Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 451 to 475 of 656 results

Acts 28:17-31

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... he had to say. But the fact that Paul appears to have addressed his final remarks to them all suggests that none of them had as yet been persuaded to the point of believing that Jesus was the Messiah. However, the tenses are imperfect, so the possibility remains that the process of persuasion went on until some were converted. Meanwhile, the others “were continuing in their unbelief.” Before the Jews took their leave, though they still disagreed among themselves (v. 25)—the Greek word is asymphonoi, a ...

452. The Man of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? Notice his use of the first person. As in 1 Thessalonians 5:27, this may suggest a more personal note as he recollects his own role as distinct from that of his companions. The imperfect tense, elegon, implies that he had often told the Thessalonians about the matters to which he now refers (reinforcing the view that he was in Thessalonica for much longer than the three Sabbath days of Acts 17; see Introduction on The Founding of the Church). 2:6 ...

453. Warnings Against Idleness

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... gives another reason for foregoing the right of support). 3:10 Not only did the missionaries model how the Thessalonians should conduct themselves in this matter of self-support, but they instructed them to the same effect and, judging by the tense of the verb (imperfect), they did so repeatedly. The sense of the Greek is: “we also (a better translation of kai than NIV’s even, meaning in addition to their example) used to command you” (parangellō, cf. 3:6 and see disc. on 1 Thess. 4:11). That command ...

454. Melchizedek the Priest

Hebrews 7:1-10, Hebrews 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... , vol. 1, pp. 381–84. 7:28 The “weakness” of the levitical priests is again stressed, as it was in 5:2. By contrast, Jesus is able to “feel sympathy for our weaknesses” because of his full humanity. Yet he did not know the weakness that stems from imperfection and sin. The oath (lit., “word of the oath”), a unique expression in the NT, refers of course to the argument that begins in v. 20, which is based on Ps. 110:4. The final verb, has been made perfect (teleioō), is in the perfect tense ...

455. The Legitimacy and Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood

Hebrews 7:11-28, Hebrews 7:1-10

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

456. Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

Hebrews 10:1-18

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

The Ineffectiveness of the Law The argument of the preceding two chapters is restated in this section (10:1–18), bringing the central argument of the epistle, namely, the imperfection of the old order and the perfection of the new, to a conclusion. The only new material in this section is found in verses 5–10, where the author’s thesis finds further support in his exegesis of Psalm 40:6–8. All the other material is a restatement of ...

457. By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... made complete by what he did.” For Isaac as a type of Christ in early Christian literature (e.g., Barnabas 7:3), see references in Hughes, pp. 485f. The Greek verb about to sacrifice (prospherō) can also be described as an inceptive imperfect tense, “he began to offer,” without completing the deed. The promises again connote not simply those of a temporal quality, but more particularly the transcendent expectations they foreshadowed. See note on 4:1. On the importance of the present passage for the ...

458. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... ). Lawless men translates the plural of athesmos, used of one who bursts through the restraints of moral law to gratify lust. The term occurs in the NT only here and in 3:17. See Turner, pp. 254–55. 2:8 Tormented: Ebasanizen is a Greek imperfect, indicating constant action. The verb basanizein basically means to rub on the touch-stone, or to put on the rack. It describes the terrible suffering of the centurion’s servant (Matt. 8:6), the eventual torture anticipated by demons at the judgment (Matt. 8:29 ...

459. A Call to Persevere

Jude 1:17-25

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... (of soul). 18 The reassuring apostolic words that Jude now goes on to mention are not recorded elsewhere in the NT, except in 2 Pet. 3:3; but it is unlikely that Jude is quoting from 2 Peter (see Introduction, pp. 13–14, 18). They said (elegon) is imperfect, “they used to say,” and could indicate that Jude’s readers heard first hand at least some members of the apostolic band in days gone by. Be that as it may, they were well aware of the tenor of the warning which the apostles were in the habit ...

