The Greek word here is oxos (ὄξος), a tonic drink which may or may not have had sour wine as one of the ingredients. Oxos had a history as a tonic drink in classical Greek, and is mentioned by Aeschylus, Hippocrates, Aristophanes, Xenophon, and others. Hippocrates recommend adding honey to the tonic drink to sweeten it. In […]
Why does Matthew omit 3 kings Ahaziah, Jehoash, Amaziah, from the legal genealogy of Jesus?
The simple answer to the question why does Matthew omit 3 kings Ahaziah, Jehoash, Amaziah, from the genealogy of Matthew 1:8 is probably to conform with Matthew’s scheme of .fourteens. But that that then throws up two questions – why omit these 3, and why fit the genealogy to groups of 14? The answer to […]
What date is the Book of Job?
Dating the Old Testament books is a complex and often controversial matter. However for the Book of Job which is a work of literature, a wisdom book, rather than a historical record, the dating can be left to matters of language, such as vocabulary, and content. The following is from Job by Edward L. Greenstein. […]
1 Peter 3:14 “Sanctify the Lord [God]” quoting Isaiah 8:13 “Sanctify the LORD [Sabbaoth]”
There is variance among the Greek manuscripts of 1 Peter 3:15. The majority text, on which the King James Version is based has “Lord God” – as the original Hebrew in Isaiah 8:13. But the Alexandrian manuscripts have “Christ the Lord” 1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always […]
What is “manifestation” of God, and is it the same as “agency”?
A straightforward question to which we give a short general answer: The subject of God’s manifestation to man is terminology mainly used in 19th Century books. It simply means how God reveals himself. The terminology is partly Trinitarian, in that it is used of “God the Father” being manifested by “God the Holy Spirit” and […]
“the LORD … from the LORD out of heaven.” Genesis 19:24
The Hebrew text of Genesis 19:24 contains et- (from) plus a duplication of YHWH which some have misread as meaning that there are two YHWH. Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. (Genesis 19:24) The idea occurs in the Babylonian Talmud and was popularised for modern audiences by […]
Does “let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15) mean the escape to Pella in Jordan?
The Olivet prophecy includes a warning by of Jesus of a time when those in Jerusalem would need to flee: “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For then […]
What is “open theism”, and is it scriptural?
This will be a short question and answer. Open Theism is, broadly speaking, the teaching that God doesn’t know (or suspends his omniscience of) the future results of our free will. In other words God does not have foreknowledge of who will be saved when Christ returns and judges the living and the dead. But, […]
Does Isaiah 48:16 teach the Trinity? “from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.”
Does Isaiah 48:16 teach the Trinity? “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me.” Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the […]
Does John 5:2 “there is a pool” prove that the gospel was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70?
Does John 5:2 “there is a pool” prove that the gospel was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70? Answer: Yes. The phrase “there is” (in Greek is ἐστί esti, present tense) shows that the Sheep Gate of the temple, and therefore the Temple itself, was still standing when John wrote. Yet Josephus records […]