and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:23-24 NASB In the spirit of your minds – What comes first—the chicken or the egg? What comes first—a change in thinking or a change…
“Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself.” Job 5:27 NASB Know for yourself – Eliphaz outlines the good life. Between verses 19 and 27 he tells Job that God won’t let the righteous experience troubles, won’t let famine overtake them, will protect them from the sword, won’t…
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Job 1:1 NASB Fearing God – We are familiar with the Hebrew verb yārēʾ. Used hundreds of times, this word has a wide umbrella of related meanings: biblical usages of yārēʾ are divided into…
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18 NASB Church – It’s no surprise to most of us that the word “church” is a paradigmatic expression without textual support. I have written many investigations…
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15 NASB I do not understand – Paul is not describing his spiritual state before his “conversion.” That’s what Augustine thought and as a result…
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, Acts 9:5 NASB Who are you? – Good question, wrong subject. Sha’ul asks the right question but of the wrong person. The question should have been, “Who am I?” Of course, Sha’ul recognized immediately that the person he…
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You. Psalm 51:13 NASB I will teach – Are you saved? Have you been restored to relationship with the Most High? Then you are obligated! Your rescue did not come without a personal price tag. You didn’t pay for the action that…
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 NASB Received – It is common to believe that this verse records the first Christian mass conversion, the first example of a Christian evangelical crusade. Taken out of the context of the first…
Thus Naomi returned from the country of Moab; she returned with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabite. Ruth 1:22 JPS Returned – Did you ask, “Why is this verb repeated?” Isn’t it enough to say, “Thus Naomi returned”? Why say it twice – unless there is something for us to learn from this reoccurrence? The literal…
“. . . to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God; in order that they may receive forgiveness for sins, and an inheritance among those being sanctified by faith in Me.” Acts 26:18 To Turn – It’s quite common for Christians to speak…