460. The Plague of Frogs

Exodus 7:25--8:15

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... LORD had said” (7:13, 22; 8:15, 19; 9:12, 35). The stage is set for the third plague. Additional Note 8:8 The translation “I may let you go” rather than “I will let you go” is indicated by the use of the Hebrew cohortative he with the imperfect. This Hebrew may be translated, “I may” or “I might” or “I could let you go.”

461. The New Stone Tablets

Exodus 34:1-28

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... God gives forgiveness as a gift that does not obliterate “sinner” as a category of human existence. The Hebrew form is an emphatic negative verb, literally, “clearing, he will not clear” (naqqeh loʾ yenaqqeh, the piʿel infinitive + piʿel imperfect). In context, it could be paraphrased: “certainly not clearing the name/reputation or removing the ongoing negative impact of sin.” Forgiveness does not remit all consequences (see also Plaut, The Torah, p. 663). He punishes (paqad) the children and ...

462. All Night Long

Song of Songs 3:1-11

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... ’s search (Song, p. 158). 3:4 I held him and would not let him go / till I had brought him: Fox argues that the tenses are ambiguous here. Most of the verbs in this section are perfect forms (indicating completed action), but “let him go” is imperfect (suggesting incomplete action). Fox believes that the form signals a change in time: “she took hold of him in the recent past and is now holding on to him, but she has not yet brought him home . . . It is unclear whether she intends to bring him to ...

463. A Lament and Call to Repentance

Amos 5:1-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... does not coerce God, of course, who will “be gracious to whom [he] will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom [he] will show mercy” (Exod. 33:19 RSV). Because God’s grace and favor are always undeserved and cannot be commanded by any imperfect human love or obedience, Amos states that God’s promise of undeserved help was always conditional in the past, verse 15 (perhaps). We are always “unworthy servants” (Luke 17:10), and never earn the right to be among even a remnant when God judges the ...

464. The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

Nahum 1:1-15

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... in the OT, though most are psalms (Lam. 1–4 are other examples). So this is an aspect of the hymn-like nature of verses 1–8 and it may support the suggestion that Nahum delivered his prophecy in the context of worship. The fact that the sequence is imperfect (the actual order in the alphabet is ʾ, b, g, d, h, v, z, kh, t, y, k) is not an indication of corruption in the text; it is common for alphabetical poems in the OT to work only in partial fashion. The fact that the alphabetical sequence stops ...

465. Nineveh to Fall

Nahum 2:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... has not been destroyed but has had its religious and political life devastated by Assyrian control. 2:3–10 The visionary goes on to describe the events that unfold before his inner eye, speaking now in the present tense (in Heb. participles and “imperfect” verbs) and once again conveying a vivid and breathless impression of the impressive, frightening, exciting rush of events. The “he,” the army’s commander, of verses 3 and 5 might be the human commander-in-chief of the attacking army. But in ...

466. The Lord Will Care for Judah

Zechariah 10:1--11:3

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... may they increase greatly upon the earth” (Gen. 48:16). Ephraim’s increase will be as before, a reference to the way the Israelites “were fruitful and multiplied [rbh]” in Egypt (Exod. 1:7). Though I scatter them is the NIV’s translation of an imperfect form of the verb “sow, plant” (zrʿ). This promise is also about multiplying population, as in Hosea 2:23; Jeremiah 31:27, and Ezekiel 36:9–10. In this case, however, the increase will take place among the peoples in exile, rather than in the ...

467. When Jesus Prays

John 17:20-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... touched, and each one of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony, Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. And we are the music of your life.” (8) It’s a beautiful film and I know that the analogy is imperfect, but we need to know that we are Christ’s opus. He gave his life for the express purpose of bringing into being this group of people. On the night before he was crucified, Christ prayed for us. He prayed that we might be unified as his body. This is ...

