Hannah’s Prayer, Part 1

I want to consider Hannah’s prayer in four English translations, two from the Hebrew of the Masoretic text[1] and two from the Greek of the Septuagint: Masoretic Text Septuagint 1 Samuel 2:1, 2 (Tanakh) 1 Samuel 2:1, 2 (NET) 1 Reigns 2:1, 2 (NETS) 1 Kings 1:28b-2:2...

Who Am I? Part 9

“One more thing you should know about me,” I wrote in another essay: “I usually appreciate God’s deceptiveness (the NIV translates it shrewdness, if you prefer) first, before I recognize his reliability, trustworthiness and loyalty.  So I assume that I am far more...

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 2

Moses wrote (Genesis 3:22-24 Tanakh): And HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) G-d (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) said: ‘Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for...

To Make Holy, Part 6

The next form of ἁγιάζω I want to consider is found in Jesus’ prayer to his Father: Set them apart (ἁγίασον, a form of ἁγιάζω) in the truth; your word is truth.[1]  But I’m making a slow pilgrimage through his prayer because I believe I can know his holiness here. ...

Romans, Part 91

Now I urge you, Paul wrote believers in Rome, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned.  Avoid[1] them![2]  The Greek word translated to watch out was σκοπεῖν (a form of σκοπέω).  Jesus said (Luke 11:33-36...

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 1

Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? Jesus said to Nicodemus.  I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.  If I have told you people...

Father, Forgive Them – Part 5

Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.[1]  “That’s me,” I responded as I read that this time.  The Greek word translated enemies was ἐχθρούς (a form of ἐχθρός).  For if while we were enemies (ἐχθροὶ, another form of ἐχθρός), Paul...