In Acts, Paul is first mentioned as Saul, a persecutor of the Jesus followers (Acts 7:58; 8:1, 3; 9:1, 4). Later on in Acts, his name changes to Paul. In Paul’s letters, he is never called Saul. So how did Saul’s name change to Paul? Paul always introduces himself in his letters with the honorable Latin-Roman name Paul (in Greek Παῦλος, and in Latin Paul(l)us). It is not clear whether this was his given name at birth. In Acts, he... Read more
The famous words, “What I hate, that I do,” along with “Oh wretched man that I am!” are expressions of exasperation. They come from the person who despises doing wrong but can’t stop doing it in Romans 7:7–25. Scholars identify this passage in Paul as “the divided I.” It reflects the human dilemma of knowing what is right but unable to do it—the person is enslaved to sin. Vice and addiction control them. Is Paul referring to his own plight... Read more
We probably have heard that faith is a gift, but in what sense? Is faith opposed to works and human effort? Helping us sort through questions related to faith is Dr. Michael Wolter, Professor of New Testament at the University of Bonn, Germany. He is also Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. His book, Paul: An Outline of His Theology (Baylor University Press) is mistitled in my opinion—it is quite a magisterial work at almost 500 pages.*... Read more
Did Paul’s colleague Demas really desert Paul? If so, in what sense? The relevant Scripture reads, “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved the present world-age and gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me…” (2 Timothy 4:10–11a). Traditionally speaking, Paul is said to be writing this letter to Timothy when in prison in Rome. The way the apostle speaks of Demas in tandem with Crescens and Titus may suggest all three of them... Read more
Here are some recent books on Christology, a total of 14 biblical-theological works on the study of Christ. The books I recommended in a previous blog focus on questions about the Jesus of history. But the books in this current blog focus more on Jesus as he relates to theology. These books center on such issues as his preexistence and incarnation, his messianic identity, his titles, and whether he was God manifest in the flesh. Some of these studies I... Read more
An A. I. Bible? The famous Depeche Mode song spoke about having your own personal Jesus. But in the 1989 hit, this happens by lifting up the telephone receiver. Nowadays, it’s happening by touching one’s screen or speaking to one’s smartphone. At an ever-increasing rate, Siri, Gemini, chatbots, and search engines are replacing the standard leatherbound editions of the Bible. What is good news is that sites and platforms like Bible Gateway and You Version are reaching and equipping many... Read more
If the 12 disciples of Jesus shook the ancient world, then 10 women in Rome shook the Roman world with the Apostle Paul. He names them as colleagues and friends in Romans 16:1–16. Here are the ten: Phoebe (Rom 16:1–2) Although not an actual member of the congregations in Rome, Phoebe made her mark in history by being the letter courier for Paul’s letter to the Romans. It is possible that she also was the first to read the letter... Read more
Paul warns his congregations against sinning and embracing false doctrines. To do so might jeopardize their faith. But do his warnings actually preserve believers from falling away? Some biblical interpreters argue that the warnings are used as a means by which God brings about perseverance among Christ’s followers: “When I hear the threats and warnings of Scripture, I take them seriously… If I apostatize, I will be cursed and experience the fierce wrath of God eternally. I tremble at such... Read more
Given the vast array of different books we could read about Jesus, which ones are worth reading? I have picked 12 great books. If you are a casual reader, these books will probably be longer and more intense than what you are used to reading. This list is really for the serious student or minister who wants good resources on Jesus. I write as a professor of biblical studies, and some of these books I have used as textbooks for... Read more
Here are the highlights from 2025 in review. Readers have picked their top 10 favorite posts from my In Christ column for this year. This list is based on viewership. Top 10 Favorite Posts from this Year Jesus and Divine Christology: Picking Brant Pitre’s Brain Brant Pitre’s recent book, Jesus and Divine Christology, argues mostly from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) the claims that Jesus himself makes that point to his deity. Pitre supports that these claims originate... Read more
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