Gregory L. Jackson's Blog, page 11

Contributions of St. John's Gospel - Reformation Seminary

 

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1. The symbol of John is an eagle, because "he soars above all the rest." Luther.

2. Modernists (apostates) argue the Fourth Gospel was Gnostic and written 300 years later.

3. John's Gospel is clearly the capstone of Matthew-Mark-Luke. Touching on some events (baptism, Lord's Supper), more detail on others - Jesus's sermons.

John 1:32; after Judas left John 13:31

4. John is the clearest example of "sermons based on the original Scriptures." The first three Gospels do the same, using the Old Testament texts.

5. Genesis and John start the same same - In the beginning, and teach Creation, and the Trinity. The Four Gospels are not a four-volume dogmatics set, but a delicate tapestry of pictures, events, and sayings.

6. The Fourth Gospel is full of Jesus' sermons.

7. The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) teach against faith in Jesus Christ. John's Gospel is especially clear about faith in Him -

KJV John 6: 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. [Note how two major themes overlap in a  few verses.]

8. The Trinity is very clear in John's Gospel and the Holy Spirit is emphasized more than Matthew-Mark-Luke. We can say that the Fourth Gospel enlarges the first three and teaches what we take for granted - the three-year ministry.

9. The empty tomb is especially clear and so are His resurrection events.

10. We can never get enough of the insights in the Fourth Gospel. The text is the simplest in vocabulary in the New Testament and also the most profound. John is more easily translated in all other languages. Virginia R. said, "I think that was on purpose." Yes, anyone who wants to learn a foreign language will start with the Fourth Gospel in that language. 

 

Contributions of Mark's Gospel

 

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Mark's Gospel was the favorite of the apostate scholars who came from Halle University and from England. Note the Westcott-Hort Greek New Testament Mark 1:1 - This is the beginning of the Gospel  of Jesus Christ [omitted - the Son of God].

They also loved to end Mark with 16:8 - 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. 

[Their Gospel ends with gar - for.]

They were also allergic to miracles.

1. Mark is associated with Peter. His Gospel is the shortest and emphasizes the miracles.

2. Mark is concise when Matthew and Luke are more detailed - usually - in covering the same topic. Unique - Mark has the seed growing secretly. Q is a scholarly hoax with no proof.

3. The Passion of Christ is about 25% of this Gospel, which is roughly what the other Gospels have in relation to the entire Gospel.

4. "Scholars are divided." That means avoiding the issue.

5. That is a "hapax." It is only found once, so they cannot compare it to a similar passage.

6. Mark is a "simple Gospel for simple people who believe in miracles." The 19th century adored rationalism - note the hallowed attitude toward Evolution, scorn about Creation and miracles.

7. Benefits - a shorter Gospel is easier for reading or copying the entire book.

8. Being concise is useful in comparison with the longer Gospels.

9. One can buy a copy of all four Gospels in parallel columns - interesting and educational.

10. John's Gospel - Thursday - hints at Jesus' Baptism and Holy Communion, but read carefully what is revealed. One might say that John is supplemental and therefore only touching upon topics.

The pigs were so demonic, they signed up for Fuller D.Mins degrees.

Contributions of Matthew's Gospel

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Special Contributions - Each of the Four Gospels

Two of the Gospels are directly associated with the Apostles - Mark and Luke. 

Matthew and John are Apostles. 

KJV John 14:But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John's Gospel is clearly the last of the Four Gospels, and we may assume that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are in order.

Matthew is especially Jewish in its format, which can be seen as relating to the Five Books of Torah (Pentateuch)  - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 

The Messiah is proclaimed and described throughout the Old Testament. As Luther wrote, the Scriptures for the Apostles are confined to the Old Testament. The New Testament books are sermons on the Scriptures, which the Biblical sermons are built upon. My Old Testament students agree that they have very little Old Testament in their background. 

Genesis 3:15 - the Atonement.

And Genesis 15:6 Justification by Faith. 

Outline based on the Five Discourses

Introduction: Infancy Narrative: Chapters 1–2

Narrative: 3–4

First Discourse: "Sermon on the Mount": 5–7

Narrative: 8–9

Second Discourse: "Missionary Instructions": 10

Narrative: 11–12

Third Discourse: "Collection of Parables": 13

Narrative: 14–17

Fourth Discourse: "Community Instructions": 18

Narrative: 19–22

Fifth Discourse: "Sermon on Eschatology": 23–25

Conclusion: Passion & Resurrection Narrative: 26–28 

Luke's Contributions

 

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Paul wrote the most letters, so he wins the race in numbers.

The so-called scholars try their best to determine exactly how Matthew, Mark, and Luke coordinated their works. Nils Dahl said, "No one really knows. No one has the answer." The alleged scholars - with no evidence - consign the Fourth Gospel to oblivion because they want it to be Gnostic and 300 years after Christ. 

There are various hocus-pocus games with John. 

"It was originally written in Aramaic." Still waiting for the evidence."It got all mixed up and no one can fix it" - because they erased the woman caught in adultery passage. Leave it in, and it makes perfect sense."Two endings! How did that happen?" John 20 and John 21.These soi-disant experts no longer put the best construction on the New Testament. Any speculation is good for a dissertation, a book, and fame.

