Archives For Interpretation

A Key, Overlooked Passage concerning Biblical Marriage

July 9, 2015

None of the many articles that I have read recently concerning biblical marriage has mentioned Genesis 6-9 as a relevant or important passage about the subject. An examination of several facets of the passage shows that Genesis 6-9 is a key passage that provides decisive information that corroborates what Genesis 1-2 teaches about biblical marriage.

A Profound Emphasis on Male and Female in Genesis 1-5 and 6-9

Genesis 1:27 reveals that God created man as male and female and blessed them and instructed them to be fruitful and multiply. Genesis 2:18-25 corroborates that passage and states that God brought Adam and Eve together as the first humans and united them to be husband and wife. Their union was blessed of God, and there was no shame involved in their being united as one flesh.

Genesis 5:2 reiterates that God made man male and female and blessed them. This key statement shows that Genesis 1-2 records factual history concerning biblical marriage.

In Genesis 6, we learn that mankind had so completely corrupted itself that God decreed that He would annihilate all people and animals from the earth (Gen. 6:5-17). By the favor of God (cf. Gen. 6:8), only Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives would be spared from that worldwide destruction (Gen. 6:13, 18). God thus spared mankind only as pairs consisting of a male and a female who were married to each other.

In addition, God would spare certain numbers of animals from that destruction. God profoundly emphasized that he would spare these animals only as pairs that were specified to be male and female (Gen. 6:19; 7:3, 9, 16).1

He even speaks of these pairs of animals as being “a male and his female” (Gen. 7:2 [2x]; emphasis added). After the Flood, God instructed Noah to bring out all the animals “that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth” (Gen. 8:17), making clear that the animals that were spared were male and female animals that were spared as pairs.

Following the Flood, the whole earth was “overspread” by the children (and further descendants) who were born as the fruit of the marriages of each of Noah’s three sons with his own wife (Gen. 9:19). Although not directly stated, the same was the case with all the earth being filled with animals through the unions of each male animal and his female.

Based on all these statements in Genesis 6-9, we learn that God has profoundly emphasized that He had ordained for humans that their marriages were to be between a man and his wife because He only spared four pairs of humans, all of whom were married according to the pattern that He had established at Creation (Gen. 1-2). Furthermore, the profound emphasis in this passage on even the animals being pairs consisting of a male and his female shows that God’s pattern for all these living beings that He created, both humans and animals, was from the beginning to be the uniting of males and females into pairs that were comprised only of humans with humans and animals with animals respectively that were of opposite gender.

Conclusion

For Christians who believe fully that the entire Bible is the perfect Word of God, Genesis 1-2 is not the only key early passage that reveals to them what biblical marriage is. As discussed above, Genesis 6-9 profoundly confirms what Genesis 1-2 teaches such believers about biblical marriage.

 

1 Of the clean animals and birds, God instructed Noah to bring in a seventh animal, which was later offered in sacrifice to God (Gen. 7:2; 8:20).

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Discipleship, Exposition, Interpretation, Theology
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On The Matchless Value of the Book of Revelation!

June 10, 2015

The book of Revelation is a book of matchless value to believers for many reasons, including these eight reasons that many believers may not be aware of fully:

1. Revelation uniquely stresses information about its unique origin—a stress that is divinely purposeful—we must consider why God gave us this information about its origin in the way that He did.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne

2. Revelation uniquely informs the reader of the unique value of the book by its being the only New Testament book that explicitly says that those who properly receive what the books says will be specially favored by God: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3).

Furthermore, Revelation has six more statements about who will be blessed, including a reiteration of the blessedness of those who heed what the book says:

Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

3. Revelation is unique in the scope of what it reveals: things that John saw that no other man has ever seen; the things that were true in his day, which no other writer of Scripture lived to tell us about; and the things that would take place shortly after these things; it is also the only book in Scripture that provides additional revelation about the tree of life!

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

4. Revelation uniquely states the breadth of its intended recipients: the book is for all those who are the servants of Christ (Rev. 1:1); seven times, Jesus declares, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” which shows that the book is for all churches of all time; and Jesus tells about an action that He will render so that “all the churches shall know” a specific truth about Him (Rev. 2:23).

