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American Views on the Bible

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Trend Update with tags Bible, Gallup, God, Holy Spirit, morals, poll, values, Word of God on July 7, 2022 by paulthepoke

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness…

Gallup has recently completed a poll and has released its data. The poll focuses on how Americans view the Bible. The poll has been taking place since 1976. This is part of the values and beliefs survey.

Gallup divides into three groups. The Bible is the “actual word of God”; the “inspired word of God;” and “ancient book of fables”.

The “inspired” group does not take all the content of the Bible literally.

The last group sees the Bible as a collection of “fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.”

Full disclosure: it is the view and position of this blog that the Bible is the actual, literal word of God that is inspired by God. The human authors of the Bible were inspired by God the Holy Spirit. The Bible is to be viewed in a grammatical, historical, and cultural context of the time it was written. The blog would identify with the “actual word of God” group.

Americans’ Views of the Bible, by Religious Affiliation

	% Actual word of God	% Inspired word of God	% Ancient book of fables
All U.S. adults	20	49	29
Christian adults	25	58	16
Adults identifying with all other religions and no religious identity	6	26	65

May 2-22, 2022

2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

According to the polling data, the number of people who take the Bible literally is declining across time.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

Revelation: Philadelphia, Keep My Word

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags church, Isaiah 22, Jesus Christ, John 1, Matthew 11, miracles, Philadelphia, Word of God on November 26, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 3:8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

For those who need a reminder, Jesus “knows”. In this case, the word is οἶδα/oida. Defined by Strong’s, it means to remember or appreciate. Literally, it is to see with our physical eyes. Jesus is literally watching us with His eyes. And by watching, He mentally gets where we are spiritually by our works.

https://paulthepoke.com/2017/07/08/revelation-sardis-god-is-all-knowing/

Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. Christ is reminding believers He is ultimately in control. This is a continuation of the concept from Revelation 3:7. This concept has its origins in the Old Testament. Isaiah 22:22 is an example. Jesus is authority. He holds the keys.

I know that you have but little power…The word for “know” in this case is ἔχω/echo in the Greek. It means: to hold or possess.

The church in Philadelphia possessed little power. Little or μικρός/micros is the idea. This is where we get the prefix of a microscope in English.

The Greek word for “power” is δύναμις/dunamis. The word defined: might, force, energy, physical power, or marvelous works. We get the English word “dynamite” from this Greek word.

Christ described His miracles as δύναμις/dunamis.

Matthew 11:20-21 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes…” -Jesus

Believers in Philadelphia had a little dynamite. We need reminding today. We can pack a punch in Christ’s name.

…you have kept my word…The church at Philadelphia watched and guarded His λόγος/logos or word. The Word is synonymous with His name. Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Believers in Jesus are charged to guard and protect His Word, the Bible.

…have not denied my name. The Greek word for “name” is ὄνομα/onoma. Per Strong’s, it can be translated as: name, character, fame, or reputation. The “name” is used for everything which the “name” covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the “name”.

The character and essence of Christ are at stake. He is watching and paying attention to the individual believer. Will you defend and stand up for the character of Jesus?

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