B I B L E S T U D Y

GOD'S WORD REDUCED TO FAITH

This page contains four specialized, and somewhat biased studies. The books of Romans, Galations, Ephesians and Hebrews certainly contain other areas of study. My study in faith and it's resulting salvation doesn't speak much to the history of the times or writing. My study speaks very little about the so called Lost Tribes of Israel, for whom Jesus was directly "sent."

Let me explain the method by which these books were studied.

History: Who wrote, to whom, when, from where, for what purpose.
Dividing the chapters into sentences, thoughts, etc
Translating "key" words using Strong's
"Trans-substitution": retaining the main ideas,reduce and paraphrase the passage, substituting the "key" words, .
Hi-lighting the main passage ideas, the chapter was reduced.
Further reduction on the chapters, retaining the most essential ideas, yielded a book reduction. Depending on the size of the book, this book reduction went through as many as two more reductions to arrive at a Phrase.

I'm surely not going to include the complete studies here as they were put together in class. Time and space prohibit that. I will include most of the "key" words, some small side comment, and the chapter and book reductions. Please let me remind you that this is a study. As such you will have to get out your Bible, etc, and fit the key words into their respective passages, and do your own first reduction and paraphrasing.

The importance of these studies is that they help widen our perspective; something always to be sought. It is also important to confirm that Faithing Saves. Maybe you've guessed by now that this is the Operative Phrase in all four of these books. I hope that just because I've told you the ending you won't put down the book. Stay and confirm your faith. Faithing saves.

Please be patient while I fill out these pages.

Book list

This Is The Bible

ROMANS

CHAPTER 1

In preparation for the Romans study we looked up the following words in Strong's, Funk and Wagnalls, Luther, and the Concordant Literal. I urge you to do the same. These words are essential to understanding Paul's faith-treatise to the Romans: Law, Sin, Grace, Gift, Faith, Righteousness, Flesh, Spirit.

The key words out of all that were looked up for the first chapter:

apostle=he that is sent
gospel=good message
wrath=reaching desire, excitement of mind, violent passion
power=force-ability, might
unseemly=an indecency
fornication=harlotry, adultery, incest
shewed=to render apparent, make manifest
changed=make different
exchanged=equivalent of ransom, in the room of

As an example, I'm including the passage reduction and paraphrasing for the first chapter. Subsequent chapters will be left for you.

Passage reduction:

vs 1-7 The good message of God, as prophesied, about Jesus, God's son, who gave me grace and sent me; grace to you at Rome.
vs 8-13 I thank God for you, and pray I might see you soon; as I have tried to do
vs 14-17 I want to tell you the Good News of Christ. It is a power that saves, and reveals a righteousness of God when we do it.
vs 18-25 God's wrath can be seen in the heavens. God made manifest the knowledge of Himself to the unrighteous. The invisible things of God are clearly seen in His creation(the heavens). But the unrighteous changed the heavens to suit themselves, and worshipped the heavens rather than God.
vs 26-32 God gave the sinners up to their desires.(see Deut 4:19)

Chapter reduction:
Faithing, as the Good News of Christ, is a power that saves. Although God's mercy and wrath are portrayed in the Zodiac, people worship the stars, not God.

SIDE STUDY: vs 18-20. Original indicates ______(present) tense for wrath, etc.
1-What is the "glory" of v.23?
2-How is the wrath revealed in v. 18?
3-What is the revealed wrath?

1-The manifestation of God in the heavens: v19 "that which may be known of God"-God's plan of the ages, as told by the Zodiac.
2-In the Zodiac; which tells of the coming of Christ to defeat Satan, and bring judgement to the earth/ungodly.
3-God's destruction of ungodliness.

CHAPTER 2

Key words for chapter two were:

commit=to practise, perform repeatedly/habitually
leadeth=to lead,to bring, drive, induce
goodness=gentleness, good, kindness
patient=cheerful endurance, constancy
tribulation=afflicted, burdened, trouble
respect/persons=partiality, favoritism
repentence=reversal, to think differently.

Luther says,"Paul includes those of Godly appearance in sin; who continually condemn others. Paul is a true preacher asserting that no one is without sin. He declared God's wrath against those who follow their own nature and idle fancies; calls them "open sinners."

