Something Greater

Isaiah 15, Part Two: The Prime Of Life Isaiah continues his lament, describing Moab as a valuable, vigorous animal, soon to be slaughtered. Isaiah 15:5 (ESV) My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. EGLATH-SHELISHIYAH: egla shelishi "eg-LAW shel-ee-SHEE" (a female calf, especially one nearly grown; a heifer) and (third); from egel (a male calf, especially one nearly grown; a steer); from agol (to revolve, circular, as frisking round) Eglath-shelishiyah is a compound word, combinining "heifer" (a young female cow that has not borne a calf) with "third", referring to a three-year-old cow. "Heifer" was used to refer to young women (Judges 14:18), as well as the nations of Egypt (Jeremiah 46:20), Chaldea (Jeremiah 50:11), and Ephraim (Hosea 10:11). Jeremiah echoes the declaration of Isaiah: Jeremiah 48:34-35 (ESV) “From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they utter their voi...

1 Timothy 3: Not A Recent Convert 1 Timothy 3:6-7 "[An overseer] must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil." 1 Timothy 3:6-7 (ESV) What do you think? What negative consequences can result from a young believer being appointed to a position of leadership? How would Paul's concern affect the appointing to leadership a man well-experienced in business, or counseling or teaching, but only recently confessed himself belonging to Christ? How would you define "recent"? Plant Growth "Recent convert" brings to mind the image of a newly sprouted plant. RECENT CONVERT: neophytos "neh-OF-oo-tos" (newly planted, a young convert; "neophyte"); from neos ("new", youthful, fresh or regenerated) and phyo (to "puff" or...

Who was Timothy? The Book of 1 Timothy: Introduction The Holy Bible includes two letters written by Paul the Apostle to Timothy the Pastor. With this post today we will begin to look closely at the first of these two letters. "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." 1 Timothy 1:1-2 (ESV) TIMOTHY: Timotheos (dear to God); from time (pronounced "tee-MAY", meaning a value, money, to esteem, dignity) and theos (a deity, a magistrate, by Hebraism very); from tino (to pay a price, as a penalty) Timothy's name literally means "dear to God" or "very dear". The name grew out of a word meaning something valuable , something to be paid. It seems not merely coincidental that the root of Timothy's name and the English word for divisions of day and night appear the same: time....