The Better Health Blog

After 9 million downloads of e-Sword FREE Bible study software, many people have yet to hear about it.  If this is new to you please visit http://www.e-sword.net and get your free copy.  The basic installation provides tools that greatly increase your study time effectiveness.   With the basic install you will receive the King James Version, the King James Version w/ Strong’s numbers, and Strong’s’ Concordance.  You can add modules, most of which are free, of additional translations/paraphrases, dictionaries, map, and more.

So let’s look at an example of how this can help with our studies…

With e-Sword open using the King James version with Strong’s numbers, let’s do a search on all the instances of the word “fire” in the Bible.  First, click on the icon that looks like a set of binoculars, type the word “fire” in the search field, and let’s select just the New Testament for this demonstration.

The search results will show that the English word “fire” is in the New Testament a total of 83 times in 79 different verses.  By double clicking on a verse in the search result area you are immediately taken to that verse in the reading pane.  You may also click “accept” which will close the search window but save your search results in the drop down tool just to the right of the binocular icon.  You can then scroll to each verse or simply click on the directional arrow, either forward or backward through the list.

From this particular study you can see how the English word fire is used in the context of each verse.  We can learn something already from the first three results as they are in the consecutive verses of Matthew 3, verses 10, 11 and 12.  We see “fire” in all three verses…

Matthew 3:10-12 KJV
(10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(11)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
(12)  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

By hovering the mouse over the Strong’s number next to the word fire we see it is the Greek word “pur”, and it is this same Greek word each of the times it is mentioned in these particular verses.  You may recall that denominations of the Christian church teach fire as being undesirable.  We see from verse 10 the trees that bring not forth fruit, representing evil man, thrown into the fire.  In verse 12 we see chaff purged from the threshing floor and also thrown into the fire.  How then do we understand verse 11 which states that Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Ghost and with fire?

If you hover your mouse pointer over the word “and” in verse 11 you see it is the Greek word “kai” and it is a copulative conjunction… meaning the Holy Ghost and fire are connected, they go together.

Continue to read through the other verses from your search on the word “fire”.  How do we reconcile this seeming contradiction?  If we think the Bible contradicts then we know we are not understanding… because we know God’s Word does not lie.  What do we do with Hebrews 12:29 that states:

(Hebrews 12:29 KJV)
For our God is a consuming fire.

I believe the brick and mortar church of man teaches that fire is a bad thing… am I wrong?  Doesn’t fire equate to hell… a place of fiery torment that lasts for billions and billions and billions of years… and then some more?

Doing topical word studies using e-Sword can bring greater understanding.  Continue to study all types of words with their Hebrew or Greek origins.  At some point I hope you find yourself asking questions.  Using my demonstration study of the word fire you will discover verses as the ones in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15:

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 KJV
(13)  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
(14)  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(15)  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Do these verses leave you with questions?  Do you know what you believe and why you believe it?  Too many of us for too long have ignored the commandment to study, expecting our pastors and priests to do it for us.  I don’t believe that has been working very well, do you?

We are not commanded to read our Bibles… we are commanded to study our Bibles.

(2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Search for this verse in e-Sword and look for the meaning of the Greek word “spoudazo” translated “study”.

to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: – do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.

e-Sword is a great study tool.  If God so inspires you, I am sure you will gain understanding and a love for the truth by using it.

One last thought:  Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field… it’s hidden.  We have to find it.  That means we have to dig and search…  which requires diligence and labor.  Ask for understanding and a love for the truth, then start digging.