Shine

Synopsis

A review of  Paradise Lost by English poet John Milton (1608-1674)

• Paul:   Burn 🔥
• Matthew:  

A review of  The Pilgrim's Progress: From This World to That Which Is To Come by English author John Bunyan (1628-1688)

• Paul:   Steal 📚
• Matthew:  

A Bible Study on Shine

Introduction

By Paul Anderson

This study was supposed to motivate me to move the Matthew's Clubhouse website to another host.  Well, it did not.  It seems that the older I get, the harder it is to get stuff done, especially when the stuff that needs getting done involves learning something new. 

Since my reading habit isn't new and is already ingrained into my lifestyle, I did finish a couple of books for the month of November.  Since it was the month of Thanksgiving, I decided to pick something that related to the pilgrims.  My 11th great-grandfather, John Howland, came over on the Mayflower, despite falling off the boat in the middle of the voyage.  You see, it is in my genetics to have a hard time finishing things.  So, I chose The Pilgrim's Progress: From This World to That Which Is To Come by John Bunyan.

When I noticed that the book was only 12 hours long, I decided to save it for the end of the month, when I could listen to it over Thanksgiving.  So, I started the month with Paradise Lost by John Milton.

Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse published in 1667 about the biblical story of Satan's attempt to persuade Adam and Eve into rebelling against God.

Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven

Perhaps it was Milton who created the myth that the fruit of knowledge was an apple 🤔.  He has the Serpent 🐍 trick Eve into eating an apple by convincing her that a talking snake got his knowledge of speaking from the fruit.  In addition, he reassure her that she won't suffer from eating the apple, as he ate and didn't die. Of course, this is all just a ploy to get Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die

Milton had a hard time finishing the poem, as he had to rely solely on dictation after going blind in 1652.  In addition, he suffered from gout and was about 60 years old when it was published.  It is supposed to be Milton's masterpiece.  

I didn't care for it.  I am not a big fan of poetry to start.  Prose is so much easier to follow.  I prefer the Proverbs to the Psalms in the Bible, but I guess there is a purpose for each.  If I have to read poetry, I like it to rhyme.  This poem made it official:  I hate poetry! 😤    I didn't understand why Adam and Eve were talking about medieval knights.  You might as well just read the Bible, it makes more sense and has less poetry. 

The Pilgrim's Progress: From This World to That Which Is To Come by John Bunyan is a Christian allegory published in 1678, which has never been out of print since.  It is the story of a wife who finally admits her husband was right all-along, a classic! 

"When the song and music were ended, the Interpreter asked Christiana what it was that

at first did move her thus to betake herself to a pilgrim’s life.  Christiana answered, First, the

loss of my husband came into my mind, at which I was heartily grieved; but all that was but

natural affection.  Then after that came the troubles and pilgrimage of my husband into my

mind, and also how like a churl I had carried it to him as to that."   

Bunyan had a hard time finishing what some consider the first English novel, as he was in prison for worshiping outside the Church of England.  The first part was completed in 1677, but the second part didn't appear until 1684.   

I give it a steal 📚, even though it seems like he was talked into doing a sequel with nothing more to say.  The first part is clearly better.  Perhaps, Bunyan had too much to drink before writing the second part.

I will give you a further discovery of him:  This man is for any company, and for any talk; as he talketh now with you, so he will talk when he is on the Ale-bench; and the more drink he hath in his crown, the more of these things he hath in his mouth

Even though the book starts with poetry, it switches to prose quickly.  A little poetry goes a long way.  It uses a lot of language that has fallen by the wayside.  Who knew timorous (timid) was a word?  And wicket (small door)?  I thought he was saying "wicked gate," which makes no sense for the entrance to the path of righteousness.  I gained some new vocabulary, like slough.  Supposedly, Bunyan created the Pilgrim's world based on his own walks, which I found amusing as I passed by my Slough Of Despond on my walks to Kum & Go while listening to his story.  Even his ancient customs are similar to modern customs, like knocking.

"Timorous: Neighbors, having had little to do this morning, I went to give Christiana a visit; and when I came at the door I knocked, as you know it is our custom; and she answered, If you come in God’s name, come in."

Bunyan seems to be sharing his life and struggles as an encouragement to fellow Pilgrims to continue their Christian walk.  He knows that everyone who sets out through the wicket gate will face hardships and obstacles.  He must of had a bad neighbor who owned a dog, as he even has Satan as a dog owner, using it to scare pilgrims. What a churl! 

So, just by letting his light shine a little bit, Bunyan created one of the most significant works of theological fiction.

Here are my top 12 verses on Shine:

Jesus On Shine

Matthew 5:14-16 King James Version

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mark 9:1-3 King James Version

1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Luke 17:22-24 King James Version

22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

John 1:4-5 King James Version

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Shine In The New Testament

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 King James Version

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:19-21 King James Version

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

1 John 2:8-11 King James Version

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Revelation 21:23-25 King James Version

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Shine In The Old Testament

Numbers 6:24-26 King James Version

24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

2 Samuel 23:1-4 King James Version

1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Ecclesiastes 8:1 King James Version

8 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

Isaiah 60:1 King James Version

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

Conclusion Of The Whole Matter

The word "shine" occurs 49 times in the Bible and seems to appear in the Old Testament and New Testament proportionally.  It is always used in a positive context.  Jesus uses the term for being open with one's life or to reveal secret things, but also there is the idea of wisdom and knowledge in the way Jesus uses the word, along with the New Testament and the Old Testament authors.  In addition, the word is used as a quality of God, as in Revelations where the sun and moon are no longer needed to shine for us.

49 Bible results for “shine” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (33)
• Numbers (1)
• Deuteronomy (1)
• Job (12)
• Psalm (10)
• Proverbs (1)
• Ecclesiastes (1)
• Isaiah (3)
• Jeremiah (1)
• Ezekiel (1)
• Daniel (2)
• New Testament (16)
• Matthew (4)
• Luke (1)
• John (1)
• Acts (2)
• 2 Corinthians (2)
• Philippians (1)
• 2 Peter (1)
• 1 John (1)
• Revelation (3)

Scripture contributions for November 2023 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson