Ryan Gustason’s Blog

echad

Brown Driver Briggs Definition:
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one…another, the one…the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)

Part of Speech: adjective

God is one. The Hebrews understood this.

echad is used elsewhere in the Tanakh:

1Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one (echad) man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

Joshua 12:9-24 The king of Jericho, one (echad); the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one (echad); The king of Jerusalem, one (echad); the king of Hebron, one (echad); The king of Jarmuth, one (echad); the king of Lachish, one (echad); The king of Eglon, one (echad); the king of Gezer, one (echad); The king of Debir, one (echad); the king of Geder, one (echad); The king of Hormah, one (echad); the king of Arad, one (echad); The king of Libnah, one (echad); the king of Adullam, one (echad); The king of Makkedah, one (echad); the king of Bethel, one (echad); The king of Tappuah, one (echad); the king of Hepher, one (echad); The king of Aphek, one (echad); the king of Lasharon, one (echad); The king of Madon (echad), one; the king of Hazor, one (echad); The king of Shimronmeron, one (echad); the king of Achshaph, one (echad); The king of Taanach, one (echad); the king of Megiddo, one (echad); The king of Kedesh, one (echad); the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one (echad); The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one (echad); the king of the nations of Gilgal, one (echad); The king of Tirzah, one (echad): all the kings thirty and one.

Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one (echad) of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.


Ezekiel 33:24 Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one (echad), and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.

Ezekiel 48:31-34 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one (echad) gate of Reuben, one (echad) gate of Judah, one (echad) gate of Levi. And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one (echad) gate of Joseph, one (echad) gate of Benjamin, one (echad) gate of Dan. And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one (echad) gate of Simeon, one (echad) gate of Issachar, one (echad) gate of Zebulun. At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one (echad) gate of Gad, one (echad) gate of Asher, one (echad) gate of Naphtali.

Are we to assume that the gates were in unity? Or Michael the angel was in unity with himself? Or the kings listed? Or perhaps Abraham was not one man but a unity of man.

Although man will try to take the scripture out of context, God’s truth will always prevail. Trinitarianism is a man ordained doctrine to explain the nature of God in man’s limited thought. It was conceived by men for men.

The concept of three persons in one god is very ancient. The Hindu faith believes this concept of God. The conception most closely linked with Vedism and Brahmanism is that of the Hindu Trinity, the Trimurti. ‘The Absolute manifests himself in three persons, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer’. The syllable we write as om, but which is in reality made up of three words, ‘a’, ‘u’, and ‘m’, (which) is the symbol of this trinity.

The Egyptian triad of the sun god was “one god expressed in three persons”. He was known as the “noonday sun” (Ra), “the evening sun” (Tum), and “the dawning sun” (Khepera). The sun god reportedly said, “Lo! I am Khepera at dawn, Ra at high noon, and Tum at eventide”. He was one god in three distinct persons.

Quote:

