Tool Beta
The Ancient World Behind the Text: Ideas
The customs, offices and ideas a first reader knew without being told, what each meant then, and the nearest thing you already know.
Honor before a crowd
Public standing was the currency of the ancient Mediterranean. People competed for honor and dreaded being shamed in front of others.
First, in plain English
He could not back down in front of everyone, so he did the stupid thing. In Jesus' world your worth was what other people saw and said about you. Losing face in public could be worse than losing money, and a crowd was always watching.
What it meant then
People in the ancient Mediterranean prized honor and dreaded shame. Men commonly competed for honor, from friendly contests to deadly feuds. Breaking a public word was shameful, even when a rabbi could have released the oath. At the same time, people respected those who did not chase their own honor, and teachers who turned praise aside. In public debate the best speakers could silence and shame their opponents. Social inferiors were expected to greet superiors first. Disciples would not want to draw attention to their failures, and people were slow to admit ignorance. Being abandoned by your disciples, or betrayed by a friend, brought dishonor. Nakedness was a special shame for Jews, and crucifixion was built to humiliate. Bailey reads the Syro-Phoenician woman's story as an exam in which she wins the honor that comes to one who passes a very hard test. A blow on the right cheek, short of real injury, was the worst insult possible, and both Jewish and Roman law allowed prosecution for it. Cities had honor to lose as well. Citizens' first loyalty was to their city, rivalries between cities were bitter, and speakers used them to spur generosity, as Paul sets Macedonia against Corinth. By boasting of a church's promised gift Paul laid his own honor on the line, since communities publicly held benefactors to their promises. Self-praise offended unless one was defending oneself or boasting on another's behalf. "Jewish piety demanded that reproof be given in private," so a public rebuke marked an offense as grave and urgent (Keener).
The bridge to today
An analogy: a high school cafeteria where everyone watches who sits where and who gets laughed at. Your standing is whatever the room thinks of you.
What it changes in the reading
Public standing explains scenes where someone cannot back down or is insulted in front of others, as when Herod is bound by his oath before his guests in Mark 6:26. A slap on the right cheek in Matthew 5:39 was an insult, not an injury. Luke 14:10 tells guests to take the lowest seat.
Where the analogy breaks
Not a passing school ranking. Cafeteria status fades after graduation. Honor ruled adult life: an insulting blow could be taken to court, cities competed for honor, and a broken public promise shamed a man before everyone.
Passages where it appears
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-1-18-25\/","n":"Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph and the betrothal","s":"Mary is found pregnant while betrothed to Joseph. He plans a quiet divorce until an angel in a dream tells him to take her as his wife and name the child Jesus.","r":"Matthew 1:18-25"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-5-33-48\/","n":"Matthew 5:33-48, No oaths, the other cheek, the second mile","s":"Jesus tells his hearers not to swear at all, not to resist an evildoer, to go a second mile with a soldier who forces one, and to love their enemies.","r":"Matthew 5:33-48"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-15-21-28\/","n":"Matthew 15:21-28, A Canaanite mother and the dogs","s":"In the region of Tyre and Sidon a Canaanite woman begs the Son of David to free her daughter. Jesus is silent, then speaks of bread and dogs, and her answer wins him over.","r":"Matthew 15:21-28"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-18-21-35\/","n":"Matthew 18:21-35, Ten thousand talents and a hundred denarii","s":"Peter asks whether forgiving seven times is enough. Jesus tells of a king who cancels an impossible debt, and of the forgiven servant who then chokes a colleague over a small one.","r":"Matthew 18:21-35"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-20-1-16\/","n":"Matthew 20:1-16, A day's wage for an hour's work","s":"A landowner hires laborers for his vineyard at dawn and again through the day, then pays everyone a full denarius, starting with the last. Those hired first complain.","r":"Matthew 20:1-16"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-22-1-14\/","n":"Matthew 22:1-14, The king's wedding feast","s":"A king's invited guests refuse to come to his son's wedding and kill his messengers. He burns their city, fills the hall with people from the roads, and throws out a guest without wedding clothes.","r":"Matthew 22:1-14"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-23-1-12\/","n":"Matthew 23:1-12, Moses' seat, wide