Six Biblical Emphases That Also Happen To Be Political

Certain biblical themes are increasingly becoming political—at least in many people’s minds. But keep in mind that all six of the biblical themes I will list below were biblical long before they became political (in the sense most of us think of politics). Furthermore, all of these themes are clear and emphasized in the Bible. … Continue reading Six Biblical Emphases That Also Happen To Be Political

Prayer Postures in the Bible

When I first started to learn how to pray on my own, I thought that I had to kneel when I prayed. Most of the people I had read about who were pray-ers were also kneel-ers. For example, a second-century Christian named Hegesippus records that James, the half-brother of Jesus, “was frequently found situated upon … Continue reading Prayer Postures in the Bible

“Into Him” and “In Him” in Ephesians 1: Should We Leave These Out When We Translate into English?

A couple days ago I was reading Ephesians 1 in Greek during my morning Bible-reading time. As I read, I was drawn to two phrases that are clearly present in Greek but often eliminated in English. The two expressions that get removed are “into him” (εἰς αὐτόν) in the middle of verse 5 and (“in … Continue reading “Into Him” and “In Him” in Ephesians 1: Should We Leave These Out When We Translate into English?

Three Paragraphs I Wrote that Seemed to Offend a Lot of People

Of all the things I have ever written, there are three consecutive paragraphs I once wrote that seem to have offended more people than anything else I’ve ever written. Please understand, I really don’t like to offend people. I am committed to—even passionate about—speaking (and writing) truth with grace. My problem in the case of … Continue reading Three Paragraphs I Wrote that Seemed to Offend a Lot of People

Was Paul’s Second Mother the Wife of the Man who Carried Jesus’s Cross? (Romans 16:13; Mark 15:21)

If you connect a few historical dots, you may (as I did) find yourself thinking that Paul was friends with the son of Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus’s cross—and, furthermore, that Paul thought of Simon’s wife as a second mother to himself.[1] I grant that what follows is not certain, but it … Continue reading Was Paul’s Second Mother the Wife of the Man who Carried Jesus’s Cross? (Romans 16:13; Mark 15:21)

Living a D’Vine Life in Christ (John 15:1-5)

Yes, my title has a double meaning: The vine in John 15 is Christ, who is Divine, and we live life connection to the Vine. So one way to refer to the Christian life is: living a D’Vine Life. A couple years ago I wrote a devotional book about inChristness in the letters of Paul—100 … Continue reading Living a D’Vine Life in Christ (John 15:1-5)

Is New Testament Prophecy the Same as Preaching and Teaching?

No. In the New Testament, prophecy is described as a revelation for a particular moment (1 Cor 14:30). Preaching and teaching[1] is an exposition of what God has already revealed in his written Word, the Bible. I grew up in a church setting in which people often claimed that what is described in the New … Continue reading Is New Testament Prophecy the Same as Preaching and Teaching?

Should We Bear One Another’s Burdens? (Galatians 6:2) or Carry Our Own Load? (Galatians 6:5)

Which is it? Are we supposed to carry one another’s burdens, as Galatians 6:2 says: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”? Or should we carry our own load, as Galatians 6:5 (only three verses later) says: “For each will have to bear his own load”? First, let me remind readers … Continue reading Should We Bear One Another’s Burdens? (Galatians 6:2) or Carry Our Own Load? (Galatians 6:5)

What Does it Mean to Do Things “in the Spirit”?

Frequently in the Bible, and especially in the letters of the Apostle Paul, we come across the expression “in the Spirit”—or similar such expressions. This kind of expression is used in various ways in the Bible, but the one I’m drawn to today is when people do things “in the Spirit.” What kinds of activities … Continue reading What Does it Mean to Do Things “in the Spirit”?

Why We Should Stop Using The Message

This article was originally posted at the Good Book Blog on November 2, 2016. I'm re-posting it because I still know people who are using The Message--and it's still a problem. It’s time we stopped reading, buying, and recommending The Message. We who hold to a high view of Scripture—that the Bible is the very word of God, … Continue reading Why We Should Stop Using The Message