Thursday, February 28, 2013

Galatians 1:19


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Galatians 1:19

19 But [de] other [heteros] of the apostles [apostolos] saw I [eido] none, [ou] save [ei me] James [Iakobos] the Lord's [kurios] brother. [adelphos] KJV-Interlinear

19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother.  NASB


There were several men who had the name James, which by the way was a common name in that day. It is a common name even today.

James the brother of John, Acts 12:2.  James mentioned in Acts 15 and 21:18. 

In the list of the Apostles, Matt 10:2-3, two are mentioned, James the son of Zebedee and brother of John, and James the son of Alpheus.

From Acts, there were two by this name in Jerusalem. Of these, James the brother of John was slain by Herod Acts 12:2, and the other continued to live in Jerusalem, Acts 15:13; 21:13. This latter James was called James the Less, Mark 15:40, which distinguished him from the other James.

In John 14:22, there is mentioned James the son of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas, all having the same names as the brothers of Jesus, but then these names were all common names in that era and many men most probably had those names.

In Matt. 13:55, there are mentioned names of additional sons of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who would be half-brothers as it were, to Jesus, namely, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (not the one who betrayed Jesus).

Anyway, not that this all matters much.

Paul continues to make it clear that he did not see or consul with any of the other apostles, except that he met Peter. And then he mentions James using the word for brother, ‘adelphos,’ which means womb and typically designates a sibling, but can also be used to mean a friend or cousin.

Paul went to Jerusalem to see Peter.  The other apostles were not in town and James likely happened to be there, but not the one who Paul went to meet. 

Moreover, our subject in this passage is that Paul received his instruction from the Lord and not from any earthly source.  And this would include the brother of Jesus, who many people could easily presume that the brother, who grew up with Jesus, might know a great deal and would naturally be a great source of information.

But such was not the case.

Neither institution, nor academia, nor guru, nor apostle, nor family member had any part in teaching Paul.

He learned directly from the Lord and therein he makes his case for the authenticity and authority and credibility of what he himself has to say and teach and write.


Daily Bible Study Links – Thurs. 2-28-2013


Daily Bible Study Links – Thurs. 2-28-2013
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Thursday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:18  – List the sources of Pauls instruction

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Study rotation of the last seven days:
Sunday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:11  –  Alone and helpless was by what design
Monday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:11  – How does sowing and reaping fit
Tuesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:12  – At what point is your hope lost
Wednesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:13  – What is easy to see yet difficult to see
Thursday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:17  –  Why Arabia
Friday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:18 – What is the likely purpose of this meeting
Saturday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:10  – What is the significance of the phrase, ‘out from’ 


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Isaiah 9:13


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Isaiah 9:13

13 For the people [`am] turneth [shuwb] not unto him that smiteth [nakah] them, neither do they seek [darash] the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts. [tsaba'] KJV-Interlinear

13 Yet the people do not turn back to Him who struck them, Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. NASB


When people turn away from truth, then God issues judgments or chastisements or punishments, most of which are inherently related to the evil being produced.

Evil produces its own punishment.

And in the case of people who reject truth, they do in fact by default reject the scriptures.  Thus they do not study, do not learn, and fail to understand what exactly their flaw is, because they refuse to see it.

People become hardened and obstinate when they reject truth.  This leads to the rejection of changing their ways or attitudes.  This leads to more and more punishments.

Truth does not change, therefore truth does not yield to popular belief or pressure.

The collective opinions of humanity are not enough to change how God or truth operates.  And certainly the individual efforts of an anti-God attitude are not sufficient to change how God will deal with you.

So, this verse states clearly, reject God, reject truth, and punishments in whatever form, will fall into your life.  Continue in your stubbornness and the punishments will not yield as though they have been frustrated or defeated, but will continue until such time as you do in fact change, or until the end of your life here in this world.

If you do not know what rejection of God or truth means, then you are most likely in rejection.

The only way that you can know anything, is to be taught, to learn, and that requires a study, a daily study of the scriptures, which of course is our subject of interest.

