POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS

Let Your Anger Be Removed, and Pray

12.1 For I am confident that you are well versed in the Scriptures, and nothing is hid from you; but to me this is not granted. Only, as it is said in these Scriptures, “be angry but do not sin,” 1 and “do not let the sun go down on your anger.” 2 Blessed is the one who remembers this, and I believe that it is so with you. 2 Now may God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal Priest himself, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, build you up in faith and truth, and in all gentleness, and without wrath, and in patience, and in longsuffering, and endurance, and purity, and may he give you a share and place with his saints, and to us with you, and to all under heaven who shall believe in our Lord and God Jesus Christ and in his Father who raised him from the dead. 3 Pray for all the saints. 3 Pray also for the kings, and for magistrates, and princes, and for those who persecute you and hate you, 4 and for the enemies of the cross 5 that your fruit may be evident among all people, 6 that you may be perfected in him.

1 Eph 4.26, quoting Ps 4.5

2 Eph 4.26

3 1Ti 2.1

4 Mt 5.44

5 Php 3.18

6 1Ti 4.15

THE FIRST LETTER OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS

Clement addresses issues of schism and discord within the Corinthian church. He wrote this letter in AD96.

Schism in Corinth

46.1 Therefore it is also necessary for us to cling to such examples, brothers. 2 For it is written, “Cling to the holy ones, because those who cling to them will be made holy.” 3 And again, in another place it says, “With the innocent one you will be innocent and with the elect you will be elect and with the perverse you will deal perversely.” 4 Therefore let us cling to the innocent and the righteous, as these are the elect of God. 5 Why is there strife and anger and dissension and division and war among you? 6 Or do we not have one God and one Christ, and one Spirit of grace which is poured out upon us, and one calling in Christ? 7 Why do we tear and rip apart the members of Christ, and rebel against our own body and get worked up to such a frenzy that we forget that we are members of one another? Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, 8 for it says, “Woe to that person, it would be better for him if ⌊he had not been born⌋ than to cause one of my elect to sin. It would have been better for him to be tied to a millstone and to sink into the sea than to turn away one of my elect.” 9 Your schism has turned many away, has plunged many into discouragement, many into doubt; all of us into grief, yet your rebellion is continuous!

What may Bible Presbyterian Church members take away from this Clement's letter?

1. Unity in the Faith: Clement stresses the importance of unity among believers, pointing out that there is "one God and one Christ" and that Christians share "one Spirit of grace." The disunity and division within the Corinthian church are presented as contradictory to the fundamental unity of the Christian faith.

2. Consequences of Division: The letter criticizes the schism and factionalism within the church, highlighting its detrimental effects. Clement argues that the divisions are causing widespread spiritual harm, leading to discouragement and doubt among the members, which in turn grieves the community as a whole.

3. Moral Warning: Clement uses a strong moral warning attributed to Jesus to illustrate the severity of causing others to sin. The metaphor of being tied to a millstone and cast into the sea is a dramatic way to communicate the seriousness of leading others astray and the severe consequences of causing division within the Church.

4. Call to Reconciliation: Implicit in Clement's message is a call for reconciliation and healing within the church. By pointing out the negative impact of the schism and the scriptural mandates for unity, Clement is urging the Corinthians to overcome their divisions and restore harmony.

By ways of application to Bible Presbyterian Churches.

I. Focus on what unites rather than what divides. Remind the congregation of core beliefs, such as the divinity of Christ, salvation through Him, and the authority of Scripture. Use these central beliefs as a foundation for reconciliation and unity.

II. Encourage open and respectful dialogue about differences in Bible versions and practices. Organize discussions or study groups where members can express their views, listen to others, and seek common ground. Ensure that conversations are conducted with love and respect, avoiding personal attacks or harsh judgments.

III. Acknowledge the impact of divisions on the church’s overall health. Address any resulting feelings of discouragement or isolation and offer support to those affected. Provide pastoral care and counseling to help members work through their issues and heal from the hurt caused by the divisions.

IV. Foster an environment of reconciliation by encouraging forgiveness and understanding. Promote initiatives that bring members together, such as joint worship services, prayer meetings, or fellowship events, where differences can be set aside in favor of shared worship and community.

V. Provide educational resources on different Bible versions and practices like speaking in tongues. Clarify the reasons behind various practices and versions in a way that respects diverse perspectives. Ensure that teaching emphasizes how different practices can coexist within the bounds of Christian unity.

VI. Church leaders should model humility and love in their interactions. Demonstrate a willingness to understand and respect differing views and practices. Encourage members to act out of love and to prioritize the well-being of the community over personal preferences or disagreements.

