we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Instruction – Sometimes you just have to have a bunch of translations in order…
we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Request – Does God request your obedience? Does He send an RSVP, asking you to consider whether or not you will decide to conform your life…
For I bear him witness that he has a deep concern for you Colossians 4:13 Deep Concern – Is that it? Is “deep concern” what caused Epaphras to agonize in prayer? Even the marginal notes in the NASB only suggest “much toil” or “great pain.” But the Greek is zelon polun, literally “great zeal.” Of…
Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, Colossians 4:12 Laboring Earnestly – What would happen if you did nothing but pray? Does that idea make you a little uncomfortable? The language itself makes us uneasy, doesn’t it? Did…
and all who dwell on the earth will worship him, every one whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Revelation 13:8 Foundation – In English, I prefer the New American Standard Bible. So, I was quite surprised when…
return the wife of the man, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you shall live. Genesis 20:7 Pray – Abraham caused the problem. He passed off Sarah as his sister in order to protect himself. Abimelech reaped the results. God brought the notice of a death sentence on the…
but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. I Peter 2:9 Priesthood – Protestants love Luther’s proclamation of the priesthood of all believers. Each one of…
“On the tenth of this month, they shall each take for themselves an animal of the flock.” Exodus 12:3 On The Tenth – Passover is the fourteenth day of the month of Nissan. According to God’s instruction, this is to be the first month of the year. It is to have the priority over all…
In that day, YHWH made a covenant with Abram Genesis 15:18 Made – Today you need an attorney, but in ancient Semitic cultures, contracts between two parties were signed, sealed and delivered with sacrifice. God tells Abram (later Abraham) that He wants a contract between them. This valid contract obligates two parties to certain actions. …
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. Acts 2:5 Devout – Peter addressed the crowd and 3000 were added to the messianic community that day. Who were these people? The popular version suggests that these were non-believers, but that isn’t what Luke tells us, nor is it what…
