James 2:1-26 James writes that in keeping the Law but failing in one point a person is guilty of the whole Law. He uses an example: If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (v. 11b) For our 21st-century society that example needs to be flipped: …
Author Archives: Fred
July 27 / James 1:1-27
James 1:1-27 Welcome to the Epistle of James! Sin, with a number of verses (seemingly?) reflecting temptations from outside and from inside… First, from outside: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… (v. 2) and Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial… (v. 12) [I’m sure brothers …
July 26 / Gal. 6:1-18
Galatians 6:1-18 My daily pattern is to read through two translations and notes and sidebars of our scheduled reading, then to read my comments from last year, then to read a third translation and post new comments. With this pattern it is often the case that in my first readings I do not understand a …
July 25 / Gal. 5:16-26
Galatians 5:16-26 When we did our “Three Streams” series at St. Andrew’s last March during Lent it was Archbishop Foley Beach who spoke on the third “stream”, the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream – the Spirit-filled life. And as he spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, he was clear in distinguishing the manifestations …
July 24 / Gal. 5:1-15
Galatians 5:1-15 When I read this section last year I was really confused by verse 11. I looked at another translation, and the first paragraph in my comments in the link below helped me to understand what Paul was saying. There are a few other confusions in today’s reading. Please read on. I wish those …
July 23 / Gal. 4:1-31
Galatians 4:1-31 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. (v.3) And: But now that you have come to know God … how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world…? (v. 9) Although it’s confusing, it …
July 22 / Galatians 3:15-29
Galatians 3:15-29 This gets confusing. Paul bases his argument in today’s reading on his translation of the word “offspring” (or “seed” as in many translations): Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who …
July 21 / Galatians 3:1-14
Galatians 3:1-14 Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (v. 2b) Our Men’s Group has been on a “Three Streams” mission; currently our topic is the “Spirit-filled stream”. We are looking at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, in Acts, and in the Epistles. …
July 20 / Galatians 2:1-21
Galatians 2:1-21 About Paul’s time line… Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. (v. 1) Scholars can make different arguments as to when this event occurred – some that this 14-year trip occurring when Paul and Barnabas brought an aid gift to the Jerusalem church …
July 19 / Galatians 1:1-24
Galatians 1:1-24 Today we begin the Epistles – as an interruption to the Acts narrative, but chronologically consistent with Acts. That is, scholars maintain that Paul wrote to the Galatian churches (Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe) sometime after his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14) and before his second missionary journey (which begins at Acts 15:36). But …