Sapate Sanuali 31, 2021

I am the God of Bethel

Ko au ‘a e ‘Otua Pēteli

 Senesi 31 (Genesis 31)

(v. 13) I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”

 (v. 13) Ko au ‘a e ‘Otua Pēteli, ‘a ia na‘a ke pani ai ‘a e pou, pea na‘a ke fai ai ‘a e tukumo‘ui kiate au: pea ke ke tu‘u, ‘o ‘alu atu mei he fonua ni, ‘o foki ki he fonua ‘o ho tupu‘anga.

 *Commentary: Matthew Henry*

v. 13, I am the God of Beth-el, This was the place where the covenant was renewed with him. Note, Worldly prosperity and success are doubly sweet and comfortable when we see them flowing, not from common providence, but from covenant-love, to perform the mercy promised-when we have them from God as the God of Beth-el, from those promises of the life which now is that belong to godliness. Jacob, even when he had this hopeful prospect of growing rich with Laban, must think of returning. When the world begins to smile upon us we must remember it is not our home. Now arise (v. 13) and return.

 *Tohi Vete: Matiu Henelē*

v. 13, Ko au ‘a e ‘Otua Pēteli´, ko e potu eni naʻe fakafoʻou ai ‘a e kovinānite´ mo Sekope´. Fakatokangaʻi, ko e ngaahi tapuaki mo e tuʻumālie ‘o mamani´, ‘oku liunga ua ‘ene lelei mo vovo´ ko ‘ene tafe mai mei he kovinānite ʻofa ‘a e ‘Otua´, ‘o ‘ikai ko e founga anga maheni´; ‘io, mei he ‘Otua, ko e ‘Otua ‘o Peteli´, mei he ngaahi palomesi ‘o e moʻui ‘oku tau maʻu ‘i he lotu moʻoni´. Pea neongo naʻe mei tuʻumalie pe ‘a Sekope ia ‘i hono kahaʻu ‘ia Lepani´, ka naʻe pau pe ke ne foki. “I he taimi ‘oku tokanga mai ai ‘a mamani kiate kitautolu, pea tau manatu, ‘oku ‘ikai ko hotau ‘api´ eni. Tuʻu leva pea ke foki.

 * study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

 GOD IS TRIUNE

 In Christ

 Trinitarian emphases are literally everywhere in the ministry of Christ. Beginning with his baptism, whereby the Son hears the words of his Father and receives a special anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are faced with the workings of the triune God (Matt.3:16-17). In his temptation, the Spirit thrusts Christ out into the wilderness (Mark 1:12), where he has to commit himself to believing the words of his father. Would Christ believe what the Father had said at his baptism, or would he perform a miracle in order to

prove his sonship (i.e., his messianic identity)? Even at his death, we see the Son of God offering himself up by the Spirit of God (Heb. 9:14) to God the Father (Luke 23:46). All this is to say that Christ's life was a revelation of the Trinitarian working of God.

 Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

 ‘Ia Kalaisi

 Ko e tokāteline ‘o e Tolu-tahaʻi-‘Otua´ ‘oku tuifio ‘i he tapa kotoa ‘o e ngaue ‘a Kalaisi ‘i mamani´. Naʻe kamata pe mei hono papitaioso´, ‘a ē naʻe ongona ai ‘e he ‘Alo´ ‘a e leʻo ‘o e Tamai´ pea mo hono hinoiʻi makehe ia ‘e he Laumālie Maʻoniʻoni´, pea ‘oku tau fehangahangai ai mo e ngaue ‘a e Tolu-tahaʻi-‘Otua´ (Matiu 3:16-17). ‘I hono ‘ahiʻahiʻi´, naʻe ‘ave ‘e he Laumālie´ ‘a Kalaisi ki he toafa´ (Maʻake 1:12), pea naʻe pau ke ne matuʻaki tuitala ki he ngaahi folofola ‘a ‘ene Tamai´. Te ne tui nai ki he tala naʻe fai ‘e he Tamai´ ‘i hono papitaiso´, pe te ne fai ha mana ke fakamoʻoniʻi hono tuʻunga ‘Alo´ (tuʻunga Misaia)? ‘O aʻu pe ki heʻene pekia´, ‘oku tau mamata ki hono ‘ohake ‘e he ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua´ ‘a hono laumalie, fou ‘i he Laumalie ‘o e ‘Otua (Hep 9:14) ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai´ (Luke 23:46). Ko e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi meʻa ko eni´, ‘oku nau fakamoʻoni mai, ko e moʻui ‘a Sisu ‘i mamani´, ko e fakahāhā mai pe ia ‘o e ngaue ‘a e Tolu-tahaʻi-‘Otua.´

 

Veesi Lauloto: Kolose 1:15

 ‘a ia ko e ‘Īmisi ia ‘o e ‘Otua ko e Ta‘ehāmai, ko e ‘Uluaki ia na‘e fakatupu, ko e Kimu‘a ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē kuo ngaohi:

 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

 *Lesoni mei he Taukapo´*

Siope 36:8 – 14; 4:21; 33:16; 36:15; Sa 55:23; 107:10;

Ais 1:19,20; Lo 2:5

 Siope 36:8       “Pea kapau ‘e haʻi seini kinautolu. Pea touʻia ‘i he kafa ‘a e tuʻutämaki”.

