2017-January/February

In the Beginning

January 1, 2017

Exhortations, with a Deeper Side Exhortations to Godliness are a bulwark of the New Testament. Even the Gospel accounts, which are the foundation of the New Testament, are intertwined with exhortations by recounting the words, advice, and teachings of Jesus. The record of what Jesus did and how he conducted himself also constitute exhortations by way of example. In this issue, Exhortations, with a Deeper Side, we look at some of the exhortations from the New Testament epistles, and exhortations by example […]

The Greater Context of Hebrews Six

January 1, 2017

On to Maturity “Every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised … Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on” (Hebrews 5:13,14, 6:1). Hebrews chapter six, in which Paul itemizes the fundamental issues of our faith, is actually a parenthesis to his ongoing argument. Paul has been […]

Comfort One Another

January 1, 2017

Caught Up Together “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven … and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). David Rice Sometimes passages of scripture that we consider technical are actually embedded in the context of comforting exhortations. That is the case with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Paul evidently heard that some of the brethren he had lately become acquainted with in Thessalonica had passed into the sleep of death. This naturally brought sorrow to the brethren, as it does […]

Thoughts on the Book of Ruth

January 1, 2017

David’s Great Grandmother “Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16, all citations from NASB). by Ioan Hosu The Book of Ruth has been said to be part of a Bethlehem Trilogy, incorporating the narrative of Ruth and the last two narratives of the Book of Judges (chapters 17-18, then 19-21). Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David, as it would be the birthplace […]

Lessons From Hezekiah

January 1, 2017

A King With a Good Heart “Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. … He did that which was right in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that David his father did. … He trusted in Jehovah God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any […]