SamuelMartin

One day we won’t have to keep them so close, but until then: Hang on tight - Part One

2012-01-11T14:15:00.000-08:00

One day we won’t have to keep them so close, but until then: Hang on tight - Part One

I have been thinking about the following passage of late and wanted to share some general ideas about what one might be able to learn from this section of Scripture particulary in relation to the idea of parenting in ancient times.

It talks about the Messianic age, but in fact, if we look at in a careful way, we may be able to learn a little bit not only about the circumstances of children in ancient times and how we living in the world today might be able to learn something from how the ancients took care of their children.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

and a little child (נער קטן – na’ar katan) shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze;

their young shall lie down together;

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The nursing child (יונק - yonek) shall play over the hole of the cobra,

and the weaned child (גמול – gamul) shall put his hand on the adder's den.

They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

(Isaiah 11:6-9 ESV)

When we read this passage often we are in awe at its majesty and are so looking forward to this reality. We say: ‘Jesus, come and let’s get this show on the road.’ I mean we are all so ready for this time.

While this is true and we are all looking for this blessed hope, an opportunity to learn from this passage might be missed if we don’t look to place this passage in its historical context and within the social culture and the physical environment of a time period almost 3,000 years ago.

I think if we are willing to let this passage teach us, there is so much to learn here.

First, lets be clear. This passage is talking about a change. It is saying that something is different is coming, but it is not in what is coming where our learning opportunity may be. It is in what was!

This passage shows a contrast. It shows that things that were previously dangerous and life threatening will no longer be so! It speaks of animals in particular that could and do by instinct kill. They kill in some cases anything that gets in their way and interestingly the prophet here chose to contrast these dangerous animals with those things which were the most innocent: little children, nursing babies and weaned children!

What this passage is saying is that in ancient times these little children had to be kept as far away from lions, leopards, cobra’s and adders, all of which to little children were (and still are) deadly.

Don't confuse me with the facts, Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T10:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a wonderful time. It is the a time when we remember and reflect on the fact that God became man being born of a virgin just some ten miles from where I am writing this.

However, every Christmas I have to admit that what is often displayed as "fact" associated with Jesus' birth shows just how mixed up we all can be.

Just today in watching a particular broadcast of a major religious leader, I noted some of these "facts". Here was a display of the baby Jesus with his mother and father in a manger and who were around Him? Yes, of course, the three wise men.

But wait a minute isn't this the Biblical teaching? No, it is not.

The fact is, the story of the wise men visiting Jesus in Bethlehem took place some 15 months after He was born. St. Luke tells us that the shepherds found a baby lying in a manger (Luke 2:16) St. Matthew tells us that the wise men found a little child in a house (Matt. 2:11).

The wise men did not visit the manger and they did not visit a baby that was just born. However, this is what the vast majority of Christians believe.

Talking about this very subject, Fr. John Warburton, of the Shrine of St. Joseph in California talked about this very issue. Fr. Warburton gives the common view held by many and how even he had to change his mind based on the plain teachings of the Holy Scriptures.

"For most of my life, I comfortably presumed that Jesus was born on December 25, right at the juncture between B.C. and A.D The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was "about thirty years of age" (Luke 3:23) in the 'fifteenth year of Tiberius' (Luke 3:1). The sixth century Roman monk Dionysius Exiguus, trusted St. Luke's report. He subtracted 29 from the fifteenth year of Tiberius in order to establish Jesus' birth as the center point of human history. This is the calendar we use today.
Each year in the Church's Liturgy and in traditions using crib sets at home, I became accustomed to imagining the birth of Jesus in a stable just past midnight on Christmas Eve, the visit of the angels and shepherds later that night, and then, after twelve days the visit of the three kings. Imagine my consternation when I began to study the Gospels more carefully and became aware of some vexing problems and seeming contradictions. For instance, St. Luke writes that the holy Family returned to Nazareth after the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:39). Whereas St. Matthew informs us that the Holy Family fled in haste from Bethlehem to Egypt just after the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:13-15). St. Luke tells is that the shepherds found a baby lying in a manger (Luke 2:16). St. Matthew tells us that the magi found a child in a house ((Matthew 2:11)." (Guardian of the Redeemer, 2000th Anniversary of the Nativity, Oblates of St. Joseph - Santa Cruz, CA: 2000)

Yes, the Bible is clear. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and the shepherds came to visit him in a manger after He was just born. Then, some 15 months later, the wise men came to see, not a baby, but the child Jesus living in a house in Bethlehem.

For more information on this subject, please see - http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=1996&month=12

But wait, these are just little innocent mistakes. Minor confusions. Not a big deal.

No. It is a big deal because we are dealing with the facts and we should get them right. I mean don't we want to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God?

The point is, if we (I include here those religious leaders I saw broadcasting their mistaken message today to the whole world) can't even get these simple little things right, what about more complex issues?

What is interesting is the fact that if a person will do a tiny bit of research, they will note that there are two different Greek words referenced in Matthew and Luke which describe two different phases of life for a child, in this case talking about our Lord Jesus.

As the article in the above link shows and if one will examine any more advanced translation or a Bible concordance, one can find that the words describe two phases of life: one for a baby in arms and one for a toddler, who walks and talks. See the article for a more in depth discussion on these issues. This is really a science meets faith article written by a research astronomer which features a book written by my late father.

This, in fact, relates to the whole argument of who is being discussed in those texts found in the book of Proverbs which many use to advocate for corporal punishment of children, with no definition of what phase of life of that of a "child" is under discussion.

I have a whole chapter in my book "Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy." See - http://www.amazon.com/Thy-Rod-Staff-They-Comfort/dp/0978533909/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324834969&sr=1-2 - which talks about the importance of this issue.

Because of the misunderstanding related to this issue, we have well intentioned but seriously misinformed individuals advocating the corporal punishment of children starting at 6 months of age or less using the Bible as the authority for the same.

Just as it is important to remember that there is accurate information in the Gospels to help us better understand the circumstances and facts associated with Jesus' birth and how the nuance of language can help us have a more accurate understanding, so it is that we can also have a greater understanding of the texts in Proverbs which describe children and the various phases of life that starts at birth going up to adult hood..

If we do this, I think we are going to have a greater chance to know the truth and the facts and not be confused.

Merry Christmas

Samuel Martin - Jerusalem - 12.25.2011

A guest post on Dulce's Blog

2011-12-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

I've contributed a guest post to Dulce de Leche, one of my favorite blogs.

http://www.dulcefamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/was-jesus-married-some-thoughts-by.html

I have been so blessed by her writings. Check them out. I know you'll enjoy them.

Merry Christmas

Samuel Martin

Books that I cannot live without

2011-12-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

Bible Study Aids – Books that I cannot live without

I got a comment from a friend recently in Canada expressing an interest in getting some solid resources for Bible study. My father provided a nice outline many years ago, which I still find to be very relevant so I want.to share it with you.

Your Research Library

“The two most important books that everyone ought to have in his library are:

The Englishman's Greek Concordance and the Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance.

Both are published by Samuel Bagster and Sons in London, England. But I understand they can be obtained through Zondervan Press in Grand Rapids, Michigan, whom, I understand, bought out Samuel Bagster. [Please note that new editions of these are available and they have added the Strong's numbering system which makes them all the more effective.]

These books give a concordant treatment to all of the words of the New and Old Testament. By studying the words in their context, we can find God's meaning of them much better. I highly recommend these two books.

It is not enough just to buy these concordances. You really must read the introductions carefully to understand how they have been developed in the first place and to appreciate how to use them properly.

The best Greek-English Lexicon is that of Arndt and Gingrich. This is published by the University of Chicago Press. The best Hebrew Lexicon is that of Brown-Driver-Briggs, published by Oxford University Press.

The best general Encyclopaedia, though it is somewhat old now, is that of M'Clintock and Strong. This set has 31,000 articles and while it is over 100 years old, it is an important part of my own library. [Carol: This is my recommendation for your son.]

The best one-volume Encyclopaedia (and this is one you must have at all cost) is the New Bible Dictionary published by the Inter-varsity Fellowship in London, England. This could be obtained from any religious bookstore.

There are two other essential Encyclopaedias you ought to have. One is the Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, two volumes, and the Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, two volumes. Both of these were edited by James Hastings.

Another excellent little volume which is indispensable to me, is one which has over 500,000 scriptural references and parallel passages in it. It is called The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and is also published by Samuel Bagster and Sons.

The best King James Bible is the Newberry Edition. This has copious internal and marginal notes which help make the Hebrew and Greek far clearer.”

My favorite Bible version for modern study is the ESV. See www.esvstudybible.org.

Please keep in mind that all modern English versions of the Bible position the order of the books wrongly. Please see www.originalbible.com.

By the way, my friends at www.archivesbookshop.com can help you with all of these resources. Be in touch with Chris, he can help you get any of these items. Their number in the USA is 1 800 204 2063 or see them on the Web at www.archivesbookshop.com). (Samuel Martin)

Concordant Word Study from the Hebrew Bible Using “The Englishman’s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of the Old Testament.”

This data is taken from the invaluable and timeless work produced under the leadership of Mr. George Wigram titled: “The Englishman’s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of the Old Testament.” It is mentioned in the previous list.

I have even referred to this information in my own book "Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy." Many peope who rely on the King James Version of the Bible will find this information eye opening.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with studying from the King James Version of the Bible as long as we know its limitations.

The following is taken from page 1220. The word in the various texts below that appears in italics is the English word that is translated from the Hebrew original “sh’ol.” (שאול) This shows the power of studying using this concordant method to see what is really underneath our English texts. Note that most of these resources use the King James Version as a standard template for their reference as they were produced more than 160 years ago.

Word study on the Hebrew word “sh’ol” (שאול)

Genesis 37:35 I will go down into the grave.

Genesis 42:38 my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Genesis 44:29 my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Genesis 44:31 gray hairs of thy servant…to the grave.

Numbers 16:30 they go down quick into the pit;

Numbers 16:33 went down alive into the pit,

Deuteronomy 32:22 shall burn unto the lowest hell,

I Samuel 2:6 he bringeth down to the grave,

II Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about;

I Kings 2:6 his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

I Kings 2:9 hoar head bring thou down to the grave

Job 7:9 he that goeth down to the grave

Job 11:8 deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

Job 14:13 wouldest hide me in the grave,

Job 17:13 the grave is mine house:

Job 17:16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit,

Job 21:13 in a moment go down to the grave.

Job 24:19 (so doth) the grave those which have

Job 26:9 Hell (is) naked before him,

Psalm 6:5 in the grave who shall give thee

Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell

Psalm 16:10 thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;

Psalm 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me

Psalm 30:3 brought up my soul from the grave:

Psalm 31:17 let them be silent in the grave.

Psalm 49:14 sheep they are laid in the grave;

Psalm 49:14 their beauty shall consume in the grave

Psalm 49:15 my soul from the power of the grave:

Psalm 55:15 let them go down quick into hell:

Psalm 86:13 delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Psalm 116:3 the pains of hell gat hold of me:

Psalm 139:8 if I make my bed in hell,

Psalm 141:7 bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth,

Proverbs 1:12 swallow them up alive as the grave;

Proverbs 5:5 her steps take hold on hell.

Proverbs 7:27 Her house (is) the way to hell,

Proverbs 9:18 her guests are in the depths of hell.

Proverbs 15:11 Hell and destruction (are) before the

Proverbs 15:24 depart from hell beneath.

Proverbs 23:14 deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full;

Proverbs 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb;

Ecclesiastes 9:10 no work, nor device, … in the grave,

Song of Songs 8:6 jealousy (is) cruel as the grave:

Isaiah 5:14 hell hath enlarged herself,

Isaiah 14:9 Hell (marg. or, the grave) from beneath is moved for thee

Isaiah 14:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave,

Isaiah 14:15 thou shalt be brought down to hell,

Isaiah 28:15 with hell are we at agreement;

Isaiah 28:18 your agreement with hell shall not stand;

Isaiah 38:10 I shall go to the gates of the grave:

Isaiah 38:18 the grave cannot praise thee.

Isaiah 57:9 didst debase (thyself even) unto hell.

Ezekiel 31:15 he went down to the grave

Ezekiel 31:16 I cast him down to hell

Ezekiel 31:17 They also went down into hell

Ezekiel 32:21 speak to him out of the midst of hell

Ezekiel 32:27 gone down to hell with their weapons

Hosea 13:14 ransom them from the power of the grave;

Hosea 13:14 O grave, I will be thy destruction:

Amos 9:2 Though they dig into hell,

Jonah 2:2 out of the belly of hell (marg. or, the grave),

Habakkuk 2:5 enlargeth his desire as hell,

It must be pointed out that there is no other word in the Hebrew Bible translated as “hell.” Because of this, one has to ask: Why it was deemed necessary by the translators of the King James Version to translate this word “hell” in one place and the “grave” or “pit” in another? If you look at the texts, which feature the word “hell”, it is clear that in some cases the translators themselves put the word “grave” as a marginal reference. See Jonah 2:2 and Isaiah 14:9. The reason for this was that Jonah was obviously not in “hell” when he cried from the belly of the fish.

I hope that in this short example you can see the value of this type of concordant studying approach. To be sure, untold riches await the student who uses this method of Bible study.

Christian Scholars and Preachers Disagree on Spanking Children

2011-12-09T08:06:00.001-08:00

http://ezinearticles.com/?Christian-Scholars-and-Preachers-Disagree-on-Spanking-Children&id=6290943

Link to a new article I've just posted on www.ezinearticles.com.

Hope you find it valuable.

Samuel Martin

Behind every Church Father is a Mother

2011-11-20T12:46:00.000-08:00

Behind every Church Father is a Mother

In response to a comment left by Crystal on my blog, http://samuelmartin.blogspot.com/2011/11/if-king-james-version-was-good-enough.html, Crystal mentioned the following:

"My 4th child was born peacefully, painlessly, and calmly at home- blowing the pain-filled woman's curse out the window. "

First of all, do yourself a favor and visit Crystal's blog. http://piscessunleomoon.blogspot.com and see her really interesting experience with raising diaper less children (among other things).

Crystal's experimentation is in fact giving us all a glimpse into the past: a past which did not have diapers or any of the other so called modern 'conveniences' that, as Crystal has aptly demonstrated, help disconnect parents from the rhythm of life and the communications that even little infants can give. This is really amazing stuff and eye opening information that working daddies may miss, but attentive mommies know all too well. Thanks Crystal.

Her blog in fact was one of the most instructive things I have read in a while because I have been thinking about writing a major article on family life and her experience is so helpful because researchers often have so little to go on.

I mean when it comes to the Bible, often times, we just don't know what was going on in ancient times and this affects how we relate to the texts.

I know one scholar who uses a grading system to help put things in perspective.

A. 100% sure were know about the issue
B. Somewhat certain
C. Less certain
D. Speculation or educated guesses

You'd be surprised how many times honest scholars will tell you that they simply do not know what was happening in the Biblical period (designating things grade 'D') because we just don't have enough evidence.

Family life is one of these. There is just so little information about all of this because most of the information we do have is passed down to us mostly from the perspective of men if we get anything at all. It is really hard to find a mother's voice sometimes and this is where Crystal's example is so helpful for the researcher.

Her experience allows us anthropologically to see how things may have been in ancient times in daily life of caring for little infants in particular. The Bible has a paucity of information on this and other sources are also equally sparse.

This is especially important to my research because I am seeking a better understanding of how to relate to the biblical texts relating to child rearing.

I'll have much more to say about this later because this has not only the potential to be a major paper, it could end up in fact being a small book, but I am asking for more inputs from mothers who have experience in this area.

But before I forget, let me say something about that child birth curse.

I am currently studying for my higher Theology degrees here in Jerusalem and I am seriously considering in the future doing my Ph.D. on the subject of equality between men and women in the Bible. This inspiration for this, in fact, comes from Karen Campbell at www.thatmom.com. Thanks Karen. Her question to me really touched a nerve. (The answer to her question is currently almost 50,000 words and counting.)

In fact, I have already started working on a dissertation in this regard with the hope that I will be able to move forward with this suggested subject for a doctorate. All in good time. Rest assured though that I will bring this material out in the future at the right time, but it is not ready yet.

However, Crystal's comment on my blog does raise a point which is important and it concerns the common conception that there is some awful curse associated with child birth. It goes back to Genesis 3:16 & 3:17. Here is a small excerpt from my possible future dissertation.

Now, after they both arrived, here is where we can thank our dear male scholars for starting us off on the wrong path of gender inequality. It starts right here in the third chapter of Genesis. Look at it here from the perspective of multiple versions. Here we want to home in two sections of Genesis 3:16 and 3.17.

Version	Text from Genesis 3:16 (about woman - Eve)	Text from Genesis 3:17 (about man - Adam)
NIV	“pains in childbearing”	“through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.”
NLT	“pain of your pregnancy,”	“All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.”
ESV	“pain in childbearing”	“in pain you shall eat of it”
NASB	“pain in childbirth”	“in toil you will eat of it”
God’s WORD Translation	“pain and your labor when you give birth to children”	“Through hard work you will eat”
KJV	“in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”	“in sorrow shalt thou eat”
NKJV	“in sorrow you shall bring forth children”	“in sorrow shall you eat of it”
ASV	“in pain thou shalt bring forth children”	“in toil shalt thou eat of it”
Bible in Basic English	“in sorrow will your children come to birth”	“in pain you will get your food”
Douay-Rheims Bible	“in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children	“with labour and toil shalt thou eat”
Darby Bible Translation	“with pain thou shalt bear children”	“with toil shalt thou eat of it”
English Revised Version	“in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”	“in sorrow shalt thou eat of it”
Webster’s Bible Translation	“in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”	“in sorrow shalt thou eat of it”
World English Bible	“In pain you will bring forth children	“In toil you will eat of it”
Young’s Literal Translation	“in sorrow dost thou bear children”	“in sorrow thou dost eat of it”

http://bible.cc/genesis/3-16.htm & http://bible.cc/genesis/3-17.htm

Now, in the above referenced table, you can see that the italicized words relative to the woman are: pain, pains or sorrow. However for the men, the words italicized are: painful toil, struggle, pain, toil, hard work, labour and sorrow.

Now, when we compare these two columns, we can note that the language that describes what happens to woman really looks harsher on the surface and these above referenced language differences highlight this issue. Here, on the surface, we see that woman is getting a seemingly greater punishment. This is how it has been framed by theologians down through the centuries until now.

Modern versions correct this. For example, note my favorite, the ESV: (see http://www.esvbible.org)

    To the woman he said,
   “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
        in pain you shall bring forth children.
   Your desire shall be for your husband,
        and he shall rule over you.”
   And to Adam he said,
   “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
        and have eaten of the tree
   of which I commanded you,
        ‘You shall not eat of it,’
   cursed is the ground because of you;
        in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
   thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
        and you shall eat the plants of the field.
   By the sweat of your face
        you shall eat bread,
   till you return to the ground,
        for out of it you were taken;
   for you are dust,
        and to dust you shall return.”
(Genesis 3:16-19 ESV)

What we can see though when we look at these verses in light of an accurate Biblical understanding what is here being conveyed in the original Hebrew language, a different picture presents itself.

What we must understand is that the words italicized in the first column, which are designated towards woman and the words found in the second column which are associated with man are in fact in Hebrew the very same word!

