Category Archives: scripture study
Exchanged for life by the true money changer
I am in the middle of a web development project for one of my freelance clients. He is involved in numerous endeavors and needs a “hub site” that features his personal branding and links out to the other projects, which include a handful of blogs and mens’ ministry organizations. One thing that he’s requested was [...]
Also posted in devotions Comments closed
Sound and fury redux: mataiologia vs. kenophonia
In a post from about a year ago, I considered various translations of 1 Timothy 1:6, which in the REB reads as such:
Through lack of these some people have gone astray into a wilderness of words.
The key phrase “a wilderness of words” is a translation of the Greek mataiologia, which is literally translated as “empty [...]
Posted in scripture study Comments closed
With all your heart, soul and strength: the world vs. God
In 1 John 2:15-17, John offers a rebuttal to the world’s version of the greatest commandment:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
HCSB
REB
Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the [...]
Also posted in bible translation Comments closed
Gundry and Matthew’s midrash
Thanks to my blessed wife, we started up a tradition this past year that I grew up with, that being a subscription to National Geographic magazine. I remember stacks of yellow dating back to the ’70s in our house in Alaska, so the small pile here is a welcome addition.
The December issue has an article [...]
Faith and works: two judgments?
Our pastor made an interesting proposition yesterday, one that I’ve been leaning toward for a while now, but was still rather intrigued to hear it voiced from the pulpit. As Christians in the Protestant tradition, we accept that salvation by faith alone is a fundamental tenet and set aside any notion that our works have [...]
Also posted in eschatology, kingdom living, sermon notes Comments closed
Cunning punning in Genesis 3
The value of a historical-critical study Bible does show itself from time to time. I was reading through the early chapters of Genesis, looking for more “once upon a time…” campfire stories, when I happened upon the study notes in my REB Study Bible for Genesis 3:1:
3.1: Serpent: an ancient extrabiblical story tells how a [...]
Also posted in bible translation, idioms Comments closed
Thrown out of the throne room
The relationship between Satan and Heaven is an interesting one to dig into. One popular view is that Satan led a revolt of angels in pre-history and was in opposition to the Creator from the start, such that the serpent in Eden was the physical embodiment of Satan. Yet throughout the Old Testament, we see [...]
Also posted in eschatology, kingdom living Comments closed
Ambiguous grasping in John 1:5
I am continuing my survey of Bible Translation books, now reading Donald Kraus’ volume, Choosing a Bible For Worship, Teaching, Study, Preaching, and Prayer. Kraus is Executive Editor for Bibles at Oxford University Press and presents a fairly even-handed review of translation philosophies, from strict interlinear to cultural paraphrase, though most of his time is [...]
Also posted in bible translation, books, quotes Comments closed
The wine of wrath and the dregs of depravity