7/7/10
Reading the Bible in another language usually forces a person to read slowly and therefore carefully. This fact alone is probably the single most important advice a person can follow. What struck me was that Titus 1:6 and 1:7 use the same adjective twice, anegkletos, which can be translated as blameless. It is used five times in the New Testament with the same general shade of meaning (1 Cor. 1:8, 1:22, 1 Tim. 3:10, Titus 1:6, 1:7). Continue reading…
7/6/10
In our generally anti-institution ethos, most do not want to talk about structure and organization. It all smells of corruption and the misuse of power. However, the purpose of the book of Titus is about structuring the church. This is an important point to make, because even when there is little talk of organization or the downright resistance to it, in the end there will be some sort of structure. Therefore, it behooves us to see what Titus teaches concerning the importance of church organization in general and elders in particular. Continue reading…
7/5/10
Paul thanks God for the Colossians, because he has heard of their faith in Christ and their love for all the saints (1 Col. 3, 4). This point is worth pondering, because it shows that faith and love are gifts of God’s grace. To prove this point, you only need to consider a faithless and loveless person and his or her transformation. Only God can do this! Hence, the proper response for growth in faith and love is to offer thanks to God for creating or increasing these qualities in people.
This section also offers one of the means God uses to bring about faith and love, namely, the hope that is laid up in heaven, which Epaphras has been faithful to preach among the Colossians (1:7).
If Paul’s words are correct, then perhaps our contemporary focus on the “immediate” is a big hindrance to growing in faith and love. I suspect this is so, because robust love and faith have to be longsuffering, which can only take place when there is an unshakable hope reserved in heaven.
Do we ponder eternity and heaven with unshakable hope? If not, how can we live a life of faith and love? May God open our eyes to grow in wisdom and knowledge more and more (Col. 1:9).
7/4/10
No matter how intelligent and freethinking a person thinks he or she is, no one is autonomous. There are so many influences that shape a person’s life and worldview – family life, education, friendships, the media, and the list goes on. There is simply no way around it. Even if a person resists these influences, the very exertion will mold a person. All this is to say that we are built for counsel and this counsel will shape us.
7/2/10
To say that the world is unpredictable is a woeful understatement. There are so many variables. Or to put it another way, there are so many things that could go wrong. In the last few years, we have lived through some of these events: natural disasters, financial markets crashing, wars, oil spills, and so much more. In light of these things it is easy to make future decisions based on fear. Or if you prefer to be more euphemistic about terms, you can say it is easier to make responsible decisions.
The Christian must be better. In the final analysis, he or she should not be motivated by fear, or even a sense of being responsible; no, the love of God in Christ must be the prime motivation. In fact, John 4:18 says that perfect love casts our fear and that God has demonstrated his love for us in the sending of Christ (1 John 4:9). Therefore, when we experience God’s amazing love and grace in Christ, our decisions (and the church’s decisions) will be made in view of love.
This point is essential, because the perspective of God’s love will give clarity to what is really important from a divine standpoint, namely, to love others (1 John 4:7, 4:20, 4:21). Apart from God’s love, there is only darkness or dimness at best (1 John 2:9, 10). My prayer is that as we face greater challenges in our lifetime, no matter what they be, that we would be fully persuaded of the love of God and make strong decisions of love, not just responsible ones. May the vision of the reckless love of God, which sent Christ to the cross, cause us to love in like manner. May God give us all his grace.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
I. Two Types of Wisdom
1. Paul’s strong repudiation of the wisdom of the world may give the impression that he is opposed to any kind of wisdom. To draw this conclusion would be to misread Paul.
2. In 1 Corinthians 2:6, he points out that his message is one of wisdom. In 2:7, he even goes further and states that he speaks of the hidden and secret wisdom of God.
3. However, Paul makes it clear that the wisdom about which he writes is markedly different than the wisdom the Corinthians seek.
II. Corinthian Wisdom
1. The Corinthians prided themselves on not only being wise (sophoi), but also mature (teleioi).
2. As Richard B. Hays writes, “We have already seen that sophia is one of the slogan-words of the Corinthians, and in 2:6 we encounter another one: ‘the mature’ (teleioi).” Continue reading…
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
I. Wisdom and Foolishness
1. With Paul’s emphasis on wisdom and foolishness, it may appear that he is leaving the topic of divisiveness. However, it is best to view this section as laying the theological groundwork for why divisions are incompatible with Christian communities.
2. The wrong type of wisdom leads to boasting, rivalries, and divisions, whereas the wisdom of God brings peace. Paul begins by quoting Isaiah 29:14. Continue reading…
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