Scriptural personification

PERSONIFICATION

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To help understand more about "Figures of Speech" we thought it was necessary to show some other examples of personification and add a definition:

It must also be understood that the Bible often uses the language of personification when talking about abstract things, e.g. wisdom is referred to as a woman in Prov. 9:1. This is to demonstrate to us what a person who has wisdom would be like in practice; 'wisdom' cannot exist except in someone's mind, and so this device of personification is used.

Some may find it difficult to accept the explanation of the personification of the devil, because the devil is so often referred to in the Bible as if it were a person and perhaps this confuses some people. This is easily explained by pointing out that it is a recognized feature of the Bible that inanimate or non-living things such as wisdom, riches, sin, the church are personified, but only in the case of the devil is some fantastic theory woven around it. The following examples will illustrate the point:-

WISDOM IS PERSONIFIED.

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (Proverbs 3:13-15).

"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (Proverbs 9:1).


These verses, and indeed the rest of the chapters in which they appear, show that wisdom is personified as a woman, but because of this, no-one has the idea that wisdom is a literal beautiful woman who roams around the earth; all recognize that it is a very desirable characteristic which all people should try to acquire.

RICHES ARE PERSONIFIED.

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24).

Here, riches are likened to a master. Many people strive very hard to gain riches and in this way they become their master. Jesus is here telling us that we cannot do that and serve God acceptably at the same time. The teaching is simple and effective, but no-one assumes from this that riches is a man named Mammon.

SIN IS PERSONIFIED.

"...Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34). "Sin hath reigned unto death" (Romans 5:21). "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).


As in the case of riches, sin is likened here to a master and those who commit sin are its servants. No reasonable reading of the passage justifies assuming that Paul is teaching that sin is a person.

THE SPIRIT IS PERSONIFIED.

"When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself..." (John 16:13).


Jesus is here telling His disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and this was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:3-4, where it is stated that "there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit", which gave them remarkable power to do wonderful things to prove that their authority was from God. The Holy Spirit was not a person, it was a power, but when Jesus was speaking of it He used the personal pronoun "he".
DEATH IS PERSONIFIED.


"Behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death" (Rev.6:8).
THE NATION OF ISRAEL IS PERSONIFIED.


"Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel; thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets..." (Jeremiah 31:4). "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God" (Jeremiah 31:18).


The context of these passages reveals clearly that the prophet is not referring to a literal virgin or to Ephraim as a person, but to the nation of Israel, which in this instance is personified, in a similar manner as Great Britain is sometimes personified as 'Britannia' or 'John Bull'. There are no such persons as this woman and man, but when they are referred to in books or portrayed in pictures everyone knows that Great Britain is meant.

THE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST ARE PERSONIFIED.

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). "There is one body" (Ephesians 4:4). "Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1 Cor. 12:27). "...Christ is the head of the church: and He is the saviour of the body" (Ephesians 5:23). "He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church:...who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church" (Colossians 1:18,24). "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2). "...the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).


All these verses obviously refer to the community of people who were the true believers in Christ, sometimes referred to as "the church", though this must not be confused with any of the present orthodox churches, which have long since ceased to be the true believers in Christ.





The true believers, that is, those who hold and believe the true doctrines taught in the Bible, are referred to as a "chaste virgin", indicating the purity of the lives they should lead, and as a "body", a suitable figure because just as a natural body has many functions, so the true church has many responsibilities and performs various functions. When the church is referred to as a "body", no-one mistakes it for an individual, nor would they mistake the devil or satan for a grotesque monster or fallen angel had the words been properly translated, or if men and women had not acquired wrong ideas derived from the false churches in days gone by.


PERSONIFICATION: embody; symbolize; exemplify; represent as a person; personate.


Blood crying: Genesis 4:10

Blood speaking: Hebrews 12:24

False Prophet as a prostitute: Revelation 17:all

Folly as a strange woman: Proverbs 9:13-18

Israel as a dancing virgin: Jeremiah 31:4

Mountains sing: Ezekiel 27:25

Stars sing: Job 38:7; Psalm 96:11

Sun's are "HIS": Psalm 19:1-6

The Lord is my shepherd: Psalm 23:1

Israel a flock of sheep: Jeremiah 31:10, etc.

Wholesome tongue as a tree of life: Proverbs 15:4

Wisdom crying: Proverbs 1:20-33, 8:1, etc.

Wisdom as "SHE": Proverbs 3:15-18, 4:5-13

Wisdom as a sister &

Understanding as a kinswoman: Proverbs 7:4

Wisdom's Speech: Proverbs 8:4-36

Note - she was there in the beginning: Verses 22-23

Wisdom as a tree of life: Proverbs 3:18


Personification of Fear: The Boogie Man

Personification of Physical Earth: Mother Earth

Personification of Time: Father Time

Personification of Death: The Grim Reaper

Personification of Christmas: Santa Claus

Personification of Wisdom: A Woman (Proverbs)

Personification of the True Church: A Virgin Bride

Personification of the False Church: A Harlot

Personification of Sin: Satan the Devil


PROVERBS and FABLES are full of personification.


SEE: PREFACE II. APPENDIX P.

GLOSSARY: ALLEGORY. FABLES. FIGURES OF SPEECH. PARABLES.




PROVERBS. SIGNS. SYMBOLISM. SYMBOLS.

Did Jesus Christ Have Two Mothers? Gospel of Thomas Saying 101

Did Jesus Christ Have Two Mothers? Gospel of Thomas Saying 101

Jesus has two Mothers

Gospel of Thomas Saying 101

Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to Me. And whoever does [not] love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a [disciple] to Me. For My [birth] mother [gave me death], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life." (April DeConick Translation)

"The substance of this saying has already been provided in Saying 56 [55]. Here, however, Jesus explicitly states that he himself hates his (earthly) father and mother (see Saying 96).

Thus the conundrum presented in the saying (hate parents and love parents) is resolved by positing two orders of family and two mothers of Jesus

April DeConick writes For L. 101.3,1 offer a possibility for completing the lacunae (9 or 10 letter spaces) which occurs on the last line at the bottom of p. 49 and the first two letters at the top of p. 50: 'who begot me gave death'. This construction not only fits the lacunae, but also provides contextual sense and offers a complementary parallel to the final clause. So I prefer it over Layton's reconstruction which does not fill the space 'who gave me falsehood'). 

Jesus's birth mother gave him death. Death came by genetic inheritance. for he inherited Adam's nature from Mary's blood, in which Adam's life existed, for the life of all flesh is in the blood thereof

Though the Son of God (by the Spirit) he was the son of man (Adam) by Mary, partaking of the very nature transmitted from Adam through David and Mary

If Christ was born of the spirit, by Mary, was he not spirit and not flesh, on the principle that which is born of the spirit is spirit?   

The question arises from an inaccuracy of words. Jesus was not born of the spirit by Mary but begotten of Mary by the spirit. 

Did God or man give life to Jesus?

Answer: "God himself gives to all mankind life and breath and all things 

 ;" 

consequently the question is not specific enough to make its meaning apparent. 

If it be meant, Did Mary have any participation in the impartation of life to the child born of her, the answer is Yes; for Jesus was the seed of David according to the flesh. Every one having knowledge is aware that in fetal life, the child's life is the mother's life, ministered by her blood through the umbilical cord; and that the child, so to speak, is by this connection built out of her blood. And as "the life of all flesh is in the blood", a child cannot partake of her blood, without partaking of her life. Consequently, Jesus, though developed from a Divine organism, was framed out of his mother's substance, and, consequently, was both Son of man and Son of God

Speaking of the conception and preparation of the Seed, the prophet as a typical person, says, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). This is nothing more than affirming that he was born of sinful flesh; and not of the pure and incorruptible angelic nature. 

The nature of Mary was as unclean as that of other women; and therefore could give birth only to "a body" like her own, though especially "prepared of God" (Heb. 10:5). Had Mary's nature been immaculate, as her idolatrous worshippers contend, an immaculate body would have been born of her; which, therefore, would not have answered the purpose of God; which was to condemn sin in the flesh; a thing that could not have been accomplished, if there were no sin there. 

The apostle says, "God made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21); and this he explains in another place by saying, that "He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Rom. 8:3) in the offering of his body once (Heb. 10:10,12,14). Sin could not have been condemned in the body of Jesus, if it had not existed there. His body was as unclean as the bodies of those for whom he died; for he was born of a woman, and "not one" can bring a clean body out of a defiled body; for "that", says Jesus himself, "which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6).

If Christ had been a son of Adam merely, he would have been a sinner, and, therefore, unfit for sacrificial purposes. On the other hand, if he had been clothed with angelic or immaculate nature, he would have been equally disqualified, inasmuch as it was necessary that the sinning nature should suffer in him. The combination of condemned human nature with personal sinlessness was effected through divine power begetting a son from Mary's substance. A "Lamb of God," was thus produced, guileless from his paternity, and yet inheriting the human sin-nature of his mother.

The question needs to be asked who is Jesus's true Mother?

It is the comforter the holy spirit. In Hebrew the word spirit is a feminine noun. That is why it can be spoken of as a Mother giving birth. 

Jesus needed to be saved from death Hebrews 5:7 this his true Mother did at his resurrection 

Thus the holy spirit is Jesus' mother by his resurrection from the dead or by being born of the spirit or born again.

Romans 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Jesus came in the flesh of the seed of David when he was resurrected from the dead by the spirit of holiness he was born of the spirit

John 3:6 What has been born from the flesh is flesh, and what has been born from the spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel because I told you, YOU people must be born again.

8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone that has been born from the spirit.”

Notice the feminine description of the spirit in v8 one is born of the spirit. to use the langue of being born is describing the holy spirit as a mother

Mt 11:19 But wisdom is justified by her children.

Galatians 4:26 and the Jerusalem above is the free-woman, which is mother of us all,

Therefore the holy spirit is a feminine aspect of God

The holy spirit is a force, the invisible power and energy of the Father by which God is everywhere present. The chosen messengers have been given only the power and authority from Yahweh they need to accomplish their mission. Gen 1:2; Num 11:17; Mt 3:16; John 20:22; Ac 2:4, 17, 33. The Spirit is not a 'separate' or 'other' person. Ac 7:55, 56; Re 7:10 It is God's own radiant power, ever out flowing from Him, by which His 'everywhereness' is achieved. Ps 104:30; 1 Cor 12:4-11.

The Spirit is personal in that it is of God Himself: it is not personal in the sense of being some other person within the Godhead"

The Lord was conceived (born again) from what is imperishable, from God. The [Lord arose] from among the dead. But [He did not come into being as he was. Rather [his body] was [completely] perfect. It was of flesh, and this [flesh is indeed] true flesh.¹ [Yet our flesh] is not true, but rather a mirror-image of the true [flesh]. (¹Jn 1:14, 20:27, II-Jn 7; NHS p. 174 (The Gospel of Philip)

The apocalypse of weeks to book of Enoch

Chapter 92

¹After this, Enoch began to speak from a book [so this indicates another “hidden” scroll somewhere - perhaps this is the Book of Enoch itself]?.

²And Enoch said, Concerning the children of righteousness, concerning the elect of the world [throughout the whole 7,000 year period], and concerning the plant of righteousness and integrity.

³Concerning these things will I speak, and these things will I explain to you, my children: I who am Enoch. In consequence of that which has been shown to me, from my heavenly vision and from the voice of the holy angels ⁽¹²⁹⁾ have I acquired knowledge; and from the tablet of heaven have I acquired understanding.

(129) Holy angels. A Qumran text reads, "Watchers and Holy Ones," clearly denoting heavenly Watchers who did not fall along with the wicked ones (Milik, p. 264). See also Dan. 4:13, "a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven"; 4:17, "watchers, and…holy ones."

⁴Enoch then began to speak from a book and said, I have been born the seventh in the first week [It doesn’t give reference as to when this week actually starts, however it appears that each week is a 700 year period for all ten of them to fit into a 7,000 year period.  Interestingly this is like saying a week (7,000 years) ten times of weeks (700 years)! And since it says he was “born the seventh” (and there is a second witness to this in 1:14) I am making the start date of the first week on 3993 BC at the “founding of the world” when Adam sinned as it seems to fit perfectly throughout the whole “ten part” time period (one could use 3992 when Cain was born but in this scope of time it would make little difference] while judgment and righteousness wait with patience [this “waiting with patience” is the time period from Adam and Eve getting new garments of skin to the end of the day of rest that Jehovah had gone into – so from 3993BC to 2993 which would take the “patience” period well into the second of the ten weeks that Enoch describes in great detail with regard to the flood and Noah’s time] 

⁵But after me [after 3040BC when Enoch is transferred (Hb 11:5)], in the second week [3293 - 2593BC], great wickedness shall arise, and fraud shall spring forth [this marks the time when the fallen angels commit the many grievous crimes upon the earth as recorded in Chapter 9 of Enoch and Genesis 6].

