For what does a man have from all his toil and from his heart’s care that he toils under the sun? For all his days are pain, and worry is his business. Ecclesiastes 2:23 Robert Alter Heart’s care – Let’s cover the technical issues first. One of the reasons scholars believe Ecclesiastes was written after…
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NASB Rulers – Spiritual warfare. That’s how most people interpret Paul’s enigmatic statement. Our fight is with the Devil and all his minions in this world and in heaven. …
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1 NASB Created – Why do we love sunsets? Or being at the ocean? Or viewing majestic mountain ranges? Do you have the same feelings when you see city streets, tall buildings or sports stadiums? Why are we so thrilled with natural beauty? Even…
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I John 2:15 NASB The world – Every idea has a history. Ideas about biblical truths are not self-generated from the text. Biblical truths are products of interpretation, and…
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13 NASB All the truth – Gnostic thought is alive and well in the…
But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not…
“For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. Acts 17:23 NASB Unknown – Perhaps we haven’t really understood Paul’s conversation with the Greeks, or perhaps Paul didn’t…
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NASB You might be so familiar with the three categories that you’ve never asked what’s missing from Paul’s list? But a first century Mediterranean person would immediately spot the problem. What’s missing is gnosis—knowledge. In fact, in…
