Synonyms: responsibility, obligation, commitment, obedience, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, respect, deference, reverence, homage, job, task, chore, assignment, commission, mission, function, charge, part, place, role, concern, requirement, tax, levy, tariff, excise, toll, fee, imposition, impost, exaction, tithe, payment, rate
Showing 1 to 25 of 2467 results
1. Many Parts, One Body
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Teach the Text
Preben Vang
... body. A limb must fulfill its assigned purpose in the body or it will itself cease to be a limb and consequently leave the rest of the body impaired. Paul’s concern centers on those who feel insignificant in gifting and status. By letting the body parts speak in the fashion of fables (“if the foot should say . . .”), Paul addresses the community’s divisions head-on. Preferring hands over feet (12:15), eyes over ears (12:16), or even ears over nose (12:17) would be absurd. The very notion of ranking ...
2. One Body, Many Parts
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Understanding Series
Marion L. Soards
... ”; NIV: As it is). These words introduce a conclusion that takes a degree of exception to foregoing reasoning as they introduce a new angle in logic. In agreement, see Conzelmann, 1 Corinthians, p. 213. 12:21 Notice that in this imaginary dialogue, the head is but a part—though prominent—of the body. The head is not identified in any special fashion with Christ himself. Compare the similar images and uses of this metaphor in Rom. 12:3–8; Eph. 1:15–23; 2:15–16; 4:3–4, 11–12, 15–16, 25; 5:23 ...
3. One Body, Many Parts
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
... their incorporation into the body of Christ had little honor outside it, so that no cause for a division of honor, attention, status, or concern might exist within the body. Thus, if any part of the body suffers in its ability to function within the body, “every part suffers with it,” and when one part is honored, all will rejoice in the recognition of its capability (12:26). Repeating the affirmation with which he began the analogy, Paul now moves to his conclusion. The gifts may be differentiated ...
Teach the Text
Preben Vang
... , Paul moves from people to animals (Gen. 1:24–26) to the whole universe. Paul’s switch from body (s?ma) to flesh (sarx) does not suggest a change in his perspective from a transformation of the whole being to a mere change of the external (or material) parts of that being. His usual preference for the Greek word kreas, when speaking about animal meat (8:13; Rom. 14:21; cf. T. Jud. 15.4; Pss. Sol. 8.12), indicates rather that he uses sarx here as a Greek translation of the Hebrew basar—the common Old ...
Teach the Text
Joe M. Sprinkle
... story of the daughters of Zelophehad, which begins in Numbers 27. Why does the narrator divide this story into two episodes, one in Numbers 27 and another in Numbers 36? As noted earlier, Alan Kam-Yau Chan argues persuasively that the reason is structural: the first part of Numbers is bracketed by the two censuses (Num. 1–4; 26), whereas the second half (Num. 27–36) is bracketed by the two accounts of the daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 27:1–8; 36:1–13), with Numbers 26:33 (“Zelophehad son of Hepher ...
Teach the Text
Joe M. Sprinkle
... the seven lamps of the “lampstand,” the menorah (v. 2). Instructions about the lampstand had been given earlier (Exod. 25:31–40; 37:17–24; 40:4, 24), when it was specified that the menorah was to be shaped like a budding almond tree and placed in the part of the tent of meeting just outside the holy of holies on the south side of the tabernacle. Numbers 8:1–4 shows that these earlier commands have in fact been fully carried out by Aaron at Moses’s command “just as the Lord had commanded Moses ...
Teach the Text
Joe M. Sprinkle
... eleven and a half months after the exodus (Exod. 40:17). Thus Numbers 7–8 may date to the time of Numbers 9 (see Num. 9:1). he anointed it and consecrated it. Preparation is made for using the sanctuary fully by applying fragrant oil as part of a celebratory occasion of receiving gifts for the sanctuary. 7:2  the tribal leaders. See Numbers 1:4–16. 7:7–9  Gershonites . . . Merarites . . . Kohathites. These are the three subtribes of the tribe of Levi. On their duties, see Numbers 4. Only two of ...
Teach the Text
Joe M. Sprinkle
... in the land, and this passage is related to the fair distribution of the land.1 But why does the narrator divide this story into two episodes, one in Numbers 27 and another in Numbers 36? Alan Kam-Yau Chan argues that the reason is structural: the first part of Numbers is bracketed by the two censuses (Num. 1–4; 26), whereas the second half (Num. 27–36) is bracketed by the two accounts of the daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 27:1–8; 36:1–13), with Numbers 26:33 (“Zelophehad son of He­pher had no ...