⁶In that week [the second] the end of the first shall take place [Michael Gabriel, Raphael, Suryal, and Uriel had asked Jehovah (Enoch 9) what they should do to obtain justice for the blood of those have been treated unjustly], in which mankind shall be safe [so during Jehovah’s “day of rest” mankind was safe from His wrath].

⁷But when the first [week] is completed, iniquity shall grow up; and during the second week he shall execute the decree [the one made in Chapter 14] upon sinners [both angelic and human - the execution of the decree being the deluge on those who do not enter the Ark which occurred from 2371 to 2370BC.  So this too fits in well with the story of Noah and the end of this particular week].

⁸Afterwards, in the third week [2593 – 1893BC], during its completion, a man of the plant of righteous judgment shall be selected [this “man” being Abraham]; and after him the Plant of righteousness shall come for ever [future event – one who comes from the seed of Abraham - Jesus].

⁹Subsequently, in the fourth week [1893 – 1193BC], during its completion, the visions of the holy and the righteous shall be seen [the time of Moses and the visions on Mt. Sinai], the order of generation after generation shall take place [Moses’ prophecies concerning the coming Christ (a prophet like him –Dt 18:15)], and a habitation shall be made for them [the Promised Land by covenant].

Then in the fifth week [1193 – 493BC], during its completion [toward the end of the week], the house of glory and of dominion shall be erected for ever [the period of King David and Solomon and the subsequent building of the temple].

¹⁰After that, in the sixth week [493BC – 209AD], all those who are in it [the house of dominion] shall be darkened [the Jewish system was one of the darkest under the Mosaic Law at the hands of the Pharisees], the hearts of all of them shall be forgetful of wisdom [they focus on the Law and maintaining a yoke on people instead of listening to the wisdom of God], and in it shall a Man [Immanuel/Jesus] arise and come forth [as the Messiah].

¹¹And during its completion [toward the end of the sixth week] He shall burn the house of dominion with fire [the judgment and consequent destruction of the temple and the fall of Jerusalem (70AD)], and all the race of the elect root shall be dispersed [the Diaspora].

¹²Afterwards, in the seventh week [209AD – 909AD], a perverse generation shall arise [under the Roman Catholic Church]; abundant shall be its deeds, and all its deeds perverse [intense persecution and death to any “true” Christian who would question their teachings or authority or try to translate the bible in other languages etc…]. During its completion [towards its end], the righteous shall be selected from the everlasting plant of righteousness [those who were of the inner circle of Paul’s group]; and to them shall be given the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation [the core of researchers who were taught by Paul were the true Gnostics of the time, they had the deepest of understandings in fact Paul related the story of his acquaintance who was snatched away to the third heaven (likely John when he was given the Revelation).  Unfortunately they had to hide this knowledge (both the scrolls and the speech of it) to keep it from being destroyed by the church - the book of Enoch is probably such a scroll too!].

¹³Afterwards there shall be another week, the eighth [909AD – 1609AD] of righteousness, to which shall be given a sword to execute judgment and justice upon all oppressors [the Lollards movement, Protestant movement (Luther), Wycliffe accomplished translating the bible in English and it was well on its way to being the most published book in the history of the world as it became a global phenomenon – it was the Word of God (the sword) that executed judgment and justice (not physical but spiritual) on anyone who denied the power of the Old Testament and the Gospels].