To pursue life on your own, to avoid the obligations that God places on you both in your spiritual life as well as in your temporal life, is simply further proof of your obstinacy toward truth.

God is truth, and to reject one is to reject the other.  And in rejecting either, is a pursuit of evil, which in turn has its own built in punishments, that keep on coming.

It isn’t rocket science, but when you see so many people worldwide, that cannot seem to figure it out, or better stated, are not interested in figuring it all out, then it makes you wonder, why?


Daily Bible Study Links – Wed. 2-27-2013


Daily Bible Study Links – Wed. 2-27-2013
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Wednesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:13  – What is easy to see yet difficult to see

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How to prepare for your daily study:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/how-to-prepare.html

Two Year Bible Reading Plan:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/two_year 
Blog and Feed Subscription Links:  http://www.neelyranch.com/contactus.html

Study rotation of the last seven days:
Sunday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:11  –  Alone and helpless was by what design
Monday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:11  – How does sowing and reaping fit
Tuesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:12  – At what point is your hope lost
Wednesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:10  – What has not changed in history, but needs change
Thursday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:17  –  Why Arabia
Friday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:18 – What is the likely purpose of this meeting
Saturday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:10  – What is the significance of the phrase, ‘out from’ 


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Isaiah 9:12


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Isaiah 9:12

12 The Syrians ['Aram] before, [qedem] and the Philistines [Palishtiy] behind; ['achowr] and they shall devour ['akal] Israel [Yisra'el] with open mouth. [peh] For all this his anger ['aph] is not turned away, [shuwb] but his hand [yad] is stretched out still. [natah]KJV-Interlinear

12 The Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west; And they devour Israel with gaping jaws. In spite of all this His anger does not turn away, And His hand is still stretched out. NASB


The Syrians were led by Rezin, and despite an alliance between the Samarians and the Syrians, against Judah, they were still enemies.

When evil allies itself with evil, there is no such thing as honor between evil partners.

The Philistines were peoples that lived to the south and west along the Mediterranean coast, but too, Philistine is a name derived from the region known as Palestine which means, The land of the Philistines.   It in general refers to all non-Hebrew people in the region.

Samaria had enemies without on all sides as well as enemies within.

That was the case back in Isaiah’s day, and it will be the case in the Tribulation. It is even the case today as there are many nationalities living within every country in the Middle East.

And here is the importance of this verse. All of the enemies of Samaria, are in fact enemies of God and truth, even though Samaria itself has turned against God and truth.

And their attitude is one of ravenous hatred and hunger for the destruction of truth.  There is no interest in what is right or just, and when the flood gates are opened wide then the invading armies will take at will with no concern for the victims.

But, God is still there.  And even though justice has to be handed out, Gods hand, or grace, is still extended to any and all who turn, legitimately turn, to Him.

On the Cross, Jesus had no one to turn to, and that was by design.  But in life, we all have God to turn to at any moment during our life.


Daily Bible Study Links – Tues. 2-26-2013


Daily Bible Study Links – Tues. 2-26-2013
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Tuesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:12  – At what point is your hope lost

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Main Daily Bible Study web site:  http://www.DailyBibleStudy.Org  
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Daily Bible Study News on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jneelyranch 
How to prepare for your daily study:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/how-to-prepare.html

Two Year Bible Reading Plan:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/two_year 
Blog and Feed Subscription Links:  http://www.neelyranch.com/contactus.html

Study rotation of the last seven days:
Sunday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:11  –  Alone and helpless was by what design
Monday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:11  – How does sowing and reaping fit
Tuesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:9  – Overestimation results from what
Wednesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:10  – What has not changed in history, but needs change
Thursday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:17  –  Why Arabia
Friday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:18 – What is the likely purpose of this meeting
Saturday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:10  – What is the significance of the phrase, ‘out from’ 


Monday, February 25, 2013

Isaiah 9:11


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Isaiah 9:11

11 Therefore the LORD [Yahovah] shall set up [sagab] the adversaries [tsar] of Rezin [Ratsiyn] against him, and join [cakak] his enemies ['oyeb] together; [cakak] KJV-Interlinear

11 Therefore the Lord raises against them adversaries from Rezin, And spurs their enemies on, NASB


Therefore, is a summation of purpose and intent and result.  The northern nation of Israel, generally called Samaria or Ephraim, was to be judged because of their spiritual indifference and violations of truth.

