The Struggle Near the End - John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

 

Christian brake out with a loud voice, "Oh! I see Him again!"
Christian is wearing the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6.

Now, I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over: the river was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this river, the Pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that went in with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate. The Pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the gate; to which they answered, Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path since the foundation of the world, nor shall, until the last trumpet shall sound. [1 Cor. 15:51,52] The Pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond in their minds, and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by them by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth. They said: No; yet they could not help them in that case; for, said they, you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place. They then addressed themselves to the water and, entering, Christian began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, I sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head, all his waves go over me! Selah. Christian’s conflict at the hour of death Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death hath 245 compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey; and with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he in great measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heart fears that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. It was also observed that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits, for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to keep his brother’s head above water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere a while, he would rise up again half dead. 

Hopeful also would endeavor to comfort him, saying, Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us: but Christian would answer, It is you, it is you they wait for; you have been Hopeful ever since I knew you. And so have you, said he to Christian. Ah! brother! said he, surely if I was right he would now arise to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite forgot the text, where it is said of the wicked, "There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. [Ps. 73:4,5] These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses.

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was as in a muse a while. To whom also Hopeful added this word, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole; and with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, Oh, I see him again! and he tells me, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.” [Isa. 43:2] Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian therefore presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over. Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the two shining men again, who there waited for them; wherefore, being come out of the river, they saluted them, saying, We are ministering 246 spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation. Thus they went along towards the gate.

 "Thus they got over."

The talk they had with the Shining Ones was about the glory of the place; who told them that the beauty and glory of it was inexpressible. There, said they, is the Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. [Heb. 12:22-24] You are going now, said they, to the paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof; and when you come there, you shall have white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity. [Rev. 2:7, 3:4, 21:4,5] There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth, to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death, for the former things are passed away. You are now going to Abraham, to Isaac, and Jacob, and to the prophets—men that God hath taken away from the evil to come, and that are now resting upon their beds, each one walking in his righteousness. [Isa. 57:1,2, 65:17] The men then asked, What must we do in the holy place? To whom it was answered, You must there receive the comforts of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for the King by the way. [Gal. 6:7] In that place you must wear crowns of gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and vision of the Holy One, for there you shall see him as he is. [1 John 3:2] There also you shall serve him continually with praise, with shouting, and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the world, though with much difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy your friends again that are gone thither before you; and there you shall with joy receive, even every one that follows into the holy place after you. There also shall you be clothed with glory and majesty, and put into an equipage fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When he shall come with sound of trumpet in the clouds, as upon the wings of the wind, you shall come with him; and when he shall sit upon the throne of judgment; you shall sit by him; yea, and when he shall pass sentence upon all the workers of iniquity, let them be angels or men, you also shall have a voice in that judgment, because they were his and your enemies. [1 Thes. 4:13-16, Jude 253 1:14, Dan. 7:9,10, 1 Cor. 6:2,3] Also, when he shall again return to the city, you shall go too, with sound of trumpet, and be ever with him. 

Now while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said, by the other two Shining Ones, These are the men that have loved our Lord when they were in the world, and that have left all for his holy name; and he hath sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face with joy. Then the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying, “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” [Rev. 19:9] There came out also at this time to meet them, several of the King’s trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment, who, with melodious noises, and loud, made even the heavens to echo with their sound. These trumpeters saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes from the world; and this they did with shouting, and sound of trumpet.

Hebrews 12:1ff

King James Version

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Pilgrim's Progress - by John Bunyan - The Most Printed Book in the English Language - Apart from the KJV. - Bunyan's Favorite Book, After the Bible, Luther's Galatians!

 

Besides, what my first Pilgrim left conceal’d Thou, my brave second Pilgrim, hast reveal’d; 

What CHRISTIAN left lock’d up, and went his way, Sweet CHRISTIANA opens with her key. 

When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad had the post come for him. Then she bid that he should give advice how all things should be prepared for her journey. So he told her, saying, thus and thus it must be; and we that survive will accompany you to the river side.

