The Walk Per Day

WebersHome · Nov 14, 2017

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467) 1Pet 3:7b . . giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,

The koiné Greek word for "honor" is time (tee-may') which means: a value, i.e. money paid.

The word for "weaker" is asthenes (as-then-ace') which means: having no strength, i.e. fragile.

And the word for "vessel" is skeuos (skyoo'-os) which can indicate anything from a soup bowl to a file cabinet or a cardboard box; in other words: a container.

Peter isn't saying women are physically weaker than men; but that Christian husbands should exercise the same care with their wives as they would a fragile antique worth thousands of dollars like, say, a Ming vase. Nobody in their right mind handles a Ming vase like a farmer handles a 5-gallon bucket. Not that some women couldn't take that kind of handling; it's just that its unbecoming for a Christian man to lack sensitivity for his wife's feelings.

This Ming-vase value isn't an intrinsic value, nor is it a deserved value either; but rather, it's a gratuitous value. In other words: Christ commands Christian husbands to categorize their wives up there with Dresden china even if she's as tough as a female cop and/or a UFC mixed martial artist the likes of Rhonda Rousey-- and this is not a choice; no, it's not a choice; it's an order.

Christian husbands who treat their Skil saws and their tomato plants with more care and concern than they treat their wives can just forget about associating with God on any meaningful level.

● 1Pet 3:7c . . as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Note the word "together" which is quite the opposite of autonomy and/or independence.

Couples sometimes assert themselves with words like "What I do is between me and The Lord." No; not when you're married. Marriage changes everything between one's self and The Lord because people become one flesh in marriage: no longer two.

468) 1Pet 3:8a . . Finally, all of you be of one mind,

Peter’s not talking about the nerve center of a Borg-hive collective. The koiné Greek word for "one mind" is homophron (hom-of'-rone) which means: harmonious; and this is the only place in the entire New Testament where that word appears.

Webster’s defines "harmonious" as: 1) musically concordant, 2) having the parts agreeably related; viz: congruous, and 3) marked by accord in sentiment or action.

Peter's directive emphasizes the third element-- "marked by accord in sentiment or action". Head-strong Christians, domineering Christians, those for whom every disagreement is either an affront or an act of war to win at any cost-- those for whom the word diplomacy has no meaning --of course have trouble complying with 1Pet 3:8a; that is: if they even consider it worthy of their notice.

469) 1Pet 3:8b-9 . . having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing.

"compassion" is from the koiné Greek word sumpathes (soom-path-ace') which means: having a fellow-feeling; viz: sympathetic, i.e. (by implication) mutually commiserative.

One of the meanings of commiserate is condole: like when we share someone's grief at the passing of a loved one, or their job has been outsourced to cheap labor in India, or they've lost their entire retirement fund to an unscrupulous corporation like ENRON, or their life savings to a crooked Ponzi schemer like Bernie Madoff, or when there's news from their doctor they have to begin chemo-therapy for a recently detected advanced cancer, or when the car of a single mom with limited income needs expensive repairs. That is no time to be thoughtless. People in those predicaments are in sore need of condolences, and they are in no mood for philosophical platitudes.

The Greek word for "railing" is loidoria (loy-dor-ee'-ah) which means slander or vituperation; which Webster's defines as 1) to abuse or censure severely or abusively; viz: berate, and 2) to use harsh condemnatory language.

Rejoinders fall into that category; which are defined as a usually rude or angry reply to something written or said; viz: insensitive come-backs deliberately meant to hurt people's feelings; viz: tit for tat. That kind of behavior doesn't go unnoticed.

● Matt 12:36-37 . . I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.

470) 1Pet 3:10-11 . . Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

Webster's defines guile as "duplicity" which is defined as: contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially in the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action; in other words, speaking with a forked tongue and/or saying one thing while meaning another.

You know, it's ironic; but if we were to take guile out of the political process, nobody would get elected. I simply cannot imagine an America with forthright politicians either in Congress, or the Senate, or the White House.

My father-in-law, who retired from Safeco Title as a senior vice president and general counsel, once remarked that advertising is the art of deception. You know what that says to me? It says that Madison Avenue's Mad Men really have gone mad after all.

FYI: To seek peace and pursue it is blessing-worthy.

● Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

If it's true that only peaceable kinds of people qualify to wear the label "children of God" then the opposite is just as true: difficult Christians are unworthy of the distinction.

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WebersHome · Nov 15, 2017

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471) 1Pet 3:14a . . If you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.

Peter isn't talking about one's religious beliefs per se, but about one's personal righteousness; in other words, one's personal conduct, and their convictions about what's right and what's wrong.

The koiné Greek word for "righteousness" in that passage is dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay) which means: equity (of character or act). Webster's defines equity as: justice according to natural law or right; specifically freedom from bias or favoritism.

When Adam and his wife indulged in the forbidden fruit, they became their own Gods with their own opinions about what's right and what's wrong.

● Gen 3:22 . . And Yhvh God said: The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.

To give an idea of just how much this situation effects everyday life: the US Supreme Court not too long ago voted 5-4 on an important firearms issue. What does that tell me? It tells me that there are justices on that Court whose opinions are unrighteous because if the justices were all righteous, then the vote, whichever way it went, would have been unanimous.

The effects of humanistic righteousness are evident in mainstream Christianity too. Some time ago, a Presbyterian General Assembly voted whether or not to allow gay clergy. The measure passed by the slimmest of margins: 51%. What does that tell me? It tells me that fully half of that Presbyterian General Assembly is not listening to God because had they all been listening, the vote would have been unanimous one way or the other rather than two opposing opinions.

