2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 347

Dec13

Day 347—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the ACTS of the Apostles, and the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 347 – Acts 24 – 26 (Paul appears before Governor Felix, High Priest Ananias, lawyer Tertullus, crowds of Jews, Governor Festus, & King Agrippa. He speaks on either his personal testimony or his belief in the resurrection of the dead.)

(Earlier in Acts 22-23) The Roman Tribune, Claudius Lysias, saved Paul from the angry crowd of Jews in the temple and allowed him to tell his testimony before the crowds once he discovered Paul was not an anarchist. But the mobs rushed him again when he mentioned the Gentiles, so the Tribune brought him into the barracks to be flogged. Learning Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, he fearfully backed off.

The next day, he took Paul to the Jewish Council meeting for an official charge. But when Paul mentioned the resurrection, the Sadducees in the group began to riot, and the Tribune had to rescue him again.

Later that night, Paul received encouragement from God, saying he would indeed testify in Rome.

Also, during the night, the Tribune heard about a plot to kill Paul and decided to send him down to Governor Felix in Caesarea. (This was way “above his pay grade.”) He sent Paul with a Roman guard of 400 men, and a letter to the Governor about the matter. (Done!)

Acts 24.

Paul is safely in Caesarea, and the Jews realize their plot has failed. Five days later, High Priest Ananias, some elders, and a lawyer-spokesman named Tertullus arrive in Caesarea too. They flatter Felix into hearing their accusation against Paul. He allows the apostle to speak, and after Paul affirms he is a Jew “through & through,” he says he has hope in the resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Felix decides to delay the matter until the Tribune Lysias comes to Caesarea. (What?). He will decide Paul’s case then. (The tribune never appears.) Meanwhile, Paul was “kept in custody with some liberty, allowing his friends to attend to his needs.

(Did Dr. Luke come? Who else from the Jerusalem church, I wonder?)

Felix and his wife, Drusilla, were also entertained now and then by Paul speaking about faith in Jesus Christ, righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. When the topic of judgment came up, it scared Felix, and he sent Paul back to his room. He kept Paul there for TWO YEARS!!! All the while, he hoped that Paul and his friends would give him money.

Somehow, Felix lost favor with the “powers-to-be” and was replaced as Governor by Festus.

Acts 25.

Governor Festus first appears in Jerusalem and meets with the chief priests and principal men of the Jews. (Protocol?) They discuss the “old” case against Paul and ask Festus to bring him to Jerusalem to be tried. Festus is not fooled. He says Paul is staying where he is, but they are welcome to “go down with him,” and he will see about a hearing.

Eventually, Festus sits in court and orders Paul to be brought. The Jews bring many serious charges against Paul that they cannot prove. Paul argues in his defense. Festus asks Paul if he wants to go to Jerusalem and be charged. Paul says he has broken no Jewish law (as Festus well knows).

“I appeal to Caesar!” says the Apostle whom God told would indeed go to Rome.

“To Caesar, you have appealed; to Caesar, you will go.” (You can almost hear Festus sigh.)

But before Paul can be sent off, King Agrippa II arrives in Caesarea with his wife, Bernice. (He is the son of the Herod who killed James and imprisoned Peter.) Festus eventually tells the king about Paul, the complicated case against him by the Jews, and his appeal to Caesar. Festus tells the king he doesn’t really have a charge against Paul to send to Caesar.

“I would like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa tells Festus.

“Tomorrow, you will hear him.”

With great pomp, King Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus enter the audience hall. Military tribunes and prominent men of the city arrive, too. Paul is brought in. Everyone’s eyes are upon him.

Acts 26.

Agrippa signals Paul. “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

Paul begins a lengthy retelling of his testimony, describing himself as a fierce Pharisee with a mind to kill all those of “the Way.” He strictly obeyed all the laws of Moses and had the HOPE in the promise God made to the Jews – the VERY thing he was being tried for – hope in the resurrection.

He tells how he persecuted believers in Jesus and, in fact, had been going to Damascus to bring some of them back to prison when he “saw the light.” It was Jesus who told him he was wrong to persecute them. Jesus commissioned Paul to be a preacher and a witness for Him. Furthermore, Jesus sent Paul to preach the Good News to the Gentiles. Paul believed and was baptized. Then he set out to obey the Lord.

