Category: verse blog

Yet To Be #115

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

What’s in a title continued…

El is translated from Hebrew into English meaning God which is the first name of God as seen in Genesis 1 verse 1.

Elohim is plural for God and Eloah is the singular in Hebrew for God. Even though Elohim is a plural noun it does not mean the Hebrews worshipped many gods. The Hebrews of the Old Testament had only one God who was Yahweh. They believed in monotheism which is the worship of one God. It is also the first commandment given to them by Yahweh.


“Thou shalt have no other gods before me…for I am a jealous God.” Exodus 20 verses 3 and 5.


Why would Elohim be plural? Maybe it is the evidence that the Son was with God the Father in eternity past before the worlds were made.
“Let us make man in our image” Genesis 1 verse 26.Who is He speaking with? In the Gospel of John chapter 1 verse 1, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”


Historical Fact: After the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE (before the current era) even from the 3rd century BCE onward Hebrews slowly ceased to use the name, Yahweh. The name was too scared and in the synagogue, the Hebrew word Adonai meaning “my Lord” was used vocally. Adonai was translated as Kyros “Lord” in Greek.

Yet To Be # 114

I am the Lord, I change not.

Names of the True and Living God…

El Shaddai
El translated as God (singular) and Shaddai translated as almighty. God Almighty in English or Latin Deus Omnipotens.


In Genesis 17 verse 1 God or Jehovah (YHWH) addressed Abram and called himself “I am the Almighty God: walk before me and be thou perfect.”


Then again in the book of Exodus chapter 6 verse 3, God said to Moses, “I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”
He is the same all-powerful God, yesterday, today, and forever. And out of His mouth, He says, “ I am the Lord, I change not.” Malachi 3 verse 6 and Hebrews 13 verse 8.

Yet To Be #113

The names of the true and living God

The God of the Old Testament Bible is strong and powerful.  

The Creator. 

The One true and living God. 

His character is all holy and perfect. 

Omnipotence: God is all-powerful. 

“Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory and the majesty.” 1 Chronicle 29 verse 11. “The Lord the Creator of the ends of the earth faints not.” Isaiah 40 verse 28. “Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed forever.” Psalm 104 verse 5. 

Omniscience: God is all-knowing. 

“Can anyone teach God knowledge?” Job 21 verse 22. “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Romans 11 verse 33. 

Omnipresence: God is everywhere at all times. 

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have built?” 1 Kings 8 verse 27.

“Am I a God at hand saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23 verse 23 and 24. 

Jehovah is the Latinized form of the Hebrew name transliterated four letters YHWH. The proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible. In English is pronounced Yahweh. 

Some of His names:

  1. El
  2. Elohim
  3. Elohei
  4. El Shaddai
  5. Jah
  6. Adonai
  7. Jehovah Nissi (Adonai-Nissi) – the Lord our banner. Exodus 17:8-15
  8. Jehovah -Roi – The Lord My Shepherd Psalms 23:1
  9. Jehovah Jehovah-Rapa – the Lord that health Exodus 15:26
  10. Shalom – the Lord our peace. Judges 6:24
  11. Jehovah – Jireh – The Lord will provide. Genesis 22:13-13
  12. Jehovah – Tsidkenu – the Lord our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6

Yet To Be #112

Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem to be sacrificed.

What’s in a title

The book of Luke often refers to Jesus as the Son of Man. There are a few facts about this book.  

  1. Written in 60s AD.  
  2. Only of the four Gospels written by a Gentile. It is at times called the Gentile Gospel.
  3. Luke was a companion of the Apostle Paul. Wrote the book of Acts.
  4. This book opens with a preface and has the style of a letter addressed to Theophilus “friend of God”. Book of Act also mentions Theophilus. 
  5. The longest Gospel with 24 chapters
  6. Only Matthew and Luke provide an account of Jesus’s birth.
  7. Begins with the genealogy of Jesus from Mary, unlike Matthew who traces his lineage from Joseph.  
  8. Contains two of the most known parables in the New Testament: the Prodigal Son in chapter 15 and the Good Samaritan in chapter 10.
  9. The focus is on Jesus offering salvation to the Jews and the Gentiles. 
  10. The Last Supper is mentioned in Matthew chapter 26, Mark chapter 14, and Luke 22 but not in the Gospel of John.
  11. Jesus is seen as the Saviour see chapter 19 verse 10. A Saviour is a person who saves someone or something from danger. (chapter 1 verse 26 to 38)
  12. Jesus journey to Jerusalem to be sacrificed. Luke reminds the reader Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. 
  13. It is the writer’s way of emphasizing the fact that he is about his father’s business to complete the work the father gave him to do. Chapters 9, 13, 17, 18, 19.
  14. Jesus ascension into Heaven is recounted briefly in Luke but it is given in more detail in Acts. 

