“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.” (Acts 17:16 NASB). Much of the book of Acts recounts the story of the apostle Paul on his missionary journeys throughout the ancient Mediterranean world. In chapter 17 of the book, Paul finds himself in the city of Athens. . . .
Read More“King David was a jerk!” So said a college student of mine in one of my Old Testament introduction courses. The student in question had an epiphany of sorts after we read a section of the book of 2 Samuel. . . .
Read More“I’m spiritual but not religious.” That is a remark that I’ve heard more times than I can count. Best I can tell, it generally means that while the person in question possesses no commitments to any established religious tradition, s/he doesn’t wish to close her or himself off from some sort of transcendent reality. In other words, it’s a largely meaningless assertion. . . .
Read More“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8).
Paul is easily one of the most transparent Christians I have ever encountered. From what I can tell by his letters, it never seemed to occur to him that people of faith shouldn’t express any negativity in life.
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“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Growing up, I never really liked being a kid. I was never taken with the degree of seriousness that I not-so-secretly coveted. I craved the time when I could make decisions that might truly matter. I wanted to feel significant.
Somewhat similarly, the first-century Mediterranean world was intensely concerned about questions of social status and the accrual of public honor--that is, the degree of importance or prestige a person could rightfully claim for him or herself.
Read MoreTo be clear, the Bible does teach that Jesus Christ will someday return to earth, that his coming should be anticipated by his followers, and that this future event is the substance of Christian hope. Yet, the Bible is also quite clear that its timing is unknowable. In other words, while the fact of Jesus’ return is revealed truth, the time and specific circumstances surrounding his return are mystery.
Read MoreThis is an interview that I did with the international Messianic Jewish organization, First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ).
Read MoreOne of the most distinguishing teachings of Christianity is to love your enemies (see Matthew 5:43–48 and Luke 6:27–36). Since I am a Christian who believes it is important to avoid hypocrisy (another distinguishing feature of Christianity), I often find myself dismayed by the deeply conflicting nature of this command.
Read MoreLet’s be clear, the Bible is not given by God to teach us about science. The ancient biblical writers simply did not understand what we know today about the natural world. For scientific understanding one must examine nature, which is part and parcel of the human calling that is taught in the Bible (see Genesis 1:26–28).
Read More“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34).
Few passages of the Bible have given me more trouble than Matthew 6:25–34. Jesus tells the crowds listening to him that they shouldn’t be anxious about their lives. That is, they shouldn’t worry about meeting their basic needs, such as food and clothing.
Read MoreCan you give me any proof that God exists? While I am a biblical scholar by trade, and not a philosopher, I’ve had this question asked to me a good number of times by those who learn that I not only teach and research this stuff, I actually believe it.
Read MoreBut our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. (Philippians 3:20 NRSV)
Read MoreBut maybe Paul is not teaching that faith is simply belief in the seeming impossible. Instead, what if Paul, writing to people of the Roman Empire, understood that a regime change has taken place, and now it is incumbent upon all people to offer their highest allegiance to Jesus Christ?
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