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2021-12-04T00:17:25-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

5 Misconceptions about First Corinthians

Last updated on: December 4, 2021 at 12:17 am By B. J. Oropeza

We often hear Paul’s second largest letter, 1 Corinthians, read at wedding ceremonies. Its famous “love” chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, is considered one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry regarding love. The letter also famously speaks of the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection of Christ, among many other things. There are also a number of popular misconceptions about this letter. We will cover five of them, beginning with the well-known chapter on love. First Corinthians 13 This... Read more

2022-09-04T07:55:17-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Who is the God of this Age? Five Views of 2 Corinthians 4:4

Last updated on: September 4, 2022 at 7:55 am By B. J. Oropeza

In 2 Corinthians 4:4 the apostle Paul says: The “god of this age” has blinded the minds of unbelievers from seeing the light of the gospel so that they could understand and follow Christ. In the Greek, there is no distinction between an upper case “God” or lower case “god.” Theos can mean either of these depending on syntax and context. There are a few competing views regarding the identity of this being. Five Views of the “God of this... Read more

2021-11-03T13:20:03-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why Should I Read the Bible Intertextually? Five Reasons

Last updated on: November 3, 2021 at 1:20 pm By B. J. Oropeza

What do I mean by reading the Bible intertextually? And what is intertextuality? The term refers to our detecting words in a given text that can be found in another text (broadly speaking). In the Bible we see this happening all the time whenever a New Testament author references or alludes to a person, place, or thing from the Old Testament. And of course, this also happens whenever New Testament authors quote something from the Old Testament. A famous example... Read more

New Testament use of Old Testament

New Testament use of the Old Testament

2021-10-16T22:36:04-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Does the Bible Have a GPS? Professor Robert Mullins Shares His Insights from Atlas of the Biblical World

Last updated on: October 16, 2021 at 10:36 pm By B. J. Oropeza

I had the recent privilege of interviewing Dr. Robert A. Mullins, Professor and Chair of the Biblical and Religious Studies Department at Azusa Pacific University. Dr. Mullins is an outstanding archaeologist and fellow colleague who recently wrote a book that is extremely helpful for Bible enthusiasts, students, ministers, and academicians alike: Atlas of the Biblical World (Fortress Press). This user-friendly work, co-authored by Professor Mark Vitalis Hoffman of United Lutheran Seminary, is a virtual tour guide of the biblical world.... Read more

2021-10-16T22:35:55-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Put on the Full Armor of God”: Applying Ephesians 6:10-18

Last updated on: October 16, 2021 at 10:35 pm By B. J. Oropeza

Apart from standing firm against malicious forces, we must also put on the armor of God. Ephesians 6:10–18 encourages us to do so. This second study on spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 will focus on the armor. Ephesians 6:10-18 seems to borrow from Jewish Scripture and traditions that depict the Lord as a warrior armed with righteousness, salvation, and vengeance ready to repay his enemies and deliver his people (Isaiah 59:14–19; compare Wisdom of Solomon 5.15–23). In Ephesians, however, Christ’s... Read more

2021-10-16T22:35:20-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Four Views on Fate and Freewill: Christian Perspectives

Last updated on: October 16, 2021 at 10:35 pm By B. J. Oropeza

Four different voices that give us insight on fate and freewill are Boethius, John of Damascus, Peter Abelard, and the Glossa Ordinaria. These are Christian voices from the medieval times that still resonant today. They inform our conversations about divine election, foreknowledge, and predestination. Boethius and His Encounter with Lady “Philosophy” Boethius wrote, The Consolation of Philosophy (Consolatio Philosophiae) either when imprisoned or in exile from Rome (c. 480–524). Theodoric the Great punished him because of a conspiracy attempting to... Read more

2021-10-16T22:35:33-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ephesians 6:10-18, Spiritual Attacks, and the Good Fight of Faith

Last updated on: October 16, 2021 at 10:35 pm By B. J. Oropeza

In Ephesians, the community in Christ is to engage in a spiritual battle and put on the whole “armor of God” (Eph 6:10–18). For New Testament believers, the devil and his minions are real forces that can attack those who are in Christ. The metaphoric combative gear and weaponry that this letter promotes include truth, righteousness, faith, knowledge of the God’s word, empowerment by God’s Spirit, confidence in salvation, and being grounded in the gospel that restores peace to the... Read more

2021-09-04T22:17:15-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Thomas Aquinas on Mercy: Should I Forgive One Person but not the Other?

Last updated on: September 4, 2021 at 10:17 pm By B. J. Oropeza

The great 13th century Dominican philosopher Thomas Aquinas writes about Jacob’s election over Esau prior to either son being born. God made his choice before either child could do anything good or bad (Romans 9:10–12/ Genesis 25:21–25). According to Aquinas’s Commentary on Romans (C.9 L.2.758), this passage excludes at least three errors: First, it precludes assumptions that one can trust in the merits of one’s ancestors. In other words, God is not obligated to excuse individuals purely because of the... Read more

2021-08-20T21:36:02-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

St. Augustine vs. St. Augustine: Grace and Foreknowledge in Romans 9

Last updated on: August 20, 2021 at 9:36 pm By B. J. Oropeza

Apart from his celebrated works, Confessions and The City of God, Saint Augustine of Hippo also influenced many theologians in the West with his view of doctrines such as original sin, grace, election, and predestination. He likewise commented on many verses in Romans. In this third instalment of the Romans 9 debate, we will notice that Augustine’s earlier interpretation on subjects relevant to Rom 9 do not always agree with those of his later writings. Earlier Augustine: God Chooses by... Read more

2021-08-03T16:09:59-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Chosen Prior to Faith or Chosen by Foreknown Faith? A Look at the Early Church Fathers on Romans 9

Last updated on: August 3, 2021 at 4:09 pm By B. J. Oropeza

Does Romans 9 teach that God chooses individuals irrespective of their faith? Or is it that God elects based on foreknowledge of their faith? In our first instalment on the Romans 9 debate we covered ancient Jewish sects on divine determinism and freewill. We will now look at early church writers and their interpretation of Romans 9. In Romans 9:10–23 we find God saying that he loved Jacob and hated Esau; God chose Jacob over Esau before either one could... Read more

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