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Showing 4551 to 4575 of 4977 results

4551. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. (37) But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. (38) So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does even better. 7:36 Paul uses the Gk. verb gameō, meaning “to marry.” Contrast v. 38, where he ...

4552. Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... love does not insist on its own way” nor, then, is it “irritable or resentful,” nor does it “rejoice at wrong.” Rather, love “rejoices in the right” (NIV: it does not envy … boast … is not proud … rude … self-seeking … easily angered … keeps no record of wrongs … does not delight in evil … rejoices with the truth). The reader of this letter would naturally associate the way that love does not act with Paul’s earlier references to the very behavior of the Corinthians in their ...

4553. Final Greetings

1 Corinthians 16:19-24

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... explanation in Acts that the couple came to Corinth after the emperor Claudius expelled “the Jews” from Rome is probably an indirect recognition that the preaching of the gospel had made its way to Rome by the late 40s and that the controversy it produced required Roman intervention to keep the peace—a kind of story often heard in Acts and alluded to by Paul in his letters. 16:20 References to the holy kiss occur in such diverse places in the NT as Rom. 16:16; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14 ...

4554. Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... bless Israel. Yet, as the biblical setting of the exodus narrative makes clear, the terrifying reality is this: God’s punishment of Egypt is indicative of what God’s punishment of Israel will be if Israel fails to “pay attention to” God’s commands and keep all “the Lord’s decrees” (Exod. 15:26; Rev. 14:12). For those believers who wish to return to “Egypt” (or Babylon) and who are inclined to disregard God’s “eternal gospel,” John’s vision of the bowl-plagues is also a warning to ...

4555. The Rider on the White Horse

Revelation 19:11-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... with an iron scepter (cf. Ps. 2:9; Rev. 19:15) and who alone can rightly claim Caesar’s title, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Some have complained that this violent imagery is out of keeping with other NT portraits of Christ’s return. Moreover, they say, it is out of keeping with NT Christology that depicts Jesus as a “Prince of Peace” and not as a mighty warrior. These are legitimate concerns. If we limit our discussion to Revelation, however, we should first understand the images of this ...

4556. The Burnt Offering (II)

Leviticus 6:8-13

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... 7 deal with each type of sacrifice, beginning with the most common. 6:8–13 The phrase Give Aaron and his sons this command directs these regulations (torah) to the priests. The section centers on the altar fire and the ashes. The priests are instructed to keep the offering on top of the altar overnight and to ensure that the fire does not go out. The continuity of the fire may symbolize divine presence continuing with the community. The remainder of the section deals with the removal of the ashes from the ...

4557. Cleansing from Mildew

Leviticus 14:33-57

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... call the priest, who functions as public health inspector. The first step is to empty the house, a move that keeps portable possessions from being included in the ensuing quarantine and saves them from possible destruction. This is an economic concession to ... relationship with the community. 14:54–57 This summary of chapters 13–14 is typical of the Manual of Purity, helping to keep the reader on track in the midst of so much detail and description of ritual. Again, the word regulations is a translation ...

4558. Discharges Causing Uncleanness

Leviticus 15:1-33

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... summarizing clues for the reader, this statement goes beyond them. It alludes to Leviticus 10:10–11 and the priests’ task of teaching the people to distinguish between clean and unclean: You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean. The verb “to keep separate” (nzr) usually indicates positive dedication or consecration. To “consecrate” someone from the things that bring uncleanness is an odd phrase. However, consecration to God as a holy presence would entail avoiding ...

4559. Reward for Obedience

Leviticus 26:1-13

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... Then came the grape harvest in the summer (July or August), followed by the harvest of dates, figs, and olives (September). Planting was done in the late autumn with the sowing of beans and grains. The text envisions a harvest sufficiently plentiful to keep everyone busy for this whole period of time. The promise is of economic blessing and peace, security and safety, without savage beasts or violence. Victory is also promised; the few will defeat the many with Yahweh’s support. The population will grow ...

