Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 2/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: When the Bible say He and Him,does the Bible mean GOD or Jesus?
Also are Jesus and GOD the same?
I know about the three trinities but it is really confusing.
Also before I email you,I need to know if you are like the other two guys that I emailed.No offense,I really like you but it's for my own safety.You seem nice and I trust you but you aren't like the other two are you?
And no,please don't take that to offense,I'm just being precautious.

ANSWER: Dear Corrina,

He and Him are used hundreds of times in the Bible. You need to look at the surrounding texts to know to whom it refers. For example, it might say ‘David said that . . . and he said this.’ In this context ‘he’ refers to David. But if it says God or Jesus said it and then says and ‘he continued to speak,’ it refers to God or Jesus; or ‘Jesus went to . . . and he healed . . . ,’ then you know that the ‘he’ refers to Jesus. So you see, you have to see who the text is talking about in order to discover who is the ‘he’ or ‘him.’ Most Bibles don’t capitalize the words ‘he’ or ‘him’ even when referring to God. (But in all the things I write, I like to capitalize them, because they pertain to God.)

Is Jesus God?

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2  He was with God in the beginning.

I think we looked at this text before. We found out that (vs 14) the ‘Word’ is Jesus. So the Word was with God and the Word was God. So Jesus is God, and yet there is another Person who is God, too (Jesus called Him 'the Father.' So that makes at least 2 People who are God—or in the Godhead. We will find elsewhere that the Holy Spirit is also God—and thus we have 3 Members in the Godhead all of whom together are called God. So we worship ONE God Who is THREE Persons. There is a great deal that we can learn in the Bible about this, but in the end, there are many mysteries about which we will never know. I’ll tell you more about this later. It’s a lengthy study in itself.

If you want to know who I am, just put my name in Google and look at the first 5 pages that come up. Type in Thurman C. Petty, Jr. and then look at the entries on the first 5 pages. It will show many of the things I have written, and some selections that tell about things I’ve done.

You can also go to my web page www.PettyPress.com and look at some of the books, articles, poems, Bible study guides, etc. that you find on the site. Then, if you feel comfortable with it, write me at my personal e-mail address Petty@hyperusa.com .

I assure you that I am not like the other guys. I will not pester you or seek private information or discuss obscene topics with you. I am a Christian, a retired, yet still active, pastor, a father of 3, and a grandfather of 10. I’m 68, and have been happily married for 48 years.

I want you to know that you do not have to write me at my personal address if you feel hesitant in doing so. I can continue to correspond and answer your questions via Allexperts.com, but it is more difficult for me, in that I have to go on-line and wait for Allexperts.com to come up (I’m on dialup still because broadband is not yet available where I live) and all that takes time, whereas e-mail is quick and easy. But I’m willing to continue as we are if that’s your preference.

The important thing in all of this, is that you begin and keep a close relationship with Jesus. You do this by:
  
1. Spending time reading the Bible every day. Perhaps you can begin with Mark. It’s a short book and moves at a rapid rate, telling what Jesus said and did.

2. Spending time every day praying to Jesus (Remember that He is truly God). Your prayers may be just a few minutes in the beginning, but you may find that they become longer as you read about Jesus and get to know Him better. Prayer is like talking to Jesus as though He were a friend, and in the room with you. (Actually He is your friend (John 14:15; 15:14) and He is in the room with you via the presence of the Holy Spirit.)

3. When you get the opportunity, tell others what Jesus has done for you. We call that witnessing. Witnessing is not trying to give a Bible study, it’s just telling people what Jesus has done for you, or what a specific Bible text means to you. (I find that Matt. 11:28-30 has brought me great peace and has been a comfort to me during times of stress—such as my father’s death on Dec. 28, 2008, just a month ago; he was 97, and a dear friend.)

Mat 11:28  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

You can ask any question you want—but make sure that it is related to the Bible. Of course, the answers to most of the problems of life, and the difficulties we face, can be found in the Bible, so you can ask about them too. If there is nothing in the Bible about it, or if I don’t know the answer, I’ll tell you.

