II Corinthians 2:1-11 So, is there a lost letter or a lost visit? I’ve chatted around this topic the past few days. I sense that the majority of scholars tend to believe that yes, there is a lost letter and an unreported visit. There is clear evidence for an unreported visit later in II Corinthians, …
Monthly Archives: May 2020
May 21 / II Cor. 1:12-24
II Corinthians 1:12-24 I have a lot of difficulty weighing through Paul’s difficulties with the Corinthians. There are a lot of references to letters that Paul might have written to the Corinthians that have been lost and of visits to them that are not recorded. So it’s difficult to follow his relationship with them when …
May 20 / II Cor. 1:1-11
II Corinthians 1:1-11 Affliction, suffering, burden, despair, peril, death… Deliverance, comfort, salvation!! There is really only one message in these few verses today. God is a God of deliverance, of comfort, of salvation! No matter our circumstances, He is there for us – and He wants us to be there for others. Whether we are …
May 19 / Acts 19:23-20:1
Acts 19:23-20:1 So yes, it’s a strange reading schedule – one day’s reading of 20 verses in Acts between Paul’s two Corinthian letters. This is the pattern that they have in our Chronological Bible that I’ve been using the past two years and I have not seen fit to change it (much). However, this Acts …
May 18 / I Cor. 16:13-24
I Corinthians 16:13-24 Depending on your translation, verse 22b will say either “Maranatha” or “O Lord, come” or “Our Lord, come.” I had noted two days ago that many commentators felt that Paul was expecting Jesus’ imminent return. Now he closes with this greeting. My Study Bible noted Paul’s expectation in its comment on this …
May 17 / I Cor. 16:1-12
I Corinthians 16:1-12 …so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go… (v. 6b) and Help him on his way in peace… (v. 11b) These statements seem unusual for Paul to write. Typically he is telling his listeners that he is self-sufficient, that he is not a burden to the church, that …
May 16 / I Cor. 15:50-58
I Corinthians 15:50-58 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep… (v. 51a) Many commentators have written that Paul was expecting Jesus’ return to come in the near future, but clearly that didn’t happen. But I agree with the commentators. I think this verse is one of the strongest that he makes …
May 15 / I Cor. 15:35-49
I Corinthians 15:35-49 What a delightful passage to read! Paul makes so many comparisons, mostly one-to-one but also men-beasts-birds-fish and sun-moon-stars. But what I really love are his pairings: perishable-imperishable; dishonor-honor; weakness-power; natural-spiritual; soul-spirit; earthly-heavenly. Very well written, St. Paul!! You fool! (v. 36a) Paul is pretty hard on the Corinthians. I thought they had …
May 14 / I Cor. 15:20-34
I Corinthians 15:20-34 I will venture where I don’t belong, theology over my head! …what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? (v. 29) “…baptized on behalf of the dead…” What’s this all about? My Study …
May 13 / I Cor. 15:1-19
I Corinthians 15:1-19 And if Christ has not been raised, … we are of all people most to be pitied. (vv. 17a, 19b) For many years I was quoting this “verse”, except that it was not one verse, but the combination of two partial verses. So much for my Bible memory skills…!! But the reality …