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Showing 4601 to 4625 of 4957 results

4601. Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... driving out evil spirits (v. 13; cf. Luke 11:19), the seven sons of one Sceva. This Sceva is described as a “Jewish High Priest” (v. 14, GNB), but no person of that name was ever a high priest in Jerusalem. Of course, it may have been an entirely pretentious claim, but if the title is to be taken seriously and if it was a Jewish title, he may have been the head of one of the “courses” of priests or a member of one of the high priestly families (see disc. on 4:6). Or he may have been an ...

4602. Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Acts 20:13-38

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... all” (v. 26; see disc. on 18:6). The adjective “clean” is found seven times in Paul’s epistles and only here and in 18:6 (each purporting to be Paul’s own words) in the writings of Luke. The phrase “this very day” (v. 26, GNB) can also be claimed as Pauline (2 Cor. 3:14; cf. also Rom. 11:8). He was “clean” because he had held nothing back in proclaiming to them the whole will of God (v. 27; cf. Eph. 1:11; 3:4; see disc. on 2:23). His had been an “all round” ministry. 20 ...

4603. Paul Arrested

Acts 21:27-36

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the inner courts (as we suppose) to the Court of the Gentiles. The intention seems to have been to kill him then and there. As soon as the crowd was clear of the inner courts, their doors were closed (by the police), perhaps to prevent Paul from claiming sanctuary or perhaps to prevent further pollution, for the crowd was about to add murder to the alleged defilement by Gentiles (cf. 2 Kings 11:4–16; 2 Chron. 24:21). 21:31–32 But a disturbance of this type could not break out without Roman intervention ...

4604. Paul Transferred to Caesarea

Acts 23:23-35

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... 1), and though Felix was not of that rank, most procurators were and its use here was only natural (and diplomatic). 23:27 Lysias outlined the circumstances that had brought Paul into his custody. His account conforms broadly with what we already know, except that he claims to have rescued Paul knowing that he was a Roman citizen, whereas, of course, it was only later that he made that discovery (for another version, see 24:5f.). 23:28 In the Greek text, the statements of verses 27 and 28 are closely linked ...

4605. Arrival at Rome

Acts 28:11-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... party (cf. Rom. 16:24). There were two groups. One met them in advance at the Forum of Appius (Forum Appii) and the other nearer Rome at Three Taverns (Tres Tabernae). The former of these two staging places lay about forty-three miles from Rome. Horace claimed that travelers covered the distance from the capital to Forum Appii in one day, though he himself preferred to take two. He had no high opinion of the town, describing it as “crammed with boatmen and stingy tavern keepers” (Satires 1.5.3–6). The ...

4606. The God of All Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... W. Barnett, “Apostle,” DPL, pp. 45–51. Strangely enough, this is the only occasion in the entire letter when Paul refers to himself as “apostle” (cf., however, 12:12), even though much of the letter is concerned with defending his apostolic claim and authority. Otherwise, he attributes the term only ironically or polemically to his opponents (cf. 11:5, 13; 12:11). By characterizing himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus, Paul evidently emphasizes his position of service under the messianic kingship ...

4607. Gift

2 Corinthians 8:16--9:5, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... expectation of Israel’s restoration and the eschatological pilgrimage of the nations. Isaiah 55 offers the impoverished Israelites the hope of restored fortunes (vv. 1–2) and expects that the nations will come to the glorified Israel (vv. 4–5). Therefore, when Paul substantiates his claim that God is able to make all grace abound to the Achaians on the basis of Isaiah 55:10, he in effect sees them as involved in fulfilling the promise to restore Israel’s fortunes (see above on 2 Cor. 8:14). The text ...

4608. Identification and a Wish for Grace and Peace

Galatians 1:1-10

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... a “servant of Christ” makes such a stance impossible. For Paul, serving Christ is about only being for the gospel. As his gospel is not of human origin it will be offensive or discomfiting to people. In other letters as well (1 Thess. 2:4) Paul claims that his focus is on pleasing God. In some instances Paul says that pleasing other people is appropriate (1 Cor. 10:33), but concerning the integrity of his gospel Paul sees things in either/or terms. To be a servant of Christ is mutually exclusive of ...