 ‘O kapau ko e feliuliuaki ‘o e ngaahi faliunga faka-e-mamani, fakasipinga pe, kapau ‘e liliu mei he lelei ki he kovi ‘o hange ko eni ‘oku lolotonga kia Siope, pea mo e fai fakamaau ‘a e ‘Otua ki he kau maʻoniʻoni koeʻuhi ko ‘enau ngaahi angahala, ‘oku ou tui ‘oku totonu ke haʻi kinautolu ‘o tuku ki ha pilisone ‘o hangë ko Siosifa, pë ‘e puketuʻu kinautolu ‘e he ngaahi kafa pë afo ‘o e pilisone, pea ‘e hoko ia ko ha toe mamahi ia ‘e taha. ‘Oku hoko ‘o pehe foki ‘I he keisi ko ‘eni ‘a Siope, he naʻa ne maʻu pea naʻe tauhi maʻu ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi afo ‘o e loto mamahi.  Ka ko e fokotuʻutuʻu ia ‘a e ‘Otua kuo ‘omi ki Hono kakai ‘a e ngaahi mamahi, koeʻuhi´ ko e lelei lahi ia maʻa honau ngaahi laumälie.  ‘Oku ‘i ai e meʻa ‘e tolu ‘oku kaveinga ki ai ‘a e ‘Otua he taimi ‘oku Ne ‘omi ai ‘a e mamahi kiate kitautolu he ko ‘Ene kakai.  1.  Ke tau ‘iloʻI pea ‘oua naʻa ngalo ‘etau ngaahi angahala ‘iate kitautolu.  He ko e taimi niʻihi ko e mamahi ko e tali ki he angahala, pea ‘oku ne ngäue ke fakaʻaaki ‘a e konisenisi, mo tuku ki he tangata ke fai haʻane lau.  2. Ke tuki mo nonofo ki hotau ngaahi loto ke ‘oua naʻa ngalo ‘a e ngaahi akonaki kotoa pe; he ko e mamahi ‘oku ne ngaohi ‘a e kakai ke nau fieako ha meʻa, pea ‘oku ‘ikai fai ‘eni ‘iate ia pë, ka ko e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua´ ‘oku ne ngäueʻaki ia.  3. Ke taʻofi kitautolu mei he angahala´ koeʻuhi ko e kahaʻu.  He ko ha fekau ia ke tafoki mei he angahala ‘o foki mei ai ‘aki ‘a e fehiʻa (Hos 14:8).  He kapau ko e mamahi ‘oku ne fai ‘ene ngäue, ke aʻusia ‘a e meʻa naʻe fekau ai ia.  Ko e ‘Otua´ te Ne hoifua mai kiate kitautolu ‘oku huki tonu ai ‘a e mamahi ‘o fakatatau pë mo e taimi naʻe hoko mai ai ‘a e mamahi.  Tokanga ‘o fai moʻoni ‘oua ‘e mälualoi, he ʻoku fakaʻauha ‘e he ‘Otua´ ‘a e mälualoi; koeʻuhi´ ko e fänau kinautolu ia ‘a e talangataʻa mo e fakapoʻuli, ‘oua ‘e mälualoi.

 Tokonaki Sanuali 30, 2021

the Lord has blessed you

kuo ō mo au ho tāpuekina ‘e Sihova 

Senesi 30 (Genesis 30)

(v. 30) For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the Lord has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?”

(v. 30) Hono ‘uke ‘a e me‘a na‘a ke ma‘u ‘i he te‘eki te u ha‘u? pea kuo tupu ko e fu‘u me‘a; pea kuo ō mo au ho tāpuekina ‘e Sihova; pea ko eni, te u ngāue fakakū ‘e au foki ma‘a hoku fāmili?

*Commentary: Matthew Henry*

That Jacob's piety had brought that blessing upon him: The Lord has blessed me, not for my own sake (let not such a man as Laban, that lives without God in the world, think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord, (Jam. 1:7), but for thy sake. Note,

[1.] Good men are blessings to the places where they live, even where they live meanly and obscurely, as Jacob in the field, and Joseph in the prison, ch. 39:23.

[2.] God often blesses bad men with outward mercies for the sake of their godly relations, though it is seldom that they have either the wit to see it or the grace to own it, as Laban did here.

*Tohi Vete: Matiu Henelē*

Ko e tauhi ‘Otua ‘a Sekope´, naʻe fou mei ai hono tapuaki´: Naʻe tapuakiʻi au ‘e he ‘Otua´, ‘o ‘ikai ‘uhinga ko au, (pea ‘oua naʻa pehē ‘e ha taha hangē ko Lepani´, te ne liʻaki ‘a e ‘Otua´, pea ne pehē te ne maʻu ha momoʻi meʻa mei he ‘Otua´ - Semisi 1:7) ka koeʻuhi´ ko koe. Fakatokangaʻi ange:

[1] Ko e kakai lelei´, ‘oku nau hoko ko e tāpuaki ki he ngaahi feituʻu ‘oku nau nofo ai´, ‘o aʻu pe ki he ngaahi fetuʻu ‘oku ngaohi kovia ai kinautolu mo liʻekina´, hangē ko Sekope ‘i he potu naʻe ‘i ai´ mo Siosifa ‘i he pilīsone´ (Sen 39:23).

[2] ‘Oku ‘i ai pe taimi ‘oku tapuakiʻi fakamatelie ai ‘e he ‘Otua´ ‘a e kakai kovi´, koeʻuhi´ ko e kakai lotu ‘oku nau fekauʻaki´, neongo ‘oku ‘ikai te nau maʻu ‘a e poto ke ‘ilo ‘a e meʻa ‘oku hoko´, pe ko e loto maʻolalo ke nau tali, ‘o hangē ko Lepani ‘i he talanoa ko eni´.

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

In Christ

The Father is not only the person who sent the Son of God to earth to redeem sinners but is also the master architect behind the type of body the Son assumed: "A body have you prepared for me" (Heb. 10:5). At the same time, the actual forming of the human nature of the Son through the flesh of the Virgin Mary was the work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). But the decision of taking into subsistence with himself a human nature was a prerogative that belonged to the Son, who must do all things freely and willingly. As Christ says, “I have come down from heaven" (John 6:38). In other words, while it is true that the Father sent the Son, the Son came willingly, apart from any coercion. The Son assumed a human nature.

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

‘Ia Kalaisi

Naʻe ‘ikai ngata pe hono fekauʻi mai ‘e he Tamai´ ‘a e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua´ ki mamani ke ne huhuʻi ‘a e angahala´, ka ko e ‘akiteki pule ia naʻa ne teuteuʻi ‘a e sino ke hoko mai ai ‘a e ‘Alo´: “...kuo ke teuteu ha sino mo‘oku” (Hep 10:5). ‘I he taimi tatau, ko e ngaue ki hono fatu ‘a e natula tangata ‘o e ‘Alo´, ke fou mai ‘i he kakano ‘o e taupoʻou ko Mele´, ko e ngaue ia ‘a e Laumalie Maʻoniʻoni´ (Luke 1:35). Ka ko e fili ke tanaki mai ‘a e natula tangata´ ke fetaiaki mo hono tuʻunga ‘Otua´, ko e finangalo ‘ataʻatā pe ia ‘a e ‘Alo´, he naʻe pau ke ne fai tauʻatāina ‘ene fili´ mo loto lelei ki ai. He naʻe pehē ‘e Kalaisi, “kuo u ‘alu hifo mei he langi´” (Sione 6:38). ‘I hono toe fakalea ‘e taha´, neongo ‘oku moʻoni naʻe fekauʻi mai ‘e he Tamai´ ‘a e ‘Alo´, naʻe loto pe ‘a e ‘Alo´ ke hifo tauʻatāina ki mamani, ‘ikai fakakouna. Naʻe ‘ai ‘e he ‘Alo´ kiate Ia ‘a e natula ‘o e tangata´.  

Falaite Sanuali 29, 2021

Then Jacob kissed Rachel

Pea na‘e ‘uma ‘e Sēkope kia Lesieli

Senesi 29 (Genesis 29)

(v. 11) Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.

(v. 11) Pea na‘e ‘uma ‘e Sēkope kia Lesieli, ‘o ne hua‘aki ‘ene fu‘u fākafoa.

*Commentary: Matthew Poole*

And Jacob kissed Rachel. Jacob kissed Rachel, as the custom of friends then was, both at their first meeting, as verse 13; Gen. 33:4; Exod. 4:27; 18:7, and at their departure, as Ruth 1:14; 1 Sam. 20:41; 1 Kings 19:20. Wept tears of joy, like those Gen. 33:4, at the gracious providence of God to him, which had brought him safe to his desired place, and so happily and strangely conducted him to that person and family which was so desirable and dear to him.

*Tohi Vete: Matiu Pulu*

Na‘e ‘uma ‘e Sēkope kia Lesieli. Ko e anga maheni ‘i he vā ‘o e kaungāmeʻa, ‘i he taimi ‘o e ‘uluaki feʻiloaki´ (veesi 13; Senesi 33:4; ‘Ekisoto 4:27; 18:7), mo e taimi ‘o e māvae´, hangē ko ia naʻe hoko kia Lute´ 1:14; 1 Sam 20:41; 1 Tuʻi 19:20. Loʻimata ‘o e fiefia, hangē ko ia ‘oku hā ‘ia Senesi 33:4, ‘i he fai manavaʻofa faka-palovitenisi ‘a e ‘Otua´ maʻa na´, ‘a ia kuo ‘omi hao ki he fonua naʻa ne ‘unaloto ki ai, pea mo e fakaofo ‘a hono tataki ia ki he tokotaha mo e famili naʻe huʻu ki ai ‘ene tokanga´.

