Understanding the Bible Without Extrabiblical Texts Why Scripture alone holds the key to unlocking its deepest truths. March 18th, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

Understanding the Bible Without Extrabiblical Texts

Why Scripture alone holds the key to unlocking its deepest truths.

March 18th, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Many wonder if outside historical texts are essential to fully understand the Bible. It's a valid question, especially as Bible scholars frequently reference first-century culture, ancient writings, or Jewish traditions to provide background. But is this external information necessary to grasp God’s Word?

The short answer: no.

While extrabiblical texts can offer helpful historical context, they are not essential. The Bible is self-sufficient, clear, and divinely inspired. God, in His wisdom, designed Scripture to be understood by readers across generations and cultures without needing supplemental sources. As Psalm 19:7 declares, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”

The Gold Mine Within the Bible

Think of Scripture as a gold mine. The more we dig into its pages, the more treasure we uncover. Spending endless hours studying outside sources while neglecting the Bible itself often results in missing the wealth right under our noses. Research shows that consistent Bible readers are 30% more likely to report spiritual growth and life satisfaction compared to those who only engage with secondary materials.

Even in cases where historical context seems beneficial such as understanding first-century views on angels the Bible often provides its own answers. For example, Colossians 2:18 and Revelation 22:8-9 clearly address the issue of angel worship. Rather than relying on speculative theories about cultural practices, we are encouraged to examine how Scripture addresses these matters directly.

Scripture Interprets Scripture

One of the most foundational principles in biblical interpretation is that Scripture interprets Scripture. Cross-referencing passages, understanding the flow of thought, and comparing texts written by the same author can unveil profound insights. This approach aligns with how early Christians approached God's Word, relying on the Holy Spirit and the text itself rather than external sources.

Recent surveys indicate that over 65% of churchgoers feel intimidated by the Bible’s complexity. However, knowing that the Bible contains everything necessary for understanding God’s message can offer great relief and confidence.

Practical Implications

This truth has practical implications for pastors, teachers, and everyday believers. When preparing sermons, leading Bible studies, or doing personal devotions, prioritizing the text of Scripture ensures that our understanding is shaped by God’s intended message, not external assumptions. While supplemental resources can occasionally clarify cultural nuances, they should never overshadow the authority and clarity of God’s Word.

Jesus Himself modeled this reliance on Scripture. Time and again, He quoted the Old Testament, trusting its sufficiency to reveal truth and confront error. As 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

By devoting ourselves to reading, meditating, and studying the Bible itself, we not only grow in knowledge but deepen our relationship with the Author.

If this encouraged you, feel free to share it or subscribe to our newsletter for more insights grounded in God's Word.

Trump Revokes Biden’s Secret Service Detail by Anastasia Boushee March 19, 2025

 

Trump Revokes Biden’s Secret Service Detail

byAnastasia Boushee

March 19, 2025

President Donald Trump has announced that he is ending Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, where he decried the fact that American taxpayers were being forced to foot the bill for Secret Service protection for former President Joe Biden’s adult children — Hunter, 55, and Ashley, 43.

“Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States Taxpayer,” the president wrote. “There are as many as 18 people on this Detail, which is ridiculous!”

Trump went on to note that Secret Service agents are currently protecting Hunter Biden on a vacation in South Africa — criticizing Hunter for even visiting the country that has been violating the human rights of its citizens.

“He is currently vacationing in, of all places, South Africa, where the Human Rights of people has been strenuously questioned,” the post continued. “Because of this, South Africa has been taken off our list of Countries receiving Economic and Financial Assistance.”

“Please be advised that, effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection. Likewise, Ashley Biden who has 13 agents will be taken off the list,” Trump concluded.

According to U.S. law, former presidents and their spouses are granted Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives. However, Secret Service protection for their children is only granted until the president leaves office, unless the child is under the age of 16. Even vice presidents don’t get Secret Service protection for life, as they are only offered protection for six months after leaving office.