9. Unity and Community (Part 1)
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Teach the Text
Preben Vang
... . In other words, some things are simply designed differently in order to function inter­dependently; to elevate one above the other is ridiculous. It is the same in the Spirit’s design and wisdom regarding the gifts he pours out. Unity and Community (Part 2) Big Idea: Paul calls the church to recognize the communal nature of God’s spiritual endowment. As a generous patron, the Triune God gifts each of his clients with power to serve others in eager pursuit of a Spirit-willed unity. Understanding ...
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
1:1–12:6 Review · Prophecies against Judah: The first twelve chapters of Isaiah may be compared to a painting with three panels (a triptych). Isaiah’s call to be a prophet (chap. 6) is at the center, while the other two parts of the triptych concern judgment and hope. The first section (chaps. 1–5) is in the form of a covenantal lawsuit, and the third section (chaps. 7–12) presents God’s word of judgment and hope in the historical situation of the growing Assyrian Empire. A holistic approach to ...
Understanding Series
Craig C. Broyles
... clear how we should render the tense of the Hb. imperfect verb here (yeṣawwê; NIV puts it in the present tense) nor how this verse fits into the context. Two possibilities seem most likely. First, the Lord’s action described here appears to be part of the speaker’s remembering him, introduced in 42:6. This is similar to his earlier remembering “how I used to go . . . to the house of God” (42:4). The NIV rightly translates this Hb. imperfect verb as a past action (“used to . . .”). Since 42 ...
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
Epilogue (31:1–34:12) At the age of 120 years, Moses knows he is no longer able to lead this nation, nor will he cross over the Jordan River with them: “The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you” (31:3). God will do to those Canaanites what he has done to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings in the Transjordan (31:4–5). People and leader alike are to “be strong and courageous” (31:6), for God is not about to forsake his people. Moses summons Joshua, the man who has served for years under Moses’s ...
13. Judgment and Comfort: Part Two
Isaiah 2:6-22, Isaiah 3:1--4:1
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
Isaiah now focuses on how God’s people have rebelled (2:6–22). First, he singles out their rampant materialism, idolatry, and acceptance of pagan practices. He includes all pagan cultures by referring to the superstitions from the east and west (diviners of the Philistines). Judah, though isolated geographically, has opened herself to foreign cultures. This fits well with the period of Uzziah, when Judah made alliances with nations so as to maintain commercial and military relations. Their strength was in ...
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
2:1–13 · The king and his astrologers:In Nebuchadnezzar’s second year (2:1; 604 BC), he has a dream that disturbs him greatly. He turns to the traditional wisdom of his time by calling on his sages—“the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers” (2:2)—to tell him what his dream means. They are all too ready to please the king, and ask for the particulars of the dream. Their request is “in Aramaic” (2:4), the official language of the Babylonian Empire. (Here begins the Aramaic section of Daniel, ...
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
4:1–3 · Nebuchadnezzar’s confession: Nebuchadnezzar’s confession of God’s sovereignty results from a series of events described in 4:4–37. The manner of expression is typical of Israelite poetry and probably reflects editorial reworking. The intent of this section of praise is to show that even a pagan king has to acknowledge that Yahweh is great, that his kingdom extends to all “nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth” (4:1), and that “his dominion endures from generation to ...
Understanding Series
Craig C. Broyles
Originally Psalms 9 and 10 were one psalm. Psalm 10 has no superscription, which is unusual in Book I of the Psalter. Together these psalms form an acrostic, that is, an alphabetical psalm, and Psalm 10 picks up right where Psalm 9 leaves off (Ps. 9 closes with Hb. k, and Ps. 10 opens with Hb. l, the Hebrew letters kāp and lāmed respectively). As noted below, the psalms contain numerous linguistic and thematic links. The LXX, in fact, preserves them as one psalm. But what a contrast these psalms form! ...
Understanding Series
Craig C. Broyles
For an introduction to Psalm 10 see the introductory comments on Psalm 9. 10:1–11 At this point the psalm makes a sudden turn to lament: Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? So dramatic is the shift we might think this was a separate psalm, except that it contains so many echoes from Psalm 9 (where the Hb. text uses the same word I have modified the NIV’s translation accordingly): Psalm 9 /Psalm 10 The LORD is . . . a stronghold in times of trouble (9:9) / Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble (10:1 ...
