5
votes
Accepted
Does Romans 13:8 include a prohibition of taking loans?
Does Romans 13:8 include a prohibition of taking loans?
Short answer NO.
In the gospel of Matthew and Luke, Jesus commands us to lend and to not turn away from (reject) the one that ask to borrow (a ...
- 3,109
5
votes
Accepted
What does it mean to be "equal with God" in John 5:18?
Jesus never claimed to be equal with the Father. John 5:18 is merely describing one of the reasons that the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus, that he was calling God his own Father (true), making ...
- 1,383
4
votes
What does it mean to be "equal with God" in John 5:18?
Equal – equivalent – the same – not much needs to be explained. However, should this ‘equal’ pertain to Jesus being equal with God or God?
The argument that John 5:18 – implies that Jesus is equal to ...
- 1,118
4
votes
What did Paul mean by "power" in 1 Corinthians 4:19-20?
The operative word here is δύναμις (dynamis) for which BDAG lists six basic meanings. However, the relevant one here is #1 (the most common and basic):
potential for functioning in some way, power, ...
- 69.5k
4
votes
What are the various contexts we should consider in Hermeneutics?
I will provide a very biased answer to this very broad question. It is biased because I believe that all theology is a branch of Christology. Therefore, in trying to understand a Biblical passage, I ...
- 69.5k
3
votes
Does "turn the other cheek" refer to a court tradition, not general violence?
Somewhat, yes. Remember that Jesus was speaking to the disciples and the other Jews on the hillside. It is necessary to understand the mindset of the Jews of that day, and of many nations still ...
- 8,664
3
votes
How to interpret "All who live by the sword, die by the sword..."
The "all" in "all who takes sword" must relate to all mankind, rather than contextual direct disciples. But, of course the immediate context also matters, for had the disciples ...
- 8,307
3
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Does "turn the other cheek" refer to a court tradition, not general violence?
Jesus' response when being struck while testifying to the high priest brings into question that Matt. 5:39 applies to court cases. It relates more to retaliation. The Law of Moses limited it. Jesus ...
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3
votes
What does it mean to be "equal with God" in John 5:18?
Jesus was not asserting equality with the only true God he worships in John 5:18, considering his response in John 5:19 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The ...
- 1,485
3
votes
Accepted
Is there any fundamental difference between the "spirit" of a human being ("breath of life") and the "spirit" of a disembodied (evil) spirit?
It true that in both Hebrew (רוּחַ ruach) and Greek (πνεῦμα pneuma) is used for all of the following:
the Holy Spirit
the Spirit of God
the spirit of man (ie, the air itself)
the spirit of animals (...
- 69.5k
3
votes
Accepted
What did the medium of En-dor mean by "god(s)" in 1 Samuel 28:13?
Hebrew is not Greek nor English. The Hebrew אֱלהִים (elohim) meant more than just what we call "god". It included other things such as:
ruler and judges, Ex 22:7, 8, 27, 1 Sam 2:25, ...
- 69.5k
3
votes
Anyway of interpreting adultery verses in Proverbs 2,3,6,7 & 9 in a more gender-neutral / gender-inclusive / politically correct manner
The issue with taking this approach with translation is that it's extends to more than one book or chapter or passage, since the culture in which it was written expected everything to be framed for ...
- 8,481
3
votes
What is the deeper contextual meaning of Mark 4:11's "outside"?
Mark 4:10-12 has nothing to do with Calvinism vs Arminianism for two reasons:
This text is not quoted by either side in support of their case
The very fact that it is so easy to explain in text on ...
- 69.5k
2
votes
Is it possible to disambiguate the meaning of the words "rich", "poor" and "poverty" in the context of 2 Corinthians 8:9?
Wealth is defined in God’s economy by its externality.
Anything that has an expiration date, is not considered a true wealth in the real sense of the word, also referred to as unrighteous wealth.
“...
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2
votes
What was the author's intention in 1 Clement 30:5?
Here is the text of 1 Clem 30:5 -
ευλογημενος γεννητος γυναικος ολιγοβιος. μη πολυς εν ρημασιν γινου.
Here is the respected Michael W Holmes' 1992 translation:
Blessed is the one born or woman who ...
- 69.5k
2
votes
In Jeremiah is evil always associated with the north regardless of geographical location?
Yes, it is about the direction, not the location, and this is an aspect of Hebrew culture not specific to Jeremiah.
There are several reasons why evil comes from the north:
Astrologically. The ...
- 5,978
2
votes
What does it mean to cast a shoe?
There is some debate as to what is meant. Here is the Word Biblical Commentary[1] translation and notes:
Moab is my washpot;
I will throw my shoe over Edom—
Philistia, shout ...
- 5,978
2
votes
Does Romans 16:11 reveal the apostle Paul (Saulus) was related to Herod Agrippa?
The name Herodion came from the Greek word “HERODES” meaning “heroic” (Strong’s Concordance). This was the name of a number of kings of Palestine (Luke 3:1), and it is possible that Herodion was named ...
- 8,046
2
votes
What did Paul mean by "power" in 1 Corinthians 4:19-20?
There are only two kinds of power, good and evil.
We can speak the truth without love or with arrogance and it is really not God’s power being displayed, but the world’s. Paul is seeking to establish ...
- 5,638
2
votes
What did Paul mean by "power" in 1 Corinthians 4:19-20?
There were some in Corinth who had challenged Paul’s apostolic authority (1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4, and 4:3). In Paul’s absence they were bold to speak against him, but here Paul was promising to ...
- 8,046
2
votes
Is Ezekiel 20:26 intimating that God actually commanded child sacrifice?
Based on context alone, the interpretation stated in the OP’s question is problematic. Ezekiel 20:25-26 itself is a puzzling anomaly against the broader context of text. Apart from these two verses, ...
- 1,985
2
votes
Luke 14:25-33 (Discipleship Tested/Counting the cost Parable) as instructions for Personal Financial Planning/Project management/Business Planning
No, I don't see anyway they are instructions. Not just because Jesus isn't using them as instructions(like you said, his point is clearly about discipleship), but because what Jesus is saying is such ...
- 1,660
2
votes
Reconciling between Ecclesiastes 11:9 & 11:10?
The Bible teaches that doing God's will is what makes a person happy.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way ...
- 16.8k
2
votes
Accepted
What is Peter speaking about in 1 Peter 5:10?
The last part of 1 Peter 5:10 consists of four future indicative active verbs with only an implied object - - the believers. These verbs are:
καταρτίσει = will complete/put in order, root form: ...
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2
votes
Accepted
Do John 17:3 and Matthew 25:46 refer to different meanings of "eternal life"?
The term "eternal life" has a consistent meaning of being alive forever with Jesus.
For the difference in eternal life by faith and the reality when Jesus returns, see my answer to this ...
- 69.5k
2
votes
What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 9:14?
Paul was probably referring to the words of the Lord Jesus found in Matthew 10:9-10 and Luke 10:7. “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is ...
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