The book also includes two other statements of its universal applicability: “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev. 13:9); and, “Let him that hath understanding count . . .” (Rev. 13:18). Finally, the book ends with Jesus declaring again the widespread value of the book: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” (Rev. 22:16).

5. Revelation uniquely sets forth the importance of churches—Yes, our lives as individual believers are important (cf. Matt. 5:16), but we must also understand the significance of these churches being spoken of as golden lampstands (Rev. 1:20); Christ walks in their midst (Rev. 2:1); also, the word “churches” occurs more times in the book of Revelation than it does in any other book of the NT.

6. Revelation uniquely emphasizes the importance of Christian pastors: the glorified Christ holds them in His hands in a special way (Rev. 1:16, 20); He says that He scrutinizes their lives in a profound way and warns them to repent or else face His judgment (Rev. 2:5, 16). Obviously, these statements show the special importance of this book for all those who are leaders in Christian churches and for all those of us whom they lead.

7. Revelation uniquely presents that the glorified Jesus emphasized repeatedly that the Father was His God:

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

8. Revelation is unique because of the fearful warnings that it reveals about altering its contents, which highlights its special nature:

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Given these many ways in which the book of Revelation is of incomparable value, I urge to you profit fully from the book by reading it often, hearing all that it says, and keeping all that it reveals about what the people of God are to be and do!

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Exposition, Theology
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Who Needs to Forgive Someone Who Has Sinned As Josh Duggar Has?

May 30, 2015

Many people have written recently about the situation involving the aftermath of the immoral acts that Josh Duggar committed when he was a young teenager. Some have asserted that the only people who need to forgive him for what he has done are his victims. An examination of Pauline teaching in First and Second Corinthians does not support this assertion.

An Initially Mishandled Case of an Immoral Man in the Church at Corinth

Paul sternly challenged the Corinthians about their failure to discipline a man in their church who had committed incest with his father’s wife (1 Cor. 5). Using his apostolic authority, Paul judged this immoral man (1 Cor. 5:3-5) and instructed the Corinthians to judge him as well by removing him from among themselves (1 Cor. 5:7, 12, 13).

The Subsequent Mishandling of This Case

Based on what Paul later wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:1-11), we learn that the Corinthians at some point after receiving Paul’s challenge corrected their initial mishandling of the case involving this immoral man by properly punishing him (“this punishment, which was inflicted of many,” 2 Cor. 2:6). We also learn, however, that they subsequently mishandled this case by not properly forgiving and comforting him (2 Cor. 2:7) after he repented.

Using again his apostolic authority, Paul exhorted the Corinthians to correct their subsequent mishandling of this case by confirming their love toward him (2 Cor. 2:8). Paul explained that their obedience to this directive about their forgiving him was directly tied to his forgiving him for their sakes “in the person of Christ” (2 Cor. 9-10).

Who Needs to Forgive Josh Duggar?

Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about their dealings with this horrible case of incest among themselves shows that it was not true that the only people who needed to forgive this immoral man for what he had done was the one with whom he had committed immorality. According to this divine revelation, the entire church at Corinth needed to forgive this man, as also Paul did.

Applying this teaching to the current situation with Josh Duggar, we understand that other believers besides his victims must also forgive and comfort Josh Duggar. They must also confirm their love toward him.

A failure to do so puts him at risk of being “swallowed up with overmuch sorrow” (2 Cor. 2:7). It also puts all believers at risk of Satan’s gaining an advantage of us (2 Cor. 2:11).

Conclusion

Certainly, what Josh Duggar did when he was a young teenager was reprehensible, and we must not condone his actions in any way. Applying Pauline teaching about forgiveness in First and Second Corinthians to his case does not lessen the need for proper care of those whom he victimized.

Having said that, based on what I have read being said by some people concerning forgiving Josh Duggar, it is vital that we do heed what Scripture teaches about forgiveness and how that teaching applies to the issue of who should forgive him. It is not true that the only people who need to forgive him are the ones whom he victimized—other believers must also forgive him, comfort him, and confirm their love toward him.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Discipleship, Exposition, Theology
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On the Transmission of Information from Adam to Abraham

May 25, 2015

Genealogical information about our families is something that probably greatly interests most of us. Based on a careful analysis and correlation of the genealogical information provided in Genesis 5 and 11, we learn some vital information through our determining which men were contemporaries among our first forefathers from Adam to Abraham and for how long.

