All Questions
5
votes
2answers
107 views
What language are people translating the Bible from?
Say a publisher or other organization creates "a new translation" of the Bible: What's the source text? Are they experts in ancient Aramaic? What exactly is the text being translated from in modern ...
6
votes
1answer
75 views
Is translation a subset of exegesis?
This site is in an odd position. Questions about the site are also questions that are valid for the site. This is another such question.
It seems that there has been discussion on chat multiple ...
10
votes
2answers
175 views
How Is the Date of Composition of the Gospels Estimated?
So considering that the oldest copies of the gospels are dated to around 400 AD (I'm thinking of the Codex Sinaiticus), how do scholars go about estimating the date of composition of the gospels? I ...
5
votes
1answer
46 views
How should πονηρός be translated in Matthew 7:11, and why?
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone ...
5
votes
1answer
114 views
What do we learn from the different usages of “aman” and “batach” in the OT?
aman (Strong's H539) and batach (Strong's H982) are both used in the OT to imply some level of trust in God.
And he believed (aman:H539) in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. ...
5
votes
2answers
97 views
What is the meaning of Jesus' teaching about unclean spirits returning to a person after being driven out?
In responding to allegations that he drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, Jesus says, among other things:
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless ...
6
votes
2answers
165 views
What are the strict set of rules followed by sensus plenior?
I realize there are similar questions posted but not seeking an exact explanation where it can be shown rationally that three or more independent people, not talking to each other, can come out with ...
9
votes
2answers
138 views
Whose meaning are we trying to find?
If hermeneutics is the study of the meaning of a text, whose meaning are we trying to find when we study the Bible? How does Scripture being inspired by God but penned by men affect our ability to ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
How does a less Messianic reading of Song of Solomon interpret 5:16 “He is altogether lovely”?
Song of Solomon is a book with some seriously divergent interpretations. I have just started reading a pamphlet by John Flavel called Christ Altogether Lovely on this verse:
His mouth is sweetness ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
Does Paul counsel against marriage or remarriage in 1 Corinthians 7:27b?
What situation is Paul addressing in 1 Corinthians 7:27b?
I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Does Matthew 6 prohibit public displays of faith? [closed]
Does Matthew 6 prohibit public displays - such as the nativity?
0
votes
2answers
105 views
Reading the Bible via verse and chapter and not getting the intended meaning? [closed]
I have noticed a very discouraging and confusing trend when reading the Bible verse for verse, chapter for chapter—more like a book.
I completely understand that we must consider context, time, ...
7
votes
3answers
157 views
Does Theophilus of Antioch's statement have any bearing on interpreting Mathew 5:28?
I found a quote on this site which calls into question the accuracy of Matthew 5:28 in the KJV according to a quotation of Theophilus of Antioch:
"ἡ δὲ εὐαγγέλιος φωνὴ ἐπιτατικώτερον διδάσκει ...
8
votes
3answers
447 views
What is morphological analysis, as it relates to Bible study?
As far as I can tell, morphological analysis is a technique used by Bible students to better understand the original languages in context.
How does one go about using a tool such as Robinson's ...
4
votes
1answer
102 views
What distinguishes an excellent concordance?
A concordance can be extremely helpful in the study of a text as well as its language. Excellent understanding of the language (aided by a concordance) will help in understanding a religious text, or ...
2
votes
2answers
96 views
Where can I find Greek and Hebrew plain text sources? [closed]
Source texts are available with software
There are numerous Biblical source texts available (free, in "public domain") for download into Bible software type programs.
Where else are they available? ...
6
votes
1answer
41 views
Does the NLT translate Luke 9:7 accurately?
In Luke 9:1-6, Jesus sends the 12 apostles out to tell the Good News and to do miracles, specifically healing the sick. In Luke 9:10, the apostles come back and tell Jesus about what they had done. In ...
5
votes
0answers
54 views
By what Name did God reveal Himself to Abraham?
God is on several accounts called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Even by Christ himself and by his apostles He is called their God. e.g. Mk 12:26 /Acts 3:3
I quote from Monica Cellio´s ...
11
votes
4answers
658 views
What is “Midrash” and how does it relate to Christian principles of hermeneutics?
What is the Midrash method of interpreting a Biblical verse and what application does it have in Christian studies as a hermeneutic principle?
3
votes
2answers
68 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
146 views
Upon whom do we call? Reconciling OT & NT
This question was spurred on by my interaction with another related question on BHSE
It appears as though two different names being called upon for Salvation; yet, there is only one whereby we may ...
6
votes
1answer
37 views
What is a “reinked” ms?
So, I'm checking a variant in the CNTTS critical apparatus and look up some info on a couple MSS that support a reading. According to CNTTS the manuscript is "a reinked ms. of the entire NT." What is ...
4
votes
1answer
58 views
Why is the Greek word ἀγάπη often translated as “charity” in the New Testament?
Why is the Greek word ἀγάπη often translated as "charity" in the New Testament? Has the meaning of "charity" changed over time?
14
votes
2answers
420 views
How can we determine if a text is sarcastic?
What hermeneutical principles help in understanding whether a particular passage is to be understood as sarcastic?
For instance,
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! ...
10
votes
1answer
103 views
Why is the tribe of Dan missing from Revelation 7:5-8?
We have been studying the book of Revelation and it was noted that the tribe of Dan was missing from the list of tribes of Israel listed in Revelation 7:5-8. Is there any biblical explanation why Dan ...
0
votes
3answers
483 views
Where does the Tanakh differ from the Christian Old Testament?
Relating to this question: Is the Jewish Tanakh same as the 'Old Testament' which Christians use?
Do they contain the same books and is the textual content same? If not where do they differ?
