Please always get the latest version of this document, from the Bible Pages web site, at this address: www.biblepages.web.surftown.se/eo14c.htm
Need larger text? Go to your browser's "View" menu and look for "Text size" or "Zoom".
The Bible mentions salt, in different contexts and different meanings. In Scripture,
salt is often used as a symbol, in one way or another. There was such a thing as
"a covenant of salt" – apparently, salt could symbolise peace and friendship. The
Old Covenant's sacrifices were salted. A passage in the book of Ezra indicates that
already in those days, salt was used as a linguistic symbol for payment or wages.
Many have read or heard such New Testament phrases as Matthew 5:13, "you are the
salt of the earth", Luke 14:34, "if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it
be seasoned", and so on. In many languages, salt is used as a symbol of wisdom,
and that seems to be the case in certain bible passages as well.
Some preachers have quoted Matthew 5:13 out of its context, tickling their follower's egos by causing them to think that they are "the salt of the Earth". But, Jesus was not talking about churches or preachers or about people of our day. He said those words to his disciples – those who were listening to him, there and then, in the first century.
But, what did Jesus mean when he said to those disciples, "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Indeed, what did Jesus mean? In short: What does salt symbolise, in the Bible? What does it represent, as a symbol?
Many misleading teachings have been spread regarding the symbolism of salt in Scripture. Because of that, the matter of salt as a symbol deserves a closer look. This essay contains a study on the matter of salt and the Bible.
A note: This essay is about salt in the Bible. The "holy salt" that some churches have in their rituals, has nothing to do with the Bible. (Regarding the word and concept "worship", see the essay ea04c.htm.)
There is no mention in the Bible of salt being used as a preservative, [A] but it was used as a taste enhancer (and as a necessary mineral), already in ancient times.
Salt is mentioned in the book of Job (which some think to be the oldest in the Bible):
Job 6:6 Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? [B] (NKJV, note sign added)
That was regarding salt in connection with taste, flavour.
There is also the fact that the human body needs a certain, small amount of salt. If a person does not get any salt at all, that is bad for one's health and in the end deadly – but, on the other hand, too much salt is very harmful and can even be lethal. The words "salt is good" in Luke 14:34 and Mark 9:50 are not directly a lesson in health-matters (there is more on those passages, below). Nor should one draw any conclusions of such passages as Job 6:6 which was quoted above, in regard to the symbolism of salt in the Bible.
Even fodder for cattle is salted, just as it was in biblical times:
Isaiah 30:24 and the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat salted provender, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. (RSV)
That salt is added to fodder, is not for preservation but for the reason that even cattle needs a small amount of salt in their food.
[A] Again, the concept of using salt for preserving things is not mentioned in the Bible. It is hard to say when salt was first used in that way. In short: The Bible simply does not talk about salt as a "preservative". (Some preachers have claimed so, in connection with Matthew 5:13. That passage and matter will be considered under the next heading.
[B] The translation of melach in the first part of Job 6:6 as "salt" appears to be correct, but it is an open question what the Hebrew text of the last part of that verse really means and refers to. For more on this, look under the heading "Egg" on the index-page keyw-e1.htm.
That was in the so-called "sermon on the mount". There were multitudes of people who tried to reach, see or hear Jesus, but it was his disciples that he was teaching. We read:
Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them [...] (NKJV)
"Them" – that is, he taught his disciples who had come to him. So, it was those disciples who were the "salt of the earth", and not all who eventually heard what Jesus said to them. He said to those disciples:
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (NKJV)
What did Jesus mean? We cannot be sure of that, but let us consider this matter.
Here, a reminder: Please keep in mind that Jesus said those things to and regarding those disciples, who were around him on that occasion, and not to or regarding people of our day. In other words: Matthew 5:13 is not connected to what we view as "end time". (When one reads the New Testament and sees such words as "you", "your", "we", "our", "us", it is important to realise that they refer to people of the apostles' day, in the first century, and not to us who read about those things. The essay eg02c.htm has more on this.)
Back to the question: What did Jesus mean?
Let us consider the question, how can salt lose its flavour (Matthew 5:13)? The answer is that it can only do that by becoming contaminated. What can contaminate salt? Well, it can become mixed with earth (dirt). Dust and dirt in combination with water and air can change salt into something else. Such salt cannot be used in food, but, it can still be used on gravel roads to bind water to the gravel in order to keep the dust down. That is the probable explanation of what Jesus meant by his words about worthless salt being "trampled underfoot by men".
