>> Jeff Chamblee: The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.
Bert Harper and Alex McFarland study Isaiah in Exploring the Word
Welcome to Exploring the word.
>> Bert Harper: Isaiah, 41, verse 10. Speaking to Israel, about their future, but also look into us because we have this same promise. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. This is Exploring the Word. Bert Harper, Alex McFarland here. And we're going through the book of Isaiah and we're in chapter 41 today again, 66 chapters. Like there is 66 books in the Bible. The first 39 chapters kind of deal more with judgment, and then the last 27 deals with the promise of Messiah and deliverance. And so, as Alex has said, Isaiah, the miniature Bible, 66 chapters. But we're in chapter 41. And Alex, again, we, see so many Bible verses in chapter 41 that I guess we claim and say, man, that verse really speaks to my heart. we're getting to that area where you have the servant, songs and all the promises. all scripture is given inspiration to God. But when you come to some of these, they're mountaintops and deep, deep truths, aren't they?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, they really are. They really are, like you say, mountaintops. And for those that are watching on video, I'm going to hold up my Bible. You opened up with Isaiah 41:10 and I have that underlined right here. And that verse is very significant for a couple of reasons. they're the, the two authors, George Keith and the other author, I'm trying to remember. but that verse inspired the hymn How Firm a Foundation. fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. I will help thee. I will uphold you with the right hand of m, my righteousness. And supposedly that verse and several others in Isaiah inspired the hymn How Firm a Foundation. But I want to also take note of verse eight because it's interesting. What is Israel, God's servant? Thou, Israel, are my servant Jacob, whom I have chosen the seed of Abraham, my friend. Isn't it interesting because Jesus also was called the servant of God also. He obviously the Son of God, God the Son. But isn't it something that Israel, this nation, is Called God's servant.
>> Bert Harper: It is, Alex. And guess who the responsibility of, being the servant? Of making God known to the nations. We'll get to that. To make him known. Especially in chapter 42, the first Servant song talks about a light to the nations. That was their calling. It's our calling that we are to go in all the world and make disciples. So in chapter 41, it's kind of divided into four areas. As I was studying and looking at it at several people. The first seven verses is a promised leader that's going to come. Now, we know that leader is Cyrus, and when we get later on, he'll be named even before he's serving. And then, like you said, verse 8 through 16, is Israel the servant of what they're going to do. In other words, Israel is facing captivity, but here he's given the promise. I'm. I'm going to be with you. You don't have. And then in verse 17, it introduces the idea, the contrast. It's like a desert, but it's going to be made into a garden. Again, this has kingdom, emphasis, too, Alex. You know, the kingdom that Messiah will bring in. But the Last 1, verses 21, 29, is like a courtroom. Look at verse 21. Present your case, and we'll get to that. But when you look at that, it's divided into those categories. But first it says, keep silence before me, o Coastlands. Verse 1. And let the people renew their strength. Let them come near. Let them speak. Let us come near, together for judgment. renew their strength. Alex, every time I say the word renew, it really, challenges me. Bert, what are you doing? Romans 12, you know, 1 and 2.
>> Alex McFarland: Renew your minds.
>> Bert Harper: Renew your minds. And we really are, His mercies are new every morning. So therefore, what are we to do? We're to renew ourselves unto him, aren't we?
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And, you know, that is so important not only for knowledge. I mean, we are to be knowledgeable, and we are to study the Bible, you know, study to show ourselves approved. But, Bert, I think about this, because actions are an outflow of beliefs and priorities. I mean, what we think is true and what we think is important informs how we live. Beliefs shape behaviors. But also, too, I think about just emotionally, to stay positive and hopeful and even really joyful. we have to have our mind fixed on God and his Word. Because I'm telling you, if all you're doing is looking at the daily news and circumstances down here, you know, you're going to get discouraged. And depressed pretty quickly. And so this thing of being renewed, it is transformative to focus on not only who God is, but all that we have in God.