468. The Healing at the Pool

John 5:1-15, John 5:16-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... law for someone to carry the man on his mat or couch (cf. Mark 2:3). See Mishnah Shabbath 10:5. It was the carrying of the couch purposefully as an end in itself that was forbidden. 5:16 Because Jesus was doing these things. The imperfect tense, used consistently in this verse and in v. 18, suggests that the healing (and the authorities’ response to it) was typical of many incidents that could have been cited from the early days of Jesus’ ministry. The idea is that the authorities began persecuting him ...

469. Jesus Walks on the Water

John 6:16-24

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... willing to take him into the boat: lit., “they wanted to take him into the boat.” When the verb is used in the aorist tense in John (i.e., 1:43; 5:35), it refers to an intention that is realized. When it is used (as here) in the imperfect tense (cf. 7:44; 16:19), it refers to an unrealized intention. The likely meaning is that the disciples wanted to take Jesus into the boat, but before they had a chance, they found themselves suddenly at their destination. It is worth noting that in Mark, on this same ...

470. Jesus and Those Who “Believed”

John 8:31-41, John 8:42-47, John 8:48-59

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... ”) makes it clear that the conditional sentence in v. 39 is contrary to fact: If the opponents were true children of Abraham, they would do what Abraham did, but in fact they are not. Grammatically, the first verb is present tense where an imperfect might have been expected. The effect of this is to heighten the supposition of reality, an effect that the GNB translators have achieved with their rendering, “If you really were …” The things Abraham did: lit., “the works of Abraham” (cf. James 2:21 ...

471. Pilate and the Condemnation of Jesus

John 18:28-40, John 19:1-16

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 16a). It is difficult to know what Pilate made of Jesus’ remarks. The narrator appears to be condensing a longer account so as to bring the story more quickly to its conclusion. The phrase tried to set Jesus free in verse 12 (Gr.: ezētei, imperfect tense) suggests that Pilate may have made several attempts, not specified in the text, to have Jesus released. Already afraid that Jesus might have power with the gods, Pilate had now been reminded of his own accountability to higher powers (v. 11). But when ...

472. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... it is, because the Day will bring it to light” (1 Cor. 3:13); therefore, final judgment must “wait till the Lord comes” and must not be anticipated by those whose knowledge of the unseen motives and personal circumstances of others is at best imperfect (1 Cor. 4:5). Above all, the day of Christ Jesus is the time when the salvation of believers, already inaugurated, will be consummated. Like their Thessalonian brothers and sisters, the Christians of Philippi had learned “to wait for his [God’s] Son ...

473. Thanks for Their Gifts

Philippians 4:10-20

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... intransitive) with regard to your thought for me” or “you caused your thought for me to flourish again” (transitive). This is the only NT instance of anathallein (or indeed of thallein or any compound of it). You had no opportunity: Gk. ēkaireisthe, imperfect of akaireisthai, “to lack kairos (opportunity)”; this is the only occurrence of this rare verb in the Greek Bible. 4:11 To be content whatever the circumstances: Gk. en hois eimi autarkēs einai. The Stoic emphasis on autarkeia in the sense ...

474. Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:1-26

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... killing a man for wounding him. Without restraint he had struck a young man for only injuring him. If one takes the second line as synonymous to the first, Lamech claimed to have killed one person, not two. One view, based on the verbs being imperfect, holds that Lamech was only boasting about what he would do to anyone who injured him. In any case Lamech displayed contempt for the value of human life. In contrast to Cain, who sought protection from Yahweh, Lamech shamelessly boasted as he threatened with ...

475. Driving Out the Nations

Deuteronomy 7:1-26

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... based on the revelation of the true God. The purpose of God’s particular action in the history of Israel is ultimately that God, as the saving and covenant God Yahweh, should be known fully and worshipped exclusively by those who as yet imperfectly know him as El. The end result of what God began to do through Abram was of significance for the Canaanites precisely because it critiqued and rejected Canaanite religion. (Goldingay and Wright, “ ‘Yahweh Our God,’ ” p. 49) From a canonical perspective ...

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