Yes, that is correct. In Hebrew, we find in these two verses the exact same Hebrew word (עצבון – gitz-tzah-vohn) is used! There is no difference in the intensity or stress, the force or level: No! Not at all. What woman was to suffer in child birth, man was to suffer by working the ground. Not more for one and less for the other. Equality by using the same term.

There is no greater degree or intensity of punishment on woman or women in this text of Scripture at all, but were one to rely on these many Bible versions, mostly created by men, one would decidedly not get this opinion.

This is really where many well intentioned people get off on the wrong foot concerning gender relations in Scripture. In this verse, the gender relations are equal! There is no greater punishment for the one over the other in the original language.

In closing, thanks again Crystal for your really important capacity building. I hope that others will give some of your ideas a go.

Should we preach? publish?, or proclaim the Gospel - Yes? No? Maybe?

2011-11-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

Should we preach? publish?, or proclaim the Gospel -

Yes? No? Maybe?

I just got my copy of Michael Pearl's book in the post sent from a new friend in North Carolina (thanks TJ - your book is on the way). In reviewing the book, I opened up the front cover and saw a little box which says:

"All Scripture quotations are from the King James Holy Bible"

So, I went to page 35 and found Mr. Pearl's references to 'prove' his arguments in favor of spanking children. The texts he quoted were very familiar to me and to many of us. They are commonly known as the 'rod' verses. They were:

Proverbs 19:18
Proverbs 13:24
Proverbs 22:15
Proverbs 23:13,14
Proverbs 29:15
Proversb 29:17

So there it was - Case Closed. The Bible advocates spanking children. End of story. Well, not quite so fast.

I got to thinking about this whole issue once again and thought about this book and its assertions.

Here is a well intentioned Christian brother living thousands of miles away from the region where the Bible was written, using a 400 year old Bible version attempting to bring information which in some cases is over 3,000 years old into our modern day.

When I look on the front cover of the book, I saw the following page and you can review it at the following link.

http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/bookdetail.php?book_id=851

The front cover of the book shows a family riding in a horse drawn cart with a father at the reins with a wife at his side carrying a babe in arms with four other children in the wagon.

When I thought about this book and its teachings, I thought this cover was really appropriate because the information that you find in this book represents a type of a theological perspective which reflects a time about 400 years ago when people moved around by horse and buggy.

The good news is, theologically speaking, we no longer move around with horses and buggys. Today, we have airplanes that take us around the world to libraries where we can study thousands of Bible manuscripts; where online resources are the fingertips that even the non-expert can reach into the treasure troves of Bible scholarship and study at the feet of modern day Gamliels.

The bad news though is that many dear people like Michael Pearl, God bless him, continue to drive around the same old tired arguments which are based on a Bible translation, which was a monument to great scholarship in 1611, but today, it represents one of the biggest obstacles to understanding God's messages to mankind, especially concerning what the Bible means in the book of Proverbs.

And here is where we come to the title of my blog post -Should we preach? publish?, or proclaim the Gospel - Yes? No? Maybe?

I remember once my father telling of an experience he had when he first got into researching the Bible and in fact it relates to this issue we are here discussing. It concerned the issue of preaching, publishing and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to the world.

My father was a minister as well as a college professor. The church that he was a member of was lead by a very charismatic leader. The Bible of choice in that particular denomination was the King James Version of the Bible.

The Church had a wide ranging ministry with numerous methods of outreach. They had a 'preaching' ministry and a 'publishing' ministry. Yes, the Church used all different types of outreach methods to get the Gospel message out to the world including radio and televsion.

The head of the Church not only insisted, however, in the 'preaching' ministry, but he made a big deal about the need for the Church to also engage in a 'publishing' ministry. This meant a top quality, slick four color magazine, books, booklets, pamphlets, newsletters, etc.

Now, these methodologies were used to 'proclaim' the Gospel. Anything wrong with that? No, not at all.

However, when Dad began to just do a bit of study in the New Testament, he learned that the Greek word keerusso is translated in the King James Version by several different English words: preach, preached, proclaim, proclaimed, proclaiming, publish, and published.

So when we read in Mark 13:10 in the King James Version saying: "And the gospel must first be published among all nations" we can compare this to another section in the Gospel of Matthew which describes the same event and time period. It is found in Matthew 24:14 saying: "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;"

So, Dad quickly found out that the words "published" and "preached" in these two verses are from the exact same word in the Greek language, which is the original one for the New Testament. Therefore, to say that one must have a "preaching" and or "publishing" ministry on the basis of these verses is really not justified in Scripture at all. Of course, that message is not one that Church leaders want to hear. This is because they often gain great power and influence through their "preaching" and "publishing" ministries.

There is of course nothing wrong with preaching, publishing or proclaiming the Gospel. On the contrary. What is wrong, however, is misusing the Holy Scriptures to attempt to prove that a particular Church or religious leader must engage in preaching and publishing and that Church members should pay to see that these things take place. Preaching and publishing ministries are fine and excellent things in and of themselves, but one should not use these passages as justification for demanding that Church members pay the bills for these ministerial elements based upon a wrong understanding of Scripture.

But here we get to the crux of the matter. If these well intentioned ministers of the Gospel will use the modern tools that we have available instead of continuing to drive our Christian brethren around in the theological equivalents of horses and buggys, we might be able to avoid some of these nonsensical teachings promoted by many well intentioned but misguided religious leaders. Look at the ESV, which makes this whole issue clear.

And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. (Mark 13:10 ESV)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations.
(Matthew 24:14 ESV)

So, the answer to my blog question is. Yes! We should proclaim the Gospel.

But, this all helps to contextualize something which I have dealt with in much greater detail in my book and that concerns the interpretation of those six verses that Michael Pearl uses to open and close his arguments on spanking children.

The question we have to ask Mr. Pearl and many other dear brethren in Christ is this: Should we spank? chasten? hit? switch? strike? our children in the way you tell us? Yes? No? Maybe?

Michael Pearl and many others say "Yes."

After reading my book, I think you'll agree that the answer to this question is a resounding:

No!

“If the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me” & Newsletter for November

2011-11-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Newsletter of the

“New Foundation for Biblical Research.”

A project of the Century One Foundation, Inc. (www.centuryone.org)

Samuel Martin – Project Director – www.biblechild.com

Email: info@biblechild.com

November 2011

“If the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me”
The results of my first drawing on my blog are in
Rev. Kenneth Bailey – Bringing a Middle Eastern perspective to Biblical studies

If the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me

I can always remember my father telling me about his uncle Virgil. He never told me too much about where he lived, but I always understood that he had migrated out of Oklahoma with my father’s family in the period of 1935 known to those migrants as the ‘Dust Bowl,’ where central eastern Oklahoma was a severely affected area of soil degradation and a severe drought situation during that time.

During that time, some 2.5 million people left the Plains States and many of them left for the West. My dad’s family was a part of this migration of peoples during that time.

Dad’s Uncle Virgil was a Nazarene preacher. He came from this very conservative mind set which was fiercely independent, honest as the day is long, people who were ready to give to their country and did not like to take anything back, people who took care of their own, worked hard and only wanted a fair day’s pay for their work, were exceedingly fair, loved God and neighbour and who had the Bible as ‘God’s Word.’

Of course, when we speak about these dear people, who are my own relatives, when we are talking about the Bible, we are talking about the King James Version of the Bible.

Let me add something here about my own view of the King James Version of the Bible. I love this version. Today it is not my favourite one (everyone who reads anything I write probably knows that my favourite these days is the ESV). The King James Version is something that I grew up with. It was the first Bible my grandmother gave me. Two of my most special Bible’s I have are King James Bibles. They are my Thomas Newberry Study Bible and The Companion Bible by Dr. E. W. Bullinger.

Speaking about the Newberry Study Bible, the late British Emeritus Professor F.F. Bruce said:

"Thomas Newberry, the editor of The Newberry Study Bible, was born in 1811 and died in 1901. For most of his life he belonged to the Open wing of the Brethren movement. He resided for many years at Weston-super-Mare, England, and from there he exercised a long and fruitful expository ministry, both oral and written. He was a careful student of the Bible in Hebrew and Greek. Evidence of his minute attention to the sacred text lies before me as I write, in a beautiful copy of Tischendorf's transcription of the New Testament according to the Codex Sinaiticus, presented to him by friends in London in 1863, which is annotated throughout in his neat handwriting. It was after twenty-five years devoted to such study that he conceived the plan of putting its fruits at the disposal of his fellow-Christians in The Newberry Study Bible." - F.F. Bruce^[4]

Bruce also added:

"Newberry had no axe to grind. He was a careful and completely unpretentious student of Hebrew and Greek texts, whose one aim was to make the fruit of his study available as far as possible to Bible students whose only language was English. His procedure tended to make the Biblical text self-explanatory as far as possible; he had no thought of imposing on it an interpretive scheme of his own."- F.F. Bruce^[6]

After almost 150 years passing, Newberry’s Study Bible is still one of the best. They are not so easy to find, but my friends at www.archivesbookshop.com (ask for Chris) may be able to help you find one.

Of course, my most treasured possession from a Biblical point of view is my late father’s Bible, which is a King James Version National Bible.

The Bible in my family was, is and always will be simply “God’s Word.”

So, it is this King James Version of the Bible that for my family (and millions of other families around the globe, but particularly in the Western world) growing up was unquestionably known as “God’s Word.” Anytime my relatives talked about Scripture, this is how it was referred to with no ifs, ands or buts and it was always the King James Version that they had in mind.

Let’s also not kid ourselves. The King James Version may no longer be the best selling Bible version in America (in 2010), but today it still occupies the number two (New King James Version) and three (King James Version) positions on the list of best selling Bibles in the USA according to the Christian Booksellers Association figures for 2010.

However, starting around the time that my own father was starting to become a young adult (1950), changes were on the horizon concerning the Bible in America. The foundations for this had been laid some 50 years earlier.

In 1901, the American Standard Version had come out and had become a standard Bible used particularly in the seminary or university settings, but due to developments in Bible scholarship at that time (for example, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found offering some new insights into the field of Bible translation), a fresh revision of Scripture to take into account all of the latest developments was proposed. After a long period of development covering some 25 years, this new version came out officially in 1952. It was known as the Revised Standard Version.

This new version was certainly applauded by many in the academic world. Here now we had the Bible being “revised” and brought up to date reflecting the best and latest scholarship by the world’s top religious scholars (who were the very top experts assembled from around the world to undertake this ground breaking project). New readings of Scripture from the discoveries found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in other Bible manuscripts were included in this new version. The academic world was abuzz with excitement.

During this time, I can remember the recollections of my father about this issue. At that time, he had finished two years of community college and had joined the US Air Force with the plan to become a weather forecaster. Two weeks after joining the service, the Korean war broke out. My dad’s plans were thrown into uncertainty as it looked now that airmen were not the priority, but rather infantry soldiers were needed for the war.

Because my father had had two years of community college prior to enlisting, he was tested and then selected to go to the University of New Mexico for one year at government expense to undertake an accelerated course in meteorology. While he was in New Mexico, he and a distant relative of his (who was coincidentally also serving as a weather forecaster in the same unit) started to attend church services at a Baptist church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

My father at that time had no specific interest in going into the ministry, but as he and his relative began to be known at the church as the “university crowd”, they began to receive assignments from the church leadership to conduct Bible studies for youth and to take part in what they called “Training Union” courses.

For my dad, this was a time when he was about 20 years old and with these new duties in his mind came responsibilities. So he began to purchase some books about the Bible. I can remember rehearsing this story in a lecture he once gave where he talked exactly about this time in his life. These included a Bible Dictionary and Encyclopaedia (his first one was the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia – ISBE for short).

He then began to take an interest in the Bible in a much greater way at this time. Shortly thereafter, dad was sent to Greenland for one year to learn arctic meteorology and was left in great isolation and this gave him a great deal of time to study the Bible independently.

During this period, we began to note that communications were beginning to become more common place. Radio was still the main media source of news for most people. Newspapers were very important sources as well and the subject of the Bible was now in the media, especially this new “Revised Standard Version” of the Bible. Yes, there was great excitement surrounding this new Bible for many academics and scholars of Scripture, but for the common everyday man on the street, this development represented a threat. One such person was my dad’s Uncle Virgil.

Uncle Virgil and the King James Version

Uncle Virgil as I said earlier was a Nazarene preacher. From all the stories I have heard about him, he was a very tall man and had a commanding presence. Nazarene church teachings were very, very conservative and oriented around the ideas of Pentecostalism and Holiness. The Nazarene Church was strongly oriented around the teachings of John Wesley. [Comment: I am by the way not singling out the Nazarene Church in this article. I only mention this story because it is a factual part of my own upbringing and I imagine that many reading this article will immediately substitute their own denominational experience for my own herein referenced. My Uncle Virgil was a dear God fearing Christian man who was doing the best that he could to live a “Christ-like” life. The values and virtues espoused by the Nazarene Church are very close to my own and the purpose of this article is only to illustrate the ongoing influence of the King James Version on our culture in the Western World].

Make no mistake about it, the Nazarene Church in this period was very conservative when it came to the Bible, which in their mind was simply “God’s Word.” The Church in general did not question too much the origin of God’s Word, they just basically accepted it as they had received it and the Bible that occupied this position was the King James Version of Scripture.

Uncle Virgil was a part of this system. It was a system which did not question Scripture, but rather focused on adhering more to the existing teachings that were found in the Holy Bible. It was this system that my dad was going to find a very hard time engaging with from an academic point of view.

“Don’t confuse us with all these new fangled ideas about God’s Word”

In 1954, my father finished his military service and was discharged and returned home to the central region of California where he grew up. During this time at one family gathering, he had an opportunity to share with some of his family members (including his own mother) some of his new found information about what was taking place in the academic world associated with the Bible. On one day, this exchange included his Uncle Virgil.

After opening up the subject for discussion, dad was given a good scolding by Uncle Virgil for introducing such silly and nonsensical information about “God’s Word.” The discussions, which were very short, ended with the following statement said in all seriousness from Uncle Virgil saying: “All of your new information does not impress me. In fact, if the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me.”

This by the way is not an isolated statement said by a one off person. Oh no! Anyone who has grown up in this type of a fundamentalist Christian environment may be very familiar with this type of talk and thinking. In fact, in rehearsing this article with one dear friend, she commented that she had heard the exact same phrase come from her parents who were also a part of another very conservative American denomination.

Let’s stop and think about that statement because it was said in all seriousness. Never mind if prior to 1611 (four hundred years ago now), the King James Version did not exist!

This statement to some is called on numerous websites as an “old joke.” But for those of us who have grown up in these fundamentalist type households, we know the truth. Anytime you were talking about the Bible, you were talking about it as “God’s Word.” And up until fifty years ago in America, the King James Version of the Bible was the only Bible really in mainstream America (and really in Western civilization) that was so universally accepted as “God’s Word.”

I love the King James Version

The King James Version, I reiterate here, is one that is so special and close to my heart, but it, like all English Bibles today, has its limitations. This is especially the case concerning many of the texts relating to corporal punishment of children in the book of Proverbs. But, to my dad’s Uncle Virgil, God rest his soul, this Bible had no limitations and certainly no deficiencies! After all, it was God’s Word, which means that it is perfect. Yes, perfect!

I challenge any person to pick up a Gideon Bible and in the beginning there is a section which says: “What the Bible Says about Itself.” You can read the passages quoted. One of them in Psalm 19:7 which in the KJV says: “The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul…”

[Now I have to say here and everyone who knows me and reads my material knows that I am very conservative when it comes to Scripture. However, I am not bound by a particular Bible version especially in today’s English speaking world where in my humble opinion, all Bible versions have serious issues that force a closer reliance on the original languages as best as we can understand them. Thank God, today we, more than any other time in history, have the most powerful tools of understanding available to help us all better understand that good Old Book known as the Holy Scriptures.]

To him and many dear pastors and peoples trained up in seminaries sponsored or affiliated with certain Christian denominations, church leaders promote the King James Version because it is a part of their Church’s individual history and to see change in such structures is often a slow process that moves like molasses in Minnesota in the winter time. Churches, seminaries and church structures are often not generally amenable to change. They are certainly not interested in seeing “revised” Bible versions. This for some people is just too much. They are much more focused on preserving the old line! Hence, after almost 60 years since the RSV first came out in 1952, the KJV and NKJV still occupy the number two and three slots of best selling Bibles in the USA today.

As I said earlier, I love the King James Version and I read from it regularly, but we really need to embrace modern tools that help us to understand Scripture better. We are in an age of discovery, knowledge sharing and information and many advances have been made in Scriptural understanding in the last 150 years.

Just as today we are now communicating with I-Phones and the Internet and are no longer communicating with tin cans connected by a piece of string, let us also embrace the very best 21^st century Biblical scholarship when it comes to Scripture and hold the King James Version in the proper reverence that it deserves.

Of course, we are not talking here about fundamental doctrines of Christianity which every Christian shares, but Bible knowledge is increasing and we need to use the modern tools we have today to help us better understand that good Old Book.

We, I believe, need to embrace these changes and to realize that change is a good thing relative to the increases in understanding we have about points of Scripture which may need illuminating for us. These changes are for good and are only going to help us better understand that good old book: The Holy Bible.

2. The results of my first drawing on my blog are in

I am pleased to announce that the results of the first drawing I held on my blog (www.samuelmartin.blogspot.com) are in.

I was giving away two books. The first book is:

Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts by Professor William Webb

I have really rejoiced in first learning of this book (thanks Doug) and then reading it myself. I am so pleased to give it my most positive unqualified endorsement.

It has been such a blessing for me to get to know Prof. Webb in several personal contacts and I do look forward to reading all of his other books.

I do hope it will be very soon where we will hear a small communication from his wife, whose spirit I feel is really close at hand in Professor Webb’s book. I hope to post that on my blog very soon. http://samuelmartin.blogspot.com/2011/10/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html

For more links, reviews and other information about Professor Webb and his book see: http://redemptivechristianity.com & http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/review/code=2761.

I really think this is a wonderful book and I hope you will support it. I know you will be blessed by it as I have been Get your copy here - https://shop.ivpress.com/epages/IVP.storefront/en/addtobasket/0-8308-2761-7

Congratulations to B.C. from Eastern Oregon who won this book by Prof. Webb.

Congratulations also to G.S from South Carolina who won a copy of my own book

Stay tuned for more drawings of great books via my blog and newsletter.

3. Rev. Kenneth Bailey – Bringing a Middle Eastern perspective to Biblical studies

I’ve been talking lately about Rev. Kenneth Bailey’s books and here is a link to all of them from Inter Varsity Press on one page. http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/author.pl/author_id=1185.

Rev. Bailey’s books bring a very unique perspective to New Testament studies: a Middle Eastern one. Do yourself a favour. Consider adding these wonderful books to your library. Honestly, you will be so glad you did. His studies on the Prodigal Son, Jesus and Paul through Middle Eastern eyes are so eye opening. I know that most of you who read my newsletter will rejoice in these books. I am so please to be mentioning them because I know they will bless you in your study of that good old book: The Holy Scriptures.

