… a servant of God …
Summary: Paul introduces himself as a “servant of God.” This sets the tone for the rest of the letter. These words are not about Paul, but about God.
Continue reading “Titus 1:1(b) — Servanthood”Titus 1:1(b) — Servanthood
1 Peter 5:14 (a) — Penultimate Ponderings
Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Summary: Peter uses one of about seven Greek words that can be translated as ‘’love.” The one he used means selfless love. The kind that Jesus shows to us.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:14 (a) — Penultimate Ponderings”1 Peter 5:13 — Mysteries
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
Summary: The concept of “knowledge” is widely misunderstood. We often confuse opinions for real knowledge. When it comes to the Bible, it is important to understand that our faith is in Jesus, the person, and not our opinions about the Bible.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:13 — Mysteries”1 Peter 5:12 (b) — Focal Point
… encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
Summary: We have a choice in what we look at. The truth in Peter’s letter includes both the suffering that comes with separation from the world, and the joy of knowing God loves you. We have to choose which one we want to look at.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:12 (b) — Focal Point”1 Peter 5:12 (a) — Unsung Hero
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly…
Summary: There are many famous names in the Bible. There are also names like Silas, who are not well known but did very important work.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:12 (a) — Unsung Hero”1 Peter 5:10 (d) — The Power to Restore
[And the God of all grace,]… will himself restore you …
Summary: We suffer in life and in death. In both cases, God himself will restore us.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:10 (d) — The Power to Restore”1 Peter 5:10 (b) — Called by God
… who called you to his eternal glory in Christ …
Summary: Peter outlines five callings in his letter. The first four lead to the fifth; sharing God’s eternal glory in Christ.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:10 (b) — Called by God”1 Peter 5:9 (a) — How the Devil Roars
Resist him, standing firm in the faith…
Summary: The devil has ways of messing with our minds and the minds of others. We can be attacked from both directions. Our only hope in standing up to the devil is to put on the armor of God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:9 (a) — How the Devil Roars”1 Peter 5:7 (a) — The Anxious Onion
Cast all your anxiety on him…
Summary: Life offers us an unlimited supply of anxieties. God offers us an unlimited supply of peace. All we have to do is trust him with our worries and anxiety, and let him do the rest.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:7 (a) — The Anxious Onion”1 Peter 5:6 — The Hand of God
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Summary: Submitting to God is the key to being lifted up.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:6 — The Hand of God”