The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7 NIV Law – Yesterday we introduced an interesting mathematical puzzle concerning the occurrences of tôrâ. Today we’ll look more seriously at the scope of this most-important word. In general, tôrâ as a verb falls into two categories. The…
the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, saying, “This man is inciting the people to worship God contrary to the law.” Acts18:12b-13 NASB Contrary to the law – How do you read this verse? These are orthodox Jews claiming that Paul’s message encourages men to worship a false God. Were…
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NASB Good – Marcion of Sinope was born in 85 C.E. in Turkey. Before he died in 160 in Rome, he changed the entire Christian world forever after. How did…
But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; Philemon 1:18 NASB Wronged you – Paul speaks the impossible. He suggests to Philemon, the slave owner, that Onesimus might not have done anything wrong. “But if” plants the thought that running away wasn’t unlawful. In fact,…
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. Galatians 3:25 NASB Under – Paul’s view of the Law is probably the most controversial element of all his writings. It certainly separated Christianity from Judaism and it contributed to replacement theology and anti-Judaism, perhaps even to pogroms. When the Church interpreted Paul…
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NASB For freedom – Paul is not a Stoic. That won’t mean much to you unless you know something about the Greek concept of freedom. To put it as simply as…
God has spoken once; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God; Psalm 62:11 [English] NASB Once; twice – You wouldn’t know it from reading this English translation, but the rabbis used this verse as a prooftext for the assertion that every verse in the Bible demands multiple interpretations. Why did they use this verse? …
So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:12 NASB Law – Why is the Law holy? Before you answer, consider the radical difference between the Greco-Roman view of Law and the Semitic biblical view of Law. Christine Hays offers some insight: “Divine law can be minimally…
For certain people have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into indecent behavior and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4 NASB Our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ – Jude worries about the influence false teachers have on the…
For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they were to teach them to their children, so that the generation to come would know, the children yet to be born, that they would arise and tell them to their children, Psalm 78:5-6 NASB Testimony/ law – Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Remember? Teach your children…
