Archive Category List
Archive Tag List
Well, this is the final study in our reflections on Philippians. Thanks for staying with us through this little book. I’ve learned lots – I hope you have, too. Just as we are reaching the end of our study, most Australian States are starting to reduce COVID lockdown restrictions. Perhaps we’ve served our time and done our duty.
Read MoreOur reading today starts with the mention of four people about whom we know almost nothing. There is someone Paul calls his “true partner”. We can only guess at who this might be, and it probably doesn’t matter much. There is Clement, who is but a name, but mentioned in grateful love. But whoever these are, they form a strong counterpoint to Euodia and Syntyche.
Read MoreThe ancient Greek world loved its athletics contests. There were regular Games in many cities, much as we enjoy sporting competitions in football or cricket or baseball. Corinth and Ephesus hosted Games from across the Empire, and of course, the Olympic Games were held every four years in Athens. Paul must have been familiar with these contests as he refers to them often in his letters. He uses examples from boxing, running, wrestling, prize-giving among others, to illustrate theological points in many of his letters.
Read MoreIn my younger years (I hope I have gained just a little wisdom with age – there’s no point getting old if you don’t also get wiser!)… I used to read this passage with some exasperation. The first paragraph is especially hard. It sounds a bit racist for modern ears, and Paul sounds like a bit of a boaster. Didn’t his mother tell him that self-praise is no recommendation?
Read MoreI’ve read and re-read this passage looking for the right angle to come at it. The more I read it, the less I could find anything useful to say. I could have just pointed out that these two men, Timothy and Epaphroditus who helped Paul so much are good examples whom we should follow.
Read MoreThis passage contains one very difficult idea but then proceeds to set out some simple steps that we can do to carry it out.
Read MoreYou might be wondering why I’ve printed the reading in the pattern above. I’ve done it to show how it uses a memory or learning device that is used hundreds of times in the Bible and in other ancient documents. It’s called a chiastic structure.
Read MoreI've made this reading cross the chapter divide because it seems to me to be all one thought in Paul’s mind. As you probably know, chapters and verses were not included in any of the original Old or New Testament documents. They were a much later addition in the Middle Ages, just to make the Bible more readable and searchable.
Read MoreAs I look back on my life, I can see so many things that have turned out just right for me. They didn’t always seem like that at the time, but with the passage of the years, I came to see that things which seemed to be a disaster at the time, turned out to have had side-effects or later consequences, for which I’ve been very grateful. Have you had similar experiences?
Read MoreWe still have the same heading above that we commenced with yesterday: The King Ascends His Throne. Today, we see Jesus well and truly exercising his authority to sit on that throne.
Read MoreHave you noticed the new heading above? The King Ascends His Throne. This great Ascension to a throne, the like of which has never been since before nor since, began with a remarkable event. At the moment of Jesus’ death, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (v51).
Read MoreThis is the last reflection under this heading of The King Establishes His Kingdom. Tomorrow’s reading will show Jesus ascending his throne. But today, we have a massive amount of material to show him still in the final phase of his establishing of his Kingdom.
Read MoreThere is a lot of chaos and movement behind this quite calm prose. Verse11 makes it sound as if Jesus is on his own before Pilate, but v20 indicates that the priests and elders were still there, making trouble.
Read MoreThis short reading in the context of Jesus Establishing his Kingdom serves as a severe cautionary tale. Each of the first eight verses that precede the reference to Jeremiah contain at least one pointer to a common theme (I'm using my NIV Bible here):
Read MorePeter’s mind must have been sorely distressed. He was only too well aware that he had run away from Jesus at the time of his arrest. Now he had slunk back like a hit-run driver who circles back to drive past slowly and look at the scene of carnage he has left behind.
Read MoreHave you noticed the change in the heading above? Jesus has finished Revealing and Claiming his Kingdom; now he is Establishing that Kingdom. Note carefully the means he employs.
Read MoreA very short reading today – I know, there have been some very long ones! Why did Jesus have to warn the disciples that they would all become deserters because of me this night?
Read MoreIt would appear that Jesus celebrates the Passover might be a suitable heading for this section – if we were into headings. But wait! Think about that for a moment. Let’s review what the Passover meal was for the Jews.
Read More