VII. Redirect attention to the common mission and goals of the church. Emphasize collective goals such as outreach, service, and community support. By focusing on shared objectives, members may find common ground that transcends their differences.

By applying these principles, Bible Presbyterian Churches can work towards healing divisions over Bible versions, Verbal Plenary Preservation, and practices like speaking in tongues, fostering a more unified, loving, and respectful community.

May God bless you.

Sincerely,

Rev. So and So

Francis holds a Mass in Singapore

 

Shall we please respect the service proceedings and learn from one another?

The catholic church had kept the Bible manuscripts for almost a thousand year before the Reformation in 15th century.

Sad to say, in 2024, Francis believes all religions are a path to God, he is misleading. 

5 VERY Dangerous False Teachings Many Christians Are Falling For

 

Bible Presbyterian Church & tongue speaking

1 Corinthians 14:2-3

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Paul claims that this type of tongue is neither a dialect or language because no one understands it. He or she is speaking to God, not to individuals. This is the type of sound produced by our tongue.

 

1 Corinthians 14:5a

I would like every one of you to speak in tongues.

Paul urged us to speak in tongue.

  

1 Corinthians 14:39-40

 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

  

Don't stop someone from speaking in tongues. Allow them to speak in tongues. 

1 Corinthians 14:18

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.


Apostle Paul prayed in tongue.

In conclusion

Do not argue, for no one speaks in a faultless tongue! Not everyone speaks in tongues. Some people do not speak in tongues, which is natural; some do, so don't worry. Let us unite in truth and love.

May the light of His face shine on you, and be gracious onto you.

UNITY IN TRUTH AND GRACE by Jetfree Kh00

Prelude: click here - Funny Neanderthals 

UNITY IN TRUTH AND GRACE

 By Jetfree Kh00, 

The study of NEANDERTHALS should humble us to worship him and serve him forever.

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his PERFECT GREEK BIBLE, and follow me.”

And the ministry that I have is not “MY ministry”. I do not have a ministry. In fact, I am not entitled to any ministry. SO I AM FREE, TO ATTACK ANYONE, REBUKE, CHIDE, SHAME ANYONE WHO DOES NOT AGREE WITH ME, WHEN I SAY, MY BIBLE IS PERFECT, MY GREEK BIBLE IS PERFECT, THIS IS MY REAL MINISTRY! LISTEN TO ME! THIS IS NOT MY MINISTRY! THIS IS GOD'S MINISTRY!

Unity

The unity NEANDERTHALS want us to have is not institutional BUT organisational.....

The world is full of unrest but the church should be a haven of peace SURROUNDED BY THE PERFECT GREEK BIBLE, NOT THE LATIN BIBLE.

It has been a hard and long journey for MY FOLLOWERS, but a worthwhile journey CARRYING THE GREAT PERFECT GREEK BIBLE, AND THEY FOLLOW ME. 

I am on high all the time to prevent enemies from invading and attacking this PERFECT GREEK BIBLE that we have, THIS ONE AND ONLY PERFECT GREEK BIBLE. I LOVE THIS PERFECT GREEK BIBLE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.

In Truth

Now, where do we go to find such unity and harmony in the church?

The answer is yes. We are called to unity. When we HAVE THIS PERFECT GREEK BIBLE HOLDING IN MY HANDS. YES!

That is why we take the Dean Burgone OATS!

SAYING: MY PERFECT GREEK BIBLE: (NONE OTHER THAN)

 Every book of it, every chapter of it, every verse of it, every word of it, every syllable of it, every letter of it, IS PERFECT LIKE GOLD!

And Grace 

The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are all preachers of MY PERFECT GREEK BIBLE.

What is valuable is not what I have now but I will have when I HAVE THE PERFECT GREEK BIBLE UNDERLYING THE KING JAMES BIBLE!

I learned in recent days this formula: PERFECT + GREEK + BIBLE = Unity

I can write 10 theses on this.

COME, AND FOLLOW ME!

To all my friends in Bible-Presbyterian Churches, please watch this! It is about "Fundamentalism."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fpz8hNwXes

The destination of some Bible-Presbyterian Churches is written on the wall

It implies that the ultimate goal or purpose of some Bible Presbyterian (BP) churches is clear and obvious. The church's mission is clearly obvious, as if it were inscribed on a wall for all to see.

Some BP churches have a well-defined mission. These churches appointed young pastors to become militants or spiritual fighters in order to combat Christians who are not Calvinists, do not use the KJV exclusively, are Charismatics, or disagree with them.

Their objectives are freely disclosed to both members and the community. Members and church workers must obey their leaders; if they do not, they may be kicked out of their BP churches and left to die.

