# article

title: Elijah
content:
  A prophet addressing the house of Omri.

  (The ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 632)


title: Jew
content:
  ## Language

  The Jews spoke Hebrew, but by the Persian period, Aramaic was the language of international trade due to the Jewish captivity, while Hebrew gradually became confined to the learned and the religious leaders. After the Babylonian exile, Aramaic influence pervaded the land of Palestine. Nehemiah complained that mixed children were unable to speak Hebrew (Nehemiah 13:24). 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 227-229)


title: Ephod
content:
  Abiathar fled to David to Keilah, ephod in hand, and David used it immediately to confirm Saul was coming, and Keilah would surrender him over to him. (1 Samuel 23)

  When David brought the ark of the Covenant from Obed-edom's house to the city of David, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal when the ark movers had taken 6 steps. He danced before the LORD with all his might in his linen ephod, and all the house of Israel was shouting with the sound of the horn. Michal watched from her window and despised David in her heart, accusing him of uncovering himself in front of her servants' female servants, though David refused to be scolded for making merry before the LORD. (2 Samuel 6)


title: Second
content:
  ## Definition of a Second

  Until recently, a second was defined in terms of the rotational spin of the Earth, but as the Earth's rotation is slowing down slightly every year, by the late sixties this became problematic for scientists who needed increasingly precise measurements for their experiments. 

  Today, the second is measured as "the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium 133 atom."

  (Programming Game AI by Example by Mat Buckland, 2005. Page 28-29)

  ## Computers

  Computer applications can measure time in seconds or by using the time interval between updates as a kind of virtual second. The latter can simplify many equations, but unless the update rate is locked, the physics will differ between machines of varying speeds. If using a virtual second, make sure your game's physics update frequency is locked to a reasonable rate -- usually the rate of the slowest machine you're developing for. 

  (Programming Game AI by Example by Mat Buckland, 2005. Page 29)

  In the past, the majority of computer games used a fixed frame rate and every component--rendering, physics, AI--was updated at the same frequency. Many of today's sophisticated games, however, specify a unique rate for each component. For example, the physics might be updated 30 times a second, the AI 10 times a second, and the rendering code allowed to go as fast as the machine it runs on.

  (Programming Game AI by Example by Mat Buckland, 2005. Page 29)


title: Kish
content:
  Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. Father of Saul. (1 Samuel 9:1-2)

  He sent Saul to search for his family's lost donkeys. (1 Samuel 9:1-2)

  Townspeople by Rachel's tomb spread the word to Saul that the donkeys had been found, and Kish was anxious for his son. (1 Samuel 10:2)

  When Saul returned from his adventure, he simply told Kish that he inquired of Samuel, who informed him the donkeys had been found. (1 Samuel 10:14-16)

  I wonder if he didn't find out until the weird prophesying rumors or even the lots cast to find the king.

  ## Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite


title: Ahimaaz
content:
  ## Samuel

  Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz (1 Samuel 14:50)

  ## Kings

  One of Solomon's twelve officers all over Israel who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year.

  Ahimaaz is over Naphtali.

  His wife was Basemath the daughter of Solomon.

  (1 Kings 4:7,15)


title: Naphtali
content:
  Jesus withdrew into Galilee when John the Baptist was arrested. Leaving Nazareth, he lived in Capernaum by the sea in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. He called Simon, Andrew, James, John, and Zebedee from the Sea of Galilee to be fishers of men. (Matthew 15:12-17, Isaiah 9:1-2)


title: Ishvi
content:
  A son of Saul. He is listed as a son in 1 Samuel 14:4 but is absent from the list of dead heirs in 1 Samuel 31:2. Did he die before then, or was he one of the hidden heirs that kept popping up later in 2 Samuel?

  * Tribe: Benjamin, clan of the Matrites (1 Samuel 10:20-21)
  * Father: Saul
  * Mother: Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz
  * Siblings: Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Merab, Michal, Abinadab, and Ish-Bosheth. (1 Samuel 14:49-51; 1 Samuel 31:2; 2 Samuel 2:8)


title: Malchi-shua
content:
  A son of King Saul.

  * **Tribe**: Benjamin (1 Samuel 10:20-21)
  * **Father**: Saul
  * **Mother**: Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz
  * **Siblings**: Jonathan, Ishvi, Merab, Michal, Abinadab, and Ish-bosheth. (1 Samuel 14:49-51; 1 Samuel 31:2; 2 Samuel 2:8)

  Israel fled before Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua were killed, and Saul and his armor-bearer fell upon their own swords. The next day, the Philistines came to strip the slain and found Saul and his sons dead. They cut off Saul's head, stripped his armor, sent messengers throughout Philistia to carry news to the house of their idols and the people, and put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. The people of Jabesh-gilead heard this, went all night to take the body of Saul and his sons and came to Jabesh to burn them there. Their bones were buried under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted 7 days.

  (1 Samuel 31)


title: Amalek
content:
  They parallel the characteristics of our war with the flesh and sin.

  (2 Samuel 1 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8f4v5_G0t8)

  **Saul's order to wipe out the Amalekites**

  Saul fought all his enemies on every side when he took kingship over Israel. He struck down the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. (1 Samuel 14:47)

  Samuel told Saul that the LORD wanted every Amalekite and their livestock - men, women, children, oxen, sheep, camels, and donkey - destroyed for opposing Israel when they came out of Egypt. The people slew all but the best livestock for a future sacrifice. Saul captured King Agag alive. Samuel criticized Saul before hacking Agag into pieces himself. (1 Samuel 15)

  After fleeing from Saul to Philistia with Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath, David made Ziklag his base of operations for military exploits against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites. He reported his raids back to Achish as against the Negeb of Judah, Jerahmeelites, and Kenites and gained Achish's trust. (1 Samuel 27)

  **Saul's disobedience in wiping out the Amalekites**

  Samuel, raised by the medium of En-dor, tells Saul that the LORD has torn the kingdom out of his hand and given it to David because he did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek. (1 Samuel 28)

  **Amalekites raid Ziklag**

  A band of Amalekites made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive all the people, including Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail. David used Abiathar's ephod to learn he could pursue and overtake the band and rescue his people. The men that continue the full journey with David find an Egyptian servant left behind to die from the Amalekite band, and he agrees to lead them to them. 

  They were celebrating their spoil, and David struck them down from twilight until evening the next day with no survivors but 400 camel riders. The thievery was completely recovered, including his wives. He also captured the flocks and herds and the spoil from the Philistines, "David's spoil." (1 Samuel 30)

  **An Amalekite before David claimed to kill Saul**

  3 days after David returned to Ziklag, a man with clothes torn and dirt on his head came and fell on the ground and paid homage to David, saying he escaped from the Israel camp. David asked how the battle went, and he said the people fell and Saul and Jonathan died. He asked how this man knew, and by chance, he happened to be on Mount Gilboa when he saw Saul leaning on his spear with the chariots and horsemen pursuing closely. Saul called to him and asked who he was. Learning he was an Amalekite, he asked him to kill him. He complied, knowing Saul was close to death. He took Saul's crown and armlet to David.

  David and his men mourned and fasted until evening for Saul, Jonathan, and the people of the LORD and the house of Israel. David learned he was the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite. He asked how he did not fear to destroy the LORD's anointed then executed him for his own mouth testified against him.

  (2 Samuel 1)

  Jewish tradition holds this man was the son of Doeg the Edomite and that Doeg was Saul's armor-bearer, but it is strange Saul had to ask him who he was. Also, IDK if he would be considered a "sojourner" or "alien" at that point, even if he was a different ethnicity. (Matthew Henry's Commentary)

  ## People

  * Agag


title: Gilboa
content:
  The Philistines prepared for war against Israel, and Achish told David to join the army and that he will make him his bodyguard for life. Philistines encamped at Shunem, and all the Israelites at Gilboa. Saul was afraid, so he consulted the medium of En-dor. (1 Samuel 28)

  Israel fled before the Philistines and were slain on Mount Gilboa, including Saul's three sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua. Saul fell on his own sword here, as did his armor-bearer, so the Philistines found them the next day and gloated. (1 Samuel 31)

  David spoke to Mount Gilboa in his lamentation over Saul, Jonathan, and Israel who fell at the Philistines: “You mountains of Gilboa, / let there be no dew or rain upon you, / nor fields of offerings!
  For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, / the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
  “From the blood of the slain, / from the fat of the mighty,
  the bow of Jonathan turned not back, / and the sword of Saul returned not empty. (2 Samuel 1)


title: Beth-shan
content:
  When the Philistines found the bodies of Saul and his sons, they cut off Saul's head, stripped his armor, sent messengers throughout Philistia to carry news to the house of their idols and the people, and put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. The people of Jabesh-gilead heard this, went all night to take the body of Saul and his sons and came to Jabesh to burn them there. Their bones were buried under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted 7 days.  (1 Samuel 31)


title: Jabesh-gilead
content:
  **Saul saves Jabesh-gilead from Nash the Ammonite**

  Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead. When the people of Jabesh sought to cut a treaty, Nahash would only accept if he could gouge out all their right eyes and thus disgrace Israel. Upon elders' request, he gave them 7 days. (1 Samuel 11:1-3)

  Saul and 300,000 people of Israel and 30,000 people of Judah in three companies struck down the Ammonites, scattering the survivors. (1 Samuel 11:5-11)

  **Jabesh-gilead are loyal to Saul**

  When the Philistines found the bodies of Saul and his sons, they cut off Saul's head, stripped his armor, sent messengers throughout Philistia to carry news to the house of their idols and the people, and put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. The people of Jabesh-gilead heard this, went all night to take the body of Saul and his sons and came to Jabesh to burn them there. Their bones were buried under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted 7 days. (1 Samuel 31)

  When David was in the towns of Hebron in Judah, he was told the men of Jabesh-gilead were the ones to bury Saul, so David sent messengers to them to say, "May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them." (2 Samuel 2:3-7)


title: Ammonite
content:
  Rabbah is their capital. (The ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 1459)

  Saul fought all his enemies on every side, including the Ammonites, when he took kingship over Israel. (1 Samuel 14:47)

  ## Figures

  * Baalis the king of the Ammonites (Jeremiah 40:14)
  * Milcom
  * Nahash the Ammonite (1 Samuel 11:1)
  * Naamah the Ammonite
  * Zelek the Ammonite - one of the thirty of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:37)

  ## Places

  * Ai
  * Rabbah


title: Zelek
content:
  David's mighty men were divided into the three and the thirty. Zelek the Ammonite is one of the thirty.

  (2 Samuel 23:37)


title: Milcom
content:
  The national god of the Ammonites. Maybe Molech but worshiped separately.

  Jeremiah prophesied he and his priests and officials will go into exile. (Jeremiah 49:3)


title: Nahash
content:
  Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead. When the people of Jabesh sought to cut a treaty, Nahash would only accept if he could gouge out all their right eyes and thus disgrace Israel. Upon elders' request, he gave them 7 days. (1 Samuel 11:1-3)

  Saul and 300,000 people of Israel and 30,000 people of Judah in three companies struck down the Ammonites, scattering the survivors. (1 Samuel 11:5-11)


title: Tamarisk
content:
  When David had fled and was discovered in the forest of Hereth, Saul criticized his men for betraying him under the tamarisk tree on the height of Gibeah, spear in hand. (1 Samuel 22:6-19)

  Jabesh-gilead buried the bones of Saul and his sons bones under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted 7 days. (1 Samuel 31)


title: Rehoboam
content:
  The son of Solomon and Naamah the Ammonite, and the father of Abijah. He reigned in Judah in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 14:21) Abijam his son reigned in his place. (1 Kings 14:31) He was in the line of Christ through Joseph. (Matthew 1:7-8)

  Under him, Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoked him to jealousy with their sins, more than all that their fathers had done. They also built high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there were male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations that the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. (1 Kings 14:22-24)

  There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. (1 Kings 14:30)

  He was 41 years old when he began his 17-year reign in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. (1 Kings 14:21) In the 5th year, Shishak king of Egypt took all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house and everything, including the shields of gold that Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced them with shields of bronze and committed them in the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard carried them and brought them back to the guardroom. (1 Kings 14:21-28)

  He was buried in the city of David. (1 Kings 14:31)


title: Rechab
content:
  ## The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah

  Baanah is one of Ish-bosheth's raiding band captains. When Abner the son of Ner was murdered, he and his brother set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest. They came into the midst of his house as if to get wheat and stabbed him in the stomach. They escaped. Rechab and Baanah returned as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, and they and struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night to present the head to David at Hebron. 

  "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The LORD has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring." David answered, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?"

  David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. 

  (2 Samuel 4)


title: Baanah
content:
  ## The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah

  Baanah is one of Ish-bosheth's raiding band captains. When Abner the son of Ner was murdered, he and his brother set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest. They came into the midst of his house as if to get wheat and stabbed him in the stomach. They escaped. Rechab and Baanah returned as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, and they and struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night to present the head to David at Hebron. 

  "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The LORD has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring." David answered, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?"

  David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. 

  (2 Samuel 4)

  ## Baanah of Netophah 

  The father of Heleb. (2 Samuel 23:29)


title: Beeroth
content:
  Beeroth is also counted part of Benjamin. The Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day. (2 Samuel 4:2-3)

  ## List

  * One of the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Baanah
  * Naharai of Beeroth is one of the thirty of David's mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:37)
  * One of the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab
  * Rimmon the Beerothite


title: Rimmon
content:
  ## Rimmon the Beerothite

  A man of Benjamin from Beeroth. His sons were the captains of raiding bands, Rechab and Baanah. (2 Samuel 4:2-3)


title: Saul the Anointed
content:
  **Saul meets Samuel**

  Kish lost his donkeys and sent Saul and one of the servants to search for them. They searched through Ephraim, Shalishah, Shaalim, Benjamin, and Zuph and did not find them. On a tip from his servant, he went to Samuel, coincidentally on a day of sacrifice. The LORD revealed he was to be king, so Samuel set him at the head of the hall and gave him the leg. (1 Samuel 9:1-24)

  Samuel anointed Saul and gave him three signs - two men by Rachel's tomb will tell him his father worries for him, not the donkeys, now.Then 3 men going up to God at Bethel will offer him bread. Then at Gibeath-Elohim, he will prophesy with a group of prophets and receive the Spirit of the Lord. Then he is to go to Gilgal to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings with Samuel. The townspeople asked, "What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" when they saw him. He didn't share any of this with Kish, though. (1 Samuel 10:1-16)

  Samuel announced him at Mizpah, but he hid in the baggage until the LORD found him. Samuel defined the rights and duties of the kingship and sent Saul home. Some men of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him, while worthless fellows brought him no present. (1 Samuel 10:17-27)

  **Saul's first victory**

  Nahash the Ammonite sought to besiege and disgrace Jabesh-gilead, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he cut up a yoke of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel as a threat to summon troops. He and 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 Judeans cut down and scattered the Ammonites. (1 Samuel 11)

  The people were to put to death Saul's dissenters, but Saul disallowed it for the LORD had worked salvation in Israel. Then Samuel brought everyone down to Gilgal to make Saul king before the LORD, with peace offerings and rejoicing. (1 Samuel 11:12-15)

  **Saul breaks the LORD's command**

  Saul and 2,000 men camped in Michmash and Bethel, while Jonathan and a thousand were in Gibeah. Jonathan defeated the Philistine garrison at Geba. Israel joined Saul at Gilgal, and 30,000 Philistine chariots and 6,000 horsemen and troops encamped in Michmash. (1 Samuel 13:1-7)

  Saul waited the seven days Samuel appointed then offered the sacrifices himself. As he finished, Samuel arrived and informed him he forfeit his throne to someone else for his disobedience. Saul and 600 Israelites camped in Geba with no proper weapons apart from Saul's and Jonathan's, while the Philistines camped in Michmash.  (1 Samuel 13:8-22)

  He fought against all his enemies on every side - Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, the Amalekites, and the Philistines. (1 Samuel 14:47-48)

  **Saul's oath**

  Saul's watchmen saw the Philistines in a panic, so Saul called for a count and discovered the absence of his son and his armor-bearer. He called for Ahijah to bring the ark of God, but as they were talking, the panic became so great he rushed the men into battle with such victory that defectors and Israelites in hiding rallied to his side, chasing the Philistines past Beth-aven. The LORD saved Israel. (1 Samuel 14:16-23)

  He made an oath to curse anyone who eats before he is avenged in the evening. His men encountered a forest with honey on the floor but abstained to the point of being faint. They struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, then his men hastened to eat spoils with the blood. He was informed, so he built his first altar to the LORD to prevent them from sinning further. (1 Samuel 14:24-35)

  Then Saul willed to plunder the Philistines, but when Ahijah suggested he consult God, He was silent. He was going to kill whomever whose sin stood in the way. The lot fell to Saul and Jonathan, and the people of Israel were innocent. Then it fell to Jonathan. (1 Samuel 14:36-...)

  **Saul vs Amalek**

  Samuel told Saul the LORD wanted him to destroy Amalek and all their livestock. He summoned his forces to Telaim and, after warning the Kenites to flee, Saul and two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur. He captured Agag alive and let the people keep the best livestock for slaughter. 

  He set up a monument for himself and went to Gilgal where Samuel criticized him. Samuel refused to worship with him, so Saul seized his robe and tore it. "The LORD has torn the kingdom from you." They parted ways, and Saul returned to Gibeah and did not see Samuel again. The LORD regretted he made Saul king. (1 Samuel 15)


title: Zuph
content:
  Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, and Ephrathite. (1 Samuel 1:1)

  Saul searched for Kish's donkeys in the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the land of Shaalim, the land of Benjamin, and the land of Zuph, but found Samuel instead. (1 Samuel 9:3-14)


title: Gibeath-elohim
content:
  Samuel gave the newly anointed Saul 3 signs, one being that he will enter Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines, and immediately meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon him, and he will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. God will be with him. (1 Samuel 10:1-7)

  When they came to Gibeah, he prophesied with the group of prophets and received the Spirit of the LORD. (1 Samuel 10:8-11)


title: Mizpah
content:
  Samuel prayed for Israel as they turned from the Baals and Ashtaroth and sought deliverance. As he sacrificed a nursing lamb, the Philistines came to attack, and the men chased them and struck them down as far as below Beth-car. Samuel erected the stone Ebenezer between Mizpah and Shen for "Till now the LORD has helped us." (1 Samuel 7:3-14)

  Samuel judged in a circuit between Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, and Ramah. (1 Samuel 7:15-17)

  Since Israel rejected God, Samuel assembled the people at Mizpah to set a king over them. He took them by lot until they had to ask the LORD for Saul's hiding place among the baggage. Saul was hailed as king while Samuel defined the duties and rights of the kingship.

