A Disciple’s Word of the Week – “Shevet”
Term: “shevet” – “shebet,” “shay’-bet” (Hebrew – Old Testament) Definition: “Rod, (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.). Also used to denote a sceptre or staff. Passages: Occurs 83 times in the Old Testament (English translations). Proverbs 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 26:3; 29:15 Application: Modern child rearing techniques have all but abandoned the...
Did God Write a Mystery Book?
The words “mystery” and “mysteries” are used 27 times in the King James Version of the New Testament. Each occurrence is a translation of a single Greek word, “mysterion.” Strong’s Concordance gives it an extensive definition, but, in essence, it means, “a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding.” In its Divinely inspired...Continue reading
The Truth About Baptism in Colossians 2:11-12
There is a powerful passage in the second chapter of Colossians that clearly demonstrates the fact that baptism is immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins. Having just pointed out to the Christians in Colosse that they were complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), Paul wrote, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision...Continue reading
The One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5) – Its Purpose
Having previously seen the “mode” and element of the one baptism authorized by the Lord as referenced in Ephesians 4:5, we now turn our attention to the purpose of this one immersion. There are few Bible subjects over which there is more disagreement. Still, the Gospel is plain. Immersion into Christ is for the forgiveness...Continue reading
The One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5) – Its “Mode”
To begin this article, let’s note that talking about a “mode” of baptism is essentially a contradiction in terms. Those who speak of “modes” of baptism refer to different methods of “baptizing” such as sprinkling or pouring. The reason this is a contradiction in terms is because the original Greek word used in the New...Continue reading
The One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5) – Its Element
There are four baptisms (immersions) noted in the New Testament, each distinguished from the other by the element into which the subject is immersed. Three of these are mentioned by John the Immerser in Matthew 3:11. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose...Continue reading
Is Immersion an Optional Command?
The title of this article contains an oxymoron. According to the dictionary, something that is optional is “not required” while a command is defined as “a demand.” The two words cannot co-exist because they are polar opposites. “Optional” cannot modify “command.” They are like “black” and “white” or “up” and “down.” From an earthly standpoint...Continue reading
By What Authority?
“And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” (Matthew 21:23). Once again the Jewish leaders were challenging Jesus. In their minds, since none of them...Continue reading
What’s Become of Reverence?
Thinking back to my teenage years, I’m sure that more often than I’d like to admit I shook my head at any older person who said anything against any of the trends of that day. It wouldn’t have mattered whether or not I agreed with the trends. Just the fact that someone from the older...Continue reading
You’ve Got to Pay the Man
Marshall Keeble liked to use an illustration that involved a person going into a grocery store to shop. He said in that store you can walk through all of the aisles, pick up as many items as you want and put them in your cart but if you want to leave the store with the...Continue reading