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Quotations

Charts, Graphics, Short Doctrines

Dictionary of Terms

Doctrines Covered or Alluded To

American Heritage Special

Angel of Jehovah

Angelic Conflict

Christian Basics

Fear of the Lord in the Old Testament

How Isaac's Unusual Birth Foreshadowed the Birth of Our Lord

Importance of Bible Doctrine

Justification

Living the Christian Life

Lucky Guesses in Genesis

Marriage Alternatives Found in the Bible

Melchizedek

Parallels between the Birth of Isaac and the Birth of our Lord

Righteousness

Sanctification

The Trinity in the Old Testament

Typology: Abraham's Offering of Isaac/God's offering of Jesus

Additional doctrines and links are found in Definition of Terms below.

Chapters of the Bible Alluded To and/or Appropriately Exegeted with this Chapter

Genesis 3

2Sam. 18

Many who read and study this chapter are 1^st or 2^nd generation students of R. B. Thieme, Jr., so that much of this vocabulary is second nature. One of Bob’s contributions to theology is a fresh vocabulary along with a number of concepts which are theologically new or reworked, yet still orthodox. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with his work, the definitions below will help you to fully understand all that is being said. Also, I have developed a few new terms and concepts which require definition as well.

In addition, there are other more traditional yet technical theological terms which will be used and therefore defined as well.

Sometimes the terms in the exegesis of this chapter are simply alluded to, without any in-depth explanation of them. Sometimes, these terms are explained in detail and illustrated. A collection of all these terms is found here: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Definition of Terms

The 5^th stage of national discipline

The 5^th stage of national discipline involves complete loss of personal and national sovereignty, the destruction of the family and the nation. Offerings to God are unacceptable. Nations which have undergone this destruction have experienced slavery, cannibalism, and the assimilation of its surviving citizens into other cultures.

Angelic Conflict

The Angelic Conflict is an invisible war which is taking place which involves God, the elect angels and the fallen angels. Man was created to resolve the Angelic Conflict. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Anthropopathism

An anthropopathism is taking an easily understood emotion, thought or action that man has or does and attributing that emotion, thought or action to God, to explain God’s thinking and action in language of accommodation. One might view this is somewhat of a shortcut when speaking about God. For more information, see Bible Doctrine Resource.

Operation Footstool

Operation footstool, where God the Father makes all of the enemies of Jesus Christ His footstool (in the sense that they are subjugated to Him).

Progressive Revelation

Progressive revelation simply means that God reveals Himself progressively. As we read about God and His decree in the Bible, it is not revealed to us all at once. Although we find suggestions of the Trinity in Gen. 1, it is not until the New Testament that the concept of the Trinity is revealed well enough to more fully comprehend it. God’s grace and judgment, and what He would do about sin, is first mentioned in Gen. 3; further elaborated on when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his firstborn (by Sarah); and fulfilled by the incarnation of Jesus Christ. See the Doctrine of Progressive Revelation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)

Protocol Plan of God

This is simply the plan of God with a recognition that it is personal, designed for each one of us, and explicit, as protocol is a rigid long-established code prescribing complete deference to superior rank and strict adherence to due order of precedence, precise and correct procedure.

Rebound (Restoration to fellowship with God)

In the New Testament, this is naming your sins to God, so that you are both restored to temporal fellowship with God and are then filled with the Spirit of God. In the Old Testament, naming your sins to God would result in a restoration of fellowship and, in some cases, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit once again (the Holy Spirit was not given to all Old Testament believers). See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

The Revealed God (or, the Revealed Lord)

We do not look within ourselves or do we build up some concept of God based upon our own experiences, but we first understand God as He has revealed Himself. Throughout the lives of the saints who have gone before us, God revealed Himself through the written Word and sometimes through direct contact. Once a foundation is laid, then we can see how God is understood through various experiences in our lives.

We do not look within to find God and we do not go out and search for God. He will reveal Himself to us. Those who look to other gods are simply worshiping that which others have defined as God; or, in many cases, they incorporate their own norms and standards into their belief of the God they choose to believe in. Essentially, such a person is making God in his own image.

Type, Antitype, Typical

A type is a preordained representation wherein certain persons, events, and institutions of the O.T. stand for corresponding persons, events, and institutions of the N.T. Types are pictures or object lessons by which God has taught His redemptive plan. They are a shadow of things to come, not the image of those things (Col. 2:17 Heb. 8:5 10:1). See the Doctrine of Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Some of these definitions are taken from

http://gracebiblechurchwichita.org/?page_id=1556

http://www.bibledoctrinechurch.org/?subpages/GLOSSARY.shtml

http://rickhughesministries.org/content/Biblical-Terms.pdf

http://www.gbible.org/index.php?proc=d4d

http://www.wordoftruthministries.org/termsanddefs.htm

http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/topics.html

http://www.theopedia.com/

I have mentioned this concept in previous lessons, but have never properly defined or explained it. I have even linked to this doctrine several times in the past. This is a summary of this doctrine. R. B. Thieme, Jr. coined the phrase and developed the doctrine originally.

The Grace Apparatus for Perception

1.      The terminology comes from R. B. Thieme, Jr., and it means that there is a grace means by which all believers may understand Bible doctrine. The basic idea is, all believers grow spiritually through the understanding of Bible doctrine. A believer with an I.Q. of 150 does not have any advantage over the believer who has an I.Q. of 90. This will be backed up with Scripture, but R. B. Thieme, Jr. Ministries also puts out a booklet on a particular person, Laura Kay Tapping, who showed this to be true.

2.      That we are to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is a mandate from the Bible. This is not an option; and this is not just one way of many ways for a believer to grow. Just as there is only one way to be saved, there is only one Savior; similarly, there is only one way to grow and there is only one Word of Truth, the Bible, to be learned. 2Peter 3:18

3.      Understanding Bible doctrine is much different from human understanding, which is not the basis of spiritual understanding or spiritual growth. 1Cor. 2:1, 8–9

4.      At salvation, we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, which results in our becoming trichotomous, having a soul, spirit and body. Titus 3:5 1Thess. 5:23

5.      It is the soul which allows us to understand the things of man; the human spirit which allows us to understand the things of God. 1Cor. 2:10–12 Eph. 3:16

6.      Spiritual growth can only take place when we are filled with the Holy Spirit; so, therefore, we must be in fellowship when learning spiritual things. 1Cor. 11:31 1John 1:9

7.      Being filled with the Spirit is a mandate for the Christian life. Eph. 5:18

8.      It is God’s desire that everyone be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. 1Tim. 2:4

9.      One of the passages grace apparatus for perception is based upon is Eph. 3:16–19 (this is a prayer, written by Paul to the Ephesians) That God would give you, according to [the norm or standard of] the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with inherent power by His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell [or, be at home] in your hearts by means of faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Let’s look at this prayer phrase-by-phrase:

