Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. Genesis 32:24 NASB Wrestled with him – In my book Crossing: The Struggle for Identity I show that this very unusual story has a deep psychological element. No explanation of who this strange opponent is really satisfies until we recognize that Jacob is…
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him [a]not even one thing came into being that has come into being. John 1:3 NASB Apart – chōris is an important Greek word, not only because it shows up in a critical text in John’s gospel but also because it is pivotal in Paul’s statements…
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.” Genesis 41:39 NRSVA God – English doesn’t quite reveal what is happening in this story. Why? Because the English translation “God” can cover both elohim and YHVH. And in this case, it’s important…
From the openings of the righteous ones is heard her voice; and from the congregation of the pious ones her song. Psalm 154:12 DSS The righteous ones – Go ahead. Look this psalm up in your Bible. Ah, wait a minute. It isn’t there. In the Masoretic text there are only 150 psalms. But the…
And Joshua had charged the people, saying, “You shall not shout and you shall not let your voice be heard, and no word shall come out of your mouths until the moment I say to you, “Shout,’ and then you shall shout.” Joshua 6:10 Robert Alter And Joshua had charged the people, saying – One…
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith. Romans 1:16-17 NASB From faith to faith –…
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. 2 Timothy 1:5 NASB First dwelled – Where does the Bible start? You’ll immediately respond, “Why, in Genesis, of course!” and that is textually true, but it…
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may [d]prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 NASB Not be conformed – I didn’t know if I should choose the verse in Genesis (1:26) or this verse in Romans. …
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. Psalm 103:12 NASB Removed – Humanity has come face to face with a new god, an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent god of eternal examination, a god that never forgets the worst things about you and provides the whole world…
Look. Wisdom calls out, and Discernment lifts her voice. Proverbs 8:1 Robert Alter Calls out – Since the discovery of significant archeological artifacts in the late 19th Century, biblical scholars have had to face the question, “How does archeological evidence impact biblical faith?” The answers have not been easy. As Haggai Misgav points out, “The…
