Ancient Anglican

A Modern Perspective on Early Christian Thought.

New on the Blog

Isaiah 56-66 in Luke’s Gospel, pt.1

Jesus’ reading is from Isaiah 61:1-2 and 58:6, and throughout his Gospel, Luke will use the themes of these prophecies found in the last section of Isaiah (Isaiah 56-66) to tell us who Jesus is.
Read More

Christmas Stockings

Tonight as we assembling Christmas stockings for children in Western North Carolina. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.
Read More

Hymn-Sing

Instead of a formal lesson this evening, I have invited Bradley Hardee, the choir director at Kingston Presbyterian in Conway, to lead us in a hymn-sing after dinner tonight.
Read More

Philemon – A Story of Christian Freedom, vv.4-24

Paul’s manner of addressing Philemon gives us a good example of how to speak truth in love and with maturity to each other. Eph. 4:15. Paul addresses Philemon as an equal, with respect, and reminds Philemon who he is in Christ Jesus.
Read More

Philemon – Overview and Introduction, vv.1-3

Living Christianity makes people more human, not less. No Christian should grumble at the extra demands of love. They are golden opportunities to draw on the reserve of divine love, and in so doing become more fully oneself in Christ, more completely in the image of God, more authentically human.
Read More

Ephesians 6:21-24 – The Benediction

Paul ends his letter by reminding the Ephesians of our eternal, spiritual, incorruptible, immortal, death-defeating, teleological end. As the letter begins with God’s plan which was set forth from the beginning that all things would be united in Christ, so Paul ends this letter with this same teaching that death is defeated and God will be all in all.
Read More

Ephesians 6:10-20, Armor of God

The church’s military engagement with the powers and principalities of the heavenly realm is not about advancing or attacking but of standing firm and holding one’s ground. Christ is the one who wins the battle and the church militant is to hold those gains.
Read More

Ephesians 6:1-9, Household Codes pt.2

In the three examples of household relationships, Paul always addresses both parties to that relationship. In addressing the traditionally subservient party, Paul gives them a share in the responsibility to maintain the good order of the household. In addressing the traditionally dominate party, Paul gives him reciprocal obligations.
Read More

Ephesians 5:21-33, Household Codes pt.1

The very basis of Paul’s household codes is his introductory statement that we must “be subject to one another.” v.21. In his examples, Paul transforms the existing roles into something new. The social structure or shell of these institutions is left in place, however, Paul’s teaching radically reimagines and redefines the inner reality of these existing institutions.
Read More

Ephesians 5:6-20, Children of Light

In acting in accordance with the Good, the Church exposes the unfruitful works of the darkness of the world. The Church does this, not by scolding those still in the world, but by showing them the Light which is Christ, and thereby being attractive to them.
Read More

Ephesians 5:1-5, Imitators of God

The summation of Paul’s ethical rules is contained in 4:32-5:2 – Give grace to one another, just as God in Christ gave grace to you and be imitators of God, to walk in love with one another just as Christ sacrificially loved you.
Read More
1 2 3 4 5 79 80 81 82