"Heaven helps those who help themselves" is not in the bible from my understanding, rather its the opposite. God helps the helpless, the powerless etc. please enlighten me more on this, thank you.
It is not in the Bible. However, we should not completely discard the "possible" underlying interpretation the initial writer of the quote was trying to convey
Many Christians thought that Jacob worked seven years for Laban, realized that Laban deceived him to marry Leah, and then worked seven more years before finally getting married to Rachel. However the bible shows that he took both Leah and Rachel immediately before he began serving Laban. For clarity, I advise you to read this Jacob's story in other translations of the Bible aside King James Version (KJV). Meanwhile lets look at look at some of the facts from the Bible: (Genesis 29:21 KJV) And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. Please note that the 7 years of service required of Jacob were the total dowry and not the customary waiting period before a wife was given to the groom. In other words, Jacob took Leah after the customary waiting period which was a couple of days just like we read in vs 21. Notice that he said, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled" implying a certain number of d...
Genesis 6:6 is one of those difficult verses in the bible of which different bible commentators have varied interpretations. The verse seems to suggest that God regretted His action of creating man on earth. But how can one attribute regret to the All-Knowing God? Genesis 6:6 (ESV) And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. Genesis 6:6 (KJV) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Genesis 6:6 (NASB) The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Hebrew word translated as “ regretted ” or " repented" or " sorry" in the above verse is yin'nā'hem , from the root word nacham . The word is exclusively about emotions: a feeling of pain, sadness, or unhappiness. The word does not imply that God feels He has made a mistake, or that He wishes to have done differently . However, this wo...
Abraham had two sons, the one by Sarah (a freewoman) and the other by Hagar (a bondwoman). However, we see in Genesis chapter 22 that in three different occasions, God referred to Isaac as the only son of Abraham, in total disregard of Ishmael as a son. So, in what sense is Isaac the only Son of Abraham? (Genesis 22:2 KJV) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (Genesis 22:12 KJV) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. (Genesis 22:16 KJV) And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son , thine only son. First notice that the second time the word ‘ son ’ is used in all the above verses, it is in italics, indica...
Many Christians believe that the word translated “whole” in Luke 17:19 KJV refers to both physical and spiritual healing and that the nine lepers in the chapter received only physical healing because they did not return to give thanks to Jesus where as the leper that returned to give thanks to Jesus received both physical and spiritual healing. They believe all the lepers were cleansed but the one that returned to Jesus got something extra which is that he was made whole (i.e his limbs which may have been lost or deformed as a result of the leprosy were restored or that he got salvation for his soul). Though this may be true, there's however a more likely possibility that the leper did not get something more than the rest of the nine. Let's first read the story: (Luke 17:12-19 KJV) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when h...
What is reincarnation? Is reincarnation a Christian belief? Does the Bible teach reincarnation? Are there evidences in the Bible to support reincarnation? Several people (including many Christians) believe in reincarnation. However, the Bible does not teach reincarnation, rather it teaches resurrection from the dead. What is the difference? In reincarnation (or transmigration), the body dies and returns (i.e comes back to life again) in a different body to live on earth again. Depending on your deeds in the previous life or lives, the new body is entirely different from that of the previous life. For instance, a man could get reincarnated as a woman or an animal or a stone. On the other hand, in resurrection of the dead, the body that dies is the exact body that is raised. For the resurrection that will occur in the last day, the body is made new in the sense that it is perfected and no longer subject to frailty and death, but it is still the same body. In reincarnation, the previous m...
Did you know that the bible verse in Genesis 8:22 often quoted by a lot of the gospel ministers to support giving of money, offerings and tithes has nothing to do with money? (Genesis 8:22 KJV) While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. The statement in the verse was made by God to Noah immediately after the flood. It was made to assure Noah that He will never again destroy all life on earth by water anď that as long as the earth remains none of the following will ever cease on earth: Planting of seeds and harvesting of seeds. The four different seasons - spring, summer, fall and winter. Day and night. In other words, the natural life on earth is perpetual . I recommend you read at least the entire Genesis chapter 8 in other bible translations to better understand the context. So when next you hear the verse in connection to giving just remember the context in which God made the statement. If you l...
This is a continuation of my previous post " Is The Rapture Biblical " Why would the saints rise to meet Christ in the air, when He is on His way to the earth to defeat evil and to establish the Kingdom of God here? Why not simply wait for Him to arrive? Those who teach the rapture make much of this issue, claiming that it buttresses their theory. In fact, the truth of the matter actually further discredits their erroneous teaching. We need to look at the meaning of the Greek term translated “to meet” that Christ inspired Paul to use in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Dr. Leon Morris writes in the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: “The expression translated to meet is kind of a technical term ‘for the official welcome of a newly arrived dignitary’…and is very suitable in this context.” Notice that it pertains to a newly arrived dignitary, not to one who is merely passing through. In no way does it convey that Christ only enters the atmosphere and then reverses cou...
In the book of Daniel chapter 7, the title "Ancient of days" was used by the prophet to describe his vision. (Daniel 7:9 KJV) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (Daniel 7:13-14 KJV) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Whilst sometimes the title relates to God the Father, most properly it relates to God the Son (Jesus). There is no doubt that the references in Daniel chapter 7 is to God the Son. The only reason many believe that...
The question of Jesus ascending twice to heaven is not often asked because there is this general acceptance of only one ascension of Jesus which occurred in Acts 1:9, Mark 16:19 and Luke 24:51 (Acts 1:9 KJV) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Mark 16:19 KJV) So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Luke 24:51 KJV) And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. However, there is an evidence in the Bible that He had earlier ascended to His Father in Heaven prior to this final ascension in the above verses. Before His death, Jesus specifically told His disciples in the book of John chapter 16 that He would be going to His Father (which is in Heaven). (John 16:16-17 KJV) A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Fat...
The term " Born Again Christian " is used to describe anyone that has received Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Saviour. One who believes in Jesus Christ and one who has been regenerated through the agent of the Holy Spirit. The phrase "born again" can be seen in John chapter 3 in King James Version (KJV) and most other English Bible Versions. (John 3:3 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again , he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3 CEV) "Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!" The Greek phrase is gennēthē anōthen which generally means "begotten from above" or "born from above". It can also mean "born again". Does this same double meaning of this Greek phrase apply also in Aramaic, which Jesus is assumed to have spoken, or did Jesus also speak Greek? Well, some texts suggest ...
"Heaven helps those who help themselves" is not in the bible from my understanding, rather its the opposite.
ReplyDeleteGod helps the helpless, the powerless etc.
please enlighten me more on this, thank you.
Nice try Nze. Let's wait for comments from others.
ReplyDeleteNze, you are absolutely correct.
ReplyDeleteIt is not in the Bible. However, we should not completely discard the "possible" underlying interpretation the initial writer of the quote was trying to convey
ReplyDelete