When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. Psalm 32:3 NASB About my sin – You know that translators and editors add words to the text to “make it flow” better in English. But sometimes they add entire thoughts. This appears to be one of those times. Yes, it’s true that…
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB Excellence – In 2013 we looked at the difference between the Greek idea of excellence (arête)…
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Luke 10:38 NASB Welcomed – Martha will forever be remembered as the one who missed the point. Mary chose to hear the teaching of Yeshua. Martha chose to concern herself with being a good hostess. John’s…
For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. Titus 1:10-11 NASB Especially those of the circumcision – If you’re a replacement theology person, this verse is golden. Obviously Paul detested “those of the circumcision.”…
. . . So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin. Leviticus 5:6b NASB Atonement – Baruch Levine emphasizes one of the most important characteristics of the Hebrew view of law when he says: . . . the laws of the Torah did not permit Israelites to expiate intentional or premeditated…
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 NASB Conformed – Paul’s term, syschematizesthe, is a word about shaping behavior. It’s not really about doctrines of dogma or…
“Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them?” Jeremiah 26:19 NASB Entreat – What does it mean to entreat someone? Even in English we have a difficult time expressing this thought succinctly. Certainly the concept…
holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:9 NASB Holding fast – In the past we discovered that Hebrew has no word for possessing. In Hebrew, the basic thought pattern is about…
“There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; Proverbs 30:29-30 NIV Lion – In two days I hope that the small group of us who are venturing into the African bush to see and study God’s creation will…
but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, Titus 1:8 NASB Hospitable – Can you express the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself in one word? Paul can. That word is philoxenos. OK, it’s really two Greek words combined into one, but if you look carefully you can see why Paul fuses these together….
