The general extent and purpose of Paul’s missionary journeys appears in Romans 15:18-24: “From Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ,” with the ambition that as many as possible of those who had not yet seen or heard of Him might see and understand. In these journeys we […]
While Luke is very sparing of personal details, he gives us some few hints about Paul’s physical characteristics as bearing on his moral influence. As an orator, he evidently used a good deal of gesture with his hands; for example, he enforced a point to the Ephesian elders by showing them “these hands” (20:34). When […]
Saul of Tarsus was head in whatever circle he moved, whether as Saul the persecuting Pharisee, or Paul the laboring missionary. If he was chief of sinners, he became chief of saints. If he was the man of action whirling over the Roman Empire, he was doing it with constructive statesmanship with no less a […]
Money, like fire and water, is a cruel master but a very productive servant. Some of the earliest incidents in the church were associated with money. After the great blessing at Pentecost (Acts 2) an enormous need was created among the new believers. The practical supply came from the believers who had resources. A second […]
To readers who have been impressed with the exquisite courtesy and consummate skill of Paul’s address at Athens, it comes as a shock to learn that some Bible students have seriously suggested that it was in fact a great mistake. For once, they say, Paul trusted his excellency of speech and wisdom and omitted the […]
The cheer that brightened the simple English cottage where he was born fled early for Leonard Sheldrake (1885-1952). He was six, his sister eight, and his brothers four and two when tuberculosis claimed their mother. Never a strong child, he once overheard a neighboring housewife remark, “Poor laddie, he’s not long for this world.” When […]
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Phil. 3:10). Note these expressions: “Christ,” I want to know “Him.” And this is how he wanted to know Him–by “power”–I want to know the power of His resurrection, he declared. And […]
We took a few hours at the end of a busy Saturday to take our younger children for a little boat cruise on the Kalamazoo River at the quaint town of Saugatuck, MI. As the little paddle steamer edged from the pier, a tan spaniel deftly loped on board. We later learned he belonged to […]
Judah typifies Christ as king; Levi foreshadows the Lord as priest. No one in Israel could function as both king and priest. The Pharaohs professed that they were sons of Ra, the chief god. Augustus Caesar became the chief priest of Rome. One king of Judah, Uzziah, aspiring to burn incense in the Holy Place, […]