In a recent conversation I challenged someone to provide either a theological or historical foundation for the claim that Christians need to be “good” people. The topic arose because my friend remarked that her church taught that being saved and going to heaven was the true goal of Man’s spiritual quest. Once salvation was assured,…
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law of sin and death – It should be no surprise by now that Paul uses the Greek word nomos in a variety of ways. Sometimes he uses it…
In the beginning of God’s creating the heavens and the earth – when the earth was astonishingly empty, . . . Genesis 1:1 JPS Stone Tanakh In the beginning – You’re probably a bit surprised by the JPS translation of the first verse of the Tanakh. While it contains some of our usual words, its…
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the age have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 NASB Our instruction – Paul is a curious teacher. He actually expects his students to learn from the stories of the Tanakh. In fact, he considers the…
I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8 NIV Faith – The church in Europe is empty. Why? In my view, it is because of the failure of authority. The Pope and the Preacher have…
“Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;” Acts 21:23 NASB Do this – If you are still struggling with Paul’s view of the Torah, try reading the story in Acts 21. James’ instructions to Paul should settle the issue once and for all. Let’s recap. When…
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope; 1 Timothy 1:1 NASB According to the commandment of – In the Greek text, this phrase is the translation of kat’ epitagen. It means a bit more than something God wants. The preposition…
For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn…
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up…
You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long. Deuteronomy 22:7 ESV Live long – What is the relationship between sparing the life of a mother bird and how long I live? The Torah tells me that…
