James 1:1-11 So now we have finished our first epistle, Galatians, and moved on to James. James has long been one of my favorite epistles. It has a special history for me (and Carol). On the day that I fell in love with Carol (40 years ago this coming June 1) we had about an …
Category Archives: RTB 2020 – Epistles
March 14 / Gal. 6:11-18
Galatians 6:11-18 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (v. 12) It took me a while to understand this verse, reading through it and thinking about it …
March 13 / Gal. 6:1-10
Galatians 6:1-10 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (v. 8) The word “corruption” in this verse can be misleading. When we think of corruption, we typically think of financial dealings – …
March 12 / Gal. 5:16-26
Galatians 5:16-26 I wondered whether Paul penned these “fruits of the Spirit” (vv. 22-23) in a particular order or if he just rattled them off in his letter. But as I imagined these fruits to be a particular ordering by him, I wondered at some reasoning behind his ordering and put together some thoughts. Love …
March 11 / Gal. 5:1-15
Galatians 5:1-15 Although there’s a lot of good material in today’s reading, I found myself hung up on this one verse: But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. (v. 11) As worded, that verse was very confusing to …
March 10 / Gal. 4:21-31
Galatians 4:21-31 In verses 22-26 Paul “equates” Hagar (and Mt. Sinai and the Law) with the “present Jerusalem” (the Judaizers and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem) and he “equates” Isaac (God’s promise to Abraham) with the “Jerusalem above” (those of the new Christian faith). It’s a good allegory, clearly designed to encourage his readers to …
March 9 / Gal. 4:12-20
Galatians 4:12-20 It is often confusing to know what Paul means in his epistles, since he is writing letters to people and congregations and we don’t always know what occurred beforehand to which he is responding. For example, in the first two verses of today’s reading we have “Become as I am…”; “You did me …
March 8 / Gal. 4:1-11
Galatians 4:1-11 …when we were children, [we] were enslaved to the elementary principles (i.e., rudimentary teachings (NASB), referred to as “weak and worthless” in verse 9) of the world. But…God sent forth His Son…to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (vv. 4-5) To be born under …
March 7 / Gal 3:15-29
Galatians 3:15-29 As with yesterday I see a key verse: For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. (v. 21) Essentially, the Law could not give life; realistically, it could only give death. See the next verse: But the Scripture has shut up everyone …
March 6 / Gal. 3:1-14
Galatians 3:1-14 Paul spends a lot of words to get to his one main point: Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith… (v. 5). He clearly lays out his argument – it is the Holy Spirit working …