Good information for those who believe our English Text is reliable!

Early manuscript evidence that exists for I John 5:7,8

Early church writers that used it:

Cyprian 200 - 258 AD. "The Lord says, 'I and the Father are one;' and again it is written of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 'And these three are one'." If Cyprian quotes I John 5:7 from his Bible in 200• 258 AD, it must be a valid reading. His Bible was copied from an older manuscript containing this verse.
Cyprian lived only 100 years after John wrote the book of I John. Cyprian would have had access to the original manuscript to check.

• Priscillian 350 AD, a Spanish bishop quotes I John 5:7,8.

• Idacius Clarus 360 AD, who opposed Priscillian quotes it.

• Varimadum 380 AD.

• Cassiodorus 485 AD.

• Cassian 435 AD.

• Victor Vita 489 AD.

• Jerome 450 AD.

• Fulgentius 533 AD.

• Ps. Vigilius 484 AD.

• Ansbert 660 AD.

Early bible versions that include it:
Old Syriac 170 AD.
Old Latin 200 AD, in North Africa and Italy.
Italic 4th and 5th century. – Italic • Monacensis 7th century.
Italic • Speculum 9th century.
Latin Vulgate 4th, 5th century.

Greek miniscule manuscripts that include it:
• 221 in the 10th century.(variant).
• 88 in the 12th century.(margin).
• 629 in the 14th century.(Ottobanianus)
• 429 in the 14th century (margin).
• 636 in the 15th century. (margin).
• 61 in the 16th century.(Codex Montfortianus)
• 918 in the 16th century. (an Escorial ms).
• 2318 (a Bucharest manuscript).

In 251 A.D. Cyprian stated in his Treatise #1...

6. The spouse of Christ cannot be adulterous; she is uncorrupted and pure. She knows one home; she guards with chaste modesty the sanctity of one couch. She keeps us for God. She appoints the sons whom she has born for the kingdom. Whoever is separated from the Church and is joined to an adulteress, is separated from the promises of the Church; nor can he who forsakes the Church of Christ attain to the rewards of Christ. He is a stranger; he is profane; he is an enemy. He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother. If any one could escape who was outside the ark of Noah, then he also may escape who shall be outside of the Church. The Lord warns, saying, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who gathereth not with me scattereth." [3116] He who breaks the peace and the concord of Christ, does so in opposition to Christ; he who gathereth elsewhere than in the Church, scatters the Church of Christ. The Lord says, "I and the Father are one;" [3117] and again it is written of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, "And these three are one." [3118] And does any one believe that this unity which thus comes from the divine strength and coheres in celestial sacraments, can be divided in the Church, and can be separated by the parting asunder of opposing wills? He who does not hold this unity does not hold God's law, does not hold the faith of the Father and the Son, does not hold life and salvation.

Hello there JW's? 251 A.D.!

Ol' Joe!

New Life in Christ - piano instrumental hymn with lyrics

Why I am a Genevan Baptist

I shall start a series of quotes from the 1560 Geneva Bible, showing examples on why I am what I am, a Genevan Baptist.

The 1560 Geneva Bible -

1 Peter 3 -

20 Which were in time past disobedient, when once the long suffering of God abode in the days of Noe, while the Ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved in the water.
21 To the which also the figure that now saveth us, even Baptism agreeth (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience maketh request to God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 
22 Which is at the right hand of God, gone into heaven, to whom the Angels, and Powers, and might are subject. 

The 1611 KJB -

1 Peter 3 -

²⁰ Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the Ark was a preparing: wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

²¹ The like figure whereunto, even Baptism, doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, Angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject vnto him.

The 1769 KJV -

1 Peter 3 -

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

No stocking up for Christians!

Here are the words of the Lord Jesus about storing up for things to come - Matthew 6 -

24 * No man can serve two masters: for either he shall hate the one, and love the other, or else he shall lean to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and riches. 25 * Therefore I say unto you, be not (s) careful for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink: nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more worth than meat? and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the heaven: for they sow not, neither reap, nor carry into the barns: yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking care, is able to add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why care ye for raiment? Learn, how the lilies of (t) the field do grow: they (u) labour not, neither spin: 29 Yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not do much more unto you, ô ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or where with shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things (x) seek the Gentiles) for your heavenly Father knoweth, that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his (y) righteousness, and all these things shall be ministered unto you. 34 Care not then for the morrow: for the morrow shall care for " it (z) self: the day hath enough with his own grief. 

24 * Luke 16.13 25 * Psalm 55.23, Luke 12.22, Philippians 4.6, 1 Timothy 6.8, 1 Peter 5.7 25 (s) Mans travel nothing availeth where God giveth not increase. 28 (t)The goodness of God even towards the herbs of the field, far passeth all things that man can compass by his power and labour. 28 (u) The word signifieth, they weary not them selves. 32 (x) With care and distrust. 33 (y) That is, to be regenerate, and amend, your lives. 34 " Or, his own things. 34 (z) God will provide for every day that that shall be necessary, though we do not increase the present grief by the carefulness how to live in time to come. 

So there we have it. Unless you think that the Lord was just talking to 'jews' here, and are ignorant of the Lords love and wisdom for all men to be saved, this proves he thought we should just wait for his answers for our supplications.

Trim your lamps brethren!

Ash Wednesday and such, why we don't 'celebrate' them

1 Timothius 4 says:

1 Now the Spirit speaketh evidently, that in the latter times some shall depart
   from the faith, and shall give heed unto spirits of error, and doctrines of devils, 
2 Which speak lies through hypocrisy, and have their consciences burned with an
   hot iron,
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath 
   created to be received with giving thanks of them which believe and know the 
   truth. 
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing ought to be refused, if it be
   received with thanksgiving.
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God, and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good 
   minister of Jesus Christ, which hast been nourished up in the words of faith, and of
   good doctrine, which thou hast continually followed.
7 But cast away profane, and old wives fables, and exercise thy self unto godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things,
   which hath the promise of the life present, and of that that is to come.

Just a thought.

Trim them lamps!