As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Romans 4:17 NIV As it is written – When Paul used the phrase, kathōs…
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 NASB Way – The Greek term, hodós, is used for both literal roads, streets, and pathways, and figuratively for the course of life. In Greek mythology, hodós is connected to the choice between the…
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 NASB Truth – The apostolic writings have been handed down to us in Greek. Of course, the writers were Jews so their Greek was really Jewish-Greek, what we call koine Greek. That means we…
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4-5 NASB 1995 Do not answer/ answer – Proverbs is instruction in piety. It’s practical. It’s didactic. It’s anthropological (human) rather than divine. “Live…
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30 NIV Flawless – Yes, that’s right. The title of this little investigation is not “the Bible.” It is “the Bibles.” Why? Because there is no such thing as the Bible. Hold on! Take a deep breath—and…
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11 NIV Full armor – In my dream I’m covered with some kind of black plastic tarry substance. It tries to hold me down to the ground. I try to fight it off, but no matter what…
“ . . . and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32 NASB Truth – It’s time to write your autobiography. Well, no, not really. Did you ever think about the illogical assumptions of an autobiography. First, of course, is the fact that the real meaning of a life can’t…
But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ Jeremiah 18:12 NASB It’s hopeless! – Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg’s book, The Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus, is a difficult read. Just so we clear up the title, it is not about…
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; John 14:16 NASB Another Helper– Shall we make an attempt to understand this verse in the context of orthodox Galilean Jewish living in the first century? Or shall we just accept the usual Christian doctrinal rendition? Is…
Remove the false way from me, and graciously grant me Your law. Psalm 119:29 NASB Remove– Okay, I admit it. I make lots of mistakes. I do know a few things, and sometimes I get them right, but most of the time these little adventures into the language and culture of ancient people is just the best…
