Exegesis is the critical interpretation of a Biblical text, to explore its meaning, significance and relevance.
14
votes
7answers
2k views
Why isn't God mentioned in Esther?
As you may know, God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, either by name (Yahweh), title (Adonai), or being (El). Neither is prayer.
Why not? I realize this is rather open ended, so I'll try to ...
4
votes
2answers
506 views
Why does the throne in Daniel 7:9 have wheels and are they literally wheels?
Daniel 7:9
He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire.
There are also references to wheels in Ezekiel Chapter 10 (which may or may not be related).
Is there a significance to the ...
1
vote
2answers
489 views
Per Ecclesiastes 7:16, Does the Bible want me to sin?
From Ecclesiastes 7:16,
Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
So, why does the Bible say, "don't be too righteous"? Encouraging one to be moderate in ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
What does it mean “my God my God why have you forsaken me”?
What is the correlation between these two scripture?
Why Jesus felt forsaken if he knew what was going on?
Why was it mentioned in Old Testament as well as New Testament(in two places)?
Psalm ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
What does it mean “born of water” in John 3:5?
John 3:5 (NKJV)
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Does "born of water" means baptism i.e., ...
5
votes
1answer
225 views
Why and when did allegorical interpretations of Scripture lose their appeal?
Gregory of Nyssa's book The Life of Moses is, if nothing else, a very interesting read. He goes through Moses' account in Exodus and ascribes spiritual meanings to every little detail, although it is ...
8
votes
1answer
276 views
How do Old-Earth Creationists explain Romans 5:12-19?
Old Earth Creationism incorporates evolution, which requires natural selection, which requires death. If death pre-dated Adam, then death pre-dated sin. How then do Old Earth Creationists explain ...
7
votes
2answers
589 views
What does it mean that someone managed to live beyond 120 years?
God Himself limited a human's lifespan to 120 years, as told in the following verse:
Genesis 6:3 (NLT)
3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they ...
8
votes
1answer
121 views
Have there been any attempt in Christianity to draw a set of rules or principles on how the Bible must be interpreted?
Have there been any attempt in Christianity to draw a set of rules or principles on how the Bible must be interpreted? For example, I know some Christians take the words of the Lord literally that He ...
3
votes
2answers
339 views
Why was Tamar more righteous than Judah?
Genesis 38 tells the story of Judah and Tamar. At first Tamar was married to Er (Judah's firstborn son) but he was wicked and killed by the Lord v6-7. So Judah tells Tamar to wait until his youngest ...
-2
votes
3answers
129 views
How can we know what is meant by a church without blemish? [closed]
Referencing Eph. 5:27. How can a Christian know if they are without blemish, etc.?
-3
votes
2answers
232 views
Inconsistency in Biblical interpreatation (Genesis & Judges) [closed]
The Sodom story in Genesis 19 is about the attempted gang-rape of two (apparent) men. This is usually taken as an indictment against homosexuality in general.
A very similar story appears in Judges ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
What is the biblical basis for the position that Embryonic Stem Cell Research is immoral/sinful?
Many churches teach the embryonic stem cell Research is strictly wrong, while adult stem cell research is alright. What is the biblical basis for this teaching and why are the two distinguished?
6
votes
2answers
203 views
Significance of Genesis 1 verb choices
I was surprised recently when I read Genesis 1 again, and noticed how inactive God is during the creation process. I mean that from a literary standpoint, not a literal one... bear with me. :)
Below ...
2
votes
1answer
284 views
Does the Bible say it is sinful for a woman (mother) to work outside of the home?
Does the Bible say it is sinful for a woman (mother) to work outside of the home? Does 1 Timothy 5:8 mean that only the husband is to provide for the family?
Anyone who does not provide for their ...
1
vote
2answers
199 views
In the parable of the sower, what exegetical reasons are there to interpret the third type of soil to be genuine Christians?
In the parable of the sower, four types of soil are mentioned. It seems to be pretty commonly accepted that the first two types of soils represent unbelievers or "make believers". The fourth type of ...
6
votes
2answers
130 views
Was it Adino or his army that killed eight hundred at one time?
2 Samuel 23:8 KJV
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had:
The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the
same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear ...
12
votes
2answers
278 views
What is the significance of the three distinct aspects of the temptation of Eve in the garden?
Genesis 3 indicates that there were three distinct aspects of the temptation of Eve:
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was
a delight to the eyes, and that the ...
8
votes
1answer
217 views
To what do the seven churches of Revelation refer?
I have heard of the Seven Church Ages interpretation of the seven churches of Revelation, specifically that each church identified there also represents ages of the church since that time. I've also ...
5
votes
2answers
346 views
What did Jesus mean when He said we must “eat His flesh and drink His blood”?
In John 6, Jesus states that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood, we have no life in us.
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink ...
5
votes
2answers
529 views
What is the significance of Eve being created as a “helper fit for [Adam]?”
The Bible appears to indicate that there was a specific purpose in the creation of Eve, from Adam, to be a helper fit for him. It seems, then, that the design of Adam and Eve may be distinct, while ...
1
vote
2answers
285 views
Does 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 assume Christian pacifism?
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Paul makes a contrast between spiritual warfare and war "according to human standards":
Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human ...