Alex: Isaiah 42:10 speaks of God seeing to the ends of earth
But, notice there in verse one and verse five, the word isles, which really is a biblical. Does your translation.
>> Bert Harper: Coastlines and, mines. Coastlands. Yes.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, the Bible uses the word isles I S L E s a lot, generally talking about the nations, other than Israel.
>> Bert Harper: Right.
>> Alex McFarland: You know, and really, the unevangelized, you know, it says that, like in Isaiah 24:15, that the name of God will be glorified in the isles of the sea. Ultimately, you know, the. The nations will know. And yesterday you quoted Philippians 2 about how one day every knee will bow unto Jesus. And, Isaiah 42:10 says that we're to sing to the Lord a new song and all the isles and inhabitants thereof. And by the way, it was that verse Isaiah 42:10. We'll get there. But the word. I'm focusing here on the word isles as in the ends of the earth. That was what motivated Christopher Columbus to try to find, a route to quote, the NewSong World, the North American continent. And he. Based on Isaiah. Ah, Christopher Columbus said, and I quote, he said that he was to bear the light of Christ to unreached coastlands. Isles. So this idea of the God seeing to the ends of the earth. Now in verse five, it says, well, let me go back. Because what it starts out is declaring the greatness of God and the finitude or the weakness of man. Really. verse four. Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning. I, the Lord, the first and the last. I am He. Okay. God knows all, of the people even before they're born. Isn't that something? That's one of the reasons that we are believers in the sanctity of human life. Because every person is known unto God even before they're born. The isles saw it and feared the ends of the earth, Were afraid, drew near and came. Bert, a lot of people and people groups, they fear the God they don't even know. And that's right, we should be humble and reverent and, yes, even fearful of God. But once we have Jesus, we're at peace with God. I think there's just so much to be said about God's knowledge of the human race and God's knowledge of each of us.
>> Bert Harper: And he knows us, and he knows that we're but dust made of dust. He knows our frailties. He knows our strength, strengths. There's nothing hidden from him. Verses 2 through 4, you see a repeated word. Who, who raised up one who is righteous, who gave. Again, God is pinpointing, I think, two things. Yes, it describes what Christ will do and be. But I think it's also describing the leader that will bring Israel out of bondage there in Babylon and bring them back to the land of Jerusalem. That he says, I'm going to have a remnant there and you're going to come back. And, So it is he. I love it. Verse four, the last phrase. I, ah, the Lord am the first, and with the last, I am M. He. Listen, that's who he is. The alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. And Alex, you introduced verse five. Look at verse six. Everyone helped his neighbor and said to his brother, be of good courage. Now this is what Isaiah's trying to get these. They are going into captivity. They're going to be discouraged. But he's trying to give them courage and strength to let them know God's not through with them. God's not through with Jerusalem. He has a plan. So be of good courage. Now, what others are going to do? In verse seven, the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith who smooths with a hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, saying it is ready for the soldering. Then he fastened it with pegs that it might not totter. In other words, they try to raise. We discussed that yesterday, about a God they're trying to keep up. No, it's not that. It is God who does this. He's the one who performs it. And Alex, I love that he's the God that performs and carries out his promises, isn't he?
>> Alex McFarland: He sure is. God is absolutely trustworthy and his word is guaranteed. I did like that yesterday. verse seven about this idol. And they got to prop it up so it doesn't fall over like Dagon did.
>> Bert Harper: That's right.
>> Alex McFarland: and I mentioned there in verse 8 that Israel is called God's servant. And Jacob, the seed of Abraham, my friend, thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, thou art my servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away. See, that's important. Verse nine, that Israel has not been cast away. Now, I'm not talking about salvation. To be born again, as John 3 says, you must be born from above. Every human needs to turn to Christ and be saved. But I want to say this like verse 9. God has not cast away Israel this is reiterated by Paul in Romans 3:3 and Romans 11. It is that the Abrahamic covenant is still in effect. And that was a covenant. And you can read this in Genesis 12 and Genesis 17. But of seed, soil and Savior, and certainly God has made the Jewish people a populous people, and through Israel the Savior came, Jesus.
This thing of forcing Israel to cede land to Palestinian terrorists is wrong
But let's talk about the soil, element of the Abrahamic covenant. The land of Israel belongs to, to the nation of Israel. And that's why really I cringe and I don't say this with any animosity toward Arabic people. I want all people to be saved. But this thing of forcing Israel to cede land to Palestinian, terrorist groups, that's wrong. By historical precedent and by divine right, that land was, is and ever will be, promised to the seed of Abraham. Agreed?
>> Bert Harper: Agreed. Alex, it's there. Notice I have chosen you and have not cast you away. Now again we're looking at the seven years in Babylon. In other words, if he could bring them back from Babylon, what did he did, what he did in 1948 by bringing Israel back in, as you said, the soil to the land that God had given them. Just because they were departing for 70 years into captivity does not mean somebody else had the right to claim the land. God had it preserved for them. The same thing was true here, in 1948. This is their land. And so he says, fear not, I am with you. Now we're going to come back. Look at more verse 10 and following. Don't go away because again there's some more great promises here in Isaiah 41.
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>> Bert Harper: What.
>> Caroline: A privilege to per.
>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. What a friend we have in Jesus. More good. We call it bumper Mute music, when we come back. And Brent Austin really picks good music always. We appreciate Brent doing that.
Bert: We need to pray for persecuted Christians around the world
Hey, we're going to resume Isaiah chapter 41. let me just say this. You know that line in the song, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Bert, I saw an article and I say this, asking that everybody, please be in prayer for the persecuted church around the world. Nigeria was the. This is the headline, in 2025, the epicenter of the global killing of Christians. And there is a lot of persecution around the world. But in Nigeria, they topped the list of, 5,000 Christians killed, by the end of September. And how many were in the final quarter of the year? it's estimated maybe 1300 more. But, you know, here in America, even with all of our problems, we can worship in relative safety. And I think about the, more than 5,000 Christians killed for being a believer in Jesus in Nigeria and elsewhere, we really do need to remember to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world.
>> Bert Harper: We really do. And, listen, what, Islam is doing, and it is those Islamic terrorists that's taking them on. And, again, we need to pray. There are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. And like we said from Iran, again, what has God has done there? And now, listen, I know we can't be the policeman of the world. America cannot. But we as a church, we are to pray for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, in Iran, and North Korea, in China. I mean, they, they're suffering because they are followers of Jesus Christ. Let's just pray for them right now. Alex, would you do that? Since I think we talk about prayer. Let's do it. Okay.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
Let's agree together in prayer, folks. Father, in the name of Jesus
Let's agree together in prayer, folks. Father, in the name of Jesus, first of all and foremost, we praise you for who you are, the eternal God, the God who keep covenant. Thank you, Lord, that you've given us your word and your promises. And Lord, you keep your word not only for salvation and, protection, but also for judgment. And the Bible does tell us that you see and you know everything, and one day you are coming to, have the, the day of reckoning. But Lord, we pray for the salvation of lost souls. Lord. I know that the answer that would instantly end jihad Terrorism would be if Muslims would follow Jesus and be born again. Lord. And we pray for, Iran. Lord, it is a revolution. And I'm thrilled that people are burning down mosques and that false demonic religion of Islam is facing opposition. but, Lord, we pray for peace and security and the protection of the lives of people. Lord, I pray for the church all around the world. There are Christians in Iran. There are even Christians in North Korea. There are Christians in Nigeria, and thousands have died. So, Lord, we pray in the name of Jesus, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that persecution and martyrdom of believers would end. And, Lord, spread the gospel. And, Lord, I just pray for our nation. Lord, I know we've seen in Minnesota and, many places in America, uprisings and riots and fighting and lawlessness. And, Lord, I know all of. All of these problems we have here at home are because our nation has drifted away from you. Lord, I pray for the. The Supreme Court decisions and that people would stop all this. This delusion of transgenderism. And, Lord, help our leaders, our elected officials, the judges, sitting on the judicial benches. Help them to judge righteously. I pray for professors in colleges and teachers in classrooms to teach truth, not indoctrination. Lord, we pray in Jesus name for a roadblock against that which is false and evil. And we pray for the spirit of God to spread that which is true and good and righteous. We pray for our churches, our pastors, parents and families. Lord, like Habakkuk says that the knowledge of the Lord would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. That's what we pray for. And let it begin in each one of our hearts today. Father, cleanse us, fill us, use us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank you, Alex. And we really do. Join us in praying, for these brothers and sisters all over the world that are following Christ. And, we go to church, and if we can't find a parking place or if something's inconvenient, we complain.
>> Alex McFarland: Or if we're late to the restaurant.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah. After church. But listen, my brothers and sisters, in a lot of places, they're walking miles to get there. And, listen, they know they can enter. Like in Nigeria. They enter, but they may not walk out because, Islam is targeting them. And that's a lot of the times where it's happened. Well, Alex, God says there is a promise. And guess what he says in verse 10, the first verse. Fear not. Guess what he says in verse 13. Fear not. I will help you. Guess what he says in verse 14. Fear not. We're not to live in fear, of being afraid of what might or could. We are to trust the Lord always. And so he says, do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: What a promise that is. Alex. I know we've gone over it, but we could spend the whole hour on that verse. But, it starts with fear not. I am with you when he is with us. I want to ask, is that sufficient?
>> Alex McFarland: Oh, amen. Amen. And, those words appear, I'm told 366 times in the Bible. Fear not, verse 11. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded. They shall be as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. this, I don't mean to go backwards, but, verse two says that God raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, and gave the nations before him and made him rule over kings. Now there's speculation, but quote, that man from the east is probably Abraham, who is the father of the Jewish nation. And verse 11, just as God promised Abraham that, nations would really bow before him and rule over kings, all the enemies are going to be confounded. And let me just say, and we've talked about this before, like the, the Six Day War of 1967, and even the terrorist, attacks on Israel in, October 7th of 2023, the most losing proposition ever in history has certainly borne this out. Those nations that decide that they're going to fight Israel, you know, in the Six Day War of 1967, the, half dozen Islamic nations that attacked Israel, 200,000 troops versus 20,000 Jewish troops. And, the invading, armies suffered over a hundred thousand casualties. And Israel suffered like 1500 casualties. And so those that decide they're going to attack Israel, I mean, look at Hitler, and the Third Reich, the Holocaust. I mean, really, all the nations that decide they're going to exterminate the Jews, they suffer for doing it. But, look at verse 13. for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee. Fear not, I will help thee. Now let me just say this. Fear not, thou worm. Jacob, in verse 14, the Israelites are called a worm. Bert, did you in some of your commentaries read about this?
>> Bert Harper: I did, I did.
Alex: Verse 14 compares a servant and a worm in Isaiah
And it's compare a servant and a worm. Now again, Alex, in our own being, in our own, who we Are, now a, worm. Notice what they want to do. They're going to take down mountains and they're. Verse, 15. take the hills like Shaph. a worm doing that never. And in other words, in their own power, in their own strength. Okay, in our own power and in our own strength. No way. But. But God, Alex, go ahead.
>> Alex McFarland: But God. Well, you know, in. In some modern hymnals, if they even do, alas, and did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head? And modern hymnals will say, for someone such as I. But that's not the lyric. The original lyrics said, for such a worm as I. And if we're honest, we are a worm, compared to God. Now, I will say this. The type of worm referenced in verse 14 was a worm that, A fragile little worm that could be squished.
>> Bert Harper: But.
