Strange Scriptures: Deciphering 52 Weird, Bizarre, and Curious Verses from the New Testament

by Chris Palmer, Nathan Finochio (Foreword by)

Overview

What’s that Scripture mean?

Ever asked yourself this question when you’re reading through the Bible? We all have. Whether we’ve been saved a long time or are just beginning to follow Christ, there are portions of Scripture that go over our heads. They’re puzzling. Odd. Complicated. Strange.

• What’s baptism on behalf of the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:29)
• Wasn’t it rude for Jesus to call a woman a dog? (Mark 7:27)
• If Jesus is eternal, why is he called the firstborn? (Colossians 1:15)
• How can we do greater works than Christ? (John 14:12)

Scriptures like these are not preached from the pulpit as commonly as our favorite texts. You rarely hear about them in your small group Bible study. And it’s definitely not easy to explain what they mean.
Think of it like this: if the Bible were an apple orchard, the Scriptures we’re most familiar with are like the luscious Honeycrisp. They’re our favorites. Like, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and “Love never fails.”

But strange Scriptures are more like an unripe Granny Smith. There’s juice in it, all right, but if you want meaning and life application, you have to do a whole lot more squeezing. That’s where Strange Scriptures comes in. Within each short study, author Chris Palmer has aimed to represent scholarship, Greek exegesis, and life application to bring forth a full-bodied study to nourish your soul.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641236850
Publisher:	Whitaker House
Publication date:	08/31/2021
Series:	Greek for the Week
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Dr. Chris Palmer is a pastor, missionary, and professor of theology. He has taught the Word of God in over forty countries, was a full-time lead pastor for seven years, and is currently the dean of the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Prior to this, he taught at Moody Bible Institute and helped to architect Theos Seminary.

Chris holds a PhD from Bangor University (Wales, UK). His doctoral thesis examined the book of Revelation and the problem of evil, suffering, and theodicy.
​
Chris is the author of eight books, including Greek Word Study: 90 Ancient Words that Unlock Scripture; Winks From Scripture: Understanding God’s Subtle Work Among Us; and Hebrew Versus Greek: A Devotional Study of Scripture Through Two Lenses. His articles have been published by The Christian Post, CBN, Crosswalk, and more.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Author's Note 11