10
votes
4answers
977 views
Why does Jesus speak of himself in the third person?
There are a number of places where Jesus refers to himself in the third person. The most common is when he uses the title 'Son of Man' (by my count, there are some 78 times Jesus uses that title in ...
8
votes
2answers
135 views
Jesus on how seeds germinate
Jesus tells us in John 12:24 that
unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Today the process of germination ...
3
votes
1answer
508 views
Why do women have inferior rights in the Bible? [closed]
The Bible has many parts (in both the Old and New Testaments) that shows the inferior status of women.
Does this come from status in ancient times or does it have another basis?
Why do woman today ...
7
votes
2answers
299 views
The effect of poison on Christians
Can someone explain me these passages about the effect of poison?
Who is immune to poison?
Why do they have this trait?
Why isn't anyone today immune to poison?
Mark 16:17-18
17And these ...
10
votes
4answers
286 views
What is joy? How is it different from happiness (or is it)?
The bible talks all about joy.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
...
10
votes
3answers
653 views
What are the “seven spirits of God”?
In Revelation, we see God along with the "Seven Spirits before his throne".
Revelations 1:4 (NIV)
John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who ...
17
votes
5answers
3k views
What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law but did not abolish it?
We hear that we are no longer under the law. It even says so in Galations:
Galations 3:23-25
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith ...
10
votes
3answers
600 views
What is the interpretation of the bow in the cloud after the Flood?
After the Flood abates, God reassures Noah that it was a one time event:
Genesis 9:13 (ESV)
I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
The ...
10
votes
2answers
984 views
Why are wives considered the “weaker partner”? (1 Peter 3:7)
In 1 Peter, we read:
1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the ...
8
votes
2answers
842 views
Is Levi from Luke 5:27 and Mark 2:14 referring to the apostle Matthew
Both Luke 5:27 and Mark 2:14 mention a tax collector named Levi:
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name
of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to ...
6
votes
1answer
145 views
Is Paul making an oath in Galatians 1?
Several times in the New Testament, we are told not to make oaths but to make simple statements of affirmation or denial. For example...
Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)
33 “Again, ...
5
votes
2answers
312 views
What does Revelation 21:5 mean by “everything”?
Revelation 21:5 (NIV)::
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
My pastor included this ...
14
votes
2answers
180 views
By what mechanism could the Bible be inerrant?
For those who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible (or those who understand the positions of those who do), how can the Bible have this status given all the opportunities for any message delivered by ...
8
votes
2answers
391 views
What are vows? Are they relevant even today?
Psalms 76:11 (NIV) says
Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them.
Many other passages in the old testament as well we hear about vows and fulfilling it.
In New testament we read in ...
11
votes
4answers
430 views
If the Bible is open to interpretation, how does one know which one is right?
Often times when I cite a particularly egregious passage from the Bible in an argument with a Christian, they just shrug and say it's not meant be taken literally, that it's parable, or worse - that ...
8
votes
2answers
185 views
Is “Love and Respect” consistent with Eph 5:33
The title is a bit broader than what I really intend to ask. More precisely, I am interested in whether Dr. Eggerichs's understanding of the terms "love" and "respect" in "Love and Respect" is ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
What is so special about sitting at God's “right hand”?
This concept seems to show up in a few places:
Psalms 110:1 (NIV)
The LORD says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
...
10
votes
2answers
212 views
Where is the dead body in Luke 17?
Jesus talks about the coming of the Kingdom of God in Luke 17:20-37. This passage raises four related questions for me:
Is this talking about the Rapture?
Where is "a dead body", that Jesus mentions ...
9
votes
2answers
156 views
What is the Meaning of Hebrews 2:11 - he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one
Hebrews 2:11 (KJV)
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
It is very confusing to read "he that ...
16
votes
2answers
248 views
Will blind people be blind in Heaven?
Matthew 18:9, NIV:
And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
...
10
votes
3answers
917 views
What scripture is James 4:5 referring to?
James 4:5 (ESV)
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
I don't know of an Old Testament passage ...
14
votes
3answers
361 views
Did Jephthah sacrifice his daughter?
In Judges 11, Jephthah vows to give whatever comes out of the door of his house as a burnt offering.
Judges 11:30-40 (ESV) [emphases mine]
30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, ...
8
votes
2answers
538 views
What exactly did Jesus mean when He said “I am coming soon” and similar phrases?
From Jesus:
Luke 17:37 (NLT)
37 “Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass ...
8
votes
2answers
73 views
Determining literary types in the Bible
Much of the Bible is historical narrative. Other parts, such as many of Psalms, are poems - rife with figurative phrases (often surrounding a specific event or need or desire). Other parts are ...
15
votes
4answers
433 views
Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?
This is to rephrase the question Are scientific findings a test to Christians' Faith?
It seems to me that, without any outside interference, the Bible itself gives no suggestion that the Book of ...
6
votes
3answers
277 views
What is the significance of “Zealot” in Acts 1:13?
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and ...
5
votes
4answers
179 views
How literally is Romans 10:14 supposed to be taken?
I recently learned that St. Augustine held an extremely literal view of a particular verse in Romans...
Romans 10:14 (NLT)
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they ...
6
votes
2answers
147 views
Does Genesis 3 tell of a theophany?
Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT)
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 ...
