The Swaggart "expositors" bible

Hey everyone. I would like to ask what y'all think about the Jimmy Swaggart expositors bible. There are members of our church who prefer it above anything else. From what I see, my two biggest problem areas are: 1) the unfounded, finis dake pre-adamite earth theory and 2) the surprisingly unorthodox stance on MT 16:24 concerning Jesus telling us to deny ourself and carry our cross and follow him.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated. I would also like to express how much i love this forum.

thank you

kjcword

Why all these versions different emphasis bibles like

Womens bible (do women need a different bible?)
Soldiers bible (why do we need that?)
Spirit filled bible (are the others not spirit filled?)
New Spirit filled Life bible (even better!)
John MacArthur study bible (Do I need a man to present the bible to me?)
The Healing Bible with Morris Cerrullo for $297,05
Masters Healing Presence Bible (a bit cheaper, only $104,97, Aspirin is still cheaper)

Why not just read a good literary bible translation like the KJV and allow the Holy Spirit to be my teacher?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

As with any expository bible, the commentary, notes, etc., are not inspired, but are a reflection of the particular doctrinal views and personal beliefs of the commentator. It makes for a challenging read in my view. This is why I would recommend either a plain bible or one that has Hebrew and Greek words (tenses, etc.) that assist in the exegetical study of the text without a lot of commentary. The Newberry Bible is one I use.

Jimmy Swaggart is often criticised for his focus on the finished work of the cross. Matthew 16:24 is an example of his conviction that our deliverence from the power of sin is found in the finished work of the cross. He simply has the note, "the benefits of the cross, what Jesus did there [Col. 2:14-15]. This view is a consequence of his ongoing study driven by a desire to find victory over sin. After his fall he sought the Lord believing that the answer is in the book. He believed the bible contained the solution to his sinfulness. He believes he found the solution in understanding and applying what Christ did on the cross as it is a lot more than paying our sin debt. He is right about this, though I do not agree with him on all the details. In Matthew 16:24 I believe our own personal cross, that is, the perfect will of God for each of our lives, is what is in view. But I don't know a single minister that does not hold some unique view of some verse that I would not agree with. No different here.

What I am truly challenged by Paul's words to young Timothy; Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. (1 Timothy 5:24 NKJV) The fact that J.S. longs to have victory over sin, in the face of all the years of humiliation, is a unique phenomena in our times and should not be discredited. His sin has gone before him to judgment. I have to wonder, what about the multitudes with secret sins that have been brazen enough to criticize the man trying to get right with God, stay right with God and go on preaching the Gospel? The fact that the man is doing anything for God is a testimony to God's grace and I for one will not be in the line criticising or critiquing. I rather spend the time considering myself, lest I also be tempted and fall. (Gal. 6:1)

Just to expand on what he is reffering to in Matthew 16:24ff:

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4, 5)

The key to our being dead to Sin (the dynamic) is that Christ Himself has already died to Sin in our place. This is what breaks the power of Sin over our lives.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Romans 6:10)

Jesus died to Sin so that those that have been baptized into Him by the Spirit can share in that reality. In the same way we were born in Adam bent towards Sin, we can be born again in the last Adam Jesus Christ DEAD to Sin. The key is the experience of having truly been Baptized into Christ. IF that reality is true then we can go on to the next verse:

Rom. 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus.

One can only RECKON what is already a reality. It is not pretending. Like writing a check. I can reckon all I want to that the money is there to cover the check I write, but if a deposit was never made it will bounce all the same. The word for reckon is the direct middle imperative of logizomai and complete proof that Paul does not mean that water baptism makes one dead to sin and alive to God. That is a spiritual operation is “in Christ Jesus” and only pictured by baptism. This is a plea to live up to the ideal of the baptized life. (A.T. Robertson) The key to truly being dead to Sin is not water baptism, but Spirit baptism. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Maybe I should have explained myself a little better. I agree with each and every point made thus far. Some of our church leadership has begun to teach and hold to everything that this particular ministry preaches. I have began to feel a little uneasy about this. I am troubled and feel as if we have not sought God as much as we have sought the Swaggart expositors bible. I actually prefer to only go to commentaries after i have studied, just to make sure that i am not veering off. Thank you guys for your input.

QUOTE:

"Womens bible (do women need a different bible?)"

NO!

"Spirit filled bible (are the others not spirit filled?)"

When I first saw this in a store I was appalled! You indicating other Bibles are not "spirit filled but yours?" This is the nicest thing I can say about this title.

New Spirit filled Life bible (even better!)

Read the above.

The Healing Bible with Morris Cerrullo for $297,05
Masters Healing Presence Bible (a bit cheaper, only $104,97, Aspirin is still cheaper)

Really?! Ya gotta be kidding!