Then came in that good man Mr. Ready-to-halt, to see her. So she said to him, Thy travel hither has been with difficulty; but that will make thy rest the sweeter. But watch and be ready; for at an hour when you think not, the messenger may come. After him came in Mr. Despondency, and his daughter Much-afraid, to whom she said, You ought with thankfulness, forever to remember your deliverance from the hands of Giant Despair, and out of Doubting Castle. The effect of that mercy is, that you are brought with safety hither. Be ye watchful, and cast away fear; ‘be sober and hope to the end.’

 Christian did not grasp forgiveness through faith in Christ until he saw the cross. Then his burden of sins tumbled down until they rested in the Empty Tomb. His wife Christiana came later, Part Two, quoted above.

 Map for Part Two

Picture Gallery

 

 Right Reverend Bishop Jim Heiser, STM

ELDONUT Eric Stephanski

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Pretzel Pastor and Yeastologist Graduated from the Late, Great Seminex But Is Now an LSTC Alumnus

 

Rev. Ron Glusenkamp named one of 2021's Distinguished Alumni at LSTC

"The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) has named five 2021 Distinguished Alumni, including Rev. Ronald Glusenkamp, who is currently serving as Interim Pastor at Desert Hills Lutheran in Green Valley. Learn more at the LSTC website.

The Rev. Ronald Glusenkamp (Christ Seminary-Seminex, 1980, MDiv), who recently celebrated 40 years of ordained ministry, will receive the Called to Lead Award.

He has faithfully served successful, healthy congregations in Wichita, Kan., Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., and Denver, Colo. with growing ministries and outreach. He has served the greater church with positions at the Board of Pensions in Minneapolis and at the ELCA Churchwide Office in Chicago.

Under his leadership as director, The Campaign for the ELCA: Always Being Made New, focused on congregations, hunger and poverty, global church, and leadership, exceeded its campaign goal of $198 million by more than $50 million.

Glusenkamp is an outstanding communicator of the gospel and is a frequent guest preacher and speaker at synod assemblies and other gatherings. He excels at connecting the national church to individual congregations."

***

GJ - I lived in the era of Seminex, so I am puzzled that the failed Seminex - by dispersing some of its faculty to the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago - could by hocus-pocus make the Pretzel Pastor an alumnus of LSTC.

However, that star-crossed seminary awards its name to anyone who went to a previous school. Augustana Seminary graduates are now LSTC graduates. Maywood graduates (ULCA) are LSTC alumni, etc. I counted up seven (7) previous schools that contributed to the dying LSTC.

+ + +

 But the kids came back the very next day,
The kids came back, we thought that they were goners.
But the kids came back, they couldn't stay away, away, away.

Oh the drama! So many self-righteous frauds and phonies lost (for several hours) to Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis. I am choking back the tears, tears of laughter.

 My English may be crippled by grading too many assignments - but - How were students exiled when they took upon themselves, with faculty guidance, the burden of leaving for a few hours and coming back to deluxe dorm rooms and tasty food?
They did not take up the cross but double-crossed the nation with tawdry publicity.

Seminex

A large majority of the seminary's students voted on the morning of February 19 to continue their education under the targeted faculty at an off-campus site. Immediately after the students passed their resolution, they and the majority of the faculty staged a dramatic walkout, inviting the local press for the event.^[18][19] Singing "The Church's One Foundation" [Methodist], they processed out of the seminary grounds, where students had planted white crosses bearing their names. The event attracted a great deal of media attention. However, the seminary's Board of Control subsequently accused the students of disingenuous posturing, noting that the students had returned to the seminary cafeteria for lunch immediately after their supposed departure and continued to live in student housing for the remainder of the term.

 

Ronald GlusenkampView Ronald Glusenkamp’s profile 

• 3rd+3rd+ degree connection

PretzelPastor & Yeastologist

United States

Current: Pretzel Pastor & Yeastologist at PRETZELPASTOR

Jungkuntz became the chairman of the board of Seminex, and they became the official seminary of the Metropolitan Community Church, which no longer mentions them. Many WELS pastors of that era still remember Jungkuntz with great fondness, one with tears in his eyes. Few realize that Northwestern College - RIP - WELS - is one of the key sources for Seminex leaders.