>> Alex McFarland: But it had teeth that could take down hardwood trees. This particular worm could fell an oak tree. And with God. You're right. In verse 15 talks about the teeth. The, I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument. Having teeth. Thou shalt thresh the mountains and beat them small, and shall make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away. The lost nation and the enemies of Israel that are really enemies of God, they're like chaff, the husks that blow away. And here's what Israel, and I would say by extension us, today, the church. Thou shalt rejoice in the Lord and shall glory in the Holy One of Israel.
>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah.
>> Alex McFarland: We say hallelujah. Amen.
>> Bert Harper: Praises God. That's it. That is the whole thing. And that's the climax here of the servant, because it changes, a view. Another illustration. Another scene from, verse 16 to 17. So it ends with this great crescendo. You shall rejoice in the Lord and glory in his Holy One of his. When you see who God is, what he's done, where he is, what he's going to do, you rejoice in him. Verse 17 introduces this. When the poor and needy seek water, there is none in their tongues. Fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them. Notice how many times I will. You know, I'm going to see all these repeated words, but listen to see what God says. I will. I, The Lord will hear them. I, The God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate, heights and mountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness, a pool of water. The dry land, springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness. The cedar and the Achaia, the, myrtle and the oil tree I will set in the desert. The cypress and the pine. The box. And then it says this and that they may see and know and consider and understand together. Here it is. That the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it. Alex, each time he comes to this climactic result, in verse 13, I will help you. In verse, again here in this passage of Scripture that we read in verse 16, you shall rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel. After you've seen me turn this desert into a garden, what will you do? That the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it. It brings glory and honor. When you understand and you look at the finished product of what God's going to produce, it brings glory, doesn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: It does. It really does. I love verse 17. And we've said this. I know I'm being redundant, but just so many of these verses in Isaiah are just golden but says, when the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I, the Lord will hear them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. What a great promise. it goes on. It talks about, you know, bringing rivers, and, the dry land will have water. I want to get down there. And, Bert, you feel free to go back and, you know, parse, this out if you want to. But why does God do what he does? All right. That they may see and know and consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel created it. Ah, all right.
Why do we believe in God? Well, because he's revealed himself
Verse 20. God reveals Himself. It's almost like Psalm 19. The heavens and earth declare the glory of God. The law of the Lord is perfect. people ask me sometimes, why do you believe in God? Like, and I'll be at a college in Mississippi on January 29th doing a Q&A for two hours. And, why do we believe in God? And, of course, specifically Jesus? Well, because he's revealed himself. and if you want to defend, why Christianity is reasonable, remember these four letters, folks. Ccss, Creation Conscience, Scripture, Savior. These four things are best understood in terms of Jesus being real and God existing. And here's, like, verse 20. God reveals Himself so people may see, know, consider, and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this, by the way, consider, in Isaiah 1:18 it says, Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they should be as white as snow. Bert, God doesn't want us to switch off our brain. He Think about it, ponder and do the wisest thing you'll ever do. Come to the Lord. Christianity doesn't mean, as Josh McDowell would say, checking our brain at the door, does it?
>> Bert Harper: It does not. And notice. Now, mine says, see, know, consider, understand together. Now, when, when you put your all that you can sense and see and know together, what's the result? The hand of the Lord has done this. It cannot be explained any other way. The Holy One of Israel has created this. It cannot be explained any other way. Well, we're going to take phone calls and if your Bible questions, that number is 888-589-8840.
Brent MacArthur: The Bible hits the doubt head on with evidence
>> Jeff Chamblee: As we watch world events unfold and fulfill scripture, it's hard to believe anyone could doubt God and His Word are real. And yet there are so many who either question or completely refuse to believe it. The God who speaks is a 90 minute document that hits the doubt head on with evidence that proves God is real and His Word is the ultimate authority. Watch it anytime and invite others to watch with you. Just visit stream.afa.net that's stream.aca.net Holy, holy.
