Elim is mentioned in the Bible as one of the places the Israelites stopped during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. The most detailed description of Elim is found in Exodus 15:27: Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water. A few key points about Elim: It was an oasis with plenty of water – 12 springs and 70 palm trees indicate a well-watered location. The 12 springs may symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel being refreshed and…
Author: Aaron Chin
The phrase “no shadow of turning” in James 1:17 refers to the unchanging nature of God. James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” This verse emphasizes that God does not change – He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). There are several key things we can understand about the unchanging nature of God from this verse: God is constant The fact that there is no “shadow of turning” with God means He remains…
William Barclay was a Scottish author, radio and television presenter, Church of Scotland minister, and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow. He was born on December 5, 1907 in Wick, Caithness, Scotland and died on January 24, 1978 in Glasgow, Scotland at the age of 70. Barclay is best known for his Daily Study Bible series, a collection of commentaries on the New Testament published between 1955-1975. He wrote a 17 volume set of commentaries that provided background context and explanations for the books of the New Testament. His commentaries focused on making the New…
The verse “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men” is found in the opening chapter of the Gospel of John. This profound statement points to the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His purpose in bringing light and life to humanity. Context of the Verse John 1:4 falls within the wider context of John 1:1-18 which is commonly referred to as the “Prologue” of John’s Gospel. This introductory section establishes major themes that will be unpacked through the rest of the book. Here, John introduces Jesus as the divine Word existing from eternity with God…
A platonic marriage is a marriage between a man and woman that is not centered around physical intimacy or romance. Rather, a platonic marriage is focused on companionship, mutual support, and shared values and interests. The term “platonic” comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who believed that the highest form of love is an intellectual and spiritual connection, not a carnal one. There are several reasons why a couple may choose to enter into a platonic marriage. For some, it provides the benefits of married life – such as emotional closeness, financial security, and having a family – without…
The verse “in your presence there is fullness of joy” from Psalm 16:11 is a profound statement about the joy and satisfaction that come from being in God’s presence. To properly understand this verse, it is important to examine the context, key Hebrew terms, and how it points to the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Context of Psalm 16 Psalm 16 is attributed to King David and is a psalm of devotion and trust in God. In the first few verses, David expresses his trust and contentment in God alone, rather than in idols or false gods (Psalm…
The verse “when I am weak, then I am strong” comes from 2 Corinthians 12:10, where the apostle Paul writes, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This verse has become an important principle for many Christians seeking to understand how God works through human weakness. In the broader context of 2 Corinthians 12, Paul is describing a “thorn in the flesh” that he begged God to remove from him. This thorn was some unknown affliction that Paul said was given to him to keep him from becoming conceited (2 Corinthians 12:7). Three times Paul pleaded for the…
The topic of whether Jesus spoke in tongues is one that generates a lot of discussion and debate among Christians. Those who believe that speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift that all believers should seek often point to Jesus as an example of someone who spoke in tongues. However, there are also many Christians who believe that speaking in tongues was a temporary gift of the first century church, and there is no clear biblical evidence that Jesus himself spoke in tongues. When investigating what the Bible says about this topic, there are a few key points to consider:…
The book of James offers important teachings about controlling one’s anger and avoiding sinful wrath. James 1:20 states, “For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” This verse warns believers about giving in to sinful anger, which is counterproductive to living righteously. To understand this verse fully, it is helpful to examine the surrounding context. James 1:19-20 reads: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” In these verses, James contrasts being “slow to…
The Greek word kerygma (κήρυγμα) refers to the message or proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is related to the verb kerysso (κηρύσσω), which means “to proclaim, announce, or preach.” In the New Testament, kerygma refers specifically to the apostles’ proclamation of Christ’s death, resurrection, and exaltation. This kerygmatic message is at the heart of the Gospels and Acts. The apostles’ preaching in Acts consistently focused on the historical events of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. For example, Peter’s sermon at Pentecost emphasizes that “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not…
