Bible Wisdom: Selections from the Old & New Testament

Now on sale are my very latest books, What Matthew Really Wrote and Bible Wisdom: PSALMS of Praise and Power newly translated from the Greek Old Testament. Here, for the first time in nearly 2,000 years, is Matthew's Gospel as it was originally written, without the many spurious additions crammed into the text by over-zealous copyists and editors. (The above link will take you to the $2.99 Kindle edition). In PSALMS, you'll find 84 of the most beautiful and inspiring, presented in both an easy-to-read literal translation and in a more poetic paraphrase. The Psalms are poems after all! "Psalms" is available in both a regular paperback edition and in a Kindle edition currently selling for only $3.00. All 287 pages of text are reproduced in the Kindle edition, which is certainly great value for $3. E-books are also available from Barnes & Noble and most other online stores, although they are more expensive (around $3.99)! (The Amazon icon above with no price showing will take you to the Kindle edition).

Did Jesus have a role model? Find out in "Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Short Stories and Other Selections from the Orthodox Old Testament"!

We all of us have role models, and Jesus was no exception. Most people suppose He accepted Joseph as his earthly role model and this no doubt is true. What more natural than that a boy look up to his "father"!

But all of us also look to role models outside the home. We find them in books, magazines, movies, sporting events, and among our own circle of relatives, friends, work colleagues and acquaintances.

Perhaps the role model Jesus chose was Tobias (or Tobit). His story (and that of his son, Toby) is told in the Old Testament book that bears his name. (In "Bible Wisdom for Modern Times", I have titled this story, "The Adventures of Toby"). The popularity of this particular tale in 2,000 years ago cannot be over-estimated. It was not only (correctly, in my opinion), regarded as inspired writing and Scripture, but as a truthful account of actual events. In reality, as the inspired writer goes to great pains to make plain, it is a parable. Fiction, pure and simple. And as such, in my estimation, it rates as the greatest fictional story ever told!

That Jesus knew the story well is plain from the fact that he used it as the basis of His own parable, "The Prodigal Son", by cleverly turning the narrative inside out -- a fact that would not have been lost on His hearers.

As for Tobias himself, what sort of a person was he? A man who always did good and what was right -- no matter what the cost. A person with Godly advice almost always on his lips (notice how often Jesus puts many of these maxims of Tobias into practice), yet at the same time he is human enough to be impatient, testy, and even momentarily despairing.

Just about all the advice Tobias gives his son, was echoed by Jesus and in His re-working of the main story as "The Prodigal Son", it's surely significant that the Tobias character becomes a figure for God Himself. This fact also would not have been lost even on the least sophisticated of His hearers.

Many new books have recently surfaced that appear to augment the traditional accounts in the New Testament. While it's good to have this additional New Testament information, I'm disappointed that few writers have sought to focus attention on some of the Old Testament books, labeled "Apocrypha", that have always been accepted as Biblical by Catholic and/or Orthodox believers.

I've attempted to remedy this neglect. So here are new versions of the following:

"Wisdom of Solomon" (including my favorite quotation from the whole of the Old Testament: "I prayed and the Lord God gave me understanding. I called upon God for help and the Spirit of Wisdom came to me. I esteemed Her far more than scepters and thrones. Compared to Her, I regarded riches as absolutely nothing. Nor did I count priceless gems as worthy of the slightest value, for all the world's gold is but a pinch of sand in Her sight, and even silver ranks as clay. I loved Her more than health or beauty. I preferred Her over and above the sun and the moon, for Her radiance never falters, never ceases. Everything that is good and wonderful, She freely showers upon those who love Her.")

"Jesus Ben Sirach" (What a wonderful opening! "Wisdom comes directly from the Lord God. She is -- and has always been -- His! And She lives with Him forever.")

"Baruch" ("Wisdom now shows Herself upon earth and lives among men. She is the book of the commandments of God. She is the law that endures forever. All that hold fast to Her shall come to life... Walk in the presence of Her light so that you too may be illuminated.")

