Faith in Romans, Part 1 - The Obedience of Faith among all Gentile Nations:
Volume 5, Number 2This is the first in a series examining the use of the Greek word pistis, (G4002) usually translated “faith” in Romans where it occurs 40 times, the most frequent in any New Testament (NT) book. Today, we’ll compare the first and last occurrences of faith and then the 2nd through the 6th in the first chapter:• First occurrence; “By whom (the Lord Jesus Christ) we (Paul and his fellow apostles) have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:” Romans 1:5,• Fortieth and last occurrence; “Now to him that is of power to... Continue reading →
Introduction to the Pauline Epistles: The Perfect Design of Scripture: The Gospel of the Grace of God - through Faith:
Volume 5, Number 1In Volume 5, I hope to cover all words relating to faith in the thirteen epistles identified as the Apostle Paul’s. This includes Romans through Philemon as well as Hebrews, as there are a number of indications that Paul also wrote Hebrews. If so, we have fourteen epistles wherein Paul reveals the Gospel of the Grace of God he received directly from the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. The number fourteen is significant since seven in Scripture signifies Spiritual perfection and therefore fourteen implies a measure of double Spiritual perfection. *Paul wrote: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,... Continue reading →
39th & Last Occasion in Acts of the Greek word pisteuo, i.e., believe: The Kingdom Gospel to Israel set aside with the preaching of the Gospel of God’s Grace to Gentiles and Jews alike:
Volume 4, Number 50Our last study closed with King Agrippa telling Governor Festus that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar, he would have been set free because he had done nothing wrong, Acts 26:31 - 32. But Paul didn’t make a mistake in doing so because the Lord had a plan for him, and Paul’s appeal got him an armed escort voyage to Rome. The Lord Jesus Christ had appeared to Paul more than 2 years prior and told him that just as he had testified about Him in Jerusalem, he would do so in Rome, Acts 23:10 - 11. A Centurion... Continue reading →
37th & 38th Occasions of Believe in Acts: Paul Witnesses to King Agrippa, Bernice and Governor Festus:
Volume 4, Number 49The study before last (Vol 4, No 47) documented the incident when the Chief Priests and Elders, along with 40 men who had taken an oath not to eat or drink until they killed Paul came to Caesarea from Jerusalem to accuse him before the Roman Governor Felix. They brought a spokesman named Tertullus to state the charges, Acts 23:12 - 35 and Acts 24:1 - 4; that Paul: 1) was pestilent. The Greek word translated “pestilent” is only found two other places in the New Testament (NT) where it is translated “plague.” So, their claim was that Paul was... Continue reading →
The Significance of: The power of death; The Woman’s seed; Fathers and Blood
Volume 4, Number 48Video unsupported... Continue reading →
36th Occasion of Believe in Acts: Paul rescued from Jerusalem and testifies he believes the entire Old Testament Scriptures:
Volume 4, Number 47We last read about the Apostle Paul reasoning with a mob of his Jewish countrymen while standing on the steps of the Roman fortress next to the Temple in Jerusalem, Acts 22:1 - 20. The mob had seized, carried him out of the Temple, and attempted to kill him, Acts 21:27 - 31 when Claudius Lysias, Acts 23:26, the Chief Captain of the Roman soldiers stationed in Jerusalem, Acts 21:31, got word and rescued him, Acts 21:32. (The title “Chief Captain” is translated from the Greek “chiliarchos,” (G5506) found 22 times in the NT, meaning a commander of 1000 soldiers.)... Continue reading →
35th Occasion of Believe in Acts - Paul sent to the Gentiles - his attempt to reach Israel thwarted:
Volume 4, Number 46Our last study concluded with the Apostle Paul accompanying four Jewish men into the Temple at Jerusalem, having taken a Nazarite vow with them (as decreed in the Law - Numbers 6:1 - 21). James and the Jewish Elders had asked Paul to do this to prove to the Jews in Jerusalem who believed Jesus was their Messiah that Paul followed the Law of Moses, Acts 21:18 - 26, as did they while they waited for the Tribulation, as prophesied in the Old Testament as well as by Jesus when He was on earth, Matthew 24:3 - 28. They rightfully... Continue reading →
Believe in Acts (33 & 34) - Elders, Disciples, Brethren, Evangelists and Saints:
Volume 4, Number 45Elders - The 20th chapter of Acts closes in the City of Miletus (on the Mediterranean coast of modern-day Turkey) with the Apostle Paul saying goodbye to the Elders from Ephesus who had traveled there to meet with him. They were in tears knowing they would never see him again as they prayed and accompanied him to his ship, Acts 20:17 - 38. The Greek word translated Elders is “presbuteros” (Greek # 4145) found 66 times in the New Testament (NT); most often in Acts with 18, Matthew with 13 and 12 in Revelation. Obviously, our English word Presbyterian comes... Continue reading →
Paul's Epistles and the Book of Acts:
Volume 4, Number 44The following audio clip is a recording of a talk I presented at West Valley Grace Fellowship in Sun City West on Sunday, January 20, 2019. Included is a map of the Mediterranean countries through which Paul traveled, outlining his travels. You can view the map as the study progresses to better understand Paul’s travels and ministry.This study presents a basic timeline of events recorded from about the 17th to the 20th chapters of Acts recording part of the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey and into his third. The events and places in these chapters are compared to the epistles... Continue reading →
Paul's 3rd & Last Recorded Missionary Journey - Money Collected for the Poor Jewish Saints in the Jerusalem Church:
Volume 4, Number 43Our last study examined the 19th chapter of Acts, which documents Paul’s visit to Ephesus. The 30th and 31st occasions of the word “believe” in Acts occurs there describing believers in Ephesus who were not aware of the gift of the Holy Spirit prior to Paul’s arrival, Acts 19:2 and Acts 19:3 - 4. The 32nd occasion refers to those in Ephesus who burned their pagan/cultic books worth 50,000 pieces of silver, Acts 19:18 - 19. Chapter 20 does not contain the word believe. This study will document the timeline of events recorded in Acts 19 & 20 by comparing... Continue reading →