Month: October 2020

Doctrinal · End Times · Hell · Judge

Judge Judge Judge ἀνακρίνω – Verse List for Study 2

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Because of the CrossFind the full list of verses for the word anakrinō below

Luke 23:14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.

Acts 4:9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,

Acts 12:19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 24:8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

Acts 28:18 When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.

1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

1 Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

1 Corinthians 4:4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

1 Corinthians 9:3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.

1 Corinthians 10:25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

1 Corinthians 10:27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,

 

I look forward to comments and discussion.  May the Lord give you an understanding heart and a willing spirit to consider the Bible and all it’s wealth.

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Doctrinal · End Times · Hell · Judge

Judge Judge Judge – ἀνακρίνω – Study 2-C

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Because of the Cross

Thanks for returning to this series on “Judge Judge Judge” and my feeble attempt to understand a believers responsibility and right to make judgments.
Another purpose of this series hopefully is to understand the believers restriction on judgement.
What can a Christian judge? How is he to judge? What is prohibited in the Christian life to judge. So many questions and concerns.

Our second greek word related to judging is…

anakrinō

ἀνακρίνω – anakrinō – “examine, judge, ask question, search, discern”

This word is found 16 times in 14 verses within the New Testament. A full listing of all verses may be found below for your self study. I will consider the verses that are not clear, that create questions in my mind, with the remaining verses left for the reader to ponder.

Judged by Believers

1 Corinthians 4:3-5

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Three people are making judgement on one man here.

  1. First off, it is the bad selfish divided church making judgement on the apostle – remember the context of this passage – the church is following men, creating the first denominations, and this must disgust Paul.
  2. Secondly – Paul himself. Paul refuses to judge himself. Yet I imagine Paul knows himself much better than the Corinthians. It seems things are a bit backwards here.
  3. Thirdly, in this passage, there is One who rightly can judge, and it is because He will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness.

Notice a few things

Judgement is based on knowledge, not feelings. The greater the knowledge the better the judgement. The greater the feelings, the greater the possibility of error!

time

Judgement is dependent on time. Pronouncing judgement prematurely is incorrect judgement.

Judgement is not necessarily associated with anger, wrath or discipline. It may be in some passages, but in this case, Paul mentions commendation from God for each man.

Interesting!

Have you considered that some day, after a life of seeking to please God, and yet in your heart feeling you have disappointed Him and yourself, that God will find commendation for your efforts and actions? Is there a word for that?

  • Justice?
  • Mercy?
  • Grace?
  • Love?

Consider what that may mean – that is to be commended by God.

(That slightly blows my mind!)

Thanks for joining me in this study. Hope to visit with you in our next post as we look at the Greek term βῆμα which is commonly translated judgment seat, throne, to set (one’s) foot on in the New Testament.

Be Blessed.

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Interpretation · Old Testament in New Testament

OT in NT – Philemon

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old_testament_law-450x300.jpg?format=originalHow did Jesus and the apostles interpret the Old Testament?

This post is simply a data dump of information for your struggle.

Find below a spreadsheet embedded into the post that lists  verses from the New Testament book of Philemon and corresponding Old Testament references.

Good luck as you research each of the verses and try to understand Paul’s  justification for using the Old Testament passage the way he did.

 

18-OT in NT – Philemon

 

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

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Sabbath · Traditions

Jesus on the Sabbath – Part 1 – Rubbing Grain

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jesus-the-grain-fieldRecently I penned a series of post on the Ten Commandments and as I was writing it, found that the Sabbath day was the only commandment not reapplied  to believers in the New Testament.

In writing that series of posts, I was reminded that the Sabbath day was one of the main irritants between the Lord Jesus and the Pharisees.

Let’s start considering the topic of Sabbath keeping in relation to Christians by reviewing Matthew 12:1-8, where Jesus addresses the Pharisees about eating some grain.

Yep that is right – they got into “it” over His disciples rubbing and eating a handful of grain!

Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

GrainOn a Sabbath day, Jesus and His disciples were traveling through some grain fields.  It seems a bit strange that grown men walk through grain fields, but in this case, it may have been to extract a bit of sustenance.  You see, in ancient Israel, it was perfectly legal for standing fields of grain to be a local snack station.

Check out Deuteronomy 23:25

Deuteronomy 23:25 If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.

You can’t harvest any of your neighbors grain for the year of course, but a snack for the day was perfectly legal and acceptable.  For Jesus and His disciples, it was snack time, since His disciples were hungry.  (Christians can suffer hunger? – You bet!)

Matthew 12: 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

What were the disciples doing that was so unlawful? Kindly remember that the Pharisees had set up volumes of traditions over centuries of studying, intending to protect the law of God. 

In my research, I found a “rule” that the Pharisees may be referring to.

“he that reaps on the Sabbath day, ever so little, is guilty of stoning, and plucking of ear of grain is a derivative of reaping.”

The Pharisees may be appealing to this authority.  They could stone (capital punishment) someone for rubbing grains of wheat in their hand.  Wow – is there not something wrong with this thinking?

The Pharisees follow their Judaism based on the authority of the elders traditions.  The Lord also bases His response on authority.

He brings “authority” to them in three arguments, or rebuttals.  Three rebuttals that will follow in our following posts.

Hope you can return as we Consider the Bible and how we are to relate to the Sabbath.

 

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Dispensationalism · Doctrinal · Interpretation · Literal · Prophecy

Chatting with a Dispy – 17

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mount-olives-split-2A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

With that introduction,  lets continue our chat with a “Dispy.”  We pick up in continuing my previous response to statements on his web site.  This is the final discussion, and if you have survived the discussion, my hats off to you.  Thanks for tracking with me and my brother.

RE:  Surely I hope you won’t tell me that the Lord comes back (Rapture) and only takes some of His people to heaven, leaving some on earth for the next coming?

Well, you have it close.  Read Matthew 25, the 10 virgins parable again.  5 foolish virgins are looking for his return, that’s not what the world does; they think they are Christians, but they are not.  See also Matthew 7:22, and Rev 2-3.

I am not sure what you are referring to with Matt 25. How does the parable of the ten virgins show that the Lord only takes a few of His people, and leaves the rest on earth for a second “rescue”?  Are you saying the 5 foolish virgins get a second chance to be accepted by the Lord at some future time?

Matt 25:10-13

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’  But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

It seems there is no hope offered to the foolish virgins after the door is shut.  They were told “I do not know you”.

Matt 7:22 is a reference to final judgment, not the rapture.

Matt 7:22

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

Rev 2-3 – Not sure the connection you are trying to make with this set of verses

(If you could define your point instead of just quoting a reference, it would be most helpful.)

Water, does, indeed, cleanse us from being unclean; one of the marks of sin.

Zech 13:1 states “a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity”

Please note that the passage does not say that the water cleanses from the “marks” of sin. The fountain is opened … for sin and for impurity.  (Insertion of words into the text is not a good practice!)

I have enjoyed our conversation and wish you the very best.  May God the Father and Jesus our Savior shower you with grace.

