And 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 Peter/ rock – Only in Greek. That’s right, the pun that’s involved here occurs only in Greek, not English (or almost any other translation). It’s…
Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” Exodus 19:5-6 NASB My…
Forty years I loathed a generation and I said, “A people of straying hearts are they and they did not know My ways”; so I swore in My anger, “They shall never come to My resting place!” Psalm 95:10-11 translation Jack Riemer Loathed – God is love, right? God loves everyone, right? God doesn’t want…
Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, . . . Matthew 2:17-18a NASB Jeremiah – Anyone who bothers to check the reference provided by Matthew will quickly conclude that Jeremiah’s statement has nothing to do with the death of children in Bethlehem. …
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 NIV Examined the Scriptures – There’s a funny contradiction buried in this verse. The Bereans were orthodox. Jewish orthodox. They…
And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NASB Seek/search – “The modern scholar thinks that he must find religious answers to his critical questions by means of peshat exegesis. In contrast, the sages believed that answers to critical questions should be proposed by means of derash. Like…
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV Woman’s Day Leave you nor forsake you – Feeling discouraged today? Some persistent problems? Some new stress? The usual ups and downs of life? I…
Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:3 NASB The commandment – What do you think the poet means when he says that God has given the commandment to save him? Do you think he…
And he said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’” Joshua 4:21 NASB In time to come – By now you certainly realize that theological paradigms determine textual exegesis. What I believe about the text determines what I read in the text. …
“I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;” Ezekiel 20:37 NASB Rod – One of the tenets of conservative Christianity is that the Bible must be interpreted by the Bible. What it means is this: if I accept the claim that God is the real…