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

In Christ

In Christ, the triunity of God is revealed. The Trinitarian workings of God are stamped all over Jesus's life in the pages of the New Testament. While all outward works of God can be attributed to each of the three persons, certain outward works of God - depending on what they are - can be attributed more particularly to one of the three persons. In the incarnation of the Son of God, for example, we see a beautiful Trinitarian work.

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

‘Ia Kalaisi

‘Ia Kalaisi, ko e tuʻunga Tolu-ʻi he-Taha ‘o e ‘Otua´ ‘oku fakahā mai. Ko e ngaahi ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua´ ‘i hono tuʻunga Tolu-tahaʻi-ʻOtua´, ‘oku tā sitapaʻi ‘i he ngaahi ngaue kotoa ‘a Sisu ‘i he Fuakava Foʻou´. Pea neongo ko e ngaahi ngaue hā kituʻa kotoa ‘a e ‘Otua´ ‘oku kau kotoa ki ai ‘a e persona ‘e tolu´, ‘oku ‘i ai pe ‘a e foʻi ngaue pau ‘a e ‘Otua´, ‘oku mahino ‘e lau pe ia ki ha tokotaha. Fakatātā; ‘I he hoko-‘o-kakano ‘a e ‘Alo´, ‘oku malava ke tau vakai ki ha foʻi ngaue fisifisimuʻa ‘a e Tolu-tahaʻi-‘Otua´.

 Tuʻapulelulu Sanuali 28, 2021

shall be God’s house

‘e hoko ia ko e fale ‘o e ‘Otua 

Senesi 28 (Genesis 28)

(v. 22) And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.

(v. 22) pea ko e maka ni, ‘a ia kuo u fokotu‘u ko e pou, ‘e hoko ia ko e fale ‘o e ‘Otua; pea ‘ilonga ha me‘a te ke ‘omi kiate au te u mātu‘aki ‘atu hono vahe hongofulu kiate koe.

*Commentary: Matthew Poole*

God's house, i. e. a place where I will offer prayers and sacrifices to God; such places being commonly called God's houses, and God is oft said to dwell in them, in regard of his special presence there. See Exod. 20:24. Compare ver. 17 of this chapter, and Gen. 35: 1, 3, 7.

I will surely give the tenth unto thee, to be laid out in thy service, and for sacrifices, and for the use and benefit of those who shall attend upon sacred things; as also for the relief of the poor and needy, whom God hath substituted in his room, and shall to whom part of the tithes were to be given by a following law, Deut 14:28,29.

*Tohi Vete: Matiu Pulu*

Fale ‘o e ‘Otua. Ko e potu te u fai ai ‘eku lotu mo e feilaulau ki he ‘Otua´; ko e ngaahi potu pehee´, naʻe ‘iloa pe ia ko e ngaahi fale ‘o e ‘Otua, pea naʻe taku ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ‘Otua´, ‘o fakatatau ki heʻene hifo ke lotolotoi ‘a hono kakai (‘Eki 20:24). Fakafehoanaki ‘a e veesi 17 ‘o e vahe ni pea mo Senesi 35:1,3,7.

Vahe hongofulu. Te u foaki ki hoʻo ngaue´, mo e ngaahi feilaulau´, pea ke ngaueʻaki ke tokoni kiate kinautolu ‘oku nau nofo ki he ngaue fakalotu; ‘ikai ko ia pe, ka ke tokoni ki he masiva´ mo e tukuhausia´, pe mo e konga ‘e vaheʻi ki ai ‘o fakatatau ki ha lao ‘e toki tuku mai (Teut 14:28,29).

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

Doctrine...

And the Westminster Confession of Faith gives us an excellent synopsis of the doctrine of the Trinity:

In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. (2.3)

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

Tokāteline...

‘Oku tau maʻu mei he Ngaahi Tefitoʻi Tui ‘a e Uesiminitā ha fakamaʻopoʻopo lelei ‘o e Tokāteline ‘o e Tulinitī (Tolu-tahaʻi-‘Otua):

‘I he tuʻunga taha ‘o e ʻUluʻi-ʻOtua´, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e pesona ‘e toko tolu, ‘oku nau taha ‘i he uho, ivi mo e tuʻunga lauikuonga; ko e ‘Otua ko e Tamai, ‘Otua ko e ‘Alo, mo e ‘Otua ko e Laumālie Maʻoniʻoni. Ko e Tamai´, ‘oku moʻui ‘iate Ia pe, ‘ikai fakatupu pe fou mei ha toe potu; ko e ‘Alo´, ko e tupu tonu lauikuonga mei he Tamai´; ko e Laumālie Maʻoniʻoni´ ko e fou lauikuonga mei he Tamai´ mo e ‘Alo´.

Pulelulu Sanuali 27, 2021 

How is it that you have found it so quickly

na‘e fēfē ho‘o ma‘u vave pehē?

Senesi 27 (Genesis 27)

(v. 20) But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.”

(v. 20) Pea me‘a ‘a ‘Aisake ki hono foha, Tama, na‘e fēfē ho‘o ma‘u vave pehē? Pea pehē ‘e ia, Koe‘uhi na‘e fakafekitaki ia kiate au ‘e Sihova ko ho ‘Otua.

*Commentary: David Guzik Study Notes on Genesis*

Jacob, the scoundrel, did not hesitate to bring in God as a party to his deception.

i. Jacob could do this because his only concern is for what worked. Since he (rightly) knew God that wanted him to have the birthright, he justified any lie or sin he committed in the pursuit of the birthright and told himself that it was a stand for righteousness.

ii. Jacob probably used the promise and calling of God as an excuse for sin; he justified it to himself by saying his sinful conduct acted towards the fulfillment of the promise of God.

*Tohi Vete: David Guzik ako ‘i he Tohi Senesi*

i. Naʻe vave ‘aupito hono fakahū mai ‘e Sekope ‘a e ‘Otua´ ke fakakau ki heʻene palani kākāa´. Koeʻuhi´ ko ‘ene ‘ilo naʻe finangalo ‘a e ‘Otua´ ke ne maʻu ‘a e tuʻunga hoko´, naʻa ne fakatonuhiaʻi ‘a e loi´ mo e kākāa´, kehe pe ke ne maʻu ‘a e tuʻunga hoko´, he naʻa ne pehē, ko ‘ene tuʻu hake ia maʻae kau lotu moʻoni´.

ii. Mahalo naʻe ngaueʻaki ‘e Sekope ‘a e palomesi mo e ui ‘a e ‘Otua´, ke fakatonuhiaʻi ‘a e angahala´; naʻa ne lau pe ‘a ‘ene angahala´ ko e foʻi ngaue ia te ne fakafua mai ‘a e palomesi ‘a e ‘Otua´.  

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

Doctrine... 

In sum, Francis Cheynell provides a helpful summary of the doctrine of the Trinity by affirming a number of the points mentioned above:

We do believe that God is one, most singly and singularly one, and an only one: The unity of the Godhead is ... a most singular unity. ... All three Persons have one and the same single and infinite Godhead, and therefore must needs mutually subsist in one another, because they are all three one and the same infinite God[.] ... united in their one nature, not confounded in their distinct subsistences; nay though their subsistence is in one another, yet their subsistences are distinct, but the nature most singularly the same.

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

Tokāteline...

Ko e fakamatala ‘a Falakiko Seinele (ko e faikekau teolosia Pulitani) ‘oku´ ne fakamāʻopoʻopo ‘a e ngaahi poini mahuʻinga ‘o e tokāteline ‘o e Tulinitī (tolu-tahaʻi-‘Otua) kuo tau ‘osi lave ki ai:

‘Oku tau tui ‘oku taha pe ‘a e ‘Otua´, ko e tahaʻi taha, ‘oku singikulali, pea ‘oku taha mātē pe Ia: ko e ‘iunioni ‘a e ‘Uluʻi-ʻOtua´ ...ko e tahaʻi ‘iunioni.  Ko e kotoa ‘o e Pesona ‘e Toko Tolu´ ‘oku taha pe honau ‘Ulu´ pea ko e ‘Otua taʻengata tatau pe pea kuopau ke nau moʻui ‘i ha tuʻunga fetaiaki, koeʻuhi´, ko e toko tolu ‘i he ‘Otua ‘oku lauikuonga pe taha mo tatau pe ... kafa taha ‘i he natula pe ‘e taha, ‘ikai motuhia ‘i honau tuʻunga makehe´, neongo ‘oku nau taha ‘i he uho pe ‘e taha, ka ‘oku nau moʻui ‘i ha tuʻunga makehekehe, ka ko e natula´ ‘oku taha mātē pe.

 Tusite Sanuali 26, 2021

Abraham obeyed My voice

na‘e tuitala ‘a ‘Epalahame ki he‘eku lea

Senesi 26 (Genesis 26)

(v. 5) because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.

(v. 5) Koe‘uhi ā na‘e tuitala ‘a ‘Epalahame ki he‘eku lea, mo ne tauhi ‘eku ngaahi fekau, ‘a ‘eku ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni, mo ‘eku ngaahi fono, pea mo ‘eku ngaahi lao.

*Commentary: The Reformation Study Bible*

my charge, my commandments, my statutes. my laws. Abraham's obedience is described in terms that point to Israel's requirement to love God by being completely obedient to everything that He should require (Deut. 11:1 - “You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always”).

Ko e talangofua ‘a ‘Epalahame´, naʻe fakamatalaʻi ia ke fakahinohino ki ‘Isileli ‘a e mahuʻinga ke nau ‘ofa ki he ‘Otua´, ‘aki honau kotoa´ ‘o fakatatau ki he meʻa kotoa pe te ne tala mo tuʻutuʻuni kiate kinautolu.

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

Doctrine...

Here Owen is defending what the Westminster Confession of Faith calls “a good and necessary consequence[s] ... deduced from Scripture”. In other words, the doctrine of the Trinity is good in that it is biblically sound and necessary in that it is essential to believe as part of the whole counsel of God revealed in Scripture. The content of the phrase "God is one essence in three persons" is infallibly and inescapably true because it is deduced from the written Word of God. That is, we believe not only the words of God but also the meaning of God's words to us.

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

Tokāteline...

Fekauʻaki mo hono ngaueʻaki ‘a e foʻi lea Tulinitī, ‘oku taukaveʻi ‘e ‘Oueni ‘a e fakamatala ‘a e Tefitoʻi Tui ‘a e Uesiminisitā, ‘a ē ‘oku pehē ai, “ko e fakamoʻoni lelei mo totonu...mei he akonaki pe ‘a e Folofola´.” ‘I hono toe fakalea ‘e taha´, ko e tokāteline ‘o e Tulinitī ‘oku lelei, he ‘oku tonu faka-Folofola pea ‘oku fuʻu fiemaʻu he ko e makatuʻunga ia ‘o ‘ete ‘ilo ki he natula ‘o e ‘Otua´ ‘i hono fakaeʻa ‘e he Folofola. Ko e kakano ‘o e kupuʻi lea ko eni´, “Ko e ‘Otua´ ‘oku taha ‘i he ‘esenisi (uho) pea tolu ‘i he pesona” ‘oku tonu pasika mo moʻoni he ‘oku fua tautau mei he Folofola kuo hiki ‘e he ‘Otua´. ‘Io, ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i heʻetau tui ki he ngaahi lea ‘o e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua´, ka ki he ‘uhinga foki ‘o e ngaahi lea ko ia´ kiate kitautolu.

Monite Sanuali 25, 2021 

and the Lord granted his plea

pea na‘e ongo ‘ene hū kia Sihova

Senesi 25 (Genesis 25)

(v. 21) Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

(v. 21) Pea na‘e hūfia ‘e ‘Aisake hono uaifi kia Sihova, he na‘e pa‘a ia: pea na‘e ongo ‘ene hū kia Sihova, pea feitama hono uaifi ko Lepeka.

*Commentary: The Reformation Study Bible*

prayed...barren. Like Abraham, Isaac must learn that the seed of promise is a gift of God's grace (11:30; 17:15, 16; 18:1-15, 21:1-7). Both Isaac's wife and offspring are secured through prayer (24:12). 

hūfia…paʻa.  Hangē pe ko ‘Epalahame´, naʻe pau ke ako ‘a ‘Aisake ke ne ʻilo, ko e hako ‘o e palomesi, ko e meʻaʻofa ‘o e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua´ (11:30; 17:15, 16; 18:1-15, 21:1-7). Naʻe fou loua ‘i he lotu´, ‘a e maʻu ‘a e uaifi ‘o ‘Aisake´ pea mo hono fola´ (24:12).

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

Doctrine...

Importantly, if words other than those used in Scripture accurately convey its truth, then such words are "no less true and divine” than what was "principally revealed and directly Expressed” in the Scriptures. The true meaning of God's Word is divine truth.

Regarding the doctrine of the Trinity, then, Owen concludes that when the Scripture reveals the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to be one God, seeing it necessarily and unavoidably follows thereon that they are one in essence ... and three in their distinct subsistences ... , this is no less of divine revelation than the first principle from whence these things follow.

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

Tokāteline...

‘Ikai ia ko ia pe, ka ‘okapau ‘oku ‘i ai ha ngaahi lea mei tuʻa ‘oku ‘omi ke fakamatalaʻi ‘aki ‘a e moʻoni ‘o e Tohitapu´, pea tā ko e ngaahi foʻi lea ko ia´, ‘oku ‘ikai ke holo ai hono tuʻunga moʻoni mo faka-‘Otua´, ‘o hangē ko e moʻoni ‘oku hā fakahangatonu mai ‘i he Folofola´.

Fekauʻaki mo e tokāteline ‘o e Tulinitī, ‘oku pehē leva ‘e ‘Oueni, ‘i he taimi ‘oku fakahā mai ai ‘a e Tamai´, ‘Alo´, mo e Laumālie´ ko e ‘Otua pe ‘e taha´, ‘oku malava ke tau pehē, ‘oku taha, ‘oku taha ‘i he ‘eseni...pea toko tolu ‘i he tuʻunga moʻui ... pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke mamaʻo ‘a e levelēsio ko eni´, mei he tuʻunga tupu mei ai ‘a e fakakaukau ko eni.

 Sapate Sanuali 24, 2021

To your descendants I give this land

Te u ‘atu ki ho hako ‘a e fonua ni 

Senesi 24 (Genesis 24)

(v. 7) The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

(v. 7) Ko Sihova ko e ‘Otua ‘o Langi, ‘a ia na‘a ne ‘omi au mei he fale ‘o ‘eku tamai mo e fonua ‘o hoku tupu‘anga, ‘a ia foki na‘a ne fuakava kiate au, ‘o pehē, Te u ‘atu ki ho hako ‘a e fonua ni; te ne fekau ‘e ia ‘ene ‘āngelo ke fakamelomelo kiate koe, pea te ke ‘omi ha uaifi mei ai ma‘a hoku foha.