 They believe their church's purpose is straight from God and thus indisputable. No members are permitted to question leaders; they are apostles in BP congregations, hence they hold authority. You don't, so you must shut up.

In essence, the statement stresses the idea that BPC churches maintain a clear and unshakable focus on their mission. To fight those who differ from them.

These Bible Presbyterian Churches' fate is written on the wall; they will fail successfully.

They do not know God because they do not understand that God is love; thus, they do not know how to love others!

I am still praying until today so that these BP ministers will repent, look at those writings on the wall. Your days are numbered. Soon, your young preachers and pastors will leave you one by one.

Paul charged us not to quarrel about words, Greek words, Hebrew words English nor Mandarin words

2 Timothy 2:14

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

2 Timothy 2:24

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

It is not our place to argue about words—Greek, Hebrew, English, Mandarin.

we should focus on the underlying meaning or message rather than getting caught up in the specific language or terminology used.

The content of a message is more significant than the language used to convey it. Disagreements about the exact wording or translation can be counterproductive and distract from the core message.

This principle is often applied in religious, philosophical, and academic contexts where understanding the underlying concepts is crucial. It also has relevance in everyday life, encouraging open-mindedness and effective communication.

Pastoral Chat

How do you interpret the Bible? How can I tell an interpretation is the only correct interpretation and other interpretations are wrong? Give examples.

Interpreting the Bible is a complex task that has engaged scholars and theologians for centuries. There's no single, universally agreed-upon method, and it often involves a combination of factors.

Human interpretation is inherently subjective, influenced by personal experiences, cultural background, and theological beliefs. Some passages can have multiple valid interpretations, depending on the context and the reader's perspective. We often lack complete information about the original historical and cultural context. Different translations can convey slightly different meanings.

While it's important to strive for accuracy in interpretation, it's equally important to recognize the limitations of human understanding.

Rather than focusing on finding the "only correct" interpretation, it's often more fruitful to engage in respectful dialogue with those who hold different views. This approach can lead to a deeper understanding of the Bible and foster unity within the Christian community.

Which Bible translation is best? (John McAthur)

 The common question of which Bible translation to use is very important—it concerns the most important words ever spoken, the words of God the Creator. It’s crucial to understand at the outset that behind each version is a fundamental philosophy of Bible translation. You want to make sure the version you use reproduces in your own language what God actually said.

Translation Philosophy

You can separate modern Bible translations into two basic groups—formal equivalency and dynamic equivalency. Formal equivalency attempts a word for word rendition, providing as literal a translation as possible. Dynamic equivalency is more like a paraphrase, trying to convey ideas thought by thought.

Since no one language corresponds perfectly to any other language, every translation involves some degree of interpretation. A translation based on formal equivalency has a low degree of interpretation; translators are trying to convey the meaning of each particular word. When faced with a choice between readability and accuracy, formal equivalency translators are willing to sacrifice readability for the sake of accuracy.

By its very nature, a translation based on dynamic equivalency requires a high degree of interpretation. The goal of dynamic equivalency is to make the Bible readable, conveying an idea-for-idea rendering of the original. That means someone must first decide what idea is being communicated, which is the very act of interpretation. How the translators view Scripture becomes extremely important in the final product.

Sadly, there are many in the Bible-translation industry who have a low view of the Scripture. They think the Bible is merely a product of man, replete with mistakes, contradictions, and personal biases. Many translators today have also adopted the postmodern idea of elevating the experience of the reader over the intention of the author. They make the contemporary reader sovereign over the text and demote the intended meaning of the historic human writers who were carried along by one divine author (2 Peter 1:19-21).

Therefore, it’s vital that you find a translation that represents what the Holy Spirit actually said as faithfully as possible. Who’s interested in some contemporary translation committee’s spin on what they think contemporary readers want to read? We want to read what the author intended us to read, which is what the Holy Spirit originally inspired.

Translation Survey

The most popular dynamic-equivalency translations, which dominate the evangelical world, are the New International Version (NIV), Today’s New International Version (TNIV), The Message (MSG), The Living Bible (TLB), the Good News Bible (GNB), and the New Living Translation (NLT). Of those, the NIV is the most reliable.

The NIV was completed in 1978. Its translators did not attempt to translate strictly word for word, but aimed more for equivalent ideas. As a result, the NIV doesn’t follow the exact wording of the original Greek and Hebrew texts as closely as the King James Version and New American Standard Bible versions do. Nevertheless, it can be considered a faithful translation of the original texts, and its lucid readability makes it quite popular, especially for devotional reading.

