The Gospel According to Levi’s (or Dockers)

Levis vs. Dockers. This is a tale of two pairs of pants. Or better yet two kinds of Christians who tend to wear two kinds of pants. In one corner you have the skinny jean wearing, tattoo flaunting, hipster eye-glassed, latte sipping Christians who think that “the Kingdom deeds good deeds done by good peopleContinue reading “The Gospel According to Levi’s (or Dockers)”

Rejoice Always!

This week I have been studying Paul’s letter to the Philippians. One thing that really jumps out at me is how  often he uses the word rejoice. Commentator after commentator point out that joy or rejoicing is a major theme in this short letter. In fact one commentator was said: Summa Epistolae; Gaudeo, Gaudete. WhichContinue reading “Rejoice Always!”

Who is Paul Talking About in Romans 7?

This past week in my class on Romans and Galatians my students answered the following prompt: Who do you believe Paul is talking about in the famous passage in Romans 7:7-25? Provide reasons and evidence for your answer (see Kruse commentary, 314-21). This weekend, Preston Sprinkle (Professor & Vice-President of Eternity Boise) addressed this sameContinue reading “Who is Paul Talking About in Romans 7?”

The Righteousness of God in Historical Context

A few days ago I posted some thoughts on what I think Paul meant by “the righteousness of God” in Romans 3:21-26 21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all whoContinue reading “The Righteousness of God in Historical Context”

The Righteousness of God

What does Paul mean when he says, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Romans 3:21a)? Romans 3:21-26 21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ forContinue reading “The Righteousness of God”

New Books from Baker

I remember the days of “book fairs” at elementary schools. A few weeks before the fair we would get a catalog of all the books we could order. There were Goosebumps, Clifford, Bernstein Bears, and Animorphs books galore. Now that I have grown up I am still getting those catalogs, except now adays its publishersContinue reading “New Books from Baker”

The Holy Spirit in Romans

Romans has often been called Paul’s “systematic theology,” I would beg to differ, but if we are going to insist that Paul is writing a “theology” it would be best to call it “biblical theology” or “narrative theology” because Paul takes the entire storyline of scripture – creation through restoration – and rereads this JewishContinue reading “The Holy Spirit in Romans”

Book Review – New Testament Essentials: Father, Son, Spirit and Kingdom by Robbie Fox Castleman

As the person who oversees college Life Groups at my church I know how hard it is to find, write, or develop good small group/bible study curriculum. Over the years I have perused tons of Bible studies and small group materials, only to be fairly disappointed every time. However, Robbie Castleman’s New Testament Essentials aContinue reading “Book Review – New Testament Essentials: Father, Son, Spirit and Kingdom by Robbie Fox Castleman”

Unfaithful

It is widely recognized that we Christians in the US (at least in the coastal regions & big cities) live in a post-Christian world. We live in a world where Christianity is no longer the central institution of society, we live in a world where rival ideologies abound. In such a world Christians are goingContinue reading “Unfaithful”

Book Review – A Commentary on the Psalms, Vol. 2 by Allen Ross

I have really grown to like the Kregel Exegetical Library commentaries on the Old Testament. A while back ago I reviewed a commentary on Judges from the same series, I really enjoyed it and found it useful, so I had pretty high expectations for this commentary on the Psalms from the same series. Let meContinue reading “Book Review – A Commentary on the Psalms, Vol. 2 by Allen Ross”