Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2701 to 2725 of 5000 results

Ephesians 2:11-22

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... these two races was replaced by peace. Here the author uses the phrase “having slain (apokteinas) the enmity.” The imagery of the cross suggests that he who himself was slain (Heb. 2:14) is now the one who slays (destroys) the enmity. Peace is illustrated by the metaphor of the body, the church. Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to each other because they are united into one body by means of the cross. Thus the church is presented as a living organism, composed of diverse parts, but existing peacefully ...

2702. A Prayer for the Ephesians

Ephesians 3:14-21

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... . The tense of these verbs in Greek (perfect passive, errizōmenoi, tethemeliōmenoi) indicates this action already has taken place but is to continue as a reality in the believer’s life (see Col. 1:23; 2:7, for similar exhortations toward stability). To illustrate the depth of life that he is after, the author uses a botanical and architectural metaphor. One sends its roots deep into the soil, whereas the other is grounded on a firm foundation. The NIV indicates that the soil or foundation is love. This ...

2703. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... the fact that God made you alive with Christ. As Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God, the believer, who is in Christ through baptism, has been raised (2:12) and brought to life (2:13). The Greek text also illustrates how carefully Paul wishes to emphasize their union with Christ. The word for life (zōē) is prefixed with the preposition syn (synezōopoiēsen). This preposition is repeated with the pronoun “him” (syn autō), leaving no doubt that their resurrection and quickening to new ...

2704. Rules for Holy Living

Colossians 3:1-17

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... theology (cf. Rom. 6:1–4, 11, 12, 13; 8:9–17; 13:14; 1 Cor. 6:8–11, 19, 20; 2 Cor. 5:17–21; Gal. 5:24, 25; Eph. 4:1–6; 4:22–5:20; Col. 1:9–15; 3:1–4). This third chapter of Colossians illustrates this principle by stating that the believers “have been raised with Christ” but then are summoned to set their hearts “on things above” (3:1); they have died with Christ (2:20; 3:3) but are subsequently told to “put to death” certain vices (3:5). The language of “putting ...

2705. Final Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... on 1:1) and that the style of their leadership must reflect that authority—“Be shepherds of God’s flock … not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2f.). The verb itself illustrates this. Proistēmi’s meaning ranges from having authority over others (cf. Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 5:17) to caring for others (cf. 1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12 and Titus 3:8, 14, for the thought that this care will be expressed in action—in doing ...

2706. Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

1 Timothy 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... us, although there have been several suggestions (such as the kinds of speculations one finds in the Book of Jubilees or in Philo’s Questions and Answers on Genesis or in Pseudo-Philo’s Book of Biblical Antiquities or even in the Jewish haggadic tradition [illustrative commentary on the OT]). It must finally be admitted that we simply do not know, because Paul does not give us enough clues. What we do know is that he stands boldly against such things, not so much because of their content (although such ...

2707. The Lord's Grace to Paul

1 Timothy 1:12-20

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... Savior” (Kelly). All of this is surely in contrast to the erring elders, who have turned away from faith and love (1:6), who “blaspheme” (1:20) and are engaged in strife (6:4), and who have thus abandoned the gospel of grace here being illustrated. 1:15–16 Having given this personal word about how the grace of Christ overflowed to a former persecutor, Paul is reminded that what happened to him is in full accord with a (probably) well-known saying, which apparently has roots in Jesus himself (Luke ...

2708. Instructions to Timothy

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... carry Satan’s brand (as NEB, Bernard, Kelly). This seems more in keeping with the context. By teaching in the guise of truth what is actually false, they have been branded by Satan as belonging to him and doing his will. 4:3a As illustrations of the “things taught by demons” that “come through hypocritical liars,” Paul mentions two items: They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods. These catch us a bit by surprise, although they are perhaps related to these men ...

2709. Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves

1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... to her husband was translated as the husband of but one wife at 3:2. Although the former is certainly included, here the latter idea may be more appropriate. The cultural ideal of a widow who “has been married only once” is amply illustrated from literature and epitaphs (cf. Luke 2:36–37). Surely this ideal would include having been faithful to her husband, but for a widow such faithfulness would extend to exclude a second marriage. The fact that younger widows are counseled against this ideal ...

2710. Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... of the false teachers in two ways. First, he cites, or alludes to, a well-known proverb that supports his contention in verse 9 about the evil effects of the desire for wealth. Second, he brings all of this into focus on the false teachers, who vividly illustrate the truth of what was said in verse 9. For, Paul says, now as supporting evidence, in this case the common proverb is quite right: The love of money is a [better, “the”] root of all kinds of evil. This text neither says, as it is often ...

2711. Paul's Charge to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:11-21

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... a Gnostic and his work was entitled Antitheseis). But no one currently subscribes to such a view. 6:20 For a helpful discussion of parathēkē in 1 and 2 Timothy, see esp. W. Barclay, “Paul’s Certainties, VII. Our Security in God—2 Timothy i. 12.” For a powerful illustration of the meaning of the term, see the story of the Apostle John and the young man he entrusted to a bishop’s care as a parathēkē as told by Clement of Alexandria, The Rich Man’s Salvation 42 (Loeb, pp. 357–65).

2712. A Workman Approved by God

2 Timothy 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... kind of “problem” that historical distance from the events often gives us. Probably Kelly is right: “We cannot assume that the Apostle’s ban was instantaneously effective in silencing a heretic, and indeed the fact that Hymenaeus could apparently ignore it illustrates the difficult situation in the Ephesian church” (p. 184). For an early understanding of the resurrection has already taken place, see the Acts of Paul and Thecla 14, where it is interpreted “that it has already taken place in the ...

2713. Jesus Greater Than Moses

Hebrews 3:1-6

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... becomes one of increasing importance in the epistle. Faithfulness is required not only of God’s special servants and his Son, but of his people as well (cf. Col. 1:23). It is with this primary concern that our author turns to an extended illustration-exhortation that occupies our attention until the end of chapter 4. Additional Notes 3:1 The word share (metochoi, lit., “sharers”) is important for our author (five occurrences of the noun in Hebrews; only one elsewhere in the NT: Luke 5:7, “partners ...

2714. An Exhortation Inspired by the Exodus

Hebrews 3:7-19

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

The powerful exhortation offered by the author at this point depends upon an illustration drawn from Psalm 95:7–11 (cf. Num. 14:22ff.), and in particular upon an analogy that is drawn between the experience of Israel and that of the church. We encounter in this passage, therefore, an example of exodus typology* that effectively directs the readers’ attention to the seriousness of ...

2715. Warning Against Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... cannot) occur. True Christian faith, on the other hand, is manifested when apostasy does not occur. True Christians do not (i.e., cannot) apostatize. This is the urgent message of the author for his readers. 6:7–8 The preceding passage now finds an illustration in the metaphor concerning fruitful and unfruitful soil. In a way that must have reminded the readers of the parable of Israel as God’s vineyard (Isa. 5:1–7), the author points to the judgment that may be expected to come upon the unproductive ...

2716. The Blood of Christ

Hebrews 9:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... excursus, “The Blood of Jesus and His Heavenly Priesthood,” in Hughes, pp. 329–54. 9:13 This is the only reference in the NT to the ashes of the red heifer used for purifying purposes according to Numbers 19. Our author finds the illustration to his liking since the sin removed by this rite was that of ceremonial defilement. This typifies the limited efficacy of the OT cultus. Ceremonially unclean translates koinoō (lit., “to make common”), a word used only here in Hebrews, but which is used ...

2717. God Disciplines His Sons

Hebrews 12:1-13, Hebrews 12:14-29

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... with tendencies toward apostasy. 12:16–17 As with his examples in chap. 11, the suitability of the example of Esau for the author’s point is so striking that it is easy to imagine the diligence with which he searched his OT for appropriate illustrative material. It is debatable whether both sexually immoral and godless are to be understood as referring to Esau. That our author has a concern about sexual immorality among the readers seems clear from 13:4. It is also clear that Esau is portrayed in Jewish ...

2718. Warning Against Refusing God

Hebrews 12:14-29, Hebrews 12:1-13

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

2719. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... . But second, when one of the partners is outside the church and church discipline, Paul must extend the implication of Jesus’ teaching. The Christian must not end the marriage, but he or she is not bound if the other partner does. This illustrates the application of Jesus’ teaching to a new situation. James takes Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 7:1 and draws an implication in another direction. If Jesus taught that Christians should not judge, then they will be judged for the act of judging. That ...

2720. The Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:1-18

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... ; Clementine Homilies 11.7.2. 3:10 The day of the Lord: Similar expressions in this letter are: day of judgment (2:9; 3:7); day of God (3:12); cf. day of visitation, 1 Pet. 2:12. Like a thief: The simile of “the thief in the night,” to illustrate an unwelcome surprise, derives from the teaching Peter heard from Jesus (Matt. 24:43–44; Luke 12:39; cf. 1 Thess. 5:2, 4; Rev. 3:3; 16:15). The heavens will disappear is language reminiscent of Isa. 13:10–13; 34:4; cf. Rev. 20:11. With a roar ...

2721. A Call to Persevere

Jude 1:17-25

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

Peril Foretold by Apostles 17 Jude now turns from his series of illustrations provided by OT types and prophecies (vv. 5–16) to remind his readers of a much more contemporary voice. They are urged not only to recall what the inspired writers of earlier centuries have foretold, but to remember that in their own day the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ ...

2722. Moses and the Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-22

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... with God to bring them up out of that land. God would not act alone and did not ask Moses to do it himself. It would be a cooperative effort. The text demonstrates this with its structure as well as with its words. The structure of this passage can be illustrated as follows: 3:7–8 A “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. B I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, C and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down D to rescue them from the hand of ...

2723. The Priestly Garments

Exodus 28:1-5

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... to parade with incense among the people: “they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD” (Lev. 10:1–2). God saw their improvisation as self-aggrandizement. Their actions illustrated the common temptation of ministers and priests to abuse their authority among the people.

2724. Sabbath Regulations

Exodus 35:1-3

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Exodus 35 is remarkable for the dramatic reversal and transformation after a word of forgiveness from the Lord. The people prepared to build the tabernacle with full and willing hearts. The structure of the chapter illustrates the reversal by forming a mirror image of Exodus 31 (the last chapter before the golden-calf crisis), presenting similar material in reverse order. The last subject of Exodus 31 was the Sabbath, and the Sabbath command is now the first word after the golden calf crisis (35:1–3). ...

2725. The Angel of the Lord at Bokim

Judges 2:1-5

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... obedience and views failure to obey him absolutely as idolatry, a violation of the first, and most important, commandment (Exod. 20:1–3; Deut. 5:6–7). No matter how much people try to rationalize their compromise, God is not fooled. Also illustrated is the principle that people reap what they sow. The Israelites suffered not because God was unfaithful to them but because they were unfaithful to him. Their prostitution to foreign gods resulted in a new enslavement, from which there was no possibility ...

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