Acknowledgments 13

Introduction 15

1 Anger That Rots (Matthew 5:22) 19

2 Love, Perfectly (Matthew 5:48) 23

3 Avoid Getting Mauled (Matthew 7:6) 27

4 Don't Hesitate Because of Family (Matthew 8:22) 31

5 A Fierce Legion of Trouble (Mark 5:9) 35

6 Malicious Obedience (Mark 7:11-13) 39

7 How Do You Handle Fake News? (Mark 7:27-28) 43

8 Your Money Is No Good Here (Mark 10:23-26) 47

9 The Cost to Follow Jesus (Luke 14:26) 51

10 Woe to Those Who Give Bad Directions (Luke 17:1-2) 55

11 Obsessed with Being Busy (Luke 17:26-27) 59

12 Jesus Reveals God (John 1:18) 63

13 Jesus, the Place of Encounter (John 1:51) 67

14 Great Works Aren't Always So Spectacular (John 14:12) 71

15 The Infinite Works of Christ (John 21:25) 75

16 Hypocrisy Has Severe Consequences (Acts 5:1-2, 9-11) 79

17 A Blue-Collar Kind of God (Acts 19:9-12) 83

18 The Misery of Being Abandoned (Romans 1:28) 87

19 How Do I Know God Won't Let Me Down? (Romans 5:3-5) 91

20 Dealing with Defiance (1 Corinthians 5:4-5) 95

21 The Sacredness of Sex (1 Corinthians 6:12-13) 99

22 Order Benefits Us All (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) 103

23 Baptism on Behalf of the Dead? (1 Corinthians 15:29) 107

24 The Proof of the Minister Is in the Ministry (2 Corinthians 3:1-3) 111

25 Grace Makes Our Faith Unique (Galatians 5:12) 115

26 Jesus Isn't Out of Touch with Us (Ephesians 4:8-10) 119

27 In Life and Death-Christ (Philippians 1:21) 123

28 Unity and Courage in Times of Fear (Philippians 1:27-28) 127

29 Pay Attention to the Warning Signs (Philippians 3:2) 131

30 Jesus, the Superior One (Colossians 1:15) 135

31 Blessed Because We Suffer (Colossians 1:24) 139

32 A Short But Powerful Verse (1 Thessalonians 5:16) 143

33 Wickedness Is Mysterious (2 Thessalonians 2:7) 147

34 Don't Forget Your "BC" Days (1 Timothy 1:15) 151

35 Wandering Around with Nothing to Do (1 Timothy 5:11-13) 155

36 The Faithful Christ (2 Timothy 2:11-13) 159

37 Beauty or Smut? (Titus 1:15) 163

38 Is Your Faith in Prison or in the Guest Room? (Philemon 1:22) 167

39 Our Access to God Will Never Be Disrupted (Hebrews 7:24) 171

40 You Never Know Who You're Dealin' With (Hebrews 13:2) 175

41 Wandering Down the Wrong Road (James 5:19-20) 179

42 Happy Wife, Happy Life (1 Peter 3:7) 183

43 That Time God Punished the Angels (2 Peter 2:4) 187

44 What's the Deal with Sin? (1 John 1:8-10; 3:6-9) 191

45 Nobody Holds Secret Truth (1 John 2:27) 197

46 God's Love Should Be All Around Us (1 John 4:8) 201

47 The Midnight Zone (1 John 5:16-17) 205

48 Don't Go Ahead of Christ (2 John 1:9) 209

49 Honor Is a Beautiful Thing (3 John 1:6) 213

50 Steer Clear of the Reefs (Jude 1:12-13) 217

51 Godzilla vs. the Lamb (Revelation 6:15-17) 221

52 Beware of Catfish (Revelation 17:6) 225

Final Word 229

About the Author 230

Bibliography 232

Endnotes 239

Editorial Reviews

Chris Palmer’s new book Strange Scriptures may seem “strange” at first, but he has done a great job reconsidering New Testament passages that Christian readers tend to avoid because they are hard to understand, even offensive. After explaining them with insights from the original Greek and the ancient historical context, he offers some insightful ways of applying these passages to our lives, followed by a suggested prayer and an activity to drive the point home. Thoughtful Christians will find much to learn from these insights; preachers will also find great sermon illustrations here.

A Pentecostal Commentary on Revelation Jon Newton

We need fewer books that give you the fish and more books on how to fish. Strange Scriptures will teach you how to fish. In each study, Chris provides sound exegesis from the Greek text, an illustration, and an application—all of which work to bring the text to life in the twenty-first century. One could follow Chris’s method for any passage in the text and come away with rich meaning. Chris is a balanced, measured, and trustworthy voice in a sea of theological and political activism.

Founder, TheosU - Nathan Finochio

In Strange Scriptures, Chris Palmer takes readers on a journey through many difficult and overlooked passages within the New Testament, offering exegetical insights, spiritual reflections, and life applications. This is a must-read for those looking for an accessible devotional that draws on rich scholarship. Read and be blessed.

St. Basil Fellow, Center for Pastor Theologians - Andrew Ray Williams

Chris Palmer’s new book Strange Scriptures may seem “strange” at first, but he has done a great job reconsidering New Testament passages that Christian readers tend to avoid because they are hard to understand, even offensive. After explaining them with insights from the original Greek and the ancient historical context, he offers some insightful ways of applying these passages to our lives, followed by a suggested prayer and an activity to drive the point home. Thoughtful Christians will find much to learn from these insights; preachers will also find great sermon illustrations here.

Author, A Pentecostal Commentary on Revelation - Jon Newton