“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 NASB Commandments– I consider myself a careful reader. I even read the footnotes, just to make sure I don’t miss anything. So when I find myself confused when I read someone’s argument, I wonder if perhaps the argument itself is confusing. After plodding (and I…
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, Romans 1:1 NASB Gospel– Yesterday we learned that euangélion, the Greek word usually translated “gospel” is the good news of Yeshua’s enthronement. It is not primarily about our personal salvation. Matthew Bates convincingly argues that a “gospel” that focuses on personal rescue and entry…
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3 NASB Weak as it was– God saved you, right? I mean, you couldn’t save yourself, could you? You sinned. Repentance and restitution don’t…
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of…
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You;” Job 42:5 Hearing – What is the difference between hearing God and seeing Him? The Hebrew term shama is a familiar one. Today we often stress the double action of the word shama, i.e., to hear and to obey. But…
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 NASB Our instruction – Paul is a curious teacher. He actually expects his students to learn from the stories of the Tanakh. In fact, he considers the…
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NASB In earlier times – Ah, the problems on syntax. English does not work like Greek. In Greek we have one word, proegraphe, that requires five English…
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 NASB Opportunity – Everyone must deal with forks. No, not eating utensils. I mean forks in the roads we travel. We have to decide which way to go,…
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law of sin and death – What is “the law of sin and death”? If you follow Martin Luther (and others), you might assume that Paul’s use of nomos…
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. Luke 17:2 NASB Would be better – This is one of the scariest verses in the apostolic writings. Typically exegetes use it…