  Gedaliah the son of Ahikam was assassinated here. (Jeremiah 40-41)


title: Telaim
content:
  Samuel told Saul the LORD wanted him to destroy Amalek and all their livestock for how they treated Israel when they came out of Egypt. He summoned his forces to Telaim and, after warning the Kenites to flee after their kindness shown to Israel as they came out of Egypt, Saul and two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur. (1 Samuel 15)


title: Havilah
content:
  Samuel told Saul the LORD wanted him to destroy Amalek and all their livestock. He summoned his forces to Telaim and, after warning the Kenites to flee, Saul and two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur. (1 Samuel 15)


title: Shur
content:
  An enclosure; a wall, a part, probably, of the Arabian desert, on the north-eastern border of Egypt, giving its name to a wilderness extending from Egypt toward Philistia ( Genesis 16:7 ; 20:1 ; 25:18 ; Ex.15:22). The name was probably given to it from the wall (or shur) which the Egyptians built to defend their frontier on the north-east from the desert tribes. This wall or line of fortifications extended from Pelusium to Heliopolis. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/shur/)

  Samuel told Saul the LORD wanted him to destroy Amalek and all their livestock. He summoned his forces to Telaim and, after warning the Kenites to flee, Saul and two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur. (1 Samuel 15)

  After fleeing from Saul to Philistia with Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath, David made Ziklag his base of operations for military exploits against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. He reported his raids back to Achish as against the Negeb of Judah, Jerahmeelites, and Kenites and gained Achish's trust. (1 Samuel 27)


title: Agag
content:
  ## Agag the king of the Amalekites

  Samuel told Saul that the LORD wanted every Amalekite and their livestock - men, women, children, oxen, sheep, camels, and donkey - destroyed for opposing Israel when they came out of Egypt. 

  Saul captured Agag alive. Saul brought him to Gilgal. Samuel came to Saul, criticized him, then asked for Agag. Agag came to him cheerfully, saying, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." But Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. (1 Samuel 15)


title: Saul Takes in David
content:
  **Saul's possession**

  When Samuel anointed David, the Spirit of the LORD left Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. His servants suggested they bring David to soothe him with the lyre, and Saul came to love David and made him his armor-bearer. Saul sent to Jesse, requesting David stay in his service. David played the lyre whenever the harmful spirit tormented him, and the spirit fled. (1 Samuel 16:13-23)

  **David & Goliath**

  The Philistines were between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim, while Saul's army was in the Valley of Elah. No one braved Goliath's challenge for 40 days until David arrived and asked the soldiers about the uncircumcised Philistine who defied the army of the living God. Saul heard of him and sent for him, but when he offered to fight Goliath, he told him he was a youth against a man who was a soldier from his youth. The boy responded that the LORD who delivers him from lions and bears will deliver him from a giant. Saul clothed him with his armor and sword, but he rejected them, defeating the giant with a staff, a sling, and five stones. The Philistines were chased and plundered from Shaaraim to Gath and Ekron. Saul asked Abner, commander of his army, who the youth's father was, but he didn't learn until he returned and Abner brought him to Saul, Goliath's head in hand: the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite. (1 Samuel 17)

  **Saul gains David as son-in-law**

  Saul took David and did not let him return to his father's house. He set David over the men of war, but when he went to the cities of Israel, he heard the song on the women's lips that Saul struck down thousands and David ten thousands. He was very angry and wondered what more David could have but the kingdom. He eyed David from that day on. 

  The next day, the harmful spirit returned. He raved while David played the lyre. Saul had his spear in his hand premeditatively. He hurled it at David twice. He removed David from his presence and installed him as commander of a thousand, but this increased his success and popularity such that Saul was in fearful awe. 

  Saul was to give Merab to David if he would but be valiant and fight the LORD's battles (and hopefully die), but David declined due to his name. Merab was given to another when David was to marry. Saul learned Michal loved David, so he offered her as another snare. He commanded his servants to convince David to marry. When they shared David's unwillingness due to poverty and reputation, Saul offered the preferable bride-price of a hundred foreskins (and hopefully his own death). He received 200. He gave him Michal, but David with the LORD and loving Michal scared Saul even more. When the princes of the Philistines came out to battle, none of his servants had more success than David. (1 Samuel 18)


title: Saul Pursues David
content:
  **Saul tries to kill David**

  Saul told Jonathan and his servants that they should kill David. When he was in the field where David was hiding, Jonathan pleaded that David is innocent and has brought good to Saul and the LORD's salvation to Israel by killing Goliath. Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death." David returned to his presence.

  When a war came and another victory for David, a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. As David played the lyre, Saul tried to pin David to no success. David fled, so he sent messengers to his house to watch so he might kill him in the morning. Michal told the messengers that David was sick, so Saul sent back the messengers to see him in the bed and kill him. When they came in, there was merely a teraphim in the bed with a pillow of goats' hair at its head. Saul asked Michal about the deception, and she said he had threatened to kill her. 

  Saul learned that David was with Samuel at Naioth in Ramah. Saul sent three groups of messengers, and each prophesied when they found him. Saul went himself, asking at the great well that is in Secu the whereabouts of Samuel and David and went after them and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and he prophesied until he came to Naioth. He, too, stripped off his clothes, and he, too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. This it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

  (1 Samuel 19)

  **Saul's anger at David's absence**

  Saul sat on his seat at the table by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner by Saul's side. David's place was empty, but Saul thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean." But on the second day of his absence, he asked about it. Jonathan told him he had asked to go to a sacrifice in Bethlehem.  Saul became angry and called Jonathan a shameful son of a perverse woman for choosing David, for he cannot become king as long as David lives. Jonathan asked what David had done to deserve death. Saul hurled his spear at him. Jonathan rose from the table without eating and left. (1 Samuel 20)

  **Saul kills the priests**

  When Saul heard David was discovered with 400 men. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree with his spear, and he asked his servants if the son of Jesse would give them vineyards, make them commanders, that they would conspired against him. No one disclosed to him when his son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None is sorry for him or discloses David's stirring up of his servants to lie in wait. 

  Doeg the Edomite told him he had seen David coming to Nob to Ahimelech to inquire of the LORD and receive provisions and the sword of Goliath. Saul summoned Ahimelech and all his father's house, but he replied that he often inquired of the LORD for David and knew nothing of this.Saul told him he shall die because he knew about the rebellion and didn't report it. When none of his servants would strike the priests of the LORD, Doeg the Edomite killed 85 priests and all the men, women, children, infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep of Nob. (1 Samuel 22:1-19)

  Saul learns David is in Keilah (he had just delivered them from a Philistine attack) and knows God will give him into his hand in that city with gates and bars. Saul summoned an army to go to Keilah to besiege David and his men. When Saul was told David had escaped Keilah, he gave up the expedition. (1 Samuel 23:1-14)

  The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah, telling him to come down and receive David, for he was hiding in the wilderness of Ziph, in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah. Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me." And had them ensure their info first. Saul heard David was in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon, and he went after him. Saul went on one side of the mountain, David the other. As Saul was closing in, a messenger alerted him to a Philistine raid. So he returned from pursuing David and went against the Philistines. That place was called the Rock of Escape. (1 Samuel 23:15-29)

  **David tears Saul's robe**

  When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told David is in the wilderness of Engedi. So he took 3000 chosen men to seek David in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. He came to sheepfolds by the way to a cave and went to relieve himself. David and his men were in the innermost parts of the cave, but he did not know. David stealthily cut his robe corner. Saul left, and David called after him, bowing. He showed the robe corner and said may the LORD judge and avenge, but his hand was not going to be against him. Saul asked if he was his son David, and called him more righteous than him. He asked the LORD reward him. He knew David would be king, so he asked he not cut off his offspring nor destroy his name out of his father's house, and David swore it. Saul went home, and David went up to the stronghold. (1 Samuel 24)

  **David avoids Michal**

  When David marries Abigail and Ahinoam of Jezreel, Saul gives Michal to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim. (1 Samuel 25:39-44)

  **David steals Saul's spear and jar of water**

  The Ziphites told Saul at Gibeah that David hid on the hill of Hachilah. Saul pursued him in the wilderness of Ziph with Abner the son of Ner and 3000 men and camped on the hill of Hachilah beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. He slept with his spear stuck in the ground at his head and his commander and army around him. David came in the night with Abishai the son of Zeruiah and took his spear and jar of water. The LORD sent a deep sleep, so no one noticed. 

  From a great space, David called to Abner that he had not protected the LORD's anointed and deserved death. His spear and jar of water are missing. Saul recognized David, and David asked him that if he was stirred by the LORD that the LORD may accept an offering, but if he was stirred by men, that they may be cursed. They had driven David out so he had no share in the heritage of the LORD, telling him to serve other gods. Saul claimed to be in sin and asked David to return in peace. David offered his spear back to one of Saul's young men and asked the LORD to see his own life as precious like how he had viewed Saul's. Saul blessed him, and David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. (1 Samuel 26)

  **David flees to Philistia**

  It was told to Saul that David had fled to Gath, so Saul no longer sought him. (1 Samuel 27:4)


title: Ziph
content:
  David escaped Keilah to the strongholds in the wilderness, the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. Jonathan went to David at Horesh and strengthened his hand in the LORD, reminding him he would be king and Jonathan would be beside him. The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said they would deliver David into his hand. David fled to Maon. (1 Samuel 23)

  The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him David was hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon. So Saul went to the wilderness of Ziph with 3000 men and camped on the hill of Hachilah where David sparred his life and temporarily stole his spear and jar of water to make a point of it. Saul left for Gibeah, and David went his way. (1 Samuel 26)


title: Jeshimon
content:
  The Ziphites told Saul at Gibeah that David was hiding among them in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon. If he comes down, they will deliver him into his hands. David fled to the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. (1 Samuel 23:15-24)

  The Ziphites told Saul at Gibeah that David hid on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon. Saul pursued him there, encamped on the hill of Hachilah, fell into a deep sleep with his army so David could take his spear and jar of water (but not the precious life of the LORD's anointed), confess his sin to David when called out, and return home. (1 Samuel 26)


title: Keilah
content:
  A town that has gates and bars. (1 Samuel 23:7)

  When the prophet Gad advised David to return to Judah, he heard the Philistines were fighting against Keilah and were robbing the threshing floors. David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them down with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 

  Abiathar fled to Keilah, ephod in hand, and David requested it to ask if Saul was coming and if Keilah would surrender him and his men into Saul's hand. God affirmed both concerns. So David escaped to Ziph. (1 Samuel 23:1-14)


title: Saul's Downfall
content:
  **Saul inquires of the Medium of En-dor**

  The Philistines gathered their forces for war against Israel. The Philistines encamped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel at Gilboa. Saul's heart trembled greatly at the Philistines, but when he inquired of the LORD, He did not answer, by dreams, Urim, or by prophets. Saul asked his servants for a medium, despite having put the mediums and necromancers out of the land, and they recommended the mediums at En-dor. 

  Saul disguised himself and went with 2 men at night, asking her to divine for him by a spirit and bring up for him whomever he shall name. She was cautious, since it was illegal, but he said, as the LORD lives, she shall face no punishment. She asked who to bring up, and he requested Samuel. When she saw Samuel, she screamed, but Saul had her describe him. "I see a god coming up out of the earth." ... "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." Saul bowed and paid homage to Samuel. 

  Samuel asked why he was disturbed, and Saul told him about the Philistines and silence from God and that he needed to talk to him. Samuel told him he did not obey the voice of the LORD against Amalek, so He has become his enemy. The LORD will give Israel into the hand of the Philistines, he and his sons shall be with him, and the LORD will give thee army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 

  Saul fell on the ground with fear and had no strength left. The woman humbly but insistently fed him, though he said, "I will not eat." She killed a fattened calf and baked unleavened bread for Saul and his servants, and they left that night.

  (1 Samuel 28)

  **Saul, his sons, and his armor-bearer are killed in battle against the Philistines**

  Israel fled before Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua were killed, and Saul, badly wounded by archers, asked his armor-bearer to draw his sword and thrust through him, lest the uncircumcised mistreat him. The armor-bearer refused, so Saul fell upon his own sword. When the armor-bearer saw his, he fell upon his sword and died with him. The next day, the Philistines came to strip the slain and found Saul and his sons dead. They cut off Saul's head, stripped his armor, sent messengers throughout Philistia to carry news to the house of their idols and the people, and put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. The people of Jabesh-gilead heard this, went all night to take the body of Saul and his sons and came to Jabesh to burn them there. Their bones were buried under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted 7 days. 

  (1 Samuel 31)

  **The Amalekite's Account of Saul's Death**

  3 days after David returned to Ziklag, a man with clothes torn and dirt on his head came and fell on the ground and paid homage to David, saying he escaped from the Israel camp. David asked how the battle went, and he said the people fell and Saul and Jonathan died. He asked how this man knew, and by chance, he happened to be on Mount Gilboa when he saw Saul leaning on his spear with the chariots and horsemen pursuing closely. Saul called to him and asked who he was. Learning he was an Amalekite, he asked him to kill him. He complied, knowing Saul was close to death. He took Saul's crown and armlet to David. 

  David and his men mourned and fasted until evening for Saul, Jonathan, and the people of the LORD and the house of Israel. David learned the man was the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.

  (2 Samuel 1)

  He seems to be lying. Saul fell on his own sword, not leaning on his spear. Why was an Amalekite at Saul's camp during a war by chance? The Amalekites are enemies of Israel, one that Saul has personal history with. Saul had even told his armor-bearer to kill him so he would not die at the hands of his enemy. The Amalekite would have had to shown up between Saul asking his armor-bearer to kill him and him finding Saul dead and also falling on his own sword. His armor-bearer let the Amalekite pass? He thought Saul was dead, committed suicide, then the Amalekite showed up? He's also acting like the chariots were at Saul's heels, but 1 Samuel 31 says the next day, the Philistines stumbled upon his body. 

  The Bible never paints the Amalekites in a positive light.

  Perhaps he was really an opportunist who lurked in war, looted, then escaped before the winning side arrived.

  (2 Samuel 1 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8f4v5_G0t8)

  **The Song of the Bow or the Lament of the Bow**

  David and his men tore their clothes and wept and fasted until evening upon learning of Saul's death, then he executed the Amalekite who claimed to have killed the LORD's anointed. David lamented Saul with a lamentation, "Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! / In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions." (2 Samuel 1)


title: Urim
content:
  The Philistines prepared for war against Israel. The Philistines encamped at Shunem, and all the Israelites at Gilboa. Saul's heart trembled greatly, but when he inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or Urim or prophets. So he went to the medium of En-dor. (1 Samuel 28)


title: En-dor
content:
  En-dor was 4.5 miles northeast of Shunem, so it was on the other side of the enemy from Saul. 

  (The ESV Study BibleTM, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 536)

  Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land of Israel. (1 Samuel 28:3) But when he was terrified of the Philistine army and received silence from the LORD, he said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." His servants suggested the medium at En-dor. 

  Saul disguised himself and went with 2 men at night, asking her to divine for him by a spirit and bring up for him whomever he shall name. She was cautious, since it was illegal, but he said, as the LORD lives, she shall face no punishment. She asked who to bring up, and he requested Samuel. When she saw Samuel, she screamed, but Saul had her describe him. "I see a god coming up out of the earth." ... "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." Saul bowed and paid homage to Samuel.

  Samuel asked why he was disturbed, and Saul told him about the Philistines and silence from God and that he needed to talk to him. Samuel told him he did not obey the voice of the LORD against Amalek, so He has become his enemy. The LORD will give Israel into the hand of the Philistines, he and his sons shall be with him, and the LORD will give thee army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

  Saul fell on the ground with fear and had no strength left. The woman humbly but insistently fed him, though he said, "I will not eat." She killed a fattened calf and baked unleavened bread for Saul and his servants, and they left that night.

  (1 Samuel 28)


title: Dog
content:
  An animal.

  ## Bible

  The LORD told Ahab through Elijah the Tishbite, "In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood."'" (1 Kings 21:17-20) And He told Jezebel, "The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.' Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat." (1 Kings 21:20-24) So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken. (1 Kings 22:37-40)

  Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (Matthew 7:6)


title: Barth
content:
  Karl Barth (1886-1968) is a neoorthodox scholar.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 39.)


title: Origen
content:
  Pupil of Clement of Alexandria.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 38.)

  ## Origen of Alexandria (185 - 253 AD)

  An early Christian scholar and theologian who was born and spent the first half of his career in Alexandria. He wrote ~2000 treatises in multiple branches of theology, including textual criticism, biblical exegesis and hermeneutics, homiletics, and spirituality. He was one of the most influential and controversial figures in early Christian theology, apologetics, and asceticism. He has been described as "the greatest genius the early church ever produced." Origen sought martyrdom with his father at a young age but was prevented from turning himself in to the authorities by his mother. When he was 18, he became a catechist as the Catechetical School of Alexandria. He devoted himself to his studies and adopted an ascetic lifestyle. He came into conflict with Demetrius, the bishop of Alexandria, in 231 after he was ordained as a presbyter by his friend, the bishop of Caeesarea, while on a journey to Athens through Palestine. Demetrius condemned Origen for insubordination and accused him of having castrated himself and of having taught that even Satan would eventually attain salvation, an accusation which Origen vehemently denied. Origen founded the Christian School of Caesarea, where he taught logic, cosmology, natural history, and theology, and became regarded by the churches of Palestine and Arabia as the ultimate authority on all matters of theology. He was tortured for his faith during the Decian persecution in 250 and died 3-4 years later. He was able to produce a massive quantity of writings because of the patronage of his close friend Ambrose of Alexandria, who provided him with a team of secretaries to copy his works, making him one of the most prolific writers in all antiquity. Origen taught that, before the creation of the material universe, God had created the souls of all the intelligent beings. These souls, at first fully devoted to God, fell away from him and were given physical bodies. Origen was the first to propose the ransom theory of atonement in its fully developed form, and he also significantly contributed to the development of the concept of the Trinity. Origen hoped that all people might eventually attain salvation, but was always careful to maintain that this was only speculation. He defended free will and advocated Christian pacifism.

  (Origin of the Bible handout, February 8, 2023. Page 5-6.)


title: Tertullian
content:
  Early church father (155-220 A.D.)

