Frequently asked questions.
Q: What led BibleStudiesNH to offer these bible studies?
A: This mission is being done to fulfill inspiration from the Holy Spirit of Truth under the New Covenant. The main focus of the studies of the Gospels and the Old Testament focus on that New Covenant (Jeremiah 31.22-34), and it’s expression through Christ Jesus in the Gospels, Epistles and Revelation. An example of the type of Bible Study envisioned appears in this 15 page PDF for download entitled “‘The Word of God’ - Examining 2000 Years of History – Contrasted With the Doctrines of Men.” It is relatively short but provides the reader with an overview regarding the scope and method of bible study used by BibleStudyNH.
In Matthew Christ Jesus says: “… 18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” [Emphasis added] We are heirs to that authority and His Great Commission.
George Whitefield, as an itinerant preacher, traveled seven times from England to America (1730-1757), in some instances preaching every day at a different locations, in the open air in fields to audiences between 8,000 and up to 30,000 at a time. He traveled on horseback and was one of many called the CIRCUIT RIDERS of that period leading up to the american Revolution. That he participated in the Great Awakening and revivals in the period leading up to the American Revolution, is not to be doubted, nor can it be minimized. A number of his sermons are provided on the READ ME page at this site. However, specific to this question, one sermon entitled “The Duty to Search the Scriptures” (PDF) addresses this question specifically as to what has led BibleStudyNH to facilitate this local bible study in New Hampshire. On this, Whitefield wrote:
“… Seventhly, Read the scripture constantly, or, to use our Savior's expression in the text, “search the scriptures;” dig in them as for hid treasure; for here is a manifest allusion to those who dig in mines; and our Savior would thereby teach us, that we must take as much pains in constantly reading his word, if we would grow wise thereby, as those who dig for gold and silver. The scriptures contain the deep things of God, and therefore, can never be sufficiently searched into by a careless, superficial, cursory way of reading them, but by an industrious, close, and humble application.
Q: Why is this non-denominational?
A: A reader of this website will see there is an emphasis on the READ ME page (the content within the Series “The Parables of John”), the VIDEOS page on the two Great Awakenings and revivals in America during the period of 1700-1850, the Circuit Riders on horsebacks who made that happen, and the growth of Methodist Societies in America from 800 in 1771; to 215,000 in 1815; and to over 1.5 million in 1850. Many of the Circuit Riders were Methodists; some were Presbyterian, Baptist and Congregationalist as well. During that same period many of the established churches imported from England and Europe lost members because teh Circuit Riders and itinerant preachers like George Whitefield, Freeborn Garrettson, Francis Asbury. Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and others presented Americans with a message which the Church of England disagreed with; that being a conversion experience through being born again of water and spirit, a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to Comfort and guide them through all of their lives. THAT MESSAGE HAD NOT BEEN OFFERED TO THE AUDIENCES OF ESTABLISHED CHURCHES IN AMERICA … AND THEY ACTIVELY OPPOSED IT FOR OVER 100 YEARS OR MORE.
That being said, these bible studies are offered non-demonationally to everyone who wants to understand God’s Word, and more importantly wants to be introduced to that personal relationship of Christ Jesus as their Savior and His Holy Spirit of Truth to remind them of His Words and what is to come in these days of 2024 in which we observe many things spoken of in the Prophets, Matthew 24 and Revelation. Readers here should understand we do not want as interpretations, commentaries, or opinions of the facilitator; but instead to study the Scriptures for purposes of introduction to Christ Jesus as Our Savior, and His Holy Spirit.
Q: How is this different from church?
A: The only difference; if there is one, is the time we share together studying the Scriptures from the point of view of the previous question. Today, in a very busy world, pastors like most of us are overwhelmed with many daily tasks. It is time-consuming to research and study the Scriptures at a level where individual words are looked at in their original Aramaic [See the Why Aramaic page here], and translations into Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and then English. Sometimes the Aramaic language of Christ Jesus which he spoke containing idioms, nuances of that culture, and certainly His use of figures of speech, and over thirty Parables, require not only time to research and study, but also to prepare a sermon; being true for any pastor. Time limitations of most Sunday services also can limit the amount of time needed to deliver the results of any such word studies.
Q: Who facilitates these bible studies?
A: The backgound of the facilitator is provided at this LINK on the website.
Q: What has motivated these bible studies?
A: First: Some of the answer to that question is given in the link to BACKGROUND in the preceding question; however, for clarity the simple answer is a direct relationship with the Holy Spirit of Truth and the command of Christ Jesus in Matthew chapter 28: “16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him ; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Mat. 28.16-20. ASV.) [Emphasis added.]
