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John Chapter 6 Study Notes

Does John 6:4 belong in the Bible?  No.  Just like John 5:4 last week, someone had this mistakenly in the margins early on, and it eventually worked it’s way into the text.  As our texts today are copies of copies of copies (the originals are dust), this textual error gets passed down.  Here are 7 reasons why John 6:4 does not belong in the Bible:

“And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.”

1.  It was not present in the early manuscripts.  In Manuscript 472, found in the 13th century and currently held at Lambeth Palace in London, John 6:4 (highlighted) is obelized (the dot with rays coming out of it).  Obelized means: mark (a word or passage) with an obelus to show that it is spurious, corrupt, or doubtful.
2. The early Church Fathers did not refer to this “Passover” at all, and cited Jesus’ ministry as just over a year (70 weeks to be exact, as prophesied in Daniel 9: 24-27)
3. Including John 6:4 as a Fictional Passover leaves large gaps in Jesus’ ministry.  Remember that John 5 is the feast of Pentecost (Summer) and John 7 is the feast of Tabernacles (Fall), so to call John 6 Passover (Spring) would mean skipping a WHOLE year of Jesus’ ministry where nothing is written about Him.   
4. Exodus 12: 3-11 speaks of the Passover Lamb as being without blemish, a male of the 1st year (older than 1yr, but younger than 2 years)
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house…
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it…

11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.
5. Passover is one of the 3 pilgrimage festivals (along with Pentecost and Tabernacles), where the Hebrews should be going up to Jerusalem.  John 6 CANNOT be a Passover, as Jesus, who committed no sin, would be violating Torah by staying around the Sea of Galilee
6. Furthermore, as per Leviticus 23, they should not be eating leavened barley loaves during Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6NNBo_y_fjOF3wwi-VsCOcCNUeFqFINs (Michael Rood’s Chronological Gospels, Episode 13 speaks of John 6:4 specifically, but I’d recommend the entire series, as there’s other good info in there, eg. Jesus‘ true birthdate in September, 3 BC)
7.  In Isaiah 61:1-3, which Jesus [partially] reads in the Synagogue ( https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-4-16_4-21/ ):

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD [Jesus stops here], and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Events in the 4 Gospels

*Note, this chart suggests the Acceptable Year of the Lord is Passover to Passover (public ministry), whereas Michael Rood places it from Pentecost to Pentecost (fulfilling of the first 4 out of 7 feasts (ie. Spring Feasts).  I believe the latter is correct, as it is why Jesus stops and sits down, as the remaining 3 Fall Feasts will be fulfilled on His return.  Regardless which chronology you accept, it is 1 Acceptable YEAR of the Lord, not 3.5 YEARS.

Feeding of the 5000 AND 4000.  In Mark Chapter 8, https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Mark-8-14_8-21/ , Jesus admonishes his disciples for not understanding the meaning of the feeding the 5000 and 4000 [with the Bread of Life], and the significance of the numbers.  As a quick summary, in the first feeding, done at Capernaum on the Hebrew side of the Sea of Galilee, 5/5000 represents the Torah, the 5 Books of Moses, and the Spiritual Bread meant for the 12 Tribes of Israel, representing the Hebrews.  In the 2nd feeding, done at the Decapolis on the Pagan side of the Galilee, 4/4000, represents the Gospels, but also the whole world (4 corners, 4 horns on the Brazen Altar and Altar of Incense), and the Spiritual Bread meant for the Nations (7 nations cast out, Table of 70 Nations (Genesis 10), 7 representing completion).  In Mark, Jesus is saying that He is the spiritual bread, which the disciples are to eventually pass on/”distribute” to the whole world.  Here’s a more detailed analysis: 
 
https://youtu.be/7Yg5wg2__3E?t=1904 (Feeding of 5000 and 4000 Part 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_czpp9rzfyc (Feeding of 5000 and 4000 Part 2)

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The Greek work Pisteuo, commonly interpreted as believe, but better interpreted as trust.
 
 

Try substituting trust for believe in the following verses, and see how the meaning changes.  

John 3:16-18
16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAxQRpjwZcg (What does the Bible mean by “Believe”, Evan Tell)

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered a

John 6: 28-29nd said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Romans 4:3

3 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

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Related to Pisteuo is Pistis (Strong’s #4102), commonly interpreted as faith, but better interpreted as God’s persuasion
 

4102 pístis (from 3982/peithô, “persuade, be persuaded”) – properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith.

Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis (“faith”) for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).

[4102 (pistis) in secular antiquity referred to a guarantee (warranty). In Scripture, faith is God’s warranty, certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass (His way).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGV2FSDxUQ8 (Awesome video driving the point home of human belief vs. God’s persuasion)
 
When evangelizing, we need to get away from telling someone just to believe more.  Faith cannot be produced by people, it is a gift from God.  Instead, we must ask God to gift them with faith, to persuade them of His existence and His goodness. Here’s some scripture on Pistis:
 