¹⁴Sinners shall be delivered up into the hands of the righteous [the “sinners” of the “middle ages” or “medieval times” were eventually subdued by the rise of the European powers and delivered into their hands], who during its completion [toward the end of the week] shall acquire habitations by their righteousness [although a short lived age of righteousness, the “Renaissance” era brought back a revival of Classical learning and values bringing many Ancient Greek and Latin texts to light, with translations making them more accessible to all. The arts flourished during the Renaissance, with an established system of patrons and artists becoming much more widespread. New techniques in painting, music, poetry, and theater were developed while scientists pondered the nature of the heavens and put forth theories on the basic workings of the world]; and the house [the “body” which is comprised of those who truly tried to bring God back into the everyday lives of men (including the founders of the United States and its constitution which based its laws on the “ten commandments”)] of the great King shall be established for celebrations for ever.

After this, in the ninth week [1609AD – 2309AD], shall the judgment of righteousness be revealed to the whole world [this is the time period we are now in, the two witnesses will reveal the truth by the power of the spirit.  It is the understandings of the scriptures and the power of the Word that judgment is reveled to the whole inhabited earth.  The real “terrifiers” (Is 13) will be exposed by accurate prophetic understandings.  It may also be that the myriads of historical records in secret government archives along with audio and video recordings will be broadcast globally to show the world the truth about the world leaders and the powers that controlled them.  This may be the “…eating the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of the strong, and the flesh of horses and of those sitting on them, and the flesh of all freemen as well as slaves, and of small and of great (Re 19:18)."]

¹⁵Every work of the ungodly shall disappear from the whole earth [not the people but the work shall disappear]; the world [Satan’s world, his creation] shall be marked for destruction [those who got the mark of the beast and worshipped it while blaspheming God and His truth are bound for Gehenna]; and all men [both good and evil] shall be on the watch for the path of integrity [all men, even those bound for Gehenna will look for the Christ and His sons for understanding and guidance].  This period must continue for 300 years well into the Kingdom of God on earth under the new heavenly administration]

¹⁶And after this, on the seventh day [not “week” - this day being the last 100 years 2909AD-3009AD] of the tenth week [2309 - 3009AD], there shall be an everlasting judgment [on the last day of the tenth week those who remain in Gehenna are brought out to be judged], which shall be executed upon the Watchers [who were the first to go in and last to get out for their crimes were so grievous]; and a spacious eternal heaven shall spring forth in the midst of the angels [for all of them, even Satan will repent and the end of all that is evil will come as death itself is swallowed up forever - Amen!].

Here is a table of the 10 weeks and their approximate periods of time.

Week	Start/End	Events
First	-3993	Adam sinned (founding of the world - Satan cast into the earth) Enoch born (seventh in line ), judgment and righteousness wait with patience  God is at rest for a day (1,000 Yrs)
	-3293
Second	-3293	After me great wickedness shall arise, and fraud shall spring forth, end of the first shall take place, iniquity shall grow up, he shall execute the decree  Rise of the Nephilim and great oppression, Enoch transferred, decree to the fallen angels made and executed by the flood
	-2593
Third	-2593	a man of the plant of righteous judgment shall be selected (Noah); and after him the Plant of righteousness (Abraham) shall come for ever Abrahamic covenants made, Seed of righteousness established
	-1893
Fourth	-1893	the visions of the holy and the righteous shall be seen, the order of generation after generation shall take place, and a habitation shall be made for them Moses gets Law from Jehovah through Michael, promised land covenant made
	-1193
Fifth	-1193	the house of glory and of dominion shall be erected for ever the time of King David, King Solomon and the building of the temple
	-493
Sixth	-491	all those who are in it shall be darkened, the hearts of all of them shall be forgetful of wisdom, and in it shall a Man arise and come forth, He shall burn the house of dominion with fire, and all the race of the elect root shall be dispersed End of the Law, Intense pharisaical yoke, advent of Christ and the judgment from God, destruction of the temple and the Diaspora.
	209
Seventh	209	a perverse generation shall arise; abundant shall be its deeds, and all its deeds perverse, the righteous shall be selected from the everlasting plant of righteousness; and to them shall be given the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation The rise of the Roman Catholic church, intense persecution of any one seeking the truth, Gnostic revelation and a veil of darkness
	909
Eighth	909	of righteousness, to which shall be given a sword to execute judgment and justice upon all oppressors, Sinners shall be delivered up into the hands of the righteous, who during its completion shall acquire habitations by their righteousness; and the house of the great King shall be established for celebrations for ever period of Bible translations in every language and global distribution, becomes the sword of conscience for many who believe in the Christ.
	1609
Ninth	1609	shall the judgment of righteousness be revealed to the whole world, Every work of the ungodly shall disappear from the whole earth; the world shall be marked for destruction; and all men shall be on the watch for the path of integrity End of Satan’s system, rise of the true church of the presence, beginning of Kingdom of God and revealing of His sons.
	2309
Tenth	2309	on the seventh day of the tenth week, there shall be an everlasting judgment, which shall be executed upon the Watchers; and a spacious eternal heaven shall spring forth in the midst of the angels. End of all sins and the end of death forever.
	3009

