Language Studies

"Even with Jewish and Christian insights Montefiore described this text as "an exceedingly obscure verse of which the meaning can hardly be ascertained" (The Synoptic Gospels, Vol. 2, 1927, p.163). Previously we discussed the…

"I have been studying the Bible for several decades, and even teach it in my church - but this passage has always confused me: "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the…

Why is John both "greater" and the "least" and why does his manner of birth appear to be singled out? 'Born of women' is simply a Hebraic way of saying 'born naturally', see for example: Job 14:1 "Man that is born of woman…

Prophets prophesy, so what does "more than a prophet" do? Usually a "messenger" is a mere errand boy but here it is "My messenger" before "Your face". The Hebrew for "my messenger" is malakhi (Strong's #4397) as in the prophet Malachi. But the biblical reference and hint is to…

A careful reading of the New Testament suggests that Jesus was a scholar learned in the Scriptures and religious literature of the period, which was vast and varied. Yet the popular view of Jesus is that he was a simple, uneducated character from the provinces. This misunderstanding is due in part to a number of disparaging statements…

This saying of Jesus appears not only in Matthew and Luke (Luke 7:24 // Matthew 11:7) but also in the Gospel of Thomas: "Jesus said, "Why have you come out into the#133;

"Jesus was offensive. Most people were offended by him. The proof for John the Baptist that Jesus was the Christ was that the blind see, the lame walk and the majority are…

We have already noted how the demonstration of certain deeds was tantamount in Hebrew idiom and Jewish messianic expectation to a declaration of Jesus' mission…

Jesus did not openly claim to be the Messiah, even to John his effective herald. He told the demons to be quiet because they knew who he was (Mark 1:34, 3:11-12). In Matthew 8:1-4, 9:30, 12:15-16, 16:20, 17:9 Jesus commands…

Who was John expecting? Who is the "Coming One"? Some regard it as a Messianic title, others do not. One web site even refers to it as a New Age deception: "The New Age Movement and the occult are longing for one called…

Apologies for the lack of a full column on the ongoing theme of John the Baptist's questions and Jesus' response, however owing to the snow in Britain I am literally "under the weather" and had to abandon my car in…

Why did John ask if Jesus was "the Coming One" if he had already declared him to be the Lamb of God? Had he developed doubts? Had prison dented his faith and conviction? Was he not filled from…

Over the next few weeks we will examine a number of interesting or awkward phrases in the passage concerning the exchange of messages between John the Baptist in prison and Jesus. These will include: Why did John ask if…

This article continues on from the previous two columns (see part I and part II online) and attempts to unravel this "most famous crux interpretum in the entire OT". The key phrase in this passage "until Shiloh comes" is regarded as so meaningless by many that they have tried in vain alternate translations to give it…