Second: A calling of the Holy Spirit was received during research and compiling of a TRACT to accompany the writing and publication of an historical novel entitled “Call it Not Tyranny, But Providence.” (due to be completed in July 2022). The novel is about the Founding Fathers between 1721 and 1790, with an emphasis on their strongly held Christian beliefs. As that research and compilation for the TRACT grew, a very deep appreciation for them arose; by now knowing their generally little understood histories, and the incredible challenges they faced in the founding era of America. e
Third: The Holy Spirit was revealed in March 2022 to the this facilitator to write the Series entitled “The Parables of John” which can be found on the READ ME page of this website. A complete description of The Parables is given at that link, and 16 of those The Parables of John written as a series can be read in sequence there.
As well all the research led led the facilitator into discoveries of the two Great Awakenings and revivals in America in the 1750’s, the writings of John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley, the circuit rider preachers, George Whitefield; and the discovery of many of the Founders’ contemporaries who decided to translate Bibles from original manuscripts including (this very partial list): (just from 1500-2002 A.D.): Robert Aitken Bible (1782)[1], Charles Thomson Bible[2] (1808, Noah Webster's Bible Translation (1833), Samuel Bagster (1841) The Holy Bible Bagster’s Polyglot Bible[3], Young's Literal Translation (1862), Emphatic Diaglott by Benjamin Wilson (1864), Julia E. Smith Parker Translation (1876), "Translated Literally", J.N. Darby's Darby Bible (1890), Modern Reader's Bible (1914) by Richard Moulton, Five Pauline Epistles, New Translation (1900) by William Gunion Rutherford, Bryant Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (1902), S. H. Hooke's The Bible in Basic English (1949), R.A. Knox (1950), J.B. Phillips (1958), Verkuyl's Berkeley Version (1959), Holy Name Bible containing the Holy Name Version of the Old and New Testaments (1963) by Angelo Traina, The Living Bible (1971) by Kenneth N. Taylor, The Bible in Living English (1972) by Stephen T. Byington, Jay P. Green's Literal Translation (1985), Heinz Cassirer's translation (1989), The Complete Jewish Bible (1998) by Dr. David H. Stern, American King James Version (1999) by Michael Engelbrite, Eugene H. Peterson's The Message (2002), The Original Aramaic Bible in Plain English (2010) by David Bauscher, Father Nicholas King's translation of the Greek Bible into English.
With little or no formal translation training, these people proceded ahead with their calling of completing translations. My first question was why? And after significant research, I found some answers in our common history that revealed why it was so important to them; however, that subject could fill many books and is well-beyond the scope of an FAQ sheet on a website. Some of it it is contained within the story line of “The Parables of John” series.
Footnotes:
[1] Robert Aitken (1734-1802) “The first complete English Bible printed in America was published in 1782 by Robert Aitken. Up until the American Revolution, all Bibles in English had been imported to the Colonies from England. But during the Revolution, Bibles were not available because of the embargo on English imported goods. The printing of the New Testament started with preliminary copies in 1777 and the final copies printed in 1781. The addition of the Old Testament followed in 1782. Aitken's printing of the King James Version came to be called the "Bible of the Revolution" because it was small enough to fit into the coat pocket of the soldiers of the Continental Army. This Bible was the only one ever authorized by the United States Congress, part of whose resolution said: "they recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize him [Mr. Aitken] to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper." SOURCE: https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/one_nation_under_god/3/ , See also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Aitken_(publisher)
[2] “Charles Thomson (1729-1824) made the first English translation of the New Testament published in America and the first translation of the Septuagint into the English language (The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament made in the third century B.C. This was the translation often quoted by the apostles). Thomson immigrated to this country from Ireland in 1739. When Congress was organized in 1774, he was elected secretary. He held the post throughout the American Revolution and until the adoption of the Constitution in 1789. Thomson spent the next twenty years working on his translation. After copying the manuscript four times, he had it published by Jane Aitken, the first woman to print any part of the Holy Scripture in America. Her father, Robert Aitken, published the first Bible in English ever printed in America in 1782. It is of interest that the name “Cha. Thomson” appears as the signer of the Congressional resolution in the front of the 1782 Aitken Bible.” SOURCE (**) https://hbu.edu/museums/dunham-bible-museum/tour-of-the-museum/bible-in-america/bibles-for-a-young-republic/charles-thomson-bible-1808/
[3] SOURCE (**): https://archive.org/details/holybiblecontain00samu/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater public domain.