, water baptism, though expected for every believer in Jesus, is not required for being sealed with the Spirit, and thus being saved. This will continue to be fleshed out as the account continues.   Life application: Look at the difference between these two translations of this verse:   He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? KJV he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” NKJV   Just a few words can lead to a complete misunderstanding of what is being conveyed. The word “since” does not connect the two. It could be any amount of time from belief to reception. The two verbs are in the aorist tense and therefore denote instantaneous acts. Thus, the KJV is contrary to Eph 1:13, 14. The NKJV corrects this with the word “when.”   The word “since” can be expressed as a preposition to denote the intervening between two events, such as, “I haven't spoken to Bob since the wedding.” It can be used as a conjunction, denoting a time in the past until the time being considered, which is usually the present, such as, “Daniel has been eating durian since he got here.” It can be a conjunction signifying “because,” such as, “Wade is happy, since better protections have resulted in fewer accidents at his office.” It can also be used as an adverb, such as, “Sergio took off for a Nephilim hunt and nobody has seen him since.”   None of these accurately equate to the Greek of Acts 19:2. The verb, as noted above, is an aorist participle, most appropriately rendered “having believed.” The error introduced by the Tyndale Bible of 1526 (or earlier), was carried on by the Coverdale Bible of 1535, the Bishop's Bible of 1568, and the Geneva Bible of 1587.   The KJV and many other translations took the easy path and simply passed on what earlier translations had set forth. This has surely led to many people coming to faulty conclusions concerning the matter being presented. And, inevitably, faulty conclusions lead to faulty doctrine.   Be wise, be studious, and be willing to check things out. Don't just accept what you read, hear, or see on a TV program or YouTube video. Theology is hard work, but it will pay off in a sound walk with the Lord and in the right doctrine to guide your life.   Heavenly Father, may we be responsible with the time You have given us, carefully searching out Your word and making sound conclusions concerning what it presents. It is of the greatest importance to a wholesome walk with You to know what is accurate and proper. Help us in this all our days. Amen.  

What is the Coverdale Bible? When was the Coverdale Bible first published? Who was Myles Coverdale?

William Tyndaleand the English Reformation • Philip Schaff called the Reformation of the sixteenth century “the turning point of modern history.”• He added the Reformation was, “next to the introduction of Christianity, the greatest event in history...thechief propelling force in the history of modern civilization.” PRE-REFORMERS INITIATE1330—John Wycliffe born in England• Oxford professor• Became leading intect in England, Europe1382—Wycliffe Bible translated into English• from Latin into Middle English,• Stiff, wooden translation, handcopied1384—Wycliffe dies, Lutterworth, England1401—"On the Burning of Heretics”• legislation passes by Parliament• Translating, owning English Bible, death• Attempts to suppress the influence of Wycliffe1408—"Constitutions of Oxford”• It's a “dangerous thing” to translate Scripture in English1415—Council of Constance• John Hus burned as martyr• Leader of Bohemian church• Pastored Bethlehem Chapel, Prague Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 2 • Wycliffe condemned, body exhumed• Wycliffe removed from sacred ground in church yard1428—Wycliffe's body dug up, burned• Ashes scattered into Swift River1450—Johannes Gutenberg perfects printing press1455—Gutenberg Bible printedREFORMERS BORN1483—Martin Luther born, Eisleben, Germany1483—Ulrich Zwingli born, Switzerland1494—William Tyndale born, near Gloustershire, England1506—Tyndale enters Magdalen Hall, Oxford• Age 12, normal for that time• Studies here for next ten years1509—John Calvin born, Navon, France• His father, lawyer in the Catholic Church• Raised in Catholic church, to be priest1512—Tyndale earns Bachelor of Arts, Oxford1514—John Knox born, Scotland1515—Tyndale earns Master of Arts, Oxford• Stunningly brilliant, linguistic genius• Would become proficient in eight languagesREFORMATION BEGINS1516—Erasmus compiles Greek New Testament• Leading humanist of his day Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 3 • Cambridge professor• Travels Europe, collects Greek