Thoughts on Discipling Part 3 Doctrine Part L

E7 Omniscience—Knowledge (including foreknowledge and middle knowledge)

F1 Definition

G1 Knowledge

H1 The English word gives this as one definition:

1. a particular or specialized form of understanding or skill.

2. Webster’s Dictionary Unabridged 1828 has

a) A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas.

b) We can have no knowledge of that which does not exist. God has a perfect knowledge of all his works. Human knowledge is very limited, and is mostly gained by observation and experience.

H2 An example of some Bible words

I1 One of the Hebrew words is דַּעַת daʻath. It means knowledge, perception, skill, discernment, understanding, wisdom. Referring to God, it would have the meaning of knowing everything.

1. God gives this knowledge when necessary: Exodus 31:3 NET and I have filled him with the Spirit of God in skill, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship.

2. The amount of God’s knowledge is impossible for us to understand: Psalm 139:6 NET Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.

3. Whatever knowledge and skill is needed for creation, God has: Proverbs 3:20 NLT By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

4. He knows everything about us: 1 Samuel 2:3 NRSV Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.

I2 One of the Greek words is γνῶσις gnōsis. It means general intelligence and understanding.

1. God’s knowledge is so vast that we cannot examine it or understand it: Romans 11:33 NET Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways! 

2. Note “all:” Colossians 2:2-3 PickNT That their hearts may be encouraged, being united in love and into a great wealth of confident understanding, into a real knowledge of the mystery of the God and Father and of the Christ, 3 in whom all the treasures of the wisdom and the knowledge are hidden.

G2 Foreknowledge= knowledge of the future. The English definition: knowledge or awareness of something before it occurs or exists. This is not a decreed action that is rendered certain. It is truly knowledge of the future. It seems to me that the Calvinist doesn’t believe that God truly knows the future. They believe that God exhaustively decrees the future and renders it certain. They believe the only way God knows the future is to decide what it will be, have a perfect memory, and ensure that it takes place. To me that makes God a superman but not one who truly knows the future without decreeing it. The following article might help to understand the Arminian view: Ed Jarrett, “Arminianism: Foreknowledge, Predestination and Election”

H1 Acts 2:23 NRSV This man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.

H2 1 Peter 1:2 ISV The people chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through the sanctifying action of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus, the Messiah, and to be sprinkled with his blood. May grace and peace be yours in abundance!

G3 Natural knowledge= All that can happen. God knows all that can be known whether it will exist or not. The usual example given if God was going to make a universe, He would have to know everything, how they would interact, how they would respond to stimuli (both pleasurable and noxious), and if rebellion occurred, how it would occur and its results. Perfectly and exhaustively know math, chemistry, physics, decisions, etc.

G4 Middle knowledge= All that would happen. God knows exactly how a person will choose or respond in any given circumstances. The usual example is Peter choosing to deny that he knows Jesus. It is the middle between a person’s free will and God’s sovereignty.

G5 Free knowledge= All that will happen. This is not just what science and math know and predict. It is what is the unknown as well. God knows the future perfectly. He knows every response, every decision, every action, every word, and every thought.

F2 Bible verse

G1 Luke 10:13 CSB Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

G2 Matthew 26:24 CSB The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.

G3 Exodus 9:14-15 NLT If you don't, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth. By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth.

G4 People making choices different from God’s choice.

H1 Matthew 23:37 CSB Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 

H2 2 Peter 3:9 CSB The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

H3 Isaiah 30:1 CSB Woe to the rebellious children! This is the LORD's declaration. They carry out a plan, but not mine; they make an alliance, but against my will, piling sin on top of sin.

E8 Perfect

F1 Definition: without any flaw.

F2 Words

G1 The Hebrew word is תָּמִים tâmîym. It means complete is various applications such as completely well, time as complete, morally complete (sinless), completely meeting the standard of truth and justice.

H1 God’s law is perfect: Psalm 19:7 NIV The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

H2 His lifestyle: Psalm 18:30 NIV As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

H3 All that He does: Psalm 111:7 NIV The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.

