There is a time to act for God; set aside the Torah Psalm 119:126 (Heschel) To act for God – You won’t get this translation in the English Bibles. Most English Bibles, and a lot of translations of the Jewish Tanakh, read something like, “It is time for the Lord to act, for they have…
so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 NASB Have been destined – Go ahead. Read verses 1-4 of the third chapter of Paul’s letter. Do you find it a little strange? Does Paul really mean to suggest that…
Therefore, when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone; 1 Thessalonians 3:1 NASB Endure it no longer – If you listen to the big-time evangelists, you might be seduced into believing that you have to press on no matter what. You might be convinced that…
In El Salvador I spoke to more than 1500 students about the Hebrew view of women. As you probably know, the treatment of women in poor countries around the world is frightening, appalling and destructive. My book, Guardian Angel, has now been translated into Spanish and is available in El Salvador – and soon, I hope,…
For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 NASB Hindered – Paul’s statement is rather startling. Isn’t God in charge of the universe? Isn’t God the only true Sovereign? Doesn’t the Accuser have to answer to Him? As a rabbi, Paul certainly believed in the…
we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 NASB Absent – Investigating the Greek verb, we come upon a rather interesting remark: “ekdēméō, endēméō. These two terms denote being abroad and staying at home. Not used…
“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5 NASB Like God – The serpent doesn’t tell Havvah that she will be God. He doesn’t even tell her that she will be like God. He only says…
and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice.” Jonah 2:2 NASB Depth of Sheol – I’ve been there. Jonah and I apparently took the same escape plan. We ended up in Sheol – the…
“They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 NASB I…