NOTE: There should be no question that a gay clergy is wrong.

● 1Tim 3:7 . . He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the Devil's trap.

A gay Christian church elder would be seen by the world as a bona fide hypocrite; which can be roughly defined as somebody who should be standing for the Bible but at heart does not care to live by it. With a Christian church officer like that; it's reasonable to suspect that the congregation is compromised in other areas of faith and practices.

472) 1Pet 3:14b . . And do not fear their intimidation, nor be shaken,

Peer pressure, mob rule, cultural influences, group-think, survival, and customs are always at work seeking to manipulate people.

Take for example the current wave of suicide bombings and acts of terrorism perpetrated by Islamic extremists. In their own sick estimation, the murders and destruction of private property they cause are justifiable; but any unbiased person can easily see that what they are committing are crimes against humanity.

The extremists no doubt see themselves as martyrs and patriots, but the unbiased world only sees them as criminals; which, in the grand scheme of things; is exactly what they are. Meanwhile, the extremists are exerting peer pressure on peaceable Muslims all over the world to join their cause. When peaceable Muslims refuse, then they too become targets just as if they were devils rather than followers of Mohammad. In other words, the extremists are insinuating that unless Islamists commit murder and destruction of private property, they aren't true Muslims. That's a pretty extreme example of how peer pressure, mob rule, cultural influences, group-think, survival, and customs cause people to do unrighteous things.

In this current world, if you side with God in matters of right and wrong, you become a target for intimidation; which Webster's defines as: inducing fear and/or a sense of inferiority. Intimidation need not be a threat of violence to be effective. Peer pressure and ostracism are powerful tools of intimidation. Human beings are herd animals; we all want to fit in and belong. If you follow the herd, you will be accepted; but if you dare to buck the tide; you will find yourself unpopular in a very short time. It's ironic. Here in America we idolize the concept of rugged individuality. But the truth is; we despise people who do their own thinking; and Americans really despise individuals who dare to side with God.

I was reading an article in the newspaper recently that said in the past, it was wise for candidates for Federal office take sides with religion, but nowadays, in an increasingly irreligious American society, it's becoming best not to if they hope to win enough votes to get elected.

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WebersHome · Nov 16, 2017

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473) 1Pet 3:15a . . Dedicate your hearts to The Lord God

The koiné Greek word for "hearts" in that verse is from kardia (kar-dee'-ah); an ambiguous word that can mean the organ pumping blood throughout the body, the core of one's being, one's affections, one's center, and/or one's thoughts and feelings,

Dedicating one's heart is sort of like setting it upon something, i.e. to have a strong (and sometimes inflexible) desire for something; for example:

● Luke 22:14-15 . .When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them: I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Within the context of 1Pet 3:10-16, dedicating one's heart to The Lord pertains to moral goodness with respect to how God feels about certain things, i.e. one's conscience.

It is first necessary to know what constitutes moral goodness in respect to how God feels about things; and in order to know, His followers have to get into the Bible.

● Rom 12:1-2 . . I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

● Heb 5:14 . . Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

A training regimen, though it be the best, is quite useless unless people work at it on a regular basis. That's just common sense. For example: Yoga will improve your balance; but you've got to make Yoga a regular part of your life in order for it to work. A little Yoga here, and a little Yoga there, is not exactly the ideal way to go about it.

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WebersHome · Nov 17, 2017

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474) 1Pet 3:15b . . Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you.

The koiné Greek word for "hope" in that passage, and in others (e.g. Rom 8:23-25) is elpis (el-pece') which means expectation; viz: elpis isn't wishful thinking, nor crossing your fingers, nor is it a blend of longing, insecurity, and doubt; no, elpis is a confident kind of hope that looks forward to something that it fully expects to obtain; ergo: elpis is an anticipating hope; viz: it doesn't pray for the best, while in the back of its mind dreading the worst.

When people aren't 110% sure what the afterlife has in store for them-- if there is even the slightest concern, or unease --they can't possibly comply with 1Pet 3:15b for the simple reason that the hope that is in them, if any, is the wrong kind of hope.

"Rejoicing in hope." (Rom 12:12)

When people are praying for the best, while in the back of their mind dreading the worst, they have absolutely no cause for rejoicing; no; but they do have plenty of cause to fear the unknown.

Know-so hope is a calling.

"You were also called to the one hope" (Eph 4:4)

So when people are unsure of their afterlife destiny; it's an indication that they have not yet responded to the call to the one hope.

FAQ: What is this so-called one hope?

A: One of its components is a new body. (Acts 2:26-27, Acts 23:6, Rom 8:23-25, and 1John 3:2)

Having a new body to look forward to is comforting and helps me cope with losing the body I have now; especially its deterioration. Death is bad enough, but the aging process to my thinking is worse. Thank heavens we only have to get old just the one time and never again.

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WebersHome · Nov 18, 2017

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475) 1Pet 4:1-2 . .Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

The koiné Greek word for flesh is sarx (sarx); which basically indicates the meaty parts of either man or beast; i.e. the body. The meaty parts of course include one's brain.

The "lusts of men" is speaking of wants that are common to everyone. (cf. 1Cor 10:13)

The koiné Greek word for "lusts" is epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) which means: a longing, defined by Webster's as a strong desire, i.e. a craving.

