Mary, the blessed.

---

In the reading of many journal papers, one thing common to all of them is the use of the term “keywords”. The term is used to draw the reader’s attention to the focus or essence of the paper. They are important words or concepts found in one’s research question. Keywords make one’s paper searchable. Therefore, it is important to include the most relevant keywords that will help other authors or researchers find your paper.

Keywords are always listed after the abstract of a journal paper or thesis, the first section the paper as they are drawn from the abstract.

Matthew chapter 1 has all the resemblance of an abstract: it begins with a context or background information. At the heart of an abstract is the main reason(s), the exigency, the rationale behind the research; here, the goal of this book is to tell many that Jesus Christ is the Messiah King. The main argument is the birthing of the Messiah by a virgin, a reference to a previous work done by Isaiah (Isa.7:14).

The keywords one can extract from the abstract includes (not limited to): Messiah, Conceive, Holy Spirit, Sins, Son, Virgin, and favor (from Luke 1:28).

We were told that Mary, the virgin mother, was favored. The word “favor“, charitoō (in Greek), means: specially honor due to one’s character, manner or act as a result of divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in one’s life. It is a mouthful; in simple terms, Mary was not a sinner; her manner of life was pleasing to God. The angel said to her: “Blessed are you among women”; Mary was the most righteous among all women that walked on the face of the earth.

The word “favor” was first used in the Book of Genesis to describe God’s mercy towards Noah. Like Mary, Noah was the only righteous person of all men and women that walked on the face of the earth. He was described as a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). Before one preaches about God’s act, we know that someone preached to them to believe in God (Romans 10:14); In the times of Noah, Methuselah was the preacher.

Methuselah, a name meaning “when he dies, it shall be sent”. We do know now that in the year he died, the great flood was sent. Methuselah's name may be a prophecy that on the day of his death "his death will send" the flood. For a better part of one thousand years, one man preached that it would rain on an earth covered by mist; no one believed except Noah. Thereafter, his life was pleasing to God and he was favored with the ark - a type of Christ.

It is the believing of a preposterous message that endeared Noah and Mary to God. The scripture says: without faith (in the word of God) it is impossible to please God and be satisfactory to Him (Heb. 11:6). Mary believed God’s word, perhaps in the reading of the prophetic texts at the Jerusalem temple, that a virgin would conceive a child - her being the virgin. She believed and it was accounted to her as righteousness (in conformity to God’s will in her thoughts and acts).

Today, the preposterous message to us is this: God came down to earth (through the womb of a virgin), died on a tree for men‘s sin, was buried in a tomb and resurrected three days later. We must believe this message to be favored by God. God will not favor a sinner because He would not give that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast His pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet.


Merry Christmas everybody,

Acehart


Cc: MuttleyLaff, Goshen360, bodydiialect57

Yes I stamped a like to the post, though you ruined a very brilliant post with the concluding paragraph, when you fully well know that all people had sinned and came short of the glory of God

God in the person of Yahshua Ha Mashiah aka Jesus Christ came to die for all people who are sinners and that includes Mary, Acehart, MuttleyLaff, Goshen360, bodydiialect57, Methuselah, Adam & Eve et cetera

"Kosi nkan to le da isẹ Oluwa duro" loosely translated means "Nothing can stop God's plan and/or work from marching on" If Mary had not gone along with Angel Gabriel's discussion with her, the angel would have left her in peace and move on to a willing and ready to co-operate next human being to be a partner with God in His plan and work of bringing salvation, redemption and reconciliation back to Him. Praise God Alleluia.

Mary, just like Moshe aka Moses, just like Saul, et cetera were appointed, called and/or visited because of the interest they privately nursed in their hearts. The angel would have never on the whim just approach Mary like that if she had never displayed interest in the scripture, in God et cetera.

[quote author=MuttleyLaff post=97413658]Yes I stamped a like to the post, though

you ruined a very brilliant post with the concluding paragraph, when you fully well know that all people had sinned and came short of the glory of God

The meaning of the word “favor” is where you misunderstand: God favors (chên) sinners. His favor to them is counted as grace or kindness. When I said God will not favor sinners, I meant, God will not give those precious things He has in store for His children to them - this is the favor (charitoō) Mary obtained.

<sup>God in the person of Yahshua Ha Mashiah aka Jesus Christ came to die for all people who are sinners and that includes Mary, Acehart, MuttleyLaff, Goshen360, bodydiialect57, Methuselah, Adam & Eve et cetera

"Kosi nkan to le da isẹ Oluwa duro" loosely translated means "Nothing can stop God's plan and/or work from marching on" If Mary had not gone along with Angel Gabriel's discussion with her, the angel would have left her in peace and move on to a willing and ready to co-operate next human being to be a partner with God in His plan and work of bringing salvation, redemption and reconciliation back to Him. Praise God Alleluia.</sup>

Mary, just like Moshe aka Moses, just like Saul, et cetera were appointed, called and/or visited because of the interest they privately nursed in their hearts. The angel would have never on the whim just approach Mary like that if she had never displayed interest in the scripture, in God et cetera.

