Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2526 to 2550 of 3160 results

Acts 11:1-18

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... or not, there were practical issues. How could Jewish Christians who regarded themselves as still bound by the law have fellowship with those who did not? Surely any Gentile who became a believer must also submit to the law? These are the sorts of questions that must have been thrown up to Peter by the circumcised believers (v. 2), literally, “those of the circumcision,” meaning simply Jewish Christians. Strictly speaking, of course, the whole church at this time could be described in this way, since ...

2527. The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

Acts 15:22-35

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... to choose some of their own men, meaning from among the Jerusalem representatives, to join with the delegates from the north in conveying the council’s decision to the church in Antioch (v. 22). The present participle, hegoumenous, signifies that they were leaders of some sort, probably elders. Later, in verse 32, they are called prophets. Silas was apparently the Silvanus of the epistles (2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:12), but of Judas Barsabbas we know nothing, though it has been ...

2528. Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

Acts 16:11-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... identification is possible. A little over a mile to the west of the city, on the Via Egnatia, stood a Roman arch, now in ruins; and a little beyond this ran the river Gangites, a tributary of the Strymon. The erection of an arch of this sort often accompanied the founding of a colony and was intended to symbolize the dignity and privileges of the city. It could also mark the pomerium, a line encircling an empty space outside the city within which no buildings or burials were permitted or strange cults ...

2529. Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos

Acts 18:18-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... ,” and in this case probably both—he had a learning that he effectively communicated. More specifically, he had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. This was the basis of his preaching in both Ephesus and Corinth. 18:25 Apollos was already a Christian of sorts when he arrived at Ephesus and, to the extent that he understood it, was a great enthusiast for the faith. An expression is used that means literally “to boil in the spirit,” that is, his own human spirit, and so perhaps “to bubble over ...

2530. The Trial Before Felix

Acts 24:1-27

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... was procurator of Galilee (Annals 12.54). Josephus, on the other hand, says that Felix succeeded Cumanus as procurator of Judea (Antiquities 20.134–140; War 2.247–249). Most scholars prefer Josephus on this point, though it remains possible that Felix held some sort of office in Palestine during Cumanus’ term of office (is the “many years” of v. 10 some corroboration of this?). At all events, he was procurator of Judea from A.D. 52 to about 58 (see disc. on v. 27 and notes). Like his brother ...

2531. The Trial Before Festus

Acts 25:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... against his own better judgment. 25:1b–5 Within three days of his arrival in Caesarea (lit., “after three days,” but see note on 24:1) he paid a courtesy visit to the Jewish capital. It was always important for the procurator to establish some sort of working arrangement with the high priest and the Sanhedrin as soon as possible. This was especially so at this time in view of the recent unpleasantness between the Jews and the procurator Felix. The high priest with whom Festus would have had to work ...

2532. Body

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... ; 17:24). In Jewish tradition, the eschatological temple will be built either by God himself (Jub. 1:17; cf. 1:27; 11QTemple 29.8–10; Sib. Or. 5:420–425) or by his Messiah (Tg.Isa. 53:5). The Qumran community evidently understood itself as a sort of interim, spiritual temple, a “sanctuary of men,” until the eschatological temple could be built (cf. 4QFlor 1.2–7). Very likely, Mark 14:58 reflects a similar idea of a spiritual temple composed of Jesus and his followers. According to Matthew 12:6 ...

2533. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... , which the opponents so vehemently decry, is none other than his extraordinary apostolic revelations! By this subtle and ingenious maneuver, Paul deconstructs his opponents’ most effective argument against his apostleship. In effect, Paul makes suffering and weakness—even the extreme sort that he constantly endures (cf. 11:23bff.)—a sign of genuine, and even exceptional, apostleship since the more often that an apostle ascends to the divine throne of glory, the more his pride will need to be held in ...

