Reading 1 Timothy 4 today along with William MacDonald’s Believer’s Bible Commentary, I came across this thought-provoking comment:
The word hypocrisy suggests “wearing a mask.” How typical this is of the false cultists! They try to hide their true identity. They do not want people to know the system with which they are identified. They masquerade by using Bible terms and singing Christian hymns. Not only are they hypocrites, but they are liars as well. Their teaching is not according to the truth of God’s word; they know this, and purposely deceive the people.
Their conscience is seared with a hot iron. Perhaps early in their lives their conscience had been tender, but they suppressed it so often and sinned against the light so much that now their conscience has become insensitive and hardened. They no longer have any scruples about contradicting the word of God and teaching things they know are untrue.
Think about those false teachers who know very well what the Bible says about homosexual behavior and yet their consciences are seared because they seek the approval of man. Think also about Joseph Smith who knew very well that his Book of Mormon was a fraud, that polygamy was debauchery, and that his system of gods was false, yet he kept the pretense until death because he benefited personally. And think about the many Word of Faith teachers who are exceedingly wealthy because they dupe their followers into sending them large amounts of money.
All these false teachers know what they teach is false, but they “no longer have any scruples about contradicting the word of God and teaching things they know are untrue.” They will be judged more severely than those who they teach. (James 3:1)
Yes! They can't believe what they say. It is for personal gain all around.
ReplyDeleteI am currently in what the LDS Church calls the 'investigator' phase, and I find your blog insightful and interesting... as someone with an open mind who believes in God I'm having a hard time swallowing all the evidence against Joseph Smith despite all the best efforts from the missionaries. Thank you for putting out the truth.
ReplyDeleteInvestigator,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. Let me assure you that you need to run, not walk, from the LDS. They are indeed a false religious system. If you read my testimony as to my church history, you will see I was once a Mormon. There is over-whelming evidence which proves Joseph Smith was involved in necromancy when he supposedly found the Book of Mormon. He was a false prophet with almost 50 false prophecies I have recorded (I will start posting some of these this week). The BOM contradicts the Bible in many places, as well as contradicting their own Doctrine & Covenants.
I would be very willing to discuss Mormon teaching compared to real Christianity via the e-mail on the right side of my blog.
Hypocrites and Liars are also called spiritual adulterers! The bible is not soft of false teachers at all, and the verses you present here are, well, weighty. I was as impressed by how Revelation 2 and 3 describes error in the churches. Hypocrites, liars and adulterers (I just wrote something on the last of those three here: http://mrrives.com/Gezer/?p=2713). Why does God care so much? Why does he describe false teachers with these massive words?
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing on this.
Steve Rives
Kansas
We also have those in the Church who will not "offend" someone by telling them about sin and judgement. Thank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteYou are advanced beyond any need for a book like the Believer's Bible Commentary. Only a Sunday school teacher would be impressed by such a basic book.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteI will never stop the use of good commentaries. The Believer's Bible Commentary is a very good one, and it isn't just "basic." I've read much more basic ones. It would be a good one for any Christian to use.
I have no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew, and that alone means I'm not advanced to not need commentaries.
His commentary is a good one for OLD LADIES! Knowledge of Greek and Hebrew isn't the issue, and the BBC ain't gonna give you much help in that regard. I used to have one in my younger years. It is good if you just want a concise explanation of a passage. People who know the original languages also consult commentaries, silly. I am just saying that you are advanced to a level beyond any need for a book of this nature. You are not a novice. Find more advanced tools to use that are more appropriate for your level of study.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteI don't know what your problem is. There is absolutley NOTHING wrong with MacDonald's commentary. It's simple and easy to use for quick reference. But guess what--It's not the only one I had ("had" because I've been giving away the majority of my library); I've had more than you can shake a stick at, and I'm going to show you the list. (And, believe it or not, most of them I've read completely through!)
First, hwere are the commentaries I had (on MacArthur's is still on my shelf) that are complete or general in nature:
Believer’s Bible Commentary, by William MacDonald
Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Old Testament, by Barker & Kohlenberger III
Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, New Testament, by Barker & Kohlenberger III
Halley’s Bible Handbook, by Henry H. Halley
Her Name is Woman, by Gien Karssen
International Bible Commentary, The
MacArthur Bible Commentary, The, by John MacArthur
Manners & Customs of the Bible, by James M. Freeman
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible
Sex & Violence in the Bible, by Joseph W. Smith III
What the Bible Teaches About the Promised Messiah, by Dr. James Smith
The Annotated Bible, 4 volumes
Unger’s Bible Dictionary
Commentaries on the Old Testament (italicized I still own):
ReplyDeleteAn Introduction to the Apocrypha, by Bruce M. Metzger
And I Will Praise Him: A Guide to Worship in the Psalms, by Ronald B. Allen
Ariel’s Bible Commentary: The Book of Genesis, by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Be Patient: An Old Testament Study of Job, by Warren W. Wiersbe
Bible History, Old Testament, by Alfred Edersheim
Biblical Lovemaking: A Study of the Song of Solomon, by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Book of Beginnings, The: A Practical Guide to Understanding Genesis, by Henry M. Morris III
Chronology of the Old Testament, The, by Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones
Creation and Change: Genesis 1:1- 2.4, by Douglas F. Kelly
For Such a Time As This: Secrets of Strategic Living From the Book of Esther, by Ray Stedman
Genesis Record, The, By Henry M. Morris
God’s Masterwork: Ezra through Daniel, by Charles R. Swindoll
Jonah: Dead or Alive? by J. Vernon McGee
Kingdom of Priests, by Eugene H. Merrill
Life and Prophecies of Daniel, The, by James A. Stahr
Life Under the Son: Counsel From the Book of Ecclesiastes, by Jay Adams
Life’s Biggest Question and God’s Answer: Habakkuk, by J. Vernon McGee
Messianic Psalms, The, by C. Ernest Tatham
Minor Prophets, The, by James L.R. Catron
Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, The, by Edwin R. Thiele
Old Testament Law and History, by James L.R. Catron
Old Testament Poetry and Prophecy, by James L. R. Catron
On the Reliability of the Old Testament, by K.A. Kitchen
Popular Survey of the Old Testament, A, by Norman L. Geisler
Rational Bible, The: Exodus, by Dennis Prager
Rational Bible, The: Genesis, by Dennis Prager
Rational Bible, The: Deuteronomy by Dennis Prager
Remarkable Record of Job, by Henry M.. Morris
Remarkable Wisdom of Solomon, by Henry M. Morris
Ruth, by J. Vernon McGee
Song of Songs, by Ariel Bloch and Chana Bloch
Song of Songs: A Biblical-Theological, Allegorical, Christological Interpretation, by James M.Hamilton, Jr
Oh, on that last list, the "Book of Beginnings" was given to me by a pastor friend and it is still on my "too read" shelf.