Cravings aren't necessarily bad. Problems arise when we let our cravings rule us to the point of acting contrary to good scruples and/or our better judgment especially when it comes to making God frown upon our conduct as unbecoming, i.e. inappropriate for His son's followers.

The koiné Greek word for "lusts" is epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) which means: a longing.

NOTE: It offends some Christians to even so much as think that Christ might've had human longings just like everybody else. They truly believe he should have been above all that-- he wasn't. Much of Jesus' suffering in the flesh came from suppressing his body's natural cravings. (Heb 5:7-8)

As the Word in heaven above, Jesus knew by omniscience that it's tough to be an h.sapiens; but now he knows for himself by personal experience just how tough it is. (Heb 2:16-18, Heb 4:15)

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WebersHome · Nov 19, 2017

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476) 1Pet 4:7 . . The culmination of all things is approaching; therefore be serious, and watchful in your prayers.

Another version says:

". . . therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers."

In other words; if we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1John 1:6, cf. Gen 4:7, Isa 1:2-15, and 1Pet 3:7)

477) 1Pet 4:8 . . Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love hides a large number of sins.

A person easily provoked is not a loving person.

One Saturday morning I and another man at church were moving some furniture from one place to another inside the main building where, completely unknown to us, a wedding rehearsal was being conducted. The woman in charge of organizing the wedding came out into the hall and began scolding us for talking and making noise. When I pointed out that there were no posted signs in the hallway indicating a function in progress on the other side of the door, she became sullen, and tightened her lips and narrowed her eyes in anger. Had that lady exemplified the love about which Peter wrote, she would have handled her inconvenience with a little more tact and sensitivity.

● Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be known as God's kin.

BTW: That same lady was also in the choir, and sang doxologies in front of about 2,000 people every Sunday morning. She was good at musical harmony, but obviously in sore need of some training in the civil kind.

478) 1Pet 4:10 . .As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The koiné Greek word for "manifold" is poikilos (poy-kee'-los) which means: motley, i.e. varied in character. All that’s really saying is that the gifts of God are multifarious; viz: having a number of different aspects or characteristics. (cf. Rom 12:5-8, 1Cor 12:1-11)

Unfortunately, people with natural aptitudes generally make up the majority of those serving in church capacities for which is supposed to be required a spiritual gift from God. They may look like they're "on fire" for The Lord, but really all they are is ambitious.

479) 1Pet 4:11b . . Whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Hardly anybody seems to care much about that anymore, nor would anybody probably know the difference anyway. It’s been my observation that the truly spiritually-gifted Christians are mostly invisible, and go about their business right under the noses of the stars in church, whose own spiritual decadence is oftentimes very embarrassing to Christianity.

Point being; those that do have genuine spiritual gifts need to make very sure that when they exercise those gifts in church; they do so for the benefit of The Lord’s sheep rather than for their own ends.

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WebersHome · Nov 20, 2017

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480) 1Pet 4:11a . . If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.

The Greek word for "oracles" is logion (log'-ee-on) which refers to spoken words.

Here's another way to put Peter's instructions:

"Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God"

Though the Bible isn't one long quotation of God's actual spoken words from cover to cover; nevertheless, for all practical intents and purposes, Christians do well to regard the Bible as the words of God anyway; and that applies to both the Old and the New testaments for the reason that all scripture is by inspiration of God-- whether He actually spoke the Bible's words Himself makes no difference. (2Tim 3:16-17)

Here's an excellent example of what Peter is driving at:

"The Levites-- Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah --instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read." (Neh 8:7-8)

My hat's off to those Levites. They did exactly what every preacher worth his salt should be doing in our own day and age; viz: they taught the people using the word of God-- directly from the actual text itself.

481) 1Pet 4:12-13 . . Beloved, don't be perplexed by the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad-- because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.

It's easy to think of Christ's sufferings as only those that occurred on the cross and the night of his arrest. But it's important to remember that Christ lived on this earth for about 30 years prior to his public appearances; and during those years, he did not lead a sheltered life; in point of fact, during those 30 years he underwent a sort of boot camp.

● Heb 5:7-9 . . During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

It's a piece of cake for the Word of John 1:1 to comply with God's wishes because the Word himself is God too. But when the Word took on the nature of a human being; that's when he found out just how difficult it is for flesh and blood to comply with God's wishes; hence the prayers and loud cries and tears. The incarnate Word had a mission; and left on his own, Jesus would have surely failed. But God was onboard to insure he didn't.

● John 3:34 . . God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.

However, Jesus didn't take the Spirit for granted but kept up a barrage of prayers for assistance. You won't see much of that in the Gospels. The place to look for Jesus' prayers is the Psalms where David did quite of a bit of ghost writing for him. (cf. Luke 24:44-45)

The koiné Greek word for "partners" is koinoneo (koy-no-neh'-o) which means: to share with another; viz: to participate. In other words, football fans are not on the team, no they're up in the safety of the stands either cheering, hissing, or booing. In order to "participate" in a game, you have to be down on the gridiron in harm's way getting some bruises.

The Bible says there is no trial taken you but such as is common to the entire human race (1Cor 10:13). Jesus wasn't shielded from any of those. The Word not only came as a man, but he also lived as a man.

● Heb 2:17-18 . . It was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is qualified to help us when we are being tempted.

● Heb 4:15-16 . . This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will obtain mercy, and find grace to help us when we need it.

For a good many millennia, the Word's compassion for Man was pretty much limited to empathy rather than sympathy. In other words, until John 1:14, the Word could understand your pain, and he could pity your pain; but he could not feel it because the Word had zero experience at being human.

