followtheant.com

Category: Christianity

  • Why is Jubilees not included in the Apocrypha?

    I have been reading an interesting book entitled \”The Satan: How God’s Executioner Became the Enemy\” by Ryan E. Stokes. In the current chapter, the book of Jubilees was talked about. Having heard of it, but not really familiar with it, I expected it to be included in the Apocrypha but was surprised to find out it wasn\’t. Logos has an AI feature, and I wanted to ask it to help explain why it\’s not included. Below is the Logos AI\’s response.

    The Book of Jubilees, while sharing some features with apocalyptic literature, is not typically included in the Apocrypha due to its complex literary character and content. Unlike traditional apocalypses, Jubilees lacks revelatory visions and heavenly journeys[1]. It primarily functions as an expansive paraphrase of Genesis and Exodus, incorporating additional stories and legal precepts[2]. While it contains some apocalyptic elements, particularly in chapters 1 and 23, these are not dominant throughout the work[1][3]. The book\’s focus on halakah (Jewish law) and its extensive reinterpretation of biblical narratives set it apart from typical apocalyptic texts[1]. Additionally, Jubilees\’ composition date, estimated around 100 BCE, places it in a period when Jewish awareness of a closed canon was growing[2][4]. This timing, along with its obvious derivation from earlier biblical texts, likely contributed to its exclusion from the more authoritative collections of Jewish scripture[4]. The Dead Sea Scrolls community at Qumran valued Jubilees highly, but this esteem did not extend to its inclusion in the broader Jewish canon[2][4].

    [1] Matthias Henze, “Daniel and Jubilees,” in Enoch and the Mosaic Torah: The Evidence of Jubilees, ed. Gabriele Boccaccini et al. (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 56.
    [2] Encyclopædia Britannica, in Encyclopedia Britannica (Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2016).
    [3] John J. Collins, “The Jewish Apocalypses,” Semeia, ed. John Joseph Collins 14 (1979): 32.
    [4] David A. deSilva, Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), 20.

  • Dad

    My dad was hardworking, dedicated, and most importantly to me, he was a Godly father and leader. Through all of the deliberate actions that he took for others, you knew he loved you even if he didn’t say the words out loud. My love of music and appreciation of technology were inspired by him, and his desire to help me grow up to be an interesting man. I would never admit it to him; and I’m sure he would make a dry joke about it, but I have tried to model my life after what I saw from him. I will continue to try to live the same kind of life that he tried to lead.


    When I think of my dad, I think of him as a leader. I was privileged to work under him professionally as well as be his son and work on projects at home. He was proud to be associated with Faithlife and what it did to help its users dig deeper into Bible study. Even after he retired, he was always sharing the software with his pastors. I’m sorry that he and I never started a business together; he often talked about all kinds of ventures that we could try. I think it was not really about the money, but he really wanted to start something and be successful as a family. Some of his “weird” business ideas that I could never get excited about now seem like they were just ahead of their time and probably would have worked.


    Even though there were many times he couldn’t have sure of the correct answer to the problems he faced, he would quietly move forward and adapt as needed. He was very confident in his abilities. His advice was almost a rule to me—not because he forced his opinion or insisted I follow it, but because it was usually the most logical choice. He was quiet and didn’t seek opportunities to be heard, but he was easy to talk to and happy to share his thoughts. He was glad to use his hard earned life experiences to help those around him. I remember trying to decide on a topic for a paper during my high school senior year, and after I came up with over complicated and confusing ideas he helped me see the trees in the forest and bring my topic back to reality.


    His illness was a terrible setback for him and the family. However, it forced him to slow down and probably allowed us to spend more time with him than we would have been otherwise. I will remember him for all the sacrifices he made for his family.


    I miss him, and I will continue to miss him. He had to face an especially unfair amount of health obstacles, but I never saw him give up the drive to overcome them for long. He was always eager to get past whatever health issues he was facing and then move forward again. He was more than just the guy with MS and a power wheelchair that he drove too fast. It gives me comfort to know that he fought hard and was probably ready to finally be at peace with his heavenly Father.

