Results 141 - 160 of 294
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Just Read Mark Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
141 | anyone got any ideas on this scripture? | Prov 12:27 | Just Read Mark | 85015 | ||
Speaking of starting something and not following through, here is one of my favorite proverbs: "The sluggard buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth." (Proverbs 27:15) Isn't that fantastic? In fact, the whole section surrounding that verse deals with laziness -- including the paralysis of irrational fear (v.13). These passages where useful to me during a job-search, when I was feeling discouraged. These words continue to help me to "follow-through". |
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142 | self-righteous and Truth | Prov 21:2 | Just Read Mark | 156390 | ||
I think the best illustration of self-rightousness comes from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is talking about judging others, and the hypocracy we are prone to. The text is Matthew 7:1-5. Then, taking these words of Jesus to heart, we need to pray that we will be able to see things clearly. With humility, we draw others of God s truth. JRM |
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143 | Prov 31 Does it apply to modern woman? | Prov 31:10 | Just Read Mark | 83706 | ||
Working Women. For most periods of history, women have worked. The rules about women in the "domestic sphere" only became dominant with industrialization in Eurupe. We should not think of "a woman's place in the home" as normative. The virtuous wife of Proverbs bought land, had employees, and was involved in all kinds of economic transactions (as beautifully described by Jappii, above). She has considerable influence in her family and society. Obviously, the kinds of jobs have changed from spinning etc. - but the point seems to hold. Women deserve praise for their work: "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." (v. 31.) There you have it: affirmative action in the days of Solomon! |
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144 | Prov 31 Does it apply to modern woman? | Prov 31:10 | Just Read Mark | 83707 | ||
A previous post sheds some light on this text as well. See post# 12319. I like it. It blocks out major traits from Prov. 31, and compares them to the life of Ruth. |
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145 | Do animals have souls? | Eccl 1:1 | Just Read Mark | 110619 | ||
Human and Animal Souls. Hi there. As per my other questions on Ecclesiastes (see discussion on Ecc 7:16) -- it can be hard to interpret Ecclesiastes. In this text about afterlife, it is saying that -- as far as we can see -- humans and animals have the same fate. We all die. That is all that the Teacher presents as certain: animals and people all return to dust. He goes on to say, "who knows what happens after that?" (v.21) With the New Testament we have a clearer picture of life after death... But can this passage in Ecclesiastes teaches us much about what we'll find? Yours, JRM. |
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146 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196203 | ||
Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, "The Message," treats this verse as follows: "A right time to make love and another to abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part." I usually find his renderings very powerful, and when I find a strange one I usually find it actually reflects scholarship about the texts in question. In this case, however, I don't know what he's referring to. Can anyone shed background on interpretations of this verse? |
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147 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196206 | ||
Thanks Brad. I've known the translations of this line for many years, so that's why I was surprised at the "make love/abstain" rendering of it. I guess I'm wondering whether the Hebrew phrase would have been understood as a metaphor for sexuality somehow? Similar to how Saul "uncovers his foot" to mean uncovers his genitals to relieve himself... I wish I could ask Eugene what research he had to arrive at his interpretation. | ||||||
148 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196208 | ||
a slight correction: "covering his feet" means dropping his paints to relieve himself (not uncovering, as I had said). If you look at 1 Samuel 24:3 you will find that our Bible do not give the "literal" translation --- because it wouldn't make sense in English. The Hebrew is still there in the footnotes. There are many cases of this kind of thing, and I think it is wise to pay attention to them. |
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149 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196278 | ||
Hi Doc. Thanks for adding some scholarly perspective. Maybe I'll meet Eugene some day, and ask him a few questions. Here's my crazy link between Eugene and the real text: if the "stones" were understood as seeds, as in "the seed of Abraham", then his rendering would be reasonable. Your art discussion topic looks good. Art does not have authority like scripture --- but we do live by story. If Christians back out of the task, people will live by CSI. (Lord, have mercy.) I see part of our world-shaping task (for God gives us responsibility to shape this world, as an echo of His creative power)as an artistic one. One of my favorite verses is when Joseph says "Interpretations belong to the Lord." |
