Posts Tagged ‘terminology’
What is mammon?
Question: What is ‘mammon’? In Luke 16, it is talking about the steward who wasted his master’s goods. I don’t fully understand this chapter. Please help. Also, I would like to say that I truly appreciate your website. I am a person who fell away from the church a very long time ago, and now…
Read MoreWhat does “honor” mean in I Peter 2:17?
Question: Does the word honor (spelled “honour” in the King James Version) as used in I Peter 2:17 instruct followers of Christ Jesus to honor all men, implying that we are to separate the wrong that we maybe aware that a person does from the person and then honor the person but not the wrong…
Read MoreHow can birds be an example of God’s care when they can suffer from droughts and famines?
Question: I have been trying to figure out Matthew 6:25-34 for five years now without success, but came across your website, and am quite curious about your perspective. Of particular interest is verse 26. How does God actually feed the birds, and how does such have an application to Christians since we must work for a living? And,…
Read MoreIs “body of Christ” more proper than “church of Christ”?
Question: I was recently given some materials about using “church” in the name “Church of Christ”. Apparently, this information came from another congregation, whose minister has been known to be very determined to prove a point or very legalistic. The congregation is also the “Church of Christ”. The question is using “church” instead of “body…
Read MoreWhat is a lady?
Question: What is a lady? Answer: In England, a lady was a woman who was married to a lord. Thus over the years, the term has become a polite way of addressing woman, such as “The nice lady at the book store helped me find a good Bible.” Its complement is calling a man a…
Read MoreMy map shows Baal Zephon to be on the Mediterranean Sea, so doesn’t this prove the crossing of the Red Sea to be allegorical?
Question: I found an old map in my Tanach that shows Baal Zephon was on the Mediterranean with a thin ridge to the east. I note that both the Torah and the King James Version gives “the sea” for the crossing. This indicates to me that in the subsequent verses that hold “Moses brought us…
Read MoreCould you explain Matthew 24:30?
Question: I have a question about Matthew 24:30. (I believe it is about the second coming of Christ.) I have been doing some personal study and discussed it with a fellow brother. Basically, it refers to symbolic events similar to instances of God’s judgment on mankind or nations. Would like to get feedback from you…
Read MoreAre there passages that refer to THE Lord’s Supper?
Question: We have been studying the Lord’s supper issues and one of our main concerns is about a second offering in which only a few partake, for the reasons you listed in your article (not doing it together). We have been questioning the idea of everyone taking it a second time. We have been cautious…
Read MoreDo you know what it means to “cast your bread upon the waters?”
Question: Do you know what it means to “cast your bread upon the waters?” Answer: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2). The phrase is…
Read MoreWhat are the seven spirits of God in Revelation?
Question: What are the seven spirits of God in the book of Revelation? Answer: The book of Revelation is written in symbolic or figurative terms according to its author. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants–things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His…
Read MoreWhy does Revelation 5:1-6 contain changing symbols?
Question: Can you please help me with this question? Can you please explain the reversal of images and transformation of symbols, such as a slain Lamb appearing right after the proclamation that a Lion is worthy to open the scroll (Revelation 5:1-6)? Answer: “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on…
Read MoreWho is the faithful and wise servant in Matthew 25:45-47?
Question: The King James Version says at Matthew 24:45-47, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make…
Read MoreDoes the word “forever” in Ecclesiastes 1:4 mean “everlasting?”
Question: Does the word “forever” in Ecclesiastes 1:4 means “everlasting?” Answer: “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4). The Hebrew word ‘owlam refers to something that is of a long, indefinite period. It is a period of time which you cannot say for certainty when it comes to an end. To…
Read MoreWhat does it mean to die in vain?
Question: What would it mean for someone to die in vain? I had a dream where my grandmother visited me outside her home six months after she had passed away. As I rushed to her with tears in my eyes she stated, “Do not come any closer or else the sunshine will not show me.”…
Read MoreUnderstanding Matthew 24
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The teachings of Jesus recorded in Matthew 24 are commonly misapplied by people in the denominational world. People want to know what will happen in the future. They don’t enjoy having secrets kept from them. This is true whether we are talking about our jobs lasting another year or about important…
Read MoreThe Living Redeemer (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton When we find ourselves in difficult situations, most of us turn to our families to help extract us out of our tight spot. Such aid between family members is expected by God. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied…
Read MoreAre the commands to work directed to men only or both men and women?
Question: I have a question regarding the wording of I Timothy 5:8 and II Thessalonians 3:10: First, I Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” In the context of I Timothy 5, Paul…
Read MoreDoes “faithful children” mean faithful to God or faithful to the parent?
