Thoughts on the Bible and Life
Paul mentions “the rulers of this age,” but who are they? Are they evil spirits, sinister aliens, or some other dark force? Let’s briefly consider the following New Testament references to this mysterious group. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, . . .will be able to separate us … Read more
Certain phrases in the Greek New Testament are especially hard to understand. One of them is ta stoicheia tou kosmou (Greek: τα στοιχεια του κοσμου), which appears only three times in the NT. This phrase lies behind the underlined portions below. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces … Read more
The apostle Paul was extremely bright. Some even think he was a genius. For two thousand years people have been reading his letters and working hard to understand them. In the past five centuries, German, English, and American scholars have expended a great deal of effort digging into Paul’s writings. Thanks to N. T. Wright … Read more
Peter writes the following to church leaders: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be” (1 Pet. 5:2). Notice those final phrases: “Not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to … Read more
Have you ever wondered, “Is that for real?” Maybe a magic trick or an illusion caused you to question what you saw. But have you ever thought of that question on a grand scale? Is anything real? What is ultimate reality? How do we know that everything we experience is not a dream? Philosophers and … Read more