Understanding Series
Craig C. Broyles
For an introduction to Psalm 43, see the introductory comments on Psalm 42. 43:1–5 The psalm’s first petitions, “judge me” (Hb. šopṭēnî, NIV vindicate me) and plead my cause, are legal in nature and might lead us to speculate about circumstances of false accusation (see Ps. 7). The petitions of 43:3, however, clearly pray for God’s light and truth to escort the speaker to God’s holy mountain. We should also observe that the psalms of temple entry (see the Introduction) use legal language for God to “judge ...
Understanding Series
Gordon D. Fee
... 12; 5:23; 1 Cor. 16:10–11)—that Timothy is both a younger and less forceful colleague. As in 1 Timothy (1:18 and 4:14), a part of Paul’s appeal, therefore, is to remind him of the spiritual gift (for ministry; Gk. charisma; see disc. on 1 Tim. 4:14) of God that ... for the sake of the gospel (cf. 2:9). As will be articulated in 3:12, such suffering for the gospel has for Paul always been a part of the ongoing proclamation of the gospel (cf., e.g., 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 3:4; 2 Cor. 4:7–15; Rom. 8:17; Col ...
20. Oracles of Restoration
Ezekiel 34:1-31, Ezekiel 35:1-15, Ezekiel 36:1-38, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ezekiel 37:15-28
Understanding Series
Steven Tuell
... played in the sack of Jerusalem. By contrast, the oracle directed to the mountains of Israel (36:1–15) is a stirring promise of restoration. Ezekiel 36:16–38 continues this theme, underlining that the restoration is in no sense due to any righteousness on Israel’s part: “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone” (36:22). The sixth oracle in this section is perhaps ...
21. Egypt
Ezekiel 29:1-21, Ezekiel 30:1-26, Ezekiel 31:1-18, Ezekiel 32:1-32
Understanding Series
Steven Tuell
... the great serpent, are overcome with awe and dread—”their kings will shudder with horror because of you when I brandish my sword before them” (v. 10; for Babylon as the Lord’s sword, see 21:28–32; 29:8–9; 30:24). 32:11–16 The second part of this lament interprets the allegory in verses 1–10 as describing the destruction of Egypt by Babylon. The sword of the king of Babylon (v. 11) will lay waste Pharaoh’s army. They will shatter the pride of Egypt, and all her hordes will be overthrown (v ...
Teach the Text
C. Hassell Bullock
... –13) takes the form of a complaint[3] or lament. The difference in genre cannot, of course, be the definitive word, since the psalms sometimes mix them.[4] If they are two distinct poems, the evidence seems to point in the direction that part 2 was composed with part 1 in view, rather than the psalm being the combination of two independent poems.[5] It seems, however, that the poet was describing his deep trust in God alongside his plaintive lament, two frames of mind that, in the complexities of life, do ...
Understanding Series
William Nelson
... 1957], pp. 101–2). For further discussion and references to other parallels to the statue, see Collins, Daniel, pp. 162–64; Montgomery, Daniel, p. 189. 2:36 See the Additional Note on 2:31, 36a. 2:38 The NIV moves the clause wherever they live to the latter part of the verse to go with “he has made you ruler over them all.” In the Aramaic text it is earlier in the verse. It might go with “mankind.” Then it would read, “Wherever mankind lives he has placed the beasts of the field and the birds ...
24. The Lord Speaks
Job 38:1--41:34
Understanding Series
Gerald H. Wilson
... ever hope to bend the creator to their will? In the Hebrew text, chapters 40 and 41 are differently divided so that the initial description of leviathan in 41:1–8 becomes 40:25–32. This links the description of these two beasts even more closely together as parts of the same final examination. 40:6–8 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. This is exactly the same phrase found at the beginning of chapter 38, signifying that this is a continuation of the original storm of words after a brief pause ...
25. Signs and Oracles of Judgment
Ezekiel 4:1-5:17, Ezekiel 6:1-14, Ezekiel 7:1-27
Understanding Series
Steven Tuell
... (vv. 5–17). The Lord had singled out Jerusalem as an example and honored her by setting her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her (v. 5). The notion that Zion was the great cosmic mountain at the center of the earth was evidently a part of Ezekiel’s priestly worldview (see also Ps. 48:1–2; Isa. 2:1–4//Mic. 4:1–3; Zech. 14:8–10). But, for Ezekiel, that centrality only serves to emphasize all the more Jerusalem’s wickedness. Far from living up to its role as an example to ...
Showing results