4560. The Transjordan Tribes

Numbers 32:1-42

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... the LORD, just as our lord says. The speakers defer to Moses in royal language. Moses will not be alive to execute this agreement, so he hands it over to Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads of the tribes. The failure of Reuben and Gad to keep the agreement would result in their living in Canaan with the other tribes. The tribes again agree, and Moses formally gives the Transjordan land taken from Sihon and Og to the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh. This narrative accounts for the ...

4561. Samuel's Farewell Speech

1 Samuel 12:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... in this section echoes Deuteronomy and the concerns for covenant loyalty that were so important to the Deuteronomist. The historical summary is a well-known element of covenant-treaty documents, as are the references to witnesses and to the keeping and failing to keep the requirements made within the treaty. All these provide further indications of covenant thinking. 12:12–15 Samuel spells out the fact that kingship will provide no lasting solution. In the latest incident Nahash had been the aggressor ...

4562. David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... God’s anointed king, is not removed from the failures and sins of ordinary mortals. His nature, throwing himself passionately into things without thought for the consequences, can be used for good when the task in hand is fighting for God’s honor or keeping his band of outcasts safe from Saul’s obsessive revenge. But his passionate nature can equally be used for ill when the only motive is satisfying his own lust. Second, the account shows that David acted like any other oriental despot. He behaved as ...

4563. Introducing Job

Job 1:1-5

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... fear of the LORD” is the starting point of true knowledge (Prov. 1:7a), and true wisdom leads one to “fear God and keep his commandments”—the essential duty of all humanity (Eccl. 12:13). Fear of Yahweh is more than simple terror (see, e.g., ... God appears. On the other hand, Ecclesiastes uses the more generic designation ʾelohim, “God.” The reference in Eccl. 12:13 to “keep his commandments” makes it clear, however, that it is Yahweh who is intended in both instances. 1:3 People of the East ...

4564. Eliphaz

Job 4:1-5:27

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... evaluation of Job’s initial monologue as being overwrought and impatient. His restraint (If someone ventures a word) suggests he knows that what he is about to say will irritate, rather than comfort, Job. Nevertheless, Eliphaz feels constrained to reply: But who can keep from speaking? The dream experience of 4:12–17 will clarify the reason for this sense of compulsion. 4:3–4 Eliphaz begins by commending Job’s wisdom, by which he has consistently helped and instructed many others in need. We do not ...

4565. Holding to the Lord’s Paths Amidst Threatening Stalkers

Psalm 17:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... t in 17:10 and gaʾawâ in 73:6). Moreover, both psalms refer to the speaker’s feet not slipping (17:5 and 73:2), to his keeping himself from evil (17:4 and 73:13), to Yahweh’s right hand (17:7 and 73:23), to taking refuge in Yahweh (17:7 and 73: ... their sons be sated and deposit the remainder to their children,” rendering the Hb. imperfect/jussive verb as a wish in keeping with the petition of the preceding verse. Thus, we may translate this verse: “putting them to death by your hand, Yahweh, putting ...

4566. Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... in the house with a door, and therefore private) and close the door (cf. 2 Kings 4:33; Isa. 26:20). There they may pray to their Father “who is there in the secret place” (NEB), and he will provide the appropriate reward. 6:7–8 Do not keep on babbling like pagans. They are wrong in thinking that God hears them because of the length of their prayers. God does not need to be instructed by lengthy prayers, because he already knows what you need before you ask him. The word used to describe the prayers ...

4567. The Lord Compassionate and Slow to Anger

Psalm 103:1-22

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 14). The object of people’s memory is God’s covenant, whose mention may be explained as an echo from Exodus 34:10, 27–28. In addition, verses 17–18 appear to repeat Exodus 20:6 (Yahweh’s love to generations and those who keep his covenant or commandments). 103:19–22 This motif of obedience continues in the final strophe, which names heavenly “heroes” (suggested by several Hb. terms) who do . . . his word and will (vv. 20–21). Also consistent with the notion of obedience, Yahweh is depicted ...