H Note the contrast with the devil: Ezekiel 28:15 NKJV You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.

G2 The Greek word is τέλειος téleios. It means much the same as the Hebrew word. It is complete, finished, not lacking anything, so morally, intellectually, spiritually, etc. perfect.

H1 God’s standard of life is perfect. It lacks nothing and meets the standard of perfection is every possible way: Matthew 5:48 NIV Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

H2 God’s will is perfect: Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

H3 The Law of Jesus is perfect (in contrast with Mosaic law. If one tried as hard as possible to obey the Mosaic law, it would not save from God’s wrath, but if one follows Messiah’s law, it does): James 1:25 CSB But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

H4 God’s love is perfect, and we should have this same type of love: 1 John 4:18 ESV There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

H5 God’s words are perfect, ours are not, but that is God’s standard: James 3:2 NIV We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Thoughts on Discipling Part 3 Doctrine Part K

E6 Omnisapience

F1 Definition: Literally, this means all wisdom or complete wisdom. God’s wisdom is perfect. He cannot learn, for He knows all. He cannot learn wisdom, for He can apply knowledge perfectly and without any flaws. He knows every possibility.

F2 His communication is perfect. He knows how to word what He does, what He thinks, what He plans perfectly and without flaw. His decisions are perfect. His words and communication are perfect. Yet, so many will not interpret the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

F3 Knowledge and wisdom are related, but they are separate. One can have knowledge but not be wise; likewise, someone may be wise but not have much knowledge. Knowing facts is something different then using knowing how to use them wisely. We see that in making decisions.

F4 Some of the difference can be seen from this verse: Proverbs 2:6 NLT For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

G1 Wisdom:

H1 Hebrew word for wisdom is חׇכְמָה chokmâh. It means skillful. This is seen in many ways from creative ability, to making decisions, to living life. It is practical and in many cases life saving.

H2 We see this in

I1 Contrast between pride and humility: Proverbs 11:2 NLT Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

I2 Contrast between bullying and fighting and receiving advice: Proverbs 13:10 NLT Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

I3 Contrast between “following my heart” and truth and God’s insight and advice: Proverbs 28:26 NLT Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

G2 Knowledge:

H1 The Hebrew word is דַּעַת daʻath. It means having facts on any subject or situation.

H2 God knows everything we do and think: Psalm 94:10 NLT He punishes the nations—won't he also punish you? He knows everything—doesn't he also know what you are doing?

H3 God knows everything about creation, how to make it, sustain it, and dissolve it: Proverbs 3:20 NLT By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

H4 We have to know something before we can make a decision: Proverbs 19:2 NLT Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

H5 Knowing God is more important than human wisdom: Proverbs 30:3 NLT I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.

H6 God knows how to do this: Isaiah 44:25 NLT I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools.

H7 God knows who is true and who is fake: Isaiah 58:2 NLT Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.

G3 Understanding:

H1 The Hebrew word is תָּבוּן tâbûwn. It means knowing the “whys” of how something works, thinks, acts, etc.

H2 Proverbs 14:29 NLT People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

H3 Proverbs 18:2 NLT Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.

H4 Speaking of wooden idols: Isaiah 44:19 NIV No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

F5 God gives wisdom to those otherwise impossible to have it: Exodus 31:3 NLT I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.

F6God is the source of great wisdom: 1 Kings 4:29-30 NLT God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt.

F7 God’s creative ability shows His great wisdom: Psalm 104:24 NLT O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.

F8 Wisdom is something that is to be coveted, asked for, and grateful when God grants it: Proverbs 23:23 NLT Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

F9 An example: Ecclesiastes 9:13-15 NLT Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works. There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterwards, no one thought to thank him.

F10 Another example: Ecclesiastes 9:13-15 NLT Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works. There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterwards, no one thought to thank him.

F11 God has all power and understanding: Psalm 147:5 NLT How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!