It was a very long sermon in his defense, and in the middle, Festus burst out with, “PAUL, YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND; YOUR GREAT LEARNING IS DRIVING YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!”

“I am NOT out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.” And he looked at King Agrippa. “The king knows about the things, and to him, I boldly speak.”

“Paul, in a short time, would you persuade ME to be a Christian?” asked the king.

“Whether a short time or long,” Paul answered. “I would that not only YOU but ALL who hear me today might become such as I am — except for these chains.”

The king and governor withdraw and discuss Paul.

“This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment. He could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.“

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 346

Dec12

Day 346—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the ACTS of the Apostles, and the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 346 – Acts 20 – 23 (Paul seeing to details & farewells on the way to Jerusalem, warnings, riots & arrests, testimony, escape to Caesarea)

Acts 20.

After those riots in Ephesus, Paul went to Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea) Then, he headed down to Greece (Corinth), where he spent 3 months (and wrote the letter to the Romans). He planned to check in at Syria (Ephesus) on the way to Jerusalem, but he heard of a plot to kill him, so he sailed back to Macedonia instead.

From Philippi, he sailed to Troas and spent seven days. Remember, Paul had earlier been in Troas, where “a door was opened for me in the Lord to preach the gospel,” but he had been so concerned about the Corinthian church that he left. (2 Corinthians 2:12-13) Now, it seems he took that opportunity to preach in Troas for many hours!

On Sunday, he was preached until midnight and had no plans to stop. But, in the room, it was hot and stuffy with many people and lamps, and the listeners were getting tired. A young man, Eutychus, sitting on the window sill to get some cool air, fell asleep and plunged down three stories to his death. Paul said not to worry and raised him from the dead by the power of the Lord Jesus. After a bite to eat, they all returned upstairs, their minds alert, and listened to Paul until the sunrise.

Then, having preached the Gospel in Troas (finally), Paul and company caught a ship for Assos, then to Mytilene, and the next day to Chios, then Samos and Miletus (near Ephesus). He didn’t want to go into that great city, so he sent a message to the elders of Ephesus to meet him on the beach. They had a great time of exhortation, fellowship, and weeping, for they all knew he would not return to them. Paul told them he was ready to die for the Lord! Then he knelt and prayed with them all.

Acts 21.

From there, Paul and company sailed to Cos, Rhodes, and Patara and headed toward Phoenicia, past Cyprus to Tyre. Paul spent another seven days there encouraging believers. They also warned him of trouble in Jerusalem. Before boarding another ship, Paul knelt in the sand with them, prayed, and wished them a final farewell.

Paul next arrived at Ptolemais (Acco) to greet the believers. The next day, he sailed to Caesarea where Peter had first introduced the Gospel to the Gentiles at the Centurion, Cornelius’s home. Paul stayed with Philip there. (Remember him and his evangelism from Acts 6:5-6 and 8:4-40) Philip’s four daughters, plus Agabus, a Judean prophet, all said he would be arrested in Jerusalem.

Paul told them, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!”

Finally, Paul and company went up to Jerusalem, along with some disciples from Caesarea. The brothers there gladly received Paul and his collected offering and listened to him relating, one by one, all the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And they all glorified God.

Then, they warned Paul of a conspiracy by the religious Jews to kill him. Those men believed that Paul was preaching to the JEWS that they – and not only the Gentiles – did not have to observe the Jewish traditions. The brothers offered a solution for Paul. Join a group of four men to fulfill a vow in the temple. His enemies would see he was observant.

But it backfired, and a riot broke out. Paul was being beaten almost to death when a Roman Tribune rescued/arrested him and brought him to the barracks. The Tribune thought Paul was the infamous Egyptian who was causing trouble in Jerusalem. But when he discovered Paul was a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, he let him speak again before the crowd.

As he began in Hebrew, there was a great hush….

Acts 22.