In AD 318 in Alexandria, Egypt, a conflict broke out between a certain presbyter named Arius, and the bishop of Alexandria, Alexander. Arius taught that the Logos was created out of nothing before the beginning of the world, and therefore was not of the same substance of the Father. In fact, He was the first creation of God. Jesus was a demigod of the Father. Both groups agreed that the Son preexisted the incarnation. The central issue was the eternality of the Son of God. Alexander claimed that the Son was coeternal with the Father, but the rallying cry of the Arians was that “there was a time when He was not.” In AD 321, Alexander held a local synod which condemned Arius’ teachings and excommunicated him and his friends. In turn Arius petitioned support from other bishops to help him in his cause. He gained the support of Eusebius of Nicomedia and a few others. Together they continued to spread the Arian doctrine, and continued to cause dissension among the churches. This dissension reached the ears of Constantine, who had just become the sole emperor of the Roman Empire in AD 324, after having defeated Licinius in the East. Constantine, who was the first emperor to embrace Christianity, was interested in settling this theological dispute, probably to ensure the unity of the empire. In response, he sent his advisor, Hosius of Cordova, to Alexandria to settle the dispute. When it was apparent that the issue could not be easily solved, Constantine called for a council of all the bishops to meet in Nicea (modern day Isnik, Turkey), twenty miles north of Nicomedia, in Bithynia. In AD 325, approximately 300 bishops from various cities journeyed to Nicea at the expense of the emperor. This was only about 1/6 of the total number of bishops in Christendom. Each bishop brought others with him, so the total number present was probably upwards of 1500 to 2000 people.43 The majority of these bishops were from the Eastern, Greek-speaking part of the empire. The Council lasted approximately six weeks. Alexander’s views won out, and Arius was defeated. Eusebius of Caesarea, the first church historian, suggested a compromise creed which he used for the church in his city which said that Jesus is “the Word of God, God of God, … the first-born of all creatures, begotten of the Father before all time.”45 Most of the bishops were satisfied with this. Even the Arians agreed to adopt it. It was Alexander’s party who strongly opposed it because it did not resolve the issue. Prompted by Hosius, Constantine suggested the inclusion of homoousios to the statement, meaning “of the same substance.” To this the Arians strongly reacted, and those who followed Origen’s teachings, it seemed too much like modalism, which taught that Jesus’ deity was actually the Father Himself. They proposed that homoiousios be used, meaning “of similar substance.” Through Alexander’s eloquence his views prevailed.

During the 1st two centuries A.D. Christianity was strongly in favor of it’s Jewish roots of strict monotheism.

During the decades immediately following the death of the Apostles, gnosticism crept into the church via Simon Magus (Simon the sorcerer spoken of in the 8th chapter of Acts)and later by people such as Origen, Alexander (A Catholic Bishop), and other Greek apologists like Justin Martyr.

As far as the mis-interpretation of Genesis 1:26, this scripture has many possible explanations. Some claim it is a majestic plural such as when kings refer to themselves as ‘we’. Others claim it was God talking to the angels. I personally believe it was describing the many attributes of God. One thing we can be sure of, however is God was not referring to a third person in the trinity. context is an important part of hermeneutics. The very next verse disproves the possibility God was talking of a third ‘co-equal, co-eternal’ person in the God-head.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And finally, the New Testament confirms the Jewish belief in one God.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Here are a few useful resources I recommend getting for Bible studying.

Bible Concordance:

Strong’s Exhaustive

Bible Dictionary:

Smith’s

Vine’s Expository

Gesenius’ Hebrew

Thayer’s Greek- Based of N-A 27^th

Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Lexicon

Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek Lexicon

Brown-Driver-Brigg’s Hebrew

Commentaries:

Who’s who and where’s where in the bible- Miller

Holman Illustrated Pocket Bible Handbook- BHPublishingGroup.com

Nave’s Topical

Also get:

The New Cyclopedic Theological Dictionary:

Definitions and Commentary on Hundreds of Religious Terms an Essential Resource and Study Companion for Every Minister and Layman

by J. R. Ensey

ISBN 1560432063 / 9781560432067 / 1-56043-206-3

Publisher Advance Ministries

Language English

Edition Hardcover

Computer:

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http://www.biblesoft.com/new/

http://www.bibleworks.com/

and MAC

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Pay:

http://www.accordancebible.com/

A new online bible study group has just opened up. www.apostolicpentecostalstudygroup.com

Come by and visit if you’re interested. Just started up today.

Act 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Act 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

Act 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

Act 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Act 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

The account of Simon the sorcerer aka Simon Magus continues in various Gnostic works such as Gospel of Peter and Irenaeus’s Adversus Haereses translated Against Heresies.

Simon Magus, also known as Simon the Sorcerer and Simon of Gitta, is the name used by the ancient Christian Orthodoxy to refer to someone they identified as a Samaritan (Proto-)Gnostic, and, also according to ancient Christian Orthodoxy, founder of his own religious sect. The figure appeared prominently in several highly legendary apocryphal accounts by early Christian authors, who regarded him as the first heretic. There is also a brief mention in the Book of Acts.

