It is not an uncommon thing that a Bible verse, which seems so simple, can be so deep and brimming with meaning. Such surely is the case with the apostle John’s tender message in 1 John 2:1-2. In this week’s Penpoints, we contemplate this thrilling passage.

“Gospel” derives from the Greek euangelion, literally “good tidings” (see Lk. 2:10, where it is fully translated). The gospel is mentioned more than 75 times in the New Testament. It is the good ne...

A reed is a symbol of instability; a pillar signifies a solid, immovable foundation. The church of today must ask: “Are we a ‘reed shaken in the wind’ or are we the ‘pillar and ground of the truth’”?

“Communion” is a term applied to the Lord’s Supper because of its usage in 1 Corinthians 10:16. This act of worship emphasizes the fellowship (koinonia — sharing, participation) we enjoy with Chris...

A covenant is an agreement between two parties. In some cases, the parties stand on equal footing, and each party contributes to the conditions of the covenant. 

It can be the case, however, that ...

“Liberalism” (in the classical sense of the word) is a rather flexible term for an ideological disposition that developed in the 1800’s, and reached an intense level in America during the days prec...

The Greek expression for “lord” is kurios. One must look at the context to observe the sense conveyed in a particular setting. “Lord” may be used as a mere title of respect, or it can suggest one w...

Righteous is the state or quality of being right. (a) Only Deity is righteous in the absolute sense (Rom. 3:10). To speak of the righteousness of God is to affirm his absolute morality, and the exp...

Every one uses the principles of “logic,” whether aware of it or not. Humans cannot function without some logical skill. When it comes to religion, however, many fling “logic” to the wind. No where is this more apparent that in considering the plan of divine salvation.

Could Jesus have been created by God before the Universe existed? While the Jehovah’s Witnesses make this claim, the Bible does not support it.

In an earlier phase of his legal trial, some Christians had neglected to provide support for Paul. How did the noble apostle handle this lapse of courage?

America is the land of the “free.” But “free” to do what? Anything one wishes, irrespective of the harm to others? This is a probing question that many seem to have forgotten.

The incident in 2 Kings 2:23-24 of Elisha, the bears, and the mocking lads has been cited by atheists in an attempt to involve the Bible in moral difficulty.

Zechariah 14 has no reference whatever to a millennial reign of Christ upon the earth.

This article explores the character traits of Paul, the Apostle, highlighting his persistence, patience, courage, humility, uncompromising nature, willingness to yield, ethical character, and forgiving nature. These traits have left a lasting influence on the Christian faith.

The book of Hebrews is a marvelous treatise revealing the superiority of Christ and his New Covenant system over that of the preparatory Mosaic regime. The first chapter presents some fascinating portraits of the Lord Jesus.

For some twenty centuries critics of the Bible have sought to discredit the scriptural narrative regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. These efforts have all been characterized by a similarly frustrated and futile line of baseless argument. One such endeavor in recent decades was Hugh J. Schonfield’s infamous, The Passover Plot. In this weeks Penpoints, Jason Jackson reminds us of this anemic enterprise.

Must you be “illuminated” by the Holy Spirit before you can understand what he wrote?

While most people (according to polls) believe in “God,” many entertain a variety of false ideas relative to the Supreme Being. This article discusses some of these views.

The conditions of the first century world attest to the wonderful planning of God.