phylacteries, the best seats","s":"Jesus tells the crowds to do what the scribes and Pharisees teach but not what they do, and mocks their wide phylacteries, long tassels, best seats and love of the title rabbi.","r":"Matthew 23:1-12"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-25-1-13\/","n":"Matthew 25:1-13, Ten young women and the bridegroom","s":"Ten young women wait with their lights for a bridegroom who comes late at night. Five brought extra oil and go in to the feast; five go to buy oil and find the door shut.","r":"Matthew 25:1-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/mark-6-14-29\/","n":"Mark 6:14-29, Herod's banquet and John's death","s":"Herod hears of Jesus and thinks John has risen. Mark then tells how Herod, at his birthday banquet, had John beheaded.","r":"Mark 6:14-29"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/mark-7-24-37\/","n":"Mark 7:24-37, A Greek woman and a deaf man","s":"In the region of Tyre a Gentile mother asks Jesus to free her daughter, and answers his saying about dogs. In the Decapolis he heals a deaf man.","r":"Mark 7:24-37"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/mark-10-32-45\/","n":"Mark 10:32-45, James and John ask for the best seats","s":"On the road to Jerusalem Jesus predicts his death a third time. James and John ask to sit at his right and left, and he tells them the first must be slave of all.","r":"Mark 10:32-45"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/mark-15-21-41\/","n":"Mark 15:21-41, The cross","s":"Jesus is crucified as king of the Jews between two bandits, mocked by passers-by, and dies with a loud cry. The temple curtain tears, and women watch from a distance.","r":"Mark 15:21-41"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-1-26-56\/","n":"Luke 1:26-56, A village girl, a greeting and a song of reversal","s":"Gabriel greets Mary, a betrothed girl in Nazareth, with news that she will bear the son of David. She goes to Elizabeth in the hill country and sings of God bringing down rulers and lifting up the humble.","r":"Luke 1:26-56"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-6-20-36\/","n":"Luke 6:20-36, Blessings, woes and lending with nothing back","s":"Jesus blesses the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the hated, pronounces woes on the rich and the well fed, and tells his hearers to love enemies, turn the other cheek and lend without expecting anything back.","r":"Luke 6:20-36"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-10-38-42\/","n":"Luke 10:38-42, Mary at the teacher's feet","s":"In Martha's house Mary sits at Jesus' feet listening while Martha works at serving. When Martha complains, Jesus says Mary has chosen the better part.","r":"Luke 10:38-42"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-11-1-13\/","n":"Luke 11:1-13, Father, daily bread and a friend at midnight","s":"Asked to teach his disciples to pray, Jesus gives a short prayer to the Father, then tells of a man who wakes a neighbor at midnight to borrow bread for a guest.","r":"Luke 11:1-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-11-37-54\/","n":"Luke 11:37-54, Woes at a Pharisee's table","s":"At a Pharisee's meal Jesus does not wash before eating, and when his host is surprised he pronounces woes on Pharisees and lawyers: clean cups and greedy hearts, tithed herbs, the best seats, unmarked graves and the tombs of the prophets.","r":"Luke 11:37-54"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-14-1-14\/","n":"Luke 14:1-14, Dropsy at a Pharisee's table, and guests who cannot repay","s":"On a Sabbath at the house of a leading Pharisee, Jesus heals a man with dropsy, tells the guests not to grab the best places, and tells the host to invite people who cannot invite him back.","r":"Luke 14:1-14"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-14-15-24\/","n":"Luke 14:15-24, The great banquet and the excuses","s":"A guest blesses whoever will eat bread in God's kingdom. Jesus tells of a man whose invited guests all excuse themselves when the feast is ready, so he fills his house with the poor and with people from the roads.","r":"Luke 14:15-24"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-15-11-32\/","n":"Luke 15:11-32, A father and two lost sons","s":"A younger son takes his share of the estate early, wastes it in a far country, and comes home to a father who runs to meet him. The older brother refuses to join the feast.","r":"Luke 15:11-32"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-16-1-13\/","n":"Luke 16:1-13, The dishonest manager","s":"A rich man's manager, about to be dismissed for wasting his master's property, calls in the master's debtors and cuts their bills. The master praises his shrewdness.","r":"Luke 16:1-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-18-1-8\/","n":"Luke 18:1-8, The widow and the judge","s":"Jesus tells of a judge who neither feared God nor respected people and a widow who kept