History and Theology

Philippians 1:1-11 – Bible Study – Paul’s Confidence and Prayer for the Church

a. Introduction
It is clear that Paul has a very close relationship with the Philippians. He states that they had a partnership in the gospel with him from the very first day (1:3), and that he has them in his heart (1:7). The partnership that he mentions was most likely a reference to the church’s financial support of Paul’s ministry. This fact is important, because it seems that no other church shared in Paul’s ministry from a financial standpoint; remember Paul prided himself on being a tentmaker. In addition, from 2 Corinthians 8, 9 one is able to see the churches of Macedonia were extremely generous. What makes this all the more remarkable is that they these churches were poor. 2 Corinthians 8:2 even speaks of extreme poverty. Continue reading…

Philippians – Bible Study – Background

1. Background Information

a. Authorship

When it comes to the book of Philippians, there is little doubt that Paul wrote the letter.  Both internal and external evidence lead to this fact. For example, the theology of the letter is consistent with what we know of Paul’s theology, the many personal references point to intimate knowledge between Paul and the church at Philippi, and the testimony of the early church confirm Paul as the author. The only part of this letter that may be non-Pauline is the hymn in Philippians 2:5-11. If he did not write this section, he simply employed preexisting material to make a theological point.  Similarly, the author of Acts has Paul quote the Hellenistic poet, Aratus, in Acts 17:28. Continue reading…

1 Corinthians – Commentary – A Brief History

Corinth is an ancient city with a complex past. The origins of the city go back well before historical sources to time immemorial, but a brief sketch of the history of Corinth will help to give a sense of the city by Paul’s day.[1] By the fourth century B.C., Corinth was already a prosperous city.[2] In part this was due to the strong leadership of a number of able leaders, who were able to bring stability and prosperity.[3] More importantly, the location of Corinth was ideally situated for trade. Its position on the Isthmus of Corinth between the Aegean and Ionian seas made it a city that benefited from trade that went both east and west. Continue reading…

Jonah 4 – Bible Study – Jonah’s Surprising Response

a. Introduction
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this story is how Jonah responds to the deliverance of the inhabitants of Nineveh. Instead of praising God for his mercy and the privilege of playing a role in God’s work, Jonah is filled with anger. He even states that he is angry enough to die. God, therefore, tries to teach Jonah a lesson about compassion. By reflecting on this passage, one may come to the unfortunate reality of the human heart and the beauty of the heart of God. And by God’s grace, one may begin to experience a change of heart to see the wideness of God’s love and compassion for people. Continue reading…

Jonah 3 – Bible Study – Jonah’s Success

a. Introduction
In this section, we encounter God’s second call to Jonah and Jonah’s preaching in Nineveh. To say that Jonah’s mission was successful is an understatement. The people immediately humble themselves, including the king. In addition, a fast is proclaimed, which includes even the livestock. Most importantly, they call out to God and repent of their ways. In response to this, God relents and Nineveh is saved. Jesus, in the New Testament, even says that the men of Nineveh would rise up in judgment day to condemn those of his day for not believing in the one greater than Jonah. Salvation truly has come to the people of Nineveh. This lesson will explore some of the dynamics of how the people of Nineveh have come to faith. Continue reading…

Jonah 2 – Bible Study – Jonah’s Death and Resurrection

a. Introduction
One of the most remarkable observations in Jonah 1 is that the only person that does not pray is Jonah. His heart is so filled with bitterness that even in the face of death, he does not pray to God. It is only when he is in the belly of the fish, under unimaginable circumstances that he comes to his senses. In this section, one will study how this transformation takes place and the implications of this for the church today.

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Jonah 1 – Bible Study – Jonah’s Flight

a. Introduction
In chapter one, God calls Jonah, son of Amittai (which ironically means faithfulness) to go to Nineveh, because the wickedness of that great city has reached him. Instead of responding with joy, fear, or even a sense of unworthiness, Jonah does something surprising. He gets on a boat to Tarshish, (the opposite direction of Nineveh) and goes down into the bowel of the ship and sleeps. The hardness of his heart is made even clearer, when one begins to compare the responses of polytheistic sailors and Jonah. A detailed examination of this narrative will raise many questions and offer a window into the hearts of men and the heart of God. Continue reading…