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Christian Biblical Church of God
Post Office Box 1442
Hollister, California 95024-1442
(831)-637-1875
Fred R. Coulter
Minister
February 9, 2006
Dear Brethren,
As I mentioned on a recent sermon tape, Dr. William M. Comfort, president of
the Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary in Ridgely, Maryland, contacted us
concerning The New Testament In Its Original Order. Some time
ago, we had given him a copy. As it turns out, he was so impressed with
the commentaries and appendices on the history and preservation of the
Scriptures that he called to inquire about utilizing those sections in one of
his classes. Dr. Comfort’s interest is in using certain chapters as a
textbook for the school’s doctor of theology course on the history and
preservation of the New Testament.
Since Gary Staszak—who wrote chapters 9-15 of the commentaries—lives close to
the college, I asked him to contact Dr. Comfort and work out the details of what
they needed. We finally settled on compiling chapters 4-7 and 9-15, as
well as several appendices, into a special study manual (of over 300 pages)
entitled, A Short History of the Preservation of the Word of God.
The college is now using the manual as the official textbook for their course.
Dr. Comfort and his staff knew that we keep the Sabbath and holy days.
But that apparently made no difference—for they could see that the information
contained in these commentaries was not available in any other textbook.
After receiving the study manual, Dr. Comfort wrote, “[It] is by far the best
work that I have read on the subject.”
We are enclosing a copy Dr. Comfort’s fine recommendation and
endorsement of the study manual of he New Testament commentaries (Note:
The reference in his letter of 172 pages is Part One for Chapters
One through Seven and the reference to an additional 147 pages is
for Chapters Nine through Fifteen of the New Testament with
Appendicies S, T, U, V, W an X makes a total of 317 pages).
Very rarely has a Protestant college used research work and biblical
commentary produced by a Sabbath keeping church. In the past, it seems it
has always been the reverse: Sabbath keeping churches have gone to Protestant
churches for such scholarly information. (Sadly, however, some of those
churches thereafter succumbed to Protestant doctrines and abandoned Sabbath
keeping in favor of Sunday.)
In producing this study manual/textbook, we made no revisions in order to
specially please them (nor did they ask us to do so). We left everything
in its original form. However, I did write a special preface, and Gary
wrote an update. In addition, we had Dr. Tom Roberts, who attended
Ambassador College and graduated from the Hellenic Orthodox University in
Athens, write a short history of Sabbatarian churches. Tom is head of
ministerial education for the Church of God Seventh Day in Meridian, Idaho—many
of their brethren keep God’s holy days and feasts. We have
enclosed copies of the new features incorporated into the new study
manual/textbook.
Passover and Night to be Much Observed
Recently, Darryl Henson, an independent elder in Utah, wrote a paper about
the Passover and the Night to be Much Observed. His paper has been
circulating among various church of God groups. In his paper, he claims
that the Passover day and the NTBMO should be observed on the same day, Nisan
14, making a celebration out of the Passover. (When you closely
examine I Corinthians 11:17-34, it becomes apparent that Paul faced a similar
problem in Corinth—the church there wanted to have a celebration meal on
Passover night.)
In the past, the biggest controversy concerning Passover has been the 14th
versus 15th issue. This dispute, however, puts a new twist on things,
because it involves a 15/14 scheme—that is, moving the NTBMO to the 14th,
with Passover. As I mention to several who had questions concerning this
issue, the answers are actually in The Christian Passover.
Because some have serious questions about this proposition, I have begun a
short study series explaining why it is incorrect. On the Sabbath of
February 4, I did the first study, which we have enclosed in this mailing.
In addition, Carl Franklin wrote a paper refuting Henson’s paper, exposing some
of his major errors. We have also enclosed Carl’s paper.
Look at all the various practices that different religions claim to derive
from the Passover—the Jewish 15th Passover, the Catholic Eucharist and the
Protestant Communion. The question also arises, “How often should it be
taken—yearly, monthly, quarterly, weekly, daily, many times a day?” Can a
priest actually command God to put Jesus Christ’s literal flesh and blood into
the bread and wine?
Then there is all the confusion among the churches of God—a Nisan 14
afternoon Passover, a 15th Passover, footwashing before or after the Passover
ceremony, or no footwashing at all, leavened or unleavened bread, wine or grape
juice, etc. On top of that, throw into the mix the confusion caused by
men’s privately devised calendars, which cause the Passover to fall on the wrong
month and/or wrong day.
Why has Satan caused so much confusion concerning the true Christian
Passover—more than any other feast of God? Because he knows that the
Passover pictures the New Covenant—the promise of eternal life! Satan and
his demons do not want human beings to receive eternal life. They know
that if they can deceive ministers and religious leaders into changing the day,
the time and/or the meaning of Passover—then the people will no longer be in a
covenant relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ—no longer able to
receive eternal life. Satan knows that if he can cause just a little
leaven of false doctrine to be at first accepted—then he can exploit it later
with more and more spiritual leaven, thereby causing additional errors.
I am simply amazed at how many false doctrines are taught in the various
churches of God. Every time I read The Journal, I am
taken back by all the various doctrines people believe and ministers teach.
Today, the churches of God—with all their problems—are just like the church at
Corinth. As Paul wrote: “When you assemble together, it is not for the
better but for the worse…. What is it then, brethren? When you
assemble together, each of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a language, has
a revelation, or has an interpretation…. For God is not the
author of confusion” (I Cor. 11:17; 14:26, 33).
Unfortunately, these situations arise because too many ministers fail to
truly teach the Word of God. Paul gave a solemn charge to Timothy—and to
every minister—on how to teach and preach: “I charge you, therefore, in the
sight of God, even the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is ready to judge the
living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the
Word! Be urgent in season and out of season; convict, rebuke, encourage,
with all patience and doctrine. For there shall come a time when they will
not tolerate sound doctrine; but according to their own lusts they shall
accumulate to themselves a great number of teachers, having ears
itching to hear what satisfies their cravings; but they shall turn away
their own ears from the truth; and they shall be turned aside unto myths” (II
Tim. 4:1-4).
To guard against false doctrines, we are to do as the Bereans, “who received
the Word with all readiness of mind and examined the Scriptures daily to see if
these things were so” (Acts 17:11). In addition, Paul commanded the
brethren, “Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good.
Abstain from every form of wickedness” (I Thes. 5:21-22).
Waco and Houston, Texas: By the middle of
this week, Dolores and I will be visiting Chad, Rachelle and Jeremy. Then
on the Sabbath, February 11, we will be in Waco, Texas, and on Sunday, the 12th,
I will be in Houston.
Once again, brethren, thank you for all your love, prayers and continued
support through your tithes and offerings—making it possible to reach out to
many brethren and new people. May God continue to bless you with His love,
grace and mercy in all that you do.
With love in Christ Jesus,
Fred R. Coulter
FRC
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