>> Alex McFarland: Holy though the darkness, though the eye of sinful. Ah, man, thy glory may not see. Only thou art holy, there is none, beside thee. Perfect, empowering love and purity.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Brent, you did good. Well, you do good every day. But listen, what a friend we have in Jesus. Holy, holy, holy. I thought I was at church singing, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. That's a good, great song.
>> Bert Harper: Isn't it great? Isaiah six, and those, those seraphim, you know, with six different wings. Two they flew, you know, and two they covered their face and their feet. But they said, no matter where we fly and we see God, he's holy.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: There's nothing lacking in our God. We want you to know that you who are listening today, there's nothing lacking in our God for his goodness toward you. Well, Alex, we've got people that's called in. And, that number again, we do have some lines open. We usually get to five. We try to get close to five calls. That's at least our goal. Sometimes we get seven every once in a while. That's Brent's. that's his goal. But let's start and see how many we get today? Let's go to Kentucky. And Steve, thank you for calling.
>> Caroline: Yeah, good afternoon, Burton.
>> Bert Harper: Alex.
>> Caroline: every time I listen to you guys, I feel like I landed on an island of sanity.
>> Caroline: Thank you.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, amen. To God be the glory.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Hey, it's the word. Let me tell you. It's the word of God, that. This is it. And. Okay, I won't go on. Go ahead with your question, brother. Thank you.
>> Caroline: You can change your name to Sanity Island.
>> Bert Harper: Exploring the word also called Sanity Island. Okay. We consider that. That's all. right. Go ahead, brother.
>> Caroline: So some of these new translations, they use what's called dynamic equivalency, where the translator is trying to translate the meaning and the thought. But by doing that, isn't it becoming a commentary?
>> Bert Harper: Alex, That's a good question. Yeah, let me just share that with you. I'm glad we have some new translations. You know, I am. I love them, but, if we're going to be good stewards, I'm just. I'm on my soapbox right now, Alex. If I'm on my soapbox, I know there's not a lot of money in it, but for as believers, putting our money and translating the Scriptures into languages that do not have the word of God be so much better spent. Go ahead. I've already got. I got my 10 cents in. Go ahead, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, and let me just say that, I know this is going to sound kind of weird. We, don't need any more English translations.
>> Bert Harper: That's it. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: I mean, we really don't. And you know, of course, any Bible translation, it is possible that whether accidentally or intentionally, you know, the, the impact of God's word can be distorted or lessened. Now, in translation m. Philosophies, there's what the caller reference, which is called dynamic equivalence, which is kind of thought for thought. But there's also what's called formal equivalence, which is like a literal word for word exchange. And so, we've had many questions about what is the best Bible translation. The formal equivalence translations are like the NewSong American Standard Bible, which John MacArthur used almost exclusively. The NASB, there's one called the ESV, which is a very popular and I think a good translation. Then the dynamic equivalence was more like the niv, and, you know, the Billy Graham ministry, gave away NIV Bibles for a long time. And it's a good, you know, translation, kind of in the middle. and I'm glad it's really gotten some good traction in recent, years. Has been. It's called the CSB Christian Standard. When it came out about 12, 13 years ago, we, were asked to write an endorsement for it, which we did. Holman Christian Standard Bible. So if you see hcsb, that's the same, they shortened it to csb. Bert, I like that. in fact, I knew, Dr. Ken Hemphill, who is former president of Southwestern Seminary, was on the translation committee. but, you know, I think the big thing is that we need to not just, talk about it, we need to read it and believe it.
>> Bert Harper: I'm just going to say I love the King James and I use the new King James. Alex used the King James. Alex has to stop and say, okay, this, word means and what the new King James that I love, I do because it keeps the rhythm of the King James, which is, I would say smooth, you know, hard, you know, easy.
