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Many preachers have quoted the words "you all speak the same thing" that many translations
have in verse 10 in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, and then they have claimed that
they (the preacher) are to decide what that "thing" is, what should be considered
to be "truth". In short: They have demanded people to follow men and their teachings.
But, what is the meaning of those words in 1 Corinthians 1:10, "all speak the same thing" – what did the apostle Paul mean? What was the context, and was he talking about? The way the 1769 KJ version renders that verse, makes it very easy to misunderstand, for the casual reader. This essay takes a closer look at 1 Corinthians 1, in order to find out what the apostle really meant.
It is always important to check the context. Here is the 1769 KJ version text, with some of the context:
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (KJV-1769)
(In verse 10, the Greek wording behind the translation "all speak the same thing" is to auto legête pantes; there is more on this below.)
So, the context shows that Paul did not want those believers to follow men. His point was that if they started following men, that would lead to division. But, some preachers have taken the words "all speak the same thing" that many English translations have in verse 10, out of their context, and claimed them to mean that all (the members of the preacher's church) must "speak the same thing", that is, must repeat as "truth" whatever the preacher or "clergy" or the "main leader" has decided to be "correct". In other words: Many preachers have claimed that they have a "right" to decide for others what is right and what is wrong, and that the others, supposedly, must "submit" to their interpretation, whatever it happens to be. Thus, 1 Corinthians 1:10 has been used to defend the practice of having dogmas or creeds and to claim that "lay" members are not even to discuss the Bible with each other but must leave that book to the "clergy" and have them "interpret" it, without questioning things.
The following takes a closer look at what Paul actually may have been talking about.
(The essay es07c.htm has more on the concepts "professional theologians", "amateur bible students", "clergy", "laity" and "scholar". The essay es06d.htm considers who really has biblical, spiritual or religious "authority". The essay es08c.htm has more on the word and concept "doctrine".)
In order to find out what the apostle Paul really meant, it is wise to check the Greek text. The Greek wording of the relevant part of that verse is as follows, here transcribed into the English alphabet:
Parakalô de humas adelphoi dia tou onomatos tou Kuriou hêmôn Iêsou Christou hina to auto legête pantes kai mê ê en humin schismata (BYZ)
With word translations:
Parakalô de humas adelphoi [now I exhort you brothers] dia tou onomatos tou Kuriou hêmôn Iêsou Christou [by the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed] hina to auto legête pantes [that you all speak the same [1] kai mê ê en humin schismata [and/so (that) there should not be divisions among you]
[1] The 1769 KJ version adds here the word "thing", but the Greek word in question, auto (autos), did not have any such meaning in and by itself. Autos meant more like "the same" or "self" (for instance, "himself"). It is always the context that shows what autos actually points to. The NAS Greek Lexicon gives this definition for the word autos:
an intensive pron., a prim. word; (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the third pers. pron.) (3) the same
Even the KJ version (1769) translated autos around 1952 times as "him" and some 1084 times as "his" (and about 80 times as "same", and more than 1600 times in other, miscellaneous ways).
The question regarding the phrase hina to auto legête pantes in 1 Corinthians 1:10 is, what did the words to auto refer to in this case – to some thing (such as doctrines defined by some church or preacher), or to him (Jesus whom the context talks about)? Verses 9 and 10 talk about Lord Jesus, and about the saints' association with him. Then, verse 12 shows that some of the believers in Corinth had begun to follow men or look up to men, each their own "teacher", instead of all looking up to Jesus and following him and his teachings. Paul told them that that was wrong.
In short: It is quite clear that Paul's meaning was that they all were to follow Jesus and not some man, and that they all were to speak (or talk about) Jesus and Jesus' teachings, and not about some man or what some man has said. Obviously, the meaning must have been "all speak [2] the same Lord", or, "all speak the same Lord", the pronoun autos in verse 10 referring back to the immediately preceding words tou onomatos tou Kuriou hêmôn Iêsou Christou, "the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed".
"Now, I exhort you brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, that you all speak [2] the same [the same name, or the same Lord], so that there will not be divisions among you."
