II Peter 1:1-21 Some time ago we saw Paul’s list of the “fruit of the Spirit”: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Today we see a listing from Peter that he calls “these things” (or “qualities” in the ESV and NASB translations): …faith … virtue … knowledge … self-control … …
Monthly Archives: November 2021
November 20 / Jude 1-25
Jude 1-25 I see the whole of Jude’s epistle as being written to two groups of people – those who are new or weak in the faith and the leaders whose job it is to teach and encourage those who are weak. As to the first group, Jude 5 points to the Israelites in the …
November 19 / I Peter 5:1-14
I Peter 5:1-14 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings… (v. 13a) I’ve always wondered who the “she” was who was with Peter in Rome (Babylon). My first thoughts go to Peter’s wife, but then one asks more fully about his wife. Scripture never says that Peter was married; none …
November 18 / I Peter 4:1-19
I Peter 4:1-19 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another … in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (vv. 10-11) Through our study of references to the Holy Spirit in the epistles in our Men’s Group discussions we have spent a lot of time talking …
November 17 / I Peter 3:1-22
I Peter 3:1-22 Occasionally lifting a few words or phrases out of its larger context can twist the original meaning of those words. We often see verses taken out of context so that the speaker or writer can make his or her point. But sometimes that new meaning can be intriguing; consider verse 21, edited …
November 16 / I Peter 2:1-25
I Peter 2:1-25 You may recall Paul’s “put on, take off” verses back in Ephesians 4:25-32. Today we have something similar in Peter’s writing, not “put on, take off” verses, but two “then, now” sequences: Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now …
November 15 / I Peter 1:1-25
I Peter 1:1-25 To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia… (v. 1) Peter is writing to these “Dispersion” groups in these five regions. Three of these groups are mentioned in Acts 2 (Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia) when the Holy Spirit appeared as “tongues of fire” to …
November 14 / II Timothy 4:1-22
II Timothy 4:1-22 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (vv. 3-4) Yesterday I mentioned liberal theology as a problem for …
November 13 / II Timothy 3:1-17
II Timothy 3:1-17 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses… (v. 8a) My Study Bible said that according to Jewish tradition these two men were Egyptian court magicians who opposed Moses when he went to Pharoah – Aaron threw down his staff and it became a serpent, then court magicians did the same (Exodus 7:11). …
November 12 / II Timothy 2:1-26
II Timothy 2:1-26 Phygelus and Hermogenes… (v. 1:15b) and Hymenaeus and Philetus. (v. 2:17b) In two chapters Paul mentions four people, with two sets of similar names and with similar charges against them (…turned away from me… (1:15) and …swerved from the truth… (2:18). Is this really one set of two names? Maybe Paul is …