Question 158: What is to be understood by being "baptized for the dead"?

Answer:

Beuzel translated the familiar passage in 1 Corinthians 15:29 thus: "Over the dead" or "immediately upon the dead," meaning those who will be gathered to the dead immediately after baptism. Many in the ancient church put off baptism until near death. The passage probably referred to some symbolical rite of baptism or dedication of themselves to follow the dead even to death. Another view held by some expositors is that it was a custom to baptize certain persons with the names of the dead, in the hope that they might inherit their spirit and carry on their work.

Question 157: What is meant by the “prince of the power of the air”?

Answer:

It refers to Satan (Ephesians 2:2), the "prince of evil," who assails men on earth with trials and temptations. The word "power" is used here for the embodiment of that evil spirit which is the ruling principle of all unbelief, especially among the heathen. (See 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31.)

Frequently asked questions and answers:

Question 156: What are we to understand by the battle of Armageddon, referred to in revelations?

Answer:

Armageddon is the name given to the last great battle to be fought in the world's history, in which the whole human race is arrayed on one side or the other. It is to be the final struggle of the Anti-Christ. When it will be fought no one can tell; but that there will be a great struggle we are assured. Before that day comes "many false prophets shall arise and lead many astray… iniquity shall be multiplied and the love of many shall wax cold." There are to be false Moshiach’s, false teachers doing signs and wonders and leading astray "even the elect if such were possible." It is to be preceded by a period of apostasy, in which the authority of the wicked one will be fully demonstrated, with the assumption of divinity and the demand for universal worship as YHVH. In the present stage of the conflict between good and evil, when mighty forces are arrayed on both sides, we can see the foreshadowing of the fierce struggle that is to come; but we may rest assured that righteousness will triumph in the end. (See the parallel passage in Joel 3:2-12.) Armageddon is "the mountain of Megiddo," west of the Jordan, a scene of early historic battles and the place that would naturally suggest itself to the mind of a Galilean writer to whom the place and its associations were familiar.

Question 155: What significance has the word "Abba," as when it precedes the word "Father”?

Answer:

"Abba" is the Hebrew word for "father," in the emphatic or definite state, as "thy father." Its use in referring to YHVH was common among the Jews; but in order that it might not seem too familiar or irreverent, the New Testament writers gave it the twofold form, which has become a recognized phrase in worship. It is as though they said: "Father, our Father." There is a difference however – When you say the Hebrew word “Avi” it means “my Father” as if and when you are in conversation with your Father. It is more personal. Avi is more personal in prayer when communicating with Elohiym.

Question 154: Who were the Nicolaitans?

Answer:

Though they are mentioned in Revelation 2:15 it is not positively known, but from the context it would appear that they were people who abused Paul's doctrine of believer’s liberty, which they turned into license. It is supposed that Jude 4 refers to them. They appear to have attended the heathen rites and shared in the abominations there practiced. Some suppose them to have been followers of Nicolas of Antioch, but if so, they falsely claimed that he taught such things. It is more probable that the name, if relating to a person at all, has been confused with some other Nicolas.

Question 153: Who are the Nestorians?

Answer:

They are the descendants of a sect of early believers, named after Nestorius, a theologian of the fifth century A. D. They claim also to be descended from Abraham and sometimes call themselves Chaldeans. They are probably the oldest of the Oriental churches. They are found in Persia, in India, East Indies, Syria, Arabia, Asia Minor and even in Cochin China, the principal settlements however, being in and near Persia. They believe Yeshua Moshiach to be both divine and human - two persons, with only a moral and sympathetic union. They do not believe in any divine humiliation nor any exaltation of humanity in Moshiach. They acknowledge the supreme authority of the Scriptures and believe they contain all that is essential to salvation. The main body of Nestorians is nominally believers, but it is a lifeless faith. They have no images, but they invoke the Virgin and the saints and are ignorant and superstitious.

Question 152: How many Marys are there in the Bible?

Answer:

The Marys spoken of in the New Testament are: Mary the mother of Yeshua Moshiach, Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister of Lazarus, Mary the wife of Oeophas (John 19:25) and Mary the mother of John (Acts 12:12).

Frequently asked questions and answers:

Question 151: Who were the parents of Mary?

Answer:

Many scholars are of opinion that she was the daughter of the Heli mentioned in Luke 3:23. As the Jews reckoned their genealogy by the male side only, it was customary to set a man's son-in-law down as his son. This would account for Joseph being described by one evangelist as the son of Jacob and by the other as the son of Heli. Apart from that theory there are no data for ascertaining the parentage of Mary.

Thought for Today: Tuesday January 21

One lesson that Yeshua would teach us is to have confidence that YHVH answers every true petition. Sceptics may question it – humanists may deny it – and intellectuals may ridicule it. Yet Moshsiach promised us: “If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7)