Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? (1 Corinthians 11:13)
The Greek word for veil is καλύπτρα kalyptra gives rise to the verb κατακαλύπτω katakalyto ‘to completely veil’ or ‘to cover up’, and the resultant adjective (above) ἀκατακάλυπτος akatakalyptos ‘uncovered’ or ‘revealed’.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? (James 2:14)
Many of a Calvinist persuasion object strongly to Jesus’ half-brothers linkage of faith and works, some even advocate the epistle be removed from the canon of the Bible, Read more
What is praying in tongues?
…if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. (1 Corinthians 14:14)
The context of this verse is instruction to the church of Corinth on how to behave as a collective. The word translated as ‘tongue’ is γλῶσσα glossa ‘language’ which means it is not a meaningless set of sounds but a structured speech with the purpose of communication.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
It is notable that Jesus often sought solitude to pray, but what exactly did he do or say? The Greek verb used in the verse above is προσεύχομαι proseuchomai, which derives from pros ‘towards’ and euchomai ‘to wish’. Thus praying is literally an interaction of wishes.
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2-3)
In Greek, the verb ‘to fast’ is νηστεύω nesteuo from ne,implying negation, and ἐσθίω esthio ‘to eat’, thus nesteuo is literally ‘to not eat’. But in the context of the Bible, this is abstinence not starvation. Thus, a Biblical definition of a fast is to refuse food in order to better focus on God – or put in the negative, and especially in a modern context, fasting without prayer is merely dieting.
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite (Numbers 6:1-2)
The Hebrew word referred to is נָזִיר nazir (Strong’s 5139) means pure; therefore, a Nazirite is one given in devotion, or one who is consecrated. It is the principle of being separated or set aside for God’s exclusive use.
In this post on my blog ‘God-breathed Words’, I take a look at temptation and find that both the original Greek and Hebrew words in the Bible have a range of meaning that includes ‘test’, ‘assay’, ‘prove’ and ‘trail’.
When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)
As Jesus enters Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, he is greeted with shouts of adoration and acclamation. With one voice expressing common agreement, here at last was the Messiah from the line of David who would save the people of Israel; but, as it became obvious that his aims were not temporal and immediate, and that he would not rouse a rebellion against Rome, support withered and the plotters succeeded in sending Jesus to his death. Little did any realise that this was the plan and eternal salvation the goal. Matthew, an eye witness, records those cries:
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ (Matthew 21:9)
There are two words that often used synonymously, jealousy and envy; but in actuality they have different meanings and applications. The simple difference between jealousy and envy: one is jealous of what you already possess but envious of others who have what you desire. By illustration, if a woman sees her husband flirting, she is jealous; but if she desires another woman’s husband, she is envious. While the first man is hers by right, the other is not; and to obtain the latter, she would have to take that man from his wife. Thus, envy is sin while jealousy is not. First, I look at Jealousy from a Biblical perspective. Read more
God Breathed Words 