The Masonic Scholar

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Anecdotes, Gleanings & Musings: Lessons About & From Freemasonry

Anecdotes, Gleanings & Musings: Lessons About & From Freemasonry

 Kerry A. Shirts, MM, 32°, CM, RAM, KT

Ritualist/Education Officer

Eagle Rock Lodge # 19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

 In reading through the Masonic Service Association publication(s) of the “Short Talk Bulletins,” one finds witticisms, humor, and profoundly solid historical, philosophical, practical, and moral wisdom, including good turns of phrases. Here are some real gems I have found in my perusal of these amazing little bits of literature. While the themes are diverse and interesting, the underlying unifying theme is powerful. Masonic education is important to our brotherhood and elevating good men into helping them become better men. Education is a great key for successfully learning the truth of the knowledge of the Brotherhood of all mankind and Fatherhood of God.

 “Because darkness is thought of as existing before light was created, it was originally worshipped as the firstborn, as the progenitor of day and the state of existence before creation… In the Old Testament, and in many other ancient

ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν – ‘‘The Kingdom of God is Within You’’ What Does Luke 17:21 Mean?

ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν – ‘‘The Kingdom of God is Within You’’ What Does Luke 17:21 Mean?

 

Kerry A. Shirts MM, 32°, CM, RAM, KT

Eagle Rock Lodge #19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

January 2, 2011

 After healing the ten lepers, Luke then presents (17:20-21) the Pharisees as questioning Jesus about when the Kingdom of God would come. Jesus’ response is interesting because he tries to show them their expectations are inaccurate in how they perceive what is to happen. The discussion of the meaning of the Greek statement βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν – ‘‘The Kingdom of God is within you,’’ in biblical scholarship circles is fascinating. It is ambiguous and various interpretations give shades of meanings that teach us a very important lesson. Based on syntactical, linguistic, and grammatical considerations, there is simply no one single correct way to interpret this statement. Dogmatism has to be laid aside with the realization that the Bible itself is never clearly one sided and simple in its meaning. Nor is there always a single correct interpretation and meaning. It isn’t the fault of the scholars, it is the very nature of the way Greek is constructed (and recorded as well as written by the ancient authors styles and choices of expression!) and how it can legitimately be translated into various ways, perfectly logic and coherent, and yet sometimes arriving at contradictory readings and meanings. ‘‘Ernst Kasemann argues that such theological variety in the early church is ‘so wide even in the New Testament that we are compelled to admit the existence not merely of significant tensions, but, not infrequently, of irreconciliable theological contradictions.’ Krister Stendahl agrees that such differences cannot and should not be resolved through clever exegesis because ‘when they are overcome by harmonization, the very points intended by the writers are dulled and distorted.’’’[1]

ἐμβριμαομαι αυτω: Was Jesus Really “Snorting Angry,” With the Leper in Mark 1:43-44 After Healing Him?

ἐμβριμαομαι αυτω: Was Jesus Really “Snorting Angry,” With the Leper in Mark 1:43-44 After Healing Him?

 

Kerry A. Shirts, MM, 32°, CM, RAM, KT

Eagle Rock Lodge #19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

January 1, 2011

 

When we begin reading the Gospel of Mark, we soon run into the story of Jesus healing the leper (after he had healed many at Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law’s house – vss. 30-34), and Jesus says to him after he heals him -  Και εμβριμησαμενος αυτω ευθεως εξεβαλεν αυτον – “And having strictly charge him, immediately he sent him away. ”

 

The Greek brings up something that is not grasped at all in the English translations. Kenneth Wuest noted the verb in the phrase “He straightly charged him,” “is embrimaomai (ἐμβριμαομαι) from brimaomai (βριμαομαι) “to be moved with anger.” The word Mark uses means “to snort,” and was used of horses. In the classics it meant “to be very angry, to be moved with indignation.”[1] Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer described this scene, based on the Greek as “After he had been angry at him, wrathfully addressing him… we are to conceive of a vehement begone now! Away hence! With this is connected also the forcible εξεβαλεν (exebalen – [KAS notes – from the verb ἐκβάλλω (ekballō)

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε – Prove All Things, Hold Fast That Which is Good

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε – Prove All Things, Hold Fast That Which is Good: Refutation of a Popular Atheist Credo, Part 2

 

Kerry A. Shirts. MM, 32°, CM, RAM, KT

Ritualist/Education Officer

Eagle Rock Lodge # 19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

December 28, 2010

 

By doing a little browsing through the Bible, we can find all sorts of ideas which sometimes take us by complete surprise. A popularized Atheist Credo I have been told by atheists is that we Bible believers are taught not to think, but simply accept what we are told. I simply do not find that concept in the Bible. The exact opposite intellectual paradigm is actually presented to us to consider.

 

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε – Prove All Things, Hold Fast That Which is Good is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:21. This entire discourse is given by Paul to keep the people in readiness and not get caught off guard. The exhortation to be sober in vss. 6 and 8 is the Greek word νήφω nēphō having the sense of sober watchfulness, while at  2 Timothy 4:5 we read: σὺ δὲ νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, “you, however, show sound judgment in all things.” Actually, the verb is always found with exhortations. Verse 11 reads, in part, the necessity of “edifying” one another. The Greek verb here is οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō) which is used of building houses, with the idea of “building up” or “to make more able.” Paul, when talking to the Ephesians declared they were to be δοκιμάζοντες τί ἐστιν εὐάρεστον τῷ κυρίῳ - “proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” The verb δοκιμάζω (dokimazō) is in the present active meaning there is no assessment of the action’s completion. It means to regard something as genuine or worthy on the basis of testing—to judge to be genuine, to judge as good, to approve. δοκιμάζοντες is the plural because it is spoken to the entire group of the Ephesians. Larkin notes that “the participle could indicate the process of critical examination to determine genuineness, (Philippians 1:10) but more likely points to a response to the result of the investigation” – ‘to draw a conclusion about worth on the basis of testing, prove, approve.’[1]

Διὸ ἀναζωσάμενοι τὰς ὀσφύας τῆς διανοίας ὑμῶν : “Gird Up the Loins of Your Mind” - A Refutation of a Popularized Atheist Credo Against Christians

Διὸ ἀναζωσάμενοι τὰς ὀσφύας τῆς διανοίας ὑμῶν : “Gird Up the Loins of Your Mind” - A Refutation of a Popularized Atheist Credo Against Christians

 

Kerry A. Shirts, MM, 32°, CM, RAM, KT

Ritualist/Education Officer

Eagle Rock Lodge # 19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

December 23, 2010

 

The texts which I will exercise rigorous hermeneutical, exegetical, historical, and theological analysis are, for the most part, going to be 1 Peter 1:13 (hence the title of my paper) and Philippians 1:9-11. Investigating the Greek grammar, semantic range of meanings for words, exegetical and hermeneutic interpretations shed a great amount of light on the meaning of many biblical verses that are either misunderstood, mistranslated, or simply ignored.

 

The popularized atheist credo which the title of my paper alludes to is the general idea that we Christians are basically too stupid to critically think. Our belief in the Bible is misguided because it teaches us, in a nutshell, to simply sit down, shut up and accept our beliefs with “blind faith”which have no evidence. Never think critically for ourselves, but simply accept what our pastors, bishops or other church leaders teach from the pulpit. We don’t have the intellectual capacity to be “objective,” “scientific,” or even “realistic,” because the Bible proclaims that we are to accept things using “blind faith.” We can’t prove anything we believe in because we are taught not to think, but only believe and be naïve, both intellectually and realistically. The Bible programs us for dumb belief and to live in blind faith, hence we are brain washed stupid.

 

Granted the charges against us are emotionally laden, however, a close look at what the Bible actually does teach demonstrates that the atheist paradigm concerning our Christian intellect is itself terribly naïve and subjective, and worse still, completely wrong. Lets take a more careful look at what the Bible actually does say and teach, not relying merely on English translations, which miss the force of the Greek, but exploring the Greek meaning itself. The question is, just what does the Bible teach us about how to use our brains? Are we truly to simply shut up, sit down, and accept everything that is told without ever thinking for ourselves? Are we taught in the Bible to ignore the intellect and simply believe? This is what I will investigate in this paper.

