All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2 Timothy 3:16 NASB Inspired – Paul’s choice of the Greek word for “inspired” leaves us hanging. Why? Because the word isn’t used anywhere else in the apostolic writings. Theópneustos literally means “God breathed,” but that leaves a lot…
For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world John 18:37b NASB Purpose – Wouldn’t it be nice to know why you are here? If we knew our destinies, maybe we could handle the distractions in a better way. Maybe we could tolerate all the exasperation, suffering, angst, and anguish…
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4 NIV Command – Sometimes Paul is more like a…
Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. Psalm 141:5 NIV That is a kindness – The basis for most English translations is the Masoretic text (MT). However, occasionally the MT just doesn’t make any sense. It might have been slavishly copied from older documents,…
Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24 NASB Any hurtful way – ‘im-derek-ʿāṣab. אִם־דֶּֽרֶךְ־עֹ֥צֶב One word all smashed together (typically Hebrew). So, let’s take it apart. אִם (ʾim) if, not, whether,…
Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24 NASB Put me to the test – Does God really “test” us? Is life an examination, a proving ground where we find out…
Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24 NASB Anxious thoughts – Do you have them? Anxious thoughts, I mean. You know, those deep, dark concerns that just don’t go away. …
Be assured, the evil person will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be rescued. Proverbs 11:21 NASB Will be rescued – If you’re like me you might remember the song, Quando, quando, quando. Perhaps you never heard the original Italian version (here it is). Of course, it’s an Italian love song. …