Question: When Paul speaks of “faithful children” in Titus 1:6, did he mean faithful to God or faithful to the parent? Answer: Terms in the Bible are sometimes difficult to translate because common words are borrowed and used in ways where the common word takes on a deeper meaning than it originally had. For example, one…
Read MoreThe Needle’s Eye
by Irvin Himmel A rich young ruler came running to Jesus and, kneeling before the Master, posed the question, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus called attention to some of the basic commands of the law. The young man answered, “Master, all these have I observed from my…
Read MoreWhat is meant by “first fruits”?
Question: What is meant by “firstfruits”? Answer: The phrase is an old agricultural term. It refers to the first harvest of a particular crop. The first harvest is generally the best. The produce has just turned, so there hasn’t been time for spoilage in the fields. Usually, the produce harvest also had the best look…
Read MoreWhat is the difference between a priest and a Levite?
Question: What is the difference between the priests and the Levites in the Old Testament? Answer: Initially, God offered to make the entire nation of Israel a nation of priests. “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people;…
Read MoreLight and Dark
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/08/LightAndDark.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 13:8-14 I. If you look at the religious philosophies prevalent in the world today, you will quickly find that most see the world divided into two camps: good versus evil A. It is argued that good and evil balance each other. B. Some take it a step further to say…
Read MoreWhat does “the fatness of the land and the dew of heaven” mean?
Question: What does “the fatness of the land and the dew of heaven” mean? Answer: “Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine” (Genesis 27:28). A “fat” land is one which produces bountifully. Found on Pintrest The twelve spies were sent…
Read MoreCan you explain what “flesh” is in Romans 4:1?
Question: Can you explain what “flesh” is in Romans 4:1? Answer: This verse is translated in two different ways: “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?” (New King James Version) “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?” (New American Standard…
Read MoreShould the Father only be addressed as Yahweh and the Son as Yahshua?
Question: I have stopped using the words “God” and “Jesus”. It has come as a revelation and blessing to me that these words are inappropriate as names for our Father and His Son. There is a whole “World” in their names Yahweh and Yahshua. Answer: Oddly enough, God uses the name “God” (elohim in Hebrew, theos in Greek)…
Read MoreWhat is meant by an elder being the husband of one wife?
Question: What does the statement husband of one wife mean in regards to an elder? Answer: “The husband of one wife” (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). Only a married man may be an elder. Single men are eliminated as well as men who practice bigamy. The Law of Moses did allow some men to have multiple…
Read MoreWhat did Paul mean by “chiefest of the apostles”?
Question: What did Paul mean by “chiefest of the apostles” in II Corinthians 11:5? Answer: The context of this verse reads: “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly–and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that…
Read MoreIs the covenant different from the Law?
Question: I have just read your article on the Old Testament versus the New Testament. I find two major difficulties in your argument: You confuse a covenant with the Law. This is a major mistake. The Law is God’s legislation for all of creation. It was given to the children of Israel for their instruction.…
Read MoreDoes the term “brother” indicate Saul was saved prior to baptism?
Question: Since Ananias calls Saul “Brother” prior to Saul’s baptism, doesn’t this prove that Saul was saved before he was baptized? Answer: The verse in question is Acts 22:13 which reads, “and he [Ananias] stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.” As the conversation between Ananias and…
Read MoreHow can the Old Covenant be everlasting and yet come to an end?
Question: Since the Old Testament in many places talks about the “everlasting covenant” with the Israelites, why is it no longer everlasting? Answer: The word “everlasting” does not necessarily mean “infinite.” The world is described as lasting forever, but we know from II Peter 3 that there is a terminating point. Instead, the correct definition…
Read MoreCan you explain “expediency”?
Question: Could you help me understand “expedients”? I have heard the term used for explaining why churches use money for certain things like a building or songbooks. Could you expand on this in light of what the work of the church is, what the collection is for, etc.? Answer: The Apostle Paul wrote, “All things…
Read MoreWho were the Nicolaitans?
Question: Who were the Nicolaitans? Answer: The work “Nicolaitan” is only mentioned in Revelation 2:6 and 2:15. It comes from the Greek word nikolaites which literally means “a follower of Nicolaus.” Nicholas was a name used by some. For instance, one of the early deacons mentioned in Acts 6:5 was called Nicholas (“nicolaus” in the Greek). Whether this is the same Nicholas…
Read MoreHow could Jesus be the son of David?
Question: I hear people say that the son of David was the “savior” Is this true? If this is so, please explain how Jesus could be the son of David. Answer: In the days when the Bible was written, the term “son” or “daughter” was used more loosely than we use it in today’s English.…
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