Psalm 30 Dear RTB’ers, We have left I Corinthians behind and will spend a couple of weeks in the Psalms before returning to II Corinthians. I typically have difficulties relating to David’s psalms when he writes of deliverance from his enemies and not letting his foes rejoice over him. In my adult life I’ve been …
Author Archives: Fred
November 13 / I Corinthians 16
I Corinthians 16 Dear RTB’ers, I was noticing Paul’s concern for his fellow workers. First, Timothy: When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace… (vv. 10-11a) …
November 12 / I Corinthians 15:35-58
I Corinthians 15:35-58 Dear RTB’ers, What is sown is … What is raised is … Perishable Imperishable Dishonor Glory Weakness Power A natural body A spiritual body I Corinthians 15:42b-44a In comparing the earthly and the heavenly, Paul compares Adam with Jesus and identifies us directly both to Adam and to Jesus: The first man …
November 11 / I Corinthians 15:1-34
I Corinthians 15:1-34 Dear RTB’ers, Today’s reading is about Jesus’ Resurrection and what it means for us. First Paul provides “evidence” for the Resurrection in the form of a list of people to whom Jesus appeared in bodily form, the strongest of which is that …He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one …
November 10 / I Corinthians 14
I Corinthians 14 Dear RTB’ers, … edification, exhortation, and consolation … (v. 3b) Paul speaks of uplifting activities – just the opposite of divisiveness or quarreling or judgmentalism. He also mentions edification twice more in the next few verses (vv. 4, 5). It’s a lesson we could all take when discussing church matters, whether in …
November 9 / I Corinthians 13
I Corinthians 13 Dear RTB’ers, I think that I am not very loving. I am cheerful and friendly and helpful and responsible and a lot of other good things, but I’m not sure that I am very loving. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. …
November 8 / I Corinthians 12
I Corinthians 12 Dear RTB’ers, But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. (v. 18) When I take time to reflect, I am in awe of the human body. Paul spoke of the eye, the ear, the nose, the hand, the feet, and even the …
November 7 / I Corinthians 11:2-34
I Corinthians 11:2-34 Dear RTB’ers, When pondering about our readings and praying about what I might say, I often go back to what I have written in the past, both to get ideas and to not repeat myself. Today, however, I need to repeat myself – verses 23-26 strike me every time I read them, …
November 6 / I Corinthians 10:1-11:1
I Corinthians 10:1-11:1 Dear RTB’ers, Today, distracted again with the results from yesterday’s election – the Presidency, the Senate, the House – and my own students’ results from their exam yesterday. Distracted. One item pops out for me in today’ readings – imitation. Paul summarizes it in today’s last verse, Be imitators of me, as …
November 5 / I Corinthians 8-9
I Corinthians 8-9 Dear RTB’ers, During my years as Treasurer at St. Andrew’s I was able to see first-hand where our parishioners’ contributions went. And a very large chunk of our parish income went as Paul directed: In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by …