2 Corinthians 2:10-11. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs. Satan is a Hebrew word that has been taken straight […]
What does 1 John 3:8 mean?
1 John 3:8. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. The word ‘devil’ does not occur in the Old Testament, so this is not a direct quotation from […]
Did the thief on the cross go to heaven?
This is a verse that is well known and famous, but it’s almost as equally well known that the text is actually a mistaken translation. The standard version goes: Luke 23:42-43 And he [the thief] said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” {43} And he said to him, “Truly, I say to […]
What does ‘the word became flesh’ mean?
John 1:1 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And v14 says: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus fulfilled the […]
What does ‘atonement’ mean?
Atonement in the Old Testament The Hebrew verb ‘to atone’ (kaphar) means ‘cover’, so the noun ‘atonement’ (kippurim pl.) is a form of ‘covering’. The most usual form of the word in the Old Testament is kipper (piel form, causative form, of kaphar) which means to ’cause to be covered’, ‘make covering for’. Lev.5:18 And […]
What did Jesus mean when he said “before Abraham was, I am”?
John 8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So […]
What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
Paul mentions this in 2 Corinthians 12: So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should […]
What does “Satan, .. sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31) mean?
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,4 that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32) As usual, Satan means adversary and we have to determine who the adversary is. If we […]
Who is the antichrist?
In popular religious tradition ‘the antichrist’ is a figure associated with the third use of the term ‘son of perdition’ in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The first two uses being related to Judas Iscariot in Matt. 23:15 and John 17:12. And from 2 Thessalonians 2:3 it is inferred that this is a literal single person who appears […]
Did the Flood cover the whole world?
The main record of the Flood is in Genesis 6-9. In Gen. 6:17 God says: For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. On the face of it, the record […]