         1)      That God would give you, according to [the norm or standard of] the riches of His glory,... God has an abundance of or a wealth of glory. One of the reasons that we are left on earth after salvation is to glorify Him. Now, given your sorry Christian life and mine, that seems pretty much impossible, but that is our Christian duty and purpose. We reveal, from day-to-day, God’s character and essence in us, despite our great imperfections and failings. God actually gives this opportunity to us again and again, every single day of our lives. However, only the mature believer truly glorifies Jesus Christ. Let me draw an analogy here: we all understand, to some degree, the father and son relationship. If a son goes out there, and is educated or builds up his own business or behaves like a decent human being, he does his father proud. Such a man glorifies his father. Now, as a child of 7 in a school play or singing some song at a pageant, there is some pride in that, but not a lot. Mostly, that is just cute. But when a son reaches adulthood and begins to apply the principles of life which he has learned at home, that is when a son can potentially glorify his father. As believers in Jesus Christ, we glorify God in the same way. Once we reach adulthood, that is when we begin to glorify Him. You no doubt know some 30 or 40 year-old men who act like children, and everything is about them, and they are selfish and lazy. Such a man is an embarrassment to his father. Some believers reach spiritual adulthood and some do not, but we all have the potential to do so, and this potential is based upon the grace apparatus for perception.

         2)      ...to be strengthened with inherent power by His Spirit in the inner man;... We are strengthen or empowered (passive voice) with dúnamis (δύναμις) [pronounced DOO-nahm-iss], which means power, ability, able, capable; inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. Strong’s #1411. So this power, which we receive, is an inherent power or a power which resides within us. This is done by means of God’s Spirit in the inner man. So, again, this process works within us. Notice that there is no legalism here. This does not happen because you used to be immoral and now you are moral. That is a good thing, but the result of growth and not the means of growth (and becoming moral might be the result of social pressure or self-will as well—as some people turn toward God simply because they are disgusted with themselves). This inner man refers to the human spirit, and being strengthened with inherent power in the inner man, refers to this spiritual growth that occurs within us. The Holy Spirit is instrumental in making this happen. The Holy Spirit teaches our human spirit; and the Holy Spirit allows the grace apparatus for perception to function when we are in fellowship.

         3)      ...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by means of faith;... This is one of the mysteries of the Church Age, where Jesus Christ indwells us. To dwell is the Greek verb katoikéô (κατοικέω) [pronounced kah-toy-KEH-oh], which means to live, to reside; this is a word which usually refers to one’s semi-permanent dwelling. Thayer definitions: 1) to dwell, settle; 1a) metaphorically divine powers, influences, etc., are said to dwell in his soul, to pervade, prompt, govern it; 2) to dwell in, inhabit; 2a) God is said to dwell in the temple, i.e. to be always present for worshippers. Notice how this is used metaphorically divine powers, influences, etc., are said to dwell in his soul, to pervade, prompt, govern it. This is exactly what we are talking about, something which occurs on this inside. Strong’s #2730. This is done by means of faith, which is the Greek word pistis (πίστις) [pronounced PIHS-tihs], and pistis refers to having faith or confidence in something, but it also refers to that which you have faith and confidence in. In the latter sense, this is one of the many synonyms in the Bible for Bible doctrine. Strong’s #4102. Therefore, Christ makes Himself at home in your inner being by means of exercising faith in Bible doctrine. Spiritual information in the Bible is of no use to you. Spiritual information which you hear and reject is of no use to you. You must hear it, you must understand it (grace apparatus for perception) and then you must believe it. If you find yourself rejecting half of what your pastor says, then you are in the wrong church (or, you are negative toward doctrine). If you are not growing spiritually, then you are in the wrong church. If you cannot look back over a period of, say, 5 years, and be able to note unmistakable spiritual growth, then you are in the wrong church or you are just not doing it right.

         4)      ...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge,... This is a long section, so we will break it up into further sub-points:

                  (1)     Being rooted is the perfect passive participle of rhizoô (ῥιζόω) [pronounced hrid-ZOH-o], which means, to cause to strike root, to strengthen with roots, to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded. Thayer definitions only. Strong’s #4492. A plant without a strong root system is easily harmed. It is the root system which goes deep into the ground, in all directions, which pulls in nutrients for the plant.

                  (2)     Grounded is the perfect passive participle of themelioô (θεμελιόω) [pronounced them-el-ee-OH-oh], which means, 1) to lay the foundation, to found; 2) to make stable, establish. Thayer definitions only. Strong’s #2311. Again, notice how all of this is foundational; there is strength and power and nourishment in the foundation or in the roots. Perfect tense in the Greek refers generally to a past action with present continuing results. Passive means that we do not actually build this root system ourselves, but this is done for us, when we learn Bible doctrine.

                  (3)     In love is often used throughout the New Testament for being in fellowship (we find it used in this manner throughout John’s first epistle). No spiritual growth occurs out of fellowship.

                  (4)     Be able is the aorist active subjunctive of Verb exischuô (ἐξισχύω) [pronounced ex-is-KHOO-oh], which means, to be eminently able, able, to have full strength. Thayer definition only. Strong’s #1840. The subjunctive mood means that we have this power, we have this ability, but we may not choose to use it. The iterative aorist indicates that there are points in time throughout our lives when we are able (when we are filled with the Spirit and growing—more specifically, taking in the food needed to grow).

                  (5)     To comprehend is the aorist middle infinitive of Verb katalambanô (καταλαμβάνω) [pronounced kat-al-am-BAHN-oh], which means, 1) to lay hold of; 1a) to lay hold of so as to make one’s own, to obtain, attain to, to make one’s own, to take into one’s self, appropriate; 1b) to seize upon, take possession of; 1b1) of evils overtaking one, of the last day overtaking the wicked with destruction, of a demon about to torment one; 1b2) in a good sense, of Christ by his holy power and influence laying hold of the human mind and will, in order to prompt and govern it; 1c) to detect, catch; 1d) to lay hold of with the mind; 1d1) to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend. Thayer definition only. Strong’s #2638. Comprehension is related to spiritual growth.

                  (6)     We are able to comprehend with all the saints. This is not something which is reserved for believers who have I.Q.’s of 110 or higher; this is for every believer. If you understand the gospel enough to believe in Jesus Christ, then you can learn in the classroom of the local church and build upon that session after session, and apply that to your life, with all other believers.

                  (7)     Then we have: ...what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. These are categories of doctrine wherein we store information. If you deal with a lot of paperwork and you are organized, then you separate this paperwork into different drawers, into different files or different containers. Doctrine is much the same way. We begin with basic categories of doctrine (the breadth, and length, and depth, and height), and then we place more and more information into the categories. Breadth refers to doctrines concerning Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, along with the essence of God. Length refers to dispensational teaching, so that we know what has been in the past and what will be found in the future; as well as to the progressive plan of God for our lives. Depth refers to advanced doctrines; and height refers to all information related to the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). As we learn more and more in the Christian life, we are able to file these doctrines into these various drawers.

