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John 3: 31-36 Audio Bible KJV | King James Audio Bible | Daily Verses
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Today’s Bible verses flow from John the Baptist’s beautiful words, as he explains, speaking of Jesus, that ‘he must increase, but I must decrease’. John the Baptist reminds his disciples that he has told them he is not the Christ, but rather the one who was sent before to prepare the way of Christ. John the Baptist now rejoices that Christ’s time is come, that his own purpose is complete and it is time to relinquish to Christ the ministry that brings salvation. There is no competition between John the Baptist and Jesus. Rather, through faith and love, he is overjoyed that people are flocking to Jesus to be baptized by him.
We hear now more of the infinite distance between John the Baptist and Christ. The verses speak of Christ’s divinity, of his relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and of the clear truth of our way toward freedom from sin and death, which is belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Christ came to us from heaven. He came to us from the Father. Before he was incarnate of Mary, Christ was – his existence preceding all earthly creation. It is because of this that Christ’s ministry utterly transcends that of one who is of the earth, who aspires to heavenly life and who can only attain to heaven and life everlasting through Christ.
For us all, this is a message to enable our own complete humility. The message is clear. There is no other way to life than through Jesus. We cannot claim life through our own poor efforts, only believe in Christ. John the Baptist knew this. As he freely relinquishes authority and celebrates the coming of Christ’s ministry, he teaches us humility by example. All things now are in Christ’s hands.
‘It is necessary for Christ to grow in you, for you to progress in your knowledge and love of him: for, the more you know him and love him, the more he grows in you… Therefore, people who advance in this way need to have less self-esteem, because the more a person discovers God’s greatness the less importance he gives to his own human condition.’ St Thomas Aquinas
Audio Bible KJV | King James Version | Endnotes
What Were The Issues To Be Debated And Decided At The First Council Of Nicaea?
The First Council of Nicaea was a crucial event in the history of Christianity, convened by Emperor Constantine I in the year 325 AD. The council was convened in response to a theological controversy that threatened the unity of the Church. The issue at hand was the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The debate was centered on the concept of the Trinity, that is, the belief in the one God in three persons. The council’s primary task was to reach a consensus on the proper understanding of this fundamental doctrine of the faith.
The passage in John 3: 31-36 emphasizes the supremacy of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, stating that He came from heaven, bears witness to the truth, and has been given all things by the Father. This passage serves as a foundation for the doctrine of the Trinity, which asserts that God exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each fully divine and equal in power and glory.
The controversy that led to the Council of Nicaea arose in the early fourth century with the teachings of Arius, a priest from Alexandria, Egypt. Arius taught that Jesus Christ was not co-eternal with the Father, but rather was a created being, a subordinate and lesser divine being. This view was known as Arianism and threatened to divide the Church.
To resolve this controversy, Emperor Constantine called for a council of bishops from all parts of the Roman Empire to meet in Nicaea, present-day Iznik, Turkey. The council was attended by around 300 bishops, including the leading theologians of the time. The council was led by the influential Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, who was opposed to Arius’s teachings.
At the council, the bishops debated the nature of the relationship between the Father and the Son, seeking to determine the correct understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. The Council of Nicaea produced the Nicene Creed, which states that Jesus Christ is ‘the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.’
The Nicene Creed was not universally accepted at first and continued to be debated in subsequent centuries. However, it became the cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy and is used by many churches today. The Nicene Creed was also revised and expanded at the Councils of Constantinople in 381 and Chalcedon in 451.
Catholic and Protestant theologians have continued to debate the nature of the Trinity and the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. However, the Nicene Creed remains a central statement of faith for Christians worldwide. At risk of generalization, Catholic theologians, such as Saint Augustine, emphasized the unity and equality of the three persons of the Trinity, while Protestant theologians, such as John Calvin, emphasized the distinct roles of each person in salvation.
The Council of Nicaea was not only significant for its theological impact but also for its historical significance. The council marked the first time that the Christian Church was recognized by the Roman Empire as an important institution. The emperor himself attended the council, and he sought to use the unity of the Church to strengthen his own rule.
The council also had important practical implications. It established rules for the ordination of bishops and priests, and it sought to resolve disputes between different local churches. The council also sought to establish a common date for the celebration of Easter, which had been a point of contention between different churches.
