we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NASB Not despairing – How many negatives does it take to make a promise? Paul suggests that it takes at least three. Here the Greek is ouk exaporoumenoi. The first…
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NASB Not crushed – Paul’s list of benefits reads like a colossal blunder. Do we really think that the opposite of afflicted is “not crushed,” or the opposite of perplexed…
Then King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came into the king’s presence. 1 Kings 1:32 NASB Prophet, Priest, King – There are only a few verses in the Bible that include all three words “prophet,” priest,” and “king.” In fact, more…
My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh lodging between my breasts. Song of Songs 1:13 (Tremper Longman III in NICOT) Breasts – But, of course, it can’t mean mammary glands! The Bible would never actually say anything about a man putting his head between the breasts of a woman, especially a woman who…
I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Song of Songs 1:5 ESV But – Look at the translation of this verse in your Bible. Is the conjunctive translated as “but” or as “and”? In some editions, you will find that the vav…
“While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light.” John 12:36 NASB Sons of light – What is “4QMMT”? It is a manuscript, in fragments, found in Cave 4 at Qumran. Why is this important for Yeshua’s statement in John 12:36? Because the same term, “sons…
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” John 12:32 NASB Will draw – First we need some background. Back up one verse and see how the opening statement fits this conclusion. “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast…
And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?” John 9:2 NASB That – Everything has a cause. That’s the underlying assumption of the disciples. It’s not incorrect. It’s just that sometimes we look in the wrong places for the cause. In the thought…
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law of sin and death – It should be no surprise by now that Paul uses the Greek word nomos in a variety of ways. Sometimes he uses it…
Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who observed My commandments and My statutes; 1 Kings 11:34 NASB For the sake of – Let’s see now. The usual…
