Eusébio, Pelé and the Bible

I am not a football fan but back in the late sixties and early seventies I was an avid follower of the game. At that time, two of the top overseas footballers were two Portuguese speaking strikers, one from Portugal and one from Brazil.

The Portuguese player was Eusébio, full name Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1942–2014). Nicknamed the "Black Panther", the "Black Pearl" or "The King" ("O Rei") he is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time and Benfica's best player ever. He was known for his speed, technique, athleticism and right-footed shot, making him a prolific goalscorer, accumulating 733 goals in 745 matches. He helped Portugal to third place in the1966 World Cup, being the top goalscorer of the tournament with nine goals.

Also nicknamed “The King”, the Brazilian was known as Pelé, although his actual name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022). Pelé was a nickname based on his young mispronunciation of the name of another player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of his century. His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies, is recognised as a Guinness World Record. In 1999, the International Olympic Committee named him Athlete of the Century and Time put him on their list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics voted him World Player of the Century and he was made, with Maradona, joint FIFA Player of the Century.

One of the interesting and more obscure things about these men is that their names are in the Bible. That is to say, in the New Testament you will find the Greek original of Eusébio, Eusebios, and in the Old Testament you will find a Hebrew word remarkably like the word Pelé.

The name Eusébio or Eusebeo means to be pious or devout. It is made up of the short adjective eu or good and the verb sebesthai which means to honour or respect. In its different forms the word occurs about six times and is translated devout or godly and can mean to serve God or to worship him.

So in Acts (10:2, 7) we read that Cornelius was devout, as was Ananias who helped Paul when he was first converted (22:12). In 2 Peter 2:9 Peter tells us that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials. In 1 Timothy 5:4 Paul says that the children or grandchildren of widows first learn to show godliness to (or put their faith or religion into practice with) their own household and to make some return to their parents. In Acts 17;23 Paul tells the Athenians that he is proclaiming to them a God they worship as unknown.

So if and when you come across the name Eusébio, it may call to mind the way the New Testament uses related words and set you thinking of the importance of devotion, worship and putting your faith into practice.

As for the name Pelé or Pele, this appears in the Hebrew Old Testament some 13 times, most often to refer to wonders or marvellous things God has done. See Exodus 15:11, Isaiah 25:1 and 29:14, Daniel 12:6 and several places in the Psalms (77, 11, 14; 78:12; 88:10, 12; 89:5). In Psalm 119:129 David refers to God's Word as wonderful using this word. More unusual is Lamentations 1:9 where it says that Israel has fallen wonderfully or her fall has been a wonder. Modern versions sat it was tragic, terrible, amazing or astounding. Perhaps the most astounding pele verse is Isaiah 9:6 where we read For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The wonderful of the first title is that word pele.

So again if and when you come across the name Pelé, it may call to mind the way the Old Testament uses this word pele and set you thinking of God's Wonders and especially of Jesus Christ the wonderful counsellor.

As for Johan Cruyff, the surname at least is nowhere to be found in our Bibles.

10 Claims to fame that belong to Pascal

Palace of Versailles, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons

I have begun to read a biography of Blaise Pascal. At the beginning Graham Tomlinson lists Pascal's claims to fame. They include these 

1. He proved the existence fo the vacuum
2. He was the first to demonstrate that air has weight
3. He virtually invented probabilty theory
4. He performed what has been called the first modern proper scientific experiment
5. He made possible the creation of the hydraulic press
6. He built the first mechanical calculating machine
7. He wrote one of the most famous satirical works in French literature
8. He was one of the first people to wear a wristwatch
9. He was involved in creating the first public urban tranportation system in Europe
10. In the field of apologetics, he came up with what we call Pascal's wager, an argument for faith.

The Buxton Memorial Fountain

Given my recent reading it was interesting to stumble across this the other day.