Until Next Month,

Samuel Martin

www.biblechild.com

info@biblechild.com

This is one of the most powerful posts I have read all year - This is Theology of Motherhood at its best

2011-10-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is one post that I strongly urge you to read. I am really deeply moved by such powerful expressions of truth.

http://www.tina.thejobes.com/2010/03/to-train-up-a-child-book-review/

King Solomon – What kind of a father was he? Part Two

2011-10-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

King Solomon – What kind of a father was he? Part Two

The influence of King David on King Solomon

Father’s probably provide their son’s the best examples of what it is like to be a father and how one should act towards his children. Solomon and David are no exception to this general rule. So what kind of influences would David have had on his youngest son Solomon? Let’s look at some examples here.

When we think of King Solomon the conventional wisdom among most Christians today is that Solomon was a strict disciplinarian. This is how he is generally portrayed today through his supposed advocacy of corporal punishment of children.[1] Solomon is spoken of as having “loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father:”[2]

However, when we look at the influences that Solomon had on his life for strict legalism, we find some important examples that may have affected Solomon later in his life and they may have influenced how he thought about life and how he related to people. The first thing that David demonstrated to his son Solomon was the general characteristic of spiritual principles over physical rules. What I mean here is a type of rejection of legalism and rigid rules in favor of the higher principles of faith, hope and love. Note the following passage which points to this idea:

“1 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. (I Samuel 21:1-6 ESV)

Not a very interesting story? Hardly! This story points to a very important principle which David modeled: one of rejecting legalism and rigid interpretations of religious rules. In fact, legally speaking David and his colleagues broke a rule found in the Law of Moses concerning this issue of eating this bread. It is found in Leviticus 24:5-9. It says:

“5 You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf. 6 And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord. 8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever. 9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the Lord's food offerings, a perpetual due.” (Leviticus 24:5-9 ESV)

This passage shows that this bread is reserved only for priests of the line of Aaron. No one else is eligible to eat this bread, yet David, who was not a priest, ate the bread. Note what Jesus had to say about the very example:

“23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28 ESV)

This passage shows that Jesus, who was ‘God with us’ (Emmanuel in Hebrew), permitted his disciples to break the Sabbath and “work” by picking that grain, which was not allowed to do on that day according to the Law of Moses and according to the prevailing interpretation of what constituted “work” at that time in the Holy Land and Jesus in the process quotes the actions of David in this regard. This is a very convincing proof showing the importance of the spiritual interpretation over the physical one and David seems to have understood that in some deeper way.

Solomon would have known this story and it must have impacted him, because later we read him saying: “Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?”[3] Not the words of someone who was a real stickler for keeping rules!

To be continued:

In the spirit of Romans 12:17-21,

[1] In this regard, we refer to the Bible texts in Proverbs 10:13; 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14 & 29:15

[2] I Kings 3:3

[3] Ecclesiastes 7:16

Accurate information from the Bible and Academia can change minds on the issue of Spanking/Smacking Chiildren

2011-10-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

http://northlightcounseling.com/wordpress/?p=364 -

Here is a post from a friend of mine, Faith Gallup, from Chicago. In this post, she mentions attending a seminar (in 2007 in Chicago at which I spoke) sponsored by Dr. Madeline Gomez, the President of Psychealth, Ltd.

PsycHealth, Ltd. (www.psychealthltd.com) is a multi-disciplinary team of behavioral health professionals dedicated to excellence in service delivery and program development. We support the human and individual rights of all persons regardless of ethnicity, sex, religious or sexual orientation or native language. We are committed to non-violent family interaction and child rearing and believe that compassion and consideration are of utmost importance.We recognize that as we help each person, we help our families, our friends, and ourselves.

The presentation I gave I still have today in MS Powerpoint and it has a paper that accompanies it. Anyone who would like to have that paper and the Powerpoint for presentations to groups that you might be aware of is welcomed to contact me. info@biblechild.com.

You can see from Faith's testimony that attending that seminar (where I was one of three speakers) gave her the information she needed to completely change her mind on this issue.

Thanks Faith for letting me link to this. Bless you and a huge thanks to Dr. Mady Gomez for her leadership on this issue.

King Solomon – What kind of a father was he? Part One

2011-10-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Abstract - King Solomon –What kind of a father was he?

King Solomon is one of the most well known personalities in the Holy Bible. He is especially known as “being the wisest man who ever lived” according to the Bible. Many religious people today look to the words of King Solomon and see in them God’s divine wisdom which is timeless and universally applicable. His teachings negate and veto any others in the mind of many religious people today.

His supposed teachings especially regarding child rearing are considered irrefutable, unambiguous and coming from a divine origin. This is especially the case when we consider the issue of the corporal punishment[1] of children, which King Solomon is purported to have been a staunch advocate of.[2]

However, how much do we really know about King Solomon the person? More importantly, what do we know about specifically King Solomon, the father? This is a reasonable question because King Solomon’s teachings singularly continue to dramatically impact certain segments of the Judeo-Christian world especially when it concerns the issue of corporal punishment of children.

King Solomon –What kind of a father was he?

General Introduction to the personality of King Solomon

King Solomon (Hebrew [Shelomoh] - שלמה – peaceful) is one of the most celebrated personalities in ancient history. He is well known for his wealth, wisdom and his almost mythical associations with a myriad of wives and other women. According to the Bible, Solomon was a king, poet, a lover, a supremely wise judge, singer, scholar, scientist, astronomer, cosmologist, botanist, zoologist, meteorologist, geographer, trader, economist, inventor, a controller of the wealth of the world and a prodigious writer.

We only know all of this (generally speaking) because of what we find in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. In fact, it has been universally recognized by Bible scholars that in fact there is a paucity of information about King Solomon, not only within the Biblical record, but also outside of the Sacred Volume. “The comparative scantiness of historical data for a life of Solomon is itself significant. While that of David (his father) [David also is mentioned more times by name than any other person in the Bible] occupies I Samuel 16 – 31; II Samuel 1-24, I Kings 1 & 2, I Chronicles 10 – 29, that of Solomon fills only the eleven chapters I Kings 1- 11 and the nine [chapters] II Chronicles 1 – 9.”[3] We can also point to the books of Proverbs (certain parts only, not all), Ecclesiastes, the 72^nd Psalm and the Songs of Songs as traditionally having either been written by or (concerning Psalm 72) for Solomon.

Outside the Bible, in the writings of ancient historians, Solomon is barely acknowledged. Josephus the Hebrew historian mentions that Solomon is referenced by two classical Greek historians: Menander and Dios. They only mentioned that Solomon and Hiram, the King of Tyre, shared riddles with each other, but that Hiram was able to best Solomon.[4] Other materials are very scanty. Additional mentions concerning Solomon and his life are found in the writings in the early historians Eupolemus and Alexander Polyhistor.[5] In this discussion, however, we will focus on the material found in the Sacred Volume as our primary source for the information presented in this paper.

King Solomon: What kind of a father was he?

At first, we are presented with some pretty difficult realities about trying to learn much of anything in a concrete way about King Solomon. Very little information about him is presented to us in Scripture. Of course, the best would be some type of a biography of his life so we could really know him and such books were written about King Solomon. Note the following text which shows this:

“And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the words of Solomon?”[6]

It would be really great if we simply had access to this biography of Solomon’s life and probably therein many of our questions about him would be answered, but sadly this ancient resource has been lost. All we have to go forward in this quest is what we find basically in the Bible itself. As we have here shown, the information about Solomon is sparse, terse and limited. If we are going to really extract from the Bible information about Solomon, we are going to have to really be willing to look very closely at the little information we do have and try to extract from it data to help us paint the correct picture of King Solomon, the father.

The writings of King Solomon

According to the Bible, Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs (note that the whole section of Proverbs 1:7 to 9:18 can be considered a single proverb!) and 1,005 songs (the Song of Songs is considered only one song – more like a dramatic opera), but in fact, almost all of what Solomon produced is no longer with us. Many books must have been written by Solomon as he attests in Ecclesiastes 12:12 (and by other writers as well) to help explain what was happening in his time as well as in the previous period before Solomon lived. All of this at the present time is lost to us.

What were the tools that King Solomon had available to learn?

King Solomon had available many historical and religious works to refer to. The Bible shows that Solomon “sought out and set in order many proverbs, … The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words.”[7] Of course, he had the Law of Moses (found in the first five books of the Bible) available which we even find his father David urging him to follow the teachings of.[8] This book would have been required reading by Solomon on an annual basis according to Rabbinical understandings of Deuteronomy 31:10-13.

Other books were also available to Solomon, which no doubt discussed many different issues. We can summarize several of these mentioned in Scripture – some of which are even written by individuals who lived contemporaneously with Solomon (like Nathan the prophet).

"The Book of the Wars of the Lord" (Numbers 21:14)

“The Book of Jasher" (Joshua 10:13; II Samuel 1:18)

"The Book of the Acts of Solomon" (I Kings 11:14)

"The Book of Nathan the Prophet" (I Chronicles 29:29)

"The Book of Gad the Seer" (I Chronicles 29:29)

"The Prophecy of Ahijah the Shiloite" (II Chronicles 9:29)

"The Visions of Iddo the Seer" (II Chronicles 9:29)

"The Book of Shemiah the Prophet" (II Chronicles 12:15)

"The Book of Jehu the Son of Hanani" (II Chronicles 20:34)

"The Sayings of Hosai" (II Chronicles 33:19)

Definitely, Solomon would have had access to these and other written records for his reference and learning and they no doubt helped shape him into the person he became because he was certainly a scholar and very well read. However, to understand what type of a father Solomon was, we need also to look at the relationship he had with three main people in his life. These people are: (1) his own father, King David; (2) his mother, Queen Bathsheba; (3) his private tutor, the prophet Nathan.[9] Finally, to help us better understand Solomon the father, we need to look at some of the information we have about Solomon the person. Certainly, we can learn things about the general lifestyle, personal orientation, habits, character traits and the like from anecdotal stories about Solomon. This approach will be the basis for our investigation. (END OF PART ONE)

[1] When we use the term “corporal punishment” throughout this paper, we are referring to the practice commonly referred to as “spanking” or in British parlance “smacking.”

[2] Refer to the author’s website for information on his book on this subject – www.biblechild.com

[3] McClintock and Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature (CBTEL), vol. IX, pgs. 861-862.

[4] (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 8:55–62, 143–149).

[5] Eusebius, Preparatio Evangelica: 9:30); Clement of Alex.: i.21 – quoted in CBTEL – ibid. note 3.

[6] I Kings 11:41

[7] Ecclesiastes 12:9-10

[8] I Kings 2:3

[9] CBTEL, Vol. IX, pg. 862.

Patriarchial Longevity in the Antediluvian Age

2011-10-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

The book of Genesis is one which has interested me ever since I first got interested in writing about Scripture. I believe that the book of Genesis contains Biblical truth.

Dr. E. W. Bullinger, the compiler of the Companion Bible, referred to Genesis saying (I agree with his assessment precisely): “Genesis is the seed-plot of the whole Bible. It is essential to the true understanding of its every part. It is the foundation on which Divine Revelation rests; and on which is it built up. It is not only the foundation of all Truth, but it enters into, and forms part of all subsequent inspiration; … Genesis is quoted or referred to sixty times in the New Testament; and Divine authority is set like a seal on its historical facts.”[1]

[1] E. W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, Appendix II - See Matt. 19:4-6;24:37-28; Mark 7:4,10;10:3-8; Luke 11:43-51;17:26-29; Jn. 1:51;7:21;8:44-56

I am posting a new introduction a brand new small publication that I have been working on for over 15 years and it is my intention to publish the first edition of this new publication before year end. I will be updating you concerning the finalization of this new short publication (and how you can get a copy once it is published) very soon as the final version is almost complete. Here is a small excerpt from the introduction. Stay tuned for more information. Rest assured, this new publication will present a very thought provoking, Biblically conservative approach to this age old question.

Patriarchal Longevity in the Antediluvian Age by Samuel Martin

One of the most interesting aspects to the early history of human kind concerns the Biblical data showing that certain individuals are identified has having lived lives reaching up to almost 1,000 years of age. We today look at these Biblical texts and wonder if they are true or if they just represent ancient myths that primitive mankind believed in.

In this new publication, we are going to explore this question with a view to illuminating difficult passages of the Holy Scripture concerning this question. We believe that the LORD has given us all the information that we need within the Scriptures themselves to answer all the questions that we have on most subjects.

Understanding how the Patriarchs in the Antediluvian Age lived to be so old is no exception. We pray that you find this publication valuable in your Bible study.

Book giveaways on samuelmartin.blogspot.com to continue

2011-10-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who has entered this drawing. It is not too late to enter still. See details below.

Rest assured, I will be having more drawings for great books that I love on my blog.

Stay tuned.

"Corporal Punishment in the Bible - A Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts" to be given away on SamuelMartin.blogspot.com -

Give away ends November 1 2011

Dear friends,

I am delighted to continue endorsing strongly Professor William Webb's book. I can't recommend it enough.

Here is where you can get your copy - http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/toc/code=2761

So, I am pleased to announce that I am giving a copy of this book away. This is the first book I've ever given away on my blog and I am pleased that it is this book.

To win this book, all you have to do send me an email (your email address will be kept confidential not to be shared with anyone) with your first and last name to [info@biblechild.com] answering the following three questions:

1. I have read your book "Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy - YES or NO

2. I have read Professor Webb's book - YES or NO

3. Pick one of the following:

A. If I don't win the Webb book, I am planning to buy it.

B. I have already bought the Webb book and plan to give away the book if I win it.

C. I have not yet purchased the book by Prof. Webb.

So that is all there is to it. Except for one other thing.

The first name drawn will win the Webb book. Then, I will be drawing another name. The first name that I draw thereafter who answers the question "I have read your book "Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy" with a "NO", will win a free autographed copy of my book.

I look forward to hear from you very soon. This drawing ends 23:59AM Jerusalem time on November 1.

And the waters assuaged.” (Genesis 8:1)

2011-10-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

“And the waters assuaged.” (Genesis 8:1) by Samuel Martin (www.biblechild.com)

Note: I want to shift gears a little bit and talk about some research I did about fifteen years ago. I hope you find it interesting and I am definitely looking for feedback (or feed forward) on this subject.

The book of Genesis is one of my favourite books in the whole Bible. When I first began to do serious research into the Bible, Genesis was the place I started and the things that I have learned about Genesis, particularly in the early sections, really amazed me (and continue to do so today). I hope someday in the near future to be able to bring out more of my own research on the early sections of Genesis even beyond the subject of the Mark of Cain that I have already published (see www.biblechild.com for details of how you can get a copy if you are interested). (Note: I am working now on publishing some new research on showing how it was the ancient Patriarchs lived in some cases to be almost one thousands years old. Stay tuned.)

One of the most interesting subjects in the Bible is that of the Flood of Noah. This event is really a mystery to many people about the details of how it happened. No doubt, people are really interested in this issue. If you do any research at all, you will find hundreds of opinions on the Flood and how it happened and these opinions will cover a whole range of different opinions. Numerous books, articles and websites are devoted to this important issue.

The title of this section is “And the waters assuaged.” (Genesis 8:1) So let’s talk about this seemingly unimportant passage because it is in this passage that much interesting information is contained. Honestly, when we study Genesis or other sections of the Bible where we have very little information, we have to take what we do have seriously and look very carefully and closely at the information provided and do our best to understand what it meant to the writer who wrote it, who in this case was Moses. We want to know the meaning that Moses wished to convey if we can.

We in the modern world have been influenced wrongly by epic films and artistic depictions about biblical subjects concerning many issues including the Flood

Now, what difference does it make? The point is, films (and by extension photographs, television and paintings) influence dramatically people’s opinions about all kinds of things and the Bible is no exception. Look at the Hollywood films about the Flood. They seemingly follow the Biblical narrative and you see people climbing up to the tops of mountains to escape the Flood; you see the ark floating on huge oceans of water and torrential downpours; you see rain for forty days and forty nights; you see the water covering the tops of the mountains and so on. However, are these really accurate descriptions? According to Hollywood, yes; but according to the Bible, no!

However, there is one verse which I am focusing on in this short paper which seems to indicate this idea pretty clearly. It is the following which are the last few words of the passage in question: “And the waters assuaged.” (Genesis 8:1)

When you read this passage, you get the feeling that the waters that were submerging the whole mountains were somehow miraculously removed from the earth by a divine agency. This is what you feel on the surface when you read the last section of Genesis 7 and the first verse of Genesis 8. It seems so clear that this is what it means. But is it?

When we look at the Hebrew word for “assuaged” which is ישכו - yascu, this word needs some defining. Yes, it can mean “assuaged” or “receded,” however in this context many ancient commentators point out something else.

Rabbi Raphael Hirschinson in his excellent commentary on Genesis says the following: “וישכו – vayascu (root שכך) The use of this expression indicates that the action of the water of the flood was not merely mechanically destructive but also chemically dissolving. According to one remark in Sanhedrin 108b (quoting here from the Babylonian Talmud – one of the ancient authoritative works on Jewish law and Bible interpretation – see http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_108.html), they were רותחין, seething. שכך is the reverse of boiling and bubbling up of a torrent.” (pg. 155). Continuing, Rabbi Hirschinson shows that to understand this verse it is essential to refer to a passage in the book of Esther chapter 7, verse 10, which says:

“Then the king’s wrath was pacified.”

The word for “pacified” in Esther 7:10 and the word for “assuaged” in Genesis 8:1 come from the same root. The point that arises out of these passages when we begin to dig deeper is that the Floodwaters themselves were boiling hot. Rabbi Hirschinson references a key passage in the Babylonian Talmud in this regard and it is good to show here what those ancient commentaries said about this verse. Note if here:

R. Hisda said: With hot passion they sinned (speaking about those in the pre-Flood period), and by hot water they were punished. [For] here it is written, And the water cooled; (Genesis 8:1) whilst elsewhere it is said, Then the king's wrath cooled down. (Esther 7:10) (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 108b)

You can see that this ancient commentator clearly understood that the waters of the Flood were hot water and he even translated the word as “cooled.” When we think about it, depending on our perspective, it could very easily mean that the waters indeed “cooled off” rather than “assuaged” or “run off” from a higher point to a lower point. What we find here is that those individuals who translated the word “assuaged” may have been influenced by their opinion of what took place in the Flood through means other than looking at the ancient sources (like religious art, paintings in churches, stained glass windows or icons) and comparing the information we find in the Biblical texts.

Hot water during the Flood? Yes. In fact, we have many ancient nations producing Flood type narratives and “a Finnish story of the Deluge (the Flood) is of hot water.” (Hastings: Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, vol. IV, p. 548)

What has to be understood is the whole conception of what took place in the Flood needs to be reexamined. Even the word for “flood” (מבול - mabul) does not always specifically mean “flood.” Note that in passages in the New Testament where the Flood is referenced, the Greek word used is kataklusmos (kataklusmos), from which we get the English word cataclysm or cataclysmic. The point is, while all floods to one degree or another can be cataclysmic in effect, not all cataclysmic events are necessarily floods. It is important to note that the Hebrew word (מבול - mabul) only appears in the Hebrew Bible 12 times, 11 of which are in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. (the remaining time is in Psalm 29:10) We even find in the first passage where this word in referenced that the Lord says: “I do bring a flood (מבול – mabul – “a cataclysmic event”) of waters …” (Genesis 6:17) It seems to indicate that to limit the description of this event to that of a “flood” is to miss the intent and power of this word. What took place in the early chapters of Genesis was a complete destruction of everything alive on earth and it looks like that while water was involved, that water was not only very hot, but that it also had corrosive qualities to it. [Much more to say on this later.]

