AboutRev C.Brian Ross Expertise I am happy to offer answers to anyone with a question that refers to the Christian Faith in its widest possible sense. I believe that the Bible is the living Word of God, and seek to base all of my life on its teaching. I also have some knowledge of some of the cults, and of Islam and Judaism. Of course, my answers are just one man's thoughts, and I would always advise a questioner to check with others, and with the Word of God.
Experience Served as a full-time parish minister in Scotland for about six years, and then spent the last thirty as a teacher (now 'retired') of Religious Education in Secondary Comprehensive schools (ages 11-17) while continuing my own preaching and teaching ministry. I also believe that learning is a life-time process, and have recently completed a Master's degree in Divinity.
Organizations Former Presenter on Revival FM - a local Christian, community radio station, broadcasting in west central Scotland, and online at revival.fm Involved with a number of organisations that support Christians who are currently suffering persecution in some 70 countries around the world.
Publications Various articles in Christian magazines. I also have two blogsites - www.crazyrev.blogspot.com and (with audio messages) www.revcbross.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials Diploma of The Bible Training Institute, Glasgow;
Licentiate in Theology of the University of Glasgow;
Associateship of The Philosophical Society of England;
Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) in History from The Open University;
Post-grad Certificate of Education - Religious Education and History;
Post-grad Cetificate in Learning and Teaching;
Post-grad Diploma in Management and Learning in Education;
Master of Science Degree from the University of Strathclyde;
Master of Divinity Degree (Hons) from Trinity College and Seminary (accredited by the University of Liverpool)
Question QUESTION: hi again, i asked you a question a few days ago, about Adam & Eve etc. and your reply was excellent. i have another question, i am seiously interested.
we have all been told about " the Forbidden Fruit " with refernce to Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden. as a child who went to churc, and sunday school regular, the Forbidden Fruit was often refered to as a Apple,
why a Apple ????? please
kindess regards carol
ANSWER: Hello, again, Carol.
Thank you for your kind remarks - and for another unusual question!
The first point to make is, of course, that the Book of Genesis nowhere mentioned any specific fruit, merely referring to the more generic term 'fruit'.
It is my understanding that the 'popularity' of the apple has come about because of a word-play in the Vulgate - the first generally-accepted Latin version of the Bible (there had been other attempts to translate from the Hebrew and Greek, but this one [4th -5th century]was 'authorised' by the contemporary pope). In the Latin language, the word for 'apple' is 'malum', while the word for 'evil' is also 'malum' ('malus' if used as an adjective). One can see the obvious temptation (no pun intended!), therefore, to use the apple as the fruit that introduced evil to the fledgling humanity.
Other attempts have been made to identify the actual fruit - ranging from a fig to a pomegranate; from a grape to a lemon. For each of the alternatives, there is some level of reasoning but the bottom line is that, for reasons of His own, Father God has not seen it to be necessary that we have that specific information.
The important teaching of Gen.3 is, of course, nothing to do with the specific fruit that was produced by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (that may well have been a fruit that was never even seen outwith the Garden in Eden!); but with the indisputable fact that mankind sinned by disobedience, can never make up for that sin, and needs a Saviour. The same Father God Who planted that Garden provided that Saviour in the Person of the Son (you may wish to listen to my audio message on the Doctrine of the Trinity at www.revcbross.blogspot.com). It would be my hope that, while coming up with all of your interesting questions, you will come to a saving knowledge of the Second Adam, and receive eternal life.
Blessings
C.Brian Ross (Rev)
www.crazyrev.blogspot.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: hi again, again many thanks for the info & reply above.
one point i do Not understand is
The Second Adam ????
sorry as i said i,m only had a limited schooling and that was amny years ago, but i do not understand this at all
i look forward to your explaination
kindess regards carol
Answer Hi Carol,
I am glad that I have been of some assistance, and that you feel that your knowledge base is expanding.
The term the "Second Adam" actually comes from a hymn - "Praise to the Holiest in the height", written by John Henry Newman in the 19th century. The second stanza (verse) reads:
"O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight
And to the rescue came"
This is, however, a direct reference to the words of Paul when, in I Cor.15:45,47, he refers to the Lord Jesus as "the last Adam" and "Christ, the second man". The word 'adam' is, I should pont out, the basic Hebrew word for 'man'.
What Paul is stating is that, just as by the first man - Adam - sin and death entered the world, so by the sacrifice of Jesus, and His glorious resurrection, both sin and death were defeated.
The point that I was trying to make in my last answer is that knowledge, of itself, is of limited value. The basic message of the Christian Gospel is that, because of Adam each one of us is born a sinner, and that we are incapable of living a life that would cancel out our sinfulness. However, in the Persona of Jesus, the Holy and sinless God paid the penalty on our behalf - although we must consciously accept the forgiveness that He gained in order for it to be effective for us as individuals.
It's as if, in the days when the death penalty operated in this country, I had just been found guilty, in court, of multiple murders. The judge has just placed the black cap on his head, and pronounced the sentence - that I be taken to a place of lawful execution, and there hanged by the neck until I am dead. I have nothing to say - I know that I have been justly condemned. Then, to my amazement, the judge removes the black cap; removes his judge's wig and robes; and allows himself to be bound, and led to the gallows. There, the noose is placed around his neck, and he is hanged. I am the guilty one, but I am the one who goes free! However, I could have insisted that I be hanged also - yet what a waste of the judge's life that would have been! You will find a little more about this, and a helpful song, on my main ministry blog at http://www.crazyrev.blogspot.com/
and at Sat. 26th Septmber, 2009. I hope that you will take time to look it up, read, and listen.
