Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1751 to 1775 of 2157 results

John 18:15-18, John 18:25-27, John 18:19-24

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... oun (translated then in NIV) and by the tense of the verb sent. It is demanded by the fact that only Caiaphas is called high priest in John’s Gospel, and the high priest is clearly said to be the questioner in vv. 19–23. One ancient Syriac version has the whole of vv. 13–24 in a different sequence (i.e., vv. 13, 24, 14–15, 19–23, 16–18), and a few later manuscripts have resorted to other rearrangements, even transcribing v. 24 twice in two different locations! Such scribal liberties, as well as ...

1752. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... Corinth: there was no disinclination to recognize his authority in Philippi, as there was in those other churches. It has been argued that the term “servants” here does not bear the common sense of “slaves” because the Greek word (doulos) is used in LXX (the Greek version of the Old Testament) of someone whom God uses for a special ministry or through whom he speaks, like Moses (Neh. 10:29), Joshua (Josh. 24:29), David (Ps. 89:20 [LXX: 88:21]), Jonah (2 Kings [LXX: 4 Kingdoms] 14:25), each of whom ...

1753. Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel

Philippians 1:12-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... summed up in Christ, but he uses similar language of his fellow Christians: “Christ, who is your life” (Col. 3:4). 1:22 But if (Gk. ei de) may introduce the protasis* of a conditional sentence, and so it is taken by NIV, RSV, and probably the majority of versions. In that case the apodosis* may be “then I am not sure which I should choose” (so GNB) or this will mean fruitful labor for me (so NIV, with Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! as an independent clause). On the other hand, ei de might ...

1754. Shining as Stars

Philippians 2:12-18

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14–16). Paul takes up this figure when he encourages the Philippian Christians to shine among their pagan neighbors like stars in the universe. The word he uses means “luminaries” (Gk. phōstēres); it is used in the Greek version of Genesis 1:14–19 of the sun, moon, and stars that the Creator placed in the vault of heaven on the fourth day. These luminaries do not shine for their own sake; they shine to provide light for all the world. The same should be true ...

1755. No Confidence in the Flesh

Philippians 3:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... three expressions denote the same people), and these last words provide the surest clue to their identity. In the original they represent a single noun, devised by Paul as a derogatory wordplay on “circumcision” (Gk. peritomē) and rendered in older English versions as “concision” (Gk. katatomē). Paul sometimes uses the word “circumcision” as a collective noun, as when Peter is called an apostle “to the circumcision,” meaning, as NIV puts it, “to the Jews” (Gal. 2:7–9). Here the word ...

1756. Pressing on Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... follow Paul’s “way” as their rule of life, and the desired spiritual growth will manifest itself. To those who walk in the light they already have, more light will be given. There is no word in the Greek text here corresponding to “rule”; those versions which add it may have been influenced (and properly so) by the similar wording of Galatians 6:16, where the noun “rule” (Gk. kanōn) does occur: “Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule.” To the question how this reference to a “rule ...

1757. Thanks for Their Gifts

Philippians 4:10-20

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... he and his companions went immediately after their departure from Philippi), they sent him aid to meet his needs. The question arises whether the phrase again and again refers to the period of his stay in Thessalonica (which is how NIV and most other versions understand it) or to the time after that. The sentence might be rendered: “Both (when I was) in Thessalonica and more than once (in other places) you sent me (something) for my need.” This rendering would cover what he had received from them in ...

1758. Adam and Eve

Genesis 2:4-25

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... (from the root ’-d-m, “red”). Whether it indicates that the man’s skin was copper-colored is difficult to determine. Furthermore, ’adam is particularly hard to translate, for it is used for all humans as well as for the name of the first man. Versions vary widely in rendering ’adam as Adam or man. The KJV renders it Adam eighteen times out of the thirty-four occurrences, but the NIV translates it Adam only four times (2:20; 3:17, 20, 21), emphasizing the representative role of the first human ...

1759. From Adam to Noah

Genesis 5:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... made wine (9:20). Seth’s genealogy concludes with a segmented pattern. Noah’s three sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth. Additional Notes 5:3–27 In the Sam. Pent. and LXX some of the ages, for both fathering a child and the length of life, differ. These versions seem to have followed a different numerical scheme (Cassuto, From Adam to Noah, pp. 264–65). The time from creation to the flood is 1, 307 years in the Sam. Pent. and 2, 242 in the LXX. 5:6 The Sumerian King List, a very ancient document from ...

1760. Abraham Tested

Genesis 22:1-19

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Notes 22:2 In the Hb. “whom you love” is attached to “your only son.” Given the number of terms here for Isaac, it is hard to capture the Hb. wording and emphasis in the Eng. translation. The location of the land of Moriah is unknown. The versions render Moriah by a variety of terms, e.g., “up-country “(LXX) and “worship” (Tg.). Later tradition identified Mount Moriah with the Temple mount (2 Chron. 3:1). See also the phrase “mount of Yahweh” in v. 14b for the temple area (Ps. 24:3; Isa ...