[2] "Speak" – in the Greek text the verb was legête [legô] which had many different meanings and uses. Here, Paul might have meant "call", "put forth", "affirm" or something similar – obviously in reference to tou onomatos tou Kuriou hêmon Iêsou Christou, "the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed", in that same verse. In other words: The saints were all to legô ("call", "put forth", "affirm") Jesus and Jesus' name, and not any other person or name.
A side-note: Some have argued about the Greek definite article to which in verse 10 appears with auto (autos). (The phrase was to auto legête pantes, "all speak the same" [the same Lord, or the same name].) Some have claimed that "the definite article to is in the neuter form, and cannot refer to Jesus". But even in the immediate context we find that same article two more times in its (genitive) neuter form tou, in the phrase tou onomatos tou Kuriou hêmon Iêsou Christou, "the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed". There, the two tou articles point to Jesus' name and to the Lord Jesus himself. It is obvious that in the phrase to auto legête pantes, the article to refers back to the immediately preceding phrase tou onomatos tou Kuriou hêmon Iêsou Christou. In other words: The phrase to auto legête pantes refers to either to the Lord Jesus or to his name, or to both.
Churches and preachers create doctrines (teachings of men) and demand people to follow them (to follow men – some church or preacher and their teachings), but the Bible does not condone the manner of following men. Nor does the Bible condone the manner of following "doctrines" (or "tenets" or "dogmas" or "creeds") – such things are always created by men and consist of teachings of men. The essay es08c.htm has more on this. See also the essay em03c.htm which shows how bible-translations have twisted things and made it seem that the apostle Paul supposedly told some saints "to follow him". A study of the Greek text of the New Testament shows that Paul did not tell others to "follow him as a leader". He condemned the concept of following some mortal "master" or "teacher". In such passages as 1 Corinthians 4:16 and 11:1, Philippians 3:17 and 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (and 2 Thessalonians 3:7 and 9), the Greek text talks about imitating. Paul told the saints to imitate the example that he and his fellows set forth, for others to imitate, in regard to a certain specific matter. But, many preachers do not want people to know what that example was. The essay em03c.htm shows why that is so.
Also, consider Jesus' clear words to his disciples:
Matthew 23:8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 "And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. (NASB-77)
Even though that was something Jesus said to those disciples and not to anyone in our day, it is clear that even believers of our day certainly take note of that instruction.
A note: Some have twisted even such passages as Matthew 23:8-10 and its context, into talk about "servant leadership". (That phrase and concept was invented around 1970.) The essay ee03c.htm has more on that matter.
In the Greek text of 1 Corinthians 3:3 we find that Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth, ouxi sarkikoi este kai kata anthrôpon peripateite, "are you not carnal and walk according to man?" (A note: The most common meaning of kata was "according to" or "after".)
Many bible-translators have not been able (or allowed) to give the true meaning of the passage in question. After all, most churches want people to follow men. For that reason, their bible-translators choose their words, so that they in one way or another make it seem that people should follow "ministers" or something similar. But, Paul was not talking about "ministers". Let us read the passage in question, as the World English Bible has it:
1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly? 5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? (WEB19Aug08)
Clearly, even her Paul was telling the saints and believers in Corinth – his whole point was – that they were not to follow men or their teachings. He told them that it was carnal to follow men. Instead, they were to follow Jesus and Jesus' teachings.
Again, a note: Many preachers have quoted certain translations of Paul's letters, and claimed that Paul supposedly told people to follow him, as some kind of a "leader". But, all that is based on twisted translations. The Greek text of the passages in question does not talk about following Paul or anyone. What Paul actually did was that he told all to imitate his example in regard to a certain specific matter. The thing to know is what that example really was. The essay em03c.htm has more on this and shows why many preachers are quiet about that example and do not even want to mention it.
Now it is true that Paul wrote those things to those believers in Corinth, and not to anyone in our day. But the same instruction, that believers must not follow men or men's teachings, is applicable even in our day. That is what Paul warned the believers in Corinth about. 1 Corinthians 3:3 records how Paul, in effect, mocked certain ones in Corinth and said to them, "you are carnal, because you are following men".
