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)
Tag: Apostle Paul
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)
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”?
What Does Grace Do? An Unusual Choice of Words by the Apostle Paul
What do you mean, Ken…what does grace do? Grace doesn’t do anything. Grace is unmerited favor from God. It is something given. Grammatically, grace isn’t the subject of the verb; it’s the object of the verb. It’s the thing that God bestows. Right? Yes…usually. But not in every case. Although you are entirely correct to … Continue reading What Does Grace Do? An Unusual Choice of Words by the Apostle Paul
One Mark of Christian Maturity
Most biblical indicators of Christian maturity involve a person’s developing character qualities. But I have observed another common quality among Christians who could be described as “mature”—by which I do not mean “older,” but people who have developed well as Christians, whatever their age. Here is one (less frequently discussed) mark of Christian maturity. Spiritually … Continue reading One Mark of Christian Maturity
The Limits of Idolatry: Can We View Greed and Lust like Idols of Wood and Stone?
I used to wonder whether the interpretive move from worship of wood and stone images to heart issues like greed, lust, and gluttony was hermeneutically proper. I mean, we don’t always—and we shouldn’t always—spiritualize things that are physical in their original contexts. Isn’t that what allegorizers do? No, such a move is not illegitimate. Let … Continue reading The Limits of Idolatry: Can We View Greed and Lust like Idols of Wood and Stone?
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)
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?
Kindle Afresh 