11
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:6a
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6 And [kai] before [enopion] the throne [thronos] there was a sea [thalassa] of glass [hualinos] like [homoios] unto crystal: [krustallos] and [kai] in [en] the midst [mesos] of the throne, [thronos] and [kai] round about [kuklo] the throne, [thronos] were four [tessares] beasts [zoon] full [gemo] of eyes [ophthalmos] before [emprosthen] and [kai] behind. [opisthen] KJV-Interlinear
6 and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. NASB
Thus far we have seen the steadfastness of heaven and the power and ultimate authority of God.
Johns vision continues in that concept with what appears to be a sea, stretching throughout the vast expanse of heaven, so as to fill it all.
In the scriptures, the sea has many references. To list them all would take a book. However, the sea is generally used to symbolize the nations of man, and the stormy seas, mans rebellious ways in sin. But even as the seas storm and wash out of their boundaries, they always settle back into the boundaries that God has established for them.
Man can rebel, but man has limitations placed on him and beyond those limitations, he cannot go. The stormy seas are mans restlessness and rebellion against truth and God. They are mans attempt to decide his own destiny, however, mans chosen destiny is destruction, while Gods chosen destiny for man is far better.
In heaven John saw a sea of glsss, like crystal. And, John saw this sea, before the throne, or as it were, the sea was due to the throne, it did not exist because of its own volition. It existed only because God caused it to exist.
God is truth. God is perfect righteousness and perfect justice. God is omniscient and possesses foreknowledge of all that will ever be. God is sovereign and therefore can control and cause perfect peace and happiness.
On earth, mans volition and will, causes only stormy times for everyone. Man cannot see into the future, nor can man seem to learn from the past. Arrogance and self interest seem to blind humanity in that regard.
Life in this world is difficult, disruptive, pressure filled and generally burdensome.
Life in heaven is a vast expanse of perfect peace, perfect clarity, with no counter attitudes (no lies), with no counter politics (selfish interests), with no deceit (ulterior motives), with no inordinate ambitions (arrogance).
Life on this earth is filled with mans sin nature and as such, many opinions, many agendas, many flaws. And when flawed man is in charge, then trouble is not far behind. Therefore the need for controls, checks and balances, and such, over mans corrupt nature. Without these boundaries, then humanity becomes tyrannical, chaotic, and abusive.
In heaven, all sin and all evil and all things that run counter to truth, do not exist, and that is the picture of heaven, a vast sea of calm, clarity, with nothing hidden, because there is but one opinion, which is truth. But truth is supported by several principles, and for that, we will have to wait for tomorrows study.
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10
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 5:25
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25 Likewise [hosautos] also [kai] the good [kalos] works [ergon] of some are [esti] manifest beforehand; [prodelos] and [kai] they that are [echo] otherwise [allos] cannot [ou] [dunamai] be hid. [krupto] KJV-Interlinear
25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. NASB
And conversely to the previous verse where the bad in people may be obvious for some and hidden in others, but so too, the good in some is obvious and in others the good is not so obvious.
In either situation, proper, objective and thorough investigation, and patience, will generally always result in discovering what the truth is, with regard to someone's personality, attitude, and motivations in life.
They are either playing you for a fool, or they are sincere, honest and above board in their behavior.
Spontaneous decisions usually result in trouble, whereas patient and thoughtful examination will usually result in good decisions.
In life, good decisions yield more opportunities. Bad decisions limit opportunities.
We have covered a lot of ground in 1Timothy. From the role of men and women, to preparation for the Rapture, to the qualifications for good Christian behavior.
But remember one thing, the overall subject of 1Timothy, is ‘maintaining.’
Our purpose in this life is not to settle in, to a life in this world, but to prepare ourselves for the next life. A life which will be far greater than anything that you can imagine.
And while most folks waste their lives away, with trivial matters, hobbies, and pursuits, the world and history is rapidly closing in on the next and ultimate event – the Rapture of the Church.
And though we do not know when that will occur, it is not relevant to your spiritual life, because your primary priority in life, is to grow up in your spiritual life to maturity, so that you will be ready and prepared for whatever happens, no matter when it happens.
And thus Paul in his instructions to Timothy, is speaking to each one of us as well. We are to know doctrine, through study, and then apply it to our daily life. For it is through that process that we prepare ourselves for whatever God has planned for each one of us, as well as for the world and history.
The world is in desperate need of qualified instructors. The world is in desperate need of positive students.
As attitude toward Christ and doctrine goes, so goes history.\
We have already studied the massive apostasy that will grow up at end of our own dispensation, and as to that, none of us will be able to prevent it.
However, that does not mean that we need to be a part of it, and so through a daily study we can prepare and maintain ourselves for better things, while the world slips away into a destiny that God has already fore-ordained, and therefore is inevitable.
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09
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:5
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5 And [kai] out of [ek] the throne [thronos] proceeded [ekporeuomai] lightnings [astrape] and [kai] thunderings [bronte] and [kai] voices: [phone] and [kai] there were seven [hepta] lamps [lampas] of fire [pur] burning [kaio] before [enopion] the throne, [thronos] which [hos] are [eisi] the seven [hepta] Spirits [pneuma] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
5 And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; NASB
And out of the throne, is an expression meaning, from the source of God. The throne is in heaven. Gods seat of government and power emanates from heaven, from the source of His own self.
The throne is the symbol of divine wisdom, and ultimate power, sovereignty, and authority.
And from this source, God, come lightning's and thundering’s and voices. All of these symbolize the full majesty and glory and power and authority of God and of Gods presence, Ex. 19:16, Eze. 1:13.
These things are also associated with Gods judgments, Rev. 8:5, 11:19, 16:18.
And in Johns vision we have the total picture of Gods presence, power and ultimate authority, above which there is none greater.
Voices, typically refers to noise, sounds, sayings, or languages and all in the plural. And in connection with this verse by reference to the seven lamps (outdoor torches this time), and the seven spirits (the process for spiritual growth), then these voices are the collective messages of the Word of God, or Bible doctrine.
And, there were the seven lamps. These lamps are outdoor torches, and not the same as the indoor lamps referred to earlier in chapter one. These lamps burn with bright and powerful fires.
Which, lamps, are the seven spirits. And we have already studied the seven spirits, which is a reference to the spiritual growth process as identified in Isa. 11 and Zech. 4. But this entire picture is in the present tense, making it a permanent fixture and apparatus for all of time.
God made but one thing greater than Himself, and that is Bible doctrine. For without doctrine, we would have no knowledge, nor access to God, to truth, or to a destiny in heaven. Doctrine is the lifeline by which we have life and a future to hope for.
This sevenfold representation speaks of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, reverence, and deity, in Isaiah, and in Zechariah of power, and here in our current verse of judgment.
The torches are also associated with war in Judg 7:16,20 and Nah 2:3-4.
So now what has occurred thus far in this book.
Christ was introduced, the Church was addressed. And note one more thing, the Church is a reference to us, you and me and all believers since the inception of our Church Age, all believers in our current dispensation. We are all Royalty, 1 Pet. 2:9, and we are all Ambassadors, 2 Cor. 5:20.
In ancient times and even in our current day, when a nation is about to declare war on another nation, it first recalls its ambassadors that are in that foreign nation.
And that is the picture that is being painted here. The Rapture is in effect a recall of Gods ambassadors (believers in our Church Age), and now war is being declared against evil.
The stage is being set and in seven years time the invasion (Second Advent) will occur. During those seven interim years, while we are in heaven, God will be executing the most massive judgments (artillery pounding if you will, prior to invasion) against humanity, that history has ever seen. Many will turn to God and will be saved, while many will turn hard against God and attempt to destroy humanity completely.
But in the mean time, war is declared by means of God flexing His muscles (so to speak), and having recalled his ambassadors from earth.
