A Muslim Soldier's View from Fort Hood

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Matthew 5:
1: And seeing the multitudes, [Christ] went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15: Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25: Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26: Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29: And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31: It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33: Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
 
Isaiah 22:

1: The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?
2: Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.
3: All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.
4: Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.
5: For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.
6: And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.
7: And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.
8: And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.
9: Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.
10: And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.
11: Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.
12: And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
13: And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.
14: And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
15: Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,
16: What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
17: Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
18: He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord’s house.
19: And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.
20: And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
21: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
22: And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
23: And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.
24: And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.
25: In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
 
Angelo_Michael said:
In an earlier post I remarked, “…P]erhaps my main concern is for the potential detrimental effects upon [the perception of] Christianity if an [unjustified or unwarranted], “it’s O.K. when Paul did/does it.” mentality is cultivated or endorsed; especially if/when the potential change in the perpetrator’s religious status is unknown or irrelevant.” I will clarify and elaborate upon these words/concepts.

During the revelation process I inherently underwent an assessment of the potential justification(s) for the authorization of the opportunity.

That is to say that, after being aware of the details of the revelation, [it was as though] I asked myself, “Why would God allow something like this to happen?”

I understand that this is a difficult question to answer and one for which there may be many varying and diverse opinions.

From my interpretation [at the time of revelation], the content of Galatians 4 is central to the allowance of the eventuality of the event(s) wherein the perpetrator’s life [and cognitive function] is preserved. For this, in turn, would allow for a(n) [Islamic] [written] non-violent rebuttal to any of the inappropriate and/or offensive content of , at least,] the aforementioned work.

For this, and other, reason(s) I would like to state/remind that I do not endorse, in part, or in full, Paul’s writings/teachings/etc.

However, I am not [necessarily] advocating a(n) automatic/necessary preeminence of any other work.

In closing, I would like to bring to remembrance the words of John the Baptist:

“And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”
– Matthew 3:9 KJV
Click to expand...
Consider (for reference):

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=349464&page=28 reply # 407, 408, & 420
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5622227#post5622227 reply #167, 168, & 174
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5636686#post5636686 reply # 228
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5727009#post5727009 reply # 209
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5759135#post5759135 reply # 73
 
1 Chronicles 2:
1: These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
2: Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
3: The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
4: And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
5: The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
6: And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
7: And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.
8: And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.
9: The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
10: And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
11: And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,
12: And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,
13: And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,
14: Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
15: Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:
16: Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
17: And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite*.

2 Samuel 20:
1: And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
2: So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3: And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4: Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5: So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6: And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
7: And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8: When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
9: And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10: But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11: And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
12: And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

1 Kings 2:
1: Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
2: I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
3: And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
4: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
5: Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6: Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
7: But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
8: And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
9: Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
10: So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

*2 Samuel 17:
25: And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.
 
Angelo_Michael said:
1 Chronicles 2:
…]
17: And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite*.

…]

*2 Samuel 17:
25: And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.
Click to expand...
Also consider:

2 Samuel 17:

26: So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
27: And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28: Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
29: And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
 
and 2 Samuel 18:

1: And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2: And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3: But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4: And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5: And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6: So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7: Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8: For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9: And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
*10: And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11: And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12: And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13: Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14: Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15: And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16: And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17: And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18: Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place. *
19: Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
20: And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
21: Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22: Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23: But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24: And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25: And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26: And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27: And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28: And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29: And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30: And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31: And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32: And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33: And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
 
**Luke 12:

32: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33: Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35: Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36: And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38: And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39: And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40: Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41: Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42: And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43: Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44: Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45: But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46: The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47: And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48: But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. **
 
Angelo_Michael said:
In an earlier post I remarked, “…P]erhaps my main concern is for the potential detrimental effects upon [the perception of] Christianity if an [unjustified or unwarranted], “it’s O.K. when Paul did/does it.” mentality is cultivated or endorsed; especially if/when the potential change in the perpetrator’s religious status is unknown or irrelevant.” I will clarify and elaborate upon these words/concepts.

During the revelation process I inherently underwent an assessment of the potential justification(s) for the authorization of the opportunity.

That is to say that, after being aware of the details of the revelation, [it was as though] I asked myself, “Why would God allow something like this to happen?”

