Biblical Studies

Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 38): 1 John 4:11-12

The Epistles of John (Part 38): 1 John 4:11-12

6 July 2009 Biblical Studies

Now comes the moral imperative. After learning that God is love, that that love was made manifest in Jesus Christ, and that this love has made things right between us and God, we are called into action with a very simple command:

Love one another.

Tagged as: 1 john, commandments, love

1 comment Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for 6 Jul 2009: John 6:38–40

6 Jul 2009: John 6:38–40

6 July 2009 Biblical Studies

Amidst a discussion in which Jesus tells the crowd that he is the bread of life, that those who approach him will never go hungry or have thirst, he makes it very clear that he has come to do the will of the one who sent him. The one who sent him is his father, and his father’s will is also made known in John 6:40.

Tagged as: gospel of john, will of god

0 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 37): 1 John 4:10

The Epistles of John (Part 37): 1 John 4:10

5 July 2009 Biblical Studies

So often we make the mistake that John’s congregation might have made: we think about what it is that we have done. The Gospel is not at all about what we have done; rather, it is about what God has done for us.

Tagged as: 1 john, atonement, crucifixion, expiation, propitiation, sacrifice

0 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for 5 Jul 2009: John 6:27-33: Bread and Freedom

5 Jul 2009: John 6:27-33: Bread and Freedom

5 July 2009 Biblical Studies

Today, John 6:27–33 was my charge. This is not an obvious text to be reading on the 4th of July, but it’s the text that came up, and it served admirably as a backdrop for some of the thoughts I’ve been having lately about freedom, democracy, the United States, and Christianity.

Tagged as: gospel of john

0 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 36): 1 John 4:9

The Epistles of John (Part 36): 1 John 4:9

1 July 2009 Biblical Studies

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” — 1 John 4:9

Tagged as: 1 john

0 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for 1 Jul 2009: John 6:22-24

1 Jul 2009: John 6:22-24

1 July 2009 Biblical Studies

Continuing with John 6, there is a tiny little story that is probably missed by most folks. On the surface it appears to be just a bit of narrative with very little significance. Truly, from a theological standpoint, there are only a few things to pull out of it (e.g., the fact that John refers to Jesus as “Lord” [κύριος] denoting a high Christology). However, on a gut level, there is something else to see here — the hunger and thirst of the people.

Tagged as: gospel of john

0 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for 29 Jun 2009: John 6:21

29 Jun 2009: John 6:21

29 June 2009 Biblical Studies

In keeping with yesterday’s idea of picking out one strange thing in a miracle of Jesus, let’s look at the next item after the Feeding of the 5,000 — Jesus Walks on Water. John’s version of the story is a little different from the Synoptic versions. John dispenses with the idea that Peter too walked [...]

Tagged as: gospel of john

0 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for 29 Jun 2009: John 6:15

29 Jun 2009: John 6:15

29 June 2009 Biblical Studies

This morning I read “The Feeding of the 5,000″ as presented in John’s gospel (John 6:1–15). One particular verse struck me in a way that it had not before.

Tagged as: gospel of john

2 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for 26 Jun 2009: John 5:39-40

26 Jun 2009: John 5:39-40

26 June 2009 Biblical Studies

The latter portion of John 5 shows Jesus preaching on his own authority and who and what has witnessed or testified about him. This morning, I read John 5:39–40 and was struck by how it applies to my own thinking.

Tagged as: gospel of john

3 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 35): 1 John 4:7-8

The Epistles of John (Part 35): 1 John 4:7-8

25 June 2009 Biblical Studies

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” — 1 John 4:7–8

Tagged as: 1 john, love

2 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →