Discovering biographical data about writers of Scripture is tough–so many centuries ago, questionable sources, different ideas about using others’ more famous names, etc. We probably know as much about Luke, however, the evangelist/writer/historian, as any author. In addition to his Greek nationality and professional background as a physician, Luke uses the ‘we’ pronoun in parts […]
The Shrewd Steward: Puzzler of a Parable!
I remember reading about Jesus’ parables and laughing as a minister confessed, when asked if he would ever write a book on them, that the pastor would when he finally understood “The Shrewd Steward” (see Luke 16:1-13). By that time he had only been preaching about 50 years. I share that because if you’ve ever […]
Spirit-impelled Pairings: Philip and the Eunuch
Biblical pairings occur throughout the Scriptures but none more remarkably than in the book of Acts. There, people find each other through the most heavenly coincidences orchestrated by nothing less than the Holy Spirit. Acts is where we find the story of Philip and the Eunuch. When we encounter Philip in Acts 8, he is […]
Paul’s Easter Witness: Victor not Victim
One way to celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus is to look at the transforming effect Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance made on a Pharisee, Saul. Because of his Damascus road post-resurrection encounter, Paul considered himself an apostle, as chosen as the original twelve. In his most autobiographical letter, Paul writes the Galatians: 11 For I want […]
Why was Lazarus’ resurrection so Important to Early Christians?
You start to notice this focus on Lazarus in the earliest centuries of Christianity through the art. In the Roman catacombs alone there are over 55 paintings of Lazarus’s resurrection. Roughly an equal number exist of Roman sarcophagi, the marble caskets in which nobility were buried, depicting this life-affirming story relayed only in John’s Gospel. […]
