New Testament

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 34): 1 John 4:4–6

The Epistles of John (Part 34): 1 John 4:4–6

10 April 2009 Biblical Studies

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” — 1 John 4:4–6

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for Stop Fooling with My Text, Satan

Stop Fooling with My Text, Satan

10 April 2009 Biblical Studies

My church, Ecclesia Clear Lake, is preaching using the lectionary as we continue our way through Lent and toward Easter. A couple of weeks ago the passage was John 12:20–33; a passage that presents certain curiosities (who are these “Greeks” in verse 20?) and a translational oddity.

Tagged as: gospel of john, translation

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 33): 1 John 4:1–3

The Epistles of John (Part 33): 1 John 4:1–3

17 March 2009 Biblical Studies

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” — 1 John 4:1–3

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 32): 1 John 3:23–24

The Epistles of John (Part 32): 1 John 3:23–24

16 March 2009 Biblical Studies

An exploration of what it means to “abide” or “remain” in Christ. For the author this revolves primarily around the Johannine notion of κοινωνία.

Tagged as: 1 john

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Thumbnail image for The Epistles of John (Part 31): 1 John 3:19–22

The Epistles of John (Part 31): 1 John 3:19–22

4 March 2009 Biblical Studies

I find it difficult to have confidence before God. Here I am, a puny speck of a man, taking up a very small amount of space on this huge blue rock that is hurdling through space at thousands of miles per hour. Yet, if my heart does not condemn me, then I can somehow stand with confidence before the one who created all of that.

Tagged as: 1 john

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