Son of God – John, Part 1

The first time the phrase Son of God (υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ) occurs in John’s Gospel account is in the story when Nathaniel first met Jesus (John 1:47-49 NET). Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”  Nathanael...

You Must Be Gentle, Part 3

I watched an interview with Ingmar Bergman on the DVD version of “Persona” called “A Poem in Images.”  He spoke in English, not his native language, but I left the quote below verbatim because I liked the ideas expressed as they were. “I was ill and they had to make...

Romans, Part 38

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law, Paul continued.  “The one who does these things will live by them [Table]” [Table].  But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart [Table], ‘Who will ascend into heaven? [Table]’”...

Fear – Genesis, Part 6

After Jacob and his family spent some time in Bethel they moved on to Ephrath (Bethlehem).  On the way Rachel went into labor – and her labor was hard.  When her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid (yārē’ , תִּירְאִי), for you are...

Justice and Mercy

When I focused on God’s law as the primary revelation of his will, justice and mercy seemed like oppositional concepts.  Justice meant the uniform application of law (punishment mainly) and mercy was an exception to that uniform application.  As justice increased...

Romans, Part 37

Brothers and sisters, Paul continued, my heart’s desire (εὐδοκία) and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation.1  This sounds to me like the justice Paul nagged the Lord about, something he would always pray and not lose heart2 over.  But...

Fear – Genesis, Part 5

I think I am safe using the word fear to describe Jacob’s prognostication that Simeon and Levi…had brought ruin on him by making him a foul odor among the inhabitants of the land, that the Canaanites and the Perizzites…would join forces against him and attack...

Justice, Vengeance and Punishment

Then1 Jesus told them a parable to show them they2 should always pray and not lose heart.3  It is a story about a persistent widow nagging an unrighteous judge for justice.  Finally the unrighteous judge thought to himself, Though I neither fear God nor4 have regard...

Romans, Part 36

What shall we say then? Paul continued, that the Gentiles who did not pursue (διώκοντα, a form of διώκω) righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) obtained it (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη), that is, a righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη)...