Psalm 127:3 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

 (ESV)"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward."  

(LSB)"Behold, children are an inheritance of Yahweh, The fruit of the womb is a reward." 

(CSB)"Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward." 

(NRSV)"Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." 

In Psalm 127:3 we have an unusual occurrence.  Two Bible translations (ESV,LSB) that do not usually use gender neutral language have "children".  On the other hand, two Bible translations (CSB,NRSV) that do regularly use gender neutral language have "sons".   

How Tall Was Goliath?

 Goliath was a champion of the Philistines who fought against the army of Israel.  David defeated Goliath with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17:50).  

(1 Samuel 17:4)"And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." (ESV) 

A cubit was about 18 inches and a span was about 9 inches.  The Old Testament manuscripts differ on the height of Goliath.  The Masoretic Text (Hebrew text) has six cubits and a span (9ft. 9in.) and this is followed by most translations (ESV,LSB,NIV,CSB,NKJV).  On the other hand, the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament), a Dead Sea Scroll (Qumran manuscript), and Josephus (Jewish historian) say Goliath was four cubits and a span (6ft. 9in.) and this is followed by the NRSV and NET.   

When A Monk Married A Nun

 In 1525 a former monk married a former nun.  Their names were Martin Luther (1483-1546) and Katherina von Bora (1499-1552).  Martin Luther joined the monastery and was ordained as a priest in 1507.  Katherina von Bora joined a convent at the age of 16.  

Of course Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation.  Through his study of the Bible, Luther came to see that the Roman Catholic Church was in error on the gospel and the authority of Scripture.  He also found that the Catholic doctrine forbidding clergy to marry was not Biblical.  In 1521 Martin Luther was declared a heretic and an outlaw for his stand on Biblical teaching which the Roman Catholic Church opposed.  

Eventually the writings of Martin Luther made their way into the convent where Katherina von Bora and other nuns were able to read them.  In 1523 Luther arranged for several nuns including Katherina von Bora to be smuggled out of the convent in fish barrels. 

Luther tried to arrange several different marriages for Katherina von Bora but none was successful.  Eventually he decided to marry her himself.  The couple were married in June of 1525, and a former monk married a former nun. 

Martin and Katie Luther had a good marriage.  Luther referred to her as, "Katie my rib." He also said, "I would not exchange my Katie for Paris or all of France, for Venice or all of Italy, for God has given her to me and has given me to her." Katie Luther managed the home and often engaged in theological discussion  with her husband, Martin Luther.  The couple had six children together.      

Did God Create Jesus? (Colossians 1:15)

(Colossians 1:15)"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (ESV) 

This verse has been used by ancient Arians and modern day Jehovah's Witnesses to deny the deity of Christ.  They suggest that the phrase "firstborn of all creation" means Jesus was a created being.  But this verse needs to be looked at in context.  An important verse for background in correctly understanding Colossians 1:15 is Psalm 89:27. 

(Psalm 89:27)"And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth." (ESV) 

The Psalm is speaking about David who was not the firstborn of his family.  He was actually the youngest of his brothers.  The term "firstborn" is figurative, actually meaning highest rank.  

So in Colossians 1:15 "firstborn of all creation" actually means Jesus ranks above all creation.  This fits the context of the Colossians 1:15-20 passage.  The passage says all things were created by him, through him, and for him.  He is said to be preeminent and in him all the fullness of God dwells.  

Jesus is the Creator, he is not part of the creation.  Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father.  Jesus is indeed, God.    

Deuteronomy 6:4 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

(KJV)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" 

(NKJV)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" 

(ESV)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." 

(LSB)"Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!" 

(CSB)"Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." 

(NIV)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." 

(NRSV)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone." 

Deuteronomy 6:4 is known as the Shema, from    the Hebrew for "hear".  This verse is a clear statement of monotheism.  It makes the exclusive statement that there is only one God.  Deuteronomy 6:4 is quoted by Jesus in Mark 12:29.  

Who Sinned First, Adam Or Eve?

There is sometimes confusion over who committed the first sin.  Was it Adam or Eve?  

(1 Timothy 2:13-14)"For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor." (ESV) 

This verse shows plainly that it was Eve who sinned first.  Eve was deceived and became a transgressor.  She was created to be a helper for Adam, but she usurped his role as head and leader and was deceived.  

(Romans 5:12)"Therefore just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (ESV) 

Sin came into the world through Adam even though Eve sinned before Adam did.  Adam had a leadership role with humanity that Eve did not have.  Death came into the world through the sin of Adam.  In a sense all humans were in Adam when he sinned, therefore all humans sinned and so death spread to all mankind.  All humans are born sinners, therefore we sin because we are sinners.    

Being Your Authentic Self

Today we hear a lot about being your authentic self, especially in relation to the LGBTQ community.  To be authentic is to be true, genuine, or real.   

(Genesis 1:1)"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (ESV) 

God is the Creator and everything else is the creation.  God is God and we are not.  Therefore God is the ultimate authority in all matters, including what is actually authentic.  

(Genesis 1:27)"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (ESV) 

God created man in his own image, therefore we are to be God's representatives on earth.  God created humans as male and female.  You are who God created you to be and you have no authority to change that.  A man is a man and a woman is a woman.  

(Genesis 2:24)"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (ESV) 

Sexual relations are to take place between a man and a woman who are married.  People of the same sex cannot be married.  

Those in the LGBTQ community are actually being inauthentic because they are not being true to the way God created them.  They are in rebellion against God's creative design and have embraced falsehood instead of truth.