Category Archives: bible

Where Is the Focus?

Several years ago I rode my mountain bike around the shores of Lake Stanley Draper. It’s an artificial reservoir enclosed by a dam and fed by a pair of creeks (East and West Elm Creeks) and several smaller run-offs from … Continue reading

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Two Types of OT Law

Heiser said that we need to understand the Hebrew mindset about the Law of Moses. There are two types of law: serious moral concerns and mere ritual mistakes. Most of Leviticus is consumed in dealing with the latter. Rituals don’t … Continue reading

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Numerology versus Gematria

Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth … Continue reading

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Hermeneutics of Establishing Priorities

Ref: Heiser’s Bible Podcast on Acts 15 (transcript PDF). Bible translations into English vary some, but we recognize in the Old Testament the term “Chosen” referring to the Nation of Israel. There is no useful distinction between “Chosen” and “Elect”. … Continue reading

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The Law of Kings

We are pretty sure David studied the Torah on a regular basis. It’s hard to imagine he would not have kept the law, in particular the passage in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. When you come to the land the LORD your God … Continue reading

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Holy Spirit Required

Most of you remember the incident in Acts 3 where Peter and John were entering the Temple and ran across a lame fellow begging at the Beautiful Gate. They healed the man and he came dancing and shouting into the … Continue reading

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Balaam’s Teaching

In John’s Revelation, among the seven churches to which the Spirit of God has him write is Pergamum in chapter 2. But I have a few things against you: You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, … Continue reading

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NT Doctrine — Conclusion

I’m not going to say that John’s Revelation doesn’t contain any doctrine, but that doctrine is not the purpose for writing it. It is prophecy in symbols, all reaching back to echo the symbols of the Old Testament. Its content … Continue reading

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NT Doctrine — Jude

John’s second and third letters are brief summaries of what he wrote in his first epistle, addressed to a couple of people noted for helping itinerant preachers take the gospel to new mission fields. Chronology: Paul was executed in roughly … Continue reading

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NT Doctrine — 1 John 5

John’s schoolboy Greek grammar should be obvious, but people have debated for the past two millennia over what he says in this chapter. I take the position that the so-called “John’s comma” in verse 8 was not in the original … Continue reading

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