I spoke about Mary believing the words of the Prophet- for with the heart one believes. You sound contradictory in your last two paragraphs; Mary always believed the word of the Lord: she took to heart the saying of her 12 years old son and she believed in the gift of the Holy Ghost to Christ’s disciples - it was her pattern of life - remember those words: His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. There is no supposition in Mary’s case as you said: “if she had not gone along...” She always held fast to the pattern of sound words. To be a vessel unto honor, one must be saved.

Happy holiday...nairalanders..

Mary, just like Moshe aka Moses, just like Saul, et cetera were appointed, called and/or visited because of the interest they privately nursed in their hearts. The angel would have never on the whim just approach Mary like that if she had never displayed interest in the scripture, in God et cetera.

God does not need to jump from person to person to get who will do his bidding.
He is GOD and can have his way through any situation, including the birth of his Son.
His choice of Mary was never a betting but a deliberate action.
His Son could have just falling from heaven and done the saving thing

Orter:
Mary, just like Moshe aka Moses, just like Saul, et cetera were appointed, called and/or visited because of the interest they privately nursed in their hearts. The angel would have never on the whim just approach Mary like that if she had never displayed interest in the scripture, in God et cetera.

God does not need to jump from person to person to get who will do his bidding.
He is GOD and can have his way through any situation, including the birth of his Son.
His choice of Mary was never a betting but a deliberate action.
His Son could have just falling from heaven and done the saving thing

@Muttleylaff

Acehart:
The meaning of the word “favor” is where you misunderstand: God favors (chên) sinners. His favor to them is counted as grace or kindness. When I said God will not favor sinners, I meant, God will not give those precious things He has in store for His children to them - this is the favor (charitoō) Mary obtained.

"The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results."
- Matthew 11:19

How do you mean that "God will not favor a sinner because He would not give that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast His pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet" sic. God will favour any sinner who shows interest in any thing that is His

The Israelites used the term dogs usually for male prostitutes (i.e. Deuteronomy 23:18), even, sometimes their enemies misconstrued that the Israelites see them as dogs (1 Samuel 17:43)

Aside Deuteronomy 23:18, 1 Samuel 17:43 et cetera, at the extreme end, the Israelites, do in fact, see other people tribe, as unspiritually unclean and so, would call them dogs (i.e. ''kuon''), like as a scavengers, who feed on dead things, someone of impure mind et cetera

Now, Jesus on the other extreme low, called the Canaanite woman, a pet dog (i.e. ''kunarion''), lmso (i.e. Matthew 15:26)

The Matthew 7:6, that you quoted, is talking about the giving up as spiritually dead reprobates and not sinner generally

Acehart:
I spoke about Mary believing the words of the Prophet- for with the heart one believes. You sound contradictory in your last two paragraphs; Mary always believed the word of the Lord: she took to heart the saying of her 12 years old son and she believed in the gift of the Holy Ghost to Christ’s disciples - it was her pattern of life - remember those words: His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

There is no supposition in Mary’s case as you said: “if she had not gone along...” She always held fast to the pattern of sound words. To be a vessel unto honor, one must be saved.

There is no contradiction my last two paragraphs.

No one has questioned or doubted Mary's faith longevity, but the fact and truth of the matter is that, had it being that she hadn't played ball, the ball would have been passed on to a next player ready and will to kick and play the ball into game. Case in point, Apostle Paul taking the gospel to the gentiles when Apostle Peter was dilly dallying

I said it was a brilliant post that got marred by the last comment "God will not favor a sinner because He would not give that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast His pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet" said just before the festive well wishing.

Why did you use the phrase "preposterous message" twice? What point were you trying to drive at, or what was the message you were trying to communicate using the phrase twice?

The authors choose the name Mary...if they had used Bridget..you would have said Bridget. She is just a character in a story...

MuttleyLaff:
"Kosi nkan to le da isẹ Oluwa duro" loosely translated means "Nothing can stop God's plan and/or work from marching on" If Mary had not gone along with Angel Gabriel's discussion with her, the angel would have left her in peace and move on to a willing and ready to co-operate next human being to be a partner with God in His plan and work of bringing salvation, redemption and reconciliation back to Him. Praise God Alleluia.

Mary, just like Moshe aka Moses, just like Saul, et cetera were appointed, called and/or visited because of the interest they privately nursed in their hearts. The angel would have never on the whim just approach Mary like that if she had never displayed interest in the scripture, in God et cetera.