The Buxton Memorial Fountain is a memorial and drinking fountain commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, and in particular, the role of British parliamentarians in the campaign. It was commissioned by Charles Buxton MP, and dedicated to his father Thomas Fowell Buxton along with Wilberforce, Clarkson, Babington Macaulay, Henry Brougham and Stephen Lushington, all of whom were involved. It was designed by Buxton, an amateur architect, in collaboration with neo-Gothic architect Samuel Sanders Teulon (1812–1873) in 1865. It coincided with the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which effectively ended slavery in the USA. The memorial was completed February 1866. It was originally constructed in Parliament Square, erected at a cost of £1,200. As part of the postwar redesign of the square it was removed in 1949 and not reinstated in its present position in Victoria Tower Gardens until 1957.

There were eight decorative figures of British rulers on it, but four were stolen in 1960 and four in 1971. They were replaced by fibreglass figures in 1980. By 2005 these were missing, and the fountain was no longer working. Between autumn 2006 and February 2007 restoration works were carried out. The restored fountain was unveiled on 27 March 2007 as part of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807 to abolish the slave trade. A memorial plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Anti-Slavery Society was added in 1989.

Thames Path - Millbank, Westminster

 

I headed down to Pimlico the other day and walked another two sections of the Thames Path. I passed Tate Britain and Millbank Tower, etc, and approached Parliament from what for me is an unusual angle, via Victoria Tower Park.

Notice to ponder

I have long pondered this notice. My current theory is that after the male attendants have had a go the female ones can see how poor an effort they have made and then sort it out.

(Toilet humour?)

 

Follow up article in Banner 750

The second part of a two part article that I have written on Experiential Calvinism is in the March Banner Magazine.

Midweek Meeting February 18 2026

Half term this week and we ended up with three in the little kitchen and three online. It was all over within the hour. I spoke on Romans 13:11-14.

10 Famous People Buried in Westminster Abbey

1. Sir Isaac Newton: Buried in 1727 near the quire screen
2. Charles Darwin: Located in the scientists' corner
3. Stephen Hawking: Ashes interred in 2018
4. Ernest Rutherford: Renowned physicist
5. Charles Dickens: Famous novelist
6. Laurence Olivier: Renowned actor
7. George Frideric Handel: Composer
8. David Livingstone: Explorer
9. Aphra Behn: One of the first English women to earn a living from writing
10. William Wilberforce: Politician and abolitionist

10 British Monarchs Buried in Westminster Abbey

1. Edward I, King of England, in 1307
2. Edward III, King of England, in 1377
3. Henry V, King of England, in 1422
4. Henry VII, King of England, in 1509
5. Edward VI, King of England, in 1553
6. Mary I, Queen of England, in 1558
7. Elizabeth I, Queen of England, in 1603
8. James VI and I, King of England and Scotland, in 1625
9. Charles II, King of England and Scotland, in 1685
10. William III, King of England and Scotland, in 1702

(Also, Anne, Queen of Great Britain, in 1714 and George II, King of Great Britain, in 1760)

10 Poets Buried in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey

National Library of Wales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Geoffrey Chaucer c. 1343 1400 Author and poet
2. Edmund Spenser c. 1552 1599 Poet
3. Abraham Cowley 1618 1667 Poet
4. John Dryden 1631 1700 Poet and playwright
5. Samuel Johnson 1709 1784 Author, poet and lexicographer
6. Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809 1892 Poet
7. Robert Browning 1812 1889 Poet and playwright
8. Thomas Hardy 1840 1928 Author and poet
9. John Masefield 1878 1967 Poet and author
10. Rudyard Kipling 1865 1936 Author and poet

Lord's Day February 15 2026

Low numbers yesterday due to sickness and perhapss the terrible weather. Local newcomer in the evening showing an interest. Always encouraging. I thought Eternal paradoxes might not be the best subject but he loved it, it seems.

Midweek Meeting February 11 2026

Just a handful huddled in the kitchen again plus two online. We all prayed. We also looked at Romans 13:8-10.

