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I doubt that Matthew was originally written in Hebrew. Aramaic is a distinct possibility. That's why I checked the Peshitta. In this section of Matthew in particular, it's clear that the author is working from the Greek version of Isaiah. You can tell because the Hebrew of this verse in...

Does the latter not inhabit the former? I don't think most Christians even differentiate between the two.

I find that the NT writers are often thinking of the LXX when they are writing. Here, I think Matthew is lifting the phrase en gastri from Isaiah: Isaiah 7:14 διὰ τοῦτο δώσει κύριος αὐτὸς ὑμῖν σημεῖον ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Εμμανο ηλ...

Read it, yes. Studied it in Greek? no I don't actually see the problem you're pointing out, here, to be honest. It looks the same as Luke 1 to me - conception via "overshadowing." Is it just a problem of chronology?

I think... the parroting comes from what they've heard from their pastor, rather than reading the Bible. Most Christians don't actually read whole chapters and books of their Bibles. Instead, the Bible is used as a reference book. Pastor said fill-in-the-blank, and I can find verses x, y, & z...

The only example of a congregation under siege in the NT text that comes to mind is that of Paul arresting Christians and having them beaten/stoned. Within the timeframe of the NT, but not explicitly within the text of canonical books, we know that the church at Jerusalem was persecuted by the...

I find self-defense allowable, and anything beyond that is a problem.

The overseers/presbyters/bishops of the churches are responsible for monitoring the behavior of the people in their congregations, and taking corrective action when necessary.

Mostly agree, but it occurred to me that one of the functions of the church was to oversee its members and their behavior. That looks a bit like "prevent crimes" when I squint. hmn

From what I've read... The Catholic church was expecting a physical return of Christ at the end of 1,000 years since His ascension - so roughly 1033 AD. When it didn't happen, there was a crisis of faith. Armies were sent to Jerusalem to help God's plan along, since Armageddon requires...

I've heard his name but haven't read any of his books. Most of my reading these days tends to be history/non-fiction. I used to be a fan of science-fiction-quasi-horror stuff - Dean Koontz, Stephen King, etc - but I kinda cut it out because it doesn't fall into the category of whatsoever-is-good.

From left field... have you ever seen the movie Constantine starring Keanu Reeves? I ask because the movie has a visualization similar to what you describe. The main character goes to hell, but it isn't someplace else. He's still in the same city, except everything is on fire and there's...

The difference in theology is I don't think of a 'celestial realm' or 'spiritual realm' as being an OTHER place from this reality. I think it's part and parcel of this reality. As for Ephesians, I think Paul uses heavenlies (ἐπουρανίοις) there to talk about authority, rather than a place. He...

Ok, I get what you were saying. My theology interprets these verses a little different than yours, but I do understand now.

I suppose you must have some other interpretation of the quoted verse? Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God...

I got about 50%... the second half was understandable. The first half seems to say that we are in two places at once, which I found confusing.

It seems that it is the spirit that is renewed: Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in...

Jack's error was one of basic grammar. The verse he quoted doesn't say everyone is tormented forever. It says that the devil, the beast, and the false prophet are tormented forever. Nobody else is mentioned. Whether the others can feel or not is irrelevant, because they're not even there.

The perishing is of the body, and with it the lower nature of man - those things that lead us into sin. Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who...

You're right that Paul more often uses "flesh" or "carnal" in opposition to "spirit" and "spiritual." But he uses soul as a synonym. Examples... It is perhaps not obvious here that natural is a derivation of the same Greek word usually translated soul, here: 1Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural...