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Mark 1:12

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lilitalienboi16:

--- Quote from: Nelson Boils on June 08, 2015, 05:31:45 PM ---I know the events where literal,but I wanted to know whether He was surrounded by literal wild animals?At first I thought maybe the wild animals could mean evil men--that He was surrounded by evil men.

Is there even a literal wild animal that can survive in a literal desert?

--- End quote ---

Nelson,

Many animals can survive in the deserts of the middle east. I can think of a few animals in the region that are mentioned in scripture as offerings. I can also think of a few commandments on what kinds of animals not to eat.

I've been to Lebanon myself as my dad is from that country and I can assure you that its all pretty much a desert but many animals including humans make it their home.

God bless,
Alex

Nelson Boils:
Alright,thanx for that Alex.

Nelson Boils:
1 Cor 15:32 NIV "If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons,what have I gained?.."

Are these also literal wild animals?

Kat:
Hi Nelson,

Yes I believe those were literal animal, they lived in the real world and there were many wild animals, Asiatic lions as well as other big cats, wolves and even Syrian brown bears at one time in the middle east, that certainly could have been a treats. They walked many places or rode animals so they were exposed to those dangers.

What Paul seems to be saying, and we know that he traveled all over the place to the different churches of believers that were being establishes and he ran risk of animal attack in his travels... not to mention that the Romans and Pharisees also were trying to kill them.

1Cor 15:30  And what about us? Why do we put ourselves in danger every hour?
v. 31  I face death every day. That is true, brothers and sisters, just as it is true that I am proud of what you are because of Christ Jesus our Lord.
v. 32  I fought wild animals in Ephesus. If I did that only for human reasons, then I have gained nothing. If we are not raised from death, "Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we die."

If Paul had to fight off wild animals to get to the brethren to help them learn these new truths, it was worth it to him... but what would be the point in such risky travel, what "gain" would he have, if the resurrection was not true/real? BUT he knew that he was carrying precious truth to those people and that's why they "put ourselves in danger every hour," it was well worth to the Apostles they knew the priceless value of what they was doing.

Hope that is helpful.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

lilitalienboi16:
Hi Nelson,

I think Kat provided you with a good answer and I'm only going to take this a little deeper and try and add some depth to the conversation.

1 Cor 15:32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beastsG2341 at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

The word beasts here is defined by strong's as:

G2341
thēriomacheō
thay-ree-om-akh-eh'-o
From a compound of G2342 and G3164; to be a beast fighter (in the gladiatorial show), that is, (figuratively) to encounter (furious men): - fight with wild beasts.

It is the only occurance in the bible of this word being used. This word is different than that used in Mark's account of Jesus being in the wilderness:

G2342
thērion
thay-ree'-on
Diminutive from the same as G2339; a dangerous animal: - (venomous, wild) beast.

Occurs 42 times.

Now an important thing you need to understand in scripture is that no verse interprets itself. You need to compare spiritual with spiritual. Two or three witnesses and considering the Sum of the Word.

2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh [carnal men / false prophets etc...] in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 Peter 2:12 But these [see v. 10], as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Jude 1:10 But these [carnal men/ false prophets etc...] speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Now for completnesses sake, Peter uses a different word for beast than Mark or Paul but the same one as Jude.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

So as I stated initially, whether you take the beasts Paul delt with as literal or more figuratively it changes little the over all meaning of what he was trying to get across which Kat pointed out nicely.

Personally, I believe that you can look at what Paul delt with as figurative beasts in the form of the men that Peter,Jude, and Solomon described or as literal ones and still be following after the Truth. In fact, I think almost all of scripture has duel meaning. First the natural and then the spiritual. However you lookat it, either way, Paul certainly encountered those brutish beasts of men Peter and Jude described along his journey of spreading the gospel, of that I gaurentee you!

God bless,
Alex

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