What I hope to show through this short article is that there is much to learn in these early sections of Genesis. While the language is terse and brief, we have to remember that this is what the Lord has provided for us to know about the early earth. Let us take these passages, believe them and be willing to study them carefully asking the Lord to guide our path. There is still much teaching to be had from that good old Book.

Closing comment: As time permits, I hope to bring out more research on this interesting subject in the future as what I have given here is a summary of more research to be published later.

I was wrong and how I intend to make it right: A tested Biblical methodology for addressing traditions and false teachings in Christianity

2011-10-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

I was wrong and how I intend to make it right:

A tested Biblical methodology for

addressing traditions and false teachings in Christianity

Being wrong is one of the finest things that can happen to a person. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be wrong a majority of the time. No one does. But let’s face it, were imperfect. I think most of us are fairly familiar with the Biblical information in this regard.

There is a bad thing about being wrong. It reminds you that it represents a step away from God, a move in the wrong direction. However, God can even use us people moving in the wrong direction for His work.

There are many ways, of course, to be wrong, but when you are someone like me, who writes his opinion about theological subjects, the negative effect can have bigger repercussions. This is what the Lord showed me a few days ago due to some advice I gave to a woman who I do not know personally, but have since come into contact through that magical online universe known as FACEBOOK.

As for the context of this, here is the thread, so you can all see the context of where my foot entered my mouth.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2209303002/?notif_t=group_activity

Here is the statement that prompted my moronic advice.

“I got up and walked out of my Mother's church last week. The entire pastor's sermon was about how he was so proud that he paddled his kids, even when they were a senior in high school. He kept going on and on about spanking and how it is godly and a necessity to raise children. It really made me sick. I am so glad that I found a church with a pastor that would never preach such a sermon.”

And what did I say in response to this?

“I would like to send you a free copy of my book immediately to give to that pastor. Maybe the best place for you is in that church praying every Sunday for him to change? Maybe after reading it, he may change his mind and repent. I hope so. Thank you for sharing.”

Kristie, let me tell you a fact. Your first instinct as a woman and a mother was the right one. Getting up and leaving was the right thing to do and if I were you, I would never go back.

Now my advice on the surface sounds so nice and touchy feely. It is the right thing to do to now show that dear misguided pastor friend “the truth.” Oh and if we just pray hard enough and sit there and ask God to open the pastors heart, he may change. That is all true and nice and makes me feel good just thinking about it and that is where it is 100% dead wrong.

Look, anyone who has any common sense knows that the chances of that pastor ever coming around are about as possible as you walking into Wal Mart, pulling a three dollar bill out of your wallet and attempting to purchase some goods you wish to buy. Dear friends, in short, it ain’t gonna work!

Why? Because that pastor is a man of God. He is ordained of God to be in the ministry. He is in authority over his congregation. He is responsible for their spiritual development and growth. He is the expert.

Who am I? Just another one of those misguided Christian who doesn’t know Bible truth if it came up and slapped me in the face! Do you mean to tell me that the Bible suggests something different than what our dear pastor friend is teaching? “I mean come on Martin? Are you serious? Can you read English? I mean are you an idiot?”

What will be the reaction? It is the same reaction that we get from Michael Pearl - Pearl has publicly appeared unapologetic (March 2010): “Michael Pearl laughs at his critics.” - http://pearlchildtraining.blogspot.com/2010/03/michael-pearl-laughs-at-critics.html

It is the same reaction we get from Detective Robert Surgenor of the Family Defense Network of Ohio, a well know proponent of corporal punishment and the author of the book “No Fear”. In his book on page 41, Surgenor’s dad, a born again minister, who found the Lord due to a purported heavy equipment accident in which his life was apparently saved, said: ”When I hear that spanking actually produces violent children my sides hurt – from laughing.”

So, are we noticing a trend here? While many of us are still crying over Sean, Lydia and now Hana, these dear people are laughing. With such people, Kristie’s motherly protection response to get up and leave never to come back is the right move, 100% full stop. I was dead wrong in telling her to go back there and pray for that pastor.

Am I saying she (and you and I) should not pray for that pastor? No I am not. But as I said earlier, he is the minister of God, God’s instrument, God’s shepherd to his flock, he is spiritually responsible for the people in his church. What is it going to do to his position of authority in that church to backtrack? How will he, the great man of God, look in the eyes of his people if he now goes down another path? Were he to do that, he would not last 10 minutes in that church. But as long as he toes the party line in his denomination, he is sitting pretty. He is the big boss, the top dog, the cash keeps rolling in, the heads keep blindly nodding up and down and the world is right side up.

So, Kristie, I lead you astray and I have to say that it was a major ‘blow it.’ The thing is, though, if you have a flat tire on your car, are you just going to continue to drive it around with the flat tire, or are you going to get out of the car, pull that spare out of the trunk, get your hands dirty and change the tire and move forward? That is what this paper is an attempt to do.

Good luck if you intend to challenge most church, church hierarchies, ministers and church leaders

As we have shown here, most people in hierarchies created by men and women, especially religious hierarchies, are one of the most resistant groups to change one could possibly imagine. Why? Because their jobs, authority, prestige, relationships, networks, etc are all connected to the perpetuation of what ever party line they are toeing.

Those who promote corporal punishment are especially like this. Do you think for one minute that a leader of a huge mega church or a nationwide ministry with hundreds of radio stations with budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars is for one minute going to come out and admit he was wrong? Not a chance! He would lose all of the power, influence and prestige he has built up, not to mention his ministry would come crashing down. No way on earth is he or any one in his position going to change very easily, if at all. Think this is not the case? Ask yourself this? How many people like one of these mega preachers or Christian psychologists or people like them have changed their mind on anything? You just will hardly find an example of that.

To sum up, I am going to add a quote here from my father in this regard who taught me the following: “And the most resistant of all to the gospel truths are the leaders of denominations, churches, church schools, or church universities. The hierarchies of the established religions are interested in usually only one thing -- the perpetuation of the cult of traditionalism. They do not want to know the truth, which will cause them to change their ways. In other words, they claim in many cases, these leaders of denominations, churches, and schools, and universities, to be the ones who are commissioned by Christ to teach the gospel at this time. They think that they have an ordained status from God, a ticket from Him, to be able to give the message of the gospel to the world, and they look on all others, even academic leaders and the general public, as not being capable of taking this message of the gospel to anyone. They feel they are the ones in authority to do it. And those who accept that type of a belief are the most difficult to reach with the truth.

Now the greatest detriment to bringing forth the new truth that God prophesies will come forth at the end of the age from this good old book, called the Holy Bible, are those who are the hierarchical leaders of organized religious organizations. And if you start to take it to them, I will assure you, in most cases, you are wasting your time. Don't even take any new truth to religious leaders, that is a church pastor, or a church administrator. That doesn't mean that the person is necessarily bad. No. It's just that he is resistant to the truth, because he is in a position of authority, to be able to maintain the status quo, or, the traditions that have been given to him by his ancestors, by the authorities who ordained him, or commissioned him by the laying on of the hands in the first place.

He gets his living, his job, his prestige, his money, by being able to perpetuate what they consider to be their denominational creeds. And if you come along with a new teaching from the Bible, and it's absolutely the truth, still they will resist in most cases. And why will they do that? Because you are going counter to the teachings which that denomination, or that church, accepts as their creed which governs the lives and the thinking processes of their people.” (E. Martin – “Principles for Gospel Teaching”: 1990)

Let us understand that this information is not new. “Now that's exactly what happened to Christ and the apostles in the First Century. That is why Christ, when He went to the scribes and the Pharisees, He had a great resistance on their part, because they had already established, in the first Century, traditions. And the word "traditions" simply means teachings counter to the Scripture (you can find this in the dictionary, if you'd just look it up) counter to the teachings of the Scripture, which they have inaugurated, extra-biblically that is, outside the Scripture, but which are the dominating factors in their belief systems. That is what traditions are. That's what the word "traditionalism" means.” (ibid.)

Let me tell you a fact. The doctrine that is trumpeted by many Christian leaders today is a teaching which is found in the Bible, but that teaching is not found clearly in the Christian New Testament! I’ve point this out in my book, “Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy.” Do you realize that not one of the texts which are found in the book of Proverbs and seem to authorize this practice is found in the New Testament? That is right. When you look at the doctrine of corporal punishment, you find many divergent opinions throughout the ages and there is no uniformity of belief concerning this issue. I have also shown this in my book.

Now, there are some things that all Christians believe and agree upon. I’ll give you one teaching that we all agree on. There was a person who lived 2,000 years ago. His name was Jesus. He was God in the flesh. He was born here in Israel, lived and died and was raised from the dead. Almost all Christians would solidly agree on this fact. It is NOT a belief of tradition. It is one solidly found in Scripture.

Corporal punishment of children is not so. Yes, there are seemingly teachings about it in the Old Testament, but when it comes to clarity concerning it in the New Testament, it is interesting how many advocates of the practice are forced to primarily quote Old Testament Scripture for their justification of it. It is not so clear in the New Testament.

Couple that with the fact that later Christians did not develop a unanimity of belief. Many divergent opinions about these texts in Proverbs emerged. I have pointed out that we have a 3^rd century Syrian text known as the Didascalia which interprets the texts in Proverbs related to spanking children as not relating to a literal ‘rod”, but the rod in question are the words, not rods.

O.M. Bakke, an associate professor of Church History at the School of Mission and Theology, Stavanger, Norway wrote a book titled "When Children became People; The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity" (get your copy at www.archivesbookshop.com - 1 800 204 2063) This is a scholarly book which is filled with information on children in the ancient world. My copy is already full of underlines, notes and comments. I really could not put it down.

This book is a major contribution to this subject and represents the fullest picture yet of the experience of children in the classical period and the ancient Christian church community. This book is a seriously in depth scholarly examination of this subject. Bakke deserves a huge "thank you" from the whole Christian world seeking the true picture of the experience of children in ancient times. Additional credit should also go to the government of Norway (here was one government program that is doing fantastic things – great job Norway) for their support of this project, which allowed Bakke a whole year to write the book. This is a vital piece of scholarship with some 54 pages of notes!

So what does Bakke say about corporal punishment? A great deal. For example, he quotes a text written in the middle of the third century by the Christian community in Syria saying the following. This quote will certainly give those biblical literalists focusing on the literal interpretation of the "rod" in the book of Proverbs something to think about.

"The Didascalia goes even further in emphasizing the obligation to raise one's children in accordance with Christian ideals. It was composed in Syria in the first half of the third century and combines a church order and pastoral exhortations. The fact that it devotes an entire chapter (though one that is relatively brief) to the upbringing of children makes it the most detailed discussion of the subject in the Christian tradition up to that date. The author underscores that if parents neglect to correct their children, their children will imitate the evil actions of the pagans. Much is at stake here, and this is why the author admonishes parents not to be slow to 'rebuke and correct and teach them; for you will not kill them by chastising them, but rather save them alive.' He writes that such a practice is in keeping with the doctrine of the Lord, and adduces as scriptural proof Proverbs 23:14 ('Chasten thy son, that there may be hope for him: for thou shalt strike him with a rod, and deliver soul from Sheol.') and 13:24 ('Whosoever spareth his rod, hateth his son'). The 'rod' in these texts is not understood literally, but as a metaphor for the Word of God, Jesus Christ; the author draws the conclusion that anyone 'who spares to speak a word of rebuke to his son, hates his son.'" (Pg. 158)

According to this and many other examples I have given in my book, corporal punishment of children looks like a tradition, not a Christian doctrine precisely taught in the New Testament. Here is another quote from my father in this regard:

“Now Christ and the apostles had the same thing that they had to go up against in their day. And we have it today. Look at what Christ said in Matthew, chapter 15, beginning in verse 1. Here were the scribes and Pharisees coming to Him, and He was trying to teach them the truth. But what happens in regard to traditions of men? They will believe the traditions, any day, most people will, over the teachings of the truth. Chapter 15 of Matthew, verse 1:

"Then came to Jesus, scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the

commandment of God by your tradition?"

... You can find what those oral traditions were. Some of them claim, they said, came directly from Moses through oral tradition. You could not find a word of it in the Old Testament, especially on this washing of hands, and numerous other doctrines. … , Yes.."Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"

Now that is what Christ said to the scribes and the Pharisees from Jerusalem. You see Jerusalem was the capital. That's where the Temple was. That's where the headquarters was. That's where the administrators were. And the scribes and the Pharisees were the administrators, and they were carrying on with their traditions. And then it goes on to say, verse 7: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Now that's it. And that's what traditions are, the commandments of men. They do not come from the biblical revelation. And that is our problem that we have today. Here we live at the end of the 20th Century, and most of our Christian churches, or denominations today, claim to get their teachings directly from the New Testament.” (ibid.)

Of course, spanking children is one of those teachings. It is a traditional teaching. But while this is the case, many of the key stakeholders and power structures in Christianity epitomized by Kristie’s pastor, hold the majority view concerning this issue.

So this paints a pretty grim picture, but this is the way it is. However, thankfully, all is not lost. Thankfully, there are two groups of people who are receptive to new ideas from the Bible and we are going to consider them now.

Where you can go and how to do it to advocate for Biblical truths

I know the abovementioned title is a bold statement, but what I am going to tell you now will be something that many of you in fact will be very familiar with and something that many of you are either consciously or unconsciously already doing.

There are two groups of people that I believe we should concentrate our attention on reaching out to build their educational capacity when it comes to issues that many of us have been studying for decades now. These two groups are as follows:

First, go to the general public and second, go to the top scholars in universities, seminary or colleges. These two groups are the most receptive to new information.

The general public are generally speaking practically minded men and women who have to go out and earn a living and care for their families. Kristie I think probably considers herself to be one of these people. She was smart enough to get up and walk out of that church when her motherly protection God inspired inner voice told her that what she was hearing was not inspired by God’s Holy Spirit or from God’s Holy Revelation.

The general public are the most open to new truth. We all remember how the religious authorities in the First Century “feared the masses” because they held Jesus and John the Baptist to be great prophets! Go to the general public directly with the best information you can get and let the practical minded no nonsense everyday man or woman in the street have an opportunity to see a new way of looking at things.

This is exactly what I see taking place around me on a massive scale. One way in which it is taking place is via the web, via blogs, via FACEBOOK, in newsletters, in e-books, in people taking initiatives and speaking out against the status quo and I believe that God is blessing these efforts.

Everyday people are sharing not so everyday information that one will NEVER find preached in most pulpits today, but this information is spreading like wildfire and in fact, it is not wildfire, it is Spirit water, which quenches souls, refreshes, restores, heals, entertains and brings joy.

There is a second group who are also essential to take new information to. This group comprises the top scholars, theologians, academics, professors in institutes of higher learning. People at the very top in particular have often reached such high positions in their respective professions that they are threatened by no one.

Let me give you an example of this. In this case, I am going for the Biblical approach and give you an example of two witnesses of high academic scholars who have shown recent openness to new ways of thinking and in this case we are going to use and example specifically related to corporal punishment.

The first quote comes from Emeritus Professor of the New Testament, I. Howard Marshall. Dr. I. Howard Marshall, BA (Cambridge), MA, BD, PhD (Aberdeen), DD (Asbury) Emeritus Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Honorary Research Professor; Formerly Chair of the Tyndale Fellowship for Biblical and Theological Research; President of the British New Testament Society and Chair of the Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians.

But, where these other works tend to be more academic in their approach, this book has added a nonacademic postscript written at a more down-to-earth level, with abundance of personal insight and experience as well as practical application that parents will find helpful. (I could have profited much from it if it had been published when Joyce and I were bringing up our four children.) Moreover, the approach is conciliatory and gracious toward those who are gently but firmly corrected for not realizing that their approach to Scripture does in fact lead them to move beyond what Scripture says while holding to the supreme authority of Scripture. … And that in its turn will forward what matters most to the author: the development and practice of behavior that is truly biblical and Christian, and so pleasing and glorifying to God as well as commending the gospel to the people.

In short, I enjoyed the book and could not put it down once I started to read it.”

”Foreword - Corporal Punishment and the Bible: A Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic for Troubled Texts - http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/toc/code=2761” – Buy yours here.)

Notice the text in bold. It plainly says that this dear Christian scholar, Prof. Marshall is pointing out that this book breaks new ground. So much so that even he “could not put it down once he started to read it.”

Here is another example from Prof. Webb himself whose comments appeared on this blog just a few short days ago.

“It is my hope that my recent book (Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts) will inspire hope and positive dialogue that helps the Christian community move towards something better for our children. The book outlines how Marilyn (my wife) and I changed our minds about spanking. Like the Pearls we were severely deluded in thinking that the rod was God’s way. But over time we learned how to read and understand the Bible differently.” (Comments by Prof. Webb – http://samuelmartin.blogspot.com/2011/10/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html)

In these two statements, we see two top theologians whose professional job it is is to interpret the Bible and help it make sense for the non-expert saying basically: “We are here presenting something new which we think reflects well on what the Bible teaches.” As for me and my house, given the choice between the preacher that Kristie walked out on and these two Bible scholars, I am going with the later.

Scholars have pushing the envelope, challenging the status quo, putting their ideas out there, publishing first and talking later in their job descriptions. The General Public also are amenable to new ideas.

Churches, church leaders, church councils, church committees, individual pastors are often the most resistant to change because they have the most to lose and they are also holding fast to their traditions from which their power originates.

Conclusion

I know that when many of your read this, you will see that you have already been doing this. You’ve been searching for accurate information from top people, from academics and scholars and you are now taking it to the general public through the means you have available. This is what I am doing and I think solid results are being produced. I say lets move forward and keep it up. I believe that God is blessing this approach and His Name is being honored and glorified due to the same.

Let’s continue in “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (I Peter 3:15)

Book giveaway ends November 1

2011-10-14T20:46:00.001-07:00

"Corporal Punishment in the Bible - A Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts" to be given away on SamuelMartin.blogspot.com -

Give away ends November 1 2011

Dear friends,

I am delighted to continue endorsing strongly Professor William Webb's book. I can't recommend it enough.

Here is where you can get your copy - http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/toc/code=2761

So, I am pleased to announce that I am giving a copy of this book away. This is the first book I've ever given away on my blog and I am pleased that it is this book.

1. I have read your book "Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy - YES or NO

2. I have read Professor Webb's book - YES or NO

3. Pick one of the following:

A. If I don't win the Webb book, I am planning to buy it.

B. I have already bought the Webb book and plan to give away the book if I win it.

C. I have not yet purchased the book by Prof. Webb.

So that is all there is to it. Except for one other thing.

I look forward to hear from you very soon. This drawing ends 23:59AM Jerusalem time on November 1.

A new message from Janet Heimlich, Author of the book "Breaking Their Wills: Shedding Light On Religious Maltreatment"

2011-10-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

A new message from Janet Heimlich, Author of the book

"Breaking Their Wills: Shedding Light On Religious Maltreatment"

At 7pm on October 16, I will speak in Seattle at the University Temple United Methodist Church about religious child maltreatment. As it happens, tragically, there has been a case close to home here. Last May, 13-year-old Hana Williams died after suffering months of physical and emotional abuse. According to a detective's affidavit, the cause of death was hypothermia, as the underweight and malnourished child was found outside in 40-degree weather.

