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Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 826 to 850 of 4957 results

826. Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

Acts 4:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... 3:13). Ultimately, it was God’s power that had healed the man, and no charge could be laid for making that claim. 4:15–18 In some embarrassment, perhaps, the council chamber was cleared while the members argued the case. Their chief concern was ... speak or to teach in (Gk. “upon”) Jesus’ name, that is, to make Jesus the basis of their teaching (see disc. on v. 2) or to claim him as their authority. 4:19–20 For their part, Peter and John declared that they had no option but to speak of what they had ...

827. Paul and Silas In Prison

Acts 16:16-40

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... was a trick often employed by fortune tellers and other charlatans. Something of this may be implied in Luke’s phrase “the python spirit.” But more than mere ventriloquism is implied, for it would seem from the narrative that some prophetic power was claimed for the girl, so that the phrase may reflect the popular estimate of such power, namely, that she was inspired by Apollo, the god of prophecy, called by the Greeks Pythian Apollo because he was supposed to have killed the snake that guarded the ...

828. Paul the Roman Citizen

Acts 22:22-29

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... in which Paul’s father (or earlier) had come by his status, but as early as the first century B.C. there were many thousands of Roman citizens to be found in Asia Minor. 22:29 No sooner were they convinced of Paul’s claim than his would-be interrogators withdrew. The commander himself was fearful lest his unlawful action should have repercussions (cf. 16:38). Nevertheless, he kept Paul in custody, perhaps even in chains, for he still supposed that his prisoner had committed some crime. Additional Notes ...

829. Before the Sanhedrin

Acts 22:30--23:11

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... a bad conscience; cf. 22:20), but only of the recent past and the matters with which he was charged. The verb “to fulfil one’s duty” (Paul’s or Luke’s?) is strictly “to be a citizen” or “to live as a citizen” and may represent Paul’s claim, as a Christian, to belong to the commonwealth of God, whose laws he respected and observed (cf. Eph. 2:12, 19; Phil. 3:20). The idea of citizenship is prominent in these chapters (21:39; 22:28). For Paul’s “straight look” compare 13:9; 14:9, and ...

830. Festus Consults King Agrippa

Acts 25:13-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... own opinion that it had been made without any grounds. The proposition had seemed to him to be quite absurd, yet he had put his finger on the real point at issue. There was more to the Jewish position than this, but the dispute revolved around Paul’s claims concerning Jesus, which were of little interest to Festus. 25:20–21 Festus then told how he had suggested to Paul that his case should be tried in Jerusalem. Notice the change of motive. The reason given here is that he had sought in this way to find ...

831. The Credibility of the Gospel Paul Proclaims

Galatians 1:11-24

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... to resonate with and then reshape the Galatians’ current sensibilities. Paul affirms that as soon as God called him he separated himself from Judaism so completely that he did not even go to see those Jews who had become believers in Jesus. Paul’s claim of independence from the Jerusalem church may be a subtle slight to the Jerusalem church, which has not separated from Judaism. Part of his agenda in 2:1–10 is to demonstrate that the church at Jerusalem has problems. There are “false brothers” and ...

832. Paul's Concern for the Galatians

Galatians 4:8-20

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... of the letter. 4:9 Paul again describes and contrasts the Galatians’ present and former life. Reiterating that the Galatians know God, Paul further describes their present life as one of being known by God. A similar concept is expressed in 4:6–7, where Paul claims that the Galatians have been adopted by God and made heirs. Stressing his incredulity that his readers might be willing to give up so much, Paul asks how they can think of turning back. His question reminds them that their desire to add law ...

833. Freedom In Christ

Galatians 5:1-15, Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... powerless, that we might no longer be slaves to sin” (Rom. 6:6). Paul now ties together what he has been saying: since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Paul has directed believers to “live by the Spirit” (cf. 5:16) and claimed that they are “led by the Spirit” (5:18). Now he shifts the emphasis by stating that the basis of their life is that they are those who “live by the Spirit.” On this basis he calls them to be guided by the Spirit. By means of the Spirit ...

834. Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... Zech. 2:12). Given the context of verse 11 within a hymn that is celebrating God’s elective purpose, it seems likely that the author is referring to the Jewish Christians as those whom God has chosen as his own people. Now, however, that possession is claimed by virtue of their union with Christ (in him). While being God’s people may result in praising God through prayer, worship, etc., the phrase in order that we … might be for the praise of his glory suggests that one’s very being or existence is ...

835. The Man of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... over everything that is worshiped, where the Greek, sebasma, is a comprehensive term denoting any object of worship (Acts 17:23). In short, the man of lawlessness will attempt to usurp the place of every claimant upon us, including the true God and his legitimate claims. This usurpation results (Greek, hōste) in the man of lawlessness’ self-exaltation. He is described in the language of the OT as setting himself up in God’s temple, not literally, but in a figure. But this is not a figure of the church ...

836. Titus' Task on Crete

Titus 1:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... think that they will be defiled by eating certain foods, but even more so because they would lay such commandments on God’s elect (v. 1), who have put their faith and hope in Christ. 1:16 Now comes the most stinging indictment of all. They claim (lit., “confess”) to know God, but by their actions they deny him. Although Barrett, and others, see this as “the Gnostic tendency of the heretics” (p. 133; ct. Kelly, p. 237), surely that is secondary. It was, after all, the special boast of the Jews, who ...

837. Trials and Temptations

James 1:1-18, James 1:19-27

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... ” formula, John 14:14). Without this trust there is a more basic issue to be settled than that of the item asked for: The more basic issue is that of trust. Until one has dealt with this issue, one is in no position to begin praying. This person, claims James, is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. The pre-Christian Jew Sirach had already said, “My son, disobey not the fear of the Lord, and approach it not with a double heart” (1:28), and, “Woe unto the fearful hearts and faint hands, and ...

838. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... :12; 2 Kings 18:19; Isa. 9:15; Jer. 14:14; Ezek. 13:3; Zech. 13:4), are treated as parallel with false teachers in Peter’s day, since their harmful influences were much the same. Technically, false prophets differed from false teachers in claiming direct inspiration from God, rather than from the result of studying Scripture; but the deleterious effect of both groups upon God’s people in general was similar. There are many and frequent NT warnings against false teachers (see, for example, Matt. 24:4–5 ...

839. Allotment for Ephriam and Manasseh

Joshua 16:1--17:18

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... Num. 36:11). The inheritance, therefore, went to the daughters and so remained in their father’s clan/ tribe to sustain the name of their father. Two interesting comments can be made. The leaders had to be reminded that the daughters could inherit the claim of their father as had been the law since Moses. Unfortunately, men do not automatically support the rights of women when land is being divided—even legal precedents do not make men that sensitive. In addition, the women assert their own case. There ...

840. David Numbers the Fighting Men

1 Chronicles 21:1-22:1

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... Benjamin is thus closely connected to Jerusalem. Third, and closely related to the second point, the Chronicler wanted to claim a special position for Jerusalem in contrast to the Benjaminite sphere of influence, emphasizing that this is the right ... the Chronicler establishes neutral terrain for the temple site. Jebus now becomes the Chronicler’s trump card against any Benjaminite claim of authority. The reader may be surprised to hear again that these all-too-human ideologies determined the Chronicler’s ...

841. The Decree of Darius

Ezra 6:1-12

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... that aliens who had been circumcised could celebrate the Passover with Israel, though here no mention is made of circumcision. In this section, which wraps up the second phase of the mission, the language and motifs recall its beginning in 4:1–4. There a claim from other communities to worship the same God as the exiles cut no ice with them, but here individuals who were prepared to make a fresh start and throw in their lot with the exiles were welcomed into the worshiping community. It is not specified ...

842. Nehemiah Helps the Poor

Nehemiah 5:1-19

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... , as 4:16 had stated. The reference to 4:16 gives the impression that verses 14–19 were meant as a generalizing conclusion to 4:10–5:13, while verses 14 and 16 repeat the denial of 4:23 in other areas. In verse 16, Nehemiah claimed that his specific lack of exploitation in the case of land was consistent with his habitual refusal to make use of the statutory food allowance for himself and his family at the governor’s residence. He contrasted his policy with that of earlier governors of the province ...

