Tag: New Testament

Bible Note #59: Zacchaeus #3–Tax Collecting in Roman Palestine

~ gachorpenning ~ 5 Comments

Right up front, Luke tells us two key pieces of information about Zacchaeus.  He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.  These two facts were not unrelated.  Zacchaeus was rich because he was the chief tax collector of the region. Let’s review some of what it meant for Zacchaeus to be a tax … Continue reading Bible Note #59: Zacchaeus #3–Tax Collecting in Roman Palestine

Bible Note#58: Zacchaeus #2–Some Background

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In order to understand this encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9), we need to know a little bit about the geography of the Holy Land in Jesus' time.  So, let’s start with this question: where was Jericho and what was Jesus doing there?  I’ll address the second question first. What was Jesus doing in … Continue reading Bible Note#58: Zacchaeus #2–Some Background

Bible Note #51: James 2:1-4 & Valuing What Jesus Values

~ gachorpenning ~ 1 Comment

I enjoy fishing.  I’m not very good at it, but I do enjoy going out to the water and trying to catch fish.  As I share this with you, we are a day away from the opening of trout season in Pennsylvania.  Opening day can be a pretty crowded time on the water around here.  … Continue reading Bible Note #51: James 2:1-4 & Valuing What Jesus Values

Bible Note #50: James 2:1 and “Us vs. Them” Thinking

~ gachorpenning ~ 2 Comments

There is no question that our Christian faith can become corrupted.  And, of course, one of the ways that our faith can become corrupted is when we adopt bad or wrong doctrines.  That’s why it’s important for us to learn our theology carefully and well. The base of an abandoned steel-making blast furnace; photo by … Continue reading Bible Note #50: James 2:1 and “Us vs. Them” Thinking

Bible Note #42: Studies in James #1–James 1:1-4

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In Matthew 7, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the story of two houses.  One was built on solid rock.  The rains fell, the wind blew, the floods of life came, but that built on solid rock house stood firm.  The other house was built on sand.  The rains fell, the wind blew, … Continue reading Bible Note #42: Studies in James #1–James 1:1-4