rstrats said:
Zeke25,
re: " Suppose someone provides you with the info you're looking for. What will that do for you? Will it change your doctrine?"
No. All things being equal, it would only show that Matthew 12:40 could be using idiomatic language - not that it is using it (i.e.,that the Messiah actually meant 2 nights when He said 3 nights). I am simply curious for curiosities' sake to see if anyone can support their assertion. So far no one has done that.
re: "Are you going to win or lose a bet?"
No, but that does give me an idea for the future.
re: "Are you pursuing other ways of finding this info?"
I've asked folks in person, but so far no one has supported their position.
re: "we have discussed this before and you know that I said the answer you seek does not exist outside of the Bible."
An answer from scripture will be fine - even preferable.
rstrats,
Matthew 12:40 is the first Scripture in the NT that speaks of the 3D/3N. It is definitely not idiomatic language. It is the raw truth and sets the stage for all references in the NT regarding the timing of the crucifixion and the resurrection.
In my teaching “Crucifixion Week and the Harmony of the Gospels” (59 pages and 16 ½ thousand words) I address the 3D/3N and list every verse that mentions the 3D/3N, giving exegesis where appropriate. This is only one teaching of ten (total of 57,000 words) I have on this subject. Each teaching builds upon the previous teachings. All are based on Scripture, not on the errant conjecture of men (such as scholars, translators, lexicographers, etc.).
Here goes. BTW, I'm the only one who talks about time markers in Scripture. The Holy Ghost gave me this information. He first, however, trained me for three decades to be a time keeping expert.
HOW LONG WAS YAHOSHUA'S BODY DEAD
5.a. What does the Bible teach about how long Yahoshua the Christ will be in the heart of the earth when crucified until His resurrection? Let us look at all the Scriptures that give us time markers. Remember, we must consider the whole counsel of God, not just a Scripture or two taken out of context. The context is that all of the Scriptures addressing this subject should be considered as a whole. Some provide more complete information that others do not; such as, Matthew 12:40. But all of the information given by all the various Scriptures must be taken into account in order for us to receive a proper understanding of the topic at hand.
Matthew 12:40 KJV "
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." It does not get any clearer than this. It was three days and three nights. No other combination can qualify. The time marker of “day” in this verse refers to only the daylight portion of a day. The time marker of “night” in this verse refers to only the night portion of a day. Please note that since Christ Yahoshua died during the day, so when one counts three days and three nights, the count ends on the third night. The count does not end during the day.
Matthew 16:21 KJV, "
From that time forth began [Yahoshua] to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." Being raised on the third day necessitates that this time marker of “
day” means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well (see Matthew 12:40 above). We know this because we accumulate information as we go through the Scriptures, we do not place the Scriptures in opposition to one another. Since He began His sojourn in the heart of the earth on the first day, how can he complete three days and three nights except that His sojourns ends during the third night. Therefore, this third night is part of the third day.
Matthew 17:23 KJV, "
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the night time portion of a day.
Matthew 20:19 KJV, "
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the night time portion of a day.
Matthew 26:61 KJV, "
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days." Even though this was a false witness speaking, this part of his testimony was true. Refer to John 2:19-20 below. By cross referencing with Mark 14:58 below, we know that when Yahoshua said He would build the temple in three days that He was referring to the temple of His body. He was prophesying that He would rise from the dead on the third day (the nighttime portion of the third day).
Matthew 27:40 KJV, "And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest
it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the [execution stake].
”
Matthew 27:62-64 KJV, "
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate. 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first." Since His body died on preparation day, Thursday Abib 13, then after 3 days would be Saturday Abib 15. Thursday is day one, Thursday night is night one; Friday is day two, Friday night is night two; Saturday day is day three, Saturday night is night three. If one tries to count, for even one minute or one second, into Sunday Abib 16 then we are speaking of day four. Matthew 12:40 and Matthew 27:63 must be in agreement with each other. Matthew 12:40 does not support a fourth day of being in the heart of the earth.
5.b. But there is more to be said about Matthew 27:64. The time marker "
be made sure until the third day" shows us that the Pharisees apparently believed Yahoshua's prophecy. One day and night had already passed. It was now the second day of His death and they obviously were not concerned about His body being stolen the first night. They were concerned about the day of Saturday both the day time hours and the night time hours that followed. So, when they made known their request to Pilate, it was Friday (Passover). When they requested the tomb be made secure until the third day, they were counting from Friday and going forward in time until Sunday. Yahoshua's prophecy was that He would rise sometime Saturday night, if the Pharisees secured the tomb until Sunday then they felt that they had it covered. In reality, this group of demonized Pharisees were looking to the power of Rome to stop the resurrection power of God. Ignorant men!
Mark 8:31 KJV, "
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” The word day has several meanings and it must be determined from the context which of those meanings apply. We know that Matthew 12:40 sets the stage regarding the count of days and nights in which Yahoshua’s body will be dead. Since He died during the daylight hours, then He must have risen during the nighttime hours of a 24-hour day. Matthew 12:40 uses the word day to mean the daylight portion of a day only.
Mark 9:31 KJV, "
For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the night time portion of a day.
Mark 10:34 KJV, "
And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the night time portion of a day.
Mark 14:58 KJV, "We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
"
Mark 15:29 KJV, "And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest
it in three days[.]
"
Luke 9:22 KJV, "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
"
Luke 18:33 KJV, "And they shall scourge
him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
"
Luke 24:7 KJV, "Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
"
Luke 24:46 KJV, "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day[.]
"
John 2:19-20 KJV, "19 [Yahoshua] answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
" Yahoshua, of course, was speaking of the temple of His body that He would raise up.
Acts 10:40 KJV, "Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly[.]
"
1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV, "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures[.]
"
5.c. There is a possible problem with Matthew 27:63 wherein the Pharisees are reported to have said "
after (Strong's 3326 meta)
three days". My concern is about the word
after. Let us assume that the Greek word
meta was the valid choice that the translators had to use. This phrase means to us in modern day English that Christ was not going to rise on the third day, but after the third day, which is the fourth day. If this is exactly what the Pharisees spoke and meant, then they were lying to Pilate. These Pharisees have already shown themselves to be men of low degree without integrity, without the love of God, and actually full of hate for God. So, if they embellished their story to Pilate to suit their own desires, that is not hard for us to believe. What is important for us today, as we study these Scriptures, is not to be confused and believe that we have a verse that claims that Christ will rise on the fourth day, when we know that is not true. At the most we have a Scripture that shows the Pharisees claimed that Christ said the fourth day, when in actuality He never said anything other than the third day.
Zeke25