Yet To Be #111

iconography in art history

Day 22 Gospel of Mark continued…

Breakdown of the Gospel of Mark

  1. Jesus begins his public ministry, 1:1 – 1:20
  2. Jesus’ public ministry, 1:21 – 10:52
  3. Jesus’ last week, 11:1 – 15:47
  4. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, 16: 1 – 16:20

General fact…

In western art the four evangelists were represented by symbols originate from the four living creatures in the Book of Ezekiel chapter 1 and the book of Revelation.  This is called in Christian art iconography.  Iconography studies the identification, description and interpretation of the content of images. The four are symbolically embodied by the four Seraphims commonly found in Romanesque Art. 

Yet To Be #109 & 110

The gospels are called synoptic gospels

Day 20 and 21 Part 11 and 12

What’s in a title…

Looking at a few facts on the Gospel of Mark.

  

  1. Jesus is represented as the Servant.
  2. Mark is the shortest of the four gospels. John Mark uses concise and active language to tell his story of the life of Jesus.
  3. This book is considered the oldest of the four synoptic gospels written between 60 and 80 CE ( current era).
  4. The Gospels are called Synoptic Gospels because they tell something in a similar way.
  5. It is believed that the audience he wrote to was for the Gentiles.
  6. Written by John Mark who was a follower of Peter and what scholars call an apostolic man.
  7. The gospel writers are called “evangelists” as people who proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  8. Most chapters or sentences begin with the word “and” but the Greek word “euthus” is translated as “immediately” or “then” is used 46 times.

The book jumps right into Jesus’ acts by omitting his birth and leaping straight to his baptism and ministry.  He is the Servant of God, doing the work the Father sent him here to do meanwhile, he is also the lowly man performing deeds for his people.  He brought himself down, making “himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man” to understand us, to feel and be a part of us. – post #96

Yet To Be #108

What’s in a title…part 10

Book of Matthew again…details 

Written approximately 60 AD by Matthew an apostle of Jesus Christ.  

Message: Jesus is the promised Messiah. 

Matthew chapter One verse One proclaims Jesus as the Messiah, as the Son of David, the son of Abraham.  

The genealogy Jesus Christ states there are fourteen generations between Abraham and David and from David to the carrying away into Babylon there are fourteen generations and from the carrying away to Christ there are fourteen generations.

There are approximately 1000 years from David to Christ. 

Son of David is a title that shows his royal lineage and is first mentioned in the New Testament in Matthew 1 verse 1. He as the son of Abraham shows he descended from the father of many nations as an Israelite. This all proves his earthly heritage as a man.  

Key verse: Matthew 16 verse 16, 17

“Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” 

Breakdown of the Gospel of Matthew

  1. The coming of the Messiah, 1:1-2:23
  2. Jesus’ public ministry, 3:1 – 15:39
  3. Jesus’ closing ministries, 16: 1 – 23:39
  4. The prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem and the end, 24: 1- 25:46
  5. Jesus’s arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection,

Yet To Be #107

Lord appears over 700 times in the new testament

Day 18 What’s in a title…Part 9

What’s in a title…
Jesus has many titles that speak about his position and his character, qualities, and traits distinctive to him and him alone as seen in the gospels.


Son of God – Jesus Christ, the Son of God ( Mark 1 verse 1)

The Christ [ Greek] Christos translated from the Hebrew Meshiah or Messiah. In Latin it is Christus – ( Matthew 1 verse 1, Mark 1 verse, Luke 2 verse 11 and 26)

Lord – from Greek, it is Kyrios meaning God, lord, or master. And it is said to be used over 700 times in the new testament. Example: Luke 2 verse 11, Romans 10 verse 9 – confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord. Lord “is a person who has power or authority over others.”

…to be continued Part 10 more titles

Yet To Be #106

Captain of our Salvation

Day 17 What’s in a name Part 8

What’s in a name versus what’s in a title.  

“A name is a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or a thing.”

“A title is a name that describes someone’s position or job.”

1 Samuel 22 verse 1 

“And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone bitter in soul, gathered to him.”

David escaped to the cave of Adullam away from his enemy King Saul to safety, and his brethren followed him. Those who wanted to follow him turned their backs on everything and looked to David making him their captain.

David in this passage of the old testament is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. As David’s brethren followed him so too we should follow the Lord and keep our eyes fixed on Him giving him the first place in our life. He is in control and He is worthy of all our praise and worship. And he is the Captain of our salvation. ( Darlington Feddoes, 2007) 

“For is became him, for who are all things, and by whom are all things, and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation.” Hebrews 2 verse 10.

Yet To Be # 105

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself

Day 16 What’s in a name part 7

The Lord’s day is special for a true child of God.
The first day of the week we are drawn by the cords of God’s love to worship the Son.
We close the door on all the cares of this world.
Dismissing the problems of life.
Turning away from the mounting debt;
The discontent, the depression, the loneliness.
For a moment we fix our eyes on the Lord and see only him.
The lowly man, the one who knew no sin and in him was no sin.
His work on earth is perfect and complete.
For this moment in time, we can contemplate him,
The Son of God’s love, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12 verse 3