The Bible Study New Testament

PREFACE TO THE BIBLE STUDY NEW TESTAMENT

A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE  July 1974

The motto of World Radio, West Monroe, Louisiana, is: “Preaching Jesus Christ to every man in his own language.” My purpose is to do just that in the type of American English in use today. As one of the Pioneers said: “It would be just as reasonable to require men to worship God wearing long beards, with Jewish or Roman clothes, as it is to hand them

the Bible in archaic language which is less intelligible and more easily misunderstood.” [A. Campbell 1826] An accurate translation will transmit the message of the original writers in the usage, style, and idiom of the language of translation. In other words, one who reads a translation today should receive the same understanding from the language that a citizen of the First Century world did from reading the original manuscripts in Koine’ Greek.

In this book will be found the thinking of the Pioneers of the Restoration.  The People’s New Testament by B. W. Johnson serves as a pattern, but this is not a revision or even a paraphrase, it is completely new. Almost a century has passed since Johnson completed his work. Manuscripts more ancient have been discovered since then (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls).  More is known about some questions. A strong case can be made linking the thieves crucified with Jesus to the Zealots, who were armed terrorists.  Some new study gives light to the thorny problem of 1 Cor. 14:34-35.  More emphasis has been placed on the sacrifice of Christ extrinsic to ourself, and how we reach out through faith to seize it and make ourselves part of it. Some new thinking on the Book of Revelation penetrates the veil which the Middle Ages placed over this book. I have adopted the overall view called “synchronistic,” which to me seems the most logical and reasonable explanation of this book [which was obviously written to suffering Christians in the last ten years of the First Century].  Twenty-five years of my personal ministry, over five hundred books (many by the Restoration Pioneers), plus thousands of papers, tracts, magazines, etc., of widely varying religious communities, have been distilled in this book. I have made a conscious attempt to avoid the language of any one group, and as much as possible, to avoid “technical church language.” The style grows out of spending three and a half years trying to pack as much meaning as possible into a daily five-minute radio program. I have used a conversational approach, and you will sometimes find an unusual grammatical construction, either to conform to current usage, or to stress some special fact. I have made an effort to conform to the vocabulary of the Today’s English Version, Third Edition.  In this book are the two most important translations of our time. When Good News for Modern Man first came out, I recognized in it the same empathy as the Authorized Version of 1611. This makes it unique among the new versions. I believe that Good News for Modern Man (The Today’s English Version) has already become the New Authorized Version, and that this is God’s will. It has had its “baptism of fire,” survived, and gained strength. This same phenomenon has taken place in many other languages, and we have the counterpart of “Today’s English Version’’ in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, etc., - a flood of new versions making God‘s Truth available in spoken language of common people. I believe God is using these new versions to call men to himself - just as He used the German version by Luther, the English version by Tyndale, etc.

The New International Version is described as a worthy successor to the American Standard Version of 1901. Pat Patterson calls it: “A careful new translation.” It is an “evangelical” version, made in scholarly style.  This makes for both strengths and weaknesses. This version has yet to undergo its “baptism of fire,” but will certainly survive to take its rightful place.

The name of this book shows its purpose: “The Bible Study New Testament.” There can be no “short-cut” to spirituality! God has revealed himself to us in a book - the Bible - and we must STUDY to find him.  Paul said (in the language of King James): “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. ”

Written from Lynchburg, Virginia, July 1974.

R. D. Ice

Bible Study New Testament - May 27, 2003.

                Greetings from Wild & Wonderful West Virginia, the scene of much history.  This has been my home since 1986.  I am the preacher and an elder of the Union Church of Christ, about five miles SW of Philippi.  I will be 74 on June 25th, 2003.

                I wrote the final material for the Bible Study New Testament from 1974-1976.  College Press in Joplin, MO, was the publisher.  Thanks to brother Don DeWelt and others.  It was originally planned as a paperback for the mass market, and some language and style was aimed that way.  I got permission from the American Bible Society to use their TEV Good News Bible; and from the International Bible Society to use the NIV.  These were quite popular at the time, and the NIV has since been widely used among the brethren.  The Good News Bible also continues in wide use.

                I followed the general outline of Johnson's Notes [The People's New Testament, B. W. Johnson], but the material is all my own.  I did careful research from the original languages and made careful comparison with what others have written.  [I wrote, commenting on James 4:1.  "For this reason I have not relied on my own scholarship, but have drawn heavily from the minds and abilities of many individuals.]  I used Young's Analytical Concordance, The Expositor's Greek Testament, Alford's Greek Testament, La Sankta Biblio translated by Zamenhof, many other writings, plus my years of experience.

                I did a poor job of proofreading.  I had onIy a typewriter, no wordprocessor or spellchecker.  I wrote waste for water in one reference (waste and the Spirit); and cased for chased in another.  Please excuse such errors.  I could plead that only someone who has dealt with writing and printing can appreciate all that goes into searching for printing errors, misspellings, and wrong words.  Yet the Lord allowed me to get this into print.

                A one-volume edition of the BSNT was printed shortly after the two-volume, and some of the errors were corrected.  Also I wrote a new introduction for the one-volume edition, and added a longer word-subject list.