                  (8)     You are able to, with all the saints, comprehend the love of Christ; which refers to the plan of God, which begins at the cross, which represents the love of Christ, as well as His justice and His righteousness. If Jesus chose not to go to the cross, then we would have no relationship with God. Jesus chooses to do this out of love for us and God the Father chose this plan out of love for us. John 15:13 1John 4:10

                  (9)     This goes beyond or exceeds or transcends knowledge. There are several words for knowledge in the Bible, but there are two which are pertinent to this context: gnosis and epignosis. What we have here is gnôsis (γνσις) [pronounced GNOH-sis] which can refer to human knowledge, general intelligence, human understanding. This understanding depends upon the context. Strong’s #1108. There is another word called epignôsis (ἐπίγνωσις) [pronounced ehp-IHG-noh-sis], which means, 1) precise and correct knowledge 1a) used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine; this is a word which refers to over and above knowledge. Epignosis is over-and-above knowledge. When in contrast with gnôsis, this is divine knowledge or knowledge of Bible doctrine. Strong’s #1922. Epignôsis is the word that we find in 1Tim. 2:3b–4 God our Savior...desires all people to be saved and to come to the [full] knowledge of the truth.

         5)      ...that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. The word that can refer to a result clause or to a purpose clause, and the purpose of taking in Bible doctrine is so that we might be filled with all the fullness of God. Grace apparatus for perception, the very process that we are describing, is the way that it occurs. We are not filled with all the fulness of God by learning a holy language and then repeating it at the right intervals; we are not filled with the fulness of God by finding certain people in the church and then imitating their personalities (I have seen this happen even in good doctrinal churches). We are not filled with the fullness of God by turning our lives around and becoming more moral. That is a good thing, but it may or may not indicate spiritual growth.

10.    The second extended passage on this topic is 1Cor. 2:11–16 For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

         1)      For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? When we are born again, we receive a human spirit, which has been shut down or has been non-operational for the entirety of our lives, due to the function of the sin nature. We understand our fellow man by means of our soul; and we understand God by means of our human spirit. The terms soul and spirit can be used both technically and non-technically throughout the Bible. Technically, the soul is what is inside of us which allows us to know the things of man; technically, the human spirit is what is inside of us which allows us to know the things of God. The spirit of man here is the non-technical use, and it refers to the human soul. We know this, because it is qualified: the spirit of man.

         2)      So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit, Who is given to all believers at salvation, which guides us into all truth (John 16:13 1Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit makes the human spirit operational and allows for the flow of Bible doctrine from the teaching of the pastor-teacher to the human spirit of the believer. It is the Holy Spirit Who is the co-Author of the Word of God and Who teaches us through the pastor-teacher (which is the primary means of growth for the believer). If we were supposed to grow by simply reading our Bibles, then there would be no need for the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher nor would there be any need to have a local church, which is designed to be the classroom which allows for spiritual growth. The apostle John speaks of the superiority of face to face teaching over written material. 2John 12. Paul clearly taught this as well in 1Thess. 2:17-18 3:2,10.

         3)      But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. The spirit of the world is the thinking of human viewpoint. Today, this is humanism, fairness, equality and political correctness. Once and awhile, a culture can have as a strong component of that culture divine viewpoint. However, Satan works to destroy that sort of thinking as quickly as possible. A good example of human viewpoint today is the gay marriage movement. If you say that homosexual activity is wrong, you will be told that you are judging, and that Jesus told you not to judge. However, the Bible is clear on this: homosexual acts are wrong and sinful. Understanding what is sinful is not judging. The gay marriage movement says that homosexual desires are natural and God-given. It goes much deeper than that, however. The whole Satanic purpose of the gay marriage movement is to censor pastors and/or to censor the Bible and/or to denigrate the Bible. The idea is to put Christians into difficult positions and then to ostracize them or even sue them if they do not tow the gay marriage party line. Since gay marriage was legalized in Canada, there have been hundreds of lawsuits, most of them against Christians and Christian speech and actions. To know is the perfect active subjunctive of eidô (εἴδω) [pronounced Ī-doh], which means to see, to perceive, to discern, to know. Strong’s #1492. The perfect tense is action which occurs in the past, but with results that carry on into the present. The subjunctive mood means, we may choose to know and we may choose not to know. However, that which God wants us to know is freely given to us. Any believer with positive signals to the Word of God can learn the Word of God through the channels which God has set up. As an aside, I lived in a large city, at one time, where finding good teaching was nearly impossible. I found okay, but legalistic teaching, at a Christian institute. However, now, with the internet, there is a surfeit of good teaching available. See the cities and pastors in the List. In this day and age, there is no reason for a believer to be ignorant of the Word of God.

         4)      These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Paul, as an apostle and as a pastor-teacher, teaches these things, not as the philosophies of the day, but he teaches what the Holy Spirit teaches, where spiritual things are compared with spiritual. The verb is the present active participle of Verb sugkrinô (συγκρίνω) [pronounced soong-KREE-no], which means, 1) to joint together fitly, compound, combine; 2) to interpret; 3) to compare. Thayer definition only. Strong’s #4793. We then have the neuter plural adjective used twice: pneumatikós (πνευματικός) [pronounced nyoo-mat-TEE-koss], which means spiritual; as a plural, it acts like noun, and it means spiritual things, spiritual matters. Strong’s #4152. It is found as an accusative and as a dative; so the verb acts upon spiritual things and to this we append with spiritual things. The idea here is, doctrine is built upon doctrine. You do not walk into Bible class the first day and, in an hour, get everything you need for you spiritual life. In fact, you do not get this after going to a good church for a year; or for 5 years. This is a process which continues throughout your entire life, because, for 15 hours a day, you are exposed to human viewpoint from every side: from your parents, from your children, from your supervisor, from your job description, from the movies and from television. Taking the example which I used earlier—gay marriage—we find the gay agenda in such diverse programs as Downton Abbey and the innocuous Pretty Little Liars (from the Disney channel, I believe). In fact, on perhaps half of the programs I have seen, we have the gay agenda presented, over and over again. We wonder why the youth of America favors gay marriage—it is because they have been exposed to nothing else in all of what they take in. This is one example, mentioned primarily because it is a big issue today (far more important to our president than economic matters). 5 years ago, our president told us that he believed that marriage was between 1 man and 1 woman and that God was in the mix. And recently, he is telling Africans about the gay agenda. So, in order to combat human viewpoint, which is going to come at us from every side, we need a little bit of the Word of God. The reason we need it daily is, we are going to be exposed to human viewpoint all day long, in its many and contradictory forms (for instance, American Muslims and LGBT types overwhelmingly support the Democratic party, even though these two groups are diametrically opposed to one another).

         5)      But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The natural man is the unbeliever, who views the things of the spirit as foolishness. On the Facebook page Being Liberal, nearly every day, there are anti-Christian graphic postings. Here, the Bible tells us that the unbeliever cannot learn or retain the things of the Spirit. This helps to explain to me how I could listen to and sing Christmas hymns throughout my entire life without understanding what they all meant. Although I celebrated Easter for 20 or 21 years before I was saved, I did not even know what happened to Jesus after the resurrection. I am not sure if I knew much about the resurrection itself, despite all of my exposure to it. This explains why liberals complain that Christians are judging when they say that homosexual acts are wrong. This is why these same liberals think that this is a violation of what Jesus said about judging, because they are unable to understand spiritual matters. This is why liberals often think that Jesus is a long-haired, sandal-wearing hippie who was the first socialist who gave away free healthcare. He did wear sandals, by the way, but the rest of this picture is wrong. However, they cannot receive the things of the Spirit. Also, it is man’s nature to make God in his own image.