Ephesians 2: 8-10

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 Luke 17: 5-6

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

 Acts 6:8
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people

Galatians 5: 22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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A few other links that relate to the topic: 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAK3t6uG58Q (The Same Love – Paul Biloche, nice video)
https://www.bitchute.com/video/WcsXNdDpVvzp/ (Yuval Noah Hirari, Klaus Schwab’s top advisor, they call this man “the Prophet” (?false) and the mainstream media adore him, 1st 25min is good)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hac6cNIP1iw (Angel at work, I’ve heard similar stories as discussed in the study, the supernatural cannot be denied)
https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch (The Chosen, a crowd-funded, multi-season series on Jesus and His disciples.  Not exactly 100% biblical, as it adds in some various back story, but does get the main points right and is touching to watch [and yes, that means there’s parts where I cried])
 
https://biblehub.com/kjv/genesis/1.htm (“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”)
 
Reading Genesis 1, the Bible clearly does not support evolution.  I have a Zoology degree, and fell for this evolution nonsense, hook, line and sinker.  It actually started earlier than that, being taught about dinosaurs, the “big bang”, and “millions and million of years ago” in elementary school.  Being raised Catholic, I believed in God, but at the same time, was being “taught” evolution in school, and like most, you just reconcile things by saying God must have just overseen the evolution process, and Genesis 1 is a metaphor and not reality.  
 
What we should be taught when young is the Bible, and specifically, “Let God be true, and every man a liar”.  When we start with this premise, we see the “evidence” for evolution and “millions and millions of years” is shaky at best, and more accurately described as deceitful and fabricated.   What Darwin discovered was microevolution, natural selection within a kind (eg. different beak adaptations for finches based on local environments).  God already had the variety of DNA there, for the adaptation within a kind, but there is no ability to change from one “kind” or species into a completely other “kind”.  Dogs can look dramatically different, but they’re always just dogs.  Decades long experiments on bacteria or fruit flies show no ability to evolve.  The mutations (which are almost exclusively always harmful) required to produce new “kinds” or species are mathematically impossible.  The best video I’ve seen on this is from Kent Hovind, a former science teacher, who points out all the errors in the science textbooks, which are still unfortunately propogated to our youth today.   
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEIWwfEq2-U (Kent Hovind 100 Reasons why Evolution is Stupid)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaIkUllXDPk (Dragons or Dinosaurs – Real Truth)
 
There are many other links to look into, but if we truly believe God, rather than man, we will see the earth is close to 6000 years old, just like God says. 
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Do animals have souls?  The Genesis account would say yes.  The Hebrew term is nephesh chayyah meaning “living creature” or “living soul”.  Plants, micro-organisms, and insects are not nephesh chayyah.  So while some animals have souls, it is different than the human soul: 
 

“Man alone among the living creatures is endowed—like his Creator—with moral freedom and will. He is capable of knowing and loving God and of holding spiritual communion with Him; and man alone can guide his actions in accordance with reason. He is therefore said to have been made in the form and likeness of the Almighty.” 

https://biblediscoverytv.com/science/2020/nephesh-chayyah/ (What Genesis has to say about biologically alive vs. Biblically alive) 
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“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 unto you.” Exodus 3:14

 
 
7 IAM Statements
 
There are 3 words translated as “life” in the Bible
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MgzelT2VGo (short vid on Bios, Psyche, Zoe)
 
Bios = physical life
Psyche = psychological life.  Life of the human soul (mind, will and emotions)
Zoe = eternal, divine life.  What Jesus is referring to as the “bread of life (zoe)”
 

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

“This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” John 6:58

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have zoe, and might have zoe more abundantly.” John 10:10

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“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess 5:23

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen 2:7

Humans are tripartite beings, made in God’s image.  We consist of Spirit, Soul and Body.  The Body is just our physical body, our earth-suit so to speak.  It is made of dust and will return to dust.  The Soul is our mind, will and emotions, the part of us that chooses to trust (pisteuo) in Christ or not.  The Spirit, is God-breathed, and is the electricity that powers us (think of bulb as physical body, element as soul, and electricity as spirit).  We have a small measure in us at birth, but it is meant to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit, received from trusting in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and given a new heart
Spirit, Soul & body
Three parts of man
The best teachings I’ve heard on this are from Andrew Wommack:
and Watchman Nee (very in-depth but fulfilling to read):
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Calvinism and it’s five points, represented by the acronym TULIP (https://slideplayer.com/slide/16536506/), presents God as choosing who he pleases, a concept called predestination.  Historically, as we see from P, religious leaders gained power through this doctrine to control the masses.  In John 3:16, Jesus dies for the whole world, and “enables” all to be saved.  Don had a beautiful analogy of a pulley hanging from a ceiling.  We can not get to the top on our own, but can if God helps us from the other side.  John 6:44  is often used as an argument to support Calvinism, but as discussed, it does not, especially when taken in context with the rest of John.
 

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH0hTfxVCuM (argument against Calvinism)
https://soteriology101.com/2017/08/13/john-644/ (comments are worth a read as well here)
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Judas/Judah was the only disciple from Judea, the rest were from Galilee.  Similar to how Dan fell from the 12 tribes, Judas falls from the 12 disciples and was a type and shadow of the Jews/Judean authorities betrayal of Jesus.  
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More related Links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgb-wARa4N3ST40K3G94rEA (Randy Kay’s website with many Near Death Experience testimonials.  I believe it’s the Jim Woodford one that talks about animals in heaven.  The Brian Melvin, Dale Black and Dean Braxton ones I liked as well)
http://www.bible-apologetics.com/history/death-of-judas.htm (Resolving some conflicting narratives on Judas’ death)
Song suggestion from Don, Jesus (attached)
 
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Chapter 7

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