Whether Jesus was educated and literate is the topic, today. Also, there is more on law as a schoolmaster to lead believers to Christ. A writer at “Yahoo! Answers New Zealand” using the ID “MeMe” (Level 2 with 264 points, a member since 23 April 2011) posted the following (again, the question was “resolved” while I was preparing my response; and I sent the writer a partial reply by email):
Is it true that Jesus was an illetrate person?
THE BATTLE AXE: Law A Schoolmaster (10/03/2013)—Even though the law discloses a broad range of prohibitions, punishments and sanctions, the primary purpose of the law is not to intimidate, terrorize, and threaten. Because human behavior and conduct are inconsistent, irregular, and depend upon awareness and energy that may diminish and vary over time, mankind cannot maintain sacred consciousness, relationship and righteousness with GOD merely by deeds that are affectionate, obedient, respectful, reverent, and unselfish. More profound dimensions of bonding and relationship must serve as the foundation for there to be the most complete levels of intimate exchange and interaction for the Creator and the created. Thus, the firmament and platform for relationship also incorporates commonality, joining, oneness, sameness, and union (see Genesis 2: 7, Job 12: 9-11, Psalms 84: 1-3 and 1st Corinthians 3: 11, KJV). Where created beings and living creatures share substance from the make-up of GOD within their own composition, all having person and sentience may communicate with the Maker. However, the operations of sin interrupt living communications and relationship; and cannot be correctly detected, eliminated, and resisted by Creation without the provisions from GOD that include the sacred law. Through baptism (i.e., death/rebirth of ones inner spirit) and other aspects of the ministry of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (e.g., atonement, forgiveness, repentance, sanctification), mankind is purged, and receives a fresh endowment of spirit content from the Divine Person. Inseparable aspects of divine being then operate as though a living law within those embracing salvation through Jesus. There is increased presence for such permanent aspects of divinity as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, truth, wisdom, and wrath against sin. See Romans 7: 5-7, Romans 7: 13-23 and 1st Peter 3: 10-18, King James Version.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. (Isaiah 11: 1-5, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Halo Upon Jesus? (09/25/2013); On Marketing Church, and Speaking By Occasion (09/26/2013); The Bible and Stupid People (07/17/2013); Destroying Justice? (07/18/2013); Missing Information? (06/12/2013); Errors of King Solomon? (06/13/2013); Why Jesus Authored No Books (05/01/2013); Recognizing True Prophets (05/02/2013); The Childhood of Jesus? (03/06/2013); Non-existent Debt? (03/07/2013)
“MeMe”, in the same way there are many who will attempt to mock you for what they will see as a misspelling of the word “illiterate”, many will continue to belittle Jesus Christ and dismiss his ministry as the Son of GOD because they think themselves intellectual, scientific and wise. Literacy is more than simply an ability to recognize the peculiar words that others have written on a page. A literate person recognizes an author’s emotions, meaning and intent (we say, comprehends) and may make comparisons, contrasts, evaluations (we say, reviews) and rankings among written works focused upon such elements as characters, content, originality, style, and techniques used. In addition to experiencing personal insights by reflecting upon what they have read, most literate persons regularly apply ideas, and use language influenced by works that they experience through their reading.
Jesus was born as a Jew, raised first in Egypt, then moved to Nazareth of Galilee, that earlier had been a part of the Northern Kingdom (made up of the ten tribes, and called Israel or Samaria). The official public ministry of Jesus was that of a rabbi; and it was his custom to stand and read from the holy writings each Sabbath. His ministry from GOD employed truths from the full treasure of Jewish culture, history, sacred writings, and belief. Jesus taught and worked miracles in a society that included conservative and traditional Jews, Hellenized Jews (those embracing Greek fashion and culture) as well as Gentiles from all over the then know world as part of the Roman Empire. Jesus lived in a global world.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood. (For example, prostitution, bondage, gay, lesbian and transgender practices that became widespread through the various world empires (e.g., Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) were known among the Jews also. Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and others now considered the Great Philosophers of ancient Greece were known and discussed among the cosmopolitan Jews that Jesus dealt with. Nevertheless, the ministry of Jesus, being built upon the structures of covenant and sacred law once delivered to the Jews, did not specifically speak against those forbidden practices, and focused instead upon fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus did not directly respond to the many specifics of civil law, cultural arrogance, ethnicity, intellectualism, politics, sexual behavior and conduct, or philosophical debate and reason.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
How divine law is a mechanism to establish belief in Christ is the topic, today. Also, there is more on divine love revealed through prophecy, and the Book of Revelation. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “J H” (Level 5 with 6,067 points, a member since March 26, 2011) posted the following that was first asked at “Yahoo! Answers Canada”:
What did Apostle Paul mean by saying that the Law was a schoolmaster ?