They had sought the lies off the world, rather than the truth of God.  They pursued the enticements of the world and desired the lures of history, rather than the plan and promises of God.

And so because of the flirtations that Samaria had with evil, they would find themselves in a trap between evil and evil. 

The Syrians, whose leader was Rezin, which were on the eastern boundary, and the Philistines, a general term for foreign peoples, located on the other side of Samaria, or from the west, mentioned in the next verse.

When you ignore Gods word in your life, and that includes most people who are simply indifferent and do not take any of the Bible seriously, as well as people who try to take the Bible too seriously and pursue their own self defined interpretations, then the result is a life in evil.

There is only one source of truth and that truth can only be learned in an academic environment while in spiritual fellowship.

Most folks who present themselves as Christian, assume that they can be self-taught from hearsay, tradition, or emotional justification.  That is not learning doctrine.  Their opinions take precedence over doctrine.

And in either case, evil chosen, will live within evil surroundings.  And surrounded on all sides by evil, means only one result, disaster.

And as the Lord sets up people, simply means that they set themselves up, by themselves.  The Lord merely knows that when you choose evil, then evil will result and will come and get you.

The adversaries, means the princes of Rezin.  The adversaries of Samaria, find their leadership example and pattern in Rezin.  Rezin is evil.  Those who align with him are evil. Samaria chose evil and looked to evil for a partner.

All of this was designed to rise against Judah, which is symbolic of rising against God and truth.

These enemies will join, meaning they will rise up and pursue their enemy with an agitated and wild commotion.  They will pour down in to Samaria with enthusiasm and violence.

When you reject God, and reject His design for your life, and ignore your spiritual responsibilities, then you are only inviting evil in whatever form, to come and devour you and your life. And whose fault will that be?


Daily Bible Study Links – Mon. 2-25-2013


Daily Bible Study Links – Mon. 2-25-2013
Today’s Daily Bible Study:  


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Monday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:11  – How does sowing and reaping fit

Daily Bible Study E-Books
(For your e-book reader or computer)

Important links:
Main Daily Bible Study web site:  http://www.DailyBibleStudy.Org  
Daily Bible Study Library:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/library.html

Daily Bible Study News on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jneelyranch 
How to prepare for your daily study:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/how-to-prepare.html

Two Year Bible Reading Plan:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/two_year 
Blog and Feed Subscription Links:  http://www.neelyranch.com/contactus.html

Study rotation of the last seven days:
Sunday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:11  –  Alone and helpless was by what design
Monday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:8  – God sent what, and how is it received
Tuesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:9  – Overestimation results from what
Wednesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:10  – What has not changed in history, but needs change
Thursday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:17  –  Why Arabia
Friday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:18 – What is the likely purpose of this meeting
Saturday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:10  – What is the significance of the phrase, ‘out from’ 


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Psalm 22:11


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Psalm 22:11

11 Be not far [rachaq] from me; for trouble [tsarah] is near; [qarowb] for there is none to help. [`azar]KJV-Interlinear

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help. NASB


David had friends and help in various ways, all of his life.  God was always there for him.

But these words apply to the Messiah as He hung on the cross, describing His situation and the total helplessness of His situation.

In verse one, we know that God forsook Him.  And for good reason.  Jesus came into this world on a mission, a mission of salvation.  The sacrifices that were observed for many centuries and millennia, all taught this principle.

When the Israelites left Egypt, on that Passover night, the exact date of the actual sacrifice of Jesus, was set.  And every year, that date was celebrated in the Passover Feast, until the actual and real sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, occurred.

But despite His actual abandonment by all, both man and God, God was still there and very near, because the cross was not to continue forever, but would come to a conclusion within just three hours time.

Trouble is near, designates the actual time of the event, that history had been waiting for since that first promise was made to Adam.