Day Off Week 7 2026

The main feature of this week's day off was a trip with my wife to  lovely restaurant. It was a birthday/Christmas gift from very king friend of ours. The location was the Vincent Rooms Brasserie near Victoria. The set up is connected with the Westmineter College and is staffed by students. We had a very nice three course meal and just enjoyed being out together. I also managed to complete the William Hague biography of Wilberforce that I have been reading and started a biography of Jimi Hendrix. In the evening, it was TV wall to wall as we watched the Apprentice with Owain, which we had missed last week, Silent WItness (just us) and then the news before bed.

Lord's Day February 8 2026

We had a full day last Lord's Day with a meal together after the morning meeting at which I preached on the parable of the minas from Luke 19. In the evening Eddie preached, once again from Luke 15. As usual the morning congregation was much larger than the small evening one. Our Iranian friends were out in force in the morning, despite being distracted by a desire to know what is happening at home. Two younger men who have begun to attend were there, whch was encouraging. 

Thames Path - Next Bits

I was on my own on Saturday and so I thought I woud do the next two sections of the Thames Path. I got myself down to Sloane Square by opublic transport and grabbed a coffee, I then walked to Chelsea Beidge and headed back almost to the Alert Bridge then made my official start. First we passed the Chelsea Physic Garcen and the Royal Hospital. As ever, one is amazed by how much open space London contains. I noted the western oumping station and, on the other side, the pagoda in Battersea Park and the remaining facade of the Bettersea Power Station. Just beyond Grosvenor Railway Bridge I started a seond, less full section, that included Dolphi Square adn St George's Square adn finished with the statue of William Huskinson in a little park area. I walked a little way further until I fond a bus to Victoria and then home. The thing is an education.

Midweek Meeting February 4 2026

Nice and cosy in the kitchen once again, praying and looking at Romans 13:1-7 about honouring the powers that be and paying your taxes.

Day Off Week 6 2026

There was the usual reading today (Hague on Wilberforce) but I also resumed walking the London Thams Path, something I started a little while ago that I seem to have left no record of. I have  abook by David Fathers that divides the walk up into 20 odd north shore and south shore pieces. I did the first part of the north shore with my wife last year and this Tuesday I did the next two parts. For the first part (Fulham) we went down to Putney Bridge Underground and walked west as far as Fulham Palace and then came back east all the way to Wandsworh Bridge, where we had a cuppa. (Sasdly it was very windy and so parts of the Thames Path were closed then). This time I headed to Imperial Wharf Overground where we ended up last time. First, I headed back west as far as the large Sainsbury's near Wandsworth Bridge and then headed east again as far as the end of Cheyne Walk where I caught a bus to Sloane Square and had a coffee in Cote before headingto Five Guys in Victoria and home on a 13. Lots of famous people are connected with Cheyne Walk as you may have noticed in a previous post. I also saw Crosvy Hall, the statue of Thomas Moore, what was Lots Road Power Station and Chelsea Harbour. I'd been to Cheyne Walk before, to Carlyle's House, but before there I hadn't known so it was good to see how the further west fits in to the whole. On the opposite side I saw at one point the impressive St Mary's church where Blake was married. It was a dull wet day but not too cold.

10 Notable People Who Lived in Cheyne Walk, London

4 George Eliot the novelist spent the last three weeks of her life here

10 David Lloyd George the Welsh prime minister

12 Ralph Vaughan Williams the composer 1905-1928 who wrote symphonies there

13 Bertrand Russell the mathematician and philosopher in 1902

16 Dante Gabriel Rossetti the artist 1860-1882. There is a staute nearby.

21 James Mcneill Whistler the artist 1890–92. (He also lived in 72 (until his death there in 1903), 96 (1866–1878) and 101 (1863))

27 Bram Stoker the writer

93 Elizabeth Gaskell the novelist was born here

104 Hilaire Beloc the writer

119 J M W Turner the artist died here in 1851

(Also Thomas Caryle, I K Brunel, Sol Campbell, various members of The Rolling Stones, etc)

Nine Books Read Recently

No Hopeless Future: Expositions on the Book of Ruth?Dale Ralph Davis

It is always good news when a new Dale Ralph Davis volume appears even if it is as brief as these five chapters. This one is a little different to the usual in that these are sermons that have been written down with no footnotes and only minor changes from the spoken versions. The ususal elements - striking illustrations, lightly worn schoarship and rigorous expsiton are there as in the other works. Thank you Christian Focus and Major Burnam (the original transcriber).