A side-note: Some have claimed that such contaminated salt supposedly was thrown on the temple floor. But no, there was no need to use salt indoors on floors, only on dusty roads outside. And that is what Jesus said also, "to be cast out":
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; [C] but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (NKJV, highlighting added)
Luke 14:35 is even clearer: "It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out".
[C] Again, some preachers have used Matthew 5:13 for tickling people's egos. They have caused their followers to think that Jesus was talking to and regarding them, and not to and regarding the disciples whom he in actual fact was addressing on that occasion. Some preachers have even told their followers that the Earth would be destroyed, were it not for them, as "the salt of the Earth", in the meaning "preserving agent". Most readers should be able to see that that is nonsense, merely a way to manipulate people.
Nine of the preceding verses, Matthew 5:3-11, are often called "the Beatitudes". (That is because in the Latin Vulgate version, each of those verses begins with the word beati.) Let us consider verses 10-12, together with verse 13 which mentions salt:
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (NKJV)
Jesus mentioned the Kingdom of Heaven, and the saints' reward in Heaven. After that, he mentioned salt, and worthless salt being cast out. Even though the exact meaning of Jesus' symbolic words may not be clear, it should not be difficult to draw certain conclusions out of that.
There is a similar passage, in the book of Luke:
Luke 14:34 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 "It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (NKJV)
Comment: The reason why salt cannot be thrown to a dunghill, is that dung is used on the fields as a fertiliser. Salt soil is not fit for cultivation; consequently, dung (manure) must not contain salt.
Perhaps it is best to consider some of the context, even here in the book of Luke:
Luke 14:27 "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29 "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. 34 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 "It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (NKJV)
It is hard to say with certainty, what the exact meaning of those words was. But if one considers the context – which might well be connected to the mention of salt in verse 34 – as well as Matthew 5:13 with its context – that can perhaps give an indication of what Jesus might have meant.
A note: We cannot know why he in that connection chose to use salt as a symbol, but most probably, that was some kind of a linguistic idiom that was commonly used in that part of the world, in those days. See even the next point.
Today, there are such expressions as "taking things with a pinch of salt" or "a grain of salt". [D] The meaning being, one must not believe all and everything but must instead use wisdom (wit) and through that come to wise assessments and conclusions.
It seems that even in the first century, salt was in some figures of speech connected with wisdom. Let us read Colossians 4:6, where it seems that the apostle Paul used salt as a symbol of wisdom (wisdom to guide one's choice of words):
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (NKJV)
Those were words of the apostle Paul. Regarding Jesus' mention of salt (see the passages which were quoted earlier) – the point might eventually have been that Jesus had taught his disciples valuable knowledge and wisdom – "salt". And perhaps also, that if the teachings he had given them, became contaminated by the world around them (became mixed with the teachings of men), then that "salt" lost its value and became worthless.
[D] A side-note: The phrase "a grain of salt" is not found in the Bible. In Leviticus 2:13, some translations have both "grain" and "salt", but there, the word "grain" refers to seeds, such as wheat.
Many have read this translation, or something similar:
Ezekiel 16:4 "As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. (NKJV)
Was there any symbolism in the custom with salt that this verse eventually refers to? That is not clear. Perhaps, perhaps not. Whether the quote above is a correct translation, is an open question. But, if there actually was some custom to do something with salt in connection with small children, we do not know what that really was. Some translations have "salted", some "sprinkled with salt" and some few "rubbed with salt" (a dubious wording). Was that a ritual of some kind, such as sprinkling a few grains of salt on a child, or was it something else? We do not know.
What we do know is that even very small amounts of salt are dangerous for small babies, especially if they get the salt into their mouth, but potentially even otherwise such as through skin exposure. In short: Rubbing a new-born baby with salt can be dangerous and potentially lethal. Their kidneys and other organs are not yet ready to take care of salt, more than what is found in their mother's milk.
A note: In Ezekiel 16:4, the Hebrew word in question was malach, which occurs only five times in the Bible. In the 1769 KJ version, that word is translated 1 time as "season" (Leviticus 2:13), 1 time as "tempered together" (Exodus 30:35), 1 time as "vanish away" (Isaiah 51:6), and then in Ezekiel 16:4 where malach occurs 2 times, as "salted" and "at all".
In other words: The translation and actual meaning of Ezekiel 16:4 is quite uncertain.