All these different Bibles could indicate that Christianity is nothing but another philosophy being marketed by enterprising entrepreneurs.

hi, the main problem i have with this bible is that the helps are in with the scripture and are in red. it is something that an old dog cannot get used to.i can read my thompson chain easier and the scriptures are not interupted with comments.jimp have not found much in the comments to argue about.

Jimmy Swaggart is often criticised for his focus on the finished work of the cross. Matthew 16:24 is an example of his conviction that our deliverence from the power of sin is found in the finished work of the cross. He simply has the note, "the benefits of the cross, what Jesus did there [Col. 2:14-15]. This view is a consequence of his ongoing study driven by a desire to find victory over sin.

An interesting side note. It was this very doctrinal difference that caused one of the first pentecostal rifts in the early 1900's. If memory serves me right it was a man named Durham who began to teach the finished work doctrine at Azusa street. This did not square with the more traditional pentecostal viewpoint held by Seymore, et.al.. Again, if my understanding and memory are correct, the Assemblies of God, and other similar pentecostal sects followed from Durham and the pentecostal holiness, UPC, and other similar sects from Seymore, Parham, etc. I am not sure of Swaggart's background.

Agree, Krispy. He did not sanctify the Lord before the congregation. Yet, he continues to shepherd them. You can be sure there was a cost to all of this. There has probably been a bigger cost to his refusal to submit to church discipline than there was with his original sin. The sin was one thing and no one witnessed that but God, however the rebellion in his heart towards God that led to that sin was manifested for all to see when he would not comply with those that he always said he was under their authority. When, there was great personal loss at stake he did not respect their authority and became an authority unto himself. That alone, did more to stumble Christians than his original sin.

Very sad story.

Pilgrim

When, there was great personal loss at stake he did not respect their authority and became an authority unto himself. That alone, did more to stumble Christians than his original sin.

Certainly there are a great many things to consider. Again, some men's sins go before them to the judgment, while other mens sins follow after. If God should pull the card of every man that has sinned in similar fashion or failed to sanctify the Lord before the people at some point in their ministry, who would be left? I don't ride the bandwagon of critiquing of ministers that often prevails here on SI. Why? because we are all going to give an account to God, and that right soon.

hi, this is an unusual situation. when he was being disciplined by the assemblies of God, he was their biggest contributor and owned the church and the property,the tv building , the radio station,the bible college,the printing presses, etc. and had many employees that were counting on him.this was a business move that has enabled him to keep most of his property that he surely would have lost. he left the assemblies and is independent. he has made many mistakes in his past but is probably a much better man today than he ever was. i live in his dorm which he rents to the public since the bible college is under 100 students but do not go to the church which is 1/4 full with people from around the country.(radio nand tv followers who have moved here )very few people from this area go to the church for we have many great churches in this area. i respect him now as never before but worry about some of his employees who seem to worship him.jimp

Robert,

I did not pass judgment on Jimmy and I hope you are not passing judgment on me. I don't know anything about his life the last 20 years. I am speaking about a point in time and everything I mentioned is public knowledge and it is not third hand. Do you think God banned Israel from critiquing David's actions or his son's?

God lays out everything for us in the Bible so that we can "critique" and learn from men's mistakes. He hides nothing. We can also critique and learn from men's mistakes in today's world while still showing mercy and kindness. If anything, these serve as warnings to us.

Here is a critique by Paul.

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ENSAMPLES: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor 10:1-12

Pilgrim

The second, what exactly does brother Swaggart say in his Expositor regarding Matthew 16:24?

Here is the layout of the passage with spaces to show the verse and then the comment.

_________

24: Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man come after me let him deny Himself.

comment: (not asceticism, but rather the denial of ones own strength and ability)

24b: and take up his cross,

comment: (the benefits of the cross, what Jesus did there [Col. 2:14-15].

24c: and follow me

comment: (if Christ is not followed by means of the cross, He cannot be followed at all).

25: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it

comment: (tries to live his life outside the cross; it can only be lived through the cross)

25b: whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.

comment: (lose his life to Christ, which means to give his life to Christ, which can only be done through the cross; he then finds "newness of life" (Romans 6:3-5).

_________________

I did not pass judgment on Jimmy and I hope you are not passing judgment on me. I don't know anything about his life the last 20 years. I am speaking about a point in time and everything I mentioned is public knowledge and it is not third hand. Do you think God banned Israel from critiquing David's actions or his son's?

I'm just not in the habit of bringing up past sins about people that are under the blood. If God casts a sin behind His back, I have no plans to go and examine it.

The scripture is clear that teachers, pastors, elders etc are held to a very high standard and Paul spelled out in his letters to Timothy and Titus what those standards and qualifications are. There is a big difference between a Christian who stumbles now and then and sins... and teacher/pastor/elder who is being watched by the entire world who falls into habitual sexual sin. (if you recall, he was caught several times. He did not stop even after he was exposed.)

Do you have any specific verses in mind that we can examine to determine the counsel of God in this matter?