Are Angels Always Divine? Matt. 11:10

A Different View of Angels

Are Angels Always Divine

What are Angels?

The Greek word "aggelos" translated "angel" means "messenger, agent", and is used of both human and divine messengers. It is used of humans in the following places: Matt. 11:10; Luke 7:24, 27; 9:52; and James 2:25.

The phrase "sons of God" also must to humans in Deut. 14:1, R.S.V.; Psa. 82:6, R.S.V.; Hosea 1:10; Luke 3:38; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1.)

In the New Testament, Angel can mean "a heavenly spirit" that is the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides

In view of the first century meanings of heavenly and spirit, we can understand that this phrase refers to a person who has the Christ consciousness.

"In the New Testament, as in the old, the Angel is sometimes no more than another word for a divine communication or divine operation personified."

Our angels are our spiritual perceptive faculties, which ever dwell in the presence of the Father (Matt. 13:49).

angel--A messenger of God; the projection into consciousness of a spiritual idea direct from the Fountainhead, Jehovah. "And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar" (Luke 1:11). The word of Truth, in which is centered the power of God to overcome all limited beliefs and conditions.

angel, of Yahweh--The quickening thought of God appearing in the form of light or divine intelligence, intuition, and understanding.

angels, ascending and descending--The imaging power of the mind receiving divine ideas and reflecting them into the consciousness.

The term 'holy spirit' applies not only to the divine, but also to those of us whose reasoning has reached the perfection of the Christ-consciousness. Angels, sons of God, saints, the chosen, the elect, and pneumatics can be spiritual individuals. Gnostic Christians use the term holy spirits to refer to those who have reached the Christ-consciousness.

"The indwelling of the spirit in the Christian makes him a holy temple…[holy also] indicates the sacred character of persons or objects belonging to God

Taking In Life-Giving Knowledge John 17:3

Taking in Knowledge of God and Jesus is Eternal Life

Or

Their Taking in Knowledge of You John 17:3 

John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. NWT 1983

In the Gospel of John, knowledge is given an importance it has nowhere else in the New Testament. 

From John 8:32, " And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," it appears that Truth alone suffices to liberate from sin. 

It is explicitly declared in John 17:3 that eternal life consists in the knowledge of God: "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." In several passages the teaching of Jesus brings Salvation (cf. John 6:63, 15:3, 17:17, 26).

Agreeable to this emphasis upon knowledge is the constant repetition of words stressing the importance of Revelation. Such words are "light," "know," "declare," "bear witness," "see," "and" manifest." 

Taking In Life-Giving Knowledge

John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. NWT 1983

John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. NWT 2013

The right knowledge or teachings of God and Jesus Christ gives endless life. it is also a life of acquaintance with God in Christ leading to a fullness of personal knowledge (Ephesians 4:13 Job 22:21)

It is both a personal relationship with God and the accurate knowledge in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension 

ἐπίγνωσις, εως, ἡ 1922. epignósis

epignosis “precise and correct knowledge.” it means “to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly; to know accurately, know well


epignosis “also denotes exact or full knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9)

precise and correct knowledge; used in the N. T. of the knowledge of things ethical and divine: absolutely, with the genitive of the person known; — of God,

Paul also prayed that the believers, who obviously had some knowledge of God’s will, for they had become Christians, “be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension.” (Col 1:9)

Such accurate knowledge should be sought by all Christians (Eph 1:15-17; Php 1:9; 1Ti 2:3, 4), it is important in putting on “the new personality” and in gaining peace.—Col 3:10; 2Pe 1:2. (insight into the scriptures)

When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, thinking ability itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you, to deliver you from the bad way.” (Proverbs 2:10-12)