So then, when I meet with Christ around the table in God's home, I don't expect to meet a stranger to my way of life; no, I fully expect to meet a man who's been around the block a time or two. Not only will he be able to relate to my stories, but I in return will be able to relate to his. Sharing in Christ's glory would have the nature of an entourage if not for the fact that I will have the satisfaction of knowing that Christ, in a manner of speaking, came from the same neighborhood as I to get to where he is today.

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WebersHome · Nov 21, 2017

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482) 1Pet 4:15-16 . . But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's affairs. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

The koiné Greek word for "Christian" is christianos (khris-tee-an-os') which means: a follower of Christ. That word appears in only three places in the entire New Testament. The other two are Acts 11:26 and Acts 26:28. Peter’s is the only epistle where it appears; and it’s nowhere in any of the four gospels.

Not everyone pledging their allegiance to Christ actually follows him.

● Luke 6:46 . .Why do you call me Lord and Master and do not what I say?

● Matt 7:22-23 . . Many will say to me in that day; Lord, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them; I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

A good example of glorifying God in the midst of one's troubles is Mr. Job.

● Job 1:20-22 . . At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and The Lord has taken away; may the name of The Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by accusing God with wrongdoing.

● Job 2:9-10 . . His wife said to him: Are you still clinging to your integrity? Curse God and die! Job replied: You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

James 5:11 speaks of the "patience" of Job; which is illustrated by the fact that in all his trouble, Job remained loyal to God and never once lost his confidence that God is blameless in all that He does, instead of accusing Him of being a cruel sadist who enjoys toying with His creations and amusing Himself by making them suffer.

483) 1Pet 4:19 . .Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

In the world of business, it’s sometimes necessary to take a concern to court in order to force venders of goods and services to honor their commitments. Well, the Bible’s God is not like that; no, the Bible's God is not a slimy weasel: He's a person of real integrity.

Peter emphasized that human soul was created rather than produced by a mysterious interaction of time, space, and matter. In other words: human soul had both a beginning and a beginner; viz: human soul would not exist at all had not a higher power willed it into existence.

FAQ: What is meant by souls?

A: Soul basically refers to consciousness and individuality. (Gen 1:20-21, Gen 1:24, and Gen 2:7)

In its entirety, normal human life consists of body, soul, and spirit. (1Thess 5:23). Those three components are separable, viz: the soul and the spirit are capable of surviving the body's demise. (Matt 10:28, Luke 23:46, and Heb 4:12)

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WebersHome · Nov 22, 2017

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484) 1Pet 5:1-3 . .Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

First off; Peter assures church officers that his proximity to Christ says very clearly, and without ambiguity, that he knows what he's talking about so they really ought to listen to what he has to say about managing a church.

The New Testament doesn't record Peter as being present at Christ's crucifixion, but that obviously doesn't eo ipso preclude his attendance somewhere in the audience that day, or observing everything from a respectable distance. (cf. Matt 26:58, Matt 27:55)

The conjunction "therefore" refers to one of Peter's previous statements; specifically this one:

"For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God" (1Pet 4:17)

That's an echo of 1Cor 3:4-23 and 1Cor 4:2-5 where Paul revealed that people "serving Christ" are facing a possibly very unpleasant evaluation.

Church is no country for achievers, nor is it a career track, nor is it a country for control freaks and power-hungry imperious despots, nor for people who love to bask in limelight and crave admiration and the center of attention; no, serving in a church is for shepherds; and if you're not sure what shepherding entails; then next time you're at a county fair strike up a conversation with some of the 4H kids and they'll be only too glad to tell you just what a thankless, man-killing, drudgery-ridden, time consuming, smelly, expensive, inconvenient, filthy, and sometimes dangerous line of work that animal husbandry really is.

So why do 4H kids do it? Because they love their animals; and if a luminary in church doesn't feel a genuine affection for those under their supervision, then that luminary will utterly fail to exercise oversight according to the will of God. Self-seeking luminaries are depicted as poor sources of water. (2Pet 2:17)

You know what a professional church officer is? They're a hireling; and according to God's son, a hireling cannot be depended upon to protect the sheep when a wolf is at the door.

● John 10:11-13 . . I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is an hireling, and not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and abandons the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep.

A paid church officer might be willing to sacrifice himself for the benefit of The Lord's sheep; but will he sacrifice his wife who has cancer, and/or his two daughters' future whom he has to put through college, and/or the mortgage on his home and/or his health insurance? No, the best interests of The Lord's sheep will be very low on the hireling's list of priorities because his primary interest is in keeping his job, protecting his income, his health benefits, and his wife and children. The hireling will circle the wagons when the wolf comes; yes, but not around the sheep; no, around himself. So be very cautious in putting too much trust in a church officer; you just might end up disillusioned and very disappointed.

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WebersHome · Nov 23, 2017

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485) 1Pet 5:5a . .You younger, likewise, be subject to your elders

The elders in this instance are church elders; not just any nondescript person of age that happens to be in the area; and the inference is that the inexperienced Christians should not think of themselves as know-it-alls, but rather, respect the mature Christians as mentors who genuinely know a thing or two.

Peter's command isn't optional; no, it's mandatory, and it's very serious.

● Heb 13:17 . . Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

If you should find yourself in a church whose elders you don't trust and/or simply cannot respect, then it's time to move on and find a church whose elders are worth their salt.