843. Further Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 6:1-14

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... 6:5 Aide: This is not a reference to Tobiah. Although the NRSV fairly renders “servant,” the Heb. term here implies a lesser rank than that used for Tobiah in 2:10, 19 (NIV “official”). 6:6 The Arabic form for Geshem, “Gashmu,” is used. He evidently confirmed the rumor, claiming solid evidence for it. 6:7 For the prophetic role in king-making, compare 1 Sam. 9–10; 1 Kgs. 11:29–39; 2 Kgs. 9:1–13 and, in recent postexilic times, Hag. 2:21–23; Zech. 6:10–13. There may have been an extreme ...

844. Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

Ecclesiastes 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... lazy fool; and verse 6 rejects working for more than one needs. If indeed all of these express aspects of Qohelet’s point of view, it would seem that there is no course of action (or inaction) that is worthwhile, a specific reinforcement of Qohelet’s general claim that all is meaningless. Not all interpreters agree with this reading. The problem is the sense of 4:5 and its relation to context. It is possible to read this verse, “The fool folds his hands but eats his meat” (i.e., still has food). In ...

845. Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

Jeremiah 27:1-22

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... is the passport to survival; to resist means death for the king and for many of his people. Rather than providing a long list of mantics, as above with the foreign leaders, Zedekiah is warned not to listen to prophets with a different message. They may claim to speak in the name of Yahweh (thus meeting the requirement of Deut. 13:1–5), but they are telling lies, so they obviously are not really speaking at God’s initiative (thus failing the test of Deut. 18:21–22). For heeding the false message ...

846. A Call to Build the House of the Lord

Haggai 1:1-15

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... prophet’s being admitted to the divine court, which discusses matters on earth and makes decisions concerning them; Yahweh, the president of the court, then sends a prophet to announce and implement its decisions. Somehow the people recognize that he is who he claims to be. This will not merely be a matter of responding to his self-assurance or conviction; in other contexts, at least, mere conviction does not get a prophet heard. It is at least as likely that they respond to the self-authenticating logic ...

847. The Lord Removes Falsehood

Zechariah 13:1-6

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... recognized by the robe he wore (1 Sam. 28:14). To wear such a robe would be to put on a . . . garment of hair in order to deceive, as Jacob had done (Gen. 25:25). Using a revised version of Amos’s disclaimer (Amos 7:14), future prophets will claim to be farmers rather than prophets. Genesis 2:5 and 15 imply that God created human beings to till the ground. In an economy where almost everyone was a farmer, the prophet’s denial in verse 5 will mean, “I am an ordinary person, just like you. I’ve been ...

848. The First Two Days: John the Baptist’s Message

John 1:19-28, John 1:29-34

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 1:25 If you are not … Elijah: The only hint of a Jewish belief that Elijah was expected to baptize comes from a Christian document a half century later than the Gospel of John. Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue with Trypho 8.4, represents Trypho the Jew as claiming that the Messiah is unknown “until Elijah comes to anoint him and make him manifest to all” (see ANF 1.199). It should be noted, first, that even here the word baptize is not used, and second, that in other respects the passage appears to have ...

849. Testimonies About Jesus

John 5:31-47

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 40). Jesus returns to this point in verses 45–47: If they really believed Moses (i.e., the Scriptures that he wrote), they would have believed what he said about Jesus. It is because they do not believe Moses’ writings that they cannot accept Jesus and his claims (vv. 46–47). In this sense Moses is their accuser (v. 45), but to believe Jesus is to believe Moses as well; to reject what he says is to reject Moses and the Scriptures. In the end, Jesus is the touchstone determining whether a person lives ...

850. The Death of Lazarus

John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... . The second (and more serious) misunderstanding is closely related to the first. After his many discourses, the disciples have still not grasped his claims of sovereignty over life and death (e.g., 5:19–29; 6:35–40, 53–58; 8:31–36, 51, 58; 10:14– ... about “the Father” and “the Son” (e.g., 5:19–23), and Jesus’ use of it in 10:36 is intended to summarize all his claims for himself both in word and deed (cf. 19:7). The title may have been chosen in the present context for the sake of the ...

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