If somebody speaks about God as he speaks about his cousin he knows nothing about God. We do not know anything about God unless he reveals it to us. When he reveals himself to us we understand, again, how inaccessible is he for our thinking. He is above our world. He is a mystery. We are not able to unlock the mystery about him. Never. Read More...

Tags: God, Knowledge, Holiness, World, Communion

Martin Luther designed his seal to depict his theology. This is a good example of clarity, communication and boldness. Both the seal and the letter, that explains it, are presented here. The seal is a sign of maturity and it has to be seen as the compendium of his theology, and, as such, as the hermeneutical key for his writings. Read More...

Tags: Redemption, Faith, Blessing, Cross, Justice, Justification

You cannot go towards something if the mind is not focused on it. Drifting and walking in circles is diminishing, frustrating and leads nowhere. A human being cannot live such a life. Everyone needs to see the path, and then to walk on it. Getting out of the mist is a must. The way to do it is by using the reference points: God, others, and special events. We are relational beings, and we find ourselves being with others. Read More...

Tags: Sabou, Prayer, Knowledge, Communion, Spirit, Life

The theological horizon for life in the people of God is given at the end of Deuteronomy. The chapters 28-30 are a summary of the first five books in the Bible, focusing on the faithfulness to the covenant. The prophets, Jesus and the apostles understood their ministries in the light of this theological horizon. Read More...

Tags: Moses, Covenant, God, Blessing, Curse, obedience, Life

Next episode (Acts 13.13-52) is crafted by focusing on Paul and the recurring ways of his ministry (Barrett 1994, 625). The others are described as ‘his companions’ (οἱ περὶ Παῦλον), and from among them John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on. We have a movement from geography, to dedication for mission, to a service in synagogue. From that service the focus is on the sermon Paul delivers as they are invited to have a ‘word of exhortation’ (λόγος παρακλήσεως). The people in the synagogue are a mixture, as Paul mentions at the beginning of his word: Israelites and others who fear God (οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν θεόν). We have a long sermon on the way God dealt with his people: from the election, to Exodus, wandering through wilderness, giving them the land of Canaan; judges, monarchy and Messiah. Four names are mentioned in this overview of Jewish history: Samuel, Saul, David and Jesus; a prophet, two kings, and a Savior. Saul is removed but David is a man after God’s heart and from his seed will come the Savior of Israel. Read More...

Tags: Paul, Luke, Ministry, Mission, Salvation, God, Gentiles, Faith

Paul was called by the resurrected Christ to be his apostle to the Gentiles but now the Church in Antioch is guided by the Spirit to send him, together with Barnabas, in this mission to Gentiles. Thus, the call of Christ is working together with the commissioning of the Church in someones life and ministry. We know things about the ministry in Antioch; prophets and teachers (προφῆται καὶ διδάσκαλοι) are mentioned. Are they the leadership of the Church? Perhaps not, but the mention to them it is sufficient to say that, very early on, there were such ministries/groups. Read More...

Tags: Paul, Luke, Ministry, God, Mission, Life, Conversion

Love is a fact of life. People are able to love. When people are in love they are captivated and they are totally for something or someone. That attitude is seen by others. Love is something that is recognized as such by other people. The New Testament writings speak about love. The main family of words for love are phileō and agapaō. They are used almost interchangeably, but there are some differences.
Read More...

Tags: Jesus, Paul, Love, Father, obedience, Spirit, New Life