486) 1Pet 5:5b . . and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

The koiné Greek word for "humble" is tapeinophrosune (tap-i-nof-ros-oo'-nay) which means lowliness of mind; viz: modesty, which Webster's defines as freedom from conceit or vanity. Lowliness of mind is to be greatly desired for its blessing.

● Matt 5:3 . . Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Humility is very rare on internet forums. Active members are typically easily insulted and infected with vanity; plus imperious, domineering, despotic, assertive, confrontational, arrogant, conceited, reactive, thin-skinned, self-righteous, emotional, critical, and defensive. Those are not what I would call good Christian attributes. They also have a propensity to jump to conclusions, get the wrong impression, and fly off the handle. Those aren't good Christian attributes either; in point of fact; none of those attributes are blessing-worthy.

"Grace" is one of those ambiguous abstract nouns that nobody seems to agree upon. Noah found grace in God's eyes (Gen 6:8) which in his case, regarded providence; which can be defined as kindly patronage. It was by God's providence that Noah and his family survived the Flood while the sons of God and their harems didn't. Let that sink in. Just because people label themselves a Christian, and profess a belief in Christ, is no guarantee they'll escape the horrors of the book of Revelation. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generation; too many of today's card-carrying Christians are neither.

The koiné Greek word for "proud" is huperephanos (hoop-er-ay'-fan-os) which means appearing above others, viz: haughty. Those kinds of people typically regard others with contempt, i.e. underserving of respect or even so much as common courtesy. Haughty people are typically cruel, thoughtless, insensitive, and badly infected with a superiority complex, which goes hand in hand with arrogance: defined as an exaggerated sense of one's importance, sometimes manifested in an overbearing manner.

Arrogant people can be intolerably pushy and assertive at times; standing up to them usually always provokes an indignant reaction and a call to arms, so to speak, because these folk regard any and all disagreements with their way of thinking as demeaning attacks upon their core values and their distorted sense of self worth. These people have very little interest in harmony; they're stand-up fighters whose primary interest is winning.

Seeing as how Heaven is reputed a place of peace, then the arrogant, the haughty, and the proud cannot be allowed to go there with their unholy personalities. For sure they'd just end up making things very uncomfortable for Heaven's normally mild-mannered, affable society

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WebersHome · Nov 24, 2017

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487) 1Pet 5:6 . . Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time

The role model for this kind of humility is The Lord himself; who obeyed his master with the mindset of a for-life indentured servant.

● Ps 40:6-8 . . Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened : burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come : in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God : yea, thy law is within my heart.

The opening of one's ears is related to the law of Ex 21:2-6 that stipulates piercing an indentured servant's ear who wishes to serve his master permanently.

● Php 2:8 . . And being found in fashion as a human being, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death.

● John 4:34 . . My food-- said Jesus --is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish his work.

● John 5:30 . . I seek not to please myself, but rather, Him who sent me.

● John 6:38 . . I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.

Paul instructed Christians to adopt The Lord's mindset.

● Php 2:5 . . Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Christians unwilling to pierce their ears to further God's agenda, are unworthy to identify themselves one of Christ's followers.

● Matt 10:38-39 . . Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

When people identify themselves as a Christian, their attitude is supposed to exemplify the two aspects below:

● Matt 6:10 . . Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

● 2Cor 12:15 . . So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have; and expend myself as well.

488) 1Pet 5:7 . . casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He is concerned about you.

That command is very difficult for a person afflicted with Reactive Attachment Disorder; which is basically the inability to believe that even one person in the whole universe cares a whit about your welfare. RAD is characterized by the inability to trust. For example: when a RAD victim reads 1Pet 5:7, they instinctively believe it may be true for others, but has absolutely no application to themselves. RAD is a very effective faith-inhibitor.

However, even just vocalizing your anxieties can be very therapeutic; while holding it all in can be destructive to your nerves. I think I'd rather talk to an imaginary playmate than to no one at all.

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WebersHome · Nov 26, 2017

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489) 1Pet 5:8-9 . . Be discreet, stay alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour; whom resist, steadfast in the faith

"the faith" isn't only a collection of beliefs, but includes a collection of practices; since according to James, faith without practices is a half-baked faith.

● Jas 1:22-25 . . And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law-- the law that sets you free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

The word "discreet" is translated from the Greek word nepho (nay'-fo) which basically means to abstain from wine. Well; you know the first thing to go when too much alcohol gets in your system is judgment; especially what's known as better judgment; viz: there are things that people do when under the influence that they would never do when sober. Alcohol loosens people up, slackens their inhibitions, makes them let their guard down, makes them careless, clumsy, inefficient, and certainly less intelligent even when their normal IQ is in the hundreds.

Lest someone get the wrong idea; Peter isn't forbidding drink; rather, getting tipsy. If you're one of those rare people with good self control, alcohol poses no threat to your spiritual condition, But if you're one of the many with an unbreakable habit of always exceeding their limit; then I'd have to say that, relative to God's favor vs satanic predation, total abstinence is really the only sensible option.

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WebersHome · Nov 27, 2017

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2Pet 1:5-7 . . Make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

All those things listed by the apostle Peter are "supplements" defined by Webster's as things that are added.

If Peter's list is chronological, then it's evident that believers are not supposed to start with love and work towards faith, rather they're supposed to start with faith and work towards love, viz: unloving believers are still believers yes, but they've plenty of room for improvement; viz: their confidence in Christ's crucifixion as a price he paid to ransom their souls from the wrath of God is good, but it's only the beginning; i.e. a foundation upon which Peter urges them to accumulate the traits on his list.