Hana had been adopted from Ethiopia by Carri and Larry Williams a couple years before, along with a boy, now ten years old, who was not related to Hana. Normally, children who come from poverty-stricken areas of the world thrive after they are brought to this country. But Hana and her adopted brother entered a world that was likely more hellish than anything they would have endured back home.

According to police records, both children were physically punished constantly for the most minor of infractions. For example, Hana was expected to stand still within a space that was one-foot wide, and her brother, who was deaf, angered his parents when he did not respond them stamping their feet on a concrete floor.

Witnesses say that the children were frequently beaten and made to sleep on the hard floor. Hana was forced to spend hours outside outside in the bitter cold and sleep in a barn. She was also repeatedly denied food and locked in a dark closet for days, while her parents played Bible readings on-tape and Christian music. The Williams have been arrested on murder charges and child abuse charges in connection with the boy.

Even more devastating, we now know that the Williams were followers of Michael Pearl. They had a copy of his pro-corporal punishment book To Train Up a Child in their home, and witnesses say they used a number of Pearl's "training" techniques, including spanking the children with plastic plumbing pipe. Hana's body was covered with bruises and other signs of having sustained beatings.

We can sit and wonder, how could parents abuse children in this way? But we do know that, if what the witnesses say are true, Hana is the third child to die at the hands of those who follow Pearl's teachings. As I have pointed out to the media, Pearl is a minister who uses his authority and Bible verses to prove his message -- that children must unquestioningly obey their elders and that corporal punishment is a God-approved way to gain that obedience.

Pearl's book has sold in the hundreds of thousands. Surely, not everyone who buys it abuses their children. But we must ask, how many children whose parents follow Pearl are suffering on a daily basis? Why do bookstores, such as Amazon, continue to sell such a dangerous book? How many more children must die before Michael Pearl finally realizes that he, a man who has no training in child psychology, should adopt compassionate disciplinary techniques or get out of the childrearing consulting business? (Janet's comments end here)

It is my honor to have Janet on this blog. I urge all of my visitor to support her by buying her book and benefiting from it. In this regard, please see link below. Thank you. Samuel Martin.

http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=90_199&products_id=2047&zenid=alvp7pjkpro9r1rrv05b9q0gg2

Professor Curtis Hutt of the University of Nebraska shares his view concerning the ongoing debate about violence against children

2011-10-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Curtis Hutt

Great ready for a intellectual treat. Do yourself a favor and read and reread the following guest post from my close friend and teacher, mentor, a scholar and a keen observer of our times. Ladies, you'll particularly appreciate Professor Curtis Hutt's perspective here.

Professor Hutt splits his time in Nebraska and Jerusalem teaching in both places. He brings a very unique perspective to his work with a solid background in Biblical studies.

Curtis Hutt received a Ph.D. in Religion and Critical Thought from Brown University in 2007, where he wrote his dissertation on religion and the ethics of historical belief.

Since graduating, Hutt has taught classes and mentored graduate students at a Christian research institution in Jerusalem in the anthropology of religion, the history of women in religions of the ancient Mediterranean, and comparative religious ethics.

He also has graduate degrees in philosophy and history.

http://www.unomaha.edu/religion/CHutt.html

Any of you who are anywhere near the University of Nebraska, run do not walk to Prof. Hutt's classroom. I believe that online options are also available through www.uhl.ac, my home institution.

I am deeply honored that he has graciously taken his time to speak out in favor of children.

Thanks Curtis. Rest assured that this will not be the last time you hear from Prof. Curtis Hutt on this blog. In fact, anytime he has anything to say, the door is open, Curtis. Thanks so much. His comments start below.

"J.Z. Smith, the famous historian of religion at the University of Chicago/Divinity School, several years ago argued in his article “Religion, Religions, Religious” that IF all religions shared one thing in common (btw: he does not think this is the case) it would be the tendency of their followers to break the world up into “Us versus Them.” Smith certainly, following others like Mary Douglas, thinks that many religions/cultures are xenophobic and often engage in acts of violence against "others" who are not part of their group. While many Christians in the United States claim not to be “religious” but instead “spiritual,” recent and sometimes longstanding practices indicate that they do not escape this base inclination. First, Christianity is clearly a religion like many others, and the need to deny this fits perfectly with Smith’s tentative definition outlined above. Second, self-identified Christians like the members of other religious groups often embrace acts of brutality against “others” – something very different from what I think is promoted in the Christian Testament.

Sam – I think your work on kids, though not overtly political, occupies a critical position on the frontlines in the fight against brutality in Christianity. Kids don’t need to have their sinful nature beaten out of them. If Jesus had kids, I can’t ever imagine him doing such. Instead, Jesus identified his permissive attitude towards little children with the kingdom of God. (Mk. 10:14) It does my heart good to read of your work. It stands in such contrast to what is found in books like Leon Podles’ The Church Impotent – The Feminization of Christianity. Podles in his ignorance doesn't understand that Christianity from its beginnings was "feminized" by the presence of disproportionately large numbers of women (like slaves) adopting the faith. This is documented in numerous publications on early Christianity in recent years. Extrapolating on the work of Rodney Stark, one might even argue that Christianity fits the mold of a women's religion in the Roman Empire rather than a religion of men. I do not believe like Paul and Sandra Coughlin that “Christian Nice Guys” need to be toughened up. Enough of Chuck Norris’ hard-hitting Christianity and Stephen Sawyer’s “boxer Jesus.” By exorcising mercy and compassion from Christianity, Jesus and his message are betrayed.

Comments from Curtis Hutt end here.

PS. Prof. Hutt mentions Rodney Stark here. I am hoping very soon to have Prof. Stark join this discussion. We'll have much more to say going forward on some of the tidbits here referenced about those disproportionate numbers of women in the early Christian Church. Please join me in reading the Gospel of Luke tonight and see women and mothers everywhere. We will not let Prof. Hutt get away with not coming back and telling us about those numerous publications talking about women in the ancient Church. We are waiting for that.

"Corporal Punishment in the Bible - A Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts" to be given away on SamuelMartin.blogspot.com

2011-10-11T00:49:00.000-07:00

"Corporal Punishment in the Bible - A Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts" to be given away on SamuelMartin.blogspot.com -

Give away ends November 1 2011

Dear friends,

I am delighted to continue endorsing strongly Professor William Webb's book. I can't recommend it enough.

Here is where you can get your copy - http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/toc/code=2761

So, I am pleased to announce that I am giving a copy of this book away. This is the first book I've ever given away on my blog and I am pleased that it is this book.

1. I have read your book "Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy - YES or NO

2. I have read Professor Webb's book - YES or NO

3. Pick one of the following:

A. If I don't win the Webb book, I am planning to buy it.

B. I have already bought the Webb book and plan to give away the book if I win it.

C. I have not yet purchased the book by Prof. Webb.

So that is all there is to it. Except for one other thing.

I look forward to hear from you very soon. This drawing ends 23:59AM Jerusalem time on November 1.

Want Information on Jewish Scholars Against Corporal Punishment? Read these!

2011-10-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

In mentioning this book - Munk, Sparing the Rod: A Torah Perspective on Reward and Punishment in Education: Mishor Publishing, Bnei Brak, 1989 - available via Judaica Express I hope, 1-800-2-BOOKS-1 - I thought it appropriate not to miss an opportunity to mention and strongly endorse another excellent book which is quoted often in the above mentioned book - http://www.feldheim.com/planting-and-building-in-education.html - Do yourself a favor and buy this book.

I know that I have reread mine half a dozen times and will probably read it another half a dozen times because it is so full of powerful Biblical teachings.

Thanks to the book's translator, Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen (www.lawrencekelemen.com) - whose own book 'To Kindle a Soul' is an absolute must have. Rabbi Kelemen is a strong opponent of corporal punishemt I am happy to say and thankfully his book has been well received. If you don't know about it, I urge you to join the more than 30,000 others who did buy it and were blessed by it.

Prof. Dawn Devries, contributor to "The Child in Christian Thought" shares her view on discipline

2011-10-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Please note my recent FACEBOOK thread where Prof. Dawn Devries, a New Testament Scholar and Systematic Theologian from Union Theological Seminary in Virgina comments on the Pearl's book.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000507392601

Many of you may know Prof. Devries from her contribution to the book "The Child in Christian Thought" where she points out concerning the German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher, "known as the father of modern theology" that "Schleiermacher rejects external enticements as inconsistent with Christian faith. In particular, he denounces the use of corporal punishment with children. Discipline is not about punishment, but about promoting an orderly life." See http://www.eerdmans.com/shop/product.asp?p_key=9780802846938 for more information about this book.I give this book my strongest possible endorsement.

Here is the conversation with Prof. Devries important comments.

Samuel S. Martin Dawn .. As a mother and a New Testamant scholar and a systematic theologian, we'd love to hear your view on Michael Pearl and his teachings if you'd grace us with your vast knowledge? I know it is a bit on the spot, but we'd love to hear anything you have to share especially in light of what you said about in the above referenced book.

Dawn DeVries Samuel, I can't render a judgment unless I actually read the book, which I haven't done to this point. But I firmly believe that my Christian faith convicts me to treat little people as human beings created in the image of God who must be treated with dignity and respect. I do not believe that violence against another person ever teaches them anything except hate and the cycle of violence. So I firmly oppose anyone who suggests that God someone encourages us to "discipline" our children through violence and force. I do believe that Schleiermacher was a little ahead of his time in recognizing these truths--even in an age when corporal punishment was more the norm than it is in our world. And I am heartsick about the little girl who died because her parents claimed to be following Mr. Pearl's child-rearing advice. That's all I can say for now.

I will be making sure that Prof. Devries secures a copy of Mr. Pearl's book for further review and will hopefully be sharing some of her thoughts in the future in this regard.

What do Wives, Children and Good Samaritans have in Common?

2011-10-07T09:39:00.001-07:00

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Do-Wives%2C-Children-and-Good-Samaritans-Have-in-Common%3F&id=6290923 -

For those of you who have not seen this one..

Why I think the Pearl book should be removed from Amazon and any other internet bookstore or other distribution channel

2011-10-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

Why I think the Pearl book should be removed from Amazon and any other internet bookstore or other distribution channel

What if the life of one innocent child, like Lydia Schatz who was seven years old when she died, were to be saved because that book is not on Amazon? Should the book be removed to save one life? I say "yes" resoundingly! I say you have to protect children whose parents could potentially get a hold of that book and take its teachings too far. We are now talking about matters of life and death here. Lydia Schatz and other children have had their life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the ability to love, stolen from them permanently. This is the ultimate human rights violation: the violation of the right to live! In my view, the book "To Train Up A Child" should be illegal and should not be sold in any way, shape or form, but today in many countries the political systems are influenced by people who continue to support the corporal punishment of children. That is their right and that is what the majority still wants. I personally think that in the absence of a law banning the information, people who care have to do what they can and try to take steps in the interim to protect the lives of the innocent people (in this case children) from those people who take things to extremes. One way to do that is to try to influence and stop distribution channels which make promulgation of the information easy to obtain. Also, these authors hide behind the law and say their arguments are covered by freedom of religion. So, we have to do what we can to try to stop them because they are currently protected by the law. Being a law abiding citizen, I believe one must work within the legal framework they have to try to right wrongs that exist.

People for centuries have been dealing with this issue of corporal punishment and religious scholars have always sided on the imperative to protect human life, especially innocent human life that cannot protect itself. Occasionally this means protecting innocent human life even from the people who brought that life into the world (or who are responsible for protecting that life like the adoptive parents of Lydia Schatz, whose actions contributed to her death and who plead guilty to the charges against them and are currently paying their debt to society for the wrongs they have done.)

Some 1,700 years ago, Rabbinical scholars grappled with a case which forced them to act to protect all children. I refer to this case on page 39 of my book “Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy” saying: “In this regard, children should never be threatened with punishment at a later time because of a key legal case in which a parent threatened his child with a beating at a later time and the child went and committed suicide. This event in Jewish legal history has profoundly affected all interpretations surrounding corporal punishment of children since the time when this event took place over 1700 years ago.)” The effect was that because of this individual case, the Rabbis ruled that to avoid this ever happening again, parents could not threaten their children with a beating to be administered at a later time.

Today, in the absence of laws like the above referenced one which are designed to protect all children, even from their parents, in this environment, one has to work to do what they can to protect innocent children. That is why I say, ask the distribution channels for this material to cut it off.

I take this issue very personally as you can tell and look on it in a very familial way. Why? In Acts 17:28, St. Paul speaking to the men of Athens said: “'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' So, if we are ‘His offspring,’ which I believe is true, then we are all God’s children, but the Bible speaks of the third and fourth generations.

Generally speaking in life, we are normally aware of either three or perhaps four generations in our lives. Most of us knew our grand parents (the third generation) and occasionally great grandparents (fourth generation). Each person finds themselves in the generational level that they are in.

I am in the generation of being a parent (second generation) to two children (first generation). Since all men are brothers, as Paul said, the children of one Father, God, then other parents are, according to Scripture, my brothers and sisters. And logically this would mean that I am the ‘uncle’ of their children according to the way God looks at it.

As the ‘uncle’ of Lydia Schatz, Hana Williams, Sean Paddock and every other child on this earth, I will do what I believe is needed (and what I believe the Lord would have any one who cares about their family members to do) to protect those children when my misguided brothers and sisters (their parents) and the legal systems (in numerous countries) have failed them. Where parent and legal system fail, we need to do what we can to protect life and that is why I favor seeing that book removed from Amazon and any other forum where it can be bought and could potentially influence someone to do what was done to my nieces and nephews, Lydia, Sean and now Hana. This is now a matter of saving life.

2011-10-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a quote from one of my earliest papers on the subject of corporal punishment from 1997 in fact - In reviewing, I will add this to the new edition of my book that will eventually come out -

"The Bible is a difficult book to understand. It requires great study and discipline to truly ascertain its intended teachings. Some of these teachings are very problematic to us in the modern world and no example of this is great than those verses that relate to corporal punishment. We who are troubled by some of these statements are not alone in feely deeply troubled by them. Others have also felt the same way. Heads have been scratched for centuries to understand the intended meanings of things just as we are doing today. In this regard, a great Rabbi who lived over 1,500 years ago named Simeon ben Lakish once said: 'There are many verses which, in all appearances, ought to be burned but are really essential elements of the Torah.' (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hullin 60b.)"

We need to look underneath the surface to find the deeper meaning, not just to look at face value just at what is written always.

This is where books like those done by scholars like William Webb (http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/review/code=2761), Marcia Bunge and a host of others (http://www.eerdmans.com/shop/product.asp?p_key=9780802848352) are so important to help us understand what the Bible means for us today.

Professor William Webb - A religious scholar speaking out against the teachings of Michael and Debi Pearl

2011-10-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

October 2011 Newsletter

The Newsletter of the “New Foundation for Biblical Research.”

A project of the Century One Foundation, Inc. (www.centuryone.org)

Samuel Martin – Project Director – www.biblechild.com

Email: info@biblechild.com

October 2011

Religious scholars speaking out against the teachings of Michael and Debi Pearl

Many of you may have by now heard about Hana-Grace Rose Williams, who died in May at the tender age of 13. See the details of her story here and how Michael and Debi Pearl’s book “To Train Up A Child” is yet again being implicated in this horrifying case. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016361753_hana30m.html

When I saw this, I postponed what I had planned to publish this month and I immediately started writing to a number of religious scholars that I know asking them to speak out on this outrageous, unacceptable and evil publication. Thankfully, my call has immediately been answered by Prof, William Webb of Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, Canada. I know that I will be hearing from other religious scholars very soon and I will be sharing more testimonies and comments from them as I receive them. We need to hear these voices now.

Prof. William Webb

Many of you know that I have strongly endorsed Prof. Webb’s book in this newsletter (July 2011 Newsletter). Today, I am herein once again not only endorsing this book, but I am asking you to support this book to ensure that it obtains the widest possible reading, attention and exposure. Rather than telling you what Prof. Webb told me, I am herein including a written communication from him that I received just this morning. The following is a direct quote from Prof. Webb and is used with his permission.

THE PEARL’S BEATINGS ARE NOT REALLY BIBLICAL

“Although they will tell you it is from the Bible, the Pearl’s version of child discipline is not really biblical. Not in the truest sense. Not in the deepest sense of what should shape biblical authority. Not in a way that honors the Bible’s underlying redemptive spirit. It is utterly heart breaking to watch “Christian materials” written by Michael and Debi Pearl become part of the murder investigations in three separate cases where so-called Christian parents allegedly abused their children in life-threatening and life-ending ways. I am stunned and appalled by what I have seen on CNN, King5 News, etc.

Unfortunately, Christians often get stuck in their ability to apply the Bible in today’s world. It is my hope that my recent book (Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts) will inspire hope and positive dialogue that helps the Christian community move towards something better for our children. The book outlines how Marilyn (my wife) and I changed our minds about spanking. Like the Pearls we were severely deluded in thinking that the rod was God’s way. But over time we learned how to read and understand the Bible differently. We also learned a truck-load of non-corporal methods of discipline which were far more weighty and effective than the Dobson version (2 smacks max) and certainly better than the abusive Pearl prescription (many beatings with the rod). Like the slavery texts of Scripture, the answer is not simply in moving towards a better form of slavery. That only captures part of Scripture’s redemptive spirit. The Dobson approach is to be commended because they move away from the Pearl-type literalism. But, that is not where biblical application should stop. Like the slavery issue of past days, we need to move beyond a gentler, kinder form of slavery/corporal punishment. Two smacks max is good but it does not reflect an ultimate ethical application of the Bible. As with slavery, only abolitionism (of the rod) will permit Christians to fully embrace effective non-corporal methods and do the courageous, William Wilberforce action in this hour of time. I pray that contemporary followers of Jesus might be known as those who want to live out the very highest ethical application of Scripture. What the Pearls offer is nothing other than “gutter theology”; it is not really the Bible at all . . . well, not if we want to live out Scripture’s redemptive heartbeat.” Dr. William J. Webb is Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, Canada. (Quotation from Prof. Webb ends here.)

Brethren, now is the time for all of us to take action to work to stop what is happening today to children at the hands of dear misguided parents/others who think they are doing God’s will.

First, I am asking you to take this newsletter and the exact comments of Prof. Webb and post them to your blogs, pass them to your networks, put them on your FACEBOOK pages and disseminate his above referenced quotation as far and as wide as you can. For more links, reviews and other information about Professor Webb and his book see: http://redemptivechristianity.com & http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/review/code=2761. Please include these in your posts.

Second, I am asking you to please buy his book. Get your copy here - https://shop.ivpress.com/epages/IVP.storefront/en/addtobasket/0-8308-2761-7

Third, I am asking you to write positive reviews of this book in any forum that you come across including but not limited to Amazon, news sites and other book related sites and blogs.

Fourth, I am also you to join me in applauding and supporting InterVarsity Press (www.ivpress.com) for publishing such courageous and careful scholarship. They need to know that we are watching and supporting Christian publishers who stand up for what is right. Please join me in doing this by writing/emailing them or leaving comments on their site.

