All Questions
7
votes
3answers
426 views
Synthesizing Differing Translations of Proverbs 18:24
In the King James, Prov. 18:24 reads "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." This appears to be an admonition for the reader to ...
7
votes
2answers
42 views
What does λεστες mean in Mark 11:17?
Mark 11:17 reads (NET emphasis mine):
καὶ ἐδίδασκεν καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· οὐ γέγραπται ὅτι ὁ οἶκος μου οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν; ὑμεῖς δὲ πεποιήκατε αὐτὸν σπήλαιον λῃστῶν.
...
7
votes
3answers
618 views
Did King Hezekiah do something wrong in showing off his wealth to emissaries from Babylonia in II Kings 20?
The Hezekiah (Heb: Chizkiyahu) narrative in II Kings (chapters 17 – 20) and Isaiah (36 – 39) concludes on a dissonant and haunting confrontation between King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah ...
7
votes
3answers
111 views
Are there scriptural standards by which a hermeneutic method can be measured?
Jesus appears to be specifically criticizing the interpretive method used by the Sudducees, saying, they do not know the scriptures.
Mt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not ...
7
votes
1answer
91 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
115 views
What were the Corinthians doing when they “baptized on behalf of the dead”?
In the very center of an argument about the general resurrection, which the Corinthians questioned, Paul says:
Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead ...
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
3answers
136 views
Why did the Samaritans worship God in Mount Gerissim rather than Jerusalem?
In John chapter 4, Jesus has a discussion with a woman of Samaria:
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in ...
6
votes
4answers
472 views
“the first day of the week” in 1 Corinthians 16:2
I heard somewhere that in 1 Corinthians 16:2
Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in
store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I
come
...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
What exactly did Moses do wrong at Meribah?
We read that God commanded Moses to speak to the rock at Meribah so that water could flow out of it. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff:
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly ...
6
votes
3answers
116 views
Does the communion cup emphasize the vessel or the drink?
Paul's account of the institution of the Lord's supper mentions the cup, but not the contents of the cup:
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the ...
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
430 views
Why, in Ezekiel 28, is the King of Tyre conflated with Lucifer?
Most of what Christians know about Lucifer comes from Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. Especially in Ezekiel, however, the oracles are clearly addressed to the King of Tyre.
11 The word of the LORD came ...
6
votes
3answers
527 views
Was Moses the probable author of Genesis?
I've been operating under the assumption that Moses was the author the book of Genesis (or at least the recorder of a bunch of oral traditions).
This document suggests a different view. ...
6
votes
4answers
728 views
What is the difference in response between Zechariah and Mary?
In Luke 1, we read very similar accounts of two births foretold. In the first, the angel Gabriel tells Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son to be named John. In the second, Mary is told ...
6
votes
3answers
273 views
Is Jesus called God in 2 Thessalonians 1:12?
I was first alerted to this in the NIV footnote of that verse:
We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
When did Jesus change his view on preaching to Gentiles?
In John 10:16 Jesus says (ESV quoted):
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
The ...
6
votes
3answers
941 views
What is the answer to Samson's riddle or how were his companions supposed to guess it?
From the story of Samson in Judges 14 (NIV):
Now his father went down to see the woman. And there Samson held a
feast, as was customary for young men. When the people saw him,
they chose ...
6
votes
2answers
148 views
Does Genesis 3:16 imply that there was pain / sorrow before the fall?
Genesis 3:16 says:
To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your
conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire
shall be to your husband, and he ...
6
votes
2answers
196 views
Life after death in Ecclesiastes
How did the author of Ecclesiastes understand life after death and man's relationship to eternity? What passages in the book address or allude to this topic?
Inspired by a reading of Ecclesiastes ...
6
votes
2answers
184 views
How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline?
According to my own reading and Wikipedia:
On the basis of their language, content, and other factors, the Pastoral Epistles are today widely regarded as not having been written by the Apostle ...
6
votes
3answers
460 views
What's going on with Saul and the prophets?
After Samuel anointed Saul, he sent him home with a few signs that will be fulfilled in 1st Samuel 10:9-13 (NJPS):
As [Saul] turned around to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all ...
6
votes
3answers
158 views
Does “learned obedience” imply that Jesus was disobedient?
In Hebrews 5:8 it says that the Son "learned obedience" through what he suffered. Does this imply that he was disobedient at some point, or is there another way to understand it?
6
votes
3answers
314 views
Jesus is both the good shepherd and the gate - Is it the same parable or two different?
In John 10 Jesus use two images. First he is the gate for the sheep.
John 10:7-10 (NIV):
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for
the sheep. All who have come ...
6
votes
1answer
457 views
Why does the King James have “turtle” in Song of Solomon 2:12?
Ernie Harwell was famous for starting his first baseball broadcast of the Detroit Tigers spring with the following quote:
Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (KJV)
11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain ...
