A sermon I heard in February at Lifehouse Church,
Johannesburg really stuck with me for a number of reasons. It wasn't that the
topic was new - it was on Mark 12:30:
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength.'
We've probably all read this verse and heard it
preached a couple of times. So what stood out for me? It was the way the
preacher emphasized the 'mind' bit of the sermon. You know a lot of the time
unbelievers or people on the outside looking in try to ask questions about why
we believe what we believe and many times, Christians do not have the answers -
sadly. I’m not talking about getting into heated philosophical debates which we
may not always be inclined to do but basic answers on how and why we believe
what we believe. Paul urges us to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks
(2 Timothy 4:2) and I believe this is part of what it means to love God with your mind –
that it is not just an emotions (heart) based thing, not just your soul, which
rejoices in being made new and one with God but with your rational part of your
system – to be consciously aware of the how and why you do what you do – THAT,
is loving God with your mind.
That said, when I read the following post by my
dear cousin, Elly, I was excited to share it because such teaching is very
necessary both to the believers, who may not fully understand – but more so to
the non-believers, who have asked these questions and not necessarily gotten
the answers they desired and furthermore, those that need such teaching for
conviction about the truth of the gospel.
So, although it is quite a long post, I’d urge
you to take some time and read through it all – you will blessed.
THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST
Elly Obwaka, April 2012
A few incidences have led me to
write about this topic:
As a teenager at the Nairobi
Pentecostal Church, I often wondered why more of the songs of praise and
worship were ascribed to Jesus Christ rather than God. I didn’t get to ask
anyone this question but think that I can answer it now.
Sometime in 2004, while I was
driving back to campus with my students from Veolia Water, one of them said
that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. This was something coming from someone
who was not a Christian. I added that Jesus Christ is also God but did not want
to debate this matter.
Recently, a friend of mine
questioned the divinity of Christ on his wall on Facebook and received a number
of useful comments. I thought I should bring together some points that were
raised then together with thoughts that I have had over the years.
1.
Is the Bible the Word of
God?
If we are going to depend heavily
on the Bible to answer questions on the divinity of Christ, then it would be
important to establish if the Bible is God’s Word – if it were possible to do
this by reason.
(a)
Fulfilled prophecy
Fulfilled prophecy is an
indicator that the Bible is the Word of God. Some of the future events that the
Bible predicted and which have come to pass are provided below:
The large statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream (Daniel 2:24 – 45) represents four kingdoms that would dominate as world
powers. The four kingdoms that have come and gone are showed in Table 1.
A number of prophecies about the
coming of the Messiah and the fulfilment are provided in Table 2. The
fulfilment of these prophecies not only vouches for the integrity of the Word
of God but also provide a basis for believing in Jesus Christ.
Table 1: The Fulfilment of
Daniel’s Interpretation (adapted from (Life Application Study Bible, 1996) and (Zondervan NIV Study Bible, 2002) )
Part
|
Material
|
Representation in Daniel 7
|
Representation in Daniel 8
|
Empire
|
Period of Domination
|
Head
|
Gold
|
Lion
|
Babylon
|
606
BC – 539 BC
|
|
Chest
and arms
|
Silver
|
Bear
|
Ram
|
Medo-Persia
|
539
BC – 331 BC
|
Belly
and thighs
|
Bronze
|
Leopard
|
Goat
|
Greece
|
331
BC – 63 BC
|
Legs
|
Iron
|
Terrifying
and frightening beast
|
Rome
|
63
BC – AD 476
|
|
Feet
and toes
|
Iron
and clay
|
A
later confederation of states
|
Table 2: Messianic Prophecies and
Fulfilments(Life Application Study Bible, 1996)
Prophecy
|
Old Testament reference
|
New Testament fulfilment
|
|
1.
|
The
Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem
|
Micah
5:2
|
Matthew
2:1 – 6, Luke 2:1 – 20
|
2.
|
The
Messiah was to be born of a virgin
|
Isaiah
7:14
|
Matthew
1: 18 – 25, Luke 1:26 – 38
|
3.
