Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Adoption (Romans 8:14-17)
Verses of Romans 8:14-17 open one of the essential Pauline theological themes that we call adoption. In these verses, Paul develops his thesis from Romans 8 about the implications of the presence of the Holy Spirit in Christian life. One of the outcomes is the interconnection of God and people and...
The Testimony of Jesus' Acts (Luke 1:1-4)
The prologue to the Gospel of Luke highlights the author's aim to provide a trustworthy and orderly account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Luke, a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul, seeks to compile an accurate record based on the testimonies of those who were eyewitnesses and...
Great Commission (Mark 16:14-20)
The Great Commission is the final moment of Mark before Jesus leaves His disciples ascending to the right side of God. The discourse starts with reproaching the disciples' faith because they did not believe the witnesses who sow risen Jesus (Mark 16:14). Only after the reproach, he sends them...
Food in the New Testament
Food in ancient Israel during its Hellenistic era, which spanned from the late 4th century BCE to the 1st century BCE, presents a fascinating blend of local and foreign influences. This period, marked by the conquests of Alexander the Great and the subsequent rule of the Ptolemies and Seleucids,...
Blessed are All Who Fear the Lord (Psalm 128)
Psalm 128 is a song of ascents, part of a collection of psalms sung by Jewish pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. It is a concise poem, rich in blessings and promises for those who fear Yahweh and walk in his ways. The theological message of the psalm emphasizes the importance of piety and the fear...
Continuing the Testimony of the Acts of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:1-3)
Acts 1:1-3 provides an introduction to the book of Acts and sets the stage for the narrative that follows. In Acts 1:1-3, Luke addresses his writing to Theophilus, who is likely a patron or a person of high social status. He explains that his earlier work, the Gospel of Luke, was about all that...
Malachi
The book of Malachi, the last of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, begins with a divine proclamation of love for Israel. Yet, intertwined with this assurance is a deep-seated divine discontent. God addresses the spiritual apathy and negligence of both the priests and the people of Israel....
I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
The theological significance of Philippians 4:13 lies in its profound statement about Christian reliance on Christ for strength and sustenance. It emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ's power in every situation, a concept that resonates deeply within Christian spirituality and practice. This verse...
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet (John 13:1-20)
The begining of thirteen chapter of the gospel of John speaks about paschal dinner. However John is not focusing on primary aspects of paschal dinner but concentrates our attention to feet washing, which is unexpected. This event is taking place in the perspective of Jesus' death (John 13:1.3).
Aramaic: Frequency Vocabulary (4-3 Occurrences)
The exercise contains words that occur between 4 to 3 times in the Old Testament. Mastering this vocabulary will increase your ability for a more fluent reading of the Old Testament in the Aramaic language.
Feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-15)
In the Gospels, there are two separate miracle accounts of feeding the multitude. The first account, "Feeding of the 5,000", is recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-15). The second account, the "Feeding of the 4,000", with seven loaves of bread and...
Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10)
The passage describes the miraculous event of Jesus' resurrection. It highlights the emotions of fear, wonder, and joy experienced by the women who discover the empty tomb and encounter both an angel and Jesus himself. The text emphasizes the divine intervention in the form of an earthquake and the...
Truth Will Set You Free (John 8:31-38)
John 8:31-38 is a passage in which Jesus speaks about the truth and freedom with those Jews who had believed in him. In the dialog, Jesus addresses Jews, stating, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (v. 31-32). The...
Healing at the Bethesda Pool (John 5:1-16)
In John 5:1-14, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival and encounters a disabled man at the pool of Bethesda. The man has been unable to walk for several years. The pool is believed to have healing powers, but this man has no one to help him get into the water when it's stirred up, which is...