Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for love: agape.
love, agape, G26
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Latest Blog Posts from Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.
06 Why Understanding Rachel’s Weeping is Important to the Gospel (Matthew 2:16-18)
In this third fulfillment passage, Matthew compares the murder of the young boys in Bethlehem to the Rachel weeping in her tomb for the captives about to be deported to Babylon. In both events, all hope seems lost.
fulfill, pleroo, G5137
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Biblical Greek word for fulfill, pleroo, G5137.
05 Why Matthew Quotes Hosea When Hosea Isn’t Predicting Anything (Matthew 2:13-15)
Discover why Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15 and what “fulfill” really means. Learn how the Exodus connects to Jesus and why Matthew expects you to know the Old Testament.
What does YAHWEH mean?
When God reveals Himself to Moses at the burning bush), He identifies Himself as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”, which is often translated “I am who I Am.” What does that name mean?
February 2021 Reflections
What should we do when Scripture annoys us? This is my best advice on handling difficult passages like the ones coming up in Matthew 2.
04 Why Your Nativity Scene Is Historically Wrong and Why It Matters (Matthew 2:1-23)
Matthew draws many parallels between the early life of Jesus and the Old Testament to reinforce his main point: Jesus is the Christ, the son of Abraham and son of David, who will fulfill God’s promises.
What is the Septuagint?
The Septuagint (often abbreviated LXX) is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek in the 3rd century BC. The LXX was made for the Jewish community when Greek was the common language of the day, and for many Jews was their primary language.
03 What Does “Fulfill” Mean in Matthew’s Gospel? (Matthew 1:18-25)
You would think that a passage covering the birth of Jesus would be easy “Christmas stuff” we’re all familiar with. Don’t be fooled. Matthew’s account raises some interesting theological questions.
Who were the Samaritans?
“Samaritans” can refer to either: natives of the region of Samaria or members of a Jewish sect. The Samaritans date their history to Joshua building an altar at Shechem (Joshua 24). They saw themselves as the true Jewish religion.
New Testament Priesthood
These are the principal religious and political offices in Judaism at the time of Jesus.
02 Stop Skipping Matthew’s Genealogy, You’re Missing the Point (Matthew 1:1-17)
Discover why Matthew starts his Gospel with Jesus’s genealogy. Learn how the family tree of Jesus proves He’s the promised Messiah, Son of David, and Son of Abraham, fulfilling God’s ancient promises to bless all nations.
New Testament History from Alexander to Titus
When the Old Testament ends, Israel is under control of the Persian empire. When the New Testament begins, Israel is under Roman control. The switch occurred because of Alexander the Great. This historical background helps explain the political situation at the time of the New Testament.
Bible Questions: Who is…
Answers to basic questions about people in the Bible and biblical history.
Who was James?
There are 4 “James” in the New Testament and 2 of them are among the 12.
01 Gospel of Matthew Introduction
Jesus claimed that “all authority in heaven and on earth” has been given to him (Mt 28:18). If that’s true, and I believe it is, then we benefit by learning all we can about Jesus. Matthew wrote this gospel to tell us who Jesus is and what that means for us.
Chronological List of OT Prophets
Chronological list of Old Testament prophets: see when they ministered, which kings where in power and who their contemporary prophets were.
January 2021 Reflections
Teaching through a gospel has long been on my teaching “bucket list”. I decided to tackle Matthew’s Gospel because he is famous for his use of the Old Testament and including 5 long discourses from Jesus.
Who was Paul?
Paul (Hebrew name: Saul) was an apostle of Jesus Christ and the author of most of the New Testament.
Gospel of Matthew 1-7: Behold, the King!
A 40-week Bible Study podcast series on the Gospel of Matthew chapters 1-7. Matthew gives us one of the earliest records of the teaching of Jesus.
Bible Study 101: How to
Bible Study 101: Understand the practical steps and building blocks of doing good Bible study from Wednesday in the Word.
Weights and measures of the Bible
Ever wondered what a cubit is? When is the third watch? How much is a denarius, an omer or a talent? Here’s a chart of time, weights and measures found in Scripture and how to convert them.
Who was John?
John was one of the 12 apostles, the author of the fourth gospel, three letters, and the book of Revelation.
03 Jesus: The Ideal Servant-King
As citizens of God’s kingdom, we ought to reflect our holy king. This is what citizenship in the kingdom of God looks like.
Who was Peter?
Peter (aka Simon Peter, Simon, Cephas) was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ and the author of 2 letter in the New Testament.
2020 Reflections
2020 was the year of the COVID pandemic. One of my “quarantine projects” was scanning much of my bible study notes, tossing the paper, and turning the information into a post that I can share with you.
Who was Luke?
Luke was a Gentile physician who accompanied Paul on his travels and wrote the third gospel and Acts.
02 The King Claims His People
The King redeems His people from Egypt. At Mt Sinai, He explains what it means to be His people. At end of Exodus, He is dwelling with them.
Miracles of Jesus
Not only was each healing an act of compassion and a foreshadowing of the greater healing to come, each miracle was testimony from God that Jesus is the Christ.
How to use a concordance
Suppose the internet is down and you want to study your Bible. You want to study the word “blessed” in the beatitudes, but you’ve forgotten how to use your physical concordance. Here’s a refresher.
01 Kingship in the Books of Moses
Proper understanding of the Pentateuch can help us understand the Christian life and all of God’s creation. We are part of the biblical narrative – God’s plan to redeem a people for Himself.
WitW on Pandora
You can now find Wednesday in the Word on Pandora.
Sermon on the Mount vs Sermon on the Plain
Is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) the same event as the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6)? Scholars are divided.
December 2020 Reflections
One of my 2020 goals was to pass 150,000 listener downloads on the podcast. I fell 187 short on 12/31, but passed 150,000 by Jan 2.
How to find Strong’s number
Strong’s numbers have become the “industry standard” and many other biblical reference works are keyed to Strong’s numbers. Here’s how to find them.
Land in the Old Testament
Land is an important theme in the Old Testament. “Land” is the fourth most frequent noun in the Old Testament. Mankind was created from and is sustained by the land. God gave Israel the land as a gift. Land was always associated with life.