I understand that this is a difficult question to answer and one for which there may be many varying and diverse opinions.

From my interpretation [at the time of revelation], the content of Galatians 4 is central to the allowance of the eventuality of the event(s) wherein the perpetrator’s life [and cognitive function] is preserved. For this, in turn, would allow for a(n) [Islamic] [written] non-violent rebuttal to any of the inappropriate and/or offensive content of , at least,] the aforementioned work.

For this, and other, reason(s) I would like to state/remind that I do not endorse, in part, or in full, Paul’s writings/teachings/etc.

However, I am not [necessarily] advocating a(n) automatic/necessary preeminence of any other work.

In closing, I would like to bring to remembrance the words of John the Baptist:

“And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”
– Matthew 3:9 KJV
Click to expand...
It has been toward the aim of clarifying, and elaborating upon, the concept of theological relevance [that I had mentioned earlier]; that I have attempted to compile a more thorough list of pertinent scriptural references that may have been valid for my [initial] interpretation(s).

Yet, also, and perhaps mainly, the aformentioned scriptures have been selected for, not only their relevance, but also their universality. That is to say that, I perceived in them a capacity for applicability that would include both victim(s) and perpetrator(s); and in so doing, bring an awareness of the common thread that is inherent in our/their shared humanity.
 
Angelo_Michael said:
[Pertaining to my view(s) of Paul:]

Consider (for reference):

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=349464&page=28 reply # 407, 408, & 420
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5622227#post5622227 reply #167, 168, & 174
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5636686#post5636686 reply # 228
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5727009#post5727009 reply # 209
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5759135#post5759135 reply # 73
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There is yet some concern that, according to the nature of my evaluation, and the inherent reference of similarities between certain members of the same tribe (Benjamin); that I am issuing an interpretably anti-Benjaminite statement.

Rather, it has been my intention to elucidate some of the tension(s) between certain tribes as [perhaps] persistent, problematic, and counterproductive; while maintaining an optimistic outlook, and progressive approach, for the unity of the family (Israel/ Abraham/ Noah/ et al.)].

It may be necessary for one to consider the impact of the inter-tribal war that is recorded as being initiated by [certain members of] the Benjaminite tribe following an incooperativeness pertaining to a communal trespass of a sexual-assaultive nature. (Reference Judges chapters 19-21)

Furthermore, the content of Psalm 68:27 may also have been a stimulus for inter-apostolic tension(s). ( bible.cc/psalms/68-27.htm )

As the nature of my evaluation of Paul’s merit is inherently negative, I would like to add that my optimism for the/a Benjaminite tribal representative is [tentatively] associated with a correlation of the aforementioned Isaiah 22.
 
Here also is another relevant scriptural reference pertinent to my/the evaluation of the current event(s).

Obadiah 1:
1: The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
2: Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.
3: The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
4: Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.
5: If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?
6: How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!
7: All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.
8: Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
9: And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.
10: For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
11: In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
12: But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
13: Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
14: Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
15: For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
16: For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.
17: But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
18: And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.
19: And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20: And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.
21: And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.
 
Psalm 137:

1: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2: We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3: For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,
Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4: How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?
5: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6: If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7: Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
8: O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9: Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
 
Again, and for the sake of clarification, although I have previously characterized an interpretable relationship between Judaism and Christianity as [perhaps] potentially similar to that between Esau and Jacob*; it is not my intention to – thru correlation, inference, or analogy – make an anti-Semitic statement via scriptural references to [the judgment, and/or punishment, of] Edom.
  • For reference visit reply #372 & 373 in link.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5559848#post5559848
 
And, as is the case, that many of the scriptures that I have found relevant to/for depicting a presumed awareness (on my part) both during, and after, the revelation, and the evaluation thereof; also pertain to Edom, and thereby it could be inferred that I am, in essence, reaffirming the judgment against Edom for sins, and/or crimes, that may not be attributed to him/them at all.

Although it may have been inevitable that I have [often] correlated Christ’s parable of the talent investors (contained in Matthew 25:14-30): wherein one received five, another two, and yet another only one; with a possile correlation to Jacob, Ishmael, and Esau respectively; I do not necessarily desire to eradicate the [theological] possibility that a similar allotment as is depicted in Isaiah 19:23-25*,

“In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.”

be made available to the three people(s), or nations, previously demarcated.

However, neither is it my intention to assert that such an allotment is, in fact, the one [most] endorsed by God and/or Christ.

Neither has it been my intention to rule out a similar transferring of sin, debt, judgment, etc., or illness, as it were, as is witnessed in the exchange of Naaman and Gehazi (enacted by/thru Elisha [as recorded in 2 Kings 5:27]), as possibly pertinent to Esau, and/or the nation of Edom, if applicable.
  • In the making of a whole into thirds, there is, from what I understand, an unsolvable remainder of an ever-diminishing fraction. This notion, in turn, could then correlate to: a) the collection of taxes by, in this case, a fourth party; and: b) the different states of existence of John the Baptist and Christ wherein one is said to decrease and the other increase.
    Reference John 3:
    27: John [the Baptist] answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
    28: Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
    29: He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
    30: He must increase, but I must decrease.
    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.
 
Angelo_Michael said:
Again, and for the sake of clarification, although I have previously characterized an interpretable relationship between Judaism and Christianity as [perhaps] potentially similar to that between Esau and Jacob*; it is not my intention to – thru correlation, inference, or analogy – make an anti-Semitic statement via scriptural references to [the judgment, and/or punishment, of] Edom.
  • For reference visit reply #372 & 373 in link.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5559848#post5559848
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Also pertinent are reply # 1,2,4,5, & 6 @
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=398747
 
Isaiah 21:

1: The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
2: A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3: Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
4: My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
5: Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
6: For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
7: And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
8: And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
9: And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
10: O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
11: The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12: The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.
13: The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
14: The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
15: For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16: For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
17: And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.

Here, as with elsewhere, and pertaining to my evaluation as to the relevance of the opportunity provided by the aforementioned revelation(s)*, and the interpretation(s) of the eventualities thereof; I am inspired to consider the potentially negative consequence(s), and ramification(s), of misconduct – whether assessed by God, Christ, or others – in relation to the attainment of the desired intention(s).

There is also a concern that, [perhaps] irrespective of my own personal desire, a potential sponge-like nature, and effect, in regards to the assumption of guilt, and pertaining to the nation wherein the [prophetic] work(s) is/are wrought, and wherein the opportunies are/were provided; that that same nation would, in the event of an assessed departure from the will, favor, or law(s) of God, or otherwise; be applicable for, and inevitably, or unfortunately, formed, as it were, to retain the judgment(s)/condemnation(s) that hitherto might have, or atually once did, pertain(ed) to others.
  • Visit reply # 6, 10, & 26 at this thread for reference.
 
Psalm 118:

1: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
2: Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3: Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4: Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
5: I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6: The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7: The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8: It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9: It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10: All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11: They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12: They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13: Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14: The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15: The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16: The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
17: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18: The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
19: Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21: I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23: This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24: This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25: Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26: Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27: God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28: Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Matthew 21:

33: Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35: And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36: Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37: But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38: But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39: And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40: When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41: They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42: Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43: Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44: And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Luke 20:

9: Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
10: And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
11: And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12: And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
13: Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
14: But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15: So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16: He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17: And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
18: Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
 
4 Ezra 16:
53: Let not the sinner say that he hath not sinned: for God shall burn coals of fire upon his head, which saith before the Lord God and his glory, I have not sinned.
54: Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts:
…]
63: Surely he knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in your hearts, even them that sin, and would hide their sin.
64: Therefore hath the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and he will put you all to shame.
65: And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day.
66: What will ye do? or how will ye hide your sins before God and his angels?
67: Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.
…]
75: Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,
76: And the guide of them who keep my commandments and precepts, saith the Lord God: let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your iniquities lift up themselves.
77: Woe be unto them that are bound with their sins, and covered with their iniquities like as a field is covered over with bushes, and the path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through!
78: It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.

Daniel 4:
27: Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
 
Psalm 73 (of Asaph):

1: Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2: But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3: For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4: For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5: They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6: Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7: Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8: They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9: They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10: Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11: And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12: Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13: Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14: For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15: If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16: When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17: Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18: Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19: How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20: As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21: Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22: So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23: Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24: Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25: Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26: My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27: For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28: But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
 
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