Book Studies

(2) JAMES: CONVICTION CONVERTED TO WORKS

Virgil Warren, PhD

In the history of Christian thought, two opposite tendencies have plagued the church with respect to human obedience in salvation. From Jewish circles especially, the early decades of the Christian era saw strong influences to conceive of human action as producing relationship to God after the fashion of obedience under the Mosaic Law. The apostle Paul strenuously opposed that effort, especially in his letters to Rome and Galatia.

(3) JAMES: SELF-DETERMINATION CONVERTED TO PRAYER

COLOSSIANS 1

Jump-Starters 3

Jesus is the “fullness,” and that makes all the difference  1:19

Jesus is the image of God.  1:15

Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. 1:15

COLOSSIANS 2

Jump Starters 1

Christ is the mystery (2:2)?

Two sets of problems at Colossae

“Shortcuts” for “walking” (2:7)

Relationship of covenants (2:14)

COLOSSIANS 3:18-4:1:  MAJOR IDEAS

Virgil Warren, PhD

Marriage, parenting, and business are all interpersonal processes.

            These relationships are specialized IP processes that have additional features.

            Additional features must be added in such a way that they do not vitiate their                                 underlying interpersonal character.

COLOSSIANS JUMPSTARTERS

Companion passages:  Colossians 3:18-4:1; Ephesians 5:22-6:9

What subjects are involved here?

What is headship/submission (correlative terms)?

Theory of Christian leadership

Three primary means of impacting other people’s actions:

EVERYDAY LESSONS FROM JONAH

Virgil Warren, PhD

The Book of Jonah is anything but “everyday.” It features extraordinary events we would seldom, if ever, see. God talks to Jonah like a next-door neighbor. He tells the prophet to travel to the capital of the Assyrian empire that controls the prophet’s nation. His mission is to warn those enemies that God is going to destroy them in forty days.

(1)  JAMES: COMPETITION CONVERTED TO LOVE

REVELATION:  GOOD AND EVIL IN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

Virgil Warren, PhD

Good triumphs over evil.

            Good and evil are not equal opposites in power or legitimacy.