I Thessalonians 2:1–2:8 In today’s passage, Paul lays out what his conduct in
Thessaloniki was by contrasting it against what it was not:
Not in Vain (v. 1): Acts 17 records how Paul and Silas were
able to plant a church in Thessaloniki despite ... Read more
I Thessalonians 1:6–1:10 Despite severe suffering the Thessalonians had welcomed their
message with great joy and became imitators of Paul and Silas
(v. 6). Often a new Christian first looks to other believers as
his example, but then as he matures he realizes that Jesus
Christ is his best model (I Peter 2:21). That’s why we need to
be ... Read more
I Thessalonians 1:1–1:5 In Paul’s day letters usually started out with the person writing
the letter using their own name first and then the name of the
person or church to whom he was writing (v. 1). Paul
addresses his fellow Christians as brothers and prays that God
will be kind to them and bless them … Read more
Galatians 6:11–6:18 In closing out his letter to the Galatians Paul does not pats
them on the head and tell them he knows they meant well,
but instead he restates the issues and gives them strong
reproof. In this passage Paul presents three “marked men;
“the legalist (vv. 12-13), the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 14-16),
and the Apostle Paul himself ... Read more
Galatians 6:6–6:10 This portion of scripture is often referred to as “the law of the
harvest”, “the law of cause and effect” or “the sowing and
reaping principle.” If certain things are done, other things will
occur. Paul starts off by saying that just as the teacher shares
spiritual treasures, those who are taught need to share
material treasures (v. 6). Paul ... Read more
Galatians 6:1–6:5 Paul uses a hypothetical case of a believer who falls into sin.
Instead of trying to restore this person the Legalists will
condemn him and try to make himself look good by making
this person look bad. He seems to rejoice when this brother
falls and often gives the matter wide publicity. The Legalists
has an attitude of pride ... Read more
Galatians 5:22–5:26 The fruit of the Spirit in this passage has to do with character
(vv. 22-23). It is important that we distinguish the gift of the
Spirit which is salvation (Acts 2:38) and the gifts of the Spirit
which have to do with service (I Corinthians 12). In some
Christian circles there is a tendency to neglect the fruits of the
Spirit and ... Read more
Galatians 5:16–5:21 Paul describes the two conflicting forces that operates within
every believer (vv. 16-17). The believer still has within him
the old nature which is not eradicated, but is to be made
subject to the new nature. The mistake made by so many
misinformed Christians is trying to gain the victory by their
own efforts, by the works of the law ... Read more
Galatians 5:7–5:15 A little leaven causes a whole lump of dough to rise. It only
takes one person to infect all the others. Legalists reveal their
hypocrisy, for they fail to keep the whole law. They look upon
the Old Testament law the way a customer surveys the food in
a cafeteria line: they choose what they want and leave the
rest. The spirit of ... Read more
Galatians 5:1–5:6 Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws
and regulations. He came to set us free but not free to do
whatever we want because that would lead us back into
slavery to our selfish desires. Paul said to stand fast in our
liberty in Christ (v. 1). He often told believers to “stand fast”
(firm) for the cause of Christ ... Read more
Galatians 4:27–4:31 It is written that a barren woman, who has not given birth to
children should break forth with a joyful shout, because of not
feeling birth pangs, in comparison to the desolate woman who
has many more children than she who has a husband (v. 27).
This quotation from (Isaiah 54:1) says Israel before her
Babylonian Captivity was ... Read more
Galatians 4:21–4:26 Paul addresses those who want to be under the law (v. 21). In
his argument he takes the Galatians back to events in the Old
Testament that actually happened but he uses them as an
allegory. He takes them back to the life of Abraham and his
two sons, Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 21:2,9), who were born to
two different wives (legal in that ... Read more
Galatians 4:12–4:20 Paul knew how to balance rebuke with love. Within this text he
shows through sentimental argument how he is genuinely and
passionately interested in the Galatians personally. He turns
from “spanking” to “embracing” as he reminds them of how
they have loved him and how he loves them (vv. 12-15). He
commends the Galatians ... Read more
Galatians 4:1–4:11 The way of the Galatian Christians was not much different
than many Christians today who get involved in various
legalistic movements hoping to achieve certain goals. Children
who are under age are no better off than slaves, even though
everything their parents own will someday be theirs (v. 1).