6
votes
6answers
174 views
What are the limits to the Christological hermeneutic?
According to Wikipedia:
The Christo-Centric Principle: "The mind of deity is eternally centered in Christ. All angelic thought and ministry are centered in Christ. All Satanic hatred and ...
5
votes
1answer
78 views
When does it all start to go wrong for Solomon?
1 Kings Chapter 10 broadly seems to detail the fulfillment of God's promise to Solomon from Chapter 3:
13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall ...
5
votes
2answers
166 views
Do the Dead Sea Scrolls argue against Aramaic primacy?
One of the arguments for Aramaic being the original language of the New Testament is the theory that Hebrew was replaced by Old Aramaic as the vernacular language in Judea following the Babylonian ...
7
votes
1answer
186 views
What is the argument against the authenticity of 1 John 5:7-8 in the KJV?
I was reading through Lee Strobel's The Case for the Real Jesus and came across a passage in the book that indicates the inauthenticity of 1 John 5:7-8 in the King James Version:
1 John 5:7-8 ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
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
2answers
79 views
Where did the idea that the law was administered through angels come from?
The idea that the law was given through angels seems common enough in the first century literature:
Galatians 3:19
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
What does 'Salt of the Earth' mean?
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost
its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and
trampled underfoot as worthless."
- Matthew 5:13 (NLT)
...
2
votes
1answer
31 views
Who were the scholars responsible for the New English Translation?
According to Bible.org, in the section entitled "Preface,"
[The NET Bible] was completed by more than 25 scholars – experts in the original biblical languages – who worked directly from the best ...
4
votes
2answers
88 views
What are the earliest dated Syriac manuscripts of the Bible?
What is the dating of the earliest Syriac manuscript of the Hebrew Tanakh (Old Testament)?
What is the dating of the earliest Syriac manuscript of the New Testament?
Who is in current possession of ...
3
votes
2answers
72 views
Genesis 23 — Why does the Bible change the spelling of Ephron's name?
In Genesis 23, we learn that Sarah has died and Abraham is looking to acquire a grave for her. He approaches the children of Heth and meets Ephron the Hittite who, initially, offers his land (which ...
2
votes
3answers
280 views
Are the twenty-four elders of Revelation 4-5 angels or humans?
In Revelation 4-5, John pictures a scene of worship around God's throne in heaven. Around the throne are twenty-four other thrones on which are seated twenty-four elders (πρεσβυτέρους). I've always ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Has the meaning of “Love” changed enough to warrant substitutions in Bible translations?
The culturally accepted uses of the word "Love" seem to be a trite shadow of its biblical meaning. Common use of "Love" is now interchangeable with "Like," "Enjoy," or "Emotionally attachment" of ...
9
votes
2answers
116 views
How strong was Midian's army?
When Israel took vengeance on Midian they sent 12,000 troops (Numbers 31:4) and prevailed:
אֶלֶף, לַמַּטֶּה, אֶלֶף, לַמַּטֶּה--לְכֹל מַטּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, תִּשְׁלְחוּ לַצָּבָא.
Of every tribe a ...
17
votes
3answers
933 views
What language did Jesus commonly speak?
According to Mark 15:34 (ESV):
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Jesus spoke Aramaic ...
7
votes
2answers
82 views
What language(s) would the Jewish Christians in the various Macedonian cities have spoken?
In Acts 16-18, Paul is shown moving from city to city in Macedonia - e.g. Phillipi, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth - many of to whom he would later write letters. Acts 17:2 explains that it was his ...
6
votes
1answer
43 views
What are the earliest dated Latin manuscripts of the Bible?
What is the dating of the earliest Latin manuscript of the Hebrew Tanakh (Old Testament)?
What is the dating of the earliest Latin manuscript of the New Testament?
Who is in current possession of ...
7
votes
4answers
262 views
What portions of the New Testament are purported to have originally been written in Aramaic?
I am wondering what portions of the New Testament are purported to have originally been written in Aramaic, and by whom. I am aware that Seventh Day Adventist and Nestorian scholars often assert ...
12
votes
2answers
389 views
What arguments exist that would refute the theory concerning Aramaic primacy of the New Testament?
Many Nestorian and some Seventh Day Adventist scholars assert that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic (such as Paul Younan and George Lamsa). What scholarly arguments exist that would ...
6
votes
5answers
664 views
Who is being “taken” in Matthew 24:40-41?
Matthew 24:40-41 (ESV)
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two
women will be grinding oat at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
One of the interpretations ...
7
votes
3answers
93 views
What are the evidences that 'morphe theou' in Philippians 2:6 means 'God's nature'?
Is there any evidence that μορφῇ θεοῦ (morphe theou) in Philippians 2:6 means the "nature" of God the Father? Is there a NT evidence and contemporary first century evidence that morphe is used as ...
2
votes
4answers
228 views
Who was Moses supposed to say sent him, “Ehieh” or “Yahweh”
Continuing the response to the meta call for contradiction.
In Exodus 4:13-14, Moses is talking to God:
And Moses said to God, "Here I come to the sons of Israel, and I told them, the God of your ...
5
votes
3answers
108 views
Does John distinguish between terms for love?
It's fairly common knowledge that there are four Greek words for love, but it's not clear from the Wikipedia article whether certain distinctions persist from Ancient Greek to Koine, namely the ...
4
votes
2answers
560 views
Comma? “Verily I say unto thee today, …” or “Verily I say unto thee, today…”
The reading of Luke 23:43 differs depending on how we punctuate it:
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Or
And Jesus said unto him, ...
5
votes
2answers
51 views
Locations of the graves of the Patriarchs
The Book of Acts at 7:16-17 states that Jacob died and was "carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem."
But Genesis ...