Paul began telling his testimony, starting when he was a staunch Pharisee, trained under the great Gamaliel in the strict manner of the law of Moses. He’d been zealous, persecuting, arresting, and seeing to the death people of the “Way.” Then, one day, on the road to Damascus, he saw a vision of Jesus. After being led, blind, into Damascus, he was visited by Ananias, who said God had appointed Paul to be a “witness to everyone.” After his sight returned and he was baptized, God spoke to Paul, “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”

At this, the crowd screamed, “AWAY WITH HIM! He should not be allowed to live!”

The Tribune took Paul inside to be interviewed “by torture,” but after learning he was a Roman Citizen (Eeek!!!), he released him. But, wanting to know more about Paul, he commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet. He then brought Paul down to be formally accused by them.

Acts 23.

Paul looked intently at the council (the Sanhedrin, before whom Jesus had also faced condemnation) and spoke. He said his life before God had been lived in good conscience. But (also like with Jesus), he was struck in the face.

UNLIKE Jesus, Paul fired back at the man, “God is going to strike YOU, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law, you order me to be stuck??” (Remember, Paul had been trained by the best lawyer on ALL the points of the law.)

Whoa! they said. “Would you revile God’s high priest??”

Paul immediately apologized and “practiced what he had preached” in Romans 13, where he wrote to give respect where respect was due to those in authority over you. “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people’.”

Then Paul realized that the Sanhedrin was made up of both Pharisees (like he was) and Sadducees (who did NOT believe in the resurrection from the dead). “Brothers, it is concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial………..”

Immediately, a great dissension arose in the “hallowed halls” of the Council. The louder Pharisees proclaimed, “WE FIND NOTHING WRONG IN THIS MAN!” Violence ensued, so the Tribune had to intervene and take him away.

That night, God came to Paul in a vision. “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in ROME.”

Forty Jews plotted the next day and vowed a hunger strike if, in the next 40 days, they did not KILL Paul. The plot was made known to the Tribune via a boy (Paul’s nephew), and immediately, that very night, he whisked Paul off to Caesarea with an armed guard of 400 Roman soldiers and horsemen. He sent a message with Paul to Governor Felix, describing all that had happened so far and emphasizing that Paul was a ROMAN CITIZEN.

At Caesarea, after discovering what province Paul was from (Cilicia), Governor Felix said he would give him a hearing as soon as his accusers arrived.

TO BE CONTINUED tomorrow…..

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 344

Dec10

Day 344—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 344 – Romans 11 – 13 (Israel: remnant & olive tree, a living sacrifice, gifts of Spirit, submission & honor to authorities)

Romans 11.

Still writing about his people, Paul tells the Corinthians that God has not forsaken or rejected Israel. He has kept a remnant (like Paul) for salvation, but the rest have hardened hearts, blind eyes, and deaf ears. They have stumbled on the rock, which is Jesus the Messiah.

Their hardheartedness opened the way for the Gentiles to receive God’s salvation. Paul hopes it will also make them jealous and cause them to return to their God.

Paul also cautions the Gentiles not to become proud, for as God removed some natural branches of the Olive tree, which is Israel, to “graft” them in, He can also remove the grafted branches.

“Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you (Gentiles), provided you continue in His kindness.” Paul further cautions them, “Lest you be wise in your own eyes, I want you to understand this mystery: a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in. And, in this way, all Israel will be saved.”

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!”

Romans 12.

Paul then appeals to the Corinthian believers to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewable of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Paul tells them that they are ONE body with MANY members who do not have the same function in the body of Christ. He then lists some of the gifts of the Spirit that have been given to them separately. They are to USE them.

prophecy, in proportion to their faith
service, in serving one another.
teaching
exhorting
contributing with generosity
leadership, with zeal
acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

(Compare these with the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 & 14)

The marks of every TRUE CHRISTIAN are:

genuine love,
honoring each other,
fervency in Spirit,
service to the Lord,
rejoicing in hope,
patience in tribulation,
constancy in prayer,
generosity in giving,
showing hospitality,
living in harmony with each other,
associating with the lowly,
repaying no one evil for evil,
living peaceably with everyone.

All Christians should show these traits. (Seriously, this list is so good for all of us to ponder!!)

Romans 13,

Paul charges them to “be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist WILL incur judgment.”