This is because children are ... Read more
Recent commentaries
Paul’s Conduct
I Thessalonians 2:1–2:8
In today’s passage, Paul lays out what his conduct in Thessaloniki was by contrasting it against what it was not: Not in Vain (v. 1): Acts 17 records how Paul and Silas were able to plant a church in Thessaloniki despite ... Read more
An Exemplary People
I Thessalonians 1:6–1:10
Despite severe suffering the Thessalonians had welcomed their message with great joy and became imitators of Paul and Silas (v. 6). Often a new Christian first looks to other believers as his example, but then as he matures he realizes that Jesus Christ is his best model (I Peter 2:21). That’s why we need to be ... Read more
Ingredients For Growing a Christian
I Thessalonians 1:1–1:5
In Paul’s day letters usually started out with the person writing the letter using their own name first and then the name of the person or church to whom he was writing (v. 1). Paul addresses his fellow Christians as brothers and prays that God will be kind to them and bless them … Read more
Paul Glories in The Cross
Galatians 6:11–6:18
In closing out his letter to the Galatians Paul does not pats them on the head and tell them he knows they meant well, but instead he restates the issues and gives them strong reproof. In this passage Paul presents three “marked men; “the legalist (vv. 12-13), the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 14-16), and the Apostle Paul himself ... Read more
Be Generous And do Good
Galatians 6:6–6:10
This portion of scripture is often referred to as “the law of the harvest”, “the law of cause and effect” or “the sowing and reaping principle.” If certain things are done, other things will occur. Paul starts off by saying that just as the teacher shares spiritual treasures, those who are taught need to share material treasures (v. 6). Paul ... Read more
Bearing And Sharing The Burdens
Galatians 6:1–6:5
Paul uses a hypothetical case of a believer who falls into sin. Instead of trying to restore this person the Legalists will condemn him and try to make himself look good by making this person look bad. He seems to rejoice when this brother falls and often gives the matter wide publicity. The Legalists has an attitude of pride ... Read more
The Provison For Victory Over Sin
Galatians 5:22–5:26
The fruit of the Spirit in this passage has to do with character (vv. 22-23). It is important that we distinguish the gift of the Spirit which is salvation (Acts 2:38) and the gifts of the Spirit which have to do with service (I Corinthians 12). In some Christian circles there is a tendency to neglect the fruits of the Spirit and ... Read more
The Promise of Victory Over Sin
Galatians 5:16–5:21
Paul describes the two conflicting forces that operates within every believer (vv. 16-17). The believer still has within him the old nature which is not eradicated, but is to be made subject to the new nature. The mistake made by so many misinformed Christians is trying to gain the victory by their own efforts, by the works of the law ... Read more
Love Fulfills The Law
Galatians 5:7–5:15
A little leaven causes a whole lump of dough to rise. It only takes one person to infect all the others. Legalists reveal their hypocrisy, for they fail to keep the whole law. They look upon the Old Testament law the way a customer surveys the food in a cafeteria line: they choose what they want and leave the rest. The spirit of ... Read more
Christ Died to Set us Free
Galatians 5:1–5:6
Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. He came to set us free but not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Paul said to stand fast in our liberty in Christ (v. 1). He often told believers to “stand fast” (firm) for the cause of Christ ... Read more
A Comparison Between The Two Sons of Abraham
Galatians 4:27–4:31
It is written that a barren woman, who has not given birth to children should break forth with a joyful shout, because of not feeling birth pangs, in comparison to the desolate woman who has many more children than she who has a husband (v. 27). This quotation from (Isaiah 54:1) says Israel before her Babylonian Captivity was ... Read more
The Difference Between Law (slave) and Grace (free)
Galatians 4:21–4:26
Paul addresses those who want to be under the law (v. 21). In his argument he takes the Galatians back to events in the Old Testament that actually happened but he uses them as an allegory. He takes them back to the life of Abraham and his two sons, Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 21:2,9), who were born to two different wives (legal in that ... Read more
Building up People in Their Faith
Galatians 4:12–4:20
Paul knew how to balance rebuke with love. Within this text he shows through sentimental argument how he is genuinely and passionately interested in the Galatians personally. He turns from “spanking” to “embracing” as he reminds them of how they have loved him and how he loves them (vv. 12-15). He commends the Galatians ... Read more
Why Go Back Into Slavery?
Galatians 4:1–4:11
The way of the Galatian Christians was not much different than many Christians today who get involved in various legalistic movements hoping to achieve certain goals. Children who are under age are no better off than slaves, even though everything their parents own will someday be theirs (v. 1). This is because children are ... Read more