F12 He has all wisdom. There is no one who can give wisdom, advice, counsel, what is right or what is just: Isaiah 40:13-14 NLT Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?

F13 Jesus Christ is God, God the Son, and so has the same omniscience and omnisapience as the Father: 1 Corinthians 1:24 NLT But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

F14 God is so wise that we cannot understand: Romans 11:33 NLT Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

Thoughts on Discipling Part 3 Doctrine Part J

E4 Omnipotence

F1 This unlimited power relates to what God’s character is. Since He is a God who tells the truth, He cannot do illogical things as make a rock so huge that He cannot lift it, a square circle, 2+2=5, or make Himself not exist.

F2 Isaiah 43:12-13 NLT First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God," says the LORD. "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.

F3 Matthew 19:26 NLT Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible. (Vincent’s Word Studies notes: Not the salvation of rich men, but salvation in general. It is in answer to the question, who can be saved? Man cannot save himself nor his fellow. God only can save him).

F4 Some comments from other writers

G1 Adam Clarke on Exodus 4:21 regarding the revealing of God’s omnipotence:

Pharaoh made his own heart stubborn against God, Exo 9:34; and God gave him up to judicial blindness, so that he rushed on stubbornly to his own destruction. From the whole of Pharaoh’s conduct we learn that he was bold, haughty, and cruel; and God chose to permit these dispositions to have their full sway in his heart without check or restraint from Divine influence: the consequence was what God intended, he did not immediately comply with the requisition to let the people go; and this was done that God might have the fuller opportunity of manifesting his power by multiplying signs and miracles, and thus impress the hearts both of the Egyptians and Israelites with a due sense of his omnipotence and justice. The whole procedure was graciously calculated to do endless good to both nations. The Israelites must be satisfied that they had the true God for their protector; and thus their faith was strengthened. The Egyptians must see that their gods could do nothing against the God of Israel; and thus their dependence on them was necessarily shaken. These great ends could not have been answered had Pharaoh at once consented to let the people go.

G2 Precept Austin website on God’s omnipotence. An example: Seven Stages of God's Power

H1 In his commentary on Ephesians (God's New Society, pp. 139-140), John Stott shares a delightful analysis of Paul's famous benediction at the end of Ephesians 3:

H2 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20, 21)

H3 I am going to retrace his comments, with one or two slight changes. Let's call this the Seven Stages of God's Power.

1. He is able, for he is the true and living God.

2. He is able to do, for he is neither inactive, idle, nor dead.

3. He is able to do what we ask, for he hears and answers prayer.

4. He is able to do what we ask or imagine, for he reads our thoughts, and sometimes we imagine things for which we do not dare to ask. But he can do those things anyway.

5. He is able to do all that we ask or imagine, for he knows it all and can perform it all.

6. He is able to do more than all we ask or imagine, because his expectations are higher than ours.

7. He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, because his power is unlimited.

H4 As a simple summary statement we may say that there are no limits to what God can do because there are no limits to GOD.

E5 Omnipresence

F1 This is somewhat related to His trait of infinite. There is no place in the universe or outside it that He is not there. He knows our hearts and minds perfectly; we cannot hide. He knows every situation. He always knows where we are. Truly, He is the perfect leader, savior, comforter, source of all wisdom, knowledge, love, and assurance.

F2 Psalms 139:7-13 GW Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? Where can I run to get away from you?  8 If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, you are there. 9 If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sun or land on the most distant shore of the sea where the sun sets, 10 even there your hand would guide me and your right hand would hold on to me. 11 If I say, "Let the darkness hide me and let the light around me turn into night," 12 even the darkness is not too dark for you. Night is as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother.

F3 God lives in the most inner place of the believer’s being: 1 Corinthians 3:16 NRSV Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

F4 A question arises, then, is God’s presence in hell?

G1 I believe hell, the place of eternal torment is a literal place.

H1 I read and interpret the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

I1 Matthew 5:29 NRSV If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

J1 The body of unbelievers will be thrown into hell.

K1 What body is this?