These words imply that we must develop a intense desire for accurate knowledge, which can affect the heart and the very soul. Furthermore, it is a foundation for good thinking ability 

It is having the knowledge of God's ways that makes us responsible to Him for our actions and therefore necessitates our resurrection and appearance at the judgment seat. It should therefore be understood that it is not only the righteous or those baptized who will be resurrected, but all who are responsible to God by reason of their knowledge of Him. This is an oft repeated Scriptural theme:- 

John 15:22 shows that knowledge of the Word brings responsibility: "If I (Jesus) had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke ('excuse', A.V. mg.) for their sin". Romans 1:20-21 likewise says that knowing God leaves men "without excuse".

This knowledge makes men responsible to the judgement seat of Christ, However a person is only associated with the blood of Christ through baptism. (John 3:18-19; John 12:48; Mark 16:16; 2Th 1:8)

responsibility is based upon understanding, and therefore the statement "those who know the revealed will of God" 1 Corinthians 2:10

Salvation is based upon a reasonable and logical understanding of the Truth; those who are foreign to the gospel, who lack the capacity to perceive its responsibilities; or who are unable to comprehend, are outside the sphere of salvation — Acts 8:12.

Also man can not be saved by morality or sincerity, without the gospel.

[Morality and sincerity must be accompanied by an acknowledgement of the gospel for salvation — Acts 10:1-6.]

Knowledge of the gospel alone can not save a person, without the obedience of faith to Christ’s commandments.

 [Obedience to the commandments is a responsibility required of all believers; salvation will be determined upon the application of faith and obedience. Rev. 22:14; Mat. 7:26; 2Pet. 2:21; Mat. 28:20; Gal. 6:2]

Faith in the Gospel of the Kingdom and baptism into Christ is the only way to get into him, and be part of him, and get life through him. We must get into Christ — within him. Outside of him, the one perfect and divinely acceptable Man, we shall inevitably be destroyed by God’s righteous and necessary law of sin and death. Inside of him — covered by him — we are safe. None are his friends — none are truly in him — who do not devote their whole life to knowing and obeying him. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).

In the NT, when the mind is mentioned along with the heart, “mind” refers to the intellect while “heart” refers to the emotions, desires, and feelings of the inner person. For example, Jesus said: “You must love Yahweh your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.” (Mt 22:37) He thus showed that a person’s desires, feelings, and emotions must express his love for God, but he must also express that love by the way he uses his mental faculties, as by taking in knowledge of God and Christ.—John 17:3.

Right thinking leads to right Behaviour

Therefore Gnostic Christianity means being a seeker after accurate knowledge and believing that everything you need to know about God can be found through intellectual reasoning. That is what Gnosticism is

Thus salvation is intellectual knowledge or intellectual knowledge is needed for salvation

It was made very clear that  clarifies this matter. This is in accordance with the Scriptures. “We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ” (2Cor. 5:10). “He that rejecteth me… the Word… shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

Therefore “atheist,” pagans, and all persons who are ignorant or lacking in understanding of the truth, including very young children will not be saved. Psalm 49

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Gnosis Co-Perception Human Perception and Spiritual Self Perception

Co-Perception human perception and spiritual self perception

self examination key to self knowledge

The word conscience comes from a Greek word meaning literally a co-perception. It implies that there are two types of perception within the believer- human perception, and spiritual self perception. The conscience that is cleansed in Christ, that is at peace, will be a conscience that keeps those two perceptions, of the real self and of the persona, in harmony.

What we know and perceive humanly, is in harmony with what we spiritually perceive. Our conscience, our co-perception, our real self, makes sense of the human perceptions and interprets them in a spiritual way. So, a young man sees an attractive girl. His human perception signals certain things to his brain- to lust, covet, etc. But his co-perception, his conscience, his real self, handles all that, and sees the girl’s beauty for just simply what it is- beauty.

Consider the connections between the following: " Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established" (4:26). " For the ways of man are before the eyes (Angels) of Yahweh, and he ponders all his paths." (5:21). " Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but Yahweh is pondering hearts" (21:2). "

Surely we are being taught that we ought to examine our path in life, bearing in mind that we will naturally think there is nothing wrong with it, because God examines it; our self-examination must mirror His. This is also taught in 1 Cor. 11:28-31; if we examine / judge / condemn ourselves now in our self-examination, God will not have to do this to us at the day of judgement. The spirit of man is in this sense the lamp of Yahweh, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. (Prov. 20:27); i.e. there is a link between a man's examination of his own conscience, and Yahweh's examination of him.

