This verse opens Paul’s famous exposition of the armor of God. According to Paul, the strength of God’s “armor” is received through reliance upon the power of the Holy Spirit (verse 18). Our strength does not come from ourselves, […]

  This is the Bible’s penultimate verse. John wrote the book of Revelation to Christians who were suffering from persecution, and these life giving words were intended to give them hope in the midst of their suffering. Likewise, as we […]

  Like its more well known cousin, Psalm 119, Psalm 19 extols the Law of God. In the Old Testament, the Law of God and the Word of God are used more or less synonymously. Interestingly, the Psalms are divided […]

This Trinitarian formula closes Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church. Just like Matthew in his recounting of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-19), Paul here demonstrates that the early Church believed in the equality of the persons of the Trinity […]

  Joy is one of the most important themes in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This verse repeats Paul’s early exhortation in 3:1. His point is not that sadness or even discouragement are inherently sinful responses, for Jesus himself experienced […]

The term “vanity” in Ecclesiastes is used as a synonym for “meaningless.” According to the author of Ecclesiastes, only a Christian perspective can make life meaningful. Without a God who transcends time and capable of granting eternal life, our striving […]