coming to him for justice until he gave in. How much more, he says, will God see justice done for his chosen ones.","r":"Luke 18:1-8"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-20-20-26\/","n":"Luke 20:20-26, Caesar's coin","s":"Spies sent by the leaders ask Jesus whether it is right to pay tribute to Caesar, hoping to hand him over to the governor. He asks whose image is on a denarius.","r":"Luke 20:20-26"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/john-2-1-12\/","n":"John 2:1-12, Water into wine at a village wedding","s":"At a wedding in Cana the wine runs out. Jesus has the servants fill six stone purification jars with water, and the master of the feast tastes the best wine of the week.","r":"John 2:1-12"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/john-12-20-50\/","n":"John 12:20-50, Greeks at the feast, and the ruler of this world cast out","s":"Some Greeks who came up to worship ask to see Jesus. He says his hour has come, that the ruler of this world will be driven out, and that when he is lifted up he will draw everyone to himself; many leaders believe but stay silent.","r":"John 12:20-50"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/john-18-1-27\/","n":"John 18:1-27, Arrest across the Kidron, and Annas","s":"Judas brings soldiers and temple police with torches to a garden across the Kidron. Jesus answers I am he, they fall back, and he is taken bound to Annas while Peter denies him three times by a charcoal fire.","r":"John 18:1-27"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/acts-4-1-31\/","n":"Acts 4:1-31, Before the temple rulers","s":"The temple authorities arrest Peter and John for proclaiming the resurrection in Jesus. Before the council the unschooled fishermen speak boldly, are warned and released, and pray with the believers in the words of Psalm 2.","r":"Acts 4:1-31"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/acts-4-32-5-11\/","n":"Acts 4:32-5:11, Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira","s":"The believers share everything, and Barnabas sells a field for the common fund. Ananias and Sapphira sell land too but lie about the price, and both fall dead.","r":"Acts 4:32-5:11"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/acts-16-25-40\/","n":"Acts 16:25-40, The jailer and the Roman citizens","s":"At midnight an earthquake opens the prison. The jailer, about to kill himself, believes with his household; next day Paul reveals that he and Silas are Roman citizens beaten without trial, and the magistrates come to apologize.","r":"Acts 16:25-40"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/romans-12-1-21\/","n":"Romans 12:1-21, A living sacrifice","s":"Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, to see themselves as members of one body, and to love without pretense: honoring one another, welcoming strangers, weeping with those who weep and repaying evil with good.","r":"Romans 12:1-21"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/romans-13-1-7\/","n":"Romans 13:1-7, The sword and the tax","s":"Paul tells believers to be subject to the governing authorities, whom God has put in place. The ruler bears the sword, and they should pay taxes and give honor where it is owed.","r":"Romans 13:1-7"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/romans-15-14-24\/","n":"Romans 15:14-24, To Spain by way of Rome","s":"Paul describes his priestly work of offering the Gentiles to God, from Jerusalem round to Illyricum, and his plan to visit Rome on his way to Spain and be helped on his journey there.","r":"Romans 15:14-24"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1corinthians-1-18-2-5\/","n":"1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5, The foolishness of the cross","s":"Paul sets the message of a crucified Messiah, folly to Greeks and a stumbling block to Jews, against the wisdom and eloquence Corinth admired, and reminds the believers that few of them were wise, powerful or well born.","r":"1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1corinthians-4-6-13\/","n":"1 Corinthians 4:6-13, Apostles on display","s":"With biting irony Paul sets the Corinthians, already full, rich and reigning, beside the apostles, put on show last of all like men condemned to die, hungry, ragged, homeless and treated as the world's scum.","r":"1 Corinthians 4:6-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1corinthians-6-1-11\/","n":"1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Lawsuits before unbelievers","s":"Paul is appalled that believers take one another to court before pagan judges, reminds them that God's people will judge the world and even angels, and asks why they would not rather be wronged.","r":"1 Corinthians 6:1-11"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1corinthians-11-2-16\/","n":"1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Heads covered and uncovered","s":"Paul tells men who pray or prophesy to keep their heads uncovered