You may recall in the analysis of the passage in Ecclesiastes 3 that the Hebrew word Mishpat was the key to understanding the text and subsequent postmortem judgement. Ecclesiastes 5 also uses the term, but it does so in a way that a man judges another man. However that changes in 11:9 which states, “Rejoice,... Continue Reading →
Death And Judgment In Ecclesiastes 3
When one reads the words of Qohelet (please note that Qohelet and Ecclesiastes are referring to the same work) the skepticism that is experienced is real. On the surface it seems much different that other books of the Old Testament. Perhaps new ideas were emerging regarding a postmortem judgment during the postexilic period. When the... Continue Reading →
Who Is Qohelet In Ecclesiastes?
Qohelet is the Hebrew name for the book of Ecclesiastes. The more popular rendering of Ecclesiastes is the Greek rendering that was found in the Greek Old Testament Septuagint. Just who Qohelet is has been a matter of debate for several centuries. One clue to the identity of the writer is in Ecclesiastes 1:1 which... Continue Reading →
Hevel, Vanity, and The Perplexing Nature of Ecclesiastes
I have said it here, and in other mediums, that the Qohelet is a book that many have struggled with through the history of the church. There are times that it seems contradictory and perplexing if one is not in tune to the overall message of the book. The key to Qohelet is hevel, or hebel... Continue Reading →
The Hebrew Tow`ebah And Proverbs 11:1
There are many occasions in which a word in Hebrew has many different meanings in English. In this regard it is important to understand the context used to help determine its meaning. For this exercise Proverbs 11:1 was used. That passage of scripture states “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, But a... Continue Reading →
Fear Of The Lord: A Hebrew Word Study In Proverbs
The phrase “fear of the Lord” is rich and the text has much meaning. For purposes of this exercise the study is limited to the first two chapters of the book of Proverbs. The usage of this phrase occurs in Proverbs 1:7, 1:29, and 2:5. Fear of the Lord The first word in the phrase... Continue Reading →
The New Testament Is Reliable
When it comes to a discussion about sacred scripture the word “accuracy” will definitely come up. Whether it is in regards to passages in the Old Testament or the New Testament, but what is the basis for such questions? Is it an honest attempt to discern the truth or is one’s mind already made up?... Continue Reading →
Covenant, Old Testament, And Christ As Fulfillment
These covenants are a part of salvation history that prepared the world for the coming of the Messiah. Each one of these covenants was important and significant, and each one was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. This covenant is known as the new covenant, and it is everlasting.
Understand the Old to Fully Understand the New
Understanding the Old Testament is essential in understanding the New. Too often the Christians of today neglect the Old Testament. It is seen as a book of laws that do not really apply because Christ established the new covenant. Coogan states “The writings that counted as scripture for the New Testament writers are those they... Continue Reading →
Did Jesus Claim To Be God?
The title of this article is “Did Jesus Claim to be God?” It is a question that is asked very often and it is important to have a proper defense (i.e. apologetic) to respond to this crucial question. It is vital because if Jesus is not God in the flesh then you and I as... Continue Reading →