Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 926 to 950 of 1182 results

Acts 4:23-31

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... your slave” (so the Greek) answers to it, as here “your slaves” (so again the Greek) in verse 29. It also expresses here, as often in the LXX (cf. Job. 5:8; Wisdom 6:7), the sovereignty of God in creation. The same word is used of the gods in classical Greek, but the creator of the heaven and the earth and the sea is no “despot” as they often were. His rule is absolute, but never exercised in the absence of wisdom and love. Nor is it restricted to the act of creation. He is the Sovereign no less ...

927. The Apostles Persecuted

Acts 5:17-42

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... 5:19–24; 12:6–11; 16:26; 28:3–6). “The stories,” he says, “were probably in a developed state when they reached Luke, having gained somewhat in the telling” (Jesus, p. 166). Along similar lines, Bruce points out that “in classical literature we can trace a special ‘form’ in which it had become customary to describe unaccountable escapes from prison, and elements of this ‘form’ have been detected here,” though he hastens to add that “ ‘form criticism’ of this kind tells us ...

928. Stephen Seized

Acts 6:8-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... can also be established between Stephen and Philo (see, e.g., disc. on 7:22; see further L. W. Barnard “St. Stephen and Early Alexandria Christianity,” NTS 7 [1960–61], pp. 31–45, esp. pp. 44f.). Cilicia: The area to which the classical name of Cilicia applied is geographically bipartite. The western part, known as Tracheia, is a wild plateau of the Taurus range, reaching to the coast in steep and rocky terrain. Promontories form small harbors that sheltered pirates from prehistoric to Roman times ...

929. On Cyprus

Acts 13:4-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the case; cf. 11:30; 12:25; 13:2; but see 14:14; 15:12). This may mean that Paul had become the dominant partner in the missionary team. In verse 13 it even becomes “Paul and his companions,” literally, “those around Paul,” a classical expression depicting Paul as a leader. Additional Notes 13:7 The proconsul (Gk. anthypatos): All Roman provinces were divided into two classes, those that required troops and those that did not. The latter were administered by the Senate and ruled by proconsuls; the ...

930. Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles

Ephesians 3:1-13

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... equally with the Jews all the privileges and blessings of sonship. Second, they are members together of one body. Since there is no occurrence of this word (syssōma) anywhere in the NT, the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT), or classical literature, it becomes obvious that the author coined it in order to describe the intimate relation that Jews and Gentiles have to each other in the body of Christ, the church. Robinson notes that there is no English equivalent and, in order to ...

931. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... the Ephesian elders, he reminded them that his ministry among them was carried out “with great humility” (Acts 20:19). Humility is especially important in the body of Christ, where interpersonal relationships are so important. The Philippian church is a classic example of how pride, selfishness, and conceit produce a fractured fellowship (Phil. 2:1–4). Gentleness (prautēs) is consideration toward others. A gentle person will not insist upon his or her personal rights or be assertive at the expense ...

932. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... of faith in that sense again—they were now better instructed. But the two meanings merge. A better grasp of the faith leads (or should lead) to a greater trust in the one with whom the faith is concerned. The verb (hyperauxanō), a “classical compound” (Bruce), is striking and occurs only here in the NT. It means “to increase beyond measure.” The hyperbole reflects Paul’s delight in their progress. Second, the thanksgiving is for their love. We ought always to thank God, he says, because the ...

933. Warnings Against Idleness

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the suggestion that it was a symptom of Gnosticism, see Introduction on The Writing of 1 Thessalonians). Soon those who had left off working became impoverished and a problem for the church and possibly for non-believers. Von Dobschütz, on the basis of the classical meaning of the terms that Paul uses (“to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business,” 1 Thess. 4:11) claims that this group was warning not only believers about Christ’s return but non-believers in public places (p. 182). J. Frame adds ...