and women who do so to cover theirs, arguing from headship, creation, the angels, nature and the custom of the churches.","r":"1 Corinthians 11:2-16"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1corinthians-12-1-31\/","n":"1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Mute idols and one body","s":"Paul reminds the Corinthians that as pagans they were led astray to mute idols, describes the many gifts of the one Spirit, and pictures the church as one body whose weaker and less honored members are indispensable.","r":"1 Corinthians 12:1-31"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/2corinthians-1-12-2-4\/","n":"2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4, Changed plans, the seal and the down payment","s":"Accused of fickleness for changing his travel plans, Paul answers that his word is reliable because all God's promises are Yes in Christ, who has anointed and sealed them and given the Spirit as a down payment, and explains that he stayed away to spare them.","r":"2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/2corinthians-8-16-9-15\/","n":"2 Corinthians 8:16-9:15, Envoys for the collection and the cheerful giver","s":"Paul commends Titus and two brothers appointed by the churches to carry the gift, takes care that no one can fault him in handling it, and urges the Corinthians to have their promised gift ready, since God loves a cheerful giver.","r":"2 Corinthians 8:16-9:15"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/galatians-2-1-10\/","n":"Galatians 2:1-10, Titus, the pillars and the right hand of fellowship","s":"Fourteen years later Paul goes up to Jerusalem with Barnabas and the uncircumcised Titus; Titus is not made to be circumcised, and the leaders reputed to be pillars give Paul the right hand of fellowship, asking only that he remember the poor.","r":"Galatians 2:1-10"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/galatians-2-11-21\/","n":"Galatians 2:11-21, Peter leaves the table at Antioch","s":"At Antioch Peter, who had been eating with Gentile believers, draws back when people come from James, and Paul rebukes him in front of everyone, arguing that Jews and Gentiles alike are put right with God through Christ and faith, not by doing what the law requires.","r":"Galatians 2:11-21"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/galatians-4-12-20\/","n":"Galatians 4:12-20, Welcomed as an angel of God","s":"Paul appeals to the Galatians as friends, reminding them that when he first preached to them in bodily weakness they did not scorn him but welcomed him as an angel of God, and asks whether he has now become their enemy by telling them the truth.","r":"Galatians 4:12-20"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/ephesians-3-1-13\/","n":"Ephesians 3:1-13, The prisoner, the steward and the mystery shown to the powers","s":"Paul, a prisoner for the sake of the Gentiles, breaks off to explain the stewardship of grace given him: the mystery, now revealed, that Gentiles are co-heirs, made known through the church even to the rulers in the heavenly realms.","r":"Ephesians 3:1-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/philippians-1-12-26\/","n":"Philippians 1:12-26, Chains known to the whole palace guard","s":"Paul tells how his imprisonment has carried the gospel through the palace guard and made other preachers bolder, some from rivalry, then weighs living against dying and expects to stay on for their sake.","r":"Philippians 1:12-26"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/philippians-2-1-11\/","n":"Philippians 2:1-11, The form of a slave, a cross, and every knee","s":"Paul urges humility and concern for others, then sets out Christ, who did not exploit his equality with God but took the form of a slave and died on a cross, and whom God exalted so that every knee will bow.","r":"Philippians 2:1-11"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1thessalonians-2-1-12\/","n":"1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Gentle as a nurse, firm as a father","s":"Paul reminds the church how he and his companions came to them after being mistreated in Philippi: no deceit, flattery or greed, gentle among them like a nursing mother, working night and day so as not to burden anyone, and urging each of them like a father.","r":"1 Thessalonians 2:1-12"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1thessalonians-4-1-8\/","n":"1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, Holiness in the body","s":"Paul reminds the church of the instructions he passed on from the Lord Jesus: God's will is that they be holy, avoid sexual immorality, control their own bodies in holiness and honor, and not wrong a brother in this matter.","r":"1 Thessalonians 4:1-8"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1timothy-3-1-13\/","n":"1 Timothy 3:1-13, Overseers, deacons and the women","s":"Paul lists what is required of an overseer, above reproach, faithful in