While the left is melting down over the decision to revoke Hunter and Ashley Biden’s Secret Service protection, conservatives are defending the move — with many pointing out that there are no serious threats to the Biden family, and noting that the Biden family is wealthy enough to pay for private security:

New Poll Shows How Deranged Democrats Are by Anastasia Boushee March 19, 2025

 

• Democrats
 
• Politics

New Poll Shows How Deranged Democrats Are

byAnastasia Boushee

March 19, 2025

No comments

A new CNN poll asked Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents who they believe “best reflects the core values” of the Democrat Party, and the answer proves that Democrats have not learned their lesson from the 2024 election.

The poll, which was conducted from March 6-9, showed that Democrats believe that socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) best reflects “the core values” of the Democrat Party. CNN polled roughly 500 Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents to get these results.

Ocasio-Cortez landed at the top of the list with 10% of the vote, narrowly beating failed Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris and radical socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Former Vice President Harris received nine percent of the vote, while Sanders received eight percent.

After the top three, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) received six percent of the vote, while former President Barack Obama and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) tied for fifth place with four percent of the vote.

All of the remaining Democrats in the poll received two percent or less of the vote, including former President Joe Biden, who received one percent, and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) coming in last with zero percent of the vote.

More than 30% of respondents provided no name in response to the question, while one person responded, “No one, that’s the problem.”

The same CNN poll also revealed that the Democrat Party has reached a “record low” favorability among the American people, receiving just 29% approval “fueled in part by dimming views from its own frustrated supporters.”

Numerous commentators highlighted this poll in their argument that the Democrats are leaderless and have refused to learn their lesson from the 2024 election. The American people clearly gave President Donald Trump a mandate in the 2024 election, as he won the popular vote, Electoral College, and Republicans won the Senate and kept control of the House, while also moving nearly every county in the U.S. to the right. These results mean that the American people overwhelmingly rejected the Democrats’ far-left policies and their agenda. Despite this fact, Democrats insist that one of the farthest-left members of their party reflects the “core values” of the party — meaning that, if the party accepts the far-left agenda, they have little chance of winning the 2026 midterms or the 2028 election:

America’s Cancellation of the Net-Zero Agenda Will Impact China by Gary Isbell March 13, 2025

 America’s Cancellation of the Net-Zero Agenda Will Impact China

by Gary IsbellMarch 13, 2025

America’s Cancellation of the Net-Zero Agenda Will Impact China

Net-zero policies seek to balance a nation’s greenhouse gas emissions with those removed from the atmosphere. This is done through practices like carbon capture, reforestation and other offsetting measures. The goal is to reach a zero-emission result by 2050.

When the Trump administration abandoned global net-zero climate policies, it not only sparked a debate on carbon emissions but also upended a geopolitical chessboard dominated by China and its green energy ambitions.

Why America Must Reject Isolationism and Its Dangers

One reason net-zero policies have been canceled is the lack of a level playing field among the nations involved in the effort. While the U.S. and Europe are busy implementing suffocating carbon reduction rules, China is either exempted or allowed great flexibility in its compliance for decades longer.

The West’s myopic green vision creates an environment that allows the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to thrive while permitting China to forgo the expense of compliance. It also creates a vast market for China’s factories to produce a wide range of products, from solar panels to lithium-ion batteries. China has emerged as the global leader in green energy manufacturing by selling to lucrative international markets forced to fulfill their own green mandates—one that China does not have to participate in.

By withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and rolling back expensive net-zero commitments, the Trump Administration disrupted this dynamic and limited the unregulated flow of Western wealth into Xi Jinping’s West-hating coffers.

The Chinese dominance of green energy supply chains is the result of a combination of its government’s strategic planning and the West’s leftist politicians that favored going green.

Anticipating a surge in future demand, China coordinated state intervention, government subsidies and market forces to position China as a leading provider of solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles.

In addition, China took advantage of Western research and development of green technology. In the meantime, China remains a massive polluter as it manufactures green products that are required to reduce pollution for others.

By abandoning net-zero policies, President Trump transformed the global energy landscape. America can now concentrate on a feasible energy policy that prioritizes energy security, affordability, and independence.

Eternal and Natural Law: The Foundation of Morals and Law

Meanwhile, Xi Jinping must now find alternative markets for products that had a guaranteed demand. Those markets are suddenly less secure. Demand for Chinese electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels is now on the decline.

This economic pressure arises at a critical moment for Beijing, which has yet to recover from its five-year real estate crash that shows no signs of ending. China’s dependence on major export markets like the U.S. and Europe is undeniable. A downturn in those markets and a shift in climate priorities will create a troubling ripple effect on its faltering economy.

President Trump’s climate pivot addresses the imbalance of weakening America with green restraints while empowering an authoritarian rival.

By canceling America’s commitment to unrealistic net-zero policies, the Trump administration frees American industry from some of its regulatory constraints so that it can now focus on innovation without feeling as if they are playing a rigged game. Meanwhile, China will have to rethink its aggressive green energy expansion with fewer international markets.

The new administration’s energy policies compel the global community to reassess its approach to green energy. The goal can no longer be to penalize the West while giving China a free pass. Fair competition and a level playing field must become the new foundation for any legitimate environmental concerns. The West must abandon the destructive leftist green agenda that has dominated its policies for so long.

Read About the Prophecies of Our Lady of Good Success About Our Times

Whether this approach will ultimately benefit the climate in the long term remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that withdrawing the U.S. from the net-zero agenda will reshape the power dynamics that influence the modern world economy. America will be positioned to confront unsustainable policies that threaten world security.

The question is not whether China will adapt to the shifting landscape but whether the West will learn to stop handing Beijing the tools it uses to create unfair advantages.

Photo Credit:  © Miha Creative – stock.adobe.com

Leftists Decry New Limits on the Environmental Protection Agency by Edwin Benson March 18, 2025

 Leftists Decry New Limits on the Environmental Protection Agency

by Edwin BensonMarch 18, 2025

Leftists Decry New Limits on the Environmental Protection Agency

Every salesman worth his commission check knows that his greatest ally is urgency. If the customers need something now, they are often willing to pay more for it or purchase it on impulse.

Absent a pressing need, there are many strategies to build that sense of urgency, like saying that supplies are limited or offering a special price for those who buy today.

In such a situation, controlling the flow of information through volume, intimidation, isolation or other means is vital. However, while the urgency tactic is helpful, it must be used sparingly. As soon as the would-be buyer realizes that immediate action is unnecessary, the sales effort evaporates.

Eternal and Natural Law: The Foundation of Morals and Law

Deflating the Environmental Protection Agency

Like the salesman, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bureaucrats know that a sense of urgency is crucial to their operation. This is especially true in the mythical “global climate change” realm.

It may be that the climate change movement is suffering from overexposure. One of the many actions that President Trump took in the hours after his January 20, 2025, inauguration was to sign an Executive Order titled Unleashing American Energy. In it, he ordered the EPA Administrator to make recommendations to bring the Agency’s practice into line with the administration’s stated goals.

Former Congressman Lee Zeldin assumed the Administrator’s position on January 29. According to a report in the February 26 issue of The Washington Post, Mr. Zeldin “privately urged the White House to strike down a scientific finding underpinning much of the federal government’s push to combat climate change.” Within the EPA, the document that enshrined the policy Mr. Zeldin is revoking is known as the “endangerment finding.”

A bit of background is needed to explain the importance of this document, as it is virtually unknown outside of the Agency.

Learn All About the Prophecies of Our Lady of Good Success About Our Times

Is the Danger Real?

Back in the seventies, global climate change had a different name—global cooling. The doomsayers shrieked that the ozone layer was thinning because aerosol cans released chlorofluorocarbons. Without sufficient ozone in the upper atmosphere, much of the earth’s warmth would escape into outer space. The planet itself would grow ever cooler, and eventually, humanity would be unable to bear the unremitting cold.

 The so-called experts assured the public that this would happen by the year 2000 without immediate action.

The problem was that global cooling didn’t occur. In fact, many people noticed that the winters were getting slightly less severe. So, about 1985, experts renamed the threat, and the movement spawned the phrase “global warming.”

This time, the environmentalists moaned that “greenhouse gases” (GHG) like carbon dioxide and methane made the upper atmosphere too thick. Therefore, the earth would get steadily warmer. However, warmth by itself was not enough to inspire panic. After all, millions of northerners go south each winter in search of warmer temperatures. So, the experts embellished the story by arguing that an increase of only a couple of degrees would cause the global ice caps to melt. That would, in turn, cause the oceans to rise, causing coastal areas to diminish or even disappear.

However, that calamity didn’t happen either. After twenty years of dire predictions, the rising oceans hadn’t swallowed Manhattan, Miami or New Orleans. So, with the coming of the new millennium, the climate peril got another new name: global climate change. This time, the experts didn’t provide an overall narrative. They just pointed to every extreme weather event as proof that the climate was rebelling against humanity.

Excessive Executive Power

However, after almost forty years of predicting disaster, the EPA began to resemble Aesop’s “Boy Who Cried Wolf.” Increasing numbers of citizens ignored its dicta.

Thus, as the first anniversary of his inauguration neared, President Barack Obama decided to put some teeth into the movement. On December 7, 2009, the EPA, with the President’s approval, published its conclusion that “greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger both the public health and the environment for current and future generations.”

10 Razones Por las Cuales el “Matrimonio” Homosexual es Dañino y tiene que Ser Desaprobado

Armed with this “endangerment finding,” the EPA enjoyed official permission to give its fight against climate change the power of law. So, for fifteen years, the Agency has happily regulated anything that it decided was a “greenhouse gas.” Once enshrined in the Federal Record, its opinions were rarely challenged and almost never overturned.

Crying Out Their Pain

After President Trump’s actions, the leftists bemoan the loss of another bit of the power they have over the rest of the nation. The aforementioned Washington Post article warned, “By repealing the endangerment finding, the Trump administration would be taking one of its most consequential steps yet to derail federal climate efforts.”

The Forum of an organization called American Action warns that, “repealing the endangerment finding would likely create chaos for U.S. climate policy, as it would make it much easier to repeal the existing EPA GHG regulations, which would subject EPA to legal challenges and produce increasing policy uncertainty for businesses.”

A “future-focused” law firm called Akin predicts rough legal seas should the finding be revoked. “[A]ny decision against the findings would be immediately challenged in court. The findings have been upheld against various legal challenges over the years, with the Supreme Court declining to hear challenges to it as recently as December 11, 2023.”

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is a solid supporter of the findings. They caution that “The reported recommendation to overturn a 2009 regulatory finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare, if realized, will harm communities, public health, and wildlife across the country.” More specifically, the NWF warns that “greenhouse gases directly harm public health and the environment by fueling a range of climate change-associated impacts such as increasing formation of asthma-inducing ozone pollution, disease outbreaks, heat-related morbidity and mortality, extreme weather events, and more.”

Science Confirms: Angels Took the House of Our Lady of Nazareth to Loreto

Political Liabilities? 

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), President Trump’s actions could cause future political problems. Relying on a decade-old Quinnipiac University poll and Yale University’s Program on Climate Communication, it predicts disaster should the President continue on this tack.

“Polling has repeatedly shown that most Americans think that climate change is happening and consider it to be a serious problem. A majority of Americans think that the United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and that our government should do more to address climate change. Recent surveys show majorities of Trump voters support taxing and/or regulating climate pollution, upholding or strengthening current climate change policies, or requiring U.S. companies to reduce carbon pollution.”

Concealing the Truth

One unfortunate aspect of the whole process is that Americans without a scientific background have no idea who to believe. During their decades of ascendency, environmental activist organizations tightly controlled the debate. Opposing voices, even those that came from other scientists, were silenced by a left-wing press. It publically branded the few that managed to gain a hearing as crackpots or charlatans. The price of pursuing a scientific career was acquiescence. So, as the climate change movement gained reams and volumes of research studies that buttressed their main points, they gradually lost their credibility.

However, no one can maintain such a façade indefinitely. Sooner or later, experience will triumph over theory.  However, without the energetic debate necessary for real scientific advancement, no one can distinguish between truth and falsehood until experience teaches its hard lessons.

Photo Credit: © Tada Images – stock.adobe.com