While I realize that many disagree with cessationist beliefs (i.e., that special revelation and its occasionally-accompanying sign-gifts such as tongues were limited to the apostolic era and have thus ceased), it is helpful for anyone to study the topic of speaking in tongues as it involves multiple chapters in Acts and 1 Corinthians. I know… Continue Reading
In Acts 2:36, Peter concludes his sermon in this way: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (ESV cf. Acts 2:14–36). Let’s look at these two titles for Jesus. First, Jesus is Lord. David identified Him as his… Continue Reading
In Acts 2:14–41, Luke records Peter quoting or alluding to a half-dozen passages or so in his Pentecost sermon. These passages are listed below along with a snapshot explanation for why Peter quoted each passage. Joel 2:28–32a in Acts 2:16–21 Peter quoted Joel to identify the cause for speaking in tongues as something of the… Continue Reading
What is the filling of the Spirit? This article attempts to concisely answer to this question from the NT as it describes those who were full of or filled with the Spirit. Luke and Acts describe many who were filled with the Spirit for the purpose of speaking the Word of God. John the Baptist… Continue Reading
In the NT, Judas is said three times to have somehow fulfilled the OT Scriptures. First, John 13:18 quotes Psalm 41:9, in which Jesus says of Judas, “But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’” (ESV). Along with this passage, 17:12 quotes no particular verse, in… Continue Reading
In Matthew 27:8 and Acts 1:18–19, a Field of Blood is identified with an explanation for its name. However, the passages differ in how they explain the origin of the name. Speaking of Judas, Acts 1:18–19 records this: Acts 1:18–19 (ESV) 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and… Continue Reading
“All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy” (Gen 46:27). 430 years later (Exod 12:40–41; Acts 7:6; Gal 3:17), for all the interesting observations that could be made about the size of the biblical numbers of Israel’s population (cf. Exod 12:37; 38:26; Num 1:46; 2:32; 26:51),1 conservative commentators who… Continue Reading
Numbers 13–14 records Israel’s failure to initially take the promised land. Concerning this story and others from Israel’s history, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction” (1 Cor 10:11; cf. 10:5, 10). While the list below is not exhaustive and does not delve into the… Continue Reading
Philemon 4–7 is a prayer by Paul for Philemon, an example for us as to how we can pray for others today. We will look at these verses briefly, only to focus on Philemon 6, which is a wonderful part of this prayer but difficult to translate and piece together. Here is the text: “4I… Continue Reading
Who is “the Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16? Good men have disagreed as to how to answer this question. My purpose in reviewing the debate here is not to explore every argument in detail but to at least review the various views, state my view, and give a snapshot of the primary arguments for… Continue Reading
It was the best of boasts, it was the worst of boasts. By one, all go to direct to heaven, and by the other, all go direct the other way. For the first boast, false teachers were out for “a good showing” of gaining converts to their gospel-denying truth (Gal 6:12). They preached doing the… Continue Reading
Galatians 6:10 gives a concise statement that prioritizes our personal giving as believers and guides the church’s stewardship of its resources. This verse states, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10 ESV). In examining this verse, let’s… Continue Reading
“The law of Christ” is an interesting and debated phrase found in only two NT passages. With no immediate elaboration as to what “the law of Christ” is, Paul commanded in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Paul clarified elsewhere that, though he was a Christian and thus… Continue Reading
“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecc 7:20; cf. 1 Kgs 8:46; Prov 20:9). With this truth in hand, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8; cf. Rom 3:23; Jas 3:2). Clearly, everybody… Continue Reading
God the Father has always been God the Father, and God the Son has always been God the Son. This familial relationship is something of the nature of God, and we, too, as believers have become part of this family. While more could be said, a handful of Scriptures below describe what it means to… Continue Reading
Galatians 4:6 states, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” The verb krazō (“to cry out”) is used 55 times in 54 verses in the NT, often in a literal fashion. For example, Peter cried out for Christ to save him from sinking… Continue Reading
Galatians 3:27 states, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (ESV). In the context of Galatians 3:26–29 and 3:7–29 as a whole, Paul’s point is to stress that everyone who believes (including Gentiles) is in Christ and thus an heir to God’s promise of blessing to Abraham. By… Continue Reading
The Greek term paidagōs, from which we get our English pedagogue, has been given an array of translations and suggested translations: guardian, tutor, schoolmaster, disciplinarian, child-conductor, child-attendant, baby-sitter, custodian, and others. Sometimes it is translated as a verb, such as “put in charge.” What makes this word interesting to translate is that it does not… Continue Reading
From “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” the first two verses of the third stanza read as follows: Hail, the heav’nborn Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. “The heav’nborn Prince of Peace” is obviously the Messiah (see Isaiah 9:6), but our… Continue Reading
It was a significant moment for some individuals when they saw the face of the infant Jesus. The Magi “saw the Child…and worshiped Him” (Matt 2:11). The shepherds “found…the baby.…When they had seen this…the shepherds returned, glorifying and praise God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:16, 17, 20). Likewise, Simeon was promised… Continue Reading