Jacob I Loved, Esau I Hated: Understanding Romans 9. Few phrases in Scripture generate more debate than Paul’s quotation in Romans 9: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” On the surface, these words sound harsh, as though God arbitrarily despises individuals. For centuries, theologians, pastors, and everyday believers have wrestled with this verse, its Old Testament background, and its implications for God’s character.

Book of Malachi Summary: From Corrupt Priests to the Coming Christ. When many people open their Protestant Bible, Malachi appears to be the “final word” of the Old Testament, closing the story until the arrival of John the Baptist and Jesus. But in the Bible of the Early Church — the Septuagint — Malachi is not the last book. So rather than being a “closing,” Malachi should be read as a prophetic voice within an ongoing stream of revelation.

If you've been in church for more than a few weeks, odds are you've heard a sermon on Malachi 3:10. It usually goes like this: "Bring the full tithe, and God will pour out a blessing from heaven! Try it! Put Him to the test!" Sounds exciting, even foolproof. But is it biblical? Or better yet—is it rightly applied?