Douglas Jacoby Podcast
727 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 64 ratingsA podcast dedicated to sharing the audio files of Douglas Jacoby's International Teaching Ministry. Our goal is to help people "think about faith." Douglas Jacoby is an international Bible teacher. After serving as a minister on church staff for 20 years, he continues to work as a freelance teacher and consultant. With degrees from Drew, Harvard, and Duke, Douglas is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and biblical tour guide. He has visited over 130 nations. He is the principal of the Athens Institute, and Professor of Theology at the Seminar of the Rockies. Audio, video, and written material from the International Teaching Ministry are available online at an extensive website (10,000 pages), https://www.douglasjacoby.com.
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Episodes
Books & Movies: The Life of Pi
June 23, 2023 06:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Note: These thoughts on Yann Martel's book (2001; motion picture 2012) will certainly mean the most to those who have read the book or seen the movie.
Books & Movies: The Shack
June 21, 2023 06:00 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. What was cool Nearly all the theology is orthodox (God, man, the atonement, righteousness judgment, justice, spirituality...) Especially good is the exploration of the dynamics among the members of the Trinity. Deity is neither male nor female, though he initially appears to the protagonist as female because his own father-wound is so deep. The Shack helps us wrestle with the problem of pain, and often on a very personal and...
Books & Movies: The Secret
June 19, 2023 06:00 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Introduction One spring day towards the end of 2004, Australian Rhonda Byrne discovered a secret - the secret laws and principles of the universe. Almost immediately her life was transformed, as she began to put into practice what she had learned. And in that moment her greatest wish, and mission, were to share this knowledge with the world. In The Secret, a book and video and website, Rhonda Byrne offers us a better way of li...
To Marry or Not To Marry: Staying Single
June 17, 2023 06:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Scriptures to consider: Genesis 2 -- marriage is the norm Matthew 19:10-12 1 Corinthians 7:6 Biblical celibacy has two components Companionship The sexual element It is assumed that church leaders will be married (1 Timothy 3), as correctly understood by Orthodox clergy. Celibacy over-emphasized in the 2nd century An overreaction to Gnosticism, which deprecated sexuality See Ignatius, the Shepherd of Hermas, Clement of ...
To Marry or Not To Marry: Paul, Church Fathers, Conclusion
June 16, 2023 06:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 1 Cor 7:10-12, 15 “Not I, but the Lord” and “I, not the Lord.” Paul reveals the Lord’s will on an issue common in the Greco-Roman world: mixed marriages. (“I, not the Lord.”) A Christian has a pagan spouse. Paul and Jesus agree on the subject of divorces between covenant people. Assuming there are no grounds for divorce—and no remarriage—then anyone who deserts a Christian spouse is still married to them. Ideally reconciliatio...
To Marry or Not To Marry: The Teachings of Jesus, Pt. 2
June 14, 2023 06:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Introduction As we have learned, in Matt 19 / Mark 10 Jesus is weighing in on the Shammai-Hillel debate. He rejects the any-cause divorce of Hillel. Familiarity with this debate is crucial if we are to appreciate the interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees. Yet Mark doesn’t mention the exceptions. In Mark 10 it sounds like all divorce is wrong. (Which it is—often—but many times it’s not the problem it’s the solution.) Kn...
To Marry or Not To Marry: The Teachings of Jesus, Part 1
June 12, 2023 06:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Mark 10: 2-3, 10-12 Jesus is quizzed. Where does he stand on the divorce issue? Mark indicates absolutely no exceptions! Don’t read through filter of other passages (like 1 Cor or Matt). Mark was writing for a Roman audience. It is doubtful they had access to Matthew—if Matthew was even written yet—and the Jewish issues addressed in Matthew would not have been all that relevant to them. Matthew gives more information, allud...
To Marry or Not To Marry: The Old Testament
June 10, 2023 06:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Podcast notes: Exod 21:10-11: If a married man takes a second (slave) wife, then the food, clothing, and sexual love—material support plus emotional support—received by the first wife must not be reduced. If the husband reneges, the first wife may be released from the marriage. The rabbis correctly saw that if a slave had such rights, so did a free woman, who implicitly expected his faithfulness as a husband. If any of these ...
