I. Of the Scriptures, or Holy Bible

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I hold the Scriptures to consist of 66 Books, in two testaments, making one Holy Bible. I believe the Scriptures were set down in writing by men who were inspired of the Holy Ghost, and are the word of the LORD God. Thus they are the truth without any mixture of error in their content and meaning. They are, and shall remain to the end of this world, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man. Accordingly, the Scripture remains under the control of the LORD God, and is His to reveal to whomsoever He will through the instrument of faith. The Scriptures are the instrument in which the LORD has vested power to accomplish His will, and they are used of the Holy Ghost to both strengthen and condemn, to build up and to tear down. The Scriptures are the only standard by which all human creeds, conducts and opinions are both presently judged, and will be judged at the day of the LORD.

Though the Scriptures are given unto men, they are not man’s to alter, as they were given for the purpose of enabling man to understand the heart and mind of the LORD God and to understand the measure by which he will be judged. Thus, reasonably, alteration of the Scripture for any purpose, brings condemnation upon those who presume to know better what the LORD God stated. I hold that all unity in the faith must be by and of the Scripture: That allowing any other basis for fellowship is destined for failure. I believe the LORD God has preserved the Scriptures in heaven and the King James Version of the Bible is the true copy of the word of the LORD God for the English-speaking people.

The Books of the Holy Bible

Old Testament

Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I Samuel; II Samuel; I Kings; II Kings; I Chronicles; II Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel; Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi.

New Testament

Matthew; Mark; Luke; John; Acts; Romans; I Corinthians; II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I Thessalonians; II Thessalonians; I Timothy; II Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews; James; I Peter; II Peter; I John; II John; III John; Jude; Revelation.

References

II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; II Peter 3:15-16; Zechariah 1:1; Isaiah 30:8-11; Job 19:23-27; Jeremiah 36:1-2; I Peter 1:10-12; Luke 24:44-47; John 12:37-41; Luke 16:27-31; I Corinthians 1:21-24 John 17:17; Psalm 138:2; Psalm 12:6-7; Isaiah 29:11-14; Ephesians 6:17; Isaiah 55:8-11; Psalm 119:49-50; Psalm 19:7-11; Isaiah 28:9-10; Psalm 119:9; Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 29:29; Romans 10:14-15; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Romans 3:4; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 28:12-17; Psalm 105:7-8; Jeremiah 36:27-32; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Proverb 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19; Jeremiah 26:1-2; Psalm 119:89; Acts 2:4-11; Psalm 68:11; Ecclesiastes 8:4.

Scriptures:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (II Peter 1:19-21)

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (II Peter 3:15-16)

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet. . . (Zechariah 1:1)

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (Isaiah 30:8-11)

Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:23-27)

And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. (Jeremiah 36:1-2)

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (I Peter 1:10-12)

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. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-47)

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. (John 12:37-41)

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:27-31)

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (I Corinthians 1:21-24)

Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. (John 17:17)

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:2)

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Psalm 12:6-7)

And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (Isaiah 29:11-14)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: . . . (Ephesians 6:17)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:8-11)

Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (Psalm 119:49-50)

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11)

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. . . (Isaiah 28:9-10)

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (Exodus 20:3-17)

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:14-15)

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20)

Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also. Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. (Jeremiah 28:12-17)

He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. (Psalm 105:7-8)

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not. Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words. (Jeremiah 36:27-32)

Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2)

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. (Proverb 30:5-6)

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: . . . (Jeremiah 26:1-2)

Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:4-11)

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. (Psalm 68:11)

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? (Ecclesiastes 8:4)

Statement of Faith

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Historically, a Statement of Faith is the declaration of what a church or an individual believes concerning the major doctrines of the Scripture. Statements of Faith have been used primarily to declare one’s adherence to Scripture, in answer to both adversaries and the brethren. As such, Statements of Faith have been used as a means of responding the accuser and extending the hand of fellowship to brethren in declaring like faith and order. In these things, this Statement of Faith is no different.

To the end of achieving that dual purpose, the following is the synopses of what I believe concerning certain major scriptural doctrines. Currently this Statement of Faith contains 28 points of doctrine that are deemed to be the most crucial to declaring what I believe and determining adherence to Scripture. This Statement of Faith was borne out of the Statement of Faith of the first proper New Testament church that I was a member of, but was extensively rewritten and reorganized to increase the Scriptural support for the statements and to provide a basis for teaching a systematic approach the doctrines.

I strongly encourage every born-again child of God to set forth their own Statement of Faith from the Scriptures. Even if you simply put the synopses in your own words, and search out and study each and every one of the verses and passages used to support the tenets of doctrine, you will find that it is an excellent way to grow in the knowledge of the LORD God and His word.

In Christ,

Paul W. Davis

Articles

Just How Important is a Single Letter?

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There are those who will tell you that the changes in the wording of the Bible text in the new versions does not change the meaning, and that we should not be concerned about how the words are changed.  However, this is to ignore the fact that even if we change a word to a different word that has “the same meaning” it nonetheless changes the contextual relationship of the words in the sentence.  In fact, any deviation at all from the words of the author will, of necessity, change the meaning to some degree.  It is not difficult to see how this would be, given the following example of what was a simple typing error when writing a letter. What happened was that I mistyped the word “not” and ended up typing the word “now” quite by accident. However, there is only one letter difference between the two words, but it changed everything about the sentence:

With this, we determined that it was now feasible to change certain doctrines concerning the church and the Scripture that we had found lacking.

So I just stated we CAN make the change, . . . or did I?

