Jewish Inspiration

Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.” Matthew 2:17-18 NASB Was fulfilled – It should be obvious. Herod’s brutal slaughtering of the infants in Bethlehem…

All the Pieces (2)

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 NASB Interpretation – Yesterday we noted that Peter assumes the validity of…

A Living Hermeneutic

There is no section of the (written) Torah which does not imply the doctrine of Resurrection, but we have not the capacity to expound it in this sense. Sifre Deuteronomy Section 306; 132a We have not the capacity – Abraham Cohen makes a telling remark in his discussion of the Talmud. “No aspect of the…

The Method of Interpretation

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV Hear – It should come as no surprise that Hebrew thinking about Scripture is radically different from Greek thinking about Scripture. The difference is not in the language of Scripture itself. The Bible is written in Hebrew, Aramaic, a particular kind…

Principle #4

Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN. Matthew 26:64 Two Into One – Binyan av mishnaic ketuvim (“building a teaching principle based on two verses”) is reasoning…

As Greek As It Gets

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Handling Accurately – Some days I just want to throw up my hands in frustration. Here’s a perfectly good Hebrew instruction, but when it gets translated, it takes…