To Marry or Not To Marry: The Permanence of Marriage
June 09, 2023 06:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Harsh treatment of women, children, and the vulnerable in OT times: infanticide, abortion, disrespect of women. Divorce was easy and favored the man. Worse, abandoned women could be "reclaimed" by their husbands. In the Middle Assyrian laws, a woman abandoned could remarry, but only after a 5-year wait. The 1st century world of the Roman Empire Divorce (divortium) = separation Remarriage was a duty / expectation Roman law...
Last Things: Out-of-Body Experiences & NDEs
June 07, 2023 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. This podcast is an adaption of a draft chapter from my book, What’s the Truth about Heaven and Hell? Sorting Out the Confusion about the Afterlife. The universally familiar NDE/OOB sequence: A sense of well-being Disembodiment A tunnel leading to light Visions of persons, events, and objects Interactions with other beings, human or divine A new evaluation of one’s life Return to life Most of this can be explained by the...
Last Things: The Antichrist
June 05, 2023 06:00 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Scriptures Where the word antichrist appears: 1 John 2:18 1 John 2:22 1 John 4:3 2 John 7 Passages that do not mention antichrist but which are popularly understood to refer to him: 2 Thessalonians 2 Appears to be a Roman emperor, one with the arrogance of Caligula, Nero, or Domitian. Stands as a warning for all generations. No mention of "antichrist." Revelation 13 Whereas the "number" of the Beast is 666, the apoca...
Last Things: 2012 & the End of the World
June 03, 2023 06:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. For further study: Read the original two-article series I wrote in London (1986). Click on Armageddon! Read a paper on Matthew 24 and the Destruction of Jerusalem I wrote at Duke University (1980). Click here. See also John Clayton's article The 2012 Mayan Demise of Earth. If you'd like to learn a lot more, you might want to order Revelation and the End of the World. This audio series: Includes 4 lessons on audio CD (3 hour...
Last Things: Armageddon
June 02, 2023 06:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. What exactly is the battle of Armageddon? Is there going to be a literal battle, as Revelation 16 seems to indicate? And how can we prepare for this awful battle at the end of time? 1. Around 95 AD, the clear and present challenge to the Christian faith is emperor worship. Domitian is the first emperor to demand it in his lifetime. The center of emperor worship was Asia Minor, esp. the province of Asia (where Ephesus is). 2. Ar...
Last Things: The Rapture & the Tribulation
May 31, 2023 06:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Order of events, popular Christianity: Second coming Rapture Tribulation (for unbelievers) Order of events in New Testament: Tribulation (throughout our lives as believers) Second coming General resurrection + rapture Judgment Day Eternal destiny: heaven or hell Etymology Rapture < Latin rapire, translating Greek harpadzomai (snatch) in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Tribulation < Latin tribulatio, translating Greek thlipsis (...
Last Things: Reincarnation
May 29, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Hinduism has taught reincarnation for many thousands of years. Sikhism, which derives from Hinduism and Islam, also accepts reincarnation (many passages in the Granth teach this doctrine). The Chandogya Upanishad 5.10.8 reads, “... those who are of pleasant conduct here—the prospect is, indeed, that they will enter a pleasant womb, either the womb of a Brahman, or the womb of a Kshatriya, or the womb of a Vaisya. But those who ...
Last Things: Purgatory
May 27, 2023 06:00 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Note: If you are not familiar with the early Christian doctrine of the intermediate state of the dead, please listen to the podcast "What Happens After We Die?" This podcast assumes some familiarity with the biblical teaching that the dead proceed to Hades, a sort of waiting place before the second coming, the general resurrection, and the Judgment Day. The Evolution of Purgatory Doctrine of purgatory gradually evolved from th...
Last Things: Thoughts on Heaven & Hell
May 26, 2023 06:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Scriptures cited: 1 Corinthians 3:15, Hebrews 9:27 Luke 10:12, 12:28 1 Peter 3:22 John 4:34 Genesis 2:15, 1:16,28 Hebrews 4:9 Philippians 3:21 Matthew 22:30 Matt 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 12:33, 18:22 Romans 14:10,12 Matthew 25:21 For further study: Here is the link to my paper on Terminal Punishment. For more about "levels" of reward, click here. You'll find a review of Alcorn’s book Heaven here. Finally, in case ...