6
votes
2answers
485 views
What are the arguments in favor of Matthean Priority?
The synoptic problem refers to scholars' attempts to understand the relationship among the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (known as the synoptic gospels because they have so much material in ...
6
votes
2answers
273 views
Who was a greater king: Hezekiah or Josiah?
About Hezekiah, we read in 2 Kings 18:5-6:
Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to ...
6
votes
3answers
380 views
What was Er's sin?
In response to this question asked by JonEricson.
Genesis 38:6-11 (NJPS):
Judah got a wife for Er his first-born; her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s first-born, was displeasing to the Lord, and ...
6
votes
2answers
181 views
Does John 7:15 mean Jesus was untaught?
John 7:15 (ESV):
The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning,1 when he has never studied?”
The footnote is:
7:15 Or this man knows his letters
So there ...
6
votes
3answers
145 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
110 views
What can we infer about archangel(s) from the text of the Bible?
Among the Christians I know it is believed that Michael is the only Archangel because only he is mentioned as being one (I realize the flaw, but believed nonetheless).
However, there are several ...
6
votes
3answers
96 views
Why is David's throne established by so much deceit?
This question made note that David acts in a deceitful manner towards the priest when he goes to ask for help as he flees from Saul. This isn't the only time, however, that deceit is a feature in ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Jacob's name is Israel. So why is he still called Jacob?
When born, Jacob is given the name "Jacob" meaning, "trickster, supplanter, heel grabber." After he wrestles at Jabbok, he is renamed "Israel" meaning "strives with God." However, after this ...
6
votes
2answers
131 views
Why is “raah” usually translated differently in Amos 3:6 and 9:4
Why is "raah" usually translated differently in Amos 3:6 and 9:4, even in a super-literal translation:
6Is a trumpet blown in a city, And do people not tremble? Is there affliction in a city, And ...
6
votes
1answer
113 views
Has Pesharim left any mark on modern hermeneutics?
I understand that the Qumran monastic community—those primarily responsible for having collected and preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls and other works—endorsed the Pesharim approach to scriptural ...
6
votes
1answer
121 views
How did Judas die?
In fact, there are multiple discrepancies between these two verses, what did really happen?
Matthew 27:5-8
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged ...
6
votes
3answers
180 views
Why are the Psalms broken into five books?
The Psalms in most English Bibles are divided into five sections or books:
1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, and 107-150
Psalms 41, 72, and 89 end with the double amen, while 106 and 150 end with "Praise ...
6
votes
2answers
140 views
Matthew 11:25: What question is Jesus answering here?
Matthew 11:25: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes”
...
6
votes
2answers
374 views
Why did David advise Solomon to kill Joab? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is David the Godfather?
Joab was a loyal captain in charge for King David and he won lot of battles for his king. He had also risked his life in many occasions for the ...
6
votes
2answers
122 views
Brothers *and sisters* in modern translations
In the New Century Version, passages in the New Testament that were addressed to "brothers" are now "brothers and sisters". For example:
"Brothers and sisters, in the Scriptures the Holy Spirit ...
6
votes
2answers
187 views
Who/what are the two witnesses in Revelation 11?
In Revelation 11:3-12, God says he will appoint his two witnesses - "two olive trees", "two lampstands" - as prophets for 1260 days. They end up being overpowered and killed by the beast, seemingly in ...
6
votes
2answers
4k views
Why was Abishag the Shunammite important?
When we shift from Samuel to Kings, we start with this fairly benign story:
King David was now old, advanced in years; and though they covered him with bedclothes, he never felt warm. His ...
6
votes
1answer
72 views
To whom did God subject everything in Hebrews 2:8?
In most translations, the verse goes something like "In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subjected to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him." (NIV 1984, ...
6
votes
4answers
414 views
Misleading “but” in Matthew 5:22 KJV?
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever
shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: ...
6
votes
3answers
185 views
How does Jesus' being from Nazareth fulfill the prophets?
In Matthew 2:23 we read, "And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'" Since there doesn't seem to be a ...
6
votes
1answer
66 views
Who are the πρεσβυτέροις in 1 Peter 5:1-5?
ΠΕΤΡΟΥ Α΄ 5:5 (SBLGNT)
ὁμοίως, νεώτεροι, ὑποτάγητε πρεσβυτέροις. πάντες δὲ ἀλλήλοις τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐγκομβώσασθε, ὅτι Ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.
1 ...
6
votes
1answer
40 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
330 views
What does “invoke the name of the LORD” mean in Genesis?
The phrase "call upon the name of the LORD" turns up occasionally in Genesis:
Genesis 12:8 (ESV)
8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with ...
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 ...
6
votes
4answers
844 views
Why does Jesus tell the disciples to buy swords?
Luke 9:3 and Luke 22:36 seem to form an inclusio. In chapter nine, Jesus instructs the Twelve, "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic." But in chapter 22, ...
