Some Miscellaneous Bible Tidbits

Long Hair – Regarding I Cor 11:15’s instruction that ladies have “long hair,” if a long dress is required for a formal dinner, no one thinks it would be appropriate for a lady to attend in a mini-skirt just because that makes her attire distinguishable from a man. So why do many think the divine long hair requirement just means a woman’s hair must be a different style than a man’s hair?

War Question – If you have been wrongly convicted of a crime and escaped prison, would it be okay to shoot a cop (who sincerely thought you were guilty) to avoid recapture? See the parallel? In war, one soldier kills another – and both soldiers think they are in the right to shoot. But John 18:36, Matt 5:43ff, Rom 12:19ff, 13:10, etc.

Public Debating – Paul was publicly “debating daily” according to Acts 19:8-10 (TLV). Trying my best to emulate this (I Cor 11:1), I at least ask for a debate pretty close to daily (on average). Asking for a debate (or a private personal evangelism study, either one) is like fishing. When you cast your lure, you don’t expect to catch a fish on that cast. But you do eventually catch a fish if you cast enough times. When you finally get a strike, it is a pleasant surprise. And we are supposed to be “fishers of men” (Matt 4:19, Acts 8:1,4). I recently read a book titled “Arkansas Angels” which contains short biographies of about fifty Arkansas gospel preachers of about a century ago. A small number of them had many public debates but just about every one of them had a few. I think that is best explained by the following quote on page 121 describing A.B. Shaver (born in 1876) – “He did not design to be a debater, but belonged to that period when gospel preachers considered themselves duty-bound to defend anything they preached.” – Amen to that – I Pet 3:15, Acts 17:17, 15:2,7.

Old Testament – When Jesus said in John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep MY commandments” (NASB, ESV, RSV, ASV), he was either talking about all 613 Old Testament commandments, or none of them and all _His_ New Testament commandments. He was not talking about both or any mixture of the two.

Marriage – Just like many incorrectly assume married and bound are the same thing (Rom 7:2-3), many incorrectly assume joined and bound are the same thing (I Cor 6:16) – https://bibledebates.wordpress.com/2019/09/05/joined-is-not-the-same-as-bound-or-married/

Length Of Jesus’ Ministry – The fact that three Passovers are mentioned in the book of John would not prove Jesus’ ministry was three years, any more than the fact one Passover is mentioned in the book of Mark would prove Jesus’ ministry was only year. Instead, three separate Passovers would prove at least three years (but leaves open the possibility of several more – John 21:25). Jesus’ ministry could have been 3, 5, 7, 9 years (or even longer) unless there is another passage telling us how long. Do you know of one?

Divorce – One way we know for sure I Cor 7:15 is NOT teaching desertion is another exception which allows remarriage after divorce (in addition to fornication Matt 19:9a) is because Luke 16:18b (and Matt 5:32b and 19:9b) forbid the remarriage of one who has been deserted by their mate. Another way we know is because the wording of Matt 19:9 (“except it be for fornication”) would rule out all other scriptural causes for divorce and remarriage just like the same “except” terminology in John 3:3 rules out any other way to be saved without being born again.

Studying Scripture – If one is going to effectively “speak and teach diligently the things of the Lord” (Acts 18:25), and especially if he is going to defend that truth as he ought (“debate” 18:28 NIV), then being “MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES” (18:24) would certainly be advantageous. We should all so aspire to be like and do like Apollos.

Prayer Posture – There are a number of different prayer postures found in God’s word (kneeling Acts 9:40, sitting II Sam 7:18, standing Mark 11:25, prostrate Matt 26:39, hands in the air I Kings 8:54). Following approved examples in the New Testament (Phil 4:9, 3:17, I Cor 11:1, II Thess 3:7,9, Heb 6:12, 13:7, I Thess 1:6) should mean we assume all the different Biblical postures in prayer at times (privately and publicly), not that we just pick one or two postures and leave off using all the others. It is true "We should never assume a posture in order to show off our spirituality before others," but neither should we leave off any particular scriptural posture because we are too embarrassed to do it before others.

Law Or Grace? – A recent blog post by a gospel preacher in Birmingham asked the question – “What motivates you – law or grace?” (making us choose between the two). It is a false dichotomy. We should be motivated by both law and grace. We want to do what’s right because it is right (I John 3:7) and God’s law defines for us what right is (I John 3:4). And we love God because he first loved us (I John 4:19). There are a lot of great reasons to serve God, and none of them are mutually exclusive. Just do it! (Heb 5:9).

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