Last Things: The General Resurrection
May 24, 2023 06:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Scriptures cited: Genesis 1:31 1 Corinthians 15:1-7, 47-52 Philippians 3:20-21 1 John 3:2 Luke 24:39 John 21:12, 20:19 1 Corinthians 15:20, 35-37, 42-44, 58 See also Acts 24:15 Further study: Be sure to listen to the related podcasts in this series on The Rapture & the Tribulation, What Happens After We Die?, and Thoughts on Heaven & Hell. The audio series, What Happens After We Die, will also be useful (3 hours + not...
Last Things: What Happens After Death?
May 22, 2023 06:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Scriptures cited in this podcast: Luke 23:39-43 John 20:16-17 Philippians 2:9-11 John 14:1-3 John 3:13 Acts 2:34 Further: The audio series, What Happens After We Die? contains 3 hours of material, comprising 4 lessons: After Death: Have We Got it all Wrong? In Their Own Words: What the Early Christians Taught How Can This Be? Problems and Objections Heaven, Hell, Hauntings & Everything Else: Conclusion and Perspectiv...
Leaders: Under Fire: Lessons of Suffering from Mexico
May 20, 2023 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Leaders: Being a teacher: Do You Have What it Takes? (1995)
May 19, 2023 06:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Leaders: The Mission
May 17, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Excerpt You are listening to just part of a book on evangelism. It's called Till the Nets are Full (formerly Shining Like Stars). This podcast is an adaptation of chapter 2, "The Mission." This may be found in Part I of the book, "Light of the World." Important note: When it comes to true Christians, we must distinguish mission and purpose. Our purpose is to know God, to enter into and enjoy an eternal relationship with Him. ...
Leaders: Why Christian Leaders Need to be Exceptionally Good Bible Students
May 15, 2023 06:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Scriptures referred to: James 3:1 Deuteronomy 17:18-20 1 Timothy 4:8-16
Leaders: Control, part 3
May 13, 2023 06:00 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Six Ways to Build a Healthy Culture (15 minutes). TRUST Rom 15:14—confident in church to handle issues of church. I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. APPEAL Philemon 1-25—a study in gracious persuasion RESPECT (or “Stop pushing”) 1 Cor 16:12—it's okay to say no. Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him...
Leaders: Control, part 2
May 12, 2023 06:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Inappropriate control, 4-6 4) Abuse of authority Leaders have authority, but not to create their own rules, or in the language of Jeremiah, “to rule by their own authority” (Jer 5:30-31). "Giving up everything" is not unlimited, but should be interpreted in the light of apostolic teaching, as found in the epistles and in Acts. Again, we mustn't fail to distinguish between principle and practical (implementation). These rules...
Leaders: Control, part 1
May 10, 2023 06:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Inappropriate forms of control, 1-3 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his...
Leaders: Lording it Over Others (Mark 10:42)
May 08, 2023 06:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. The purpose of this podcast is to foster a Christian leadership culture. This is an important study for anyone in leadership, or considering it. Please listen to this podcast (18 minutes) and share it with others whom you may be able to influence. Key Greek verb: katakurieuein (to lord it over, dominate, domineer, wield authority, etc). Scriptures including the Greek word katakurieuein: Acts 19:16 1 Peter 5:1-3 Mark 10:42-4...
Leaders: Fresh Thoughts on Elders
May 06, 2023 06:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Here I share some of my own thoughts about elders (overseers) and church leadership. I do not speak for a congregation or denomination. These are simply my own reflections on this important subject. Passages considered in the lesson (28 minutes): Acts 13:1-4; 14:23; 15:1-35; 20:17-38. Soon after churches were intentionally planted, team leadership / oversight was established (Acts 14; in Acts 8:4 and 11:19, we see the inciden...
40—Forty Days with James: Series conclusion (and my takeaways)
May 05, 2023 06:00 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 108 power-packed verses! Chapter 1 introduces the 12 themes of chapters 2-5. James is practical. James covers a whole range of everyday life issues: how we respond to pain and suffering, dealing with conflict, how our speech can help or harm, dealing with poverty and wealth, even how we should think about planning for the future. We never struggle for application! James is direct. James moves quickly from issue to issue. Much...