Orter:
God does not need to jump from person to person to get who will do his bidding.
He is GOD and can have his way through any situation, including the birth of his Son.
His choice of Mary was never a betting but a deliberate action.

God is I AM that I AM, this descriptor phrase, carries the meaning that, God will do anything necessary, God will become anything necessary to fulfil His work and/or plans. If it will require God to jump from person to person to get who will do His bidding, so be it.

Orter:
His Son could have just falling from heaven and done the saving thing

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep,
but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber."
- John 10:1

Falling from heaven and done the saving thing, is wishful thinking, lmso and typing like an inexperienced.

God is a God of rule(s), order(s), method(s), process(es), procedure(s), righteousness, legalities et cetera. God is not a thief and a robber, hence has to come legally through the door and so why angel Gabriel, had to, not just out of courtesy but rather a matter of doing the right thing inform Mary ahead of what's about to happen and then confirm that she is willing to be part of it.

Acehart:
@Muttleylaff

"Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in,
and we will share a meal together as friends."
- Revelation 3:20

God doesnt force people to do His bidding or will. You either see sense of it, like Balaam, Saul aka Apostle Paul, even Yahshua Ha Mashiah aka Jesus Christ et cetera or you, like Pharaoh, Judas, et cetera don't

CYM please

MuttleyLaff:


God is I AM that I AM, this descriptor phrased carries the meaning that, God will do anything necessary, God will become anything necessary to fulfil His work and/or plans. If it will require God to jump from person to person to get who will do His bidding, so be it.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep,
but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber."
- John 10:1

Falling from heaven and done the saving thing, is wishful thinking, lmso and typing like an inexperienced.

God is a God of rule(s), order(s), method(s), process(es), procedure(s), righteousness, legalities et cetera. God is not a thief and a robber, hence has to come legally through the door and so why angel Gabriel, had to, not just out of courtesy but rather a matter of doing the right thing inform Mary ahead of what's about to happen and then confirm that she is willing to be part of it.

"Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in,
and we will share a meal together as friends."
- Revelation 3:20

God doesnt force people to do His bidding or will. You either see sense of it, like Balaam, Saul aka Apostle Paul, even Yahshua Ha Mashiah aka Jesus Christ et cetera or you, like Pharaoh, Judas, et cetera don't

Bodydiialect57:
CYM please

"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through Peter me; His word was on his my tongue."
- 2 Samuel 23:2

One of a shortest answer and without needing to labour it. Of course, you know about the earlier Matthew 16:17 " ... for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood" revelation he had.

Thought as much. Thanks.

MuttleyLaff:
"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through Peter me; His word was on his my tongue."
- 2 Samuel 23:2

One of a shortest answer and without needing to labour it. Of course, you know about the earlier Matthew 16:17 " ... for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood" revelation he had.

[quote author=MuttleyLaff post=97415925]

God is I AM that I AM, this descriptor phrase, carries the meaning that, God will do anything necessary, God will become anything necessary to fulfil His work and/or plans. If it will require God to jump from person to person to get who will do His bidding, so be it.

Thank God that isn’t His Modus Operandi. His word says:

And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country.

God is not random or haphazard; He is not a predictor or a gambler. He is sovereign and His purposes and calling are sure. He plans all things and achieves them. If He jumps from the Heavens to the earth, His aims are accomplished. He knows He never fails. He knows all things and calls all stars by their name. He knows each number of the hair on the head; a strand doesn’t escape his knowledge. God works all things according to the counsel of his will.

Jumping like a man who can’t tell his left his right is excluded. If God fails in one man, he will fail in all men for there is none good. It is disrespectful to equate man to a drunkard who with blurry eyes misses the right door.

God doesnt force people to do His bidding or will. You either see sense of it, like Balaam, Saul aka Apostle Paul, even Yahshua Ha Mashiah aka Jesus Christ et cetera or you, like Pharaoh, Judas, et cetera don't

God doesn’t force people to do His billing; yet they must do His bidding. “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”” One Pharaoh was the target and that Pharaoh was gunned down.

Your theology isn’t complete if it doesn’t understand the Sovereignty of God.

Good write up boss and Merry Christmas to you and yours also.

I'll just like to make a quick note on a thing or two

Acehart:


We were told that Mary, the virgin mother, was favored. The word “favor“, charitoō (in Greek), means: specially honor due to one’s character, manner or act as a result of divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in one’s life. It is a mouthful; in simple terms, Mary was not a sinner; her manner of life was pleasing to God. The angel said to her: “Blessed are you among women”; Mary was the most righteous among all women that walked on the face of the earth.