With this, we determined that it was not feasible to change certain doctrines concerning the church and the Scripture that we had found lacking.

No, what I intended to say was that we CANNOT make the changes. By changing only one letter, (the letter “w” to the letter “t”) there is a change in the meaning of the sentence to two diametrically opposing ideas and actions. Next time someone claims that a “few, minor changes” in the words don’t make any real difference in the meaning, don’t believe them . . . THEY’RE LYING!

To What Country…?

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One of the greatest battles any child of the LORD fights is the battle for their allegiance. The pull to allow allegiance to the nation one was born in to take precedence over the kingdom of God is quite strong. After all, it is natural to hold an allegiance to the land of one’s nativity. However, we are called to further the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ and place our service to Christ above ALL else.

This lesson examines that. May it be profitable for you.

[audio:http://www.reproachofmen.org/preaching/mp3/to_what_country.mp3]

For those who cannot use the embedded player, wish to use a different player, or want to save the file, the following link is provided:

To What Country…?

In Christ,

Paul W. Davis

Better To Not Vow…

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One of the least understood aspects of Christianity is church membership. Even among fundamental Baptists there is little more than a cursory understanding which often consists of believing that showing up and warming a pew regularly is fulfilling the covenant. However, the truth is much different. It is not well understood today that the LORD has never changed His view regarding covenants — especially those covenants where individuals vow to serve Him.

Because the modern day Christian lacks understanding of this issue, churches suffer greatly and have little influence in this society. Unfortunately, I do not expect the situation to change anytime soon. The following lesson is to at least take a step in the right direction.

May you find it profitable.

For those who cannot use the embedded player, wish to use a different player, or want to save the file, the following link is provided:

Better To Not Vow…

In Christ,

Paul W. Davis

The Enemies of America

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Fundamental Christians, especially Baptists, would never admit to it, and would never want to believe it to be true — that they have become the enemies of America. However, that is not the most serious part of what has happened to Christianity in America. Rather, it is that Christians in America have become the enemies of the LORD God, and through that, the enemies of America.

How?

Because the behavior of Christians, including fundamental, Bible-believing Christians, more closely resembles the behavior of pagans and atheists, than that of a child of the LORD God. Hence, Christians are bringing the judgment of God upon America just like the pagans and atheists.

By the way, just in case you wonder, I stopped watching television sometime in 1999 or thereabouts.

I pray the message is profitable for you.

For those who cannot use the embedded player, wish to use a different player, or want to save the file, the following link is provided:

The Enemies of America

In Christ,

Paul W. Davis

The Necessity of Faith

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The Scripture is express that faith is essential if one is to have any hope of pleasing God. However, it seems that the “faith” defined by many Christians is not really faith at all. Rather, it is either intellectualism or emotionalism dressed up as faith.

This is not acceptable. Moreover, it is a ticket to destruction. It seems to be lost on an increasing number of individuals that there is no substitute for faith. However, I suppose this also has never changed — that it has always been this way. Which is why we have the example of Israel as an utter failure in the Old Testament. Israel failed due to a total lack of faith on the part of a majority of it’s citizens — they could not perceive who the LORD is, and what He was doing.

Individually, that can happen to anyone today — even those who claim Christ. Hence, it is incumbent upon each of us to insure that the faith we believe we have, is actually the faith defined in Hebrews, chapter 11.

I pray the message is profitable for you.

For those who cannot use the embedded player, wish to use a different player, or want to save the file, the following link is provided:

The Necessity of Faith

In Christ,

Paul W. Davis

Faith vs. Rationality

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There exists in the minds of many, a divergence between faith and reason. However, there exists no such divergence if one has a proper understanding of Scripture. Moreover, the reason and logic of the Scripture can be taught, and taught in such a way that someone who is lost can understand it if they apply themselves.

Herein lies the problem: Knowledge of salvation gained in this way — is not faith. Moreover, it is not an acceptable substitute for faith. Though the understanding arrived at may be the same, the means by which that understanding is arrived at is crucial. The route of one is the mind, but the route of the other is the spirit. The difference is life and death.

We would do well to examine ourselves as to how we arrived at our own understanding of the things of God — is it by faith, or by reason and rationality. The difference does determine where we end up.

I pray the following lesson is profitable for you.

For those who cannot use the embedded player, wish to use a different player, or want to save the file, the following link is provided:

Faith vs. Rationality

In Christ,

Paul W. Davis

Josef Tson

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I first heard about Josef Tson back in the 1990’s. The tape I have from then is a partial recording, but it is very powerful. The video is not quite as powerful, but the message is the same. The message is profitable for all, and fundamental, unaffiliated Baptists would do well to take heed.

There are only three caveats that I make concerning Pastor Tson and the forum in which he presents his messages and testimony:

  • His forum is Southern Baptist. It is not the best and he could do better. However, the Southern Baptists are the largest “Baptist” denomination in America, and they took Pastor Tson in immediately. I am not certain Josef Tson understands who and what the Southern Baptists are. But, I am not certain most Southern Baptists understand who and what they are either.
  • His understanding of the word “servant” as opposed to “slave” is culturally driven. That is not bad, but it does bear some explanation. In the KJV, the word “slave” is only used twice. The word “servant” is used in 887 verses. In short, the word “servant” encompasses everything from a slave to a taxi driver who is hired for a few moments time.
  • I cannot speak as to his Bible, but the wording he uses and the understanding he has of what it teaches is consistent with a Received Text rendering.

With those things in mind, please be blessed.


If you cannot view the video in the post, it can be found here.

In Christ,

Paul W. Davis

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