Chapter reduction:
God's judgement of ALL men's faithing is sure. Lawbreaking Jews shame God.

CHAPTER 3

Key words for chapter three:

Jew=Judahite/belonging to Jehudah(just the one tribe, of Judah)
oracles=utterance of God
believe=to have faith, commit, to trust(directly from a verb-faith)
unbelief=unfaithfulness (disobedience)
vengeance=(same as wrath, ch 1)excitement of mind, violent passion
gentiles=a foreign, non-Jewish tribe--nation, people
unprofitable=render useless, spoil
peace=to join--one, peace, quietness
guilty=under sentence, condemned
justified=equible, just, meet, right
propitiation=an atoning victim, ransom

Chapter reduction:

The Law shows us all to be sinners, and God to be true. Jesus is our rightousness outside the Law.

CHAPTER 4

Key words for chapter four:

Believe=[OT] to build up, support, foster, trust, establish
forgive(n)=forsake, leave, omit put(send)away, remit, yield
covered=conceal, forgive
sign=miracle, sign, token, wonder
seal=mark of genuiness
staggered=contend, doubt, judge, waver
unbelief=unfaithfuness, disobedience
persuaded=fully know, make full proof of
delivered=betray, commit, hazard, put in prison

Luther comments: Abraham, apart from works, was justified by faith. Circumcision, a good work, came after Abraham's righteousness. That or any other good work (obedient act) can't contribute to making a man righteous. The Jews can't be heirs of Abraham unless they inherit his faith. Works of Law produce reluctance, not grace. So only faith can obtain the grace promised to Abraham. Examples like Abraham are there for our sake, that we might have faith.

Chapter reduction:
Faith begets grace and righteousness. Abraham, as our example, faithed with Sarah against all circumstances, on God's promise of Isaac. Righteousness can't come by the Law. We, too, can be justified by a believing act through Jesus giving us his dignity at calvary.

CHAPTER 5

Key words (out of fifteen) for chapter five:

access=admission, draw near
experience=proof, trial
peradventure=perhaps, shortly, fleet, ready
reconciled=change mutually,denotes opposition, distribution
atonement=restoration of favor, recociliation
imputed=take inventory, conclude, number, reckom, account
figure=form, pattern, a die, stamp.

Chapter reduction:
Jesus is the key to peace, grace and hope. Training is good for us. Against human nature, Christ died for the most worthless human. His death atones for us. His spirit saves us. Through God's Law, showing our sin, we see God's grace.

CHAPTER 6

Key words for chapter six:

buried=bury *with*
planted=planted together, union-to grow
freed=(same as justification,Ch 3) equitable, holy, just,meet, right
reckon=(impute, ch 5)take inventory, conclude, account
alive=to live--life, lively, quick
lusts=longing for what is forbidden, [not 2237 James 4:1,3;sensual delight]
yield=to stand beside--assis, prove, stand (by,with)
iniquity=illegality, lawless
uncleanness=umpurity, uncleansed

Chapter reduction:
Through Christ, our sunful nature dies and we get new life, and the power to overcome sin.

CHAPTER 7

Key words for chapter seven:

law=to parcel out; perscriptive usage; Luther says: God's Law is of the spirit, not acts. His Law is fulfilled when the "work" (good work), right(act) work, is done with the spirit as well as the body.
body=bodily, slave [from heal, preserve, save, do well, be whole]
motions=something undergone--affection, affliction[from a passion]
dwelleth=occupy a house, co-habit
allow=to know--be awake, perceive, be sure, understand

Chapter reduction:
Christ's death freed us from the Law. Showing us our short falling, the Law proves we deserve death. Deliverance from my in-built sinful nature comes through the Gospel(faithing).

CHAPTER 8

Key words for chapter eight:

manifestation=uncover, disclosure, render apparent
predestinate=ordain, limit in advance
called=call aloud--bid, name; to urge on, hail.
glorified=render glorious; dignity, honor
separate=place room between, set off by boundry
principalities=commencement of a chief ruler
mind=to exercise the mind; entertain, disposed

Luther comments: Spirit comes from Christ, makes us spiritual, constrains the flesh, assurring us that we're children of God. The spirit sighs with us, and all creation longs to be free from the flesh and sin.