4609. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... powerless, that we might no longer be slaves to sin” (Rom. 6:6). Paul now ties together what he has been saying: since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Paul has directed believers to “live by the Spirit” (cf. 5:16) and claimed that they are “led by the Spirit” (5:18). Now he shifts the emphasis by stating that the basis of their life is that they are those who “live by the Spirit.” On this basis he calls them to be guided by the Spirit. By means of the Spirit ...

4610. Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... From the perversity of humanity as disobedient sinners deserving God’s wrath, the apostle turns, in sharp contrast, to the mercy and love of God. God’s mercy proceeds from his love and is his way of reaching out to those totally undeserving. We were, he claims, dead in transgressions. However, the good news of the gospel is that God has acted decisively in Christ to correct that situation. And finally, in 2:5, one finds the verb that has kept the reader in suspense since the beginning of 2:1: Those who ...

4611. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... not insist upon his or her personal rights or be assertive at the expense of others. Stott notes how humility and gentleness go together by drawing upon an insight from R. W. Dale: “For ‘the meek man thinks as little of his personal claims, as the humble man of his personal merits’ ” (p. 149). Patience (makrothymia) and bearing with one another (anechō, lit., “endure someone or something”) form another single thought. Patience would be the willingness and the ability to deal with people in a ...

4612. Children and Parents

Ephesians 6:1-4

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... to demonstrate the fulfillment of this promise in a society where a promise of reward does not always seem to hold true. Most commentators, therefore, interpret the author’s intention in general rather than individual terms. “Then what is promised,” claims Stott, “is not so much long life to each child who obeys his parents, as social stability to any community in which children honor their parents. Certainly a healthy society is inconceivable without a strong family life” (p. 241; cf. also ...

4613. The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... shield of faith. According to ancient historians, the large door-shaped protective shield was composed of two layers of wood covered with a flame-resistant hide. The flaming arrows that the enemy shot would strike the shield and burn out without penetrating it. Faith, claims the author, acts like an impregnable shield and will extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Faith is complete confidence in and reliance upon God to give the victory. 6:17 Fifth, take the helmet of salvation (cf. 1 Thess. 5 ...

4614. The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... that the invisible God has become visible in the God-man, Jesus Christ. The Apostle John, in a different context, records statements that Christ made: “I and the Father are one” (10:30), and “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (14:9). Such a claim could not be made for any angel or spiritual power. Christ’s sovereignty is attested to by his personal and unique relationship to God. By bearing the image of God in this way, Christ stands apart from the created order as the firstborn over all ...

4615. The Coming of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... Paul hastens to add that this was, in fact, what the Thessalonians were doing already. Additional Notes 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again: This should be compared with 1 Corinthians 15:3f., where Paul makes much the same statement, claiming in doing so that he was passing on to the Corinthians a tradition that he himself had received. This establishes the centrality of the death and resurrection of Jesus to Christian belief from earliest times. That Paul is similarly citing in Thessalonians an ...

4616. Final Greetings

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... in the address (cf. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1). On the other hand, it was not unusual for the author to add a few lines at the end if an amanuensis had written the bulk of the letter at his or her dictation. Paul adopts this practice here, claiming in fact that this was the distinguishing mark in all (of his) letters. Elsewhere he draws attention to it explicitly in 1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18 and Philemon 19. In this instance, it may have been prompted by the possibility that a spurious ...

4617. Paul’s Request for Onesimus

Philemon 1:8-25

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... and generous character, Paul feels that in Christ he has a certain relationship with Philemon that gives him the freedom to make this special appeal. In fact, Paul’s language is rather strong, and in a sense, must be based upon his apostolic authority, when he claims that he could order Philemon to take the appropriate action. Paul believed that his office as an apostle of Jesus Christ gave him a certain power and required him to make important decisions (cf. 1 Cor. 5:3; 7:6; 9:1; 2 Cor. 12:12). He ...

4618. Jesus Made Like His Brothers

Hebrews 2:5-18

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... us, and therefore we all are of the same family (lit., “are all from one”). Jesus has identified with us to the extent that he is our brother and is not ashamed to call us brothers. Three OT quotations are provided by the author to support this claim. 2:12 Again the author’s christocentric interpretation of the OT emerges. The first quotation he presents is from Psalm 22. The opening words of this psalm were quoted by Jesus from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 ...

4619. Warning Against Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... pp. 544–49. Work and love are linked in a similar way in Paul’s praise of the Thessalonian church (1 Thess. 1:3). This verse should not be taken to imply salvation by works. The point is not that God is obligated or that the readers have some claim upon him for their past performance, but simply that God looks upon them favorably and is eagerly willing to sustain them in their time of need. 6:11–12 For diligence (spoudē), which occurs only here in Hebrews, see W. Bauder, NIDNTT, vol. 3, pp. 1168–70 ...

4620. By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... ’s offering was for some reason acceptable to God whereas Cain’s was not. We do not need to know the details, however, to accept our author’s argument that faith—that is, unreserved commitment to the reality of God and the absolute character of his claims upon us—was the decisive difference. Cain in some way held back from God, whether in the offering itself or in his heart; Abel held nothing back, but acted in a way consistent with his inner conviction. It was this that made Abel’s sacrifice ...

4621. Concluding Exhortations

Hebrews 13:1-25

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... motivation in this regard stemmed directly from the teaching of Jesus (cf. Matt. 25:31–46). Cf. F. F. Bruce, Hebrews, pp. 391. 13:4 It is possible that the asceticism countered in this passage stems from a gnostic orientation that has as its starting point the claim that matter, and hence the body, is evil. Marriage is thus to be avoided by those who would cultivate the life of the spirit. This form of asceticism is argued against elsewhere in the NT (e.g., 1 Tim. 4:3). This provides some support for T ...

4622. Submission to Rulers and Masters

1 Peter 2:13-25

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... as show proper respect (to all), and the second time as honor (the king). While the different renderings by NIV are not unreasonable in this context, perhaps Peter is engaging in mild irony. For all his pomp and power, any emperor in Rome, even though he may claim divine status, is in God’s eyes on a level with all other human beings. Both the emperor and a next-door neighbor are to be equally treated by believers—with proper respect. Peter uses the corresponding noun (timē) in 1:7; 2:7; 3:7; 2 ...

4623. Living for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... one conscious of being inspired by the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:1), it should not be difficult to remember the divine source, even though a human channel is being used. But the speaking referred to here covers any public pronouncements of Christian truth. All who claim to be speaking in the name of God should do so only if they are aware of having a divine commission. A believer’s ministry may lie not in words but in what we tend to regard as more practical fields. If anyone serves, then that service ...

4624. To Elders and Young Men

1 Peter 5:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... experience and with a sympathetic understanding of their responsibilities. While a witness of Christ’s sufferings will include the sense of being an eyewitness of what went on, the term witness also means “one who testifies.” Peter qualifies on both counts. Furthermore, he can claim to be one who also will share in the glory to be revealed. The reference may be to the second coming of Christ at which his glory, glimpsed during his earthly life at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:2; 2 Pet. 1:18), will be ...

4625. Making One's Calling and Election Sure

2 Peter 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... which brings out the decisive aorist), the corruption in a world alienated from God. Almost all the other modern translations (e.g., JB, LB, NEB, Phillips, REB, RSV) make this clear. It will soon be evident that Peter is writing to combat antinomians, those who claim that divine grace frees them from the obligations of the moral law. Such an attitude betrays a willful intention to go on sinning. But the gift of the divine nature is offered by Jesus Christ to enable the believer to counter the fascination of ...

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