All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2 Timothy 3:16 NASB Profitable– It goes without saying that Paul’s use of “Scripture” means the Tanakh. No “letter to the Romans,” no Galatians’ missive or James’ castigations. Just the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings. That was…
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. Exodus 16:4 NASB Bread from heaven– Manna. Literally, “What is it?” This unknown, mysterious food that descends from…
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Proverbs 23:29 NASB Woe– This verse describes the alcoholic, but it might as well be attributed to any addict. Consider the characteristics. This person feels woe. What does that mean? He despairs of…
He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! Luke 17:1 NASB Woe– Forget blue. The Bible doesn’t come in blue. Blue is not an obedient color. The Bible comes in red, yellow and green. Green is for obedient living. Green is good. Good things…
Yes, let all who hope in You be not shamed. Let the treacherous be shamed, empty-handed. Psalm 25:3 Robert Alter translation Hope – After our recent discussion of batah, you might expect to find that word behind the English “hope.” To trust is to hope. The result is a public display. But that’s not what the psalmist wants…
My God, in You I trust. Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me. Psalm 25:2 Robert Alter translation [First, an apology. Since the death of Rosanne’s mother, our lives have been in continuing chaos. We have been staying in Rosanne’s mother’s condo in Florida. That is part of a trust…
A few days ago I wrote something about the present state of my personal journey. I tried to capture in words the emotions of my experience with God and about God. I wasn’t sure about sharing this since you, as readers, cover a very wide range of spiritual experiences and I didn’t want my current state…
And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:5 NASB If– Avivah Zornberg frames our persistent question: “How can an individual count? The children of Abraham are to be like the sand on…
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.1 John 4:18 NASB No fear– “Christian love is so lacking its emotional polarity that the Devil had to be invented to focus natural human hatred and hostility.”[1] Is Paglia correct? Did we…
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.1 John 4:18 NASB Is not perfected– teleióō. That’s the Greek term here. The verb is a perfect passive. ESV translates it as “has not been perfected.” The NASB translation could give us the…