2534. Living as Children of Light

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... see note on 4:18). 4:19 All this has had two further degrading effects upon their lives. Callousness (having lost all sensitivity); and vice, (sensuality or “licentiousness,” RSV), is another way of describing all sorts of sexual license and perversion (aselgeia, “licentiousness,” “debauchery,” “indecent conduct”). And this indecent conduct was practiced with a continual lust for more (“without restraint,” GNB). Pleonexia describes greedy individuals continually seeking to gratify their ...

2535. The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... and earth and visible and invisible. This includes all spiritual forces, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. These terms represent a view and classification of spiritual powers that were current in the first century. People believed that the world was inhabited by all sorts of alien powers that were a threat to human beings (Rom. 8:38; 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21; 6:12; 1 Pet. 3:22). The fact that the reference to these powers is a probable interpolation by Paul into the hymn suggests that ...

2536. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... we have made of our lives (or on what we have allowed him to make of them; see disc. on 1 Thess. 5:23). “Calling” (klēsis) generally refers to the initial act whereby God calls us to himself, but the question raised by this petition is, What sort of Christians have we now become? Have we “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13)? Have we, in terms of Paul’s metaphor, built upon the foundation which is Christ (1 Cor. 3:11)? The fundamental question for ...

2537. Warnings Against Idleness

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... [Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1971], p. 129). On occasion, however, the poor developed a relationship with a benefactor from whom they would receive support in exchange for the obligation to reciprocate with an expression of gratitude, and something of this sort may have lain behind the situation that Paul was addressing. Russell continues: Paul’s converts included the urban poor, and some may have … formed a client relationship and obligation to a benefactor. Once brought into the circle of Christian ...

2538. Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves

1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... with the concern that the church give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need (lit., “honor widows who truly are widows”). The imperative give proper recognition to is not easy to translate, because in verse 17 the same noun implies some sort of remuneration, whereas in 6:1 it means simply “respect.” But the context of the whole section, finally clarified in verse 16, suggests that give proper recognition to in the sense of “caring for” is what is in view. Whether they are also ...

2539. A Workman Approved by God

2 Timothy 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... (using the language of the ritual cleansing of vessels) from the latter (the false teachings), he will become “a vessel for honor” (NIV, an instrument for noble purposes). In applying the imagery, Paul has thus moved from the house that contains all sorts of vessels to the good vessels themselves and argues that only these, with their “honorable” purposes, count (although it is not the value of the vessels, but their contents, i.e., purposes, that is the reason for “cleansing oneself” of the ...

2540. Suffering for Being a Christian

1 Peter 4:12-19

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... . Let any suffering faced by Christians be for the right reason: their loyalty to God in faithfully following Jesus Christ. 4:16 While it is obviously a disgrace if a professing believer is guilty of besmirching the name of Christ by getting involved in any sort of civil crime, there is no cause for shame if suffering is due solely on account of being a Christian. The earliest disciples were known as Nazarenes, after the home-town of their Master Jesus (Acts 24:5). The nickname Christian was first popularly ...

2541. Moses Flees to Midian

Exodus 2:11-25

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... there was no one to intervene, so he struck down (nakah) the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Three grammatical points lead to this translation. First, the verb for the Egyptian’s and Moses’ “striking” is the same word root and stem (Hiphil). This sort of blow might or might not lead to death, but it was equal in force and meaning (see below). Secondly, “the Egyptian” (lit., “a man of Egypt”) is not identified as a taskmaster but was an ordinary man. He had no “authority” to carry out ...

2542. The Plague of Locusts

Exodus 10:21-29

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... mean that God had personally “occupied himself” with the arrogance of the Egyptians. God actually used this limitless power with measured control, as earlier the Lord had said, “I could have . . . wiped you off the earth” (9:15). In the NT, this sort of harshness does not disappear. In the incarnation and cross God sought out and suffered the harshness of oppression to overthrow it with love. The combination of the protection of love and the harshness of judgment against rebellion is also a NT ...

