Questions tagged [authorial-intent]
Questions investigating a text's meaning by discerning what its author intended it to mean.
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Deeper Understanding of some of the professions that God wanted to end in (Isaiah 3:1-3)
Isaiah 3:1-3 New American Standard Bible 1995
For behold, the Lord
[a]God of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah Both
[b]supply and support, the whole [c]supply of bread And the whole
[d]...
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In Jesus' parables, how does the value of Talents differ from Minas, and what does the change signify?
The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) is nearly identical to the Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27).
One major change is that the values and quantities of the money is very different in ...
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Genesis 1:26 and 28 tells mankind to "subdue" the earth and "rule over" various animals. Exactly what is meant by this in relation to large animals?
In Genesis 1, up until this command, the conflict in the narrative has been very muted. Sure the chaos waters were there, but God is portrayed as being unthreatened by it, and it soon becomes a mere ...
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Why does 2 Peter 2:5 refer to Noah as "the eighth"?
2 Peter 2:5 (Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament) :
and if he did not spare the ancient world (but preserved Noah, the eighth, a herald of righteousness) when he brought the deluge on an ungodly ...
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Is the Greek word "pragmaton" as used in Hebrews 11:1 referring to a thing done, an action, deed?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [Hebrews 11:1 KJV]
Is the Greek word "pragmaton" as used in Hebrews 11:1 referring to a thing done, an ...
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Who are the intended recipients of the fourth Gospel?
Who are the intended recipients of the fourth gospel (John)?
For example, is it for:
The Jewish community who had questions about the identity of Jesus?
The Gentiles who need to know the relationship ...
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Can the elect in view in Matthew 24:24 be deceived or not?
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: ...
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Is a completely generic 'speaking of oppression' a viable reading of Ps. 73:8
Psalm 73 is my favourite Psalm. Verse 8 seems to be a little obscure.
In the NASB, one clause is rendered, "they mock wickedly and speak of oppression".
Other formal equivalence translations ...
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Did Ancient authors in general retain a copy for themselves? [closed]
From 2 Corinthians 2:
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have
sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you
all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
...
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Judges 7:5-7 Is lapping like dogs meant to test for vigilance?
In Judges 7, God is reducing the number of men Gideon will use to fight the Midianites. God does this twice in this chapter.
First, in v3 God tells Gideon to whosoever is fearful and afraid should ...
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(Proverbs 23:1-3) what does Not desiring deceptive food have anything to do with behaving while dining with important leaders?
(Proverbs 23:1-3)
New American Standard Bible 1995
1 When you sit down
to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully [a]what is before you, 2 And
put a knife to your throat If you are a man of great ...
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What are "the things of the Spirit of God"? 1 Corinthians 2:14
1 Corinthians 2:14
YLT
and the natural man doth not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for to him they are foolishness, and he is not able to know [them], because spiritually they are discerned;...
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Is the speaker in Psalm 22:1 forsaken literally or poetically?
The well-known Psalm 22 begins with the following as the first verse (KJV):
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
It is ...
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Is Paul making the "watchmaker argument" in Romans 1:18-25?
Romans 1:18-25 (ESV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known ...
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What is the relationship between prophecy and faith according to Romans 12:6?
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one ...
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What does “put at the apostles’ feet” mean in Acts 4:32-5:2?
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that
any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything
they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify ...
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Is Revelation 3:16 a warning about the possibility of losing one's salvation?
Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV):
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are ...
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What does Jesus mean by "hot", "cold" and "lukewarm" in Revelation 3:16?
Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV)
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are ...
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What kind of knowledge will pass away according to 1 Corinthians 13?
1 Corinthians 13 (ESV)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and ...
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Is Jesus using multiple definitions of "life" in Matthew 10:39?
Matthew 10:39 (ESV)
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
How can someone find their life and then lose it, or lose their life and then find it?
...
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Why does Job say 'shall I return there' in Job 1:21?
In Job 1:21 we read:
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. (KJV)
What I want ...
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According to Romans 1:3-4, did the resurrection "make" the Son of God or "declare" the Son of God?
concerning His Son, (who is come of the seed of David according to the flesh, who is marked out Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of sanctification, by the rising again from the dead,) ...
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What does Paul mean by "denying its power" in 2 Timothy 3:5?
2 Timothy 3:1-9 (ESV)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to ...
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Hebrews 7:8; who is meant by the phrase "witnessed that he liveth", Melchizedek or Jesus Christ?
Hebrews 7:8 (ASV):
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
About whom is this phrase "of whom it is witnessed that he liveth" ...
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Are the shepherds being curt in Genesis 29?
Genesis 29:4-8 (NIV)
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”
“We’re from Harran,” they replied.
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”
“Yes, we know him,” ...
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Are there different types of perfection according to Paul? 1 Corinthians 13:10, Philippians 3:12, 2 Timothy 3:17 & Ephesians 4:13
1 Corinthians 13:8-12 (ESV):
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in ...
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Greek question Philippians 3:9 is it "faith in Christ" or "faith of Christ"
I'm looking at Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; (...
