Ad Astra per Aspera

THE ONLINE HOME OF THE GADARENE ASSEMBLY

[gadarene]

The Gadarene Assembly was formed to reconstitute and promote the values, beliefs, and practices of the earliest Christians, the majority of whom were devout Jews. To that end, our basic doctrines routinely rely on Jewish and Hellenistic concepts and traditions that diverge from modern Christian orthodoxy. In earlier times, we would certainly have been labeled apostates or heretics despite practicing a Christianity closer to the time of Jesus's death than any organized church today. We make no apologies, however, for wanting a Christianity that both rests on modern historiography, archeology, and textual studies and brings us as closely as possible to Jesus's first followers and their original Church. This website is our attempt to provide an introductory "catechism." We, of course, welcome questions and requests for clarification.

May God bless us and grant us eternal peace. In His Name we write. Amen.

The Gadarene Elders

Florida, USA

Spring 2013

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TRANSLATIONS: THE SCRIPTURES IN ENGLISH (Genesis 1)

And the evening and morning were the fourth day. // God also said: Let the waters bring forth the creeping creature having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the firmament of heaven. (Gen 1:19-20, 1752 DRC)

And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. // And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (Gen 1:19-20, 1769 AV)

And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. // And God said, Let the waters bring forth reptiles having life, and winged creatures flying above the earth in the firmament of heaven, and it was so. (Gen 1:19-20, 1851 LXX)

And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. // And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven (Heb on the face of the expanse of the heavens). (Gen 1:19-20, 1901 ASV)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 18 Feb 2022

Forthwith, then, the instruments that were prepared for the pile (of firewood) were placed about him (Polycarp); and as they were going likewise to nail him to the stake, he said; "Leave me as I am; for He who has [that hath] granted me to endure the fire will grant me also to remain at the pile unmoved, even without the security which you [ye] seek from the nails." (MartPol 13:3, 1891 Lightfoot glossed)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 17 Feb 2022

And such were some of you: but you [ye] were washed (Gk washed yourselves), but you [ye] were sanctified, but you [ye] were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:11, 1901 ASV glossed)

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TRANSLATIONS: THE SCRIPTURES IN ENGLISH (Genesis 1)

And he set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth. // And to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:17-18, 1752 DRC)

And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, // and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:17-18, 1769 AV)

And God placed them in the firmament of the heaven, so as to shine upon the earth, // and to regulate day and night, and to divide between the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:17-18, 1851 LXX)

And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, // and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:17-18, 1901 ASV)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 16 Feb 2022

The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash (town east of Bethel, on the road to Jerusalem), and the other on the south in front of Geba (town on the northern frontier of Judah). (1Kgdms 14:5, 1901 ASV glossed)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 15 Feb 2022

For wonderful art thou, my lord (King Ahasuerus), and thy countenance is full of grace. (AddEsth 15:14, 1894 RV glossed)

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TRANSLATIONS: THE SCRIPTURES IN ENGLISH (Genesis 1)

To shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the earth. And it was so done. // And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars. (Gen 1:15-16, 1752 DRC)

and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. // And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. (Gen 1:15-16, 1769 AV)

And let them be for light in the firmament of the heaven, so as to shine upon the earth, and it was so. // And God made the two great lights, the greater light for regulating the day and the lesser light for regulating the night, the stars also. (Gen 1:15-16, 1851 LXX)

and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. // And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. (Gen 1:15-16, 1901 ASV)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 14 Feb 202

And the remnant [residue] of the people who [that] were left in the city (Jerusalem), and those who [that] fell away, who [that] fell to the king of Babylon, and the remnant [residue] of the multitude, [did] Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard (carried) [carry] away captive. (4Kgdms 25:11, 1901 ASV glossed)

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BIBLE READING PLAN: WEEK 31 (13-19 Feb 2022)

Old Covenant: Jub 11-12 (1917 Charles), cf. 1888 Schodde - Patriarchs from Reu to Abraham. Humanity Corrupted. Abraham Finds God. Terah's Idolatry. Journey to Canaan. (See also, NOTES ON Jubilees)

(The Septuagint in English is available at the 2009 NETS website for those who wish to read the Greek Old Covenant.)

New Covenant: Mark 5-6 (1913 Moffatt), cf. 1900 20c NT - Gerasene Demoniac. Jairus's Daughter. Nazareth Rejected. Mission of the Twelve. John the Baptist Executed. Return of the Twelve. Feeding the Five Thousand. Walking on Water. (See also, NOTES ON Mark)

<< Five Things to Remember While Reading >>

Genre: Keep in mind a text’s genre - history (narrative), legal code, poetry, prophecy, etc. Each genre requires different things from us, i.e. we must read actively.

Language: Even the original languages of the Bible cannot capture the fullness of God’s Word. The difficulties only multiply when we’re reading a translation into English, etc.

Intention: We should always practice the rhetorical “principle of charity” in reading Scripture. That is, we should assume an author’s purpose is what they say it is.

Interpretation: There is a long tradition of reading Scripture in four senses or ways. Each of them contributes to our understanding and spiritual development.

Homework: Find out what we know (and don’t know) about each text. Read difficult passages in several translations. Explore what the Church Fathers have said. Etc.

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 13 Feb 2022

Then Abimelech went to him (Isaac) from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his troops [host]. (Gen 26:26, 1901 ASV glossed)

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TRANSLATIONS: THE SCRIPTURES IN ENGLISH (Genesis 1)

And the evening and the morning were the third day. // And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years {...}. (Gen 1:13-14, 1752 DRC)

And the evening and the morning were the third day. // And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years {...}. (Gen 1:13-14, 1769 AV)

And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. // And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, to divide between day and night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years. (Gen 1:13-14, 1851 LXX)

And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. // And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years {...}. (Gen 1:13-14, 1901 ASV)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for the SABBATH - 12 Feb 2022

... (Jesus) saying, Father, if you are [thou be] willing, remove this cup from me (Jesus): nevertheless not my will, but yours [thine], be done. (Luke 22:42, 1901 ASV glossed)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 11 Feb 2022

"It is on this account, therefore, Sir (Angel of Repentance)," say I (Hermas), "that I enquire everything accurately of you [thee]; first, because I am a sinner; secondly, because I know not what deeds I must do that I may live, for my sins are many and various." (Herm 30:3 [Mand 4.2.3], 1891 Lightfoot glossed)

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TRANSLATIONS: THE SCRIPTURES IN ENGLISH (Genesis 1)

And he said: Let the earth bring forth the green herb, and such as may seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, which may have seed in itself upon the earth. And it was so done. // And the earth brought forth the green herb, and such as yieldeth seed according to its kind, and the tree that beareth fruit, having seed each one according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:11-12, 1752 DRC)

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. // And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:11-12, 1769 AV)

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit-tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and it was so. // And the earth brought forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:11-12, 1851 LXX)

And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. // And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:11-12, 1901 ASV)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 10 Feb 2022

And the slain shall fall among [in the midst of] you (Israel), and you will [ye shall] know that I am Jehovah. (Ezek 6:7, 1901 ASV glossed)

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VERSE OF THE DAY for 9 Feb 2022

Counsel in the heart of a person [man] is like deep water; / But a person [man] of understanding will draw it out. (Prov 20:5, 1901 ASV glossed)