So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, Ephesians 2:19 NASB Fellow-citizens – This word is sumpolitai. You can see the combination of sum and polites – literally “together with a citizen.” It is also translated “fellow-workers.” That is important because this…
The last day of my trip to South Africa, I visited some people who do not exist. At least, until recently, they did not “officially” exist according to the government. These are the displaced, poor White people of the country. They live is excruciating poverty. They receive less than $200 a month from the government. Unlike…
He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. Song of Songs 2:4 NASB Banner – Here is a word, degel, that is used in only two places in the Bible; the book of Numbers and this verse in Song of Songs. The references in the book of Numbers…
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Proverbs 4:18 NASB Righteous – This Hebrew word (tsedeq), occurring more than 250 times in the Old Testament, carries the connotation of moral conformity to norm or standard. It is used to describe the…
The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand; Psalm 37:23-24 NASB Holds – The primary meaning of the root word samak is to lean upon or to sustain. …
Goodbye to South Africa again. These are images that please. In a day or two, I will speak about the other side of the coin.
Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son Genesis 22:10 NASB Knife – The ma’akelet is a special kind of knife – a knife used to slaughter sacrifices. In the Old Testament, it describes the instrument used to cut a person into pieces (Judges 19:29) and to prepare animals for…
the one who does not love does not know God for God is love 1 John 4:8 NASB Not – This is a harsh verse. It may not seem harsh because we are likely to modify its meaning. We want to feel better about our efforts to meet its demands, so we lessen the impact…
for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation Romans 1:16 AKJV Not ashamed – The Greek words are ouk and epaischunomai. Paul uses the word ouk for “not.” This word is very strong. It means “absolutely not” or “under no circumstances.” The other word…
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty Proverbs 16:32 NASB Slow to anger – The Hebrew expression is erek apayim. It is a perfect match with the Greek makrothumia. Behind this expression the word ap, a word that describes the nostrils in breathing and the word erek which mean “long.” God…