manuscripts1516—Tyndale studies at Cambridge• Continues intellectual pursuit1517—Pope Leo X authorizes indulgences1517—Luther posts 95 Theses• In response to sale of indulgences by Rome1519—Luther converted reading Greek New Testament1520—Tyndale joins White Horse Inn• Small group Bible study• Studying Luther's writings• Called “Little Germany”• Produced leaders of English Reformation• 8 martyrs from this group• Tyndale converted, becomes Reformed1521—Luther, Diet of Worms• Stands heresy trial before authorities• Condemned as heretic, death sentence1521—Tyndale becomes private tutor• Leaves Cambridge to study the Scripture more carefully• Realizes all England is lost• Must translate Bible into English• “plough boy in field know more than pope” Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 4 1522—Luther translates New Testament into German• Produced while he was kidnapped in Wartburg Castle1523—Tyndale denied translation into English• Travels to London to receive permission• Refused, must leave England• Businessman agrees to support himTYNDALE DEPARTS1524—Tyndale leaves England for Europe• Nowhere in England to do the work• Never to return, never to marry1524—Tyndale arrives in Hamburg, Germany1524—Tyndale travels to Wittenberg1525—Tyndale translates English New Testament, Cologne, Germany• Largest city in Germany, easiest to hide• Finished New Testament• Raid on print shop at Matthew 22:131526—Tyndale publishes English New Testament, Worms, Germany• Travels to Worms, Germany on Rhine River into North Sea• Smuggles Bibles into England, Scotland1528—Tyndale writes The Parable of the Wicked Mammon• Teaches justification by faith1528—Tyndale writes The Obedience of a Christian Man• Teaches obedience to the king Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 5 1528—Three agents dispatched, find Tyndale• Returns empty handed without Tyndale1528—John West dispatched, find Tyndale• Returns without Tyndale1529—Tyndale translates Pentateuch into English, Antwerp• Monumental effort1529—Tyndale sails for Elbe River, shipwrecked, translation lost1529—Tyndale retranslates the Pentateuch, Hamburg, Germany• Reunited with Miles Coverdale, Cambridge classmate• Requires ten months to complete the project1529—Tyndale moves to Antwerp, Belgium• Remains elusive, anonymous1529—More, A Dialogue Concerning Heresies• Sir Thomas More unleashed brutal public attack• Called Tyndale captain of English heretics, hell-bound in devil's kennel, new Judas, worse thanSodom and Gomorrah, idolater, devil-worshipper, beast out of whose brutish, beastly mouthcomes filthy foam1530—Tyndale publishes Pentateuch in English, Antwerp• Uses pseudonym Hans Luft, Marburg• Includes glossaries, introductions• Smuggled into England, distributed1530—Tyndale, The Practice of Prelates• Attacks rites, doctrines, corruptions of Rome1530—Stephen Vaughan dispatched, find Tyndale• English merchants, sympathetic to Reformed cause Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 6 • Offered Tyndale safe passage back to England, salary• Tyndale agreed on one condition• If Henry VIII choose another translator1531—Vaughan returns empty handed• “I always find him always singing one note”1531—Sir Thomas Elyot dispatched to Europe• Apprehend Tyndale, return him to the king• Tyndale not to be found1531—Tyndale translates Jonah into English• Desires it be preached to England• “Forty day, London destroyed”1531—Tyndale writes Answer, defends translation1532—More, Confutation of Tyndale's Answer• Massive writing, half million words• Calls Tyndale traitor to England, heretic1534—Henry VIII named Head of Church of England• Denied annulment of his marriage• Pulls England out of Catholic Church• Parliament passes Act of Supremacy, monarch head of church1534—Tyndale moves into house of English merchants, Antwerp• John Rogers joins Tyndale, Coverdale• Rogers converted under Tyndale's witness• Rogers will complete Tyndale's translation Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 7 1534—Tyndale revises Pentateuch, Antwerp1534—Tyndale revises New Testament, Antwerp• 4000 edits to his 1526 printing• Called “the glory of his life's work”1535—Tyndale re-edits New Testament, Antwerp• Makes yet more edits, though fewer1535—Tyndale translates Joshua-2 Chronicles• Completes historical section of Old TestamentTYNDALE MARTYRED1535—Henry Phillips dispatched, find Tyndale• Had gambled away father's estate• Church of England promises to repay1535—Tyndale arrested, Antwerp1535—Tyndale imprisoned, Vilvoorde Castle, Belgium• Held 500 days, 18 months in castle• Miserable conditions1535—Coverdale Bible published• Unknown to Tyndale, Coverdale