934. Personal Remarks

2 Timothy 4:9-18

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... (see D-C or Hanson), the unlikelihood that a pseudepigrapher would have created this information, either from “whole cloth” or from sources, has caused many to opt for a theory of genuine Pauline fragments being worked into a pseudepigraphic work. For the classic presentation of this view, see P. N. Harrison, The Problem of the Pastoral Epistles, and Paulines and Pastorals, in which he reworks some things in light of subsequent criticisms. Barrett seems to favor this view. 4:9 Many also have seen an ...

935. What Must Be Taught to Various Groups

Titus 2:1-15

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... its more common LXX sense of “discipline” in 1 Tim. 1:20 (cf. 1 Cor. 11:32), is seen as the “giveaway” for the non-Pauline character of this paragraph, since it is a key word in Hellenistic moral philosophy. See, e.g., the classic on the Hellenistic mind by W. Jaeger, entitled Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture (Oxford, 1939). Thus Barrett contends: “In Paul grace is not educative, but liberating:” But two things must be noted: First, the use of paideuō reflected here has already been taken ...

936. The Son Superior to Angels

Hebrews 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... completion of the work of the incarnate Son wherein he revealed God and accomplished redemption, now afforded the actual reality that coincided with the meaning of the name. In Paul’s epistles the ascension is also linked with the granting of a name. In the classic passage Paul writes, “therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9; see also Eph. 1:20–21). In this instance the name is “Lord” (kyrios), a title comparable in meaning to ...

937. The Unchangeable Character of God’s Purpose

Hebrews 6:13-20

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... 5, hope “stored up for you in heaven” (apokeimai). Only here in the NT do we have the phrase “strong encouragement” (greatly encouraged). 6:19–20 The metaphorical use of anchor is found only here in the entire Bible, although it is so used by classical writers. See BAGD, p. 10. Soul (psychē) here means, as is usually the case in the NT, not the immaterial part of our being but “life” itself. The words firm and secure are combined only here in the NT and are deliberately redundant to reinforce ...

938. Concluding Exhortations

Hebrews 13:1-25

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... the latter passage). The responsibility of stewardship held by the leaders is a familiar biblical theme (cf. Ezek. 3:17–21; Luke 16:2). This is the only occurrence of the verb “to groan” (stenazō) in Hebrews. NIV’s of no advantage translates the classical word alysitelēs (“unprofitable”), which in the Greek Bible occurs only here. For parallels involving a call to obedience to church leaders generally, see 1 Cor. 16:16 and 1 Thess. 5:12f. It is possible, of course, that the present exhortation ...

939. Trials and Temptations

James 1:1-18, James 1:19-27

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... occurs in Col. 2:4 and other parallels where it means to lead one from the faith. Thus the hearers only deceive themselves about their salvation. The term listener in listen to the word does not refer to a casual listener but is the regular classical Greek term for a serious auditor or pupil (e.g., Plato, Republic 536c; Aristotle, Politics 1274). 1:23–24 The mirror metaphor is used elsewhere in scripture and intertestamental literature (1 Cor. 13:12; Sirach 12:11; Wisdom 7:26), as well as other Greek ...

940. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... home while the other wore the garment to the market or the rabbinic school. At night they buried themselves in straw to keep warm. The without … daily food in Greek is not the same as Matt. 6:11 but means the same. James has used a form more common in classical Greek 2:16 Go, I wish you well is the common Hebrew dismissal, which was actually blessing the person (Judg. 18:6; 1 Sam. 1:17; 20:42; Mark 5:34; Acts 16:36). The wish for peace (Hebrew shalôm, which means health or wholeness) was taken so ...

941. Prophecy of Scripture

2 Peter 1:12-21

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... . Told (gnōrizein): to make known, often used in the NT for revealing a divine mystery (Luke 2:15; John 15:15; 17:26; Rom. 16:26; Eph. 6:19; Col. 1:27). Eyewitnesses (epoptai): This expression, found in the NT only here, was a technical term in classical Greek for those who reached the highest degree in the Eleusian mystery religions (see TDNT, vol. 5, p. 374.). Majesty (megaleiotēs): This word occurs elsewhere in the NT only in Luke 9:43, of the people’s amazement at God’s action as revealed in the ...

942. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... English word “despot” can have a neutral sense: one with absolute ownership and in complete control; despotēs is used in the LXX as a title for God. The verb bought is agorazein, one of three words in the NT translated “redeem.” In classical use it meant “to purchase in the market place” and was frequently applied to the purchase of slaves. Those who were thus purchased became the property of their master. The terminology is applied in the NT to Christians. They have become, by the payment ...

943. Jethro Visits Moses

Exodus 18:1-27

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... himself. Jethro was delighted. More than simply believing the result he saw, he shared the joy (khadah) of what the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them. Jethro acknowledged the source of their transformation and directed his praise to the Lord in classic parallel psalmic form. “Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.” Jethro also confessed his conviction to Moses, saying “Now I know that ...

944. The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... their own lives. The gods of money and prosperity (the Baals), sexuality (the Asheroth), and the safety that comes with military power (Molech, Asshur, Marduk) took different forms in different nations, but they always vied for the people’s allegiance. Isaiah’s classic oracle from the Lord that mocked gods created by human beings reminded the people that the Lord was both their Creator and redeemer (Isa. 44:8–22). The other laws made this command against other gods more specific: Do not mention their ...

945. Abimelech

Judges 9:1-57

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... . 9:21 Abimelech: Boling’s point is well taken: “It is impossible to exaggerate the narrative’s sustained contempt for Abimelech . . . ; the name occurs thirty-one times in the chapter” (Judges, p. 170). The Fall of Abimelech Abimelech’s story is a classic example of the principle of sowing and reaping. He who rose to power by treachery, violence, and murder in the same way fell from power. In this passage Jotham’s prophetic parable about those who lead and those who follow is fulfilled with ...

946. Jephthah

Jud 10:6–11:40

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... is a wordplay, this time foreshadowing what was sure to happen. The Hb. word for “his house” is beto and “his daughter” is bitto. This story significantly parallels Abraham’s offering of Isaac as it has been interpreted in Jewish tradition and in classical literature (see Brown, No Longer Be Silent, pp. 93–139, for details). 11:35 You have made me miserable and wretched: A wordplay upon kr’ (“to sink to one’s knees under a blow”) and ’kr (“bane”) intensifies the force of Jephthah ...

947. Wives for the Benjamites

Judges 21:1-25

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... God of Israel . . . why has this happened to Israel? This all too accurately reflects the human propensity for denial, which goes back to the garden of Eden story and causes people to blame God for everything, from natural disasters to children dying of starvation. The classic expression of blaming God for what humans in freedom have chosen is Isa. 63:17: “Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?” Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today ...

948. Boaz Marries Ruth

Ruth 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

... ], pp. 70–74) argues, from an examination of animal remains in Early Bronze IV tombs at Jebel Qa’aqir (near Hebron), that elders sometimes receive special burial honors. For a look at how elders function in nonurban cultures generally, see the classic study of J. G. Peristiany, ed., Honour and Shame (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1966). 4:5 You acquire: Bush (Ruth, Esther, pp. 227–29) offers several compelling reasons for preferring Qere qanitah over Ketib qenotka. Name of the dead: C. Wright ...

949. The Israelites Confess their Sins

Nehemiah 9:1-37

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... it went around not merely once but in a succession of cycles. Here a second main cycle follows in verse 28 with a final reference to further spins of the wheel. Verse 29 initiates a third cycle. Now we are in the period of the classical prophets, who heralded the exile from the eighth century on. Sinning resulted in punishment, but even there grace was evident, for they survived the catastrophes of national destruction and exile. This was no less than God’s great mercy, which translates the same Hebrew ...

950. Prologue: Purpose and Theme

Proverbs 1:1-7

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... and riddles of the wise. There is no point in distinguishing nuances between these. The rest of the book fills out the proclamation contained in these verses. See the introduction on dating and theology. 1:7 The theme or motto of the book is expressed in a classic statement that is echoed often: 9:10; 15:33; Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10. Wisdom is practical, aimed at conduct, but one must know the teachings of the sage and be guided by the fear of the LORD. The contrast between the wise and fools is primarily ...

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