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 Honey Crisp. They’re our favorites. Like, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' and 'Love never fails.' Oh, the meaning and relevant application from these just gushes forth into our lives. But strange Scriptures are more like crabapples. Consider this one: 'For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment' (2 Peter 2:4). Not quite a Honey Crisp, is it? 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.
