I Timothy 3:14-16 We’ve only got three verses today – but they’re powerful! … I am writing these things to you so that … you may know how one ought to behave in the … church of the living God… (vv. 14-15) It’s always helpful for me to edit out incidental phrases in Paul’s letters …
Monthly Archives: September 2020
September 20 / I Timothy 3:8-13
I Timothy 3:8-13 We saw in Acts 6 that the early church had appointed deacons (although they were not named as such) to serve in more mundane, “earthly” matters. The qualifications for these deacons were few in number, but no less demanding: …pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the …
September 19 / I Timothy 3:1-7
I Timothy 3:1-7 In today’s reading various translations use the term “bishop” or “overseer” in verses 1 and 2. However, I think that Paul is using that term to refer to the head of a congregation, so a better understanding would be “priest”. I draw this conclusion because Paul is writing to Timothy in Ephesus, …
September 18 / I Timothy 2:8-15
I Timothy 2:8-15 Taking out all the positives and negatives in verses 9 and 10, here is what we are left with: …women should adorn themselves … with good works. (vv. 9-10, edited) Thankfully, most of the women I know do these very things. We need another two verses for men, with the same ending, …
September 17 / I Timothy 2:1-7
I Timothy 2:1-7 Another oft-quoted verse: [God] … desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (v. 4) A challenge for us today: I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for … kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a …
September 16 / I Timothy 1:12-20
I Timothy 1:12-20 Two verses in today’s reading are widely quoted. First, It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. (v. 15) The last portion of that verse beginning with “among” is often left off when that verse …
September 15 / I Timothy 1:1-11
I Timothy 1:1-11 Today we leave Paul’s “city letters” behind and move on to his “Pastoral Epistles” to Timothy and Titus for the next month or so. Today, I Timothy. First, an intro to this letter – there are two significant items worth noting. First, there is substantial controversy over whether Paul was the author …
September 14 / Ephesians 6:10-23
Ephesians 6:10-23 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus … will make everything known to you. (v. 21) This verse, together with Paul’s prisoner comment in verse 20 strongly suggests that Paul wrote Ephesians at the same time that he wrote Colossians and Philemon (see Colossians 4:7-9). I …
September 13 / Ephesians 6:1-9
Ephesians 6:1-9 Sometimes it’s hard to find anything to say with respect to Paul’s writings. I mean, how can you disagree with Children, obey your parents… (v. 1) or Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger… (v. 4)? Still, we might wonder about Paul’s counsel, Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters …
September 12 / Ephesians 5:22-33
Ephesians 5:22-33 Twelve verses today – three to wives, nine to husbands (although some of those husband verses relate to Christ and His church). Maybe more verses to the men because it takes us longer to figure it out. Actually, given the gender roles in the first century Roman/Greek world, Paul would naturally spend more …