Prophet and Prophetess

What is the differences between these two words?

The Webster's dictionary describes a Prophet as a religious leader who is believed to speak for God or a god, as in giving messages or warnings and a person who tells what he thinks will happen. A Prophetess is a female prophet.

There are 8 Prophetess listed in the Bible: Ex. Chapter 15 verse 20, Judges chapter 4 verse 4, S.Kings chapter 22 verse 14, 2 Chr.chapter 34 verse 22,

Neh. Chapter 6 verse 14, Is. Chapter 8 verse 3, Luke chapter 2 verse 36, and Rev. chapter 2 verse 20.

In the Old Testament it is number 5031 in the Strong's Exaustive Concordance of the Bible.

In the New Testament the word Prophetess is number 4398 in the Strong's Exaustive Concordance of the Bible.

 In Numbers chapter 11 verse 29, it reads this way, 'And Moses said unto him [Joshua son of Nun] Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lords people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put His spirit upon them!'

So, did Paul really write that a woman could not speak for God? No he did not! In fact there were even female deacons in the church in Paul's days! Yup, there sure was!

In Proverbs chapter 6 verses 16 through 19 you will find six things that the Lord doth hate. Yea, seven are an abomination unto Him.[Indicating there were many more things that the Lord hates.]

I heard one Preacher say this was , a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations , feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, he that soweth discord amoung breathern and he added one of his own, WOMEN PREACHERS!

FOR AQUINAS IN HIS THINKING, ' A MAN IS A THINKER, AND A WOMAN IS THE CHILD-BARER. A VIEW HELD BY MOST MINISTERS OF TODAY WHO DECLARE THAT ONLY MEN CAN PREACH AND TEACH BECAUSE GOD MADE ROOSTERS TO CROW AND HENS TO LAY EGGS!

THE TEACHINGS OF PAUL

CONCERNING HUSBANDS AND WIVES

AND WOMEN PREACHERS

 

THE WORDS OF THE APPOSTLE PAUL IN 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 7 WERE USED FOR CENTURIES TO DEFEND THE PRACTICE OF REFUSING TO GET MARRIED IN ORDER TO PURSUE HIGHER DEVINE GIFTS. CELIBACY BECAME A MARK OF HOLINESS. DID PAUL PROMOTE CELIBACY AMOUNG CHRISTIANS? A QUICK READING OF THAT PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE WOULD LEAD ONE TO CONCLUDE JUST THAT!

IN THE DAYS OF PAUL MARRIAGE WAS REGUARDED AS MANDATORY AMOUNG THE JEWS.THE RABBI ELEAZER TAUGHT THAT 'A MAN WHO HAS NO WIFE IS NOT EVEN A MAN! ' HIS REASONING WAS THAT GOD CREATED MALE AND FEMALE AND CALLED THEM MAN, MEANING HUMANKIND IN GENERAL.. MANY BELEIVED THAT MARRIAGES WERE ARRANGED BY GOD.

ACCORDING TO THE OLD TESTAMENT LAWS, THE WIFE WAS REGARDED AS HER HUSBANDS PROPERTY, AND IF SHE ALLOWED ANY MAN TO HAVE SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH HER, SHE WAS PUT TO DEATH. A MAN, HOWEVER, WHILE FORBIDDEN FROM COMMITING ADULTRY WITH HIS NEIGHBORS WIFE, MIGHT MARRY AS MANY WIVES AS HE WISHED OR HAVE AS MANY CONCUBINES HE WISHED. CONTRARY TO MANY RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF TODAY, HE MIGHT DIVORCE HIS WIFE AND MARRY ANOTHER, WHILE HIS WIFE WAS PROVIDED NO LEGAL MEANS TO OBTAIN A DIVORCE EXCEPT IN EXTREAMLY RARE INSTANCES. THE ONE THING WE MUST REMEMBER IS THAT IT WAS MAN WHO WROTE THE LAWS, SO THEREFORE THE LAWS WERE INTERREPTED FROM MANS POINT OF VIEW. BUT WHAT IF WOMAN HAD WRITTEN THE LAWS? WHAT IF WOMAN HAD A HAND IN INTERRPETING THE BIBLE?

AT THE TIME OF PAUL THIS DOUBLE STANDERED WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT. THE MISHNAH HAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO IS SUSPECTED OF COMMITING ADULTRY, BUT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE MAN WHO HAS DONE THE SAME THING AGAINST HIS WIFE.THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN CHAPTER 8 TELLS OF AN INCIDENT IN WHICH THE PHARISEES ADVOCATED KILLING A WOMAN FOUND COMMITING ADULTRY AS IF SHE HAD DONE THE DEED ALL BY HERSELF!

THE NUMBER OF MEN WHO SENT AWAY THEIR WIVES IN ORDER TO TAKE ANOTHER WIFE WAS SO GREAT THAT MANY JEWISH GIRLS WERE REFUSING TO GET MARRIED! THEY INTERREPTED THE LAW AS THIS; 'WHEN A MAN HAS TAKEN A WIFE IF THEN SHE FINDS NO FAVOR IN HIS EYES BECAUSE HE HAS FOUND SOMETHING ABOUT HER THAT HE DID NOT LIKE, THEN HE COULD SEND HER AWAY OUT OF THE HOUSE.THEY WERE FOCUSING ON THEIR OWN INTERIPTATION OF DEUT. CHAPTER 24, BUT WERE FORGITTING ABOUT THE PART WHERE IT SAYS TO 'WRITE HER A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT AND GIVE IT IN HER HAND' BEFORE TAKING ANOTHER WIFE. THIS WAS WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING IN MATT. CHAPTER 5. MEN WERE SENDING THEIR WIVES AWAY WITHOUT THE BILL OF DIVORCEMENT THEREBY CAUSING THE CONDITION OF ADULTRY. THEY WERE RELEASED FROM THE ADULTRY BY THE BILL OF DIVORCEMENT.

MARRIAGES AMOUNG ROMAN COUPLES WERE USUALLY ARRAINGED BY THE GIRLS FATHER, AND WAS REGUARDED AS A MATTER OF DUTY RATHER THAN LOVE. IF THEY WERE NOT MARRIED BY THE AGE OF NINTEEN THEY WERE REGUARDED AS SPENSTERS. ROMAN MEN EXPECTED THEIR WIVES TO BE FAITHFUL BUT HELD NO SUCH STANDERED FOR THEMSELVES!

A SAYING DEVELOPED AMOUNG THE ROMAN MEN THAT 'MARRIAGE BRINGS ONLY TWO HAPPY DAYS, THE DAY WHEN HE FIRST CLASPS HIS WIFE TO HIS BREAST, AND THE DAY WHEN HE LAYS HER IN THE TOMB.'

PAULS GOAL OF UNIFYING JEWS AND GENTILES IN THE CHURCH COMPELLED HIM TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AMOUNG BOTH CULTURES. HE WAS WELL AWARE OF THE JEWISH EMPHASIS ON SEXUAL PURITY AMOUNG WOMAN AND THE PREASURES UPON SINGLE PEOPLE TO MARRY.HE WAS ALSO WELL AWARE OF THE ABUSE BY THE JEWISH MEN CONCERNING THE DIVORCE LAWS.

WHEN HE WROTE 1 COR. CHAPTER 7 HE CAREFULLY DISTINGUISED BETWEEN THE TEACHING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND HIS OWN OPINIONS AND ADVISE.

1 CHORINTHAINS CHAPTER 7 VERSES 1-17, PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS OUTSIDE MARRIAGE. HE WAS WARNING THE MEN THAT THEY FACED A CONSTANT AND POWERFUL TEMPTATION IN CORINTH WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS THE PROSTITUTION CENTER OF THE WORLD. HE SAYS DON'T BE MESSING AROUND WITH PROSTITUTES. BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR OWN SPOUSE. EVEN THO POLIGAMY WAS LEGAL THERE PAUL WAS TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS BACK TO THE WAY GOD WANTED IT TO BE IN THE BEGINNING, OF ONE AND ONE MAKE 2, AND THE TWO SHALL BE AS ONE. IN IST TIMOTHY, PAUL SAYS THAT A MALE BISHOP OR DEACON HAVE ONLY ONE WIFE AT A TIME.

HE ELIMINATED ANY POSSIBILITY OF A DOUBLE STANDERED FOR SEX WITHIN MARRIAGE. HE SAYS SEXUAL INTIMACY IS RIGHT AND GOOD. HE SAYS THAT THIS HIS OWN OPENION AND NOT A COMMAND. THIS IS JUST PLAIN OLD COMMON SENSE!

PAUL GOES ON TO TELL THEM THAT IT IS NOT MANDATORY FOR MEN TO MARRY AS SOME OF THE JEWISH RABBIS INSISTED.

HE GOES ON TO TELL THE WIDOWS AND UNMARRIED THAT IT IS BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN WITH DESIRE AND PASSION.

GOD DOES NOT LIKE DIVORCE BUT THERE ARE LAWS WHICH DO ALLOW DIVORCE CONTRARY TO THE OPENIONS OF SOME. IN EACH CASE THERE HAS TO BE A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT. WITHOUT THAT BILL OF DIVORCEMENT WE CALL IT BIGAMY TODAY.

