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Showing 1201 to 1225 of 4963 results

1201. Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

Acts 28:17-31

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... repeated for the last time. As soon as the apostle was settled, he was in touch with the Jewish leaders, both to explain his own position and to tell them of Christ. As usual, a few were interested; some may even have believed, but the majority remained unconvinced. Paul declared, therefore, that the message would henceforth go to the Gentiles. With this the book ends, as though leaving the reader with what was now to be the program of the church. As for Paul’s relationship with the church in Rome and the ...

1202. Paul's Concern for the Corinthians

2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... have been easy prey for intruders. By the writing of 2 Corinthians Paul has already dealt with the faction led by the malefactor (cf. 2:5–6; also 1:13–14). When he comes to Corinth for the third time the apostle plans to deal with the remaining faction that continues to side with the false apostles (12:20–21). Like Moses, however, Paul must be concerned that the whole congregation might sympathize with the rebels, thus precipitating a full-scale purge when he arrives (cf. 10:8; 13:10; Num. 16:41–50 ...

1203. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... of inheriting the promise to Abraham by virtue of being in Christ. Now he reshapes the theme somewhat. Inheritance can be lost through acting in accordance with the flesh (the “sinful nature”), which is another way of saying that it is necessary to remain “in Christ” to share in the inheritance. The flesh is that which is opposed to the Spirit (5:17), and the Spirit is the promise to Abraham realized among Gentile believers in Christ (3:14). To live in accordance with the “sinful nature” is ...

1204. Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... hymn and its place in the epistle. In Colossians, the ideas of the Christ hymn (1:15–20) were applied again and again throughout the letter. Much the same could be said of Ephesians, for this opening eulogy serves as an excellent preface to the remaining doctrinal section. The idea of redemption is prominent in the phrases dealing with the exaltation of Christ (1:15–22), salvation by faith (2:1–10), the unity between Jew and Gentile (2:11–22), and the revelation of the mystery of Christ (3:1–12 ...

1205. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... to manifest those virtues characterizing their new life in Christ that “keep the unity of the Spirit” (4:3). This admonition is followed by a list of all the unifying elements of the church (4:4–6), which, in turn, are given further application throughout the remaining chapters. 4:1 Then (“therefore,” RSV), I urge you refers to what has been said in chapters 1–3. As in 3:1, the apostle reminds his readers that his vocation is the reason for his captivity (as a prisoner for the Lord). The Greek ...

1206. Living as Children of Light

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... quoted. But the failure to find such a literary formula opens the possibility that this was a well-known expression in the Christian community. The NIV this is why it is said leaves room for such a possibility. Although the reconstruction of the setting of this quotation remains highly speculative, it may have been used by the church at a baptismal service as part of a hymn that was recited or sung. The early church created and used many songs in worship services (Eph. 5:19, 20; Phil. 2:6–11; Col. 3:16; 1 ...

1207. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... source of this vanity lies in an unspiritual mind. The false teachers may have thought that they were in communion with God; they may have believed that they were inspired by the Spirit. But their thoughts and actions were of human rather than divine origin. Thus they remain under the control of the flesh (sarx). Paul does not mean to imply that the flesh, in itself, is evil; verses 18 and 19 together show that the problem is in putting one’s trust or self-confidence in the flesh rather than in Christ. 2 ...

1208. Final Greetings

Colossians 4:7-18

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... be with you. As the letter began (1:2), so it ends, with a prayer for grace. The Colossians needed more than a letter to sustain them in their Christian life. Only God’s grace could fortify them against the false teaching and enable them to remain true to the gospel they had received. Additional Notes Apart from the major commentaries on this section see G. E. Ladd, “Paul’s Friends in Colossians 4:7–16,” RevExp 70 (1973), pp. 507–14. 4:15 Although the NIV has decided (correctly so) that Nympha ...

