Today, I share points (below) that should be helpful for Bible study along with more on flesh and blood inheriting a divine kingdom. As I began my late night Bible study, returning to an online presentation of Genesis 2 from www.jw.org and the New World Translation of the Scriptures (2013 Revision), I realized I had missed some of the important material that accompanies the sacred text. In addition to an outline display that groups and summarizes the chapter according to verses, I had overlooked multiple links to footnotes and marginal references appearing throughout the chapter presentation. Upon reading Genesis 1, I had been careful to begin reading aloud what would be the frontmatter of a print edition (e.g., introduction, forward, appendices, etc.). However, I had completely dismissed numeration of the verses, and the little plus signs and stars included with almost every phrase within each verse. Starting over, I calculated that it may be well after December of 2016 before I complete this study of a contemporary language version for the holy writings that I’ve begun in summer of 2014. The accounts recorded as the Bible are not intended for amusement and entertainment. Yet, reading the Scriptures should not be called “hard work;” it should be thought of as careful work.
THE BATTLE AXE: Inheriting the Kingdom (06/27/2014)— (5.) In using the human frameworks of time and space to describe the coming kingdom, Jesus does not detail the features of any region upon the earth, or the beauty of an ideal location in the heaven. Instead, the Savior makes numerous comparisons and contrasts that explain sacred events, parables, proclamations from GOD, lessons from the Scriptures, and prophecy. The kingdom Jesus spoke of was a condition for existence, a governing principle, a life process, and an intimate relationship driven by divinity that would establish all created beings and living creatures as immortal and incorruptible. The word “kingdom” identifies an aggregate or collective that operates under a single sovereign authority, and is distinct from democracy, a system to allow equal access to and participation in decision-making. On the one hand, membership in the divine kingdom can only be gained through election (we say, by being divinely chosen; by the divine operations of grace and faith). On the other hand, each member must be self-selected by accepting a fresh endowment of divine spirit content, acquiring sacred knowledge, practicing preordained sacraments and spiritual works, and surrendering self-will to divine-will as obedience. The kingdom experience is one of being cleansed, encounter, new learning, and realization of collective strength. By speaking and thinking in terms of a sacred kingdom, believers are able to communicate having greater clarity, both with one another and with those outside their assembly. The human tool of language may be used to crystallize experiences of divinity using such terms as ambassadors, citizens, duty, followers, heirs, soldiers, or kings and priests of the kingdom.
(6.) An important change occurred for the operations of consciousness and focus within mankind by the divine creation of a female aspect to Adam. GOD was no longer the primary companion to the male. The male made a proclamation asserting authority, ownership, and self-will: Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. When aroused by the woman, the tree of knowledge and the tree of life were seen by Adam as material objects that would maintain the bond of flesh and bone, rather than spiritual sources to maintain the bond with divinity. Subtleties (barely visible distinctions, hidden shifts in meaning and value) and multiple errors were introduced. In the light of flesh and blood, acquiring authority, knowledge, and power appeared possible by what one consumed or ingested, rather than strictly by what would be communicated and transmitted from GOD through continuing companionship. Spiritual confusion had been launched, and the process of discernment (recognition of divine substance in aspects of experience such as events, objects, other persons, proclamations, praise, and utterance) permanently became clouded, murky and unclear. In the proclamation of Jesus, the second Adam, consuming the Savior’s flesh and blood is revealed as a sacred process to establish eternal life. Consider again Genesis 9: 3-5, Leviticus 17: 11, Zephaniah 1: 16-18, Matthew 16: 16-17, John 6: 48-58 and 1st Corinthians 15: 39-50, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12: 10-14, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Issue Is Not Accuracy (05/16/2014); Denying Oneself (05/17/2014); Philosophical Questions? (04/17/2014); To Accomplish A Sacred Goal (04/18/2014); On Youth Doing Enough (02/06/2014); By Inspiration of GOD (10/27/2013); Believing Everything? (11/22/2012); How To Have Conviction (11/23/2012)
1. There is no way to have full understanding by a partial reading of the Scriptures. At first, ones focus should exclude academic and extra-biblical material from such fields as archeology, anthropology, history, philology and psychology. Footnotes are always important to correct reading of contemporary language editions and various translations. Marginal references should always be read because they identify places within the same volume where a peculiar verse is expanded, or repeated.
2. Like time and space, daily reading of the Scriptures provides a framework of order and structure for finite awareness and life experience. More than this, the Scriptures are a food and beverage for the divine content within mankind. Spirit is nourished, refreshed and revived through added spirit introduced using such devices as breath, forgiveness, praise, prayer, preaching, proclamation, promise, prophecy, and utterance.
3. Readers and students of the Scriptures are being called (we say, recruited) to serve as ministers to others. Those having sacred knowledge are to break the bread of the Scriptures to those who desire correct understanding. Mastery for ones own reputation and self-promotion are not a goal. Believers are not to become critics, jailers, and wardens continually punishing the errors of others. The eternal purpose is that of admonishing, feeding, sharing, and making others fit to live in accordance with the will of GOD.
4. The Adversary and enemies of divinity will attempt to fight on every front (i.e., argue and question every point of sacred mystery) to generate dissension and division. Readers are to understand, there is no desired growth or spiritual gain from searching the Scriptures to find contradictions, errors, or misstatements. The life essence (we say, breath, spark, spirit) contained, preserved, and transmitted through the Scriptures can not be received or recognized using only finite standards and tools that are secular.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. For example, (5.) Diversity among the various presentations of the Scriptures should be acknowledged in the same way as diversity among flowers and song birds. For readers using discernment (applying their own spirit content to recognize oneness, spirit matter and unity within such elements as current events, messages, law, other persons, and utterance), restatements of Scripture that use patterns and emphasis different from those first received or used for an extended period can not violate the principles embedded there that are enduring and eternal light. Through Christ, the power of “If bodda you dat you goin mahke, fo shua you goin mahke. But if you like do everyting you do fo me, an no bodda you if you mahke fo dat, den you goin live fo real kine.” (Matthew 16: 25, Hawai’i Pidgin, HWP) is no less than that for “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16: 25, King James Version, KJV), both displayed at the Internet site www.BibleGateway.com. Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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