completes Old Testament• But not from Hebrew1536—Tyndale tried, charged, martyred• Mock trial, charged with heresy• God, open the eyes of the king• Tyndale hung, burned, blown up Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 8 REFORMATION SPREADS1536—Calvin writes Institute of the Christian Religion• Greatest work of Reformation• Explains true Christianity to French King1536—Calvin enters Geneva• Road detour, unintentional destination• Recognized as author, Institutes• Charged to stay or be cursed1537—Rogers publishes Matthew Bible• Edits Old Testament portions translated by Coverdale• Publishes entire Bible, Tyndale's work, his edits1538—Calvin expelled from Geneva• For fencing Lord's Table• Departs for Geneva1541—Calvin returns to Geneva• Geneva begs Calvin to return• Begins with next verse of last exposition• Preaches there for next 23 years 1545—Council of Trent meets• Meeting of Roman Catholic leaders• Launches Counter Reformation• Produces first Catholic doctrinal statement• Declares anathema on Reformers, believers of gospels of grace Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 9 1546—Luther dies in Germany• “I want to be as well known in hell as in heaven”• Preaches last sermon in Eisleben• “God put the power in the Word.”1547—King Henry VIII dies1547—Edward VI, King of England• Boy king, age 9• Protestant king, makes Reformed policies1549—Book of Common Prayer published1549—Act of Uniformity passed1553—Edward VI dies• Dies at age 15• Reformed cause halted1553—Mary I, Queen of England• Bloody Mary assumes throne• Staunch Catholic• Begins martyrdom of Protestants1553—John Knox leaves England for Europe1555—Rogers martyred, Smithfield, London• Charged with heresy• Fist Marian martyr1555—Latimer, Ridley martyred, Oxford• Burned to death at same stake Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 10 • Latimer, “Play the man Master Ridley”1558—Mary I dies, age 42• A mercy of relief to Reformed believers1558—Elizabeth I, Queen of England• Half-sister assumes throne• Chooses halfway house, compromise• Combines Reformed truth, Catholic worship1559—John Knox returns to Scotland• Launches Scottish Reformation1560—Geneva Bible published• Translated into English• First English Bible with chapter divisions• Included study notes1560s—Puritan Age begins• Attempt to purify worship within Church of England1564—Calvin dies in Geneva• Concludes 25 years pastorate1572—St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre1603—Elizabeth I, dies, age 691603—James I becomes King of England1611—King James Version• 90% of New Testament was Tyndale's work1618—Synod of Dort, refutes Arminianism

William Tyndaleand the English Reformation • Philip Schaff called the Reformation of the sixteenth century “the turning point of modern history.”• He added the Reformation was, “next to the introduction of Christianity, the greatest event in history...thechief propelling force in the history of modern civilization.” PRE-REFORMERS INITIATE1330—John Wycliffe born in England• Oxford professor• Became leading intect in England, Europe1382—Wycliffe Bible translated into English• from Latin into Middle English,• Stiff, wooden translation, handcopied1384—Wycliffe dies, Lutterworth, England1401—"On the Burning of Heretics”• legislation passes by Parliament• Translating, owning English Bible, death• Attempts to suppress the influence of Wycliffe1408—"Constitutions of Oxford”• It's a “dangerous thing” to translate Scripture in English1415—Council of Constance• John Hus burned as martyr• Leader of Bohemian church• Pastored Bethlehem Chapel, Prague Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 2 • Wycliffe condemned, body exhumed• Wycliffe removed from sacred ground in church yard1428—Wycliffe's body dug up, burned• Ashes scattered into Swift River1450—Johannes Gutenberg perfects printing press1455—Gutenberg Bible printedREFORMERS BORN1483—Martin Luther born, Eisleben, Germany1483—Ulrich Zwingli born, Switzerland1494—William Tyndale born, near Gloustershire, England1506—Tyndale enters Magdalen Hall, Oxford• Age 12, normal for that time• Studies here for next ten years1509—John Calvin born, Navon, France• His father, lawyer in the Catholic Church• Raised in Catholic church, to be priest1512—Tyndale earns Bachelor of Arts, Oxford1514—John Knox born, Scotland1515—Tyndale earns Master of Arts, Oxford• Stunningly brilliant, linguistic genius• Would become proficient in eight languagesREFORMATION BEGINS1516—Erasmus compiles Greek New Testament• Leading humanist of his day Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 3 • Cambridge professor• Travels Europe, collects