But keep close to Jesus. You’ll never be sorry.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Petty@hyperusa.com
www.PettyPress.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: You have 10 grandkids,wow!That's cool!Oh and by the way,that guy hasn't messaged me in 4 days or so.I'll email you when I get the chance though!I used to try and read the BIBLE when I was little but I tried to read all of it so I wasn't really comprehending what I read,what is the bes tway to read the BIBLE so that I don't get tired of doing it and that I understand it?

ANSWER: Dear Corrina,

The best way to read the Bible is, to begin with, read the book of Mark. It’s fast paced; it tells the story of Jesus in a practical way; it’s short.

The best way to learn what the Bible teaches is to study it by subject: What does the Bible teach about—death, hell, the 10 commandments, heaven, etc. For that you really need a teacher or Bible study guides. I am willing to be your teacher, or I can refer you to Bible study guides that you can read and find your way around the Bible.

At any rate, get started reading Mark, and we can go on from there.

Talk to you later.

(We’re packing boxes for our move, and have so many things to do that I just have to squeeze you in. But you’re important to me, and I’ll do whatever I have to, to help you learn about the Bible and Jesus. You are more important to me than the move—but I’ll get that done too.)

God bless you as you get into His word. Be sure to pray for Jesus to guide you before you read the Bible. He’ll help you understand it.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Petty@hyperusa.com
www.PettyPress.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thak you!So Mark first,right?
Well is there anyway that I can make learning and reading the BIBLE more interesting or funner.I want to read the BIBLE but sometimes I just zone out.

Answer
Hey Corrina,

Good to hear from you again, Glad you like Mark. How to make the Bible more interesting and “funner?”

Well when you read the Bible your looking for a different kind of fun. Yes, you can find some very interesting stories (see my website for 6—I’ve written 6 Bible storybooks for adults, kinda like novels www.PettyPress.com--or you can buy them at Amazon.com if you want the books for your shelf.)

Studying the Bible is more like being a detective, looking for clues as to what the Bible says about heaven, hell, death, Jesus (Messiah), God, man, why God came to earth as the Man Jesus, the second come of Christ, the Millennium . . . there are hundreds of subjects just a fascinating. So reading the Bible is more like an exploration than an adventure tale. When you explore, expect to get you “hands” dirty, spend long hours looking for clues to certain subjects, turning over leafs to see if perhaps it might tell you something.

Get your attention away from the shallow TV/Movie/ comedy mindset, and switch over to the “I want to find out about this” mindset. This is important stuff. It’s a life or death matter, like going behind enemy lines. And you really are. Your looking to find out what the devil’s doing so you can keep from falling into his traps. Your looking to find out about the best Trooper of all time who can show you the way around the emplacements of the enemy—and can save you even if you fall into one of his traps.

Actually as you get into it and learn more about it, it becomes exciting . . . in a different sort of way. It’s kind of like a rock hound digging in a hole discovering a beautiful gem, and you call to your buddies, “Hey, guys! Look what I just found.” I’ve had many of those moments, and I’ve charged out of my study and called to my wife—“Hey, look at this!” and she’d be just a surprised and delighted as I was.

That’s what Bible study is all about.

Now it helps to have a guide when you begin an expedition such as this, and we call them “Bible study guides.” Their kind of like workbooks that deal with different subjects of the Bible. They’ll ask questions, and then tell you where in the Bible you can find the answer. They lead you through a couple of dozen major subjects, and you’ll be surprised how enjoyable it will become. You’ll learn how to make your way around the Bible—what the books are and where, etc. And when your done with the lessons, you’ll discover that as you read the Bible—like a book—you’ll find that you understand a lot more about what it says, because you know the basics.

I have a set of 40 Bible study guides on my website. Or you can go to Itiswritten.org/discover and find a series that go into more depth than mine. There are many more, but these are good starters.

Any questions? Write me at my personal e-mail, or ask your question via my website.

As you study, make it a point to find out about Jesus and how He can save you from your sins. That way He can guarantee you a place in Heaven—where living is really FAR OUT!

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
petty@hyperusa.com
www.PettyPress.com