Galatians chapter 3
23.But before Faith came, we were kept under the Law, shut up unto
the Faith that afterward be revealed.
24,Therefore the Law was our schoomaster to bring us unto Christ
that we might be justified by Faith.
1. Can you support what Paul is saying through scripture?
IN other words, how could the Law bring anyone to a
belief in Christ ?
THE BATTLE AXE: Divine Love Revealed? (10/02/2013)—The Book of Revelation is the final book approved as a legitimate part of the full holy canon formed by the Old and New Testament writings that were collected and united as the Bible. Many complain against Revelation (notice no “s”) as though it had been written for their amusement and entertainment, and was found to be confusing and disappointing by its use of sacred figures, symbols and types. Like the Book of Daniel, that provides information from GOD describing a broad continuum of sacred events, Revelation cannot be understood and correctly valued without the imparted, indwelling Spirit now available through the ministry of Jesus Christ. Although angel messengers were sent to Daniel who responded to his questions regarding the purposes of GOD, the prophet was overwhelmed by the cosmic scale and breadth of truth that he was given. Readers who are spiritually unprepared can not grasp the meaning and importance for things written in Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, and the many other books labeled as “prophecy”, because these writings require that one applies aspects of their own sacred being. Revelation is impossible to grasp without divine presence. Moreover, the divine tool of prophecy used to reveal sacred person and eternal purpose is the transfer of spirit through utterance and vision. There must be discernment and recognition of the holy. Along with the tools of divine law, judgment in righteousness, promise, and sacraments (specific practices to focus and maintain spirit content), prophecy generates expectation for sacred events (we say, hope). The truths revealed through prophecy do not say “I love you” to mankind as a mantra, a catchphrase, or by the letter, rather, they say I love you by operations of Spirit. (See Deuteronomy 29: 29, Daniel 9: 21-27, Revelation 5: 1-14 and Revelation 22: 8-16, KJV.)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2: 16-21, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Gentiles and the Law? (09/19/2013); According to the Word (09/20/2013); Law in Christian Belief (09/03/2013); A Need to Know? (09/04/2013); A GOD of Love? (05/07/2013); Commanding the Storm? (05/08/2013); The Love of GOD (03/03/2013); Our Need for a Son (03/04/2013); The Law Not Flawed (12/30/2012); Will GOD Bless My Team? (12/31/2012); Christians Who Ignore GOD’s Laws (10/25/2012); The Crux of the Matter (10/26/2012); Women Ordained to Minister? (10/27/2012); About False Witness (09/09/2012); Nostradamus (09/10/2012)
“J H”, here are a few points to consider that many Christian believers are finding useful:
(1) There are multiple layers for the intent and work of divine law among created beings and living creatures. The law imparts aspects of existence; generates and maintains divine order; protects and shields spirit content; and, along with praise, prayer, proclamation, promises and prophecy, reveals a necessary and peculiar experience of Divine Person.
(2) Despite their gifts of animal instinct, emotion, intellect and intuition, self-will in created beings and living creatures may be dominated by sin. Sin is no material or spirit thing, has not been created or put forth by GOD, and has no divine substance. Yet, sin has direction, effect, and presence. Sin opposes all divine law, the continuing existence of GOD, and all the Creation of GOD.
(3) As an influence upon attitudes, behavior and conduct, sin escapes detection until there is damage and loss (like with errors and mistakes, you usually don’t know you’ve made one until after you’ve taken action). Given that sin operates through subtleties (barely visible differences) within awareness, and emerges through self-will, sin does not register as alien, foreign, strange, and unnatural.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood. (For example, (4) The law is a schoolmaster as it provides correction, guidance, instruction, and knowledge. Because focus of the sacred law goes beyond the carnal, emotional, physical and social, the law feeds, nourishes, and prepares a person to receive the spirit content that brings them to Christ. Only those receptive and teachable through the imparted, indwelling Spirit consistently reject sin as contrary to their own inner nature.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
