Category Archives: Dealing with Scripture Honestly

Paul’s Potentially Prejudiced Personal Paraphrase: 1 John 3:7 and 1 John 5:13

Posted on 07/31/2026 by Paul Pavao

I’m hoping God lets me continue a series beginning with today’s “Paul’s Potentially Prejudiced Personal Paraphrase.” I told Lorie, my wife, about it, and she said, “Perfect!” (LOL). 1 John 3:7, NASB: “Little children, let no one lead you astray. … Continue reading →

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Why the Earliest Churches Never Debated Faith vs. Works

Posted on 07/29/2026 by Paul Pavao

Today to a person asked, “If faithfulness is required to inherit the kingdom [Col. 1:22-23; Gal. 5:19-21; 2 Pet. 1:10-11], doesn’t that violate saved by grace?” I wrote (you get the edited version): I’ve wrestled with these passages since 1986. … Continue reading →

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Bible Warnings and Why I Don’t Believe Eternal Security

Posted on 07/20/2026 by Paul Pavao

I’ve never believed in eternal security. I attended two churches when I was first saved, an all-black Pentecostal Church every other week when my boss, the greatest Christian who ever lived, was preaching, and an almost all-white Assembly of God … Continue reading →

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The Strange Case of Symbolic Baptism: A Doctrine in Search of a Text

Posted on 07/06/2026 by Paul Pavao

I’m looking at a defense of symbolic baptism written by a an intelligent and godly man with long experience in the Scriptures. You may be like him, a follower of Jesus that, to borrow a John Wesley quote about Georg … Continue reading →

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Will God Judge You by Your Church Membership?

Posted on 06/29/2026 by Paul Pavao

I was asked, “Can I be saved if I don’t join the Eastern Orthodox?” I answered: I am so sorry you are having to ask this question. Here’s the simplest answer I can give you. Read Ezekiel 18:20-32; Matthew 25:31-46; … Continue reading →

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Connecting the Dots: Why Paul and John Speak Differently About Eternal Life

Posted on 06/26/2026 by Paul Pavao

I asked ChatGPT what I could do in the public forum to communicate better. In fact, I used the phrase “be more systematic.” It replied: If I were looking for one improvement in your public communication, it would not be … Continue reading →

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When Grammar Shapes Theology: Wisdom, Jesus, and Proverbs 8

Posted on 05/26/2026 by Paul Pavao

This is pulled from my own Facebook post obviously. In another Facebook post I laughed at myself for not knowing that idioma in Spanish is masculine, not feminine. Language gender (and other grammar rules) is really important for understanding the … Continue reading →

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What Does Aphesis Mean? Forgiveness, Jubilee, and Freedom in Christ

Posted on 05/18/2026 by Paul Pavao

Today the word aphesis seems so important. It is the word Paul and much of the New Testament uses for forgiveness. Well, maybe I should say that translators translate the word as forgiveness. It is the same Greek word that … Continue reading →

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Can We Justify “Protecting” God’s Flock from God’s Warnings?

Posted on 04/11/2026 by Paul Pavao

A friend saw my face and demeanor after a discussion of spiritual gifts, and he kindly checked on me. I told him I sometimes struggle with the fact that everyone agrees my spiritual gift is teaching, but I’m rarely allowed … Continue reading →

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Fact Sheet on Evolution for Christians

Posted on 02/20/2026 by Paul Pavao

I am often asked why I write about evolution. Evolution is not just a scientific issue; it is a theological issue that most Christians are interested in, whether to deny it or to learn about it. I think all Christians … Continue reading →

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