Tag: Biblical Studies

The focus of the Gospels -why they were written

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It is now that we have completed a detailed look at one of the Gospels that we give a better answer to what the Gospels are meant to be about.  We know that Luke writes so that his readers will know the certainty of the truth that they have heard and John writes so that… Continue reading The focus of the Gospels -why they were written

He is risen

All of the Gospels conclude with resurrection accounts but there are variations between them.  Some of the variations are straight forward to resolve as they simply demonstrate where the writers go into more depth.  For example,  Mark, perhaps as the earliest account and fitting to a scroll to enable a single hearing cuts off at… Continue reading He is risen

The time will come

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Jesus’ prophecy of the destruction of the Temple is one of the significant events from the last week of his earthly life and finds its way into all the Synoptic Gospels.[1] In fact, some have seen that as a crucial part of our ability to date the writing of the New Testament.[2]  If these events… Continue reading The time will come

Mustard

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The image of someone with only a small amount of faith, comparable to the size of a tiny seed  being able accomplish great things whether the casting of a tree as in Luke 17,  mountain (Mark 11:22) or both (Matthew 17:20),  is an evocative one.  It is central to Jesus’ teaching about faith in Luke… Continue reading Mustard

Reckoning

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Luke 16 brings together two parables, one is the story of a shrewd manager who is identified at first as dishonest but ends up commended.  The second story tells us the fate of a rich man and the beggar who lived at his gate. Both parables are unique to Luke.  Sandwiched between them is some… Continue reading Reckoning

Time to repent

In Jesus day, there wasn’t really any question that sin was a problem, nor that it deserved judgement.. A culture that accepted the reality of sin may seem a long way from our “sinless and shameless” culture today.  However, there were questions about the nature of sin and more pertinently who was a sinner. To… Continue reading Time to repent

“I will bless you”

There’s something profoundly significant in the statement “From this day on I will bless you” As you read it or hear it, I wonder how you are responding?  I wonder if you are asking whether this statement could apply to you and your church right now?   If from now on God will bless you, then… Continue reading “I will bless you”

Building work: Applying the post exile books  to us today

I believe that a crucial principle when applying God’s word to our lives today is that wherever we are in the Bible, we make the application in and through Christ.  The temptation, especially with Old Testament literature is to take what happens with God’s people, what God says to them and what they do and… Continue reading Building work: Applying the post exile books  to us today