When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom. (1 Corinthians 2:1)
Eloquence translates not one Greek word, but two, ὑπεροχὴν λόγου huperochen logou, ‘superiority of speech’ or ‘fine words’ (huperoxe being the prominence of a mountain, the pinnacle.)
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Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 ESV)
Many of the believers in Corinth struggled to understand what death held for them. Paul calls the journey to the afterlife a mystery, and it can only be so. But he does not mean they were left clueless, because the prophets and apostles were given revelation, and this is what he means by a mystery, that which is revealed by the Spirit of God through the Word of God.
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Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:15-17)
If evangelism has become tainted with the association with ranting and bigotry then perhaps it is because not enough Christians took to heart what Peter says in his first letter. What should characterise the messenger who brings the good news of Jesus, who gave of himself to redeem humankind, is contained in the two words translated as gentleness and respect; the evangelist should speak gently and respectfully.
For we, wilfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth, no more for sins does there remain a sacrifice but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers…(Hebrews 10:26)
This notoriously difficult and controversial passage reads this way in the NIV.
‘…And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’ (Matthew 16:18)
This much-misunderstood verse follows Simon Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus as God the Son; the rock, the foundation of the church, is faith not Peter, even if Jesus blesses him for his profession. Church then is simply the earthly host of like-minded believers. The Greek word translated ‘church’ is ἐκκλησίᾳ, ekklēsia from the prefix, ek ‘out, from and to’ and kaleo ‘to call’. This was a common, secular word meaning an assembly, specifically that of a political party literally called out of their homes to assemble in the forum or agora, the market square.
Peter describes the church in this way:
(Those of Christ are…) a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9) Read more
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (Matthew 28:16-17)
Now the Greek word in this passage that is translated as doubt is the verb διστάζω distazo, which means literally two-fold or double stance. To be caught between two positions, to vacillate.
‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good…’ Matthew 19:17
Jesus is approached by a man; the text identifies him as possessing youth and wealth, a heady combination, yet his question to Jesus is directed toward his salvation.
‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ (ibid 19:16)
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth
(Job 19:25)
Job prophesies, here in full:
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes – I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (ibid 19:25-27)
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
God Breathed Words 