Biblical Interpretation
In the Book of Romans, Paul reminds the believers in Roman that God has NOT rejected His people, Israel. Ironically, however, many translators simply cannot get that into their heads — that Israel was not and is not rejected by God. As Paul wrote: “God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.” (Romans 11:2) Yet,…
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In one of the Scripture passages referred to in the Revised Common Lectionary for February 12, 2023, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, (please see here) God, through Moses, offers the Israelites (who were a foreshadow and precursor of the Church) two distinct things, two very identifiable things. God offers the Israelites (and the Church by extension) life or…
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Recently I have engaged in a couple of discussions/debates regards the origin of evil. Yes, evil, that spiritual state that “appears” to be in conflict with the plans and ways of God. The discussions centered primarily on the originator of evil, who was (or is) the author, so to speak, of evil. One can imagine…
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Have you ever wondered why when Jesus was born that angels appeared to shepherds out in the fields of Bethlehem and announced to them that the birth had taken place? Why didn’t the angels announce it to the thousands of people in Jerusalem that was just a few miles away and where the Temple stood…
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In Matthew’s gospel there is a very interesting statement that John the Baptist directs to some of his followers while he, John, is in prison and Jesus is engaged in his own ministry. From his prison cell John sends his disciples to present Jesus with a question. Through them John asks Jesus this curious question:…
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When considering any of Christ’s many miracles, one must first ask oneself this question: Why did Christ do such & such a miraculous work? Why did Christ engage in miracles at all? Could it have been, even partially, that he was revealing, or hinting perhaps, to things that were or were soon to be? Well,…
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Of God’s Ten Commandments one stands out uniquely from the other nine – and that commandment is the Fourth Commandment. As the Commandment is written: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God;…
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A few weeks ago during worship service I read the first Scripture reading for that day, John 2:13-22. The passage was about Jesus cleansing the temple. And, as I said at that time, it was about Jesus cleansing the temple the FIRST time! Yes, as I said then, the Scripture passage in John was about Jesus…
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John (the Baptist) was in the wilderness baptizing at the Jordan river in the year that the prophet Daniel had written the Messiah of Israel would appear, a time late in 26 A.D. Many in Israel were also aware of Daniel’s prediction and were thus heading out into the wilderness in anticipation of the Messiah’s…
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Ash Wednesday – A Tradition of Men (but a good one!)
Ash Wednesday is a traditionally important day within the life of many church denominations. Ironically, being one who is not overly friendly to non-biblical, man-made “traditions” within the current church calendar, I find Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season to be, rather appropriate, meaningful, and significant in the Christian experience. In fact, I think they are practices that really do define and explain just what Christ’s message and…
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