Spiritual Therapy

Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my advisers.  Psalm 119:24 NASB Advisors – How much would you pay for really good advice?  I suppose the answer depends on the seriousness of the problem.  So, suppose the problem is a life or death issue.  What’s that worth?  Those are the stakes in this verse.  The…

The Annual Review

who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.  Philemon 1:11 NASB Useless – This is an odd thing to say.  After all, we’re speaking about a slave.  What does a slave do?  Whatever the master commands.  A slave is useful precisely because a slave does what’s required. …

Turning on the Tears

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,  Philemon 1:10  NASB Child – But, of course, Onesimus is not a child.  Most commentators assume that Paul uses the Greek téknon to describe Onesimus’ “conversion” birth under Paul’s tutelage.  Perhaps that’s why Paul doesn’t use the usual país (boy or girl…

A Reasonable Argument

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” says YHWH.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 Thoughts – How many times have you heard these verses employed in discussions of the…