To Share a Smile from 1832 Miles Away

The phone rang and the panel lit up - Andy. Christina was not entirely awake. I had tried to elicit a smile, but the meds were winning. Andrea (Andy) called out, "I LOVE YOU GRAMMIE!"

Christina broke out into a huge smile and listened to the mother-daughter back and forth. Andy did not want to give up the phone at all; sometimes she speed dials us.

Christina fell back to sleep with a beautiful smile on her face.

 

 "Sometimes staff resist my direct orders."

Amazin' Amazon

 

A few common issues to keep in mind: Your review should focus on specific features of the product and your experience with it. Feedback on the seller or your shipment experience should be provided at www.amazon.com/hz/feedback. We do not allow profane or obscene content. This applies to adult products too. Advertisements, promotional material or repeated posts that make the same point excessively are considered spam. Please do not include URLs external to Amazon or personally identifiable content in your review. Any attempt to manipulate Community content or features, including contributing false, misleading, or inauthentic content, is strictly prohibited.

Thank you for submitting a customer review. Thank you for submitting a customer review on Amazon. After carefully reviewing your submission, your review could not be posted to the website. It appears your content did not comply with our guidelines. While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines Amazon Community Guidelines from Gregory Jackson, PhD on August 16, 2021 Letis Gives the Best Overview of the NT Text Debate Some books on the New Testament Greek text only argue their points, but this book offers a superb overview of the debate. Letis' writing is clear and detailed, and he connects the major writers and their research or polemics. I  would start with this book, whether a...

David Daniels - A Popular and Effective Writer for the KJV Bible. Seek Ye a Pussy-footer? Look Somewhere Else!

 

 David W. Daniels earned an MDiv from Fuller Seminary and began writing books in defense of the KJV Bible. His popular style gets his points across and shows an exceptional grasp of historical details and Biblical translations.

 Look What's Missing in the Non-KJV Bibles:
Starring the NIV and ESV

This is a good example of Daniels presenting the problems with the NIV and ESV missing verses - since the KJV text is written and the Jefferson Bible style erasures are marked out like this, with the various guilty translations listed. This puts the lie to "I don't use the NIV. I use the ESV, which is much better" ELDONA lie.

The New KJV bows to the Nestle Aland UBS Greek New Testament
and uses the KJV to form a bridge to the new, bad paraphrases, sold as
"translations."

Pastors and laity have the divine obligation to know what is happening in the giddy world of "translations" being paraphrases (Eugene Nida, ABS/UBS) that change their own wording frequently - especially the NIV and ESV.

The fields of text and translation are large and varied, but there is no excuse to remain ignorant when so many readable books are available at reasonable prices. 

Apostates hate the KJV. Norma A. Boeckler always quotes the KJV, which remains the best-selling translation, the only one connected to Martin Luther through the martyr William Tyndale, who died for the crime of translating the Bible from Hebrew and Greek.

Luther Anticipated the Observations of Theodore P. Letis

 

One advantage of publishing "the blog nobody reads" is hearing from people who challenge that claim. They offer me insights from their own situation and they provide sources for more research. Recently, two authors were mentioned by readers. I wrote about the first - Laurence Vance - and his books on the King James Version. 

I knew a little about Letis, but a reminder from another reader caused me to dig through my pile of KJV books and uncover The Ecclesiastical Text, by Theodore P. Letis, $20. 

 Letis - Edward Freer Hills' Contribution to the revival of the Ecclesistical Text, $900.

I was already a reader of Edward Freer Hills' work, so this is an important book, given Letis' ability to summarize research.

WELS-LCMS-ELDONA-CLC-ELS Deny the Inerrancy of the Scriptures.They Follow ELCA in Everything Foul, Wrong, and Despicable.

