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It is time for another examination of the Word of God, which has been Blessed by The Holy Spirit.
In this study, I intend to combine an Old Testament scripture with a New Testament scripture. I have deliberately chosen the term “combine”. In my opinion, one can spiritually integrate the New Testament Bible into the Old Testament, and it will fit seamlessly. You can merge one with the other without any remnants or conflicts. They are entirely synonymous and symbiotic. Their relationship is flawless.
With this perspective, I would like to revisit an earlier study of mine found in the book of John, beginning with verse 37. This study is particularly dear to me for several reasons. Firstly, it clearly illustrates the importance of utilizing the Perfect and accurate King James Version. Now, please bear with me, as this is crucial. OK? Secondly, it highlights the clear teaching of Scripture that Every Word of God is Perfect. There are no errors. No inconsistencies. No mistakes. Once more… Please stay with me. I will clarify my points.
Here, we have a New Testament narrative. The passage concerning Jesus’s interactions with believers and non-believers in John chapter 8.
In conjunction with this, we will examine the Book of 1 Samuel, verse 28. This passage discusses a necromancer and medium, a scripture that has perplexed and troubled many Bible readers for centuries. Through this study, we will discover how these two passages are alike and share many commonalities.
Let us commence. First, we shall examine the initial passage. The one found in the Book of John. We will begin with verse 37. I am referencing the KJV. It states, “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you”.
Please pay close attention to the fact that this verse seems to indicate that the “seed” of Abraham seeks to kill Jesus.
Now, let us cross-reference this verse and concept with Galatians Chapter 3, verse 29.
This verse declares, “And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Do you perceive any discrepancies between John 8:37 and Galatians 3:29?
Galatians 3 asserts that any Jew who is Abraham’s SEED is “in Christ”. We must first establish this truth. The term “seed” is employed to distinctly separate or delineate the righteous lineage of Abraham from the unbelieving lineage of Abraham. This distinction was created and established from the very outset. Genesis 3:15 reads…
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. KJV The establishment of “the seed” lineage is evident throughout scripture.
So, is there an issue? A perceived inconsistency between these two verses? The verse in John 8:37 appears to indicate that the seed of Abraham desires to kill Jesus. How can this be the case? Did we not just learn that the seed of Abraham is associated with Christ? How could a disciple of Jesus wish to harm him?
I must pause here for a moment. I have posed this question to countless Bible believers. I even initiate my inquiry by informing them that they will likely believe they have an answer. I consistently tell them that their response will be incorrect. Naturally, they presume that I am being presumptuous and that they indeed possess the answer. However, they do not.
To reiterate, as I stated at the outset, all scripture is Perfect. I specifically referenced the KJV. We will soon understand why this is significant.
It is Impossible for a Christian to desire to kill Jesus. Impossible.
Thus, there must be a logical and reasonable explanation for this question. Furthermore, it cannot be vague. Therefore, if you wish to attempt to reach an answer, I will wait.
Ready?
Alright, let’s begin. Are you ready?
I would like you to envision Jesus’ conversing with two distinct groups of individuals situated in close proximity. One group consists of believers, while the other comprises non-believers. As Jesus commences His discourse in John chapter 8, verse 31, it is evident that He is addressing the group of believers. How can we ascertain this? Verse 31 explicitly indicates that they are believers.
In the subsequent verses, Jesus even refers to the fact that they are the SEED of Abraham. He even states, “I know that you are Abraham’s seed;”
However, pay close attention to the conclusion of this statement. A punctuation mark exists that delineates the remainder of this verse. See it?
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
With this specific punctuation mark, Jesus now redirects His attention towards the other group of observers. He literally turns His head and body towards the non-believers. If this was a play, there would be stage direction comment at this point. Right in the middle of this sentence. This is a completely separate audience from the first part of this verse. An assembly of lost Jewish individuals. They do not belong to the seed of Abraham. They are merely the “descendants” of Abraham. They are Jews, they do not follow Jesus. They are the individuals to whom Jesus refers when He states, “but ye seek to kill me.” They are not the initial group that Jesus was addressing. They are the other group.
At that precise moment when you encounter the punctuation mark in verse 37, the entire emphasis of the passage transforms. Reread the passage and verify if my assertion is accurate. It will become apparent that my claim holds true. Furthermore, there exists no alternative explanation.
Upon my initial reading of this passage many years ago, it became evident that an inconsistency existed. How could a Christian desire to kill Jesus?
I was aware of the term “seed,” which signifies a believer in Jesus. Therefore, how could this situation be logical?
Throughout my 45 years as a believer and in my studies in the Bible, I have found that numerous remarkable insights and guidance from the Holy Spirit would not have been attainable without the correct phrasing of the KJV.
