Questions tagged [context]
The immediate literary setting in which a text appears.
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What does it mean to be "equal with God" in John 5:18?
John 5:18 (ESV):
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with ...
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What is the context 1 Timothy 2?
Based on the text, what is the context of 1 Timothy 2? Some say it's the home/family, others say it's the church, and yet others say it's "everywhere" (cf. v. 8). Knowing the answer would ...
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What are good contextual clues that a passage is meant to be read as hyperbole?
Today in conversation with an atheist we ran into trouble over this passage in Matthew:
Mathew 18:9 (ESV)
And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to ...
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What is the significance of the author of Genesis using two different designations for God?
In Genesis 4:25; 6:3,6-8, 9-22; 7:1, 9, 16a/b; 8:1-19, 20-22, we see the author using two designations for God, “Yahweh”, and “Elohim”. What is the significance, if any, of the author bouncing back ...
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According to Scripture, how should we interpret Scripture? [closed]
There have been many principles proposed for how to properly interpret Scripture. Some of those principles actually come from Scripture. Here are some examples of principles which seem to come from ...
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How should we contextualize Paul's "Jesus is accursed" in I Co 12:3?
In Paul's chapter concerning spiritual gifts (1 Co 12), with the "bookends" being the subject of the Corinthians' appalling behavior at their love feasts (chapter 11) and the nature and importance of ...
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What is meant by “power” in the context of Acts 1:8?
Acts 1:7-8 (NIV):
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you ...
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How come God didn't bless the land animals with reproduction?
That being said, among all the living creatures (humanity included), isn't it quite funny that the Lord didn't bless the land beasts with reproduction and multiplication? In Genesis 1:24-25 He just ...
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Does the literary content of Genesis 1 compel the conclusion that it is a fictive construct for corrective polemics?
It typically is held among professional Christian scholars that Genesis 1 originated as a corrective polemic against pagan creation myths.
Additionally, I presume that this theory as to origin of ...
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What is meant by "these are a shadow of the things to come" in Colossians 2:16-17?
Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV):
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to ...
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What is the nature of the "voice" John 10:27 is talking about?
John 10:26-30 (NIV):
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto
you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; ...
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Is Ezekiel 20:26 intimating that God actually commanded child sacrifice?
Ezekiel 20:25-26
So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through
which they could not live; 26 and I defiled them through their gifts—the
sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might ...
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How do we reconcile 2 Corinthians 6:16 with 1 Corinthians 3:16-17?
We read:
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the
temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And
walk among them. I will be their God, And they ...
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Meaning of "quick" or "quickly"
Revelation 22:20 (KJV):
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
There is a veritable plethora of questions on this site and SE-Christianity ...
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What is meant by damnation? Are there different types of damnation? When does this happen?
What is meant by "damnation?"
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that
are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, ...
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Is there any fundamental difference between the "spirit" of a human being ("breath of life") and the "spirit" of a disembodied (evil) spirit?
Simply put, I'm interested in knowing if there is any difference at all (in a fundamental sense) between two uses of the word "spirit":
Context 1: "spirit" in the context of the ...
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Do John 17:3 and Matthew 25:46 refer to different meanings of "eternal life"?
John 17:3 (ESV):
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Matthew 25:46 (ESV):
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but ...
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What is meant by "the spirit gives life" in 2 Corinthians 3:6?
2 Corinthians 3:6:
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. [KJV]
who also made us adequate ...
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In the context of Galatians 2:1-14, what does Paul suggest by using the word "poor"?
In the context of Galatians 2:1-14, what does Paul suggest by using the word "poor"? Is Paul only referring to the financially poor? Could Paul have also be referring to those who have No Christ-...
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How should ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion) be translated in Romans 3:25?
The word ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion) is often translated in Romans 3:25 as "propitiation," "atonement," or "sacrifice [of atonement]" in Western conservative biblical translations. In Hebrews 9:5 it is ...
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Does Romans 13:8 include a prohibition of taking loans?
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. —Romans 13:8 (ESV)
The most immediately obvious exegesis of this verse would be to take it to be ...
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Does רוּחַ, rûaḥ refer to the Spirit of יהוה, YHWH in Ezekiel 37:9?
Does רוּחַ, rûaḥ refer to the Spirit of יהוה, YHWH (Jehovah in the YLT below) in Ezekiel 37:9?
BHS:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־הָר֑וּחַ הִנָּבֵ֣א בֶן־אָ֠דָם
וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֶל־הָר֜וּחַ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ ...
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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 ...
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The purpose of resting on the Sabbath
There are two main reasons given in the Old Testament as to why the Israelites are to observe the Sabbath. The first one is mentioned in Exodus 31:16-17 [KJV]:
16 Wherefore the children of Israel ...
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Can the Greek word choice underlining “agony” mean “afraid” or “worried” in Luke 22:44?
Although some manuscripts omit Luke 22:44, it has been used along with Hebrews 2:18 to show that Jesus was afraid. It has been proposed that if Jesus was not afraid, then He is not able to help those ...
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Is it possible to disambiguate the meaning of the words "rich", "poor" and "poverty" in the context of 2 Corinthians 8:9?
2 Corinthians 8:9:
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. [ESV]
9 For ye know the ...
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"What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!" - what is meant by sin in the context of Romans 6:15?
Romans 6:15-23 (ESV):
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are ...
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What did Jesus mean when he said "The Father who dwells in me"? John 14:10
John 14:10:
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. [ESV]...
user38524
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Is "the bread is in effect common" (1 Samuel 21:5) as translated by the NKJV accurate?
The MT reads:
וַיַּ֩עַן֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־אִשָּׁ֤ה
עֲצֻֽרָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם בְּצֵאתִ֕י וַיִּהְי֥וּ
כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל ...
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What deeper understanding can the bible reader get from the 2 Samuel 8:2's account of how David killed off the defeated people of Moab?
( Related Posting: Was the use of a measuring line literal or symbolic in 2 Samuel 8:2?
Related Posting: What are the Dangers of the Judgemental side of David's life in the Bible?
)
What deeper ...
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Are the words "beginning" and "word" mentioned in 1John 2:7 the same as those found in John 1:1?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God; John 1:1 (YLT)
Brethren, a new command I write not to you, but an old command, that
ye had from the beginning -- the ...
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Is Acts 1:8 a promise or command?
The render of the famous Acts 1:8:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the ...
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In Isaiah 55:11 - Why would God fully become His Word if He could not return to Himself? [closed]
Does our God claim His-Word becomes fully Himself [before returning to Himself]?
Yeshayahu יְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּ | “Isaiah” 55:11
“so shall be My-Word that emanates from My-mouth; it shall not return to Me ...
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God's decision regarding The Great Flood
Am curious as to how and why God went all "I'm going to get rid of ALL creation." in Genesis 6:7 to "Noah take animals with you aboard the Ark." in Genesis 6:19-20 concerning the beasts of the earth.
...
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In Jeremiah is evil always associated with the north regardless of geographical location?
The motif of evil coming forth from the north is repeated many times throughout Jeremiah. Already in the first chapter Jeremiah prophesizes that evil will come from the north. Then again in 4:6; 6:1 ...
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