Concerning our day: Regarding how to take care of new-born children, one should consult experts, instead of looking at uncertain translations of an ancient Hebrew text in a short, hard-to-decipher passage which was not about child care but about the sins of a city.
The English word "salary" comes from the Latin adjective salarius, "pertaining to salt", from sal, "salt".
The saying "worth one's salt" means that someone is worth his or her wages.
In the Bible, we find this passage:
Ezra 4:14 Now because we eat the salt [E] of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king (RSV)
[E] This verse is in Aramaic. It contains two times the word melach which could serve both as a verb and as a noun.
The 1769 King James version has, "because we have maintenance from the king’s palace"; the above-quoted Revised Standard Version interprets it as "because we eat the salt of the palace". The former phrase, which was not a literal translation, may have been what the latter actually meant.
But, we cannot be sure of the meaning of that verse; there are many ways to interpret the Aramaic text. It could of course be that "salt" was used as a symbolic expression for payment, already in those days. On the other hand, the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament suggests, regarding the word melach in that verse, "It probably reflects the common Near Eastern idiom ‘to be under obligation to.’ If a host gives a guest salt, the guest is under the protection of his hospitality which is considered a binding obligation." But again, we cannot know the meaning of Ezra 4:14, with certainty.
Most of the Old Covenant's sacrifices were to be salted; see Leviticus 2:13 and so on. Obviously, salt was not in any way needed there, for physical reasons. It must have served as a symbol of something in context with the sacrifice, just as those sacrifices themselves symbolised something. Symbol of what? Some might speculate that the salt in those sacrifices symbolised "wisdom", so that the sacrifice was to be performed "with a purpose", as if "understanding" what it pointed to. However, perhaps one should look in a different direction, in order to understand that particular salt's symbolism. Because: The offerings were a part of the covenant which ancient Israel had with the Lord. Salt was something that was (and was even later, and still is) used as a symbol of a covenant, of friendship, of a close relationship.
The Bible says in clear words that the salt in those sacrifices was related to a covenant which had been made:
Leviticus 2:13 'And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt. (NKJV, highlighting added)
In that connection, consider even this passage:
2 Chronicles 13:5 "Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? (NKJV)
(Regarding king David and what really happened to his lineage, and who has his "throne" today – see the essay ey12b.htm for more on that subject.)
We read:
Mark 9:50 "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." (NKJV, highlighting added)
"Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." Salt and peace: How is that? Well, perhaps through the above-mentioned covenant-related symbolic use of salt (see the previous point). Having a covenant with someone means having a good, peaceful relationship with that person. Peace and friendship.
In Finland, when older people who know ancient customs go on their first visit to a new neighbour, they sometimes take with them salt and bread as gifts. What is the symbolism? Some say it to be, "a symbolic wish that bread and salt may never be in lack in that home", but, that old Finnish custom may well come from the ancient custom of eating common bread and common salt, in order to formally show and declare peace and friendship. In short: Someone bringing salt and bread as a gift, is symbolically proposing or offering a lasting friendship.
It is said that salt was used as a symbol of friendship, also among people of old times. An open bowl of salt on a meal table is still common in some places, and some say that the Orientals have considered eating a pinch of salt together to be a token of friendship.
It could be that it is in that context, that one must view the words "have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another" in Mark 9. Friendship and peace.
The special oil which Aaron the high priest and his sons were to be anointed with, was to be salted:
Exodus 30:34 And the LORD said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each. 35 You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. (NKJV)
That special, salted anointing oil is mentioned in Psalms 133 which talks about unity:
Psalms 133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore. (NKJV)
That passage talks about brothers dwelling in unity. (That psalm's connection with salt is that it clearly refers to the very special salted anointing oil which is mentioned in Exodus 30:34-35.)
A note: Seeing that the Old Covenant did not provide everlasting life to anyone, one can wonder, what did the last words of Psalms 133 really mean? Well, it may have been prophetic, pointing to the saints (people of the apostles' day, first century), who came to form a spiritual "dwelling of God", in peace and unity.
A side-note: The oil of Psalms 133 is mentioned and described in Exodus 30:30-38. It contained (in addition to olive oil) "sweet spices" called stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense (verse 34; these words are translations, of course) and salt (malach, verse 35). Salt and frankincense were used as an ingredient in many of the Old Covenant's various offerings, but stacte, onycha and galbanum are mentioned only as ingredients of the very special anointing oil of Exodus 30:30-38. Some have claimed that onycha would have been made of a certain shell-fish, but spices are not made of shell-fish, and also, according to the Old Covenant's rules shell-fish were considered unclean, which means that it is unthinkable that onycha would have been made of some shellfish or mollusc. It seems that stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense were made of fragrant plants or plant resins.
