Apart from the fact that the expression “ask Jesus into your heart” isn’t found anywhere in the Bible—the closest similar phrase being “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph 3:17), which is a verse directed to Christians—there is another problem with the idea of asking Jesus into your heart. In modern-day English, … Continue reading “Ask Jesus into Your Heart”: Only Your Heart?
Category: Bible
Humble Sarcasm: 1 Corinthians 4:8-13
“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence,” quipped Oscar Wilde.[1] If Wilde is correct, then the Apostle Paul must have been quite intelligent since Paul used sarcasm in 1 Corinthians 4:8-13 to move the Corinthians toward repentance. What? (…you might be thinking…) The Apostle Paul used sarcasm? Sarcasm is … Continue reading Humble Sarcasm: 1 Corinthians 4:8-13
Does “All” Always Mean “Every Single One” in the Bible? (Romans 11:26)
We recently discussed Romans 11:26 in my Romans class: “And in this way all Israel will be saved.” I told the class that even though this expression is disputed, the majority opinion among contemporary biblical interpreters—an assessment I tentatively support—is that Paul is predicting a mass turning to the Lord at the end of the … Continue reading Does “All” Always Mean “Every Single One” in the Bible? (Romans 11:26)
70 Great Bible Passages for Group Prayer
For the past five years, I have been leading twice-a-week prayer times at The Berdhouse, a residential Christian discipleship community that Trudi and I lead for college students. We normally spend the first 15 minutes of each prayer time reading through a passage from the Bible and responding to that passage with dozens of short … Continue reading 70 Great Bible Passages for Group Prayer
Do Bible Readers Make Meaning?
What is the “locus” of meaning in a biblical text? In other words, where does meaning come from?—where should we look to find meaning? This is a foundational question for interpreting the Bible (or any text, for that matter). Three possibilities have been suggested: The author The text The reader Throughout most of history, people … Continue reading Do Bible Readers Make Meaning?
Was the Apostle Paul a Good Speaker?
Was the Apostle Paul effective as a public speaker or not? Was Paul's facility in rhetoric strong or weak? New Testament scholars disagree on how to answer this question. Here is a possible solution that I recently proposed in my book, Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: New Clues for an Old Problem (pp. 135-137): The … Continue reading Was the Apostle Paul a Good Speaker?
14 Problems with Humility
There are multiple problems with humility. Here are 14, in no particular order: Problem #1: Humility is difficult to write and talk about because the moment someone starts talking (or writing…) about the need for humility, that person’s own pride begins to appear—like I’m facing right now as I write. I wonder if this is … Continue reading 14 Problems with Humility
Romans 8:28: The Spirit Works All Things Together for Good
There is third way to interpret (and translate) Romans 8:28 than is found in most English translations, but most people don’t know it. Some readers of this blog will know that English translations take two different routes when they come to Romans 8:28. The two approaches to translating this famous verse center on whether “all … Continue reading Romans 8:28: The Spirit Works All Things Together for Good
Psalm 119 as an English Acrostic
What would Psalm 119 sound like as an English acrostic? In Hebrew, an acrostic is precisely what Psalm 119 is. What is an acrostic? An acrostic is a poetic arrangement of letters in which (most commonly) the first letter of each line begins with the next letter in the alphabet. In the Hebrew text of … Continue reading Psalm 119 as an English Acrostic
What Does “I Can Do All Things through Christ who Strengthens Me” Mean? (Philippians 4:13)
It is one of the best-known verses in the Bible. It appears on wall art, bumper stickers, social media profiles, and even tattoos. But we usually misinterpret it. Philippians 4:13 is not about personal empowerment. It is not a promise that you can become anything you want when you grow up if you want it … Continue reading What Does “I Can Do All Things through Christ who Strengthens Me” Mean? (Philippians 4:13)
Kindle Afresh 