Words Jesus used to teach His followers to pray. Three forms of the Lord’s Prayer exist in early Christian literature-two in the NT (Matt 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) and the other in the Didache 8:2, a noncanonical Christian writing of the early second-century from northern Syria. Their similarities and difference may be seen if the three forms are set side by side.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (LORDS PRAYER PT 1)
This is another reference by Paul to the Greek athletic games. In this verse he referred to the boxers in training who practiced shadow boxing, throwing punches at an imaginary opponent.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (NO SHADOW BOXING)
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 “THE THORN IN THE FLESH”)
When warfare took place it was normally at a time when food was available to live off the land and when weather conditions made war feasible (2 Samuel 11:1). So far as the Jewish army was concerned, the central “administration” unit (Numbers 2:17) was surrounded by four divisions (Numbers 2) and was preceded by an advance guard.
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (CAMPAIGING)
It was a flesh-and-bones body like ours, recognizable to His followers (John 20:20), still scarred by the crucifixion (John 20:25-29; Revelation 5:6), and able to eat food (Luke 24:30-33, 41-43).
Continue reading WHAT KIND OF BODY DID JESUS HAVE AFTER HIS RESURRECTION?
Jeremiah showed the faith in the future of Judah, even while Jerusalem, the capital city, was on the verge of failing to the Babylonian army. He bought a plot of land in his hometown of Anathoth, confident that the land would be useful again after the Jewish people returned from the exile in Babylon.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (JEREMIAH’S SHOW OF FAITH)
An annual tax, required of every Jewish male, was designated for maintenance and support of the temple in Jerusalem. Perhaps the temple officials who collected this tax approached Peter about paying it because Jesus and His disciples were hard to pin down. Their teaching and healing ministry kept them moving from place to place.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (A TAX FOR THE TEMPLE)37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (LUKE 6:37-42 “DO NOT JUDGE”)
An act necessary for comfort and cleanliness for any who have traveled dusty Palestinian roads wearing sandals. Customarily, a host provided gusts with water for washing their own feet (Judg 19:21; Luke 7:44, where the complaint was that Simon had not provided water). Foot-washing was regarded as so lowly a task that it could not be required of a Hebrew slave. In this context the statement of John the Baptist that he was unworthy to untie the sandal (to wash the feet) of the One coming after him (Mark 1:7) indicates great humility. As a sign of
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (FOOTWASHING PT1)
Walking was the most common way for people living in Bible times to get from one place to another on a daily basis. Given the fatigue that discourages sustained running, those who ran were either special people with unique vocations or ordinary people who were responding to unique situations. Those expected to run included athletes, couriers, and royal guards. The Greeks introduced the world to athletic contests that were the precursor to our Olympic games. The ancient games included running events of various distances in which athletes could
Continue reading EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE BIBLE TIMES (RUN PT1)