Read Bible for Yourself

My Colossians A.       Opening: Testimony to the Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Paul is writing from prison to one of the churches he was yet to meet, and was probably started or pastored by Epaphras (or Epaphroditus). They are regarded as a testimony to the fact that the Gospel of Jesus Christ works everywhere in the world, turning lives around in love and by the hope that is promised. He prays for their patient endurance that is necessary for all who will inherit the immeasurable blessings that come through Christ (who alone is the image and fullness of God, superior to all created authority by being first to taste creation , the Head of the Church, and the one in whom all things will eventually come together, 1: 17). It is important that saints join together in love in order to experience the fullness of what Christ has done, rather than be divided over traditions and ascetic practices. B.       The Uselessness o...

My Philippians Gist Paul’s imprisonment experience in Rome is giving him a clearer view of the convicting power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he is writing to urge the church in Philippi, who have been partners with him since “the early days of the Gospel” (1:7; 4:15), to imitate the way his salvation was working out: As he walks in righteousness under involuntary restriction, the evidence of his salvation is becoming clearer both to himself and to others. Though imprisoned under false charges, his grateful joyfulness and upright conduct has convinced everyone that he is a good man put in chains not for a bad cause, but for a different cause, which must certainly be good. He is shining in the dark imprisonment environment. A Desire to Depart He is so peaceful with the Lord that he yearned to depart from the body, and therefore had no fear of the worst possible outcome that awaits prisoners. Indeed he would welcome death as a crown for his faithful service (2:17)...

My Ephesians God’s grand plan is to bring all things together in Christ, whether things in Heaven or on earth, whether Jews or Gentiles. It was Paul’s prayer therefore that those who were already in Christ, believers,  would appreciate that they have the greatest estate through time and eternity, and realize what great calling they have received to be early partakers with God in the unfolding Divine scheme. The revelation of God’s grand plan (mystery) was hidden from previous generations and even the “authorities in heaven” (2:5, 10), and is now being made manifest through the church. In view of the above, believers are to walk in compassion (not condemnation) towards unbelievers, working to bring them in, seeing that they were themselves unbelievers a short while ago. Also, believing Gentiles should not consider themselves different from or opposed to believing Jews, since Christ preached peace to either group (2:17), and both have received the same Holy Spirit. F...

My Galatians The letter is a kind of apogee of Paul’s gospel, when he could not refer to Peter and co. for authority to back his teaching that the gospel excels the law, and that it is self-defeating to hold the law as the standard when one comes to Christ. He traces the origin of his message to only his personal interaction with Christ, though at a point he returned to Jerusalem to present his message for verification (2:1-2).  He repudiated Peter’s ceremonial separation as contradictory to the gospel of Christ who embraces all nations without discrimination (2:18). Paul asserts that those to whom the law was given could not uphold it perfectly and are therefore under the “curse of the law” (3:10). Salvation has therefore always been by faith, and not by the law which came several years after God’s covenant promise to Abraham. The purpose of the law was therefore as caretaker until the empowerer came (3:18,21). If righteousness by the law could give life, there wo...