Be Not Many Teachers

from Google Images

In the third chapter of his epistle, James gets down to the nitty-gritty. The empire-wide trial that had come upon the churches of God had to do with false doctrine spread by false teachers. This was an organized conspiracy begun by Annas, the high priest of Jerusalem, the very same who had Jesus crucified. It was a secret plan, whereby he had planted false brethren throughout the Christian assemblies in Asia, Galatia and Greece, similar to the Ananias and Sapphira incident of Acts 5. Paul knew about the plan, but, of course, was not privy to the identity of the false brethren. He told the churches in Greece that the conspiracy was already at work (2Thessalonians 2:7), but Paul’s presence among the churches in the area was enough to keep secret plan from gaining a strong foothold.

 

A Mouth Full of Blasphemy

from Google Images

According to Revelation 13:6, John tells us that the beast opened his mouth in blasphemy (G988) against God, and he blasphemed (G987) the name of God, he blasphemed his Tabernacle, and he blasphemed those in heaven. The Greek word for blaspheme, according to the Analytical Greek Lexicon, means ‘calumny’ ‘railing’ ‘reproach’ ‘blasphemy’. The word has to do with slander, a falsification or a misrepresentation intended to discredit another. When used of God it is called blasphemy when used of man it is called slander, but the meaning is the same.