K2 It is a resurrected body. It is resurrected, in this case, for punishment.

K3 Daniel 12:2 NLT Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

K4 Revelation 20:12 NLT I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.

K5 John 5:28-29 NLT Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.

J2 We have a choice according to God’s decree. If we obey the Gospel, we go to heaven. If we disobey the Gospel, we go to hell.

I2 Matthew 10:28 NET Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

J1 Body and soul are distinct from one another.

J2 Destroy does not mean annihilation. The Greek word is ἀπόλλυμι apóllymi. It means lose, kill, mar, ruin, and even misery. Some interpret this word as destroy to mean annihilation, but what it really means is to render useless, and by application to kill, lose, mar, ruin, etc.

I3 Where God is there is light, love, warmth, etc. In hell, there is no light, love, comfort, etc.

J1 Light or darkness

K1 1 John 1:5 NET Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

K2 2 Peter 2:17 NET These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved.

J2 Love, comfort, etc. versus no love, discomfort, etc.

K1 2 Thessalonians 2:16 NLT Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,

K2 Revelation 14:11 NIV And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name."

I4 There are Greek different words for presence.

J1 Revelation 14:10 CSB he will also drink the wine of God's wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, [Emphasis is mine. It is the Greek word ἐνώπιον]

K1 The Greek word for presence is ἐνώπιον enṓpion. It means is sight of.

K2 Thus, God can see all, know all, etc.

J2 Revelation 22:4 NLT And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. [Emphasis is mine. It is the Greek word ]

K1 The Greek word for presence (see His face) is πρόσωπον prósōpon. It means the face.

K2 Thus, God’s face is there.

H2 So, there is a difference with God’s presence seeing and God’s presence being there. He is seeing hell and its inhabitants, but not physically present.

G2 God is in hell, in the sense of knowing, seeing, etc. but not in hell.

Thoughts on Discipling Part 3 Doctrine Part I

D2 Incommunicable These are those only God has.

E1 Eternality

F1 Defined: having no beginning and no ending. God was never created, nor can never die. There is only one being with this attribute—Yahweh.

F2 Verses (also see here or here scroll down)

G1 Genesis 21:33 LEB And he planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the everlasting God.

G2 Isaiah 40:28 BSB Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will never grow faint or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

G3 1 Timothy 1:17 BSB Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

F3 Thoughts

G1 If God is eternal, then His promises are intact. They will happen.

G2 If God is eternal, then life itself is dependent on God.

G3 If God is eternal, then He was THE God always and only. If there were any other god, which one would be sovereign?

G4 If God is eternal, then what He says is also true for eternity.

G5 If God is eternal, then He is omniscient. Otherwise, He could not know and understand everything.

G6 If God is eternal, then He is the Eternal Now, that is seeing past, present, and future as present. He is greater than time. He understands time since He is the creator and created time.

G7 If God is eternal, then His other attributes are also eternal.

G8 If God is eternal, then there is no other king and no other kingdom, except His.

G9 If God is eternal, then He does not grow old or infirm.

G10 If God is eternal, then heaven for believers and hell for unbelievers is also eternal.

E2 Immutable

F1 Defined

G1 This is God does not change. It refers to His nature, His attributes, and His essence. Time, as we understand, has no effect on God. God does not learn anything, for He knows everything.

G2 It is the idea that God is constant.

G3 Since this is so and God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18), we know that His promises are true, His warnings are true, His revealing the future is true, His judgments are true, His rules for living are true, His doctrines are true, etc. Everything is true, sure, and doesn’t change, because God does not change.

F2 ISBE entry states: It is the perfection of Yahweh that He changes not in character, will, purpose, aim so of Christ.

G1 Malachi 3:6 WEB For I, Yahweh, don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

G2 Hebrews 13:8 WEB Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

F3 The perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change in essence, attributes, consciousness, will, and promises. No change is possible in God, because all change must be to better or worse, and God is absolute perfection. No cause for change in God exists, either in Himself or outside of Him. (Douglas, J.D.; Tenney, Merrill Chapin: New International Bible Dictionary, Zondervan, 1987) (Source)

F4 The Greek word is ἀμετάθετος ametáthetos. According to Thayer’s and etc., it means not transposed, not to be transferred, fixed, unalterable. Hebrews 6:17-18 WEB In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.