|
The
Messiah was to be a prophet like Moses
|
Deuteronomy
18:15, 18 – 19
|
John
7:40
|
4.
|
The
Messiah was to enter Jerusalem in triumph
|
Zechariah
9:9
|
Matthew
21:1 – 9, John 12:12 – 16
|
5.
|
The
Messiah was to be rejected by his own people
|
Isaiah
53:1, 3, Psalm 118:22
|
Matthew
26:3 – 4, John 12:37 – 43, Acts 4:1 – 12
|
6.
|
The
Messiah was to be betrayed by one of his followers
|
Psalm
41:9
|
Matthew
26:14 – 16, 47 – 50, Luke 22:19 – 23
|
7.
|
The
Messiah was to be tried and condemned
|
Isaiah
53:8
|
Matthew
27:1 – 2, Luke 23: 1 – 25
|
8.
|
The
Messiah was to be silent before his accusers
|
Isaiah
53:7
|
Matthew
27:12 – 14, Mark 15:3 – 4, Luke 23:8 - 10
|
9.
|
The
Messiah was to be struck and spat on by his enemies
|
Isaiah
50:6
|
Matthew
26:67, 27:30, Mark 14:65
|
10.
|
The
Messiah was to be mocked and insulted
|
Psalm
22:7 – 8
|
Matthew
27:39 – 44, Luke 23:11, 35
|
11.
|
The
Messiah was to die by crucifixion
|
Psalm
22:14, 16 – 17
|
Matthew
27:31, Mark 15:20, 25
|
12.
|
The
Messiah was to suffer with criminals and pray for his enemies
|
Isaiah
53:12
|
Matthew
27:38, Mark 15:27, 28, Luke 23:32 – 34
|
13.
|
The
Messiah was to be given vinegar
|
Psalm
69:21
|
Matthew
27:34, John 19:28 – 30
|
14.
|
Others
were to cast lots for the Messiah’s garments
|
Psalm
22:18
|
Matthew
27:35, John 19:23 – 24
|
15.
|
The
Messiah’s bones were not to be broken
|
Exodus
12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20
|
John
19:31 – 36
|
16.
|
The
Messiah was to die as a sacrifice for sin
|
Isaiah
53:5, 6, 8, 10 – 12
|
John
1:29, 11:49 – 52, Acts 10:43, 13:38 – 39
|
17.
|
The
Messiah was to be raised from the dead
|
Psalm
16:10
|
Matthew
28:1 – 10, Acts 2:22 – 32
|
18.
|
The
Messiah is seated at the right hand of God
|
Psalm
110:1
|
Mark
16:19, Luke 24:50 – 51
|
(b)
Unity of the Bible
“The Bible has a message that
centres on Jesus Christ, a unified theme that God loves the world, Christ died
for all, and that mankind can be saved. Even though there were numerous authors
(at least thirty-six) writing over approximately sixteen hundred years and
representing fifty-five generations, and even though these authors represent a
great diversity of occupations and ethnic/sociological backgrounds, the unified
structure and theme of the Bible suggest there is one Mind who put it all
together – God Himself, the Author of Scripture.
“It is a unique book in that it
was written over a period of sixteen hundred years (from 1500 BC to AD 100),
written by both God and humans (2 Peter 1:21), written on three different
continents (Asia, Africa and Europe), and by people with very different
professions – Paul and Moses were philosophers, Peter was a fisherman, Amos a
farmer, and David a shepherd. Amazingly, despite all this diversity in its
origins, the Bible contains no contradictions.”
“Another reason to believe that
the Bible is truth and not myth is because its books agree and harmonise. Even
though parts of the Bible were written in many different places and at
different times, its message is in agreement with the truth about God, rather
than endless contradictions.”
(c)
Accuracy of Historical
Accounts
The Bible is an accurate book of
history. Its description of events and personalities has been verified by other
works of history and by archaeology. That the accounts provided in the Bible
can be verified by other sources and other means at the very least speaks of
its integrity. A list of major archaeological finds relating to the New
Testament is listed in Table 3.
