The Alelyon (one another) passages in the New Testament: Do not lie to each other but speak the truth to each other in love. (Ephesians 4:14, 25; Colossians 3:9) – Part 2 Both the corrosive effects of lying, even to ourselves, and the corrective and transformative promise and power of the gospel, even for ourselves,...... Read More

The Alelyon (one another) passages in the New Testament: Don’t bite and devour each other, or else you will end up destroying each other (Gal. 5:15) Most people find different eating habits either fascinating, distasteful, gross, or all three. For example, if you’ve ever watched an anaconda swallow an entire pig, you might be amazed...... Read More

The Alelyon (one another) passages in the New Testament: Encourage and build up each other (1 Thess. 5:11) When I read the apostolic writings of the New Testament, one of the most striking things that I find is a transcendentally positive pastoral tone to what the authors have to say. What is remarkable about this...... Read More

The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 5b: Bear each others’ burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2) Carrying stuff is one of those near-universal experiences of the human race, exempting only the fabulously wealthy who hire or force others to assume the drudgery of burden bearing...... Read More

The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 4: When God kneels in humility to serve us, we are raised to unbelievably great stature in his eyes, and rightly made infinitely small in our own. If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each others’ feet (Jn....... Read More

The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 2C: Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (1Pet. 5:5b) Over the past couple of weeks, I have, perhaps rashly, taken a plunge into the vast sea of the virtue that the New Testament calls tapeinophrosúne, aka humility. After two blog posts, I still feel no...... Read More

The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 2a: The Elusive Virtue of Humility (Rom 12:10, Phil. 2:3) Humility must be one of the most important characteristics of the Christian life. How do I know? Because Scripture mentions it dozens and dozens of times; because it is a complex concept that people regularly...... Read More

Faith working through love (Gal. 5:6): An introduction to the “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament In his letter to some unnamed group of disciples, James, the brother of Jesus, makes the familiar and formerly controversial statement that “faith without works is dead.” I don’t know that James’ comment is particularly divisive in...... Read More