Was Paul a False Apostle?

(Copyright 09-17-2025) by David C. Grabbe (Charlotte, North Carolina)   “Go, for [Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15). In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes a useful observation: The devil always sends errors into the world in pairs—pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why, of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. An unusual conversation reminded me of this quotation because the exchange involved an […]

‘The apostle Paul walks into a bar’ (an oldie but goodie)

(Copyright 03-24-2025) by Curtis Dahlgren (Stephenson, Michigan)  THREE DAYS before Christmas, I walked into a bar. I looked around, but no one was there, though the Packers were playing to a full house. After awhile a bartender appeared, all bubbly and bright, and I ordered a beer. As she popped the top, a stranger came in, dusting off snow, kind of nondescript. He had nary a smile, and for some reason he seemed older than he looked (though I’m not too good at judging the cover of a book). I SAID “HOWDY” and he said “Shalom, or, that is to say, […]

Junia, a Woman Apostle

(Copyright) by Dianne D. McDonnell (Arlington, Texas) Iron Sharpening IronIn regard to: Junia, a Woman ApostleArticle by Dianne D. McDonnellComments by John Taylor (Lyle, Washington)  First, the word episeemoi is only used twice in the NT and both are translated as notable, or note, not outstanding Matthew 27:16: “And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.” Romans 16:7: “fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who” Second, to claim she was an apostle is not quite accurate if one also claims she was outstanding and begs the question, if she was one of the greatest among them where are the […]