The word recorded in Luke 1:28 charitoō meaning Favour as you stated(also is translated as grace depending on context like in Ephesians 1:6), is a description of a person's attitude and actions toward the one so labeled(in this case, God's attitude towards the recipient of the message). On its own, it says nothing about the character or attitude of the person being favoured.
Favour can be earned but more often than not, the concept of favour is that the person being favoured has a soft spot with the person bestowing it and usually has done nothing inherently to gain it(eg a man showing favour to a fellow kinsman).
The act of showing favour speaks purely of the character and attitude of the one who is bestowing it. This is often the case atleast in the Bible when it pertains to God and humans (God constantly showing favour/grace to undeserving humans). You can do a word study of ḥên(old testament) and God.
This is more evident in the only other place the word charitoō is used in the entire NT.
"to the praise of the glory of His grace(charitos), which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." - Ephesians 1:6 NASB...
Most English translations also have freely bestowed or given except for KJV and ESV that render it a bit differently. But regardless of which translation chosen, the idea is the same. The charitoō is bestowed purely based on God's will.

This tracks with God's character and his attitude towards humans throughout the entire Bible. All humans are on a path that ultimately leads to death and the weird part is, that's the path we want to be on. But God out of his gracious love, partners with certain people throughout history to bring about His ultimate will; which is "saving humanity from the path it's one". It's not that these partners are inherently good or more deserving than the rest of humanity; matter of fact, the biblical stories consistently make it clear that all the people God partners with all have deep moral failings like all humans do. It's purely based on God's own graciousness to continue working with flawed humans to bring about His ultimate will.."the Cross".
Mary is part of a long line of humans who God partners with and who when they got things right, were instrumental in bringing about God's plan.

Mary (and actually Joseph too) no doubt were pious Jews like many Jews in the 1st century(the 1st and the a couple of centuries before it, was a hot bedrock of piousness and heightened awareness for the coming the Messiah and God coming back to the temple to become king).
Why God chose Mary is not given but we can always trust that God knows what He is doing .What we do know is that, regardless of any human failings Mary had(all Humans have moral failings), when giving the opportunity to trust God, she got it right and did trust Him.
Even Moses and Gideon who took a bit of convincing eventually stepped up.

There's nothing in the NT that says or alludes to the statement that "Mary was the most righteous among all women that walked on the face of the earth".
The idea that there was something inherently different about Mary started out around the early middle ages and became part church tradition(or today, Catholic tradition). We do not even find this in the earliest Christian writings outside of the NT. The shift to Mary being pure, immaculate conception etc began from writings sometime around the 4th AD.


Merry Christmas once again

Orter:
Mary, just like Moshe aka Moses, just like Saul, et cetera were appointed, called and/or visited because of the interest they privately nursed in their hearts. The angel would have never on the whim just approach Mary like that if she had never displayed interest in the scripture, in God et cetera.

God does not need to jump from person to person to get who will do his bidding.
He is GOD and can have his way through any situation, including the birth of his Son.
His choice of Mary was never a betting but a deliberate action.
His Son could have just fallen from heaven and done the saving thing

The same God you supposedly speak of chose Cyrus, thr Great, a man who did not know Him, and with no history of ever serving the God Israel, to deliver His people from slavery and restore to them their land and belongings.

Acehart:
Thank God that isn’t His Modus Operandi.

His word says:
"And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country."

His words in Isaiah 46:11, that you're referring to, succinctly just reinforces my point that, God by nature of His favourite descriptor expression, I AM that I AM, will do anything necessary, will become anything necessary, will travel any distant, will find whoever is done ready to do His will to fulfil His work and/or plans. If it will require God to jump from person to person, calling a bird of prey from the east, to get who will do His bidding, so be it.

Acehart:
God is not random or haphazard; He is not a predictor or a gambler. He is sovereign and His purposes and calling are sure. He plans all things and achieves them. If He jumps from the Heavens to the earth, His aims are accomplished. He knows He never fails. He knows all things and calls all stars by their name. He knows each number of the hair on the head; a strand doesn’t escape his knowledge. God works all things according to the counsel of his will.

"Mary responded,
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
And then the angel left her."
- Luke 1:38

Brother, no one is saying a methodical, disciplined, routined and controlled way of working God, is God, that is random or haphazard. You are mining a strawman, if you are trying to lampoon me with "God is not a predictor or a gambler" sic

God being sovereign, doesnt exclude Him from fulfilling all righteousness, lmso. Your ranting and raving, is uncalled for, especially when what I typed was a hypothetical.

Now watch Luke 1:38 above, notice that Mary's disposition and then her confirmed willingness, was the cue for angel Gabriel to take his leave.

There's another hypothetical loading next, lmso. Dont make a mountain out of the mole hill, lmso.