  A prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. He was the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature. He was an early Christian apologist and a polemicist against heresy, including contemporary Christian Gnosticism. Tertullian has been called "the father of Latin Christianity" and "the founder of Western theology." 

  Thought to be the son of a Roman centurion. Raised in Africa.. May have become a lawyer and/or priest. Became a Christian in 197 A.D. Married to a Christian woman. He originated new theological concepts and advanced the development of early Church doctrine. He is perhaps most famous for being the first writer in Latin known to use the term trinity (Latin *trinitas*). 31 of his written works exist today. 

  (Origin of the Bible handout by Margaret Ames, February 8, 2023. Page 5.)

  ## Ideas

  The terms Old Testament and New Testament came into use in the later part of the second century. Tertullian rendered diatheke into Latin by instrumentum (a legal document) and also by testamentum, but only 'testament' survived. (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 5.)

  ## Works

  * Codex Agobardinus
  * Scorpiace


title: Scorpiace
content:
  Written by Tertullian and preserved in his Codex Agobardinus.

  ## Chapters

  * 1 - The earth brings forth great evil from the tiny scorpion and its whipping tail that injects concentrated poison during summer. Natural and magical cures exist as do protective draughts (drained by sexual intercourse) and faith. Even the heathen sees the power of God in Acts 28:3 when Paul shook off the viper into the fire and suffered no harm. During the season of persecution, faith is subjected to scorpions of its own. Gnostics, Valentinians, then all opponents of martyrdom know many Christians veer about with the wind and conform to its moods. 

  ## Vocabulary

  * adjure - to command solemnly under or as if under oath or penalty of a curse
  * besmear - smear or cover with a greasy or sticky substance
  * scourge - a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering; cause great suffering to; a whip used for punishment; to whip as punishment
  * suppuration - the formation of, conversion into, or process of discharging pus. An abscess is a localized area of suppuration.

  ## Works Mentioned

  * On the Subject of Scorpions by Nicander

  (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0318.htm, https://www.tertullian.org/manuscripts/agobardinus.htm)


title: Carthage
content:
  A Phoenician colony founded in the eighth century B.C.

  A place of child sacrifice. Children were burned alive as sacrifice to Molech and other gods, even though human sacrifice was banned in the law. (Leviticus 18:21;20:2-5). It was known from Canaanite/Phoenician contexts. The offering of children, esp. firstborn, was seen as a means of manipulating deities to grant fertility to the offerer. Archaeological excavations at Carthage include the charred remains of thousands of children. When Babylon conquers Jerusalem, the dead will be heaped so high that Topheth will be called the Valley of Slaughter.

  (The ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles. Page 1388)


title: Corpus
content:
  a collection of written texts, especially the entire works of a particular author or a body of writing on a particular subject.


title: Gnosticism
content:
  ## Figures

  * Bardesanes
  * Heracleon
  * Marcos
  * Ptolemy
  * Valentinus

  ## Branches

  * Valentinianism, Valentinian, Valentinian Theology (Oriental and Italian)


title: Marcos
content:
  ## Marcos

  A prominent disciples of Valentinus.

  (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15256a.htm)

  ## Ferdinand Marcos

  In 1946, the Philippines received full independence from the United States. The situation went well for a few years until Ferdinand Marcos decided that being president wasn't enough and installed himself as dictator. 

  (Lost States: True Stories of Texlahoma, Transylvania, and Other States That Never Made It by Michael J. Trinklein, 2010, Page 100-101)


title: Valentinus
content:
  Father of most common version of Gnosticism (Valentinianism), born in Egypt, trained in Hellenistic science in Alexandria, and disseminated his views in Rome. He was excommunicated from the Roman orthodox community for attempting to establish his heretical system but continued to teach in Cyprus. He died in A.D. 160 or 161.

  Tertullian ascribes to him the apocryphal Gospel of Valentinus, also known as the Gospel of Truth according to Irenaeus. His more prominent disciples included Heracleon, Ptolemy, Marcos, and Bardesanes. 

  He claims his ideas originate from Theodas or Theudas, but he obviously reconciled Greek and Oriental systems with Christian ideas. From Plato, he derived the parallel between the pleroma and kenoma. From the New Testament, he justified personal cosmological and pantheistic views. His views are characterized by dualism. His school divided into two branches - the Oriental (Egypt, Syria, and Asia Minor) and the Italian (Rome, Italy, Southern Gaul).

  Bythos after ages of silence and contemplation gave rise to other beings through emanation at the beginning of all things. The first series was the 30 aeons, representing 15 syzygies. Through the sin of Sophia, the lower material world was born. Man, its highest being, participates in both psychic and hylic nature. Redemption involves freeing the spiritual from its servitude to the lower. This was Christ's (who lacked a real body and never suffered) and the Holy Spirit's mission. 

  (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15256a.htm [IRENAEUS, Against Heresies I.1 seq. and III.4; HIPPOLYTUS, Philosophumena, VI, 20-37; | TERTULLIAN, Adv. Valentin.; EPIPHANIUS, Haer., XXXI; THEODORET, Haer. Fab., I, 7; HEINRICI, Die Valentin. Gnosis u. die heilige Schrift (Berlin, 1871). See bibliography to GNOSTICISM.])


title: Apocrypha
content:
  In the patristic period, the inspiration Apocrypha of the Greek and Latin Bibles was uncertain. During the Reformation, the church of Rome insisted the Apocrypha was Old Testament, while the Protestant churches deny it. The Church of England includes it in its lectionary (example of life but not to establish doctrine). The Eastern Orthodox Church was divided but has recently tended more to the Protestant side.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 52.)


title: Pleroma
content:
  In Plato's the Gnostic teachings of Valentinus, the ideal world. Contrasts with the kenoma.

  (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15256a.htm [IRENAEUS, Against Heresies I.1 seq. and III.4; HIPPOLYTUS, Philosophumena, VI, 20-37; | TERTULLIAN, Adv. Valentin.; EPIPHANIUS, Haer., XXXI; THEODORET, Haer. Fab., I, 7; HEINRICI, Die Valentin. Gnosis u. die heilige Schrift (Berlin, 1871). See bibliography to GNOSTICISM.])


title: Kenoma
content:
  In Plato's and the Gnostic teachings of Valentinus, the lower world of phenomena. Contrasts with the pleroma.

  (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15256a.htm [IRENAEUS, Against Heresies I.1 seq. and III.4; HIPPOLYTUS, Philosophumena, VI, 20-37; | TERTULLIAN, Adv. Valentin.; EPIPHANIUS, Haer., XXXI; THEODORET, Haer. Fab., I, 7; HEINRICI, Die Valentin. Gnosis u. die heilige Schrift (Berlin, 1871). See bibliography to GNOSTICISM.])


title: Bythos
content:
  In the Gnostic teachings of Valentinus, the Primal Being who started the beginning of all things.

  (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15256a.htm [IRENAEUS, Against Heresies I.1 seq. and III.4; HIPPOLYTUS, Philosophumena, VI, 20-37; | TERTULLIAN, Adv. Valentin.; EPIPHANIUS, Haer., XXXI; THEODORET, Haer. Fab., I, 7; HEINRICI, Die Valentin. Gnosis u. die heilige Schrift (Berlin, 1871). See bibliography to GNOSTICISM.])


title: Valentinian
content:
  Gnostic followers of Valentinus

  (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15256a.htm)

  (http://gnosis.org/library/valentinus/Sophia_Eve.htm)


title: Psalm
content:
  ## Bible Book

  The book of Psalms, or Psalter, is a collection of 150 poems that express a wide variety of emotions. The English title comes from Greek psalmos, which translates Hebrew mizmor, "song," found in many of the Psalm titles. The Hebrew name Tehillim, "Praises" points to the songs as praises offered to God in public worship. 

  (The ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 936)

  * **Author**: "of" in the titles refers to authorship, such as "of David." David is the most common author, appearing in 73 titles and credited in the New Testament for two more. Other authors include the Sons of Korah, Asaph, Solomon, and Moses. Some are anonymous. 

  (The ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 936)

  ## Summary

  * 27 - The LORD is My Light and My Salvation. Of David. Of whom shall I be afraid? I only ask that I may dwell in the LORD's house all my days and gaze upon his beauty and inquire. He hides me, and my foes fall. Offer sacrifices and shouts of joy in his tent. You said, "Seek my face," and I do. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD.
  * 95 - Considered a prophetic hymn. The psalmist praises the LORD with a joyful noise, thanksgiving, and kneeling for he is the rock of our salvation, above all gods, maker of the earth. He warns if we hear his voice that we don't harden our hearts as at Meribah and Massah. They went astray in their hearts and have not known His ways, so they shall not enter His rest. (recalls Numbers 14 and expanded in Hebrews 3)
  * 117 - Shortest Bible chapter. Praise the LORD for great is his love and long is his faithfulness.
  * 149 - Sing to the LORD a New Song - Praise with dancing, melody, tambourine, lyre and sing in glory and joy in bed. Let them wield two-edged swords for vengeance on the nations, their kings and nobles as honor to all godly ones.

  ## Psalm Topics

  **Figures**

  * Aaron
  * Israel
  * Jacob
  * Levi
  * Og
  * Pharaoh
  * Sihon

  **Peoples**

  * Amorites
  * Edomites
  * Israelites

  **Places**

  * Babylon
  * Bashan
  * Canaan
  * Egypt
  * Red Sea
  * Jerusalem
  * Massah
  * Meribah
  * Zion

  **Vocabulary**

  * contrite - feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.


title: Position
content:
  Position is a function of time (*t*), f(*t*).

  Position refers to the amount of a particular stock or fund you own.

  (https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/stock-trading-how-to-begin)


title: Autograph
content:
  Original writings of Scripture. They no longer exist. (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 41.)


title: Canaanite
content:
  ## Language

  A Semitic language that includes Hebrew, Phoenician, Ugaritic, Moabite.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 219.)


title: Semitic
content:
  ## Language Family

  The Semitic family of languages were used from the Mediterranean Sea to the mountains east of the Euphrates River valley, and from Armenia in the north to the southern extremity of the Arabian Peninsula. They are classified as Southern (Arabic and Ethiopic), Eastern (Akkadian), and Northwestern (Aramaic, Syriac, and Canaanite [Hebrew, Phoenician, Ugaritic, Moabite]).

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 219.)


title: Language
content:
  ## Languages

  * Arabic
  * Aramaic
  * Canaanite
  * Chinese - Mandarin Chinese
  * English
  * French
  * German
  * Greek
  * Hebrew
  * Japanese (日本語)
  * Minoan
  * Moabite
  * Mycenaean
  * Phoenician
  * Polish
  * Russian
  * Semitic 
  * Spanish
  * Swedish
  * Ugarite

  ## Programming Languages

  ## Topics

  * Accent
  * Alphabet
  * Dialect
  * Letter
  * Syllabary
  * Vocabulary


title: Phoenician
content:
  ## Language

  Canaanite is a Semitic language that includes Hebrew, Phoenician, Ugaritic, Moabite.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 219.)

  The Canaanite alphabet of the Phoenician and Moabite languages had 22 consonants. 

  The oldest examples of a Canaanite alphabet were preserved in the Ugaritic cuneiform alphabet of the 14th century B.C. The old style is called the Phoenician or paleo-Hebrew script and is the predecessor to Greek and Western alphabets. The modern script is Aramaic or square script and became widespread after Israel's exile into Babylon (6th century B.C.) but did not entirely replace the old. Early Christian era coins and God's name in the Dead Sea Scrolls use the old.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 221)

  ## Legacy

  Around the 8th century B.C., Greek writing appeared in a different script based on an alphabet presumably borrowed from the Phoenicians then adapted to the Greek speech sound system and direction of writing. Greek was first written from right to left like West Semitic languages, then in a back-and-forth pattern, and finally left-to-right. 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 231)


title: Ugaritic
content:
  ## Language

  Canaanite is a Semitic language that includes Hebrew, Phoenician, Ugaritic, Moabite.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 219.)

  The older Canaanite language reflected in Ugaritic had more than 22 consonants. Arabic preserves some Old Canaanite consonants found in Ugaritic but missing in Hebrew.

  The oldest examples of a Canaanite alphabet were preserved in the Ugaritic cuneiform alphabet of the 14th century B.C. The old style is called the Phoenician or paleo-Hebrew script and is the predecessor to Greek and Western alphabets. The modern script is Aramaic or square script and became widespread after Israel's exile into Babylon (6th century B.C.) but did not entirely replace the old. Early Christian era coins and God's name in the Dead Sea Scrolls use the old.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 221)


title: Moabite
content:
  ## Language

  Canaanite is a Semitic language that includes Hebrew, Phoenician, Ugaritic, Moabite.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 219.)

  The Canaanite alphabet of the Phoenician and Moabite languages had 22 consonants. 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 221.)


title: Pentateuch
content:
  First five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. They are primarily from the pen of Moses and cover history. They describe the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, the Patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, and the Law.

  FaithQuest - Student Edition (DP) by Sharon Berry and Ollie Gibbs (2008))


title: Dead Sea Scrolls
content:
  The oldest examples of a Canaanite alphabet were preserved in the Ugaritic cuneiform alphabet of the 14th century B.C. The old style is called the Phoenician or paleo-Hebrew script and is the predecessor to Greek and Western alphabets. The modern script is Aramaic or square script and became widespread after Israel's exile into Babylon (6th century B.C.) but did not entirely replace the old. Early Christian era coins and God's name in the Dead Sea Scrolls use the old.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 221)

  Originally, the Hebrew language had no vowels. Vowels were simply understood by the reader like our blvd. and rd. After the Christian era and the Diaspora, Hebrew became a dead language and traditional pronunciation and understanding were becoming lost. Jewish scribes tried to permanently establish vowel sounds. First, mothers of reading (matres lectionis) were added before the Christian era to indicate long vowels, and they are seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Around the 5th century A.D., the Masoretes added vowel signs to indicate short vowels in at least 3 different systems of signs over space and time. The one used today is from Masoretic scribes in Tiberias. Vowels and half-vowels are indicated by dots or dashes above or below the consonants.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 221-222)

  ## Contents

  Some Targums were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Mishnaic Hebrew documents were found with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 227-229)


title: Leb-kamai
content:
  Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon, against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai. (Jeremiah 51:1)

  Literally "heart of my adversaries," likely a code name for Chaldea.

  (The ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 1467)


title: Mishnaic Hebrew
content:
  Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew were widely used. Latin was probably limited to military and governmental circles. Mishnaic Hebrew was also used, and Mishnaic Hebrew documents were found with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 227-229)


title: Masoretic
content:
  Originally, the Hebrew language had no vowels. Vowels were simply understood by the reader like our blvd. and rd. After the Christian era and the Diaspora, Hebrew became a dead language and traditional pronunciation and understanding were becoming lost. Jewish scribes tried to permanently establish vowel sounds. First, mothers of reading (matres lectionis) were added before the Christian era to indicate long vowels, and they are seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Around the 5th century A.D., the Masoretes added vowel signs to indicate short vowels in at least 3 different systems of signs over space and time. The one used today is from Masoretic scribes in Tiberias. Vowels and half-vowels are indicated by dots or dashes above or below the consonants.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 221-222)


title: Dynamic Infallibility
content:
  Also see Infallibility.

  Even if the Bible had errors, it is still infallible. It is the only perfect rule of faith and practice without requiring or implying strict inerrancy.

  Francis A. Schaeffer and John D. Woodbridge object to this as unbiblical, dualistic, and nonsensical. 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 39.)


title: Infallibility
content:
  Also see Inerrancy and dynamic infallibility.

  It defines the Scripture as reliable and trustworthy to those who turn to it in search of God's truth. As a source of truth, the Bible is indefectable and cannot fall away or defect from the standard of truth. It will never fail or deceive anyone who trusts it.

  Infallibility is more concerned with personal knowledge of God and assurance of salvation. Those who believe in an infallible Bible do not necessarily believe in an inerrant Bible.

  Evangelicals acknowledge the Bible is human as well as divine. 

  Karl Barth maintains to err is human, so a human book will contain errors even while divine. He is cautious to attribute any specific errors to the Bible, yet he argues error cannot be excluded on principle. 

  Nonevangelical scholars reject both infallibility and inerrancy and see no merit in separating them.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 38-39.)

  The medieval church asserted verbal inspiration and infallibility. Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers had no need to exalt the infallibility of Scripture, which the Roman Catholic Church accepted. They tried to combat Catholic exaltation of tradition as an equal or superior to Scripture. 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 42-43.)


title: Super
content:
  A keyboard key.

  ## SUPER Keyboard Key

  The Windows key is near the bottom-left of the keyboard, near the CTRL, ALT, and Fn keys. It has a Windows icon on it. In Linux, it might be the SUPER key instead.

  (LFS101x)


title: Perfect
content:
  ## Math

  A positive integer is perfect if it equals the sum of its factors, excluding the number itself.

  (FP101x)

  ## List

  * Perfect Number
  * Perfect Square


title: Faith
content:
  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, of things not seen. But it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

  (Mr. Johnson, 10th grade Bible class)

  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

  (Hebrews 11:1-3,6)


title: Inerrancy
content:
  Also see Infallibility.

  It defines the Scripture as containing no errors of fact (material errors) nor internal contradictions (formal errors). 

  Inerrancy is more concerned with the accurate transmission of the details of revelation. Those who believe in an inerrant Bible also believe in an infallible Bible. 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 38-39.)

  Inerrancy is only attributed to the autographs. Scholars generally accept that existing manuscripts contain copyists' errors, detectable by comparing later with earlier manuscripts and by applying textual criticism. 

  ## Errors

  There are obviously problems in Scripture, so inerrancy frequently becomes tolerating "unanswered questions" or "demonstrated errors." A belief in errors usually follows a rejection of the Bible's authority, not the other way around.

  This method removes apparent errors in the Bible, like the genealogies of Jesus (Matthew 1 & Luke 3), the accounts of Paul's conversion (Acts 9, 22, 26), errors of fact (rabbit chewing cud in Leviticus 11:6), and the sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14). Logical and scientific difficulties remain, but are they errors, contradictions, faults of a copyist or translator, or a problem of the cultural, historical, or rhetorical gap between writer and reader? 

  Jesus's temptation timeline varies in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13) (Papias wrote that Gospels are not intended to be chronological.)

  Numbers pose frequent problems, but traditionally, approximate or rounded values were accepted, such as the trigonometric constant calculated from Solomon's basin, which is accurate only to one significant figure (1 Kings 7:23). The duration of Israel's captivity in Egypt is ~400 years (Genesis 15:13) or 430 (Exodus 12:40-41). 

  Others are resolved over time as new archaeological, textual, or scientific data comes to light.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 41-45.)

  ## Beliefs by Groups

  Evangelicals acknowledge the Bible is human as well as divine. 

  Karl Barth maintains to err is human, so a human book will contain errors even while divine. He is cautious to attribute any specific errors to the Bible, yet he argues error cannot be excluded on principle. 

  Nonevangelical scholars reject both infallibility and inerrancy and see no merit in separating them.

  The Battle for the Bible by Harold Lindsell, 1976, focused on inerrancy. His evangelical colleagues had departed from an orthodox view of the Bible. The conversation either sees inerrancy as an important issue or as a threat to evangelical unity.

  The International Congress on Biblical Inerrancy considers inerrancy to be a watershed issue. A second claims inerrancy is true but not a test of fellowship. A third, represented by Jack Rogers of Fuller Theological Seminary, doesn't explicitly deny inerrancy is true but contends that it is a late, historically conditioned formulation of the Christian position. He sees it as derived from Aristotelian-Thomistic roots and conflicts with more normative position based on Plato and Augustine and held by Luther and Calvin. The doctrine of inerrancy did not receive explicit formulation until the 17th century. Critics correct him, finding that Luther and Calvin accepted the human element of Scripture but neither assumed nor admitted errors in it, so inerrancy was taken for granted.

  Jacob A. O. Preus of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod identified and repudiated the historical-critical method with its assumptions, as the root from which contemporary inerrancy controversies spring. They reject any "research" with the presuppositions that preclude the Bible as anything more than a human book.

  Benjamin B. Warfield and Clark Pinnock claim an "avalanche of texts" support inerrancy. This avalache is just Matthew 5:18, John 10:35, 2 Timothy 3:16, and 2 Peter 1:21, though.

  Jesus tells us to learn from Him (Matthew 11:29, John 13:13) and that He accepts the Old Testament as  altogether trustworthy even in their details (Matthew 5:18, John 10:35).

  The Roman Catholic Church officially supported inerrancy until the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) under liberal Protestant influence. Reformed statements like the Belgic Confession (1561) and the Westminister Confession affirm the perfection of Scripture. Similarly does the Augsburg Confession (1530) of Lutheranism and in the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England (1563). The Baptist New Hampshire Confession of 1832 refers to the Bible as containing "truth without any mixture of error for its matter."

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 39-40.)


title: Epistemology
content:
  A branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 41.)


title: Essene
content:
  They were fond of the pseudonymous apocalypses.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 57.)


title: Ethiopic Bible
content:
  AKA Ethiopian Bible was made from the Septuagint. (https://www.ethiopianorthodox.org/english/canonical/books.html)

  A. The Holy Books of the Old Testament

  * Genesis
  * Exodus
  * Leviticus
  * Numbers
  * Deuteronomy
  * Joshua
  * Judges
  * Ruth
  * I and II Samuel
  * I and II Kings
  * I Chronicles
  * II Chronicles
  * Jublee (typo? Jubilee? Jubilees?)
  * Enoch
  * Ezra and Nehemia
  * Ezra (2nd) and Ezra Sutuel
  * Tobit
  * Judith
  * Esther
  * I Maccabees
  * II and III Maccabees
  * Job
  * Psalms
  * Proverbs
  * Tegsats (Reproof)
  * Metsihafe Tibeb (the books of wisdom)
  * Ecclesiastes
  * The Song of Songs
  * Isaiah
  * Jeremiah
  * Ezekiel
  * Daniel
  * Hosea
  * Amos
  * Micah
  * Joel
  * Obadiah
  * Jonah
  * Nahum
  * Habakkuk
  * Zephaniah
  * Haggai
  * Zechariah
  * Malachi
  * Book of Joshua the son of Sirac
  * The Book of Josephas the Son of Bengorion

   

  B. The holy books of the New Testament

  * Matthew
  * Mark
  * Luke
  * John
  * The Acts
  * Romans
  * I Corinthians
  * II Corinthians
  * Galatians
  * Ephesians
  * Philippians
  * Colossians
  * I Thessalonians
  * II Thessalonians
  * I Timothy
  * II Timothy
  * Titus
  * Philemon
  * Hebrews
  * I Peter
  * II Peter
  * I John
  * II John
  * III John
  * James
  * Jude
  * Revelation
  * Sirate Tsion (the book of order)
  * Tizaz (the book of Herald)
  *. Gitsew
  * Abtilis
  * The I book of Dominos
  * The II book of Dominos
  * The book of Clement
  * Didascalia

  (https://www.ethiopianorthodox.org/english/canonical/books.html)


title: Septuagint
content:
  The only Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that survived fully intact. (https://overviewbible.com/septuagint/)

  The Septuagint divides Samuel and Kings into the four "Books of Kingdoms," and 1 + 2 Samuel are "1 + 2 Kingdoms." (The ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 485)

  ## Order

  Books are arranged in similarity of subject matter. The Pentateuch is followed by history, poetry and wisdom, and the prophets. Via the Vulgate, most Christian editions follow this order. (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 6.)

  ## List of Books

  ### The Pentateuch

  *    Genesis
  *    Exodus
  *    Leviticus
  *    Numbers
  *    Deuteronomy

  ### Historical Writings

  *    Joshua
  *    Judges
  *    Ruth
  *    1 Samuel
  *    2 Samuel
  *    1 Kings
  *    2 Kings
  *    1 Chronicles
  *    2 Chronicles
  *    Ezra–Nehemiah
  *    Tobit (or Tobias)
  *    Judith
  *    Esther (with additions)
  *    1 Maccabees
  *    2 Maccabees
  *    3 Maccabees

  ### Wisdom literature

  *    Prayer of Manasseh
  *    Job
  *    Psalms
  *    Proverbs
  *    Ecclesiastes
  *    Song of Songs
  *    Wisdom (or Wisdom of Solomon)
  *    Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
  *    Psalms of Solomon

  ### Minor Prophets

  *    Hosea
  *    Amos
  *    Micah
  *    Joel
  *    Obadiah
  *    Jonah
  *    Nahum
  *    Habakkuk
  *    Zephaniah
  *    Haggai
  *    Zechariah
  *    Malachi

  ### Major Prophets

  *    Isaiah
  *    Jeremiah
  *    Baruch
  *    Lamentations
  *    Letter of Jeremiah
  *    Ezekiel
  *    Daniel (with additions)

  ### Appendix

  *    4 Maccabees


title: Exegesis
content:
  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

  Exegete, Exegetic, Exegetical

  Exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. It's the process of discovering the original and intended meaning of a passage of scripture. The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. 

  What does the passage say? What does the passage mean? How does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? How should this passage affect my life? You need to understand the context - the genre, the surrounding story, the character, the current events and surrounding society, the author, the intended audience, the specific lesson being conveyed at the time, etc. You also need to understand the underlying original language and the accompanying culture and perspectives. You also need to apply it. 

  (https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-exegetical-study-and-how-can-you-use-it/, https://www.gotquestions.org/exegesis-eisegesis.html)

  This method removes apparent errors in the Bible, like the genealogies of Jesus (Matthew 1 & Luke 3), the accounts of Paul's conversion (Acts 9, 22, 26), errors of fact (rabbit chewing cud in Leviticus 11:6), and the sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14). Logical and scientific difficulties remain, but are they errors, contradictions, faults of a copyist or translator, or a problem of the cultural, historical, or rhetorical gap between writer and reader? (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 41.)

  ## Exercise

  The interpreter reads 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 and sees that King Jotham was a good king, just like his father Uzziah had been, except for one thing: he didn’t go to the temple! First, the interpreter reads the passage and, to fully understand the context, he reads the histories of both Uzziah and Jotham (2 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Kings 15:1-6, 32-38). In his observation, he discovers that King Uzziah was a good king who nevertheless disobeyed the Lord when he went to the temple and offered incense on the altar—something only a priest had the right to do (2 Chronicles 26:16-20). Uzziah’s pride and his contamination of the temple resulted in his having “leprosy until the day he died” (2 Chronicles 26:21).

  Needing to know why Uzziah spent the rest of his life in isolation, the interpreter studies Leviticus 13:46 and does some research on leprosy. Then he compares the use of illness as a punishment in other passages, such as 2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chronicles 16:12; and 21:12-15.

  By this time, the exegete understands something important: when the passage says Jotham “did not enter the temple of the LORD,” it means he did not repeat his father’s mistake. Uzziah had proudly usurped the priest’s office; Jotham was more obedient.

  The resulting sermon might deal with the Lord’s discipline of His children, with the blessing of total obedience, or with our need to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than repeat them. 

  (https://www.gotquestions.org/exegesis-eisegesis.html)


title: Hagiographa
content:
  The Hebrew Bible is divided into the Prophets and the Hagiographa (sacred writings). The Prophets comprise the historical Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings and the oracular Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and the Twelve (the Minor Prophets). The Hagiographa comprise the lyrical and wisdom books Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations, and the historical Daniel, Esther, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles. Ruth is prefaced to Psalms as ending with the genealogy of David, though in the Middle Ages, it was moved to a later position alongside the other short books (Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Esther). 

  The canon of the Hagiographa according to a popular hypothesis that the grouping reflects the gradual development of OT canon was not closed until the Jewish synod of Jamnia or Jabneh about A.D. 90 after an open Old Testament canon had already been taken over by the Christian church. A broader canon had been accepted by the Greek-speaking Jews of Alexandria and was embodied in the Septuagint. This, plus the Essene fondness for the pseudonymous apocalypses are responsible for the fluidity of the OT canon in patristic Christianity. 

  Instead, the grouping is determined by literary character. The Hagiographa is considered younger than the Prophets, but the overlap is considerable. When the prophetic gift was withdrawn for some time, their number may have been seen as complete and the collection was organized. Daniel 9:2 and 2 Maccabees 2:13 speak of loose collections of sacred writings.The letters of kings about votive offerings were not yet the book of Ezra (Ezra 6:3-12; 7:12-26). The prologue to the Greek translation of Ecclesiasticus refers to the Law, the Prophets, and "the others that have followed in their steps," or in other words, a section less old and well-established. Philo in De Vita Contemplativa 25 also refers to these three sections. Christ refers to the third as the Psalms in Luke 24:44.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 56-60.)


title: Hebrew Bible
content:
  The Law comprises the Pentateuch. The Prophets comprise the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve Prophets). The Writings contain Psalms, Proverbs, Job; the five Scrolls (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther); and Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.

  This grouping is referenced in Luke 24:44: Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

  The origin of the arrangement is unknown, but maybe this is the grouping order in which they received canonical recognition.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 5-6)


title: hiera grammata
content:
  The "sacred writings" in 2 Timothy 3:15: 

  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the **sacred writings**, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 30.)


title: Inspiration
content:
  “The secret is: don’t look to other [artists] for inspiration — look everywhere else. ”

  (The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, 2008. Page 58-59)

  "When you know how to listen, everybody is the guru." – Ram Dass

  (The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, 2008. Page 59)

  ## Bible

  ### Etymology

  Inspiration comes from Latin and English translations of *theopneustos* in 2 Timothy 3:16 (All Scripture is God-breathed). "Out-breathed," not "in-breathed." Divinely "ex-pired," rather than "in-spired." 

  Ewald and Cremer say it is an active word, "breathing the Spirit." Not only "given and filled and ruled by the Spirit of God," but also "actively outbreaking and spreading abroad and making known the Spirit of God." B. B. Warfield finds it passive. God does not breathe out God, but God breathed out Scripture. Scripture is not inspiring, but a divine product.

  Breath or spirit in the Bible denotes an active outgoing of divine power (creation, preservation, revelation to and through the prophets, regeneration, or judgment. The New Testament reveals this to be a Person of the Godhead. God's breath (the Holy Spirit) produced Scripture. 

  The truth of Scriptural statements are assumed without question or discussion in either Testament. The canon grew, but the concept was always fully developed and is unchanged.

  God asked Moses to write Scripture in Exodus 34:27 (Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for according to the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”) and Deuteronomy 31:9 (So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.) Acts says God spoke through OT authors, like Acts 4:25 (God,...who by the mouth of Your servant David have said...) and Acts 28:25 (The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying...). Others simple say God speaks, like 1 Corinthians 6:16 (For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”). Matthew 19:4 (citing Gen 2:24), Hebrews 3:7-11 (Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: [Psalm 95]), and Acts 13:34 (Isaiah 55:2). Galatians 3:8 and Romans 9:17 has the Scripture foreseeing events that happened before Scripture was penned.

  The authors contributed historical research, theological meditation, linguistic style, etc, but they contributed nothing theologically. They spoke the words of the Father - Deuteronomy 18:15, 34:10; setting before Israel what the LORD showed them - Jeremiah 1:7, Ezekiel 2:7, Amos 3:7; then Jesus - John 7:16, 12:49. The apostles taught and commanded in Christ's name (2 Thessalonians 3:6: we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ), so claiming his authority and sanction (1 Corinthians 14:37), taught by God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-13, John 16:13), written by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18). The New Testament looks back, Jesus came to fulfill the Law and Prophets. NT writers quoted the Septuagint, Targums, or ad hoc renderings of the Hebrew in an interpretative and expository mode of quotation well known among the Jews. They sought to indicate the true (Christian) meaning and application of their text.

  Inspiration does not mean the human writer was suspended and wrote by mechanical dictation or automatic writing. The Talmud, Philo, and the Fathers have this concept of inspiration, though. 

  It also did not obliterate the personality, style, outlook, and cultural conditioning of his penman, but His control was still perfect. 

  It is not a quality attaching to corruptions that intrude in the course of the transmission of the text, but only to the text as originally produced by the inspired writers. Meticulous textual criticism is urgent to eliminate such corruptions.

  The inspiredness of biblical writing is not to be equated with the inspiredness of great literature. Inspiration relates not to the literary quality but to the divine revelation.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 29-36.)

  The doctrine of biblical inspiration is fully developed only in the NT, but far back in Israel's history, certain writings were recognized as having divine authority and serving as a written rule of faith and practice for God's people. We see the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 24:7), the Book of the Law found by Hilkiah (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34) and read by Ezra (Nehemiah 8:9, 14-17, 10:28-39, 13:1-3), the Pentateuch (Joshua 1:7, 8:31, 23:6-8; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6, 17:37; Hosea 8:12; Daniel 9:11, 13; Ezra 3:2, 4; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2 Chronicles 17:9, 23:18, 30:5, 18, 31:3, 35:26). 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 52-54.)

  ## List

  * The Lens of Infinite Inspiration
  * Plenary Inspiration, Verbal Inspiration


title: Lens of Infinite Inspiration
content:
  ## Game Design: The Lens of Infinite Inspiration

  To use this lens, stop looking at your game and similar games. Look everywhere else.

  * What is an experience I have had in my life that I would want to share with
  others?
  * In what small way can I capture the essence of that experience and put it
  into my game?

  Have an open mind and a big imagination. Search your feelings and observe everything around you. Be willing to try the impossible - for surely it is impossible for a roll of the dice to capture the excitement of a swordfight or for a videogame to make a player afraid of the dark. Find the non-game experiences that will inspire your game. Your choices in the different quadrants of the Elemental Tetrad can each be united by a single inspiration, or each can build on different inspirations and blend them together to create something entirely new. When you have concrete visions based on real life that guide your decision making, your experience will acquire an undeniable power, strength, and uniqueness. 

  Use the Lens of Infinite Inspiration to seek and find beautiful experiences and the Lens of Essential Experience to bring them into your game.

  (The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, 2008. Page 59-60)


title: Plenary Inspiration
content:
  AKA Verbal Inspiration, meaning complete inspiration. Not only the biblical message but also the individual words in which that message was delivered or written down were divinely chosen. This doctrine was stated by Irenaeus in Against All Heresies.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 38, first page Google results)


title: JEDP Theory
content:
  Literary analysis shows that the Pentateuch was not written by one person. Multiple strands of oral and written tradition were woven together to produce the Torah. 

  Briefly stated, the JEDP Source Theory states that the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old testament) was written by a series of authors writing within 4 literary traditions. These traditions are known as J, E, D, and P.

  J (the Jahwist or Jerusalem source) uses YHWH as God's name. This source's interests indicate the writer most likely lived in the southern Kingdom of Judah in the time of the divided Kingdom. The J source is responsible for most of Genesis.

  E (the Elohist or Ephraimitic source) uses Elohim ("God") for the divine name until Exodus 3-6, where YHWH is revealed to Moses and to Israel. This source seems to have lived in the northern Kingdom of Israel during the divided Kingdom. E wrote Genesis 22 (the sacrifice of Isaac) story and other parts of Genesis, and much of Exodus and Numbers.

  J and E were joined fairly early, apparently after the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE. It is often difficult to separate J and E stories that have merged.

  D (the Deuteronomist) wrote almost all of Deuteronomy (and probably also Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings). This source would have lived in the southern Kingdom of Judah because the northern kingdom had been overrun and conquered by the Assyrians. Scholars often associate Deuteronomy with the book found by King Josiah in 622 BCE (see 2 Kings 22), but they believe that the time frame of the actual writing of the D material was written as early as Hezekiah's reform.

  P (the Priestly source) provided the first chapter of Genesis; the book of Leviticus; and other sections with genealogical information, the priesthood, and worship. For a time frame for these writings, scholars view P as containing materials written prior to the Babylonian exile and during the exile, as well as having some materials written after the exile. Therefore, this source would have lived in the southern Kingdom of Judah, in Babylon, and in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

  (https://academic.kellogg.edu/marklinl/Bible/Readings/DocumentaryHypothesis.htm)


title: Doctrine
content:
  ## The Third Chapter: The Doctrine of Truth

  What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect of things which are profitable and necessary and undue concern with those which are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly. 

  Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well. 

  If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations.  

  (The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, 1940. Page 3-4)


title: Period
content:
  Like Age. 

  ## List

  * Chalcolithic Period, Copper Age: mid-5th millennium B.C. and ends with the beginning of the Bronze Age
  * Classical Period: 5th-4th century B.C.
  * Neolithic Period
  * Bronze Age
  * Iron Age
  * Medieval
  * Patristic Period
  * Persian period

  **Fantasy**

  * Age of Legends


title: Age of Legends
content:
  ## Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura 

  A time between 1500 and 2000 years ago. Magick was a much larger part of the world before the mages left for Tulla. It was a time of dragons, knights, and kingdoms, and of the Elven Council.