I would like to thank Prof. Webb for standing up and letting his voice be heard through this newsletter at this difficult time. His message is an important one. His work is really an inspiration for those of us who are looking for truth. I am reminded of a quotation from a giant of Biblical scholarship who was a friend of my late father and I think it is appropriate to reference it here. "...we must bear in mind that the cause of learning has often been promoted by scholars who are prepared to take a risk and expose their brain-waves to the pitiless criticisms of others" (F.F.Bruce, "Modern Studies on the Judean Scrolls," CT, I (11):5).

Prof. Webb, thank you for your courage, risk taking, intellectual honesty and standing up and speaking out for the truths of the Holy Scripture. I look forward to supporting you and your work for many years to come.

Samuel Martin - www.biblechild.com - info@biblechild.com

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant – A symbolic teaching for parents

2011-10-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am posting this in dedication to my own two children, Jessica and Christine.

It is an excerpt from a book I am currently working on. In light of the very sad story about Hana-Grace Rose Williams which is out today, I have decided to post this chapter from my upcoming book in full. I pray it is a blessing for you. Samuel Martin

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant – A symbolic teaching for parents

This may seem an odd title for a chapter, but it is specifically

titled as such to introduce a subject that needs discussion and

clarification in this context. It may also seem somewhat of a

complex subject only to be discussed by religious university professors

at the graduate students level. However, this is not true at all.

All Christian parents desire their actions to please God.

This is especially the case when it comes to matters of children

and how we are to raise them, care for them and guide them into

adulthood. Jesus Christ did not give us any specific teachings about

parents punishing their children. We just don’t have any really specific

statements we can point to and find clear teachings on this issue.

Yes, we do have biblical information, but it is terse and general and can be
interpreted differently depending on who is doing the interpreting. Of
course, I have endeavored to address this issue in a more comprehensive
way in my own book “Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians
and the Spanking Controversy.” (see www.biblechild.com for more
details) However, since I published that book several years ago, I have
even learned some new things about this issue, an aspect of which is
the subject of this present article.

It is interesting that we who are earthly fathers and mothers to
children, who we call our own, but in fact, we along with them are all
the children of one God and Father of all. This is the precise teaching
of St. Paul, who very eloquently quoted a Greek poet, Aratus saying:
“For we are His offspring… (Acts 17:28). Therefore, if we are all His
children, we who are parents, in a sense, to borrow the phrase of a
close friend’s wife who said: “We are just babysitting our children for
the Lord.” This in some ways is very much the truth. God has entrusted
us with the monumental task of being a part of raising His children.
So, we have a specific dynamic in place involving three parties which
looks something like this. It involves Almighty God, the Father of
all creation and the One who sustains everything as the first party.
Then, as the second party, we have those of us who are earthly parents.
Finally, to conclude this relationship we are here talking about, our
children (who are also God’s children) are the third group.

When we look at the relationship between God the Father, an earthly
parent and an earthly child, some interesting ideas come to mind.
First, we must understand and appreciate that we have a dynamic in
place involving two parties who are somehow on the same level
spiritually with God. That is a fact! Both parent and child, while on
earth occupy very different places in the social order, but from a
heavenly perspective, they are looked on by God very much in the same
way. After all, both pray the Lord’s prayer to the same Lord (if they
are Christians, of course) saying: “Our Father…” So, we have a
relationship in place that while on earth, some inequality exists
between parents and children, however, from a heavenly point of view,
both are really very much in the same boat theologically speaking.

There are many Scriptures which clearly demonstrate this, but let me
refer only to one here. It is from Romans 3:23 saying:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, …”

Therefore, we have on the one hand, humanity, who have sinned and fall
short of God's glory and then on the other hand, we have God who is
without sin. So, we have this ongoing dynamic that while we who are
parents are older, supposedly more experienced in life, wiser
(supposedly once again), more mature, etc. for all of this, we still
are in that same theological boat with our children though we might be
above 75 years and have children who are just babes in arms. All are the
children of Adam, who, of course, was the son of God Himself. (Luke
3:38)

Now, since we see this paradigm universally in place, what can we learn
about it that might help us better understand our positions as earthly
parents and our obligations and responsibilities in that role vis a
vis, on the one hand, to Almighty God, the Father of all and on the
other hand, to the children that God has entrusted to our care during
our and their time on earth? What does Scripture say about this? Do we
have any information in this regard that we can latch on to to help us
become at the same time better people and better care givers to our/His
children?
On the surface, one might say that we do not have any specific
information that covers this issue or addresses these questions openly
in Scripture. Yes, we do have the general admonitions about
parent/child relations in Ephesians (6:1) and Colossians (3:20), but if
a person is willing to look below the surface and to also be willing to
look in the not so obvious of places, one might be very surprised at
the information one could learn and this, I believe, could very well
have great bearing on the role of the parent in the life of children
and in their collective relationship with God.

In this regard, I want to refer here to one of the Parables given by
Jesus, which I have referenced in the title to this section: The
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. We have all read it many times, but
I am going to reference it here for your consideration.

“21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy
times seven. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a
king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began
to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand
talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be
sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be
made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have
patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity
for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the
debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his
fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he
began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow
servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I
will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he
should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken
place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to
their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him
and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt
because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on
your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master
delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So
also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not
forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:23-35 ESV)

Now, this is a very interesting parable given by Jesus and the subject
clearly is forgiveness. Jesus is using this parable as a comparison to
teach forgiveness. However, let us look deeper into this passage in
light of the picture I have painted earlier in this article. We can see
some similarities to the dynamic relationship that I referenced earlier
and to that found here in this parable. In fact, it is all here and I
believe that if a person looks really carefully at this passage, we who
are parents might find in this passage some important instruction
relative to how we treat our children and what God expects of us
concerning His children who He has placed in our care.

First, note the overall example in this passage. Here you have a king,
who obviously is in a position of almost absolute power and under him
he has a servant who is in a great debt to him. This servant obviously
has been placed over great responsibility of the king to have become so
indebted. Then, we are introduced to another servant underneath the
first servant who owes a very small debt to the servant who owes the
major debt.

Here we are reminded of Christ’s famous teaching from the Sermon on the
Mount: “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
(Matthew 6:12) What we as Christians understand as the primary teaching
of the Gospel message is that by accepting Christ, we acknowledge His
death and He has died for our sins. So, we are no longer spiritually in
debt, but have been freed from sin by Christ’s atoning death. However,
in this life, death still reigns and we still have sin in our members
to deal with and one day we will receive the wages of sin in this life,
which is death (Romans 6:23), but we know that spiritually our eternal
life is assured through our identification with Christ and His death.

To the Christian believer, this is clear and plainly taught in
Scripture, however, when we look at the human experience, we understand
that without question, those who are older and have more experience in
life and know the difference between good and evil have a greater debt
to God as they understand more maturely the Gospel. They are very much
like that servant who owed 10,000 talents. Likewise, these people who
owe a great debt also have their debtors who also owe them: their
children!

When we look at the text once again, we start to see how the comparison
starts to make sense. Look, all debts owed are owed to God ultimately,
but God allows us who are parents to participate in His redemptive
plan, by bringing children into the world. In looking at the comparison
here though, note that this description of the relationship between the
servants resembles very much that which parents and their children find
themselves in their individual and collective relationships to God.

For sure, grown adults who have lived longer and committed more sins
are in a greater debt to God for His mercy and forgiveness (they owe
the Lord a lot for His forgiveness of their sins – they are like the
one owing 10,000 talents) and likewise children also have a debt to the
Lord, but because they are much younger and have had less life
experience, their level of debt is so much less than their parents, but
it still is there, (because all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God - Romans 3:23) hence the example of the servant who owes a much
much lesser amount.

Look at some other aspects of the passage which are interesting in this
light. Note that Peter asks Christ about “my brother” and how many
times should he forgive one who sins against him? Of course Christ
gives the answer. But isn’t it interesting, the term “my brother” could
extend theologically speaking to one’s child because as I have already
shown, we are all God’s children and as such are all a part of the
family of God!

We can also mention here the issue of the whole doctrine of “Love your
neighbour as yourself.” A dear brother in the Lord (R.S.) very wisely
pointed out to me a number of years ago that in looking at this
pronouncement of Christ, he always first referred it not to the
individuals who lived outside his door across the street in the
traditional sense of neighbour – not at all – in fact, R.S. commented
that this passage refers in a Christian home to the primary
relationship between first the husband and the wife and (I think R.S.
would agree here) secondarily their children! This is in my view an
exceedingly important observation full of Christian truth because once
again if we refer to the teaching of St. Paul, in fact, all neighbours
are in fact our brothers and sisters in the Lord because we are all His
offspring. Jesus also mentioned in Matthew 12:48-50 (and Mark 3:33-35)
about anyone is His mother and brethren. His point being, all people
are equal in Father God's and His eyes, it is just a matter of time and
development, not relationship. (much thanks R.S.) Jesus follows up this
thought by reiterating the phrase “your brother” in the last verse and
He clearly links the story to God the Father also in the last verse
saying “so also …” (v.35)

It is also interesting that when you look at the passage you can see
that the person who clearly is the one that should be showing the mercy
to the lesser debtor (the earthly child) is the one with the greater
debt (the earthly parent). In any case, though, note that both owe
debts to God. This is a very interesting example which all of us who
are parents can really relate to. Our children are constantly in our
debt due to the mistakes they make and the sins they commit against us
and those sins are also committed against God ultimately.

The point to this whole discussion of Christ is this: forgiveness. This
is the teaching that He is giving. Before you start delivering your
children to the jailers and punishing them (like the unforgiving
servant did), remember that you have a greater debt to God and a
greater requirement to forgive.

Since Jesus has used this method to teach forgiveness, should we who
are studying the issue of forgiveness not seek to use this information
to help us develop a better understanding of this issue and what to do
when it comes to forgive someone or not to forgive them? I think we
should definitely pay attention to this story and “compare” it to
situations in our lives where we can use the information to be a person
who does not forgive a sinner “seven times” but rather “seventy times
seven times.” What better place to start in modeling this teaching than
with the children of God that He has placed in our care?

"If the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me."

2011-09-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

An excerpt on an upcoming article titled: " If the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me."

I can always remember my father telling me about his uncle Virgil. He never told me too much about where he lived, but I always understood that he had migrated out of Oklahoma with my father’s family in the period of 1935 known to those migrants as the ‘Dust Bowl,’ where central eastern Oklahoma was a severely affected area of the soil degradation and drought situation during that time.

During that time, some 2.5 million people left the Plains States and many of them left for the West. My dad’s family were a part of this migration of peoples during that time.

Dad’s Uncle Virgil was a Nazarene preacher. He came from this very conservative Oklahoma mind set which was fiercely independent, totally loyal to the USA, people who were ready to give to their country and did not like to take anything back, people who took care of their own and who had the Bible as ‘God’s Word.’

Of course, when we speak about these dear people, who are my own relatives, when we are talking about the Bible, we are talking about the King James Version of the Bible.To them, there was no other "Bible."

Let me add something here about my own view of the King James Version of the Bible. I love this version. Today it is not my favorite one (everyone who reads anything I write probably knows that my favorite these days is the ESV). The King James Version is something that I grew up with. It was the first Bible my grandmother gave me. Two of my most favorite Bible’s I have are King James Bibles. They are my Thomas Newberry Study Bible and The Companion Bible by Dr. E. W. Bullinger.

Speaking about the Newberry Study Bible, the late Emeritus Professor F.F. Bruce said:

Bruce also added:

Of course, my most treasured possession from a Biblical point of view is my late father’s Bible, which is a King James Version National Bible.

Excerpt from my book available at - http://parentingfreedom.com/samuelmartinbook.pdf

2011-09-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Many may be visiting my page for the first time and would like to learn more about my book (see www.biblechild.com). My friend Carol at www.parentingfreedom.com has an excerpt of one of the chapters of my book up on her site. You can find it at:

http://parentingfreedom.com/samuelmartinbook.pdf

In this excerpt, I discuss some of the common interpretations of Proverbs 19:18 and how old translations problems with this verse cloud the meaning today.

I hope you enjoy this excerpt. Thanks Carol.

Samuel Martin

I am here responding to a review of Prof. William Webb’s book by Prof. Thomas R. Schreiner

2011-09-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

I am here responding to a review of Prof. William Webb’s book by Prof. Thomas R. Schreiner, the James Buchanan Harrison professor of New Testament interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. My own comments are italicized and are prefaced by COMMENT[SSM].

See - http://thegospelcoalition.org/book-reviews/review/corporal_punishment_in_the_bible

William J. Webb. Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2011, 192 pp., $20.00.

New Testament professor William Webb continues to write provocative books, and in this work he argues that a redemptive movement hermeneutic (explained in his book Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals) should be applied to the matter of corporal punishment, and hence Christians shouldn’t spank their children. Those who promote spanking today (like James Dobson and Andreas Köstenberger) don’t actually follow the OT rules on spanking, according to Webb. He thinks their failure to follow the OT is a good thing, showing that pro-spanking advocates actually have a redemptive movement hermeneutic of their own, though they fail to acknowledge such. Webb hopes they will become more consistent by recognizing that they use a redemptive movement hermeneutic. As a result they should go a step farther, as the author has done, and abandon corporal punishment altogether.

COMMENT[SSM]: I think it a tiny bit important to mention that Dr. Webb’s book contains a pretty strong endorsement ‘foreword’ from one of today’s evangelical giants, Emeritus Professor I. Howard Marshall, BA (Cambridge), MA, BD, PhD (Aberdeen), DD (Asbury) Emeritus Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Honorary
Research Professor; Formerly Chair of the Tyndale Fellowship for Biblical and Theological Research; President of the British New Testament Society and Chair of the Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians.

It is also somehow a bit out of order perhaps to mention James Dobson before Andreas Kostenberger I think (which in fact happens twice in the review) with all due respect positioning Dr. Dobson as a biblical scholar/exegetical authority. As for Dr. Dobson’s own appraisal of his own expertise to interpret Scripture, we can let his own website speak for itself. Quoting Professor Margaret Mitchell’s paper (How Biblical is the Christian Right?), we can see Dr. Dobson rightly places biblical interpretation into the hands of others:

“This kind of farmed out authorization to one’s own appointed panel of “experts” points to a curious inconsistency about the Focus on the Family web site: Dobson’s vacillation about whether he is himself qualified as a biblical interpreter. One “Q and A” link asks “Does Dr. Dobson answer theological questions?” The answer comes back: “Dr. Dobson is often asked to respond in detail to biblical or theological inquiries, however, he has had no formal training as a pastor or theologian and freely acknowledges his limitations in these areas.[COMMENT SSM - Yet Dr. Dobson’s books like ‘Dare to Discipline’ which urges Christians to spank their children based on the supposed Bible authority sell hundreds of thousands of copies and provide the intervention logic and authority for many parents to inflict brutal punishment on their children, often beginning when they are just toddlers]Over the years, Dr. Dobson has made a deliberate decision to direct the attention of our ministry away from in-depth biblical interpretation and theology, choosing instead to concentrate our efforts on our primary purpose— introducing individuals to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and thereby strengthening the family” (here links are provided to Billy Graham and Dallas

Theological Seminary’s Chuck Swindoll). Yet on another link, Dobson is asked: “You

have said that your philosophy of discipline (and of family advice in general) was drawn

from the Scriptures. On what specific verses do you base your views?” The answer

comes back that since “God is the Creator of children, He must certainly know how our

kids out to be raised,” followed by citations from 1 Tim. 3:4-5; Eph. 6:1-3; 6:4

[interestingly, cited separately]; Col. 3:20-21; and Heb. 12:5-11. Since only the last

passage even uses the word “discipline” (as the set-up question has it), Dobson moves

from God’s wisdom (“These Scriptures and related verses contain more wisdom than all

the child-development textbooks ever written”) to “summarizing the primary theme he

has extracted from all the related biblical passages” (from literal “word” to constellated

“theme”: “shape the will without breaking the spirit”). But when we turn to a case in

point: “Should a child be spanked with a hand or some other neutral object?” Dobson

answers by appeal to personal anecdotes: the “small switch” his mother used on him, and his own story about the boy of some friends who was just “asking for it” and got an

“overdue spanking” in a parking lot, which he had (obviously, for Dobson) been begging for and expecting as his rightful due from his parents (who did not disappoint).”

While Prof. Schreiner seems to place some authoritative emphasis on Dobson’s position, Dobson himself wisely does not give himself the same authoritative role, but applies the same inconsistently as Prof. Mitchell has clearly documented with authoritative statements from the Focus on the Family website.

Webb is also 100% right, as I have pointed out in my own book (www.biblechild.com) that Dobson and Kostenberger (among others) do not in point after point follow even the OT when it comes to what it teaches about corporal punishment of children. For more information in this regard, please refer to my website which also contains scholarly reviews of my conclusions.

If we truly followed what the OT teaches about corporal punishment, according to Webb, our “discipline” would be much more severe. He insists, for example, that those who spank can’t (if they truly follow the OT) apply age limitations or limit the number of “smacks.” Webb appeals to the overlap between corporal punishment texts and cases in which slaves or those who violated the law were punished (Exod. 21:20-21; Deut. 25:1-3). It is clear from these comparative texts, Webb argues, that punishment of children was much more severe than those who advocate spanking today would tolerate. Nor can we apply spankings to the buttocks alone, for we see in Proverbs (e.g., Prov. 10:13; 19:29; 26:3) that fools were struck on the back. Furthermore, bruises and welts were inflicted on slaves and criminals, and hence those who favor spanking today are inconsistent when they claim spanking should not leave marks on children.

COMMENT[SSM]: All of this discussion is indeed interesting, however, one thing is conspicuous for its absence: an appeal to Jewish authorities! A good review of late of how many Jewish scholars look at this issue can be seen on a recent Jerusalem Post article published just this month.
The conclusion: The Rabbis favor Webb’s view! http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=237165

What we must recognize, Webb claims, is the redemptive movement of Scripture. The treatment of slaves and those who violated the law was earthed in ancient Near Eastern culture, and what we find in the OT is an ethic superior to other ancient Near Eastern cultures of that day. The OT was composed in a particular historical and cultural context, and hence we should not say that the laws found in the OT represent the ideal ethic for all time. When we read the Scriptures in terms of a redemptive movement hermeneutic, Webb says, the basis for corporal punishment today is lacking. For instance, no one advocates stoning rebellious children, though the OT commands it (Deut. 21:18-21). Nor do we think a woman’s hand should be severed if she grabs a man’s testicles (Webb spends a lot of time on this regulation), depriving him of the right of begetting children (Deut. 25:11-12). Nor do we follow Deuteronomy’s prescriptions for finding what Webb calls “hot-looking women” (Deut. 21:10-14).

COMMENT[SSM]: Here again, unfortunately, Prof. Schreiner enters into the interpretation of Torah material with no reference, consideration or appeal to any Jewish interpreters. Had he have done so by looking at, for example, a source like the book “The Mitzvot: The Commandments and their Rationale” by Rabbi A. Chill, he would have found out that his assertion about what “the OT commands” concerning stoning rebellious children, he would have found, as I have pointed out in my own book, that this text:

1. Never was applied to children under 13

2. Was only applied while the Temple was standing

3. Was rarely carried out

4. Required both parents to testify

5. Required a warning first

6. Among many other qualifying points, like all death penalty cases was adjudicated at only the highest judicial level – and never in a local context – e.g. parents were not just taking their children out and stoning them to death with no due process as Prof. Schreiner seems to assert.

