For God so loved the world . . . John 3:16 NASB World – What a shame that we have strayed so far from the rich spectrum of meanings associated with the Greek word cosmos. Our English translation, “world,” limits our appreciation of John’s vocabulary by truncating nearly all of the nuances that would have…
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6 NASB The way – “The way.” Is there only one? If I’m right and you don’t agree with me, does that automatically mean you’re wrong? In today’s world, we hesitate to be so “judgmental.”…
to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB I wrote the original investigation of 1 Corinthians 1:2 on August…
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5 NASB With what you have – Even the Greeks knew better. An early macarism (“beatitude” – see The Lucky Life) reads, “Blessed is…
“but only a few things are necessary, really only one; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 NASB 1977 Only one – Martha will forever be remembered as the one who missed the point. Mary chose to hear the teaching of Jesus. Martha concerned herself…
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding. Proverbs 10:23 NASB Sport – The world laughs at morality. Being moral is so ludicrous. First, morality simply interferes with personal fulfillment. Second, it’s expensive. When you worry about the welfare of others, you shortchange your own gains. And what…
“It may be difficult to convey to others what we think, but it is not difficult to convey to others what we live.” Abraham Heschel, Man’s Search for God, p. 86. Pause – Today is “pause day.” That’s the day we gather our thoughts about all those things we haven’t resolved. Maybe we include some…
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” John 21:15 NASB Tend – Well, not exactly. “Feed” is probably better than “tend,”…
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 NASB Religion – thrēskeía is the Greek term James uses in this verse. But our translation obscures some of the odd history of…
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 NASB Fully Known – Sitting next to a total stranger in an airplane makes it easier, doesn’t it? Easier to talk about your troubles,…
