Beating a Dead Horse

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 NASB The Word – There is an amazing little fact about the gospel writers that is often overlooked. It is simply this: The New Testament provides little information on Jesus’ family. Outside of the nativity stories,…

Paul’s Shema (2) Rewind

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NASB Christ – Is it the Son’s words or the Father’s words? If you look at this verse in the King James Version, it reads, “by the word of God.” That’s because the KJV is based on the Greek Textus Receptus,…

The Bible at Large

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 NASB Word – Western paradigms focus on answers. Experience is reduced to principles in order that we may predict and control. In fact, the entire enterprise of science, a principal characteristic of the Western mind, is an effort to…

Judgment Day

And if any one hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him, the word I spoke is what will judge him…

Word Work

But the word of the Lord abides forever.  1 Peter 1:25 and Isaiah 40:8  NASB Word – Since this New Testament reference is a quotation from an Old Testament verse, we can look at both the Greek and the Hebrew.  The Greek word is rhema.  The Hebrew word is dabar.  Both words mean “to speak,…

Paul’s Shema (2)

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  Romans 10:17  NASB Christ – Is it the Son’s words or the Father’s words?  If you look at this verse in the King James Version, it reads, “by the word of God.”  That’s because the KJV is based on the Greek Textus Receptus,…

Dune

“Therefore, I have cut them up through the prophets, killed them with words of my mouth; my judgments have gone forth like light.” Hosea 6:5  (translation J. Dearman) Killed – The killing word.  That’s how God describes the words of the prophet.  Did you think the Bible was only “words of life”?  If you bought…

Damage Assessment

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34 Sword – If you’re serious about Yeshua’s declarations, this one must upset you.  Don’t the angels sing, “Peace on earth”?  Isn’t the gospel a message of peace with God?  Then how…

Law And Order

In the beginning was the Word, . . . John 1:1 Word – Almost all Christians are familiar with the Greek term logos.  Its significance in Christian theology is beyond dispute.  Most theologians recognize that the meaning of logos in the New Testament is not the same as the classical Greek use of logos.  The…