 

PLAN - The Pan-Lutheran Association of Non-Believers - has been on the forefront of rejecting, mocking, and replacing the King James Version for decades. Notice - they also follow Rome in three-year calendars (papal), new names and definitions of Sundays for the simpletons (papal), and the liturgical colors from baby blue to ballet pink (papal). 

No Lutheran leader can claim to advocate the inerrancy of the Scriptures while promoting such monstrosities as the NIV, NRSV, ESV, and the BrugSV. 

Some wonder - "What about the New KJV?" It shares the same prejudice against the Traditional Majority Text by citing the Nestle Aland UBS Greek New Testament. They use (M) for Majority Text, lost on most people - and (NU) for Nestle Aland UBS. The New KJV should have show some honesty, mostly lacking at TAN - Thomas A. Nelson - by designation the two as (KJV) and Nasty Ugly Butcher-job) - (Nasty) for short.

As some are beginning to see, the footnotes deny what the main text seems to say. A stink-bomb from the NIV crowd is Isaiah 7:14 - 

1. Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman 

If that is a legitimate translation, then the rest of the Bible is nothing more than a joke. 

NIV "But all are justified - OJ - is a big win for us."

The many erasures accomplished by the NIV-ESV have the effect of saying there is very left-wing versions proclaimed in the footnotes so apostates do not have to feel nervous, depressed, anxious, or faithful to the Word.

 "Hands off My Bible" in WELS means - Leave the NIV alone!

The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, 2021.

 

The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central  Daylight Time

The Hymn # 200     I Know that My Redeemer Lives    

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

God is in His holy habitation: 

He is God who setteth the solitary in families.

The God of Israel is He that giveth strength: 

and power unto His people.

Psalm. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: 

let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

My heart trusteth in God, and I am helped: 

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; 

and with my song will I praise Him.

V. Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord, my Rock: 

be not silent to me; hear the voice at my supplications. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place in all generations. 

Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn # 384       How Great Is Thy Compassion             

The Communion Hymn #388         Just As I Am

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 514             God Moves in a Mysterious Way     

In Our Prayers

• In therapy - Mary Howell, Randy Anderson, Christina Jackson, John Hicks. Pastor Jim Shrader, Kermit Way.
• Medical issues - Chris Shrader, Maria Way.
• Floods: Germany, Turkey, China, Belgium, England, Japan, N. Korea.

Norma A. Boeckler

KJV 1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

KJV Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Eleventh Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee so to guide and direct us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not forget our sins and be filled with pride, but continue in daily repentance and renewal, seeking our comfort only in the blessed knowledge that Thou wilt be merciful unto us, forgive us our sins, and grant us eternal life; through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Word - Instrument of God's Grace

Background for the Epistle lesson, 1 Corinthians 15:1ff.

Here is a basic concept in the Bible that is scorned, neglected, and opposed by many. The Word is the Instrument of God's grace. Instrument is the Word used in the Book of Concord as another way of saying Means of Grace. Those phases are foreign to non-Lutherans and to Lutheran leaders and professors. For once, Latin is a guide - the Latin term for instruments is media. We use that Latin term all the time - social media, the media, print media, broadcast media. 

The allergy to saying media is one of religion rather than logic. God's graces comes to us only through the Holy Spirit at work in the Word, whether the invisible Word of teaching and preaching or the visible Word of the Sacraments - Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Means of Grace is shorthand for both the invisible and visible media.

I use media ministries because the term fits. We have:

1. An artist conveying the truths of the Scriptures in visual creations.
2. A couple doing the same with spoken expressions of our faith.
3. An editor gathering and sending Lutheran and traditional works via PDFs and low-cost print books, non-profit.
4. The worship service and Bible lessons broadcast over the Internet, and print books sent out free and at a low cost, non-profit.

They are all instruments, media, means to bring God's grace to people. 

Luther had a great illustration of this - paraphrased - The Enthusiasts talk about Jesus all the time, but they tear down the bridge to reach Him - the Means of Grace.

The lesson about Easter in 1 Corinthians 15 is a great example of this. Paul did exactly what he taught in Romans 10. The Report (Isaiah 53 - who has believed our report) creates and sustains faith. Faith comes by hearing (the Report) of Jesus dying for our sins.

