Page 100 - Countering Trinitarian Arguments With Historical Reference

Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Mark records it this way in Mark 13:22 “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary copyright 1963 defines the word seduce as: [seducer to lead away] 1: to persuade to disobedience or disloyalty 2: to lead astray 3: to entice into unchasity 4: attract (syn. to lure).
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines the word lure as a noun: 1: a bunch of feathers attached to a long cord and used by a falconer to recall a hawk. 2 a: an inducement to pleasure or gain: ENTICEMENT b: APPEAL, ATTRACTION 3: a decoy for attracting animals to capture; esp: artificial bait used for catching fish. Lure as a verb: 1: to recall (a hawk) by means of a lure 2: to tempt with a premise of pleasure or gain: syn. ENTICE, INVEIGLE, DECOY, TEMPT, SEDUCE: Lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving; ENTICE suggests drawing by artful or adroit means; INVEIGLE implies enticing by cajoling or flattering; DECOY implies a luring into entrapment by artifice; TEMPT implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscious or better judgment; SEDUCE implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.
We are not going to use man’s words of wisdom or excellency of speech through writing; nor will we try to seduce anyone into believing false doctrine. Christ taught the disciples His words as recorded by Hebrews, not Greeks. Matthew 4:17-25 bares witness to this fact. Other accounts, Mark 1:14-22, Luke 4:14-32. Imagine the scenario here in this account of how Christ told the people gathered (verse 24), “Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.” Jesus knew by first hand experience that people would hate Him as well as His disciples and those who would follow Him (Christ) for His name’s sake. Scripture reference – Matthew 5:11, Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:13, Luke 6:22, Luke 21:17, and John 15:23-27.
There are some in history that claim to have a better understanding of Christ and His teachings more so than the disciples, or apostles of Jesus Christ our Lord. Such men are mentioned in the historical recordings of church related history. A few historical readings one could refer to are: A History of Christian Thought, Fortress, Pa., 1965, pp 52, 53 – see OW Heich/FF Bruce, The Cannon of Scripture, pp. 150, 151, 288/James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible, Seaburg, NY pp 1015/ Fred C. Grant, Translating the Bible, Seaburg, Conn. 1961, p. 24. The following men mentioned in history are known as the Post–Apostolic Fathers: Polycorp, Ignatius, Justin, Shepherd Hermas and Clement of Rome. The Post-Apostolic Fathers were around AD 90-140. Christ’s apostles were deceased around 65 A.D. The Post-Apostolic Fathers did not have the Holy Spirit to move upon or inspire them with the scriptures Holy Writ as mentioned in II Peter 1:19-21, 19.) “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20.) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21.) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of good spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
99