PAUL GOES ON TO SAY THAT IN YOUR ATTEMPTS TO WORK OUT YOUR PROBLEMS YOU MAY ALSO BE ABLE TO BRING HIM OR HER TO THE LORD. WE KNOW THAT WE CANNOT SAVE EACH OTHER BUT WE CAN LET THE LORD USE US AS A INSTRUMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THEN PAUL GOES ON INTO A MORE INDEPTH EXPLAINATION OF WHAT HE HAS JUST WRITTEN, WARNING AGAIN THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CHURCHES WERE FACING IN THAT TIME OF PERSICUTION OF THE CHURCH.

NOW PAUL WAS DISCUSSING HUSBANDS AND WIVES SO LET US KEEP THIS IN CONTEXT. IF THERE IS NO BILL OF DIVORCEMENT THEN THEY WERE STILL HUSBAND AND WIFE! HE ALSO STATES ONCE AGAIN THAT THESE ARE HIS OWN OPENIONS. THE NOTIONS THAT A CELIBATE PERSON IS MORE SPIRITUAL DID NOT COME FROM THE TEACHINGS OF PAUL, BUT FROM GREEK PHILSOPHY OF STOICISM. PAULS ERNEST DESIRE FOR THE CHRISTAIN CHURCH WAS THAT THERE BE SEXAUAL EQUALITY AMOUNG THE CHRISTAINS, DECLARING THAT THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE, FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

THE TEACHINGS OF ARISTOTLE ASSUMED THAT THE MALE SEED IMPLANTED IN THE FEMALE WILL PRODUCE MALE OFF-SPRING AS A MATTER OF COURSE UNLESS THE SEED IS DEFECTIVE OR IS AFFECTED IN A NEGATIVE WAY BY SOME EXTERNAL INFLUENCE, SUCH AS THE DIRECTION OF A SOUTH WIND WHICH IS MOIST. HE TAUGHT THAT WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT WOMAN IS MIS-BEGOTTON, IT IS GODS INTENTION THAT WOMAN BE INCLUDED IN HUMANITY, IN ORDER THAT SHE MAY BE ADAMS HELPER. HOWEVER, THE ONLY WAY THAT EVE COULD BE A HELPER TO ADAM WAS IN TERMS OF THE WORK OF GENERATIONS, REPRODUCING.THE FEMALES ABILITY TO GIVE BIRTH TO CHILDREN, ACCORDING TO ARISTOTLE.

PAUL SAYS THAT EVE CAME FROM ADAMS RIB AND NOT FROM HIS HEAD. AND NEITHER IS IT RIGHT FOR HER TO BE HIS SERVANT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT COME FROM HIS FEET.

NOW TURNING TO THE PASSAGE IN EPH. CHAPTER 5 VERSES 21-33 WE FIND EVEN IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION, THE SCOPE OF THIS PASSAGE IS LIMITED TO THE SUBJECT OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES, EXCEPT THE FIRST SENTENCE WHICH IS DIRECTED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. THIS SCRIPTURE IS OFTEN LIFTED UP IN REFERENCE TO WOMEN, MORE OF IT IS WRITTEN TO HUSBANDS THAN TO WIVES. IN THE GREEK 47 WORDS ARE DIRECTED AT WIVES WHILE 143 WORDS ARE DIRECTED AT HUSBANDS.

THERE ARE 3 KEY WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE THAT EMBODY THE CONCEPTS WITHIN THE NEW MODEL PAUL PRESENTED FOR CHRISTAIN COUPLES. WORDS THAT ARE EASILY MIS-UNDERSTOOD WHEN TRANSLATING INTO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.REMEMBER, PAUL DID NOT WRITE HIS LETTERS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

THE FIRST KEY WORD IS 'HEAD' WHICH MEANS 'LEADER'. 'THE HUSBAND IS HEAD OF THE WIFE'. PAUL EXPLAINED, 'AS CHRIST IS HEAD [OR LEADER] OF THE CHURCH'. PAUL USED THE WORD 'KEPHALE' WHICH MEANS ONE WHO LEADS BUT NOT IN THE SENSE OF 'BOSS' OR 'DIRECTOR' OR 'RULER'. A KEPHALE WAS ONE WHO WENT BEFORE THE TROOPS, THE FIRST INTO BATTLE.

THE NEXT KEY WORD IS 'BE SUBJECT TO'  PAUL USED THE WORD 'HUPOTASSO' IN THE MIDDLE VOICE. HE WAS REQUESTING THAT WIVES VOLUNTARILY, WILLINGLY, AND ACTIVELY BE SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR HUSBANDS. THAT IS THE WORD 'HUPOTASSOMAI' WHICH MEANS TO 'GIVE ALLEGIANCE TO', OR TEND TO THE NEEDS OF AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF OR BE RESPONSIVE OF ONE ANOTHER.

