II Peter 3:1-18 There are a couple of oft-quoted verses in today’s reading: … with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day… (v. 8) and The Lord is … not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (v. 9) …the heavens and …
Author Archives: Fred
November 22 / II Peter 2:1-22
II Peter 2:1-22 For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. (v. 19b) I have been attending Freedom Road for almost four years. The men and women in this group and at other Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will attest to the truth of Peter’s words herein. Whatever is a person’s addiction – alcohol, drugs, …
November 21 / II Peter 1:1-21
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 … …
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 …