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08
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 5:24
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24 Some [tis] men's [anthropos] sins [hamartia] are [eisi] open beforehand, [prodelos] going before [proago] to [eis] judgment; [krisis] and [de] [kai] some [tis] men they follow after. [epakoloutheo] KJV-Interlinear
24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. NASB
Our context is the evaluation for possible appointment of elders, teachers of the Word of God. Paul instructs Timothy to not be too hasty in making his selections. To investigate and get to know thoroughly those who would be candidates for the ministry, or any other possible position within the Church.
The judgment here refers to the evaluation of candidates and the decisions reached, for positions in the ministry or other purposes in society.
One does not have to toe the line of asceticism in order to be a pure and noble person. Paul has already told Timothy that he could and should take small portions of wine, to help his stomach ailments, as well as other medicinal treatments to help other ailments. These things do not hinder nor negate ones lifestyle in Christianity.
And in this verse, Paul tells us that when we evaluate people, for whatever purpose we might have, we will find those who are obviously (open beforehand) not fit for the purpose, and in that regard they are easily rejected.
However, there will be those candidates whose disqualifications are not so obvious, and in that regard, investigations and evaluations are to proceed slowly and purposefully in order to discover what truth exists in their personality and attitude.
The church is to perform these evaluations, in order to recruit and promote the best qualified people for the ministry. The success of the Church depends on qualified, objective, and thorough ministers to teach students successfully.
However, this principle of evaluation is not limited to just ministers. It likewise applies to employers when hiring employees, to men and women when dating and considering someone for marriage, to people when meeting others for friendships.
We do not look at everyone with suspicion, but we certainly do not go into a relationship with our eyes closed. Common sense and patience, should dictate, or play a big role in how we approach professional or social relationships in life.
This is not a perfect world, and bad decisions are bound to occur, but with patience and objective knowledge gathered concerning someone, then we discover the best possible candidate for success, and we limit the possibilities for failure.
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07
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:4
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4 And [kai] round about [kuklothen] the throne [thronos] were four [tessares] and [kai] twenty [eikosi] seats: [thronos] and [kai] upon [epi] the seats [thronos] I saw [eido] four [tessares] and [kai] twenty [eikosi] elders [presbuteros] sitting, [kathemai] clothed [periballo] in [en] white [leukos] raiment; [himation] and [kai] they had [echo] on [epi] their [autos] heads [kephale] crowns [stephanos] of gold. [chruseos] KJV-Interlinear
4 And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. NASB
Now we come to the 24 thrones, the 24 elders that sat on those thrones, their white clothing and their golden crowns.
There is a great deal of speculation as to who these persons are. Man or angel? Old Testament saints, or New Testament saints? Perhaps the twelve tribes of Israel elders and the twelve apostles tying up all of history into the rulership with Christ?
All good guesses, but the Bible leaves nothing to guess work. It clarifies everything if only one is willing to dig for it, and generally one does not have to dig too far. God is not the author of confusion, but of clarity.
First, consider where we are in this book of Revelation. John has introduced the importance of Bible doctrine and spiritual growth - the seven spirits standing before the throne of God, and representing the advancement of the believer toward spiritual maturity.
Second, John covered the historical trends of the Church Age, the various attitudes that believers would have, and the various crowns and rewards that would be available to those who advanced to spiritual maturity.
Third, John is now covering, in our current chapter, (chapter 4 and 5) the appearance of heaven just prior to the judgments, the Church in heaven. John is called up into heaven, the rapture, not to see the current things in heaven, but to see what 'will take place after these things'. The chronology of events after the Church Age, after the Rapture.
Fourth, nowhere in the scriptures are angels ever referred to as elders, never referred to as kings or royalty, nowhere do angels ever sit on thrones of any kind, nowhere is there ever any representation that angels will share power or rulership with Christ. Angels are ministering spirits and their purpose is to serve those (believers) who are saved, Heb. 1:14, Matt. 18:10.
John is in heaven and observes the following. The throne, standing, 'keimai', permanent, standing or appointed, in the process of completed placement. John observed the permanent throne of Christ, as it was just being completed, but not within itself, but with respect to its relative position in its surroundings - the other 24 thrones surrounding it.
