In the letter to the Colossians, Paul points us to the sufficiency of Christ, urging readers to continue to trust in him. Because Christ is supreme over all, our hope is secure in him. Colossians also shows how the new life that believers have in Jesus is to reflect his character in everyday relationships.
Then in the letter to Philemon, we see the difference the gospel makes ...
The story of Joseph is prominent in the book of Genesis and yet is rarely mentioned in the rest of Scripture. How then do we understand Joseph's significance in redemptive history? When Christians have addressed this question, the conversation has frequently turned toward typology: Is Joseph a type of the Messiah?
Messianic interpretations of the Joseph narrative have often ...
"The chequered story of the Kings, a matter of nearly five centuries, had ended disastrously in 587 B.C. with the sack of Jerusalem, the fall of the monarchy and the removal to Babylonia of all that made Judah politically viable. It was a death to make way for a rebirth. So begins Derek Kidner in this introduction and commentary to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which chart the ...
The checkered story of the kings, lasting nearly five centuries, ended disastrously in 587 BC with the sack of Jerusalem, the fall of the monarchy, and the removal to Babylonia of all that made Judah politically viable. It was a death to make way for a rebirth. The closely related books of Ezra and Nehemiah chart the Jews' return from exile to Jerusalem and the beginnings of that ...
In these stormy times, voices from all fronts call for change. But what kind of revolution brings true freedom to both society and the human soul?
Cultural observer Os Guinness explores the nature of revolutionary faith, contrasting between secular revolutions such as the French Revolution and the faith-led revolution of ancient Israel. He argues that the story of ...
In this insightful and accessible commentary, Nicholas Perrin explores the many unique pictures of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke—from being a child in his Father's house to associating with the poor and disreputable, in communion with the Holy Spirit, and, above all, setting out resolutely for Jerusalem to fulfill God's plan for the world.
With particular attention to ...
Humans are story-shaped creatures.
We make sense of our world, pattern our lives, and reflect on what is ultimately significant through language and the words that compose our stories. But how does this relate to the narrative of the Bible and the story that God is writing through history?
In Nourishing Narratives, writer and professor Jennifer Holberg engages ...
How can a doctrine about reconciliation with God create so much controversy among God's people?
Theologian Brad Vaughn believes Christians can gain clarity and unity on the doctrine of the atonement through a renewed attention to the biblical evidence. While theological theories are necessary and useful, they can obscure reality as much as clarify it. And we're often ignorant ...
Why do people suffer? What is God's role in suffering? How can we help those who suffer?
The book of Job is all about human suffering. Its portrayal of one man's anguish, the ineffective responses of his friends, and his struggle for faith and understanding mirrors our own experiences in the world.
David Atkinson offers a pastoral exploration of Job's story. His compelling ...
The book of Esther tells the dramatic story of how the destruction of the Jews was averted through the bravery of Esther, the wisdom of Mordecai, and the unity of the Jewish people. Yet Esther is a rather strange book to find in the Bible. Not only is it set entirely outside of the Promised Land, it also shows no interest in that land. More than that, Esther is the only book in ...