Speak The Word Only

Fleshly Minded vs. Carnally Minded The terms fleshly and carnal are closely connected in Scripture. In fact, carnal is essentially another way of expressing what belongs to or is governed by the flesh . Romans 8 contrasts those who set their minds on the things of the flesh with those who set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  A person who is fleshly minded allows natural desires, emotions, appetites, selfish ambitions, and human reasoning to influence how they live. The flesh seeks to satisfy itself rather than submit itself to the direction of the Spirit. To be carnally minded goes to the governing disposition of the mind. Paul declares that the carnal mind is opposed to God and does not submit itself to His law. Therefore, carnality is not merely committing a fleshly act; it describes a mind continually governed by the flesh rather than by the Spirit . The opposite is the spiritually minded person . The Spirit of God changes what governs the believer's thinking, desi...

Paul closes 1 Thessalonians by teaching believers how to live while awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. The day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, “as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2), but believers are not to live in spiritual darkness or carelessness. We are called children of light and children of the day , remaining spiritually awake, sober, watchful, and prepared. Paul connects readiness for Christ’s coming with daily Christian character. Believers are to put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet (vv. 8–9). Our confidence rests in the truth that God has appointed His people to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ, who died for us that we might live together with Him. The chapter also emphasizes life within the body of Christ: respect those who labor in ministry, pursue peace, warn the unruly, encourage the discouraged, support the weak, and exercise patience toward everyone. Rather than returning evil for evil, believers are com...

Genesis 1:5 — And God Called the Light Day “And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” — Genesis 1:5 (KJV) Genesis 1:5 brings the first day of creation to its completion. In the previous verses, God spoke light into existence and divided the light from the darkness. Now God does something equally significant: He names them and establishes their appointed times. The verse reveals God's authority over light, darkness, time, order, and the boundaries of creation. “And God Called the Light Day” The Hebrew word translated “called” is קָרָא — qārāʾ , meaning to call, proclaim, name, or designate . In Scripture, naming can express authority and identification. God does not ask creation what it wishes to be called. The Creator gives creation its identity and purpose. God calls the light: Day — יוֹם ( yom ) Here, yom identifies the period associated with light. This establishes an important biblical principle: Creat...

2 Chronicles 14 — Zerah the Cushite Zerah appears only briefly in Scripture, but his appearance in 2 Chronicles 14:9–15 is significant because Scripture specifically identifies him by his Cushite identity .  Who was Zerah? 2 Chronicles 14:9 (KJV): “And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.” The Hebrew expression is זֶרַח הַכּוּשִׁי — Zeraḥ ha-Kûšî , meaning: “Zerah the Cushite.” The KJV translates Kûšî as “Ethiopian.” This is the same biblical Cush associated genealogically with Cush, the son of Ham, in Genesis 10:6 . However, Scripture does not call Zerah “king of Ethiopia.” That distinction is important. Zerah is presented as the leader of an enormous Cushite military force, but Chronicles does not give him a royal title. His precise historical identity remains uncertain. We should therefore distinguish: Biblical certainty: Zerah was a Cushite military leader who invaded Judah...

In His Image - Genesis Bible Study Back to the Beginning - Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse Genesis Chapter 1 - In the Beginning Genesis Chapter 1 takes us to the beginning of God's revealed account of creation. Before the generations of mankind, before the nations, before Abraham, Israel, the Law, or the prophets, Scripture opens by declaring God as Creator In this chapter, we will slow down and examine the creation account carefully, paying attention to what the text actually says, the order of creation, God's spoken commands, the repeated expressions throughout the chapter, and mankind's creation in the image and likeness of God.  Genesis 1:1 (KJV) "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."  Observation  The Bible begins with God. Genesis does not begin by attempting to prove that God exists; it begins with the declaration of what God did: "In the beginning God created." The opening verse immediately establishes three foundational trut...

Open Your Bible. Study the Word. Grow in Understanding Welcome to Speak The Word Only , a place dedicated to the careful study, teaching, and understanding of the Word of God. Our desire is to help believers grow in their knowledge of Scripture through biblical exposition, verse-by-verse study, and practical application of God's Word. We believe that understanding Scripture requires more than simply reading the words on the page. We study the Word in context, compare Scripture with Scripture, examine biblical history and word meaning, and depend upon the Holy Spirit to give understanding of the things of God. Begin With Genesis Our In His Image - Genesis Bible Study takes us back to the beginning, where many of the foundational truths of Scripture are first revealed Together, we will journey through Genesis chapter by chapter and verse by verse , examining the biblical text, asking questions, studying important words and historical context, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and c...

Matthew 7:14 — “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way…” Jesus is describing the entrance into and the walk of the Kingdom of God . “Strait is the gate” — strait means restricted, confined, or difficult to enter through . The gate is not broad enough for us to bring everything with us. Entrance requires repentance, faith, and submission to Christ. Jesus Himself identifies the true entrance: “I am the door” (John 10:9). “Narrow is the way” — after entering the gate, there is a way to walk . The Christian life is not simply making a confession; it is continuing in the path of obedience and discipleship. Christ calls His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Notice the progression: The Gate → The Way → Life Christ brings us through the gate, and then we are called to walk in Him . The narrowness does not mean salvation is earned by human effort; it means the life of Christ cannot be mixed with every competing path, desire, doctri...