In Classical and Late Latin, words beginning with sal- were connected to such things as "salt" (sal), "sea" (sal), "wit" (sal), "health" and "soundness" (salus, salvus) and via that "greeting" (saluto, salutatio) (wishing salus to someone), and by extension even formal visiting. Further, "deliverance" (salvatio), "deliverer", "saviour" or "preserver" (salvator), "saved", "preserved", "unharmed", "safe" (salvus), and so on.
But, whether those old Latin words and idioms have any bearing on what salt was used as a symbol of in the Old and New Testaments, is hard to say. The Bible was not written in Latin but in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
Table of contents – What's new here? – Key-word index – Search function – Goal and purpose – Contact, comment, question
If this page did not contain what you were looking for, see the links below, and the key-word index and the table of contents, or use the search function.
Additional reading at the Bible Pages, on related as well as other issues:
A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
What does the word "righteous" really mean? What does the Bible say about righteousness? → eg08b.htm
Worshipping God. What does the Bible say about worship, when it comes to New Covenant times? Serving God is something important, for many believers. There is a custom to gather for worship services. Indeed, for many people, worship is the same as going to church or attending church. But, where does the word "worship" really come from, and what does it mean? And, what about praise and giving thanks and "offerings", and so on? In what way and when and where should believers be serving and worshipping God? → ea04c.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
How to understand the Bible. Easy keys to interpreting and understanding Scripture in a better and deeper way, by avoiding certain fundamental but common mistakes and errors in bible study. These vital keys are really the basics for objective bible study. Knowing these keys will make many things easier to interpret and comprehend, and one will see several central matters in the Bible from a new and different perspective, especially in connection with the Gospels and the Epistles. → eg02c.htm
The concepts "saint" and "sainthood" analysed. Does the Bible define or clarify who is a saint and what sainthood consists of? Also: Are there saints here on Earth, in our day? What do the Scriptures say concerning these things? Further: What is the etymology of the word "saint", and what does it really mean? → eg03c.htm
Does the New Covenant have dietary rules – instructions or commandments regarding foods? What kinds of food did the saints eat? Should believers observe some kind of dietary laws or eat "kosher food"? → ef01b.htm – ef03b.htm
Gentiles, pagans and heathen or heathens – what do those words mean? This exposition makes it plain and clear what the concepts "gentile", "pagan" and "heathen" actually refer to, in the Bible. → eg01c.htm
How to study the Bible in a deeper way. Some simple guidelines and notes on study methods. Also, advice and information on easily available practical study helps and useful modern-day tools and resources which, on top of many other things, can help one to view and translate the Hebrew OT and Greek NT texts. → es01d.htm
For real and thorough in-depth study and exegesis of the Scriptures, an interlinear bible with Strong's numbers and a concordance with a lexicon and bible commentaries are not good enough; a computer bible is needed. Some facts and recommendations regarding bible study suites for computers, including tools for word search, word study and adding and editing your own electronic marginal notes verse for verse, tools for studying the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and the Greek text of the New Testament, and links for download of bible software (both free and commercial). → es02c.htm
The line of David the king of Israel – is it still ruling somewhere on Earth, with a mortal ruler on the throne? → ey12b.htm
Monetary things in connection with religious fellowships. → keyw-s5.htm (Look under the heading "Silver and gold".)
"Amateur bible students" versus "professional theologians". Some preachers have spitefully called people who actively study the Bible on their own, "amateur theologians". Indeed, many a clergyman seems to feel that a layman should not put his or her nose into theological studies but should rather leave those things to "experts". But, is that correct? This treatise sorts out that matter, and clarifies and explains in layman's terms the linguistic and historical background of the concepts "clergymen" and "laymen", and gives the definition and actual meaning of such words as "clergy", "laity", "scholar" and "scholarly". → es07c.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
What did Jesus mean when he said to his disciples, "I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman", and, "I am the vine, you are the branches" – John 15? This essay contains an analysis of the symbolism and spiritual meaning of the parable of the vinedresser, the vine, the branches and the fruit (the Gospel according to John, chapter 15). That is, it will be explained how the apostles were to bear spiritual fruit to God. → ea11c.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
On Jesus' teaching regarding "the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" or "the keys of the Reign of Heaven". Bible study notes on Matthew 16 verse 19, with context. What did the word "keys" depict or symbolise? What is the interpretation of that passage – what was it that Jesus was saying to his disciples? Also, a general overview and comments on the subject of "binding and loosing". → eb08c.htm
What is the Kingdom of God? Where is it located? Does it exist already, or is it only going to be established in the future? Or, is it only something "in the hearts of men" as some have claimed, quoting the translation "within you" in Luke 17:21? → eo01b.htm
Info on the goal and purpose of this site, and a contact address.