Acehart:
Jumping like a man who can’t tell his left his right is excluded. If God fails in one man, he will fail in all men for there is none good. It is disrespectful to equate man to a drunkard who with blurry eyes misses the right door.

"¹One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian.
He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God.
²There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush.
Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.
³“This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
⁴When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush,
“Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
⁵“Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.
⁶I am the God of your fatherc
—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God."
- Exodus 3:1-6

The hypothetical I was loading is, what would have happened, if Moshe aka Moses, did not have an interest, turn around, and go investigate a bush on fire that isnt burning.

Why dont you show a verse in scripture where God had imposed Himself on someone, who never, in the first instance, showed any form of interest, erhn?

Fyi, God does not fail. Man fails himself, lmso. Adam failed himself. King Saul failed himself, Pharaoh failed himself, Judas failed himself, Ananias and Sapphira failed themselves

Acehart:
[s]God doesn’t force people to do His billing; yet they must do His bidding.
“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[/s]

You have no Scooby Doo idea what Exodus 9:16 means, as that is what the Romans 9:17 verse you quoted is referencing.

Let me ask you these easy peasy lemon squeezy, direct, simple, innocent, harmless, thought provoking, straightforward questions, lmso:
1/ Who created Pharaoh?
2/ Who allowed Pharaoh to exist?
3/ Why fundamentally, was Pharaoh allowed to come into being and existence?
4/ Do an exegete on "that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth." lmso, but with particular emphasis placed on "and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth" and throw full light upon what specifically is the phrase "... and that My name ..." all about, lmso

Acehart:
[s]One Pharaoh was the target and that Pharaoh was gunned down.[/s]

Smh sigh. What a pity KMFT.
We must be in the hypothetical season, lmso, because here is another hypothetical harvest for you, lmso.

What would have happened, if Pharaoh had gladly let the Israelites go free, at least he and Egypt have done their part of giving home food and shelter to the Israelites for 430 years, long enough for 66-75 people who initially travelled to Egypt to become a nation of almost 4 million, ready for the Canaanite to have a shock of their lives and just about time when the sin of the Amorites has reached its full measure, lmso, hmm?

Acehart:
[s]Your theology isn’t complete if it doesn’t understand the Sovereignty of God.[/s]

"¹⁶Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
¹⁷“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.
¹⁸“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.
¹⁹I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
²⁰So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.
²¹I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
²²The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.
²³Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?
²⁴Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?
²⁵Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
²⁶And the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
²⁷Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.
²⁸Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
²⁹Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
³⁰“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
³¹Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
³²Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
³³When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent"
- Genesis 18:16-33

Your theology is superficial, lmso if you dont yet know that God, is not in the business of unruly and lawless activities. The Sovereignty of God doesnt prevent God from being civil, well mannered and/or cultured

Was There Really a Virgin Birth in the Bible?
The more interesting potential virgin birth, though, comes from Matthew's explanation in Matt 1:22-23. There the text says that the virgin birth of Jesus took place to "fulfill" the prophecy that "the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel." Matthew is paraphrasing Isa 7:14.

But he is quoting a mistranslation. The original Hebrew text of Isa 7:14 is not about a virgin. Rather, the Hebrew used to describe the woman in Isa 7:14 is almah, a word that means "young woman." But then the Septuagint, an early translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, took the Hebrew almah and rendered it as the Greek parthenos, which means "virgin."

Source: https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/people/related-articles/was-there-really-a-virgin-birth-in-the-bible

ThePlainTruth:
[s]Was There Really a Virgin Birth in the Bible?
The more interesting potential virgin birth, though, comes from Matthew's explanation in Matt 1:22-23. There the text says that the virgin birth of Jesus took place to "fulfill" the prophecy that "the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel." Matthew is paraphrasing Isa 7:14.

But he is quoting a mistranslation. The original Hebrew text of Isa 7:14 is not about a virgin. Rather, the Hebrew used to describe the woman in Isa 7:14 is almah, a word that means "young woman." But then the Septuagint, an early translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, took the Hebrew almah and rendered it as the Greek parthenos, which means "virgin."

Source: https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/people/related-articles/was-there-really-a-virgin-birth-in-the-bibl[/s]e

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MuttleyLaff:
"²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
³⁰This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’
³¹I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
(i.e. I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel)
³²Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
³³I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
(i.e. I didn’t know He was the One, but when God sent me to baptize with water, He told me,
‘The One on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
³⁴I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
³⁵The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
³⁶When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
- John 1:29-36



"All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign.
Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)."
- Isaiah 7:14

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:6

"¹⁸This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
¹⁹Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagementh quietly.
²⁰As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said,
“do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
²¹And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
²²All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
²³“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
²⁵But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born.
And Joseph named him Jesus."
- Matthew 1:18-25

The virgin birth at all and/or different levels is key. You dont want to, not believe in it, lmso.