marriage, hospitable, able to teach, managing his household well, and then of deacons and of the women, who must also be worthy of respect.","r":"1 Timothy 3:1-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/2timothy-1-8-18\/","n":"2 Timothy 1:8-18, Not ashamed of my chains, the deposit, and Onesiphorus","s":"Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the Lord's testimony or of him as a prisoner, but to share his suffering and guard the good deposit; everyone in Asia has deserted him except Onesiphorus, who searched Rome until he found him.","r":"2 Timothy 1:8-18"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/titus-2-1-10\/","n":"Titus 2:1-10, Older men, older women, young wives and slaves","s":"Titus is to teach what fits sound doctrine to each group in the household of faith, older men, older women, younger women, younger men and slaves, so that outsiders have no cause to speak against God's message and the teaching about God is made attractive.","r":"Titus 2:1-10"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/philemon-8-25\/","n":"Philemon 8-25, Onesimus sent home with a letter","s":"Paul appeals to Philemon, on the basis of love, for Onesimus, the slave who became Paul's son in prison: he sends him back to be received as a beloved brother rather than as a slave, asks Philemon to welcome him as he would Paul, offers to repay anything he owes, and asks for a guest room.","r":"Philemon 8-25"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/hebrews-10-26-39\/","n":"Hebrews 10:26-39, No sacrifice left; prison and plunder","s":"For anyone who goes on sinning deliberately after knowing the truth, no sacrifice for sins remains. The readers once endured a hard contest: public insult, prison and the seizure of their property, which they accepted with joy. They must not throw away their confidence now.","r":"Hebrews 10:26-39"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/hebrews-12-1-13\/","n":"Hebrews 12:1-13, The race, the shame and the Father's discipline","s":"Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, believers are to throw off every weight and run with endurance, eyes fixed on Jesus, who endured the cross and scorned its shame. Their hardships are a father's discipline, which only legitimate children receive.","r":"Hebrews 12:1-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/james-2-1-13\/","n":"James 2:1-13, The gold ring and the good seat","s":"James forbids favoritism in the assembly. A rich man with a gold ring is given a good seat and a poor man in dirty clothes is told to stand, though it is the rich who drag believers into court and slander the noble name; the royal law of love rules out partiality, and mercy triumphs over judgment.","r":"James 2:1-13"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1peter-2-18-25\/","n":"1 Peter 2:18-25, Household slaves and a harsh master","s":"Peter tells household slaves to submit to their masters, the harsh as well as the kind, because suffering unjustly while doing good is commendable before God. Christ suffered for them, leaving an example: insulted, he did not insult in return, and by his wounds they have been healed.","r":"1 Peter 2:18-25"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/1peter-4-12-19\/","n":"1 Peter 4:12-19, The fiery ordeal and the name Christian","s":"The readers should not be surprised at the fiery ordeal, but rejoice to share Christ's sufferings. No one should suffer as a murderer, a thief or a meddler, but anyone who suffers as a Christian should not be ashamed; judgment begins with God's household, so those who suffer should commit themselves to their faithful Creator.","r":"1 Peter 4:12-19"}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/3john-9-15\/","n":"3 John 9-15, Diotrephes and Demetrius","s":"The elder wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, eager to be first, refuses to receive him; he spreads malicious talk, refuses to welcome the brothers and puts out of the church those who do. Gaius is not to imitate evil. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone, and the elder adds his own testimony; he hopes to come soon and talk face to face.","r":"3 John 9-15"}
Related ideas
Sources
- NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, notes on Mark 1:44, 6:26, 9:28, 9:32, 9:34, 10:18, 10:44, 12:34, 12:38, 14:18, 14:50 and 15:24, and notes on Matthew 8:4 and 14:7
- Kenneth E. Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, ch. 16, The Syro-Phoenician Woman
- Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, on Matthew 5:39 and 14:8-9
- Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, on 2 Corinthians 8:1 and introduction to 9:1-5
- NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, notes on 2 Corinthians 9:2, 9:3 and 9:5
- Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, on Galatians 1:11 and 2:13-14
- NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, notes on Galatians 2:14 and 6:14
