KJV uses “ghost” in two senses, for the human life force and for God’s Holy Spirit. KJV never uses “ghost” for the disembodied spirits of the dead. All 11 OT references involves the phrases “give up the ghost” (e.g., Gen 25:8; 35:29), which means to cease breathing or simply to die. This phrase occurs eight times in the NT (Matt 27:50; Acts 5:5; 12:23). The predominant NT use is for the Holy Spirit.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (GHOST)
Hell isn’t in the Bible. At least not in the original languages.
Hell is an English word that Bible experts today use to translate a couple of Bible terms about eh afterlife: Gehenna and Tartaros.
Continue reading A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT (HELL)
At the annual celebration of the Passover in Jerusalem (see note on Matthew 26:19), the Roman governor released on Jewish prisoner who was selected by the people. This was a gesture of goodwill to the Jews, who resented the Roman occupation of their country.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (BARABBAS, NOT JESUS)
The NT distinguishes between demonic possession and physical disease. Matthew 4:24 states that Jesus healed “all those who were afflicted, those suffering form various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics” (HCSB). Thus the theory that demonic possession should be equated with epilepsy or any other neurotic ailment is weak. Some of the demons made assertions of Christ’s divinity when the disciples did not show such recognition. Mental or physical illness would not impart this type of knowledge (Mark 5:13; Luke 4:33-35; 8:29-33).
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (DEMONIC POSSESSION PT2)
Because most people in the ancient world constantly lived on the edge of starvation, obesity was neither an option nor, for most, something to be avoided. Only the rich could afford the luxury of being fat, and for this reason fatness became a mark of status and wealth.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (OBESITY)
Many Bible students are puzzled by the different placement of the cleansing of the temple in the Gospels. John places the temple cleansing here at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. But the synoptic Gospels-Matthew, Mark, and Luke-report that He purged the temple at the close of His public ministry about three years later (Matthew 21:12-19; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48). Did the cleansing of the temple happen once or twice?
Continue reading A QUESTION ABOUT THE TEMPLE CLEANSING
The prophet Ezekiel is addressed as “son of man,” a title used for him over ninety times throughout the book of Ezekiel. The title shows the contrast between Ezekiel, a man, and the almighty Lord. This name would portray Ezekiel’s human limits and weaknesses in contrast to the glory and greatness of God.
Continue reading WHAT DOES “SON OF MAN” MEAN?
1.And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (LUKE 11:1-13 “THE MODEL PRAYER”)
Imposters claiming to be the Messiah (Christ in Greek). Jesus associated the appearance of messianic pretenders with the fall of Jerusalem (Matt 24:23-26; Mark 13:21-22). Jesus warned His followers to be skeptical of those who point to signs and omens to authenticate their false messianic claims. Jesus also urged disbelief of those claiming the Messiah was waiting in the wilderness or was in “the inner rooms” (perhaps a reference to the inner chambers of the
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (FALSE CHRISTS)