(Whoa, this is absolutely appropriate for today!!)

Rulers are NOT a terror to good conduct, but to bad. If you do wrong…BE AFRAID. He is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. PAY YOUR TAXES, for the authorities are ministers of God. “Pay to all what is owed to them; TAXES to whom taxes are owed, REVENUE to whom revenue is owed, RESPECT to whom respect is owed, HONOR to whom honor is due.”

OWE NO ONE ANYTHING except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, it fulfills the law.

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then, let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and made no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 342-343

Dec9

Days 342 & 343—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles. NOTE: Sunday & Monday studies are posted together on MONDAYS.

Day 342 – Romans 4 – 7 (Paul continues on with the Gospel of faith, the law, sin, and justification)

Romans 4.

Paul ended chapter 3 by saying BOTH the circumcised (Jews) and uncircumcised (Gentiles) are justified (considered righteous by God) through faith. Now, he takes a closer look at the Law. Is it considered useless?

Scripture clearly states that Abraham was “counted as righteous” by God because of his faith. However, he was later circumcised. So which is it? Both. Abraham’s later circumcision was a “sign” or “seal” of the righteousness he already had by faith. The purpose of BOTH is so that Jews AND Gentiles alike can be counted in God’s promise of blessing to “all nations.”

Romans 5.

Justified believers have peace with God through Jesus. And the Holy Spirit pours His love into our hearts. “God shows His love for us in that, while we were still sinners (weak and ungodly), Christ died for us. And since we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.“

Paul now illustrates our innate sinfulness and imputed righteousness, using the two “men,” Adam and Christ. He says that all men received the curse of sin in their lives through ONE MAN, Adam, with his sin against God. And, with our sinful nature, death reigned. But in another ONE MAN, Christ, we died to that sin, were “buried with Him,” and raised to new, eternal life. With the one man, Adam, we received death, but with the one man, Christ, we received an abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness.

Romans 6.

Then, should we continue in sin? No way! The one who has “died to sin” has been set free from sin. So, we are to “consider ourselves dead to sinning” and not allow it to reign in our bodies. “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.”

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

Romans 7.

Although believers are “dead to the Law” through the body of Christ, who was raised from the dead, the law is still good. It points out our sins and makes us hate them. “For I do not understand my own actions. I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. If I do what I do NOT want, I agree with the law, which is good. It reveals the sin living in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me (in my flesh). I desire to do what is right but I do not have the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing! But it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

“I delight in the law of God – in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin. WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?

Oh, thanks be to GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Day 343 – Romans 8 – 10 (Paul describes Christian life, God’s sovereignty, Salvation to all)

Romans 8.

“There is, therefore, now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” — (The mountain peak of Romans.)

God did what humanity could not do – save themselves from the wrath of God on sin. He sent His own Son in the likeness of human flesh for sin and condemned HIM so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in US.

Any of us “in the flesh” cannot please God.

We are NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF, IN FACT, the Spirit of God dwells in us.

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

“And the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ….provided we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him”

Paul tells them that the Holy Spirit helps believers when they do not know how to pray. He intercedes for the saints according to God’s will. And “we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.“

Paul also tells the order of salvation: foreknowledge – predestination – calling – justification – glorification.

God is FOR us. He didn’t spare His own Son for us. So now, who can condemn us? Who can separate us from the love of Christ?

Paul says, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” WOW!

Romans 9.

Paul then confesses his great concern, increasing anguish, and love for his own Jewish people. He claims he would be willing to be “accursed and cut off from Christ” for their sake. He lists all these privileges they have had:

the adoption
the glory
the covenants
the giving of the law
the worship
the promises
the patriarchs
and, from their race, according to the flesh, is the Messiah, the Christ!

But it is not as if the Word of God failed. Not all the descendants of Abraham are Israel; only those through Isaac and then Jacob/Israel.)

Then Paul explains God’s sovereignty through his purpose of ELECTION. No, there is NO INJUSTICE on God’s part. He told Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

God has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens the hearts of whomever He wills.

You might think this unfair.

You may ask, ‘Why does He still find fault? Who can resist his will?”

Paul answers sharply.

