TheosGuy

John Piper in his book When I Don’t Desire God provides an acronym for how he prays over the Word in his fight for joy. Or in another context, Piper suggested this method for a person who was wanting to know how to invigorate his desire for the Word. The acronymn for prayer follows the words of the Psalmist.

I — Incline

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! [Psalm 119:36 ESV]

O – Open

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. [Psalm 119:18 ESV]

U – Unite

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. [Psalm 86:11 ESV]

S – Satisfy

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. [Psalm 90:14 ESV]

Tags: Acronymns, Bible, Desire, Piper, Prayer, Word

The following is taken from William Tyndale’s Prologue to his New Testament translation printed in 1525 A.D. As shown, William Tyndale held a very strong view of God’s sovereignty in the salvation of believers.

When the evangelion is preached, the Spirit of God entereth into them which God hath ordained and appointed unto eternal life; and openth their inward eyes, and worketh such belief in them.

Tags: Bible, Sovereignty

Following is some information on the Book of Psalms. These were in my notes on Psalms; I am not sure of the source of the information.

1. Attributed to David
• David’s Early Life (14)
  Psa 7; 11; 12; 13; 17; 22; 23; 34; 35; 52; 54; 56; 57; 59
• David’s Early Reign (19)
  Psa 8; 9; 10; 15; 16; 18; 19; 20; 21; 24; 26; 29; 36; 58; 60; 68; 101; 108; 110
• From time of his great sin to his flight from Jerusalem (10)
  Psa 5; 6; 32; 38; 39; 40; 41; 51; 55; 64
• Of the Exile (10)
  Psa 3; 4; 27; 28; 31; 61; 63; 69; 70; 143
• David’s Later Reign (3)
  Psa 37; 103; 139
2. Groupings
• Shepherd Psalms: Psa 22-24
• Kingdom Psalms: Psa 46-48
• Hallelujah Psalms – begin with “Halal Yahh”: Psa 111-113; 146-150
• Songs of Ascent – sung on pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feasts: Psa 120-134
• Royal Psalms: Psa 2; 18; 20; 21; 45; 72; 101; 110; 132; 144
• “Pauline” Psalms – forgiveness by faith not works: Psa 32; 51; 130; 143
3. Special Psalms
• 1st singular from the Cross: Psa 22
• Discussion amongst the Trinity: Psa 2
• Shortest chapter in the Bible: Psa 117
• Written by Moses: Psa 90
• Three MOST often quoted in the NT: Psa 22; 69; 110
• Implies Judas was married and had children: Psa 109
• Yields a glimpse of Jesus’ early childhood: Psa 69
• The darkest “doleful” of all: Psa 88
• The “only” psalm: Psa 62
• Martin Luther’s favorite psalm / hymn: Psa 46
• Longest chapter in the Bible: Psa 150
• Refrains “His mercy endureth forever”: Psa 136
• Heralds the attributes of God: Psa 139
• David’s repentance of sin with Bathsheba: Psa 51
• Suggestive of the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb”: Psa 45

Tags: Bible

Being prideful men (and women) we do not like to be reproved by our fellow brethern. But let us take a brief look at a short Biblical survey of the matter.

Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. (Psalms 141:5 NKJV)

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. (Proverbs 9:8 NKJV)

He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray. (Proverbs 10:17 NKJV)

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1 NKJV)

By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10 NKJV)

The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. (Proverbs 15:31-32 NKJV)

Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. (Proverbs 17:10 NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)

Tags: Bible, Christian Living

Do inexact quotations of Old Testament texts in the New Testament show that Scripture is not inerrant? Here is a excerpt of an article by A.A. Hodges and B.B. Warfield in defense of inerrancy.

Nor is quotation to be confounded with translation. It does not, like it, profess to give as exact a representation of the original, in all its aspects and on every side, as possible; but only to give a true account of its teaching in one of its bearings. There is thus always an element of application in quotation; and it is, therefore, proper in quotation to so alter the form of the original as to bring out clearly its bearing on the one subject in hand, thus throwing the stress on the element in it for which it is cited. This would be improper in a translation. The laws which ought to govern quotation seem, indeed, to have been very inadequately investigated by those who please the New Testament methods of quotation against inspiration.

(A.A. Hodge and B.B. Warfield, “Inspiration,” The Presbyterian Review 2/6 (April 1881) 256, emphasis in the original.)

Tags: A.A. Hodge, B.B. Warfield, Bible

The following reading, Christ, Our Life,
is from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

There are many words and phrases that are peculiar to John; for
instance, the double “verily,” “excepts,” and “true” things. John’s
Gospel is peculiar in itself. Matthew shows us Christ as “King,”
Mark as the “Servant,” Luke as the “Man,” and John as the
“Life.” This may be traced right through John.

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 72.

Tags: Bible, Bibliology, Christ, Christian Living, Marsh, Teaching Ideas