Greek manuscripts1516—Tyndale studies at Cambridge• Continues intellectual pursuit1517—Pope Leo X authorizes indulgences1517—Luther posts 95 Theses• In response to sale of indulgences by Rome1519—Luther converted reading Greek New Testament1520—Tyndale joins White Horse Inn• Small group Bible study• Studying Luther's writings• Called “Little Germany”• Produced leaders of English Reformation• 8 martyrs from this group• Tyndale converted, becomes Reformed1521—Luther, Diet of Worms• Stands heresy trial before authorities• Condemned as heretic, death sentence1521—Tyndale becomes private tutor• Leaves Cambridge to study the Scripture more carefully• Realizes all England is lost• Must translate Bible into English• “plough boy in field know more than pope” Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 4 1522—Luther translates New Testament into German• Produced while he was kidnapped in Wartburg Castle1523—Tyndale denied translation into English• Travels to London to receive permission• Refused, must leave England• Businessman agrees to support himTYNDALE DEPARTS1524—Tyndale leaves England for Europe• Nowhere in England to do the work• Never to return, never to marry1524—Tyndale arrives in Hamburg, Germany1524—Tyndale travels to Wittenberg1525—Tyndale translates English New Testament, Cologne, Germany• Largest city in Germany, easiest to hide• Finished New Testament• Raid on print shop at Matthew 22:131526—Tyndale publishes English New Testament, Worms, Germany• Travels to Worms, Germany on Rhine River into North Sea• Smuggles Bibles into England, Scotland1528—Tyndale writes The Parable of the Wicked Mammon• Teaches justification by faith1528—Tyndale writes The Obedience of a Christian Man• Teaches obedience to the king Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 5 1528—Three agents dispatched, find Tyndale• Returns empty handed without Tyndale1528—John West dispatched, find Tyndale• Returns without Tyndale1529—Tyndale translates Pentateuch into English, Antwerp• Monumental effort1529—Tyndale sails for Elbe River, shipwrecked, translation lost1529—Tyndale retranslates the Pentateuch, Hamburg, Germany• Reunited with Miles Coverdale, Cambridge classmate• Requires ten months to complete the project1529—Tyndale moves to Antwerp, Belgium• Remains elusive, anonymous1529—More, A Dialogue Concerning Heresies• Sir Thomas More unleashed brutal public attack• Called Tyndale captain of English heretics, hell-bound in devil's kennel, new Judas, worse thanSodom and Gomorrah, idolater, devil-worshipper, beast out of whose brutish, beastly mouthcomes filthy foam1530—Tyndale publishes Pentateuch in English, Antwerp• Uses pseudonym Hans Luft, Marburg• Includes glossaries, introductions• Smuggled into England, distributed1530—Tyndale, The Practice of Prelates• Attacks rites, doctrines, corruptions of Rome1530—Stephen Vaughan dispatched, find Tyndale• English merchants, sympathetic to Reformed cause Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 6 • Offered Tyndale safe passage back to England, salary• Tyndale agreed on one condition• If Henry VIII choose another translator1531—Vaughan returns empty handed• “I always find him always singing one note”1531—Sir Thomas Elyot dispatched to Europe• Apprehend Tyndale, return him to the king• Tyndale not to be found1531—Tyndale translates Jonah into English• Desires it be preached to England• “Forty day, London destroyed”1531—Tyndale writes Answer, defends translation1532—More, Confutation of Tyndale's Answer• Massive writing, half million words• Calls Tyndale traitor to England, heretic1534—Henry VIII named Head of Church of England• Denied annulment of his marriage• Pulls England out of Catholic Church• Parliament passes Act of Supremacy, monarch head of church1534—Tyndale moves into house of English merchants, Antwerp• John Rogers joins Tyndale, Coverdale• Rogers converted under Tyndale's witness• Rogers will complete Tyndale's translation Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 7 1534—Tyndale revises Pentateuch, Antwerp1534—Tyndale revises New Testament, Antwerp• 4000 edits to his 1526 printing• Called “the glory of his life's work”1535—Tyndale re-edits New Testament, Antwerp• Makes yet more edits, though fewer1535—Tyndale translates Joshua-2 Chronicles• Completes historical section of Old TestamentTYNDALE MARTYRED1535—Henry Phillips dispatched, find Tyndale• Had gambled away father's estate• Church of England promises to repay1535—Tyndale arrested, Antwerp1535—Tyndale imprisoned, Vilvoorde Castle, Belgium• Held 500 days, 18 months in castle• Miserable conditions1535—Coverdale Bible published• Unknown