And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Acts 11:2-3 NASB Uncircumcised men – How many times have you heard that Peter’s vision on the rooftop was God’s sign that we no longer have to follow kosher requirements? …
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 ESV In the name of – A few weeks ago we looked at the textual evidence for the trinitarian formula found in this verse (see May 30). What…
A few weeks ago, as I was heading to Israel, one of our community send me the following. Now I am reflecting on it and realizing how blessed most of us are, particularly those of us whose children are a daily reminder of God’s grace and our responsibility. I thought this is something we should…
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10 ESV Excellent – Maybe we stumble around the real meaning of eshet-hayil because we don’t like the cultural implications, but “excellent wife” or “woman of virtue” or “wife of noble character” just doesn’t cut it. Eshet-hayil is a warrior! This…
UPDATE for all of you who responded to the plan to go to Israel in late April-early May 2014 with Bob Gorelik and me. We have just about settled the schedule. Plan to arrive Israel on April 26 and return on May 7. As soon as I have the costs of hotels, etc. in Israel,…
But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 NASB Appreciate – Why would Paul need to tell his own brothers to appreciate his efforts and the efforts of those like him? It seems…
abstain from every form of evil 1 Thessalonians 5:22 NASB Form – What do you imagine Paul meant by the cryptic exhortation? What is a “form” of evil? In our culture, we often think of “form” in terms of a mold or press. It is the shape of something. Thinking like this, we might suggest…
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV Testing/discern – One word, two ideas. To test. To discern. Paul chooses the Greek verb dokimazo. It…
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV Conformed – Don’t be blueprinted! The Greek verb, syschematizo, is literally about being in union with patterns…
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25 ESV Wife – Scholars have known for a long time that the Hebrew word for woman, ishshah, is not etymologically related to the Hebrew word for man, ish. We made an observation about this when we noticed that Adam changes…