Back to Luke. His two contributions make up 25% of the New Testament.



Starting with Acts - this not only filled with Gospel, but also gives us a description of the earliest days of the Christian Church, including tensions and conflicts. Ultimately Paul emphasized the Gentiles and the two segments were united in the Word.
The Gospel of Luke holds such treasures that we would almost be orphans if we did not have the second Gospel.The Virgin Birth is clearly established.The unique parables - The Good Samaritan (10:25-37) The Friend at Midnight (11:5-8) The Rich Fool (12:13-21) The Barren Fig Tree (13:6-9) The Great Feast (14:15-24) The Parables of the Lost (15:1-32) Nota bene !The Dishonest Manager (16:1-13) The Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31) The Judge and the Widow (18:1-8) The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:9-14) The number  of parables unique to Luke varies somewhat, but there they are.
The ending of Luke fits well with the Acts of the Apostles.
Simon Greenleaf tried to prove "all the errors" of the four Gospel narratives of the Resurrection of Christ. Instead, he was converted, saw the harmony, and became a noted Christian apologist (a term derived from the Greek word for defender). Now we have clergy who are not apologists and they want traditional Christians to apologize for their adherence to the Word.

Basic Bible Doctrine

 

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Inerrancy contrasts with My Little Toy Paraphrases

Inerrancy has been used a lot, but the term seems empty today. How can they promote the new Bibles with the Greek text corrupted by Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and Dynamic Equivalence?!

By the way, Fundamentalist is a term that came from conservative Calvinists, not from snake handlers, tongue-speakers, and rednecks.

The Dynamic Equivalence (anything goes) translations come from the unified Biblical associations, which include the Church of Rome. The modern translations are not inerrant, as shown by their weak and fractured passages, the soup is so watered down. The paraphrases - living, amplified, who knows what else? - are the rotten smell of the earlier playing around with D.E.'

The NIV, RSV, ESV, NRSV, Beck, and others fail miserably, and they make money.

Spirit/Word

The Spirit is always at work in the Word of God: this is the primary stance of the Reformation, but laughed at by such notables as Calvin, Zwingli, and the Pope du jour.

Therefore, preaching, teaching, and Holy Communion are always the work of God.

Just as Jesus Christ is powerful, united in His human nature and divine nature, so are the Scriptures. The Biblical books are written by ordinary people and guided by the Holy Spirit. Very few theologians and scholars accept this, substituting their own fantasies, criticism, and erasure.

One example is the "faith of Jesus," found in Romans 3:22, Galatians  2:16, and Philippians 3:9. Why are the apostates so keen on showing faith in His human nature? 

KJV Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Clarity

The Scriptures are clear. We may have trouble with certain passages, but this is not the fault of the author or the Spirit. We often need more study and comparisons to understand. Jesus did not want every person to grab His teaching and mislead Him.

The darker or more difficult verses are illuminated by the brighter, easier passages.

Likewise, we cannot build a new cathedral because something gets people all excited, and they rush around like chickens in a tornado.

Assume the Best

I have gone through several excitements of Jesus' infant narratives. There is another one - Thomas - being waved around for money and publicity. Common sense is not that common anymore.

The Son of God and the Father help us through the Spirit in learning more and removing false ideas.

Encore - Short Greek New Testament Verses

 

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Stephanus John 3:16 -  ουτως γαρ ηγαπησεν ο θεος τον κοσμον ωστε τον υιον αυτου τον μονογενη εδωκεν ινα πας ο πιστευων εις αυτον μη αποληται αλλ εχη ζωην αιωνιον

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Matthew 28:19-20     πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος

διδασκοντες αυτους τηρειν παντα οσα ενετειλαμην υμιν και ιδου εγω μεθ υμων ειμι πασας τας ημερας εως της συντελειας του αιωνος αμην

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 John 1  ο ην απ αρχης ο ακηκοαμεν ο εωρακαμεν τοις οφθαλμοις ημων ο εθεασαμεθα και αι χειρες ημων εψηλαφησαν περι του λογου της ζωης

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Objective Justification Errors - The Walther Four - LCMS - WELS - ELS - CLC (sic)

 

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Part One

A. A Biblical doctrine must be taught from the Scriptures, not from the false authority of dogmatics (Barth, Bultmann, Tillich, Calvin, Walther, Scaer).

B. No expert or authority can claim a concept that opposes, distorts, or modifies Scripture.

C. We must start at the source (Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent) to go where water is pure, in the Word of God.

Part Two 

1. Walther's Objective Justification claim came directly from his adulterous, syphilitic bishop - Martin Stephan - in a letter than changed Walther's life. "God has already forgiven you 1800 years ago...all men are absolved of sin." Using the Atonement, Walther replaced Christ paying for our sins with all sins instantly, universally absolved. But the Atonement is not Justification.

2. Just as bad, Walther ordered - they must "accept by faith" the absolution of the world, dated on or about the crucifixion.