Regarding our day: Jesus has no vicars or "deputies" here on Earth. (The Latin noun vicarius means "substitute", "deputy", "proxy", "vicegerent".) This means that creeds are wrong, because creeds are written by men and always consist of teachings of men. However, there is one particular "creed" that believers can follow: The Bible. That is the only "creed" believers are to have. (But even then, one must understand that all translations of the Bible are made by men, and have errors and bias and even purposely twisted things. Consequently, no translation must be followed as a "creed", either. Add to that: Even the different Hebrew and Greek manuscripts have variants. For information on bible study and proper tools for it, see the pages es01d.htm and es02c.htm. For keys to better and deeper understanding of the Scriptures, see the essay eg02c.htm.)
We read:
1 Corinthians 3:5 What, I ask, is Apollos? or what is Paul? Servants through whom you were led to accept the Faith; and that only as the Lord helped each of you. (20CNT, comment added)
1 Corinthians 3:5 Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we're only servants [Greek, diakonoi]. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. (NLT-96, comment added)
A note: Here, the Greek word which was translated as "servant", was diakonos. It is important to understand that in the New Testament, the word diakonos was commonly used of elders. Not of "deacons" but of elders. The old Latin word minister had that same meaning as the Greek diakonos – "an attendant", "an aider", "a servant". But, churches and preachers have changed that to something very different.
The fact that the word diakonos meant "an attendant", "an aider", "a servant", gives the tone and meaning of what Paul was talking about. He emphasised that matter later in that same letter:
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your slaves for the sake of Jesus. (LIT, highlighting added)
Here, Paul used the word doulos which literally meant "a bound one", in the meaning "a slave".
A note: This part is included here only because there are preachers who twist 1 Corinthians 1:10 and demand people to follow and obey men (preachers) and their teachings. Some of them have even claimed, by the help of certain misleading bible-translations, that they supposedly are "rulers". But, believers are to have only one Ruler, Master, Saviour, Teacher and Lord: Jesus. Remember also Matthew 23:8-10 which was quoted earlier in this essay.
Consider what Jesus said to his disciples:
Matthew 20:24 And when it came to the ears of the ten, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus said to them, You see that the rulers of the Gentiles are lords over them, and their great ones have authority over them. 26 Let it not be so among you: but if anyone has a desire to become great among you, let him be your servant; 27 And whoever has a desire to be first among you, let him take the lowest place (BBE)
Mark 9:33 And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house, he put the question to them, What were you talking about on the way? 34 But they said nothing: because they had had an argument between themselves on the way, about who was the greatest. 35 And seating himself, he made the twelve come to him; and he said to them, If any man has the desire to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all. (BBE)
Again, a note: Some have twisted even those things, into talk about "servant leadership". (That phrase and concept was invented around 1970.) The essay ee03c.htm sorts out that matter.
Verse 10 records that the apostle Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth about being joined together, being perfected in understanding of the true ways. That is very much worth looking at, and there is also the question, what caused the division among them?
1 Corinthians 1:10 [...] that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (AKJV)
Here, the Greek verb behind the translation "being joined together" was katartizô (katêrtismenoi) which could refer to such things as mending broken fishing nets (repairing, "restoring" them; see Matthew 4:21). Luke 6:40 has an example of a different use of katartizô; Jesus said that a disciple is to become "perfect" (katêrtismenos) in his knowledge, just as his teacher is.
When Paul used the word katêrtismenoi (1 Corinthians 1:10), he either spoke about "perfecting understanding" – or about the believers being "restored together".
There is that possible aspect of restoration also. Consider the old Greek words katartistêr which meant such things "a mediator" and "one who restores" and katartismos which meant "restoration" and "reconciliation". So, perhaps Paul's meaning was, "be all restored to the same mind", or simply that the believers and saints were to be restored back to unity in Jesus. Obviously, that was acutely needed, because the believers in Corinth had come to be divided: Some of them had begun to follow men, instead of following Jesus.
That way of viewing the matter gives more meaning to Paul's use of the word schisma in that same verse. Schisma meant "a cleavage" ("a cleft", "a split"), such as a rent in a fisher's net that needs to be repaired. Schisma could also mean "division", so there was an analogy, a double meaning. (And again: The word katartizô in that verse could be used of mending nets, as well as of other types of joining or restoring.)