1761. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Genesis 39:1-23

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... to seduce Joseph and seeing his cloak in her hand, Potiphar’s wife instantly contrived a plan for humiliating Joseph because of his rebuff. She summoned her household servants in order to make them witnesses to her accusation against Joseph. According to her version, this Hebrew had come in to sleep with her; she screamed, and he fled, leaving his cloak beside her. She portrayed Joseph as disrobing before her in order to force himself on her. She won the servants over by showing them Joseph’s cloak ...

1762. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... of interest itself, whereas the OT texts cited above simply ban interest per se, without defining any level at which it becomes excessive. Secondly, the primary focus of this law is consistent with surrounding legislation in Deuteronomy on behalf of the needy. The versions in Exodus and Leviticus specify that the prohibition applies to loans given to those in acute need. This would primarily apply to Israelite farmers in need of food or seed grain in a difficult season or (in Leviticus) those who had fallen ...

1763. Blessings for Obedience

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... was fairly standardized. Theologically, we should not treat the blessings and curses as though they were comparable opposites. The headings of the NIV unfortunately give that impression: “Blessings for Obedience” and “Curses for Disobedience.” Likewise, some popular versions of the “Prosperity Gospel” give the impression that all the material blessings of verses 2–14 will come pouring out of the heavenly slot machine if you press the right behavior buttons. However, although it is clear that ...

1764. The Ark Brought to the Temple

1 Kings 8:1-21

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... the dispute in b. Yoma 53b–54a), the “present” that is in view is evidently an earlier one. The phrase must therefore represent in this instance a survival either from the source documents used when the book was put together or from an earlier (preexilic) version of them that has later been expanded. The extent to which this is the case elsewhere in Kings is not clear (except perhaps in 1 Kgs. 9:21, which is equally problematic in terms of a postexilic context); caution is therefore required in the ...

1765. Jehoshaphat King of Judah

1 Kings 22:41-50

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... -worshiping son loses it. It is significant that it is under Jehoshaphat’s Baal-worshiping son Jehoram (2 Kgs. 8:16–24) that Edom rebels (Hb. pšʿ) against Judah. 1:2 Baal-Zebub: Lit. “Baal/lord of the flies.” There is some manuscript evidence of a version of this name (“Beelzebub”) in a few Gospel texts that refer to Satan (Matt. 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18, 19). This is interesting in view of the links between OT spirit possession and NT demon possession that have been noted ...

1766. The Lord's Judgement of Ahaziah

2 Kings 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... -worshiping son loses it. It is significant that it is under Jehoshaphat’s Baal-worshiping son Jehoram (2 Kgs. 8:16–24) that Edom rebels (Hb. p šʿ) against Judah. 1:2 Baal-Zebub: Lit. “Baal/lord of the flies.” There is some manuscript evidence of a version of this name (“Beelzebub”) in a few Gospel texts that refer to Satan (Matt. 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18, 19). This is interesting in view of the links between OT spirit possession and NT demon possession that have been noted ...

1767. The Mountain of the Lord

Isaiah 2:1-5

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... Joel 3:10 reflect the fact that there is a time for war and a time for peace (Eccl. 3:8), but that the time of fulfillment is a time of peace rather than of war. When compared with Micah 4:1–3, the most distinctive feature of Isaiah’s version of this prophecy is the “application” in verse 5. The house of Jacob (see on 1:10) is challenged to walk in the light of the LORD. If Yahweh is committed to achieving a purpose whereby the nations let their lives be shaped by Yahweh’s teaching, the least ...

1768. Isaiah’s Commission

Isaiah 6:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... for genitals). 6:8 For us: presumably the heavenly court (see 1 Kgs. 22). 6:9–10 NIV mg. notes that the LXX renders this as a prediction rather than a statement of the intention of Isaiah’s ministry (when Jesus repeats these words, Mark 4 gives a version like the Hb., while Matt. 13 gives one like LXX). This becomes in effect God’s intention insofar as God still sends Isaiah. It has thus been suggested that Isaiah wrote the account of his call in light of how things turned out, and that in reality it ...

1769. God’s Judgment on Assyria

Isaiah 10:5-19

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... . The motifs of trees and fire thus reappear. The Assyrian forest is consumed. The symbol of calamity for Judah becomes the symbol of calamity for Assyria, with the thoroughness of which Judah has been warned (with v. 19 cf. 6:11–13). A more down-to-earth version comes in 37:36. Additional Notes 10:6 Send/dispatch (lit. “command”): originally Yahweh sends a word (9:8; 55:11), often via a prophet (6:8; 48:16; 61:1), and sends Israel as aide (42:19) and Israelites as proclaimers (66:19). Yahweh can send ...