4568. The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Matthew 15:21-28

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... calling out (Gk. ekrazen is imperfect) for mercy. Her daughter is harassed by a demon and is in a terrible state. By addressing Jesus as Son of David she shows an awareness of his messianic role. Although the Canaanite woman keeps calling out for mercy, Jesus does not respond. The disciples come to him and urge that he send her away (without granting her request). They were annoyed because she was trailing along after them and continuing to cry out. The apparent insensitivity to suffering on the part of ...

4569. Pondering the Lord’s Great Works of the Exodus and Conquest

Psalm 111:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... from Exodus. After Yahweh’s thundering appearance on Mt. Sinai, “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid (Hb. yrʾ). God has come to test you, so that the fear (Hb. yrʾh) of God will be with you (lit. “upon your faces”) to keep you from sinning’” (Exod. 20:20). 111:10 Yahweh’s “fearful” self-revelation elicits the fear of the LORD from the people to whom he has bound himself in covenant. But lest there be misunderstanding that this response is enough, the psalm continues: “good ...

4570. Nebuchadnezzer’s Dream of a Tree

Daniel 4:1-18

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... with the gazelles, runs with wild animals, and drinks with them at their watering places. But a woman tames him, changing him into a human. This not only causes the animals to avoid him but causes physical changes in his body. He can no longer keep up with the animals, because his muscles become different. In Gilgamesh, a beast-man becomes human; in Dan. 4, a human king becomes a beast-man (though temporarily—he is later restored to his original state). See P. W. Coxon, “Another Look at Nebuchadnezzar ...

4571. Daniel’s Vision of a Man

Daniel 10:1--11:1

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... Esd. 6:35–59; 7:1–44; 2 Apocalypse Baruch 5:7; 9:1–2; 12:5; 20:5–6; 21:1; 47:2; Ascension of Isaiah 2:10–11; Testament of Reuben 1:9–10). Finally, Daniel refrains from using lotions (Dan. 10:3). Oils and lotions helped to keep the skin moist in the Near East, where the weather is often dry. Because it was also frequently hot, they would add perfume to these ointments as a kind of deodorant. When mourning, people customarily did not to anoint themselves with such lotions (2 Sam. 12:20; 14:2; Isa ...

4572. The Day and Hour Unknown

Mark 13:32-37

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... watch (vv. 35–37), what is meant is that they are to be on duty, doing their jobs, not that they are to watch for portents indicating when the end will come. The words translated keep watch (see notes), and the example of servants left with work to do while the master is gone (vv. 34–36) indicate that this is what is meant. The contrast is sleeping (v. 36), which would be failure to do one’s duty and failure to take seriously the warning ...

4573. The Death of Jesus

Mark 15:33-41

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... kingdom of God, see the comments and notes on 6:15 and 9:11–13. 15:36 Wine vinegar was the wine of the common people and soldiers, who were unable to afford better. So, the bystanders offer to Jesus what they themselves were drinking, and their intent was to keep him alive for a while longer, but simply for cruel sport. The wine was offered to Jesus by means of a sponge on the end of a stick probably because Jesus’ cross held him up too high to be reached easily. 15:37 The phrase a loud cry implies a ...

4574. The Burial of Jesus

Mark 15:42-47

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... of a family and so could accommodate several bodies. This tomb had as yet not been occupied, according to Matt. 27:60 and John 19:41 (On the design of ancient Palestinian tombs, see “Tomb,” IDBSup, pp. 905–8.) The stone placed across the entrance was designed to keep out animals and intruders and may have been a flat, rounded stone that sat in a channel dug in the base of the entrance. Such channels were cut on a slope so that the stone could be rolled into place easily but would require the effort of ...

4575. Jesus Presented in the Temple

Luke 2:21-40

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... to Mary (1:30–33) mean anything, Israel is not set aside. Although it cannot be argued here (see the discussion in the Introduction), Luke sees much, if not most, of ethnic Israel in a state of obdurate disobedience, a condition that is neither permanent nor out of keeping with the prophetic Scriptures (see Luke 21:22; 24:25–27; Acts 13:40–41; 28:23–28; Rom. 11:25–32). This idea of a split in Israel is made explicit in vv. 34–35: This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many ...

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