Next John saw Jesus Christ in all His perfection and essence, sitting on the throne. God cannot sit for He is omnipresent. Man can sit, but man is not God. Therefore only Jesus Christ can be the one sitting because no other man can enter into heaven and sit on a throne, and God the Father and Spirit did not become man. Only Jesus Christ who is God and who became man, is qualified to possess this throne which sits in the center of the rest of the thrones.
In the Old Testament, when the Levite's were anointed as priests, only 24 of them served at any one time, but there were 24,000 of them. They served on rotations of 24, such that the temple was served constantly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long. These priests were elders or supposedly knowledgeable authorities concerning Gods Word.
But there were other elders as well in the Old Testament such as family leaders, tribe leaders, officers. Generally people of age and wisdom. To these was given the responsibilities of rulership, dispute settling, and priestly activities.
Here we have 24 thrones occupied by elders dressed in white and wearing golden crowns. No angel was ever invited to sit with God, only man. No angel was dressed in white or wore a crown. Angels were never given the title of elder, only man. These are human beings sitting on the 24 thrones. But are they Old Testament or New Testament elders, or both?
Their robes are in white and they are wearing crowns, so that means they have completed their resurrection, they have been cleansed from all wood, hay, and stubble (the white garments), and have received their rewards of crowns. Since no man ever receives his eternal reward until after the resurrection, then the rapture has been completed, and these elders are resurrected people, already glorified and serving Christ.
Since Christ holds the seven seals in His hand, which seals reveal the judgments of the Tribulation, then the judgment of the Tribulation has not yet been conducted, therefore the Old Testament believers have not received their resurrection yet.
Since only mature believers receive the extra crowns and rewards of eternity, then we can conclude that these elders are Church Age mature believers who have advanced to that point of maturity which qualified them for these golden crowns. We can also assume that there are not just 24 people, in all of the 2000 years history of the Church Age who will qualify, but there are perhaps millions, and therefore the 24 number is representative of the rotation of duty pattern used in the Old Testament Levitical priesthood.
Thus mature Church Age believers will share in the rulership and priesthood of Christ. We already know from other passages that we as Church Age believers, are Royal Family, Royal Priests, will participate in the joint rulership and inheritance of the universe with Christ. See the blessings list on the web site special studies library.
We as joint rulers (elders) in heaven, will witness the final judgments of earth as described in subsequent chapters. Being in heaven and seeing first hand for the first time ever in our lives, the activities of Gods will and history as it unfolds before us will cause us to fall to our knees and bowed heads, totally overwhelmed in the awesome power and authority of God.
Here on earth we read the words, trying to imagine or comprehend it all, but really lacking the total picture to really appreciate or even understand the realities of life beyond our senses of sight, smell, feel, hearing, and taste.
We get up each morning, go to work, or do whatever we do on a daily basis, return home and to bed. We get up the next morning and repeat the process throughout our life. We do not see awesome miracles every moment of the day, every day of our lives. We survive in our spiritual lives, through faith in things we do not see. We do not see angels. We do not see the angelic conflict.
Yet one day we will be in heaven and we will see the things that unbelievers reject. We will see and participate in things that most people on earth don't think much of, or have little regard for. That is, until their world crashes down around their ears and they are in a lot of miserable pain.
So these elders are spiritually mature Church Age believers who are in heaven as a result of the rapture, having received their resurrection bodies, having received their evaluations from Christ, having received their cleansing, and having received their rewards for their mature status. They are not older believers, for age is not an ingredient of knowledge and wisdom. They are believers who have advanced to maturity, and thus will occupy places of high honor in heaven.
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06
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 5:23
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23 Drink [hudropoteo] no longer [meketi] water, [hudropoteo] but [alla] use [chraomai] a little [oligos] wine [oinos] for [dia] thy [sou] stomach's sake [stomachos] and [kai] thine [sou] often [puknos] infirmities. [astheneia] KJV-Interlinear
23 No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. NASB
We have a brief peek into the life of Timothy. He apparently went full bore into preserving his lifestyle, so that he would not be a target for gossip or accusation, and as such he tried to keep himself as pure as is possible, even to the point of not drinking alcoholic beverages.