  (Human Priest in Tarant's Panarii Temple)


title: Chalcolithic
content:
  Chalcolithic period, Copper Age: mid-5th millennium B.C. and ends with the beginning of the Bronze Age


title: Classical Period
content:
  During the classical period (5th-4th centuries B.C.), Greek culture reached its literary and artistic zenith/ Classical (or Attic) Greek was characterized by subtlety of syntax and expressive use of particles. As the city of Athens attained cultural and political control, the Attic dialect gained prestige. With the Macedonian conquests, Attic Greek, combined with influences from other dialects (especially Ionic), became the international language of the eastern Mediterranean area.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 230-231)


title: Persian
content:
  Longhair, Persian Longhair, Shiraz, Shirazi

  ## Persian Period

  The Jews spoke Hebrew, but by the Persian period, Aramaic was the language of international trade due to the Jewish captivity, while Hebrew gradually became confined to the learned and the religious leaders. 

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 227-229)


title: Patristic
content:
  In the patristic period, the inspiration of the Apocrypha of the Greek and Latin Bibles was uncertain. During the Reformation, the church of Rome insisted the Apocrypha was Old Testament, while the Protestant churches deny it. The Church of England includes it in its lectionary (example of life but not to establish doctrine). The Eastern Orthodox Church was divided but has recently tended more to the Protestant side.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 52.)


title: Reformation
content:
  Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers did not exalt the authority and infallibility of Scripture because the Roman Catholic Church already accepted it. They tried to combat Catholic exaltation of tradition to a status equal or superior to Scripture. Their successors did explicitly state the authority and infallibility, though.

  After the Reformation, rationalism arose.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 43.)

  In the patristic period, the inspiration of the Apocrypha of the Greek and Latin Bibles was uncertain. During the Reformation, the church of Rome insisted the Apocrypha was Old Testament, while the Protestant churches deny it. The Church of England includes it in its lectionary (example of life but not to establish doctrine). The Eastern Orthodox Church was divided but has recently tended more to the Protestant side.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 51-52.)


title: Rationalism
content:
  After the Reformation, rationalism arose in the 18th century. It was characterized by an optimistic confidence in critical human reason and a disdain for supernatural influences in human affairs. They made the first serious claims that the Bible was like any other human book and was fallible, leading to misunderstandings, falsifications of the nature and content of Scripture.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 43.)


title: Oral Tradition
content:
  Oral tradition was unreliable, so Scripture was often written to preserve it for the future as a memorial (Exodus 17:14) or a witness (Deuteronomy 31:24-26). that it might be there for the time to come (Isaiah 30:8). The Book of Law was lost, after all, during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon. When Hilkiah rediscovered it, its teaching came as a great shock, for it had been forgotten. (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34)


title: pasa graphe
content:
  This is important to understanding 2 Timothy 3:16:  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

  Scripture = Graphe. So pasa is either "the whole Scripture" or "every text." You must also determine whether you follow the RSV or RV in construing the sentence. RV has "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable."

  Note it is not the idea of Scripture but the product itself that is inspired. Man is the secondary author, and God the Holy Spirit is the first. Prophets' revelation was verbal, even when it was visual, and they repeat the words of God as they have received them.

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Pages 29-31.)


title: Synod
content:
  an assembly of the clergy and sometimes also the laity in a diocese or other division of a particular Church.


title: Westminster Confession of Faith
content:
  A Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminister Assembly as part of the Westminister Standards to be a confession of the Church of England. 

  Doctrines of the Trinity, Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, the Pope is the Antichrist, Catholic mass is a form of idolatry.

  (Origin of the Bible handout by Margaret Ames, February 8, 2023. Page 6.)


title: Copula
content:
  a connecting word, in particular a form of the verb be connecting a subject and complement.

  For evangelical orthodoxy, if God's revelational disclosure to chosen prophets and apostles is to be considered meaningful and true, it must be given not merely in isolated concepts capable of diverse meanings but in sentences or propositions. A proposition--a subject, predicate, and connecting verb (copula)--constitutes the minimal logical unit of intelligible communication. "Thus saith the Lord," "But I say unto you."

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 19.)


title: Inimical
content:
  tending to obstruct or harm.

  unfriendly; hostile.

  Some conservative scholars have repudiated all historical criticism as inimical to biblical authority and distinguished "true" from false Christians on the basis of subscription to "biblical inerrancy." (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 20.)


title: Plenary
content:
  (of a meeting) to be attended by all participants at a conference or assembly, who otherwise meet in smaller groups.

  unqualified; absolute.

  a meeting or session attended by all participants at a conference or assembly.

  If one accepts "plenary" divine inspiratiion of Scripture--that is, God's superintendence of the whole--the doctrine of biblical authority doubtless implies "inerrancy" of the content. 

  J. Gresham Machen wrote that the doctrine of plenary inspiration is "denied not only by liberal opponents of Christianity, but also by many true Christian men...many men in the modern church...who accept the central message of the Bible and yet believe that the message has come to us merely on the authority of trustworthy witnesses unaided in their literary work by a supernatural guidance of the Spirit of God. There are many who believe that the Bible is right at the central point, in its account of the redeeming work of Christ, and yet believe that it contains many errors. Such men are not really liberals, but Christians, because they have accepted as true the message upon which Christianity depends." (Christianity and Liberalism, 75.)

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 20-21.)


title: Theopneusty
content:
  the force or process of divine inspiration; the power by which the Holy Spirit reveals truth to men. 

  Lutheran theologian Francis Pieper directly connected the authority of the Bible with its inspiration: "The divine authority of Scripture rests solely on its nature, on its theopneusty."

  (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 22.)


title: Watershed Issue
content:
  If something such as an event is a watershed in the history or development of something, it is very important because it represents the beginning of a new stage in it. Synonym: turning point, defining moment, pivotal moment, tipping point. (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/watershed)

  An event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments depend. A watershed is a turning point, or historic moment. (first page Google results)

  Even the word watershed needs clarification. What I mean is this: In a mountain range, there is a crest from which all the rain, or all the melting snow, flows irreversibly toward one ocean or the other. As the water flows, it may have many twists and turns, but the ocean to which it is flowing was decided way upstream — at the watershed.

  A watershed issue is like that. When the human mind and heart approach a watershed issue, the direction of the mind and heart on that issue sets in motion a way of thinking and feeling that may have many ambiguous twists and turns, but lead toward one ocean or the other.

  Not every issue is a watershed issue. People may hold differing positions on some issues, and not find themselves streaming farther and farther away from each other toward different oceans. But a watershed issue is so pivotal, so formative, so pervasively influential that, even when the surrounding terrain looks similar, the rivers are flowing apart. 

  (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-watershed-issue-in-every-generation)


title: Tombstone
content:
  Books are as tombstones made by the living for the living, but destined soon only to remind us of the dead. The preface, like an epitaph, seems vainly to "implore the passing tribute" of a moment's interest. No man is allured by either a grave-inscription or a preface, unless it be accompanied by that ineffable charm which age casts over mortal productions. Libraries, in one sense, represent cemeteries, and the rows of silent volumes, with their dim titles, suggest burial tablets, many of which, alas! mark only cenotaphs—empty tombs. A modern book, no matter how talented the author, carries with it a [Pg iv]familiar personality which may often be treated with neglect or even contempt, but a volume a century old demands some reverence; a vellum-bound or hog-skin print, or antique yellow parchment, two, three, five hundred years old, regardless of its contents, impresses one with an indescribable feeling akin to awe and veneration,—as does the wheat from an Egyptian tomb, even though it be only wheat. We take such a work from the shelf carefully, and replace it gently. While the productions of modern writers are handled familiarly, as men living jostle men yet alive; those of authors long dead are touched as tho' clutched by a hand from the unseen world; the reader feels that a phantom form opposes his own, and that spectral eyes scan the pages as he turns them.

  The stern face, the penetrating eye of the personage whose likeness forms the frontispiece of the yellowed volume in my hand, speak across the gulf of two centuries, and bid me beware. The title page is read with reverence, and the great tome is replaced with care, for an almost superstitious sensation bids me be cautious and not offend. Let those who presume to criticise the intellectual productions of such men be careful; in a few days the dead will face their censors—dead.

  "THE STERN FACE, ... ACROSS THE GULF."

  Standing in a library of antiquated works, one senses the shadows of a cemetery. Each volume adds to the oppression, each old tome casts the influence of its spirit over the beholder, for have not these old books spirits? The earth-grave covers the mind as well as the body of its moldering occupant, and while[Pg v] only a strong imagination can assume that a spirit hovers over and lingers around inanimate clay, here each title is a voice that speaks as though the heart of its creator still throbbed, the mind essence of the dead writer envelops the living reader. Take down that vellum-bound volume,—it was written in one of the centuries long past. The pleasant face of its creator, as fresh as if but a print of yesterday, smiles upon you from the exquisitely engraved copper-plate frontispiece; the mind of the author rises from out the words before you. This man is not dead and his comrades live. Turn to the shelves about, before each book stands a guardian spirit,—together they form a phantom army that, invisible to mortals, encircles the beholder.

  "THE PLEASANT FACE OF ITS CREATOR ... SMILES UPON YOU."

  Ah! this antique library is not as is a church graveyard, only a cemetery for the dead; it is also a mansion for the living. These alcoves are trysting places for elemental shades. Essences of disenthralled minds meet here and revel. Thoughts of the past take shape and live in this atmosphere,—who can say that pulsations unperceived, beyond the reach of physics or of chemistry, are not as ethereal mind-seeds which, although unseen, yet, in living brain, exposed to such an atmosphere as this, formulate embryotic[Pg vi] thought-expressions destined to become energetic intellectual forces? I sit in such a weird library and meditate. The shades of grim authors whisper in my ear, skeleton forms oppose my own, and phantoms possess the gloomy alcoves of the library I am building.

  With the object of carrying to the future a section of thought current from the past, the antiquarian libraries of many nations have been culled, and purchases made in every book market of the world. These books surround me. Naturally many persons have become interested in the movement, and, considering it a worthy one, unite to further the project, for the purpose is not personal gain. Thus it is not unusual for boxes of old chemical or pharmacal volumes to arrive by freight or express, without a word as to the donor. The mail brings manuscripts unprinted, and pamphlets recondite, with no word of introduction. They come unheralded. The authors or the senders realize that in this unique library a place is vacant if any work on connected subjects is missing, and thinking men of the world are uniting their contributions to fill such vacancies.

  Enough has been said concerning the ancient library that has bred these reflections, and my own personality does not concern the reader. He can now formulate his conclusions as well perhaps as I, regarding the origin of the manuscript that is to follow, if he concerns himself at all over subjects mysterious or historical, and[Pg vii] my connection therewith is of minor importance. Whether Mr. Drury brought the strange paper in person, or sent it by express or mail,—whether it was slipped into a box of books from foreign lands, or whether my hand held the pen that made the record,—whether I stood face to face with Mr. Drury in the shadows of this room, or have but a fanciful conception of his figure,—whether the artist drew upon his imagination for the vivid likeness of the several personages figured in the book that follows, or from reliable data has given fac-similes authentic,—is immaterial. Sufficient be it to say that the manuscript of this book has been in my possession for a period of seven years, and my lips must now be sealed concerning all that transpired in connection therewith outside the subject-matter recorded therein. And yet I can not deny that for these seven years I have hesitated concerning my proper course, and more than once have decided to cover from sight the fascinating leaflets, hide them among surrounding volumes, and let them slumber until chance should bring them to the attention of the future student.

  These thoughts rise before me this gloomy day of December, 1894, as, snatching a moment from the exactions of business, I sit among these old volumes devoted to science-lore, and again study over the unique manuscript, and meditate; I hesitate again: Shall I, or shall I not?—but a duty is a duty. Perhaps the mysterious part of the subject will be cleared to me only when my own thought-words come to rest among these venerable relics of the past—when books that I have written become companions of ancient works about me—for then I can claim relationship with the shadows that flit in and out, and can demand that they, the ghosts of the library, commune with the shade that guards the book that holds this preface.

  JOHN URI LLOYD.

  (Etidorhpa)


title: Etidorhpa
content:
  Etidorhpa, or, the end of the earth: the strange history of a mysterious being and the account of a remarkable journey AS COMMUNICATED IN MANUSCRIPT TO LLEWELLYN DRURY WHO PROMISED TO PRINT THE SAME, BUT FINALLY EVADED THE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH WAS ASSUMED BY JOHN URI LLOYD WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. AUGUSTUS KNAPP (1895)

  The book is dictated by I-Am-The-Man, The-Man-Who-Did-It to Llewyllyn Drury. The manuscript describes I-Am-The-Man being kidnapped by a secret society while penning their secrets to publish before the public and sentenced to immortality. He was accompanied by a mind-reading young-old adept until passed to a singular looking being to guide him into the 'Unknown Country' deep in the cave system of rural Kentucky.

  ## List

  * Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus
  * Undeveloped senses
  * Time...should be pictured as a ministering angel
  * I carry my magnet in my mind
  * Narrows in Science

  (Etidorhpa - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37775/37775-h/37775-h.htm)


title: Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus
content:
  Rising suddenly from my chair, without a conscious effort I walked mechanically to a book-case, seized a volume at random, reseated myself before the fire, and opened the book. It proved to be an odd, neglected volume, "Riley's Dictionary of Latin Quotations." At the moment there flashed upon me a conscious duality of existence. Had the old book some mesmeric power? I seemed to myself two persons, and I quickly said aloud, as if addressing my double: "If I can not quiet you, turbulent Spirit, I can at least adapt myself to your condition. I will read this book haphazard from bottom to top, or backward, if necessary, and if this does not change the subject often enough, I will try Noah Webster." Opening the book mechanically at page 297, I glanced at the bottom line and read, "Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus" (Never less alone than when alone). These words arrested my thoughts at once, as, by a singular chance, they seemed to fit my mood; was it or was it not some conscious invisible intelligence that caused me to select that page, and brought the apothegm to my notice?

  Again, like a flash, came the consciousness of duality, and I began to argue with my other self. "This is arrant nonsense,"[Pg 6] I cried aloud; "even though Cicero did say it, and, it is on a par with many other delusive maxims that have for so many years embittered the existence of our modern youth by misleading thought. Do you know, Mr. Cicero, that this statement is not sound? That it is unworthy the position you occupy in history as a thinker and philosopher? That it is a contradiction in itself, for if a man is alone he is alone, and that settles it?"

  I mused in this vein a few moments, and then resumed aloud: "It won't do, it won't do; if one is alone—the word is absolute,—he is single, isolated, in short, alone; and there can by no manner of possibility be any one else present. Take myself, for instance: I am the sole occupant of this apartment; I am alone, and yet you say in so many words that I was never less alone than at this instant." It was not without some misgiving that I uttered these words, for the strange consciousness of my own duality constantly grew stronger, and I could not shake off the reflection that even now there were two of myself in the room, and that I was not so much alone as I endeavored to convince myself.

  This feeling oppressed me like an incubus; I must throw it off, and, rising, I tossed the book upon the table, exclaiming: "What folly! I am alone,—positively there is no other living thing visible or invisible in the room." I hesitated as I spoke, for the strange, undefined sensation that I was not alone had become almost a conviction; but the sound of my voice encouraged me, and I determined to discuss the subject, and I remarked in a full, strong voice: "I am surely alone; I know I am! Why, I will wager everything I possess, even to my soul, that I am alone." I stood facing the smoldering embers of the fire which I had neglected to replenish, uttering these words to settle the controversy for good and all with one person of my dual self, but the other ego seemed to dissent violently, when a soft, clear voice claimed my ear:

  "You have lost your wager; you are not alone."

  (Etidorhpa)


title: Undeveloped Senses
content:
  His accomplishments, for the methods of his perception were unaccompanied by any endeavor to draw me into word expression, made me aware at least, that, in him, I had to deal with a man unquestionably possessed of more than ordinary intellect and education, and as this conviction entered my mind he changed his subject and promptly answered the silent inquiry, speaking as follows:

  "Have you not sometimes felt that in yourself there may exist undeveloped senses that await an awakening touch to open to yourself a new world, senses that may be fully developed, but which saturate each other and neutralize themselves; quiescent, closed circles which you can not reach, satisfied circuits slumbering within your body and that defy your efforts to utilize them? In your dreams have you not seen sights that words are inadequate to describe, that your faculties can not retain in waking moments, and which dissolve into intangible nothingness, leaving only a vague, shadowy outline as the mind quickens, or rather when the senses that possess you in sleep relinquish the body to the returning vital functions and spirit? This unconscious conception of other planes, a beyond or betwixt, that is neither mental nor material, neither here nor located elsewhere, belongs to humanity in general, and is made evident from the unsatiable desire of men to pry into phenomena latent or recondite that offer no apparent return to humanity. This desire has[Pg 65] given men the knowledge they now possess of the sciences; sciences yet in their infancy. Study in this direction is, at present, altogether of the material plane, but in time to come, men will gain control of outlying senses which will enable them to step from the seen into the consideration of matter or force that is now subtle and evasive, which must be accomplished by means of the latent faculties that I have indicated. There will be an unconscious development of new mind-forces in the student of nature as the rudiments of these so-called sciences are elaborated. Step by step, as the ages pass, the faculties of men will, under progressive series of evolutions, imperceptibly pass into higher phases until that which is even now possible with some individuals of the purified esoteric school, but which would seem miraculous if practiced openly at this day, will prove feasible to humanity generally and be found in exact accord with natural laws. The conversational method of men, whereby communion between human beings is carried on by disturbing the air by means of vocal organs so as to produce mechanical pulsations of that medium, is crude in the extreme. Mind craves to meet mind, but can not yet thrust matter aside, and in order to communicate one with another, the impression one mind wishes to convey to another must be first made on the brain matter that accompanies it, which in turn influences the organs of speech, inducing a disturbance of the air by the motions of the vocal organs, which, by undulations that reach to another being, act on his ear, and secondarily on the earthly matter of his brain, and finally by this roundabout course, impress the second being's mind. In this transmission of motions there is great waste of energy and loss of time, but such methods are a necessity of the present slow, much-obstructed method of communication. There is, in cultivated man, an innate craving for something more facile, and often a partly developed conception, spectral and vague, appears, and the being feels that there may be for mortals a richer, brighter life, a higher earthly existence that science does not now indicate. Such intimation of a deeper play of faculties is now most vivid with men during the perfect loss of mental self as experienced in dreams, which as yet man in the quick can not grasp, and which fade as he awakens. As mental sciences are developed, investigators will find that the[Pg 66] medium known as air is unnecessary as a means of conveying mind conceptions from one person to another; that material sounds and word pulsations are cumbersome; that thought force unexpressed may be used to accomplish more than speech can do, and that physical exertions as exemplified in motion of matter such as I have described will be unnecessary for mental communication. As door after door in these directions shall open before men, mystery after mystery will be disclosed, and vanish as mysteries to reappear as simple facts. Phenomena that are impossible and unrevealed to the scientist of to-day will be familiar to the coming multitude, and at last, as by degrees, clearer knowledge is evolved, the vocal language of men will disappear, and humanity, regardless of nationality, will, in silence and even in darkness, converse eloquently together in mind language. That which is now esoteric will become exoteric. Then mind will meet mind as my mind now impinges on your own, and, in reply to your unuttered question regarding my apparently unaccountable powers of perception, I say they are perfectly natural, but while I can read your thoughts, because of the fact that you can not reciprocate in this direction, I must use my voice to impress your mind. You will know more of this, however, at a future day, for it has been ordained that you are to be educated with an object that is now concealed. At present you are interested mainly in the affairs of life as you know them, and can not enter into these purer spheres. We are approaching one of your former friends, and it may be your pleasure to ask him some questions and to bid him farewell."