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Can Matthew 21:21-22 be understood by itself or is its meaning only perceptible in context?
Would it be correct to say that the Bible reader would be mistakenly taking Matthew 21:21-22 out of context if she/he read and understood Matthew 21:21-22 by and in itself?
In other words, the bible ...
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Is peace guaranteed only in the holy mountain?
The first part of Isaiah 11 is usually understood as a guarantee that, in the days to come, there will be global peace, and even the wild beasts will not harm each other:
the wolf shall dwell with ...
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What relationship is there between lack of faith ("unbelief") and miracles ("mighty works") according to Matthew 13:58?
Matthew 13:58
and he did not there many mighty works, because of their unbelief. (YLT)
And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (KJV)
And he did not do many mighty works ...
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What does it mean to "walk by faith and not by sight"? 2 Corinthians 5:7
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 (ESV)
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
What does it mean to &...
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Does "they neither marry nor are given in marriage" refer to the act of getting married, or the state of being married?
All 3 Synoptic Gospels record similar a teaching from Jesus given in response to a question asked by the Sadducees (what happens to the woman who marries 7 brothers in this life).
Matthew 22:30
For ...
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Does 'of us' relate to both 'word' and 'epistle' (2 Thess 2:15)?
αρα ουν αδελφοι στηκετε και κρατειτε τας παραδοσεις ας εδιδαχθητε ειτε δια λογου ειτε δι επιστολης ημων [Stephanus TR 1550]
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been ...
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Are Psalm 41:1-2 & Psalm 51:11-12 referring to the same spiritual experience?
Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV):
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 51:11-12 (ESV):...
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Why did Jesus say the last will be first in the Gospel of Mark...three times?
In Mark 9, Jesus teaches his disciples about leadership:
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to
be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
Then, ...
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Does Hebrews 10 indicate the temple was still standing when Hebrews was written?
Hebrews chapter 10 makes multiple references to the Levitical sacrifices, and argues that they have been superseded by the sacrifice of Christ.
Q1
Does the author intend to refer to Levitical ...
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Why did God ask the Israelites if they would be His people?
"5 `And now, if ye really hearken to My voice, then ye have kept My covenant, and been to Me a peculiar treasure more than all the peoples, for all the earth [is] Mine; 6 and ye -- ye are to Me a ...
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What does Revelation 14:11 mean by "they have no rest, day or night"?
Revelation 14:11 (ESV)
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its ...
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Does Revelation 20:10,14-15 teach eternal conscious torment (ECT) of the wicked?
Revelation 20:10 (YLT)
10 and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and ...
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Reconciling between Ecclesiastes 11:9 & 11:10?
Ecclesiastes 11:9 seems to be encouraging sin in terms of doing whatever you want, but Ecclesiastes 11:10 seems to make it clear that sin/evil is forbidden. This “seems” like a contradiction in the ...
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Does Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 suggest that the spirits of animals and humans go to different places in the spiritual realm upon death?
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 (ESV):
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the ...
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Is it possible to have saving faith in Jesus Christ if one has misunderstood who the Jesus Christ of scripture really is? Romans 1:1-4
I ask because of noting how chapter 1 of Romans deals with the person of Christ – who he is – while not dealing with what he has done to save sinners until chapter 3. Could this be significant? I read ...
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What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 exactly mean by "the spirit returns to God"?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ESV):
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 exactly mean by "the spirit returns to God"? ...
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Why does John say "he saw", instead of "heard", regarding the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ?
In the opening of Revelation we read (NIV)
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his
servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his
angel to his servant ...
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What did Jesus mean by "buy from me gold refined by fire" and "salve to anoint your eyes" in Revelation 3:18?
When addressing the lukewarm Church of Laodicea, Christ suggested the following:
Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV):
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful ...
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What are the signs of a true apostle? 2 Corinthians 12:12
2 Corinthians 12:11-12:
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The ...
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How does the Stone hear words in Joshua 24:27?
Stones do not have ears to hear. Yet we learn in [Joshua 24:27] that The-Stone (הָאֶבֶן Ha-Even) was a Witness which שָׁמְעָה "heard" >> כָּל־אִמְרֵי יְהֹוָ֔ה "all [the] Words of ...
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What specifically were These-Laws הַֽחֻקִּ֥ים "Ha-Chuqim" (upon their hearts) referenced by [Jeremiah 31:36] which Israel keeps to remain a nation?
Jeremiah claimed Israel's nation could not exist before YHVH, if "Ha-Chuqim" These-Laws depart from upon their hearts :
[Yirmiyahu יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ | Jeremiah 31:36]
"If [these-laws] depart ...
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Why did Textus Receptus add the word "Χριστοῦ" to [Revelation 12:17]?
Rome's persecution of specific Israelites who have "τὴν μαρτυρίαν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ" was poetically documented in [Revelation 12:17] - "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to ...
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What did Paul mean by "power" in 1 Corinthians 4:19-20?
1 Corinthians 4:19-20 (ESV):
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist ...
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