3. Objective Justification also makes the Resurrection of Christ the absolution of the world. Somehow this flexible absolution includes the Atonement but also the Resurrection. One must remain in the confusion of Walther to avoid laughing out loud upon reading his dogma. His prolific writing and dictatorial leadership has brought the Walther Four into the arms of the ELCA, which also teaches universal salvation without faith in Jesus Christ.

4. Faith in Jesus Christ is a bad word for the Objective Justification salesmen. They get angry and shout, "You are making faith A WORK OF MAN!" Note the David Scaer smear. The peacock is known for his beautiful feathers and adornment, but his voice is raucous and scary.

5. Throughout the Scriptures, faith in Jesus Christ gives us access to God's grace. Romans 5:1-2 makes this very clear. Someone should rip out John, the whole Gospel

KJV John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 6. Walther used his predestination lectures to remove the concept of faith in Christ. 

WELS - John "Sparky" Brenner still teaches this dogma.
Disagreeing with OJ = excommunication.

Items Seldom Mentioned in the Big Four - 

LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

Walther had only a bachelor's degree and had minimal knowledge of the Biblical languages.The Walther circle was exclusively Pietistic, moving from one fearless leader to Martin Stephan after the first one died.Stephan studied at Halle University, where universalism, rationalism, and syphilis were common. His STD symptoms were known before he took his followers to America. He was under house arrest when they left.Walther kidnapped his niece and nephew from his father's parsonage. That alone was a felony.Walther changed the rules to make sure F. Pieper could replace him as head of the synod and the seminary. Pieper mixed Objective Justification with Justification by Faith in his Dogmatics.

 

The author Knapp was a Halle Pietist. Woods, the translator was a famous Calvinist who offered this note, which became part of the LCMS dogmatics. Walther loved it and the two Justifications found favor in Germany.

Thirty Minutes with Philip Melanchthon

 

Our leaders in Scriptural studies, the key Reformation teachers, are:
Luther,
Melanchthon, and
Chemnitz.YouTube
Clyde Manshreck, one of Roland Bainton's students at Yale, wrote an excellent book, Melanchthon, The Quiet Reformer . I first became interested in Melanchthon at Augustana (Augsburg Confession) College.


1. Melanchthon and Luther lived to be 63 years old. Melanchthon (1497-1560). Luther (1483-1546).

2. They had opposite personalities and both were language geniuses. They greatly admired each other and also had their conflicts. Philip gave the sermon at Luther's funeral.

3. The Walther Four - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - like to brag about being Confessionals, and Orthodox. However, they despise the Augsburg Confession, which is the standard across the world. Their so-called Orthodoxy is largely from Pietism and Calvinism.

4. One clear statement of doctrinal agreement on Justification is found in the graphic above.

5. Melanchthon was denied a priceless library from his great-uncle John Reuchlin when he sided with the Reformation. Reuchlin, like Erasmus, supported the Reformation a bit but returned to the Roman Catholics.

6. Melanchthon had far more students than Luther because of their age difference. Philip was greatly admired across Europe and could have accepted an appointment as the greatest scholar in any kingdom.

7. Philip's contributions to the Book of Concord, 1580, were: 
The Augsburg Confession, 1530 - with notes from Luther at a safe castle.The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession.Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the PopeMartin Chemnitz edited the Book of Concord, widely admired, seldom studied or taught. He learned from Luther and Melanchthon and enjoyed the combination of polemics (Luther), humor (Luther and Melanchthon), and an enormous knowledge of theological literature.

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Encore - Short Verses To Learn New Testament Greek

 

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Stephanus John 3:16 -  ουτως γαρ ηγαπησεν ο θεος τον κοσμον ωστε τον υιον αυτου τον μονογενη εδωκεν ινα πας ο πιστευων εις αυτον μη αποληται αλλ εχη ζωην αιωνιον

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Matthew 28:19-20     πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος

διδασκοντες αυτους τηρειν παντα οσα ενετειλαμην υμιν και ιδου εγω μεθ υμων ειμι πασας τας ημερας εως της συντελειας του αιωνος αμην

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 John 1  ο ην απ αρχης ο ακηκοαμεν ο εωρακαμεν τοις οφθαλμοις ημων ο εθεασαμεθα και αι χειρες ημων εψηλαφησαν περι του λογου της ζωης

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Short Verses To Learn New Testament Greek

 

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Stephanus John 3:16 -  ουτως γαρ ηγαπησεν ο θεος τον κοσμον ωστε τον υιον αυτου τον μονογενη εδωκεν ινα πας ο πιστευων εις αυτον μη αποληται αλλ εχη ζωην αιωνιον

Matthew 28:19-20     πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος

διδασκοντες αυτους τηρειν παντα οσα ενετειλαμην υμιν και ιδου εγω μεθ υμων ειμι πασας τας ημερας εως της συντελειας του αιωνος αμην

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 John 1  ο ην απ αρχης ο ακηκοαμεν ο εωρακαμεν τοις οφθαλμοις ημων ο εθεασαμεθα και αι χειρες ημων εψηλαφησαν περι του λογου της ζωης

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;