The Greek word for "virtue" is arete (ar-et'-ay) which basically refers to the strength, and the courage, to stand for what's right.

The word for "knowledge" is gnosis (gno'-sis) which basically refers to information obtained by teaching, instruction, and study rather than known naturally by intuition and/or instinct.

The word for "self-control" is egkrateia (eng-krat'-i-ah) which means: continence. The opposite of continence is incontinence; which is the condition where a person cannot restrain their natural impulses.

The word for "perseverance" is hupomone (hoop-om-on-ay') which means: cheerful (or hopeful) constancy. A hupomone person always keeps looking for the light that they know is at the end of the tunnel; and even if they can't see it for now; they fully expect to.

The word for "godliness" is eusebeia (yoo-seb'-i-ah) which means: piety; defined by Webster's as dutifulness in religion; viz: devoutness; i.e. dedication.

The word for "brotherly kindness" is philadelphia (fil-ad-el-fee'-ah) which means fraternal affection; i.e. fondness. In these days of dysfunctional homes in the USA, fraternal affection has no point of reference in the thinking of some people because they've never seen it, nor ever experienced it. Is it any wonder then that so many homes in America are producing sociopaths, and kids with Reactive Attachment Disorder?

The word for "love" is agape (ag-ah'-pay) which may or may not contain the elements of affection and fondness; but always contains the element of benevolence.

Benevolent people are good folk; they're typically helpful, kind, generous, cordial, hospitable, courteous, tolerant, sympathetic, loyal, and civil.

Agape was a sorely-missing element in my three years of service in the US Army from 1961 to 1964. The men disliked each other; and the men disliked the officers and non-coms; and they in turn disliked the men. Everybody mistrusted each other and each guy had at the most only a couple of guys in my whole 200-man unit he could lean on. That lack of agape had an impact on unit cohesiveness and made America's enemies seem more like friends than foes.

I really appreciate Charlie Sheen's line towards the end of the Hollywood movie "Platoon". It goes something like this: "I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy-- we fought ourselves . . . and the enemy was in us." That line is profound; and an excellent companion to a line in "Terminator 2, Judgment Day" when Arnold Schwarzenegger commented to the young John Connor: "It is in your nature to destroy yourselves."

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WebersHome · Nov 29, 2017

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491) 2Pet 3:1-2 . . Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of The Lord and Savior.

I just don't know why so many professing Christians insist that it's unnecessary for believers to study the Old Testament when Peter insisted just the opposite. The koiné Greek word for "mindful" is mimnesko (mim-nace'-ko) which means: to recall to mind; viz: to keep in mind; to never dismiss, discard, nor forget.

● Luke 24:44-45 . . And he said unto them: These are the words which I spoke 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.

The "scriptures" to which Jesus referred are those of the Old Testament since there was as yet none for the New.

● 1Cor 10:11 . . These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

The "things that happened to them" refer to the adventures of Yhvh's people during their forty years in the wilderness prior to entering the promised land; which consists of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Those are things that Paul says believers should know. (1Cor 10:1)

● 2Tim 3:13-17 . . But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God; and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Paul's instructions to his friend Timothy targeted pastors; of whom Paul says are ill equipped to do their jobs if they don't study the Old Testament.

● Rom 15:4 . . For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through patience, and the counseling of the scriptures, we might have hope.

The koiné Greek word for "hope" in that passage is elpis (el-pece') which doesn't mean to cross your fingers and hope for the best. It means to expect; viz: to anticipate, usually with pleasure. The world's hope is nothing but wistful thinking, while the believer's hope is in the bag and that's why he can look forward to it rather than wish for it.

According to Paul, elpis hope is reinforced by studying the Old Testament so that believers who neglect the Old Testament are more likely to suffer doubts about their future than a believer who studies the Old just as diligently as he studies the New. And besides, the Old and New are not two separate Bibles; no, there is only one Bible. and it is a continuous revelation from front to back; ergo: people who choose the New Testament as their Bible are working with an incomplete revelation.

But back to Peter's statement: "the commandment of us, the apostles of The Lord and Savior." Too many Christians regard the apostles' writings in the epistles as merely information rather than divine edicts that Christ expects to be obeyed just as much as he expects his own personal words to be obeyed. Failure to obey the apostles' writings in the epistles is a domino effect of insubordination all the way to the top.

● Luke 10:16 . .Whoever listens to you; listens to me. Whoever rejects you; rejects me. And whoever rejects me; rejects the one who sent me.

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WebersHome · Nov 30, 2017

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492) 2Pet 3:8-10 . . Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with The Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of The Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Humans have but a short time in the grand scheme of things to accomplish their ambitions before death catches up with them and puts a cap to all their hopes and dreams.

● Ps 145:4 . .Who, breathing his last, returns to the earth; that day all his planning comes to nothing.

But God is under no such time constraints. He exists in eternity; viz: God always was, He always is, and He always will be. As such, God is at liberty to take as much time as He pleases to work things out.

It's theorized by a number of scientists and laymen alike that a big bang initiated the cosmos. Well for sure a big bang will end it; and that's not a theory: that's a divine prediction.

The Bible says The Lord's return will be of a sudden (Luke 17:24, Rev 22:20) but sudden is not the same as soon.

● 2Pet 3:11-12 . . Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

I've noticed that some people endeavor to leave themselves a legacy in the form of all sorts of man-made structures like highways, buildings, libraries, museums, stadiums, bridges, dams, etc. Those structures are neither permanent nor eternal. One day; they'll all disappear in a great roaring fire ball.