1770. Judgment Against the Nations

Isaiah 34:1-17

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... is a prominent object of prophetic attack (see Jer. 49; Ezek. 25; Obad.), while Lamentations 4:21–22 expresses Judean feelings about Edom after the fall of Jerusalem. Edom/Esau was of course the twin brother that Jacob-Israel loved to hate. But Israel’s own version of its story in Genesis interestingly shows an awareness that Esau generally behaved at least as well as Jacob in the context of that troubled relationship, even if he was to live by the sword (Gen. 27:40). Now he is to be devastated by it ...

1771. Hezekiah’s Illness

Isaiah 38:1-22, Isaiah 39:1-8

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... 13–23). And presumably that is part of the background to verse 2 here: the Babylonians are discovering what resources the allies have available. They will not be available for long: see the verses in 2 Kings 18:14–16 which do not appear in the version of that story in Isaiah 36–37. Giving the Babylonians their conducted tour is at best an ambiguous act. It might have been a way of impressing foreigners with what Yahweh had done for Judah: compare the story of the Queen of Sheba (1 Kgs. 10), though ...

1772. Praise and Prayer

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... the consonants of the text actually say. NRSV follows it and renders “he became their savior in their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them.” That involves changing one of MT’s vowels. The read text is the version that people were expected to read out in the synagogue. NIV follows that and renders “and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.” That involves changing one of MT’s consonants ...

1773. The Glory Departs

Ezekiel 8:1-18, Ezekiel 9:1-11, Ezekiel 10:1-22, Ezekiel 11:1-15, Ezekiel 11:16-25

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... 16:20, 47; 34:18) the term refers not to a short time, but to a small thing or matter. Consider, too, that nowhere does Ezekiel imply that the exile will be of a short duration. The translators of the Tg. (or Targum, an Aramaic version of Jewish Scripture, for use in worship) understood this passage to refer to the synagogue—an unlikely interpretation, but one that clearly understands the passage to refer to a smallish sanctuary, not to a brief period of time. The NJPS suggests that the Lord has “become ...

1774. Miscellaneous Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 21:1-32, Ezekiel 22:1-31

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... , as the Lord elsewhere addresses Ezekiel impersonally, as “son of man” (that is, “human,” or “mortal;” see the discussion on 2:1). But then, nowhere else in Ezekiel is anyone addressed as “my son,” so this reading is not impossible. Unfortunately, the versions are no help—the ancient translators seem as puzzled by this text as we are. The LXX presupposes a series of verbs describing the destruction of every tree (perhaps with reference back to the forest fire of 20:45–47), requiring a ...

1775. Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia

Ezekiel 25:1-7, Ezekiel 25:8-11, Ezekiel 25:12-14, Ezekiel 25:15-17

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... in chapters 25–32 interrupt the close link between God’s promise to open Ezekiel’s mouth in 24:27 and the fulfillment of that promise in 33:22. This suggests that chapter 33 may have directly followed chapter 24 in an earlier version of the book, and that the oracles against the nations were originally a separate collection, secondarily inserted here by Ezekiel or his editors (Zimmerli, Ezekiel 2, p. 3). Signs of editing and expansion within the collected oracles against the nations are readily ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 1751 to 1775 of 2157 results

1751. Jesus and the High Priest

John 18:15-18, John 18:25-27, John 18:19-24

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

1752. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

1753. Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel

Philippians 1:12-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

1754. Shining as Stars

Philippians 2:12-18

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

1755. No Confidence in the Flesh

Philippians 3:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

1756. Pressing on Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

1757. Thanks for Their Gifts

Philippians 4:10-20

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

1758. Adam and Eve

Genesis 2:4-25

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

1759. From Adam to Noah

Genesis 5:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

1760. Abraham Tested

Genesis 22:1-19

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

1761. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Genesis 39:1-23

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

1762. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

1763. Blessings for Obedience

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

1764. The Ark Brought to the Temple

1 Kings 8:1-21

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1765. Jehoshaphat King of Judah

1 Kings 22:41-50

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1766. The Lord's Judgement of Ahaziah

2 Kings 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... -worshiping son loses it. It is significant that it is under Jehoshaphat’s Baal-worshiping son Jehoram (2 Kgs. 8:16–24) that Edom rebels (Hb. p šʿ) against Judah. 1:2 Baal-Zebub: Lit. “Baal/lord of the flies.” There is some manuscript evidence of a version of this name (“Beelzebub”) in a few Gospel texts that refer to Satan (Matt. 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18, 19). This is interesting in view of the links between OT spirit possession and NT demon possession that have been noted ...

1767. The Mountain of the Lord

Isaiah 2:1-5

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

1768. Isaiah’s Commission

Isaiah 6:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

1769. God’s Judgment on Assyria

Isaiah 10:5-19

Understanding Series

John Goldingay