Acts 26:12-23 …that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. (v. 20b) In our world today there are discussions about salvation by grace alone vs. working one’s way to heaven. And often imbedded therein is a sub-topic discussion of works in general. Why do we perform works? What …
Category Archives: RTB 2020 – Epistles
August 6 / Acts 26:1-11
Acts 26:1-11 A couple of weeks ago (July 19) I posted that Luke’s Acts 22 text was the third account of Paul’s conversion. Today we have the fourth and, in my mind, the most personal. Paul begins his account with his earliest years (his “youth”, v. 4) studying in Jerusalem, continues with his life and …
August 5 / Acts 25:13-27
Acts 25:13-27 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. (v. 13) Just reading through the text in the past and not studying the notes, I had assumed that Agrippa and Bernice were husband and wife, king and queen. However, it turns out that they were …
August 4 / Acts 25:1-12
Acts 25:1-12 More than two years have passed since Paul stood before Felix while the Jews brought charges against him. (Recall that Paul had been taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea in the middle of the night.) So after these two years Festus arrives as the new governor and very quickly takes a trip to Jerusalem. …
August 3 / Philippians 4:10-23
Philippians 4:10-23 It’s helpful to recall Paul’s previous visits and activities with the Philippians. He met them on his second missionary journey, when he and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail and the Philippian jailer was converted. From there he went to Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth, where he stayed for 18 months. It …
August 2 / Philippians 4:1-9
Philippians 4:1-9 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women… (vv. 2-3a) I hadn’t mentioned it before when I was posting about Epaphroditus, but apparently he had come from Philippi to see Paul in prison and to bring assistance of some …
August 1 / Philippians 3:12-21
Philippians 3:12-21 But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will …
August 2020 Readings
Date Reading(s) Verses 01-Aug Philippians 3:12-21 10 02-Aug Philippians 4:1-9 9 03-Aug Philippians 4:10-23 14 04-Aug Acts 25:1-12 12 05-Aug Acts 25:13-27 15 06-Aug Acts 26:1-11 11 07-Aug Acts 26:12-23 12 08-Aug Acts 26:24-32 9 09-Aug Acts 27:1-12 12 10-Aug Acts 27:13-26 14 11-Aug Acts 27:27-38 12 12-Aug Acts 27:39-44 6 13-Aug Acts 28:1-10 10 …
July 31 / Philippians 3:1-11
Philippians 3:1-11 I haven’t mentioned Paul’s triads for a while, but we have two today that jumped off the page at me! First, as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (vv. 5b-6) I really like the structure, the composition of this …
July 30 / Philippians 2:19-30
Philippians 2:19-30 It’s interesting how Paul does what he can to stay in touch with his churches even though he himself is in prison: I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. (v. 19) So Paul’s plan is to send …