THE NEXT KEY WORD IS 'LOVE'. THREE TIMES PAUL INSTRUCTED HUSBANDS TO LOVE THEIR WIVES AS IF HE NEEDED TO PRESS THE MATTER. THE ENGLISH WORD 'LOVE' HAS MANY MEANINGS SO THIS LEAVES HIS MEANING RATHER VAUGE. THE WORD PAUL USED HERE IS 'AGAPAO' WHICH IS ALMOST IDENTICAL WITH THE WORD 'HUPOTASSOMAI'. BOTH WORDS INVOLVE GIVING UP ONES SELF-INTREST TO RESPECT AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THESE 3 KEY WORDS, THEN PAULS ADVICE IN EPH. CHAPTER 5, VERSES 21-33 ARE TO BE TRANSLATED THIS WAY; BE SUPPORTIVE OF ONE ANOTHER, WIVES BE SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR HUSBANDS, AS OF THELORD. FOR THE HUSBAND IS HEAD OF THE WIFE, THAT IS GOING AHEAD OF HER IN THE SAME WAY AS CHRIST IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH BY BEING SAVIOR OF THE BODY. BUT AS THE CHURCH IS SUPPORTIVE OF CHRIST, SO LET THE WIVES ALSO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR HUSBANDS IN EVERYTHING. HUSBANDS BE RESPONSIVE AND BE SUPPORTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF YOUR WIVES AS CHRIST HAS BEEN TO THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT MAKE HER HOLY, CLEANSING HER BY THE WASHING OF WATER WITH THE WORD, THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT THE CHURCH TO HIMSELF IN ALL GLORY, WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANT SUCH THING, THAT SHE SHOULD BE HOLY AND UNBLEMISHED. SO HUSBANDS OUGHT ALSO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR WIVES AS TO THEIR OWN BODIES. HE WHO RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF HIS OWN WIFE IS RESPONDING TO HIS OWN NEEDS. FOR NO MAN EVER HATED HIS OWN FLESH BUT NOURISHES AND CHERISHES IT, AS CHRIST DOES THE CHURCH, BECAUSE WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE. THIS MYSTERY IS GREAT, BUT I SAY IT IN REFERENCE TO CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. HOWEVER, LET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF HIS WIFE AS TO HIS OWN NEEDS, AND LET THE WIFE SEE THAT SHE RESPECT AND RESPONDS TO HER HUSBAND.'

PAUL LIFTED UP THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH AS A NEW MODEL FOR CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE. CHRIST IS THE HEAD, 'KEPHALE', OF THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY.CHRIST BECAME THE KEPHALE OF THE CHURCH BY GIVING HIMSELF UP FOR THE CHURCH, SUFFERING DEATH ON THE CROSS FOR HIS LOVED ONES.

WHAT ABOUT THE PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE THAT MOST MEN USE AGAINST WOMEN PREACHERS? WHAT WAS PAUL REALLY SAYING IN 1 CORINTHAINS CHAPTER 14 AND ALSO IN 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 2? IN THE TIME OF PAULS WRITINGS THE WOMWN WERE SEPERATED FROM THE MEN AND WOULD ENGAGE IN GOSSIP WITH EACH OTHER AND NOT BE QUIET SO OTHERS COULD LISTEN TO THE SERMONS. THE SUBJECT IS NOT WHETHER OR NOT A WOMAN COULD PREACH, OR GIVE A SPEACH ,OR PROPHESY, THE SUBJECT WAS TO LISTEN AND LEARN AND BE QUIET SO ALL COULD HEAR THE SPEAKER. BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. IN 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 2 THE SUBJECT WAS LETTING THE WOMEN LEARN. HE IS SAYING, PLEASE DO NOT TALK OR GOSSIP WITH EACH OTHER SO ALL COULD LEARN WITHOUT NOISY COMMOTION AND CONFUSION. MEANING, HUSH UP DURING THE SERVICE SO ALL COULD LISTEN AND LEARN.

 

Do Animals Have A Soul?

I have been asked that question many times in the past and so I am going to go to the Bible to see what the Bible says on the subject.

Let us go the the book of Leviticus to find the answer.

Let us start with the 10th. verse where it reads like this; And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn amoung you, that eateth any manner of blood;I will even set my face against that soul that eateth the blood, and will cut him off from amoung his people. Verse 11; for the life of the flesh is in the blood: I have given it to you upon the alter to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Verse 12; therefor I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. Verse 13; and whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn amoung you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall pour out the blood thereof, and shall cover it with dust.

Here it the important verse:

Verse 14; For it is the life of all flesh, the blood of it is for the life thereof: Therefor I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eatheth it shall be cut off.

The word 'LIFE' is 'SOUL', NEPHESH.

Do animals go to Heaven?

The 11th. chapter of Isaiah suggest that they do.

I am reminded of the song; "Peace in the Valley".