Colossians 2:16-23 Paul writes a lot in today’s reading about “regulations”: Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (v. 16) In this first quote it sounds like Paul is talking about the Judaizers – Jews …
Author Archives: Fred
August 23 / Colossians 2:6-15
Colossians 2:6-15 For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily… (v. 9) This verse is a direct response to the Gnostics who taught that Jesus was not truly God and man, with various interpretations on what that meant and who He really was in body and spirit. And you, who were dead in …
August 22 / Colossians 2:1-5
Colossians 2:1-5 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face… (v. 1) I had a strange thought here, hearkening back to John 17:20, one verse in Jesus’ “high priestly prayer”: I do not …
August 21 / Colossians 1:21-29
Colossians 1:21-29 Paul mentions a “mystery” twice in today’s reading (verses 26 and 27): …the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope …
August 20 / Colossians 1:9-20
Colossians 1:9-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and …
August 19 / Colossians 1:1-8
Colossians 1:1-8 Colossians!! The same questions we had last week as to where Paul was imprisoned when he wrote Philippians and Philemon also apply to Colossians, so I won’t comment on that item. Paul makes a nice, almost hidden triad using the simple word “as” in verses 6 and 7, with the words “which” and …
August 18 / Philemon 1:17-25
Philemon 1:17-25 More on my post from yesterday on Paul’s “demand” of Philemon. That “demand” is reinforced twice in today’s reading. First, as to any debt that Onesimus may have owed to Philemon: …I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. (v. 19b) Second, two verses later: Confident of …
August 17 / Philemon 1:8-16
Philemon 1:8-16 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (v. 10) and I am sending him back to you… (v. 12a) Yesterday I began the discussion of where Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians, arguing that he might have written Philemon (and Colossians, as we …
August 16 / Philemon 1:1-7
Philemon 1:1-7 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother… (v. 1a) Paul’s intro in this letter – writing with Timothy – is exactly the same as his intro to Philippians. Back when we started Philippians The Chronological Study Bible had Paul writing Philippians from Caesarea and they have him writing Philemon from …
August 15 / Acts 28:17-31
Acts 28:17-31 So today we finish the Book of Acts, on the 218th day after we read Acts 1:1. What a wonderful journey it has been, interspersing the Epistles with Paul’s traveling, preaching, and teaching. But we’re not through with Paul just yet; we’ve still got six more of his Epistles to read – Philemon, …