The four most popular formal equivalency translations in English are the King James Version (KJV), the New King James Version (NKJV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the English Standard Version (ESV).

The KJV is the oldest of the four and continues to be the favorite of many. It is known as the Authorized Version of 1611 because King James I approved the project to create an authoritative English Bible. Although it contains many obsolete words (some of which have changed in meaning), many people appreciate its dignity and majesty. The NKJV is a similar translation, taken from the same group of ancient manuscripts, that simply updates the archaic language of the KJV.

The NASB, completed in 1971 and updated in 1995, is a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901. It is a literal translation from the Hebrew and Greek languages that incorporates the scholarship of several centuries of textual criticism conducted since the original KJV. It quickly became a favorite translation for serious Bible study.

The ESV is the most recent translation, which stands firmly in the formal equivalency tradition. It is a very solid translation in updated language that aims to reproduce the beauty of the KJV. The result is one of the most poetic and beautifully structured versions that maintains a high degree of accuracy and faithfulness to the original languages.

Translation Choice

Which version is the best to use? Ultimately, that choice is up to you. Each of the formal-equivalency versions has strengths and weaknesses, but they are all reliable translations of the Bible. If you want to read a dynamic-equivalency translation, the NIV is the most reliable.

Ideally, as a serious student of Scripture, you should become familiar enough with concordances, word-study aids, and conservative commentaries so that even without a thorough knowledge of the original languages, you can explore the nuances of meaning that arise out of the original texts.

 

For more study on Bible translations, the following resources provide reliable overviews and analyses:

The Canon of Scripture, F. F. Bruce

How to Choose a Bible Translation, Robert L. Thomas

The King James Only Controversy, James White

The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism, D. A. Carson

Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible, Leland Ryken

The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation, Leland Ryken

Who Knows?

Who Knows?

I write this in the wake of a revelation concerning a well-known Christian government leader who fell into sin. The announcements indicate that he had been caught in an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with another member of parliament, and had continued in it in spite of admonishment. This leader has since resigned from all his government positions and membership in his party. News of this came like a shock wave that reverberated throughout the church and the nation. Few knew about what had happened until the public announcement. A third of the year has gone by. The recent Lent season leading to Good Friday reminds us to keep our eyes on the Cross and Christ crucified for us. We also lift our eyes to see Christ risen and coming for us.

The name of our Lord has been muddied, and there is profound disappointment felt in the Church today. One can only imagine what his family must be feeling now; They are the unseen victims of this tragedy.

This is a time to mourn.

As I reflect on this grievous sorrow, I can’t help thinking about how one can be so popular and active in the public square, and yet conceal such a dark secret.

I can have a glowing public life. Speaking to crowds, featured in magazines, and feted on social media. But in my private life, the things I do in secret - who knows?

I can be famous for the good that I do: Serving the poor and needy, championing the rights of the oppressed and forgotten. Launching new ministries. A prophet for our time. A leader. And the crowds can be amazed at all the good that I can do, and my enemies silenced all the same. But deep inside – who knows?

I could be admired for how I’ve given my life to others, and somehow manage to take care of my family life, my inner life. We assume that one can do so much only because one’s private life has been set in order – or we may even say that one has an ‘anointing’. But who knows?

It is merely the case for public figures that when their struggles and failures are exposed, the whole world will find out and the impact is greater. But this capacity for deceit (for we are surely lying to ourselves) lies within each of us. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.

We all know how to hide. It was the sin that followed quickly after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit.

I feel very much for this now as a pastor. Every Sunday, correction: every day, I am looked upon and expected to speak, to serve, to act blamelessly in every way. To be a man of God. It is so tempting to make it all a show.

Professing humility can be made into a show – for the first thing about it is not to be thinking so much about myself. To profess a love for God can also be a show – for in saying such things I may be vying with God for attention. When is the living real or fake… who knows?

It can even happen at home with my wife and children. It can seem much harder to hide things at home, but it can also be much easier. Who knows? Who knows?

We have turned hiding into an art.

No one can really see when we struggle to keep too many balls in the air, but keep at it as we get egged on by the cheers and jeers. No one, but God.

No one can examine our hearts and find that moment when we justify to ourselves that we are doing a whole lot of good, and lots of people are looking up to me, and therefore I can’t stop now. No one, but God.

No one can see the moments when we choose to disregard His voice – when we stop up our ears and harden our hearts. No one, but God.

And so, if there are 3 things I ask for now, it would be for these:

The virtue of honesty;

The urgency to invite others to hold me accountable;

And most of all, the fear of the Lord.

He knows.

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

Written 19 Jul 2023

Pastor Ng Zhi-wen

Zion Bishan BP Church