E3 Infinite

F1 This is defined by Matt Slick as God is without measure or limit in scope or duration. There are no constraints upon him from outside of himself that would restrict him in his scope or duration.

F2 His being:

G1 1 Kings 8:27 WEB But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

G2 Jeremiah 23:24 BSB Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and earth?” declares the LORD.

F3 His understanding of everything: Psalms 147:5 BSB Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

F4 Not only can we not understand God, we need to understand this: Psalms 145:3 WEB Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.

F5 His attribute of being infinite teaches us that God has no boundaries on what He knows what He does, who He is, His being (omnipresence), His wisdom, everything of His attributes.

7 Examples of Evil Pastor's Leadership and Counsel

Read this today, and it was good enough that I had to copy and paste it here.

Sheila Wray Gregoire writes

• If a pastor/writer/teacher tells you that disagreeing with them means that you’re disobeying Scripture or rejecting God, that’s wrong. It’s okay to examine things for yourself.
• If a pastor tells you that you shouldn’t listen to your instincts (really the Holy Spirit’s voice inside of you), because you’re more easily deceived, that’s wrong.
• If you go to a pastor/leader with a problem because you’re feeling dismissed and vulnerable, and you’re told that you have no reason to feel that way because no one is doing anything wrong to you, and the problem is you, that’s wrong. You matter, and what you feel matters.
• If a pastor/leader tells you that it’s understandable if someone treats you badly simply because you didn’t ask in the right way, that’s wrong.
• If a pastor/leader puts more onus on one person to act like Jesus than another, that’s wrong.
• If a pastor/leader gives one person in the relationship the power to determine if the other person is acting according to Christ, that’s wrong. Whether or not you’re doing right is about whether you’re acting like Christ, not whether or not someone approves of you.
• If a pastor/leader tells you that the way you follow Jesus is by following another person, that’s wrong.

The link . The quote is towards the bottom of the page.

Thoughts on Discipling Part 3 Doctrine Part H

E21 Reason

F1 Defined

G1 Bing Dictionary: the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.

G2 Thoughts including making decisions whether conditions at the present or possible in the future (thus, we worry sometimes, but God never worries).

G3 The Hebrew word I have in mind is חָשַׁב châshab. It means

H1 According to Strong’s: properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute

H2 According to TWOT (767):

I1 The basic idea of the word is the employment of the mind in thinking activity. Reference is not so much to “understanding” (cf. bı̂n), but to the creating of new ideas.

I2 Then used in 6 ways:

J1 Planning and devising (Genesis 50:20 (the word “meant”))

J2 Making a judgment (Isaiah 54:4 (the word “esteem,” that is, planned))

J3 Running thoughts through the mind. (Malachi 3:16 NKJV Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.

J4 Impute (to credit or discredit as in Genesis 15:6)

J5 To invent (Exodus 31:4)

J6 Accounting (that is bookkeeping as in 2 Kings 12:15 NLT No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.

I3 God can do all these perfectly in wisdom and love. He needs no one to teach Him.

G4 The Greek Equivalents: βουλεύω, διαλογίζομαι, δοκέω, ἐπιστρέφω, ἐπιχειρέω, εὐλαβέομαι, ἡγέομαι, κινδυνεύω, λαλέω, λογίζομαι, ποιέω, συλλογίζομαι, ὑπολαμβάνω, ὑφαντός, φροντίζω  defining the same ideas as the Hebrew word.

F2 Some verses

G1 Psalm 32:2 NIV Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

G2 Jeremiah 18:11 NIV Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'

G3 Jeremiah 29:11 CSB For I know the plans I have for you"—this is the LORD's declaration—"plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

G4 Humans have the same characteristic. Here it is used in the negative sense: Ezekiel 11:2 NIV The LORD said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city.