Many contemporary translations have inaccurately rendered John 8:37 with incorrect terminology. For instance, the New King James Version states, “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.” This translation is INCORRECT, and the truth I have just revealed would have NEVER come to light. I have found this to be true in many studies that I have researched. It is uncertain, but the contemporary interpretations appears to seek to assist God with the challenging verses. However, as is often the case, God does not require our assistance…
To commence this study, I referenced the Old Testament passage from 1 Samuel, verse 28. I indicated that this Old Testament excerpt shares a commonality with the New Testament passage of John 8 that we have just examined.
The passage from 1 Samuel is regarded as one of the most contentious texts in both the Old and New Testaments. It pertains to the Witch of Endor, highlighting a meeting between a King of Israel and a witch.
For the purposes of this study, we will not delve into the complete history surrounding the circumstances of this meeting. It is sufficient to state that it indeed occurred, and the contrast of the King of Israel seeking guidance from a witch is, to say the least, remarkable.
The king in this narrative is King Saul. The intent behind King Saul’s visit to the witch was to engage in necromancy. The king sought an individual capable of summoning or calling forth a deceased prophet of God. This act was strictly prohibited for anyone and was particularly unthinkable for a king, as it carried the penalty of death.
Evidently, the king was in a state of desperation and disregarded the repercussions of his irrational actions. His madness was leading him toward a significant sin, with no possibility of retreat.
Similar to our analysis of John 8, we encounter a seemingly contradictory element within the Bible. Necromancy is undoubtedly a serious transgression, deserving of harsh penalties. It is a practice that is strictly prohibited for any Jew, especially for a King.
However, over the centuries, both believers and critics of the Bible have pondered the implications of this passage. Did God permit the Witch, the Medium, to genuinely and successfully summon the deceased prophet? Did God endorse this unimaginable meeting in which the prophet of God manifested? Did the prophet Samuel respond to the witch’s incantation and appear at her call?
The Witch did indeed summon the Prophet, and the Prophet did make an appearance. At first glance, we, the seekers of understanding, find ourselves bewildered. How can we rationalize God permitting this occurrence?
In our previous New Testament study of John 8:37 we reacted initially by announcing that it was impossible for a Christian to want to kill Jesus. This was foundational.
Likewise, can God sanction an apparent sinful and unthinkable event that is described in the passage? I say no. He can’t. He will not go against His Word. He will not allow such a contradiction in His Word. Therefore, we must apply our Holy Spirit led inquiry into this passage as we did in the John 8:37 passage. Both passages are worthy of our due diligence. We must investigate and learn.
I would like to offer one possible explanation. And I would like to compare this passage with the John 8:37 passage. You see in the John 8:37 passage we have a sudden shift in the narrative. The shift is so sudden that it is only separated by a punctuation mark. The shift is contained within the same sentence. That is sudden. The passage goes from one entire declaration to a completely different declaration in the space of one punctuation mark. From life to death in the same sentence. It’s remarkable.
Now, let us examine whether we can apply this wisdom to our passage from 1 Samuel.
We observe the witch casting her spell and trying to summon the prophet, an act she has likely performed countless times before. She was renowned for her sorcery and was probably favored by the Devil. Thus, she engages in her usual sorcery. But what occurs? She suddenly lets out a scream. Why is that? Did something change? Was she frightened? Wasn’t she typically in control? Didn’t she know what to anticipate? She has conducted this ritual hundreds of times. What transpired?
In my opinion, this is where we encounter a significant shift akin to a punctuation mark in John 8:37. A momentous, albeit brief, transformation. However, it was not merely a punctuation mark shift; it was a divine intervention. A shift ordained by God, unrelated to the King’s necromancy. Recall what God accomplished on the mount of transfiguration, how He manifested Moses and Elijah.
In my view, at the precise moment of the witch’s incantation, God intervened and permitted Samuel to appear. At that time, Saul had already been judged. He was being admonished by God, judged once more, and informed of his impending demise along with all his sons. Samuel did not reveal anything to Saul that he was not already aware of. This event was not a consequence of the witch’s spell. She was more astonished by Samuel’s appearance than King Saul was. This was a sudden divine intervention at that very moment. God did not respond to the witch’s request. She, the witch was horrified by what transpired. When was the last time you screamed? This miraculous appearance of Samuel was the work of God, not the witch. These are two entirely distinct occurrences separated by mere seconds.
The relationship between the witch’s incantations and the emergence of the prophet Samuel is nonexistent. They are distinct entities. To a casual observer, they may appear to be connected. However, I believe one can draw a comparison between the witch’s scream and the punctuation mark found in John 8:37. At both of these crucial moments, everything changes. They are not related. Both instances are immediately succeeded by transformative events that, if they did not occur, would lead to utter confusion. Our God is not the author of confusion. If these events did not transpire, it would suggest that God is endorsing an unimaginable sin and an act of blasphemy that is equally incomprehensible. God would never approve of necromancy, nor would He allow a believer to even contemplate the desire to kill Jesus.
I trust that this examination of the similarities between these two biblical events provides us with reassurance that the Bible is flawless and can be relied upon in every circumstance.