Contemporaries from Adam to Noah

Adam and Methuselah were contemporaries for 243 years (687-930 AA).1 Adam and Lamech were contemporaries for 56 years (874-930 AA). Both Methuselah and Lamech, therefore, had extensive opportunities to get eyewitness information from Adam about what took place after he was created!

Methuselah and Lamech were contemporaries for 777 years (874-1651 AA). If only one of these men ever actually took the opportunity to visit with Adam and hear as much as they could from him, he would have had a vast amount of time to share it with the other.

Noah and Methuselah were contemporaries for 600 years (1056-1656 AA). Noah and Lamech were contemporaries for 595 years (1056-1651 AA). Noah thus had more than half a millennium to meet with either Methuselah or Lamech or both and get information from them that they had gotten directly from Adam.

Methuselah became the oldest man alive when Jared died in 1422 AA at the age of 962. For the next 234 years (1422-1656 AA), Methuselah was the oldest man alive. When Methuselah died in 1656 AA, which was also the year the Flood took place, Noah became the oldest man alive (600 years of age).

Contemporaries from Noah to Abraham

After the Flood, Noah was the oldest man alive for the last 350 years of his life (1656-2006 AA), and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth were the next oldest men living during their remaining lifetimes.

From 1878-1996 AA, Noah, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, and Terah were all contemporaries. After Peleg died in 1996 AA, Nahor died in 1997 AA.

From 1997 until the death of Noah in 2006 AA, Noah, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, and Terah were contemporaries. After Abraham was born in 2008 AA, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah, and Abraham were contemporaries for 18 years (until Reu died in 2026 AA)!

Eber was still alive when Abraham died in 2183 AA.

Direct Transmission of Eyewitness Information from Adam to Abraham

Based on the preceding analysis, we learn that Noah readily could have gotten information that was received directly from Adam via either Methuselah or Lamech or both. In turn, Noah would have had opportunities to transmit that information personally to at least one of his sons from each of the nine generations after him!

Direct transmission of eyewitness information from Adam to Abraham through Noah and either Methuselah or Lamech or both and then through any one or more of 7 descendants of Noah (Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah) thus was entirely possible!

Given the immense importance of such information, and the great value that we as human beings place on meeting our forefathers at least once while they are living and having them tell us about their lives, we can be almost certain that direct transmission of vital eyewitness information took place from Adam to Methuselah and Lamech to Noah to Terah to Abraham!

 

1 AA means “after Adam” and denotes the number of years after the creation of Adam.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Exposition, Theology
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Did God Curse Adam and Eve After They Fell?

May 16, 2015

Genesis 3 records God’s judgments upon the serpent, Adam, and Eve for their roles and actions that led to the Fall of Adam and Eve. Genesis 4 then records how God judged Cain for murdering his brother Abel.

In rendering these judgments, Scripture records that God used the word “cursed” in the following statements in Genesis 3 and 4:

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Gen 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;

These verses show that God cursed the serpent and He cursed Cain, but Scripture does not say (at least directly) in Genesis 3 that God cursed Adam (or Eve)—God told Adam that the ground, and not he (or Eve), was cursed for his sake (Gen. 3:17). Does the fact that Scripture does not directly say here that God cursed Adam and Eve mean that He in fact did not curse them after they fell?

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Interpretation, Theology
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How 2 Kings 10:29-33 Provides Vital Instruction for Fundamentalists

May 10, 2015

Some fundamentalists who rightly insist on the importance of biblical separation have allowed certain aspects of that teaching to govern their thinking in a way that causes them not to be fully God-like in their perspectives about and dealings with those from whom they separate. Second Kings 10:29-33 provides vital instruction to all believers that reveals what their perspectives and actions should be in such situations.

The Mixed Record of the Life of King Jehu

God anointed Jehu to be king over Israel and commanded him to execute God’s vengeance on the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:6-10). The author of Second Kings chronicles at length how Jehu faithfully rendered that judgment on Ahab (2 Kings 9:11-10:17).

Jehu then “destroyed Baal out of Israel” (2 Kings 10:18-28). He displayed incredible zeal for God in eradicating the worship of Baal in this manner.

