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17 The salutation [aspasmos] of Paul [Paulos] with mine own [emos] hand, [cheir] which [hos] is [esti] the token [semeion] in [en] every [pas] epistle: [epistole] so [houto] I write. [grapho]KJV-Interlinear
17 I, Paul, write this greeting
with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter, this is
the way I write. NASB
With a couple of
exceptions, Paul identifies this letter, as well as others, as his own work,
because of the fraudulent letters circulated to the Thessalonians earlier
mentioned in this same letter, 2 Thess. 2:2.Those fraudulent letters attempted to claim, in Paul s name, that the
return of Christ was already at hand, which of course it was not.
Authenticity and truth
are in view here.Over the many
centuries, there will occur after the time of the apostles, many false letters
that will come into the world in an attempt to falsify or dilute the contents
of the Bible.
Of these attempts all
have sufficient errors within them to identify them as false.Probably the worst writing ever attempted was
the writings of Muhammad, who did not even write even one word of the Koran,
which was written by others several years after his dreams.Because it is filled with so many errors, misquotes,
historical errors, and so forth, it can easily be proved to be false.This we covered a few weeks ago, in detail,
on that very topic, The Flaws of Islam. I have placed that study in the special studies section on the web site,
as well as in the introduction section.
The importance of truth
is paramount in life, but especially within the content of the scriptures,
simply because as God, who is supposed to be error free, and not able to make
mistakes, then any communication from God, must be accurate.If not, if it contained even a single error,
then it could not ever have come from God.
And there will be folks
who will claim error after error within the scriptures, but they rush to make
the claims, without studying the context from which they quote.Remember, that the Bible has been around for
many, many centuries, for even thousands of years.It has been criticized, and condemned, and
hated by one and all more often than anything or anyone in all of human
history.And yet it stands firm.
No one, born in our
present day, can come up with any single error claim, that
has not already been charged against the Bible, many times over. And yet there will be those who do not even
read the Bible, do not even know its content, but will still make their claims
of error.
Therefore, truth is
paramount, and truth has but one origin God.
The Bible identifies
God as truth.
God is the source of
peace, strength and now the references to truth, Psa. 31:5, Isa. 65:16, 2 Chron.
15:3, Jer. 10:10, John 7:28, 17:3, 1 Thess. 1:9, 1 John 5:20, Rev. 6:10.
His words are truth, 2
Sam. 7:28, He is abundant in truth, Psa. 86:15, He is true even if all men are
liars, Rom. 3:4, He cannot lie, Num. 23:19, 1 Sam. 15:29, Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18.
Jesus Christ is God, and
is also truth, John 1:14, 17, John 7:18, John 14:6, Eph, 4:21, Rev. 3:7, 14, Rev
19:11.
The Holy Spirit is
truth. John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6.
The Christian Church is
described as the pillar of truth, 1 Tim. 3:15.But in order to be a pillar of truth, you as a member of Christianity,
must be able to distinguish and discern between truth and lies, 1 Jn. 4:6.That is your mandate. That is your
obligation.
There is only one source,
only one benchmark which clearly identifies truth and separates out the lies of
the world, Col. 1:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, James 1:18, which is the Word of God, the
scriptures, the Bible.
And you can only
accomplish this by your daily study, 2 Tim. 2:15, Study to show thyself
approved [mature], rightly dividing [discerning] the word of truth.
The challenge is now
set before you.Will you clearly identify
your intentions for your own life, just as Paul has clearly identified His name
on this letter, and take up the daily obligation to study, be taught and learn
that which God has placed before you?
Or, will you give it all
lip service and no real substantive effort to advance in your spiritual life?
Your life began when
you were born into this world.Your life
will continue on forever.
When you were born into
this world, you had no say as to what your life would be like.
But now being born
again, you have every opportunity to define and design your entire eternal life
ahead of you.How could anyone pass up
on that opportunity?
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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