This, asceticism, is not the intent of Bible instruction. You purity is in the soul, not in the body or anything that you do in life. Your life habits will grow out of your beliefs, and out of doctrine as you learn it, but the spiritual life is from what you learn, and does not come out of what you do.
By implication, the water in the ancient world was not the purest. One could catch all kinds of diseases or illnesses from drinking only water.
And so Paul tells Timothy, and you and me, that we need to use some common sense when taking medicinal treatments for our various ailments.
A little wine (medicine or treatment) is not a sin, but is in fact good for you. However, wine here is used in the sense of medicinal treatment, and not for social consumption. Jesus drank wine in social settings, for meals and so forth.
Only when you drink too much, do you cross the line of drunkenness and sin.
Likewise, Timothy does not pray for the cure for his stomach ailments. He takes something that is readily available for his ailment. And so too, we have the principle for seeking medical help when we are in need of it.
Some folks think that they can pray and receive some kind of miracle cure for whatever it is that they have. However, God has already answered those prayers by providing many of the medical solutions that are available today. We have modern medicines, hospitals, doctors galore, professional help, resources for intervention, and more. So do not ignore the many things that are already available.
How does this broader principle apply here? Paul told Timothy to use whatever is necessary for his ‘often infirmities,’ ‘puknos astheneia.’ This is a plural reference to all sorts of human ailments of the mind and body (mental and physical), which includes but is not limited to disease, infirmities, sickness, weakness and so forth. And these apply to both the mental and the physical. Any kind of ailment you can think of, is covered here.
And since we know that wine in small doses is not the cure for most ailments, then we should understand that the wine reference is used only as an example. There were medicines and treatments back then, and so too we are no different except that we just have more options today.
For those who ignore their options for help, then that is a violation of this principle of common sense, and a slap in Gods face, who in effect has provided all of the options that we have.
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05
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:3b
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3 And [kai] he that sat [kathemai] was [en] to look upon [horasis] like [homoios] a jasper [iaspis] and [kai] a sardine [sardinos] stone: [lithos] and [kai] there was a rainbow [iris] round about [kuklothen] the throne, [thronos] in sight [horasis] like [homoios] unto an emerald. [smaragdinos] KJV-Interlinear
3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. NASB
Surrounding the throne is a rainbow, like an emerald in color. The green shades of an emerald are emphasized here, and represent Gods production, green as from a garden, the fulfillment of His provision and promises. Gods provision and unlimited resources. Noah saw a rainbow, but his rainbow reflected all colors, Gods total essence and all three members of the Godhead - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Which is also, Gods promise not to destroy man ever again in the same manner of the flood as had just occurred.
This is the third stone in the High Priests breastplate, the emerald, green in color and related to the third son of Jacob, Levi, which means to be attached, to adhere, to join to, joined unto. And thus comes to reflect Gods joining of His promises to mankind and to reality, being made a reality as a result of the successful events of the Cross, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ.
This rainbow is of greens and shades of green. This rainbow, unlike the one Noah saw, is circular in shape. If you were to look at a rainbow from above it, it would appear like a circle. If we could view a rainbow from all angles simultaneously it would appear like a sphere, a ball, with all the colors sort of transparent and beautiful totally surrounding its contents. Its content is of course the throne of God, The entire realm of God, as seen by John. Noah saw a half a rainbow - the promise. In heaven we will see the completed rainbow, the reality of the promise, Jesus Christ, and His provision for our entire being.
God has left nothing to chance, either in history, or in yours and my individual lives. We should begin to relax in our daily lives as we have promises beyond anything that is attainable here on earth.
