![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Methusela2.png\" "\\"Methusela\\"")
<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\nOld as Methuselah<\/strong>: Methuselah was the oldest man in the Bible. He died at the age of 969. (Genesis 5:27) Let\u2019s just say if you are as old as Methuselah you are really, really old \u2013 like almost older than dirt.<\/p>\n Thorn in the flesh:<\/strong> The apostle Paul had a certain unnamed affliction which he referred to as a \u201cthorn in the flesh.\u201d (2 Corinthians 12:7) A thorn in the flesh has come to mean something that continually irritates you.<\/p>\n By the skin of one\u2019s teeth:<\/strong> Job described a narrow escape. (Job 19:20)<\/p>\n My brother\u2019s keeper:<\/strong> Cain killed his brother Abel. When God asked Cain where his brother was he replied with, \u201cAm I my brother\u2019s keeper\u201d trying to evade the issue. (Genesis 4:9) My brother\u2019s keeper means we should all look out for one another.<\/p>\n What a man sows, he reaps:<\/strong> This biblical principle tells us our deeds will return to us, whether they are good or bad. (Galatians 6:7, 8)\u00a0In other words, what goes around comes around.<\/p>\n Bite the dust:<\/strong> The earliest form of this expression is \u201click the dust.\u201d (Psalms 72:9) It means to fall to the ground, dead or wounded.<\/p>\n Fight the good fight:<\/strong> Originally this meant to fight the good fight of faith. (I Timothy 6:12) Hold on to those Christian values. However, many a soldier has been sent off to battle to \u201cfight the good fight,\u201d believing what they\u2019re fighting for is worthy of the battle.<\/p>\n To everything there is a season:<\/strong> Written by the wise Solomon, we learn there is an appropriate time for many things. (Ecclesiastes 3) I love it when a biblical phrase creeps into our society. Pete Seeger turned this into a song entitled \u201cTurn, Turn, Turn.\u201d The Byrds recorded it in the 60s and I remember millions singing along to it, not knowing all the words came from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. People were memorizing scripture and didn\u2019t even know it.<\/p>\n Good Samaritan:<\/strong> A Good Samaritan is one filled with compassion, who helps others in need without thought of remuneration. (Luke 10:30-33)<\/p>\n Salt of the earth:<\/strong> Someone who is the \u201csalt of the earth\u201d is reliable and dependable. (Matthew 5:13)<\/p>\n The love of money is the root of all evil:<\/strong> Actually the Bible says the love of money is \u201ca\u201d root of evil not \u201cthe\u201d root of evil. Let\u2019s just say if you love money too much it clouds your thinking. Not good. (1 Timothy 6:10)<\/p>\n Wash your hands of a matter:<\/strong> When Pilate could find no wrong in Jesus but people wanted to crucify him anyway he washed his hands. He let the people do what they wanted but he would have no part in it. (Matthew 27:24)<\/p>\n What God has joined together let no man put asunder:<\/strong> We\u2019ll just skip this one because it doesn\u2019t have much meaning in our society anymore. (Matthew 19:6)<\/p>\n I could go on and on but suffice it to say the Bible has had more influence in our everyday phrases than we might think. So has God. Every time I hear \u201cGod bless you\u201d said for someone who sneezes I think that person may not even realize how good God is, but he says the phrase anyway.<\/p>\n Speaking of God being good here\u2019s a phrase we use all the time and probably don\u2019t connect it with God \u2013 good-bye. Believe it or not this is a shortened form of \u201cGod be with you (ye).\u201d In Shakespeare\u2019s time is was \u201cGod speed.\u201d Today it\u2019s \u201cgood-bye.\u201d Go with the strength of the Lord.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not a bad way to end a meeting with someone, so I\u2019ll just say, \u201cGood-bye for now.\u201d May God be with you until we meet again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being a writer makes one conscious of words and idioms. I\u2019m actually fascinated by phrase origins and love the fact that so many of the common phrases we use everyday originate with the Bible or God. Here are a just … Continue reading