Steve: I think using words lends to better Bible study
but, there are some good ones. There are some that are better. I like the ones that are more, less dynamic in there, trying to figure it out and, using the words. And I think it, I think it lends to better Bible study. that's my thoughts. Hey, Steve, thank you. Let's go to Chris in Texas. Chris, thank you for calling.
>> Caroline: Oh, thank you for, thank you for hearing me.
Chris: I'm wondering what y' all think about Young's Literal translation
I was just wondering, what y' all think about Young's Literal translation and if it's a good side by side to read with the new King James version. Just yalls opinion on it.
>> Bert Harper: Young's. Alex, you familiar with this?
>> Alex McFarland: I've got Young's Analytical Concordance and you know, the, the Young's Literal translation. I forgot, to be honest, I forgot that existed. There was a man named Robert Young, and he was a scholar. so I, guess would be the ylt. as far as I know, it's really good. It's, you know, well over 100 years old. This was kind of back in the late 1800s. I've never heard anything bad about it. And I really do love Young's analytical.
>> Bert Harper: It is, it is good. That's what threw me off. I was thinking about the concordance and having a good concordance in a Bible dictionary alongside if, you're going to do, you know, it helps tremendously. And even words that are translated accurately, man going back as Alex does so well because he's a linguist and he knows, what is the literal meaning of that word. And many of them are compounded words, different words and it, when you fill that in, it really makes it effective. Chris, I don't think you'll go wrong there.
Aaron: Why would God himself used men to write these books
Okay, Eryn in Mississippi. Eryn, what's your question today, brother?
>> Caroline: Hey, I want to thank y' all again for doing this show. It's real informative and, more dig, more questions.
>> Bert Harper: I got, I know the feeling.
>> Caroline: I picked up, I picked up a book the other day, the Book of Enoch, and I read a little bit in it and I'm, I got more questions about, about all of it. Now, first of all, how do we know that, we're doing the right thing by picking up a book that says it's been deleted from the Bible or wasn't included? And why would they not include, you know, books in the Bible that they found that they consider to be related to the, Bible? What would be the purpose of that?
>> Bert Harper: Okay, Eryn, let me make a broad statement. Then Alex, he gets down in the grass and nitty gritty of this a great way, in a fantastic way that we need to hear. If you trust God given his word, okay, you can also trust God to preserve and collect his Word. Why would God himself used men to write these books? I mean here, Moses wrote Paul wrote the prophets wrote John wrote God. And it was dynamic. It wasn't like they were in a trance that, okay, here I go. God. No, Luke says we did this accordingly. After I did my research, I sat down to put it in record, but God preserved it. And God also helped us collect it. Alex, tell a little bit about the collection and what it was that made Enoch not in it and why, Titus is in it.
>> Alex McFarland: this is a great question and I would encourage people to read. there are a number of books about how we got the canon. One is by a man named FF Bruce. Bert, when I was in seminary, and I would assume you as well. FF Bruce was hugely respected name in conservative biblical scholarship. But Neil Lightfoot, how we got the Bible, Norm, Geisler wrote a book called From God to Us. how the Bible Came to Man. But this is important. The Old Testament. And by the way, the so called Book of Enoch was written about, 300 years before the birth of Christ. Now the Old Testament was completed 400 years before the birth of Christ, Genesis through Malachi. And this is very important. No group of Jews ever, ever considered the Book of Enoch as scripture. Now it's pseudepigraphal, which means falsely attributed. It really wasn't written by the biblical figure Enoch. And there was never A Christian group who considered it as certainly what part of the NewSong Testament now? One group and one group only. about 300 years after the life of Christ, there was, an Ethiopian sect that viewed it as scripture. But I certainly would not take that to make the Book of Enoch canonical. And see, the thing about it is this. it's not about Israel or Jesus, because it was before Christ, but there is, It's really. The genre is called Jewish folklore, and it deals with fallen angels who mated with human women. And, I mean, I would say it's a historical curiosity, might be interesting, but it was never. Not by Jews or Christians. It was never viewed as scripture. And, Bert, let me just say this, and I'll get off of my little soapbox. People, love a, conspiracy theory. and the Old Testament, no one really seriously questions the canonicity of the Old Testament because for centuries, even before the birth of Christ, we knew the world knew what Genesis, through Malachi, was now the NewSong Testament canon, the 27 canonical NewSong Testament books that was known within 30 to 50 years after John on the isle of Patmos wrote Revelation. So, there's no lost books of the Bible. There's no suppressed books that, you know, men had an agenda to put out. I believe God gave the miracle of inspiration. And, Bert, I believe God also has. I think we are on solid ground to believe in God's miraculous preservation of his written word.