We should not attempt to impose our thoughts or beliefs on others unless they request it. We should not get upset when others try to cause harm to us. Believe it or not, God is able to handle all situations in life that we will ever face. We need to not feel guilty for our inability's or failures. Where did we ever get the idea that we were perfect? Where did we ever get the idea that God really needed our help? God uses you in a manner that He sees fit, and when His timing is right. We tend to get things all screwed up when we try to impose our priorities or beliefs, on others in accordance with our time line.
If we get upset because others do not believe as we do, or do not do as we do, then we have lowered ourselves to their level. For that is exactly how negative believers or unbelievers tend to behave. If, on the other hand, we take care of our own spiritual growth, and advance to maturity, then God will utilize us in a manner He has designed us for, and with better results.
The throne in heaven stands there, secure, and has for all of eternity past, present and future. If has never changed. It is the ultimate, the highest authority over all of creation.
God deals from perfection and His works, His production, His provision, His grace, all are limitless, without boundaries, extending in all directions and complete. Nothing is left to chance. Nothing had been overlooked. Everything in your life has been provided for. Every need, every situation. Your responsibility is not to get out and hustle for God, but to stand fast, study, learn, grow, and let God show you great and mighty things.
'Call to me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things.'
In the first three chapters we have seen the attitudes and failures of Christians, we have seen the promises and potential rewards of eternity for those who advance to spiritual maturity.
This is the devils world and as such it will be filled with hardships, and unfair circumstances. God is able to overcome all of these things and in the end of human history, He will show you just what you have been enduring and waiting for – great reward in the next life. This life is temporary. You just have to gut it out and persevere in Gods promise, which is intended for your future.
Look at the magnificent things in this world, and then look at the magnificent things in heaven. There is no comparison. Heaven is phenomenal and infinite, while this earth is nothing more than dust.
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04
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 5:22
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22 Lay [epitithemi] hands [cheir] suddenly [tacheos] on [epitithemi] no man, [medeis] neither [mede] be partaker [koinoneo] of other [allotrios] men's sins: [hamartia] keep [tereo] thyself [seautou] pure. [hagnos] KJV-Interlinear
22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. NASB
The laying on of the hands is an expression for identifying with someone or something. It is also an expression of appointment or approval.
The identification concept comes out of the Old Testament and the Levitical offerings, when the person places their hands on the head of the bull, symbolically passing their sins from themselves to the bull. In this manner symbolizing Christ removing our sins and taking them upon Himself, and then the sacrifice becomes the punishment of those sins. Someone else pays that price in our place, Ex 29:10, 15, 19; Lev 4:15.
The placing of hands on someone also symbolizes a commonality, union, and identification with them, Num 8:10; 27:18-23; Deut 34:9.
In the New Testament it is also symbolized as the identification of someone, Matt 19:15; Acts 8:17-18; 9:17; Heb 6:2.
It is also connected with ordination, or graduation, or the recognition of someone for some duty or office, Acts 6:6; 13:3; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6. And that is the connotation used here, approval, recognition, and so forth.
Today, people go to school or to some sort of training venue, and then they receive a diploma or certificate when they complete the course or activity.
And Paul tells Timothy that he should not be too quick to appoint or approve anyone for the position of elder (teacher of doctrine), lest they turn out to be less than qualified either in the academics of instruction or in the conduct of their personal lifestyle.
If you possess any form of reputation in the eyes of others, and then you identify or approve of someone without a thorough knowledge of them, and they turn out to be a bad person, then your reputation gets damaged to some extent.
We see this a lot in politics when someone will endorse a candidate, and then that candidate has some sort of flaw in their character that no one seemed to know about.
Likewise seminaries may graduate students who are not thoroughly prepared, or churches may hire someone or promote someone who is less than honorable . Or, you may hear about some evangelist and later discover that he is a fraud.
Advertising is a terrible abuser of this type of concept, perhaps a celebrity will promote some product or service, that turns out to be bad or not what it was portrayed to be.
Anyway, you get the idea here.
Do not be too quick in endorsing someone or something, until you know of it or them, thoroughly. Lest your reputation is taken down because of their flaws or misrepresentations.
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