  • Death and Destruction in the Hill Country

    On what was meant to be a three-day weekend celebrating the United States\’ independence from England in 1776, children attending summer camps or spending time outdoors with family and friends experienced a rare, once-in-a-century event of large-scale death and natural destruction in the Texas Hill Country.


    During the weekend of July 4, 2025, multiple rivers and low-lying plains experienced severe flash floods, with some river levels rising by twenty feet. The following week, emergency efforts continued nonstop. Reports indicate that about 12 inches of rain fell within forty-five minutes during the early morning hours of the holiday while people slept, including those in positions of authority who should have been monitoring the situation, after the area had already received prolonged rain that saturated the land.


    I have been working on this post for over a month now. The news has continued to release new details about the events, so it hasn’t been far from my thoughts. Due to various factors, around 130 people have been confirmed dead. As search efforts continued after the flood, the number of missing people decreased, but the death toll kept rising. Every time I started working again, the numbers had to be updated.

    What has been especially hard for many to understand is that more than twenty of those tragic deaths were children attending summer camps along a river. This event highlights social issues like proper land development, government responsibility and accountability, mankind’s attempts to control and alter nature, and why bad things still happen—and why sometimes it happens to good people. Of these questions, the last two will likely be the primary focus of some posts as I work through my thoughts.

  • Google AI Response to the Four Spiritual Laws and Romans Road

    The \”Four Spiritual Laws\” and the \”Romans Road\” are both methods used to share the Christian gospel. The Four Spiritual Laws are a simplified, four-step presentation, while the Romans Road uses specific verses from the book of Romans to build a case for salvation. [1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4]

    The Four Spiritual Laws:

    1. God loves you and has a plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10) [1, 5, 6]
    2. Man is sinful and separated from God. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23) [1, 7]
    3. Jesus Christ is God\’s only provision for man\’s sin. (Romans 5:8, John 14:6) [1, 3]
    4. You must receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. (John 1:12, John 3:3) [1, 5, 8]

    The Romans Road:

    1. All have sinned and fall short of God\’s glory. (Romans 3:23) [2]
    2. God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) [1, 2, 3, 5, 9]
    3. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) [2, 9]
    4. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) [2, 9]

    Similarities: Both approaches are used to explain the gospel message in a straightforward way, emphasizing the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. They both highlight the reality of sin, the love of God, and the importance of receiving Jesus. [1, 2]

    Differences: The Four Spiritual Laws are a more condensed presentation, often used in a pamphlet format, while the Romans Road utilizes specific verses from the book of Romans to build a more detailed argument. The Four Spiritual Laws may be seen as a more simplified and accessible way to share the gospel with someone who may not be familiar with the Bible, while the Romans Road offers a more in-depth explanation for those who are already familiar with the Bible or are open to learning more. [1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13]

    AI responses may include mistakes.

    [1] https://unitedrevival.org/4-laws/

    [2] https://www.forthegospel.org/read/the-romans-road-to-salvation

    [3] http://websites.umich.edu/~mpactmov/4laws.htm

    [4] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/should-christians-still-use-the-romans-road-to-salvation.html

    [5] https://www.gospelforeveryone.net/how

    [6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_t1SJKMypU

    [7] https://carm.org/evangelism/the-four-spiritual-laws/

    [8] https://campusministry.org/docs/tools/FourSpiritualLaws.pdf

    [9] https://davidbsloan.com/blog/romans-road-evangelism-and-the-misuse-of-scripture/

    [10] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/assuming-too-much-in-personal-evangelism/

    [11] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-are-the-4-spiritual-laws.html

    [12] https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1278&context=honors

    [13] https://unitedrevival.org/romans-road/

    [-] https://davidbsloan.com/blog/romans-road-evangelism-and-the-misuse-of-scripture/