I Corinthians 1:18-31 Paul is full of triads in today’s reading. See verse 20: Where is… Where is… Where is…? See verse 26: Not many… Not many… Not many… And verses 27 and 28: But God chose… God chose… God chose… Fun! It is interesting that Paul decries the wise, the wisdom of the world …
Author Archives: Fred
April 16 / I Corinthians 1:1-17
I Corinthians 1:1-17 So now we move on to Paul’s Corinthian letters, which were most likely written sometime during his last year at Ephesus (Acts 16:5-9), so because we have Paul at Ephesus in our Acts readings we read these letters at this point in our chronological study. We will spend quite a few weeks …
April 15 / Acts 19:11-22
Acts 19:11-22 After I have been there, I must also see Rome. (v. 21b) Here we have the first indication of Paul’s desire to visit Rome. We’ll see it a few more times in his writings. Unfortunately when he finally arrives there, he comes as a prisoner. I had suggested a few weeks back that …
April 14 / Acts 19:1-10
Acts 19:1-10 The Apollos-Priscilla-Aquila-Paul-Holy Spirit connection is a bit confusing in chapter 18’s ending and chapter 19’s beginning. When he came to Ephesus Apollos knew only about the baptism of John (Acts 18:25). Paul had left Priscilla and Aquila behind when he left Ephesus (Acts 18:19) and they instructed Apollos more accurately (Acts 18:26). So …
April 13 / II Thess. 3:1-18
II Thessalonians 3:1-18 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. (v. 4) Paul has real confidence in the Thessalonians – in this case, confidence that they will follow his teachings (commands). Earlier I posted about the “third-person compliments” (I Thessalonians 1:9) …
April 12 / II Thess. 2:1-17
II Thessalonians 2:1-17 Paul’s long sentences and parenthetical expressions often make for difficult reading. I posted in part on this difficulty yesterday. This happens twice today, in verses 1 and 2, then immediately again in verses 3 and 4. Look below at how these verses can be more easily understood when you read the entire …
April 11 / II Thess. 1:1-12
II Thessalonians 1:1-12 I was having trouble with verse 6: …since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you. I wondered how Paul knew that the unbelieving tormenters in Thessalonica were being repaid with affliction. Did Silas and Timothy bring back word to that effect? Then I realized that the …
April 10 / I Thess. 5:12-28
I Thessalonians 5:12-28 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (vv. 12-13) That short phrase, “in the Lord” is important. When I first read it, I thought Paul might …
April 9 / I Thess. 5:1-11
I Thessalonians 5:1-11 Instead of triads today, I saw two interesting duets. Here’s the first: …the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night … and …sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. (vv. 2-3) The thief and the pregnant woman… The former comes …
April 8 / I Thess. 4:13-18
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 I get the feeling from today’s reading that Paul thought Jesus’ return was in the very near term. Now, almost 2000 years later we still wonder about His return – yet we still believe and wait. I appreciated Paul’s compassion for his readers, especially his regard for their concern for their fellow …