39
votes
Why might Paul emphasize FOUR spatial dimensions when describing the love of Christ (Eph. 3:18)?
Paul didn't take analytic geometry. People in his day would look at spatial dimensions based on how they would measure them, not on a coordinate system. They could measure length all at once, and ...
- 16.5k
20
votes
Is it appropriate to translate Galatians 3:21 as "If a law had been given"?
The OP questions the validity of the article "a" in English versions given the lack of a corresponding word in Greek. I will argue that "a law" is indeed an accurate translation.
There is no ...
- 25.7k
16
votes
Accepted
Was Barnabas ever reconciled to Paul?
The events of Act 15 are dated to AD 48. It is worth noting that Paul and Barnabas solved the immediate problem in a good way. When compromise was impossible ("I want X," "Not a chance&...
- 21.8k
15
votes
Accepted
What are the oldest known records of interpretation agreeing with New Perspective on Paul?
1977 and All That
There is a clear consensus marking the starting point of the "New Perspective on Paul" -- it was the landmark publication of E.P. Sanders' Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison ...
- 24.5k
14
votes
Was Barnabas ever reconciled to Paul?
The question sets out nicely the way in which Paul's broken relationship with Mark was healed and later flourished -- with, it seems, a new depth of character in Mark. Was it, one wonders, a case of ...
- 24.5k
13
votes
Accepted
What did Paul mean by "Arsenokoitēs"? Was he condemning homosexual activity as we know it today?
The term Paul used that is translated 'homosexual(s)' came directly from the two Greek words in the Greek translation of the Levitical passage (i.e. the Septuagint, which Paul quoted regularly) ...
- 162
12
votes
Has the Apostle Paul ever been to Spain?
Great question. The short answer is that there is nothing explicit in the text of Scripture that proves without question that Paul reached Spain, but there is some evidence (both in and out of ...
- 11.9k
12
votes
Accepted
How can Paul (Saul), be considered a "young man" when Stephen was stoned?
It's an interesting question, and one that has caught the eye of commentators for a long time. Let's get the text of Acts 7:58b first:
[NASB] ... and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the ...
- 24.5k
10
votes
Accepted
Who is being judged in Romans 3:4?
Psalm 51:4 (v.6 in Hebrew)
In BHS1 v.4 is v.6, and the construction in Hebrew is an infinitive construct with both a prepositional prefix and a 2nd person singular pronominal suffix attached (...
- 19.6k
10
votes
Accepted
Would the Romans have known what Paul meant by "works of the law"?
Short Answer: Yes, they would know what he meant
The longer answer is that the letter to the church in Rome (1:7) was to a mixed group of Gentiles (1:13) and Jews (2:17). Most believe the church ...
- 19.6k
10
votes
What evidence suggests that Paul was not the author of Titus?
One of the critical scholars who believe the attribution to Paul is clearly fictional is Burton L. Mack, who says (Who Wrote the New Testament, p206) the language, style and thought of Titus is ...
- 12.1k
9
votes
Accepted
What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul?
Strong Circumstantial Evidence
Assume for a moment that the author of Revelation is not John the Apostle (my view is that the Apostle did), even though history argues for the Apostle being so and a ...
- 19.6k
9
votes
2 Timothy 2:13 - Impossibility for God?
1. Question Restatement:
If God really is "All Powerful", then why can't he deny himself? Or, is 2 Timothy 2:13 actually saying that God "will/would not" deny himself - even ...
- 5,021
9
votes
Accepted
Why do the NLT translators say "demons" (Rom 8:38)?
NLT translation philosophy is the following (quote from NLT Bible Introduction, emphases mine):
The translators of the New Living Translation set out to render the message of the original texts of ...
- 2,750
9
votes
Does the sower and the planter receive different rewards in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8?
Don't stretch the metaphors too much. While other passages such as 1 Timothy 5:17 do indicate that the ministry of some people is of a higher status than others, what Paul is saying here in 1 ...
