Number 72: September 26, 2006



Recently after returning from teaching a seminar on the book of Genesis, we discussed why we should read and study and learn what is said in the Old Testament, even though it is not directly addressed to us living in the Grace Administration today.



We can learn many positive things from the Old Testament. We can also read negative accounts of disobedience, that warn us of evil things to be avoided.



KJV Romans 15:4:

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort [encouragement] of the scriptures might have hope.



TCNT Romans 15:4:

Whatever was written in the scripture in days gone by was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance and through the encouragement drawn from the scriptures we might hold fast to our hope.



Phillips Romans 15:4:

For all those words which were written long ago are meant to teach us today; so that when we read in the scripture of the endurance of men and of all the help that God gave in those days, we may be encouraged to go on hoping in our own time.



NEB Romans 15:4 and 5a:

For all the ancient scriptures were written for our own instruction, in order that through the encouragement they give us we may maintain our hope with fortitude.

And may God, the source of all fortitude and all encouragement…



KJV I Corinthians 10:11:

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition [a warning], upon whom the ends of the world are come.



The scriptures written before Pentecost, before the new birth became available admonish us and encourage us to the end of keeping our hope living and real in our daily lives. We are profited by both the warning and the encouragement to the end that we can be completely perfected unto every good work that we are called upon to do.



Thus the end result of learning correctly what was written before the day of Pentecost, is that along with the patience and encouragement that these scriptures bring, we can maintain the hope of Christ’s return as a living reality in our daily lives. We can continue to build the Lord’s return into our minds and hearts with what we can learn correctly from the Old Testament.



Currently in the court systems of our country, there are five cases trying to rewrite the book of Genesis. We will discuss them in following installments.