New Testament

Thumbnail image for Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 1)

Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace (Part 1)

13 July 2009 Biblical Studies

Part one of the series “Hebrews 2:9 – Separated by Grace.” Bruce M. Metzger’s A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament explains why the committee behind the text of Nestle-Aland’s Novum Testamentum Graece (NA) and the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (UBS) chose one reading over another. However, as Metzger himself admits, given [...]

Tagged as: hebrews, textual criticism

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 41): 1 John 4:16–17

The Epistles of John (Part 41): 1 John 4:16–17

13 July 2009 Biblical Studies

The Day of Judgment is not something that we like to talk about. We look at depictions of it, such as the one by Michelangelo to the right, and are enthralled by the severity of God’s punishment of the wicked. We are appalled by the reality of Hell and the notion that an all-loving God could even conceive of something such as judgment.

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 40): 1 John 4:15

The Epistles of John (Part 40): 1 John 4:15

7 July 2009 New Testament

I chose to set this verse aside for its own examination, even though it largely deals with themes found in the previous chunk, because of one word: confess (ὁμολογέω). This word has so many meanings in English, and I think it’s appropriate that we try to nail it down and understand it within the context of Early Chistianity.

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for 7 Jul 2009: John 6:44

7 Jul 2009: John 6:44

7 July 2009 Biblical Studies

As Christians we often put the onus of God’s power on our shoulders without realizing it. We think that it is our job to go out and save the world from all of its evils. I’ve got two things to tell you: (1) We are part of the world’s evil, so good luck saving ourselves, and (2) That’s just not our job.

Tagged as: gospel of john

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 39): 1 John 4:13–14

The Epistles of John (Part 39): 1 John 4:13–14

7 July 2009 Biblical Studies

We have talked at length in this series about abiding in God. We have talked less about how he abides in us. Therefore, I’d like to spend a little time wrapping our minds around this idea to see if we can make sense of it.

Tagged as: 1 john

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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