“But who are YOU, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to the molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the Potter no right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy?

Although the number of the sons of Israel is as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved. Why? Because they did not pursue righteousness BY FAITH but by their own works.

Romans 10.

“Brothers! My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved!

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified; with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.

EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME! There is no distinction between JEW and GREEK, for the same Lord is over all people. For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Beautiful are “the feet” of those sent to preach the Gospel, for “the faith to call on His name” comes from hearing the Word of Christ.

And yet, “All day long, I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (God says to Isaiah in 65:1-2.)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 341

Dec7

Day 341—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 341 – Romans 1 – 3 (Paul writes, the doctrine of salvation by faith alone, all are guilty sinners, God’s righteous judgment, justification through Christ)

Paul writes this letter to the Roman church while still in Corinth, waiting to collect their offering for Jerusalem. He’s always wanted to visit Rome, but it’s been impossible so far, so he writes this meaty letter.

He wrote to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. His letter to the Romans also introduced him to them when God eventually allowed him to visit.

Romans 1.

In the first (very long) sentence, Paul identifies himself and his ministry, capsulizes the gospel, and includes the church at Rome as those called to belong to Jesus Christ.

He thanks God for them because “all the world” has heard about their faith. They have been in his prayers, and Paul has been asking God to allow him to come to them. He wants to be mutually encouraged by them. He’s also eager to preach the Gospel to them.

His statement of faith is very familiar. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

He talks about the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth. All are without excuse, for God’s invisible attributes have been clearly perceived in the world since creation. Yes, all knew God, but they did not honor Him as God or give Him thanks. So God darkened their understanding and gave them up to impurity and dishonorable passions. The list of these passions is long, twenty-one in all. (Verses 29-31) They would be good for each of “us” to consider, too.

And not only did ungodly men DO these things, but they approved and applauded others doing them.

Romans 2.

Paul then knuckles down about God’s righteous judgment on men like these, who have hardened and unrepentant hearts. Each will receive according to their deeds. Those who seek to honor God He will give eternal life. Those who are self-seeking and disobedient will receive God’s wrath and fury. And it doesn’t matter whether a person is Jew or Gentile.

Don’t depend on being “instructed in The Law,” for some Gentiles obey God’s laws without even knowing them. You Jews, be sure you practice what you teach.

Romans 3.

Paul continues, “Yes, there are advantages of being a Jew. To begin with, God entrusted Jews with His Word and His directions on how to live righteously. But are Jews better off than Gentiles? Not at all! Jews and Gentiles alike are ALL under sin and need to be saved by God’s grace.

“NONE is righteous, no, not ONE; no one understands; no one seeks for God. ALL have turned aside; TOGETHER they have become worthless; no one does good, not even ONE.” (Psalm 14:1-3 and 53:1-3)about

So, whether under the law (Jews) or outside the law (Gentiles), none are justified in themselves. However, NOW, God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the law through faith in Jesus Christ.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His GRACE as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God put Him forward as a propitiation (an appeasement) by His blood, to be received by faith.”

This clearly shows that God is JUST in punishing sin while JUSTIFYING the sinner who has faith in Jesus. And so, no one can boast about themselves.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 338

Dec4

Day 338—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 338 – 2 Corinthians 1 – 4 (Greetings, comfort, delayed coming, forgiving, preaching, Gospel ministers)

This letter follows quite a bit of going and writing to Corinth. Here’s a bit of history.

Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, living and working with Aquila and Priscilla, preaching and planting the church.
While in Ephesus, he heard of gross immorality and sent them a confrontational letter (which was lost).
He then hears about divisions splitting the church and receives a letter from them asking him to clarify some do’s and don’ts.
Paul writes 1 Corinthians to address this, sending it with Timothy.
News from Timothy describes the arrival of a group of false apostles who “dis” Paul and divide the church.
Paul immediately goes to Corinth for what is known as “the painful visit.” It was not successful.
After returning to Ephesus, Paul writes what is known as “the severe letter.” He sends this one to Corinth with Titus (also lost).
After the “silversmith riot” in Ephesus, Paul goes to Troas. Even though there is an open door for ministry there, Paul is too concerned about the Corinthian church to stay. He leaves for Macedonia (Philippi), hoping to meet Titus there. Titus has good news. The church at Corinth has repented.
Paul then writes this letter (2 Corinthians) to express his relief, defend his apostleship, and confront any false prophets still there.
Later, he goes to Corinth to pick up their offering for the destitute in Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 1.

You can hear Paul’s joy in “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken….”

2 Corinthians 2.

After getting the good news about the Corinthian church from Titus, he exclaims, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”

And, in defense of his own ministry, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 3.

Paul praises them for being “his” letter of recommendation to others, written not with ink but “with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.”

Paul wants them to go on, then to the higher things of the Lord. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”

2 Corinthians 4.

Paul explains the difference between his ministry and that of the false Apostles. “Having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word, but by the open statement of the truth, we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 334

Nov30

Day 334—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 334 – 1 Corinthians 5 – 8 (Paul teaches/corrects the Corinthians on immorality, lawsuits, marriage, and food)

1 Corinthians 5.

Paul calls them to task about reports he’s heard concerning flagrant immorality in the church. “This is NOT Christian FREEDOM, but devilish sin.”

Paul then instructs them “not to associate with anyone who bears the name of “brother” if he is guilty of sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, drunkenness or swindling…. no, not even to eat with such a one.”

1 Corinthians 6.

Another grievance Paul has is about them taking each other to court about minor wrongs done. He asks if there is not some WISE brother who could mediate between the parties. After all, Paul reminds them, believers will one day judge ANGELS!! It would be better to suffer wrong than go to the world’s court system with problems in the church. What kind of testimony is that?? He urges them not to be obstinate in such matters.

Paul then lists again the sins they were ALL involved in before they were saved. But now they are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God! (So act like that!)

He reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are members of Christ. Should they take “Christ’s body” with them into gross sin? Don’t they realize that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them?? Glorify God in your body! he urges them.

1 Corinthians 7.

Then Paul discusses marriage, singleness, divorce/widowhood, and unbelieving mates. His own opinion is that everyone should stay single as he is so they can be free to do ministry anywhere, anytime. But he knows God has ordained marriage, and there is nothing wrong with it. He urges widows to remain single. However, those with unbelieving mates should not separate for that reason alone. After all, that spouse may become a believer from the other’s example and testimony.

In conclusion, “let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him/her.” He says the same about other situations. If uncircumcised or a slave, don’t seek circumcision or to be freed. In whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Returning to marriage, Paul says the same. “In view of the present distress (the appointed time has grown very short and the present form of the world is passing away),” it is good to marry if betrothed but otherwise remain single. And if widowed, don’t remarry. (This last part Paul admits is his opinion, but he “thinks he has the Spirit’s advice too.”

1 Corinthians 8.

Paul again turns to foods with more details, particularly those offered first to idols. (This was part of pagan false worship.) As mature believers, we know that all foods are okay to eat. The problem is, if an immature brother with a weak conscience sees you eating it, he may be conflicted, and it may cause him to sin in his heart if he too partakes along with you.

So, Paul’s advice is: if you are alone or with mature fellow believers, eat up and enjoy, for you are no part of pagan worship. HOWEVER, if new believers recently out of that culture are eating with you, refrain for their conscience’s sake. “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble,”

(More on this tomorrow.)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 333

Nov29

Day 333—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 333 – 1 Corinthians 1 – 4 (Paul writing to approve and scold the church in Corinth.)

1 Corinthians 1.

In Acts 18, we saw Sosthenes as the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. Now, he is a believer and a helper of Paul, concerned about what they’ve heard happening in that city. Paul is writing from Ephesus. (This is his second letter to Corinth. We don’t have #1.)

Paul begins by thanking God for the Corinthian church and the grace He showed them in Christ Jesus. However, he scolds them too. They were given great mercy and gifts, but now they had fallen into disunity, a church split. The believers sought importance by bragging about whom they followed; Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. It was by faith in Christ that they were saved, not by who baptized them.

Paul claimed his ministry was to preach Christ and Him alone, which was foolishness to the Greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews. God CHOSE what was foolish and weak to reveal His glory so that no one could boast. “Let the one who boasts boast in the LORD!”