39—Forty Days with James: James the Martyr
May 03, 2023 06:00 - 10 minutes - 9.21 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James was martyred in AD 62. Prophet, Peacemaker, Martyr Martyrs and confessors in the early church James’s execution Thrown from pinnacle and beaten over the head (Jos. 2.23.12). “If a priest performed the temple service while unclean… the young priests take him out of the temple court and split his skull with clubs” (Sanh. 81b). Responses to James: The rich: Ananus II reacted violently to James’ denunciations of the ric...
38—Forty Days with James: James the Peacemaker
May 01, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Acts 15 Last time: James was a prophet (fiery hot). But he was also a peacemaker. The Jew-Gentile Controversy (Acts 15:1, 5) was the most contentious issue in the 1st century. The Judaizers held that to be truly spiritual—or (in this case) even to be saved—a man must be circumcised. Circumcision entailed following the terms of the old covenant / the Law of Moses. The apostles taught otherwise. The Council of Jerusalem (49 A...
37—Forty Days with James: James the Prophet
April 29, 2023 06:00 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James is a “pillar of the church” (Gal 2:9), brother of the Lord, and highly respected leader. But he also speaks prophetically—his tongue dipped in the white-hot fire of God’s justice and righteous indignation. Try to feel the strength, the conviction, the vehemence of his words (ten selections from the NAB, adapted and abbreviated). Listen closely. Let these direct and challenging words sink in (1:6-8, 9-11, 22, 26; 2:19-20; ...
36—Forty Days with James: Through the Book (ISV)
April 28, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. The final four reflections: James the Prophet James the Peacemaker James the Martyr Series conclusion (and my personal takeaways)
35—Forty Days with James: The Truth about Falling Away
April 26, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 5:19-20 Why does the letter end this way? It is likely people were leaving the fellowship—not persevering, or perhaps discouraged because of prejudice. Wandering "from the truth" us about lifestyle more than doctrinal confusion. A correction about "falling away" and "restoration." Unfortunate terminology Falling away: Heb 6:4-6; Heb 10:26; 2 Pet 2:20-22 Stumbling: Matt 13:21; 26:31; John 16:1; etc. Restoration Gal ...
34—Forty Days with James: Prayer x 7
April 24, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 11.9 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 5:13-18 Prayer 7x in this passage "You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God. You can be sure that this kind of prayer the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flam...
33—Forty Days with James: “Yes” and “No”
April 22, 2023 06:00 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 5:12 Not referring to profanity Similar to 3rd commandment – context of oath-taking. Not that we should throw around the words Jesus or God carelessly. Note connection with the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5). Frequent references to SOM material in James. Based on these passages, some Christians refuse to take oaths. Their word is their bond. Yet what about signing documents? I should not have to sign a mortgage stateme...
32—Forty Days with James: Hang in There
April 21, 2023 06:00 - 9 minutes - 8.69 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 5:10-11 Why patient endurance is needed Socioeconomic disparities Oppression And (maybe) because the Lord's return has not yet taken place. Regular opposition from the world Prophets—why they needed to be patient To honor the covenant Didn't pile on new doctrines, or extra rules.Generally poor response Called people to Torah Discouragement Some ministered for years, some for decades This was very tough work, em...
31—Forty Days with James: The Judge at the Door
April 19, 2023 06:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 5:7-9 More about the Zealots In the Jewish War, they took revenge on the rich, according to Josephus. Rooted in the 2nd century BC: Revolution (Judas Maccabaeus) The ensuing Hasmonean dynasty becomes corrupt The Zealots targeted corrupt Hasmoneans – even assassinating a high priest. Later they targeted Romans. = dagger-bearers. Herod the Great tries to extinguish the movement, forcing them to Galilee. Later hist...
30—Forty Days with James: Rich Fools
April 17, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 5:1-6 Last time: In "Wannabe Rich Fools," James speaks of entrepreneurs who fail to take God into account. This time: of actual rich fools who fail to take God into account. A prophetic woe! Their corrupt wealth will "testify" against them. That is, their unjust actions demand a verdict. The rich are hoarding grain, garments, gold. Last Days = time from Pentecost on, the last phase of human history before the second co...
29—Forty Days with James: Through the Book (CSB)
April 15, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Next: Rich Fools – James will wax fiery hot, like the prophet Amos!
28—Forty Days with James: (Wannabe) Rich Fools
April 14, 2023 06:00 - 9 minutes - 8.73 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 4:13-17 The brevity of life: we are mists. If it is the Lord’s will – adding “we shall live…” This is much more than “inshállah.” Verse 17 is about how we go about making our plans. It’s not simply a passage about acting against our conscience. We can identify several social groups in the community James addresses. The poor include subsistence farmers. There are rich landowners, and quite possibly absentee landlords. ...