                I have written extensively in brotherhood publications, especially The Bible Herald, Parkersburg, WV (when Clifton Inman was editor) and The Firm Foundation, Austin, TX (when Reuel Lemmons was editor), the Gospel Advocate, and others.  Through the electronic medium and the Internet, much lives on - which I hope the Lord will approve of and bless, as He has continued to bless me over the years.

                Yours in Christ, R.D.Ice.   Written from Barbour County, West Virginia, 5-27-2003.

                P.S.: I have included a copy of the Adobe 5 reader to read the books in .pdf format.  I am also including some things I found of interest and use.  P.P.S: Church of Christ Ministry Manual.  http://cofcministrymanual.blogspot.com/

                P.P.S:  College Press has now made the Bible Study New Testament available as a PDF download.

BSNT vol 1  http://www.collegepress.com/cp/pdf/New%20Testament%20Vol%201.pdf

BSNT vol 2  http://www.collegepress.com/cp/pdf/New%20Testament%20Vol%202.pdf  

Pray For Holy Boldness

Pray for Holy Boldness.

   “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:31 (NKJV)

    “In praying for boldness the apostles give an intimation of the manner in which they expected it to be imparted to them. It was not by some direct and internal spiritual impact, but by external manifestations of His continued presence and favor: “by stretching out His hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be wrought through the name of Jesus.”  31. The prayer for boldness was answered at once, and in the way they had requested. (31) “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.” The shaking of the house, attended by a conscious renewal of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, gave them the boldness for which they prayed, because it assured them that God was still with them.” —Acts of the Apostles - McGarvey

    1. Fear (worldly fear) is not a Christian attitude.  It is the attitude of a soul behind bars.  Judas was an example of worldly sorrow.  He killed himself.  He regretted his action but did not repent.  Matt. 27:3-10.

    “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Cor 7:10 (NKJV)

    “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  Rev 21:8 (NKJV)

    2. Holy fear brings us to God.

    Peter had godly sorrow and repented and came back to God.

    “And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)

    “Jesus sees Simon Peter’s denial as a violent attack by Satan, which Peter endures through Jesus’ intercessory prayer.  After his tearful repentance and the experience of the Resurrection, Peter indeed returned to Christ and was able to strengthen the early church as one of its leaders.”  Wallerstedt

    “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.  For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”  2 Cor 7:10-11 (NKJV)

    3. Are You Fully Alive?  Irenaeus, a bishop and early Church Father, wrote, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” I love this quote. In one sentence he describes what it means to be holy. To be holy means being fully alive; to be holy means being fully the persons God created us to be.”

    “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:10-11 (NKJV)

    “Do we need to perform man-made rituals and works in order to gain a hearing before the Redeemer?  No!  We come through God’s work, Holy Baptism, to be joined to Christ.  For Jesus Christ triumphs over the conditions of fallen existence – sin, death, the flesh, the Law, and evil spirits – by His death & resurrection.  In the OT rite of circumcision only a small piece of flesh is removed; in  the circumcision of Christ, our baptism, we die to the flesh and live to God.”  Wallerstedt

    “It is the supreme discovery of life that we need not punish ourselves in a hopeless effort to earn God’s forgiveness.  It is freely offered to all. We must gladly accept His gift of love on the terms offered.  A grateful heart will make the best effort to please Him.  No longer do we as criminals seek by our own strength to escape our chains, rather as faithful children we do our best to please our loving Father.”  J.H.Waddey

    “Speaking about the 23 Coptic Christian martyrs beheaded by Islamic militants in Libya in February, he emphasized that these martyrs gave testimony to God’s accompaniment even in times of trial.  They were certain that God did not abandon them.”  P.F.

GOD'S FAMILY

God’s Family

    Pentecost opened God’s Door for all people to become men/women of God’s Family.  Faith in Jesus is the victory!

    God’s Open Door. 

    "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”  Rev 3:7-8 (NKJV)

    “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”  Acts 18:9-11 (NKJV)

    Sons and Daughters of God.

    “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”  Romans 8:15-17 (NKJV)

    “For an answer: what you were given was the certificate of being a son or daughter (depending) and by His Spirit we get to call the totally Awesome God “Dad” (“Abba, Father”)! And somehow His Spirit inside us whispers, “It’s kosher.” And it doesn’t take a genius to work out that if we’re God’s adopted kids, then we’re in line for a pretty massive inheritance as God’s heirs, sharing it with Jesus. Given that we’re part of His struggles, we’ll also get to be part of the party.”  Lacey  

    “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Gal 3:26-29 (NKJV)

    “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  Eph 2:19-22 (NKJV)

    Because of Christ's sacrifice for sins, both Jewish and Gentile believers receive the Holy Spirit, which makes it possible for them to approach God openly and boldly. Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners. Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God's family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews.  “For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

    Live as God’s Holy People.

   “Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."  Matt 22:37-40 (NKJV)

    “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”  Romans 12:14-15 (NKJV)

    “Paul called on the Corinthians to realize their identity as God's "holy people" (2 Cor 1:1) in two ways: They were to separate themselves from moral evil, and they were to be dedicated to God in holy living and service. Christians are therefore urged, "Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God" (2 Cor 7:1).—NLT Study Bible

    “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.  Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:18-21 (NKJV)