MuttleyLaff:
The virgin birth at all and/or different levels is key. You dont want to, not believe in it, lmso.

Believing it and proving it are two different things.

The New Testament was written like 70 years after the events in the New Testament and not at the same time the events were taking place. Can you write an accurate account of what took place 70 years ago between a newly wedded couple in the privacy of their room?

ThePlainTruth:
Believing it and proving it are two different things.

[s]The New Testament was written like 70 years after the events in the New Testament and not at the same time the events were taking place. Can you write an accurate account of what took place 70 years ago between a newly wedded couple in the privacy of their room?[/s]

Young women start out as virgins. Nobi so, hmm?
In the Old Testament Israelites days, maidens and unmarried young women are called virgins. Capisce?

What is your problem contesting the virgin birth? Do you think it is an impossicant ni? Do you think it never happened ni?
If you think think it never, then what is your reason for arriving at such conclusion?

MuttleyLaff:
Young women start out as virgins. Nobi so, hmm?
In the Old Testament Israelites days, maidens and unmarried young women are called virgins. Capisce?
What is your problem contesting the virgin birth? Do you think it is an impossicant ni? Do you think it never happened ni?
If you think think it never, then what is your reason for arriving at such conclusion

But the original Hebrew text of Isa 7:14 is not about a virgin. Rather, the Hebrew used to describe the woman in Isa 7:14 is almah, a word that means "young woman." But then the Septuagint, an early translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, took the Hebrew almah and rendered it as the Greek parthenos, which means "virgin."

Even John the Baptist had to send his disciples to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else? So it is good too for us the research and not just believe because we are told to just believe.

ThePlainTruth:
But not all young women at the time were virgins. and also The original Hebrew text of Isa 7:14 is not about a virgin. Rather, the Hebrew used to describe the woman in Isa 7:14 is almah, a word that means "young woman." But then the Septuagint, an early translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, took the Hebrew almah and rendered it as the Greek parthenos, which means "virgin."

Even John the Baptist had to send his disciples to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else? So it is good too for us the research and not just believe because we are told to just believe.

"Then Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
- Luke 1:34

Are you one of those who think its doubly ridiculous for the one-off virgin birth to occur and so just plain impossible to believe ni, erhn?

bro, "young woman" is a parlance used for unmarried young women. You sure did read Mary saying, in Luke 1:34 above, that she has no sexual relationship with any man and so querying how would she possibly give birth to a son.

You even read also, the testimony of John the Baptist in John 1:29-36 earlier pasted above, confessing that he didnt first get it altogether right, but he was now wiser after God revealed to him

Mary was a sexually ripe young woman, who had no knowledge of man yet. It is crucial and necessary that the Messiah for quite a number of reasons be of virgin birth, especially in the context of His paternity not be doubted. The science angle, is out the thread's scope to be discussed here, lmso

ThePlainTruth:
Something new just came up now and that is how did Joseph know that Mary was pregnant even though she was still a virgin? Because You'll probably start to notice a woman is pregnant at 12 to 16 weeks. 

"Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly."
- Matthew 1:19

Did you not read where the Bible said Joseph planned to quietly break the marriage agreement with her secretly.

Do you not know about gossipers ni? At what time of her pregnancy did Mary go visit her cousin Elizabeth? Smh sigh.

I didnt expect coming from you, dropping the ball over and over again, like this

Acehart:
Mary, the blessed.

---

In the reading of many journal papers, one thing common to all of them is the use of the term “keywords”. The term is used to draw the reader’s attention to the focus or essence of the paper. They are important words or concepts found in one’s research question. Keywords make one’s paper searchable. Therefore, it is important to include the most relevant keywords that will help other authors or researchers find your paper.

Keywords are always listed after the abstract of a journal paper or thesis, the first section the paper as they are drawn from the abstract.

Matthew chapter 1 has all the resemblance of an abstract: it begins with a context or background information. At the heart of an abstract is the main reason(s), the exigency, the rationale behind the research; here, the goal of this book is to tell many that Jesus Christ is the Messiah King. The main argument is the birthing of the Messiah by a virgin, a reference to a previous work done by Isaiah (Isa.7:14).

The keywords one can extract from the abstract includes (not limited to): Messiah, Conceive, Holy Spirit, Sins, Son, Virgin, and favor (from Luke 1:28).

We were told that Mary, the virgin mother, was favored. The word “favor“, charitoō (in Greek), means: specially honor due to one’s character, manner or act as a result of divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in one’s life. It is a mouthful; in simple terms, Mary was not a sinner; her manner of life was pleasing to God. The angel said to her: “Blessed are you among women”; Mary was the most righteous among all women that walked on the face of the earth.