Chapter reduction:
Christ's spirit in us puts us in Christ. The Spirit gives us life, makes us sons equal to Christ, helps us, and we get a new body. We answer to no one, but God. Nothing, spirit or physical can come between us and God.

CHAPTER 9

Key words for chapter nine:

service=hired menial, public servant
hated=to detest, love less
runneth=have course, run
sheweth=to compassionate [mercy (same v.)is from the same word]
hardeneth=to indurate; render stubborn
honour=a value, esteem, dignity [from to paya penalty(price)]
work=logos; account, reason, word; to lay forth

Chapter reduction:
God's promises are still good, but only to those Israelites to whom they were given. God is in control, and shows His Power and Mercy through His creations. God, showing mercy, gave the House of Israel Christ(faithing), but the Jews wouldn't accept Christ.

CHAPTER 10

Key words for chapter ten:

live=to live, save life
bring, down=bring(down,forth), (bring to) land, touch
bring=launch, depart, set forth, bring up again.
confess(ion)=to assent, covenant, acknowledge
ashamed=able to be put in a place of shame-confound
call=to entitle-appeal, surname
report=something heard; to stun-amaze, astonish, lay waste, wonder
hearing=what is (the thing) heard
word=utterance(simple expression)
sound=utterance,i.e. musical note; light/speak [a musical utterance of light]
manifest=manifestly, openly [from, apparent in self]
stretched=extend
disobedient=to disbelieve; unpersuadable
haste=hurry, (with desparation)

Chapter reduction:
Hearing God's word, through His preachers, promotes faithing. We're saved by faithing because of Jesus. I pray the Jews, who heard of Christ, will be saved from their disobedience in not accepting Christ.

CHAPTER 11

Key words for chapter eleven:

away=to push off(away); rejection
remnant=remainder
slumber=stupor [from, pierce, sting]
table=bank, meat, table [from, four footed]
trap=destruction
stumblingblock=trap-stick, occassion to fall
fall=to fall (trip) v11
fall=to side slip v11-12
stumble=to trip; 14:13 scandalize
magnify=glorify, have glory, honor
emulation=excite to rivalry
(jealousy=not in the original)
mystery=shut the mouth, silence
calling=invitation, vocation

As a reminder of the passage reduction and paraphrasing, I'm including it again for this chapter.

Passage reduction:

vs 1-4 God hasn't pushed-off His people. Remember how He told Elijah He'd saved out 7000?
vs 5-6 Today there exists a group selected by grace. And grace can't be works.
vs 7-11 The Jews were blinded and haven't attained righteousness. But the (other) elect have. The scripture has a lot to say about their hardening. But it happened so that they, when seeing the salvation of the non-Jews(Lost Tribes, Gentiles) and others, would be excited to rivalry.
vs 12-15 If their side-slip enriches, their fullness means resurrection. I preach to Non-Jews in order to excite the Jews to rivalry.
vs 16-21 The race-stock of the Jews is holy, but some were excluded from the gospel so that the Non-Jews could be grafted in. Don't boast, God can cut you out too.
22-24 Don't lose sight of God's severity. Being the original stock, God can easily graft them in if they faithe.
vs 25-27 I want you to know that the Jews were blinded 'till the Lost Tirbes punishment period is complete. At that time all twelve tribes will be saved; as it says in Psalm 14:7 and Jeremiah 31:31
vs 28-32 God's election can't be reversed. But He hardened them that you'd obtain mercy. We're all sinners.
vs 33-36 God is wonderful. He's everything. Praise Him!

Chapter reduction:
There exists a group selected by God's grace, not by works. The Jews were hardened so they'd emulate the salvation of the Lost Tribes, until the Lost Tribes punishment runs it's course. God's election can't be reversed. He hardened the Jews so you'd be saved, they'd get jealous and be saved.

CHAPTER 12

Key words for chapter twelve:

present=sustantiate, recommend, be at hand--assist, commend, approve
service=render homage[v6]-v11=to slave
conformed=fashion one's self to an external condition
renewing=renovation, restoration
soberly=sound mind, sane
office=an act, perform repeatedly
simplicity=sincere, unified, generosity
diligence=see business below
cleave=to glue; join(self), keep company
business=speedy business practice (as opposed to common repeated acts)
condescend=transport with(join and go with the humble)
provide=consider in advance

Luther comments: Paul speaks of the true way of serving God. He shows all Christians are priests that sacrifice themselves. He then describes the outward conduct of Christians under the discipline of the Spirit.