Thirty Second Theology: Questions and Answers to Build Your Fait/Sinclair Ferguson

This is a catechism for teeanagers with a modern twist. It covers the beatitudes, the commandments, the Lord's Prayer, etc. Baptists will bristle at some phrases.

The Great Post Office Scandal - the extraordinary story behind the recent ITV drama: The fight to expose a multimillion pound IT disaster which put innocent people in jail/Nick Wallis

This is a very full and thorough account of the terrible way a large number of Post Office Subpostmasters were treated up to around 2022. The problems were caused, it would seem, by errors in the Horizon computer system, errors that the makers Fujitsu and the Post Office who used it have been extremely slow to own up to. It is a lesson in how very wrong things can go when people are less concerned with honesty and kindness than they are with profit and reputation. The book is well written but inevitably a little tedious and drawn out at times. Glad to have got the full story (so far).

Entitled: the rise and fall of the House of York Andrew Lownie

I have also recently read a book called Entitled about Andrew and Fergie. It is rather a depressing book in many ways as it describes, I think fairly accurately, the lives of two once married individuals and the excesses that they have given themselves to down the years. I don't suppose they are very different to the average Jack and Jill but because they have been exposed to so many temptations and have so often given in, we end up with a pretty discouraging state of affairs, to the extent, in Andrew's case, that he appears to be guilty of punishable crimes. Not at any point in the book do they seem to have come under the sound of the gospel and they do not seem to realise the need to repent and find forgiveness in Christ, which is their only hope. We do not know how it will all turn out before they die but it would not be a surprise if more came out. Andrew Lownie has thoroughly researched the story. He presents quite a different version of how the infamous interview with Andrew came together and appears to be quite convinced that Jeffrey Epstein did not kill himself. He is also quite convinced that Andrew is guilty of sex crimes.

The Noble Liar: How and why the BBC distorts the news to promote a liberal agenda Robin Aitken

I was alerted to this book back in 2019 but only got round to reading it more recenty. Aitken is Roman Catholic and very conservative and one would not want to accept everything he says but he makes some good and helpful points with regard to the bias clearly detectable within the BBC. What he has to say about Tommy Robinson is most interesting. Other topics covered include feminism, religion and Islam. Well worth a read.

(These last three I read on kindle)

Christians and slavery Ian F Shaw

This is a book that needed to be written in light of there being so much discussion about this subject at the moment. Dr Shaw has writen very helpfully giving an accurate history of the relevant material and outlining the stance that various Christians took on the subject, people like Dabney and Machen coming out badly and Warfield and the Particualr Baptists much better. The second part of the book deals with some of the questions the history raises such as reparations and so on. It is a very helpful and interesting book.

100 Children's Books: that inspire our world/Colin Salter

Lovely book with two pages per book, one with writing and one with cover art. The books are for all ages and set out chronologically. Of the hundred books, I had read around twenty of them. Also some of the fifty listed as the second tier (eg Tom Brown's Schooldays). Some few books I had never heard of. One or two I thought I might like to try soon.

Then there have been two beautiful books aimed at children, beautifully presented. Beautiful books, aimed at kids I guess but lovely for all. These are

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost with illustrations by P J Lynch

The Fox and the Star by Coralie Bickford-Smith

Lord's Day February 1 2026

Last Lord's Day I preached on Luke 19:1-10 in the morning and then did a further study on paradoxes (The Paradoxical Christ)  in th evening. We began with communion when we were very few. The morning congregation itself was not bad but there were many missing for various reasons. We were about 14 pm.