Today – agape
In the Greek: αγαπη
Pronunciation (Erasmian): ag-ah’-pay
Definition/approximate English equivalent: love, charitably, dear
Example of its use:
A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
A great reminder that it is wise to watch one’s tone of voice!
One of the things I have craved in studying Hebrew is being able to hear the words I was studying being spoken. However, the dilemma I quickly ran into was that I was actually studying Biblical Hebrew and most sources out there like electronic dictionaries and such are Modern Hebrew.
Well, comparing the two is like comparing a King James version of English to modern English. Sure, there is going to be crossover and things understood but the vocabulary, word frequencies, etc. have changed over time. What’s more, new words have had to be added for things like computers which simply didn’t exist in biblical times.
Strangely, realizing this actually was a comfort to me as I was able to start squaring why I would sometimes find a word in the Bible used in modern Hebrew but other times find the modern using a derivative term or entirely different term for a word I knew in the Bible.
If you don’t know, this is a post that helps you the reader to become more acquainted with where I – the author of this site – stand on various topics and theological points. Keep reading to see where I stand on today’s topic.
I have agonized over this one as there is so much I could say and so much ground I could cover but I have instead opted to keep this as simple and to the point as possible.
Let me be clear about a few things:
I may lean one way or another as commonly described to one party or another on an individual issue or another but this can truly be said of anyone.
Even with all that said, I do not place any of my ultimate hope or trust in governmental systems as they have so often erred and followed the ways of personal glorification, power, and general worldliness.
My ultimate hope is in Christ and Him alone!
It is through Christ, through studying God’s Word, through being continually transformed to be more and more like the Son that we can be more like the God-reflecting people we ought to be and thereby the sort of citizens we ultimately ought to be. It all starts with our relationship with God! It all starts with Christ!
I could go on and on about a need for limited government or explain how the separation of church and state is supposed to work or even where I am at on the current political climate – but all these things are part of a system that will one day pass away. Our relationship with the one true God does not pass away whether we are in this life, heaven, or the new world with Christ as king.
I choose to focus on the eternal and simply do the best that I can with the rest, the temporal, knowing full well that God is in control and working all things according to His purposes.
Note: I do these posts not because I think I’m somehow superior in my views or anything absurd like that but out of a desire to be up-front and honest with my readers as to where I stand. Otherwise, you’d be left to figure things out by reading between the lines and/or guessing.
Regardless of how one may think God brought all of creation about, it is very clear that God did it!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
Near my computer I keep a short list of groups of people that are inherently against Christianity in the world today. I have this list on a notecard and they are there so that I can remember them, pray for them, and pray for those they have persecuted.
I will share with you that list. It isn’t a long list. I fully intend to add to it as I find out about more groups. You’ll notice that could have added generalized groups but I’m purposefully trying to name those that are against us Christians rather than leave them nameless.
I realize my divisions may be a bit artificial as groups like the Muslim Brotherhood are also quite political but they’re here and listed. Please join me in prayer for their members and those they effect – that they see the light and for encouragement to our brothers and sisters they persecute.
Today – kai
In the Greek: και
Pronunciation (Erasmian): kih (long vowel I sound)
Definition/approximate English equivalent: (conjunction) and, also, even, indeed, but
Example of its use:
The “mas” in Xmas means “mass” as in a Catholic worship mass.
So the X stands for Christ and the mas stands for mass so it means “Christ mass”.
But wait a minute! If mass is associated with Catholicism, why would Protestants have anything to do with such a term?
Well, what exactly is mass? Mass is the celebration of the Eucharist. This is also called Communion. So Protestants practice it too – despite having differing theologies behind it as compared to Catholics.
In other words, we can also translate the term Christmas or Xmas as
Christ mass = Christ Eucharist = Christ Communion
Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth as we remember why he came – for the sacrifice of His body and blood that he’d sacrifice shed for us later.
Haven’t read part 1, read it now.
At this time of year where we remember the greatest gift we were given, it is good to remember the purpose for which He came.
So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.
They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast [n]lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.
But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
John 19:16-30
If you don’t know, this is a post that helps you the reader to become more acquainted with where I – the author of this site – stand on various topics and theological points. Keep reading to see where I stand on today’s topic.
Sola Scriptura . . . enough said!
Ok, ok. That probably needs clarification but I have to admit I am very tempted to leave it right there.
One of the key doctrines that came out of the Reformation that created Protestantism was Sola Scriptura. It was alongside 4 others of what are known as the 5 Solas.
Sola Scriptura means scripture alone. It means in matters of the Christian faith we turn to the Scriptures, the Bible as the ultimate authority. We do not turn to a pope, a council, or any human authority but the Word of God.
This automatically means some things.
The Scriptures are authoritative.
The Scriptures are from God.
It automatically says something about the Scripture’s inspiration – that it is from God. This thereby also says something about each writer involved in the creation of the Scriptures – namely that they were believers divinely made us of by God.
Of the 5 Solas, this is the one that is most important in my mind. Why is that? Simple. Through studying the Scriptures and holding it as the place to go for all things of the faith, you will inevitably find the other 4 solas and everything important to being a follower of Christ.
Note: I do these posts not because I think I’m somehow superior in my views or anything absurd like that but out of a desire to be up-front and honest with my readers as to where I stand. Otherwise, you’d be left to figure things out by reading between the lines and/or guessing.