The noun schisma was related to the verb schizô which meant "to cleave (apart)", "to split". Perhaps Paul used the metaphor of repairing a fisher's net which had been rent in pieces and needed to be put together again. That would have been an analogy of how the situation in Corinth was, because some of the believers in Corinth had begun following men, each their own "teacher", instead of all together following Jesus and his teachings.
Again, Jesus said to his disciples:
Matthew 23:8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 "And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. (NASB-77)
But, what we see today is something very different. The Catholic Church changed those things to something that is diametrically opposed to what Jesus said. Other churches have then copied the Catholic ways.
A note: In old Latin, the language of the Catholic Church, the word doctrina meant "teaching". The related word doctor meant "a teacher". Keep this in mind, and read Matthew 23:8-10 yet one more time, with care.
Matthew 23:8-10 contains something Jesus said to his disciples and not to anyone in our day, but even today, believers must have only one "Doctor": Jesus. That is, when it comes to biblical and religious matters. Again, "Doctor" means "Teacher".
For more on such religious titles as Doctor, see the essay ea08b.htm. For more on the concept of having "doctrines", see the essay es08c.htm.
Let us read something the apostle Paul wrote to the saints and believers in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. (NKJV)
2 Corinthians 1:24 I do not mean that we are to dictate to you with regard to your faith; on the contrary, we work with you for your true happiness; indeed, it is through your faith that you are standing firm. (20CNT)
Despite this and many other clear passages, some have divided people into "laity" and "clergy", and claimed that "lay people" supposedly must not try to understand the Bible but need an "interpreter" and a (religious or spiritual) "leader". They have claimed that people supposedly must follow and obey men (a "clergy") and the teachings (doctrines, dogmas, creeds) of that "clergy".
It is important to understand that the words "lay", "laity" and "clergy", and the act of dividing people into a "laity" ("common people") and a "clergy" ("priesthood"), are not biblical. The English word "laity" comes from the Greek adjective laikos ("of the people", "common"), with the related verb laikoô, "to make common", "to desecrate". Thus, any member of some "clergy" who calls people "laity", is actually calling them "common" (that is, "unclean", "vulgar" or similar). The essay es07c.htm has more on this. As to the concept of "hierarchies" – look under the heading "Hierarchy" on the index-page keyw-h3.htm. The essay ea08b.htm has more on religious titles.
A note: The Pharisees viewed themselves as "superior", and despised others (see Luke 18:9 with context). The essay eo12c.htm has more on the Pharisees.
The essay eo12c.htm has more on Matthew 23:2 and "Moses' seat". It shows that the point was that the Pharisees had "seated themselves" (had manipulated themselves into a power position), as if they sat in some "seat of Moses". But, they had no such "seat", of course. Jesus warned people regarding the Pharisees and noted that their teachings were deadly. Again, the essay eo12c.htm for more on this, but in short:
There is only one person who "sits in a seat of Moses" today:
Acts 3:22 "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 'And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' (NKJV, highlighting added)
Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 "according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.' 17 "And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. 18 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20 'But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' (NKJV, highlighting added)
Despite that and other just as clear passages, some preachers have built pyramid-formed power structures where they themselves sit on the top and "rule" over others. "The Lord", they have said, "is the last stone on their pyramid, on the top, to be laid last – later." Those pyramid-builders have claimed that "until then", they "reign in Jesus' stead".
But, the Bible plainly states that Jesus is the first stone of the foundation, and the beginning of God's spiritual "house" (dwelling), and not some "cap-stone" of a power-pyramid of the Freemason kind. The essay ea05c.htm has more on the foundation stone matter, but let us read something the apostle Paul wrote:
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
Those words are in harmony with that epistle's "chapter 1", and in fact further explain the meaning of verse 10 in chapter 1. Yes, the apostles are in a certain passage described as "pillars", but that is regarding the true apostles, and, that is not about things here on Earth. Those words referred to a "building" in Heaven.
A note: Jesus has neither apostles nor "special representatives" here on Earth today. The essays ee01c.htm and ee02b.htm have more on this. The essay eb08c.htm has more on "the keys of the Reign of Heaven" and the "binding and loosing" which are mentioned in Matthew 16:19.
Matthew 24:5 for many will assume my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah'; and will deceive many. (Dia-BW)
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (AKJV)
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (AKJV)
It is true that Jesus spoke those words to his disciples, people who lived here on Earth in the first century, and not to people of our day. But, there is a lesson in that even for our day. Even today, there are many false apostles and other deceivers. Believers must build on Jesus and what he says, not on men or on their teachings. Remember what Jesus said to his disciples (Matthew 23:8-10): "One alone is your Teacher, and you are all brothers", and also, "one is your Leader, the Anointed".
Jesus is God's Anointed (in Greek ho Christos, in Hebrew ha-Mashiyach), not anyone else. But, of course, there are many false "Anointed ones". Jesus warned his disciples about such deceivers and told them that they would seduce and deceive the many. That happened. In our day, things are even worse.
The essay eo09e.htm has more on how Jesus warned his disciples about deceivers.
The apostle John wrote to a certain woman and her children:
2 John 9 Anyone who transgresses and does not abide in the Anointed's teaching, does not have God. He who abides in the Anointed's teaching, has the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you but does not bear that teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not even greet him. (Author's tr.)
A note: Unfortunately, most bible-versions confuse things with their translation of 2 John 9 and 10, just as they do in 1 Corinthians 1:10.
John obviously meant that if someone did not abide in Jesus' teachings (2 John 9) but instead introduced his own teachings (doctrines [3]), and thus made himself "Rabbi" or "Teacher" [4], then the saints were to deny fellowship to such a man and avoid him and not even greet him. That is really what 1 Corinthians 1:10 is also about – Paul chastised certain people in Corinth because they had begun following men and their teachings, instead of following Jesus and Jesus' teachings.
The essay ea10c.htm takes a look at what kind of persons the saints were told to mark and avoid and deny fellowship to.
[3] [4] The word "doctrine" means "teaching", from the old Latin noun doctor, "teacher", and the verb doceo, "to teach". Regarding the concept of having "doctrines", see the essay es08c.htm. For more on such religious titles as Doctor ("doctor of theology"), see the essay ea08b.htm.
Table of contents – What's new here? – Key-word index – Search function – Goal and purpose – Contact, comment, question
If this page did not contain what you were looking for, see the links below, and the key-word index and the table of contents, or use the search function.
Additional reading at the Bible Pages, on related as well as other issues:
A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
What does the Bible say about authority? Who has biblical, spiritual or religious authority on the mundane, human level? Who can speak for God? Knowing the answers to those questions is a vital key to understanding the Bible in a better and deeper way. → es06d.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
"Amateur bible students" versus "professional theologians". Some preachers have spitefully called people who actively study the Bible on their own, "amateur theologians". Indeed, many a clergyman seems to feel that a layman should not put his or her nose into theological studies but should rather leave those things to "experts". But, is that correct? This treatise sorts out that matter, and clarifies and explains in layman's terms the linguistic and historical background of the concepts "clergymen" and "laymen", and gives the definition and actual meaning of such words as "clergy", "laity", "scholar" and "scholarly". → es07c.htm
Colossians 2:16-17, "Let no man therefore judge you". What was Paul really talking about? → eo07d.htm
What does the English language word and concept "doctrine" literally mean? Likewise, the terms "dogma", "creed" and "tenet", what do they signify? Countless preachers and doctors of theology compile dogmas, creeds, tenets and doctrinal statements of beliefs, and claim them to be "the Truth". But, they do not agree with each other. Their opinions and teachings differ, depending on their denomination and its viewpoints, and there is much confusion. So, the pertinent question is, who has the "true doctrines" or "correct dogmas"? What should one think – do the Scriptures give any guidance regarding this matter? What does the Bible say about "doctrine"? → es08c.htm
On the example the apostle Paul set, for others to imitate. Paul did not tell people to "follow him as a leader"; what he did was that he told the saints to imitate him, to copy his example. It is important for believers to know what kind of example Paul referred to and meant, and in what connection. → em03c.htm
Is "servant leadership" a biblical concept? Did elders in the saints' fellowships act as "servant leaders"? What the Bible says about leadership among Jesus' disciples. → ee03c.htm
