Category Archives: Uncategorized

Philemon Paul expected the gospel to produce dramatic life change. The punishments for runaway bondservants were severe, often resulting in death. If a runaway was brought back they would most likely be given the lowest levels of service in a household; minimal trust and maximum labour were the norm. And so, the request of PaulContinue reading “Philemon, Hebrews 1-4”

2 Timothy 3 The closing verses in this chapter are the rhythmic bassline that most evangelical Sunday Schools lay their treble over. All kinds of papier mache projects, prancing praises and puppet pronouncements build on the foundation that the bible is God-breathed and that it equips us to live a good life. It is quiteContinue reading “2 Tim 3-Titus”

1 Timothy 4 There are some verses in here that are so good you could put them in a cape and mistake them for a super-hero.  4:4 is enormous in its scope.  4:8 could inspire a life-time of value.  Verses 9 and 10 are obviously important because they are flagged up in Paul’s little wayContinue reading “1 Tim 4 – 2 Tim 2”

2 Thessalonians 2 There are a lot of words in this passage that I only see in yelling Youtube videos about a coming cosmic calamity. Rebellion, the man of lawlessness setting himself up over everything and counterfeit miracles are not things we talk about much in the kinds of churches I’ve been in. When someoneContinue reading “2 Thess 2 – 1 Tim 3”

1 Thessalonians 2 “You suffered from your own countrymen…”. For the last 40 years most of us in the UK haven’t suffered much from our own countrymen, unless it has been the ignominy of watching them getting smashed in a penalty shoot-out. This benign incubator for our faith has subtly persuaded many of us thatContinue reading “1 Thess 2-2 Thess 1”

Colossians 1 Think of it like trying to build a tower with a deck of playing cards and a big concrete block. Unless you put the concrete block on the bottom, a lot of things are going to break. To realise that is wisdom and understanding. For much of history the problem of humanity wasContinue reading “Colossians, 1 Thess 1”

Ephesians 6 Like an American football team “embracing the process” that leads to excellence, Paul has spent this letter advocating for the excellence of the imitation of God. We can become a productive party of God’s presence, a grace-made gathering of his gladness. We just need to embrace the process of lifting our eyes toContinue reading “Ephesians 6, Philippians”

Ephesians 1 This is a stonking book.  While Galatians hammered in on Jesus being the only one to guarantee our freedom now, Ephesians sticks its finger under our chin and tilts our face up higher. We gaze in wonder at our future inheritance and the glorious majesty of the heavenly realms. In that celestial viewContinue reading “Ephesians 1-5”

Galatians 2 Paul seems to betray a lack of regard for the other apostles. He roasts Peter in public like a headteacher with a naughty kid, describes the apostles as those who seemed to be important and says they added nothing to his message. He probably refused to wear deodorant when they invited him overContinue reading “Galatians 2-6”

2 Corinthians 10 We all have a sphere of influence given to us by God. Some of us will – like Paul – want to see that sphere enlarged and that is a good thing. Hmm. That’s already got me thinking. But the main thing Paul talks about in this chapter is how he treatsContinue reading “2 Corinthians 10-Galatians 1”