Reliability of the Scriptures and other doctrinal topics 4 studies
Great Men 1 study
Historical notes 3 studies
Reliability of the Scriptures and other doctrinal topics
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APO001
The Presence of the Living One in the Midst of the Churches
The first chapter of a study of Revelation, this article presents the dating of the book (around AD 95 under Domitian), the identity of John as its author and his exile on Patmos. The exegetical analysis of Revelation 1 unveils a glorious, sovereign Christ present in the midst of his Churches, calling believers to faithfulness in persecution.
Revelation 1.17-18 (King James Version) :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.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
APO002
Listening, discerning, returning to the first love
An exegetical study of Revelation 2, analyzing the messages to the Churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira. Each letter follows a common structure: diagnosis, call to faithfulness and eschatological promise. The article invites us to listen to the Spirit, to discern the communal drifts and to rediscover the first love for Christ, from a perspective that is both historical and theological.
Revelation 2.1-29 (King James Version) :Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.And I will give him the morning star.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
APO005
The Throne at the Center of the Vision
Exegetical study of Revelation 4, the vision of the heavenly throne that marks the turning point of the book. After the messages to the seven churches, John is carried up into heaven and beholds a throne surrounded by twenty-four elders and four living creatures. Every symbolic detail, lights, colors, sounds, expresses the sovereignty, holiness and divine authority that structure and govern history. This foundational vision sheds light on all the prophetic events to come.
Revelation 1.12-18 (King James Version) :And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.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.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
APO009
The First Seal, the First Horseman
APO009 analyzes the first seal of Revelation (Rev 6.1-2) and the appearance of a rider on a white horse. Two theories compete: does this rider represent the victorious Messiah Jesus, or an impostor, even the Antichrist? The article sets out both positions, stresses that the exegetical debate remains open, and announces a parallel with Jesus’ discourse on the Mount of Olives.
Revelation 6.1-2 (King James Version) :And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Great Men
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LGH004
Augustin CRAMPON
The article explores the life of Augustin Crampon, famous for his translation of the Bible. Ordained a priest in 1851, he studied under Arthur Le Hir and became an expert in biblical languages. His translation, published after his death in 1904, remains a major Catholic reference.
Historical notes
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INF031
The Torah
The Torah, the sacred text of Judaism, consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and is essential to Jewish faith and morality. It is read regularly in the synagogue and has generated a rich rabbinic literary tradition.
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INF041
The Jahwist source
The Jahwist source (J) is a hypothetical source of the Torah identified by the documentary hypothesis of the 19th century. Named after its use of the divine name YHWH, it is characterized by an anthropomorphic and narrative style. Associated with texts such as the creation (Gen 2) and the fall (Gen 3), its dating remains debated. Today, its validity is called into question by contemporary exegetes.
Genesis 3 (King James Version) :Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?NoteYea…: Heb. Yea, because, etc.And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.Notepleasant: Heb. a desireNoteaprons: or, things to gird aboutNotecool: Heb. windAnd the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:Noteto thy…: or, subject to thy husbandAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;Notebring…: Heb. cause to budNoteEve: Heb. Chavah: that is LivingThorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
INF042
The Elohist source
The Elohist source (E) is one of the four hypothetical sources of the Torah according to the documentary hypothesis. It is distinguished by its use of the term Elohim for God, a transcendent theology, and the use of dreams and visions as modes of divine revelation. Dated to the 9th-8th century BCE, it is thought to have originated in the northern kingdom of Israel. Its validity remains debated among contemporary scholars.
Genesis 20 (King James Version) :And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.Notea man’s…: Heb. married to an husbandNoteintegrity: or, simplicity, or, sincerityBut Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.Notewhere…: Heb. as is good in thine eyesAnd Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Further reading
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ANN114
I will build my Church
Cet article analyse les implications théologiques du passage de Matthieu 16.17-19, où Jésus évoque "mon Église". Il explore le rôle de Pierre comme clé…