1 Samuel
Healing at the Bethesda Pool (John 5:1-16)
In John 5:1-14, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival and encounters a disabled man at the pool of Bethesda. The man has been unable to walk for several years. The pool is believed to have healing powers, but this man has no one to help him get into the water when it's stirred up, which is...
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ (Romans 5:12-21)
In this passage, the Apostle Paul explains how sin entered the world through Adam, and how Jesus Christ came to offer redemption from this sin. While all humanity is inherently sinful due to the original sin of Adam, salvation and righteousness are available to all through the grace of Jesus...
Malachi
The book of Malachi, the last of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, begins with a divine proclamation of love for Israel. Yet, intertwined with this assurance is a deep-seated divine discontent. God addresses the spiritual apathy and negligence of both the priests and the people of Israel....
The Lord will Dwell in Zion (Zechariah 2:14-17)
The passage Zechariah 2:14-17 offers profound theological insights. It foregrounds the divine promise of God's immanent presence amongst His people, indicating an intimate and benevolent relationship between the Divine and His followers. This presence denotes more than mere proximity. It suggests...
Word of Life (1 John 1:1-4)
The text emphasizes the importance of proclaiming the Gospel and bearing witness to Jesus Christ. It focuses on the incarnation of Jesus, the Word of Life, as God's eternal truth made tangible and accessible to humanity. This passage highlights the significance of fellowship with God and one...
Continuing the Testimony of the Acts of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:1-3)
Acts 1:1-3 provides an introduction to the book of Acts and sets the stage for the narrative that follows. In Acts 1:1-3, Luke addresses his writing to Theophilus, who is likely a patron or a person of high social status. He explains that his earlier work, the Gospel of Luke, was about all that...
Adultery and Betrothal Transgressions (Deuteronomy 22:22-29)
The text presents a series of laws concerning sexual misconduct, focusing on adultery and transgressions related to betrothal. These verses emphasize the importance of maintaining moral and ethical standards within the community, especially regarding sexual relationships and marriage. The...
Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10)
The passage describes the miraculous event of Jesus' resurrection. It highlights the emotions of fear, wonder, and joy experienced by the women who discover the empty tomb and encounter both an angel and Jesus himself. The text emphasizes the divine intervention in the form of an earthquake and the...
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:32-56)
Matthew 27:32-56 narrates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The passage describes Jesus being led to Golgotha, the place of crucifixion, where he is nailed to the cross alongside two criminals. The soldiers mock Jesus, and onlookers insult him, challenging him to save himself if he is truly the Son...
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King (Matthew 21:1-11)
The text describes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In this passage, Jesus fulfills an Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) by riding into the city on a donkey, accompanied by his disciples. A large crowd gathers to welcome him, laying their cloaks and palm branches on the road as a sign of...
Food in the New Testament
Food in ancient Israel during its Hellenistic era, which spanned from the late 4th century BCE to the 1st century BCE, presents a fascinating blend of local and foreign influences. This period, marked by the conquests of Alexander the Great and the subsequent rule of the Ptolemies and Seleucids,...
David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58)
The story of David and Goliath is a famous biblical account found in 1 Samuel 17:1-58. The story takes place during the time of the Israelites' battles against the Philistines. The story of David and Goliath illustrates God's sovereignty, his ability to use unlikely people for his purposes, the...
Acts of Mercy (Matthew 25:34-40)
This passage emphasizes the importance of caring for others and serving them as a way of serving God aswell as Jesus served us. It teaches that our actions towards others reflect our relationship with God, and that we will be judged based on how we have treated the least among us. The passage...
Ruth
The biblical book of Ruth is a narrative account that tells the story of Ruth (רוּת [rûṯ]), a Moabite woman, who marries a Hebrew man named Mahlon. Ruth and Mahlon's family leave their hometown of Bethlehem and settle in Moab, but tragedy strikes when Mahlon and his brother die, leaving Ruth and...
The First Disciples of Jesus (Mark 1:14-20)
Jesus begins his ministry by proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God which is based on repentance and faith. The story, at this point, focuses on Jesus calling his first disciples, Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John, to follow him and become "fishers of men."
Preaching and Baptism of John the Baptist (Mark 1:4-8)
John the Baptist is described as a prophet who prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. His depiction as ascetic and excentric person is a reminisence of a prophetic archetype of Eliah. John preaches a baptism of repentance and forgiveness, calling people to confess their sins and turn...
The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1-3)
This passage is the opening of the Gospel of Mark, and it introduces the narrative about John the Baptist that follows. Even though it is short, it offers significant theological themes. The first is Jesus' identity. Mark identifies Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah) and the Son of God, unveiling...