ReplyDeleteNew Testament commentaries as follows--those by Barclay I finally destroyed because he's so liberal.
I, II, III John: Family Talk, by William G. Bellshaw
20 Controversies That Almost Killed A Church, by Richard L. Ganz
A Commentary on the Revelation of John, by George Eldon Ladd
A Model of Christian Maturity [2 Cor. 10-13], by D.A. Carson
Acts of the Apostles, The, by William Barclay
An Exposition of Ephesians, eight volumes, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Be Real: 1 John, by Warren W. Wiersbe
Book of Acts, The: Witness to the World, by Steven Ger
Books of James & First and Second Peter, by William Baker
Books of Philippians & Colossians, The, by Robert Gromacki
Christ in the Passover, by Ceil and Moishe Rosen
Christian Ethics for Youth: A study of wisdom from the book of Proverbs, by Wilmer Bechtel
End Times in Chronological Order, The, by Ron Rhodes
Epistle of Paul to the Romans, The, by F. F. Bruce
Epistle to the Ephesians, by V. Paul Flint
Epistle to the Hebrews, by Charles F. Pfeiffer
Epistle to the Hebrews, by David J. MacLeod
Epistles of Peter and Jude, The, by Kenneth C. Fleming
Experiencing the New Birth: Studies in John 3, by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
First Corinthians: Christianity in a Hostile Culture, by Dan Mitchell
Galatians: God’s Antidote to Legalism, by Ron Merryman
ReplyDeleteGospel and the Greeks, The, by Ronald Nash
Gospel of John, The: Believe and Live, by Elmer Towns
Gospel of John, The, volume I, by William Barclay
Gospel of John, The, volume 2, by William Barclay
Hard Sayings of Jesus, The, by F.F. Bruce
Hope of Christmas, The, by Jack Countryman
In the Footsteps of the Messiah, by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Interpreting the Parables, by Craig L. Blomberg
Introduction to the New Testament, by Henry Clarence Thiessen
Jewish New Testament Commentary, by David H. Stern
Last Days According to Jesus, The, by R.C. Sproul
“...let her be veiled.” by numerous
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled (John 14:1-12), by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Letter to the Hebrews, by William Barclay
Letter to the Romans, The, by William Barclay
Letters of James and Peter, The, by William Barclay
Letters of John and Jude, The, by William Barclay
Letters to the Churches...Then and Now, by Charles R. Swindoll
Letters to the Corinthians, The, by William Barclay
Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, by William Barclay
Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, by William Barclay
Letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon, by William Barclay
Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, The, by Alfred Edersheim
Life of Joy and Peace: An Exposition of Philippians, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Logos and the Rabbi, The, by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Matthew, by C. Ernest Tatham
Mending the Nets: Themes from 1st John, by Bill Randles
New Testament Text and Translation Commentary, by Philip W. Comfort
Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes, by Kenneth E. Bailey
Prayer of Jesus, The, by Hank Hanegraaff
Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church, by Marvin Rosenthal
Revelation Record, The, by Henry M. Morris
Revelation: Four Views - A Parallel Commentary, edited by Steve Gregg
Revelation of John, The, Vol.1, by William Barclay
Revelation: The Christian’s Ultimate Victory, by John MacArthur
Romans: Volume 1, The Freedom Letter, by Alan F. Johnson
Second Coming, The, by John MacArthur
Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14, by D.A. Carson
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, by Oswald Chambers
There’s A New World Coming, by Hal Lindsey
Thessalonian Epistles, The, by H.C. Woodring and R.J. Little
Timothy and Titus, by William MacDonald and V. Paul Flint
Tongues Then and Now, by Rev. Kenneth L. Gentry
Was Christ God? by Spiros Zodhiates
What is the “Gift of God”? [Ephesians 2:8-9], by George Zeller
What Shall Be: The Revelation of St. John, edited by Robert Hoyer
Women in the Church: An Interpretation & Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15,
by Andreas j. Kostenberger & Thomas R. Schreiner, editors