The Bible in Context
As I was reading a commentary today, the author’s (C. H. Dodd) translation of a verse caught my attention: “Courage! I have conquered the world” (Jn 16:33). These are the last words of Jesus to his disciples in his farewell discourse (Jn 14-16). I like the translation because it’s concise, direct, and commanding. I can imagine … Read more
Here’s an insightful observation from Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758): The devil once seemed to be religious from fear of torment. Luke 8:28, “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech … Read more
One of the most important teachers in the history of Christianity is Basil of Caesarea, also known as Saint Basil the Great (330–379). Together with his brother Gregory of Nyssa and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus, he helped to defend the doctrine of the Trinity. He is also known for his care for the poor, … Read more
Martin Luther said the sinner is “the person curved in on himself.” In other words, our sinful disposition creates a curvature problem. How often have you struggled with being self-conscious, self-promoting, self-obsessed, self-pitying, self-critical, self-condemning? Our inward bent only leads to envy, guilt, and despair. The solution is to look outside ourselves to Christ. But … Read more
All trees need access to sunlight in order to grow. Likewise for Christians to grow they must dwell in divine light. We cannot properly develop by focusing on ourselves. D. M. Baillie says it well: To a true Christian ethic the ‘chief end of man’ is not the cultivation of his personality, or even the … Read more