- 2,875
8
votes
What did Paul mean by "Arsenokoitēs"? Was he condemning homosexual activity as we know it today?
It seems that many people want to quote the lexicon and be on their way, however in this case the lexicon does not tell the whole story.
While the lexicon clearly indicates that the word Arsenokoites ...
- 7,371
8
votes
Accepted
Did Paul think in Hebrew?
We can be sure that Paul also spoke Hebrew fluently. First up, Mishnaic Hebrew was a living language in first century Judea and well-known even among the common people. Along with that, even though ...
- 21.8k
8
votes
Accepted
What did Paul call Christians?
OP's interest in quantifying Paul's (or, if you like, the NT's Pauline tradition) most frequently used designations for "Christians" makes for a challenging question, and one that would take a long ...
- 24.5k
8
votes
What is Apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh"?
The simple answer to the question is: we don't know specifically. So what do we know?
He refers to it as an "weakness" or infirmity, as you have it. It's the word astheneia in Greek. The same word is ...
- 285
8
votes
What are the oldest known records of interpretation agreeing with New Perspective on Paul?
(Note: I am answering this question at the request of another user, made here.)
The "New" Perspective on Paul
The New Perspective on Paul is really a whole collection of overlapping and sometimes ...
- 503
8
votes
Why is the phrase 'not being myself under the law' missing in 1 Corinthians 9:20 in the KJV?
The KJV is translated from the Textus Receptus from the Greek texts of the Computensian Polyglot, from Erasmus, from Beza 1598 and Stephanus 1550.
Professor Frederick Scrivener, in 1881, produced a ...
- 26.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Why is the phrase 'not being myself under the law' missing in 1 Corinthians 9:20 in the KJV?
The phrase in question from the Greek is μὴ ὢν αὐτὸς ὑπὸ νόμον = not being myself under the law.
The MSS that include this phrase include (dates in brackets):
P46(200), 01(350), 02(V), 03(IV), 04(V), ...
- 71.8k
8
votes
Where does Moses say the things which Paul attributes to him in Acts 26:22-23?
First, "Moses and the prophets", or sometimes, "the Law of Moses and the prophets", is a common hendiadys meaning what we now call the OT Hebrew scriptures. John 1:45, Luke 16:29, ...
- 71.8k
8
votes
Why might Paul emphasize FOUR spatial dimensions when describing the love of Christ (Eph. 3:18)?
This is quintessential Hebrew idiom based on multiple hyperbole. Paul is trying to convey the matchless riches of God's love and grace and struggles to find words to express it. He uses three ...
- 71.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Cretans are always liars?
Epimenides was himself a Cretan who was born in Knossos and died on the island. Apparently he lived in a cave that was sacred to Zeus. I visited that cave almost 40 years ago and was impressed by ...
- 7,918
7
votes
Accepted
Is Romans 1:17 ambiguous?
Not ambiguous, but inclusive in meaning
Ambiguity implies two or more possible meanings that are unclear as to which it is, or more broadly simply being unclear. I do not believe that is the ...
- 19.6k
7
votes
Is Romans 1:17 ambiguous?
The explanation is not contradictory. First we see how Paul expands the meaning of Habakkuk 2:4 in the relevant verse here in Romans -
Romans 1:17 (GNT)
δικαιοσύνη γὰρ θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ...
- 16.2k
7
votes
Which of Paul's letters does Peter refer to in 2 Peter 3:15?
I believe it would be impossible to give a dogmatic answer on this. However, there are a number of interesting connections to Paul's letters worth considering.
What to Look For
First we need to ...
- 19.6k
7
votes
Does Paul believe that God sandbagged the Jews with a law they couldn't keep?
It is helpful to understand the purpose(s) of the Mosaic Law. Quickly:
It was intended to point people to their need for a Savior (Gal 3:19; Rom 5:20).
It was intended to highlight their sinful ...
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