The Lord’s Supper in Synoptic Gospels + Church Traditions

We cannot answer all the questions in this overview, but we can exegete the Lord’s Supper in its original context in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This post also looks very briefly at 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 and 11:23-34. Then, what do various churches teach about the Lord’s Supper (or Communion or Eucharist)? I am here to learn. I updated this post with information that startled me. I also learned something new from Exod. 12:14.

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Why Tithing Does Not Apply to New Covenant Believers

God’s New Covenant plan is much better than an obsolete, national, theocratic tax designed to support an obsolete, national, religious system. God has a better way for the New Covenant church.

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Yes, Junia Really Was a Female Apostle: A Close Look at Roman 16:7

The only reason this verse has become controversial and complicated is because Complementarians (those who restrict women from full participation in ministry) have made it controversial and complicated. But Rom. 16:7 is straightforward and clear and easily translated. (I updated this post.)

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What 1 Corinthians 14 Really Teaches

An old-fashioned Bible study here. There is a lot of confusion in certain quarters of the global Renewal Movement about what revivals involve. How can we clear up the confusion? What did Paul really teach in 1 Corinthians 14? Are we willing to obey his teaching or just run roughshod over it?

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How to Forgive Adultery and Fornication

Sometimes the church can be self-righteous and condemn a sinner in the name of holiness, ignoring mercy. Or it can be permissive in the name of mercy, ignoring holiness.

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Women Really Did Work as–and Were–Overseers, Elders, Pastors: A Close Look at 1 Timothy 5:9-10

I updated this post with a new table. Let’s explore this thesis, by comparing three passages, plus 1 Peter 5:1-5 and 1 Timothy 3:11, 12-13 (later), describing male elders and overseers and pastors, with elderly widows. All of them took care of the churches–the women functioned as pastors, elders, and overseers throughout their redeemed lives, because they were those things, when they saw the needs arise and because of their high-quality character and walk with God. (We also take a look at Titus 1:5-9 and 2:3-5).

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The Spirit in the Church and Believers

Renewalists have a robust and biblical pneumatology (doctrine of the Spirit). The church is a living organism, and the Spirit is guiding it. But the church is made up of individual believers. The Spirit works in them too.

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Why Doesn’t Divine Healing Happen One Hundred Percent of the Time in This Age?

Yes, healing is “in” the atonement, like every biblical benefit. So why not 100% healing right now? (I updated this post.)

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Are Older Women Restricted to Teaching (‘Only’?) Young Women? A Close Look at Titus 2:3-5

How restrictive are those verses in the title? Does the Greco-Roman household offer any guidance for reading them? What about other verses in the NT?

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New Testament Restricts Authority of Modern Prophets

Yes, prophets of a certain sort rightly exist today, biblically speaking. However, errors are committed in many churches today, usually by “youtube” and “facebook” prophets. They are unscripturally concentrating too much authority in themselves. A closer reading of the New Testament, however, restricts them, their authority, and their ministry.

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Are Women Allowed to Teach Men? A Close Look at 1 Timothy 2:11-15

Certain interpreters of those verses in the title have restricted women’s full participation in the teaching ministry. But are these restrictions truly biblical? Let’s take a deeper look at the verses in the title.

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False Prophets in Sinai Covenant and Imperfect Prophets in New Covenant: Life and Death Differences

Youtube critics daily, it seems, call for the blood of Christian prophets who are mistaken about some of their prophecies. The critics read Deuteronomy 13 and 18 and demand the death penalty for their ministries. But what did Paul say about them? Let’s do a side-by-side comparison of the OT and the NT.

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Women Teachers: New Translation and Reinterpretation of 1 Timothy 2

What if 1 Timothy 2:12-15 is not about women teaching and dominating men at church? What if it is about a husband and wife at home? Or does the house church merge the domestic and public spheres? What would that mean for church policy and women teachers out in public?

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The Church Fulfills and Replaces Old Testament Temple

Let’s allow the clarity of Scripture to overturn needlessly complicated and convoluted interpretations that have dominated American Christianity for many decades. Further, is this replacement the same as the church replacing Israel? Read the post to find out. And look at the photos, too!

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Gifts of the Spirit in Romans 12:6-8

Renewalists (Pentecostals, Charismatics and Neo-Charismatics) believe that all the gifts of God mentioned in the New Testament are for today. They flow from God and are exercised through the Spirit and grace and a yielded, eager heart when the need arises. Let’s study the ones in Rom. 12:6-8.

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Gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and 12:28

Renewalists (Pentecostals, Charismatics and New-Charismatics) believe these gifts are for today. This is an old-fashioned Bible study, word by word. line up line.

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Christianity Is Fastest Growing Religion in World

In this post, growth is defined by reaching people and converting them and an increase in church attendance, not birthrate or immigration. Measured in that way, Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the world, without a close second. Periodically updated.

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Supplemental Statements of Faith: Two Historic Creeds

The statement of faith at the website is the Apostles Creed and the Statement of Faith of the National Association of Evangelicals. The other two historic statements commented on in this post also make up the other portions of this website’s Statement of Faith.

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Works Cited

Here is a list of the principal works referenced or used at this site. More will be added as time goes on, so please check back.

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