Early Church and Epistles

「rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.」

The living and everlasting God, the object of Tobit's praise, emphasizing God's eternity and sovereignty.

How is Romans 8:28 'all things work together for good' real in suffering?

God's 'working together' in brokenness often demands a long view.

「if so be that it is righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,」

Spiritual gifts given by the ascended Christ to the church for building up the body.

How should the Reformed doctrine of biblical inerrancy be responsibly interpreted amid historical and literary diversity?

Inerrancy does not erase genre, history, or progressive revelation.

「preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.」

The divine promise given to Abraham and the patriarchs, forming the basis of the life of faith and pointing to the future heavenly city and eternal inheritance.

What is the dialectic between grace and works?

The rich meaning of salvation by grace in Ephesians

「For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:」

Believers are raised with Christ and seated with Him, seeking heavenly things since their life is hidden with Christ in God.

Does Ephesians 2:8-9’s “grace through faith” exclude any role for works in salvation?

How can grace be both freely given and require response?

「And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,」

God's act of raising Christ to the highest position, giving him the name above all names.

How does Scripture function as an authority in your life?

'All Scripture is God-breathed'—in a questioning age, what does this mean for believers?

「For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.」

A spiritual discipline paired with prayer and almsgiving, signifying humility and dependence on God.

What continuity exists between Pentecost and believers' experience today?

Is the Spirit's work in apostolic times continuous with today?

「suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; men that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you;」

Liberation from sin and forgiveness through Christ's blood sacrifice.

What does biblical inerrancy mean, and how do we account for diverse literary styles?

Faithful to the text and its genres—the interpretive balance.

「Let all men speak, and give him thanks in Jerusalem.」

Speech marked by grace and seasoned with wisdom, symbolizing purity, preservation, and edifying power of Christian words.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, if salvation is 'by grace,' why emphasize it is 'not from yourselves'?

The relationship between divine grace and human responsibility

「We love, because he first loved us.」

Moral uprightness according to God's will, linked with almsgiving and prayer, leading to fullness of life.

Does Ephesians 2:8-9 on justification by faith exclude the role of works?

Faith is the start, not the finish—genuine faith inevitably bears fruit.

「Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;」

Human beings are made after the likeness of God. To curse fellow image-bearers while blessing God reveals an inconsistency that ought not to be.

How do you understand 'faith without works is dead'?

James says 'faith without works is dead'—does this contradict Paul, or complete his teaching?

「It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you.」

The tenth Abraham gave to Melchizedek, demonstrating Melchizedek's superiority over the Levitical priesthood.

Why did the Holy Spirit descend on the fiftieth day, exactly ten days after Jesus' ascension?

Jesus told the disciples to wait, and on the day of Pentecost the Spirit came as tongues of fire and they began speaking in other languages.

「For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.」

Christ, made perfect through suffering, becomes the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, bestowing everlasting redemption.

Does Ephesians 2:8-9 on justification by faith exclude the role of works?

Faith is the start, not the finish—genuine faith inevitably bears fruit.

「For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,」

Healthy, correct teaching according to Scripture, essential for church leadership and refuting falsehood, emphasized in Titus.

Is "justification by faith" contradicted by James's "justification by works"?

How do we reconcile the Reformers' core doctrine with the Epistle of James?

「For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.」

God's sovereign choice before creation to adopt believers as sons in Christ.

What is the dialectic between grace and works?

The rich meaning of salvation by grace in Ephesians

「who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.」

Title for Jesus Christ and God the Father, indicating the source and agent of salvation, used frequently in Titus.

How do you understand 'faith without works is dead'?

James says 'faith without works is dead'—does this contradict Paul, or complete his teaching?

「Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.」

The altar of Christian worship, symbolizing Christ's sacrifice surpassing the rituals of the Old Testament tabernacle.

What does biblical inerrancy mean, and how do we account for diverse literary styles?

Faithful to the text and its genres—the interpretive balance.

「who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,」

God's unmerited favor that establishes the heart, not through external dietary rituals.

Does James 2:24 contradict justification by faith?

Catholicism emphasizes the cooperation of faith and works, and this passage is a key support.

「I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators;」

The great cloud of faith heroes whose testimony surrounds believers, inspiring perseverance in the race of faith set before us.

Where does the Bible's authority come from?

2 Timothy on Scripture as God-breathed

「But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.」

God's unveiling of hidden truth, especially the gospel mystery to apostles and prophets.

Is "justification by faith" contradicted by James's "justification by works"?

How do we reconcile the Reformers' core doctrine with the Epistle of James?

「For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.」

Paul's imprisonment for the sake of proclaiming the mystery of Christ, showing suffering and sacrifice often accompany gospel ministry.

Is salvation by grace alone, or also through our works?

'By grace you have been saved'—how does this verse address the long debate over works and faith?

「Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might led.」

Christ is the exact imprint of God's substance, precisely expressing the essence and attributes of God.

Which better discerns God's will—personal Bible reading or communal study?

Tension and complementarity between meditation and community.

「But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.」

In Johannine epistles, the divine reality that believers are to love, follow, and testify to, central to Christian life.

Do 2 Timothy 3:16-17 support 'Sola Scriptura'?

Key verses for sufficiency of Scripture, but what role do tradition and reason play in Reformation debates?

「And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:」

The new covenant established by God with His people, characterized by internalized law and forgiveness, superseding the old.

Does the Eucharist repeat the sacrifice of Christ?

Examining the institution of the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and the nature of the sacrifice in Catholic Eucharist.

「For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,」

The act of lovingkindness to strangers, which may unknowingly serve angels and reflect God's grace.

In 1 Corinthians 13, every description of love is in the present tense in Greek — what kind of love is this?

Greek love-verbs stay in the present — what does this imply for daily practice?