Remarkably, however, Scripture then records that Jehu did not depart from the sins of Jereboam (2 Kings 10:29, 31)! The biblical record of the life of King Jehu thus is a mixed record detailing the life of one who was very zealous for God in certain respects but also very sinful in other respects.

God’s Commendation of Certain Actions of Jehu in spite of Jehu’s Great Wickedness in Other Respects

Despite Jehu’s great sinfulness in continuing in the sins of Jereboam, Scripture records that God yet commended (and rewarded) him for the right things that he had done:

2Ki 10:30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

This remarkable commendation from God is especially noteworthy because it is sandwiched between two statements of the great sinfulness of Jehu (2 Kings 10:29, 31) and is followed by the record of how God judged Israel for its continuing sinfulness (2 Kings 10:32-33).

How God Instructs Fundamentalists through 2 Kings 10:29-33 

The biblical record of the mixed nature of Jehu’s life provides vital instruction to believers in at least two important ways. On the one hand, although Jehu had done well in serving God in certain respects, God yet recorded how Jehu was very sinful in other respects.

God also chastened him and his nation for their sinfulness. Fundamentalists should thus learn that it is God-like to point out the sinfulness of those from whom they separate—even if those from whom they separate are greatly serving God in some respects.

On the other hand, however, even though Jehu was horrifically sinful in following in the sins of Jeroboam, God still commended Jehu for what he had done well and even rewarded him for his faithfulness in doing what God had commissioned him to do concerning the house of Ahab. Fundamentalists should learn from this facet of the record of Jehu’s life that being God-like in our dealings with those we separate from also includes properly commending them for the right things that they have done in their service for God.

Conclusion

In separating from other believers, fundamentalist must be God-like by pointing out the great sinfulness of those believers and by properly commending them for whatever true good they have done for the cause of Christ. Doing so, fundamentalists will be God-like, just as the record of God’s dealings with Jehu teaches.1

 

1 They will also be like Christ, who both called attention to the sinfulness of those who were in His churches and commended them for whatever good aspects there were to their lives (Rev. 2-3).

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Discipleship, Interpretation, Theology
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What Does Hebrews 9:23 Teach?

May 6, 2015

Reading Hebrews 9:23 again yesterday morning, I was again struck with how the verse reads:

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

What does it mean that “the heavenly things themselves [had to be purified] with better sacrifices than these”? Does it mean that heaven (where God dwells, not the sky or even outer space) had to be purified?

Certainly, human sin, starting with the sins of Adam and Eve, is incapable of defiling heaven. If this verse is teaching that heaven had to be purified, it would have to be saying so because it had been defiled not by any sin or sins of mankind but by the sinning of Satan and the angels that fell with him.

Do you think that this is the correct understanding of what Hebrews 9:23 teaches?

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Interpretation
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A Widespread, False Assertion about Corinthian Prostitutes and Paul’s Teaching about Head Coverings

April 18, 2015

Have you ever heard that Paul taught the Corinthians that it was shameful for women to cut their hair short or shave their heads because that was what the prostitutes in Corinth did? Pastor Minnick recently pointed out that Gordon Fee, who is a highly devoted egalitarian, wrote in his standard commentary on First Corinthians that there is zero historical evidence for that idea!

Here is what Fee has written about this very widespread false explanation for why Paul wrote what he did:

“It was commonly suggested that short hair or a shaved head was the mark of Corinthian prostitutes . . . But there is no contemporary evidence to support this view (it seems to be a case of one scholar’s guess becoming a second scholar’s footnote and a third scholar’s assumption).”1

The apostle Paul did not teach what he did in 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 because Corinthian prostitutes cut their hair short or shaved their heads. For a superb treatment of why Paul did teach what he did about head coverings and much more, I encourage you to listen closely to this recent message by Pastor Minnick: Harmonizing 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14.2

1 Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians in NICNT, 511

2 For clear biblical evidence that shows that Paul is speaking about an external head covering, see my post Haman, Head Coverings, and First Corinthians 11:1-16.

See also Why Christian Women Should Have Long Hair

What Is Hair as the Hair of Women?

Does God Care about the Length of Hair a Christian Man Has?

