Ask the Pastor: Who Wrote More Bible Books? Names of Jesus' Brothers. Help with Helping the Needy. Revelation 4: Who is on the Throne? Birthright and Blessing. Freedom and Control in Raising Children. by the Rev. Walter Snyder Religion Columnist Q: Who wrote the most books of the Bible? My friends are debating this. Friend one says Moses. Friend two isn't sure, but swears it isn't Moses. A: Saint Paul wrote Romans--Philemon. He wins. Moses probably wins for total words (Genesis-- Deuteronomy), with Luke, John, and David, Jeremiah, and Isaiah following behind. We're not sure who finally compiled Samuel--Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles. Or we can look at it in another way: Since all Scripture is God-breathed (inspired, as in 1 Timothy 3:16), then the Breath of God (the Holy Ghost) gets credit for the whole thing! Q: What was Jesus' brother's name or that of other siblings? A: Matthew 13:55 says, "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?" After the risen Jesus had appeared to him (1 Cor. 15:7), this James became a leader of the Jewish-Christian church at Jerusalem (Gal. 1:19, 29; Acts 12:17). Tradition stated that he was appointed first bishop of Jerusalem by the Lord himself (see Eusebius' ~Church History~). He presided at the first Council of Jerusalem. According to the Bible, no other names are recorded---and these these may be half- or step-brothers or a cousins. It's unclear whether Mary had other children or if she ever was other than a virgin. One other connection is in Jude 1, where he begins his epistle by calling himself, " Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James." Q: I am a teenager who wants to help out the needy. I was wondering if you have any suggestions on how I should go about doing this. If you have any charities or organizations that you recommend, I would be truly grateful. Thank you for your time and concern. A: I don't know what church you belong to, but many work out of individual congregations as well as in their national or international organizations. The Lutherans have several worthwhile charities, and are usually ranked among the best in the nation at keeping the costs down so most of your donation goes where you intend. One such is The Lutheran Church---Missouri Synod's World Relief board. You can specify what area gets the donation, if you desire, or let them seek the greatest need. I also support Lutherans for Life and the Vitae Society, both of which work to protect the unborn (and their mothers) from the evil of abortion. Remember that you can go beyond your financial support by taking time each day for fervent prayer. You can also often provide "sweat equity," working as a volunteer for a homeless shelter, a food pantry, a pro-life organization, a group that transcribes into braille, or with others who devote themselves to helping those in need. Q: In the 4th chapter of Revelation who is sitting on the throne? A: This section speaks of God the Father. We know this because of the interaction with the Lion of Judah, the Lamb Who Was Slain, the Son, Jesus Christ in chapter 5. The seven torches which are the "seven spirits of God" are the Holy Spirit. Thus, in chapters 4 and 5, we see all three persons of the Trinity. Q: Are a birthright and a blessing the same thing or different? A: The birthright is that which you have by order of birth; i.e., throughout Scripture, as in most ancient societies, the firstborn son would inherit the bulk of his father's estate. The blessing is that which is done by the father. The special blessing would normally go to the firstborn inheritor. We see how Jacob tricked Esau out of first the one, then the other. Later, Jacob skipped the order and Judah became the recipient of the great blessing (which was God's plan, since out of Judah would come the Savior). Q: How do Christians feel about the amount of freedom a teenager should have? A: While some who claim to be Christian practice total parental control, most balance freedom with responsibility. In other words, we say, "You can have as much freedom as you can handle." At times we err in one direction or the other. We either give free rein or become overly controlling. Of these, neither is good for the children, for neither is the proper path to responsible adulthood, nor is it particularly good for the child at the time (although unlimited freedom may, for a time, feel quite good). This is part of the hard work of being a Christian parent, something St. Paul brings out: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)" We pray that God helps us keep our parental balance. To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email to askthepastor@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe." Ask the Pastor is copyright (c) 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.