Chapter reduction:
Be transformed by giving your life to God. Dilligently do your God-given tasks, as a member in the body of Christ. Love honestly, help you enemy, overcome evil by doing good.

CHAPTER 13

Key words for chapter thirteen:

ordained=arrange in an ordely manner, assign, dispose
resist=oppose, withstand [active, not just defense]
damnation=a decision [from, distinguish]
ruler=chief ruler, prince
awake=rouse form sleep; collect one's faculties.
walk=to tread all around--go, be occupied with
rioting=a carousal--revelling
chambering=a couch [from, lie outstretched](impl. sperm)--bed, conceive
provision=forethought,[from, consider in advance]
honestly=decourously
revenger=carrier out of justice

Chapter reduction:
Support government, it's God-assigned. Be of benefit to your neighbor. Salvation on-goes in the now. Focus on Christ.

CHAPTER 14

Key words for chapter fourteen:

doubtful=discussion[from, thoroughly deliberate]
standeth=stationary, persevere
holden=restore to perfection [repair]
esteemeth=distinguish v14=estimate
live(th)=to live - alive
judgement/seat=a step, riser
confess=fully agree
stumblingblock=a stub
fall=trap-stick, snare
destroy=to destroy fully [destruction -away]
acceptable=good-agreeable
edify=structure, confirmation
offense=a stub v21=trap-stick
condemneth=forward to (a destination) [down-judge]
alloweth=to test; v18=approved

Chapter reduction:
Rather than judge, for which God holds us accountable, relate to others at their level of faith. Our conscience makes God's pure creations sinful. Tempting a weak brother negates Christ, helping him serves Christ. Keep you convictions on liberty private. A doubting brother acts outside of faith, negating God's word. Non-faithing is sin.

CHAPTER 15

Key words for chapter fifteen:

comfort=imploration, hortation, solace
learning=instruction [from, instructor, to teach]
promises=an announcement
offering=presentation, an oblation; to bear towards
make=to, or into (indicating the point reached or entered)
obedient=complience [from, under-hear] attentive obedience
service=aid [attendant]
refreshed=recruit oneself in company with.

Chapter reduction:
We learn through prophecy that Christ came to keep God's promises. It's my job to clarify your obligations to God. I've preached to the ignorant; the ones Isaiah said would see and hear. I go to Jerusalem with money and will stop on my way to Spain. Pray I do all this.

CHAPTER 16

Key words for chapter sixteen:

business=a deed [from, perform repeatedly]
succourer=patroness, assistant [preside{before-stand}]
mark=scope out
avoid=shun
divisions=disunion
good words=fair speech, plausibility [lay forth, a discourse]
fair speech=fine speaking, elegance of language [good-said(logos)]
deceive=seduce wholly
simple= v18innocent - harmless
simple=v19 unmixed, [not-mingle]
wise=clear; vs19,26; obedience=attentive hearkening.
power=to be able
stablish=to turn resolutely
secret=to keep silent
bruise=to crush completely

Luther comments: Pauls warns against man-made doctrines. Those who preach these false gospels idolitrously serve themselves.

Chapter reduction:
I recommend Phebe. Greet my step-brother, mother, and all the folks at Rome. Shun scandalous divisionaries. You're good, but need clear understanding of good and evil; to Satan's downfall. Formerly a secret concept, God saves us for faithing; as I said about Christ.

FIRST BOOK REDUCTION

This book reduction was made by deleting the least important statements and concepts from the chapter reductions by bracketing them.

Faithing saves. We're all sinners, but, through Christ, righteousness comes by faithing. Christ is our key to grace, atonement, power and deliverance from our imperfect nature through the implant of his spirit, making us his equal. Israel was given faithing, as God promised, so the jealous Jews would be saved. Follow God, live right, help weak faithers. It's your obligation.God saves us for faithing.

SECOND BOOK REDUCTION

Faithing saves, through the implant of Christ's spirit. Live Right. Faithing saves.

THIRD BOOK REDUCTION

Faithing saves.

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