*Commentary: The Reformation Study Bible*

I will give...he will send. Claiming God's covenant promise (12:7), Abraham looks forward to God's continuing guidance and provision. Abraham has learned from his experience with Hagar not to trust the flesh to secure the promise but to rely on God's supernatural provision (ch. 16).

Te u ‘atu…te ne fekau. Naʻe pukemaʻu ‘a ‘Epalahame ki he palomesi ‘o e kovinanite ‘a e ‘Otua (12:7) pea ne nofo ‘o fakanaʻunaʻu ki he tataki mo e tokonaki ‘a e ‘Otua. Kuo ne ako mei he meʻa naʻe hoko kia Hekaʻā, ke ‘oua ‘e fakafalala ki he kakano´ (tangata) ke ne maʻu ai ‘a e talaʻofa´, ka ke ne falala kakato ki he tokonaki faka-tuʻanatula ‘a e ‘Otua´ (vahe 16).

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

Doctrine...

Owen responds that to affirm the truth of the Trinity is to affirm a meaning or sense of such from the Scripture even when the words we use do not directly occur there. We envision the Trinity in our minds by thinking in terms of words such as person. To deny Christians this privilege is to make "brutes of ourselves." Thus, “in the declaration of the doctrine of the Trinity, we may lawfully, nay, we must necessarily, make use of other words, phrases and expressions, than what are literally and syllabically contained in the Scripture, but teach no other things."

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

Tokāteline...

Ko e tali ‘a ‘Oueni ki he moʻoni ‘o e Tulinitī, ko ‘ene pehē, ko e fakamoʻoniʻi pe ‘o e ngaahi makatuʻunga mo e ngaahi moʻoniʻi meʻa ‘oku hā ‘i he Folofola´, neongo ‘oku ‘ikai ke hā ai pe ngaueʻaki ‘a e foʻi lea ko ia´ ‘i he Tohitapu´. ‘Oku tau fakakaukau ki he Tulinitī ‘i hotau ‘atamai´ ‘o fakatatau ki he ngaahi foʻi lea ‘o hangē ko e pēsona´. Ka ‘okapau te tau fakaʻikaiʻi ‘a e totonu ko eni´ ki he kau Kalisitiane´, pea te tau toe foki ki he anga faka-Pāpeliane (taʻe sivilaise). Ko ia ai, “ ‘I heʻetau fakamoʻoni ki he tokāteline ‘o e Tulinitī (Tolu-tahaʻi-‘Otua´), ‘oku malava pe ke tau pehee ‘oku totonu fakalao, ‘isa, kuopau ke tau fakamoʻoniʻi, mo tau ngaueʻaki ha ngaahi lea mei tuʻa, pe tuʻunga lea mo ha ngaahi fakatātā, ‘o makehe mei he lea totonu mo e faka-taipe mei he loto Tohitapu´, ka ‘e ‘ikai ke toe tataki ke akoʻi ha meʻa makehe mei ai.”

*Lesoni mei he Taukapo´ 

Siope 34:16 – 20; 12:19; Eki 12:29; 22:28; Teut 10:17; 2 Sam 23:3,4

Siope 34:17     “‘E lava koä ke pule ‘e ha taha ‘oku fehiʻa ki he totonu? Pea te ke lau ko e angahala ‘a e Faitotonu mo Mafimafi?”.

Ko e ivi ‘o e ‘Otua, naʻe lea hangatonu pë ‘a ‘Ilaiu kia Siope ‘e ia, kapau ‘oku ‘i ai haʻane mahino pea ne kau mai ‘o fanongo ki heʻene lea.  ‘E lava ke fakamahalo ‘e ha taha naʻe fakatatau ‘e he ‘Eiki ‘a e kau pilinisi ‘o mämani´ ‘a ë ‘oku nau fehiʻa ki he faitotonu, ‘oku nau taʻefeʻunga ke nau pule, pea ko e ngaahi meʻa ‘oku hoko´ ‘oku lau ia ko e tautea mei he ‘Otua´ ‘o e faʻahinga ‘o e tangata.  ‘Oku anga fëfë ‘a e taʻeʻilo ko ‘eni, mo e fakasiʻisiʻi ‘Otua kuopau ia ke hoko, ke tukuakiʻi ‘a e ‘Eiki ‘oku faitotonu mo ‘ataʻatä ‘a Hono mafai, he ‘oku Ne lau ‘a e masiva´ ko e lahi ia ‘o hangë ko e koloʻia, mo taʻefilifili manako.  ‘Oku poleʻi ‘a e ‘afungi ke hopo ‘i he fakamaauʻanga mo fakahalaiaʻi ‘i he hoko atu ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o hangë kuo fai ‘e Siope ‘i heʻene ngaahi taʻefiemälie.  He ko e meʻa kotoa ko ia ko e ngäue ‘a Hono ongo toʻukupu.  Ko honau ngaahi pesona foki, pea ko e kau masiva ko e ngäue kinautolu ‘a e toʻukupu tatau pë, pea ko e meʻa tatau ‘oku Ne fai ki he kau koloaʻia.  ‘Io, ‘a honau ngaahi tükunga ‘oku nau ‘i ai.  Ko e kau masiva naʻe ngaohi ke nau masiva ‘aki ‘a e ‘ofa tauhi mai ‘a e ‘Otua, pea pehë mo hono ngaohi ‘o e kau koloaʻia he ko e kau masiva ‘oku ‘ikai ko honau foʻui, ka ko e fokotuʻutuʻu ia ‘a e ‘Otua he ko ia ‘oku Ne ‘afioʻi ‘a e lelei taha maʻae tokotaha kotoa pë ‘i he mämani.  Tali, pea ke loto ‘aki ‘a e tükunga moʻui kuo fakaʻatä ‘e he Mafimafi´ maʻa hoʻo moʻui.  Kaekehe ko Ilaiü naʻa ne fanongo ‘aki hono telinga, ‘o ‘ikai ‘aki hono loto, ko ia ai ‘ene lea ‘o fefeka mo taʻeʻofa, pea naʻa ne fakamanatu kia Siope mo hono ngaahi kaumeʻa ke nau fanongo ange ki ai (v.16,34) he ko honau ngaahi ‘atamai ‘oku hë holo.

 Tokonaki Sanuali 23, 2021

I am a foreigner and a visitor

Ko si‘i muli mo ‘āunofo au

Senesi 23 (Genesis 23)

(v. 4) I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

(v. 4) Ko si‘i muli mo ‘āunofo au ‘iate kimoutolu, tuku mai haku tofi‘a mōku fa‘itoka ‘iate kimoutolu kau tanu ai hoku pekia ke puli meiate au.

*Commentary: The Reformation Study Bible*

a sojourner and foreigner. Though Abraham lived in the Promised Land as a sojourner (Heb. 11:9, 13), he demonstrates his faith in the covenant promises by buying his first piece of property in the Promised Land - a cave to serve as a burial site.

muli mo ‘āunofo. Neongo na‘e nofo ‘a ‘Epalahame ko e ‘aunofo ‘i he Fonua ‘o e Tala‘ofa´ (Hepelu 11:9, 13), ka naʻa ne fakahaaʻi ‘ene tui ki he palomesi ‘o e kovinanite´, ‘i heʻene fakatau ha konga kelekele ‘i he Fonua ‘o e Talaʻofa´ - ko ha ‘ana ke hoko ko ha fonualoto.

* study on the Attributes of God / ako ki he natula (ngaahi ‘ulungaanga) ‘o e ‘Otua *

GOD IS . . . (KO E ‘OTUA, ‘OKU . . )

GOD IS TRIUNE

Doctrine...

Throughout the history of the church, orthodox theologians have had to use extra biblical language to analyze and discuss concepts found in the Bible. At various times over the centuries, heretics who only wanted to use biblical terminology criticized the orthodox for using the word Trinity. How did the orthodox Respond?

According to John Owen, Christians must confess that God is one in "respect of his nature, substance, essence, Godhead, or divine being." At the same time, we affirm that this one God, "being Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, [subsists) in these three distinct persons or hypostases." But in using this language, Owen employs words not found directly in the Bible.

Ko e ‘Otua´ ko e Tolu-ʻi he-Taha

Tokāteline...

‘I he hisitōlia ‘o e siasi´, naʻe pau ke ngaueʻaki ‘e he kau teolosia tōnunga ki he Folofola´, ha ngaahi lea mei tuʻa ke fakamatalaʻaki ‘a e ngaahi moʻoni ‘oku hā ‘i he Tohitapu. ‘I he kuonga kehekehe ‘i he ngaahi senituli´, ko kinautolu naʻa nau ofeʻi ‘a e tefoʻi tui ‘a e lotu moʻoni´, naʻa nau fakaangaʻi hono ngaueʻaki ‘e he kau teolosia tōnunga´ (orthodox theologians) ‘a e fo´i lea Tulinitī, he naʻe ‘ikai ko ha lea ‘oku hā ‘i he Tohitapu´. Naʻe fē fē ‘a hono tali ‘e he kau teolosia tōnunga ‘a e fakaanga ko eni?

Naʻe pehē ‘e Sione ‘Oueni, kuopau ke fakamoʻoni ‘a e kau Kalisitiane´, ko e ‘Otua´ ‘oku taha ‘i hono “natula, uho, ‘eseni, ‘Uluʻi-‘Otua, pe ‘i hono tuʻunga moʻui´.” ‘I he taimi tatau, ‘oku tau tui, ko e ‘Otua ‘e taha ko eni´, ‘i heʻene hoko ko e “Tamai, ‘Alo, mo e Laumālie Maʻoniʻoni´, ‘oku ne moʻui mo fetuʻutaki ‘i he pesona kehekehe ‘e tolu.” Ka ‘i heʻene ngaueʻaki ‘a e ngaahi lea ko eni´, naʻe ‘omi ‘e ‘Oueni ‘a e ngaahi lea ‘oku ‘ikai hā ‘i he Tohitapu´.