King Saul’s son Jonathan wanted to engage a detachment (or, “outpost”) of Philistine soldiers who had been sent from the Philistine camp at Micmash to defend access to their camp. Jonathan and his armor-bearer would have to use a certain pass that led to this Philistine outpost of soldiers guarding access to the main camp at Micmash. On the north of the pass that Jonathan would use was a cliff called Bozez and another cliff called Seneh was to the south. Bozez means “the Gleaming One” or “Shining” and probably refers to its appearance in the sun as it reflected light on the south side of this cliff on the north side of the pass. Seneh, meaning “Thornbush” or “Thorny One,” was on the south side of the pass.

Jonathan appears to be a brave individual since he is willing to act alone with his armor-bearer against this handful of Philistine soldiers. But, Jonathan also has some understanding of the covenant Israel has with the Lord since he refers to the Philistines as “uncircumcised” which is in contrast to Israel who is “circumcised” as a sign of the covenant.  This understanding, or knowledge of the Truth, produces a great faith in Jonathan and a confidence to take action as he trusts in the Lord.

Jonathan’s knowledge and faith motivates him to action as he tells his armor-bearer:

            “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many of by few.”

Jonathan knows the Lord’s will, he knows the Lord is present and he knows the battle is the Lord. This faith will be similar to another young warrior named David who will become close friends with Jonathan because of their similar understanding and faith in the Lord.

The Gnostic scriptures (The Nag Hammadi Library with the Gospel of Thomas, The Secret Apocryphon of John, etc.) drew on Platonic concepts of Greek philosophy to present Jesus as a savior who brought knowledge to humans. According to the Gnostic’s understanding of salvation, the disciples were told of their true divine origins and were given other secret information. This knowledge (or, gnosis in the Greek) freed them from their ignorance and bondage to the material world.

The problem with this method of “salvation” is that in the Gnostic version of the salvation Jesus does not pay for the sins of the people. Instead, Jesus provides them with information and educates them concerning their inner goodness and potential. The Gnostic Jesus did not come in the flesh, but was either the spirit of Christ that came upon the Jewish man named Jesus or the divine spirit of Christ merely gave the appearance of a physical man, but was not truly flesh. John contradicts this teaching in 1 John 1:1 and others.