My Word I’m “Bad”! No, Really… MY Word Can Make Me “Bad”

My Word I’m “Bad”! No, Really… MY Word Can Make Me “Bad”

 

Kerry A. Shirts, MM, 32°, RAM CM, RAM

Ritualist/Education Officer of Eagle Rock Lodge # 19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

December 18, 2010

 

I owe the entire impetus to this exegetical research paper to a nifty book I own by George H. Guthrie, J. Scott Duvall, Biblical Greek Exegesis, Zondervan Publishing, 1998. Their idea and research is simplified in order to teach a student how to use a concordance, lexicon, and Bible dictionaries and commentaries, so their research is not meant to be as in-depth as I am going to go into. Their approach was delightful and I will expand on it. It is a message for all of us, no matter what our stations in life, Freemasons, Jews, Christians, etc. I have especially Freemasons in mind, but the application of this practical and interesting advice from one of the volumes of our Sacred Law, the Bible, is useable and seriously necessary for everyone of any walk in life to “get in your gut,” so to speak.

 

It is important to realize that words change meaning through time. Words also can have both a central meaning as well as peripheral meanings.[1] Kenneth Wuest put it quite accurately:

The ἀγάπην of Early Christian Ethics and Religiousity: The Freemason Ideology Also

The ἀγάπην of Early Christian Ethics and Religiousity: The Freemason Ideology Also

 

Kerry A. Shirts, MM, 32°, RAM, CM, MM, RAM,

Ritualist, Education Officer Eagle Rock Lodge #19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Orator of the Pocatello Valley Scottish Rite

December 11, 2010

 

The early Christian milieu as a Hellenized, Judaic, Christian culture has a high moral living standard which comes out in the writings of the Apostolic Fathers quite clearly. Clement of Rome, said by Christian tradition (Eusebius – Church History 3.4.15) was thought to be the companion of the Apostle Paul mentioned at Philippians 4:3. (see also The Apostolic Fathers, Loeb Classical Library, Bart Ehrman translator, Harvard University Press, reprint 2005: 21). Tertullian handed down the tradition that this Clement was the 2nd Bishop of Rome elected by St. Peter himself. Regardless of tradition, 1 Clement, as it is now called has a most important teaching which should resonate very well with Freemasons worldwide. Lets take a look.

 

In 1 Clement in the Apostolic Fathers we read:

λαμψάτω (lampsato) from λάμπω (lampo) - "to begin to shine" - Bringing to Light the Masonic Conspiracy

λαμψάτω (lampsato) from λάμπω (lampo) - "to begin to shine" - Bringing to Light  the Masonic Conspiracy

Kerry A. Shirts

Ritual, Education Officer Eagle Rock Lodge #19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

December 5, 2010

The critics are correct, oddly enough. There is actually a Masonic conspiracy. The critics are also incorrect. It is not what they propose. I have discovered the Masonic conspiracy and expose it here for all to see. I speak as a Master Mason, and a Mason deeply involved in all ranges of Freemasonry, be they Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite or York Rite Freemasonry. I know what I am talking about, for I am personally involved in the conspiracy. It is a fascinating thing to behold and be involved in. I am letting the cat out of the bag.

Freemasonry embraces, accepts, and uses one of the Volumes of the Sacred Law (where ever in the world Masons thrive they have their volumes of Sacred Law, be they the Bible, Quran, Vedas, Tao de Ching, Book of Mormon, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, etc. In Freemasonry, it is not the emphasis of one volume above all others that is the most important, but of the volume that means the most to a

This Year's New Development For Masonic Education

I have been installed as the Ritualist, Education Officer in Eagle Rock Lodge 19 for 2011. My symbol is, fittingly enough, the lantern or light, with one meaning being keep the light shining bright through educating Freemason's in my lodge and around the world (I am not being a megalomaniac saying that, it is the age of the Internet after all).

I have had a remarkably blessed life in so many ways. One such way has been the desire and even the ability to gather an astonishing library of Biblical research and scholarship in all facets and all from all types of religious commentators, be