PHall | February 24, 2010
This article will be controversial. Ironically, if you do not like controversy, you will like this article. Have I got your attention? This article will be about the controversial subject of being controversial, and how wrong it is to be controversial! Unless of course it is right to be controversial! Confused? To begin, we must […]
Category: Matthew, John, I Timothy, II John |
Comments Off on 1 Timothy 6:3-5 – Controversy About Controversy
Tags: Article, Denominationalism
PHall | February 24, 2010
There are various opinions on how to divide Romans. Does chapter 5 belong with 1-4 or with 6-8? Personally I believe the division starts at 5:12, with 5:1-11 concluding the first section. One reason for that is the curious fact concerning the word faith (pistis). 40 times in Romans 26 times in 1:1-5:11 14 times […]
Category: Romans |
Comments Off on Romans 5:12-8:33 – (Pistis)
Tags: Commentary, Introduction
PHall | February 24, 2010
It is dangerous, even if necessary, to study a text because of the use or misuse of that text by others. The result is that instead of reacting to the text itself, we react to a person’s use or misuse of that text. That puts a person in between us and the text. That can […]
Category: Romans, Hermeneutics |
Comments Off on Romans 7:14-25 – Motivations for Study
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PHall | February 24, 2010
A – apart from the law (7:8) B – sin is dead (7:8) B’ – I was alive (7:8) A’ – apart from the law (7:9)
Category: Bible |
Comments Off on Romans 7:8-9 – Chiasm
Tags: Chiasm
PHall | February 24, 2010
Why does Paul use “I?” Who is he referring to? I would like to begin – and I know it is only a beginning – to answer why Paul uses the first personal pronoun “I.” I do not believe he is speaking solely autobiographically, but rather is identifying himself somewhat with Adam and therefore all […]
Category: Romans, Genesis |
Comments Off on Romans 7:7-12 – I Am Adam
Tags: Article
PHall | February 22, 2010
A – You will know them by their fruits (7:16) B – Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles (7:16) C – Every good tree bears good fruit; The bad tree bears bad fruit (7:17) C’ – A good tree cannot produce bad fruit; Nor can a bad tree produce good […]
Category: Matthew |
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Tags: Chiasm
PHall | February 22, 2010
The “false prophets” of Matthew 7:15 are “inwardly ravenous wolves” (Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:3). That says something about their intentions. They were obviously not sincere. The “sheep’s clothing” (5:15) is a ruse to deceive that eventually will be seen as a disguise revealed by their works. You can fool people for only so long. Twice […]
Category: Matthew, II Peter |
Comments Off on Matthew 7:15-20 – False Prophets
Tags: Chiasm
PHall | February 22, 2010
I love irony and paradoxes. Within Christianity we see the irony of Peter’s action with his words as a paradox of love and fear. After seeing Jesus’ miracle in Luke 5, Peter’s body says the opposite of his words. His words are just as honest as his body, but they are seemingly contradictory – the […]
Category: Luke |
Comments Off on Luke 5:8 – Leave Don’t Leave
Tags: Article
PHall | February 19, 2010
Are we wise? I seem to pray for wisdom more today than in bygone years. Either I am realizing the greater need, or how unwise I truly am, or more likely a combination of both. In contemplating wisdom I have a thought or two: I often do not respond immediately to what is said or written. I calculate […]
Category: James |
Comments Off on James 1:5 – Wisdom
Tags: Article
PHall | February 15, 2010
Someone had the audacity to tell me…you are going to shocked… that I am…opinionated. I told them I am not opinionated, I just am right. Through circumspection, I have matured and now realize that yes I am opinionated. I just have the right opinions. And I would like to share an opinion with you, and […]
Category: Bible |
Comments Off on Ephesians 1 – In Christ Alone
Tags: Article