I Thessalonians 2
I Thessalonians 2:1-16: Paul has given thanks that the Thessalonians received their preaching and God’s Spirit and are now living lives of faith, hope and love. Here he recounts something about his ministry there. It required courage, for Paul had encountered difficulty and opposition in his ministry. The courage Paul displayed he
… View MorePaul’s First Letter to the Christian Community at Thessalonica
Written in about 50 CE, some 20 years after the death of resurrection of Jesus and 20 years before the Gospel of Mark, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is the oldest extant piece of Christian literature. This letter is the first proclamation of the gospel,
… View MoreColossians 3
Colossians 3:1-17: As is typical of Paul’s letters, we move from theological argument to ethical reflection – how should we live? It is not as if the theological is abandoned, but the focus shifts toward the more practical. “So if you have been raised with Christ” – that is who we are as
… View MoreColossians 2
Colossians 2:1-5: Paul (or the author in Paul’s name) has written that he continues to struggle on their behalf, even though he has never met them. His purpose in sharing this is to encourage them. He would like their hearts to be encouraged and united in love – what a delightful phrase. This
… View MoreThe Letter to the Jesus Community at Colossae
Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis were ancient cities located close together on the Lycus River, some hundred miles upstream from Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). This letter, addressed to Christians in Colossae, was intended to be read by the Laodicean church as well. There
… View More