Understanding the Bible This post is part of our Understanding the Bible series—short, clear explanations of common questions, phrases, images, and themes found in Scripture. The goal is simple: to help you read the Bible more clearly by explaining what the text says, what it meant in its original context, and why it still matters... Continue Reading →
How to Use This Commentary Matthew 5:7 marks a shift in the Beatitudes—from inner transformation to outward expression. Read it in three layers: (1) what mercy truly is, (2) where mercy comes from, (3) why the merciful “receive mercy.” This beatitude does not teach that we earn salvation by being kind. It teaches that those... Continue Reading →
Paul’s turn from Romans 8 to Romans 9 isn’t a detour—it’s the natural next step in explaining how God saves, now focused on Israel. The very themes he celebrated in chapter 8—adoption, glory, God’s purpose, foreknowledge and election, being God’s children, God’s calling, and the question of separation—are all revisited in chapter 9 with one... Continue Reading →