Through the Bible for Skeptics and Seekers

Paul asks for prayer and promises prayer for the believers in Thessalonica. He also emphasizes the importance of a strong work ethic and the avoidance of idleness. He encourages believers to be diligent in their daily work, earn their living, and not become a burden to others. Paul also addresses disciplinary matters, urging the community to distance themselves from those who persist in disobedien...

The apostle Paul seeks to clarify some misconceptions among the Thessalonian Christians about the timing of Christ’s return and the emergence of certain “lawless one” or antichrist figures. Paul emphasizes the need for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and not be easily misled by false teachings or sensational claims about the end times. One day, Jesus will return and will make all thin...

The Thessalonians endured tremendous persecution. Paul reminded them that God will bring justice. God does not look for revenge like we do, but instead He will one day make all things right. In culture where evil persists, people long for an end to their suffering. N.T. Wright describes it this way: "God is the living and loving Creator who must either judge the world or stand accused of inju...

Paul emphasizes the importance of living in the light rather than darkness, symbolizing the need to lead lives characterized by goodness, purity, and spiritual awareness. Paul also addresses the concept of the Second Coming of Jesus, urging believers to be watchful and ready for this event, which he portrays as a moment of divine intervention and hope. #NewTestament , #Thessalonians , #BibleStudy...

Followers of Jesus are called to lives set apart from the rest of the world. The world may choose to have sex with whoever they want whenever they want, but those of us who follow Jesus are to honor God by choosing to express ourselves sexually within the context of a covenant marriage. In living differently from the world we please God as we are trusting Him, and could potentially intrigue those...

Timothy returned from visiting the Thessalonians and was able to report their faith was strong in spite of their challenging circumstances. Paul had warned them about being persecuted, and unfortunately his warnings came true. Even still they had endured which encouraged Paul, Silas, and Timothy who were praying for them night and day. #NewTestament , #Thessalonians , #BibleStudy , #Christianity ,...

Paul, Silas, and Timothy suffered a great deal in order to carry the message of Jesus to the Thessalonians, and now the Thessalonians were facing persecution. The church planters has pure motives in their efforts and expressed their care for this church family was like that of a nursing mother or a loving father. They hoped to visit but were being kept by doing so by dark spiritual forces. These p...

Paul, Silas, and Timothy commend the Thessalonian believers for their faith, love, and endurance. They turned away from their previous beliefs and idols to embrace the message of Jesus only to then experience intense persecution. Word traveled among the other churches inspiring them in their own faith. The church planters writing the Thessalonians thanked them for their faith, hope, and love in sp...

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece. Acts 17 records the remarkable visit Paul and his companions had in this notable city. Jealous Jews opposed Paul because his message of the crucified and risen Messiah was so effective, but he was able to escape. The angry mob took Jason to the Roman Forum since he had hosted Paul. Luke, the author of Acts used the word “politarches” to describe t...

Paul concludes his letter promising to pray for them, acknowledging that Epaphras is praying for them and the other churches he helped start, and asking them for prayer. Prayer is a powerful form of serving others. He reminds us the best way to share our faith is to “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seas...

After Jesus rose from the dead He taught His disciples and appeared before hundreds of people. Many of them were still alive when Paul was writing His letters and could verify they saw Jesus alive after He had been crucified. Jesus then ascended to Heaven to rule over His invisible Kingdom just as was prophesied the Son of Man would do in the book of Daniel. So then, we are to have our hearts and...

Since the Colossians were Gentiles, the Judaizers targeted them. The Judaizers taught that to become a Christian you must first become Jewish. This meant the men would need to be circumcised and all would need to observe special kosher eating laws and honor certain holidays. Paul sees this as a false gospel because the Judaizers were saying what Jesus did on the cross was not enough! Paul says fai...

Paul and Timothy start their letter encouraging the Colossians who they don’t know personally but know through their friend Epaphras. They encourage them that the message of Jesus is transforming lives all across the Roman world just as it is in their town. They also encourage the Colossians to live a life worthy of the Lord and to please Him in every way. To do so includes doing good works, being...

Paul concludes his letter to his friends in Philippi urging two people who were feuding to choose unity. He then guides believers towards a life of peace by taking our anxious thoughts to God in prayer allowing Him to transform our perspective. The battle is in the mind as we are to think on those things which are pure, praiseworthy, lovely, admirable, noble, true, excellent, and right. In doing s...

Paul warns about those who want Gentiles to become Jews before the can become Christians. Paul himself, once a zealous Pharisee, considers his former accomplishments as worthless compared to knowing Christ. This shift in perspective underscores the Christian belief that salvation is a gift of grace, not something earned through human effort. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of pressing o...

The apostle Paul encourages the Philippians to choose humble people themselves, following the example of Jesus who willingly emptied himself even to the point of dying on the cross for the sake of humanity. As a result, God exalted Him above all else “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,...

Paul expresses a deep love for the church in Philippi. They sent one of their leaders along with financial help to Paul. This letter is his thank you note expressing his love for them, and he is also encouraging them that he is still experiencing the joy of following Jesus, and seeing the message of Jesus spread while he’s in prison. for Paul it’s about a perspective that’s different than the rest...

On his second missionary journey in about the year A.D. 49, Paul and his team were led to Europe for the first time. Acts 16 tells us that the the Holy Spirit blocked them from going one way and the Spirit of Jesus blocked them from going another way. Eventually, God gave Paul a vision of a Macedonian man. Ironically the first person to respond to their message was actually a woman named Lydia. Pa...

Paul continues writing to those who follow Jesus about living differently in their households. Our homes are to be known by the way we love, honor, and respect one another. Paul addresses masters and slaves which is not his way of approving of this living arrangement. Instead it was an acknowledgment of where most people were as 80% of the Romans world were enslaved. This was not race-based or the...

Followers of Jesus are called and equipped to live differently. We are to be a light in our dark world by living a life of love. This means hating what is evil by choosing to avoid doing the things that bring death and destruction to our lives and the lives of those we love. This all means that in all of our relationships we submit to one another out of reverence to Jesus. If we are married, our m...

Paul urges believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ, emphasizing qualities such as humility, gentleness, patience, and love. He stresses the idea of maintaining unity through the bond of peace. Paul likens the Church to a body, with Christ as the head and individual believers as its various parts, emphasizing the interconnectedness and mutual dependence of believers within t...

Paul explains the mystery of God's plan for humanity, which was previously hidden but has now been revealed through Jesus. This mystery is essentially the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan of salvation alongside the Jews, on an equal footing, through faith in Christ. Paul also highlights the immense depth of God's love and the spiritual power available to believers. He prays that the...

Every one of us begins life disconnected from God and spiritually dead. Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross taking on the sins of humanity, we can be forgiven and made right with God. The Spirit of God comes to live within us and makes us alive in Christ! Paul explains how this happens: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift...

Paul writes to help those who follow Jesus know how to live in a pagan world. He begins by reminding us of our identity in Christ. In Christ, we are blessed, loved, chosen, holy, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, included, marked, and called. Paul prays followers of Jesus would experience greater spiritual understanding, enlightenment, and insight into the depths of the incredible power and hope that c...

The letter to the Ephesians was actually a circular letter written by the apostle Paul. It was meant to be passed from church to church as he included guidance on on how to live for Jesus in a pagan world. Paul lived and served in Ephesus for 2 years (and may have been imprisoned there for another year). Ephesus was the 3rd largest city in the Roman Empire behind Rome and Alexandria. There were 25...