"Proverbs" ("Seek out Wisdom. Praise Her and proclaim Her. She is not hard to find.")

"Manasseh" ("You, my Lord, are the God of all those who repent -- all (who) seek Your forgiveness... You will save me because of Your great mercy, and I will praise You forever all the days of my life.")

"The Visions of Ezra" ("Freely forgiving all their sins and transgressions, please extend Your limitless love to all who have firmly placed their trust in Your glory.")

I have before me an essay titled The Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit. The author's first point struck me as an excellent introduction, namely that "the Holy Spirit was Witness and Teamplayer during Creation as part of the 'Us' when God said, 'Let Us make man in Our own image.' (Genesis 1:26)." But that is where the author's biblical proofs stopped.

What God is reported as saying in Genesis 1:26 is correct but to me it doesn't prove the existence or presence or power of the Holy Spirit. I always assumed God was employing the royal plural. And why not?

On the other hand, there are stacks of far more unequivocal biblical texts the writer could have used. In "Wisdom of Solomon" chapter eight, we read that the Holy Spirit "is an initiate in the knowledge of God and an associate in all His works." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 23). Jesus Ben Sirach makes much the same point in chapter one when he tells us that the Lord God Himself poured the Holy Spirit out upon all his works (BIBLE WISDOM, page 64). Baruch is even plainer still. God needed the Holy Spirit "by His side when he prepared the earth for all time... when He created light and darkness." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 89). But in my opinion, the best text of all is in "The Visions of Ezra" when the Lord God says: "At the beginning of the world... I breathed the thought that brought all this into being. I Myself, using My Spirit of Wisdom and no-one else!" (BIBLE WISDOM, page 105).

The author's next point is also most pertinent: "The Holy Spirit is the only way holy men of God are enabled to interpret prophecy." True! But this time, no biblical proof at all is offered. Yet the inspired author of "Wisdom" writes in chapter seven: "In every generation, the Holy Spirit passes into holy souls, making them close friends of the Lord God and giving them the ability to reveal His thoughts and designs." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 22). To me, this verse rates as one of the top ten key texts in the whole Bible. Indeed, I would rank it second to "But to those who welcome Him [into their minds and hearts] and who believe in Him, He gives the authorization, the power, the ability to become God's children." (John 1:12). Wow!

However, the most beautiful description of the special relationship possible between God and man is supplied in chapter eight (verses 51 et seq) of "The Visions of Ezra". The Lord God is speaking. "Why do you persist, Ezra, in counting yourself amongst the godless?" He asks. "You have not failed. For you, Paradise lies open, the tree of life is planted, and a wonderful eternity of endless joy prepared. For you, the city has been made ready, and there you will dwell with all perfection, continually in My Presence and with My Spirit of Wisdom constantly at your side... A joyous life will open to you forever." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 108).

"How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Jesus declares in Luke 11:13. True! But the essayist could well have continued with quotes from "Wisdom of Solomon", for example (and to repeat the key verse I've already quoted): "Wisdom is a breath of the power of God, a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty. She is a reflection of His eternal light, a spotless mirror of His soul, an everlasting image of His goodness. She is a Holy Spirit of supreme intelligence... Although She is but one spirit, She is omniscient. She is the same Holy Spirit now and forever... In every generation, She passes into holy souls, making them close friends of the Lord God, and giving them the ability to reveal His thoughts and designs. The Lord God loves no-one more than the man or woman who lives with Wisdom." (BIBLE WISDOM, pages 22 and 23).

As a habitation or dwelling place for Himself and man. "Lord God, in the beginning of the whole Universe, You created everything simply by Your thought. Your thought became Your word. In the first instance, You said: "Let heaven and earth exist!" and immediately they came into being through the agency of Your Holy Spirit. But both heaven and earth were dark and silent. There was no light at all. No voices. No sound. So then You created a ray of light and commanded it shine forth so that Your works could be seen... You created angels... And finally You made Adam and installed him as ruler of everything You had created [on the earth]. (BIBLE WISDOM, page 106).

