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Bible Q

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Where is “Abraham’s bosom” located? (the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke 16)

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Abraham’s lap “Bosom” is a King James Bible term which meant something akin to ‘lap’ in Shakespeare-era English. Being “in someone’s bosom” is a picture of being embraced by them. An example is found in John 13:23, where the disciple whom Jesus loved is “leaning on Jesus’ bosom” in the KJV. The term “Abraham’s bosom” […]

Can you tell me what “shaddai” means?

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Even though El Shaddai is generally translated God Almighty, shaddai is from the same root as “breast,” with reference to nurturing. This title occurs significantly in Genesis referring to God’s development of Abraham’s descendants. Exod. 6:4 affirms this: “I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but by my name yhwh I did […]

If the kingdom is on earth, what does “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3) refer to?

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The expression “kingdom of heaven” is equivalent to the expression “kingdom of God”, which is used in the parallel account in Luke (cf. Luke 6:20). The word “heaven” in the expression “kingdom of heaven” does not refer to the location of the kingdom, but the authority of the kingdom. The expression “kingdom of heaven” is […]

Does “people of Israel” and “Hebrew slaves” mean the same thing?

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Yes, more or less. The expression “people of Israel” refers to the nation descended from Jacob (also called “Israel”). The word “Hebrew” has a wider usage. For example, Abram is described as a “Hebrew” (Gen 14:13). It is sometimes suggested that “Hebrew” derives from the name “Eber”, who was an ancestor of Abram (Gen 11:16) […]

What does it mean Jesus is the first and the last?

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Jesus is of first importance in God’s plan with humankind and the universe.   Consider Colossians 1:15-20: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  (16)  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were […]