The word ‘without descent’ here (Greek ἀγενεαλόγητος agenealogētos) is an adjective really meaning ‘without genealogy’. So the issue is that Melchizedek was not given any genealogy in Genesis. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. (Hebrews […]
In Revelation 13:8 was the lamb slain from before the foundation (NIV), or the book written from before the foundation (ESV), or both?
In Revelation 13:8 was the lamb slain from before the foundation (NIV), or the book written from before the foundation (ESV), or both? The Greek text is as follows: 13:8 καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτῷ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ; ὧν οὗ γέγραπται τὰ ὄνοματα ἐν τῇ βίβλῳ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου ἐσφαγμένου ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου 13:8 kaí proskynísousin autó pántes oi katoikoúntes epí tís gís ; ón oú gégraptai tá ónomata en te bíbloi tes zoes toú arníou esfagménou […]
Does the divine council in Psalm 89:5-7 literally exist?
Psalm 89:5-7 employs Ancient Near East language of a court of the gods in heaven. Or more accurately the court of One God, since Jewish religion is strictly monotheistic. So in this court there is one God, YHWH, and a surrounding court of courtiers, much like the court of an absolute monarch on earth. 5 Let the […]
Why does Christ commend the unjust steward for defrauding his master? (Luke 16:8)
Although the parable of the dishonest manager is sometimes read literally, particularly by churches promoting the idea that the church or its ministers should be shrewd in financial matters, it is often missed that Jesus explains the parable in verse 15 where he identifies the laughing Pharisees as the target of the parable. The text […]
Who or what is Belial?
Old Testament The Hebrew phrase wicked men, literally “Sons of Belial” is an expression rendered literally in older English Bibles so for example: Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; (Deuteronomy 13:3 KJV) […]
What does the Escape-Goat, Azazel, mean in Leviticus 16:8?
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. (Leviticus 16:8 KJV) The reading Azazel is found is several modern English translations: ESV NRSV. The KJV reading is retained in NIV NASB. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot […]
“strain at a gnat and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24)
“You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matthew 23:24 ESV) Many people have heard the claims that Jesus’ saying about a camel through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24) could have been ‘rope’ not camel in Aramaic when supposedly Jesus originally said it. But there is no real evidence for […]
what does “the demons also believe, and tremble” mean? (James 2:19)
That the demons both (a) believe and (b) shudder seems to indicate the demoniacs healed by Jesus in the synoptic Gospels. The word for shudder used by James (Greek frisso) is not otherwise used in the New Testament but is fairly common in Greek to mean ‘bristle’ or ‘shudder in fear’. 4 Maccabees 14:9 Even […]
Which books of the Old Testament are not quoted in the New Testament?
The lists of books claimed not to be cited in the New Testament usually included the following nine books. 1. Judges 2. Ruth Although not directly quoted the history in these two books is repeatedly mentioned. 3. Ezra Ezra is not quoted but Nehemiah is. And these two books were one scroll in Hebrew so […]
What is the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha?
The Old Testament pseudepigrapha is a title given by scholars to group together various Jewish writings roughly contemporary with the New Testament many of which take the form of pseudepigrapha, texts claiming to be written by a named Old Testament figure. These texts overlap with the Dead Sea Scrolls and early rabbinical documents found […]