         6)      But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. To be spiritual here means not just filled with the Holy Spirit but with some spiritual growth as well. Also, Paul here claims to have the mind of Christ, which is the thinking of Jesus Christ, which is the content of all Bible doctrine. He uses the pronoun we referring to himself and the crew that he moved about with. This can be further extended to all of the apostles at this time, as well as to their protegees; and to pastor-teachers today who actually know and teach the Word of God.

11.    A natural question which may come out of this is, how does the unbeliever understand the gospel of Jesus Christ? After all, this is fundamental Christian doctrine. The Holy Spirit graciously acts as the human spirit for the believer and makes the gospel understandable. I recall hearing the gospel for the first time and it was really poorly explained to me, but I walked away from that conversation knowing that I needed to make a decision. I wasn’t sure about what exactly, but I did understand that there was a decision to be made. I eventually turned to the book of John, and understood the decision to be made as Jesus explained it in John 3 (like so many others who have been saved).

12.    To sum up the doctrine of GAP, you need a trained pastor-teacher teaching his congregation Bible doctrine. They need to be filled with the Spirit (in fellowship) and there needs to be enough teaching to counteract the constant flow of human viewpoint which we all experience. All believers in that congregation, being in all stages of spiritual growth, can learn from what is being taught. One of the things which I found to be fascinating is, I listened and took copious notes on R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s study of David. 30 years later, I re-listened to this study, and it was as if I had never heard a word of it before. The difference was, I had a much greater background of spiritual information the second time that I listened to this study. I got something out of it when I first heard it; and I got a great deal more out of it the second time through. There was more spiritual information in my soul, to which I could compare (lay along side) the spiritual information being taught.

         1)      As an aside, the same thing is true of the pastor. R. B. Thieme, Jr. for 10+ years taught book after book after book of the Bible to his congregation (none of which is available to us today). He would teach 1 or more chapters a night, night after night, which we are aware of today because of the classes from the early 1960's which are still available to us. He continued increasing the number of classes to the point where, at his peak, he was teaching ten 1.25 hour classes a week. By the 2^nd or 3^rd or 4^th pass-through of this or that book, his knowledge and understanding of the Bible expanded to a point where he could expound on these passages in much greater detail, often spending a full hour on each verse, gleaning from it as much meaning as possible.

Other resources for the Doctrine of grace apparatus for perception (GAP) (some of these were used as partial sources for this doctrinal development as well):

http://gracebiblechurchwichita.org/?page_id=134

http://www.versebyverse.org/doctrine/gap.html

http://makarios-online.org/notes/pdf/GAP%204-09.pdf

These other sources go into greater detail on this doctrine.

Related to this doctrine is the Importance of Bible Doctrine (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

It is important to understand what has gone before.

The Prequel of Genesis 22

In the previous chapter, Isaac, is born; then, as he weaned, Abraham prepares a great feast for him. However, his half-brother, Ishmael, presents a threat to him. Therefore, Sarah demands that Hagar (Ishmael’s mother) and Ishmael leave the compound. God tells Abraham that is okay.

Then some gentiles come to Abraham in Beersheba and reaffirm their close relationship with him.

We have no other information about Isaac apart from him being born and being weaned.

Gen. 22 will begin with God telling Abraham to offer up his son as a burnt offering.

We need to know who the people are who populate this chapter.

The Principals of Genesis 22

Characters

Commentary

God

God will come to Abraham and tell him to offer up his son.

Abraham

Abraham is the father of the Jewish race. He is living in the Land of Promise and he has fathered a son by Sarah. Abraham will offer up his son as a burnt offering. God will stop him before he slits Isaac’s throat.

Isaac

Isaac is Abraham’s son—perhaps around 10–12 years old in this chapter. His age is a matter of contention and it will be discussed in this chapter.

Two servants

Abraham and Isaac are accompanied by two servants on their trip to Moriah.

We need to know where this chapter takes place.

The Places of Genesis 22

Place

Description

Beersheba

Presumably, this is where Abraham is living (Gen. 21:31–32).

Moriah

Moriah is the land where God sends Abraham to offer up his son. It is a 3-day trip from wherever Abraham is living.

Mount Moriah

God would direct Abraham to a particular mountain in the Moriah area. Many assume that this is where Solomon’s original Temple was erected, which is probably Golgotha.

Maps will follow.

Brent MacDonald

Age of Abraham

Reese’s Chronology Bible

Scripture

Event/Description

2234 b.c.

2097 b.c.

Gen. 11:24

Terah, Abram’s father, is born. Gen 11:24–26 Nahor lived 29 years and fathered Terah. After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and fathered other sons and daughters. Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

1978 b.c.

Gen. 11:25

Death of Nahor, Abram’s uncle

2164 b.c.

0

1967 b.c.

Gen. 11:26–27

Abraham (Terah’s son) and Lot (Haran’s son) born in Ur of the Chaldeans. Abram would be the 43^rd generation from Adam. Gen 11:26 Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Reese occasionally supplies 2 dates in his Chronological Bible; the first is his and the second is Klassen’s.

1907 b.c.

1927 b.c. (Klassen)

Gen. 11:28, 22

Abram’s family travel from Ur to Haran, although their original intention had been to go to the land of Canaan. Gen 11:28, 22 Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans, during his father Terah's lifetime. Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran's son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.

1892 b.c.

Gen. 11:32

Death of Terah, Abram’s father. Gen. 11:32 Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran.

2089 b.c.

75

1892 b.c.

Gen. 12:1–4

Abraham leaves for Promised Land from Haran, after being so instructed by God. Gen 12:4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.

Reese actually gives the date of Terah’s death as April 1–4, 1892 b.c. and the date of Abram leaving Haran as April 5, 1892 b.c.

(2065 b.c.)

99

1868 b.c.

Gen. 17:1–14

God renews His covenant with Abram and renames him Abraham. Gen 17:1 When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, "I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be devout. Circumcision is given as a sign of the covenant and of Abraham’s faith in his covenant with God. Circumcision represents regeneration (the new birth).

(2065 b.c.)

99

(1868 b.c.)

Gen. 17:15–19

Sarai’s name is changed to Sarah and Isaac, a future son, is promised the Abraham and Sarah. Gen 17:17 Abraham fell to the ground, laughed, and thought in his heart, "Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?"

(2065 b.c.)

99

(1868 b.c.)

Gen. 17:21–22

The time that Sarah would give birth is revealed; at a set time in the next year. Gen 17:21 But I will confirm My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at a set time next year."

(2065 b.c.)

99

(1868 b.c.)

Gen. 17:23–27

Abraham obeys God and circumcises himself and the men with him, responding in faith to God’s mandate. Gen 17:24 Abraham was 99 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was 13 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised.

(2065 b.c.)

(1867 b.c.)

Gen. 18:1–15

Jehovah and two angels come to Abraham and promise that Sarah would have a child in a year’s time. Gen 18:10, 14 The LORD said, "I will certainly come back to you in about a year's time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!" Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him. Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son."

Gen. 20:1–18

Abraham lies again about his wife to King Abimelech in Gerar, in southern Judah. Although some believe that this chapter is placed here in Genesis due to thematic elements rather than because it belongs here chronologically, we find Abraham in Gerar in the next chapter, which suggests that this chapter is correctly placed.

2064 b.c.

100

Gen. 21:1–7 1Chron. 1:34

Isaac born to Abraham. Isaac would be the 44^th generation from Adam. Gen 21:5 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

1864 b.c.

Gen. 21:8–21

Conflicts arise between Isaac and Ishmael, Abram’s two sons. Hagar and Ishmael are both cast out, and they wander the desert of Beer-sheba (which is at the edge of southern Judah). Later, they move to the desert of Paran.

1864–1834 b.c.

Gen. 21:22–34

Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech, which suggests that Abraham is still in or near Gerar. They will make a covenant in Beer-sheba. We are told that Abraham remains in the land of the Philistines for many days.

1834 b.c.

1829 b.c. (Klassen)

Gen. 22:1–19

Abraham is told by God to go to the land of Moriah to offer up his son Isaac to God as a sacrifice. This was a 3-day journey away. They then go to Beer-sheba, which could simply indicate that they are returning home to Beer-sheba.

Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge puts this date at 1872 b.c., based upon Antiquities by Josephus.

Gen. 22:20–24

Abraham learns of his brother Nahor’s family.

1989 b.c.

175

1792 b.c.

Gen. 25:7–10

Abraham dies. Gen 25:7 This is the length of Abraham's life: 175 years. He is buried in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Nephron (this would be with Sarah).

Bibliography

MacDonald’s timeline is from: http://www.bibleistrue.com/qna/qna63.htm accessed October 11, 2011.

See http://www.bibleistrue.com/qna/qna63dating.htm for his justification of his timeline.

From: http://www.christianshepherd.org/bible_study_guides/abram_to_the_exodus.pdf (Christian shepherd)

The Reese Chronological Bible; KJV translation; Editor: Edward Reese; ©1977 by Edward Reese and Klassen’s dating system ©1975 by Frank R. Klassen; Ⓟ1980 by Bethany House Publishers, South Minneapolis, MN; pp. 18–19, 54–74.

Here is what to expect from Genesis 22:

Clarke’s Synopsis of Genesis 22

The faith and obedience of Abraham put to a most extraordinary test, Gen. 22:1). He is commanded to offer his beloved son Isaac for a burnt–offering (Gen. 22:2). He prepares, with the utmost promptitude, to accomplish the will of God (Gen. 22:3–6).

Isaac’s question (Gen. 22:7); and Abraham’s answer (Gen. 22:8).

Having arrived at mount Moriah he prepares to sacrifice his son (Gen. 22:9–10); and is prevented by an angel of the Lord (Gen. 22:11 (Gen. 22:12). A ram is offered in the stead of Isaac (Gen. 22:13); and the place is named Jehovah–jireh (Gen. 22:14).

The angel of the Lord calls to Abraham a second time (Gen. 22:15); and, in the most solemn manner, he is assured of innumerable blessings in the multiplication and prosperity of his seed (Gen. 22:16–18).

Abraham returns and dwells at Beer–sheba (Gen. 22:19).

Abraham hears that his brother Nahor has eight children by his wife Milcah (Gen. 22:20; their names (Gen. 22:21–23); and four by his concubine Reumah (Gen. 22:24).

Like all chapters of the Word of God, you need more than just the simple plot outline to understand what God wants us to know.

Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; from e-Sword, Gen. 22 chapter comments (edited).

I broke this chapter up into a great many sections. Henry combined many of these.

Matthew Henry’s Alternate Outline

I.       The strange command which God gave to Abraham concerning it (Gen. 22:1–2).

II.      Abraham's strange obedience to this command (Gen. 22:3–10)

III.     The strange issue of this trial.

         A.      The sacrificing of Isaac was countermanded (Gen. 22:11, Gen. 22:12).

         B.      Another sacrifice was provided (Gen. 22:13–14).

         C.     The covenant was renewed with Abraham hereupon (Gen. 22:15–19).

IV.     Lastly, an account of some of Abraham's relations (Gen. 22:20, etc.)

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; from e-Sword, Gen. 22 chapter comments (slightly edited).

I peruse perhaps 100 commentaries. I liked the organization that Lawlor offers.

Lawlor: Genesis 22 Reads like a Two-Act Play

Prologue, 22: 1                      God calls to Abraham in Beersheba.

Act I: Ordeal/Crisis, 22:2-10   God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, and Abraham obeys.

         Scene 1, 22:2-5            God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, and so Abraham and Isaac travel to Mount Moriah in order to obey God.

         Scene 2, 22:6-10          Abraham and Isaac go up the mountain and Abraham begins to offer his son.

Act II: Resolution, 22:11-18    The substitution and the blessing.

         Scene I, 22:11-14         God stays the hand of Abraham and offers a substitute.

         Scene 2, 22:15-18        God reiterates His promises to Abraham, which will be fulfilled by means of Isaac.

Epilogue, 22: 19                     Abraham, Isaac and the servants return to Beersheba.

Sometimes, we gain some understanding by looking at this chapter from afar. Abraham’s willingness to accomplish God’s will and the substitute sacrifice are both following by a promise of great blessing.

From Gordon.edu, accessed December 11, 2014. Commentary/explanation added by me.

This chapter really breaks down into two sections: the offering of Isaac and the family of Nahor. The first section could be further broken down into subsections.

David Cox’s Alliterative Division of the First Section

1A.    THE SACRIFICE THAT ABRAHAM WAS TO MAKE - Gen. 22:1-2

2A.    THE SYMBOLS OF DEATH - 22:3-6

3A.    THE SUBMISSION OF ISAAC - 6-8

4A.    THE SUBSTITUTION OF THE RAM - 9-13

5A.    THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ABRAHAM’S RESPONSE TO GOD - 14-19

From http://www.davidcox.com.mx/library/H/Hocking,%20David%20-%20Genesis.pdf accessed September 19, 2014.

Genesis 22:1a

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore, consequently; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

hâyâh (הָיָה) [pronounced haw-YAW]

to be, is, was, are; to become, to come into being; to come to pass

3^rd person masculine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong's #1961 BDB #224

Without a specific subject and object, the verb hâyâh often means and it will come to be, and it will come to pass, then it came to pass (with the wâw consecutive). It may be more idiomatically rendered subsequently, afterwards, later on, in the course of time, after which. Generally, the verb does not match the gender whatever nearby noun could be the subject (and, as often, there is no noun nearby which would fulfill the conditions of being a subject).

