All Questions
0
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1answer
20 views
Is there currently a scholarly consensus on whether the Bible is inerrant? [closed]
The doctrine that the Bible is inerrant (meaning that the original manuscripts have no contradictions among them or within themselves) is one that is held by a great many Christians. Typically, this ...
5
votes
2answers
65 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:
...
4
votes
1answer
43 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
33 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
1answer
55 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
25 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 ...
0
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0answers
11 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
63 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
47 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
33 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
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
92 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
45 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
2answers
62 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
35 views
Why does Matthew include these women in Jesus' genealogy?
One of the unique features of Jesus genealogy in the book of Matthew is the inclusion of four women, not counting Mary.
Matthew 1:3
Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar
...
5
votes
2answers
77 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
45 views
What is the meaning of “water and blood” in 1 John 5:6?
In 1 John 5:6 John uses water and blood as symbolic short hand, clearly expecting his audience to know the meaning of these two liquids.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. ...
2
votes
3answers
42 views
Who are the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25?
Soldarnal has already asked who are "the least of these my brothers" in Matthew 25. But I think we also need to ask who are the sheep and the goats?
Matthew 25:31-46 we read
When the Son of ...
2
votes
0answers
43 views
Accuracy of Alfred Edersheim's “Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah”
Edersheim's book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah has been called "one of the best known and most important references on the life of Christ ever written." However, a lot has changed in the ...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
Who is the “elect lady” of Second John?
The Second Epistle of John begins (NIV empahsis mine):
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—because of the truth, ...
5
votes
1answer
48 views
Who is is “we” of 1 John 1:1?
The letter of 1 John begins in verse 1:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we ...
2
votes
0answers
14 views
Does 1 Thessalonians 4:17 borrow from Daniel 7?
Paul writes to the Thessalonians:
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
To whom should we attribute John 3:16?
Who is speaking in John 3:16? Jesus or John? John 3 begins with Jesus speaking in the first person but in v. 13 there's a shift to the third person which continues until a change of scene at 3:22.
...
4
votes
1answer
55 views
What do the jeers towards Elisha of “Go on up” mean?
When Elisha is jeered by youths in 2 Kings 2:23-25 he is told (as many translations have it) to "Go up" or "Go on up". The new NIV (2011) renders this as "Get out of here." Is this a fair translation ...
2
votes
0answers
19 views
Why was Elisha bald?
When Elisha is jeered by youths, he is at the beginning of his ministry which lasted approximately 50 years and so seemingly fairly young still. He is jeered, however, for being being bald. Did he ...
5
votes
1answer
80 views
How old were the youths mauled by bears?
In 2 Kings 2:23, a group of boys jeers Elisha. Various English translations render this "young boys", "young lads", "boys", "small boys". What kind of range does the Hebrew word behind this group of ...
2
votes
1answer
26 views
Did Job repent?
Many translations of Job 42:6 have something like the NIV:
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.
However, in the article on Job from The Dictionary for Theological ...
1
vote
0answers
20 views
Was the LXX ending to Job written in Greek?
The Septuagint's ending to Job begins:
And it is written that he shall rise again with the ones whom the Lord shall raise up. This man is described by the Syriac book as dwelling in the land of Uz ...
6
votes
3answers
177 views
Explanation of Chronological Disparities between St. John and the Synoptic Gospels Concerning Jesus' Passion
Significant chronological disparities exist between St. John's telling of the life and death of Jesus and those of the synoptic gospels. For instance, St. John discusses at least three years of Jesus' ...
7
votes
3answers
89 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 ...
5
votes
0answers
44 views
Is the Gospel of John arranged as a chiasm?
In his book the Literary Structure of the Old Testament, David Dorsey compiles a list of fifteen ways the writers of the Hebrew bible linked narrative units into narrative patterns. One of these ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Why does John note the name of the servant whose ear was cut off?
Unlike the synoptics, John notes the name of the man whose ear was cut off during Jesus' arrest.
John 18:10 - Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, ...
1
vote
2answers
50 views
Genesis 3:13 Does the Hebrew actually say הִשִּׁיאַ֖נִי deceived ME?
In Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Does the Hebrew word actually say "deceived me"? ...
6
votes
3answers
89 views
What analogy is Joel using to compare God's spirit to?
Joel uses the act of pouring to describe God providing His spirit to all the people of Israel:
After that,
I will pour out My spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy;
...
5
votes
0answers
62 views
“which translated means…”
I am told that many scholars believe that the words of Jesus which we have presented to us in Greek were originally spoken in Aramaic. What confuses me then is why there are instances in the Greek ...
8
votes
2answers
78 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Who or what are the “no gods” in Galatians 4:8?
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians concerning their former lifestyle. In this regard, he mentions the following.
Galatians 4:8-9 (NASB)
8 However at that time, when you did not know God, ...
5
votes
2answers
58 views
“Believing wife” or “sister” in 1 Corinthians 9:5?
In 1 Corinthians 9:5, there is a referrence of women serving the apostles. In most translations, they are called wives:
Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do
the ...
4
votes
1answer
122 views
Meaning of (et)“את” and (v'et)“וְאֵ֥ת” in Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית
created בָּרָ֣א
God אֱלֹהִ֑ים
(unknown word) אֵ֥ת
the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
(unknown word) וְאֵ֥ת
the earth הָאָֽרֶץ׃
I ...
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Which is the day described in verse Amos 8:9?
"In that day," declares the Sovereign Lord,
I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.
Amos 8:9
Can somebody explain when this will happen and what will be ...
1
vote
3answers
118 views
Why does the Hebrew word “chesed” in Psalm 136 have two meanings?
Psalm 136:23 & 24 use the same Hebrew word that is sometimes translated as "grace". The ESV uses "steadfast love" in those verses:
It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his ...
-1
votes
0answers
51 views
The name Samara is Biblical? [closed]
I had found that the name Samara, means protected by god, which I know that comes from 8104. Shamar which means to keep, watch, preserve. But I can't understand why shamara suppose to mean protected ...
3
votes
2answers
98 views
Is the water jar in John 4:28 a symbol?
At the end of Jesus' conversation with the woman by the well, John records
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to
the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all ...
3
votes
3answers
90 views
How does Peter fit the events of Acts 2 into the apocalyptic imagery of Joel?
In Act 2, the disciples of Jesus were gathered in the upper room when something extraordinary occurred which caused a stir in Jerusalem. Luke gives Peter a chance to explain in the first extended ...