2543. At Mount Sinai

Exodus 19:1-25

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... . They washed their clothes (vv. 10, 14). They abstained from sexual contact (v. 15; see also Lev. 15:16–18; Deut. 23:10–11). They established a boundary at the foot of the mountain that they did not cross (vv. 12, 21–24). This sort of consecration is external in nature. The boundary also functioned to consecrate the mountain (“set apart for a special purpose”). The Lord insisted that the people “not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it.” Touching the mountain brought the threat of ...

2544. The Golden Calf

Exodus 32:1-33:6

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... to redeem, form, and live among the people. To this end God delivered them out of Egypt, brought them to Mt. Sinai by going with them in the fiery cloud, and provided for them in the wilderness. At Sinai God set about forming them into the sort of community originally intended: in trust and fidelity with the Lord, with each other, and with the nonhuman creation. During their time at Sinai, the people had again witnessed a dramatic revelation of God as Lord of creation. The detailed laws of the book of the ...

2545. Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites

Judges 1:1-36

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... he ultimately revealed himself in Jesus, who was the perfect revelation of God (John 1:18) and who revealed some things about God that superseded earlier ideas held about God. Too many people, unfortunately even Christians, have used OT Scriptures to justify all sorts of horrible attitudes and acts against others. Just because events occurred in certain OT texts does not mean that they are to be imitated today. 1:27–28 But Manasseh did not drive . . . them out completely: Boling (Judges, p. 60) points out ...

2546. The Genealogy of Saul the Benjamite

1 Chronicles 8:1-40

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... to Joshua 21:24 and 1 Chronicles 6:69. 8:15–28 This list of names is also unparalleled in the Hebrew Bible. It can be linked to the previous list through the name Elpaal (8:18), which probably functions as a catchword of some sort. First Chronicles 8:28 states that these heads of families resided in Jerusalem. 8:29–32 This brief section introduces some people who were probably of Benjaminite descent but settled around Gibeon. Some scholars relate this town to Saul (whose lineage is provided in the ...

2547. Bringing Back the Ark

1 Chronicles 13:1-14

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... Eskenazi’s literary arguments for unity are sometimes unconvincing, it remains unlikely that the Chronicler envisioned 1 Chron. 13 and 1 Chron. 15–16, respectively, as separate units. That 2 Sam. 6 was quoted in both these sections points in the direction of some sort of a compositional unity at least. In my opinion, the peculiar position of 1 Chron. 14 should be explained in another way. It might be that 1 Chron. 14 (quoting from 2 Sam. 5:11–25) was detached from its original position after 1 ...

2548. Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 4:1-23

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... enemy related, by three positive statements (vv. 14, 19–20, 22) and appropriate actions. He translated his spiritual vision into practical details of resourceful management and unsparing effort. 4:1–5 The chapter is the story of a war of nerves—a sort of phony war in which Judah’s neighbors had their hands tied by his imperial authorization, but then freely resorted to what turned out to be mere intimidation. Here ridicule is the one-upmanship ploy they chose. Presumably we are to envision Samaria ...

2549. Further Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 6:1-14

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... in 5:19, this time it is negative in tone, directed against his two adversaries—the go-between and his boss. Nehemiah appeals to God to vindicate him by providentially punishing these Samarian officials and the local prophets, who had evidently played the same sort of game as their colleague Shemaiah. By this means justice would be done—such justice as the widow persistently pleaded for in the parable of Luke 18:1–8. 6:15–16 Nehemiah could now proudly announce the completion of the wall, presumably ...

2550. Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

Esther 2:19-23

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... the book. For Mordecai, this written record guarantees eventual reward. Additional Notes 2:19 Sitting at the king’s gate: Although the meaning of this phrase has been debated, archaeological evidence suggests what chapter 3 implies—that Mordecai was a palace official of some sort. This is to be expected of a person who was brought to Persia along with the other nobles from Judah. It is possible that, in light of his access to Esther in the harem, Mordecai was a eunuch. For bibliography and comments on ...

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