  (Etidorhpa)


title: Ministering Angel
content:
  Wherever we stopped, I heard my name mentioned. Men combined against men, brother was declaiming against brother, neighbor was against neighbor, everywhere suspicion was in the air.

  "The passage of time alone can quiet these people," said I.

  "The usual conception of the term Time—an indescribable something flowing at a constant rate—is erroneous," replied my comrade. "Time is humanity's best friend, and should be pictured as a ministering angel, instead of a skeleton with hour-glass and scythe. Time does not fly, but is permanent and quiescent, while restless, force-impelled matter rushes onward. Force and matter fly; Time reposes. At our birth we are wound up like a machine, to move for a certain number of years, grating against Time. We grind against that complacent spirit, and wear not Time but ourselves away. We hold within ourselves a certain amount of energy, which, an evanescent form of matter, is the opponent of Time. Time has no existence with inanimate objects. It is a conception of the human intellect. Time is rest, perfect rest, tranquillity such as man never realizes unless he becomes a part of the sweet silences toward which human life and human mind are drifting. So much for Time. Now for Life. Disturbed energy in one of its forms, we call Life; and this Life is the great enemy of peace, the opponent of steadfast perfection. Pure energy, the soul of the universe, permeates all things with which man is now acquainted, but when at rest is imperceptible to man, while disturbed energy, according to its condition, is apparent either as matter or as force. A substance or material body is a manifestation resulting from a disturbance of energy. The agitating cause removed, the manifestations disappear, and thus a universe may be extinguished, without unbalancing the cosmos that remains. The worlds known to man are conditions of abnormal energy moving on separate planes through what men call space. They attract to themselves bodies of similar description, and thus influence one another—they have each a separate existence, and are swayed to and fro under the influence[Pg 76] of the various disturbances in energy common to their rank or order, which we call forms of forces. Unsettled energy also assumes numerous other expressions that are unknown to man, but which in all perceptible forms is characterized by motion. Pure energy can not be appreciated by the minds of mortals. There are invisible worlds besides those perceived by us in our planetary system, unreachable centers of ethereal structure about us that stand in a higher plane of development than earthly matter which is a gross form of disturbed energy. There are also lower planes. Man's acquaintance with the forms of energy is the result of his power of perceiving the forms of matter of which he is a part. Heat, light, gravitation, electricity and magnetism are ever present in all perceivable substances, and, although purer than earth, they are still manifestations of absolute energy, and for this reason are sensible to men, but more evanescent than material bodies. Perhaps you can conceive that if these disturbances could be removed, matter or force would be resolved back into pure energy, and would vanish. Such a dissociation is an ethereal existence, and as pure energy the life spirit of all material things is neither cold nor hot, heavy nor light, solid, liquid nor gaseous—men can not, as mortals now exist, see, feel, smell, taste, or even conceive of it. It moves through space as we do through it, a world of itself as transparent to matter as matter is to it, insensible but ever present, a reality to higher existences that rest in other planes, but not to us an essence subject to scientific test, nor an entity. Of these problems and their connection with others in the unseen depths beyond, you are not yet in a position properly to judge, but before many years a new sense will be given you or a development of latent senses by the removal of those more gross, and a partial insight into an unsuspected unseen, into a realm to you at present unknown.

  "It has been ordained that a select few must from time to time pass over the threshold that divides a mortal's present life from the future, and your lot has been cast among the favored ones. It is or should be deemed a privilege to be permitted to pass farther than human philosophy has yet gone, into an investigation of the problems of life; this I say to encourage you. We have in our order a handful of persons who have received the[Pg 77] accumulated fruits of the close attention others have given to these subjects which have been handed to them by the generations of men who have preceded. You are destined to become as they are. This study of semi-occult forces has enabled those selected for the work to master some of the concealed truths of being, and by the partial development of a new sense or new senses, partly to triumph over death. These facts are hidden from ordinary man, and from the earth-bound workers of our brotherhood, who can not even interpret the words they learn. The methods by which they are elucidated have been locked from man because the world is not prepared to receive them, selfishness being the ruling passion of debased mankind, and publicity, until the chain of evidence is more complete, would embarrass their further evolutions, for man as yet lives on the selfish plane."

  "Do you mean that, among men, there are a few persons possessed of powers such as you have mentioned?"

  "Yes; they move here and there through all orders of society, and their attainments are unknown, except to one another, or, at most, to but few persons. These adepts are scientific men, and may not even be recognized as members of our organization; indeed it is often necessary, for obvious reasons, that they should not be known as such. These studies must constantly be prosecuted in various directions, and some monitors must teach others to perform certain duties that are necessary to the grand evolution. Hence, when a man has become one of our brotherhood, from the promptings that made you one of us, and has been as ready and determined to instruct outsiders in our work as you have been, it is proper that he should in turn be compelled to serve our people, and eventually, mankind."

  "Am I to infer from this," I exclaimed, a sudden light breaking upon me, "that the alchemistic manuscript that led me to the fraternity to which you are related may have been artfully designed to serve the interest of that organization?" To this question I received no reply. After an interval, I again sought information concerning the order, and with more success.

  "I understand that you propose that I shall go on a journey of investigation for the good of our order and also of humanity."

  "True; it is necessary that our discoveries be kept alive, and it is essential that the men who do this work accept the trust of[Pg 78] their own accord. He who will not consent to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, must be deemed a drone in the hive of nature—but few persons, however, are called upon to serve as you must serve. Men are scattered over the world with this object in view, and are unknown to their families or even to other members of the order; they hold in solemn trust our sacred revelations, and impart them to others as is ordained, and thus nothing perishes; eventually humanity will profit.

  "Others, as you soon will be doing, are now exploring assigned sections of this illimitable field, accumulating further knowledge, and they will report results to those whose duty it is to retain and formulate the collected sum of facts and principles. So it is that, unknown to the great body of our brotherhood, a chosen number, under our esoteric teachings, are gradually passing the dividing line that separates life from death, matter from spirit, for we have members who have mastered these problems. We ask, however, no aid of evil forces or of necromancy or black art, and your study of alchemy was of no avail, although to save the vital truths alchemy is a part of our work. We proceed in exact accordance with natural laws, which will yet be known to all men. Sorrow, suffering, pain of all descriptions, are enemies to the members of our order, as they are to mankind broadly, and we hope in the future so to control the now hidden secrets of Nature as to be able to govern the antagonistic disturbances in energy with which man now is everywhere thwarted, to subdue the physical enemies of the race, to affiliate religious and scientific thought, cultivating brotherly love, the foundation and capstone, the cement and union of this ancient fraternity."

  "And am I really to take an important part in this scheme? Have I been set apart to explore a section of the unknown for a bit of hidden knowledge, and to return again?"

  "This I will say," he answered, evading a direct reply, "you have been selected for a part that one in a thousand has been required to undertake. You are to pass into a field that will carry you beyond the present limits of human observation. This much I have been instructed to impart to you in order to nerve you for your duty. I seem to be a young man; really I am aged. You seem to be infirm and old, but you are young.[Pg 79] Many years ago, cycles ago as men record time, I was promoted to do a certain work because of my zealous nature; like you, I also had to do penance for an error. I disappeared, as you are destined to do, from the sight of men. I regained my youth; yours has been lost forever, but you will regain more than your former strength. We shall both exist after this generation of men has passed away, and shall mingle with generations yet to be born, for we shall learn how to restore our youthful vigor, and will supply it time and again to earthly matter. Rest assured also that the object of our labors is of the most laudable nature, and we must be upheld under all difficulties by the fact that multitudes of men who are yet to come will be benefited thereby."

  (Etidorhpa)


title: I carry my magnet in my mind
content:
  My companion was guided by a perceptive faculty that, like the compass, enabled him to keep in the proper course. He did not question those whom we met, and made no endeavor to maintain a given direction; and yet he was traveling in a part of the country that was new to himself. I marveled at the accuracy of his intuitive perception, for he seemed never to be at fault. When the road forked, he turned to the right or the left in a perfectly careless manner, but the continuity of his course was never interrupted. I began mentally to question whether he could be guiding us aright, forgetting that he was reading my thoughts, and he answered: "There is nothing strange in this self-directive faculty. Is not man capable of following where animals lead? One of the objects of my special study has been to ascertain the nature of the instinct-power of animals, the sagacity of brutes. The carrier pigeon will fly to its cote across hundreds of miles of strange country. The young pig will often return to its pen by a route unknown to it; the sluggish tortoise will find its home without a guide, without seeing a familiar object; cats, horses and other animals possess this power, which is not an unexplainable instinct, but a natural sense better developed in some of the lower creatures than it is in man. The power lies dormant in man, but exists, nevertheless. If we develop one faculty we lose acuteness in some other power. Men have lost in mental development in this particular direction while seeking to gain in others. If there were no record of the fact that light brings objects to the recognition of the mind through the agency of the eye, the sense of sight in an animal would be considered by men devoid of it as adaptability to extraordinary circumstances, or instinct. So it is that animals often see clearly where to the sense of man there is only darkness;[Pg 81] such sight is not irresponsive action without consciousness of a purpose. Man is not very magnanimous. Instead of giving credit to the lower animals for superior perception in many directions, he denies to them the conscious possession of powers imperfectly developed in mankind. We egotistically aim to raise ourselves, and do so in our own estimation by clothing the actions of the lower animals in a garment of irresponsibility. Because we can not understand the inwardness of their power, we assert that they act by the influence of instinct. The term instinct, as I would define it, is an expression applied by men to a series of senses which man possesses, but has not developed. The word is used by man to characterize the mental superiority of other animals in certain directions where his own senses are defective. Instead of crediting animals with these, to them, invaluable faculties, man conceitedly says they are involuntary actions. Ignorant of their mental status, man is too arrogant to admit that lower animals are superior to him in any way. But we are not consistent. Is it not true that in the direction in which you question my power, some men by cultivation often become expert beyond their fellows? and such men have also given very little systematic study to subjects connected with these undeniable mental qualities. The hunter will hold his course in utter darkness, passing inequalities in the ground, and avoiding obstructions he can not see. The fact of his superiority in this way, over others, is not questioned, although he can not explain his methods nor understand how he operates. His quickened sense is often as much entitled to be called instinct as is the divining power of the carrier pigeon. If scholars would cease to devote their entire energies to the development of the material, artistic, or scientific part of modern civilization, and turn their attention to other forms of mental culture, many beauties and powers of Nature now unknown would be revealed. However, this can not be, for under existing conditions, the strife for food and warmth is the most important struggle that engages mankind, and controls our actions. In a time that is surely to come, however, when the knowledge of all men is united into a comprehensive whole, the book of life, illuminated thereby, will contain many beautiful pages that may be easily read, but which are now not suspected to exist. The power of the magnet is not uniform—engineers[Pg 82] know that the needle of the compass inexplicably deviates from time to time as a line is run over the earth's surface, but they also know that aberrations of the needle finally correct themselves. The temporary variations of a few degrees that occur in the running of a compass line are usually overcome after a time, and without a change of course, the disturbed needle swerves back, and again points to the calculated direction, as is shown by the vernier. Should I err in my course, it would be by a trifle only, and we could not go far astray before I would unconsciously discover the true path. I carry my magnet in my mind."

  (Etidorhpa)


title: Narrows in Science
content:
  VITALIZED DARKNESS.—THE NARROWS IN SCIENCE.

  "In studying any branch of science men begin and end with an unknown. The chemist accepts as data such conditions of matter as he finds about him, and connects ponderable matter with the displays of energy that have impressed his senses, building therefrom a span of theoretical science, but he can not formulate as yet an explanation regarding the origin or the end of either mind, matter, or energy. The piers supporting his fabric stand in a profound invisible gulf, into which even his imagination can not look to form a theory concerning basic formations—corner-stones.

  "The geologist, in a like manner, grasps feebly the lessons left in the superficial fragments of earth strata, impressions that remain to bear imperfect record of a few of the disturbances that have affected the earth's crust, and he endeavors to formulate a story of the world's life, but he is neither able to antedate the records shown by the meager testimony at his command, scraps of a leaf out of God's great book of history, nor to anticipate coming events. The birth, as well as the death, of this planet is beyond his page.

  "The astronomer directs his telescope to the heavens, records the position of the planets, and hopes to discover the influences worlds exert upon one another. He explores space to obtain data to enable him to delineate a map of the visible solar universe, but the instruments he has at command are so imperfect, and mind is so feeble that, like mockery seems his attempt to study behind the facts connected with the motions and conditions of the nearest heavenly bodies, and he can not offer an explanation of the beginning or cessation of their movements. He can neither account for their existence, nor foretell their end."

  "Are you not mistaken?" I interrupted; "does not the astronomer foretell eclipses, and calculate the orbits of the[Pg 110] planets, and has he not verified predictions concerning their several motions?"

  "Yes; but this is simply a study of passing events. The astronomer is no more capable of grasping an idea that reaches into an explanation of the origin of motion, than the chemist or physicist, from exact scientific data, can account for the creation of matter. Give him any amount of material at rest, and he can not conceive of any method by which motion can disturb any part of it, unless such motion be mass motion communicated from without, or molecular motion, already existing within. He accounts for the phases of present motion in heavenly bodies, not for the primal cause of the actual movements or intrinsic properties they possess. He can neither originate a theory that will permit of motion creating itself, and imparting itself to quiescent matter, nor imagine how an atom of quiescent matter can be moved, unless motion from without be communicated thereto. The astronomer, I assert, can neither from any data at his command postulate nor prove the beginning nor the end of the reverberating motion that exists in his solar system, which is itself the fragment of a system that is circulating and revolving in and about itself, and in which, since the birth of man, the universe he knows has not passed the first milestone in the road that universe is traveling in space immensity.

  "The mathematician starts a line from an imaginary point that he informs us exists theoretically without occupying any space, which is a contradiction of terms according to his human acceptation of knowledge derived from scientific experiment, if science is based on verified facts. He assumes that straight lines exist, which is a necessity for his calculation; but such a line he has never made. Even the beam of sunshine, radiating through a clear atmosphere or a cloud bank, widens and contracts again as it progresses through the various mediums of air and vapor currents, and if it is ever spreading and deflecting can it be straight? He begins his study in the unknown, it ends with the unknowable.

  "The biologist can conceive of no rational, scientific beginning to life of plant or animal, and men of science must admit the fact. Whenever we turn our attention to nature's laws and nature's substance, we find man surrounded by the infinity that[Pg 111] obscures the origin and covers the end. But perseverance, study of nature's forces, and comparison of the past with the present, will yet clarify human knowledge and make plain much of this seemingly mysterious, but never will man reach the beginning or the end. The course of human education, to this day, has been mostly materialistic, although, together with the study of matter, there has been more or less attention given to its moving spirit. Newton was the dividing light in scientific thought; he stepped between the reasonings of the past and the provings of the present, and introduced problems that gave birth to a new scientific tendency, a change from the study of matter from the material side to that of force and matter, but his thought has since been carried out in a mode too realistic by far. The study of material bodies has given way, it is true, in a few cases to the study of the spirit of matter, and evolution is beginning to teach men that matter is crude. As a result, thought will in its sequence yet show that modifications of energy expression are paramount. This work is not lost, however, for the consideration of the nature of sensible material, is preliminary and necessary to progression (as the life of the savage prepares the way for that of the cultivated student), and is a meager and primitive child's effort, compared with the richness of the study in unseen energy expressions that are linked with matter, of which men will yet learn."

  (Etidorhpa)


title: John Uri Lloyd
content:
  Leader of the eclectic medicine movement who was influential in the development of pharmacognosy, ethnobotany, economic botany, and herbalism.

  He also wrote novels set in northern Kentucky. His most popular novel was the science fiction or allegorical Etidorhpa, or, the end of the earth: the strange history of a mysterious being and the account of a remarkable journey (1895). First distributed privately, it was later illustrated and printed in eighteen editions. Translated into seven languages, it was widely read in Europe as well as the United States. 

  (wikipedia)


title: Asbury
content:
  The Asbury Revival broke out February 2023 after a mandatory sermon at Asbury University on Romans 12. No one came forward at the end, but students stayed behind to pray until revival broke out, bringing a continuous 10,000 worshipers into a city of 6,000. There was a 1/2 mile long line to get into the chapel, so people came from out-of-state to watch simulcasts outside. The Salvation Army fed them, as well as lots of sporadic catering. 

  Asbury University is nondenominational but associated with the Wesleyan and Holiness church. 

  (articles from Feb-Mar 2023)


title: Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking
content:
  Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking is a book written by Christopher Hadnagy, published by Wiley Publishing in 2011

  **Concepts**

  * 419 Scam
  * Dalai Lama
  * DarkMarket
  * Disgruntled Employee
  * Doctor
  * Elicitation
  * Executive Recruiter
  * FBI
  * Government
  * Hacker
  * Identity Theft
  * Identity Thief
  * Information Gathering
  * Lawyer
  * Nigerian Scam
  * Penetration Tester
  * Psychologist
  * Salesperson
  * Scam
  * Scam Artist
  * Scarcity
  * Security
  * Social Engineer
  * Social Engineering
  * South Africa
  * Spy
  * The Real Hustle

  **People**

  * Dr. Paul Ekman
  * J. Keith Mulaski


  (Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking by Christopher Hadnagy, 2011)


title: Heart of Darkness
content:
  A novella by Polish-English Novelist Joseph Conrad about a narrated voyage up the Congo River into the Congo Free State in the heart of Africa.