According to reports by ancient Christian Orthodoxy, the Gnostic sect of Simonianism believed that Simon Magus was God in human form.

The latest Gnostic work, Gospel of Judas continues the attack on the truth of God’s Word. The Gospel of Judas is a Gnostic gospel, the text of which was partially reconstructed in 2006. It has a strong positive focus on Judas Iscariot, but does not claim to have been written by him. According to the canonical Gospels, Judas betrayed Jesus Christ to the Jewish authorities, who then turned him over to the Roman authorities by whom he was crucified. The Gospel of Judas interprets this act positively, as one performed in obedience to the instructions of Jesus, rather than as a betrayal. This positive portrayal follows from the Gnostic notion that the human form is a prison. In this view, Judas helped to release the spirit of Christ from its physical constraints.

The Gospel of Judas does not claim that the other disciples agreed with gnostic teachings. On the contrary, it asserts that the disciples have not learned the true Gospel, which Jesus taught only to Judas Iscariot.

Dan Brown’s book, The DaVinci Code continues to promote Gnostic teaching and attempts to derail the teachings of the church.

A quote from ‘The DaVinci Code’ states “The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times and it has evolved through countless translations, additions and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.”

A quote from the Bible says

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The world is seeking Truth.

They want answers to life’s questions

People don’t know where to turn to, but they know they need help. This is why organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous have proliferated in our modern world.

People are turning to other people for help.

Man can do only so much, and cannot take the place of the source of their pain.

Jesus is the only one who can wipe away their tears.

But you have to know Him.

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

God will be returning soon.

He has come to divide His sheep from the goats. Will I be on the right hand or on the left?

Will I have my lot with the devil and his angels or with Jesus and the faithful and true?

The only way I can truly know is by reading God’s Word.

Other’s say we have lost God’s Word through the centuries by misinterpretation or mistranslation. To this I would say they are partially correct.

There are misinterpretations of the scripture floating out there. Some of the best known are the doctrines of the trinity, once saved always saved, and salvation is complete upon a confession of faith in Jesus Christ which ignores one’s need to repent, be baptized, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues.

There are also mistranslations out there. Some of the best known of these are the American Standard Version and the New International Version. Even a cursory surface glance into the history behind these translations reveals an attempt to stifle the truth of God’s Word.

But despite banning the bible, burning it, and killing those who preach it’s message of peace and hope; the Bible has been preserved for every generation .

The true gospels record Jesus’ Words very clearly “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” This is found word-for-word in Matt 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33. The synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called synoptic because they follow pretty much the same pattern in telling of the good news of Jesus. This verse is unique however in the fact that it is stated word-for-word in all three.

God knows how to preserve his Word. We are living in the time of grace. We don’t have to have strict obedience to the over 600 laws written for the people of Israel. God saw that this was not working. His people were disobedient and unloyal.

God killed off 450 false prophets once when His peculiar people, His chosen generation back-slid into idol worship.

In our time we are seeing the signs of the second coming of Christ being fulfilled. In our generation! In our lifetime!

Will we be left at the well, wondering where our sisters have disappeared too?

Our time is limited. God’s bride is almost made perfect. His second coming is at the door.

We need to pray.

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

We need to fast.

Luk 5:34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

Luk 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

We need to study God’s Word.

Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

John the Baptist was waiting for the Messiah. When he heard of Jesus he sent two of his disciples to Jesus asking Him if he is the Messiah. Jesus’ answer was” Luk 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. “

The Messiah is coming!

The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, dead are risen, the gospel is being preached!

There is no more time.

This world will pass away.

God is going to make a new heaven and earth. The city will be New Jerusalem.

Whatever pain or hurt you have can be washed away by Jesus Christ.