THE WORD "BIBLE"

-

The word “Bible” comes from the Greek word τὰ βιβλία, tà biblía which means “the books”. 

The word derived from the old city of Byblos (sometimes spelled Biblos) in Phoenicia in Lebanon, since it was the main supplier of papyrus (paper) to the ancient world. The Greeks took the name of the city as their word for book, biblos and from their word for books named our Bible.

If you like our blog, kindly share your views, suggestions, and comments. Like our Facebook page @BibleWatch, follow us on Twitter @bible_watch and click to the Subscribe button above.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JACOB DID NOT WAIT FOR 7 OR 14 YEARS BEFORE LEAH/ RACHEL WERE GIVEN TO HIM. HE TOOK BOTH WIVES IMMEDIATELY.

-
Many Christians thought that Jacob worked seven years for Laban, realized that Laban deceived him to marry Leah, and then worked seven more years before finally getting married to Rachel. However the bible shows that he took both Leah and Rachel immediately before he began serving Laban. For clarity, I advise you to read this Jacob's story in other translations of the Bible aside King James Version (KJV). Meanwhile lets look at look at some of the facts from the Bible: (Genesis 29:21 KJV) And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. Please note that the 7 years of service required of Jacob were the total dowry and not the customary waiting period before a wife was given to the groom. In other words, Jacob took Leah after the customary waiting period which was a couple of days just like we read in vs 21. Notice that he said, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled" implying a certain number of d...
Read more

THE REASON JESUS WENT TO THE DESERT FOR 40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYING.

-
Image
Why did Jesus go into the desert for 40 days fasting, praying, and being tested by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13)? A few Old Testament texts might shed light as to why.  The two most prominent persons in the Old Testament and in the Jewish faith are Moses and Elijah. Moses led the exodus (Israel’s escape from slavery in Egypt), and it was through Moses that God gave his law or Torah to his people. And if you recall, it was Moses and Elijah who had the honour of appearing with Jesus at the Transfiguration to talk with him about “the exodus” that he was to undergo (Luke 9:31).  What do Moses and Elijah have to do with Christ’s fasting in the desert? Surprisingly, there is a tie-in: Both Old Testament figures also fasted for 40 days. After traveling through the desert, Moses and the people came to Mount Horeb:  (Exodus 34:27-28) “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, for in accordance with them I have made a covenant with you and with I...
Read more

DOES THE BIBLE STATE THAT THE WORD "LUCIFER" IS THE NAME OF THE DEVIL?

-
Image
The word lucifer is used only once in the English Bible and it is in Isaiah 14:12. Isaiah 14:12: “ How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" It is from the Latin term lucem ferre , which literally means “bringer, or bearer of light, the shining one, the son of the dawn, the morning star (the star we now know by another Roman name, Venus). The morning star appears in the heavens just before dawn, heralding the rising sun. Isaiah is using this metaphor for a bright light, though not the greatest light to illustrate the apparent power of the Babylonian king which then faded." The Hebrew of this passage reads: " heleyl, ben shachar " which can be literally translated "shining one, day star, son of the dawn, morning star or son of the morning." In the Septuagint, a 3rd century BCE translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek, it renders הֵילֵל in Greek ...
Read more

JESUS SAID YOU MUST BE “BORN FROM ABOVE” NOT "BORN AGAIN"?

-
Image
The term " Born Again Christian " is used to describe anyone that has received Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Saviour. One who believes in Jesus Christ and one who has been regenerated through the agent of the Holy Spirit. The phrase "born again" can be seen in John chapter 3 in King James Version (KJV) and most other English Bible Versions. (John 3:3 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again , he cannot see the kingdom of God.  (John 3:3 CEV)  "Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!"  The Greek phrase is gennēthē anōthen which generally means "begotten from above" or "born from above". It can also mean "born again". Does this same double meaning of this Greek phrase apply also in Aramaic, which Jesus is assumed to have spoken, or did Jesus also speak Greek? Well, some texts suggest ...
Read more

2 KINGS 3:27: THE INDIGNATION AGAINST ISRAEL WHEN THE KING OF MOAB BURNT A HUMAN BEING WAS NOT FROM GOD

-
Image
One of the famous stories in the Bible is this story that was recorded in the book of 2 Kings chapter 3. The controversy in the story is in verse 27 where the Bible recorded that there was great indignation against Israel after the King of Moab made a burnt offering of a human being on the wall. (2 Kings 3:27 KJV) Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.  Many believe that it was God that raised an indignation against Israel. However, it could not have been God as God could not have accepted human sacrifice going by His nature. More so, God could not have been angry with Israel for an act of the King of Moab and for carrying out His command to them, through His prophet, to "smite every fenced city and every choice city".  (2 Kings 3:18-19 KJV) And this is but a light thing in the sight of the ...
Read more

WHY DID JESUS SAY HE CAME ONLY FOR ISRAEL?

-
Image
Some people contend that Jesus' ministry was only for the Children of Israel and not for all mankind. To support their claim, these people are quick to cite the following verses from the New Testament:  (Matthew 15:24) He (Jesus) answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."  (Matthew 10:5-6) These twelve (disciples) Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."  It is important to realize first of all that Jesus was born of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham many centuries earlier. Because of obedience and submission to God's will, God's promise to Abraham was two-fold. First, God promised to bless his lineage, namely Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and the Children (descendants) of Israel. Secondly, God promised that from this lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would...
Read more

UNDERSTANDING THE GIFT OF PROPHECY: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORETELLING, FORTH-TELLING AND FORTUNE TELLING

-
Image
There is so much misunderstanding in the Church today regarding the gift of prophecy. Many people believe that prophecy only refers to telling something before it happens. However, even in the Old Testament, the messages of the prophets contained as much, if not more, about the present than they did about the future. In Hebrew, the word translated prophecy is based on the word stem nābā, which simply means “to speak by divine inspiration, either in prediction or simple discourse.”  “ Prophecies ” is transliterated (i.e. brought straight over from Greek to English) from the noun  prophēteia . It is made up of  pro , meaning “before, in time or position” and a form of the verb  phēmi , meaning “to tell.” The verb form of this word can refer  EITHER : Foretelling  (predicting or telling something before it happens). It seeks to predict the future. It predicts or reveals personalities, occurrences, circumstances that will hap...
Read more

WHY DID JESUS CALL SIMON, PETER (ROCK)?

-
Image
Most of us are very familiar with the story in Matthew chapter 16 where Jesus said that Simon, who was one of His disciples, is Peter (which means rock). The question is, why did Jesus call him Rock? (Matthew 16:18 KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (Matthew 16:18 NLT) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Before we answer the question, it is of note that there are many Believers and non Believers alike, who do not accept Peter as the Rock. They usually twist the above verse and play on words from the Greek translation such as: (Matthew 16:18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art PETROS , and upon this PETRA I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  They say that what Jesus called Simon was " Petros " which refers ...
Read more

MISINTERPRETED: ONE WILL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT

-
Image
One of the Bible verses that is most popularly misinterpreted is Matthew chapter 24 verse 40. (Matthew 24:40 KJV) Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Many Christians believe that the one that is taken, is the one that is raptured and taken to heaven while the one that is left is the one that is left on earth to suffer tribulation. However, a study of this verse in context shows that this verse has nothing to do with rapture or going to heaven and that the one that is "taken" is even the wicked not the righteous. (Matthew 24:37-41 KJV) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and...
Read more