1209. Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 2:17--3:5

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... for the sake of your faith.” Faith here might be subjective or objective, either their trust—Timothy encouraging them to go on trusting God and Christ to bring them to God—or the body of teaching, the faith, that was the basis of that trust. Thus Timothy encourages them to remain true to that faith (for faith, pistis, cf. 1:3, 8; 3:5, 6, 7, 10; 5:8; 2 Thess. 1:3, 4, 11; 2:13; 3:2). A further purpose in sending Timothy is so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. The verb, sainō, occurs only ...

1210. The Coming of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... term salvation embraces the whole work of God in Christ on our behalf. It becomes ours by faith (see disc. on 1:3 and 3:2f; cf. also 2 Thess. 2:13). But in speaking of the hope of salvation, Paul focuses especially on that part of the work that remains to be completed at the return of Christ. The awareness that God has begun a good work in us and that he will complete it (see Phil. 1:6) is our best protection (armor) against the contingencies of an uncertain world. It is also our best incentive to holiness ...

1211. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... ), describes them as the “Hymn of the Second Coming.” This might be Paul’s own composition or an earlier work, either Christian or Jewish, on which he draws. Either way, the hymn owes much to the language and style of the Septuagint (LXX). The remaining verses in this section (vv. 11–12) constitute not so much a prayer as a report of prayer, although the difference is more stylistic than real. Effectively these verses are Paul’s prayer for his readers. 1:3 It is possible that the Thessalonians had ...

1212. The Man of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the man of lawlessness. But we find that in the next verse the participle changes to masculine, so that in verse 7, he appears to be saying that the restraint is embodied in a person: the one who now holds (him) back. Who this is remains one of the most difficult questions of the entire Pauline corpus. Some think that God—and more specifically, the Holy Spirit—is in view (see D. Farrow, “Showdown: The Message of Second Thessalonians 2:1–12 and the Riddle of the ‘Restrainer,’ ” Crux 25 [1 ...

1213. Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

1 Timothy 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... is good repeats an assertion made in Romans 7:12–13 and 16 (albeit in a different context). Implied in both instances is that it is good because it truly does reflect God’s will. Nonetheless, as Kelly points out, the Law is not gospel, but remains a species of law. Here its “goodness” is related to its being used properly, that is, treated as law (intended for the lawless, v. 9) and not used “illegitimately” as a source for myths and endless genealogies, or for ascetic practices. 1:9–10 Paul ...

1214. Paul's Charge to Timothy

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... he has been “loyal to his trust” (Kelly). Both the context and the fact that this is a fixed formula in antiquity for keeping one’s trust seem to support this understanding. It is an especially meaningful word in light of verses 16–18, where his remaining loyal even in trial meant that all the Gentiles heard the message. 4:8 Paul now returns to the athletic metaphor, but does so by picking up the eschatological motif from verse 1 (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12). Just as races have finishes, so victors receive ...

1215. Paul’s Request for Onesimus

Philemon 1:8-25

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... slave to Philemon, perhaps even when he was in Philemon’s possession, but more probably as a runaway slave; but now, that is, after his conversion to Christ, he has become useful both to you and to me. The irony is that Onesimus can remain useful to Paul only if he remains with him in prison and to Philemon only if he returns home to Colossae. But either way, he is a changed man. The contrast in his personal life is as dramatic as it was for the Gentiles whose former life of sin often is contrasted ...

1216. Jesus Made Like His Brothers

Hebrews 2:5-18

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... also the “you have come” of 12:22–24.) In point of fact, the world of which the author has been speaking is that new reality already brought into existence by the exaltation of the Son but the end result of which remains yet to be experienced; hence it remains that world yet to come. This tension is further manifested in the following verses. 2:6–8a This quotation from Psalm 8:4–6 provides another indication of our author’s christological understanding of the OT. As originally written, the psalm ...

1217. The Old Testament Ritual Described

Hebrews 9:1-10

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... “once” too, but it refers to once a year, unlike the definitive “once-and-for-all” character of Christ’s work as high priest (see vv. 12, 20–28). This is the first of many references to the blood of sacrifices in this and the remaining chapters of the book. The sanctity of life, and hence of blood, together with the necessity of sacrifice, indicates the costliness of atonement (cf. 9:22; Lev. 17:11). The mention of blood in the context of offering for atonement always presupposes the death of ...