493) 2Pet 3:14 . .Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless

Some of the brethren haven't a clue what it is to be in peace; their temperaments won't permit. But that's something they really need to work on because temperamental behavior will not be permitted in the new cosmos.

The koiné Greek word for "looking forward" is prosdokao (pros-dok-ah'-o) which means: to anticipate; viz: to await; for example:

When I was a small boy living in Santee California back in the late 1940's, I used to climb one of the olive trees in the front yard so I could see down the road in the direction that my dad came home every evening in a black 1933 Model A Ford. I always climbed the tree ahead of time so I could begin watching for my dad and spot him coming a long ways off, and then I'd get down and sprint out to the end of our dirt driveway and jump on the running board of that old Ford and ride it back to the house with my dad.

Prosdokao is like that. It fully expects the arrival of a future event; and the future event Peter spoke of in previous verses is not only The Lord's return; but also the utter annihilation of the current cosmos to be replaced by one in which only righteousness exists. Today, righteousness and unrighteousness exist side by side, but in the future, it won't be like that.

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WebersHome · Dec 1, 2017

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494) 2Pet 3:17 . .You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,

"unprincipled" is translated from the Greek word athesmos (ath'-es-mos) which appears in only two places in the entire New Testament; once here and once in 2Pet 2:7 speaking of the manner of life of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah of whom the Bible says: "The men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly, and sinners against The Lord. (Gen 13:13)

In other words: the people of Sodom weren't just defiant; they were outright impudent; knowing full well that their ways were offensive to God.

The Greek word translated "steadfastness" is sterigmos (stay-rig-mos') which appears in no other place in the New Testament but right here so we don't have other passages to compare and thus help us understand what Peter means by it.

Sterigmos basically refers to stability; defined by Webster's as resistance to change, i.e. the ability to withstand force or stress without being distorted, dislodged, or damaged.

Resistance to change doesn't imply impervious to change; in other words; it's possible to weaken the kind of steadfastness Peter was talking about.

The word for "error" is plane (plan'-ay) which means, among other things, fraud and deception, e.g. false impressions, hopes based upon conjecture and/or wishful thinking, false premises, and wrong ideas-- even when innocent. Honest mistakes are still mistakes, and their consequences can be just as serious as willful steps in the wrong direction.

495) 2Pet 3:18 . . But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The above quote from the apostle Peter's second epistle isn't addressed to just any John Q and Jane Doe looky-loo. It's specifically addressed to Christ's believing followers. (2Pet 1:1)

The two pursuits that the apostle Peter ordered are worthwhile for Christ's believing followers because whatever growth in grace they obtain is a permanent growth; and whatever knowledge of God they gain, they keep too: throughout eternity.

Why become more and more gracious? Because the people in heaven are gracious. Yes; they are nothing like the churlish race of cruel hominids infesting the world that you and I live in. If you should perchance go to heaven as an ungracious churl yourself; then you will be in for culture shock because people in heaven are truly civilized and would make even Emily Post seem as rough-hewn as a third-generation Oregon logger.

It's for that very reason that I sincerely believe every new arrival in heaven has to first attend a sort of finishing school where they are forged into decent human beings before being permitted to associate with the others. We pick up a lot of bad, anti-social habits down here on the planet and those habits have to be broken because God's home is a place of peace. It isn't conducive to peace to have thoughtless morons running loose annoying people and committing senseless acts of unkindness.

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WebersHome · Dec 2, 2017

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496) 1John 2:24 . . Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

The trick to abiding in Jesus Christ is to first off have at your disposal the correct way to go about it. Well; that is not so easy sans the possession of a special anointing.

● 1John 2:26-27 . .These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

So then, we may conclude from 1John 2:26-27 that people lacking the anointing:

1• Are susceptible to deception

2• Have very possibly bought into a lie and don't know it, because that's the nature of deception: it's stealthy

3• Do not have in their possession the information one needs to abide in him

4• Are not abiding in him

That pretty much describes the spiritual condition of every Watch Tower Society missionary that comes to our doors because they quite candidly admit they do not have the anointing nor do they ever expect to obtain it.

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WebersHome · Dec 4, 2017

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497) 1John 2:28 . . And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Jesus had quite a bit to say about abiding in him at John 15:1-10; which is just about an impossibility if the little children give no time to studying the New Testament either by private Bible reading, Sunday school classes, sermons, seminars, books, and/or radio Bible programs.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Rom 12:2)

"Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (Jas 1:21)

But knowledge is only a part of abiding in him. It's essential to work Christ's teachings into one's life in order to be sure they won't be ashamed in his presence.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

. . . But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does." (Jas 1:22-25)

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WebersHome · Dec 5, 2017

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498) 1John 3:6-8 . .Whoever abides in him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who sins is of the Devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.

John started off by saying: "whoever abides in him does not sin".

This is tricky because according to 1John 1:8-10 even the apostle John sinned; and surely no one would suggest that John didn't abide in Christ; nor dare say that he had neither seen Christ nor known him.

In a nutshell: "He who sins is of the Devil" refers to people whose religion and/or whose spiritual ideology is something other than Christianity. Those outside of Christianity are practicing unrighteousness; while those inside Christianity are practicing righteousness. Bottom line: the practice of Christianity is the right thing to do while the practice of all other religions and/or spiritual ideologies is the wrong thing to do.