to Tyndale, Coverdale completes Old Testament• But not from Hebrew1536—Tyndale tried, charged, martyred• Mock trial, charged with heresy• God, open the eyes of the king• Tyndale hung, burned, blown up Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 8 REFORMATION SPREADS1536—Calvin writes Institute of the Christian Religion• Greatest work of Reformation• Explains true Christianity to French King1536—Calvin enters Geneva• Road detour, unintentional destination• Recognized as author, Institutes• Charged to stay or be cursed1537—Rogers publishes Matthew Bible• Edits Old Testament portions translated by Coverdale• Publishes entire Bible, Tyndale's work, his edits1538—Calvin expelled from Geneva• For fencing Lord's Table• Departs for Geneva1541—Calvin returns to Geneva• Geneva begs Calvin to return• Begins with next verse of last exposition• Preaches there for next 23 years 1545—Council of Trent meets• Meeting of Roman Catholic leaders• Launches Counter Reformation• Produces first Catholic doctrinal statement• Declares anathema on Reformers, believers of gospels of grace Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 9 1546—Luther dies in Germany• “I want to be as well known in hell as in heaven”• Preaches last sermon in Eisleben• “God put the power in the Word.”1547—King Henry VIII dies1547—Edward VI, King of England• Boy king, age 9• Protestant king, makes Reformed policies1549—Book of Common Prayer published1549—Act of Uniformity passed1553—Edward VI dies• Dies at age 15• Reformed cause halted1553—Mary I, Queen of England• Bloody Mary assumes throne• Staunch Catholic• Begins martyrdom of Protestants1553—John Knox leaves England for Europe1555—Rogers martyred, Smithfield, London• Charged with heresy• Fist Marian martyr1555—Latimer, Ridley martyred, Oxford• Burned to death at same stake Steven J. LawsonMen's Bible StudyEnglish Reformation 10 • Latimer, “Play the man Master Ridley”1558—Mary I dies, age 42• A mercy of relief to Reformed believers1558—Elizabeth I, Queen of England• Half-sister assumes throne• Chooses halfway house, compromise• Combines Reformed truth, Catholic worship1559—John Knox returns to Scotland• Launches Scottish Reformation1560—Geneva Bible published• Translated into English• First English Bible with chapter divisions• Included study notes1560s—Puritan Age begins• Attempt to purify worship within Church of England1564—Calvin dies in Geneva• Concludes 25 years pastorate1572—St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre1603—Elizabeth I, dies, age 691603—James I becomes King of England1611—King James Version• 90% of New Testament was Tyndale's work1618—Synod of Dort, refutes Arminianism

It's Friday, October 7th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. By Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Australian missionary, detained in North Korean prison, shares testimony Back in February of 2014, John Short, a 75-year-old Australian missionary, was taken prisoner in North Korea, and detained for 13 days. He was repeatedly interrogated for four hours a day. He was forced to write a “confession” of his “crimes,” including the offense of wanting more North Koreans to follow Jesus, reports Voice of the Martyrs Radio. He admitted to distributing Bible tracts in order to convert North Koreans.  He told The Guardian, "I strongly protested that I was not a spy, nor working with any South Korean organizations nor was I hostile to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.” Short said he was told that he faced 15 years in prison for distributing those Christian pamphlets at a Buddhist temple and on a train. He said, "I confessed that I had knowingly broken the law in what I believed is my God-directed duty as I do in every place and country I visit." Despite the possible 15 years of imprisonment in a brutal North Korean jail, the Australian missionary did not give in to fear. Listen to what he said on Voice of the Martyrs Radio. SHORT: “Fear and faith cannot exist within my heart at the same time. I either feared for my self-preservation, the first law of human nature. Or was what I was about to embark on, was it a step of faith? When we live by faith, trusting the Lord, moment by moment, fear has no room in the heart.” He echoed the sentiments of Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:16 which says, “For when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” California Governor signs 13 pro-abortion bills On Tuesday, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 pro-abortion bills into law, reports The Washington Stand. Thirteen! Assembly Bill 1242, prohibits California law enforcement from assisting or cooperating with other states' abortion-related investigations. Yet another bill, Senate Bill 1142, requires the establishment of a state-funded “abortion care services website” that connects women to abortion mills and services. Finally, Senate Bill 1245, provides $20 million for the Los Angeles County Abortion Access Safe Haven Pilot program to fund “innovative approaches and collaborations to safeguard abortion access.” Doctors have a macabre new way to harvest organs In the never-ending quest for viable organs, doctors have found a macabre way around brain death and circulatory death criteria, reports the American Thinker.   