Key Question
The questions and issues Webb raises have faced Christians throughout history as believers have asked how we apply the OT to today’s world. Webb rightly says that faithfully following Scripture doesn’t mean that we invariably reproduce the world of the Bible. The Scriptures were written to a particular cultural situation, and that must be taken into account in interpreting and applying Scripture. It is not always easy to apply biblical texts to today’s world, especially because the OT applied to a different era in salvation history. Webb’s cultural comparisons and contrasts are helpful, showing how OT regulations were more humane and merciful than those in other ancient Near Eastern cultures.

The key question, however, is whether Webb is right about corporal punishment. The answer is no. First, Webb doesn’t understand redemptive history, even though he calls his hermeneutic “redemptive-movement.” He never discusses the relationship of the OT to the NT in order to help readers understand that believers are no longer under the Mosaic covenant or the Mosaic law. Such a discussion is fundamental to the issues Webb addresses, and they deserve concentrated attention if one wants to think about how to apply the OT today. But one looks in vain for a careful discussion of this matter in Webb’s book or in his previous work. For instance, he rightly says that Christians reject stoning rebellious children, seizing “hot-looking women,” or cutting off the hand of a woman who grabs someone testicles. And he helpfully notes the cultural differences between the OT laws and the ancient Near Eastern cultures of the day. But there is no reflection on the covenantal difference between the Mosaic covenant under which Israel lived and the new covenant which applies to the church of Jesus Christ. Christians have long recognized that the laws of Torah are not binding on believers today. Jesus himself indicated that some of the laws were given because people have hard hearts (Deut. 24:1-4; Matt. 19:3-12). Some of what Webb advocates, therefore, is not new at all, but his hermeneutical program lacks the exegetical and theological foundation established in the history of interpretation.

COMMENT[SSM]: Here is where Prof. Schreiner respectfully may need to rethink this issue. If his assertion is correct that one need to lay a proper exegetical and theological foundation in favor of corporal punishment of children, one needs to ask why there is ancient material like the Didascalia, a 3^rd century Syrian pedagogical text written by Christians, which seems to indicate that “the rod” of Proverbs is not to be understood literally, but represents the spoken word of the parent? Prof. Odd Bakke points this out in his book.

As far as applying the OT today, I again refer to the recent article in the Jerusalem Post (see above for link) which gives a broad Rabbinical view on how many Jewish scholars today look at the issue of corporal punishment and surprisingly their view is nothing like that advocated by Prof. Schreiner. On the contrary, here again, we see a different reading of the same material by well intentioned Christian brethren who in case after case make statements about the OT which on the surface may seem plausible, but on closer review may respectfully require rethinking. (like applying an agricultural principle like tithing on produce and the increase of the land to today’s economic systems telling all Christian people they have to “tithe money” with not the slightest authority in Scripture to do so.)

That leads to a second objection. Finding the same words for the punishment of slaves, criminals, fools, and children does not justify lumping the texts together in an indiscriminate manner. Despite Webb’s protests, he fails to perceive the genre differences between regulations in the Torah and proverbial statements. As already noted, he does not clearly recognize the redemptive historical nature of the Torah. And he merges and mashes together different genres of literature in drawing his conclusions. Proverbial statements are of a different nature than legal material, requiring insight and reflection in terms of application. They shouldn’t be equated with punishments in legal contexts, for it seems rather heavy-handed and hermeneutically lead-footed to conclude that since physical punishments are mentioned in the same texts they must have been understood in the same way. Webb seems to think if one recognizes that proverbs require discernment in application, then one will endorse his view. But how does that follow? I would argue that such a principle means that wisdom and prudence should be applied in understanding Proverbs, which means corporal punishment for children is not administered in the same way it is applied to law-breakers and adults. Nor is it evident, just because both fools and children are flogged, that the punishments would be of the same nature and to the same extent. Again, such readings are mechanical and forced, failing to see what anyone with wisdom in ancient Israel would see: There is massive difference between adult fools and children. Using the same word for children and fools does not mean they are in the same category! It seems to me that the wise application of what we find in Proverbs is well represented by those Webb criticizes: Dobson, Mohler, Wegner, Grudem, and Köstenberger.

COMMENT[SSM]: I have pointed out in my own work that the engagement by scholars today regarding Proverbs is so superficial and barely scratches the surface of the individual texts, the context within Proverbs itself and the context of Proverbs itself within the Third Division of the Hebrew Bible (the Hagiographia). I have addressed many of these deficiencies in my own book which characterize the arguments put forth here and many which are not even addressed at all.

Another brief comment is warranted. Webb is rightly worried about the abuse of children, but one wonders, in considering Webb’s work as a whole, if he is prone to domesticating the Bible to fit modern conceptions. If Webb is correct, women can serve as pastors and children should be disciplined without any corporal punishment. What is next? Webb is working on a book regarding war in the Scriptures. His reflections on this matter should be most interesting, especially since Yahweh clearly commands Israel to put to death every man, woman, and child in the cities which are in the land of promise. God’s Word does not necessarily fit the cultural mores and thought conventions of our day. In responding to some of the extremes of fundamentalism, Webb must beware that he does not land in the lap of liberalism.

COMMENT: Frankly, Webb is right in moving us toward a gentler, kinder, less violent hermeneutic very much in the spirit of St. Paul in I Corinthians 4:21:

“What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?”

Prof. Schreiner finds his article defending “the rod” while Prof. Webb joins Paul and “love in a spirit of gentleness.” With all due respect and in brotherly love, Prof. Schreiner might review the wise words of Prof. Marshall in the foreword who said: “this book has added a nonacademic postscript written at a more down-to-earth level, with abundance of personal insight and experience as well as practical application that parents will find helpful.

(I could have profited much from it if it had been published when Joyce and I were bringing up our four children.) Moreover, the approach is conciliatory and gracious toward those who are gently but firmly corrected for not realizing that their approach to Scripture does in fact lead

them to move beyond what Scripture says while holding to the supreme authority of Scripture. Thus the book offers a compelling example of the basic rightness of Bill’s approach.”

I rejoice and thank God for dear women and men of God (especially when they are Emeriti Professors of the New Testament) who raise their hands humbly saying: “I have seen a new way and I wish I would have known this before.”

Incidentally, even if Webb is correct about spanking (and I don’t think he is), this book provides no ammunition for the thesis propounded in his book Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals. The previous book argued that we can go beyond the ethic of the NT, but this work is limited to what the OT says about corporal punishment for children. Nothing is said in this book about transcending the ethic of the NT, so even if Webb is correct in what he argues in this work, it does not advance the notion that we can go beyond the NT ethic. For that to occur he would need to show that the NT is being transcended ethically, and this book makes no such argument.

Thomas R. Schreiner is James Buchanan Harrison professor of New Testament interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

FINAL COMMENT: Webb’s book is a courageous piece of scholarship produced seeking to open the debate on this issue which has long been controlled by dear misguided brethren and sisters who have good intentions, but are seriously in need to review their assertions, with all due respect. Webb’s book helps move us to a better understanding of this issue and should be promoted and applauded.

"...we must bear in mind that the cause of learning has often been promoted by scholars who are prepared to take a risk and expose their brain-waves to the pitiless criticisms of others" (F.F.Bruce, "Modern Studies on the Judean Scrolls," CT, I (11):5).

THANK YOU PROF. WEBB!

From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth,

From the laziness that is content with half-truths'

From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,

O God of Truth, deliver us.

-- Ancient Prayer

Samuel Martin

Author of the book “Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking Controversy.” - www.biblechild.com

An excellent summary article on the subject of corporal punishment of children from the Hebraic perspective.

2011-09-11T08:16:00.001-07:00

An excellent summary article on the subject of corporal punishment of children from the Hebraic perspective.

http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=237165

Get the Bible in the correct order

2011-08-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

Get the Bible in the correct order

A new post from an upcoming publication featuring the Original Manuscript Order of the New Testament books. The new publication is titled (tentatively): Jesus Christ, the Church And Quantifiable Indicators: A New Methodology in Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.

"we do find an important place for Hebraic culture even in the New Testament if we consider it in the order which is reflected in the largest body of ancient Greek manuscripts. The order is as follows and we must note that we are not only talking about a specific revised order, but also a dividing the various books into specific and defined internal divisions which are definitely separated one from another. This order and the divisions are:

The New Testament Law – (1) Matthew; (2) Mark; (3) Luke; (4) John; (5) Acts.

The General Epistles – (6) James; (7) I Peter; (8) II Peter ; (9) I John; (10) II John; (11) III John; (12) Jude.

The Pauline Epistles - (13) Romans; (14) I Corinthians; (15) II Corinthians; (16) Galatians; (17) Ephesians; (18) Philippians: (19) Colossians; (20) I Thessalonians; (21) II Thessalonians; (22) Hebrews; (23) I Timothy; (24) II Timothy; (25) Titus; (26) Philemon

The Apocalypse - (27) Revelation"

Note: This order of the books is the correct one backed up by the best scholarship around and reflects very strong research supporting it. More on this later.

Excerpt from a chapter in a new book currently under development Chapter title: "O Wretched Child that I am"

2011-08-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from a chapter in a new book currently under development

Chapter title: "O Wretched Child that I am"

We can in fact see this idea being expressed by Paul in Scripture. It is found in I Corinthians 2:11. “For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?”

This is a most important scripture. There is a “spirit” in man. There is a spiritual side to man. But, this spiritual side takes time to develop! As quoted earlier, man takes time to develop and grow up: “At two and three he is a pig, groping in the garbage.” (ibid.) A two or three year old does not have inner spiritual man operating in the same way as an older child!

It shows that man himself cannot know even the things of the flesh unless through the spirit which is in man. This condition exists when a child is born and continues well into the time about up to age three or four. (depending on the individual)

By age five, children have some general awareness about life on a day to day basis, but prior to that time, they are certainly human, but the “spirit of that person, which is in him” has not yet developed and become aware of what it really means to be human.

Now, if we go back to the example that Paul gives us of his own experience as a grown, highly educated, experienced, seasoned man knowing all aspects of life, he found in his own life an inability to do what is right by his own admission. Let us rehearse what he said: “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

So, now we have to ask ourselves a question. Why is it that today many well intentioned Christian advocates of child rearing are so focused on punishing little children for sin (often starting before these little children of God are still babes in arms) before the time when these children even have an awareness of what human life is all about? They do not have experience with life, have no concept of what sin is and they do not yet even know the difference between right and wrong much less have a desire to do what is right, yet they are introduced to complex ideas about sin and punishment well before the time when their minds are even working at a level to comprehend even the most basic aspects of life.

The fact is, “the spirit of that person, which is in him” is not yet “in” little children under about age five, yet the preferred Christian approach today by many is to treat that little child, not as a totally innocent being, who not only does not “have the desire to do what is right”, but also does not even know what “the desire to do what is right” is, as a guilty sinner in the same category as that which aware humans who themselves (like Paul) “do not understand my own actions.” (Romans 7:15) No, little Tommy or Suzy has to understand that they are wrong, evil sinners who deserve to be punished starting preferably while they are still babes in arms while us grown ups acknowledge that we have the “desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” and we ourselves “do not understand my [our] own actions.”

In my book, it just does not seem fair.

I was very moved by a post by a young married woman named Sarah

2011-07-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

http://enigmamyjourneyofselfdiscovery.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-am-i-not-enough.html

I wrote this small response to this very important post.

God bless you. I am very sensitive to your pain which makes me want to act and do something positive. I know there are hundreds of thousands of people out there who share your feelings and experience. Thanks so much for your courage. Your courage has advanced all of our collective learning.

I would like to ask anyone who would like to share with me any ideas to work to develop more tools to provide individuals like Sarah information to help them share information with parents who spanked them to help their parents better see their viewpoints and hopefully to get them to change their minds. Might be worthwhile to think about having a YouTube page where all of us share video testimonies which can be sent around cyberspace: A page dedicated to what was the piece of information that changed my mind about corporal punishment. Could be powerful. I would also like to ask if anyone has any moving photos or can point to a film or some type of visual media to share. I often think about the imagine of Rev. Dwight Moody kneeling at his child's bedside weeping and asking for forgiveness for speaking crossly to one of his children (This is mentioned in Philip Greven's book "Spare the Child...").

This for me personally was a game changer.

We have so many images in our media which contribute to the normalcy and acceptability of spanking children (I mean if you look at the web images [Google images and add test "spanking children"] of parents spanking children, it is almost a part of Americana culture with these horrifying Saturday Evening post images, but very few images of where mom and dad tell their kids, "Sorry, I was wrong. Will you forgive me?" Unfortunately, the Roman maxim which says: "if you are not beaten, your not educated" still prevails in our Western culture, but the tide is turning slowly.

In this regard, I will post something on my blog about what I saw was really the tipping point in changing my mind about corporal punishment of children. I actually have dug out the very first paper I wrote on this subject in 1995 and have been looking at it. Maybe if I knew more stories or anecdotes from others about their experience, it might make for a more convincing presentation. I think so.

I only have a limited experience with reaching out to people who are opposed to my views, but I have had some success and remain connected to people who have been convinced that their previously held views were unbiblical and I believe that I can do a better job in this area and also believe that if we work together, we can have a much better collective result to share why we believe spanking children is hurtful, misguided and wrong. It was wrong yesterday, it is wrong today and it will be wrong tomorrow, but I think the more we think how to convince people with facts and to help provide them with the same spiritual anchors we were all holding onto in our own tumultuous and and often frightening journeys to where we are today and help them to change their minds and be spiritually renewed like we all have been, the greater chance we have for a better collective tomorrow.

Just as we today are doing our best to hold our little children's hands and walk with them on the collective path towards Christ, it is up to us to use the tools our Lord has given us to embrace the need to do the same thing with those who hurt us. Just as we today feel bad when we let our own children down, our parents have and had these same feelings.

What happened to all of us was evil. Thankfully we can overcome that evil with good.

Sam Martin

www.biblechild.com

What-Do-Wives,-Children-and-Good-Samaritans-Have-in-Common?

2011-07-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

I have a new post at the following site.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Do-Wives,-Children-and-Good-Samaritans-Have-in-Common?&id=6290923

Hope you enjoy.

Samuel Martin

Newsletter - July 2011 - Just out

2011-07-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Newsletter - July 2011 - Just out

I've just published my latest newsletter with parts of two short essays and reference to two important new corporal punishment resources.

If you'd like to be on my mailing list, please write to:

info@biblechild.com

Thanks so much - Samuel Martin

Enjoying the William Webb book

2011-06-28T14:39:00.001-07:00

Enjoying the William Webb book - One of the most powerful points of this book are the people who are endorsing it, especially the highly esteemed New Testament scholar, I. Howard Marshall, who wrote the foreword. Will be having much more to say on this one. https://shop.ivpress.com/epages/IVP.storefront/en/addtobasket/0-8308-2761-7

Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts

www.amazon.com

William Webb confronts those often avoided biblical passages that call for the corporal punishment of children, slaves and wrongdoers. How should we understand and apply them today? Are we obligated to replicate those injunctions today? Or does the proper interpretation of them point in a differe...

Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians

2011-06-28T14:37:00.001-07:00

Can't not mention the Kenneth Bailey galley I also received from Inter Varsity Press. In a very quick review of this manuscript, anyone who has ever struggled with I Corinthians and some of its statements, get ready to rejoice and to be absolutely blown away by this amazing book.

http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/author.pl/author_id=1185

Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians

New articles coming out soon

2011-06-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

New articles coming out soon - Jesus and Quantitative Analysis & The issue of subsidiarity in Biblical Understanding & The "Second" Letters in the New Testament: Why?

I've just returned from a week in Egypt with my family and actually on holiday managed to compose two draft articles on two new subjects which I will be developing more in the coming months. Did lots of thinking on a third.

I've had a lot of inspiration of late from the sociologist Prof. Rodney Stark (www.rodneystark.com) and his work in understanding the socio-cultural/religious environment in the Roman Empire and how this can help us better understand the New Testament. So, now I am applying one of the methodological tools Dr. Stark uses in his analyses: Quantitative Analysis, to the New Testament and the information therein with some interesting conclusions. Look for more on this very soon. Get ready to have long held ideas challenged and hoping for many new insights and much feedback on this one.

I have been fascinated also with the idea of provenance in archaeology and now I am taking it a bit farther and adding the idea of subsidiarity to help us all understand the Bible better. Hoping to make this potentially complex subject simple. Much more to be said on this soon.

Finally, have you ever wondered why in the New Testament we have some churches and people receiving "second" letters and others not? In this new essay, we are going to open up this question for discussion with some possible opportunities for learning more about in particular St. Paul and his teachings.

Hoping to have more news on the conference coming up in Cambridge, England in August as I have contacted many of my institutional partners. Thanks so much for your interest.

July newsletter coming very soon. Exciting new article to be made available from an important scholar here in Israel on corporal punishment. You won't want to miss this.

Samuel Martin
www.biblechild.com

We are living in an age of discovery by Samuel Martin

2011-06-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

I have just finished this new article (see a small excerpt below) to be released in my upcoming July 2011 Newsletter. If you would like the full version, please write me at: info@biblechild.com and ask to be added to my monthly newsletter mailing list. Look forward to hearing from you.

We are living in an age of discovery by Samuel Martin

I am invited to a conference in August 2011 in Cambridge, England[1] which is being held in conjunction with the 400 years anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, which was written in 1611.

Now, I love the King James Version, which is known in scholarly Biblical circles as the ‘Authorized Version.’ It is a beautiful, poetic masterpiece which has stood the test of 400 years. Most people hold it in extreme reverence and I am one of those people.

While this Biblical masterpiece is a thing of beauty and something we all hold dear, there comes a time when we have to move forward with the times and embrace advances which help us to have a greater understanding of Scripture.

[1] If you would like more information about this event (see http://www.churchesfornon-violence.org/CNNV%20conference%20info%202011.pdf), please write me – I am currently seeking friends who might like to partner with me to help cover part of my expenses to attend. I am seeking only airfare and transport. All other costs are covered by the conference organizer – If you would like to make a pledge, write me at info@biblechild.com. All gifts are 100% tax deductible in the USA.

This is from a blog (which mentions my book) about the recent SMU Global Summit concerning Corporal Punishment held in Dallas Texas

2011-06-11T06:56:00.001-07:00

This is from a blog (which mentions my book) about the recent SMU Global Summit concerning Corporal Punishment held in Dallas Texas last weekend - https://smuglobalsummit2011.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/engaging-faith-communities-an-important-look-at-conflict-between-religious-tradition-and-modern-child-ethics/

To parent is human, to forgive divine

2011-05-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

Working on a new book with a tentative title as follows:

To parent is human,

to forgive divine

Forgiveness Parenting:

Exploring the God/Parent/Child relationship in the Christian home

STAY TUNED - FOR MORE INFORMATION,

Write: info@biblechild.com

The Tiger Mother vs. The Bear Mother

2011-05-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

The Tiger Mother vs. The Bear Mother by Samuel Martin

Many people of late have been talking about the book written by Amy Chua “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.” I have not read the book yet. I’ve read the following article though and I thought it might be interesting to offer some ideas on this whole issue. My point of reference in this regard is the Time magazine article found at this link: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2043313,00.html

I am not sure what Ms. Chua’s religious orientation is, but as a Christian, I would like to introduce you to an equally if not more ferocious mother: “the Bear Mother.”