"The Lord God rejoiced when He had completed the world. He rejoiced to think that now He would have company. Now He would surround Himself with the children of men." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 85).

"All who walk in Truth and Mercy." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 78). "Are you kind-hearted? Then the Lord God loves you and you enjoy instant access to His presence." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 82). People "who find pleasure in meditating on His words, day and night... You will always prosper, whatever the season: Everything you do, will assuredly succeed, for the Lord God watches over the ways of all those who love Him." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 73).

Whoever loves Wisdom loves life. Those who rise early to greet Her will be filled with happiness." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 71).

"I prayed and the Lord God gave me understanding. I called upon God for help and the Spirit of Wisdom came to me." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 20). "Wisdom, ever radiant and unfading, is easily encountered by those who love Her, and readily found by all who seek Her. She hastens to make Herself known to all who desire Her." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 18).

"The Lord God hears the prayers of all who revere Him... Yes, the Lord God grants the requests of every soul that trusts in Him." (BIBLE WISDOM, page 37).

The small icon below provides a link for the Kindle edition of "Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Short Stories and Other Selections from the Old Testament". The current price is a mere 99 cents. Please note that "More Bible Wisdom: Selections from the Early New Testament" and "Essential Bible Wisdom: GOOD NEWS by John" are not available in separate Kindle editions but in the combined "Mark and John: The First and Last Gospels" book.

Here is the second handbook in my "Bible Wisdom" series. "More Bible Wisdom for Modern Times" is now available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online booksellers.

The best available texts have been used to translate "Mark's Gospel" into modern English. The picture of Jesus that emerges from the recollections of Simon Peter (as recorded by John Mark) seems far from the usual stained-glass image of the Savior.

Fully restored and reconstructed, here for the first time in 1900 years is the GOOD NEWS as John, "the Beloved Disciple", originally wrote it. Complete with its beautiful original Foreword and equally moving Afterword, this GOOD NEWS has been freshly translated into modern English.

1. The original gospel of the Beloved Disciple is clearly identified, as are the various contributions by John, the Elder. An effort has been made to put the narrative in order, and yet at the same time incorporate all the many misplaced passages, including the original Foreword and Afterword.

2. Also identified and newly translated are the two traditional, short additions to the gospel, namely a postscript by John's disciples and an account of the woman taken in adultery, which has actually been extracted from "The Gospel According to the Hebrews".

3. The three letters by John, the Elder, incorrectly attributed to John, the Apostle, in some Bibles, are also included.

4. Also newly translated for this book, is the letter known as 1 Peter, which was certainly authorized by Peter, but which he himself plainly states was written "through Silvanus, the faithful brother [in Christ]."

GOOD NEWS by John, the Beloved Disciple is now on sale. A direct link to Amazon is provided below for your convenience. However, I would point out that all of this GOOD NEWS is now included in the recently published "Mark and John: The First and Last Gospels".

MARK and JOHN: The First and Last Gospels. (Either of the two icons above with no price showing will lead you to the Kindle edition, currently on sale for only 99 cents). This new edition brings within the 178 pages of a single book, my previously published but now revised translations of the Gospels of Mark and John. As for John's Good News, is it wholly inspired by the Holy Spirit? Is it the word of God? Most definitely. It really doesn't matter whether the words were written down by John, the Beloved Disciple, or by John, the Elder. What matters is that the Good News tells that God so loved the world that He gave us His Only Son; and that everyone who believes in the Son will not perish but gain eternal life (3:16). Everyone knows this verse. But there is another, echoing a favorite theme of St Paul, that is almost as important. Jesus is addressing His disciples. "No longer will I regard you as slavish servants, because the slave has no intimate knowledge of his Lord, nor does he understand or appreciate His actions. But you, I will now call friends." (John 15:15). This theme of friendship and reconciliation is also dominant in Matthew's Gospel. "Did I come into this world to be served or to serve?" Jesus asks.