1 Corinthians 2.

Paul repeats that he did not come to them with fancy words or the world’s wisdom (it hadn’t worked in Athens, after all) but with only the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 3.

Paul calls the Corinthian church immature because they persist in divisions. They can be fed only the essential “milk” of God’s wisdom and not the “solid food” of doctrine. Paul says they are not ready for strong teaching while still “in the flesh.”

“Who is Apollos? Who is Paul” he asks. “I merely planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Apollos and I are fellow workers. YOU are God’s field, God’s building.”

Paul laid the foundation when he first went to Corinth. Apollos and others have built on it. The foundation is Christ, so let anyone who builds on it take care. Use only materials that will last in “the fire of That Day.” You, Corinthians, are the building, the temple, and now the Holy Spirit lives IN you.

1 Corinthians 4.

Paul says that the Corinthians should view them all as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. And yes, it is required that stewards be trustworthy. Paul applied this to himself and to Apollos for the Corinthian church’s benefit, so they would learn from them and not be “puffed up” in favor of one against the other.

“I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world. We are FOOLS for Christ’s sake. We are weak. We are held in disrepute. We hunger and thirst; we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless. We labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still like the “scum of the world,” the “refuse of all things.” Whoa, Paul!!

Paul doesn’t write the above to shame them but to admonish them as loved children. Paul had become like a father to them through the Gospel of Jesus. He urges them to imitate him in the above ways and not be boastful.

He tells the Corinthians that he sent Timothy to remind them of his ways in Christ and that he will soon personally come to them. He asks them if they want him to arrive with a “paddle” or with a spirit of gentleness.

Stand up and fly right, he says, or Daddy’s coming to spank you!

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 332

Nov28

Day 332—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 332 – Acts 18 – 19 (Paul in Corinth, Priscilla & Aquila in Ephesus, Apollos, Paul in Ephesus, riots)

Acts 18.

After a minimal harvest of souls in Athens, Paul went to Corinth. There, he met Aquila & Priscilla, recently ejected from Rome. They were tentmakers and believers, so Paul (also a tentmaker) stayed with them and worked. He also reasoned every Sabbath in the synagogue.

Silas and Timothy finally arrived from Macedonia to help. The Jews rejected Christ, so Paul went exclusively to preach to the Gentiles. Titius Justus, a believer, lived next to the synagogue, so Paul set up headquarters there. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, with his household and many Corinthians, believed and were baptized. The Lord encouraged Paul in a vision, telling him to remain in Corinth and not be afraid, for He was with Paul, and there were many to be saved. Paul stayed for 18 months.

There was an incident with the Roman authorities, but the proconsul, Gallio, dismissed them (like Pilate did), telling the Jews to take care of their own matters.

Meanwhile, Paul had taken a vow, probably in gratitude to God, which included not cutting his hair. That vow was about to end, so he cut his hair. (The shorn hair needed to be presented in the Temple within 30 days.) So, taking Aquila & Priscilla, he sailed for Syria. He left the couple in Ephesus, and after preaching a few times in the synagogue, he set sail for Caesarea. From there, he went up to Jerusalem to fulfill his vow and greet the church there. Then he returned to his sending church in Antioch for a while.

Later, Paul traveled back by land through Galatia, strengthening the churches he and Barnabas had planted on the first missionary journey.

Meanwhile, back in Ephesus, a Jew from Alexandria arrived. He was eloquent and competent in the scriptures. And he preached “the way” of the Lord, being fervent in spirit. He accurately taught the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John (and his sermons). Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Then, Apollos felt the call to Achaia (Greece). Priscilla and Aquila wrote the brothers there to welcome him, which they did. Apollos greatly helped them, for he powerfully refuted the Jews publicly, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah was Jesus.

Acts 19.

So while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and arrived in Ephesus. He found some disciples there who had been taught by Apollos early on. They hadn’t heard of the Holy Spirit’s work, so Paul caught them up. They all agreed to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit came on them too.

Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years, speaking boldly in the synagogue and reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. Some believed, but others were stubborn in their unbelief. Paul simply moved the meeting place to the Hall f Tyrannus. “All the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”

Now, seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva lived there. They were “itinerant Jewish exorcists.” They saw the miracles God performed through Paul and were jealous. They tried doing the same things but the evil spirits fought back, saying, “Jesus, I know, and Paul, I recognize… BUT WHO ARE YOU?” The seven “wannabes” were then attacked and stripped naked, so they ran away wounded. This caused the residents to become afraid, and the name of Jesus was extolled.

Many of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in the sight of all. So, the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily in Ephesus and surroundings.

After about two years, Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel up through Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, & Berea), down to Achaia (Athens, Corinth), and afterward go to Jerusalem. “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” He sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia and stayed a bit longer in Ephesus.

However, a disturbance about the teachings of “the Way” (the Gospel) arose in Ephesus, led by a silversmith named Demetrius, whose business was faltering because fewer people were buying his statues. He went to the “union hall” of artisans. and riled them up, saying,

“Men, you know that from this business, we have our wealth. But in Ephesus and almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. He is endangering our trade. Our great temple of Artemis may even be discounted as “nothing.” What should we do??”

Enraged at these words, they shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The mob rushed everywhere in the city with this cry. They dragged Paul’s companions into the arena. (Paul’s close friends convinced him NOT to go there.) There was so much confusion and shouting that some in the crowd did not even know what was happening.

Alexander, a leader, tried to stop the crowd, but when they recognized him as a Jew, they shouted even louder for two hours. Finally, the town clerk quieted them down by saying that if they continued, the Romans would come and accuse them of rioting. Everyone knew that Artemis was sacred and that the temple was great, so they ought to be quiet. “Let Demetrius and the craftsmen take these men to court in an orderly fashion.”

Finally, the crowd settled and dispersed.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 331

Nov27

Day 331—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 331 – 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Letters of love, reminders, admonitions, and hope)

1 Thessalonians 1.

Paul thanks God for the people of this church and prays for them. They turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, they were waiting for His Son from heaven, and they trusted in the resurrected Jesus to deliver them from God’s wrath.

1 Thessalonians 2.

Paul reminds them of his trial in Philippi before he came to them, and how he came with gentleness and encouragement. He thanks God for their “receiving the word of God and accepting it.” Paul longed to see them again in person and tried often, but Satan had hindered him. He calls the Thessalonians his “hope, joy, crown, and glory.”

1 Thessalonians 3.

Paul tells how he was worried about them when he was in Athens and sent Timothy to check up on them. He was comforted when Timothy reported their faith and love endured, and they also longed to see him. “For now, we live if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before God, as we pray most earnestly night and day, that we may see you face to face…” “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness…at the coming of our Lord Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 4.

Paul urges them to keep “walking to please God” and do it even more. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” He commends them for their love for the brothers and urges them to do it more and more. Paul also answers a pressing question about believers who have died. Would they miss the glorious return of Christ? Paul assures them that they, too, will rise with Jesus. They first, then those who are alive will hear the cry from heaven, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of the trumpet of God, “and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then, we who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.”

1 Thessalonians 5.

Paul tells them about the Day of the Lord, which will come as a thief in the night. “While people are saying ‘there is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them.”

Paul cautions them not to “sleep” but to keep awake, be sober, and keep on the armor of God. He encourages them, saying, “God has not destined us for wrath but for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.”

Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Don’t quench the Spirit. Test all things and hold to that which is good. Abstain from evil.

Then his benediction: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 1.

Paul again writes to this church, thanking God their faith and love for each other is increasing. He tells them the persecutions and afflictions they are enduring are evidence of the righteous judgment of God and that they are considered worthy of the Kingdom. He prays for them that the name of the Lord Jesus would be glorified in them.

2 Thessalonians 2.

Paul then teaches them about the end times, warning them about the antichrist who will come. “Do not be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit, a spoken word, or a letter “seeming” to be from us, that the Day of the Lord has already come.” You won’t miss the wrath of God coming on the antichrist.

So brothers, he writes, stand firm and hold on to the traditions you were taught by us in spoken word and by letter. And “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved you and gave you good hope, and chose you, and called you through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.”