27—Forty Days with James: Only One Judge
April 12, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. ."Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord" (our previous reflection)—great passage, and great song. True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that—it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) It is because of the hasty and superficial conversation with God that the sense of sin is so weak and that no motives have power to he...
26—Forty Days with James: Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord
April 10, 2023 06:00 - 9 minutes - 8.3 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 4:9-10 We can’t be merely academic or ethereal about our sin. An emotional response to God’s Word and God’s holiness is in order. "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matt 5:4)—is a passage often interpreted in the early church as mourning for one’s sins. Mourning and wailing are signs of repentance, not substitutes for it. “And he will lift you up….” Similar passages: Job 5:11; 22:29; Ps 149:4; Prov 29:25; Ezek 17:24; 21...
25—Forty Days with James: Submit, Resist, Draw Near, Wash, and Be Purified
April 08, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 4:7-8 Review: James 4:4 is a passage that most churches don’t teach: Stepping on toes – consumerism.. Challenging specific sins from the pulpit Warning members against the dangers / ugly side of politics Rejecting nationalism, thinking instead of our global community Caring genuinely (and knowing about) the needs of the poor and oppressed globally. In light of these considerations, is it not fair to conclude that mo...
24—Forty Days with James: The Worldly Church
April 07, 2023 06:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 4:4-6 The adultery referred to in James 4:4 refers to the marriage between YHWH and his people (Isa 54:1-6; Jer 2:2). OT condemnations of spiritual infidelity: Isa 1:21; 50:1; 57:3; Jer 3:7-10, 20; 13:27; Ezek 16:23-26, 38; 23:45; Hos 1-3; 9:1. NT condemnations: Matt 12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:38; 2 Cor 11:1-2; Eph 5:22-23; Rev 19:7; 21:9. Abraham was not a friend of the world, but a friend of God (2:23). See also 1 John 2:1...
23—Forty Days with James: Waging War
April 05, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 12 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 4:1-3 Context: link with chapter 3 – peaceful vs. violent approaches to the problems in our world. The peace, shalom, of which James speaks is more than peace in our hearts, or harmony in the church. It's not difficult to imagine there were quarrels within the church—but killing? Some spiritualize the word – killing = hating (Matt 5). But this isn’t persuasive. Is this referring to outsiders? Not all commentators tak...
22—Forty Days with James: Through the Book (NASB)
April 03, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. To appreciate James and the logical flow of the letter, it is vital to understand the political background of Palestine in the New Testament period. These were troubled times: oppression under the Romans and those richer Jews who acted as their pawns, exorbitant taxes and food shortages and, with them, rioting and anti-Roman nationalistic fervor. Some landowners even hired to execute or at least threaten tenants who were fallin...
21—Forty Days with James: Genuine Wisdom
April 01, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 3:17-19 In 1st-century Palestine, James was a force for unity and peace. “James is burdened with a desire for communal unity, but unfortunately the inevitable result of unruly tongues, unholy zeal, and unchecked party spirit is chaos and division.” He had a sterling reputation (among the Jews and the Christians of his day). He was grieved by the many factions and frictions in Israel. Paul too had such a spirit (2 Cor 1...
20—Forty Days with James: Pseudo-Wisdom
March 31, 2023 06:00 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 3:13-16 Intro In our next 2 reflections, James considers two types of wisdom. The Greek of James is so fine that some scholars deny that he could have penned this letter! See Greek text below (Jas 3:13-16). See also papyrus copy of James 1 (below, R). Whether these are James’ original words or they have been recorded by a scribe / improved is unknown! Either way, they are a pleasure to read. If you want to learn NT G...
19—Forty Days with James: Cursing & Praise
March 29, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MBFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. James 3:9-12 So many images in this chapter: (tongue), bit, rudder, spark, taming (animals), poison, spring, fig tree… which bring to life the importance of the topic. Common illustrations from the ancient world Or from Jesus, like Matt 7:15-20. The focus: the misuse of tongue in worship “The good set of mind does not talk from both sides of its mouth: praises and curses, abuse and honor, calm and strife, hypocrisy and trut...