The priesthood established after the exodus from Egypt. When God, after the exodus from Egypt, gave the order to Moses to set up the tabernacle, He also established the priesthood with the words: Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him […]

The context. In chapters 5 to 7 of the Gospel according to Matthew, which are called The Sermon on the Mount, he gives a summary of the teaching of Jesus, who came to bring the law to its full fulfilment. In chapter 5 Jesus says repeatedly: “You have heard that it was said …”, and […]

This study belongs to the study ‘In my name – in the name of’. Because this is an important text it is being discussed separately here. The text: In what is called the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays to His Father for the future of the disciples. He says, among other things: I will remain […]

The text: Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.    (Hebrews 13:17) The following elements of this text […]

In 1 Corinthians 12:28 the apostle Paul gives a rough sketch for the structure of the local church. The local church is actually a part of the universal church, the whole body van Jesus Christ. Paul writes: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so […]

This study is a supplement to the study: Spiritual life in the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 the apostle Paul gives a rough sketch for the structure of the local church. This study is intended to draw attention to the fact that, in that chapter, Paul sketches the principle framework for the structure of the […]

The text: And God has placed in the church …   (1 Corinthians 12:28) Explanation of the word: The translation ‘placed’ implies that God places some people in the church in a position of authority. Compare this to the situation where someone asks Jesus to intervene against his brother because they are to share the inheritance, […]

This study is preceded by ‘Spiritual Gifts – definition’, which it would be best to read first. The Bible text 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. The spiritual gifts/presents out of kindness through the Holy Spirit in a more literal translation: Now the revelation of the Spirit is given to each one in order to gather together/carry together/be […]

As a sequel to the study ‘Spiritual gifts – definition’, which it would be best to read first, this study looks at what the Bible teaches in one of the two texts about the spiritual gifts/presents out of kindness. The context (Romans 12:1-5): In the previous verse, Romans 11:36, Paul remarks: For from him (Jesus […]

The ‘parable of the bags of gold’ is discussed in this study. ‘The parable of the ten minas’ from Luke 19:12-27 is also commented upon.  (The full text) The context in which Jesus tells the parable. Prior to the parable of the bags of gold, Matthew opens chapter 25 with Jesus’ parable about ten virgins […]