The Council of Nicaea had a lasting impact on the Christian Church, shaping its theology, structure, and organization. It established the authority of the bishops and councils in deciding matters of doctrine, setting a precedent for future Church councils. The council also emphasized the importance of the unity of the Church, which would continue to be a central theme throughout Christian history.
Today, the legacy of the Council of Nicaea continues to shape the Christian Church. The theological debates that emerged during the council continue to be discussed by theologians and scholars, and the Nicene Creed remains a central statement of faith for Christians worldwide. The council also serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and cooperation within the Church, as well as the need for open and honest dialogue in addressing theological controversies.
Saint Augustine brings his reflection on prayer to its culmination by turning to the Lord’s Prayer — the model and measure of all Christian supplication. For him, this brief prayer given by Christ contains the fullness of all holy desire. Every petition found in Scripture, every movement of the soul toward God, finds its echo and completion within its sevenfold structure [ … ]
Today’s Bible verses, as per the Roman lectionary, notably elide Matthew 10: 5: ‘Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.’ This omission is curious, though understandable: during the Mass especially, we are to contemplate inclusion rather than exclusion, and the intentions behind Jesus’ initial injunctions to those he sends to preach might well require explanation. Jesus, then, tells his missionary disciples: you are sent now to preach to the Jews alone, not to Gentiles, not to Samaritans, but to Jews alone [ … ]
King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version King Herod There were several individuals named Herod who played significant roles in ancient history, particularly in the history of the Roman Empire and the region of Palestine. Here is a brief overview of the most notable Herods: Herod the Great: Also known as Herod I, he was a Roman client king of Judea, ruling from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Herod Antipas: Also known as Herod II, he was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist and later had him beheaded. Herod Agrippa I: Also known as Herod III, he was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned the apostle Paul. Herod Agrippa II: Also known as Herod IV, he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over parts of Palestine and Syria from 50 to 100 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who heard Paul’s defence before the Roman governor Festus. These rulers, who were known as the Herodian dynasty, were not Jewish but rather descended from a Greek family that had converted to Judaism. Despite this, they were appointed as rulers by the Roman Empire and were generally unpopular among the Jewish population due to their collaboration with the Roman occupation and their often brutal methods of rule. Herod The Great Herod the Great, also known as Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was born in 73 BC in Idumea, a region in southern Palestine, and was the son of Antipater the Idumean, an Edomite who had been appointed as a governor of Judea by the Roman general Pompey. Herod rose to power after the Roman general Julius Caesar appointed him as king of Judea in 40 BC. He consolidated his power over the next few years by defeating his rivals and establishing himself as the undisputed ruler of the region. As king, Herod embarked on a massive building program that included the expansion and renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima, and the fortification of several cities in Judea. He also commissioned the construction of a number of palaces and other buildings, including the famous Herodium, a palace-fortress located south of Jerusalem. Despite his many accomplishments, Herod was a controversial figure who was known for his harsh rule and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. He was married several times and had a large number of children, several of whom he had executed when they posed a threat to his rule. One of the most famous stories associated with Herod is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. According to the New Testament, Jesus was saved by his parents, who fled to Egypt, and later returned to Palestine after Herod’s death. Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 70, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant rulers in the history of ancient Palestine. Herod Antipas Herod Antipas, also known as Herod II, was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He was born in 20 BC and was named after his father’s patron, the Roman emperor Augustus. Like his father, Herod Antipas was known for his ambitious building projects, including the construction of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was also known for his political cunning and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. Herod Antipas is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist, a prominent religious figure who criticized Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias. According to the New Testament, John was eventually beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter, Salome, who danced for Herod and his guests at a banquet. Herod Antipas is also mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who oversaw the trial and execution of Jesus. Although he initially wanted to release Jesus, he ultimately handed him over to the Roman authorities at the urging of the Jewish religious leaders. Herod Antipas’ rule came to an end in 39 AD when the Roman emperor Caligula exiled him to Gaul, modern-day France. He died in exile a few years later. Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I, also known as Herod III, was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He was born in 10 BC and was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice, two of Herod the Great’s children. Herod Agrippa I was well-educated and fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, and he was highly regarded by the Roman authorities for his loyalty and his ability to maintain order in Judea. He was appointed as king of Judea in 41 AD by the Roman emperor Claudius, who was impressed by his abilities and saw him as a reliable ally in the region. As king, Herod Agrippa I continued the building projects of his grandfather and expanded the Temple in Jerusalem. He also implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the […]