KJV 1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

The Apostle Paul - and the Apostles - how did they create the Christian Church, given by Christ, for the world to enjoy? They lacked:

1. Money
2. Land
3. Planning Committees
4. S.M.A.R.T. goals
5. Surveys
6. Fuller Seminary diplomas.

Clearly they trusting in the power of the Word alone. The phrasing of this passage make that clear. Paul's preaching - they heard the report of Isaiah 53. They received it - they believed what God conveyed through the Holy Spirit in the Word. That faith is their foundation for forgiveness and for eternal life - as long as that remains in their minds, as preached by Paul - taught by the Risen Lord. But if they stopped believed, it was in vain that Paul proclaimed those truths.

Comparing this to many modern sermons - Paul's Gospel Word is not at all like success lectures, time management, or getting more friends. It seems reasonable that those attracted to such carnival acts gather for the wrong reasons. Nothing good can come of this, no matter how much they add up the membership, land owned, and other such items.

The older we are, the less we value fungible assets, the more we value eternal treasures. The Book of Concord calls the lessons of the Scriptures - treasures, especially those teaching faith in Christ.

In communicating with Old Testament students, I expect them to look for and find that vein of gold running through the Old Testament. It is not so obvious at first but becomes impossible to miss. Because Jesus Himself taught this at the end of Luke's Gospel.

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

We should especially remember this advantage that they had in the Apostolic Age, better in many ways that our hand-held devices and laptops.

Writing materials were scarce and books were rare in the apostolic age. If a man has to ride a horse without a saddle and stirrups, he must become a superb rider. If someone learns without books he can keep, he must have a highly developed memory to store his knowledge.

Listening was very important and retaining knowledge was crucial. There are many examples of people who memorized entire books. What was put into writing was infinitesimal compared to today, but it was valued and often retained by those who could memorize what mattered most.

 Paul cited the Old Testament, which was the only content called Scriptures in the Apostolic Age. The ministry of Christ was based on citing the Old Testament and the Apostles were the same. The Old Testament - without recognizing Christ in its books - has hundreds of passages that make no sense. Those passages cited in the New Testament show that the calendar of events and the description all became true in the ministry of Jesus.

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Additional confirmation of the empty tomb is found here and elsewhere, besides the Gospels. This is how faith in Christ was generated by the Gospel Promises among people who never saw and never heard Christ. These are the witnesses, and recalling these truths serve as the bridge to Jesus Christ and faith in Him. He rose from the dead (human nature) because He was without sin (divine nature). This was such a great miracle that the disciples had trouble grasping it.

Everything happened in Paul's lifetime but he did not believe until the risen Lord Jesus Christ appeared before him and taught him the Gospel. Evangelism is not someone's sure-fire tactics but witnessing to the truth of the Gospel - without doubting the Bible or changing it into another kind of book.

These are point by point examples of people seeing and hearing Jesus Christ risen from the dead. Persecution could not stop them from speaking.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Faith in Christ is not generated or strengthened by us but by the actual Gospel Promises. They are grafted onto us at baptism or by the preached Word itself (James - the implanted or grafted Word). This faith gives us access to Christ at all times. He dwells in us and we dwell in Him, just as He is in the Father and the Father in Him.

Clearly, the efforts against the text of the Bible, Hebrew and Greek, and the persecution of the best, clear translation, the King James, is the boldest sign of apostasy, because it is being energized by the elite (in their imaginations). They no longer believe.

Every bracket and footnote in modern Bibles is used to cause doubt in the faithful transmission of the Scriptures. That leads to doubt in the message of Paul, though his saint's day is observed with billows of incense and much bowing.

Every Lutheran should wonder why the Sacraments are removed from the NIV and other translations, the basic truths twisted to be the opposite ("all" are justified) and the faith of Jesus erased.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

This was Paul, pleading for the converts to remember what he taught, so they would not fall into apostasy, sin, and ruin. There are two attitudes today.

Apostates - Power is in everything but the Word.

The Faithful - Power is only found in the Word.