This is Paul’s last letter before his execution. It was written during his final Roman imprisonment. The epistle summons Timothy to Paul’s side. It is intended to help Timothy understand the events...

The Philippian church was established by Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 16:11ff). These people quickly secured a place in the great apostle’s heart. This letter, written some ten years ...

This book, authored by the Lord’s half-brother (Galatians 1:19), is directed to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad.” This is either Jewish Christians or a figurative designation for "spiritual Isr...

Logos is the term used in the Gospel of John to describe the preincarnate Christ. “In the beginning was the Word [logos] and the Word [logos] became flesh” (Jn. 1:1, 14). Though the term logos was...

The third book of the N.T., the Gospel of Luke, was intended as a defense of the historical data regarding Jesus — especially on behalf of the Greeks. Authored by Luke, a Gentile physician (Col. 4...

Peter addressed this letter to “the elect,” i.e., Christians, who are dispersed in Asia Minor. The main theme of the epistle is explicitly stated. He urges the brethren to “stand fast” in the "grac...

The expression “Son of Man” is found mostly in the Gospel accounts (some 80 times) — especially the Synoptics (see) — and it is the term Christ used more than any other to designate himself. In f...

The expression “Great Commission” is commonly used to refer to a special directive Christ gave in a post-resurrection appearance before he ascended back into heaven. 

The “commission” is found in ...

Apostasy is an English term based on the Greek apotasia. Originally, it meant to desert one’s post; it was used for political revolt.

In the Old Testament, the word implies a turning away from Go...

The role of the Christian teacher is sobering indeed, for those who presume to “teach” will receive a “heavier judgment” (Jas. 3:1). This warning is not designed to discourage teaching (a divine ob...

Jude, a brother of James and a half-brother of Jesus (1:1; Matthew 13:55), is the author of this general epistle. As he began a letter about the “common salvation,” he felt compelled to issue a war...

Paul wrote this epistle to a church he had established on his second missionary campaign (Acts 18:1-11). It deals with problems within that local congregation, such as division (1:10ff), carnality ...

The concept of eternal life is outlined in an abbreviated form in the Old Testament (cf. Dan. 12:2). However, it comes into full bloom in the New Testament revelation. Life and immortality are brou...

Literally, this term has to do with the implantation of seed by which a child is conceived. The word is used in Scripture figuratively to illustrate the spiritual agency, namely the word of God, by...

This word is derived from a Greek term meaning “separated.” (a) “Saint” refers to an ordinary member of Christ’s church who has submitted to gospel obedience (Phil. 1:1; 4:21; 2 Thes. 1:10). (b) A ...

God is often referred to as a “Father” (107 times in the Gospel of John alone). The Scriptures use the term in several ways:

God is the Father of all men in the sense that he is the Creator of hum...

Before Jesus was born, the angel informed Mary: “the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35). The descriptive reveals something of the unique essence of Christ. The ...

The most common Greek word representing this idea is apollumi. The term can suggest the idea of an object that is estranged from its owner. A shepherd loses his sheep, a woman loses a coin, a Fathe...

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the very foundation of Christianity. If the Lord was not raised, the religion of Christ is a hoax (cf. 1 Cor. 15:4; 14-19). The Savior’s resurrecti...

Sanctified suggests “having been separated from (something), set apart.” The term is used in a variety of ways in the Bible. (a) Both God the Father and Christ the Son are to be sanctified (Num. 20...