They should do this while completely refraining from every tendency toward exercising absolute authority matter we denounce the Anabaptists, other anarchists, and in general all those who want to reject the authorities

He's the God of peace: John Stott notes here that God is both the author of harmony and that He's the

First, it reinforces that you as the reader is included and participating right alongside the author.

Jesus immediately made clear He had no interest - or, ironically, no authority - to arbitrate such a

clue that a particular book is an epistle often comes right at the beginning, where the name of the author The more we know about the background of the author and audience, the better we can interpret its truth

The author emphasizes the word alive in the original text by beginning the sentence with it.

word sisters to the brothers that are often addressed in New Testament letters; it's likely what the author

model for speaking truth to power, be it the Jewish religious establishment or the Imperial governing authorities

than or inferior in power to that of creation or of raising the dead, as Scripture (inspired by the author

belong to the church, in order to join this assembly wherever God has established it, even if civil authorities Yet, be reminded that you have confessed to do so "even if civil authorities and royal decrees forbid