New Testament

Thumbnail image for Turn:Serve:Wait :: Faith:Love:Hope

Turn:Serve:Wait :: Faith:Love:Hope

28 December 2009 Biblical Studies

Yesterday, Jack Wisdom preached a challenging sermon at Ecclesia. With his usual comedic bravado and bluster, Jack laid out Paul’s situation and the situation of Thessaloniki at the time of the writing of 1 Thessalonians. He then looked at 1 Thessalonians 1:2–10, focusing on three action verbs found in vv. 9 and 10: ἐπιστρέφω, δουλεύω, ἀναμένω — turn, serve, wait.

Tagged as: 1 thessalonians, bible, ecclesia, faith, hope, jack wisdom, love, New Testament, paul

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Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 5)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 5)

10 August 2009 Biblical Studies

Part five of the series “Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace.”

Before considering Origen’s citations, however, let us review the methodological considerations relevant to the use of “patristic” citations. One of the issues associated with using patristic citations as text-critical evidence involves the notion of quotation in the ancient world. Those who seek to use patristic evidence must adequately address a host of issues in order to deem those citations useful.

Tagged as: hebrews, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for “The Living God” :: Now and Then

“The Living God” :: Now and Then

3 August 2009 Biblical Studies

I find it interesting that throughout the Bible, God is referred to as “The Living God.” For example, in Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are preaching in Lystra. After Paul miraculously heals a crippled man, the townspeople begin referring to him as Hermes and to Barnabas as Zeus. The priests of the temple of Zeus in that town bring gifts to sacrifice to their gods. Paul, of course, is incensed.

Tagged as: acts, bible, culture, god

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Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 4)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 4)

3 August 2009 Biblical Studies

χωρίς has a claim to originality based on a number of internal criteria. While it is less common than χάρις in the New Testament, it is actually more common than χάρις in Hebrews.

Tagged as: hebrews, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 45): 1 John 5:2-3

The Epistles of John (Part 45): 1 John 5:2-3

1 August 2009 Biblical Studies

Some may read this, growl at their screens, and say, “Nuh uh! What is all of this business about commandments? I thought that we were interested in community and fellowship.” It’s true, I really think that the heart of God, as expressed in 1 John is about two things: community and idolatry (we’ll see idolatry especially in the final sentence of the epistle). However, part of that community and part of avoiding idolatry is obedience, willfully submitting to the commands that he has written on our hearts.

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 3)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 3)

27 July 2009 Biblical Studies

When we turn to internal evidence, however, the argument no longer favors χάριτι; indeed, as Bart Ehrman has argued regarding χωρίς, “there can be no doubt concerning the superiority of this poorly attested variant.” This certainty can be illustrated best if we assume the priority of one variant and then attempt to explain how it was altered or corrupted into the other.

Tagged as: hebrews, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 44): 1 John 5:1

The Epistles of John (Part 44): 1 John 5:1

25 July 2009 Biblical Studies

The author here is interested in community and in community he sees family. When we confess that Jesus is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One, King, Liberator, Savior, etc.) we are “born of God.” This is a powerful statement. God is taking us under his wing, so to speak.

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 2)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 2)

20 July 2009 Biblical Studies

What then is the external evidence in favor of each reading? The manuscript evidence in support of χάριτι θεοῦ is very strong. The major manuscripts that favor this reading include P46 א A B C D 33 81 330 614 itar,b, comp, d, v vg copsa, bo, fay, as well as others.

Tagged as: hebrews, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 43): 1 John 4:20–21

The Epistles of John (Part 43): 1 John 4:20–21

19 July 2009 Biblical Studies

Again the author is stressing the importance of love. It is by the love that we show to our “brothers” that we will be recognized — not by words, but by the love that we have, the love that we share.

This leads me to two questions:

  • What is meant by “brother” in this passage?
  • What is this type of love that we are talking about?

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 42): 1 John 4:18–19

The Epistles of John (Part 42): 1 John 4:18–19

15 July 2009 Biblical Studies

By telling us why we love, 1 John 4:18–19 sets right the nature of the relationship between humans and God. The difficulty, of course, is the word “fear” which has been an important term in Christianity from the get-go, mostly due to the phrase: “fear of God.” While it is healthy for us to have a certain type of fear (e.g., a reverence or respect for God’s awesome power), it is not healthy for the believer to live in constant fear.

Tagged as: 1 john

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