The Teaching of “Nature” (1 Cor. 11:14-15)

 

 

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Interpretation, Mount Calvary Baptist Pulpit, Quotes
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How a Noteworthy Statement by King Solomon Helps Put Certain Limitations in a Right Perspective

April 13, 2015

First Kings 4:29-34 highlights the surpassing greatness of the wisdom that God gave King Solomon:

1Ki 4:29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

 30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

 32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

 33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

These breathtaking statements relate the remarkable breadth and depth of wisdom that God gave to King Solomon.

In the very next chapter, however, we read that King Solomon sought out the services of Hiram king of Tyre to render necessary service for the building of a house for God’s name (1 Kings 5:1-6). In fact, Solomon himself declared that the Sidonians were uniquely skilled in a way that none of the Israelites was:

1Ki 5:6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

From this statement by Solomon himself, we learn that the superlative wisdom that God gave Solomon did not extend to the skill of cutting timber!

The greatness of Solomon’s wisdom, therefore, included the skill of discerning what areas he (and all the others around him) was not especially gifted at and the skill of accurately assessing who had the skills that he himself lacked. From this noteworthy statement by King Solomon, we should learn that an important facet of living our lives wisely to the do the will of God in our lives is to recognize what areas God has not gifted us in and to avail ourselves freely of the services of those whom He has gifted in those ways.

Moreover, we should not feel that we are somehow stupid or unmanly or lacking if we are not able to do some specific tasks well, as many others may be able to do them. If someone who was so immensely gifted supernaturally by God as Solomon was yet lacked a high degree of a specific skill involving manual labor, we who have not been directly blessed by God to any degree comparable to what Solomon was have no need to feel ashamed or inadequate because we are not particularly skillful in doing certain or even many manual tasks well!

 

 

 

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Discipleship, Exposition
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A Key Distinction That Many Believers May Be Missing

April 9, 2015

In their thinking about human sinfulness, many believers may often be missing a key distinction that Scripture repeatedly makes in both Testaments between two major categories of sins:

1. Samuel the prophet rebuked King Saul for his disobedience with instruction that distinguished between the sin of witchcraft/divination and the sin of idolatry:

KJV 1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

NAS 1Sa 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.”

2. The author of Second Chronicles relates the horrific sinfulness of king Manasseh by speaking of his idolatry (2 Chron. 33:3-5 and 33:7) in distinction from his involvement with occult practices (2 Chron. 33:6):

KJV 2Ch 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

NAS 2Ch 33:3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he also erected altars for the Baals and made Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

KJV 2Ch 33:4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

NAS 2Ch 33:4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD of which the LORD had said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”

KJV 2Ch 33:5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

NAS 2Ch 33:5 For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

KJV 2Ch 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

NAS 2Ch 33:6 And he made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

KJV 2Ch 33:7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

NAS 2Ch 33:7 Then he put the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;

3. When Paul the Apostle lists various works of the flesh, he distinguishes between idolatry (Gal. 5:20) and witchcraft/sorcery (Gal. 5:20):

KJV Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

NAS Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

KJV Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

NAS Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

4. The apostle John likewise distinguishes the worship of demons and idolatry (Rev. 9:20) from sorceries (Rev. 9:21):

KJV Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

NAS Rev 9:20 And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;

KJV Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

NAS Rev 9:21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

These four passages that are from both Testaments (as well as other passages) teach us plainly that we must not think of idolatry and occult practices as if they were basically the same sin. In our consideration, therefore, of cultural issues that are hotly debated among believers, such as the propriety of using rock music for Christian worship, we must be careful not to lump idolatry and the occult together.

This distinction is vital to keep in mind because the disputed teaching in passages that speak about idolatry, such as 1 Corinthians 8-11, does not apply to instances of cultural issues that involve contact with the occult. Those who argue that eating meat offered to idols is no problem for Christians when that meat is eaten outside of the context of actual idol worship cannot legitimately extend that teaching to say that Christian use of things associated with occult practices are similarly not a problem for believers outside their use in actual occult practices.

Scripture categorically forbids believers from having any contact with the occult and its practitioners. None of the passages typically cited in discussions of Christian liberty apply to Christian contact with the occult and things associated with the occult, and believers must shun all such contact.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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