How to study the Bible in a deeper way. Some simple guidelines and notes on study methods. Also, advice and information on easily available practical study helps and useful modern-day tools and resources which, on top of many other things, can help one to view and translate the Hebrew OT and Greek NT texts. → es01d.htm
How to understand the Bible. Easy keys to interpreting and understanding Scripture in a better and deeper way, by avoiding certain fundamental but common mistakes and errors in bible study. These vital keys are really the basics for objective bible study. Knowing these keys will make many things easier to interpret and comprehend, and one will see several central matters in the Bible from a new and different perspective, especially in connection with the Gospels and the Epistles. → eg02c.htm
For real and thorough in-depth study and exegesis of the Scriptures, an interlinear bible with Strong's numbers and a concordance with a lexicon and bible commentaries are not good enough; a computer bible is needed. Some facts and recommendations regarding bible study suites for computers, including tools for word search, word study and adding and editing your own electronic marginal notes verse for verse, tools for studying the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and the Greek text of the New Testament, and links for download of bible software (both free and commercial). → es02c.htm
What the Bible says about titles of men in the religious context. A few comments regarding certain ecclesiastical titles, such as apostle, bishop, deacon, doctor of theology, evangelist, father, minister, pastor, priest, prophet, reverend, and so on. → ea08b.htm
What does the Bible say about elders? What was their role in the saints' fellowships? Also, was there a "hierarchy" with "ranks"? → ee01c.htm
Is Jesus "a cap-stone on top of a pyramid" as some have claimed, or is he, as the Bible says, the main corner-stone of the foundation of God's spiritual house or dwelling? → ea05c.htm
Jesus warned his disciples about false prophets, teachers of falsehood, deceivers and deception. He said that many would be deceived. → eo09e.htm
What does the Bible say about ordaining and ordination? In other words: How did the saints appoint or choose their elders? And, were those elders "ordained", and did they function as "priests" of some kind? → ee02b.htm
What does the Bible say about the Pharisees? Also, why did Jesus call them vipers, snakes and actors? → eo12c.htm
On Jesus' teaching regarding "the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" or "the keys of the Reign of Heaven". What did the word "keys" depict or symbolise? What is the interpretation of that passage – what was it that Jesus was saying to his disciples? Bible study notes on Matthew 16 verse 19, with context. Also, a general overview and comments on the subject of "binding and loosing". → eb08c.htm
What the Bible says about excommunication, marking and avoiding. Additionally, some notes on the words and concepts "heresy" and "heretic". → ea10c.htm
Whom should one listen to in biblical matters, and whom not? → es05c.htm
Essays regarding various matters in connection with religious fellowships. → keyw-a4.htm (Look under the heading "Assembly".)
Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". What was Jesus talking about? What is the immortal assembly or ekklêsia which he said he would form, and where is it located? Is it an earthly religious organisation in this world – a church – or is it a heavenly assembly that has as its members the saints who have become immortals? → ea01d.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
Power among Jesus' disciples. What powers were given to the apostles, and to the saints in general? Also: Did the apostle Peter receive some special powers? → ea09b.htm
Were the saints "ruled" by elders, as some have claimed? On Hebrews 13:7 and 17 and a number of other passages. → ee04c.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
What does the word "righteous" really mean? What does the Bible say about righteousness? → eg08b.htm
Church eras – do they exist? Are there seven "eras of the Church", as some have claimed – "Sardis era", "Philadelphian era", "Laodicean era" and so on? Is there any biblical basis for that dogma? The question in a nutshell: The seven assemblies mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3 – were they contemporary assemblies of saints in the days of John (as the book of Revelation describes them), or are they, as some have claimed, successive "eras of the Church of God" that exist in later times and continue to our day? → ea03d.htm
What does the word "faith" mean? What is true faith? On the words and concepts "faith", "faithfulness", "believe" and "believing", in the Bible and especially in the New Testament, and what those things meant in the saints' lives. → eb10b.htm
What does the Bible say about the antichrist or antichrists? The meaning of the Greek word antichristos. Also: The apostle John spoke about multiple antichristoi, plural, not a singular one only. → eo02d.htm
The apostle Paul and his teachings. Notes regarding certain passages in Paul's letters and in the book of Acts. → eo11b.htm
Info on the goal and purpose of this site, and a contact address.
