Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
Key word of eight beatitudes is word μακάριος (makarios) which could by simply translated as "happy". But in this case, the text has a much broader meaning in mind. Every beatitude is ended followed by reasoning why it is good to be so. And this reason assures that being such is not in vain....
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 19:23-20:16)
Everyone is naturally content when other people treat him in a fair way. Unfortunately this view is not shared by everyone. One is quite used to that. But what in the case when God acts this way? Jesus is telling a parable about how things works in his kingdom (Mt 20:1). He tells it in context...
Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
The Great Commission is the final moment of the gospel of Matthew before Jesus leaves His desciples. Disciples meet risen Lord at Galilee. They fall down on the ground in reverence, but "some had doubts" (Matt 28:17). Jesus is reacting on these doubts and assures disciples about his power, while...
Defilement comes from within (Mark 7:1-23)
This story questions the very essence of what is really important in our religious life. It would be the mistake to just plain read the story and apply it into our life. Key Greek terms used here are παραδοσις meaning "tradition, something handed down" and κοινος meaning "defiled; ordinary,...
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet (John 13:1-20)
The begining of thirteen chapter of the gospel of John speaks about paschal dinner. However John is not focusing on primary aspects of paschal dinner but concentrates our attention to feet washing, which is unexpected. This event is taking place in the perspective of Jesus' death (John 13:1.3).
Peter's love for Jesus - Peter do you love me? (John 21:15-19)
After Jesus meets fishing disciples in Galilee, a short story follows narrating a dialog between Peter and Jesus. This is the third encounter of Jesus with his disciples after the resurrection. The story begins with arranging the event after finishing their meal (ἠρίστησαν [éristésan]). Jesus...
Epistle to the Romans
The Epistle to the Romans was always drawing considerable attention among theologians. For example, it was this epistle which significantly contributed to conversion of Augustine, to Martin Luther's discovery of justification by faith or was used by Karl Barth to form manifesto of dialectical...
Righteousness Through Faith (Romans 3:21-31)
Romans 3:24 speaks about "redemption that came by Christ Jesus". We do not event think about that, but this redemption has on its background very strong ancient contextual image. Redemption is not just ordinary synonym for salvation, but it concerns literal redeeming of a slave (there is a Greek...
Concerning Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40)
The whole discourse on spiritual gifts is one of the most controversial sections in the entire Bible. The study of the original text and employment of literary criticisms open the text in a different way than usually done on the popular level. We would like to point out one particular emphasis...
Resurrection Creed (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 is considered to be an early church's creed. It expresses recorded oral tradition of the resurrection of Jesus. Yet brief, it is very deep. These particular points are stressed: fulfilling of the Scriptures, confirming the reality of the resurrection, and that Christ is both...