There are passages of Scripture that are profoundly rich, deep and endlessly expansive. They seem to tower over other texts and have a life of their own. They challenge, inspire and speak to us on multiple levels. That’s more than a subjective impression, Christ said as much in Matthew 22:34ff and again in 23:23. IContinue reading “On a Hill Far Away (1)”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Moving out of Memphis
I have been driving through Memphis a few times a year for the last twenty years. Some years it’s more than that, but there’s never been a year when I didn’t make at least a few trips through the city. Going through Memphis is like traveling through any other large cities—you need a fairly highContinue reading “Moving out of Memphis”
Doing Without by Looking Within
Genesis 26 begins by informing us that there is a famine in the land (v. 1). Isaac is “without.” We are reminded by the writer of the famine that occurred earlier during Abraham’ life and are told that what is being experienced by Isaac is not that. A famine is never good news but itContinue reading “Doing Without by Looking Within”
Genesis and Israel
It can be helpful to remind ourselves that Moses wrote Genesis (and the rest of Pentateuch) not to us, but to Israel as they were about to enter the land of Canaan. They had a language, they had a land, and they had a law, but they needed something more to have the solidarity HeContinue reading “Genesis and Israel”
Slaves, Sonship and the Spirit (2)
Life for both the Jews and the Gentiles outside of Christ was bondage in many ways, but Paul speaks of them being under the “elemental spiritual forces” (Galatians 3:3, 9) which he characterizes as “weak and miserable” (v. 9). But when the time is ripe, God sends His Son who fully subjects Himself to theContinue reading “Slaves, Sonship and the Spirit (2)”
Slaves, Sonship and the Spirit (1)
Paul will tell the Galatians in 4:1ff that sons (who are minors) and slaves have a couple of things in common: neither are currently experiencing an inheritance and both are subject to others. With this, he continues to build the case that he began in 3:19ff (that Jewish life under the Torah was about preparationContinue reading “Slaves, Sonship and the Spirit (1)”
Legalism or Nationalism in Galatians? (3)
If Paul’s letter to the Galatians is aimed at refuting Jewish Christians who are attempting to nationalize the gospel rather than introduce an individual legalism, then why does Paul regularly introduce arguments that sound legalistic (2:15-16, 3:10-12, 5:1-4)? I’ve dealt with 2:15-16 in a previous post here, so let me address his remarks in 3:10-12. PartContinue reading “Legalism or Nationalism in Galatians? (3)”
Legalism or Nationalism in Galatians? (2)
We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, becauseContinue reading “Legalism or Nationalism in Galatians? (2)”
Legalism or Nationalism in Galatians? (1)
The problem the churches of Galatia were experiencing wasn’t a thorough-going legalism (trusting in their own works to save them)—it was a warped nationalism. They had been swayed by those had who appeared not long after Paul left the region into thinking that the only way they (Gentile disciples) could fully experience Jewish blessings wasContinue reading “Legalism or Nationalism in Galatians? (1)”
Galatians and Plus One Thinking
Galatians is a fire truck racing to a five-alarm fire. It’s an ambulance speeding to the site of a terrible accident. It’s a police car hurrying to the scene of a crime. Most of all, Galatians is a wake-up call for some disciples who are asleep at the wheel and heading for a disaster of the worst kind. TheContinue reading “Galatians and Plus One Thinking”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 