by thinker 21 Replies latest watchtower bible
The Greek word phos is the Hebrew word equiv.of the one used in Gen 1:3 and refers to Jesus, according to the Zodhiates Greek dictionary.
It says(III B,#5457) phos means," Especially of Jesus as the great teacher.....who brought light..."
Colossians 1:15, says, "He (Jesus) is first-born of all creation."Countless references in the Christian Greek Scriptures refer Jesus to being a light. (see Luke 2:27-32, Matthew 4:15-17.
The light that was the first of all creation, was Jesus.
Love
Genesis 1:5 And God began calling the light Day, but the darkness he called Night. And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a first day.(NWT)
I am sure spinner will put a spin on this verse to prove that Jesus is also called "DAY" and Satan is called "evening".
The problem I see with saying Jesus is the light in verse 3, is that it does not fit the context of the rest of the chapter.
Colossians 1:15
Does the word first-born in the Bible necessarily mean the first one who was born or created?
Read Psalms 89:27, it says David was the firstborn. (David was the last-born son of Jesse) God was not speaking of birth order but of rank above others to a preeminent position. The term firstborn in scripture is often used to signify priority in importance or rank, rather than actual birth order.
Col 1:18 identifies Christ as "the head" and "the first-born" and says that this is for the purpose "that in everything he might be pre-eminent" (RSV)
Scorpion:
First-born means just that, the first one born. But since the first-born had preeminent rank over later ones, it was associated with the usual highest rank and other birthrights. Of note, Jacob bought the birthright from Esau, etc.
So the context must be considered when making this reference. It is clear from Psalms that Jehovah was going to cause David to usurp his brothers and have the preeminence as a king as if he were the firstborn, legally.
Thus being firstborn can be literal or arranged;it depends upon context.
In the case of Jesus, though, we know he was the very first one born, and given preeminence because he is also called the ONLY-BEGOTTEN, which makes him not only unique but the firstborn of all creation, so in his case, he was actually the firstborn, the "beginnings of the creation of God."
Thanks for this reference.
LG
thinker:
Albeit quite unknowingly, you've started the
CLASH OF THE MESSIAHS!!!!!
Thank you all for some very interesting opinions.
The reason behind the question is this:
I know a few people who profess a "literal" interpretation of the Bible and yet when I present them with questions like the one I posted they start using phrases like "symbolic" and "figurative". It is at that point that I tend to lose interest in the discussion, because it seems to me that there are LOTS of bible-based religions and mostly they disagree over which verses are literal and which are symbolic. For example, there is a small group of christians who handle serpents and drink poison. They read a certain verse and say "literal"; while the majority of bible-based religions say "symbolic".
It seems clear to me that if you can label various parts of the Bible as literal and others as symbolic (with a sprinkling of creative interpretation) you can make it say most anything you want.
I find it very hypocritical that people like C.T. Russel, Joe Smith, Martin Luther and hundreds more used their own freedom of thought to interpret the Bible and then insist that others cannot do the same.
If I were to state that nearly 100% of the Bible is symbolic, I would be denounced by all bible-based religions and most bible-believing people. Yet this would be the same method used by almost all bible-believers to explain their "literal" views of the Bible!
In the end each individual decides for him/her self what is the true, correct answer. If it makes sense to you, you may join that religion. But if you are the one to decide, why not read it yourself; without the interfering opinions of arrogant men who think only they have the one true interpretation? Because, after all, it is your own conscience which decides the issue.
Thank you all again for the opinions. I can't really agree with any of them, but I do enjoy a good exchange of ideas.
thinker
May you all have peace!
My Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, is my Father's 'first-born' in that he IS the 'first-born' from the 'dead'. He is the FIRST to have died in the flesh and been resurrected back to life... INDEFINTELY... as a spirit... snd thus, the FIRST to receive 'life'... never to die again. All others who received a resurrection... died again.
My Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, is my Father's 'only-begotten'... in that he is the only son 'produced' of my Father's FREE wife, Jerusalem Above... the rest of us being 'produced' as sons THROUGH that One. It is the same as when Isaac, Abraham's SECOND son, born AFTER Ishmael, was still called his 'only-begotten' son, for Isaac was Abraham's ONLY son by means of his TRUE wife, Sarah.
Abraham's other son, Ishmael, who was 'produced' FIRST, was also an 'only-begotten' son, for Abraham had no other children by Hagar. However, Isaac was the HEIR in the household, because Isaac's MOTHER... was Abraham's wife. Hagar... was HER servant, not Abraham's.
In the same manner, my Father had another son, ADAM... who was 'produced'... from HIS mother, the 'slave' Earth... first.
My Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH... created nothing, but was the INSTRUMENT by which my Father, JAH OF ARMIES, created the physical realm. It is like sourdough bread... you make one batch (my Lord)... and using 'good bacteria' from that batch you make all subsequent batches. However, not all subsequent batches as pure or 'good' as the original batch, for along the way some 'contamination' can set in... due to 'bad bacteria' (perhaps a 'worker' didn't wash his/her hands or were sterile 'clothing').
Adam, who was created BY MEANS of my Lord... and thus 'produced' from 'good' bacteria... introducted 'bad bacteria'... or 'corruption'... by means of his 'unclean hands'... SIN... into the 'batch'.
I, myself, SJ, have spoken it to you, just as I have heard it from my Lord, the Son of God, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, and I give all praise and glory TO that One... and to my Father, JAH OF ARMIES.
A slave of Christ,
SJ
you make one batch (my Lord)... and using 'good bacteria' from that batch you make all subsequent batches.
Well, I'll be a son of a BATCH! (Of the in-way-too-deep class)
GopherThe sieve says to the needle; you have a hole in your head.
Indian Proverb
Gopher,
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!
Peace to you, my friend
Aaron
2 Tim 2:6-7
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