499) 1John 2:28-29 . . And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame at his coming.

The koiné Greek word for "shame" is aischunomai (ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee) which means disgrace.

Here's a concise nose count of the kinds of non Christians, as of mid 2014, who will be deeply, and painfully, confused and humiliated by Christ's return to the earth.

550,000 Scientologists
1,500,000 Mormons
8,200,000 Jehovah's Witnesses
7,794,000 Baha'i
515,951,000 Buddhists
451,292,000 Chinese Folk Religionists
8,424,000 Confucianists
974,597,000 Hindus
5,567,000 Jains
14,142,000 Jews
1,673,590 Muslims
2,819,000 Shintoists
24,918,000 Sikhs
14,183,000 Spiritists
8,660,000 Taoists
196,000 Zoroastrians
828,594,000 Nonreligious
692,111,000 Agnostics
136,483,000 Atheists.

The grand total of just those categories alone is 5,369,071,000

If those figures are in the ball park, and if classical Christianity is the truth; then a minimum of at least 72% of the earth's current population of 7.436 billion people are practicing unrighteousness; and would be painfully confused and humiliated were Christ to return this very day.

● John 15:4-11 . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me.

. . . I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

. . . If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.

. . . Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Christ's commandments consist of a whole lot more material than just do's and don'ts. His commandments consist of "my words", i.e. everything he ever taught, stood for, and/or discussed with his disciples; i.e. his doctrine.

NOTE: Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons are Christians, yes, but not in the traditional sense.

Joseph Smith's movement is a spin-off; in other words: there's some Christianity in Mormonism, but Christianity comprises only a portion of Mormonism. The rest of it is extreme, to say the least.

Neither do Jehovah's Witnesses qualify as Christians in the traditional sense. Charles Taze Russell's movement is a spin-off too. There's some Christianity in the Watchtower Society's doctrines, but Christianity comprises only a portion of Russell's doctrines; and his slant on it is very peculiar.

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WebersHome · Dec 6, 2017

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500) 1John 3:11-13 . . For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another-- not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be perplexed, my brethren, if the world hates you.

A portion of "the message that you heard from the beginning" is located at John 13:34-35.

The Greek word for "love" in that passage, and in 1John 3:11-13, is agapao (ag-ap-ah'-o) which is an impersonal kind of love. In other words; it's civil but not necessarily affectionate; which means you don't have to especially like your fellow Christians, but you can still be nice to them in spite of the fact that some may thoroughly disgust you and/or rub you the wrong way.

A really good example of agapao is John 3:16 where it's said that God so loved the world. Well, it tells me that the love God extended to the world via His son's death is impersonal. It says that God wants what's best for the world in a generous, charitable way rather than motivated by adoration and fondness; i.e. there's generally no attachment in that kind of love.

Agapao is the word for love in John 3:16 but it's not the word for love in John 16:27 which reads like this:

"The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father."

The love in that passage is phileo (fil-eh'-o) which is an affection that God feels for His friends . It's a personal love-- tender, sentimental, and close to home; consisting of things like bonding, fondness and affection. God doesn't feel phileo for just anybody; only for people close to his heart.

The word for "hates" is miseo (mis-eh'-o) which basically means to to detest and/or to love less. Miseo isn't necessarily a passionate dislike; for example Matt 6:24 where a choice is made between God or wealth. (cf. Luke 14:26)

From that I think it's safe to take from John that he's not saying the entire whole world would like nothing better than Christians all lined up and shot, but that we should not expect the world to think highly of us for our religion's beliefs and practices; rather, to them Christianity detracts from our value; i.e. wearing the Christian label makes us less admirable; less of a person.

But there's people out there like Cain too.

"The wicked plot against the righteous and grate their teeth at them." (Ps 37:12)

One of the boys involved in the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School shooting incident murdered a girl in the cafeteria just because she believed in God. Isn't that amazing? That boy was nothing in the world but a twentieth century Cain with a gun.

My own brother and I were paired similar to Cain and Abel. Both of us worshipped the same God, as those two brothers did, and mine was even an altar boy for a while. One evening at church, the priest asked everyone to stand and give their word that they would always honor and obey God. My brother stood along with the rest of us, but did not promise because, he said, there were things he wanted to do. My brother really changed after that. In time he began treating me with an unusual amount of hostility and disrespect; taking every available opportunity to ridicule, mock, demean, and taunt me.

It was so odd because I honestly never gave him any justification to act that way. Of the two of us, he was the best looking, the bravest, the most athletic, the most popular, had all the luck with girls, went to all the dances, owned lots of cars, always had good jobs, and knew all the right people in school. Yet he despised me.

Do you know what made my brother hate me? It was because he sensed that I approved of neither his character nor of his core values. I've since discovered it's an earmark of Cainish people that unless they are admired and approved by others, they become hateful and very resentful; and sometimes malicious too.

There's lots more Cainish people out there. They may not carry guns, but they're in business, in the stock market, in the police department, in the fire department, at the grocery store, at the mall, at the movies, on the freeways, and at your place of work. They are everywhere: they are everybody, and they are nobody-- sometimes they are obvious, sometimes they are subtle. Way too many people in America hate God; and they bitterly despise all who admire God and are in any way loyal to Him at all; especially loyal to the Bible. This condition exists even in the best of churches (cf. Acts 20:29-30, Jude 1:3-4) and I've encountered plenty of "Christians" who will hate your guts simply for disagreeing with their religious beliefs and practices. Now that really ought not to be.

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