Real self-examination is painful- it has to be. It's no half hearted moment of self-analysis as , we prepare to partake of the bread and wine at communion. ultra-careful self-examination reveals ourselves to ourselves; and yet so do trials and "wounds". This is how tough real self-examination has to be- it should have the same effect as painful trials, revealing the same things which they do. Romans 5:1-6 heb 12:11

On the other hand, serious self-examination is part of the road to the Kingdom; it will characterize every successful believer: " The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way" (14:8); " the prudent man considers his steps" (14:15);

" whoso is preserving his soul, is watching his way" (16:17 YLT); " A wicked man puts up a bold front (" hardeneth his face" , AV); but an upright man gives thought to his ways" (21:29 NIV). This last reference suggests that a lack of self-examination is associated with a hardness, a brazenness, which is the result of a refusal to face up to the real issues of personal spirituality and our very personal relationship with God. It is more than possible to drift through the Christian experience with no thought at all for these things.

We live in a world without any sense of responsibility, with no fear of God and His judgment before their eyes.

Inevitably, we will be affected by this spirit. Self-examination is perhaps what we are most urgently in need of in these last days; a real self-knowledge, a true humility, a real sense of where we are going, and of the utter impossibility of travelling two roads.

" I am the way" , the Lord Jesus said, possibly with His mind on the one great way of Proverbs. The whole way of life which leads to the Kingdom, the things we do, our deepest thoughts, our daily decisions; these are all " the way" which leads to the Kingdom; and yet Christ is " the way" . This clearly means that all these things, the very essence of our being, the fibre of our thought processes, the basis of all our works; must be the Lord Jesus Christ.

The fact God’s ways and principles are unchanging encourage our self-examination; for there is always the rock of God and His way against which to compare our ways. The Lord Jesus is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

As a man or woman seriously contemplates the cross, they are inevitably led to a self-knowledge and self-examination which shakes them to the bone. A number of passages shed light on the way the cross leads to self-examination.

We have probably all realized that mere observation of one's own mental and emotional processes isn’t necessarily the same as fruitful self-perception / self-examination. In 1 Cor. 11:29,31 we are exhorted to both judge ourselves and also discern the body and person of Jesus in His time of dying. This is because our essential person is Him, crucified, covered in blood.


We are to thereby “reckon ourselves” to be dead to sin (Rom. 6:11).

The Greek word for “reckon” is that normally translated “impute”, in the context of imputing righteousness (Rom. 4:3,4,5,6,8,9- indeed, the word occurs in almost every verse of Romans 4).

 We are to search through our lives and perceive ourselves as in Christ, as men and women who don’t sin because we are in Christ. We are to impute that we are justified by faith (Rom. 3:28).
The Lord died to justify us (Rom. 4:25); yet we justify ourselves by our attitude to ourselves, in that we allow His death to so influence our self-perception.

We look in the mirror, and see Christ in us. This looking in the mirror is used by James as a figure for self-examination (James 1:18,22-25). By doing the word of the Gospel, we find we will live lives of looking in the mirror, of self-perception.

This is the essence of self-examination; to perceive the Christ-man within us, and that all other behaviour is our being unfaithful to our true self, living out a persona. We are to see ourselves as being Christ; we are to have a high view of ourselves in this sense, whilst despising and seeking to deconstruct the personas we so often act out which are unfaithful to Him.

The cross must change how we see ourselves. It must radically affect our self-perception and self understanding. For we are in Him. It was us who hung with Him there, and who hang with Him still in the tribulations of life.

We are Christ personified to this world. Therefore to be ourselves as God intends is to be Christ, to let the Christ-man within us show forth; the life that He lived and the death that He died becomes ours (Rom. 6:10,11). Paul could say, with reference to this, that he died daily (1 Cor. 15:31); and out of each death, there comes forth new life. For His resurrection life, the type of life that He lived and lives, becomes manifest in our mortal flesh right now (2 Cor. 4:11).