  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Darkness)

  Heart of Darkness is a story within a story. Marlow is aboard a boat with a crew on the River Thames and tells the story of Kurtz as a comparison of "the greatest town on earth," London, and Africa as places of darkness. 

  Conrad uses his stand-in of Charles Marlow to gradually introduce the first-class agent, very remarkable person, and mad Kurtz through grandiose and conflicting rumors as he makes his way up the Congo River into the Congo Free State. His company are ivory traders who seek to dig up the ivory tusks buried by savages. He travels with a crew of African cannibals, encounters the Africans working with other groups from the Company, and struggles against other tribes in the wilds. The main themes of imperialism and racism are explored. The world is mad and degrees of madness (carrying a bucket of water with a hole in it to put out a building that is already burned beyond saving compared to Kurtz approaching the savages as a god-like figure and returning to his cabin which is fenced-in with heads upon pikes) are viewed as about the same. 

  The Africans are referred to as "savages" and are dehumanized with frequent descriptions of their bizarre diet (humans and a hunk of rotting hippopotamus), their superstitions (explaining the boiler as a thirsty evil spirit), and frequent inhuman broad descriptions of them throughout the book as "black shadows of disease and starvation" or "black shapes," or "black bones" worked to death and hidden away to die.

  Kurtz is in charge of a trading post and left loyal fanatical disciples down the Congo, but the Company turns on him over his openness with his approach of suppression (an unsound method). When Marlow finally reaches him, he is at death's door. When his face changed to a deathly expression of somber, pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror--of an intense and hopeless despair, he seemed to relived his life in a moment then summarize and judge in a few final words: "The horror! The horror!" When his close friends came, one after the other, to meet Marlow, they each gave a wildly unfamiliar account to Marlow from the Kurtz he knew. He finally came to find Kurtz's fiance who was still mourning deeply a year after Kurtz's death. When desperate for his final words, Marlow lied and said her name was upon his dying lips. She was so certain that had been the case and cried. 


title: Magic
content:
  ## G. K. Chesterton's Play (1913)

  But it wasn't long before the spirits with whom I had been playing at table-turning, did what I think they generally do at the end of all such table-turning.

  Patricia. What did they do?

  Conjurer. They turned the tables. They turned the tables upon me. I don't wonder at your believing in fairies. As long as these things were my servants they seemed to me like fairies. When they tried to be my masters.... I found they were not fairies. I found the spirits with whom I at least had come in contact were evil ... awfully, unnaturally evil.

  Patricia. Did they say so?

  Conjurer. Don't talk of what they said. I was a loose fellow, but I had not fallen so low as such things. I resisted them; and after a pretty bad time, psychologically speaking, I cut the connexion. But they were always tempting me to use the supernatural power I had got from them. It was not very great, but it was enough to move things about, to alter lights, and so on. I don't know whether you realize that it's rather a strain on a man to drink bad coffee at a coffee-stall when he knows he has just enough magic in him to make a bottle of champagne walk out of an empty shop.

  **Another David Langford appreciation.**

  Magic was G.K. Chesterton's first play. When it appeared, his reputation had already been made: his occasionally ramshackle brilliance could illuminate essays (The Defendant), novels (The Napoleon of Notting Hill, The Man Who Was Thursday), criticism (Robert Browning, Charles Dickens), philosophy (Orthodoxy), detective stories (The Innocence of Father Brown), verse (The Ballad of the White Horse) ... and more.

  It was Chesterton's literary sparring partner George Bernard Shaw who demanded that he write a play. A 1908 letter threatens: "I shall repeat my public challenge to you; vaunt my superiority; insult your corpulence; torture Belloc; if necessary, call on you and steal your wife's affections by intellectual and athletic displays, until you contribute something to the British drama." Shaw even issued Chesterton with a plot, about the horrified return of St.Augustine to the England he dimly remembered converting. Unfortunately this play was never written. The indirect result was Magic.

  Shaw wanted "a religious harlequinade". Chesterton gave him a fantastic comedy with the simple force of a parable. The stagecraft is creaky, and some of the extravagantly rhetorical lines must have been hard to deliver without that between-the-teeth laugh used by actors to cope with Shakespeare's less inspired exit couplets ... but Magic still reads well and hits home with important truths.

  To be Chestertonian, it's topical precisely because it has ceased to be topical. Can we believe today that the Conjurer's tiny miracle could come close to breaking a man's mind? We've met too many "miracles" in the rising tide of paranormal nonsense. The effect is unlikely to be an agonizing philosophical crisis: a more typical reaction might be, "Oh yes, I read in the newspaper about telepathic UFO poltergeists...."

  Chesterton's official conversion to Catholicism didn't come until 1922, but his views were already clear. God doesn't muck around with paltry miracles like this or the dubious communications of Spiritualists. The Conjuror believes because he knows too much: his effects are demonic, and bad for the soul. Carleon's rigid scepticism is equally bad for him. And a totally open mind offers the worst of both worlds: the Duke is the sort of amiable moral relativist who, invited to choose between policies of mercy and genocide, would say, "Ah – the truth, as always, lies somewhere in the middle." In matters of ultimate truth, religion or no religion, we nowadays tend to sound rather too much like the Duke.

  Mostly the play speaks for itself. There's just one obscure reference, to "Marconi": in June 1913, Chesterton's brother had been convicted of libel for outspokenness concerning Government ministers' suspect dealings in Marconi shares. The scars were still fresh when Magic was put on at the Little Theatre (London) in October 1913.

  Chesterton wrote two more plays: the historical The Judgment of Dr Johnson (1927) and another parable, The Surprise (posthumously published, 1952; written circa 1930). Magic remains his best theatrical venture.

  (https://ansible.uk/writing/gkcmagic.html)


title: The Making of a Bigot
content:
  The Making of a Bigot by Rose Macaulay (1914).

  "Arnold the cynical, the sceptical, the supercilious, the scornful; Arnold, who had believed in nothing, and had yet been murdered for believing in something, and saying so. Arnold had hated democratic tyranny, and his hatred had given his words and his blows a force that had recoiled on himself and killed him. Eddy’s blows on that chaotic, surprising evening had lacked this energy; his own consciousness of hating nothing had unnerved him; so he hadn’t died. He had merely been buffeted about and knocked out of the way like so much rubbish by both combatant sides in turn. He bore the scars of the strikers’ fists and boots, and of the heavy truncheon of the law. Both sides had struck him as an enemy, because he was not whole-heartedly for them. It was, surely, anironical epitome, a brief summing-up in terms of blows, of the story of his life. "

  It was okay and I probably wouldn't read it again. It was still pretty fun to follow the ridiculous main character, Eddy, around. 

  The theme was the many varied experiences of man, the tidbits of truth and good intentions scattered across factions, and the bigotry and total harsh rejection of other sides by basically every faction. 

  Mrs. Eileen Le Moine moves in with her dying love (another married adult) to spend his last few months with him. She was a bright, vivacious, spirited violinist going into it and a completely broken and spent ghost coming out of it. She was in the lowest low and needed sympathy and a strong hand to help her out of it. When Molly's aunt, a lady, was visiting Jane Dawn with Eddy and Molly; and Eileen popped in, she hastily left her because 'we can't mix with those kinds of people.' She was really harsh. 'She made her decision to be outcasted.' 'Women can't be seen with her or risk losing face.' 'Lucky Jane declined to have lunch with me later because she must have known she isn't worthy, knowing she has people like that walking in and out of her apartment.' Eileen was in the wrong, but she needs help. You can't only hang out with 100% gentrified holy people all day - you'll get nowhere and help no one. 

  Molly is less haughty about it, but she has such a deep sense of right and wrong that being around Eileen at all unnerves her and makes her embarrassedly uncomfortable. That eventually leads to her breaking off her engagement to Eddy, which is only put back together by Eileen's insistence that she'll never visit Eddy or be a close friend with him ever again.

  There's lots of little scenes like having Arthur and the high church guys at dinner together, having Eileen visit for Christmas at the Deanery, a lady insisting to go to Greece with Eileen and Hugh to break up the adulterous tone of that vacation, etc. Lots of different flavors of prejudice and different factions not jiving well together.

  It's true we don't all get along. 2016-2019 can be defined by hate of the other side: Hillary supports vs Trump supporters, climate change believers vs. the deniers, bleeding heart liberals vs. the Wall, Gays vs. Desert Robes Klansmen in Old School RuneScape, SJWs vs. Gamergate, the media vs. Q people. Some of those examples are pretty much verbatim the over-the-top heavy-handed way the book presents factions. It's fun for the sake of the narrative, but were people even more fiercely divided back then? I just have trouble believing that to be possible! Maybe though lol. 

  The message still speaks, though. It's true we should be slower to completely shut off the other side, though. But those who do try to listen to both sides (people who actually do, not people who regurgitate the meme) are rare. Most people, as the book says, pursue truth and goodness and eschew falsities and evil. I'm not sure how this can be conquered, except to work on myself and those close to me. That may do next-to-nothing for the macrolevel of society, but eh self-improvement is worthy. All-in-all, it's not exactly a lot to get out of the book, and the way it was presented was so over-the-top as to be fairly comical (intentionally probably).

  Eddy's the opposite of a based centrist - he thinks any and all sides of an issue have truth and should be accepted. He has no free-time because he is signed up for just about any society or club or fellowship asks him. He's a wishy-washy journalist who can't hold down a job or launch a paper. He eventually loses all his friends and is seen as completely insane. Pretty funny guy. 

  His friend Arthur is a (was he blond or is that my imagination?) rich jerk, my favorite archetype. He died in a fist fight after giving a rhetorical speech against Unions to a violent Union-loving mob.

  Molly was a bigoted conservative who was not a stickman and was more reasonable than the main character. Honestly, that's pretty special. 

  The book was rich in French vocabulary. It also referenced lots of English 1910s societies and clubs. The politics were so different there! The rural low churchgoing farmers were conservative, and the obscene artists were liberal, and the church was split. Conservative was Toryism, believing the government should be run by a small group of appointed officials who know politics well and are well suited for the job and won't be ruined by mob rule or unintelligent votes. Liberal was democratic, rule by the people, and all that. It was a belief in the system itself, not a scheme to get your way. 


title: Language of Creation
content:
  A book recommended by a Greek Orthodox friend.

  ## Chapters

  * **Part 1: Salvaging Creation from the Scientific Worldview**
  * 1 - **Spiritual and Material Perspectives**: Today's material perspective is devoid of the search for metaphysical manifestations of truth in our natural world.
  * 2 - **Coming Full Circle: The Copernican Revolution**: The acquisition of material science knowledge has an inverse relationship with our spiritual insight. The shift from the geocentric model to the Heliocentric model follows the pattern of Adam and Eve's opening of eyes, realization of nakedness, and exile from the Garden of Eden.
  * 3 - **Returning to the Garden of Eden**: To unlock the high-level and most relevant interpretation of the Bible, we must adopt the archaic worldview of the people living at that time.
  * 4 - **Reconstructing the Language of Creation**: The earth is the lower, material half, while heaven is the upper, spiritual half. Taxonomy vs ancient bestiaries concerned with spiritual truth. H20 vs notions of liquid or fluid.
  * **Part 2: Heaven and Earth in Biblical Cosmology**
  * 5 - **Heaven and Earth: A Spiritual Perspective**: Instead of matter & energy, the world is made of heavenly & earthly components - the extremes of the duality being matter without meaning vs spiritual meaning without corporeal existence. **Knowledge** is the joining of spiritual and corporeal realities and is a fundamental notion in biblical cosmology. The heavens cover the earth and inform reality with meaning and purpose, while matter supports the heavens and expresses spirit by making it visible and tangible.
  * 6 - **The Universe as a Language**: The earth was without form and dark, but Creation is a manifestation of divine language, spoken into existence and founded on meaning. Ideally, we can maintain both a spiritual perspective to understand the meaning of the universe and a material perspective to understand how the universe works.
  * 7 - **Symbolism and the Spiritual Worldview**: Heaven is the source of spiritual meaning, earth is the source of physical expression, and everything is analogous to a written word in a divine language. Cosmic words, or symbols, are simple facts that embody a higher truth. All events are both factual and meaningful at the same time. Creation is a series of embedded re-presentations of cosmic principles. Each part of the universe can reflect a miniature version of the whole. (Genesis 1:6-13 vs Exodus 14:16-22)
  * 8 - **The Linguistic Rules of Symbolism**:

  ## Topics

  * Copernican Revolution
  * Dentrocentric Perspective
  * Material Perspective
  * Spiritual Perspective

  ## Vocabulary

  * didactic: intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
  * hegemony: leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.
  * subsume:  include or absorb (something) in something else.

  (The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis - A Commentary by Matthieu Pageau, 2018.)


title: Commentary
content:
  ## Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged, 1991

  **Vocabulary**

  * **encomium**: a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly
  * **hector**: to behave in an arrogant or intimidating way : to play the bully : swagger. transitive verb. : to intimidate or harass by bluster or personal pressure. "Men think the way to be feared is to hector and threaten, which makes them feared by fools only, but despised  by the wise and good; whereas the way to be both feared and loved, feared by those to whom we would wish to be a terror and loved by those to whom we would wish to be a delight, is to behave ourselves wisely."
  * **invidious**: (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others.
  "she'd put herself in an invidious position" OR (of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust. "It may be, he that composed the song only used a poetic liberty, and intended not any invidious comparison between Saul and David."
  * **lasciviousness**: reflecting or producing sexual desire or behavior, especially that is considered indecent or obscene
  * **obsequious**: obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. "Jonathan knew not but that some of the servants might be either so obsequious to Saul or so envious at David as to put the orders in execution which Saul had given."
  * **timorous**: showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence


title: AI for Game Developers
content:
  An O'Reilly game development programming and game design textbook by David M. Bourg and Glenn Seeman.

  (AI for Game Developers by David M. Bourg and Glenn Seeman, 2004. Page 30)

  ## Topics

  * A-life
  * AI
  * Bayesian Technique
  * Cheating
  * Decision Tree
  * Deterministic AI
  * Emergent Behavior
  * Fuzzy Logic
  * Genetic Algorithm
  * Neural Network
  * Nondeterministic AI
  * Probabilistic Methods
  * Scripting
  * Strong AI
  * Weak AI


title: Programming Game AI by Example
content:
  A game development programming and game design textbook by Mat Buckland with foreward by Steven Woodcock. Mat thanks Steve Woodcock (gameai.com) + Eric Martel (Ubisoft) for technical reviews of text + code, Ron Wolfe (Sidney Fire Department) as guinea pig, Craig Reynolds (Sony), Jeff Hannan (Codemasters), and William Combs (Boeing) for answering questions, the Wordware team for their expertise, Mark Drury for checking his math and physics, and his wife Sharon for proofreading.

  (Programming Game AI by Example by Mat Buckland, 2005. Page 69 | PDF page 92)

  I wrote my first NPC using a state machine with this book. :) 

  ## Game

  * FIFA2002
  * Pac-Man
  * Quake
  * Warcraft

  ## Topics

  ### Pages before Chapter 1

  * Academic AI
  * Agent
  * Agent-Oriented Design
  * Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  * Basic Reactionary Behaviors
  * Finite State Machine (FSM)
  * Game AI
  * Hierarchical Goal-Based Agents
  * Fuzzy Logic (FL)
  * Raven
  * Strong AI
  * Videogame
  * Weak AI

  ### Chapter 1: A Math and Physics Primer

  * Acceleration
  * Air Resistance
  * Angle
  * Base
  * Cartesian Coordinate System, Graph
  * Collision Detection
  * Constant
  * Cosine
  * Cube Root
  * Curve
  * Dependent Variable
  * Dot Product
  * Equation
  * Exponent
  * Exponential Growth
  * Force
  * Function
  * Fractional Exponent
  * Gradient
  * Gravity
  * Hyperspace
  * Hypotenuse
  * Illusion of Intelligence
  * Kilogram
  * Line
  * Line of Sight (LOS)
  * Line Segment
  * Local Space
  * Magnitude
  * Mass
  * Math
  * Matrix Transformations (outside of scope of book)
  * Metry
  * Normalizing Vectors
  * Origin
  * Pathfinding
  * Physics
  * Pi, π
  * Point, Endpoint
  * Power
  * Pythagoras
  * Pythagorean Theorem
  * Radical
  * Radian
  * Ray
  * Resolving Vectors
  * Right Angle
  * Right Triangle
  * Second
  * Sine
  * Single-Variable Function
  * Slope
  * Square Root
  * Squared-Distance Space
  * Tangent
  * Time
  * Triangle
  * Trigon
  * Trigonometry
  * Two-Variable Function
  * Unit Circle
  * Variable
  * Vector
  * Vector Math
  * Vector2D
  * Velocity
  * World Space
  * X-Axis
  * xy plane
  * Y-Axis

  ### Chapter 2: State-Driven Agent Design

  * Agent
  * Entity
  * Event Handling
  * Finite State Machine (FSM)
  * Message
  * Singleton
  * Singleton Design Pattern
  * State
  * State Blip
  * State Design Pattern
  * State Machine
  * State Transition Diagram
  * State Transition Table
  * Telegram
  * Template
  * Turing Machine
  * Unique Identifier (ID)


title: Slay the Dragon
content:
  Slay the Dragon: Writing Great Video Games is a book written by Robert Denton Bryant and Keith Giglio. 

  It's easy to read and written okay with some fun end-of-chapter assignments. It has a 'gamers don't play games for their incredible stories BUT THEY SHOULD' and 'writers are the most important devs and should always be a separate role and involved in every decision' slant. For $25, it's a pretty regrettable purchase, but whatever lol I had fun.

  It assumes you are also a Hollywood flunky and know nothing about games but lots about movies and are settling for a game writer job. Unfortunately, I don't get most of his movie references used as teaching examples (Some people actually haven't seen Titanic and The Godfather so I need some explanation for character motivation or plot details, lol.) and his game examples are so far beneath me. (I know that Mario jumps, especially after like five in-depth explanations.) The content's repetitive, with the writers reiterating that games aren't like movies because the audience is involved, that games haven't reached their full potential and you need to interweave narrative into every aspect of the game. Their idea of the ideal game is one with infinitely branching stories where your choices matter, sentient AI, real world graphics, and no scary "meatheaded" "men of action" as characters. Anything less will obviously be less immersive, less artistic, and will scare away those highly important female gamers. There are plenty of industry quotations and example lists, which helps. He does share some filmmaking lingo and some game writing lingo, which is interesting, though. 

  Bryant and Giglio are clearly Hollywood flunkies who want to push the supreme importance of writing over gameplay. They unironically use the phrases "Nerdyhood" and "acne rage." They like movies more than games and use tons of movies as examples. Their favorite, best, all-time games are Netflix VNs like The Last of Us and Telltale stuff, with some basic Mario and arcade stuff thrown in. The think Superman has no weaknesses except Kryptonite and is incapable of getting in a tense situation. I think they really like God of War, too, and think it is brilliantly written or something. They literally think Mass Effect's choices matter (with "thousands" of outcomes). They also like Anna Anthropy and Depression Quest and compare Gamergate to the He-Man Woman Haters Club.

  There are end-of-chapter exercises, saved at Slay the Dragon Assignments.

  I finished reading it on August 8, 2019.

  **Concepts**

  * Act One
  * Act Two
  * Act Three
  * Agency
  * Antagonist
  * Arc
  * Aristotle
  * Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  * Asset
  * Audience
  * Avatar
  * Backstory
  * Balance
  * Bark
  * Beat
  * Beta Testing
  * Bible
  * Board Game
  * Boss
  * Bot
  * Box
  * Branching Narrative
  * Catastrosphe
  * Catharsis
  * CGI
  * Change
  * Character
  * Character Arc
  * Character Creation
  * Character Flaw
  * Choice
  * Choose Your Own Adventure
  * Citizen Kane
  * Class
  * Clickable
  * Collectible
  * Competition
  * Conflict
  * Consequence
  * Console
  * Content
  * Convention
  * Core
  * Cosplay
  * Cut Scene
  * Desire
  * Dialogue
  * Dragon
  * Drama
  * Dramatic Writing
  * Emergent Gameplay
  * Emotion
  * Empathetic Immersion
  * Engine
  * Epistaxis
  * Expo
  * Exposition
  * External Conflict
  * Fiero
  * Film Industry
  * Fighting
  * Flavor Text
  * Flow
  * Foreshadowing
  * FPS
  * Fun
  * Game Asset
  * Game Designer
  * Game Journal
  * Game Mechanic
  * Game Writer
  * Gameplay Designer
  * Gamer
  * GCD
  * Goal
  * Hollywood
  * Immersion
  * In Real Life (IRL)
  * Interactive
  * Interactive Fiction (IF)
  * Internal Conflict
  * Inversion
  * Journey of Action
  * Journey of Emotion
  * Level
  * Level Design
  * Linear Narrative
  * Loading Screen
  * Lore
  * Macbeth
  * Main Character
  * Mario
  * Mechanic
  * Method
  * MMO
  * Motivation
  * Movie
  * Moving
  * MUD
  * Multiple Endings
  * Narrative
  * Narrative Design
  * Narrative Designer
  * Non-Player Character (NPC)
  * Obstacle
  * Open World
  * Parallel Narrative
  * Participatory Theater
  * Pitch
  * Planning
  * Platform
  * Play
  * Player Character (PC)
  * Player Expectation
  * Playground
  * Plot
  * Primal Emotion
  * Protasis
  * Protagonist
  * Pyra-Grid
  * Repetition
  * Relatability
  * Resolution
  * Role-Playing Game (RPG)
  * Rule
  * Sandbox Game
  * Save the Cat
  * Scene
  * Screenwriter
  * Screenwriting
  * Serialized Storytelling
  * Settings
  * Showrunner
  * Simultaneity
  * Structure
  * Surprise
  * Survival Horror
  * Tabula Rosa
  * Television Pilot
  * The Big Idea
  * The Lord of the Rings
  * The Sequence Approach
  * The War of the Worlds
  * The Wizard of Oz
  * Timing
  * Turning Point
  * Tutorial
  * TV Show
  * Videogame Industry
  * Voice
  * What If?
  * Worldbuilding
  * Writers Guild of America (WGA)
  * Writing

  **People**

  * Alfred Hitchcock
  * Amy Henning
  * Anna Anthropy
  * Brian Kindregan
  * Charles Dickens
  * Charlie Chaplin
  * Craig Lafferty
  * Darryl F. Zanuck
  * David Cage
  * David Jaffe
  * Emily Short
  * Drew Karpyshyn
  * Film Crit Hulk
  * Frank Daniel
  * Haris Orkin
  * H. G. Wells
  * Jeffrey Yohalem
  * Jesper Juul
  * Jill Murray
  * John Huston
  * Jordan Mechner
  * Joseph Campbell
  * Ken Levine
  * Kevin Spacey
  * L. Frank Baum
  * Larry Hryb (Major Nelson)
  * Mike Nichols
  * Neil Druckmann
  * Orson Welles
  * Preston Sturges
  * Richard Iggo
  * Richard Rouse III
  * Sir Salman Rushdie
  * Sam Lake
  * Sid Meier
  * Stephen Dinehart
  * Steve Gaynor
  * Susan O'Connor
  * Tom Abernathy
  * William Archer

  **Games**

  * Adventure
  * Alan Wake
  * Asteroids
  * Battle Realms
  * Bioshock
  * Braid
  * Chess
  * Diablo
  * Dead Island
  * Dead Space
  * Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)
  * Fallout 3
  * Far Cry
  * FIFA
  * Final Fantasy VII
  * God of War
  * Gone Home
  * Halo
  * Kriegsspiel
  * L.A. Noire
  * Madden
  * Mass Effect
  * Max Payne
  * Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
  * Minecraft
  * Myst
  * Pong
  ( Prince of Persia
  * Quantum Break
  * Skyrim
  * Spacewar!
  * Super Mario Bros.
  * The Last of Us
  * The Order: 1886
  * The Talos Principle
  * Uncharted
  * World of Warcraft

  (Slay the Dragon: Writing Great Video Games by Robert Denton Bryant & Keith Giglio, 2015.)


title: The Art of Game Design
content:
  The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses is a game design textbook by Jesse Schell.

  (The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, 2008. Page 179, Book Page 150)

  ## Lens

  * Essential Experience
  * Surprise
  * Fun
  * Curiosity
  * Endogenous Value
  * Problem Solving
  * Elemental Tetrad
  * Holographic Design
  * Unification
  * Resonance
  * Infinite Inspiration
  * Problem Statement
  * Eight Filters
  * Risk Mitigation
  * Toy
  * Player
  * Pleasure
  * Flow
  * Needs
  * Judgment
  * Functional Space
  * Dynamic State
  * Emergence
  * Action
  * Goals
  * Rules

  (The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, 2008. Page 21, 26-27, 30, 32, 37, 43, 46, 53, 56, 59-60, 62, 78-79, 86, 90-91, 106, 112, 122, 127, 128, 135, 140, 143-144, 149-150)

  ## Topics

  **Chapter Ten: Some Elements are Game Mechanics**

  * Attribute
  * Game Mechanic
  * Game Theory
  * Hierarchy of Knowers
  * Object
  * Space
  * State Diagram, State Transition Diagram


title: Creation
content:
  * to him who by understanding made the heavens, / for his steadfast love endures forever;
  * to him who spread out the earth above the waters, / for his steadfast love endures forever;
  * to him who made the great lights, / for his steadfast love endures forever;
  * the sun to rule over the day, / for his steadfast love endures forever;
  * the moon and stars to rule overt eh night, / for his steadfast love endures forever;

  (Psalm 136:5-9)

  The study of creation is cosmogony. God created the universe ex nihilo. 

  ## Days

  If you take Sabbath literally, Creation Week looks like this, right? We should probably have named the days after this stuff instead of demons.

  * **Sunday** - Light, day and night
  * **Monday** - Expanse, atmosphere, waters from water
  * **Tuesday** - Land, plants
  * **Wednesday** - Sun, moon, stars, season
  * **Thursday** - Flying creatures, sea life according to their kind
  * **Friday** - Land animals, humans
  * **Saturday** - Rest


title: Cosmogony
content:
  Account of creation

  (Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch, 1796. Page 10.)

  ## Greek Mythology

  From Chaos sprung the Earth and Heaven, which bore the Titans. The Titans Saturn and Rhea birthed Jupiter, father of gods and men.

  Alternatively, Earth, Erebus, and Love were the first beings. Love issued from the egg of Night, which floated on Chaos. By his arrows and torch, he pierced and vivified all things, producing life and joy.

  (Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch, 1796. Page 10.)


title: Main_Page
content:
  Hi, I'm Chimchooree, and this is my personal study wiki. Trust the information here as much as you'd trust a mini-Wikipedia without peer review. 

  Also, since I get this information from lots of different people, it's obviously not going to always line up with my personal beliefs. If you're curious, I'm a Protestant who trusts the Bible as the ultimate authority on all its topics. The Holy Spirit is still alive and powerful, but demons and false prophets can mislead you if you are not full of the Word. (Matthew 4:1-11, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15)

  I'm mostly interested in the Bible, mythology, gamedev, programming, and literature. Usually, I will treat a book or course article as a hub for all its topics. I try to cite my (sources) after each paragraph or sentence in each article. Sometimes, I just write whatever's on my mind, though.

  For uncited Bible verses, assume the ESV Study Bible<sup>TM</sup>, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles (2007).

  ## Starting points

  * Bible, Books of the Bible
  * Book
  * Course

  ## Or type 

  wiki.blessfrey.me/view/Your Topic Here

  ## Other list-like articles

  * 


title: Course
content:
  **Forgot when I took them**

  * FP101x

  **Spring 2023**

  * Origin of the Bible

  **Spring 2022**

  * Cybersecurity for Everyone - University of Maryland, College Park - coursera

  **Fall 2019**

  * VPx - edX, MITx, Visualizing Imperialism & the Philippines, 1898-1913
  * Khan Academy - Radians, Logarithms, Multiplicity
  * 18.01.1x - edX, MITx, Calculus 1A: Differentiation
  * LFS101x - edX, LinuxFoundationx, Introduction to Linux
  * DEV285x - edX, Microsoft, Algorithms and Data Structures (completed 10/14/19)
  * ALGS201x - edX, UCSanDiegoX, Data Structures Fundamentals

  **Summer 2019**

  * DEV276x - edX, Microsoft, Learn to Program in Java
  * Slay the Dragon: Writing Great Video Games
  * The Natural Soap Book: Making Herbal and Vegetable-Based Soaps by Susan Miller Cavitch

  **Fall 2018**

  * The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell
  * MathPlanet - Pre-Algebra, Algebra I


title: Cybersecurity for Everyone
content:
  A Coursera course taught by Dr. Charles Harry that lays the groundwork to understand key issues of cybersecurity.

  ## Supplementary Material

  * Harry, C & Gallagher, N "Classifying Cyber Events: A Proposed Taxonomy"
  * National Research Council, At the Nexus of Cybersecurity and Public Policy: Some Basic Concepts and Issues, Chapter 1, David Clark, Thomas Berson, Herbert S. Lin, Committee on Developing a Cybersecurity Primer: Leveraging Two Decades of National Academies Work
  * Avast, 2020, Threat Landscape Report
  * James R. Clapper, Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community (Feb. 23015) - pp. 1-4

  ## Topics

  * Attack Surface
  * Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
  * Cyber
  * Cyber Armegeddon
  * Cyber Incidence
  * Cybersecurity
  * Defacement
  * Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
  * Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)
  * Hacker
  * Hard Power
  * Internet
  * Malware
  * NIST Cybersecurity Framework
  * ODNI Cyber Threat Framework
  * Phishing
  * Policy Making
  * Presidential Speech
  * Rootkit
  * SCADA
  * Security
  * Threat Landscape
  * TTP
  * Virus

  ## People

  * APT 28
  * James Clapper
  * Master of Pain
  * tsmc

  ## Policies

  * Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
  * Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)
  * National do not call registry
  * NIST Cybersecurity Framework
  * ODNI Cyber Threat Framework
  * PPD-41: United States Cyber Coordination
  * PPD-21: Critical Infrastructure Designation

  (https://www.coursera.org/learn/cybersecurity-for-everyone)


title: VPx
content:
  MITx: VPx - Visualizing Imperialism & the Philippines, 1898-1913. 

  A MITx Microsoft history course taught by John Dower, Christopher Capozzola, Ellen Sebring, Shigeru Miyagawa, and Genevieve Cutario, examining history and culture through media.

  ## Topics

  * Age of Imperialism
  * Anglo-Boer War
  * Anglo-Saxon Christmas
  * Anthropology
  * Anti-imperialism
  * Barbarism
  * Benevolent Assimilation
  * Bilibid Prison
  * Boer War
  * Censorship
  * China
  * Civilization
  * The Colonial Gaze
  * Cue
  * England
  * The Gibson Girl
  * Harper's Weekly
  * Imperialism
  * Japan
  * Judge
  * Leslie's Weekly
  * Life
  * Lyddite
  * The March of the Strenuous Civilization
  * Mass Communication, Mass Media
  * Nicaragua Canal
  * The Noble Savage
  * Objectification
  * Panama Canal
  * Philippine Revolution
  * Philippine-American War
  * Philippines
  * Photographic Record of the Colonial Philippines
  * Photography
  * Political Cartoon
  * Postigo Prison
  * Puck
  * Queue
  * Red-Letter Day
  * South Africa
  * Spain
  * Spanish-American War
  * Stereograph
  * Suez Canal
  * USA
  * War
  * The White Man's Burden

  ## People

  * General Arthur MacArthur
  * Daniel Folkmar
  * Dean Worcester
  * Emilio Aguinaldo
  * Rudyard Kipling
  * William McKinley


title: Radian
content:
  If factor x-k occurs m times in the factorization of a polynomial, then k is a zero of multiplicity m. A zero of multiplicity 2 is called a double zero. For a polynomial, the number of zeros will be less than or equal to its degree. The sum of all the multiplicities of a polynomial will be equal to its degree. f(x) = (x-1)(x-3)(x-3) is a third degree polynomial with 2 zeros, where (x-1) is a zero with a multiplicity of 1 and (x-3) is a zero of multiplicity of 2.

  (https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra2/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:poly-graphs/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:poly-intervals/a/zeros-of-polynomials-and-their-graphs)
   
  f(x) = (x-1)(x-3)(x-3) is a third degree polynomial with 2 zeros, where (x-1) is a zero with multiplicity of 1 and (x-3) is a zero of multiplicity of 2. 

  For a root with an odd multiplicity, the function will have a sign change and cross the x-axis. For roots with an even multiplicity, the function will touch the x-axis but not change signs. In f(x) = (x-1)(x-3)(x-3), the graph touches the x axis and swoops back in the same, positive direction it came from.

  (https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra2/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:poly-graphs/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:poly-intervals/v/polynomial-zero-multiplicity)

  ## Examples

  The root a of a polynomal p(x) has multiplicity m if (x - a)<sup>m</sup> is the largest power of x-a that is a factor of p. In other words, p(x) = (x-a)<sup>m</sup>s(x), where s(x) is a polynomial for which a is not a root.

  If a is a root of multiplicity 5 for the polynomial p, and a root of multiplicity 7 for the polynomial q, what might lim<sub>x-->a</sub>p(x) / q(x) be? 

  * The denominator wins the race to 0, so the limit is not defined.
  * ANS: It does not exist.

  If a is a root of multiplicity 8 for the polynomial p, and a root of multiplicity 4 for the polynomial q, what might lim<sub>x-->a</sub>p(x) / q(x) be? 

  * The numerator wins the race to 0, so the limit is 0.
  * ANS: 0

  If a is a root of multiplicity 6 for the polynomial p, and a root of multiplicity 6 for the polynomial q, what might lim<sub>x-->a</sub>p(x) / q(x) be? 

  * Both the numerator and denominator are competing in the race toward zero, so the limit could be any finite, nonzero number.
  * ANS: 1, -1, 3, any finite nonzero number.

  (18.01.1x)


title: Material Perspective
content:
  A line through is a diameter. A line from the center to the edge is a radius, which is half of the longest diameter. A circle is the same as 360 degrees. A part of a circle is called an arc.

  Diameter x 3.14 = circumference.

  (https://www.mathplanet.com/education/pre-algebra/introducing-geometry/circle-graphs)

  A circle graph or pie chart is used to visualize information and data.

  (https://www.mathplanet.com/education/pre-algebra/introducing-geometry/circle-graphs)

  * Area of Circle = A = pi * r^2

  A circle with radius 5 is about 75.5 in squared.

  (https://www.mathplanet.com/education/pre-algebra/area-and-volume/measure-areas)

  A full rotation or measure of the angles in a circle is 360 degrees or 2π radians. The circumference of a circle is 2π * radii.

  (https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra2/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:trig/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:radians/v/introduction-to-radians)

  **Topics**

  * Unit Circle


title: Copernican Revolution
content:
  The Heliocentric model replaced the geocentric model.

  Scientific discoveries transform our concept of space, time, and causality and undermine the foundations of traditional metaphysics. It mirrors the Genesis model of greater acquisition of material knowledge coming at the cost of spiritual insight. Adam and Eve's consumed the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, and their eyes were opened. They covered themselves, and God exiled them from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which man was taken. 

  The Copernican Revolution follows this same model - Man began in the Garden of Eden in a state of innocence, in a central and natural plan that illustrates man's role and spiritual purpose, and a safe and walled-off shelter. Looking beyond the limits of the garden opened their eyes to a strange universe devoid of spiritual meaning. They knew they were naked, that their previous worldview was illusory, and they then wandered in a meaningless universe. 

  The scientific revolution reputed the tradition, spiritual model of the world, but it proved its necessity at a higher level.

  (The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis - A Commentary by Matthieu Pageau, 2018. Page. 5-7)


title: Spiritual Perspective
content:
  Contrasts with Material Perspective. The perspective of religion, which interprets everything as a physical manifestation of metaphysical truth. What does it mean? What truth does it embody?

  (The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis - A Commentary by Matthieu Pageau, 2018. Page. 3)


title: Knowledge
content:
  Knowledge is the joining of spiritual and corporeal realities and is a fundamental notion in biblical cosmology.

  (The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis - A Commentary by Matthieu Pageau, 2018. Page 18.)


title: Reality
content:
  Reality is complex and can only be understood by humans through modeling. All we can understand is our model of reality. Sometimes, this model breaks, and we have to fix it.

  (The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, 2008. Pages 115-118)

  ## Game Design

  Game designers can understand and control how an illusion of reality is formed in his players' minds to create an experience that feels as real or more real than reality itself.

  (The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, 2008. Pages 117-118)


title: Dentrocentric Perspective
content:
  A tree-centric worldview that reconstructs the archaic worldview and biblical cosmology.

  (The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis - A Commentary by Matthieu Pageau, 2018. Page. 10)


