so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:31 NASB As it is written – What happens to a civilization when the foundations of common expectation are crumbling? What shifts in public consciousness occur when the rule of law is shattered, when no one trusts…
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, Revelation 1:1 NASB Revelation – Abraham Heschel notes a crucial distinction between the prophet and the apocalyptic visionary. “The prophet hears, the apocalyptic visionary reads. In apocalyptic…
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of YHWH, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances Ezra 7:10 JPS 1917 To seek – Judaism and Hellenism, Martin Hengel’s magnum opus, might at first glance appear to be a study of the difference between these two streams. At…
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of YHWH, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances Ezra 7:10 JPS 1917 To seek – In a footnote, Gordon Tucker wrote, “It is worth noting that this verse expresses something of historic importance. Previously, the root drsh was used…
And within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Ezekiel 1:5-6 NASB Human form – With the verse, Ezekiel begins to share his visions. Commentators and end-times prognosticators have had a field day with Ezekiel’s descriptions. Maybe that’s because they…
For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2 NASB Mysteries – Paul writes these words to the Corinthians. He never speaks of this subject in other letters. What was it about the Corinthian audience that motivated Paul to…
For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2 NASB No one understands – Paul’s remark about speaking in tongues fuels great debate. Some denominations of Christianity consider the practice obsolete, ending with the age of the apostles. Others…
A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? Amos 3:8 NASB Prophesy – At age twenty-one I graduated from my first university and moved to Switzerland. “Why?” you might ask. It was my desire and intention to sit at the feet of Francis Schaeffer. A missions group I knew promised…
to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. Jeremiah 1:2 NASB In the days of – Theology is the progeny of Hellenism. What I mean is that theology—thinking about God—is not a Hebrew idea. The Hebrew idea is behaving according to…
to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. Jeremiah 1:2 NASB In the days of – From Moses to Malachi God sent prophets to provide His people with His point of view. But something happened about 2500 years ago. The prophetic…
