Three holy words

BACK to Questions & Answers Q: Can you help me with the three holy words Bro Branham uses when healing as told him by the angel. He narrated in the message Experience. We searched for the quote you mentioned, and I must say it was very unique. William Branham often repeats ideas and stories in his messages, but it is very different to hear him say something out of the blue at the start of his ministry and never repeat it. What William Branham said: I want to tell you something now. Watch. Here's what takes place. See, it's... I want to know if you all noticed this. We're fixing to close, you know, fixing to go into the meetings. Have you noticed, always, after I ask or rebuke over a spirit, I'm always perfectly silent for a few moments? Who's noticed that in the meetings, let's see your hands. Have you noticed that? Now, here's what it is. There's three words that I have to repeat at that time. See? And it's the three high words of the Bible. No mortal on earth know it. See? And when I ask that, and then I feel that drop, then it comes shakes back to a place in return of that spirit. Then the...?... healed. That's the reason you hear me say that. See? That's what takes place. Experiences, Phoenix, AZ, 48-0302 Speaking in Tongues? Was William Branham referring to speaking in tongues? This does not seem to be the case as he states that these three words were "the three high words of the Bible". Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? (I Cor 14:6) William Branham's comment is extremely confusing as no one really knows what he is talking about, which then only proves the following scripture: He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. (I CORINTHIANS 14:4 ) So what are the secret words? William Branham states that " No mortal on earth know it". So it appears that he is the only one on earth that knows these "secret" words. He also appears to indicate that if he doesn't say these secret words, people will not be healed. We had never heard of "high words" before reading this quote so we did some research and the results are very surprising. It is well known that the practice of magic is based on three false assumptions: That natural substances possess moral and spiritual qualities or that such qualities can be imparted to them; That God is capricious and that His laws are whimsical and easily circumvented; That there are invisible beings who can be persuaded to aid men or injure them if certain gestures are made or if certain secret words are mumbled, or if some object is worn, caressed or hung on the wall. In 1945, a collection of ancient papyrus codices were found near Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt. The papyri are dated to the period between the 3rd and 5th century, AD, and contain in various degrees of preservation over 40 (mainly Gnostic) works, nearly all previously unknown. One of these documents, was the Gospel of Thomas, which professes to contain the ‘secret words’ spoken by Jesus to Judas Thomas and written down by St Matthias: These are the secret words which the living Jesus spoke, and [which] Didymus Judas Thomas wrote... This presumably refers to the Matthias, who is named in Acts 1:23–26 as the man chosen to replace Judas among the Twelve. According to Eusebius, Matthias was one of the Seventy (Luke 10:1). Another passage from the Gospel of Thomas states the following: Jesus said to his disciples: “Compare me and tell me whom I am like.” Simon Peter said to him: “You are like a just messenger.” Matthew said to him: “You are like an (especially) wise philosopher.” Thomas said to him: “Teacher, my mouth cannot bear at all to say whom you are like.” Jesus said: “I am not your teacher. For you have drunk, you have become intoxicated at the bubbling spring that I have measured out.” And he took him, (and) withdrew, (and) he said three words to him. But when Thomas came back to his companions, they asked him: “What did Jesus say to you?” Thomas said to them: “If I tell you one of the words he said to me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me, and fire will come out of the stones (and) burn you up.” (The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, Saying #13)25 This strange passage represents the type of secret knowledge that the Gnostic Jesus supposedly imparted to his disciples when he thought they were ready for it. In many ways this example is not unlike the mantras handed out to the followers of Hindu gurus who have reached a certain level of so-called enlightenment. Hindu mantras, or secret words, like those given to Thomas in the saying above, are not meant to be shared with anyone else. There is a work referred to as The Traditions of Matthias which is referred to by some ancient writers. According to Clement of Alexandria, a student of John the Apostle, the teachings of Matthias were used by the Basilideans and perhaps other gnostic groups. According to Hippolytus, the heretics Basilides and his son Isidore claimed to have learned “secret words” from Matthias, which he had received in private teaching directly from the Savior. The Roman Catholic church also had "secret words" referred to by Martin Luther But see what they have made of the mass! In the first place they have hidden these words of the testament and have taught that they are not to be spoken to the laity, that these are secret words to be spoken in the mass only by the priest. What does this all mean? Isn't it completely out of character for Jesus to behave as outlined in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas? Jesus freely gave His wisdom to all who would listen and hoped that they in turn would pass on the lessons to others. Jesus states in John 18:20: I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. That seems pretty plain. Jesus did not teach secret words. So what is William Branham referring to? Honestly, we don't have a clue but it should make us all take a very close look at what he taught. We have heard people claim that William Branham read gnostic texts and that some of his teachings came from gnostic sources but to date we couldn't see that being true. However, we now have to ask the question, were some of his teachings from gnostic sources? Doesn't it seem that this is where he got the concept of the "three high words of the Bible"? Doesn't it seem just a bit contrary to the teachings of the real Bible? References Tozer, A. W. 1995. Of God and men (99). WingSpread: Camp Hill, PA Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. 2005. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed. rev.) (1136). Oxford University Press: Oxford; New York Daniels, J. B. 1992. Matthias, Traditions of. In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (D. N. Freedman, Ed.). Vol. 4 (644). Doubleday: New York Luther, M. 1999. Luther's works, vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Vol. 35 (90). Fortress Press: Philadelphia Guelich, R. A. 1998. Mark 1–8:26. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 34A (xxi). Word, Incorporated: Dallas LaHaye, T. 2009. Jesus. David C. Cook: Colorado Springs, CO