According to Dr. Heidi Klessig, a retired anesthesiologist and the co-author of Harvesting Organs & Cherishing Life: What Christians Need to Know About Organ Donation and Procurement, transplant centers around the country are doing something quite disturbing. She said, “They are removing organ donors from life support, clamping off the blood flow to their brains, and then restarting their hearts.  Thus, the organs are resuscitated and viable for transplant, but the person doesn't wake up.” In addition, Dr. Klessig writes, “Many medical professionals are uncomfortable with donation after circulatory death because they know that patients are routinely resuscitated after 2–3 minutes of cardiac arrest.  Dr. Ari Joffe, a clinical professor of pediatrics and critical care at the University of Alberta, has found at least 12 patients whose hearts restarted without any medical intervention after as much as 10 minutes of cardiac arrest, and some of these patients made a complete recovery.” Dr. Klessig's advice? She said, “Don't become a victim of unethical organ harvesting practices.  Don't sign that donor card!” Vice President plays race card with Hurricane Ian Hurricane Ian destroyed entire cities, caused tens of billions of dollars in damages, killed dozens of people, and left 500,000 Floridians without power, reports Fox News. However, Vice President Kamala Harris played the identity politics/race card in the midst of the tragedy. Listen. HARRIS: “It is our lowest income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions. So, we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality, but we also need to fight for equity, understanding not everyone starts out at the same place. And if we want people to be in an equal place, sometimes we have to take into account those disparities.” Appearing on Sean Hannity's Fox show, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis was asked about Harris' bizarre remark. HANNITY: “What is your reaction, governor, to the Vice President?” DeSANTIS: “I think she's trying to play identity politics with a storm and a natural disaster. And I think it's ridiculous. And honestly, we had the FEMA Administrator in Florida with us, and she threw cold water on that. So that is not going to happen. It's totally not appropriate. You don't have to politicize every single tragedy in this country. “I mean, I think people in Florida are really sick of the nonsense. They just want people to be helped. They want everyone to band together and when they want us to get these communities back on our feet. So, that's what we're doing in Florida. And Sean, the impacts span all demographics, all income levels. Sanibel has some very wealthy people. They also have blue collar people. You have other communities, different race, different ethnicities. Who cares? We just want to make sure people have a chance to get moving forward again.” William Tyndale killed for translating Bible into English And finally, yesterday, October 6th, was the anniversary of the death of William Tyndale who was strangled and then burned at the stake in 1536. His crime? He translated the Bible into English. The Protestant Reformation hero believed the Bible should be accessible to all people, not just priests. When one of his persecutors in the so-called heresy trial questioned this, Tyndale said: “If God spares me, before many years, I will cause a boy that drives the plough to know more of the Scriptures than you do.” William Tyndale's final words before he was strangled to death were, "Lord, open the king of England's eyes." That dying prayer at the age of 42 was answered two years after Tyndale's death, when King Henry VIII ordered that the Bible of Miles Coverdale was to be used in every parish in the land. The Coverdale Bible was largely based on Tyndale's work. Then, in 1539, Tyndale's own edition of the Bible became officially approved for printing. My bride, Amy, and I named our 7-year-old son Valor Tyndale to honor his brave legacy. Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, October 7th, in the year of our Lord 2022. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Saturday, 1 October 2022   But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35   The previous verse said, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.'” That is immediately followed up by Peter, saying, “But in every nation.”   Of these words, Bengel rightly states, “It is not an indifferentism of religions, but an indifferency (impartiality) as to the acceptance of nations, that is here asserted.” What is to be said does not include people simply because they faithfully pursue their personal religion, but it is inclusive of those of any nation who faithfully pursue God as he is revealed to people.   Hence, Job can be included in this. Rahab and Naaman likewise are noted in this category in the Bible. However, it cannot be said of someone in Islam or Buddhism today. They are excluded from the thought until a change is made in their mind (a repenting) to turn to the truth of God that has been revealed.   It doesn't matter if it is a person in Pakistan, Tanzania, Russia, Japan, or any other nation – which is the thought that was expressed to Peter in the descent of the great object filled with the various beasts, birds, and so on. With this understood, Peter next says, “whoever fears Him.” To be more precise, it says, “the one fearing Him.”   This is an upward acknowledgment of God, and it is an action directed toward Him. God is looking at those who are fearing Him in the knowledge of Him that has been made available to the person. Of Cornelius, it said that he was “one who feared God” (Acts 10:2). Paul speaks of this in Romans 2 –   “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Romans 2:12-16   Job did not possess the Law of Moses, and yet he had a law written upon his heart that led him to seek out the true God as He had been thus far revealed. He anticipated restoration with Him through the promised Messiah, and he was noted as a son of God (Job 1:6) through this. Peter continues with “and works righteousness.”   Again, it is a present participle, saying, “and is working righteousness.” This is a horizontal acknowledgment of God, and it is seen in actions directed toward others according to a standard that is pure and faithful. God is looking at those who are fearing Him and who are then expressing that fear of Him in a manner that is appropriate. Of Cornelius, it said that he “gave alms to the people and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2). Someone may give alms to the people, but he may not be doing it because of an acknowledgment of God. Instead, he may be doing it to simply to get ahead in life. That is self-serving and unacceptable.   Likewise, of Job, it says that he was “one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). Job confessed that –   “I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know. 17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.” Job 29:15-17   Like Cornelius, these things were done because he feared God. And this is the heart of the Law of Moses, as spoken by Jesus –   “So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and ‘your neighbor as yourself.'” Luke 10:27   This is the thought now being expressed, with that noted, Peter finishes with, “is accepted by Him.” In the Greek it is an adjective connected to a present tense verb – “is acceptable.” The incorrect translation would cause a rather significant theological problem. Rather, the full clause rightly says, “is acceptable to Him.”   John Gill rightly says, “though God accepts of such who fear him, and work righteousness from a right principle, and to a right end, without any regard to their being circumcised, or not circumcised, or to their being of this or the other nation, yet their fear of him, and working righteousness, are not the ground of their acceptance; but are to be considered as descriptive of the persons, who are accepted by him in Christ; for there is no acceptance of persons or services, but in Christ Jesus.”   Such a person is “acceptable” to God, but only in Christ can he be “accepted” by Him. One cannot do an end around God in Christ. Job anticipated the coming Messiah through his limited knowledge of what God was doing. Cornelius is now on the “after” side of the coming of Jesus. God has heard his prayers and seen his deeds and has sent Peter to take him the necessary further step to Christ Jesus.   