→
purpose.htm
Table of contents for this site, including a synopsis or a short, summary description
of each essay or article. →
filename.htm
Search for specific words, phrases or bible passages at this site. →
search.htm
An alphabetical bible topic keyword index of the essays and articles at this site:
1-9
– A
– B
– C
– D
– E
– F
– G
– H
– I
– J
– K
– L
– M
– N
– O
– P
– Q
– R
– S
– T
– U
– V
– W
– X
– Y – Z –
Detailed index overview
If you find any of the essays or treatises at this site interesting and helpful, please provide a copy to other people as well. But before printing or distributing anything, make sure to get the very latest version, exactly as it is, directly from this web site. In regard to printable copies of these pages, for example as PDF-format papers, booklets or brochures or so – there are no specially printer friendly variants (except some bible puzzles), nor is there a need for that – simply, when you print an essay, set the margins and the text size to fit your needs and the paper you use, in the program you use for viewing these pages, and then send it to your printer. (This varies in different browsers and word processing programs. In web browsers, for setting the margin size and headers and footers, look for "Print Format" in the File menu; to set the text size for print-out, look under "Preview" or "View" in the same menu.)
Important: You are welcome to quote the documents at this site – the Bible Pages – provided that you mention the source, by giving the full web address to the page in question. Please link to these essays and give copies to friends. However, you may not re-publish any part of the contents of this site, as a booklet, brochure or on the Internet or in other ways, without a permission from the author; he retains the copyright. For more on copying and quoting, and a few words about the author and his religious education and credentials, see the page purpose.htm.
The essays at this site are not in "bible lesson" or "bible study course" format, nor are they meant as on-line "bible study classes" of some kind. Even though this site gives ready answers to biblical questions of many kinds, its main goal is providing food for thought on a variety of biblical subjects, and challenging and encouraging people to get started with deep personal bible study and then continue with that. (Many religious organisations and denominations have their bible lessons and correspondence courses; they are ready-made "studies" which are shrewdly constructed and written in such a manner that they lead the reader to conclusions that fit the dogmas of the group in question.) A careful, closer study of the books of the Bible with proper tools will help a believer to gain better and deeper biblical understanding. In that way, one will find out more about what the Bible really says, means and teaches. One can then, with wisdom, use that knowledge as a guide for one's life, instead of accepting as "biblical truths" whatever commercial religion – churches and their ministers (preachers) – have taught and want people to believe.
A more thorough, bible-based study with care and with thought will, not only help one to learn more, but also show one how many a popular belief has no scriptural basis or support but is altogether false and not biblical at all. This applies, not only to prophecy and "end time" related things, but also to many other subjects where prevailing dogmas are often taken "for granted". For this reason, it is extremely important for believers to personally study the Writings, and to thoroughly analyse them down to the smaller details, in order to find out the real facts. For doing that, it is not necessary to know the Hebrew, Greek or Latin languages (even though learning their letters and alphabet can be a good idea); there are modern, advanced tools which can help one to study in an effective way – see the pages es01d.htm and es02c.htm for more on this. The essay eg02c.htm supplies a number of easy, elementary keys to acquiring a better and deeper understanding of the Bible, simply by consciously and methodically avoiding certain usual errors and pitfalls.
This site is non-denominational and non-sectarian. It is not connected to any church, sect or religious organisation or movement. This site looks at things from a biblical perspective, and not from a dogmatic one. It does not claim to be without error or to "know it all" or to have a perfect or complete explanation to all things – it consists of an ongoing bible study that has been made public, and as the study goes on, the contents of these pages are revised and also expanded, with new topics and themes being addressed. Readers are invited and welcome to write to the author with thoughts and comments, or to ask questions or to point out a mistake if they feel that they have found one. For more on this, see the page purpose.htm.
The address to this page is www.biblepages.web.surftown.se/eo14c.htm
Please send or mention the address to this site to others, and link to these pages.
This page was created or modified 2010-01-29.