September 20, 2015. Daily Reading: Titus 1-3. Background: Paul’s epistle to Titus is included in the three pastoral letters, letters that Paul wrote to leaders of churches, and is believed to be written around 64 AD. Though we don’t know much about how Paul first met Titus, we do know that he went with Paul…
Tag: Paul
II Timothy 1-2: Keeping up the good work.
September 6, 2015. Daily Reading: II Timothy 1-2. Background: See I Timothy background. This is Paul’s second letter to His beloved child in the faith, Timothy, who had been an aid and fellow servant to him throughout his ministry (see Philippians 2:19-24). This letter seems to be written at the end of Paul’s life, just…
I Timothy 1-3: Training for leadership.
August 23, 2015. Daily Reading: I Timothy 1-3. Background: This is the first letter (that we have) of Paul to his “child in the faith,” Timothy, likely written while Paul was in Macedonia (see Acts 19-20). Timothy had worked very closely with Paul, joining him on his second missionary journey and accompanying him on his…
I Thessalonians 1-3: Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonians.
July 12, 2015. Daily Reading: I Thessalonians 1-3. Background: The first letter that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians is believed to be one of his earliest letters, probably written before 52 AD, and as such, it is one of the first books in the New Testament. The church in Thessalonica was founded in Acts 17:1-19 on…
Colossians 1-2: The preeminent Christ.
June 28, 2015. Daily Reading: Colossians 1-2. Background: Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae is unique in the sense that this was not a church that had been originally founded on one of his missionary journeys, nor was it one to which he had personally visited (see 1:7, 2:1). It could have been founded…
Galatians 1-3: Rebuking the other gospel.
May 17, 2015. Daily Reading: Galatians 1-3. Background: This letter was written by Paul to the churches in Galatia with the apparent purpose of dealing with the differences between Jews and Gentiles in matters of fellowship and teachings, confronting the disputes that the Christians in Galatia were having over matters of the Mosaic Law and Gentile…
II Corinthians 4-6: The glory of the gospel.
April 19, 2015. Daily Reading: II Corinthians 4-6. Background: II Corinthians 1-3. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 4 1. The light of the gospel: In the beginning, when all of the universe as we know it was nothing and there was no light, there was God, and God said “Let their be light,”- and light shined out…
II Corinthians 1-3: The follow-up.
April 12, 2015. Daily Reading: II Corinthians 1-3. Background: The book of II Corinthians is a subsequent letter from Paul (with Timothy) written to the Corinthian church, which was established by Paul on his second missionary journey, as a follow up to his previous letters. There is evidence that Paul wrote at least four letters to…
I Corinthians 9-10: Reality check.
March 15, 2015. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 9-10. Background: I Corinthians 7-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1. Paul’s defense to the Corinthians: In this chapter, Paul defends his apostleship and talks about his and Barnabas’ rights in the Lord in comparison to the rest of the body of Christ. Two things may have been at…
I Corinthians 7-8: Marriage and freedom.
March 8, 2015. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 7-8. Background: I Corinthians 4-6. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 7 1. Marriage and singleness: In this rather famous chapter, Paul lays out some guidelines for the Corinthians about marriage because they had written to him concerning the matter. It is possible, judging by the quotation that Paul uses that…
I Corinthians 4-6: Judgement and love.
March 1, 2015. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 4-6. Background: I Corinthians 1-3. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 4 1. Stewards and judgment: In the previous chapters, Paul addresses the Corinthian church’s problem with forming factions and elevating certain men, like himself and Apollos, above others and following them in pride as opposed to seeking the unity of…
Romans 5-6: Justification and baptism.
January 18, 2014. Daily Reading: Romans 5-6. Background: Romans 3-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. Christian peace: Continuing on with his dialog of the differences between justification by faith and justification by works, Paul explains how the paradigm shift that the Jews needed would bring the peace of Christ. Under the idea that there…