It's interesting to see what Paul commends the Thessalonian church for in his opening words. It isn't for their correctness of doctrine, but for the way they 'put their faith into practice', for the way they 'work so hard...

In these verses, Paul says some very significant things about the relationship between the leader of a church and his or her congregation. It wasn't quite like that, of course – this was a missionary situation, and he and Silas had formed a ne...

This is a heart-warming chapter. Paul speaks of his deep love for the Thessalonians, and of his fear that they might have been seduced from their love of God by fear of persecution (verse 5). It's good news though: Timothy, whom Paul had sent to...

In this chapter Paul stresses the need for holy and quiet living that attracts the respect of those outside the Christian community. Towards the end, he begins to talk about what we call the Second Coming, an idea that Christians have argued over for...

This story proceeds at a breakneck speed, like Jehu's driving (verse 20). Evidently the Israelite army officers have grown tired of King Joram, perhaps because of his unsuccessful alliance with Judah's King Ahaziah against Syria (8.28–29).

King Jehu was determined to purge Israel of every trace of Ahab's family and the Baal-worship they had promoted. The list of his murders is deeply depressing, especially because it was done in the name of the LORD.

The bloodthirsty King Jehu has killed not just the Israelites who stood in his way, but Ahaziah, king of Judah (9.27). The way was open for another palace coup, but this one is carried out, unusually, by a woman – his mother Athaliah.

This period of Israel's history sees the nation under continuous attack by the Syrians to the north, and in occasional conflict with Judah to the south. King Jehu's son Jehoahaz and grandson Jehoash are both condemned for 'leading Isra...

Judah's King Amaziah takes over from his father, the murdered King Joash (12.20–21). Like his father, he is commended for doing 'what was pleasing to the LORD', though like him he didn't purge the kingdom of Baal-worship.

Titus is ministering in Crete, and Paul is not very complimentary about Cretans (verses 12–13) – 'liars, wicked beasts and lazy gluttons' is not diplomatic language. As usual in his letters, we only have one side of the conversation.

It's probably true to say that most of us assume we are good people. We are unlikely, if we're part of a Christian community, to be habitually adulterous or drunk or prone to stealing or violence. In Paul's day these things needed to b...

Having urged the most confident in the Corinthian church to rethink their right to exercise their freedom in Christ for the sake of someone else’s weaker conscience, Paul now speaks personally about refraining from certain rights for the sake of hi...

Was Absalom always going to 'break bad', or was the tension with his father the thing that tipped him over the edge? Either way, he planned a classic coup, getting the people on his side by promising them whatever they wanted. Unlike most r...

David and his regime have been plunged into chaos by Absalom's rebellion. Amid the scramble for safety, loyalties disintegrate and many are simply out for what they can get. Among these is Ziba, a former servant of Saul and now of his grandson M...

David's troubles are not over yet; he has to deal with another rebellion. Again, it is the northern tribes who prove disloyal. Amasa, to whom David has given the command of the army, is evidently not up to the job (verse 5); David falls back on ...

Here Paul delves into the long conflict between good and evil in human nature. Now, he says, we have a divine power, the Holy Spirit, on our side. The death of Christ was a decisive moment, and we share in his resurrection life.

Paul continues his instructions for church practice. As on previous occasions, such as the eating of sacrificial meat or the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, he tells his readers to be considerate of each other; here he applies that principle to t...

Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit to the east gate of the temple, where the 'glory of the Lord' had stopped before totally abandoning the sanctuary. This idea of the 'glory of the Lord' is a recurring Old Testament motif –'She...

Chapters 12–19 are a series of prophecies about the fate of Jerusalem, which include the flight of the prince from Jerusalem and the continued misery of those in the city. First, there is another prophetic action. God ordered Ezekiel to prepare an ...

Ezekiel’s next vision describes the many false prophets who prophesied out of their own imaginations, and not from a true vision sent by God. So in place of telling the truth, they have told lies, using phrases such as 'thus says the Lord'...