Through the Bible — Book 49
Philippians Rejoice in the Lord Alway Philippians is a thank-you note written in chains. Paul was a prisoner, uncertain whether he would be released or executed. Rival preachers were trying to make his imprisonment harder. And yet the words joy and rejoice run through this short letter more than a dozen times. “Rejoice in the Lord…
Through the Bible — Book 48
Ephesians Seated, Walking, Standing Ephesians is two letters in one. The first three chapters tell us who we are in Christ, and they contain almost no commands. They are pure gift: chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, sealed, raised, and seated with Christ in heavenly places. Then chapter 4 opens with “I therefore… beseech you that ye walk…
Through the Bible — Book 47
Galatians Stand Fast in the Liberty Every other letter Paul wrote to a church opens with a thanksgiving. Galatians doesn’t. After a short greeting, Paul goes straight at it: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” (1:6). Then he says it twice, so…
Through the Bible — A Word to Readers
The Final Stretch Where we are, where we’re going, and how this series will end Folks, Lord willing, we are in the home stretch. Forty-six posts ago we started at “In the beginning”and we have walked together through the Law, the history books, the poets, the prophets, the four Gospels, Acts, and Paul’s letters to Rome…
Through the Bible — Book 46
2 Corinthians Treasure in Earthen Vessels Second Corinthians is Paul’s most personal letter. In it he talks about despairing of life, about tears, about a thorn in the flesh he begged God to remove, and about a list of beatings, shipwrecks, and sleepless nights. He is writing to a church he loved, where some had…
Through the Bible — Book 45
1 Corinthians The More Excellent Way If you have ever thought your church had problems, read 1 Corinthians. The believers in Corinth were split into factions over their favorite preachers. A man was living with his father’s wife, and the church was proud of how tolerant it was. Members were suing each other in pagan…
Through the Bible — Book 44
Romans The Just Shall Live by Faith Few books have changed history the way Romans has. In AD 386, a restless young teacher named Augustine heard a child’s voice say, “Take up and read,” opened to Romans 13:13–14, and was converted. In the early 1500s, a troubled monk named Martin Luther wrestled with Romans 1:17…
Through the Bible — Book 43
Acts Ye Shall Be Witnesses Luke opens his second volume with a sentence that changes how we read the whole New Testament: “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (1:1). Began. The Gospel of Luke was only the start of what Jesus did. The book of…
Through the Bible — Book 42
John That Ye Might Believe Matthew starts with Abraham. Luke goes back to Adam. John goes back before creation itself: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). The first three words are the same as the first three words of Genesis. John is telling us that…
Through the Bible — Book 41
Luke The Son of Man Came to Seek and to Save Luke is the only Gospel writer who tells us up front how he did his work. Many had already written accounts, he says, so he went back to the eyewitnesses, “having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first,” and wrote it all out…
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