The word “favor” was first used in the Book of Genesis to describe God’s mercy towards Noah. Like Mary, Noah was the only righteous person of all men and women that walked on the face of the earth. He was described as a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). Before one preaches about God’s act, we know that someone preached to them to believe in God (Romans 10:14); In the times of Noah, Methuselah was the preacher.

Methuselah, a name meaning “when he dies, it shall be sent”. We do know now that in the year he died, the great flood was sent. Methuselah's name may be a prophecy that on the day of his death "his death will send" the flood. For a better part of one thousand years, one man preached that it would rain on an earth covered by mist; no one believed except Noah. Thereafter, his life was pleasing to God and he was favored with the ark - a type of Christ.

It is the believing of a preposterous message that endeared Noah and Mary to God. The scripture says: without faith (in the word of God) it is impossible to please God and be satisfactory to Him (Heb. 11:6). Mary believed God’s word, perhaps in the reading of the prophetic texts at the Jerusalem temple, that a virgin would conceive a child - her being the virgin. She believed and it was accounted to her as righteousness (in conformity to God’s will in her thoughts and acts).

Today, the preposterous message to us is this: God came down to earth (through the womb of a virgin), died on a tree for men‘s sin, was buried in a tomb and resurrected three days later. We must believe this message to be favored by God. God will not favor a sinner because He would not give that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast His pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet.


Merry Christmas everybody,

Acehart




Cc: MuttleyLaff, Goshen360, bodydiialect57

Thanks for the mention, Acehart.

Mary was chosen to birth the Lord Jesus Christ because she received favour of the Lord. Though she wasn't the only virgin as at that time, and probably not the only righteous one among the lots, her choice was according to God's prerogative.

From her response to the angel that delivered the message to her in Luke 1:31, it's obvious that she had no pact with unbelief as she accepted the word of God spoken through the angel with faith.

Ok that is clear from Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

As they were not yet married.

MuttleyLaff:
"Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly."
- Matthew 1:19

Did you not read where the Bible said Joseph planned to quietly break the marriage agreement with her secretly.

ThePlainTruth:
Ok that is clear from Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]:
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

As they were not yet married.

[img]https://media./images/5a1e723135c49b8d934a2d41435649ff/tenor.gif[/img]

ThePlainTruth:
Something new just came up now and that is how did Joseph know that Mary was pregnant even though she was still a virgin? Because You'll probably start to notice a woman is pregnant at 12 to 16 weeks. 

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example,, was minded to put her away, privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Joseph noticed the pregnancy and planned a secret disengagement. But before he could do this, an angel appeared in his dream, revealing everything about the pregnancy to Joseph.

Bodydiialect57:

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example,, was minded to put her away, privily.
²⁰But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy [b]wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins

"¹¹And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
¹²“Speak to the people of Israel, If any man’s wife goes astray and breaks faith with him,
¹³if a man lies with her sexually, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act,
¹⁴and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself,
¹⁵then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephahc of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
¹⁶“And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the LORD.
¹⁷And the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.
¹⁸And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD and unbind the hair of the woman’s head and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. And in his hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse.
¹⁹Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, ‘If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while you were under your husband’s authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse.
²⁰But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you,
²¹then’ (let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman) ‘the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the LORD makes your thigh fall away and your body swell.
²²May this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your womb swell and your thigh fall away.’ And the woman shall say, ‘Amen, Amen.’
²³“Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness.
²⁴And he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain.
²⁵And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand and shall wave the grain offering before the LORD and bring it to the altar.
²⁶And the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.
²⁷And when he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has broken faith with her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people.
²⁸But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.
²⁹“This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband’s authority, goes astray and defiles herself,
³⁰or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law.
³¹The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”"
- Numbers 5:11-31

Joseph wasn't that sort of vindictive man who thinks of going the route of rigmarole of Numbers 5:11-31 above, he just wanted to quietly do things, though he felt he was betrayed, until the dream reset his brain to Manufacturer's factory default setting, lmso. Praise God. Alleluia

Bodydiialect57:

Thanks for the mention, Acehart.

Mary was chosen to birth the Lord Jesus Christ because she received favour of the Lord. Though she wasn't the only virgin as at that time, and probably not the only righteous one among the lots, her choice was according to God's prerogative.

From her response to the angel that delivered the message to her in Luke 1:31, it's obvious that she had no pact with unbelief as she accepted the word of God spoken through the angel with faith.

True. She may not have been the only righteous virgin in Israel. But she was the ‘man’ for the job. David was the one chosen by God to deliver Israel; but we know he wasn’t the only righteous man in Israel. He was the man for the job as God told Samuel: I have found... a man after my own heart, who will do all My will

Bodydiialect57:
Thanks for the mention, Acehart.

