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14
Feb
2026
Return To Your First Love

Return To Your First Love

You have abandoned the love you had at first. (Revelation 2:4)

We will always remember that best and brightest of hours when we first saw the Lord, lost our burden, received the gift of grace, rejoiced in full salvation, and went on our way in peace. It was springtime in the soul; the winter was past; the mutterings of Sinai’s thunders were hushed; the flashings of its lightnings were no more perceived; God was beheld as reconciled; the law threatened no vengeance, and justice demanded no punishment.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Study, Bible Teaching
11
Feb
2026
1 Tim 2:6 – For Whom Did Christ Die?

1 Tim 2:6 – For Whom Did Christ Die?

Problem: This verse declares that Christ gave Himself a ransom for all. The term “all” must be defined by its context. In verses 1-2 we are exhorted to pray for all men. Why should we pray for all men? Because God our Saviour is concerned about all men: “God our Saviour who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (verses 3-4). How did God prove that He really desires all men to be saved? He provided a Mediator between God and man and this Mediator gave Himself a ransom for all. In effect the Apostle is here saying, “Pray for all because God desires the salvation of all as evidenced by His death for all.”

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
22
Dec
2025
1 Cor 16:22 – Is it Wrong to Curse People?

1 Cor 16:22 – Is it Wrong to Curse People?

Problem: Jesus taught that we should love our enemies (Mt. 5:44), but Paul prays a curse over his enemies. This word for “accursed” is anathema. Colin Brown writes,

The LXX uses anathema regularly to translate the Hebrew herem, ban, what is banned (Num. 21:3; Josh. 6:17; 7:12; Judg. 1:17; Zech. 14:11 with the original root meaning to forbid, separate, consecrate, annihilate). What is banned (persons or things) is directly given up to God and so cannot be redeemed (Lev. 27:18).

The “ban” (Hebrew herem or Greek anathema) was originally for the Canaanites, who were judged by God (Josh. 6). Here, Paul uses the same word to describe the judgment on these false teachers. How can we harmonize Paul’s curse with Jesus’ words?
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching