“One shall not sell a thing to a Gentile,” The Babylonian Talmud, Regulations Regarding Transfer on Shabbat Gentile – We have often noticed that paradigms determine interpretation. Investigation is governed by what we expect to find. It is never neutral. Even in hard science, the theory defines the category of discovery, and as the history…
“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Luke 5:24 NIV Authority on earth – I wrote Cross Word Puzzles seven years ago. A lot has changed since then. In…
For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? Romans 8:24 NASB Is not hope – Suppose I asked you, “What is the opposite of facts?” You might answer, “Fiction.” You would be thinking, “Facts are true. Fiction is not true. Therefore, fiction is the…
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:23 NASB For our adoption – Once again Paul seems a bit confused. Or maybe it’s just that old nemesis, Hellenism. Does he really say that we are eagerly…
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. Romans 8:22 NASB Until now – Paul wrote this sentence about one thousand nine hundred and fifty years ago. The Greek words, achri nyn, (“up to this point in time”) indicate that Paul thought the universe was on the…
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope Romans 8:20 NASB Not willingly – You know, the whole human race is in deep trouble. We don’t think about this too often, but the truth is that we live on the cusp of extinction, both physically and spiritually. A pandemic…
that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:21 NASB Slavery to corruption – If we’re going to understand Paul’s view of freedom, we will first need to understand Paul’s view of slavery. He calls himself a slave,…
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19 NASB The sons – Did you notice something odd about this verse? With an apocalyptic expectation, we expect Paul’s declaration to proclaim that the creation waits for the revealing of the son of God. Everything hangs on the return of…
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 NASB Are not worthy to be compared – Paul suffered. The disciples suffered. Yeshua suffered. In fact, most of the great religious leaders, prophets, and teachers suffered. It really…
“Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle which feed among the lilies.” Song of Songs 4:5 NASB Breasts – We have been investigating the perspective of two important rabbis regarding the essence of the Torah. Rabbi Akiva treats the Torah as a kind of spiritual map to deeper understanding, encouraging us to plumb…
