Apologetics Study

1 Timothy 1:12-17  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,  [13]  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,  [14]  and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  [15]  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  [16]  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  [17]  To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 1:26-38  In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  [27]  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.  [28]  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”  [29]  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.  [30]  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  [31]  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  [32]  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,  [33]  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  [34]  And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”  [35]  And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.  [36]  And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.  [37]  For nothing will be impossible with God.”  [38]  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Apologetics Study

Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8  Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.  [8]  So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.  [9]  Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.  [10]  Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.  [12:1]  Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;  [2]  before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,  [3]  in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,  [4]  and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—  [5]  they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—  [6]  before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,  [7]  and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.  [8]  Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6  Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.  [2]  Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.  [3]  If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.  [4]  He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.  [5]  As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.  [6]  In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Apologetics Study

Matthew 5:17-20  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  [18]  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  [19]  Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  [20]  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Apologetics Study

Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20  I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.  [14]  There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.  [15]  But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.  [16]  But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.  [17]  The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.  [18]  Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.  [10:1]  Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.  [2]  A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.  [3]  Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.  [4]  If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.  [5]  There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:  [6]  folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.  [7]  I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.  [8]  He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.  [9]  He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.  [10]  If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.  [11]  If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.  [12]  The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.  [13]  The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.  [14]  A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?  [15]  The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.  [16]  Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!  [17]  Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!  [18]  Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.  [19]  Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.  [20]  Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.