ʾachar (אַחַר) [pronounced ah-KHAHR]

after, following, behind; afterwards, after that

preposition

Strong’s #310 BDB #29

d^ebârîym (דְּבָרִים) [pronounced daw^b-vawr-EEM]

words, sayings, doctrines, commands; things, matters, reports

masculine plural noun with the definite article

Strong's #1697 BDB #182

ʾêlleh (אֵלֶּה) [pronounced ALE-leh]

these, these things

demonstrative plural adjective with the definite article

Strong's #428 BDB #41

Genesis 22:1b

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

w^e (or v^e) (וְ or וּ) [pronounced weh]

and, even, then; namely; when; since, that; though

simple wâw conjunction

No Strong’s # BDB #251

ʾĚlôhîym (אלֹהִים) [pronounced el-o-HEEM]

God; gods, foreign gods, god; rulers, judges; superhuman ones, angels; transliterated Elohim

masculine plural noun with the definite article

Strong's #430 BDB #43

nâçâh (נָסָה) [pronounced naw-SAWH]

to test, to try, to attempt, to try to do a thing; to practice doing a thing

3^rd person masculine singular, Piel perfect

Strong’s #5254 BDB #650

This is the first occurrence of this word in the Bible.

This word was translated tempt in the KJV. Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary: "God did tempt Abraham." We are not to understand the word "tempt" in the unfavourable sense in which it is used of Satan. The meaning is, that God proved the faith and obedience of Abraham by putting them to a severe test.

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

untranslated generally; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object

Strong's #853 BDB #84

ʾAb^erâhâm (אַבְרָהָם) [pronounced ahb^ve-raw-HAWM]

father of a multitude, chief of a multitude; transliterated Abraham

masculine singular proper noun; pausal form

Strong’s #85 BDB #4

This is not a big deal, but some people still point to this as if it is some kind of contradiction.

The Bible Query on, God Tempting Abraham

Q: In Gen 22:1 (KJV), how could God "tempt" Abraham, since James 1:13 says God does not tempt people?

A: The word "tempt" is only in the King James version, translated 400 years ago. Both modern translations and the Hebrew word here, nâcâh, mean "to test or prove". The difference between tempt and test is that God does not entice us to do evil, but God does allows us, like Abraham and Job, to have tests of our faith. See Bible Difficulties and Seeming Contradictions p.207-208, Now That’s A Good Question p.475-476, and Hard Sayings of the Bible p.124-125 for more info.

From Bible Query March 2006 version. Copyright (c) Christian Debater(tm) 1997-2006. Accessed from E-sword; Gen. 22:1.

Throughout Abraham’s life, God tested him in various ways, as God tests us. Understanding God’s purposes in testing Abraham helps us to understand what is going on when God tests us.

Robbie Dean on God Testing Abraham

1.      The tests referred to in Scripture for spiritual advance are more than just the negative vicissitudes and problems that we run into in life. Most of those things that we deal with on a day to day basis don't really rise to the same level of those situations in the Scripture that are designed as tests. These are specific events that are designed God for each one of us to produce momentum in our spiritual advance.

2.      In fact, many of the things which we think are great personal tests are really the normal results of a group of sin natures interacting with one another (our sin nature interacting with the sin natures of others). So there may be times when you tell your friends, “I am being tested of the Lord;” whereas, you are just reaping the natural results of acting like a jackass. When Abraham went to a new city or area, and lied about who Sarah was, he was not being tested; he was just reaping the natural response of lying to the gracious leaders of his host country.

3.      We see from the illustration of Abraham's spiritual life and his tests are of a higher quality. These tests are often negative circumstances that are directly related to the promises God made in the Abrahamic covenant.

4.      We see that the tests are specifically designed by God. Genesis 22:1, "And it came to pass after these things, that God did test Abraham." So it is a divinely designed test, not just the negative things that happen because we live in a fallen world. These are of a higher quality.

5.      Tests are for the benefit of the one tested in terms of spiritual growth. They are designed to produce momentum in our spiritual growth, to use particular doctrines we have earned, and to deal specifically with us in terms of the weaknesses of our sin nature so that those weaknesses can be dealt with by the Word of God. It allows the believer to convert the potential, which is the doctrine in the soul, into reality. Since God is omniscient He knows exactly what each of our weaknesses are; we have to figure out what doctrine to use. He is going to push everybody's button differently.

6.      The ultimate purpose is for the believer to demonstrate love for God through obedience and application of doctrine. That is what God is after; that is why the test.

7.      God promises the believer that He is in charge of all these tests. 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No testing has overtaken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able." The testing doesn't come into our life by chance but under the sovereign direction of God. What does "above that you are able" mean? It doesn't mean that God is not going to give you more than you can handle. There is more to it than that. It goes on from there: "but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to endure it"—that you can stay under the testing, the pressure; that you can continue to live in the midst of the pressure cooker day in and day out by means of the promises of God and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The reason we can handle these testings and bear them is because God has given us positionally as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ everything that we need to be able to handle them. But the tests don't come randomly, they come under the sovereign control of God, so we can relax and know that no matter how horrible it may be God is in control and He has designed this test specifically for our needs in order that we can advance in our spiritual lives.

8.      The test is designed to manifest God's grace, foreknowledge and power—essentially to demonstrate God’s divine attributes—and to be a testimony to other human beings and to the angels. The test gives the believer an opportunity to be a spotlighted example of the grace of God. Genesis 22:1, "And it came to pass after these things, that God did test Abraham."

9.      The word there for test is the Hebrew word massah, which means to test, to try, to prove in the sense of assaying gold and proving its value. It is translated "tempt" but in the sense of testing. The word etymologically derives from a Hebrew word which means a signal pole, a standard, an ensign, a banner or sign, and it shows that the understanding in Hebrew and the concept of testing is that it gave an opportunity of raising a banner that illustrated the grace of God; that you were posting a billboard over you life, that "I am being tested by God and this gives me a chance of testifying and being a witness to the sufficiency of God's grace and power in my life. That is exactly what we see revealed in the New Testament: that every time we have a test it is an opportunity to be, as it were, a legal witness in a courtroom to the grace of God, the sufficiency of His grace and the Word of God, and His ability to take care of us even under the most dire of circumstances.

10.    It ought to be abundantly clear, by the time that you complete this study, that God uses Abraham to teach and inform angels, as well as mankind. What God does through Abraham is set up one of the most amazing parallels in human history.

From http://phrasearch.com/Trans/DBM/setup/Genesis/Gen108.htm accessed December 13, 2014 (edited and appended).