None to help, refers to two types of helpers.  Those who wanted to help but could not, and those who could help but did not.

As Christ hung on the cross, He was abandoned by the apostles and friends alike.  Many stood watching, helpless to do anything. Most who observed the activity of the cross, mocked and obviously would not help.

The priests could have stopped it all but did not. 

And finally there is God the Father and the Holy Spirit, both of whom withheld their help in accordance with the divine plan for salvation.

The point of this verse, is that Jesus was totally without help of any kind. He was completely alone and completely abandoned and left that way until the judgment for sin was accomplished.  This was the plan and this was the designed purpose of the Cross.  His sacrifice had to be perfectly carried out in every way.

Even when you have difficulties in your life, there is always God, standing by to help.  No person is ever totally alone.  Regardless of what your situation is, you are never completely abandoned.

You might not have any people standing by your side, but that is irrelevant anyway in life.  God is always there, even if you have your doubts.

Jesus is and was the only person in all of history, who was totally and completely abandoned by all.  And that was for a good reason.  And we should all be very grateful for that.

Daily Bible Study Links – Sun. 2-24-2013


Daily Bible Study Links – Sun. 2-24-2013
Today’s Daily Bible Study:  


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Sunday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:11  –  Alone and helpless was by what design

Daily Bible Study E-Books
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Important links:
Main Daily Bible Study web site:  http://www.DailyBibleStudy.Org  
Daily Bible Study Library:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/library.html

Daily Bible Study News on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jneelyranch 
How to prepare for your daily study:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/how-to-prepare.html

Two Year Bible Reading Plan:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/two_year 
Blog and Feed Subscription Links:  http://www.neelyranch.com/contactus.html

Study rotation of the last seven days:
Sunday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:9  – Where does hope begin 
Monday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:8  – God sent what, and how is it received
Tuesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:9  – Overestimation results from what
Wednesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:10  – What has not changed in history, but needs change
Thursday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:17  –  Why Arabia
Friday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:18 – What is the likely purpose of this meeting
Saturday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:10  – What is the significance of the phrase, ‘out from’ 


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Psalm 22:10


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Psalm 22:10

10 I was cast [shalak] upon thee from the womb: [rechem] thou art my God ['el] from my mother's ['em] belly. [beten]  KJV-Interlinear

10 Upon Thee I was cast from birth; Thou hast been my God from my mother's womb. NASB


The preposition from, shows the place that movement started, and in this case, that movement started ‘from’ the womb.  And this comes to mean, out from the womb. The destination by default exists outside of the womb, not some other location within the womb.

The word for belly, ‘beten,’ also specifies the hollow place or place within the female mother, namely the womb.

This tells us several things.

First, Jesus was born a human being.  He was carried in the mothers womb for nine months and then was born.

Second, his human life began at the point of birth, ‘out from’ the womb. 

And third, that life once it started, came under the sphere of Gods protection.

This is not to say that the fetus was not protected.  But in that case, the mother was protected in order to carry the pregnancy.

But here, until life is introduced, there is no need for protection of the unborn child.  That is not in the sense of human life.

Even in Revelation, we are told that Satan stood ready to destroy the child once it was born.

For until the baby Jesus sprang to life, he could theoretically have been born to any mother.  Herod killed new born male children.  Pharaoh killed new born male children.

But once the child was born, and once that breath of life, which in Genesis is called ‘neshamah,’ or the spark of life, is placed into the infant, then Gods grace for the living, applies.

So, from the womb, from the belly, and it does not say while in the womb, but from the womb, then Jesus was cast, ‘shalak,’ means to throw down, to cast upon, to hurl at. 

And Jesus’ life was hurled, thrown, cast upon God.  Only a life can be cast upon God, not a non-life.

There was never a time in which the humanity of Jesus was unprotected from God.

This also supplements the concept that Jesus was born without a sin nature.

In Adam all have sinned, and that indicates the reason for the lack of the use of Joseph in connection with the virgin birth.