Table 3: Major Archaeological
Finds Relating to the New Testament (Zondervan NIV Study Bible, 2002)
SITE OR ARTIFACT
|
LOCATION
|
RELATING SCRIPTURE
|
ISRAEL
|
||
Caiaphas
ossuary
|
Jerusalem
|
Matthew
26:3
|
Herod’s
temple
|
Jerusalem
|
Luke
1:9
|
Herod’s
winter palace
|
Jericho
|
Matthew
2:4
|
The
Herodium (possible site of Herod’s tomb)
|
Near
Bethlehem
|
Matthew
2:19
|
Masada
|
Near
western shore of Dead Sea
|
Cf.
Luke 21:20
|
Early
synagogue
|
Capernaum
|
Mark
1:21
|
Pool
of Siloam
|
Jerusalem
|
John
9:7
|
Pool
of Bethesda
|
Jerusalem
|
John
5:2
|
Pilate
inscription
|
Caesarea
|
Luke
3:1
|
Inscription:
Gentile entrance of temple sanctuary
|
Jerusalem
|
Acts
21:27 – 29
|
Skeletal
remains of crucified man
|
Jerusalem
|
Luke
23:33
|
Peter’s
house
|
Capernaum
|
Matthew
8:14
|
Jacob’s
well
|
Nablus
|
John
4:5 – 6
|
ASIA MINOR
|
||
Derbe
inscription
|
KertiHüyük
|
Acts
14:20
|
Sergius
Paulus inscription
|
Kythraia,
Cyprus
|
Acts
13:6 – 7
|
Zeus
altar (Satan’s throne?)
|
Pergamum
|
Revelation
2:13
|
Fourth-century
BC walls
|
Assos
|
Acts
20:13 – 14
|
Artemis
temple and altar
|
Ephesus
|
Acts
19:27 - 28
|
Ephesian
theatre
|
Ephesus
|
Acts
19:29
|
Silversmith
shops
|
Ephesus
|
Acts
19:24
|
Artemis
statues
|
Ephesus
|
Acts
19:35
|
GREECE
|
||
Erastus
inscription
|
Corinth
|
Romans
16:23
|
Synagogue
inscription
|
Corinth
|
Acts
18:4
|
Meat
market inscription
|
Corinth
|
1
Corinthians 10:25
|
Cult
dining rooms (in Asklepiusand Demeter temples
|
Corinth
|
1
Corinthians 8:10
|
Court
(bema)
|
Corinth
|
Acts
18:12
|
Marketplace
(bema)
|
Philippi
|
Acts
16:19
|
Starting
gate for races
|
Isthmia
|
1
Corinthians 9:24
|
Gallio
inscription
|
Delphi
|
Acts
18:12
|
Egnatian
way
|
Neapolis
(Kavalla), Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica
|
Cf.
Acts 16:11 – 12, 17:1
|
Politarch
inscription
|
Thessalonica
|
Acts
17:6
|
ITALY
|
||
Tomb
of Augustus
|
Rome
|
Luke
2:1
|
Mamertine
prison
|
Rome
|
2
Timothy 1:16 – 17, 2:9, 4:6 – 8
|
Appian
way
|
Puteoli
to Rome
|
Acts
28:13 – 16
|
Golden
House of Nero
|
Rome
|
Cf.
Acts 25:10, 1 Peter 2:13
|
Arch
of Titus
|
Rome
|
Cf.
