3
votes
2answers
26 views
Does “Thou hast said”equate to “yes”?
I have encountered "Thou hast said" number of times in the N.T. Perhaps, it can also be found in O.T. I wonder if it is absolutely synonymous to "yes" or it is a way of implying "yes" while not ...
5
votes
2answers
52 views
Can the word translated as “messiah” be considered a title when referring to Jesus?
The word translated as "messiah" in the Bible can apparently have a few meanings in both Hebrew and Greek. It is usually used to simply say "anointed" or "anointed one".
For example, see this usage:
...
5
votes
2answers
131 views
+50
Why did the Masoretes take away 100 (or 50) years from the age of the fathers at their first sons' dates of birth?
The Septuagint (along with the Samaritan Pentateuch) and Flavius Josephus in his Jewish Antiquities allow for about 6 to 7 hundred more years from our days back to the Flood (which accordingly would ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
What did Job believe?
Job 9:2 says:
In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?
Is this a rhetorical question, or he is sincerely wondering how to be justified before God? Depending ...
2
votes
4answers
379 views
Differences in Genesis creation stories
It is sometimes depicted that the basic argument to read "the creation story" (Genesis 1) as a non literal story are modern science and the evolution theory. But I believe that the biggest problem ...
10
votes
1answer
309 views
Who is Wisdom in Proverbs
Proverbs chapter 8 uses a personification of Wisdom. Some people take this personification as a description of God, or of the Messiah. Is there any textual justification for this?
14
votes
4answers
280 views
Why would God disapprove of rituals he ordained?
In Amos 5:21-24 God says:
I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not ...
4
votes
1answer
38 views
Is there an interpretation of the blood and water that poured from Jesus' side (John 19:34) that involves, in part, some physiological component?
In reading What significance does John perceive in the piercing of Christ's side and the flow of blood and water?, I wondered if there is anything unusual about both blood and water flowing from the ...
4
votes
2answers
272 views
What's Paul (of Tarsus)'s view on the bodily resurrection?
In 1st Corinthians 15 Paul records the eyewitness accounts of Jesus' resurrection:
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance ...
4
votes
3answers
828 views
Was Jesus anointed once or twice on the feet with perfume?
Disclaimer: I've already asked this question on Christianity SE and got a great answer. I'm asking it here to get an expert response (and because it is one of my favourite stories). If the community ...
8
votes
2answers
76 views
Why is Jer 10:11 written in Aramaic?
There is one verse in the Book of Jeremiah written in Aramaic; in fact, this verse stands alone as a "one-verse paragraph" in the Masoretic text.
:יא. כִּדְנָה תֵּאמְרוּן לְהוֹם אֱלָהַיָּא דִּי ...
5
votes
2answers
169 views
Is there external historic or scientific evidence of a particular flood that corresponds to the Genesis 7 account?
Some have posited that the flood account in Genesis 7 corresponds to the flooding of the Mediterranean basin, others have suggested it may correspond to the refilling of the black sea.
My question is ...
3
votes
3answers
181 views
What are the two bronze mountains in Zechariah 6?
I've already asked a broad question about the number two in the book of Zechariah. I've received some helpful input on that and made progress in my own thinking regarding it. However, some of the ...
13
votes
5answers
2k views
Interpretations of Elihu in Job
In the book of Job, it becomes clear that the first three of Job's friends - Eliphaz, Blidad, and Zophar - speak wrongly. Not only do they incur the indignation of Job and his other friend Elihu, but ...
9
votes
3answers
196 views
How can we understand 1 Corinthians 12 without contradiction
To my reading, 1 Corinthians 12:4-30 could be summed up as: "Be content with the gifts/role God has given you because in his sight all the functions of the body of Christ are of equal importance".
...
5
votes
1answer
52 views
When James and Jude use κύριος is their meaning limited to “master”?
In his book, The Jesus Dynasty, James Tabor asserts that James and Jude, which he takes to written by Jesus' brothers, use the term κύριος to mean something like "master". It was a sign of honor for ...
3
votes
0answers
22 views
Is John 21 a later addition to the Fourth Gospel?
Many readers have noted that John 20:30-31 makes for a fitting ending to the Gospel.
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But ...
8
votes
1answer
69 views
Is the Hymn To Wisdom in Job 28 a part of Job's speech?
I noticed that in the 2011 NIV, Job 28 is marked off as an interlude as does not appear in quotation marks; whereas in the 1984 NIV, the text appears in quotation marks and is considered a part of ...
5
votes
2answers
61 views
What does Azazel mean in Leviticus 16:8?
In Leviticus 16:8
And Aaron shall cast lots over two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.
It appears that Azazel is translated as scapegoat.
Strong’s Hebrew 5799 ...
3
votes
2answers
60 views
Does John 21:20-24 indicate that the original author of the Fourth Gospel was dead?
Early tradition says that the author lived on for some time after the composition, while many post-eighteenth century critical scholars seem to take for granted that the author (if it even is the ...
4
votes
4answers
328 views
Did Jesus endorse tithing for all when addressing the Pharisees?
Here's the text of Luke 11:42:
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the ...
0
votes
0answers
10 views
What is the predominate relationship of afflictions, endurance and hope in the NT?
question
What is the primary grammatical-sytactical and/or exegetical-theological relationship manifested between thlipsis, hupomene and elpida [pardon my non-standard transliterations]? Is it ...
4
votes
2answers
62 views
Details on “Western Unical D”?
The story of the woman caught in adultery in John 7:53-8:11 is generally regarded as inauthentic and uninspired.
D. A. Carson says the following in his commentary on this passage (p.333):
These ...
7
votes
3answers
145 views
Did Paul expect Timothy to see “the last days”?
In 2 Timothy, Paul warns Timothy as follows:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of ...
2
votes
0answers
9 views
In 2 Peter 1:20-21, is Peter referring to all Scripture, or is he referring more specifically to the prophecies that are recorded in Scripture?
2 Peter 1:20-21 says the following (in the NASB):
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
119 views
Why did John write in this seemingly time-bending way?
John 11:1-2 (NLT)
11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet ...
4
votes
3answers
50 views
Why does Numbers 29:39 (LXX) refer to “your salvation” instead of “peace offerings”?
LXX reads:
39 ταῦτα ποιήσετε κυρίῳ ἐν ταῖς ἑορταῖς ὑμῶν πλὴν τῶν εὐχῶν ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ ἑκούσια ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματα ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς θυσίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς σπονδὰς ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ σωτήρια ὑμῶν
ESV says:
39 ...
7
votes
2answers
167 views
Did Abraham leave Haran before or after his father died?
Genesis 11:31-12-1 appears to indicate that Abram left Haran after his father Terah had died. (The author of the New Testament book of Acts certainly saw it that way.)
Terah took his son Abram and ...
3
votes
1answer
35 views
In John 18, who was high priest at the time of Jesus' arrest?
First the text in John 18 (NIV) seems to make clear that Caiaphas was high priest:
18:13 They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that ...
4
votes
1answer
35 views
How many days elapsed between Jesus's baptism and his return to Galilee?
Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that a period of at least forty days separated Jesus's baptism from his return to Galilee. Mark (1:9-15) writes,
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee ...
8
votes
2answers
723 views
What is “verbal plenary inspiration” and to what texts does it apply?
What is the "verbal plenary" view of the inspiration of Scripture and to what texts is it considered to apply? What hermeneutical approaches hold this view and how does it affect the way they ...
5
votes
5answers
177 views
What significance does John perceive in the piercing of Christ's side and the flow of blood and water?
Both the piercing of Christ side and the flow of blood and water (John 19:34) are unique to John’s gospel and it’s clear from the testimony which follows (19:35) he sees in them great deal of ...
9
votes
3answers
534 views
Who or what is Rahab in Job?
The most famous Rahab in the Bible is the prostitute of Jericho who hid the two Hebrew spies in Joshua 2. But there seems to be a different Rahab introduced in Job:
“God will not turn back his ...
12
votes
4answers
673 views
How is it that Jesus could be “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”?
This verse is usually interpreted as a prophetic word by Jesus about Himself:
Matthew 12:40: For as Jonas was three days and three nights
in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three ...
3
votes
3answers
110 views
Does the “fear of death” in Hebrews 2:15 refer to the dread of physically dying, or to something else?
In the Christian New Testament, we find the following:
Hebrews 2:14-15 (NASB)
14Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through ...
4
votes
1answer
32 views
For Whom has the Right and Left hand of Jesus been prepared?
Mark records the following,
10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,”
they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you
want me to do for ...
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Did Pilate know three languages?
John 19:20-22:
This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was
crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, [and]
Greek, [and] Latin. Then said the chief ...
5
votes
1answer
33 views
Was 1 John an unfinished letter?
When I read 1 John, it seems to me that it was written in a hurry, with parenthetical thoughts not fully fleshed. (Specifically, the "sin that leads to death" reference, that I ask about in a ...
3
votes
1answer
359 views
*Two* miraculous catches of fish in John 21 and significance?
In John 21, Jesus tells the disciples to throw their nets on the "right side of the boat" (verse 6) which enables the second miraculous catch of fish in Jesus' ministry, the catching of 153 fish.
...
7
votes
3answers
86 views
What is the meaning of “day and hour unknown”?
Matthew 25:13 (NKJV) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day
nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
This verse mentions only the day and the hour as unknown. Does this mean ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Were all the cananites slaughtered or not?
It seems pretty clear in some of the texts that when Land of Canaan was conquered, there were no one left alive, all were killed:
Joshua defeated the whole land, including the hill country, the ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
What is “sin that leads to death” in 1 John 5:16?
1 John 5:16 (NIV) Emphasis Added
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead ...
1
vote
2answers
26 views
Is Paul speaking with sarcasm in Acts 24:21?
Acts 24:21:
Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them,
Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you
this day
Is Paul speaking with sarcasm ...
5
votes
1answer
44 views
Do modern interpreters use the methods of Talmudical hermeneutics?
Do Christian or Muslim theologians use the same rules as Rabbinate teachers do, when they interpret their respective holy scriptures?
I'm particularly interested in the '13-methods to infer from holy ...
5
votes
3answers
486 views
Who are the “third and fourth generation” in Exodus 20:5?
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Admah and Zeboiim in Hosea 11:8
In one of the most beautiful passages of a beautiful book, God says:
How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you ...
7
votes
2answers
90 views
Can John's Passion chronology be reconciled with that of the Synoptics?
Background:
Over the centuries, many readers of the four Gospels have seen significant discrepancies between John and the Synoptics, particularly with regards to chronology. This has led many to ...
26
votes
7answers
603 views
How do Jewish scholars differ from Christian scholars in their approach to the Tanakh?
What are the characteristic differences between how Jewish scholarship approaches the text of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and that of Christian scholars? If their approach was the same I assume they ...
4
votes
3answers
104 views
Who is judging whom in Revelation 20:4?
The following verse towards the end of Revalation has an interesting turn of phrase:
Revelation 20:4 (ESV) (emphasis mine)
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the ...
5
votes
2answers
75 views
Why does Jesus heal the blind man twice?
The Jesus of the Gospels has the power to heal. So why does Mark record the partial healing of the blind man in Mark 8?
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and
begged ...