The sin nature is handed down to every child from the father, not the mother.  And therefore all of humanity is born spiritually dead, thus requiring salvation or the plan of salvation in order to be saved.

The only exception was Adam and Eve.  Adam was created, not born, and Eve was constructed out of Adam, not born.  Both came into life without the sin nature.  But then they both sinned and that placed all of humanity in jeopardy.

Eve sinned out of ignorance, but Adam sinned knowing full well what he was doing.  Thus the burden of the sin nature was placed within his genetics and reproductive abilities.

Therefore, Jesus in order to be the perfectly born human baby, and therefore qualify for the cross, not to mention to live the perfect life, had to be born without the sin nature, thus the virgin birth.  Thus He was the second Adam, by beginning life without any burden of sin. 

Joseph was excluded for the process, and the Holy Spirit provided the necessary seed, likewise created out of nothing, to cause the pregnancy in Mary.

So, out from the womb, covers many concepts that point to Jesus as perfect humanity, and under the protection of God, for His entire life, and qualifying Jesus as the perfect candidate in every respect, for Gods plan of salvation.


Daily Bible Study Links – Sat. 2-23-2013


Daily Bible Study Links – Sat. 2-23-2013
Today’s Daily Bible Study:  


Free Mobile Phone App:

Today’s Study

Saturday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:10  – What is the significance of the phrase, ‘out from’ 

Daily Bible Study E-Books
(For your e-book reader or computer)

Important links:
Main Daily Bible Study web site:  http://www.DailyBibleStudy.Org  
Daily Bible Study Library:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/library.html

Daily Bible Study News on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jneelyranch 
How to prepare for your daily study:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/how-to-prepare.html

Two Year Bible Reading Plan:  http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/two_year 
Blog and Feed Subscription Links:  http://www.neelyranch.com/contactus.html

Study rotation of the last seven days:
Sunday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:9  – Where does hope begin 
Monday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:8  – God sent what, and how is it received
Tuesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:9  – Overestimation results from what
Wednesday – Daily Bible Study – Isaiah 9:10  – What has not changed in history, but needs change
Thursday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:17  –  Why Arabia
Friday – Daily Bible Study – Galatians 1:18 – What is the likely purpose of this meeting
Saturday – Daily Bible Study – Psalm 22:8  –  What is the odd truth about this verse


Friday, February 22, 2013

Galatians 1:18


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Galatians 1:18

18 Then [epeita] after [meta] three [treis] years [etos] I went up [anerchomai] to [eis] Jerusalem [Hierosoluma] to see [historeo] Peter, [Petros] and [kai] abode [epimeno] with [pros] him [autos] fifteen [dekapente] days. [hemera]KJV-Interlinear

18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. NASB


Paul explains with great care, that there was a significant interval of time between his meeting with Christ on that road to Damascus where Paul saw Christ and believed and thus was saved, and the time in which he went to Jerusalem.

Three years had passed.

And the point here is that Paul did not gain his knowledge of the true doctrine of the gospel, from anyone other than through divine revelation from God.

His knowledge and understanding was therefore correct and certain, and thorough.

The after three years, his ministry was to begin.

He then went to Jerusalem, to meet Peter, most probably of the first time.  Peter was traditionally viewed as the leader of the apostles and therefore of Christianity.

But remember that just three years prior, Paul, then known as Saul, was the enemy of Christianity.  He sought to persecute Christians, even to the point of having them stoned to death.  So, in that regard, all Christians would likely be afraid of Saul.

And now that he seems to have changed, that most certainly would have been suspect as a trap.  Nevertheless, Peter did meet with Paul and they then became acquainted.  The fear of Paul would have been diminished as a result of this meeting.

Paul states clearly that his knowledge came from God during those three years.  He therefore does not imply that he went to Peter to consult about what he now knows.  After all, who could provide a second opinion to Gods clear instruction?  And of course no one could or can do that.

He visited with Peter for fifteen days, and most likely it was Peter who questioned Paul, because of Pauls extraordinary conversion story, and subsequent instruction.  Then Paul moved on and went about his business as noted in the next few verses.