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 […]
Does Pilate’s sign on the cross spell out the acronym Y-H-W-H in Hebrew?
No. Here is John 19:19 from the UBS Hebrew New Testament. יֵשׁוּעַ הַנָּצְרִי מֶלֶךְ הַיְּהוּדִים׃ There is no V (and) in front of the Jesus The-Nazarene [And] King [of] The-Jews.
Does the Greek text say “He is risen” or “He has been raised”?
The King James Version, among others, has made common the phrase “he is risen” in English. The KJV has this phrase with the “he” occurring 6 times, and others identical in the Greek such as in Luke 24:6: Mat 14:2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen (ἠγέρθη) […]