I Timothy 6:3-21 Dear RTB’ers, Paul shares two reflections on wealth in today’s reading. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. I Timothy …
Category Archives: RTB 2024 – Search the Scriptures, Part 1
December 22 / I Timothy 5:1-6:2
I Timothy 5:1-6:2 Dear RTB’ers, I remember growing up in a small Catholic community and attending a Catholic school in a small Southern Illinois town. We had Mass every morning – all schoolchildren attended – and the only others present (as I recall) were older women who were there almost every day. Today’s fifth verse …
December 21 / I Timothy 4:6-16
I Timothy 4:6-16 Dear RTB’ers, Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (vv. 7-8) I asked a question several …
December 20 / I Timothy 3:14-4:5
I Timothy 3:14-4:5 Dear RTB’ers, Only eight verses today. Before reading I wondered what content could be so “important?” as to warrant only eight verses. Only three verses in and I can see the blessing of this shortened reading – Paul’s “mystery of godliness” benediction: He was manifested in the flesh,vindicated by the Spirit,seen by …
December 19 / I Timothy 3:1-13
I Timothy 3:1-13 Dear RTB’ers, Back on track, with an early-morning post. Only two church officers are mentioned in today’s reading, overseer and deacon. Many scholars ascribe the overseer office to be that of our modern-day bishop, even back then one individual overseeing a number of parishes. Then to find deacons, we go back to …
December 18 / I Timothy 2
I Timothy 2 Dear RTB’ers, Finally, after nearly four months away Carol and I returned yesterday evening – after one of our longest travel days ever! But that was then, this is now. I sent a personal note to John, thanking him for stepping into the void that I created, my Sunday-Tuesday absence. Mostly I …
December 17 / I Timothy 1
I Timothy 1 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. I Timothy 1:5 This verse reminds me of I Corinthians 13 — “The Love Chapter” — along with its introduction, I Corinthians 12:31: And I will show you a still more …
December 16 / Micah 7:7-20
Micah 7:7-20 I expect that most of us are unfamiliar with much of the context into which Micah prophesies. Sure, we may have a reasonable grasp of the sweep of Israel’s history — the united kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon; the divided kingdom with Israel in the north and Judah in the south; the …
December 15 / Micah 6:1-7:6
Micah 6:1-7:6 In the absence of a post from Fred, I suggest taking a look back at my post from last year, when we read through Micah much more quickly: June 14 (2023) / Micah 4-7.
December 14 / Micah 4:8-5:15
Micah 4:8-5:15 Dear RTB’ers, Yesterday’s readings had mixed messages from Micah – judgment and condemnation in chapter 3, then deliverance in chapter 4. Today he starts out sensitive, then drops a bomb on Judah’s leaders, that they are going into exile in Babylon. Their actual exile would be hundreds of years down the road (586 …