Torture, Part 3

Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.  She was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling (βασανιζομένη, a form of βασανίζω)[1] to give birth.[2]  A...

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 5

I want to continue considering the eternal gospel the angel flying directly overhead “evangelized” (εὐαγγελίσαι, a form of εὐαγγελίζω)[1] in its context.  It is one of three messages by three different angels: one “evangelized,” another declared (λέγων, a form of...

My Reasons and My Reason, Part 2

I took my mother to see “Saving Mr. Banks” after Christmas.  We enjoyed it.  It was a well-done adult Disney movie.  (I wouldn’t recommend it for children.)  We’re both interested in the creative process so a movie about making a movie didn’t seem too masturbatory. ...

Fear – Numbers, Part 1

Why then were you not afraid (yârêʼ)[1] to speak against my servant Moses?[2] Jehovah asked Miriam and Aaron.  The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose ἐφοβήθητε[3] here.  Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married (for he...

Romans, Part 50

Love must be without hypocrisy,[1] Paul continued.  Actually, he wrote, Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος.  Paul wrote a lot about ἀγάπη.[2]  Love (ἀγάπη) does no wrong to a neighbor.  Therefore love (ἀγάπη) is the fulfillment of the law.[3]  What do you want? He asked the...