Blessings

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

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Atheism · Christianity

Discussions with an Atheist – Part 2

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atheist

A long time ago, I was browsing my Facebook page when I came across a post that ridiculed Kirk Cameron’s efforts to sell an “Atheist” Bible.
A friend (who it turns out to be an atheist) seemed to think that Kirk was “uninformed”
Well I thought, lets discuss this issue, and what follows is a record of our discussion.
I really looked forward to his responses and enjoyed considering and responding to his concerns.
Some of my friends comments are a bit lengthy, and as I read them I found echoes of myself, seeking to defend a position simply by supplying a massive quantity of words, knowing inside that he quality of the argument was weak.
If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus, you may find encouragement, and some understanding of an atheist’s worldview.
If you are an atheist, I would encourage you to read and consider my responses.  I seek to understand your position, and if you see a fallacy in my thinking, please comment.  I only ask that you focus your position to one point at a time, in order that I may respond (if I can) without unnecessary confusion.
My comments and responses are in red.
Jesus rising from the dead? no one else does so why one person out of billions upon billions of others don’t? I donate $15 a month to one of the support a child organizations (i’m a student what do you expect) as for suffering in other ways… what can one do except try and educate and spread the word of reality…once i have paid debt off and have extra money i can try and influence on a monetary level more efficiently…unfortunately most of the power is held with in government and more so in corporations bank books.
Everyone is an armchair critic, and some of the ones that go out and try to alleviate the suffering prey upon the suffering to boost their image (mother Teresa) her quote along the lines which were people need to suffer to be closer to god…kinda immoral in my books but..no comment.
Distractions of reality? or distractions of trying to be hoaxed into believing something that is enticing but false? I don’t understand what the distraction is? Every part of the bible makes no sense in today’s day and age…psychologically every enticing aspect of the bible such as eternal life and someone who is always loving and there for you is what a hominid seeks….there’s nothing special here except that certain things are said to satisfy a lot of human emotions (terror management theory).
Biologically most things are not even possible in the stories mentioned in the bible (virgin birth). Now don’t get me wrong the bible would be good for an english class or literature but for reality? I think not…it makes no sense if you learn about biology, psychology, genetics, physics, etc…
Hope all is well with you Carl 🙂
Golly Friend – this again shows that your understanding of the scriptures are not accurate.
Many times the apostles (the Bible) described the raising of the dead, and they were eye witnesses to these events – specifically the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These men died horrible deaths, (secular histories affirm this!)
Why?
Why suffer and die for a lie?

Hey thanks for dropping by and reading my post, especially if you are an atheist friend.  I hope to hear from you and would appreciate a comment to begin a discussion.

Have a great day.

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Kingdom of God · New Testament

Jesus & Paul – Different Messages? Part 2

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PaulIn the past few months I have noticed that there are rumblings – at least in my world – of some internet folks trying to make out the message of Paul to be different that that of Jesus.

Never mind the fact that Jesus was dealing with a nation in the last gasps of it’s life and His pleading for their repentance, and Paul’s focus on “making that tent bigger for them dirty Gentiles” (See Isaiah 54:2-3)

Why?  I don’t know, and at this point I am not concerned with their motivation, since I will assume the worst, which may not be fair.

Nevertheless, as I was browsing my computer bible study files, I providentially tripped over the following information.  I must have found this info years back, and will not take credit for the compiling of the verses, but for the life of me, I am not sure where I found this.

This is the second post addressing different topics from the New Testament that both Jesus and Paul taught on showing similarity in their teachings.  My comments will be sparse, (unless they are not)

2. Both taught that God is a loving and merciful Father, whom we should imitate

Jesus

Luke 15:20-24 — And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Matthew 7:11 — If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Luke 6:35-36 — But love your enemies…and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Matthew 5:45 — But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Paul

Romans 5:7-8 — For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 11:32 — For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

2 Corinthians 1:3 — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies…

Ephesians 2:4 — But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us.

Ephesians 4:32 — And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 5:1 — Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

A short post to encourage you with the consistency of the Word.  May the Lord strengthen you and bless you as you seek His Kingdom.

Leave a comment as you may desire.

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Faith · Repent

Repent of Your Sins – Metanoeó – Repent Verse List

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repent-of-your-sins-isnt-found-in-the-bible-even-one-time-e1599255371527.png

A brother asked me recently to check the Bible for the phrase “repent of your sins”.

As the attached graphic states, the specific phrase “repent of your sins” does not occur.

My previous post referred to the verse lists for my study.