Mary was chosen to birth the Lord Jesus Christ because she received favour of the Lord. Though she wasn't the only virgin as at that time, and probably not the only righteous one among the lots, her choice was according to God's prerogative.

From her response to the angel that delivered the message to her in Luke 1:31, it's obvious that she had no pact with unbelief as she accepted the word of God spoken through the angel with faith.

Acehart:
True. She may not have been the only righteous virgin in Israel. But she was the ‘man’ for the job. David was the one chosen by God to deliver Israel; but we know he wasn’t the only righteous man in Israel. He was the man for the job as God told Samuel: I have found a man after my own heart, who will do all My will

---

---

---

MuttleyLaff:
... Mary, just like Moshe aka Moses, just like Saul, et cetera were appointed, called and/or visited because of the interest they privately nursed in their hearts. The angel would have never on the whim just approach Mary like that if she had never displayed interest in the scripture, in God et cetera.

MuttleyLaff:
His words in Isaiah 46:11, that you're referring to, succinctly just reinforces my point that, God by nature of His favourite descriptor expression, I AM that I AM, will do anything necessary, will become anything necessary, will travel any distant, will find whoever is done ready to do His will to fulfil His work and/or plans. If it will require God to jump from person to person, calling a bird of prey from the east, to get who will do His bidding, so be it.

"Mary responded,
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
And then the angel left her."
- Luke 1:38

Brother, no one is saying a methodical, disciplined, routined and controlled way of working God, is God, that is random or haphazard. You are mining a strawman, if you are trying to lampoon me with "God is not a predictor or a gambler" sic

God being sovereign, doesnt exclude Him from fulfilling all righteousness, lmso. Your ranting and raving, is uncalled for, especially when what I typed was a hypothetical.

Now watch Luke 1:38 above, notice that Mary's disposition and then her confirmed willingness, was the cue for angel Gabriel to take his leave.

There's another hypothetical loading next, lmso. Dont make a mountain out of the mole hill, lmso.

"¹One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian.
He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God.
²There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush.
Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.
³“This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
⁴When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush,
“Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
⁵“Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.
⁶I am the God of your fatherc
—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God."
- Exodus 3:1-6

The hypothetical I was loading is, what would have happened, if Moshe aka Moses, did not have an interest, turn around, and go investigate a bush on fire that isnt burning.

Why dont you show a verse in scripture where God had imposed Himself on someone, who never, in the first instance, showed any form of interest, erhn?

Fyi, God does not fail. Man fails himself, lmso. Adam failed himself. King Saul failed himself, Pharaoh failed himself, Judas failed himself, Ananias and Sapphira failed themselves

You have no Scooby Doo idea what Exodus 9:16 means, as that is what the Romans 9:17 verse you quoted is referencing.

Let me ask you these easy peasy lemon squeezy, direct, simple, innocent, harmless, thought provoking, straightforward questions, lmso:
1/ Who created Pharaoh?
2/ Who allowed Pharaoh to exist?
3/ Why fundamentally, was Pharaoh allowed to come into being and existence?
4/ Do an exegete on "that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth." lmso, but with particular emphasis placed on "and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth" and throw full light upon what specifically is the phrase "... and that My name ..." all about, lmso

Smh sigh. What a pity KMFT.
We must be in the hypothetical season, lmso, because here is another hypothetical harvest for you, lmso.

What would have happened, if Pharaoh had gladly let the Israelites go free, at least he and Egypt have done their part of giving home food and shelter to the Israelites for 430 years, long enough for 66-75 people who initially travelled to Egypt to become a nation of almost 4 million, ready for the Canaanite to have a shock of their lives and just about time when the sin of the Amorites has reached its full measure, lmso, hmm?

"¹⁶Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
¹⁷“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.
¹⁸“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.
¹⁹I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
²⁰So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.
²¹I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
²²The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.
²³Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?
²⁴Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?
²⁵Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
²⁶And the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
²⁷Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.
²⁸Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
²⁹Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
³⁰“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
³¹Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
³²Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
³³When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent"
- Genesis 18:16-33

Your theology is superficial, lmso if you dont yet know that God, is not in the business of unruly and lawless activities. The Sovereignty of God doesnt prevent God from being civil, well mannered and/or cultured

The interest you show is an invitation to be approached. You need to be careful what interest you nurse because of who will approach you.

Saul had interest to be king, so God appointed him as Israel's first earthly king. David was a man after God's heart and interest, so when king Saul messed up, God approached the younger David. Eve, hmm, need I say more, especially after we all know who approached her for showing interest in the forbidden to eat fruit of the TKGE, lmso

John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Luke 1: 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”