Was John 7:53-8:11 in the Original Text?

 

This famous well-beloved section, known as the Pericope Adulterae, has been the subject of not only many sermons but also many theses and dissertations. Some of the newer Bible versions try to place a footnote stating that the segment is not present in the more ancient available manuscripts. A number of commentators have tried to avoid commenting on it. Some regard the style and theme to be Johannine and opine that perhaps it was omitted in some early manuscript by a copyist and the error carried on into later manuscripts.  Some think the omission may have been deliberate in order to protect the community from becoming too lenient towards the sin of adultery. [1]

Internal evidence points out to the originality of the verses as inspired by the Holy Spirit. The theme of the light of life revealed in the grace of Jesus Christ (John 8:12) is consistent with the pronouncement in John 1:17, that the law came through Moses but grace and truth through Jesus Christ. Also, the contrast between the condemning light of the Law of Moses and the saving light of the Grace of Jesus is obvious. To those who walk in this light, there is cleansing by the blood of Jesus (1John 1:7).

The passage is certainly there in a number of manuscripts though it fails to appear in a number of others. However, the inductive nature of research cannot draw conclusions on the basis of what is not available yet, i.e. a more ancient manuscript that has this passage intact. There is still this possibility that this passage got missed in a copying process in certain manuscripts but remained intact in others. The verses possess marks of authenticity, were accepted and quoted by the church fathers, are consistent with sound doctrine, and are spiritually edifying.

Notes

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1. John David Punch, The Pericope Adulterae: Theories of Insertion & Omission, Doctoral Dissertation submitted to Radboud University Nijmegen, 19 April 2010

Were Peter and John Illiterate?

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

The phrase "uneducated and untrained" can be also rephrased as "not educated in rabbinic law nor professionally trained in matters of religion." But, certainly, it does not mean that Peter and John were illiterate. They were literate enough to write epistles and professionally trained fishermen. However, the scribes and temple leaders didn't recognize them as literate according to their standards and procedures of education. But, they were trained better than the scribes in understanding the law and the prophets and their fulfillment in Christ.

Later on, Peter stresses the importance of a right training for an understanding of the scriptures. He says that there are some who are unlearned and unstable that twist the scriptures.

There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist {and} misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures. (2Pet. 3:16, Amp)

It is more important to know the grace of Jesus Christ than to memorize 10,000 commentaries on the law. The disciples knew Jesus, and everybody took note that they were with Him.

Why Am I Still Alive?

"All Who Are Among The Living Have Hope." (Eccl.9:4)

The very fact that we are alive is proof that God has a reason to keep us alive, a plan and a purpose He’s busy about even if we aren’t able to see that now! That realization is summed up in the word HOPE.

As Viktor Frankl said, do not ask, "What can I expect from life?" Rather ask, "What does life expect from me?" In his words, "Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.”

Nothing is by random and chance in this world. "Chance" is just a catchword that humans use for something they aren't able to understand in deterministic terms. God is in control of all things.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7)
"Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life." (Luke 21:17-19)

One needs to recognize HOPE, the fact of life is the fact of hope; the fact that we are alive is the fact that we HAVE hope. And, if one fails to recognize this, one ends up becoming depressed and sick in heart. Hope is that desire and longing, that dream that wishes to be fulfilled. It is a tree of life.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Prov.13:12)

What is your dream today? Do not keep staring at the others or at circumstances and adversities around. Do not look back. Do not look at your commas as if they are full stops. Look ahead. Look to the calling and the longing that God has placed inside your heart, and pursue God.

"The Spirit that lives in us wants us to be his own." (James 4:5, GW)

Can Satan Read Our Minds?

Quickly, the answer is No. 1 Kings 8:39 tells us that only God knows our heart and 1 Corinthians 2:11 asks, "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?"
But, this raises a number of questions:

• How do angels and demons hear or communicate?


• Do they have a language? Is that language verbal or mental?


• What is the anatomy of their hearing? Do they have ears (of spirit-substance) that can pick up material soundwaves and decode them in some brain?


• Do spirit beings also need to learn every human language to know what is being spoken?

The Bible clearly states that the devil can inject thoughts in a person's mind (Lk.22:3; Acts 5:3). Also, we have several accounts of angels appearing in human form and communicating with words. But, nowhere does it say that anyone other than the person who had the thoughts and God can know a person's hearts. There are some who claim to have psychic abilities and there are also mentalists who use trickery to create an illusion of mindreading. But, the truth is that none except God can know the thoughts of a person's heart.

The Bible mentions the languages of angels and of humans (1Corinthians 13:1). This implies that there is no communication even between angelic beings without the use of a language. In other words, they use language (whatever it is (to communicate and do not just read minds, being able to exactly understand the meaning intended. If they could read minds, there would be nothing mysterious left for them to search for. But, even angels have curiosity.

Even angels long to look into these things. (1Peter 1:12)

With regard to spirit beings knowing human languages, this is not impossible given their intelligence and longevity.

However, they can also not understand the words spoken with the gift of tongues, since this is a divine gift whose words are only given and understood by God.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands [him;] however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.(1Cor.14:2)

Demons were angels who transgressed against God and fell into condemnation. They have spiritual bodies but their place is reserved in the lake of fire. Hell was created for the devil and his angels (Matt.25:41). Demons are angels of Satan. Satan can move around, enter people, inject thoughts, and will be bound for judgement; but, he cannot read anybody's mind. He is not omniscient. Only God is. Only God can see through our thoughts.

"For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things [are] naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we [must give] account." (Heb.4:12-13)

Are Multiverses (or Multiple Universes) Possible?

(Multiverses. Screenshot from Google Image Search) 
Theologically, it is not an impossibility, given the notion of the "three worlds" or more as some tend to subdivide each. However, one must choose between whether to look atthe various "realms" as part of the one Universe or look at reality as containing multiple Universes not closed to each other. 

It is apparent from the biblical narrative that the gateway (or stairway as in Jacob's dream) between the three worlds is open for angels, and Satan is said to ascend from the pit and move to and fro. The Genesis narrative tells us that the gateway to Eden is closed to man and he is specifically designated as dust that must return to dust. However, there are exceptional cases of Elijah and Enoch taken away to God. 

The term "above" (that also includes pictorial language of dreams and visions) relates to God and life, while the term "below" relates to death and the grave, also pointing to gravitation towards dust and entropy. 

Obviously, theologically, it is impossible for man to get out of this world to any other except through death, or unless God chooses. Also, man cannot create any device to travel to and fro between the worlds. 

There is only one Man who descended from above, descended below, and has ascended above, and will descend again the second time: Christ.