>> Bert Harper: I do. Well, Brent, what was that question that was on Facebook that, you, This is something you said about ccsc. Was that it, Alex?
>> Alex McFarland: Oh, ccss.
>> Bert Harper: Okay.
>> Alex McFarland: four Alphabet letters. That's the way I remember things. I make up little acronyms. ccss, Creation, Conscience, Scripture, Savior. These four things are best understood in terms of Christianity being true. And we should believe it.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, Tony from Kansas, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
>> Caroline: Hey, thank you, guys.
Alex: Can you explain why there would have been a difference between kingdom of God
Hey, just real quick. so in either Matthew, chapter one and Mark, chapter four, Jesus Christ went out and preached repentance. And in one of the books, it said, he preached repentance, for the kingdom of God is at hand. And then in the other Gospel, he said, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Can you explain why there would have been a difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven?
>> Bert Harper: As far as a difference, there. It's different phrases for the same place. I think, Alex, are the same, truth. Go ahead, brother.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, Matthew generally uses the term kingdom of heaven. That. Excuse me. Really? I think that the kingdom of God and the Kingdomnomics of heaven. The terms are almost synonymous, but, the kingdom of God refers, you know, that God reigns in the hearts of believers. And I think kingdom of heaven is really, you know, when Christ physically returns, as he will. Yes, Jesus will literally come back one day and rule and reign. yes, on this earth. So, you know, I think that they're really synonymous, but, right now the same king.
>> Bert Harper: But again, I've heard it this way. The kingdom of God is all of it. The kingdom of heaven is, I would say the kingdom of God is the reign. Kingdom of heaven is kind of the, the peace that he brings in because of his reign. They're synonymous, but I think they bring in both sense of his kingdom. Alex, you catch what I'm saying?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, in Luke 17:21, this is important because, well, Luke 17:20, 21, Jesus said the kingdom of God cometh not with observation. In other words, it's not something you can see at this moment because he says in verse 21 of Luke 17, the kingdom of God is within you. So right now, at this very moment, God rules and reigns in the hearts of believers. But one day, as the Lord's Prayer says, on earth as it is in heaven, one day the kingdom of heaven will be here on earth, won't it?
>> Bert Harper: It really will. Tyrone, we would love to have gotten to your question in First Kings 13 about that old prophet Will. So we'll try to cover that.
Alex: Hannah's Heart Women's Conference is January 30-31
But with a minute left, Alex, we wanted to talk about Hannah's Heart Women's Conference. Through it all, it's January 30th and 31st here in Tupelo, Mississippi at Hope Church. You're going to have Phil King, the worship leader. The keynote speaker is Jan Johnson. And you can go to afa.netevents to register. And it women, food and fellowship. A chance to share the difficulties, the concerns, and hopefully the blessings that other women have experienced through it all. Because, Alex, through it all. Okay, according to that song, I've learned to trust in God. How about you?
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Through it all, folks. Thanks for listening to Exploring the Word and I know a lot of people have church tonight on week Wednesday night. That's a good thing. But if you would tell somebody about exploring the Word, but most of all, tell everybody about Jesus. The views and opinions expressed in this.
>> Bert Harper: Broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of.
>> Alex McFarland: The American Family association or American Family Radio.