The entire account bears this out. It is not that Cornelius was accepted by God, but that he is acceptable to God because of his rightly directed heart and his actions which displayed that heart. Now, Peter has been summoned to take that heart that acknowledges God and direct it to the Messiah, who alone can remove his sin and make him accepted by God.   Life application: A wrongly translated word can make a world of difference. The NKJV, following after the KJV, has introduced an error that makes it appear that Cornelius has been accepted by (or with) God apart from Jesus. From there, an explanation of what the true meaning is must be constructed, as John Gill did above.   The error of translation can be overcome by a continued reading of the passage which reveals Cornelius was saved after hearing and accepting the gospel. But it is far too often the case that people will take a verse, such as this one now being analyzed, and make up an entire commentary or sermon about how people are saved by their right heart towards God and their good works towards others if they have never met Jesus. And it would all be based on a mistranslation that has been copied again and again from eons ago –   Tyndale Bible of 1526 is accepted with him.   Coverdale Bible of 1535 is accepted vnto him.   Bishops' Bible of 1568 is accepted with hym.   Geneva Bible of 1587 is accepted with him.   King James Bible is accepted with him.   New King James Version is accepted by Him.   As a side note, the word “accepted” can also be an adjective, such as “he is handsome in the accepted sense.” However, the meaning when combined with “is” changes it to a verb. As such the meaning is changed as well. Be studious and be ready to question both people's commentaries and their translations. In the end, no person will be saved apart from what God is doing in Christ. There are no loopholes, no end-arounds, and no acceptable “Plan B's.” It is Jesus who saves. Thank God for Jesus!   Heavenly Father, thank You for our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we never waffle in our convictions or in our proclamations concerning Him. May we take His words of John 14:6 as true, literal, and unchangeable – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Thank You, O God, that You have made this way possible! Amen.

What do you know about the King James Version?  Is it an accurate translation?  Does it have flaws?  Should you use it as a measuring stick for other translations?  In today’s episode, we’ll cover the making of the KJV of the Bible, going back to William Tyndale’s courageous work before delving into four areas of Read more about 345 Bible 16 – Evaluating the King James Version[…]

What do you know about the King James Version?  Is it an accurate translation?  Does it have flaws?  Should you use it as a measuring stick for other translations?  In today’s episode, we’ll cover the making of the KJV of the Bible, going back to William Tyndale’s courageous work before delving into four areas of Read more about 345 Bible 16 – Evaluating the King James Version[…]

A brief history of the English bibles that preceded the Authorized Version of 1611. These are the Tyndale Bible (1526 - NT), Coverdale Bible (1535), Matthew's Bible (1537), Whitechurch's Bible (also know as the Great Bible and Chained Bible) (1539), Geneva Bible (1557 - NT, 1560 - complete), and Bishop's Bible (1568).

On this day, we remember Cranach the Younger, artist, and neighbor of Martin Luther. We also recognize the publishing of the Coverdale Bible in 1535. The reading is "Jesus Praying" by Hartley Coleridge. We’re a part of 1517 Podcasts, a network of shows dedicated to delivering Christ-centered content. Our podcasts cover a multitude of content, from Christian doctrine, apologetics, cultural engagement, and powerful preaching. Support the work of 1517 today.

Coverdale Bible by Museum of the Bible

In this sprint through British church history, you’ll learn about King Henry VIII and his staggering Act of Supremacy when he pulled the Church of England out of Catholicism and appointed himself the head of the church.  After Henry’s death, England swayed back and forth as Henry’s successors adopted Protestantism then Catholicism then Protestantism again.  Read more about 125 The Reformation in Britain (Five Hundred 9)[…]

In this sprint through British church history, you’ll learn about King Henry VIII and his staggering Act of Supremacy when he pulled the Church of England out of Catholicism and appointed himself the head of the church.  After Henry’s death, England swayed back and forth as Henry’s successors adopted Protestantism then Catholicism then Protestantism again.  Read more about 125 The Reformation in Britain (Five Hundred 9)[…]