Genesis 22:1c

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore, consequently; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

ʾâmar (אָמַר) [pronounced aw-MAHR]

to say, to speak, to utter; to say [to oneself], to think

3^rd person masculine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong’s #559 BDB #55

ʾel (אֶל) [pronounced ehl]

unto; into, among, in; toward, to; against; concerning, regarding; besides, together with; as to

directional preposition (respect or deference may be implied); with the 3^rd person masculine singular suffix

Strong's #413 BDB #39

ʾAb^erâhâm (אַבְרָהָם) [pronounced ahb^ve-raw-HAWM]

father of a multitude, chief of a multitude; transliterated Abraham

masculine singular proper noun

Strong’s #85 BDB #4

Genesis 22:1d

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore, consequently; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

ʾâmar (אָמַר) [pronounced aw-MAHR]

to say, to speak, to utter; to say [to oneself], to think

3^rd person masculine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong’s #559 BDB #55

hinnêh (הִנֵּה) [pronounced hin-NAY]

lo, behold, or more freely, observe, look here, look, listen, note, take note; pay attention, get this, check this out

interjection, demonstrative particle with the 1^st person singular suffix

Strong’s #2009 (and #518, 2006) BDB #243

Genesis 22:2a

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore, consequently; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

ʾâmar (אָמַר) [pronounced aw-MAHR]

to say, to speak, to utter; to say [to oneself], to think

3^rd person masculine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong’s #559 BDB #55

lâqach (לָקַח) [pronounced law-KAHKH]

take, seize, take away, take in marriage; send for, fetch, bring, receive

2^nd person masculine singular, Qal imperative

Strong’s #3947 BDB #542

nâʾ (נָא) [pronounced naw]

now; please, I pray you, I respectfully implore (ask, or request of) you, I urge you

a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty

Strong's #4994 BDB #609

Nâʾ is used for a submissive and modest request. It is used to express a wish (Job 32:21: “Oh, that I may not respect any man’s person”); to incite or to urge (Jer. 5:24); it is depreciatory when affixed to the 2^nd person with a particle of negation (do not, I implore you—see Gen. 33:10 19:18); with the it expresses a wish or request (Psalm 124 129:1 SOS 7:9), a challenge (Jer. 17:15), asking leave (Gen. 18:4), and depreciation with a negation (Gen. 18:32). In many of these examples, we would express this with the addition of the word let.

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

untranslated generally; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object

Strong's #853 BDB #84

bên (בֵּן) [pronounced bane]

son, descendant

masculine singular noun with the 2^nd person masculine singular suffix

Strong’s #1121 BDB #119

Genesis 22:2b

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore, consequently; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

untranslated generally; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object

Strong's #853 BDB #84

yâchîyd (יָכִיד) [pronounced yaw-KHEED]

single, solitary, only one [as in only-begotten, only child]

masculine plural adjective/substantive with the 2^nd person masculine singular suffix

Strong's  #3173 BDB #402

This is the first occurrence of this word in the Bible.

This might be a little overkill here.

When Critics Ask, How is Isaac Abraham’s only son?

GENESIS 22:2 —How could Isaac be Abraham’s “only son” when he already had Ishmael?

PROBLEM: Abraham was told here, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac.” However, Abraham had Ishmael many years before ( Gen. 16 ) and he also had other “sons” ( Gen. 25:6 ).

SOLUTION: The other sons of Genesis 25 were probably born later, being mentioned three chapters after Isaac is called his “only son.” Furthermore, they were sons by “the concubines which Abraham had” ( Gen. 25:6) and were not counted as heirs of God’s promise. Likewise, Ishmael was conceived in unbelief by a concubine and not counted as heir to the promised inheritance. In addition, the phrase “only son” may be equivalent to “beloved son” (cf. John 1:18 ; 3:16), that is, a special son. God said clearly to Abraham, “in Isaac your seed shall be called” (Gen. 21:12 ).

Gill abbreviates this to: Isaac was his only legitimate son, his only son by his lawful wife Sarah; the only son of the promise, his only son, in whom his seed was to be called.

Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask; Victor Books; taken from e-Sword, Gen. 22:2.

Genesis 22:2c

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

ʾăsher (אֲֹשֶר) [pronounced uh-SHER]

that, which, when, who, whom

relative pronoun

Strong's #834 BDB #81

ʾâhêb (אָהֵב) [pronounced aw-HAYV^B]

to desire, to breathe after; to love; to delight in; human love [for another] [familial, sexual]; human love [desire, appetite] for [food, drink, sleep, wisdom]; human love [for, to God]; God’s love [toward men, people of Israel, righteousness]; to like

2^nd person masculine singular, Qal perfect

Strong’s #157 BDB #12

This is the first occurrence of this word in the Bible. This is significant because it helps us to understand, to a limited degree, God the Father’s love for His Son; and for us.

Genesis 22:2d

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

untranslated generally; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object

Strong's #853 BDB #84

Yis^echâq (יִשְׂחָק) [pronounced yihs^e-KHAWK]

he laughs; laughing; transliterated Isaac

masculine singular proper noun

Strong’s #3327 & #3446 BDB #850

This is also spelled Yits^echâq (יֹצְחָק) [pronounced yihys^e-KHAWK]. When you hear about manuscript discrepancies in the Old Testament, many of them simply involve alternate spellings.

Here are a few Old Testament verses where the Trinity is clearly proclaimed:

The Trinity in the Old Testament (the Abbreviated Version)

1.      The 4^th word of Gen. 1:1 is Elohim, which can be translated God or gods. The -im ending is the plural ending in the Hebrew. This word takes on a masculine singular verb here, and for that reason, some have called this the plural of excellence, indicating that God is so excellent that, this could only be expressed with a plural noun. Although I am not saying this is wrong, at the same time, always bear in mind that the first title used for God is a plural word.

2.      Before we go further, we should make a quick stop at Deut. 6:4: Listen, O Israel, Jehovah is our God [Elohim] Jehovah is one. I have carefully maintained the order of the Hebrew words, and note two things: the parallelism and the italicized words. The italicized words are inserted, and every translator inserts them; sometimes the nouns are mixed around a bit (e.g., Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD or Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one). You will note that Jehovah occurs twice and therefore suggests a parallelism. In the Hebrew, the subject is not necessarily found first, but the parallelism suggests that Jehovah is either the subject both times or it is the predicate nominative both times. So Moses could be saying, “Listen, O Israel, our God is Jehovah, One is Jehovah;” or, “Listen, O Israel, Jehovah is our God [and] Jehovah is one.” The latter makes the most sense to me, as the numeral one is found more often as a modifier than as a noun. However, the numeral one is not necessarily one in number but it is often used for something which represents a unity, as in, a man and a woman shall leave their parents and they will become one flesh. Even in sexual union, a man and a woman are still two distinct people; however, what they form is a union (ideally a union for life). So, Moses was not making the point that Jehovah God is a single God, although Christians do believe in one God; but that Jehovah is our Elohim (plural) and Jehovah is one, indicating one in unity and purpose and essence rather than one in number. Jehovah (or, more properly, Y^ehowah) can refer to any Member of the Trinity, and these Members of the Trinity act as one.