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150 | Don't be too righteous; nor too wicked? | Eccl 7:16 | Just Read Mark | 110603 | ||
I would like to discuss this verse (Ecc 7:15-18), as well as Ecclesiates generally. This verse seems to expound a human wisdom: that, being radical for what is good is very costly, so one leads a happier life with some compromise with evil. The one who fears God will succeed in holding both good and evil simultaneously (v18). I notice the lengths the amplified version goes to, to rationalize this verse with our usual sense of scripture. Their rendering, however, seems to distort the sense of the text - especially taking the book as a whole. In many ways this is a cynical book, seeing no merit in righteousness. For all mortals come to the same end anyway. Even pursuing holiness and wisdom is vanity. (Thanks be to Jesus Christ, who rescues us from the vanity of life!) So, as the wise Teacher brings forward the critique of Vanity, what are we to hold onto? He offers advice here and there, but (as we see in this verse) it is not always good advice. It represents a human seeking after the good life, and often discovers only arbitrariness in God, and certainty in death. How do we weigh this advice? Yours, JRM. (P.S. the forum has another discussion of this passage, at Ecc7:18. Somehow it became a discussion of Balance, forgetting the text commends a balance of good and evil.) |
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151 | Don't be too righteous; nor too wicked? | Eccl 7:16 | Just Read Mark | 110618 | ||
What does "righteous" mean here? Hi Kalos. I don't have clear answers, but here's what I'm thinking. A general theme throughout the Bible is that we should strive for holiness. Admittedly, we fall short. But the New Testament reiterates the refrain of the Olde: "Be Holy, for I am Holy" (ie. 1Peter 1:16) This verse (I think) contradicts that instruction -- saying that seeking holiness can lead to a lot of problems. Look at Jeremiah being thrown in the cistern, and the persecution of the prophets in general. Look at people that stick up for justice today, and are punished. Holiness is very costly, and brings not peace but a sword. (Matt 10:34) One of the themes is Ecclesiastes seems to be "don't stand out. Just do your work, take pleasure in simple things." To strive for more than this is dangerous. So I would say "overly righteous" means to truely strive after holiness. The Amplified Version, I think, wants to gloss over the difficulty of this. Thus, they make the word righteous to mean "self-righteous" --- an arrogant attitude of legalism or pride. I see no reason for this in the text (other than to avoid difficult questions), and no echoes of it elsewhere in Ecclesiastes. If I am right about this, I am still left with a puzzle. How should I understand the moments of advice offered in this book? I see a struggling philosopher, trying on various approaches to life (work, pleasure, family, etc) - and then discarding them. So, is "be neither too righteous nor too wicked" advice to follow, or is this an opionion he experiments with and then rejects? How do we read this verse in context? |
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152 | women take men? | Is 4:1 | Just Read Mark | 111058 | ||
Here's the verse. Why were you wondering? All I did to find it was enter "women" and "man" in the search function to the right. Yours JRM |
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153 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107164 | ||
Christian Protest. Hi EdB. I am surprised by the conclusion you draw -- that we are to do nothing other than pray for our elected leaders. We have a democratic systems (in my country, Canada, as well as most participants in the forum) which require participation beyond election time. The great thing about Democracy is it forces accountability on our leaders, and enables citizens to shape the direction of their country. Of course, we don't see democracy in the Bible ;-) but it is a good and faithful system. We need to pray, certainly. But also engage the process. Protest is a very important part of political debate. |
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154 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107165 | ||
Pacifism and Just War. Hello proffitt79. Many Christians are pacifists. Look into how Mennonites deal with international relations, for instance. Check this out to see more: http://www.ploughshares.ca/ While their view is quite extreme (preferring to be killed than to kill) I always find them challenging and edifying when I here them speak. The larger stream in Christian thought is the "Just War" discourse. This includes a leaning to pacifism as well --- "we will not engage in warfare unless these conditions are met..." Pacifism is the default position. Warfare is an option that is taken with grate deliberation. Many Christians do not feel that the conditions for "Just War" were met in the case of Iraq. As for me, I am glad to see Saddam overthrown, but find the stated reasons for the war problematic (ie. supposed connection to 9/11, and weapons of mass destruction). The real problem is that debate is thwarted by blind patriotism (ie. "united we stand"). |
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155 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107221 | ||