E22 Enjoyment

F1 This would include enjoyment of fellowship, music, beauty, etc.

F2 God and music

G1 God sings:

H1 Zephaniah 3:17 WEB Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.

H2 “Think of the great Jehovah singing! Can you imagine it? Is it possible to conceive of the Deity breaking into a song: Father, Son and Holy Ghost together singing over the redeemed? God is so happy in the love which he bears to his people that he breaks the eternal silence, and sun and moon and stars with astonishment hear God chanting a hymn of joy.” (Spurgeon, this note was found in Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary on this passage)

G2 His creation from angels to birds sings

F3 Beauty

G1 Psalms 45:9-11 NRSV daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. 10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.

G2 Here is a comment from the Believer’s Bible Commentary: 45:9 The King is not alone in the day of His power. The daughters of earth's monarchs are among His royal attendants. At His right side is the queen, decked with jewelry of gold from Ophir. And who is the queen? Here we must resist the temptation to identify her with the church, since the church is not the subject of OT revelation (Ephesians 3:5-9; Colossians 1:26). We believe that the queen is the redeemed remnant of the nation of Israel (Ezekiel 16:10-14) and that the attendants may represent Gentile nations won to Christ through Israel's testimony.

F4 Artistry [Emphasis is mine]

G1 Genesis 1:31 WEB God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

G2 The Hebrew word for good is טוֹב ṭôwb. It means good, pleasant, agreeable, etc.

H1 Exodus 2:2 GW The woman became pregnant and had a son. She saw how beautiful he was and hid him for three months.

H2 Genesis 26:7 GNB When the men there asked about his wife, he said that she was his sister. He would not admit that she was his wife, because he was afraid that the men there would kill him to get Rebecca, who was very beautiful.

G3 Not only it creation pronounced good, it is very good. The Hebrew word for very is טוֹב ṭôwb. It means exceedingly, much, etc. (adverb). [Emphasis is mine]

H1 1 Samuel 2:17 NKJV Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

H2 Zechariah 14:14 NRSV even Judah will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected—gold, silver, and garments in great abundance.

F5 Rejoice

G1 The Hebrew word is שָׂמַח sâmach. It means to rejoice, be glad,

G2 Psalms 104:31 MKJV The glory of Jehovah shall endure forever; Jehovah shall rejoice in His works.

G3 Psalms 16:8-9 NRSV I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.

Within You or In Your Midst? Thoughts on Luke 17:21

Within or something else?
Our passage

B1 Luke 17:20-21 WEL When he was questioned by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he began to answer and said to them, “The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with careful observation. 21 “Nor will they say, ‘Look over here,’ or ‘Look over there.’ for—take note—the Kingdom of God is within you.

B2 Luke 17:20-21 NRSV Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

B3 Luke 17:20-21 ESV Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

The common issue is this. The Lord Jesus is speaking to some ungodly Pharisees who are demanding an answer as to when God’s Kingdom will begin. The Lord Jesus surely cannot be telling these ungodly Pharisees that they have God’s Kingdom within them, that is, inside them, so it must mean something else.

The Greek word is ἐντός entós (G1787).

B1 It means within or inside. Because of the interpretation issue, most include the idea of in your midst or something similar.

B2 It is used 2 times in our New Testament. [Emphasis is mine]

C1 Matthew 23:26 NIV Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

C2 Luke 17:20-21 NIV Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst."

B3 In Matthew, it is obviously inside.

A few comments from scholars:

B1 Robertson’s Word Pictures on this verse:

Within you (entos humōn). This is the obvious, and, as I think, the necessary meaning of entos. The examples cited of the use of entos in Xenophon and Plato where entos means “among” do not bear that out when investigated. Field (Ot. Norv.) “contends that there is no clear instance of entos in the sense of among” (Bruce), and rightly so. What Jesus says to the Pharisees is that they, as others, are to look for the kingdom of God within themselves, not in outward displays and supernatural manifestations. It is not a localized display “Here” or “There.” It is in this sense that in Luk 11:20 Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God as “come upon you” (ephthasen eph' humās), speaking to Pharisees. The only other instance of entos in the N.T. (Mat 23:26) necessarily means “within” (“the inside of the cup”). There is, beside, the use of entos meaning “within” in the Oxyrhynchus Papyrus saying of Jesus of the Third Century (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 426) which is interesting: “The kingdom of heaven is within you” (entos humōn as here in Luk 17:21).

B2 Vincent’s Word Studies:

Within—Better, in the midst of. Meyer acutely remarks that “you refers to the Pharisees, in whose hearts nothing certainly found a place less than did the ethical kingdom of God.” Moreover, Jesus is not speaking of the inwardness of the kingdom, but of its presence. “The whole language of the kingdom of heaven being within men, rather than men being within the kingdom, is modern” (Trench, after Meyer).

So how do we solve this? This is my opinion.

B1 God is speaking.

B2 God being omniscient and omnisapient can communicate perfectly. This is the word that God chose.

B3 In context, it appears to mean

C1 The Pharisees expected something outward only. Jesus corrects them, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation.”

C2 The word observation is the Greek word παρατήρησις paratḗrēsis. It means, essentially, looking around, that is, inspecting a thing. The idea being of some outward value.

C3 The Pharisees saw purity, holiness, righteousness as an outward value instead of an inward value. Compare:

D1 Matthew 23:25-28 NIV "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

D2 Matthew 15:18-19 NIV But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

C4 It is the inside, the core of each person, where evil or righteousness comes from.

D1 Matthew 12:33 NIV "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

D2 Jeremiah 4:14 NIV Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?

D3 Ezekiel 18:31 NIV Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?

D4 Hebrews 10:22 NIV let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

B4 The Lord Jesus is telling them, “Look, you are looking for outward values only, but God looks at inward conditions. The Kingdom of God is not just some outward state, but is an inside (the heart) condition, which is shown by its outward actions.”

B5 People act what they believe. People can dress up but be an evil criminal. They can say all the right things, use the right language of righteousness, and preach and write what appears to be God fearing and correct. But, in private, they are controlling, create an atmosphere of fear, say evil things, do evil things, control, abuse, etc. This outward appearance and action means something but not much. Many people have been abused by those who outwardly, in public, are perfect, holy, blameless, righteous, etc. but in private are vile, abusive, selfish, self-serving, controlling, etc.

B6 It is the heart that matters.

Albert Barnes:

B1 On verse 20: With observation - With scrupulous and attentive looking for it, or with such an appearance as to “attract” observation - that is, with pomp, majesty, splendor. He did not deny that, according to their views, the time was drawing near; but he denied that his kingdom would come in the “manner” in which they expected. The Messiah would “not” come with pomp like an earthly prince; perhaps not in such a manner as to be “discerned” by the eyes of sagacious and artful people, who were expecting him in a way agreeable to their own feelings. The kingdom of God is “within” people, and it makes its way, not by pomp and noise, but by silence, decency, and order, 1 Corinthians 14:40.

B2 On verse 21: Is within you - This is capable of two interpretations.

1. The reign of God is “in the heart.” It does not come with pomp and splendor, like the reign of temporal kings, merely to control the external “actions” and strike the senses of people with awe, but it reigns in the heart by the law of God; it sets up its dominion over the passions, and brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2. It may mean the new dispensation is “even now among you.” The Messiah has come. John has ushered in the kingdom of God, and you are not to expect the appearance of the Messiah with great pomp and splendor, for he is now among you. Most critics at present incline to this latter interpretation. The ancient versions chiefly follow the former.

There are differing opinions of interpretation. If one believes differently, it is OK. We can still learn. Personally, I understand it as within you rather than in your midst, but I will not fight anyone who understands it differently. All believers do understand that God’s work is a new heart, a new creation, that will reveal itself in our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.