born and raised twice in the bay, I preach Jesus and him crucified
"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." (2 Corinthians 2:14, ESV) Constantine’s Triumphal Entry in Rome, 1636 - 1638. by Domenico Gargiulo & Viviano Codazzi, Paul, once a fierce opponent of Jesus, is now completely captivated by Him.... Continue Reading →
Reflecting on the journey from high school to now, I'm struck by the unpredictability of life and the profound impact of seemingly small choices. While cleaning out some totes in the garage, I found a mini yearbook my mom had put together for each of us—a snapshot of who we were and who we thought... Continue Reading →
For ages, the phrase "because of the angels" in 1 Corinthians 11:10 has puzzled scholars, theologians, and Bible readers. It is helpful to know that there are about 175 references to angels in the New Testament to get a handle on this. The Greek word for angel, "aggelos" (or "angelos"), like its Hebrew counterpart "malʾak," means "messenger."... Continue Reading →
The gift of the Holy Spirit preceded the gifts of the Holy Spirit "And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38, ESV) "Now there are varieties... Continue Reading →
"If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather trainyourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness... Continue Reading →
Phillip W. Martin 