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23
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10 answers

Who named the wrong priest in Mark 2:26?

Here's a story Jesus told about David according to Mark 2:23-28 (ESV): One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are…
Jon Ericson
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23
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6 answers

What arguments exist that would refute the theory concerning Aramaic primacy of the New Testament?

Many Nestorian and some Seventh Day Adventist scholars assert that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic (such as Paul Younan and George Lamsa). What scholarly arguments exist that would refute this claim? I am not looking for a…
Dan
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Is Jesus giving the Holy Spirit in John 20:22?

After the resurrection in John's gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples and in John 20:22 he breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit." What is happening here? Is Jesus giving them the Holy Spirit by breathing on them? Edit: Maybe this…
Soldarnal
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What is "the gift of God" in Ephesians 2:8?

This answer on C.SE referenced Eph 2:8-9 to support the idea that faith comes from God. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.…
Ray
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23
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5 answers

In Isaiah 52:13 is the author using the term “high and lifted up” to signal that the servant is God?

Isaiah 52:13 הִנֵּ֥ה יַשְׂכִּ֖יל עַבְדִּ֑י יָר֧וּם וְנִשָּׂ֛א וְגָבַ֖הּ מְאֹֽד׃ Behold, my servant shall act wisely;         he shall be high and lifted up,         and shall be exalted. Isaiah 6:1 ... בִּשְׁנַת־מוֹת֙…
Susan
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14 answers

In Ephesians 2:15 exactly what part of the Law has been abolished?

St Paul, speaking in the context of Jew and Gentile being brought together, declares that the "law of commandments" were abolished. "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of…
Christian Gedge
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Why does the Bible say that Abraham sacrificed his "only-begotten son"?

Why does the Bible say that Abraham sacrificed his "only-begotten son" (Heb. 11:17, Gen. 22:2) despite the fact that Isaac had a step-brother Ishmael who was 14 years older than Isaac and was in fact the first-born son of Abraham?
brilliant
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Does Genesis's creation account depict creation "ex nihilo"?

I had once heard that one of the remarkable thing about the creation account in Genesis, as compared to the other creation accounts of the cultures of the surrounding area is that God creates the universe out of nothing, or 'ex nihilio'; whereas the…
aceinthehole
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Is there a modern English translation of the Bible that uses the second-person plural pronoun?

I'm looking for a modern translation of the Bible (ideally in the public domain) that retains the distinction between second-person plural and second-person singular. In Early Modern English (the language of the King James Bible) when speaking to a…
Jon Ericson
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22
votes
2 answers

Parallels between Ruth and Elisha?

I'm asking this on behalf of a friend. One of his favorite parts of the bible is that of Elisha, in 2 Kings. But he wanted to get more familiar with the bible as a whole, so in January he started a Bible In A Year reading program. He got to the book…
user2910
22
votes
6 answers

Are Job's friends the voice of the Accuser?

I have often struggled with the book of Job, wondering what rubric should guide my interpretation as I read through the speeches of Job's "friends". They say so much that is "true" (so much that squares with the rest of Scripture), but clearly they…
kmote
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6 answers

Why is the genealogy in Luke attributed to Mary?

When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of... - Luke 3:23 (NASB) There seems to be a widely held view among conservative theologians that Luke's…
Kevin Aenmey
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4 answers

What does it mean that "Scripture interprets Scripture"?

Within the field of hermeneutics there is an established principle "Scripture interprets Scripture", which is used by some as a key rule for interpretation. What does this rule mean, and where does it fit into a larger picture of the field of…
Caleb
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What did Jesus mean in John 20:23 when he talked about his followers forgiving sins?

What did Jesus mean in John 20:23 when he said, “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained”? According to other Gospel accounts, the Jews recognized that only God…
Jeff W.
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3 answers

In the time of Jesus, were the Jewish authorities allowed to execute?

In the gospel accounts of the trial of Jesus we learn that the Jewish authorities could not sentence anyone to death: Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. (John…
Niclas Nilsson
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