From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matt. 11.12, NIV “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. Luke 16.16,Continue reading “Grasping the Kingdom”
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…on the Flying Trapeze
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippledContinue reading “…on the Flying Trapeze”
Demons or Disciples?
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Τοῦτο τὸ γένος ἐν οὐδενὶ δύναται ἐξελθεῖν εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ. Mark 9.29, SBL Greek NT Apologies for the clickbait title, but the full version would say, “which was Jesus’ focus: casting out demons or forming His disciples?” The verse I have quoted is universally translated as if it is about demons;Continue reading “Demons or Disciples?”
A little bit of LXX
During a recent camping holiday, I sat every morning in front of our tent with my espresso pot of coffee and a copy of Isaiah in the Septuagint version; as one does. The Septuagint is interesting for various reasons. According to the stories it was translated by 70 (hence LXX) or possibly 72 (but itContinue reading “A little bit of LXX”
The Secret Mystery
οὐχ ὅτι καθ’ ὑστέρησιν λέγω, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔμαθον ἐν οἷς εἰμι αὐτάρκης εἶναι· οἶδα καὶ ταπεινοῦσθαι, οἶδα καὶ περισσεύειν· ἐν παντὶ καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν μεμύημαι, καὶ χορτάζεσθαι καὶ πεινᾶν, καὶ περισσεύειν καὶ ὑστερεῖσθαι· πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με. Phil 4.11-13, SBL Greek NT This passage of Philippians has deep personal significance for me; readingContinue reading “The Secret Mystery”
The God of Peace
Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε· ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε· καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθ’ ὑμῶν. Phil 4.8-9, SBL Greek NT In the previous post,Continue reading “The God of Peace”
Protected
Χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε. τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς· μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλ’ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετ’ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν· καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.Continue reading “Protected”
Legion
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” Mark 5.9, NIV At the end of a long day of teaching, Jesus tells the disciples they are going to go to the other side of the Sea. On the way they suffer an unexpected storm, which IContinue reading “Legion”
The Kingdom is like an aggressive weed
Too far? Ask any California Park Ranger or conservationist about Brassica nigra, and they are likely to give you an earful; whether it is the offshore islands like Catalina, or the Coachella Valley, this plant is supplanting (haha) rare native species. And yet B. nigra is the subject of a parable Jesus told, to representContinue reading “The Kingdom is like an aggressive weed”
Keep the big feet out of the platter
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernelContinue reading “Keep the big feet out of the platter”
