Prophecy

Paul believed a significant prophetic event would happen in his near future, perhaps during his lifetime, and he based that belief on the words of Christ. Inmillennialism, a prophetic view based on the Olivet Discourse and 1 Corinthians 15, accounts for this perspective. As I mentioned in my last post (here),…

The last paragraph of Paul’s first letter to Timothy shows his underlying prophetic perspective. As I’ve said, the pastoral nature of this epistle keeps this viewpoint in the background, but it sometimes crops out. The Apostle’s conclusion (1 Tim 6:13–21) is such a place. In this post, I will discuss…

As I was finishing the previous post (here), the following statement grabbed my attention: “Till I come (Gk. erchomai), give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim 4:13). After a bit of thought, I recognized the reason for my sensitivity to this exhortation. In this non-prophetic context, Paul’s…

Our survey of 1 Timothy brings us to another passage that contrasts two ages: Paul says, “Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim 4:8). Commentators have long assumed that…

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul makes a statement that commentators have used to support their gloomy predictions for the church in history. The Apostle says, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of…

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells him how to care for the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made him a shepherd (cp. Acts 20:28). Most of his instructions deal with practical matters of spiritual warfare: opposition from heretics (1 Tim 1:18–20); prayer (1 Tim 2:1–7); the…

I want you to consider inmillennialism, a model for interpreting prophecy based on the Olivet Discourse and 1 Corinthians 15. This view supports an optimistic view of the kingdom of God—Jesus Christ is reigning and is subduing all His enemies. His ultimate conquest will be over death, in the bodily resurrection…

I want to take a moment to recap the work we (myself and guest bloggers) have done on the blog and explain my plans for the future. I have shown that inmillennialism (my prophetic model) arises from an exposition of the Olivet Discourse and 1 Corinthians 15 (here). My follow-on projects…

Dr. Tom Nettles describes James’ view of the “last days” and the coming of the Lord in his foreword to my book: “Behold the judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9). I read these verses today and considered seriously the possibility that James, the pastor of Christians in Jerusalem,…

James tells Christians (i.e., the twelve tribes of Israel) to honor the poor (Jas 1:1; 2:1–13). To reinforce his message, he says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those…