This post supplies the list for the word “Repent”

Repent – Strong’s G3340

repent-3.jpg

Matthew 3:2

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 11:20

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

Matthew 11:21

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 12:41

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Mark 1:15

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 6:12

So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

Luke 10:13

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Luke 11:32

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 13:3

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Luke 13:5

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Luke 15:7

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 16:30

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

Luke 17:3

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

Luke 17:4

and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Acts 2:38

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Acts 8:22

Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

Acts 17:30

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Acts 26:20

but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

2 Corinthians 12:21

I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Revelation 2:5

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation 2:16

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:21

I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:22

Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

Revelation 3:3

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 9:20

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk,

Revelation 9:21

nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 16:9

They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

Revelation 16:11

and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

Thanks for dropping by. Drop me a line, eh?

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Doctrinal · End Times · Hell · Judge

Judge Judge Judge – ἀνακρίνω – Study 2-B

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Because of the Cross

Thanks for returning to this series on “Judge Judge Judge” and my feeble attempt to understand a believers responsibility and right to make judgments.
Another purpose of this series hopefully is to understand the believers restriction on judgement.
What can a Christian judge? How is he to judge? What is prohibited in the Christian life to judge. So many questions and concerns.

Our second greek word related to judging is…

anakrinō

ἀνακρίνω – anakrinō – “examine, judge, ask question, search, discern”

This word is found 16 times in 14 verses within the New Testament. A full listing of all verses may be found below for your self study. I will consider the verses that are not clear, that create questions in my mind, with the remaining verses left for the reader to ponder.

Double Standard Judging

1 Corinthians 2:14 -16

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Okay – I’ve been waiting for this passage for the entire study. So often I thought I understood it only to find I was wrong. So lets consider what this passage is speaking about.

Some background – Paul is writing to a bad church. A real bad church. A bunch of immature, selfish, jealous, childish, fleshly, strife ridden believers.

These folk were not spiritual. Were they believers? Maybe, but that may not be the point. Paul is comparing the natural man, with the spiritual man. The natural man in the church in Corinth, that is.

Paul states that the natural man is the man that refuses to accept the things of God – they think it is just stupid!. (Ever met a “believer” like that?)

On top of that, he, the natural man that is, is not able to understand the things of the Spirit of God because understanding the things of the Spirit of God requires agreement with the Spirit. Disagreeing with the Spirit of God does not allow for a continuation of proper judgments. Remember , as we discovered in our last post, discernment is a gift of the Spirit based on knowledge of the Word of God and prayer.

Okay – so if this background and understanding is correct, Paul is stating that spiritual persons make correct judgments due to the believer having the mind of Christ (v 16).

grad cap

It is not an IQ issue, a school training accomplishment, or a personality quality. It has nothing to do with glory for the believer. The believer is to rely on the mind of Christ for his proper decision making skills

The spiritual man bases his judgments / decisions on the mind of Christ, which provides real time guidance of the principles of the Word of God in daily life. (The mind of Christ in my thinking has much to do with an attitude of humility and meekness.)

It is a daily war to remember that our ability to make correct judgement on issues of the day or people we meet is a gift supplied by our Father in heaven and buttressed with a knowledge of the Word.

Rash man quote

I can hear you already – Carl we can’t judge people ! But I think you will find that we can (and need to) judge people. Let’s wait until we get to those passages before you make a rash judgement on me!

Thanks for joining me in this study. Hope to visit with you in our next post as we continue to look at the Greek term ἀνακρίνω

Be Blessed.

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Interpretation · Old Testament in New Testament

OT in NT – Titus

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old_testament_law-450x300.jpg?format=originalHow did Jesus and the apostles interpret the Old Testament?

This post is simply a data dump of information for your struggle.

Find below a spreadsheet embedded into the post that lists  verses from the New Testament book of Titus and corresponding Old Testament references.

Good luck as you research each of the verses and try to understand Paul’s  justification for using the Old Testament passage the way he did.

 

17-OT in NT – Titus

 

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