The civil rights movement, with Mr. King, is a perfect example of the Gospel and political protest working together for good. |
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156 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107226 | ||
I agree with you--- what is really required is Christ's transformation of every conscience. But let us also remember how many Christians thrwarted equality. The protests served to spark debates around many kitchen tables, I am sure. No justice system will shape people's hearts, but it does help limit the damage. As Christians, I believe we need to be vocal about the issues of our day. May justice roll like a might river. |
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157 | Christ, War, and Patriotism | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107367 | ||
Nation and Kingdom of God. I understand why the Forum can't get swamped in this kind of discussion. On the other hand, surely it is important for believers to discuss -- in a broader forum than our local church. I'd like to contribute some thoughts. It is interesting how the link between nation and God's Kingdom changes over the course of the Bible. It starts with individual families, then follows the growth of Abraham's descendents into nationhood. The prophets then declare the need for the nation to be faithful. I read Ezekiel this month. Fascinating: here is a prophet speaking to exiles, who have had their identity as a nation quashed. Furthermore, the Temple was desecrated. God, for a time understood as dwelling in the Temple, is seen dramatically as the limitless God of "wheels within wheels." There is still the dream of reinstating the Temple, which finds it's fullness in Revelation's City of God. The identity of "Nation" equalling "God's Chosen" is breaking down. We are, like Ezekiel's original listeners, people in Exile from our true home. Like Jesus, we are creating a counter-culture WITHIN the nations, all over the world, where we live. We should expect to be speaking against our nation, as a prophetic people, loyal to God's call. I believe there is a healthy civic participation -- which is really about loving your neighbour. It is important for churches to participate in the national scene. But identifying strongly with one's nation is problematic and troubling, leading to a distortion of the gospel and clouding of the message of another way. |
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158 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107368 | ||
Inner and Outer Peace. Hi. I've been thinking about this for a few days, so it isn't just a response to JCrichton's post. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Merry 2nd day of Christmas to those who celebrate the season). Certainly, this peace is an inner peace -- that we have been reconciled to God, individually, by Christ's sacrifice for us. Thanks be to God for this truth. We are also to be making peace in the world around us. This is not a polite declaration of "peace, peace when there is no peace." Jeremiah 6:14. Here are two scriptures to think on: When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. --- Prov.16:7 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. -- Colossians 1:19-20. Christ is reconciling ALL THINGS. This reflects the Old Testament notion of "shalom" -- a deep peace that is interconnected and societal. Even the oceans and the stars are embraced by Christ's reconciling act. An earlier post mentioned "turning the other cheek" limited to interactions with people of other faiths. I think "turning the other cheek" is a radical reshaping of relationships. The ultimate example is how silently Christ went to the cross. I believe we are to be peacemakers in the broadest sense. |
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159 | Info me of a good study bible, please. | Is 34:16 | Just Read Mark | 135803 | ||
Hello --- I hope you find some good tools to help you. This isn't exactly a "Study Bible" ---- it doesn't explain what verses mean. But it is a WONDERFUL study tool --- called the Thompson Chain Reference. It has helped me to study themes through the whole Bible. For example, you could look up verses about forgiveness, even if they don't have the word "forgiveness" in them (so it's different than a concordance.) I hope someone else answers your question, suggesting a more typical "Study Bible" ---- but I wanted to make this suggestion. Type "107390" in the quick search box, to see more discussion about this reference tool. Peace. |
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160 | dictatorship superior to democracy? | Dan 2:37 | Just Read Mark | 82392 | ||
"Church" and "America" are not the same thing. We are called to be very active in the public sphere, shaping the world in which we live. Faith is not just a private, "in the safety of my home" thing. But it is also dangerous when the church panders to be the "State Religion". I have been reading an interesting book: "A Peculiar People", by Rodney Clapp. He shows how the church needs to think more broadly about shaping a culture of justice, in the image of God, that can critique the larger culture. The culture-shaping power of the church has been denied by both the evangelicals and the liberals, by wistfully wishing to turn back the clock. Look at how radical, and political, the early church was! Before compromising with the Roman Empire. Now there is a model to follow. |
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