II Corinthians 4:1-18 In the years following my born-again experience I began to look back at the Catholic faith in which I was raised and how it was continuing to affect me in my new life. One item that I came to realize was (what I perceived to be) a very strong emphasis on Jesus’ …
Category Archives: RTB 2021 – New Testament
September 14 / II Cor. 3:1-18
II Corinthians 3:1-18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord… (v. 18a) My Study Bible suggested that “beholding” could also be translated “reflecting”. These two verbs are very different in their activities. In the first case, it is us beholding the glory of the Lord – seeing the Lord as …
September 13 / II Cor. 2:1-17
II Corinthians 2:1-17 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears… (v. 4a) I wrote about this verse last year in my comments in the first link below. But now that John has encouraged us to read II Corinthians in a different format we have already …
September 12 / II Cor. 1:1-24
II Corinthians 1:1-24 In verses 3 through 7 Paul speaks of affliction and comfort and how both the good times and the hard times are shared by Christians, wherever they are. These verses bring to mind two not-long-ago items. Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of our 9/11 tragedy. Many of us have been recalling events …
September 11 / II Cor. 12:11-13:10
II Corinthians 12:11-13:10 And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. (v. 12:14b) In this context my Study Bible discussed Paul’s ongoing collection for the saints in Jerusalem. That is, when Paul writes, “…for I seek not what is yours…” my Study Bible suggests that the Corinthians …
September 10 / II Cor. 11:16-12:10
II Corinthians 11:16-12:10 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (v. 28) Although Paul is a traveling missionary (with occasional longer stays) he is speaking here very much like a pastor. I have gotten to know a number of pastors well in office …
September 9 / II Cor. 11:1-15
II Corinthians 11:1-15 When someone is awarded a Ph.D. they are “hooded”. A very fancy, but cumbersome “shawl” (hood) is placed around his/her neck, with folds in the cloth open in the back. I was told that the tradition of these hoods came from ancient Greece where scholars and rhetoricians would wear a similar “hood” …
September 8 / II Cor. 10:1-18
II Corinthians 10:1-18 Paul truly has a missionary heart, but he is so wordy that it’s hard to really see what he is saying in verses 16 and 17: …our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in …
September 7 / II Cor. 6:14-7:1
II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. (v. 14a) I’ve often heard this verse quoted with respect to Christians dating and marrying Christians, often as advice from older believers to younger believers. However, in context with the rest of this section and the Corinthian culture’s idol worship it’s clear that Paul is …
September 6 / II Cor. 9:1-15
II Corinthians 9:1-15 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (v. 7) In my comments from last year I discussed God loves a cheerful giver. In my many years as treasurer at St. Andrew’s I have had a major focus …