→
purpose.htm
Table of contents for this site, including a synopsis or a short, summary description
of each essay or article. →
filename.htm
Search for specific words, phrases or bible passages at this site. →
search.htm
An alphabetical bible topic keyword index of the essays and articles at this site:
1-9
– A
– B
– C
– D
– E
– F
– G
– H
– I
– J
– K
– L
– M
– N
– O
– P
– Q
– R
– S
– T
– U
– V
– W
– X
– Y – Z –
Detailed index overview
If you find any of the essays or treatises at this site interesting and helpful, please provide a copy to other people as well. But before printing or distributing anything, make sure to get the very latest version, exactly as it is, directly from this web site. In regard to printable copies of these pages, for example as PDF-format papers, booklets or brochures or so – there are no specially printer friendly variants (except some bible puzzles), nor is there a need for that – simply, when you print an essay, set the margins and the text size to fit your needs and the paper you use, in the program you use for viewing these pages, and then send it to your printer. (This varies in different browsers and word processing programs. In web browsers, for setting the margin size and headers and footers, look for "Print Format" in the File menu; to set the text size for print-out, look under "Preview" or "View" in the same menu.)
Important: You are welcome to quote the documents at this site – the Bible Pages – provided that you mention the source, by giving the full web address to the page in question. Please link to these essays and give copies to friends. However, you may not re-publish any part of the contents of this site, as a booklet, brochure or on the Internet or in other ways, without a permission from the author; he retains the copyright. For more on copying and quoting, and a few words about the author and his religious education and credentials, see the page purpose.htm.
The essays at this site are not in "bible lesson" or "bible study course" format, nor are they meant as on-line "bible study classes" of some kind. Even though this site gives ready answers to biblical questions of many kinds, its main goal is providing food for thought on a variety of biblical subjects, and challenging and encouraging people to get started with deep personal bible study and then continue with that. (Many religious organisations and denominations have their bible lessons and correspondence courses; they are ready-made "studies" which are shrewdly constructed and written in such a manner that they lead the reader to conclusions that fit the dogmas of the group in question.) A careful, closer study of the books of the Bible with proper tools will help a believer to gain better and deeper biblical understanding. In that way, one will find out more about what the Bible really says, means and teaches. One can then, with wisdom, use that knowledge as a guide for one's life, instead of accepting as "biblical truths" whatever commercial religion – churches and their ministers (preachers) – have taught and want people to believe.
A more thorough, bible-based study with care and with thought will, not only help one to learn more, but also show one how many a popular belief has no scriptural basis or support but is altogether false and not biblical at all. This applies, not only to prophecy and "end time" related things, but also to many other subjects where prevailing dogmas are often taken "for granted". For this reason, it is extremely important for believers to personally study the Writings, and to thoroughly analyse them down to the smaller details, in order to find out the real facts. For doing that, it is not necessary to know the Hebrew, Greek or Latin languages (even though learning their letters and alphabet can be a good idea); there are modern, advanced tools which can help one to study in an effective way – see the pages es01d.htm and es02c.htm for more on this. The essay eg02c.htm supplies a number of easy, elementary keys to acquiring a better and deeper understanding of the Bible, simply by consciously and methodically avoiding certain usual errors and pitfalls.
This site is non-denominational and non-sectarian. It is not connected to any church, sect or religious organisation or movement. This site looks at things from a biblical perspective, and not from a dogmatic one. It does not claim to be without error or to "know it all" or to have a perfect or complete explanation to all things – it consists of an ongoing bible study that has been made public, and as the study goes on, the contents of these pages are revised and also expanded, with new topics and themes being addressed. Readers are invited and welcome to write to the author with thoughts and comments, or to ask questions or to point out a mistake if they feel that they have found one. For more on this, see the page purpose.htm.
The address to this page is www.biblepages.web.surftown.se/ea06c.htm
Please send or mention the address to this site to others, and link to these pages.
This page was created or modified 2010-02-04.