Anyone who spends even the most limited amount of time watching nature programs will know that a tiger does not stand a chance in fighting a bear. A bear is much more ferocious and fearful.

So here now is where I am going to get a little Biblical and we are going to talk a little about the ferocious Bear Mother. She is far more ferocious than Amy Chua or any other Tiger Mother ever thought of being.

The Bear Mother

When King David was facing the insurrection of his son Absalom, we read a very interesting passage which described him and curiously it ascribes to him the probable feeling of one “enraged.” (II Samuel 17:8) Certainly, if your own son was plotting your murder and to depose you, one would not have the happiest feelings at that moment naturally speaking. Yes David was probably pretty angry (more like devastated and heart broken as we learn from his later reactions about his loss of Absalom) and one who is “enraged” is compared of all things to being “like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.” (II Samuel 17:8)

Of all the choices to describe an enraged person, the Biblical writer here chose a female bear robbed of her cubs as the most extreme description to describe rage. In the mind of the ancients, in their world view, there was not a more violent expression of rage than that exhibited by a mother bear whose cubs had been taken from her. There is an important teaching here I think for us today. This teaching is not only for mother’s, but in this short discussion, I want to focus in on mothers a little bit. This is dedicated to all mother’s. Love you mom. And also to my wife and mother of our children, Sonia, love you darling.

The Bear and the Bible

We have all read the stories in the Bible about bears and some of them are quite interesting. However, let us have no doubt that here in Israel in ancient and even fairly recent times, bears did exist (they are extinct now). Going back to recent times it is noted that “in the time of the first Crusades these beasts were still numerous and of considerable ferocity; for during the siege of Antioch (in modern day Syria - a short 250 mile journey from Jerusalem), Godfrey of Bouillon, according to Math Paris, slew one in defence of a poor woodcutter, and was himself dangerously wounded in the encounter.” (CBTEL [Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature], vol. 1, pg. 797 – article ‘Bear.’)

I won’t rehearse the many Biblical references to bears, but rest assured that we are talking about “the genus Ursus being meant in the Hebrew texts…” (ibid.)

Note also what is recorded again in CBTEL which is very relevant to our discussion here.

“The sacred writers frequently associate the formidable animal with the king of the forest, as being equally dangerous and destructive: and it is thus that the prophet Amos sets before his countrymen the succession of calamities which under the just judgment of God, was to befall them, declaring that the removal of one would but leave another equally grievous (v.18,19). Solomon, who had closely studied the character of several individuals of the animal kingdom, compares an unprincipled ruler and wicked ruler to these creatures (Proverbs 28:15). To the fury of the female bear when robbed of her young there are several striking illusions in Scripture (II Samuel 17:8; Proverbs 17:12). The Divine threatening in consequence of the numerous and aggravated iniquities of the kingdom of Israel, as uttered by the prophet Hosea, is thus forcibly expressed: “I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps.” (13:8; see Jerome in loc.)., which was fulfilled by the invasion of the Assyrians and the complete subversion of the kingdom of Israel. ‘The she bear is said to be even more fierce and terrible than the male, especially after she has cubbed, and her furious passions are never more fiercely exhibited than when she is deprived of her young. When she returns to her den and misses the object of her love and care, she becomes almost frantic with rage. Disregarding every consideration of danger to herself, she attacks with great ferocity every animal that comes in her way, and in the bitterness of her heart will dare to attack even a band of armed men. The Russians of Latachatka never venture to fire on a young bear when the mother is near; for if the cub drop, she becomes enraged to a degree little short of madness, and if she gets sight of the enemy will only quit her revenge with her life. A more desperate attempt can scarcely be performed than to carry off her young in her absence. Her scent enables her to track the plunderer; and unless he has reached some place of safety before the infuriated animal overtakes him, his only safety is in dropping one of the cubs and continuing his flight; for the mother, attentive to its safety, carries it home to her den before she renews the pursuit.” (Cook’s Voyages, iii.397).” (ibid. CBTEL)

Note: This passage is very instructive on a number of levels, but before we address these, I would like to say that the reason that this issue is important to us today, who wish to learn more about God, is that presently, more than at any other time, we can study God’s creation in the most intimate of ways down almost even to the very fabric of the universe and life itself: the atomic level. The study of animals and their habits is the same thing. We have today the greatest of ease corroborating the facts herein referenced about bears (or any animal mentioned in Scripture) because we can find hours and hours of documentaries, case studies, stories, can go to zoos and ask question, etc,. about bears (or any other animal almost) to know their habits and whether or not these assertions about them are true.

There are a couple of points which this text raises in reference to the Scriptural teachings about bears and in this case mother bears in particular. Note the previous passage, where it mentions that the reason for the mother bears rage is that she “misses the object of her love and care…” and “Her scent enables her to track the plunderer; and unless he has reached some place of safety before the infuriated animal overtakes him, his only safety is in dropping one of the cubs and continuing his flight; for the mother, attentive to its safety, carries it home to her den before she renews the pursuit.”

These highlighted texts are facts of a long observation of the habits of bears going back into the earliest of times reaching even into the Biblical period. But isn’t it interesting when we look at this animal and how even God compares Himself to a female bear robbed of her cubs, we see that this animal acts this way for one reason and one reason only: THE POWER AND THE PASSION OF MOTHERLY LOVE.

My cousin Holly commenting on this issue says it so eloquently as only a loving mother could: “I love the image of fierceness with which He [God] will defend us and the sweetness of His parenting style. Not a better model is there?

No human male (including myself here) can ever for a moment hope to understand, appreciate or experience this, but for a mother, it is instinct. I think that most mothers share this ferocious love and passionate care for their children.

Yet, what is even more interesting in getting back to our discussion at hand about Tiger Mothers and Bear Mothers, we start to see some differences. While the Time magazine article paints the Tiger Mother as aggressive (can we say violent?), angry, demanding, harsh, rude, and hostile to her children, I ask you and challenge any person to show me any evidence, written or visual, which shows Bear mothers as being anything other than the most sweet and tender, docile and protective, fun loving and patient, happy and long suffering, etc. with their cubs. Oh yes, Bear mothers are fierce, but that ferocity is rarely if ever directed to their cubs.

We all remember the television series’ Gentle Ben and The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (which was hugely popular when it came out). While these are indeed films and theatrical in nature, they show that bears are capable of exhibiting great love, especially to small children as was the case between Ben and Mark in the first mentioned series. Come on, Ben was real and while he was a trained bear, he was a bear nonetheless. Honestly, you never saw a more loving 800 pound bundle of sweetness.

In fact, most people in general love bears and rightly so because we are generally a caring oriented people and bears in fact exhibit some of the best characteristics of love and caring especially for their offspring.

But, you get on their wrong side, especially when it comes to their offspring. Look out! And rightly so! We can point again to the example of Ben. Many times in those episodes of Gentle Ben, Ben was portrayed as very protective of Mark and coming to his rescue over and over again. Then, in the end, you see Ben in Mark’s mom’s pantry eating them out of house and home with the most pleasant look on his face eating the honey or peanut butter.

So, now I would like to pose a question to all of us who are moms and dads. While almost all of us are ready to defend our “cubs” with our own lives should anyone or anything attempt to harm them, how many of us follow the bear in being the most sweet and tender, docile and protective, fun loving and patient, happy and long suffering? Is there a lesson here for all of us? Speaking as one very imperfect dad, I know I’ll be firing up Youtube and looking for Gentle Ben episodes when ever I want to remind myself of what I need to be doing. Frankly, God knew what He was doing when He designed Ben. In fact, when we see Ben, we get a little glimpse of God Himself as my dear cousin Holly said: fiercely protective/100% sweetness.

There is another point about bears. If the bears used in Gentle Ben or Grizzly Adams are good examples, tame bears at least by nature seem to be very friendly animals. This certainly is how Ben and Mark were on camera in Gentle Ben. It really seems that bears can exhibit real qualities of friendship and I think there is some Bible teaching here if we are willing to see it.

Do we all remember that amazing section of Scripture in John’s Gospel starting in chapter 13 going through to 17? Here Almighty God speaks to mankind through Jesus as a father. Remember what He said:

“Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:8,9) (ESV)

So, in this section, we have Jesus speaking as a Heavenly “Father” to His children and by extension to all of His children through the secretarial agency of St. John. And what does he say?

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14)

He makes it even stronger saying:

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)

Now, here is where we see a little glimpse of God Himself in the instinct or lifestyle of bears. Look at what Jesus also says in this same chapter of John 15:

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (15:13)

Here we have something defined by Jesus in a very specific way. He says very clearly that the highest expression of love possible is that one would lay down his life for his friends. When we also realize the Biblical teaching that God Himself is the very exponent of Love, we start to understand that a person or being who is ready to die for his friends is really operating in the realm of the Divine. It is not natural to be willing to die for another person.

Recall the earlier section of this paper where we were rehearsing eyewitness accounts of the reckless abandon that a mother bear exhibits for her cubs when threatened or somehow lost and not under her careful watch:

“When she returns to her den and misses the object of her love and care, she becomes almost frantic with rage. Disregarding every consideration of danger to herself, she attacks with great ferocity every animal that comes in her way, and in the bitterness of her heart will dare to attack even a band of armed men.”

I think that when we think about this, we need to understand that the reason Solomon and the other Biblical writers used the example specifically of the bear was to teach us some deep spiritual truth that they saw in action when they observed bears and their actions and perhaps it relates in some way to friendship.

So, God Himself, calls us friends and He sums up the reason for this discussion in John 15 about friendship. The reason that He related this information is;

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12) … These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:17)

So we are commanded to love one another and to be friends.

Now, here we have God, our Father, telling us that He is our friend and He is telling us to love one another. So we are supposed to love everyone. Of course, when we look at the bear, especially the mother bear, she loves her bear cubs more than herself and anything else and I think there is an important teaching here. I think that we who are parents, the first and foremost people we are supposed to love and be friends with are our children!

Our children are not to be our servants, athletes, doctors, lawyers, scholars, performing artists, musicians or business people, No. They are to be the absolute objects of our love and affection and they are to first and fore mostly be our FRIENDS.

Before she died, I was trying really hard to contact the late Yolanda King, one of the children of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sadly, just days before she died an untimely death at age 51, I had just received my first contact with her office in California. I had the chance to see some of the transcripts of Yolanda talking about her “buddy-daddy.” I have never forgot the following excerpt because it is a powerful witness and example to a real practitioner of Biblical parenting. God bless you Dr. King for your amazing example of what kind of a dad I aspire to be. Here is a great excerpt. I am quoting it here and you can find it around the web and I have no reason to doubt its authenticity because it is a transcript from a live audio recording given during a radio interview given by Yolanda King in 2005. (http://www.goodradioshows.org/peaceTalksL23-24.html). For those practitioners of parenting based on the “rod”, you’ll note that you have no supporter in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

“What do you remember about your father at home when you were young?”

YOLANDA KING: My father was a buddy-daddy. He really spent most of his time with us playing, having fun, doing things that children love to do, which is, of course, play. He didn’t believe in spanking kids. Of course, my mother said if he had spent more time with us, he probably would have changed his mind [laughs]. But when he was with us, he really just loved us. Loved on us. And the time was short, but it was quality time. And my dad was really quite a funny man. He was a bit of a cut-up. He was a jokester. He loved to tease, he loved to laugh. He probably could have been quite an athlete as well. He taught me to swim when I was four and taught me how to ride a tricycle and then into a bicycle, and we played basketball and baseball and went to the local amusement park. He and I, the two of us, would ride the dangerous shake-you-up rides, he called them “faith machines.” We’d get on them and just have a ball, he was a big kid.

I realize, now, that those were the times - some of the few times - when he really had to let his hair down and relax. So, that playful side of him, which was very much a part of who he was, he shared with us. And I'm thankful for that, because the Martin Luther King, Jr. that I know - the Daddy that I know - was a very different person from Martin Luther King, Jr. that everybody reveres.”

Sounds to me like we all can learn something from the Rev. Dr. King? I know I can.

Dr. King was clearly friends with his daughter Yolanda. We can all learn to be better friends with our kids I think just like God wishes to be friends with us and commands us to love each other. It seems like to me that if this is what our Heavenly Father commands, it is probably a pretty good idea if we earthly mothers and fathers do the same thing? Make sense?

Now, Tiger Mothers are not friends with their children as far as I can see if we take the material in the article referenced earlier. Far from it. Maybe I need to read more about them, but anyone who raises their children in the following way is in my view not in any way trying to be their child’s friend:

“Her stories of never accepting a grade lower than an A, of insisting on hours of math and spelling drills and piano and violin practice each day (weekends and vacations included), of not allowing playdates or sleepovers or television or computer games or even school plays, for goodness' sake, have left many readers outraged but also defensive.” Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2043313,00.html#ixzz1D1uMwhFM

The above mentioned description makes me physically ill. Give me a Bear Mother any day!

A final message for all of us – Let’s agree to keep the Tiger in the cage and let the Bear out more often. I am thinking to print a picture of Mark and Ben and put somewhere in my house where I can be reminded of it and its importance.

There is one final thought which I have to throw out there. We would be enraged at the idea of anyone, anywhere at any time even thinking about laying a finger on our children like a good mommy bear, but isn’t it amazing that some of us (I almost said all of us and I am definitely including myself here) become Tiger Mothers or Fathers and often don’t extend these same feelings to ourselves when we are the ones who are doing the finger laying or worse. Something to think about.

Finally, and I think rightly, a good place to end is the Good Book where it says:

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-9) (ESV)

Note: This paper has dealt with the fauna and please note in the passage above that the flora also are teachers. I’ll give them their due in part two of this series one day about what you can learn about parenting from a stroll in your garden. Smell the roses and stay tuned. (maybe Tiger Lily versus Lily of the Valley is a working title – we’ll see – Google it and I think you’ll agree there is something to be said here. Remember God made all this too and it can speak to us if we are willing to listen. We need spiritual “ears to hear” and “eyes to see.”)

I for one am looking forward very much to that great godly bear hug one day and to playing in His forest when:

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them (you and me?). The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.” (Isaiah 11:6-8) (ESV)

In the spirit of Romans 12:17-21 and Job 12:7-9,

Samuel Martin - www.biblechild.com

To be added to my mailing list, please write: info@biblechild.com

I have set the Lord always before me: Surely he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved - Psalm 16:8

2011-05-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

I have set the Lord always before me: Surely he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved - Psalm 16:8

This passage is one that I wanted to bring to your attention from the inspired pen of David. There are many important aspects to this verse, but I wanted only to talk about one.

Psalms is a very special book with lots of complexities and it is one that we need to look at closely and carefully because it is full of information if we are just willing to see it. Not only is the information itself important, but also how it is presented and organized.

God gave the writers of Psalms inspiration and it comes out in many ways. Some of the important things that many have seen in Psalms are the various literary devices that are used to convey ideas. For example, many of us may know about acrostics.

It is the idea that there are these 22 verse segments where each letter of the Hebrew alphabet begins the first word of the particular section. Psalm 119 is the prime example. There are others. They indicate a kind of literary completeness or perfection. There are others. We also have broken acrostics that show a sense of evil or incompleteness like in Psalm 9-10.

We also find that there are other numerical features that are very interesting in the Psalms whose meanings we are still trying to understand better.

One of them is found in this verse I have given here, Psalm 16:8. The first things about this verse right away is an association with the number 8. Note Psalm 16 and verse 8. This is not the only association with the number 8 for this verse.

In the original Hebrew, there are 32 letters to this verse. They are:

שויתי יהוה לנגדי תמיד כי מימיני בל אמוט

It is really interesting to see these relationships used with numbers because they have meaning; it is just there for us to find out the truth.

Note that this verse, written by David, has a three-fold relationship with the number eight to it being the 8th verse, of the 16th chapter with 32 letters. Note that we know that the number 888 is associated with Jesus Christ.

Look at the subject of the verse, talking about the Lord being at the right hand. This verse seemingly has messianic overtones.

To close, the book of Psalms is full of such ideas and we need to study this book more because it has true information in it which can help us now and into the future as it has great prophetic significance.

Finally, join with me in praying this verse to remember that if we always set the LORD before us, we will always have the right orientation to things, knowing that the Lord both gives and takes away, Blessed be the name of the LORD.

The value of the letters of the name Jesus and its correlation to the book of Revelation

I learned something a long while ago about the name Jesus. It has a numerical value that is quite remarkable. The name “Jesus” in English comes from the Greek name Ihsouz (Iesous). In the Greek language, each of the letters possesses a numerical value. Here are the numerical values for Ihsouz

I - 10

h - 8

s - 200

o - 70

u - 400

z - 200

Total – 888

There are definitely numerical relationships which can teach information and point us to Christ in more ways that we may realize.

For more information, please write me. I have a newsletter that I send out with regular new research.

With every good wish,

Samuel Martin

www.biblechild.com

Email:info@biblechild.com

Some recent photos from a short trip around the Holy Land

2007-06-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Some recent photos from a short trip around the Holy Land

THE SEA OF GALILEE

I have added this photo of my wife, Sonia, and my little girl, Christine, which was taken from the traditional spot of the Mount of Beatitudes. My dad always felt that the actual spot was perhaps more to the southwest from here and up on a elevated area down near the sea. It is hard to say. Some say it was more nearer to this point.

At this point, we are looking directly south. You can see how the Sea of Galilee is quite large and it sits down in a basin area 212 meters below sea level.

There are fewer lakes more beautiful than the Sea of Galilee, which could aptly be called according to Fr. Hoade (author of the standard volume Guide to the Holy Land) this is the "Lake of Jesus" and to that statement, I could not agree more.

THE SYNAGOGUE IN NAZARETH

I have added this photo to the left. It for me represents one of the most special places in the whole world. It is the location of "the synagogue" mentioned in Luke 4:16, which says:

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the day of the sabbaths and stood up to read."

This day was not just any sabbath (or Saturday). No, this was the day of Pentecost when this passage was read. Read on the next few verses and get the picture of what was said in this place.

This for me is a place which was for our Lord, a central place in His spiritual life. There is so much truth in Luke 4:16 if we are just willing to hear it. Look at it. It says that Jesus had been brought up in Nazareth, not somewhere in India or another place. Note that also in this place, Jesus frequented it regularly. It was His custom to be here on the Sabbath day.

For me this is just one of those special places because my dad took me there maybe 7-8 times growing up and for him it was a real authentic place. From this place, the good news was proclaimed and we all know what were the results: the blind saw, the hungry were fed, the poor received comfort, the sick were healed, and the captives were set free. A special place indeed.

Fond Memories of Prof. Benjamin Mazar

2006-11-17T12:51:00.000-08:00

November 17, 2006

Fond Memories of Prof. Benjamin Mazar

2006-08-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

For some information about me and my first book see my website:

www.biblechild.com or contact me on info@biblechild.com.

"Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me: Christians and the Spanking (Smacking) Controversy"

Please visit my personal website at:

www.hometown.aol.com/peacelvng1/myhomepage/index.html

For a recent review also see:

www.repeal59.blogspot.com - July 25 2006

Best Wishes,

Samuel Martin
Jerusalem Israel