3.      Now let’s return to creation. Although it is clear that God created all that is, with and through Jesus Christ (John 1:1–14), we are going to restrict ourselves to the Old Testament. On the 6^th day, God created man. we read: God [plural noun] said [masculine singular verb], "Let Us make [plural verb] man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth" (Gen. 1:26). Up until now, even though we had the plural noun Elohim, we would always find a masculine singular verb; however, this time, the verb to make is a plural verb. This is followed by two words which plural suffixes (our). When God designed man, there is apparently a different approach to man than God creating even the heavens and the earth. Up until the creation of man, the verbs have all been masculine singular; now, the verb to make is in the plural. Man will be created trichotomous and, apparently, with a greater complexity than what God had already created. We can attest to this complexity, as we can usually recognize human life, but giving it greater definition than that eludes even those in the medical profession. For instance, just how alive is a person who is hooked up to medical machinery which, for instance, breathes for him? Just how alive is the fetus in the womb? These are almost more moral questions than they are medical, as medicine and science cannot say with complete certainty what these lives are. Science, in most cases, is able to sustain these lives or to destroy these lives, but giving them further definition, beyond a guess as to how viable these examples are, is outside of medicine’s ability. So, when God created a body with a soul and a spirit, this is a creation which man to this day does not fully apprehend. Scientists may tell us that we are 98% identical to chimps (I have forgotten the exact percentage here), in terms of DNA, but people with an IQ above room temperature don’t have any problems distinguishing their fellow human beings from chimps. So, as a result, we have a large percentage of scientists who believe that we evolved from primates, as our DNA is so similar; yet there are a significant number of scientists who do not believe that such an evolution occurred. As a result, there are scientists out there who want to create life in order to harvest portions of it to attempt to cure this or that disease; and there are even some who would want to try human cloning; and there are many out there who view these things as morally repugnant, and in differing amounts. This is all because, we do not know exactly what the soul is, how it is connected to the body, and we medically don’t know what the soul is doing or where it can be found with respect to fetuses, lobodomized patients or comatose patients. Some think that the key to life is the EEG (electroencephlograph) readings of the brain (which is what we use, essentially, to determine if someone is dead). However, a 3 week old fetus has EEG readings; and who knows before that? My only point in all of this is, we are wonderfully made, put together with a variety of elements, that, in and of themselves, are clearly not alive; and that, somehow, by the breath of God, we are made alive (Psalm 139:13–16 Gen. 2:7). And so, when God made man, all 3 members of the Trinity were involved.

4.      The building of a house can be likened to the function of the Trinity.

         a.      You have the plans for a house, which is analogous to God the Father. The architect may never be seen by anyone directly associated with the house. We know God’s plan as the divine decrees.

         b.      You have the workmen who show up—they are seen, and they actually do the work—and these workmen are analogous to God the Son. Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament; He kept the Law of Moses, and He died on the cross for our sins. This is the work that man saw.

         c.      Thirdly, you then have the power for the power tools—also unseen—and that is analogous to God the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit gives us the power and ability to do the plan of God. Although this is an excellent analogy, analogies do not prove anything; they simply help to illustrate truths.

5.      Isa. 48 is spoken by God, although we may not, at first understand which member of the Trinity is speaking. However, generally speaking, the revealed member of the Trinity is Jesus Christ. In Isa. 48:3, we read: “I have declared the former things from then; and they went out of My mouth; and I made them hear; suddenly I acted, and they came about.” This is clearly God and not Isaiah speaking, because Isaiah did not act in order to make his own words come to pass. God speaks of His wrath in v. 9, He speaks of refining Israel in v. 10, and of His name being profaned in v. 11. Then He says (vv. 12–13): “Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel My called: I am He; I am the First; surely I am the Last. My hand surely founded earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; I called to them, they stood up together.” Clearly this is God Who is speaking, and, as we will find out, God the Son, the Revealed Member of the Trinity. Isa. 48:16: “Come near to Me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning. From its being, I was there; and now the Lord Jehovah, and His Spirit, have¹ sent Me.” The Lord Jehovah refers to God the Father; His Spirit, of course, is the Holy Spirit. The One speaking is Jesus Christ, the revealed member of the Trinity. The singular verb here is sometimes used, even with a plural subject, when that subject is split up, as it is here. The Hebrew actually reads: ...the Lord Jehovah has sent Me and His Spirit. The exact understanding can be cleared up at a later date; but that we find the Trinity here is clear.

6.      In Daniel 7:13, we have two members of the Trinity: I was looking in the night visions. And behold! One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of the heavens. And He came to the Ancient of Days. And they brought Him near before Him. God the Son comes to God the Father. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14). God the Father gives to God the Son an everlasting kingdom.

7.      We find God the Father and God the Son in Hosea 1:4–7 as well: Yahweh said to him, "Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease. It will happen in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." She conceived again, and bore a daughter. Then he said to him, "Call her name Lo-Ruhamah; for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, that I should in any way pardon them. But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by Yahweh their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen."

¹ This is a singular verb and is a peculiarity of the Hebrew. Two subjects may be involved in the action; however, one is named first, with the verb (as we find in the Hebrew of this verse), and then the second subject of the verb follows. In that construction of a Hebrew sentence, the verb is found in the singular, even though there are two subjects.

I strongly recommend reading the complete Doctrine of the Trinity in the Old Testament (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Genesis 22:2e

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

w^e (or v^e) (וְ or וּ) [pronounced weh]

and, even, then; namely; when; since, that; though

simple wâw conjunction

No Strong’s # BDB #251

hâlak^e (הָלַךְ) [pronounced haw-LAHK^e]

go, come, depart, walk; advance

2^nd person masculine plural, Qal imperative

Strong’s #1980 (and #3212) BDB #229

lâmed (לְ) [pronounced l^e]

to, for, towards, in regards to, with reference to, as to, with regards to; belonging to; by

directional/relational preposition with the 2^nd person masculine singular suffix

No Strong’s # BDB #510

The meanings of the lâmed preposition broken down into groups: ➊ to, towards, unto; it is used both to turn one’s heart toward someone as well as to sin against someone; ➋ to, even to;  in this sense, it can be used with a number to indicate the upper limit which a multitude might approach (nearly). ➌ Lâmed can be equivalent to the Greek preposition eis (εἰς), meaning into, as in transforming into something else, changing into something else (Gen. 2:7). This use of lâmed after the verb hâyâh (הָיָה) [pronounced haw-YAW] (Strong’s #1961 BDB #224) is one thing becoming another (Gen. 2:7). ➍  Its fourth use is the mark of a dative, after verbs of giving, granting, delivering, pardoning, consulting, sending, etc. This type of dative is broken down into several categories, but one includes the translation by, which would be apropos here. ➎ With regards to, as to. Similar to the Greek preposition eis (εἰς) plus the dative. [Numbering from Gesenius]. ➏ On account of, because, propter, used of cause and reason (propter means because; Gesenius used it). ➐ Concerning, about, used of a person or thing made the object of discourse, after verbs of saying. ➑ On behalf of anyone, for anyone. ➒ As applied to a rule or standard, according to, according as, as though, as if. ➓ When associated with time, it refers to the point of time at which or in which anything is done; or it can refer to the space of time during which something is done (or occurs); at the time of.

ʾel (אֶל) [pronounced ehl]

unto; into, among, in; toward, to; against; concerning, regarding; besides, together with; as to

directional preposition (respect or deference may be implied)

Strong's #413 BDB #39

ʾerets (אֶרֶץ) [pronounced EH-rets]

earth (all or a portion thereof), land, territory, country, continent; ground, soil; under the ground [Sheol]