1218. The Blood of Christ

Hebrews 9:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... 24 with v. 11, and vv. 25–26 with v. 12) and indicates their importance to the author. Here, indeed, we are at the very heart of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The stress is on what Christ has already done, once-and-for-all, rather than on what remains to occur. And yet the author can affirm the second advent of Christ as the event that will round out the salvation experienced by those who have received the good news. 9:23–24 It was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these ...

1219. Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

Hebrews 10:1-18

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... to occur. What is now true is that Christ, having accomplished his priestly mission on earth, reigns as king at the right hand of the Father (cf. 1 Cor. 15:25). The second part of the quotation (v. 13) begins with since that time. What remains is the final vindication of Christ wherein his enemies are fully and finally subjected to him (cf. 9:28). This motif will become an important basis for exhortation in succeeding sections of the epistle (cf. vv. 25, 27, 35, 39; 12:28f.). The point here, however, is ...

1220. A Call to Persevere

Hebrews 10:19-39

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... reference in Matt. 6:20 to treasures in heaven “where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” The participle “abiding” is used with the same significance in 13:14: “For here we do not have an enduring city” (cf. 12:27, “remain”). 10:35–36 For confidence or “boldness,” see note on 3:6. The word for rewarded (misthapodosia) occurs in the NT only in Hebrews: in 11:26 it has a positive sense, as it does here (cf. 11:6 for almost the same word); in 2:2 it ...

1221. Favoritism Forbidden

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

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... ” or “gave up his spirit” (the words for breath and spirit being identical in both Greek and Hebrew) he was dead (John 19:30; Luke 23:46; Ecclesiastes 3:21; 8:8; 9:5). A dead body is a liability that must be buried. Likewise faith that remains intellectual belief is dead. It cannot save; it is a liability, for it can deceive a person as to his or her true spiritual state. Only when faith becomes full commitment and is joined to actions does it have value. Additional Notes 2:1 The term for partiality ...

1222. To Elders and Young Men

1 Peter 5:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... a man thinks much of the glory of heaven and little of his own glory, both the glory of heaven and his own glory are magnified. If, however, a man thinks little of the glory of heaven and much of his own glory, the glory of heaven remains unimpaired but his own glory wanes” (Midrash Rabbah 4.20 on Num. 4:16). “God opposes …”: The quotation, from Prov. 3:34 LXX, is also used in the same Greek form in James 4:6, with both writers replacing “Lord” with “God” to avoid suggesting to Christian ...

1223. Prophecy of Scripture

2 Peter 1:12-21

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... established in his loyalty and could not possibly fail his Lord, was bidden, after the approaching drama of the arrest and crucifixion was over, to “strengthen (stērizein) your brothers” (Luke 22:32). 1:13 Conscious of his apostolic responsibilities, and mindful of his own limited remaining time in which to minister, Peter uses solemn language. I think it is right, I deem it my duty, to refresh your memory (lit. by a reminder, such as this letter) as long as I live in the tent of this body, i.e., while ...

1224. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... godless who have no time for God. The false teachers of Peter’s day face certain retribution. Yet, as God kept Noah and his family from perishing in the Flood which carried off the wicked of those times, so the same God will protect believers who remain faithful to him in later generations. Whichever course people choose, loyalty to God or following the ways of a world that leaves God out of account, the consequences are guaranteed by the word of the Lord. 2:6 Peter’s third illustration alludes, without ...

1225. The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... the law) and a new “nomism.” Since Christ has fulfilled the law, do we, therefore, “nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law” (Rom. 3:31). The law in general, therefore, retains authority, but the nature of this authority remains a subject of debate. See survey in Bruckner, “Ethics,” pp. 224–40. 20:13 For a clear exposition of the command “You shall not murder” as the basis for just-war theory, see Simpson, “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” 20:14 The death penalty for ...

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