Luke 19:43- 44, 21:6, 20
|
( d)
Scientific accuracy
Science has confirmed what is
written in the Bible on a number of views that were not commonly held at
different times in the past. The following views were drawn from (Christian Answers, 1995) :
·
The roundness of the Earth
(Isaiah 40:22)
·
The almost infinite extent of
the universe (Isaiah 55:9)
·
The law of conservation of mass
and energy (2 Peter 3:7)
·
Hydrologic cycle (Ecclesiastes
1:7)
·
Vast number of stars (Jeremiah
33:22)
·
Law of increasing entropy
(Psalm 102:25 – 27)
·
Paramount importance of blood
in life processes (Leviticus 17:11)
·
Atmospheric circulation
(Ecclesiastes 1:6)
·
Gravitational field (Job 26:7)
The Bible records a number of
statements about the deity of Christ. Here are a few (in no particular order):
(i)
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginningwith God. All things were made by him; and without him was not
anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of
men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it
not.(John 1:1 - 5)
The Word of God was the means by
which creation came to being, the Word was the source of God’s message to his
people through the prophets and through God’s Law. That the Word was with God
speaks about the distinction of the Word from the Father. That the Word was God
speaks about the divinity of Christ.
(ii)
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
KJV says
“shoulder” while NIV says “shoulders” but this distinction is not what this
paper is about. The five names used by Isaiah here to describe Jesus Christ
should have special meaning for us: (Life Application Study Bible, 1996)
Wonderful – He
is exceptional, distinguished, and without peer.
Counsellor – He
gives the right advice.
The mighty God
– He is God himself.
The everlasting
Father – He is timeless; he is God our Father.
The Prince of
Peace – His government is one of justice and peace.
(iii)
Therefore the Lord himself
shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and
shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
Immanuel means “God with us”.
This Scripture finds fulfilment when a virgin (Mary) conceived and bore a son,
Emmanuel, the Christ.
(iv)
And without great controversy
great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in
the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the
world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
There is a lot of debate on
whether the phrase should be “God was manifest in the flesh”. The context
refers to Jesus Christ. The previous verse talks about God. So whether we
replace God with “He” or “He who” or “Who” as has been done by some versions, the
reference from the previous verse is to God.
(v)
“I said therefore unto you,
that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall
die in your sins.” (John 8:24)(I inserted the quotation marks.)
“People will die in their sins if
they reject Christ, because they are rejecting the only way to be rescued from
sin.” (Life Application Study Bible, 1996)
(vi)
Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
(John 8:58) (I inserted the quotation marks.)
Jesus Christ existed before
Abraham was born. “I am” is also God’s holy name. See Exodus 3:14:
And God said unto Moses, “I AM
THAT I AM,” and he said, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM
hath sent me to you.”
(I have inserted the quotation
marks in two instances above and replaced the colon with a comma just before
the first closing quotation mark.)
With this phrase, Jesus equated
himself with deity. The phrase talks about the eternity of his being and his
oneness with the Father. The Jews understood what Jesus claimed, considered
this blasphemy and thus took up stones to cast at him.
(vii)
And Thomas answered and said
unto him, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28) (I inserted the quotation marks.)
The doubting Thomas finally
believed.
(viii)
For this cause we also, since
the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might
be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience
and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath
made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even for
the forgiveness of sins: 15who is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of every creature: 16for by him were all things
created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him: 17and he is before all things, and
by him all things consist.(Colossians1:9 - 17)
A (Life Application Study Bible, 1996) text note
corresponding to this passage says that verses 15 – 16 provide one of the
strongest statements about the divine nature of Christ anywhere in the Bible.
The paragraph heading for verses 15 – 23 in NIV 1984 is “The Supremacy of
Christ”.
Invisible God – John 1:18 says
the following:
No man hath seen God at any time;
the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared
him.
John 14:9 submits that Jesus
Christ is the visible, tangible image of the invisible God:
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not
known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Shew us the Father?
John 12:45 is similar:
And he
that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
The description of Jesus Christ
as the firstborn of every creature has to do with his being the model and head
of humanity. Verse 16 emphasises that Jesus Christ is not part of the creation
but is the Creator.
(ix)
“I and
my Father are one.” (John 10:30) (Quotation marks mine.)
This speaks of a unity in essence
or nature between Jesus Christ and the Father. They are however separate
persons. The (Life Application Study Bible, 1996) observes that this
is the clearest statement of Jesus’ divinity he ever made. In John 14:28, Jesus says the following:
Ye have
heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me,
ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is
greater than I.
Are these two Scriptures in
conflict? No. The Word of God cannot be in conflict. Jesus’ statement in John
14:28 refers to his human messianic role as mediator and servant. While on
Earth, he also submitted to many of the physical limitations of his humanity.
(Would it be correct to say Jesus = divine and Christ = human?)
(x)
Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a
name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. (Philippians 2:5 – 11)
Jesus Christ was and is in the
form of God. He did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped.
In becoming a human being, he lay aside his glory for a purpose. John 10:17 –
18 says:
Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my
Father.
Hebrews 12:1 - 2 speaks of the
reason why Jesus Christ lay down his life:
Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(xi)
And again he entered into
Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And
straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to
receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto
them. And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy (a paralytic),
which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the
press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up,
they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their
faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy
sins be forgiven thee.
But there were certain of the scribes
sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man speak
blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
And immediatelywhen Jesus perceived
in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier
to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise,
and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath
power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sickof the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way
into thine house.
And immediately he arose, took up the bed,
and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and
glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. (Mark 2:1 – 12)
Who can forgive sins but God?
Without demonstration of any proof, it is easier to tell someone that his sins
are forgiven than to tell him that he is healed. In reality though, it is only
God who can forgive sins. If someone can heal a paralytic, which is the more
difficult thing to demonstrate, then he can surely forgive sins.
(xii)
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with
him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? (Luke
7:48 – 49)
Who can forgive sins but God? The
people around Jesus Christ understood that only God could forgive sins and this
claim by Jesus Christ was something they could not handle.
(xiii)
I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the
Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation
1:8)
And when I saw him, I fell at his
feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth,
and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of
hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17 – 18)
And unto the angel
of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which
was dead, and is alive. (Revelation 2:8)
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
(Revelation 22:13)
Alpha and Omega are the first and
last letters of the Greek alphabet. A number of Bibles print the writings of
Jesus Christ in red. These statements about being the Alpha and the Omega were
made by Jesus Christ.
(xiv)
For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one. (1 John 5:7)
This is a clear reference to the
Holy Trinity.
(xv)
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he
come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)
Bethlehem was the birthplace of
King David and, later on, Jesus Christ. Micah was the only prophet who
identified Christ’s birthplace. (Adeyemo, 2006) I thus would rather have that the
distinction is between true and false prophets rather than major and minor
prophets.
3.
Conclusion
In the introduction to this text,
I said that I think that I can now answer why many of the songs of praise and
worship are ascribed to Jesus Christ. I
believe that the answer to that can be found in the following five Scriptures:
Philippians 2:9 – 11: Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Luke 12:8 speaks on why it is
important to acknowledge Jesus Christ specifically: "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men,
him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” (The KJV I have does not use quotation marks.
I have chosen to introduce them.)
Psalm 2:12 states that beyond
acknowledging the Lord Jesus, we ought to surrender fully and submit to him:
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is
kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Like the text in Philippians we
have just read, Acts 2:36 speaks of an authority in Christ Jesus from the
Father: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath
made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Matthew 28:18: And Jesus came and
spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth.
This last Scripture also speaks
about the deity of Christ.
I would like to end with
Deuteronomy 6:4 – 5:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God
is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
References
Adeyemo, T. (2006). Africa
Bible Commentary. Nairobi, Kenya: WordAlive Publishers.
Bull, M. (n.d.). The
Bible - the Word of God. Hyderabad, India: Printland Publishers.
Christian Answers. (1995). How
do we know the Bible is true? Retrieved April 26, 2012, from
http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t003.html
Life Application Study
Bible. (1996). King James Version. Carol Stream, Illinois, United
States of America: Tyndale House Publishers.
Towns, E. (2003). Bible
Answers for Almost All your Questions. Nashville, Tennessee, United
States of America: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Turaki, Y. (2006). The
Bible. In T. Adeyemo, & (. Editor), Africa Bible Commentary (pp.
744 - 745). Nairobi, Kenya: WordAlive Publishers.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible.
(2002). New International Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan, United
States of America: Zondervan.
